January 30, 2014 Genesis 34-36, Family Friday, Do Not Fear But Trust God's Favor

PRAYER

Father God,

I am trying to find a place to start. There are so many friends and family I know who are in need. ICU, hospital, facing surgery, sick kids, flu, financial problems, and more. Lord, they all need peace. They all need to be delivered from fear and anxiety. I ask that you would supernaturally invade their situations and give them peace. I know we have to choose peace, and they probably don’t know how. I don’t always know how, but, Lord, they need you to invade where they are so they can breathe and rest. You do so many things that I have no clue how you do them. I am asking you to do this even when I have no idea how you can.

And I ask that you would be present and obvious in these needs. I ask for those who need favor that you would work in their hearts so they would act in such a way that favor can be given to them. I ask for those praying for healing in their relationships that you would work in their hearts so they are not part of the wound.

Father, for those with relationships that rip open their hearts, give them wisdom to know when to fight and how to fight and when to walk away and trust you for a new beginning. Show them how they are part of the problem, and thus, part of the solution. For those who are keeping you from healing because they keep enabling by not letting go and letting you deal with things, I ask you to show them the truth and give them strength and courage to let you dole out the necessary consequences to get the necessary attention to offer healing.

Holy God, for the ones with babies on the way, give health and rest.

For those preparing to let go, oh, God, give comfort and strength.

For those in transition, I pray you give them vision so they can move forward.

For every need, you are the answer. I ask you to do what you need to do to answer all the needs I know and even the ones I don’t.

Thank you for your faithfulness, love, and mercy to my friends and family.

To you be all glory.

Amen

BIBLE READING

 Genesis 34— A bit of an extreme response? Maybe, but I like their passion. “Should they have treated our sister like she was nothing?” I would hope their reaction would demonstrate to her at least they knew she was valuable.

 Genesis 35—Aren’t you glad God still changes names?

 Genesis 36—Got to love lineage chapters, don’t you?

 MEMORIZATION

Genesis 33

¹⁰ “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”

Today I remember…

For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

Today we had to close a savings account for one of my children. My husband set it up when our daughter was born, and he did not put my name on it, only his and hers. Because she is a minor, she still does not have power over it, and because my name is not on it, I have no power of it. I have dealt with this particular financial institution before concerning some of my husband’s financial issues, and it was horrible. It was as though they were determined to make life as hard as possible and be as disagreeable as possible. It was as though they had set themselves against us.

On the drive over, I was fighting dread and anxiety, and once again, the Spirit reminded me:

Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid.
Do not be discouraged.
The Lord your God will be with you where you go.

So I prayed. “Lord, give us favor, and help my attitude and countenance be one that allows you to work favorably toward.”

The woman who helped us was delightful. When she said my husband would have to close the account, I handed her the death certificate and explained that he has been dead nearly three years. Forty-five minutes later, we walked out of the bank with a check in hand, and the account was closed.

“For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”

Holy God, thank you for letting us see your face today. Amen.

January 30, 2014 Genesis, Praying for Our Community, Memorizing the Face of God

PRAYER

Father God,

I don’t know everybody in my community. I don’t know their individuals needs. I only know they all need you. I ask you to pour out the Holy Spirit on our community. I ask you to reveal yourself in their quiet places. Get their attention in the way you need to. Lord, I am not asking for you to do hard things to them, but I’m asking you to be more concerned about their souls than their comfort. I’m asking you to affect the temporal so they understand the importance and reality of the eternal.

Lord, make my home a place where people find you. I ask that my family would be an example of Christ in our community. Invade our community through us. Love through us. Serve through us. Give us creative ways to reach into their lives, and, Lord, eradicate all fear from us that keeps us in our own home and out of theirs. Reveal any fear that keeps us from being open to loving.

I ask you to create divine appointments so we meet people. Give us insight into how to build relationships, and during conversation, I pray we would listen more than talk. Give us a deep love—YOUR love—for these people that you have put within our reach. Help us to never forget our greatest mission field is right next door. You placed us here to live you. Invade through us.

Show us anything that prevents you from being everything in our community you want to be. Change our hearts. Open our minds. Fill us with you.

Bless our community for your glory and their salvation.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

BIBLE READING

 

Genesis 31—Again, so much here, but the take away is simple: Jacob had a promise. Despite the promise, he worked hard, and it did not look like the promise sounded. STILL, he saw the hand of God. STILL, he gave Him glory. STILL, he said, “What I have is good, and it was all given to me by God.” Instead of looking at what wasn’t, he was totally focused on what was. Instead of grumbling, he poured out gratitude.

Want to change your life? Try Jacob’s approach.

Live with excellence.
Live in the blessing.
Be grateful despite the hardships.
Realize God is in the hardships.
Flourish anyway.

Genesis 32— ⁹ Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ ¹⁰ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. ¹¹ Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. ¹² But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

Translation:

I know the promise. I *KNOW* the promise. God in heaven, help me live it. I am not worthy, but you are faithful. I am afraid of what might happen, but you promised. Despite my fear, you are faithful, Oh God. You are faithful.
 
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

I never understood that until today. What he is really asking is, “Why do you even need to ask? Don’t you know?”

Just wow.

Genesis 33— For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

Translation:

“Your receiving me with favor is such an obvious act of God, it is like looking directly upon Him.”

Holy God, may my eyes be opened to see your face in the blessings and favor you bestow. May the kindnesses and mercies you give be so evident to me that I see you clearly in them.

MEMORIZATION

Genesis 33

¹⁰ “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”

Today I want to remember…
For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

I want to remember when there is favor, there is God’s face, and remember, what we know by heart, the heart knows. I want to always know…for to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. I always want to know the face of God.

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

I am lost in seeing your face in the kindnesses you give. I am wondering how much of what has been called “attacks” that has left me struggling mentally, emotionally, or spiritually is really my inability or even my refusal to see your face. And, Lord, my heart is broken to think I could miss your face. Holy God, forgive me. Forgive me for being so critical and judgmental of what I think you should give that I don’t see how truly generous you are. It hurts me to think you could be pouring out so much love on me and me never see it because I’m angry that you aren’t what I want you to be or your gifts don’t fit what I think needs to be your priority. Oh, God, I am sorry. Forgive me. Open my eyes, Lord. Open my eyes. I want to see your face.

