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Post by Admin on Dec 27, 2022 17:05:09 GMT
Please Post your thoughts regarding the daily bible readings here
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Post by pastor on Dec 27, 2022 22:38:25 GMT
This is a test by Pastor to make sure I can post on this
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Post by pastor on Jan 1, 2023 11:46:40 GMT
January 1,2023 Genesis Chapters 1-3
So many thoughts come through my mind when I read these chapters again.
How God created it all with Words, just words, what power, and that Word became man and dwelt among us, and the Word’s name was Jesus.
How there are many ancient creation stories, but there is only one, one the Bible’s that is still believed even by many scientist and scholars. There is just too much evidence for it, it won’t go away. All the rest have faded into history but every day science is finding out that Genesis is the only answer for the creation of the universe.
That man was made in the image of God. Think about that. We were made in the image of God Himself. How valuable that was, and how true the video that pointed out that when Satan said “you will be like God” they were already like God. Even today we see so many who want to be like God and live for themselves, when it is in submitting to God, trusting in God, and living for God that we are most like Him. It is through faith that the image of God is renewed in us/
What did you get out of today’s reading?
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 1, 2023 17:40:29 GMT
Day 1 There is so much that I could speak about in these three chapters.
God spoke and it came to be. It was by His word that heaven and earth was created. The water and land came to be from His words. The birds, animals and fish in the sea, He spoke and they came to be. But when God made mankind in His image He formed him from the dust of the ground. From the very start God set man apart. God made him in His own image; He even breathed into man. There is great power in God’s word, and He has given us His word to guide and comfort us. And the Word became flesh... Jesus Christ!
It was God that planted the seed of the first plants by His word and it was God that caused the rains to fall and brought to life the plants. Man was to care for it. And God gave man food from the garden.
(By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.)
I’m not sure that God was tired and needed to rest as we think of rest. I wonder, If maybe God took a break from His creating and admired what He created.
Now about Satan; he was planting some seeds of his own. But his seeds were of greed and doubt in the mind and heart of Eve. (“You will not certainly die,”) Satan said and he planted the seed of doubt. Getting Eve to doubt that God’s word was true. (“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”) Satan was planting the seed of greed. Sparking the desire to be like God, to be in control. Satan is still using those same seeds on us today.
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Post by pastor on Jan 2, 2023 14:50:48 GMT
January 2nd
What did you think of the video on the image of God? It was a different way to think about it, and yet Martin Luther said that our vocation, our work was how we lived out our lives in obedience to God, that every vocation was a call of God. Gives your work a little more dignity doesn’t it?
My favorite line from Chapter 3 is “sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” How many times have I found that true in my own life sin is always crouching at the door. There is always a battle but as Christians we can master it, we will overcome it, because Christ has broken the back of Satan, and overcome the world.
Isn’t it interesting that God has mercy even on Cain, and marks him so that no one will kill him. God’s mercy on His creation is so much greater than we can ever imagine.
See how quickly sin grows when it is given a foothold. Cain kills his brother, and suffers for it but Lamech (verses 23-24) brags about his murdering others.
Finally in Chapter 4 Eve gives birth to Seth, not much said here but Seth will be the one from whom Jesus will come.
Chapters 6-7
The account of Noah reminds us today that there will another judgment coming; this time a final one, and God will save the faithful and destroy those who have chosen to live without Him. We will never understand exactly what Noah encountered building that ark but it is such a great example for us to stand firm in our faith, and be bold in sharing the gospel in our day and age
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 2, 2023 19:52:19 GMT
Day 2
Again these three chapters in Genesis offer much to meditate on. The rejection of Cain's offering and the acceptance of Abel’s. I think it was a matter of the heart as far as Cain’s offering.. It does not say the “first fruit” was offered by Cain. But Abel brought the firstborn of the flock and their fat portion. The death of Abel by Cain’s hand was because of jealousy. Cain felt slighted that his offering was rejected. Or maybe it was shame in knowing he did not offer from the heart. Whichever it may have been, the result was the same. Evil filled Cain’s heart. And Cain never showed any remorse or shame for what he had done. His thoughts were of himself and how severe his punishment was. Yet, God had mercy on Cain. (Just as God has mercy on us.) I could go on here but I’m trying to be brief. (Brevity is not my strong suit..LOL) Lamech, who was from Cain’s line, bragged that he was worse than Cain ever was. (To sin is one thing, but to brag of it brings added shame.) Another thing I noted while reading this… the ages of these guys. I’m not sure I would want to live that long or have children at that age. And of Enoch “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Enoch did not die, but was taken up.) think about that. [Chapter 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.] There are many different thoughts on this. Some say the “son of God” were angelic beings, others say they were giants that lived in the land. Still others say they were kings or rulers claiming to be descendants of God. whatever it may have been, they were wicked and corrupted others. I could spend days writing about Noah, what he was thinking while he was building the ark.. Or how God closed the door for him, or what they felt while they were on the ark. So much to think about. And about what is coming. I’ll stop now and leave room for your thoughts.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 2, 2023 19:58:05 GMT
I hope everyone is reading and meditating on the Psalm of each day. (I always enjoy the Psalm.... might be the poet in me.)
