“Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.” Genesis 35:29
Essau and Jacob were as different as two twins can be, competitors in life they became collaborators at the death of their father. This is true of so many families and it need not be so. Psalm 139 says these words about the beginning of life. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” What is true at conception is true at every stage of life. God is still creating us to be fearfully and wonderfully made.
Each of these men struggled to find their way, to find themselves, and when they finally did they found each other at their father’s grave. The Lord was not silent to them. He speaks loudly to us through his word. He even dedicated a book to young men in order to tell them how to live. Proverbs 1 reads “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” The instructions of fathers and the teaching of mothers are sometimes mixed with error. When we consider Essau and Jacob much of what characterized their lives is read in this passage. “The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” What this scripture encapsulates is that the good intention of parents often fails in the execution. Each parent nurtured the gift of the favored son, both to a fault, but in the end God took out the dross that Isaac and Rebekah added to their son’s personalities.
Essau would grow to be a man that could gather four hundred men to his command. His skillful hunting and rugged personality made him a man’s man, a leader, a man of influence and a man who was secure enough to refuse gifts that other men dream about for their entire life. Jacob was content to stay by the tents. He learned pastoral care from his mother. Her eye for an opportunity would be tempered by the heat of summer days and the cold winter nights tending sheep. He would still see opportunity but he also learned to bear loss without complaint as he told his Uncle Laban.
If you are on your journey to becoming yourself, why don’t you take time to contact a sibling, or some other close friend or relative, you may not understand or even appreciate who they are? In time you will and it just may be at the grave site of someone you love. Why not do it now while the living are among you.
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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Blessed Transitions
On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” Genesis 31: 22-24
These are difficult times, as I write this many have strained finances, in the United States we are recovering from two recent natural disasters. Our hard work and toil feels threatened. Especially in times of transitions, but do not be afraid, the Lord is able to communicate to our pursuers. To paraphrase the Lord’s remarks to Laban, he might have said, ‘This one is mine, do not pay him compliments you do not believe but do not insult him either.’
Laban was Jacob’s uncle. He was not happy that he left, not because he was family, but because he was a workman who fed his greed for more wealth. He pursued Jacob, not for his daughters and I doubt that he pursued him to recover his family gods either. What he wanted was Jacob. He chased him for seven days. Probably on camel and probably in haste, asking along the way “have you seen this man” which way did he go’?
It has been said “A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.” Jacob had learned character while serving Laban. He was no longer a usurper, but one who had worked for his wage. God had carved him out to be who He wanted him to be. When God does that you can face your enemies boldly, even when they are of your own household. You can transition well from one phase of your life to the next because you know that the Lord is with you.
When God is with you he is not only talking to you but he is talking to others on your behalf. Sometimes to bless you with unexpected kindness as Essau would shortly do in this chronology, at other times your pursuers just decide to leave you alone. Either way the transition for you is a blessing. For the Lord thy God is with you!!!
These are difficult times, as I write this many have strained finances, in the United States we are recovering from two recent natural disasters. Our hard work and toil feels threatened. Especially in times of transitions, but do not be afraid, the Lord is able to communicate to our pursuers. To paraphrase the Lord’s remarks to Laban, he might have said, ‘This one is mine, do not pay him compliments you do not believe but do not insult him either.’
Laban was Jacob’s uncle. He was not happy that he left, not because he was family, but because he was a workman who fed his greed for more wealth. He pursued Jacob, not for his daughters and I doubt that he pursued him to recover his family gods either. What he wanted was Jacob. He chased him for seven days. Probably on camel and probably in haste, asking along the way “have you seen this man” which way did he go’?
It has been said “A man's reputation is what other people think of him; his character is what he really is.” Jacob had learned character while serving Laban. He was no longer a usurper, but one who had worked for his wage. God had carved him out to be who He wanted him to be. When God does that you can face your enemies boldly, even when they are of your own household. You can transition well from one phase of your life to the next because you know that the Lord is with you.
