Genesis 5 lays out the generations of Adam in detail with each patriarch's name, age at the birth of his first son, the length of his remaining life, and his age at death...with one exception.
Genesis 5 SPECIFICALLY points out Enoch..."Then Enoch walked with the God...Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him." My bible commentary reads, "He walked with God, and instead of letting him die, God took him. In other words, Enoch went directly to heaven without dying, as will believers who are alive at the Rapture."
I've always been so amazed at that!! It's so easy to breeze right over lineages when they come up in the Bible because they "seem" so boring and repetitive. If you really think about it...it's really exciting! This lineage shows an exception of one man who walked with God and received a GREAT blessing! The lineage that Matthew opens up with...the lineage of Jesus Christ! ...Wow! When I was reading over that, yesterday, the first verse didn't really hit me, so until verse 15, I didn't really think about the fact that I was reading the lineage of Jesus Christ and when I got to verse 15 and read, "the father of Jacob," and it hit me...I had to put the Bible down for a moment, I was so excited! You see...there were SO many generations before Jesus Christ's time...God could have sent His Son ANY time He wanted and there was such a long time from the MAN-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE! I was so excited because reading this genealogy of Jesus Christ was a HUGE reminder that our God is a God of time. Good things happen in HIS perfect, appointed time.
Anyone had any "unanswered" prayer requests lately...?
Our God is a God of time. Good things happen in HIS perfect, appointed time.
God is good...all the time. =)
Anyway, going on to Genesis 6-7 which brings us into to the main message of this blog entry.
God was upset, "grieved in His heart," even SORRY he made man because there was so much ruling of the flesh all over the world that the world was filled with flesh-driven corruption and violence.
"The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart."
Here...we see yet another example of man breaking God heart with our flesh-driven, sinful passions of the heart.
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
But one man proved differently. One man stood out in a world full of corruption and violence.
Meet Noah..."Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God."
There you see that "walked with God" phrase, again.
Noah was obedient. He walked with God and obeyed Him to SUCH a degree that "Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord." Praise God! What an EXAMPLE! Raise your standards. We are not "of this world." Be "men of whom the world is not worthy of." Set your goals not to man's standards, but to God's standards to find favor in this present day of corruption!
We see His obedience repeatedly...
6:22 - "This Noah did; according to all that God had commanded him, so he did."
7:9 - "there went into the ark to Noah by twos, male and female; as God has commanded Noah."
7:16 - "Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him..."
So...what comes out of obedience to God, to walking with God?
In this case...Noah's obedience saved his family.
"But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark - you and your sons and your wife, and your wons' wives with you." - 6:18
"This He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark."
By walking with God in faithfulness and obedience, Noah was spared and able to spare his family. OUr actions are SO important. They affect EVERYONE around us. In this case, it affected/saved Noah's loved one.
Parents, bless your children in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
Children, bless your family in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
Friends, bless your friends in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
Church members, bless your congregation in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
Everyone, bless strangers in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, bless your Heavenly Father in your obedience and dedication and love to God.
...Think about it.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Prayer
Prayer
So…The other night, something really exciting happened and I really want to share it with whoever reads this blog!
I’ve been thinking about my prayer life, lately…A while back, Joyce Meyer had a few 90-second devotionals (It’s an iTunes podcast) about prayer and ever since then it’s been in the back of my mind. Amazingly enough, a couple weeks after that while looking through a devotional, Joyce Meyer was talking about prayer again. These devotions are two totally separate things. Well, every once and a while I get to thinking about my prayer life and it was strong on my heart Monday night.
I’m not necessarily unhappy with my prayer life, but I could definitely improve my prayer life. As I was thinking about this, I wasn’t really sure what it was I was wanting to improve. I thought about it…I talk to God regularly throughout the day every day. Sometimes it’s light-hearted, sometimes it’s a deep and serious prayer, sometimes I just laugh and joke with Him, ask questions, talk about random things, thank Him, etc... As I was thinking about it, I wasn’t sure what it was I wanted to improve other than “my prayer life.” I prayed over my prayer life and then I went straight to the Bible and looked up “prayer” in the index. That wasn’t quite what I was looking for…Then I remembered Mike Bickle’s lecture packet that he gave out at OneThing ’10. I was so excited because SURELY there had to be something about prayer in there! I looked under my bed where I keep all my note journals and stacks of bibles, pulled out last years journal and found the packet…opened up flat and quite bluntly to the FIRST page of the section, “How to Develop a Strong Prayer Life.”
