(Genesis 2: 10-14) The Four Rivers

Genesis 2
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.
11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.
13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.
One of the things we need to remember is that after the flood, a lot of the known world was displaced. We can assume where these rivers were located, but the truth is that much of the terrain on earth was totally changed after the flood.

But, HERE is an interesting documentary about the four rivers:
(Remember that all of this is speculation, and that this is for thought purposes only)

(Genesis 2:9) The Two Trees

Genesis 2:9
“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”
There were two trees in the middle of the garden that were special. One was the Tree of Life. The other was The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

If you could eat of any tree in the garden, including ONE of those two, which would YOU choose?

As we shall soon see, there is ONE of the two that God said was OFF-LIMITS.

Genesis 2:8 The Garden

Genesis 2:8
“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

God created for man a place of comfort -- a place where man could have all he desired to want, and could live a fulfilled and satisfying life. Then, He put man in it.

This is what God wanted for man or He would not have put him there. This is what God wants for us ultimately.

Genesis 2:7 Breath of Life

Genesis 2:7
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

Man was the only thing in the Bible that was created from substances that were already created by God. Everything else, God spoke into existence. And, then, God breathed the "breath of life" into him.

So, what is the breath of life? According to Got Questions It is the life and power of God, given to man to animate him. The Hebrew word for spirit is ruach, which means “wind, breath, air, spirit.” In short, man is the only living being on the face of the earth that has the Spirit of God in him. Animals, which do possess souls, do not possess the Spirit. (Read Bible Sprout's "Do Animals Have Eternal Souls" for further information on this topic)

Genesis 2:4-6 Atmosphere

Genesis 2
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.


The earth was completed. Man had not been created yet. Everything was perfect.

The earth watered itself from the mist that rose from the ground. The atmosphere supported life, not death. Man could live forever in this environment.

There was no sickness or disease. There was no violence or heartbreak. Everything was perfect. It was on earth as it was in heaven. And, the Spirit of God walked there.

Visit Creation.com for more great information!

Genesis 2:1-3 Stop and Smell the Roses

Genesis 2

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
We have learned, so far, that we are made in the image of God. And, on the seventh day, after 6 days of creation, God rested from all His work. He sanctified the seventh day and made it a day of rest for all creation.

God keeps nothing from us that He enjoys for Himself. And, He asks nothing from us that He isn't willing to do Himself, either. Jesus is proof of that!

Today, we tend to stay busy in our lives. Sometimes we sacrifice our health by working seven days a week. We fail to take the time to enjoy all that we work so hard for! So, set aside a day of rest to spend time and enjoy all you are working for, and you will find an increase in your productivity through-out the rest of the week!

And don't forget to never be too busy to thank God for what you are busy for!

Genesis 1:29-30 Purpose of Plants

Genesis 1

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.In the beginning, there was nothing that grew out of the ground that we could not eat. Even today, there is nothing that grows out of the ground that cannot be used in some manner.

Even weeds have a purpose. (That'll preach!)

Genesis 1: 28 Be Fruitful and Multiply

Genesis 1
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God wants us to be creative and productive. When we are creative and productive, we grow. We spread. We fill the earth with God's Glory! He wants us to rule over every creature in His creation, to subdue it.

The word "subdue" means to overcome, quieten, or bring under control -- to tame.

Everything in God's creation was created to challenge us. When we are challenged, our creativity goes into overdrive.

We, as human beings tend to complain about our daily struggles, but do we ever stop to think that God gives us those struggles to help us grow and become who we are meant to be? And, if we had no challenges to meet us each day, wouldn't life be boring after awhile?

It is in human nature to be busy at something, for the most part. If we are not busy struggling to make ends meet, it leaves a WHOLE lot of room for us to be creative in getting into trouble. So, the next time you face problems, praise God! He's just trying to keep you busy so you can become who you are supposed to be for HIM!

Genesis 1: 26-27 Godly

Genesis 1
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God created two versions of man: male and female. He created them in His own image.

It is true that even identical twins are different. Every human being has certain features about him or her that make her different than anyone else on earth. Life circumstances (weather, stress, scars, even your personality shapes your physical features over time. This is how we tell each other apart. But, there is always someone who says, "You look just like your mom (or dad)!", which, though you may favor them -- due to the DNA that was contributed to your gene pool -- you do NOT look JUST LIKE THEM.