When God is with you he is not only talking to you but he is talking to others on your behalf. Sometimes to bless you with unexpected kindness as Essau would shortly do in this chronology, at other times your pursuers just decide to leave you alone. Either way the transition for you is a blessing. For the Lord thy God is with you!!!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Earthquakes Real and Imagined
The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry. Psalm 18:7
Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble. Isaiah 14:16
There are two kinds of earthquakes affecting the world at his time. There is the real and there is the imagined. I experienced a real one for the first time in my life this week. It was delightfully encouraging to me. I will be 50 years old at my next birthday and having been living on a fault line all that time. I had read about it and thought ‘oh my’ briefly but went on living under the protection of God. It reminded me that I am dependent upon him and that the very ground I walk on would be unsteady if it were not for him.
There is a second kind of earthquake that I see so many people consumed with in my life. It is the anxiety of worry about the earth quakes that never happen. Isaiah 14:16 speaks about the devil and how he made nations tremble. What do they tremble at? They tremble at the possibility of natural disasters, economic crises, famine and war among and other things. They tremble because they think that they have power of intellect to solve such problems. The enemy consumes our minds with news of disaster and doom and we worry and fret and we quake because we forget who is in charge. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24: 6-8)
God reminds his church that he is in charge. General ‘Stone Wall’ Jackson said in the midst of battle, “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed’ Oh that we would raise up such brave saints again. Jackson went on to talk about being prepared for death at all times and added ‘That is how all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”
God is calling for his church to be brave in this hour, to delight in earthquakes, to speak to the mountains in their life and cause them to move. Mark 11 In other words to create their own earthquakes! We can do this based on the earthquakes he created himself and the authority he gave us.
The angels do it! “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” That angel did not just create an earthquake he waited around to see the reaction. God has made us higher than the angels, remember that.
In a similar incident an unbelievers had this reaction to and earthquake. “the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” They had one of those anxiety attacks I was talking about. Only this was not imagined this was real! Jesus was and is alive and he is in charge of earthquakes in the lives of men no matter what the danger.
What did the centurion and those with him see? They saw the perfect timing of God! “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” Matthew 27:52-53. They saw life from the dead!!! Haha It makes me want to shout…
The psalmist said the Earth trembled because God was angry, but angry at what? He is angry at sin and death and disease and a church with little faith.
Believe in God my friends! Acknowledge the work of his son Jesus of Nazareth. Recognize the devil is the greatest fool in all of creation and he is small when a mind is consumed with the greatness of God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” Philippians 4:6 And the God who creates Earthquakes will soon crush Satan underneath your feet!
Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble. Isaiah 14:16
There are two kinds of earthquakes affecting the world at his time. There is the real and there is the imagined. I experienced a real one for the first time in my life this week. It was delightfully encouraging to me. I will be 50 years old at my next birthday and having been living on a fault line all that time. I had read about it and thought ‘oh my’ briefly but went on living under the protection of God. It reminded me that I am dependent upon him and that the very ground I walk on would be unsteady if it were not for him.
There is a second kind of earthquake that I see so many people consumed with in my life. It is the anxiety of worry about the earth quakes that never happen. Isaiah 14:16 speaks about the devil and how he made nations tremble. What do they tremble at? They tremble at the possibility of natural disasters, economic crises, famine and war among and other things. They tremble because they think that they have power of intellect to solve such problems. The enemy consumes our minds with news of disaster and doom and we worry and fret and we quake because we forget who is in charge. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (Matthew 24: 6-8)
God reminds his church that he is in charge. General ‘Stone Wall’ Jackson said in the midst of battle, “My religious belief teaches me to feel as safe in battle as in bed’ Oh that we would raise up such brave saints again. Jackson went on to talk about being prepared for death at all times and added ‘That is how all men should live, and then all would be equally brave.”
God is calling for his church to be brave in this hour, to delight in earthquakes, to speak to the mountains in their life and cause them to move. Mark 11 In other words to create their own earthquakes! We can do this based on the earthquakes he created himself and the authority he gave us.
The angels do it! “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.” That angel did not just create an earthquake he waited around to see the reaction. God has made us higher than the angels, remember that.
In a similar incident an unbelievers had this reaction to and earthquake. “the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” They had one of those anxiety attacks I was talking about. Only this was not imagined this was real! Jesus was and is alive and he is in charge of earthquakes in the lives of men no matter what the danger.