January 29, 2014 Genesis 28-30, More Mama Drama, Verse Review, Love isn't Easy

PRAYER

Lord,

Encourage me.  Our nation is so far from you. Our leaders have no fear of you, and the public calls what is holy profane and what is profane glorious, and how can you be anything but sickened? And the refusal of so many in the church to take a stand because they do not want to offend so they declare “everyone has the right to be happy”even if it means You have no right to expect us to be holy…oh, God, I am overwhelmed by how far from you we have fallen. Encourage my faith because, Lord, I don’t know how to even begin to pray.

And even as I search for words, I hear your words in my mind, “Am I not mighty to save? Am I not the ALL mighty God? Is America too difficult for me?”

No, Lord, not even America is too difficult for you. There is nothing too difficult for you. So I lay America at your feet and ask you to be all mighty in this nation. I ask you to do what has to be done to turn the hearts of this nation to you. I do not ask for superficial blessings but blessings of your presence, of your holiness, of hearts turning to you.

Lord, do above all I think or imagine. We are in desperate need. America is blind and grasping for straws when what we need is a Savior, not of human mind or wisdom but of heavenly decent. We don’t need a human leader. We need heaven’s Lamb. Lord, we have embraced sinful lifestyles and called it love. We have forgotten that you love us too much to leave us in sin. But then, maybe we’ve never repented of our own sin, so how can we see anything wrong with anyone else’s?

Lord, destroy anything in your body that is not of you. Convict us where we have accepted false philosophies or called “redeemed” that which is wholly unrighteous. Oh, God, we don’t know. We just don’t know. Have mercy on us and tear back the blankets we lie under and show us the ways we prostitute ourselves to all other gods but you. Show us our idols whether they be things or traditions or comfort zones or the latest answer.

Lord, you are the only answer. You are the only answer.

Hear my cry, Lord. Hear my cry.

Amen.

BIBLE READING

Genesis 28—Generation number three, and the promise is still being fulfilled. By the way, did you notice what God said? “I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Translation: Haven’t seen the promise fulfilled yet? Then I’m still here. Still working on it. Still being faithful.

Genesis 29—Every time I read this I feel such compassion for Leah. She was part of the promise, and from her came the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but my lands, what a hard part to play.

Genesis 30—And the baby mama drama continues, but there is more than that. Did you notice that Jacob did his work with excellence, and even though he was in a foreign country, the excellence of his work blessed him and increased him?

MEMORIZATION

As I mentioned in an earlier post today, my brain is fuzzy, but I’m still plodding on. One of the great things about having verses already memorized is when your brain is fuzzy, the Word isn’t. I lay in my bed today feeling too nauseous to sit up and let the verses roll through my mind. Even in my sickness, His promises are solid. THAT is something we can’t afford to forget.

 BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

 

Today I still pondering the concept of excellence even in a less than excellent circumstance. I wonder about Christians we have the idea that life will be easy. Jesus never promised that. Yet, people seem to think a promise of blessings means the hard road will suddenly become easy and the trials and tests will suddenly disappear.

The truth is if we truly believe the promise, we know the promise takes us to places we could never go on our own. The promise alone will stretch us to the point of breaking because it is only in our weakest point that His great strength can show. We have to be broken to be blessed.

If we can make things happen, if things come easily, if life is a comfort zone, we’ll never realize the sacrifice of Christ leaving His comfort zone to invade our death march. Until we die with Him, we will never understand the power of His death. We will never understand the love that gives us life until we understand what it means to love Him enough to die.

 

January 29, 2014--Grace

Once again, my sinuses are sludge-filled. My ears are roaring, and I cannot seem to think through two sentences at once. I have taken medicine to alleviate the symptoms. I give sincere thanks for the medicine, but the side effects make it hard to function.

I lay on my bed and prayed for our country.

I did review my memory verses as best I could, but I can't hold onto anything new.

I can't focus on the passage before me to make it worth trying to read the Bible at this point. Maybe after the meds have cleared my system some.

For now, I am lying down with a cold wash cloth over my face trying not to be sick at my stomach and working on keeping the room from spinning.

These days happen. There is grace.

If you are reading the Bible through with me by reading 3 chapters a day. Keep reading. I'll catch up.

Blessings,
Jerri

January 28, 2014 Praying for my Church, Genesis 25-27, Belief and Work Go Hand in Hand

PRAYER

 Lord,

Be with the leaders of my church today. I know they are seeking you to know how to best lead us that we may know you and live the lives you desire for us. Give them insight, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Answer them when they call to you.

 Give them wisdom for prospering in their marriages and families. They are so focused on blessing our church. I ask that you would keep before them the importance of blessing their family. Your word says a man who cannot lead his family cannot lead your body. I think that is because a family goes awry when priorities are wrong. When eyes wonder to power, worldly success, laziness, and selfishness, a family goes awry. Holy Spirit, give these men and women wisdom to keep their priorities right, to know the only success is in seeking and serving you. Give them hearts for their families.

 Give them permission to rest. I’ve met too many pastors who do not know they are called to rest. I ask you to give these men and women wisdom to rest and be still. Bless them with your restoration and presence. Bless them with deep breathing of you and the joy that is found in just being with you.

 Lord, thank you for these men and women who desire you and have answered your call to be leaders and shepherds. Bless them and their families richly.

 To you be all glory,

Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 25—Ishmael lived in hostility toward all the tribes related to him. Really? Can you blame him?
 
^“21 Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless.” I wish husbands really understood this. So much deep stuff right here in this one sentence. So much poverty in marriage and relationships because men do not understand their roles as husbands and intercessors for their wives.