In the same way, you were created in the image of God. You may not look exactly like God, but you were created to shine like Him. You were created to love like Him. You were created to be productive and creative. You were created to endure. You were created to be righteous! You were created to be godly! There is nothing on this earth that we could not do if we set our mind to it if we maintain our "godliness". This does not mean we are a God. It means that we are God's.

Finally, God ALSO created us to rule over the earth and all that is in it. We were to "have dominion" over everything. There is not an animal or plant on this earth that we cannot use for something. God does not make anything that is useless, including YOU.

Genesis 1:24-25 God Made All the Animals

Genesis 1
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
On the sixth day, God created all the animals that lived on dry land; and, just like all of the rest of His creation, God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1: 20-23 Be Fruitful and Multiply

Genesis 1
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
On the fifth day, God created the fish and all the creatures of the water, and the birds and all the creatures of the air. He commanded them, as He commands all of His creation, to be "fruitful and multiply!"

He wanted His creation to fill the whole world.

But, there is another aspect to this command.

Did you ever stop to consider what would happen once the whole world was filled? Has God ever rescinded that command? When the world is populated abundantly, is over-population going to be an issue?

I believe that God is God. He makes room for everyone. I don't believe, at the time, that over-population would have EVER been an issue, had Adam not made the fall.

Now it is a test of faith. Do we continue to "be fruitful and multiply"? I say, yes. God has never rescinded His command. He never changes His mind. He is the same yesterday, today, and always. And, He uses man's mistakes to complete His perfect Will!

Light of the World

Genesis Chapter 1
14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Did you ever notice that God created the plants before He created the Sun? According to the Bing dictionary, photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis in plants generally involves the green pigment chlorophyll and generates oxygen as a byproduct. However, plants do not require sunlight. They require light.

1 John 1
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.So, we do not need sunlight to live. We need God. And, we need Jesus IN us.

Read these Verses for clarification:

John 8:12
John 9:5
Matthew 5:14

God Called it Good

Genesis 1:
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

On the third day, God created dry land, seas, grass, and every plant and tree. He created them to create beings like themselves.

Then, God called it "good". Everything God creates is "good".

This means that YOU are "good". I am "good" and even the homeless person on the street is "good".

Genesis 1:9 Dry Land

Genesis 1:9
“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.”
To learn more read:

What does Genesis 1:9 mean?

Creation in 6 Days, Really?

Genesis 1:8 The Firmament of Heaven

Genesis 1:8
“And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”
I found a lesson on Genesis 1:6-8 here that you might want to read.

Genesis 1:7 And, it was so.

Genesis 1:7
“And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.”

When God speaks, the universe listens and obeys. So, if God says it, I believe it, that settles it. God told the firmament to divide and it did. Under the water, man cannot breath. In space, man cannot breathe. In the space between, man thrives.

You could say that God created boundaries at this point that we cannot, in our raw form, cross. What God does, He does as an example for us to follow. We must set boundaries in our life that separates us from that which will destroy our lives. It's okay to say no, if it means we are better off for having said it.

And, we must always remember that what God proclaims, what God ordains, and what God commands always comes to pass. So, if God says we should not fear, and that He would be with us, then our lives should be lived in fearless faith.

Genesis 1:6 Dividing the Waters

Genesis 1:6
“And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

It is no coincidence that astronauts use water to train for outer space missions. Also, the same equipment used for underwater missions was adapted to be used in outer space.

Here is an interesting video.
(NOTE: Please pray for discernment before watching this video. I make no claims to the validity of this video or its findings)

Genesis 1:5 - What's in a Name

Genesis 1
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

What God creates, He names.

Did you know that when you become "a new creature in Christ" (2 Cor. 5:17) and you persevere in faith and endure until the end of your life and do not waiver in your faith and stand in Christ, God will give you a new name?

The name you carry now is given you by your parents. God gave Adam the task of name all of the living creatures. (Gen. 2:20) Therefore, your parents name you. But, when you become "born again", you are a "new creature", and you become God's to name.

Genesis 1:4 Light is Good

Genesis 1:4
“And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

When God saw the light was good, He separated it from the darkness.

In Matthew 5:4, Jesus says that we are the "light of the world." If we are the "light of the world", and God sees that the light is good, then it stands to reason that He would choose to separate us from the darkness. God created us, then called us to be His children.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 says that we are all children of the light. If we are in the dark, it is because WE choose to be so.

