Today's reading is Genesis 12-15.
I slacked off again, I let life get in the way and didn't make time for God.... But I am back and I am praying that I will stay faithful in my reading like God was faithful to Abram. God tells Abram to leave his country and He will bless him with a great nation and make his name. Abram has to take a huge leap of faith to do this, to leave his home, firmiliar ground, and go to a new land that he did not know. Abram faces some trials and troubles along the way but he stays faithful to God.
This year, 2010, my church is celebrating 200 years. How truly amazing! And how amazing to see how God has been so very faithful to our congregation. About 10 years ago we decided to build a new building in a different part of town, a bigger building. At this time people were upset, sad, happy, uneasy, scared and many other feelings flowed through each and every member, but we moved anyway. Right before we moved our current pastor retired.... But my congregation, my church, felt that God had been plans for us and we had to make the move. God had (has) big plans for our church. We have since been blessed with an amazing pastor who has such a heart of God and a heart for the people in our congregation, an amazing teacher and friend. My church gives me inspiration and courage to take big steps of faith. My church named the town of Smyrna and has gained the nick-name, "The Church that named the Town". God is so good and so faithful but in return we have to remain faithful to him. I feel privledged to be a part of such a God filled, amazing church and because of the church I belong to I feel like I need to step up and give back because God has given me/us so much.
Remember to listen to God and walk through the doors he opens for you, don't hold back as hard as it may be sometimes.
Dear Lord thank you for 200 years for my church. I see you at work everyday in my church, the people of my congregation and in myself. Please give me and my church the courage and faithfulness to continue to walk through the doors you open for us. Thank you for the accountability and the support you provide me through my congregation and I pray that you could allow me to be that to others. In your name I pray, Amen.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
the end of the book of Job.
Todays reading is Job 40-42
This book has a great ending. Throughout chapters 40 and 41 God continues to speak to Job, some of which I don't really understand but that is ok.... It is Chapter 42 that really gets me and draws me in. Job replies to the Lord telling him that he has listened and he despises himself. God answers Job after all this by blessing the later part of this life. He blesses him with all sorts of livestock and several more children. In the end Job ends up with more than he had before all of these things ever happened. This just goes to show that if you stay faithful and never turn your back on God, never curse him, then he will bless you. Sometimes bad things have to happen to make us see the good. We don't always understand why things happen, especially not at that very moment, but maybe later on down the road the Lord makes it known to us.
God is so good and works in very mysterious ways, we just have to remember to stay faithful in the good times and the bad. Being a Christian isn't easy but I wouldn't want to be any other way.
Lord thank you for always keeping us on our toes, humbling us before you. Thank you for the blessings you give us and those that are blessings in diguse. Thank you so much for watching over my mom on her way home yesterday. God please watch over Corey, my sisters boyfriend, as he travels from Alabama to Tennessee today, allow him safe travels. In your name, amen.
This book has a great ending. Throughout chapters 40 and 41 God continues to speak to Job, some of which I don't really understand but that is ok.... It is Chapter 42 that really gets me and draws me in. Job replies to the Lord telling him that he has listened and he despises himself. God answers Job after all this by blessing the later part of this life. He blesses him with all sorts of livestock and several more children. In the end Job ends up with more than he had before all of these things ever happened. This just goes to show that if you stay faithful and never turn your back on God, never curse him, then he will bless you. Sometimes bad things have to happen to make us see the good. We don't always understand why things happen, especially not at that very moment, but maybe later on down the road the Lord makes it known to us.
God is so good and works in very mysterious ways, we just have to remember to stay faithful in the good times and the bad. Being a Christian isn't easy but I wouldn't want to be any other way.
Lord thank you for always keeping us on our toes, humbling us before you. Thank you for the blessings you give us and those that are blessings in diguse. Thank you so much for watching over my mom on her way home yesterday. God please watch over Corey, my sisters boyfriend, as he travels from Alabama to Tennessee today, allow him safe travels. In your name, amen.
Monday, October 18, 2010
God spoke.
Todays reading is Job 38 and 39.
Chapter 38 starts out with God speaking to Job and it continues throughout both chapters. God basically is reminding Job that he is not almighty and does not know all things. All throughout these two chapters God keeps asking Job if he made the earth or if he watches over all creation. The first verse of chapter 38 says that God spoke to Job through the storm and he did just that. Basically God is reminding Job that he is not in charge, he is not God, he did not create the heavens and the earth, he is trying to humble Job.
