Genesis 7-8: Noah's Obedience and Patience

Noah's Obedience and Patience

Please forgive me for missing last week. My schedule had changed drastically and I also had 3 finals to do as well as trying to sleep. I will still be doing this weekly, Lord willing.

As we read through Genesis 7-8, there are points to take and questions to ask. I may not have answers to the questions that I propose, but we should always ask questions about scripture in order to bookmark (in a sense) how we think and answers that we seek to find in their proper context.

One point to take home is from Genesis 7:5, "And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him." Think about that. When the Lord commanded Noah to do something, he did it. He did not fight God for years and try to figure out why God was wrong, Noah just did it , like Nike. That paid off major dividends for Noah and his family as they were spared during the flood. When you do what God wants you to, He is sparing you from what is inevitable trouble if you do not follow through with what he said.

Also, there is another take home point from Genesis 8. The water was subsiding, but not quickly like a drain in a sink or bathtub. It took over 10 months for Noah to see the tops of mountains. That takes much patience. Now we also see that Noah kept checking for the development of what had happened to see if it was safe to exit the arc. Noah sent a Raven and then a dove to test the earth. When the dove no longer returned, another 50+ days later- Genesis 8:12, Noah knew then it was time to exit the arc. Do you see the obedience and the patience this man had? No wonder God spared him. That was not some guy that just reacted to everything on an emotional whim. He did what God said. Period.

A question I had was regarding the earth. I wondered if the flood covered the literal earth as in our entire planet, or did the flood cover the earth that surrounded Noah. I did not think I would come up with an answer (probably THE answer) so quickly. In Genesis 8:21 it reads "And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done." We know that there are still floods that happen on earth, but there are not major floods that have covered the entire earth/planet. So, we can understand the flood was covering the entire planet and not just a small portion of it.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

1 Peter 1: Brotherly Love

Brotherly Love

1 Peter 1:22 reminds us that we "love one another earnestly from a pure heart" after being obedient to Christ. No one else has loved others the way Jesus did. When you follow Christ and use him as your example as how to live you will see how to love others selflessly. 

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

James 4: Draw Near to God

Draw Near to God

No matter how strong of a believer you are, we all need reminders. These reminders come in various ways from different sources and are solidified by other reminders. We are reminded to draw near to God and know that He will draw near to us (James 4:8). We cannot be double minded and me must purify our hearts and minds. We do this by drawing near to God. Also, we need to resist the devil (James 4:7) and not make friends with the world as in James 4:4 (live according to what the world says is okay).

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Wednesday Wake Up #37

Be Patient, Stay Strong in Him

If you have read through Proverbs then you know that there is plenty of wisdom to obtain from that book. In Proverbs 16:7 we read "When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." This is not specific to just men, but women too. First, look at the phrase "man's ways please the Lord." These are not ways that you justify that are just what you want to do, but what God wants from you. How do you know what God wants from you? Look at John 13:34 and know that Jesus himself said that he wants us to love others as he has loved us. Remember he died for your sins. Also remember this was a command, not a suggestion. Secondly, "He makes even his enemies be at peace with him." Have you ever heard the term "misery loves company"? It is hard to argue with someone who won't argue with you. Let "Jesus take the wheel" to your heart and soul and steer you away from sin and troubles.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Ephesians 4: Bear with One Another in Love

Bear with One Another in Love

There is so much we can miss when we chose (yes it is a choice) to not honor God with our words and hearts. When we are not honoring God, then we are not honoring others either. When you submit your will to Christ and let the Holy Spirit work through you, ideas like those found in Ephesians 4:2-3 are easier (not easy) to follow through on. It is not about doing it on your own volition but it is that of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." That humility and gentleness and patience all come from the Holy Spirit and these are a part of the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23). Furthermore, in Ephesians 4:29, Paul tells the Ephesian church to watch what they say. He tells them to use their mouths to speak words to build each other up, not tear one another down.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Wednesday Wake Up #29

Attacking Worry

Recently, a friend of mine exposed me to the word "ruminate." I had no idea what it meant but as we discussed the word I understood it to simple mean worry. An expanded understanding is to think about something over and over and over again- like chewing gum (I'm chewing gum right now). After a while, chewing gum, while initially enjoyable, becomes annoying. the gum loses flavor and your jaw can become sore. It no longer serves the purpose. That can be the same thing as dealing with an issue and not coming to a conclusion. It can keep you up at night. All the possible ways things could go and there ends up being no conclusion. Let's look at how to deal with that.

It is one thing to try to figure out a problem, but it is another to just worry about it. What does worry do for you? Initially one may think it is doing them some good and they will quote some scientific journal about hwy worry is good. But, is worry Godly? It might show you that you care, but then when does worry stop? What else will you worry about? Worry creates anxiety for you to the point where you may need to think about something else or do something else in order to stop worrying. Proverbs 12:25 tells us that anxiety weighs a person's heart down. Good words and words of encouragement make them glad. When you see yourself worrying, change your mind. Do something else. Give your nerves a break.
 