Oh, by the way, did you notice? Twenty years passed from the time of marriage till the promised babies came. Again, learning to hold on when the promise takes so much time…

Genesis 26—HUGE thing to see here. Isaac was in someone else’s territory. He didn’t have his own place yet, but God blessed him so much that the Philistines became afraid of him and asked him to leave. This seems like a small thing, and it is easy to read over it, but so many people I know are living in a foreign land, whether it be in a rental house or their job or a city where they would rather not be. Too often all they see is how things aren’t just what they want. Some may be there because they didn’t heed the call to get up and move. That is their fault, but in this case, Isaac was exactly where God told him to go, and it wasn’t his. It wasn’t the promise fulfilled, but it was still a place of prosperity.

I know folks who are miserable to talk to because all they talk about is how this place isn’t the promise fulfilled, and this is not what they Daddy wants for them, and this is not what they were promised, and the enemy is stealing from them. They don’t stop to think about the blessing of where they are. In Isaac’s case, he had someone covering him. He had someone protecting him from invaders. He had the covering of the king. He didn’t have to worry about safety or a lot “overhead” issues of being totally independent. Someone else could worry about those and let him focus on his crops and herds. Yes, Isaac was in a foreign country, but, God blessed him there.

And I want to point out too, Isaac didn’t just sit on his backside and wait for God to pour out heaven on him. He worked. He worked the soil. He tended the animals. He put in the effort so God could pour out the blessing.

It says Isaac reopened the wells the Philistines clogged. This is so deep with good stuff, but I just want to say one  thing: Isaac didn’t sit and whine about how someone had stolen his water or filled in his well. He did what had to be done to restore the blessing of water. He actively took back what his father had done.

Oh, my goodness, so much depth in this chapter!!! I don’t want to leave. I want to camp out here all day, but alas, this is not a dig a well and make it home reading. This is just a drive through tour, but I will have to come back on my own with a glass of tea and stay awhile.

Genesis 27—“Let the curse fall on me.” I wonder how many times she regretted that choice and those words. I wonder if having to send her son away and not seeing him was a curse to her.

 

MEMORIZATION

I reviewed several verses I’ve memorized this month. I try to review them once a week just to keep them fresh. How is your memorizing going?

 

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

I wrote a lot of my thoughts above, so I won’t spend time here, but I am pondering deeply on Isaac and his obedience. He didn’t just wait for the promise. He did what it took for God to bless him.

Lord, what do I need to be doing so you can bless me and prosper me? What am I doing wrong, and what am I not doing right?

Blessings, y’all.

January 27, 2014, Military Monday, Genesis 22-24, Jeremiah 29, All Captive Places

This morning early I was unable to sleep and thought of a friend of ours whose husband is away for Army training. She had to make a long drive, and it was raining, and like me, she hates driving in the rain, so she asked for prayer. God answered in some really neat ways that made it easier, but still she has to drive those two hours. In the time I was awake I lay here and prayed for her.

I think sometimes we try to make prayers so pious that we forget they are personal. Yes, our men and women in uniform are warriors who deal with things most of us hope to never see, but they also deal with stuff that hits us every day. They are married. They have parents who are ill. They lose friends. They get home sick. They worry about their kids.

When we pray for our military personnel, we don’t have to pray some official sounding prayer. All we have to do is look at our family and our friends and ourselves and know what to pray.

PRAYER

Lord,

I lift up our military personnel to you. For whatever reason, I keep thinking about the important days at home they miss. I think about the birthdays—and the births…and the deaths. I am thinking about the anniversaries that are celebrated with a quick skype session if they get celebrated at all. I keep thinking of the time they are gone and the things they miss that there is no way to get back, and while these men and women are committed warriors, they are human, and I know these things hurt them. I know their hearts ache.

I ask you to comfort those aches. Somehow give them peace. Only you can, and they need it.

I pray for the family and friends who are missing them. I pray that you would comfort them as well. I ask you to help the couples and the families to find ways to connect, even if it is so far away. I pray that you would give them special things to bind their hearts together, whether that be a special code or signal or word. Maybe it is a wink or a hand sign. Lord, help them to find a way to be one and to be connected even when they are so far apart.

Keep their hearts steady and faithful and give them strength to get through these hard times. They need you. Be everything for them.

Thank you, Lord.

 Amen

 BIBLE READING

Genesis 22—I have heard this story since I was little. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it then. I now have kids, and I realize how much faith it took for Abraham to do what he did. Okay, so I’m not impressed with the way he treated Sarah, but this is hardcore. This man had faith on a scale I can’t touch.

 Genesis 23—Sarah is dead. I’ve heard different sermons on this passage and the negotiating that went on, but the simple fact is Sarah is dead and buried. Moving on.

 Genesis 24—Faith. “So what if the woman won’t come back with me. Do I take your son there?”

 “No. The promise is HERE.”

 The answer wasn’t based on circumstances or what Abraham could see. It was based on faith. He knew his son would have descendents. He had to for the promise to be fulfilled. Abraham’s servant was ready to do what had to be done to make the promise happen. Abraham knew God would do what He had to do to keep the promise. Abraham did not have to make things happen. He just had to let God fulfill His promise.

 

MEMORIZATION

Working on finishing this up.

Jeremiah 29

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

I memorize, and I meditate. Yesterday I got through, “I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Then today I was going to finish this, but I got caught up in the next sentence.

“I will gather you from ALL the nations and places I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.

All the places of banishment. All the places of captivity. All the places of rejection.

All the places where the true identity was lost and a false identity was taken.

You will seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart…and I will bring you back from all the places where you’ve gotten lost and lost yourself….

 

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

 I’m pondering….

January 26, 2014 Sabbath, Genesis 19-21, Jeremiah 29, Restoration and God's Perfect Timing

PRAYER

Lord,

Today is the day I choose to rest in you. I choose not to take up concerns about the nation, the world, or next week. Today I simply want to breathe. I want my mind to rest and my soul to rest and my heart to rest. I want a break from all the stuff. Help me today to focus on the moment. Today I have time in your house. Let me focus on the worship and giving you my praise. Help me to focus on how worthy you are and how good you are. Help me to tune out everyone else and just pour myself into you.

 After church, I have time with my family. I know Sunday is usually seen as “my only day off”, but, Lord, it’s the day I have when I can focus on my family. Help me to really hear them and really see them. Help me to think of ways to show them I know they are gifts.