John 3:19
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
God will not do for us what we do not wish Him to do for us.

If you are in a dark place in your life, then ask that God intervene. Until you do, He, being a just and loving God, will give you what you obviously want.

Genesis 1:3 -- "Let There Be Light!"

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Genesis 1:3
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” You can rest assured that any time you see a "light at the end of the tunnel" or you get hit with a "light of inspiration" or your day seems brighter because a "light shined in the dark valley", it was God.

God seems to show up in many ways, at the most necessary times; and, usually, when we least expect Him to, but most need Him to.

God created the light by speaking it into existence, therefore light is a gift from God, no matter what form it may take!

Genesis 1:2 Dark Waters

Genesis 1:2
“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

The earth had no shape. It was all water, which is formless until contained. It existed because God spoke it into being, but God had yet to shape it into what He wanted it to be.

How many of us drift through life "shapeless", void, in darkness, until we ask God to come into our lives and form us into who HE wants us to be? God was there in the "shapeless", void and dark earth -- just like He is with you in yours. All you have to do is ask Him into your life to mold it. If He would do that for something that never existed before, don't you think He'll do it for you, whom He has already created to glorify Him?

Genesis 1:1 - The Beginning

Genesis 1:1 -- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

I could go into a long diatribe of what this verse means; but, honestly, why not just take it at it's word?

All things were Made by Him

"Look what I made, Mommy!" says the little boy who shows off his picture to his mother.

"I see!" says Mom. "It's a beautiful picture. But, did you know that you didn't make that by yourself?"

"I did! I did it ALL BY MYSELF!"

"You drew the picture all by yourself. But, where did you get the paper?"

"Miss Thelma gave it to me."

"So, Miss Thelma helped you draw that picture by giving you the paper. Where did Miss Thelma get the paper?"

"From the store."

"So not only did Miss Thelma help you, the store helped you. Where did the store get the paper?"

"From the paper maker?"

"The factory made the paper to give to the store that gave it to Miss Thelma. How did the factory make the paper?"

"From TREES!"

"So the Trees provided the materials for the factory to make the paper that sent it to the store to sell to Miss Thelma so she could give it to you. Interesting. Where did the trees come from?"

"From seeds."

"So the seeds grew and became trees that provided the materials for the factory to make the paper that sent it to the store to sell to Miss Thelma so she could give it to you. Where did the seeds come from?"

The little boy thinks...

"Mom? Where DO the seeds come from?"

"The seeds came from the first tree. Do you know where THAT came from?"

The little boy shrugs.

"The Bible says, In Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

This means that God created the first tree. So, everything was created with God. This means that even this picture that you drew could not have been done without God. So, did you create this picture all by yourself?"

The little boy thinks about this for a moment, then says, "No. God helped me draw this picture."

"That's right! Don't ever forget that you can't do ANYTHING without God!"

You are Only One Member of the Body of Christ

Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 12.
Particularly this verse catches my eye:
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

What this chapter says to me is that not all of us are called to stand in front of the pulpit on Sundays. Some of us are called to sweep the church after services. Some of us are are called to have Bible Studies in our homes. Some of us are called to tell people on the streets that there is hope in Jesus.

We are all called to tell the whole world the good news of the Gospel, but not ONE of us can do it alone. So, we serve God right where we are with what God gives us to serve with; each of us being one member of the Body of Christ.

This World is Not My Home

I think reading this in context is best. Paul basically tells us that if you are a Christian, then you should gladly put away certain behaviors in exchange for more Christ-like characteristics with-in yourself. Once you have "become a new creature in Christ", all the bad behaviors you once had should be done away with, as you are no longer that person anymore.

It also calls us to do away with prejudices, such as racism, judging according to financial standings, or thinking you are better than anyone else because of your social placement (employer/employee relationship, etc.) Those systems do not exist in the Kingdom of God.


Colossians
Chapter 3
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul!

My prayer is always to let every breath from my body Bless the Lord. Let my every action glorify His Name. Let every spoken word Praise Him. All I do, may it please Him.

When we bless The Lord, we are blessed beyond measure, no matter our circumstance.

When someone I meet each day asks me, "How are you, today?" I never fail to say, "I am blessed." No matter how I feel, or what I am going through, where I am or who I am with, I am ALWAYS blessed!