When you worry, I give you a new challenge, seek God's direction. Jesus wants to give us peace and does not want our hearts troubled (John 14:27). God will guide you if you ask Him (Psalm 32:8). God will give you wisdom, if you ask Him (Luke 21:15). We have to be humble enough (Proverbs 22:4) to even want to seek Him. We think we can figure it out on our own and think that we are actually tuned in to God, but we are just trying to figure it out ourselves. We need to unite with the Lord and seek his will for our life in all aspects, not just the one's we choose.
 

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

2 Corinthians 9: The Cheerful Giver

The Cheerful Giver

As discussed in chapter 8 the amount one gives to a church or whatever should come from the heart. The old testament had a standard of 10% but God knows what you can give and what you cannot give. As a matter of fact, due to reading yesterday's text and today's text I remembered to give to my home church as I had forgotten the last 2 months. I gave what I could, not what some might say I should. As Paul says here in verse 7 "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." My Pastor Rick Warren has stated that if you feel pressure to give, then don't. It's not coming from the heart. I would agree with him as what he says is backed up by scripture (see what I did there- not every pastor gets everything right). 

But before that in verse 6 Paul tells us that the point is if you give sparingly (little) in dedication to God, you will reap sparingly (little). The opposite is true where if you give bountifully (much/more than you can afford) then you will reap the same. The reaping does not have to be money, it can be, If the focus is on "how can I get more money?" then you have forgotten about the heart of Christ. Seek his will as it was entrenched in the Father's (God's).

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Romans 10: Righteousness and Confession with the Mouth and Heart

Righteousness and Confession with the Mouth and Heart
Romans 10:3-4 tells us that righteousness apart from God is pointless. People will establish their own pseudo righteousness and not submit to God's righteousness. The only one that ends the previous view of righteousness is the acceptance of Christ. If you believe in his resurrection and that God did it, then you are free from the law and now a member of God's children.

Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe that God is the one who raised Christ from the dead, then you will be saved.We can't just think of Jesus how we chose or how modern day thinking leads us to. We have to see Jesus is the right way. We have to read about his life and understand how he lived and why he lived that way. We have to understand that Jesus was God in the flesh. He was not just some teacher or some nice guy, but the living and breathing version of God. If you understand all of that and the prophecies his life fulfilled and you confess with your mouth and heart that you believe, then welcome to the family. 
 

 

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS! 

Acts 14: Unbelievers, Healing and Humility

Unbelievers, Healing and Humility

Unbelievers can really cause some trouble. Their unbelief and hard hearts can stir up those who are seeking. Unbelievers can be cynical and overlook truth and proof due to their personal issues, not because what they do not believe in is not true. The unbelievers here in verse 2-6 were Jewish poisoned the minds of the Gentiles and turned them against the brothers Barnabas and Paul. But, Barnabas and Paul found out about and fled and continued preaching the gospel. I love the dedication here. I think many would find it easy to say "if I keep hitting these roadblocks, then it isn't meant to be." When you are doing God's will, it isn't about what the naysayers and haters say.

Being in God's will can also allow you to heal those that are sick and disabled. In verses 8-10 we see that man who had never been able to walk was commanded to stand by Paul's voice and the man was healed. Once again, the Holy Spirit has healing power. It isn't just physical. If you have ever had the Holy Spirit work through your life in restoring a relationship or helping you through a personal problem, then you too know of the Holy Spirit's power and have a testimony to tell.

But, sometimes people get things twisted and confused. We see good things people do and we begin to worship them or make false idols (see Exodus 32). In verses 11-18, when the crowds saw what Paul had done with healing the man, they began to refer to them as gods and wanted to offer a sacrifice to them. When Barnabas and Paul heard about this they stopped them and showed them that they were also men and need not be worshiped. Barnabas and Paul could have used that time and gotten the glory like Herod wanted, but they chose the humble route.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Luke 21:34- Watch Yourselves

Watch Yourselves!

This chapter outlines several things from sacrificial giving (giving that really makes you sacrifice) to the destruction of the temple, wars and persecution and Christ's return. But something else struck me. Jesus gave us a warning. It is easy to miss if you are just reading and maybe even distracted, but I wanted to point it out. 

In verse 34, Jesus says to "watch yourselves." He tells us to watch our hearts so that they are not filled with "dissipation, drunkenness and cares of this world."

Jesus know that if our heart isn't aligned with him, then it is aligned elsewhere, like the world. The world then and now often says things like "everything in moderation." Folks, not everything is legal and not everything is good for you even if it is legal. Jesus is warning us to not let culture be our guide. Culture changes, but the word of God stands firm. 