Yesterday my mom was heading back to Arkansas after spending a great weekend with my sister and me. I went to church and my mom left town. As soon as I got out of church and was heading to lunch with the youth my mom called, she had broken down on the side of the interstate. She was paniced of course and freaking out scared to death. She was on the side of the interstate about an hour and a half away from Smyrna so I went straight to her. When I arrived we waited on the tow truck for about an hour. It was very scarey being on the side of the rode with big semis flying by but the Lord was totally with us, no doubt about it. Let me back up just one second and let you know the ways the Lord showed himself to me. I was texting a few people from my church, one was out to lunch with her family and the other was in a session meeting at church with all the elders and our pastor. Both of these people stopped everything to help us in some way. My friend at lunch, her step dad is a state trooper and her mom called dispatch and had a local sherrif go check on my mom. This made my mom feel safe and for that we are so thankful. The man in the session meeting shared with everyone what was going on and they stopped the meeting to pray for my mom, wow! =) Then he excused himself and called me to check on my mom. We were able to have her car towed to a town close to where she broke down because again, God was involved. There is a friend of a friend who has a shop in this town and is willing to work on it for my mom. AMAZING! On our way back home after having her car towed my pastor called, she informed me that the church is praying for my mom and is willing to help us as much as they can. Now my mom is a worrier but never once did she get angry at God, not once. She was in tears when I told her what my pastor said, "Your mom may have moved away but she will always be a part of our church family". God is so good and he works in mysterious ways. Thanks to everyone who stopped their day yesterday to pray for my mom and our situation and to help us out in some way.
Dear Lord thank you for humbling me yesterday and for showing me all the people that care about me and my family. You are truly amazing and we know that all of this is in your hands and we put our faith in that. In your name, amen.
Chapter 38 starts out with God speaking to Job and it continues throughout both chapters. God basically is reminding Job that he is not almighty and does not know all things. All throughout these two chapters God keeps asking Job if he made the earth or if he watches over all creation. The first verse of chapter 38 says that God spoke to Job through the storm and he did just that. Basically God is reminding Job that he is not in charge, he is not God, he did not create the heavens and the earth, he is trying to humble Job.
Yesterday my mom was heading back to Arkansas after spending a great weekend with my sister and me. I went to church and my mom left town. As soon as I got out of church and was heading to lunch with the youth my mom called, she had broken down on the side of the interstate. She was paniced of course and freaking out scared to death. She was on the side of the interstate about an hour and a half away from Smyrna so I went straight to her. When I arrived we waited on the tow truck for about an hour. It was very scarey being on the side of the rode with big semis flying by but the Lord was totally with us, no doubt about it. Let me back up just one second and let you know the ways the Lord showed himself to me. I was texting a few people from my church, one was out to lunch with her family and the other was in a session meeting at church with all the elders and our pastor. Both of these people stopped everything to help us in some way. My friend at lunch, her step dad is a state trooper and her mom called dispatch and had a local sherrif go check on my mom. This made my mom feel safe and for that we are so thankful. The man in the session meeting shared with everyone what was going on and they stopped the meeting to pray for my mom, wow! =) Then he excused himself and called me to check on my mom. We were able to have her car towed to a town close to where she broke down because again, God was involved. There is a friend of a friend who has a shop in this town and is willing to work on it for my mom. AMAZING! On our way back home after having her car towed my pastor called, she informed me that the church is praying for my mom and is willing to help us as much as they can. Now my mom is a worrier but never once did she get angry at God, not once. She was in tears when I told her what my pastor said, "Your mom may have moved away but she will always be a part of our church family". God is so good and he works in mysterious ways. Thanks to everyone who stopped their day yesterday to pray for my mom and our situation and to help us out in some way.
Dear Lord thank you for humbling me yesterday and for showing me all the people that care about me and my family. You are truly amazing and we know that all of this is in your hands and we put our faith in that. In your name, amen.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
God.
Todays reading is Job 35-37
This man Elihu is very wise in the things he is saying! I love how 36:5 says, "God is mighty, but dispises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose." He reminds us that God is almighty and does not leave us to struggle like Job thinks he does. He reminds us that if we are "bound in chains" or in other words if we are still of this world and sinful people then he will tell us what we have done wrong, how truly humbling that is to know....