Waiting on God

Waiting on The Lord is never easy, but ALWAYS necessary. God doesn't show up just because we ask Him to. He shows up when He is needed AND trusted most. When you are at the end of your rope, and when there is nowhere left to turn, and no one left to turn to, THAT is when God shows up and shows out!

To wait on God is an event that happens numerous times in the Bible, and always with positive results. The Bible doesn't ask you to "wait" so much as it encourages "patience" during tribulation.

Wait. God is ALWAYS on time!

God is the God of Preservation!

This means that no matter what evil comes against you, if you are a child of God, God will keep you from destruction. He will ensure that your soul remains where it should.

Read the Bible

Joshua 1:8

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Be the Church

We Will Not be Shaken

Read Psalm 15

Lord, I praise You that You hold me upright. I praise You that I am able to plant seeds of righteousness and hope.

I have been hurt badly in my life, Lord. But, I have hope in You. You said, "He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not" shall not be moved. I have always tried to continue in You in spite of the hurt.

I have not asked for repayment when others sought help from me (although I have praised You when that repayment came, right on time!). And, I would never hurt anyone intentionally.

I have done my best to live right and speak truth, even when it wasn't easy, and even when others hate me for it.

I ask You today, Lord, to be who You say You are; to be who You have ever been to me, and to continue to be my strength, my shield and my hiding place.

I can't imagine a day without You, Lord. I can't imagine life without You at all.

Thank You, Lord.

In Jesus's Holy Name I pray, Amen!

Psalm 15 Description: Psalm 15 begins with two related questions: LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? (v. 1). These are questions worthy of our consideration as Christian business professionals seeking to integrate our faith and our work. The psalmist answers the questions with the following description: He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken (vv. 2-5, NIV). Using this psalm as a basis, Southwest Baptist University''s College of Business and Computer Science is devoted to educating Psalm 15 professionals, who exemplify traits including integrity, service, respect, charity, faithfulness, truthfulness, humility, and perseverance. The devotions in this small volume draw readers'' attention to the need for believers to exemplify such character traits. Contributions from the SBU faculty and administration remind us of the necessity to approach life and work with a biblical worldview. This volume is an abbreviated version of another Resource Publications book, A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals, also available from Wipf and Stock Publishers (www.wipfandstock.com). Endorsements: Too often, Christians attempt to compartmentalize life and live in a dichotomous world. Psalm 15: Integrating Faith and Work presents a compilation of devotions challenging the reader to develop a Biblical worldview for all facets of life, including ministry and professional careers. The contributors clearly show that spirituality should not be divorced from professional life. This book is an excellent source for professionals who desire to integrate faith with all aspects of life. --C. Pat Taylor, President, Southwest Baptist University About the Contributor(s): David Wesley Whitlock serves as the Associate Provost, Dean of the College of Business and Computer Science, and Professor of Business at Southwest Baptist University. He holds BS and MBA degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and a PhD from the University of Oklahoma. Other books by Whitlock include Opportunity: Introducing Free Enterprise and Business and A Noble Calling: Devotions and Essays for Business Professionals, which he coedited with Gordon Dutile. Both are available from www.wipfandstock.com. Gordon Dutile serves as the Provost and Professor of Biblical Studies at Southwest Baptist University. He holds a BS from Louisiana Technical University and MDiv and PhD degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dutile is also the coeditor, with David Whitlock, of A Noble Calling.

The Fool

Lord, I pray that those who question Your existence have their eyes opened to Your daily blessings and the miracles around them each day.

I don't want to be as the rich man in the synagogue who thanks You that I am not like them -- but I am no fool. But, I praise You that Your enemies will be brought low. And, I ask You to fill me with more of You, that I may share with those who don't seem to have enough of You.

Lord, I also praise You that when I fail, when I "tear up my witness" of You, that You are Gracious and Forgiving; that You understand that I am but a mere imperfect mortal human being who still has lessons to learn.

Teach me, O Lord, that I may know Your ways, and that I may not stray from the path that You have set me on.

In Jesus's Holy Name I pray, Amen

Your Love Defends Me

Read Psalm Chapter 11

Lord, I thank You and praise You that you are my hiding place. You make my way before me safe. You ensnare those who would harm me in their own traps. You protect me with Your wisdom and You reward me with Your grace.