For those that know of my former employment, you will remember that I was a bouncer/security guard for bars. A bar's focus is to sell alcohol to you. Some to many places will even sell it to you even after you have had enough. The world celebrates this lifestyle, but the world doesn't show you what happens to your liver and other organs from years of that lifestyle. The world doesn't show you the broken homes and lost souls that come from spending too much time drinking and not enough time with Jesus.

Jesus warns us of being hungover (surfeiting/carousing/dissipation) from alcohol and in other words, being hung over form the world's way. When you are hung over you have had too much alcohol and the body begins to shut down. Have you ever seen someone pass out from too much alcohol? Maybe it has happened to you. That is the body's way of rejecting more consumption. But, with the world's way and culture we don't get that feeling like with alcohol, it just overtakes you and then you look up one day wondering how you got there. You may even try to make excuses for why it is okay to be where you are, but where you haven't been was aligned with Christ in obedience with God's will.

This blog post was not to bash bars or my former employment, but to shine light on a culture that is dictated by reformed ways of thinking that separate you from God's path. How culture thinks today will not be that way tomorrow. Stand firm with God's word.


PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Friday Focus #8

Why Are We Arguing? 

Have you ever been in an argument? Do you get into arguments on a regular basis? Why even argue? Is it necessary? There is a point when a conversation turns from talking to arguing.

There is a lot of pride that goes into arguments. People want to be heard and understood on one hand and on the other hand, they want you to agree with them. If you don't agree with them then they disrespect your opinion and position even if it is only an opinion. In Proverbs 15:28 we read that the righteous ponder on how to answer questions while the wicked person's mouth just lets things pour out.

Jesus says in Matthew 15:19 that out of the heart comes evil thoughts and slander. There should be a heart check if we are in an argument? Why do you need someone to agree with you so much? Why does it matter what they think or what their view is? It is okay to disagree. Isn't it.

We have to turn away arguments with soft answers and that do not stir up more angry responses. Proverbs 15:1 gives us that insight. Who wants to argue with someone who doesn't want to argue? It is not an argument if the other person is not arguing.

And lastly, in James 1:19, we are taught to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry. If we really take time to listen and even inquire for more information and clarification we might become less angry because we have gotten then answer we needed to understand the other person. When we are slow to speak that means we are still listening and not interrupting someone. And when we are not angry we are less subjected to not being Christ-like in these situations. Being Christ-like is our goal.

source utilized: Bibleinfo.com

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Luke 16:15- Approval of People

Approval of People

There are things we do that are so common place to us that actually have nothing to do with what we think unless it is tied to how people will perceive it.  There are people who volunteer from time to time because of the photo opportunity. There is a cosmetic surgery industry that flourishes from insecurities and perceptions of others. Don't get me started on the fashion industry and red carpet events. That thrives on public perception and who is wearing what from which designer.

Living for the approval of people is no way to live. Every generation will cherish something else. The 1950s had a different view of males and females than how this generation views what defines a male and female. How people choose to see us isn't important. How God sees us is what is important. People see the outside, God sees our heart.

Jesus had just finished telling a parable of the dishonest manager (Luke 16:1-13). The Pharisees never liked Jesus's teaching, ideas and parables and ridiculed him. Instead of getting angry and getting into an argument (as many of us would do) for being ridiculed Jesus replied with a simple statement that has deep meaning. Jesus said, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." He was telling them that they do things and say things to have the approval of people but they overwrite and ignore what God will think about it.

What God has to say about what we do and what we say matters not more than other things or less than other things, but is the only thing that matters. Have you ever had a time where you did something nice for someone and they thought or someone else thought that you had ulterior motives? It has happened to me. You try to do the right thing but people look at it with the wrong lens. Or there are times I thought I was doing the right thing and really it had an ulterior motive. Man sees the outside, God sees the inside (1 Samuel 16:7). Let pleasing God be your focus.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST AND GOOGLE PLUS. THANKS!

Mark 7:21-23- From Within

The old way of thinking was that if a person did not wash their hands before eating, then what ever they touched and then ate would defile their soul. Jesus said that this is not true. It was not about how you washed your hand or what you ate that would defile you, it was about what was in your heart, mind and soul and what came out of your mouth.

Your soul cannot be ruined by the food you eat. That belief was not from God, that belief came from man (see Mark 7:2-5). Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were holding on man's laws more than God's. We do need to obey laws that are on earth, but ultimately God's law is more important. God's law gets overtaken for the beliefs that elders put in place.

Jesus made it very clear that the evil thoughts we have come from within. The sexual immorality we have comes from within. The theft, murder and adultery we commit comes from within. All things wicked that man expresses outwardly, starts inwardly. Remember that God's will and ways are far more important than man's.

PLEASE SEE THE LOGOS AND LINKS BELOW TO SHARE THIS VIA EMAIL, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, ETC. THANKS.