Also in verses 10-12 of chapter 36 Elihu reminds us that being a Christian on Earth is not going to be easy. Also that God uses trouble to gain people's attention...That is something to really think about. When something bad happens to you or your family or something then we tend to blame God or ask why when really we should be praying to God, praising him and trying to get to know him better because something probably isnt right with our walk with him.
I want to leave you all thinking about verse 16 in chapter 36, "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food" - Just remember that God is preparing us for eternity, it is not going to be an easy walk here on earth in this fallen world but it will be well worth it, i can't even fathom how worth it that it's going to be.
Dear God please don't let me forget who I am living for and what I am living for. I can do all things through you because you are my strength and my redeemer. Also Lord I ask that you please be with my mom on her way back to Arkansas today. Thank you for the weekend you blessed us with full of laughter, memories and love. In your name, Amen.
This man Elihu is very wise in the things he is saying! I love how 36:5 says, "God is mighty, but dispises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose." He reminds us that God is almighty and does not leave us to struggle like Job thinks he does. He reminds us that if we are "bound in chains" or in other words if we are still of this world and sinful people then he will tell us what we have done wrong, how truly humbling that is to know....
Also in verses 10-12 of chapter 36 Elihu reminds us that being a Christian on Earth is not going to be easy. Also that God uses trouble to gain people's attention...That is something to really think about. When something bad happens to you or your family or something then we tend to blame God or ask why when really we should be praying to God, praising him and trying to get to know him better because something probably isnt right with our walk with him.
I want to leave you all thinking about verse 16 in chapter 36, "He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food" - Just remember that God is preparing us for eternity, it is not going to be an easy walk here on earth in this fallen world but it will be well worth it, i can't even fathom how worth it that it's going to be.
Dear God please don't let me forget who I am living for and what I am living for. I can do all things through you because you are my strength and my redeemer. Also Lord I ask that you please be with my mom on her way back to Arkansas today. Thank you for the weekend you blessed us with full of laughter, memories and love. In your name, Amen.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
age does not make you wiser.
Todays reading is Job 32-34
There is a younger man who has been quiet and listened to everything that Job and Jobs friends have said, he has remained silent because he is younger and felt as though the other men had more wisdom. In 32:9 he realizes that age does not necessarily give you more wisdom.
This younger gentleman, Elihu, who speaks in these chapters is not impressed with Job or his friends. Job has only spoke of how righteous he is in his own eyes which is not how we should be, we should be humble before God. And his friends have not proven Job wrong as Elihu says in 32:12.
Elihu calls Job out in 33:13-14 and I believe he is calling all of us out, because we do we complain to God and that he responds to no ones words?... God may not answer our prayers or respond to us in the way we want Him to but He does answer them and He should never be questioned for that.
Dear God, please forgive me for not always having complete faith in you and for complaining quite often. I know that you know what is best and will do what is best for me and that may not be what I think is best, please help my faith grow in you God. Lord Help me shine your light through my life so that others may see that you live in me. Thank you for allowing my mom to make it here safely and please bless my visit with her. Amen.
There is a younger man who has been quiet and listened to everything that Job and Jobs friends have said, he has remained silent because he is younger and felt as though the other men had more wisdom. In 32:9 he realizes that age does not necessarily give you more wisdom.
This younger gentleman, Elihu, who speaks in these chapters is not impressed with Job or his friends. Job has only spoke of how righteous he is in his own eyes which is not how we should be, we should be humble before God. And his friends have not proven Job wrong as Elihu says in 32:12.
Elihu calls Job out in 33:13-14 and I believe he is calling all of us out, because we do we complain to God and that he responds to no ones words?... God may not answer our prayers or respond to us in the way we want Him to but He does answer them and He should never be questioned for that.
Dear God, please forgive me for not always having complete faith in you and for complaining quite often. I know that you know what is best and will do what is best for me and that may not be what I think is best, please help my faith grow in you God. Lord Help me shine your light through my life so that others may see that you live in me. Thank you for allowing my mom to make it here safely and please bless my visit with her. Amen.
Friday, October 15, 2010
final defense.
Today's reading is Job 29-31
On this Chapter Job is reminding God about how he has never forsaken him. Job remains confused as to why these bad things have happened to him but still without ever cursing God.
Chapter 30 verse 18 says, "In his great power God becomes like clothing to me".... AMEN!!!! =)
In Chapter 31 we are reminded that we will be held accountable for our doings, wrong and right. I also like how Job talks about how we cannot hide our sins in our hearts for God knows them and we must be honest and upfront with Him.