What did the centurion and those with him see? They saw the perfect timing of God! “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” Matthew 27:52-53. They saw life from the dead!!! Haha It makes me want to shout…
The psalmist said the Earth trembled because God was angry, but angry at what? He is angry at sin and death and disease and a church with little faith.
Believe in God my friends! Acknowledge the work of his son Jesus of Nazareth. Recognize the devil is the greatest fool in all of creation and he is small when a mind is consumed with the greatness of God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” Philippians 4:6 And the God who creates Earthquakes will soon crush Satan underneath your feet!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Dream with the Dreamers
“Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. … His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” Genesis 27: 6 & 11
Joseph was only 17 years old when he had his first dream. He was a favored son. He was born to Jacob in his old age and he was the child of Rachel the only women Jacob loved. Polygamy was a common sin of that age and the children of Jacob were greatly affected by it. We do not have polygamy in the west much anymore but we have blended families that are increasing complicated by divorce and children born out of wedlock. Whatever your family circumstance, God will still grace an individual with a dream, and jealously can still be the consequence.
When friends or loved one speak to us of a dream what is our response? Is it jealousy? Would the sons of Jacob have hated their brother if they knew that the dream would only be fulfilled through their intrigue and sin, and through their brother’s slavery and imprisonment? Probably not! Would they have been slower to sell him into slavery if they had for a moment considered the fate of Joseph’s mother who died giving birth the Benjamin, the family’s youngest boy?
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
I have been able to relate to these historic men in these last few blogs. I am the son of an elderly father and mother, and was highly favoured by them. I am the patriarch of a blended family of 12 children. I have also dreamed some dreams. Many filled in ways that I had not anticipated. I also have had to acknowledge jealousy in my own heart toward others whose dreams seemed to have been fulfilled in a manner that I anticipated my dreams would be. If I am honest with myself I would not want to pay the cost that others have had to pay to fulfil their God given dreams. I am also free to acknowledge that others would not want to pay the cost I have paid for mine.
Jacob kept his son’s dream in mind. He did not exalt it and he did not despise it. However he recorded it. I think the Joseph shared his dream out of youthful excitement. I don’t believe he knew of the resentment that was in the hearts of his brothers. He brothers were unaware the God had promises for them too. Judah did not know his brothers would praise him, Zebulun did not know his people would be a haven for ships. To Levi would be the honor of the priesthood, Dan would provide justice, Asher would eat the best of food. Would they have been jealous if they knew their names would be carved into the gates and pillars of New Jerusalem?
Let us rejoice in others dreams and let us be confident that the Lord has a dream he wants to fulfill in us as well!
Joseph was only 17 years old when he had his first dream. He was a favored son. He was born to Jacob in his old age and he was the child of Rachel the only women Jacob loved. Polygamy was a common sin of that age and the children of Jacob were greatly affected by it. We do not have polygamy in the west much anymore but we have blended families that are increasing complicated by divorce and children born out of wedlock. Whatever your family circumstance, God will still grace an individual with a dream, and jealously can still be the consequence.
When friends or loved one speak to us of a dream what is our response? Is it jealousy? Would the sons of Jacob have hated their brother if they knew that the dream would only be fulfilled through their intrigue and sin, and through their brother’s slavery and imprisonment? Probably not! Would they have been slower to sell him into slavery if they had for a moment considered the fate of Joseph’s mother who died giving birth the Benjamin, the family’s youngest boy?
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” — Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird)
I have been able to relate to these historic men in these last few blogs. I am the son of an elderly father and mother, and was highly favoured by them. I am the patriarch of a blended family of 12 children. I have also dreamed some dreams. Many filled in ways that I had not anticipated. I also have had to acknowledge jealousy in my own heart toward others whose dreams seemed to have been fulfilled in a manner that I anticipated my dreams would be. If I am honest with myself I would not want to pay the cost that others have had to pay to fulfil their God given dreams. I am also free to acknowledge that others would not want to pay the cost I have paid for mine.