 Help me to rest from everything I can do nothing about today. Help me to lay it down and just enjoy today with no thought of tomorrow, just to enjoy the moment.

 Thank you for this Sabbath to rest in you and worship you. May you be glorified in me.

 Amen

 

BIBLE READING

Genesis 19—What a mess! It is really easy to look at Lot and wonder where his brain was. I mean, God was trying to get him out of there, and he was doing everything to stay. It’s always easier to see in other people’s lives. But how often do I stay in friendships, stay in commitments, or whatever when God is saying, “Get out! This is BAD!”? How often do people stay in jobs or even marriages long after they should have left because they can’t see past the walls or people around them? Yeah. Suddenly Lot doesn’t look so stupid. Suddenly Lot looks a lot like the person looking back at me from the mirror.

Genesis 20—I like how Abimelek “vindicated” Sarah and said in front of everyone, “This isn’t your fault.” Good man.

Genesis 21—A promised baby arrives.

A human fix was sent away.
A man of God was recognized.

MEMORIZATION

Working on finishing this up.

Jeremiah 29

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

In the Bible, the word “restore” means to return to the point of departure.

In Jeremiah 29:10-14, the Lord keeps saying, “I will bring you back to where you left.”

I will restore you.

Today the kids picked a movie to watch, and they picked the new one we have, “The Book of Daniel.” It started with a soliloquy of Daniel praying, and he quoted this scripture. It makes me wonder.

When we moved here, it felt as though the Lord said the days of loss and sorrow were over, that this was the new beginning. Then so many things happened that were so hard. It felt like all of last year was just hard.

Then at the beginning of this year, the Lord gave me a word for this year, but then He also told me to memorize this scripture, the whole passage. The whole passage isn’t the too often incorrectly applied great plans part. The whole passage is about restoration. When the time of punishment and correction are done, I will bring you back to this land.

The land was their inheritance. It was their promise of good things. It was more than that, though.

The land was their identity…as tribes of Judah, as God’s chosen people.

When the time of correction and discipline is over, I will come and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. Then you will call to me and come and pray to me. You will find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, and I will bring you back from captivity. I will set you free from the lies that hold you imprisoned. I will set you free from what keeps you from living all you truly were created to be.

I have to really just sit in this. Not only is the passage I have just memorized, but we’ve had that video over three months and just watched it today. The Lord leads my path. The timing of those two things are perfect in Him. I really just have to sit in this.

January 25, 2014 Genesis 16-18, Praying for Israel, Being Still and Knowing

Last night I attended the visitation for Jack Clark. Today they lay his body to rest. I was up late thinking about a lot of things. It was a good thinking. However, this morning I am running late, but even when I am running late, the first place to run to is Him.

 

PRAYER

Today is Sabbath for Jews and Messianic Jews alike. While we as Christians are grafted into the family of God, the Jews are still the chosen people, and we are told two things in the Bible that should keep the Jewish people and Israel in our prayers.

1.     I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”—Genesis 12:3

2.     Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
  “May those who love you be secure.
May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”—Psalm 122:6-7

 Father, this morning I lift up Jerusalem to you, and I ask that you would grant it peace within its walls and security within its citadels. I ask you to stand against the enemies of Israel and pass judgment on them accordingly. I ask you to raise up your people to be a blessing. There are so many answers to the world’s problems within your people. I ask you to make them a showcase. Lord, forgive our country where our leaders have not supported Israel. I ask you to give them a change of heart and turn their hearts to you and your people. I pray that the blessings of Heaven would be poured out on Israel and your people. Reveal your Son to your people and unleash the Holy Spirit as never before so that an even greater harvest of souls unto salvation would come. May you be glorified and exalted among your people and throughout the earth. Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 16—I’ll be honest. I think Abram and Sarai are a mess. I mean really. He says, “Lie and tell them you are my sister,” and leaves her to the hand of other men. Thank goodness God  thought more highly of her than Abram did. Then she has this great plan to let him sleep with her maid so the maid would get pregnant. The plan works perfectly, and then, she gets mad and blames Abram. Talk about a dysfunctional couple! And, yet, out of this craziness comes the people of God…and the Savior that allows God to reach people. Oh. My. Lands. Their family line went from an amazing mess to an amazing Messiah. Only an amazing God could pull something like that off. And He is MY amazing God. I wonder what He wants to do with me.

Genesis 17—My take away? Abram did it at once. He didn’t lollygag around. He didn’t give himself time to rationalize not doing it. He didn’t ask for confirmation in fifteen different ways because, really, surely God would never ask for THAT. Nope. He was all in right then. So you know, now I’m asking, “Lord, forgive me for excuses and ignoring you. Can you please repeat anything that I didn’t listen to the first time so I can hear you and do it now?” Yes, I know. If you prayed that, you are really hoping there is nothing. I know. Me, too.

BUT, can we talk about the name change a moment? I am now officially in my mid-40s, and one of the mental torments the enemy likes to toss my way is my age and how much of my life is used up. I want to point out something really big here. Abraham was nearly twice my age when God changed his name. The issue was Abraham’s age. It was God’s plan. NEVER let worldly circumstances dictate heavenly outcomes.

Genesis 18—Fifteen or more years after the original promise of a baby…Sarah laughs at the idea that the promise still holds its power. It is easy to sit here and question how she could doubt God, but the real question is: How can I?

MEMORIZATION

Today I am just simmering in God’s power and faithfulness, and I am challenged. I know some of the promises He has spoken to me, and as I read through Genesis, I am convicted. Am I believing or laughing? Have I let circumstances affect my expectations? As these thoughts roll through my mind, I also hear a verse I memorized two weeks ago.

Be still and know I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be exalted in the earth.
--Psalm 46:10—

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

Be still.

And know I am God.

The stilling is first. Then the knowing.

From my journal…

It is tiresome trying to hold onto a promise that never happens…but hurts you, and this just hurts.

Last night I was reading Genesis 13-15, and God made a monster promise to Abram. “Children numbering more than the stars.”

I cannot imagine how hard that was. He and Sarai wanted a baby so badly. It must have been the most raw and painful part of his heart, and God laid it wide open.

