What stood out today: v19:16 When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them. v36 So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. v37 Moabites, Ammonites v20:6 Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience and so I have kept you from sinning against me. v20:16 To Sarah, Abimelech said, I am giving your brother 1000 shekels of silver. This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.
My response: God, I am struck still by how involved you are. How loving – a valiant rescuer. You rescue Lot and his family against their will. Lot was quite polluted by Sodom. He had little regard for his daughters, yet, Lord Jesus, you rescue them all.
Then in chapter 20 you rescue Abimelech from sinning against you. And you teach him and his officials to fear you. And you completely vindicate Sarah from her shame of not being honored as Abraham’s wife.
God you are so faithful, engaged, powerful, merciful, redemptive, active, intimately involved. These are all reasons to fear you. But it is a strange kind of fear; it is a warm fear. A fear that is somehow comfortable, inviting: a fear that attracts, not repells.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Genesis 16 - 18
What stood out today: v16:7 The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert…Where have you come from and where are you going? v13 You are the God who sees me for she said, I have now seen the One who sees me. v17:3 Abram fell face down and God said to him, As for me, this is my covenant with you…v10 The covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. v13 My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. v19 Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son. I will establish my covenant with him. v18:14 Is anything to hard/wonderful for the Lord?
My response: Jesus, are you the angel of the Lord? It seems that you are. It is like you to search out, to go after the oppressed, even Hagar. This seems so familiar to the woman at the well. Is it the same well? I love how you see and you reveal yourself. In your covenant with Abram you give land, a name, a reputation/renown, many offspring. Your request of Abram with circumcision is a strange one. Your blessing goes with the son of promise. Its your covenant, its your choice…
In chapter 18, you are so engaged, so involved, so initiating. You decide when; you come for a visit, you speak, you promise, you ask, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord? v17 Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? v19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just..”
And then the conversation about Sodom and Gomorrah. God you must have been so pleased with Abraham, the banter back and forth, his confidence in your character. Holy Spirit, would you give me such faith, such confidence? Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for, confident in what we do not see. Yes, Jesus, a faith that is more precious than pure gold.
My response: Jesus, are you the angel of the Lord? It seems that you are. It is like you to search out, to go after the oppressed, even Hagar. This seems so familiar to the woman at the well. Is it the same well? I love how you see and you reveal yourself. In your covenant with Abram you give land, a name, a reputation/renown, many offspring. Your request of Abram with circumcision is a strange one. Your blessing goes with the son of promise. Its your covenant, its your choice…
In chapter 18, you are so engaged, so involved, so initiating. You decide when; you come for a visit, you speak, you promise, you ask, “Is there anything too hard for the Lord? v17 Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? v19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just..”
And then the conversation about Sodom and Gomorrah. God you must have been so pleased with Abraham, the banter back and forth, his confidence in your character. Holy Spirit, would you give me such faith, such confidence? Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for, confident in what we do not see. Yes, Jesus, a faith that is more precious than pure gold.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Genesis 14 - 15
What stood out today: v14:18 Then Melchizadek, King of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High. v22 I have raised my hand to the Lord, I will accept nothing belonging to you. v15:1 Do not be afraid Abram. I am your shield, I am your very great reward. v6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. v8 But Abram said, O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it? v17 A smoking fire pot with a blazing torah appeared and passed between the pieces. v18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram.
My response: There is a world war, all the kings of the area are allied and engaged. Lot is captured, Abram pursues and rescues, Melchizadek blesses with bread and wine. What a picture of Jesus. The king of Salem, the king of Shalom. Abram refuses the spoils of the battle. God appears and says, I am your very great reward. Abram asks about God’s previous promise? God shows him the stars. Abram believes God and it is credited to him as righteousness. Abram asks, how can I know? God makes a covenant with animals and a smoking fire pot and a Torah. God redefines the land given to Abram.
God, I am struck by a couple of things. You are in the battle with us. You must be in order to be our shield, our very great reward. You are providing, you are promising, you are blessing, you are relating, you are so engaged. I feel greatly valued, dearly loved.
“Rick, remember you are a star, one of the offspring of Abram. Not a shooting star, a star that shines forever.” Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, may that star bring you great glory and great pleasure.
My response: There is a world war, all the kings of the area are allied and engaged. Lot is captured, Abram pursues and rescues, Melchizadek blesses with bread and wine. What a picture of Jesus. The king of Salem, the king of Shalom. Abram refuses the spoils of the battle. God appears and says, I am your very great reward. Abram asks about God’s previous promise? God shows him the stars. Abram believes God and it is credited to him as righteousness. Abram asks, how can I know? God makes a covenant with animals and a smoking fire pot and a Torah. God redefines the land given to Abram.
God, I am struck by a couple of things. You are in the battle with us. You must be in order to be our shield, our very great reward. You are providing, you are promising, you are blessing, you are relating, you are so engaged. I feel greatly valued, dearly loved.