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david
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by david on Jan 3, 2023 16:22:55 GMT
Day 3
I really liked today's video reminding us that Genesis should be looked at as a whole and not just a book of individual stories. The discussion of who defines what is good and evil; do we accept God's definition or do we decide for ourselves what is good and evil as Adam and Eve did in the garden. I struggle with how our world today normalizes things like abortion, homosexuality, gender identity, murder, violence, vandalism, etc. Why does the world see these things as acceptable? As Christians we know these things are sin. But to those who do not accept Jesus as their savior, without God in their life, they have no definition of good and evil other than what society tells them it is or what they convince themselves it is.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 3, 2023 20:40:30 GMT
Day 3
This one speaks mainly on the flood, Noah and his sons, Ham, Shem & Japheth. The flood lasted 150 days, (approx. 5 months). And it was a while before dry land was found and Noah and his family left the ark. Now Noah built an altar and offered a burnt sacrifice to God. God found it to be pleasing; and said He would never again curse the ground because of humans. Even though He already knew that humans were inclined to do evil. Like the video said of the choice of good and evil when man sinned. After they ate the fruit of the tree, they started making decisions themselve what was good and what was not. (and they didn’t do such a good job.) It seems to me that the world has been getting worse and worse since then. The world today not only condones sin but encourages it. We have become a “me” society. Whatever I want, whatever makes me feel good everyone should accept. Even if it goes against God’s word. And what is scary is that even some churches are accepting this thinking. There is so much more to be said on this part. Different thought here…LOL In chapter 10:5 it says, (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.) This confused me some. I was of the thinking that at this time everyone spoke the same. Because in Chapter 11:6-7 it says, 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. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
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Post by pastor on Jan 3, 2023 21:18:34 GMT
January 3, 2023 Genesis 8-11
I love how Genesis 8 starts out. God remembered Noah. Now God never forgot Noah, that is not what it means, it would be better to say God kept Noah in mind the entire time. For that is what God does for us also. There is never a time that we are not on God’s mind, on His heart. There is never a moment that we are forgotten. Also in Chapter 8 is God’s promise never to flood the world again, never to destroy it completely (of course until He makes the New Heaven and Earth). But what gets me is the words “for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth”. God knew our hearts are evil and yet he refuses to destroy what He had created. God’s love for us is so great that He will not destroy mankind but will save it.
In Chapter 9 Noah is told for the first time to eat meat and that all animals are available to eat. But notice never the blood, for the blood is the life force and that belongs to God. That is why at this time God also condemns murders to death also, for to spill man’s blood is to destroy the image of God. Also in Chapter 9 we read about Noah getting drunk and passing out naked and his son Ham making fun of him. Once again a chosen one of God shows forth his failures and weaknesses. It is such a great reminder that God does not use perfect people, sinless people, but people just like you and me.
In Chapter 11 pride once again raises it head. It was pride that cause Satan’s fall, pride that caused Cain to kill Able. Pride cause Lamech to boast of his murders, and now pride will cause men to try to build a tower to God. To make a name for themselves instead of honoring God’s name. Yet God destroys their plans with a simple thought, a wave of His hand so to speak and everybody is no confused and scatters. It really makes you think of yesterdays Psalm 2 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Psalm 2:1-4 How we still see the same thing today. People fight to make a name for themselves, they despise God, treat Him as nothing, and live for themselves. They make great plans, they say we do not need God, and God just laughs, for He knows the end of man.
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Post by pastor on Jan 4, 2023 12:29:09 GMT
January 4, 2023
Genesis 12-15
God’s call to Abram is no different than His call to us. Follow me and I will lead you. Follow me and I will take you to a place I want you to be, follow me and I will bless you. You will not know the journey you will take ahead of time, you will not know the place I will lead you, but you will know that I am with you, to care for you, protect you, and bless you. God’s call has not changed.
Abraham gets in trouble when he goes to Egypt and his trust in God fails. I hope you notice that God did not tell Abraham to go to Egypt, Abraham decided it on his own. This is when we get in trouble also when we decide on our own we know what is best and not trust God for the answers we need.
I have always like the story of Lot because it reminds me of most people today. Lot always chose what would benefit him materially instead of spiritually. He picks the best land because it will give him the most profit. He lives among the great sinners of Sodom because it is best for business. He did everything in order to gain the most he could and because he did not trust in God he lost it all.
In contrast when Abraham had gotten back all that the King of Sodom lost, he would not take anything, Abraham knew he did not need it. He had God to take care of Him. How many of us would have said no thank you when offered all the riches from Sodom?
Finally God renews His covenant with Abraham. Now it had been years since God had promised Abraham a son, and still no son. No answer to the promise. and yet Abraham believed. So to can we hang on to the promises of God, even when we don’t see them, for God never fails.