Then they waited.

 

To read more, please join me here.....

January 24, 2014 Family Friday, Abram, and Aching Heads

Some days are hard. Today I am battling through a headache, home issues that need to be fixed, and other things. My temptation is to skip today and make up tomorrow. However, I know the importance of habit, but more than that, I know when I can't find Him, He can still find me.

 

PRAYER

Lord, there are people in our families do not believe in you, who do not believe they are in need of salvation. Make your truth known to them.

BIBLE READING

Genesis 13—Things to note: Lot took what looked better, but in the end, it nearly killed him.
Abram built an altar wherever he was, and he just kept getting blessed.

Genesis 14—The conversation between the king of Sodom and Abram still impresses me. Abram refuses to take anything that might even hint that he was blessed or increased because of wickedness.

Genesis 15—And Abram believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

MEMORIZATION

I have spent most of my day with a headache throbbing behind my eyes.  I have gone through verses I know, but I have not worked on anything knew. You?

 BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

 I am challenged by Abram and his faith. I have nothing to say. Just pondering.

January 23, 2014 Genesis 10-12, Being the Blessing in Our Community, Jeremiah 29, When Everything Changes

Pretty chilly in my neck of the woods this morning. On mornings like this, it is easy to curl up under the covers and hide. While you’re hiding, hide in Him, and while you’re at it, hide some other folks with you.

PRAYER

Thursday morning and we are hiding our communities with us in Him.

Father God,

This morning I am lifting up my community to you. I know several of them but certainly not all. Of the ones I know, a few truly follow you. A few attend church, and some know you exist but nothing else. I am asking you to bless my community through me. Show me how to strengthen friendships and love them like you do. Show me how to be a support to them. Give me the right words, not my words because they come from my small human knowledge, but your words because they come from your knowing all. Help me to love them like you do. Even when I don’t agree with their choices or lifestyles, strengthen me not to judge but to love, and, Lord, work in me to be an example of a Christ-lover and Jesus-Liver so they see you and know the power you have in a life.

Holy Spirit, be at work in my community to prepare hearts to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. I know there will opposition in the spiritual realm to the advancement of your kingdom, and I am asking you to fight on behalf of these people. I am asking you to protect my family as we seek these hearts for you. Give me courage and strength to never back down from the right thing, to never stop loving, and when someone slaps me on the cheek, because we both know it’ll come, give me peace to love them anyway.

And, Lord, forgive me if I grumble because it seems too hard. Thank you that some folks I’ve known fought for me and my soul and didn’t find it too hard. I pray I would have the same tenacity as they had. Thank you for loving every single soul in my community. Thank you for the chance to love them and serve them. To you always be the glory. Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 10—About the second or third time I read this through, I decided to do a family tree to see where all these people went because I knew they were important. I knew they were not just random names but had impact on the future generations. I couldn’t make it big enough. However, I am still fascinated, and every once in a while, the idea crosses my mind again.

Genesis 11--⁶ The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” I want to keep this thought in front of me. I’ll talk about why in a minute.

Genesis 12—

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

² I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.
³ I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.”

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him…

I really need to add this to my memorization list. This is so rich in promise and challenge.  For me, this is very personal right now. As some of you know, a little over 3 ½ years ago, our life changed radically. At one point, I told someone, “I still live in the same house. I still have my kids. Everything else has changed.” It was true. Now, we have moved and are not even in that area. It seemed like God was just destroying everything we knew and cared about, but that is not God’s nature. God is not a thief. God is a giver. He started the world with giving. He gave the perfect environment. He gave an amazing garden. When mankind blew it, He gave them covering, and eventually, He gave them a road back in through Christ. God is a giver. It is the essence of who He is. What looks like God taking Abram out of all he knew is really God giving him a new place to flourish. He’s giving him a new way and place to be blessed. He’s giving him a great name, a great life, and a great promise.

In our lives, God did the same thing. Yes, a lot was taken away, but we’ve been given a new life here, a place to bless people, new relationships that bless us. He has given us promises for this place that are just as real and certain as the promises He gave Abram.

I’m telling you this because 1) I have had a few mentally challenging days, and I need to hear this. I need this in MY journal in capital letters, and believe me, it is, but 2) I think there are some out there who are watching life changes in radical ways, ways you would have never chosen. I understand. I wouldn’t have chosen ours either, but I want to encourage you that change and having what has always been taken away isn’t always punishment for something you’ve done, and it certainly isn’t because God is just cruel and likes to see if He can wreak havoc in your life. If He is taking you out of something or away from something, it’s because He is taking you TO something, and His intentions for you are always good. His heart for you is good.

It may not look like it is good or His plans are good, and I’ll tell you one woman at a previous church said that to me at the wrong time, and my response was raw and ugly. Right now, you may have a raw and ugly response, too. That’s okay. I’ll take it. I’m not asking you to love this or the process you are in at this very moment. Sometimes those moments are hard and excruciating. All I’m asking is for you to ask Him to show you something good about where you are and where you are going and keep looking for the answer. It may not come in a second, but if you keep looking, you’ll find it. If you seek Him, you will find Him because right now, at this very second, He is seeking you because He wants to be found.

In Abram’s case, he was offered the easy choice move. Some of us don’t get it easy, and we don’t get a choice. The floor is totally jerked out from under us, but the promise is the same for both: I will turn this into a good thing. I will bless you. I will make you a blessing.

This is where we do have a choice. We can trust Him, follow Him, and let Him bless us and make us into a blessing, or we can hold onto the hurt and anger and close our hearts to Him. This is where the temptation to do it our way likes to take a foothold because if that is the best He can do, we can do without Him. Trust me on this. You will never see the best of anything from a place of anger or rage. You will only see the best of Him when you follow Him and trust Him and let Him give you the good things. This is the place where our faith is tested. Abram believed Him and look at the results. A nation was created…a Savior was born.

The question then becomes: do I trust Him to bless me like that even when all I see is what it looks like I’m leaving or losing? Do you?