“Rick, remember you are a star, one of the offspring of Abram. Not a shooting star, a star that shines forever.” Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, may that star bring you great glory and great pleasure.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Genesis 12 - 13
What stood out today: v12:6 At that time the Canaanites were in the land. v10 Now there was a famine in the land. v17 But the Lord inflicted serious disease on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram's wife, Sarai. v13:15 All the land that you see... v16 I will make your offspring... v17 Go, walk through the land for I am giving it to you. v18 So Abram moved...at Hebron, where he built an altar to the Lord.
My response: Hmm...Lord, you always start with one man, one couple - Adam & Eve, Noah, Abram & Sarai. You do great things through them. Isa 60:22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.
I am also struck how you delivered Sarai from Pharaoh with diseases. Seems like Abram did wrong and Pharaoh got punished. Was Abram justified in his fear by Pharaoh's reputation? You know Lord. Anyway, it is a display of your terror. Your care and promises to Abram are tender and wonderful. You blessed him with your promises and material wealth. Even through his choices and errors, you move sovereignly. You, Lord God, are great and good.
My response: Hmm...Lord, you always start with one man, one couple - Adam & Eve, Noah, Abram & Sarai. You do great things through them. Isa 60:22 The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.
I am also struck how you delivered Sarai from Pharaoh with diseases. Seems like Abram did wrong and Pharaoh got punished. Was Abram justified in his fear by Pharaoh's reputation? You know Lord. Anyway, it is a display of your terror. Your care and promises to Abram are tender and wonderful. You blessed him with your promises and material wealth. Even through his choices and errors, you move sovereignly. You, Lord God, are great and good.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Genesis 10 - 11
What stood out today: All of chapter 10 and v11:6 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.
My response: In chapter 10, there were lots of children, vast and great accomplishments. Nimrod, the son of Ham whom Noah cursed, built Babylon, Assyris, Nineveh, and Shiner where the Tower of Babel was built. Why was Nimrod a mighty warrior/hunter before you, Lord?
v11:6 - What a great verse to support team. If we really communicate then nothing will be impossible - if you really speak the same language.
God, it is amazing how fast you can populate the earth. From Noah to Shem, Ham, Japheth, to Noah's grandsons, it seems its almost done. One man, one family - the earth subdued. Well, not really subdued, but mostly populated. Well, maybe not mostly populated. But it is impressive what you did through Noah. God, you really can work quickly when you want to.
Yeah, Rick. Consider creation! :)
My response: In chapter 10, there were lots of children, vast and great accomplishments. Nimrod, the son of Ham whom Noah cursed, built Babylon, Assyris, Nineveh, and Shiner where the Tower of Babel was built. Why was Nimrod a mighty warrior/hunter before you, Lord?
v11:6 - What a great verse to support team. If we really communicate then nothing will be impossible - if you really speak the same language.
God, it is amazing how fast you can populate the earth. From Noah to Shem, Ham, Japheth, to Noah's grandsons, it seems its almost done. One man, one family - the earth subdued. Well, not really subdued, but mostly populated. Well, maybe not mostly populated. But it is impressive what you did through Noah. God, you really can work quickly when you want to.
Yeah, Rick. Consider creation! :)
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Genesis 6 - 9
What stood out today: v6:6 The Lord was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain. v8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. v18 But I will establish my covenant with you and you will enter the ark. v22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him. v8:21 The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. v9:11 I establish my covenant with you. v12 This is the sign of the covenant.
My response: Well, Lord, this is an amazing passage.
My response: Well, Lord, this is an amazing passage.
- How what we do grieves you and grieves you at a heart level. Also, I wonder at Noah's sacrifice - was it his heart attitude you smelled? Was it his love, fear, worship along with the sacrifice that you found so pleasing? What we do really impacts you... that is a fearsome thing.
- In your wrath you have the power to wipe out everything.
- In your grace you find "Favor." What was it about Noah that you found favorable?
- This is your first covenant, a promise from God, and with it a sign - a rainbow to remind you. So. You are intimately connected to us. You are close. You see all, you know all, you are affected by all things. Your grace, compassion, and practical care is beautiful. Your promises are precious. You are immense, larger, grander than I can get my head and heart around... And then - Jesus - someone we could put our arms around. Yahweh the enormous...became Immanuel - Jesus - God with us. God one of us.
- You are a personal God. v8:11 I establish my covenant with you.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Genesis 1-5
Genesis 1
What stood out today: v1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. v28 God blessed them and said to them... v29 Then God said, I give you every seed bearing plant...They will be your food.
My response: God, you are eternal and you created time, "In the beginning." A clock started, a rhythm began. A pulse, a beat. And then...You made us male and female, You blessed us, You spoke to us, You provided food for us. And in verse 31, You saw all you had made and declared it very good. We were pleasing in your sight. The whole earth is beautiful to you.
Holy spirit, help me to see what God sees. Help me to see and know the creator through the creation.