Jacob kept his son’s dream in mind. He did not exalt it and he did not despise it. However he recorded it. I think the Joseph shared his dream out of youthful excitement. I don’t believe he knew of the resentment that was in the hearts of his brothers. He brothers were unaware the God had promises for them too. Judah did not know his brothers would praise him, Zebulun did not know his people would be a haven for ships. To Levi would be the honor of the priesthood, Dan would provide justice, Asher would eat the best of food. Would they have been jealous if they knew their names would be carved into the gates and pillars of New Jerusalem?
Let us rejoice in others dreams and let us be confident that the Lord has a dream he wants to fulfill in us as well!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
From Two Feet to Two Camps
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,’ 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.” Genesis 32:9
In August 1989, I pulled into New Bedford, Massachusetts, bankrupt, foreclosed, and driving at 1973 Volvo with a rusty steel bed frame in the back seat. Like Jacob I had used my blessing and my inheritance poorly. Idiocy is not a requirement for blessing, but many of us can relate to squandering opportunities and being dependent upon ourselves for successes that ultimately become hallow. Prior to my bankruptcy and foreclosure I was a staff sergeant in the United States Army. I owned a home, had a wife, two cats and a dog named Jake. Oklahoma was my Paddam Aram, I would come home and be restored to the faith of my ancestors.
Like Jacob I have a large family from several sources. Yours, mine, ours and adopted, and like Jacob, God has shown me kindness and faithfulness unworthy of this servant.
Jacob learned a great deal in his place of labor and exile. He learned how to be a father and a pastor and a person who loves more than just himself. Listen to the care in these words recorded in Genesis 33. “But Jacob said to him, “My lord (Esau) knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
The man that was only concerned about himself is now concerned about two camps of people and children and ewes and their health and safety. The Lord will often drive us to a place of labor and order that we might know peace in the midst of being overwhelmed. He does this so we might turn to him for his assistance and not depend on our gifting and talents for success.
The scriptures are full of history that reflects this truth. Mosses leadership in the flesh leads him to murder, but he delivers the people of Israel through the staff of a shepherd. Peter the expert fisherman fishes all night in based on his skills and knowledge but his nets are filled to the point of tearing and he must share his wealth with others just to contain the blessing. Joseph’s dreams divide his family when they are expressed as a boast but they are his family’s deliverance when they are expressed as a prison, slave and then servant of pharaoh.
The Lord wants to bless us early in our life and often. However he is faithful to bless us when we are older and wiser as well.
In August 1989, I pulled into New Bedford, Massachusetts, bankrupt, foreclosed, and driving at 1973 Volvo with a rusty steel bed frame in the back seat. Like Jacob I had used my blessing and my inheritance poorly. Idiocy is not a requirement for blessing, but many of us can relate to squandering opportunities and being dependent upon ourselves for successes that ultimately become hallow. Prior to my bankruptcy and foreclosure I was a staff sergeant in the United States Army. I owned a home, had a wife, two cats and a dog named Jake. Oklahoma was my Paddam Aram, I would come home and be restored to the faith of my ancestors.
Like Jacob I have a large family from several sources. Yours, mine, ours and adopted, and like Jacob, God has shown me kindness and faithfulness unworthy of this servant.
Jacob learned a great deal in his place of labor and exile. He learned how to be a father and a pastor and a person who loves more than just himself. Listen to the care in these words recorded in Genesis 33. “But Jacob said to him, “My lord (Esau) knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
The man that was only concerned about himself is now concerned about two camps of people and children and ewes and their health and safety. The Lord will often drive us to a place of labor and order that we might know peace in the midst of being overwhelmed. He does this so we might turn to him for his assistance and not depend on our gifting and talents for success.
The scriptures are full of history that reflects this truth. Mosses leadership in the flesh leads him to murder, but he delivers the people of Israel through the staff of a shepherd. Peter the expert fisherman fishes all night in based on his skills and knowledge but his nets are filled to the point of tearing and he must share his wealth with others just to contain the blessing. Joseph’s dreams divide his family when they are expressed as a boast but they are his family’s deliverance when they are expressed as a prison, slave and then servant of pharaoh.