The next chapter for tomorrow seems to take a little bit of a different path instead of the non stop dialogue.
Lord I ask for guidance through life here on Earth, guidance to walk with you and never be astray. I also pray for my mom's trip here to visit me and my sister that she may have safe travels. In your name, amen.
On this Chapter Job is reminding God about how he has never forsaken him. Job remains confused as to why these bad things have happened to him but still without ever cursing God.
Chapter 30 verse 18 says, "In his great power God becomes like clothing to me".... AMEN!!!! =)
In Chapter 31 we are reminded that we will be held accountable for our doings, wrong and right. I also like how Job talks about how we cannot hide our sins in our hearts for God knows them and we must be honest and upfront with Him.
The next chapter for tomorrow seems to take a little bit of a different path instead of the non stop dialogue.
Lord I ask for guidance through life here on Earth, guidance to walk with you and never be astray. I also pray for my mom's trip here to visit me and my sister that she may have safe travels. In your name, amen.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
lost souls and wisdom.
Reading - Job 24-28
I think I took more notes in these 4 chapters than any others so far.
Ok so in chapter 24 Job is talking about lost souls and those not following Christ like they should. Job 24:13 says " There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths." ---true that! Those of us who are God's who have chosen to let God live in us and who are saved by the grace of God have to remember to stay in the light and on the right path. Chapter 25 is short but to the point. I like the first verse in chapter 25 where it says that God establishes order in heaven and all awe belongs to Him. Toward the end of chapter 26 Job talks about how impressed he is with God and the little understanding that we as humans can have of Him. Now in chapter 27 Job still will not curse God. He says in verses 3 and 4 say "As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils my lips will not say anything wicked."
Chapter 28 is my favorite though, it discusses wisdom and where it is found. In verse 12 of this chapter Job says "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?"....I related to this verse because I have been having a very hard time understanding this book of Job in parts and here after reading this I prayed it to God and wrote a little prayer in my Bible about wisdom and understanding when reading God's word. But here in chapter 28 verse 23 Job sums it up for us by telling us "God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells."
This 23rd verse of chapter 28 hits it home for me, God knows all ya know? If we would just truly, honestly, take a leap of faith and some how, some way, give EVERYTHING to God (I mean it is all His anyway, we just need to profess that) then we would find the answers to a lot of things.
Dear Almighty, Heavenly Father, you are my best friend, my maker and my redeemer and I thank you for having patience with me like you do and for loving me all the time, even when I stumble. You are truly an AWEsome God and I kneel at your feet in awe of everything that You are. Thank you for giving me the strength, will and capability to read through Your holy and precious Word. Amen.
I think I took more notes in these 4 chapters than any others so far.
Ok so in chapter 24 Job is talking about lost souls and those not following Christ like they should. Job 24:13 says " There are those who rebel against the light, who do not know its ways or stay in its paths." ---true that! Those of us who are God's who have chosen to let God live in us and who are saved by the grace of God have to remember to stay in the light and on the right path. Chapter 25 is short but to the point. I like the first verse in chapter 25 where it says that God establishes order in heaven and all awe belongs to Him. Toward the end of chapter 26 Job talks about how impressed he is with God and the little understanding that we as humans can have of Him. Now in chapter 27 Job still will not curse God. He says in verses 3 and 4 say "As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils my lips will not say anything wicked."
Chapter 28 is my favorite though, it discusses wisdom and where it is found. In verse 12 of this chapter Job says "But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell?"....I related to this verse because I have been having a very hard time understanding this book of Job in parts and here after reading this I prayed it to God and wrote a little prayer in my Bible about wisdom and understanding when reading God's word. But here in chapter 28 verse 23 Job sums it up for us by telling us "God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells."
This 23rd verse of chapter 28 hits it home for me, God knows all ya know? If we would just truly, honestly, take a leap of faith and some how, some way, give EVERYTHING to God (I mean it is all His anyway, we just need to profess that) then we would find the answers to a lot of things.
Dear Almighty, Heavenly Father, you are my best friend, my maker and my redeemer and I thank you for having patience with me like you do and for loving me all the time, even when I stumble. You are truly an AWEsome God and I kneel at your feet in awe of everything that You are. Thank you for giving me the strength, will and capability to read through Your holy and precious Word. Amen.
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