At first I just kind of stared at it blankly in amazement and then burst into laughter, looking up and shaking my finger at God saying, “Oh yeah. You’re a funny one.”
Saying another prayer of wonder and awe and thanks, I dug into the 4, but POWERFUL pages of Mike Bickle’s lecture outline on prayer. Before, I had no idea what I was looking for, but when I started reading, I knew this was exactly it all along.
It really showed me that, #1: God is so amazing! And #2: The little things matter.
God is SO good and SO amazing and all-knowing!! Knowing that something as “simple” as leaving a lecture booklet folded open to a lesson for me to open on another day in the future when I am ready to finally understand and take in the information!!
But…there’s that word “simple” again, if you read my blog right about Genesis 1-2 (The Creator). It seems so simple from my man-centered perspective, when it was really something God knew all along, waiting for me to open my heart and mind to that message ever so patiently. <3
Wow!! I’m amazed. I love you, God! Your ways are so mysterious and amazing. What an amazing night. =)
I encourage you all to look up these AMAZING notes!!
Here is the 1-hr lesson from OneThing if you’re interested: http://mikebickle.org/resources/resource/3006?return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fmikebickle.org%2Fresources%2Fseries%2Fonething2010
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Fusion Notes: Don't Get Married Until...You're Willing To Be A Woman (April 19, 2011)
Fusion: Don’t Get Married Until… (Genesis 2-3)
How Do You Know If You Are A Woman Who Really Loves Jesus?
- Integrity
- Listens to God
- Humbleness
- Real with who she is and doesn’t pretend to be somebody else.
- How does she worship?
- The way you dress
- Is she loud? Does she HAVE to be the center of attention?
- DON’T cry when you don’t get your way.
- Don’t want to pick fights
A Bible that’s worn out is a life that is not.
If you don’t have to go to church to love Jesus [to worship God], why did He die for the Church!?
Serve out of the OVERFLOW of your heart!!
Women are created from the rib of man to be a…co-worker, compliment, partners…
WORSHIPPING GOD TOGETHER!!
God created woman FROM man and BROUGHT her to man!
The first relationship woman [Eve] had was NOT with man [Adam], but with God.
- The first thing Eve saw was the living God!
- She didn’t know Adam. She was built and turned to hear GOD’S voice! Praise God!
o For you to avoid it is to take God out of the process.
- She had affection ONLY for God, first…THEN God brought her to Adam. (IN HIS TIME!)
Ecc. 3:11
You serve the God of time!! Praise God! Wait, be patient. He knows the desires of your heart, but you do not know His plan. He will accomplish His will for you in His time. He will never lead you to harm. What a loving, precious Father!
It’s about Him [God]; it’s not about you.
Man and woman MUST meet God FIRST. You must have your relationship with God set straight before God will bring the right man into your life. Apply this to other areas of your life! You have to build yourself up in your walk with God for ANY of you relationships to grow! Love God, love people. Once you makes yourself right with God and fall into His loving arms and grace, nothing will be the same again and everything just comes together by His power and mercy and goodness. Hallelujah! <3 Do you want more responsibility? Leadership role? Etc? MAKE YOURSELF RIGHT WITH GOD! Allow Him to take His time with you, build you to the woman/man He meant for you to be. When you take on a leader-role in ANY relationship – Church, dating, marriage, friendship, organizations, etc. – that Is God’s appointed position for you and you are head over every.single.person.below you. This is so critical. When you take on any leadership position, you become responsible for their walk with Christ in respect to how YOU are changing/affecting/leading their walk with Christ. Allow God to build you up so that you allow GOD’S love and GOD’S words and GOD’S wisdom to overflow from your heart and your mind and your soul into the hearts of each person you are leading.
God wants that intimate and abiding relationship ALL the time!