The Lord wants to bless us early in our life and often. However he is faithful to bless us when we are older and wiser as well.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
God Loves a Cheerful Giver but He Will Bless a Reluctant One
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
God Loves a Cheerful Giver but He Will Bless a Reluctant One
Sometimes the things that we want to withhold from a life of generosity are just silly. I recently had a friend that was preaching in another city. He needed a tie to wear and I have plenty. So I loaned him a solid blue tie that I have. I think I paid two dollars for it, but I liked the tie. When we went to the church he was to preach at he and I both were blessed with brand new tailored suits. I brought him to the house he was staying and he offered to give me back my tie. I told him to keep it. After all I had just been blessed with a very expensive suit and it was just a two dollar tie. But I like the tie…it was my tie… but I was being silly and I knew it. Well today I was blessed with not one but six silk ties… you know just to match my brand new tailored suit.
In regards to giving God says, “Test me in this, … and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” So now I have more neckties than I can store more suits than I can store more sports coats than I can wear and a really cool collection of Italian and top quality shoes that may last a life time and I cannot tell you where it all came from. Because God loves a cheerful give but he blessing reluctant one too.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver but He Will Bless a Reluctant One
Sometimes the things that we want to withhold from a life of generosity are just silly. I recently had a friend that was preaching in another city. He needed a tie to wear and I have plenty. So I loaned him a solid blue tie that I have. I think I paid two dollars for it, but I liked the tie. When we went to the church he was to preach at he and I both were blessed with brand new tailored suits. I brought him to the house he was staying and he offered to give me back my tie. I told him to keep it. After all I had just been blessed with a very expensive suit and it was just a two dollar tie. But I like the tie…it was my tie… but I was being silly and I knew it. Well today I was blessed with not one but six silk ties… you know just to match my brand new tailored suit.
In regards to giving God says, “Test me in this, … and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” So now I have more neckties than I can store more suits than I can store more sports coats than I can wear and a really cool collection of Italian and top quality shoes that may last a life time and I cannot tell you where it all came from. Because God loves a cheerful give but he blessing reluctant one too.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Begin and End in Faith
Jacob vowed “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD will be my God….” Genesis 28:20
Are we setting conditions for our worship to God that is based on our material blessings? Human beings are naturally given to the love of things. This is not a bad thing. God likes nice stuff too, New Jerusalem is described as “shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal”. However our praise of God should not be conditions of the reception of blessings only. Jacob did not need to make such a vow. He only had to look that the blessing his father’s Isaac and Abraham, but he wanted evidence in his own life.
Jacob’s is a dying man before his actions please God. “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped,” Hebrew 11:21 Verse 6 of this chapter tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Jacob is a grandfather and he comes to understand the faithfulness of God.
God is looking for the young to worship him too. In my last blog I said, “the circumstances of Jacob’s visitation from the Lord were a closed past and a completely uncertain future.” He had just had a supernatural visitation from God himself. But for Jacob a visitation from the Lord was not sufficient to call the Lord his God. He wanted some stuff first.
How many of us have had supernatural experiences with the Lord as young adults or even children that we dismiss as ‘vain imagination’ when in fact it was the Lord revealing himself to us. We are called to worship the Lord with all of our strength among other things. Proverbs 20:29 reads, “The glory of young men is their strength.”
King David is a man who referenced his faith from a young man, as he grew in opportunity to praise God. To paraphrase, what is a giant Philistine compared to a bear and a lion? What made David’s faith great was not that he killed a bear and a lion but that he knew that without the help of the Lord he would have killed neither. The prophet Daniel is a young man when he “resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” He is an old man when he says to the King. “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.”
I was 29 years old before I committed my strength to the Lord. I am ashamed that I did not at 19 or even 9, but God has been faithful to me. I have resolved myself to live before him the remainder of my days. He has indeed blessed me materially but it is by faith I bless my children each night before they sleep. I am confident that the Lord will bless their future. I pray that they see the hand of the Lord and call my God their God at the beginning of their journey not just the end. I pray that prayer for your children and grandchildren as well.
Are we setting conditions for our worship to God that is based on our material blessings? Human beings are naturally given to the love of things. This is not a bad thing. God likes nice stuff too, New Jerusalem is described as “shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal”. However our praise of God should not be conditions of the reception of blessings only. Jacob did not need to make such a vow. He only had to look that the blessing his father’s Isaac and Abraham, but he wanted evidence in his own life.
