Starting with this weeks verse againIsaiah 43:18-19 " Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
Today's Readings come from Genesis 5, Proverbs 24, and Ephesians 1
To start I will say that Genesis is primarily Genealogy today. You may click here to read the whole passage. http://tinyurl.com/88y8on
The main aspect I took from reading Genesis today is
"When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them "man. "
I cannot imagine a greater honor that we have then to be made in God's image. I mean what can be greater then that. Of course being saved is, but you know what I mean. Just an honor to know that we meant so much to Him that He would want us to be Like Him. The bible talks of many ways in which we can be "Like Him" other than by our image. We can be like him in our hearts by doing unto others as we would want done unto us. We can be humble in spirit, we can serve others, we can love others as he loved the church.... the list continues. What is the best part of the promise is that He blesses us, and it says male and female- not one or the other. It is all of us that He blesses.
Many are listed in the Line of Adam from his son Seth, through Noah, talking about them, how long they lived, those that continued their line, how long they lived etc...
An important notation of Genesis 5 is an act of Lamech in verse 28 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah and said, "He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the LORD has cursed."
We know that Noah would do great things for God who would bless us through him.
Reading of Proverbs 24
http://tinyurl.com/8vn7r8
Proverbs is a book of great ADVICE. It tells a lot of the things we should not do, such as envying people, esp those who do not Follow God's Ways, although we should not envy anyone or anything either.
I thought the following verses of Proverbs 24 were interesting
3 By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
5 A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength;
We all know that we cannot gain wisdom of God and His Ways without daily reading, meditation and application of His Word. I know I want my house to be built upon the Word of God and that we would Follow Him First, Put Him First in Our Lives. Marriage, Children, Finances etc.
The Lord Speaks of Wisdom again in this chapter
14 Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
To me this speaks again of being in God's Word, how else can we gain wisdom. I suppose we could gain that of the world, or maybe going to church and listening to the lesson preached, or buying a bible study in which we read, or fill out certain things. However, I feel that what He is speaking of Directly is being in His word. Reading the Words He spoke etc to others so that we may have them to lean on, to learn from, to give us comfort and guidance.
the Lord even says We WILL FALL but He PROMISES we WILL RISE AGAIN.
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
Other important verses
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.
29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.
29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."
32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
Ephesians 1
I could bold entire sections of this passage/chapter of Ephesians. Instead I will post in its entirety. It has so many promises for us, so many Blessings most of all that we were CHOSEN by God....
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Blessings in Christ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
In closing I want to say a prayer for all the families and loved ones involved in the New York Hudson airplane crash. What a miracle that truly was. Just amazing and something in which you can see God worked to make a way where the pilot probably saw none. I am sure this even though having positive results can be very traumatic for those who personally experienced it, and also for families of those involved. Even those who just fear to fly etc. I ask that we all pray for them and their families that God grant peace, security and comfort. That he move in all our lives so that we remember that HE IS IN CONTROL. We are merely the clay in the Potters Hands. I pray for you as you approach the weekend. I pray that you find time to spend with your loved ones. Have a family meal together, play a game, watch a movie, whatever it is that you do to have quality time. Live today as it were your last, live this weekend as it were your last and remember to share your love with those around you. Also do not forget to pray for President Bush and His family as they leave office and say a prayer for Wisdom and Peace for the Upcoming President and His family, as they enter waters that seem very hopeless to many.
Many Blessings
Sunshine.
Isn't it wonderful to know that He created us, male and female as equal, as individuals and that He chose us to be His own before we breathed our first breath?
ReplyDeleteA ray of Sonshine in the Autumn many of us are living. Thank you Jennifer and God bless you always.
Love,
Mom