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 4, 2023 21:08:47 GMT
Day 4 (Genesis 12-15)
God calls Abram to join in an adventure. And like most adventures there are many twists and turns. God tells Abram to leave his home and his father and step out into the unknown. God promises that if he does this God will make him into a great nation and bless him. So Abram took everything he had along with Lot his nephew and set off to God knows where. The adventure begins and it seems to start off pretty good. God is showing Abram the land He is going to give his people. And Abram builds altars to the Lord and calls on God. BUT it doesn’t take long and Abram starts to mess up by not fully trusting in God. (that’s a lot like what we do. We start off good but quickly start trying to do it our way.) So out of fear for himself Abram tells everyone that Shari is his sister instead of his wife. (and the trouble soon began. As it always does when we go against God.) However God bails Abram out of the jam he got himself into. Abram prospered while he was in Egypt as did Lot his nephew. So much so that they soon had to part ways. Abram told Lot you pick which way you want to go and I’ll go the other way. (Lot chose what he thought was best for him.) And so it began God told Abram this land I will give to you. And again Abram built an altar to the Lord. and God continued to watch out and bless Abram. Then when Melchizedek spoke God’s blessing on Abram; Abram tithed a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the priest of God Most High. Ok… I’m getting long winded again…LOL
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Post by pastor on Jan 5, 2023 13:21:23 GMT
January 5, 2023
Genesis 16-18
As great of faith that Abraham has he was not perfect. Sarai wants a son, so first she blames the Lord and then tells Abraham to get her slave pregnant, “so that I may obtain children”. Sarai has put her self first and her desire to have a child is greater than her faith in God. Now here I think it gets interesting. Abraham does not say no, he does not correct his wife’s lack of faith, no he goes along with it. It reminds me of Adam and Eve, Eve took the fruit, bit it, and gave it to Adam and Adam followed suite, he did not tell his wife no. When Sarai gets mad because Hagar has a child by Abraham, she now blames Abraham, and once again Abraham does not stand up to her, but tells her to do what she wants. The sin of Adam happening again and again.
Hagar runs away, but God finds her and tells her to go back, but he also promises her a son. Hagar in her pain, and fear realizes that God has seen her situation and has answered. She calls God El-Roi which means the God who sees me. What a comfort, for God also sees us, even when we think that we also are abused and alone.
In chapter 17 God gives the rite of circumcision. This was to set the people of God apart from the rest of the world. Today we are given the rite of Baptism in which we also are set apart from the world. The Jews didn’t want to be set apart they wanted to be like other nations (1 Samuel 8:19-20) Today I wonder how much we want to be set apart from the world?
When God comes again and promises Abraham a child Abraham tries to get God to accept Ishmael, the fruit of his sin and lack of faith. But God would not accept him, God will not accept the fruits of our sin. (Again think of Cain in Genesis 4)
I also love when Sarah laughed at the thought of getting pregnant. How many times have I been like her and thought that is impossible. Too often like here when confronted by God I have lied to myself about my sin, excused it, or claim it was not so. But God knows.
One last though God tells Abraham to circumcise every male in his family, slaves and free and the Scripture says Abraham did it that very next day. How fast do you respond to God’s Word and Spirit speaking to you?
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Post by Poet Maybe on Jan 5, 2023 16:17:57 GMT
Day 5 (Genesis 16-18)
Sarai offers Hagar to Abram in hope of a family and blames God for not having a child of her own. Now about Abram’s part in this, he shows how weak he was when it came to telling his wife no. (a few of us have that problem.) Abram did not correct his wife in her thinking. But actually condoned her actions by accepting Hagar. Then when things started to go south for Sarai because of Hagar’s relationship with Abram she blamed Abram. And what did Abram say to Sarai about this? “She’s your slave, do whatever you want.” Sliding farther down the slope, Sarai begins to abuse Hagar. Hagar runs away but God comes to her. (This is something that makes my heart glad. God is there for us even in the worst of times.) Sometimes the answer to our problem is to return and face it. I’m sure Hagar wasn’t thrilled to go back and face more abuse. But she was faithful to God. The covenant of circumcision: The mark of God’s people being set apart. The promise of God was on their bodies as a reminder of whose they were. A reminder of what God had done and was doing for them. (When we are baptized we are set apart to live for God.) A circumcision of the heart. Even though Abram doubted that he would have a son in his advanced years He trusted God. And was circumcised along with Ishmael and all his male property. Now when Sarah heard she was to have a son, she laughed. But we must remember God always has the last laugh. And Sarah became pregnant. (NOTHING is impossible for God!!)
I find it interesting how Abraham was interceding for Sodom, a wicked city. Maybe because his nephew Lot lived there? Maybe Abraham feared for the safety of innocent people? There are many thoughts on that. But whatever the reason, Abraham had the strength to go to God with his requests. And God listened to Abraham. I’ll stop here, I’m trying to be less long winded…LOL
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Post by chrystalwhite on Jan 6, 2023 14:16:39 GMT
The first three chapters of Genesis helped me to know that without God nothing was made. He formed the world and everything in it in his own image. He taught us that Adam and Eve did the very first dinner in the world. And that Gos said fear not just confess to Me and your sins will be no more.
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