Jacob’s is a dying man before his actions please God. “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped,” Hebrew 11:21 Verse 6 of this chapter tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Jacob is a grandfather and he comes to understand the faithfulness of God.
God is looking for the young to worship him too. In my last blog I said, “the circumstances of Jacob’s visitation from the Lord were a closed past and a completely uncertain future.” He had just had a supernatural visitation from God himself. But for Jacob a visitation from the Lord was not sufficient to call the Lord his God. He wanted some stuff first.
How many of us have had supernatural experiences with the Lord as young adults or even children that we dismiss as ‘vain imagination’ when in fact it was the Lord revealing himself to us. We are called to worship the Lord with all of our strength among other things. Proverbs 20:29 reads, “The glory of young men is their strength.”
King David is a man who referenced his faith from a young man, as he grew in opportunity to praise God. To paraphrase, what is a giant Philistine compared to a bear and a lion? What made David’s faith great was not that he killed a bear and a lion but that he knew that without the help of the Lord he would have killed neither. The prophet Daniel is a young man when he “resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine.” He is an old man when he says to the King. “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else.”
I was 29 years old before I committed my strength to the Lord. I am ashamed that I did not at 19 or even 9, but God has been faithful to me. I have resolved myself to live before him the remainder of my days. He has indeed blessed me materially but it is by faith I bless my children each night before they sleep. I am confident that the Lord will bless their future. I pray that they see the hand of the Lord and call my God their God at the beginning of their journey not just the end. I pray that prayer for your children and grandchildren as well.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wake Up! and see the Gate of Heaven
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” Genesis 28:16-17
When we awake from our sleep we will surely know that the Lord is in this place. What place you might ask, the very place where you are! If you do not see God in your place you are asleep. The Bible says in Him we live, we move and we have our being. God’s image is on everyman. The circumstances of Jacob’s visitation from the Lord were a closed past and a completely uncertain future. A stone served as his pillow, the air his blanket and the stars his roof. However the Lord blessed him and his descendents in that very condition.
Jacob’s reflection was to believe that he had stumbled open the gate of heaven. Do we believe that the gate of heaven is limited by geography or time? We are told that we can boldly enter into the throne room of God. How? “let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy” Isaiah 26:19 says. What causes us to sleep? Often it is a preoccupation with the cares of this world. We may be on a path that steals the word of God from our soul; we may be shallow and get burned up by the heat of life around us, we may be consumed by the close quarters we find ourselves in. It does not matter if we are aware of the presence of God.. if we are awake... the Lord is there. You may ask me to explain evil places. Could the prison cell that confined Peter for preaching the Gospel have been a holy place? It was when Peter arrived there. The prayers of the saints created and avenue for an angel to lead him out. Then he woke up and praised God for his deliverance. (Acts 12) Every place where we are sent is holy ground if we are holy.
Acts 16 tells us the history of Paul and Silas confined in a similar cell but their praise caused the angels to shake the earth. A sleeping jailer was about to kill himself when he saw the broken prison cell walls and doors. However the prisons Paul and Silas made the place holy. They stayed and awakened that jailer to the Gospel and he was publically baptized. Awake now the jailer also was able to praise God.
I encourage on this day to wake up and believe God, and know for certainty, that you are in an awesome place, the gate of heaven and in the presence of the Lord.
When we awake from our sleep we will surely know that the Lord is in this place. What place you might ask, the very place where you are! If you do not see God in your place you are asleep. The Bible says in Him we live, we move and we have our being. God’s image is on everyman. The circumstances of Jacob’s visitation from the Lord were a closed past and a completely uncertain future. A stone served as his pillow, the air his blanket and the stars his roof. However the Lord blessed him and his descendents in that very condition.