He says, “BE WITH ME!” God is calling us to be followers of His word, to make disciples! Spend time with God, daily. Run to him in your struggles. We are so desperate for Jesus and most of us don’t even realize it. Lord, I long to be like you in all my ways. Give me a heart to worship you, Father, in every area of my life. Women…men, too….DON’T give every bit of yourselves to your friends, family, and ESPECIALLY not your significant other! Give EVERY BIT of yourselves to God! TO GOD! He is so loving and deserving of every aspect of our lives and who we are. He died on the cross for OUR sins to take up the wrath that WE deserved. We owe it all to Him. Let us love Him with our lives.
The voice of heaven cries, “Jesus,” but this world screams, “Please us!”
- Proverbs 31:10 – THIS is the example of a Godly woman!! Set your standards HIGH, women and men of God! You ARE worth it!
- Which cry are you going to listen to??
You can tell if a woman is humble by how she talks about other women.
Does the way you dress honor God or honor our [sick] culture?
Proverbs 9:13
If you love Jesus, it will show in your character over time.
REFUSE TO COMPROMISE!
Not your faith, not your walk with God, not your life goals, not your morals. Do not compromise in any area because God will provide someone who matches you! Who will care for you and match your wants and needs. Someone who will LONG to glorify God in your relationship, just as you do! Praise God. =) JUST MAKE GOD FIRST!
If you follow God, He will NEVER lead you into compromise. Satan will lead you to compromise every time…
- Did God really say you can’t “hang out” with that guy?
- GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO COMPROMISE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!
- Compromise on any level is just a denial of God’s power, refusal to let Him work in His own time, and active proof of your trust [or lack of trust] in God to provide.
- Satan will lead you to compromise. He knows you – your vulnerabilities, past, etc. He knows just how to manipulate you…Satan knows just what to say to get you in that back seat, that dark room, that position of complete vulnerability to sin…REFUSE HIM! REFUSE HIM AND TURN, NO RUN, TO GOD!!!! Keep your eyes LOCKED in that gaze with our Heavenly Father – the ONLY safe place. The ONLY trustworthy place.
Women and men,
You are worthy of a man/woman of God because you are WORTH so much to our Heavenly Father – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – who loves you with an unimaginable passion that is never ending and never forsaking…Who sent His ONLY Son for YOU and ME; for OUR sins!
We are NOT defined by our pasts; by our sin. We are NOT saved sinners, but we are NEW CREATIONS IN CHRIST JESUS! Praise God!!!!
Some of you don’t know how much God loves you…
Ladies…men, too…you are not a worthless trampled rose. You are a unique and impeccable creation, whom God took such careful time to mold and perfect to His image…You are not unwanted. Jesus wants you. And once you let Him take hold of you and change and complete your life…you will never be the same. You are beautiful. You are a Princess to the Almighty King. God has a special place for you on His heart and dedicates every moment to loving you unconditionally. Let His love flow over you. Let it change you, save you, raise you from your grave of sin and come alive in Christ Jesus who bled for you and me. Because you are worth it. <3
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Matthew 23:4
Matthew 23:4
The Pharisees put themselves in a position which they appointed for themselves, rather than having God appoint them to a place. They made themselves “teachers of the law” – They talked the talk, but refused to walk the walk.
“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”
This sounds awful. I’m sure you thought of someone right off the bat. But stop and really think for a second. Have you ever done this to someone? Have you ever laid a huge responsibility or multiple “rules” that you refuse to let go? Let’s get specific…
Have you ever held someone in your church, or even at various other public places, at a standard that they were obviously not matching up to and then judged them without even confronting them to help them? Dressing provocatively (now that’s a big one for most of us), poor attitude, whether or not they are saved, their walk with the Lord, if they dress/look “differently,” someone who is ALWAYS late to church – maybe blocking your view for a few seconds as they find a seat…What about someone new at your church? What’s their story? Are they saved or are they a “danger” to be around?
STOP.
Whatever happened to going up to people and showing God’s UNCONDITIONAL love for each and every person in the room? There is only one God and He sent ONE and ONLY Son to die for us. Jesus Christ did not die on a cross JUST for church-goers, “Christians,” followers, whatever you wish to term a believer. He died for each and everyone one of us – SINNERS. The same Jesus Christ that died for you and me died for the head of a gang, prostitutes, sex traffickers, criminals, atheists, blasphemers, Satanists, adulterers, people who dress provocatively, your neighbor who abuses their spouse or children, the girl in your school who is giving away her body for drugs, the guy in your school who is looking so hard for approval that he puts everyone down in the process, the mother selling drugs to support her children, your neighbor who gets on your nerves, etc… He even died for the men who tortured Him and hung Him on a tree. He died for the people who mocked Him as He dragged His cross for their sins.