Genesis 2
What stood out today: v7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and the man became a living being. v23 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh. v25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
My response: Lord God, I love the intimacy of you blowing "the breath of Life" into Adam's nostrils...face to face. You created body and soul together - we are living beings. We are different from all other creations. Adam knew it. Even with you, he still felt alone, unique, not quite like you and not quite like the animals. And then...WOMAN. WOW! Adam and all men since have been WOWED by a woman, a wife. A suitable helper, a completer, a living being to be united to, to become one flesh. Lord God, you are so good. Thank you for Nancy, for marriage, for sex, for children, for family. Thank you for Jesus, the ultimate husband loving his bride, the church - even me.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving me by laying down your life, paying for my sin, that I could stand before you naked and feel no shame. That we could spend eternity in Heaven, a place of perfect Shalom. A place where shame is not known or even remembered.
Genesis 3
What stood out today: v1 Now... v7 then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. v9 But, the LORD God called to the man: "Where are you?" v 10 I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and so I hid. v11 Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree ...? v13 to the woman "What is this you have done?" v24 guard the way to the tree of life.
My response: What an ominous word "Now" is. A horrible turn in the story. A terrible brokenness in the garden, the man is afraid of the LORD his God. The man rebelled. The LORD still loves and cares for the man and the woman. And You still do. A Holy love that is above above and beyond beyond. Your questions LORD God search us out. O LORD my God search me and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 139:23,24
Genesis 4
What stood out today: v3,4 Cain brought some of the fruits... but Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. v7 but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you but you must master it. v26 At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.
My response: Lord God, Jesus, you are worthy of our best, first fruits. Not just some fruit. Father God, verse 7 sounds like the best counsel to a young man. Yet even with this knowledge, we do not have the power in the flesh to stand against sin. Yet you have the power and in verse 26 men begin to call out to you. Jesus, I call out to you. Jesus, I need you! Rescue me...
Genesis 5
What stood out today: v24 Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away.
My response: Jesus, what a world you created. The rhythm of generations, long lives around 10 times longer than now. There were people that began: When ____ had lived ____ years, he had a son or he became the father of... Noah was 10th generation and his story starts: After Noah was 500 years old he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japeth. Its interesting that Enoch lived 365 years, walked with God and God took him away. 365 / 10 =36. Close to Jesus' age. Jesus and Enoch walked with God. Father, Oh I long for home, I long for Shalom, I long for you.
What stood out today: v1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. v28 God blessed them and said to them... v29 Then God said, I give you every seed bearing plant...They will be your food.
My response: God, you are eternal and you created time, "In the beginning." A clock started, a rhythm began. A pulse, a beat. And then...You made us male and female, You blessed us, You spoke to us, You provided food for us. And in verse 31, You saw all you had made and declared it very good. We were pleasing in your sight. The whole earth is beautiful to you.
Holy spirit, help me to see what God sees. Help me to see and know the creator through the creation.
Genesis 2
What stood out today: v7 The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and the man became a living being. v23 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh. v25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
My response: Lord God, I love the intimacy of you blowing "the breath of Life" into Adam's nostrils...face to face. You created body and soul together - we are living beings. We are different from all other creations. Adam knew it. Even with you, he still felt alone, unique, not quite like you and not quite like the animals. And then...WOMAN. WOW! Adam and all men since have been WOWED by a woman, a wife. A suitable helper, a completer, a living being to be united to, to become one flesh. Lord God, you are so good. Thank you for Nancy, for marriage, for sex, for children, for family. Thank you for Jesus, the ultimate husband loving his bride, the church - even me.
Thank you, Jesus, for loving me by laying down your life, paying for my sin, that I could stand before you naked and feel no shame. That we could spend eternity in Heaven, a place of perfect Shalom. A place where shame is not known or even remembered.
Genesis 3
What stood out today: v1 Now... v7 then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. v9 But, the LORD God called to the man: "Where are you?" v 10 I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked and so I hid. v11 Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree ...? v13 to the woman "What is this you have done?" v24 guard the way to the tree of life.
My response: What an ominous word "Now" is. A horrible turn in the story. A terrible brokenness in the garden, the man is afraid of the LORD his God. The man rebelled. The LORD still loves and cares for the man and the woman. And You still do. A Holy love that is above above and beyond beyond. Your questions LORD God search us out. O LORD my God search me and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psa 139:23,24
Genesis 4
What stood out today: v3,4 Cain brought some of the fruits... but Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. v7 but if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you but you must master it. v26 At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.
My response: Lord God, Jesus, you are worthy of our best, first fruits. Not just some fruit. Father God, verse 7 sounds like the best counsel to a young man. Yet even with this knowledge, we do not have the power in the flesh to stand against sin. Yet you have the power and in verse 26 men begin to call out to you. Jesus, I call out to you. Jesus, I need you! Rescue me...
Genesis 5
What stood out today: v24 Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away.
My response: Jesus, what a world you created. The rhythm of generations, long lives around 10 times longer than now. There were people that began: When ____ had lived ____ years, he had a son or he became the father of... Noah was 10th generation and his story starts: After Noah was 500 years old he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japeth. Its interesting that Enoch lived 365 years, walked with God and God took him away. 365 / 10 =36. Close to Jesus' age. Jesus and Enoch walked with God. Father, Oh I long for home, I long for Shalom, I long for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)