Jacob’s reflection was to believe that he had stumbled open the gate of heaven. Do we believe that the gate of heaven is limited by geography or time? We are told that we can boldly enter into the throne room of God. How? “let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy” Isaiah 26:19 says. What causes us to sleep? Often it is a preoccupation with the cares of this world. We may be on a path that steals the word of God from our soul; we may be shallow and get burned up by the heat of life around us, we may be consumed by the close quarters we find ourselves in. It does not matter if we are aware of the presence of God.. if we are awake... the Lord is there. You may ask me to explain evil places. Could the prison cell that confined Peter for preaching the Gospel have been a holy place? It was when Peter arrived there. The prayers of the saints created and avenue for an angel to lead him out. Then he woke up and praised God for his deliverance. (Acts 12) Every place where we are sent is holy ground if we are holy.
Acts 16 tells us the history of Paul and Silas confined in a similar cell but their praise caused the angels to shake the earth. A sleeping jailer was about to kill himself when he saw the broken prison cell walls and doors. However the prisons Paul and Silas made the place holy. They stayed and awakened that jailer to the Gospel and he was publically baptized. Awake now the jailer also was able to praise God.
I encourage on this day to wake up and believe God, and know for certainty, that you are in an awesome place, the gate of heaven and in the presence of the Lord.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Place of Blessing
Genesis 26 tells us the history of Isaac in a period of economic down turn that was so great that there was no food available to him. There was food in other places, Egypt specifically. However, God told him to stay, and he obeyed. God’s provision for his people is at their place of assignment. Many individuals and organizations are searching their minds and strategizing about the place where they will be blessed. They look at the natural circumstances like Lot did with Abraham. Lot never heard the voice of God call him to Sodom. Abraham did not care which direction he went. Abraham knew he would be blessed either way because God was with him. Isaac had the Spirit of his father. He believed God and it was credited to him.
Isaac’s experience after hearing the voice of God was a negative one. He stayed in the area as God told him to. He built a life that was successful, but was asked to leave by his neighbors simply because he was successful. He had never done them any harm and had no motive to do so. He left in peace. Then he dug three wells before he was not harassed by other neighbors. The water project is a nonprofit that digs wells in Africa today. Some of those wells are hand dug. They describe this work as dangerous and having cost many lives. I assume the Isaac and his servants would have been digging such a well. To do this three times would have been very frustrating. In such a circumstance most of us would have said that we had missed God. Isaac just kept patiently to his task when the harassment ended he called the place he settle “Rehoboth, saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”
God wants you the flourish in the land as well. However, you have to be able to discern your assignment. You cannot do this without hearing the voice of God. In regards to work, God has told me when to stay and when to leave. Without that obedience I would not be living in the blessing that I am experiencing today. The Apostle Paul said that he had learned live in abundance and in want. Want usually precedes abundance in the Kingdom of God but not always. Sometimes God will say to you sell everything you have and give to the poor and come follow me.
Whichever is the case for you hear the small still voice of the Lord and he will flourish you in the land.
http://thewaterproject.org/digging-wells-in-africa-and-india-how-it-works.asp
Isaac’s experience after hearing the voice of God was a negative one. He stayed in the area as God told him to. He built a life that was successful, but was asked to leave by his neighbors simply because he was successful. He had never done them any harm and had no motive to do so. He left in peace. Then he dug three wells before he was not harassed by other neighbors. The water project is a nonprofit that digs wells in Africa today. Some of those wells are hand dug. They describe this work as dangerous and having cost many lives. I assume the Isaac and his servants would have been digging such a well. To do this three times would have been very frustrating. In such a circumstance most of us would have said that we had missed God. Isaac just kept patiently to his task when the harassment ended he called the place he settle “Rehoboth, saying, “Now the LORD has given us room and we will flourish in the land.”
God wants you the flourish in the land as well. However, you have to be able to discern your assignment. You cannot do this without hearing the voice of God. In regards to work, God has told me when to stay and when to leave. Without that obedience I would not be living in the blessing that I am experiencing today. The Apostle Paul said that he had learned live in abundance and in want. Want usually precedes abundance in the Kingdom of God but not always. Sometimes God will say to you sell everything you have and give to the poor and come follow me.
Whichever is the case for you hear the small still voice of the Lord and he will flourish you in the land.
http://thewaterproject.org/digging-wells-in-africa-and-india-how-it-works.asp
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