 

MEMORIZATION

Why do we memorize? Because God is one big picture, not a 10,000 little pieces. The verse I’ve been working on this week is the same thing God could have told Abram back in Genesis.

“Abram, I know you are leaving everything you know. I know this looks crazy. I know you always assumed your future was here, but trust me. I know the plans I have for you, Abram. I plan to prosper you and not do you harm. I plan to give you hope and a future.”

 Who knows? Maybe if Abram had really understood that middle part about not doing harm, he wouldn’t have asked his wife to life to save his bum. Why memorize? Because when the hard things come that knock us to our foundation, our foundation had better be Him.

 This is what the Lord says,

“When seventy years are completed for Babylon,
I will come back to you and fulfill my good promise
Bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,”
Declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call to me and come and pray to me
And I will listen to you.
You will seek me, and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
 

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

I think it is safe to say, I covered this part already. And so you know, the above is being posted without edit. I don’t edit when I journal, and I am not editing here. This is not about my being a perfect writer or getting bogged down in words or delivery. It’s about being real, and sometimes, it’s about being really raw. I know I said I wanted to get back to the verse about their being one and nothing being too hard. I will see about writing about that on Undaunted Reality later today or maybe I’ll write it up and post it here. I do want to get it written because it is powerful, and it is a concept our world doesn’t comprehend. Marriages, families, and the body of Christ in general are coming apart because we don’t understand the importance or power of oneness. Stop! I’ll end up writing another page for you to read. Don’t worry. This is too important not to discuss, but I don’t want it competing with the power of the promise of blessing we just discussed with Abram. So for now, thanks for hanging out with me while I spent time hanging out with Him. Hope you take Him right into your day with you.

Blessings,

Jerri

January 22, 2014 We the People...Who Give Lavishly, Genesis 7-9, Jeremiah 29

Today as I write this, I don't want to be writing it. What I want to write is about the loss of a beautiful man. Jack Clark taught agriculture (AG) and shop classes for decades where I went to school, and today he passed on. I have no idea how many of us are feeling the gaping hole tonight, but honestly, I just want to think about him and what a blessing he has been to so many and how much better our lives are, and I've been trying to figure out how to shift my gaze from Mr. Clark to our nation, and how do I pray for our nation when I hurt for his family? I think I know.

PRAYER

Dear Lord,

Today you chose to take home a man who loved like I believe you love. He didn't teach a subject. He taught young people. He taught them the power of patience by giving it. He taught them they can do great things if they stick to it. He taught them needing a second try was normal, and he taught us to not give up on ourselves and not to give up on others.

He taught us so many things about living well.

Lord, this country is built by people like Mr. Clark, teachers, mentors, leaders, neighbors, folks who step in when parents aren't there, people who give of their lives so living is made more clear. I ask today for your blessing on these people. I ask that you would bless them for how they strengthen this country with their lives. Thank you for their selfless giving. Lord, bring forth more of them.

Thank you for Mr. Clark and Kay and all they poured into each of us. Thank you for the other men and women that other young people say the very same thing about. Thank you for the impact they had on this country through the impact they had on our lives.

Tonight, I ask especially for Mr. Clark's family, for their comfort. Only you can comfort them and carry them through this. Be with Kay as she lives without her best friend's presence. May you comfort those who mourn, and with time and your healing, may they dance again.

With deepest gratitude for those who love like you,

Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 7--Did you notice? He didn't take one pair of each animal. He took seven pair, which happens to be the number of pair needed to develop a new population of animals that are healthy.

 

And the very day Noah and his family entered the ark, it started to rain. God's precision timing always leaves me amazed, and sometimes it leaves me annoyed. Just keeping it real.

 

Genesis 8--Instead of grumbling about the smell or the chore or the conditions of life in the ark, instead of walking out the door and bellowing, "It's about time!", Noah made an altar and sacrificed to the Lord. No wonder the aroma was pleasing. No wonder it reached His heart.

 

Genesis 9--God blessed them and told them to increase. Does God ever bless and it not come with increase or obvious fruit? Seriously. Anybody see that in the Bible? I can't think of any instance where that happened. Anyone have one?

 

 

MEMORIZATION

This is hard to focus on today, so I am making sure my verse for the year is solid, maybe because I feel helpless with knowledge of how Mr. Clark's family is grieving. Maybe I need to remember even in the worst places, I can offer a safe place.

Each one will be like a shelter from the wind,

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in the desert,

and the shadow of a giant rock in a thirsty land.

Isaiah 32:2

Lord, grant me wisdom to know how to be a comfort in hard places.

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

 

Today I find it interesting that I read about Noah and the ark. For the first time, I saw the journey we were on as a trip in the ark. God said, "I'm going to destroy everything as you know it, but I've got you," and He did, and He has. Just like the new life He gave Noah, ours is blessed and fruitful and good. It has aspects of what it used to be, but for the most part, it's all new, and we have to learn to live in it differently.

Today the Clark family enters into an ark they will hate, just as we hated ours, and they will ache for what was, but it is gone. They will have to do like all of us. They have to find life on the other side of the destruction. It is a hard thing, but it can be blessed richly.

I wonder how many of you are sitting in an ark knowing what you knew and loved is gone. You can't imagine the future yet. You just know it isn't what it used to be, and the transition to get there stinks and is hard and uncomfortable and miserable, and does it really matter if you get out of bed? I mean, this ark sort of floats itself, you know.

If you are in the ark, I want to you know, I spent a few years in an ark between the life with a husband/dad, mom, extended family, and hopes for a happy ending and where we are now. I hated it, but I realize it had to happen for me to get here. No. I am not trying to candy coat or cliche' comfort.
Some of you are wondering if their is any hope at all, and I want you to know, yes, there is. I know it is hard. I know it hurts. I know this is not the ride you would have asked for, but I also know God is good, and on the other side of this are blessings and fruitful life and increase...and a rainbow with your name on it.

You see, that rainbow wasn't just about the flood. It was a promise for everyone who ever steps into an ark. It's a promise that the rain will one day stop. You'll walk out of the ark, and life will really happen again.

May God grant you strength for the journey and courage to believe in your rainbow.

