Sunday, January 3, 2010
January 4 ... Genesis 12 - 15 "God is Shaking My Foundation"
Gen. 1:1 God told Abram: Leave your country, your family, your father's home. Abram left just as God said. That struck a chord of fear in my heart as I put Abram up on a pedestal. We left our home of 33 years last year and things haven't quite turned out like I had hoped. So what do you do when things go wrong? Gen 12:10 Hard famine hit and Abram came up with a strategy to say his wife was his sister and protect his life. Pedestals and pillars crumble. God doesn't want our strategy to make our life work better, does He? Gen 15:1 "I'm your Shield. Your reward will be GRAND." And what does that mean? Gen 15:13 "your descendants will be beaten down and enslaved for 400 years." Those words of imprisonment from God fell on the ears of Gen 15:6 an Abram who BELIEVED GOD and God declared Abram "was set right with God." Our God is fierce and faithful and HE is changing my definition of reward and what I think is good and right. Just received a text: "We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God Who is shaking them." (Charles West).
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I have a few more thoughts on www.annettescovertocover.blogspot.coom. I didn't want to leave an epistle for a comment.
ReplyDeleteChapter 12:1 God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you.
When we make Jesus our Lord and Savior, many times in a spiritual sense we leave our families and country. Our family may not be Christian and may not like our new life in Christ Jesus. Our world is turned upside down for the better, we pack our bags and set out for our new eternal home - Heaven. I need to keep in mind, Earth is not my real home. I need to make sure I am not too attached to it and the things of this world.
Today's reading got me thinking about my response if God asked me to go or do something waayyyyy out of my comfort zone. Would I respond with faith and complete trust? In the next chapter, God tells Abram not to be afraid, "I am your shield". I have no reason to fear, God is my shield and will equip me to do what He asks.
ReplyDeleteI'm loving the Message version! It's very refreshing to read and see the familiar stories in a new way.
ReplyDeleteToday's reading reminded me of how inconsistent I am in following God, just like Abram. Abram obeys God one moment - by courageously leaving all he knows - and the next moment he's telling Sarai to say she's his sister and giving her to Pharoah.
It's so obvious when I read about Abram, yet I do the same thing. It's a good reminder that obedience is a moment-by-moment, day-by-day choice. I can't rest on my laurels and say, "Wow, look how I obeyed him yesterday." God is asking for my trust and obedience today as well. I pray that I will always choose obedience, and when I don't, that I will humbly confess my sin and turn back to the Lord.
Update on 66 Love Letters Book...
ReplyDeleteAnnette G. received her book ordered from amazon.com publisher in 2 days before end of year. I ordered mine several months ago probably from a different publisher on amazon.com and won't have mine til the 12th release date. Annette G, do you know name of your publisher? Would you post the quote from the back of the book that you told me about?
There are 15 of us reading together---from Austin to Asia. Two Kimberly's and two Annette's. Pray for this group...I just did praying 2 Kings 2:10 that God would give a double portion of His Spirit on each of you and your family. Why not pray it? Double what He did for us last year for His Glory!
ReplyDeleteBev, loved what you prayed for us. The sermon I heard last night in church was based on the passage in 2 Kings...how I desire a double portion of His spirit. I should get my book from Amazon in a few days. It showed the release date as the 12th, but said at that site that it would be shipped, nothing about being delayed in shipping. Saw it at Lifeway on Sat, but I got it a little cheaper at Amazon.
ReplyDeleteEven though I am not reading The Message and reading it chronologically, I am going to read 66 Love Letters and read your comments...they will help fortify me this year and I will be praying for all that are following the reading. Blessings, on your heart that loves Him so. Love, Mary Lou
My copy of 66 Love Letters arrives tomorrow. I ordered it from Christianbook.com. I too am enjoying reading from The Message.
ReplyDeleteHey all. I ordered mine from amazon.com and probably their inventory had arrived so they didn't place it in the "to be shipped" pile that will process later. Anyway, the book already is stretching my perspective on how we view God's love for us.
ReplyDeleteThe quote Bev mentioned I found so touching was (God talking):
"I want you to realize that I never underestimated how thoroughly you'd mess up your life or how painfully you would struggle and suffer, and I don't want you to understimate your failures or struggles either. They're all part of the story I'm telling."
"But niether have I understimated my determination or ability to enter the mess you've made and the pain you feel and turn everything around. I can, and I will, make everything good again. Never understimate me."
The publisher is Thomas Nelson, (c)2009. Since it is a first release, I think there is only one publisher, but you are right, many distributors, which could be the delay also...
ReplyDeleteI was struck with how quickly Abraham told Sarah to be his sister, knowing she would be taken as another man's wife. He was more concerned about his own life than that for his wife. But God didn't see Sarah as "used goods" to birth the ancestry for His people. God's plan trumps man's every time.
ReplyDeleteBev, you asked what "the reward" means, as he tells them his descendants would be enslaved and beaten down. God's reward must not involve circumstances so much as eternal privileges. Abraham was the father of Isaac and Ishmael, both the Jewish and Arab nations. He was favored by God, more than likely, not due to his mistakes, (like asking Sarah "to do him a favor" as The Message" puts it.) He was favored because he revered God. I sure am thankful that God included in His Word, the details that show not one of the men and women He favored were flawless. It means I can be favored, too, not based on how badly I mess up, but Who I worship.
Thanks for the prayers, Bev. I too will pray for a double portion for each of us. I'm loving reading your "take aways" each day. He's already blessing us.
Love,
Annette G
Annette G....oh I loved it when you spoke that
ReplyDeleteGod didn't see SARAH as USED GOODS
ooohhhh that will resonate with me for a long time for it is right where i struggle
Mary lou
ReplyDeletei LOVE IT....
OVER 3,000 verses in the Bible and God brings us to 2 Kings 2:10 to pray a double portion and then brings it to you too. Thank you God for your Word!
ooopps...i meant to say over 30,000 verses in the Bible
ReplyDelete