Defeating Our Enemies! Go! Fight! Win!

Genesis 11 - 14, 1 Chronicles 1:24-27

Do you like to win the games you play?  Do you pull for your team even in the bad years and just want to pull off the upset?  Do you want to win that Scrabble game with a big word?

Most all of us have that desire deep within to win the battles that might be facing us.  I don't know your battle whether it is with weight, self-esteem, pride, worry, illness, oh this list could go on and on because most of us are facing some battle at almost every point of our journey.  Some battles are bigger than other battles, but we will not win even the smallest battle without God being number one in our life.  We don't win the battles!  God does!

Now seriously, I'm not talking about ballgames that we blow way out of portion a lot of the time, but I'm talking about the battles of life.  The serious battles!  Who do you want to battle a loss with the LSU or Arkansas mascot?  Not me!  Those of you that know me, know I am a huge Razorback fan, but I know that isn't going to get me anywhere in reality. Other than a Woo pig or did you see that girl pat on the back!  No the big battles are won when we realize like Abram did who really wins the battles!

In our reading today, it struck me that Abram realized every time the LORD ask him to do something and he did it that the LORD kept His promise.  Abram would immediately build an altar!  All through the reading today, Abram remembered to build an altar, dedicate it to the LORD, and worship!  Abram remembered that God did it all and he was just the person that made the decision to trust God and take the steps God directed him to take.  What did Abram get?  Everything God promised him!  Over and over we see God keeping His promises.  Who else do you know that always keeps His promises?

I know some of you are responding with but I ask God for healing and I didn't get it?  I ask God to help me find a job and I didn't get it.  I ask God to ...all of our list look differently, but He doesn't tell us that He will always give us the answer we want!  What we want may not be what is best for us according to God's Plan for our life.  It is about our obedience to Him not the other way around.  I haven't always gotten the answer I prayed for and it hurts.  Many of you know that many, many years ago I desperately prayed for a baby and I did not get the answer that I desired for this prayer.  It broke my heart. I was angry, I was hurt after all I looked around and in my estimation many babies were born to people that I didn't think they could even care for them, so I ask why? (not to mention I was judging other situations.  Terrible when God convicted me on this one.)  It wasn't for me to question, but I did.  Many years later God did answer the why to my question, but it was after I truly turned my life over to Him and His desires for my life and not my own desires or my own way.

God desires our obedience, our trust, and our willingness to let go and give it all to Him.  So we must be ready to follow where God tells us to go!  My favorite part of today's ready was found in Genesis 14 after Abram had defeated Kedorlamoer's army and the king of Salem came out to greet Abram along with a priest of God Most High that Abram was given this blessing found in verse 19...

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, And blessed be God Most High,

who has defeated your enemies for you.

God will fight our battles, if we remember exactly who God is...we must remember He is the one with our worship and praise, our lives shine because HE is shining through us, and everyone sees Him in us knowing He is the ONE not us!  WE must point everything in our life to Him!   So today, choose to point to Him!

Knowing Who Truly Wins My Battles,

Debbie

Whose timing God's or our own?

Genesis 7 - 10 and 1 Chronicles 1: 8-23

I always imagine this scene of Noah building the ark and everyone standing at the corner of the yard (close enough to see and gossip, but not too close to be with this really strange man) all the time Noah is being obedient hard at work.  It went on for a long time.  Lots of talk, lots of name calling, lots of laughter all directed in Noah's direction.  I wonder was Noah ever tempted to just say it's not going to happen and step away from this crazy ark building?  I don't think he was tempted, because we read that God saw that Noah alone was righteous!  Wow!  He did not listen to all the nay sayers surrounding him and we all know they were standing there saying Noah get a grip, what are you doing?  Mrs. Noah, did you make him appointment with a doctor yet?  We all hear the nay sayers that surround us and try to plant seeds of doubt, yet Noah was strong and believed!

The most touching thing to me was that when God saw the ark was finished in Genesis 7 he told Noah to go into the boat.  Noah listened and did what he was told.  Once they were on the boat it was 7 more days before the rain even started.  God is never too late!  He knows the right time for each of us to move in obedience and he does direct our steps.  It's just a matter of whether we are obedient like Noah or we are left standing on dry ground that will be flooded in a few days.  God warned the people.  God allowed Noah to build that boat right out in public for all to see and ask questions.  Yet Noah was the one that God stated in Genesis 7:1:  ...I can see that you alone are righteous.  Noah alone.  

Also, it always, always hits me that God shuts the door on the ark and then in Revelation 3:20 we are told if we will open the door He will come in!

God closes doors that we need shut sometimes, but He will come in if we allow Him to!  We are told He goes before us.  

Remember today it is about God's timing and not our own,

Debbie

Walking, but how?

Genesis 4 - 6 and 1 Chronicles 1: 1-4

How are you walking?  Is it slowly?  Are you walking with a little pep in your step?  If someone takes a look around at you, while you walk do they know by looking that you are walking in close fellowship with God?

My eye-catching phrase in the reading today was found in Genesis 5:24 ~ walking in close fellowship with God.  Then  one day he disappeared, because God took him.  Enoch is the man the verse is talking about and the man, Moses is writing about here.  Keep in mind that Moses is the assumed writer of Genesis, so the law is very important to him.  Enoch is a man that walked close to God according to the Word and escaped the curse of death because God took him!  I have always been fascinated with these words about people in the old testament about what this actually means and we don't know for sure, but most commentaries believe it is referring to the close relationship the people had with God and that their life reflects it because of their actions!  Back to the old adage actions speak louder than words!

Today, I am pondering about walking in close fellowship with God!  Beautiful that Our Savior wants this relationship with each of us!

What was your special word this morning?

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

In His Own Image

Our reading today is Genesis 1 - 3.

Our reading started with In The Beginning God it is important beginning this journey to know it is about being with God, sharing the time with God, and developing a closer relationship with God.  I don't care how close we think we are there is always room to grow closer and closer to Our Father!  So God was there in the beginning and He is with us now!  Treasure your special moments with God sharing with you exactly what He wants to visit with you about as I will what He shares with me.  Our journeys are unique to each of us, but He might use one of us to speak to another.  Please don't be shy about commenting because you might be the one used to help someone else!

I've so anticipated starting this journey again and been so excited about it and my first reminder from the LORD that He was there before anything and I am still here, Debbie.  Look to me and no others look where it got Eve.  I was struck in Genesis 1:27 with the words So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Yet in chapter 3:5 the serpent is talking to Eve and he says these words to Eve "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.  Why did Eve fall for it?  She was already created in the image of God she was already like God and yet she still wanted more!  It was like she wanted to be God.  Do we always think we need to know more?  Does it show lack of faith when we continue to ask rather than trust God knowing He is in control?  Don't we need to walk by faith not by sight like it tells us in Corinthians?  

I want to close our first day encouraging each of you to please share.  I know that God will use each of you to speak to me and I want to hear the words that He has for me, so please share!  I know others feel the same way, so don't be shy!  Speak up for Jesus!  Let's take this awesome journey together growing and sharing with Our Lord and with each Other!

Happy New Year,

Sweet Blessings and let's enjoy the adventure through God's Word,

Debbie