From My Journal--A Love that Expects Nothing

I'm still stuck on that tree in the Garden.

I can't get it out of my head because here is the thing. God really had to put that tree in there. Think about it. Without that tree, Eden suddenly goes from paradise to a spiritual whorehouse with one doozy of a powerful pimp on a domination kick. The tree had to be there.

Except, it didn't.

If God wanted to play the God-All-Mighty-and-don't-you-forget-it card, He could have. He not only had the power, but He had the right.

Instead, He planted a tree.

To read more, please join me at Undaunted Reality.

January 21, 2014 Praying for My Church, Genesis 4-6, and Jeremiah 29

Technically, we are on day 2 of this adventure, but if you are just joining us, jump right in! Yesterday we read Genesis 1-3 and prayed for our military. Today we are going to pray for our churches and read Genesis 4-6 and give some general thoughts about anything that catches our eye. Ready? Alrighty then. Let’s get going!

PRAYER

You ever try to pray for your church and not pray to fix something? You know what I mean. The pastor who has the bad delivery or the secretary who has the bad attitude. Sometimes all we can see in our church are the things that we want God to fix. Well, maybe today, I need Him to start making my church better by fixing me.

Daddy, we are new to our church, and really everything is shiny and wonderful. Honeymoons are glorious things, but I know honeymoons end, and it is easy for things to become tarnished and dull pretty quickly. I’m asking you to keep my heart open to the joy of my church. Help me to see the ways it blesses my family and others. Help me to see the good things, like the way the way our campus pastor always greets us with a smile after service.

Help me to be a good thing.

 When someone is sitting alone, turn my eyes to them so I see them. I’ve sat in too many services feeling unseen. Please, let me see others.

Give me words to encourage our pastor and volunteers and let them know I appreciate them. When they needed it, prompt me to drop a note or even a small gift of gratitude to let them know their service is being fruitful and making a difference.

Show me where you want to use the gifts you instilled in me to be a blessing to people who attend. I want to be a producer and not a parasite.

And, Daddy, when I am petty, because we both know I can be, give me wisdom to keep it to myself, to deal with it with you, and to let it go. If something bothering me can bless the church by making it better, give me courage to speak to the right person and grace to speak kindly, but if my words only cause problems, I pray you would convict me to deal with my own issue and my own heart.

Daddy, help me be the kind of person I would want to see and speak with every week. Help me to be an answer to someone’s hard week or rough day.

Thank you for my church and the great people who serve and attend there. May you be glorified in us all. Amen

BIBLE READING

Genesis 4—I will not drown in all those names. I will not drown in all those names.
The big picture information:
Adam and Eve had Cain and Abel.
Can killed Abel, and Cain was sent out of God’s presence.
There is a guy name Lamech who decided two wives were better than one and killed someone, too, but not because of the wives.
Adam and Eve had Seth.

Genesis 5—Don’t drown in the begats. They do serve an honest purpose, but right now, for our purpose, it’s just filling in a long blank until we get to important stuff, like Enoch, who was no longer because God took him. Can you imagine?! Then we get to the next major piece of our story: Noah.

Genesis 6—First, no, I don’t know what it means by the Nephilim and sons of God. Right now, I’m not digging into that. Maybe for a personal study, I might, but for this purpose, I’m simply reading. I might highlight it or note it in my journal so I go back and look later, but remember, this is not a deep study, just an overview.

God was sorry He made mankind because it was so wicked. It is hard for me to wrap my brain around that, and it does contradict some theology I was taught growing up, but for me the primary take away is so simple: Dear God, may I never be so wicked that you are sorry you made me. Maybe I always bring you pleasure and not regret.

Noah. I tried to actually draw the ark out once. Then I found a picture in a book, and it had all the dimensions and such already. I felt a bit silly, but I was hoping by drawing it, I would keep getting lost in the description. Finally I realized the importance of the description to me is this: God had a plan. It was a detailed plan that had to be followed to perfection because God does not waste resources. He didn’t waste space, food, animals, or timber. God knows what He wants done and what it takes to get it done. It was that way with the ark, and it is that way in my life.

And why did this ark thing work? Because Noah did everything God told him to do. That alone will sink me to my knees asking, “Lord, am I doing everything you told me to do? Is there anything I’m missing?”

MEMORIZATION

Still plodding in Jeremiah 29:10-14.

This morning I wrote in my journal:

This is what the Lord says,
“When seventy years are completed for Babylon,
I will come back to you and fulfill my good promise
Bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,”
Declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call to me and come and pray to me
And I will listen to you.
You will seek me, and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Okay, that last part doesn’t seem quite right. Let me check that very quickly. Slight fix.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Do a few words make a difference? I am tempted to say they don’t, and yet, some words really do matter, and for me, this is also an exercise of excellence. I memorize quotes from books or movies being careful to get them correct word for word, and they just fit my whim with no eternal significance. If I give such diligence to something that ultimately means nothing, how much more diligence should I give to something that means everything?

 I also reviewed previous verses. I try to do that at least one a week to keep them fresh. I write them all in my journal, but my kids type theirs.  

How is your memorizing going today?

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

I’m still fixated on that tree in the garden. When I’m done rolling it over, I’ll pour it out for you to see. For now, anything you want to share that has been roaming around your mind?

Thanks for sharing this part of your day with me. I pray it is a great day for you! And I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Blessings,

Jerri

From my Journal--Love That Puts a Tree in the Garden

I find that I am fixated on Genesis 2 and the fact God did all those things--choosing specific plants and food for their beauty and flavor for mankind--out of love. He gave the very best He had because He loved them, and He gave the option not to choose Him.

He put all that great stuff in the garden...and then He put a tree that gave them the ability to reject it all.

Was the very best love, the love that gives knowing someone has the option to leave?

Is the deepest love the one that loves greatly knowing the other may choose not to love at all?

Is that perfect love? If Eden was perfect, and that is the love He gave, it has to be.

To read the rest, please join me at Undaunted Reality.