What an amazing, love, forgiving God. What a beautiful, heavenly Father. How great is Your love!?
Something to think about with criminals, just plain mean people, women who dress provocatively, etc….People who seem to have corrupted minds/hearts… Have you ever really considered what happened to a person to make them that way? What had to happen in their past? Put yourself in THEIR shoes and imagine living with those thoughts, that mind set, that life style. The people who are rudest to you, do the worst things imaginable, mean, unloving, unforgiving, do things far from what is right, put you down, etc. – Those are the people who need love and encouragement the most. Why not create a home for the broken? We are a living ministry of God. Invite others in – Create a home for the broken. <3
I’m not saying you have to go up to everyone and be their best friend, but what if…instead of judging that person or talking behind their back, you went up to them and encouraged them? Even just an acknowledgement of their presence. Some people honestly just need to know people care and love them and that would change everything for them. God uses us for His glory, to show His love. We are living, walking examples of His love and goodness. You don’t need to have money to give generously. We can all give generously with our love, talents, personalities, actions, words, advice, hugs, kind notes, etc. There are SO many ways!! How many times have you been encouraged by someone just smiling at you?
A main role in the body of Christ is to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. In Hebrews 3:13, it says, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘Today,’ so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
It is so vitally important to consistently build others up for the glory of God. There are so many hurting people in this world that are longing for something more and the church has gotten so corrupt that it is difficult for “outsiders” to find a home and place of healing and forgiveness in the church. Jesus walked, talked, sat and ate with sinners. He loves them unconditionally. It fills my heart with so much awe and joy at His mercy! How can we, as Christians, live like Him, walk in His ways, love like Him, give like Him? To not focus on our loved ones who are so easy to love, but for our enemies, for criminals whose crimes might make us cringe, for people who have hurt us, for corrupted churches/church members?
I realize that this isn’t for everyone, but it is truly something to think about…How many people could be encouraged if each of us just put ONE sticky note somewhere for people to say with an encouraging note on it?
I suppose I’ve gotten a bit off topic…Not really, but just a bit excited. =) Again, I’d like to share the verse:
“They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” – Matthew 23:4
We are not the creator of rules nor are we the teachers – But God is the Almighty Creator and Teacher. So, if you are to share the Gospel with someone and point out God’s commandments and His words, help them, guide them in their path. It is our responsibility as the body of Christ to encourage one another and help each other in our walks. Not one of us is perfect. Words are cheap, actions matter. As 3D says, “Actions speak louder than words.” I may contradict what I’ve spoken today and I only hope that anyone reading this would know my heart and correct/remind me.
I’ve come up with some ideas of how to encourage others, whether it be friends/family or strangers…
1. Send LOVING letters to prisons – show them someone loves them and truly cares.
2. Write an anonymous card to someone and leave it on their porch, car, seat they always sit in, etc.
3. Carry post its around with you and write something encouraging on them – bible verse, advice, something God puts on your heart, even just a smiley face! =)
4. Smile at EVERYONE!! Maybe even give a wave and/or say hi. =) After all…This is Oklahoma – No one will think you’re weird if you wave at a stranger.
5. Ask people how they are – and actually wait and CARE for their response.
6. Leave kind notes/messages for them – email, facebook, letters, cards, etc.
7. Volunteer – There are SO many opportunities in our community to share our love with people of all ages, backgrounds, walks of life, etc. Give generously with your love, talents, and kindness. It means so much to people when they know you are there out of love, not for personal gain.
8. Find needs and meet them. You don’t even need money, some of the time! If someone mentions a need they have, offer your own means of helping them – whether that be giving money, love, encouragement, your own clothes or supplies, offering your home as a place to meet, offering your car for transportation, offering a listening ear for someone who needs to talk, etc.
I’m sure I could think up so many more…but…I’m thankful that you’ve read this much. I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing and blessed day! <3
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)