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.