January 20, 2014, Military Monday, Genesis 1-3, Jeremiah 29:10-14

I still have yet to figure out the details. I know how I would LIKE to do this. I would like to have multiple posts with prayer, Bible reading, memorization and journal, and a whole digest that you can subscribe to according to interests. However, I don't want to drown you in four different posts, and I can't figure out how to set it up so you can subscribe to individual ones. I have an idea, but I need to research it some. If anyone has any suggestions beyond a website I have no clue how to do, I am listening.

BUT, for now, let's get this party started!!!

PRAYER

I try to always start my morning with prayer. Usually before I'm out of bed, my Lord and I have started chatting. I've been asked a lot about how I pray. Simple, I talk to God. Nothing more complicated than that. I'll do a longer post on this some time in the future, but for now, let's get to our prayer strategy topic: Military Monday. One thing you need to know. I take out military very seriously. They are not a nebulous group out there fighting bad guys to me. To me, these are the guards God puts in place to protect the life I value for my children. These men and women keep people with destructive mindsets and plans from destroying our lives by destroying the way of life we have  and the values we hold. In my mind, these are our personal guards set in place by my God, and I speak to Him about them as such.

You can pray these words or pray your own. Up to you. This is just how I pray...

Daddy, thank you for the men and women who stand for my children and me everyday. Thank you for the families who hug and kiss them goodbye and sending them to dangerous places to guard us by protecting us from terrorists and those who would destroy us and what we value. Daddy, today I ask that you would  be with every man and woman serving my children and me in harm's way. Give them courage to believe for good things. Give them strength when they are ridiculously exhausted in every way. Give them comfort when they lose one of their own. Daddy, be with them in a way only you can. Be the brother in arms that holds onto them. I ask for your supernatural protection over them. I ask that plans of the enemy would come to nothing. I ask that bombs and IEDs and grenades would detonate in the hands of those who would attack the men and women you have assigned to protect us. I ask you to be their guard before them and after them. I pray that a thousand would fall at their right hand and then thousand at their left. I ask you to be crazy good to them. And, Daddy, let them sleep peacefully. Still the nightmares. Still the memories. I know you have given them this assignment. Give them peace in the fulfilling of it. I ask for your miraculous healing on the minds, souls, and spirits of these men and women to stop PTSD and other battle related problems so these men and women are not victims to the war but victors over the enemy. Set them free from what would torment them. Bless them with peace, Daddy. Bless them with peace. Lord, you are a God of war. War for them. They need YOU to be the one fighting for them. Thank you for your faithfulness. To you be all the glory, Amen

Do you have a Monday topic? Want to share with the rest of us?

BIBLE READING

I am too ambitious sometimes. I wanted to do three different Bible reading plans: 1 chapter a day, 3 chapters a day, and 5 chapters a day. However, I simply cannot figure that out, and if anyone ends up on a different pace, I want them to be able to easily find thoughts on the chapters they are on, so I think the easiest way is 3 chapters a day. That will get us through the Bible in a year. Since we aren't going for deep stuff here, this is a pretty good pace. Even my teenagers are doing this with me, so, let's jump in.

Genesis 1--Okay, I love this part. "In the beginning, God created." It's totally dark. Nothing is there. No reason to expect anything new. Looks dead as a cosmic tomb. Then, this voice speaks to the tomb and says, "Let's light this place up," and He does. I have no clue how many times in the last 3 years I've meditated on this and flat out clung to it because it looked dark and dead, but my Daddy can take a tomb and create a universe exploding with life. He can make a new life for me too.

Summary of chapter 1: Perfectly ordered creation that God declared was good.

Genesis 2--Whoa! I'm slow! All these years, and I just got this. Check this out. "God planted a garden." He didn't just speak and plants pop up. This was a well-planned, intentional garden. He planted it specifically with these that look good and taste good. This was designed JUST FOR MANKIND. Talk about an attention to detail!! OH. MY. GOODNESS. It is like a suitor preparing the perfect setting for the perfect date!!! If I stopped right there, it would be enough for me to chew on for awhile. God Almighty set up the perfect date. Just wow....

"And the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." So God sets up this perfect date, and then says, "But  I will give you the option not to choose me. Despite how much love I pour out on you and how obvious I make it, I will give you the option not to love me back." My breath has caught in my chest, and I am trying to wrap my mind around this kind of sacrificial love. Someone who loves this wildly and fully...who is willing to not be loved at all...What kind of God is this? Once again, I am...just rendered speechless by the crazy depth of His love and selflessness.

By the way, I'm not afraid of the "helper", man and woman topic, but I'll tell you, this is something the Lord is really speaking to me about right now. The concept of "helper". I won't get into it here because it is a discussion of great theological entrenchment, but maybe I'll talk about it on Undaunted Reality some time.

Chapter 3--Folks wonder how Eve could have been so stupid. How could she trade paradise with God for something so stupid? I don't know. I look myself in the mirror and ask how I do that very thing almost every day.

Some of my thoughts. Yours?

 

MEMORIZATION

Jeremiah 29:10-14 is what I am working on. My goal is to have it done this week. Right now, I have verses 10 and 11 done.

This is what the Lord says, "When seventy years are completed for Babylon,
I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to you
to bring you back to this place.
For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord,
"Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you."

I plan to work on verse 13 tomorrow. By the way, this is how I memorize things. I break them down into thoughts or sections of verses or sentences.

What are you working on?

BIBLE STUDY/JOURNAL

 

So much going on in my head right now about Jeremiah 29:10-14. On one hand, I want to be disciplined and cover everything I said I would. On the other, I don't want to get in trouble for being proud of how I perform again, and I'm still thinking this through and trying to listen as I memorize and meditate, so for today, you saw a big bit of my journal on the reading part. I didn't mean to comment so much, but prayerfully, it'll bless someone. For now, I'm going to go meditate on this some more.

What are you meditating on?

Wow. It's done. The first REAL blog post for Gypsy Ponderings is done. Honestly, I could stay right here and spend a few hours, but I don't want to bog you down. I know you are busy, and I am going to spend some time considering Jeremiah 29.

I hope you enjoyed our first day together and come back tomorrow!! Let me know how you are doing on this journey, too. Okay? Praying for you!!!