I ask You to continue to teach me Your ways, Lord. I ask You to let me know You by the works You call me to do each day. I ask You to help me have more faith, more desire, more longing, and more appetite for you.

I ask that You show Yourself to those who don't know You as You have shown Yourself to me.

Thank you for the many blessings that You have given me. And, thank You for your son, Jesus.

In Jesus's Holy Name, Amen

Psalm 10: Why Does God allow Evil to Thrive?

Lord, I don't know why You allow evil to exist in the world. I don't know why bad things happen to good people. I don't know why the innocent suffer. But, I know You are God. I know You have a plan. I know the evil men of this world will not get by with it forever.

I trust You, and I praise You, that your mercy allowed me the chance to be redeemed through Your son. I pray for all those who walk the dark road to come to the light. I pray that You can use ME to show someone the light.

I thank you for your forgiveness, and I pray that You can be my strength to forgive for Your glory when the opportunity arrives.

In Jesus's Holy Name I pray,
Amen



Psalms
Chapter 10
1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.

9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.

10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.

11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.

14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

All Things Under My Feet

Lord, this passage says that You have made me a little lower than the angels and crowned me with Glory and Honor.

It also says that You have placed all things under my feet.

Lord, help me to take what You have given me so I may give it back to you tenfold, for YOUR glory.

Thank You for all Your blessings on me. No matter how I feel or what I am going through, YOU are my courage and my reason to remain persistent and determined.

In Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

Psalms Chapter 8

1 (To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.) O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

I Am Called

Every day I hear people say that they feel that they are "called" to do this or that. When I get a new job, someone always says, "Maybe this is your calling." I am guilty of saying, "I feel I am called to do this..."

Today, listening to Christian talk radio, I heard God speak to me, as He so often does when I am focusing on Him and His Word. He told me, "You are called to do one thing in life. One thing. That ONE thing is to glorify ME."

So, in anything I do from now on, I will ask myself, "Is what I am doing glorifying God?"

The truth is, no matter where I am, or what I am doing at any given moment, I am there by the Grace of God. I am there for a reason: to glorify HIM. So, if I am working in a burger joint, I must make sure that what I am doing is glorifying God at that moment.

For instance, if I am cooking on the grill, and my co-worker looks bothered by something personal, I should try to find out if it is anything I can help him or her with. I should offer words from God that edify and encourage him or her. I should offer my time to help him (serve) to solve his or her problem. And, when they thank me later, I can tell them to thank Jesus, because HE is the reason I did it.

In this way, my mission is where ever God places me at any given moment.

What I do to Glorify God tells the world who I am:

I am a princess of the King of the Universe.

I am a warrior for Christ.

I am a child of the Living God.

I am who God has called me to be.

Who are you?

Jesus My Advocate

On judgment day, I will stand before the judge of all time; and He will look at me, with every sin I have ever sinned, and every failure I have ever experienced, and He will see all the dirt that is on my soul. Then He will ask me, "Who is your lawyer? Whom have you paid to be your advocate?"

And I, who am so unworthy, will smile through my shameful tears and say, "I have no defense except the one who has already suffered in my place. Jesus the Christ advocates for me."

And The Judge will look at His only begotten son and ask, "Is that true?"

And He will say, "I have paid her debt."

The judge will ask, "Do you have proof?"

And Jesus will show Him his nail scarred hands. "Her sins were washed away by my blood that day."

And The Judge will look at me once again, and smile, and declare, "I pronounce you innocent. You may enter into eternal life."

Strong Enough

Sometimes in life, everyone goes through things that seem like God is so far away. Everyone always wonders why bad things happen to good people. Things you think couldn't ever happen to you, you find yourself face to face with and you struggle with your faith, your emotions and your ability to be strong in the face of Satan's attacks.

I've had days like that in the past. I am going through one now...for the past few days.

My way of enduring it is to remember that God has always had a way of making lemonade out of lemons. That's His specialty, as a matter of fact. I just have to keep looking for the blessings, the lessons, and what is before me that He has for me to do and accomplish without drowning in my own self-pity or the horror of a situation.

The prayers of a righteous man availeth much, says the Word.

I've seen that, too, just in the last few days.

God never promised us there wouldn't be mountains, valleys, storms and disappointment. He just promised to be there with us, and to be our vengeance and our strength.

Praise God. I praise God that things could be so much worse right now than they are, and I praise God that He has a heart for children.

Luke 17:2
“It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”