Sarai's Barrenness and God's Plan

Genesis 16
1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

There is no record in the Bible of Abram ever being with another woman besides Sarai, until her death -- except for what Sarai permitted.

Abram loved Sarai. She was the apple of his eye. He was willing to stay true to her until death even if she never bore him a child. And, yet, Sarai knew that a son is what he wanted more than anything in the world. She felt that she had let him down. She wanted her husband to be happy, even if it meant she had to permit the unspeakable. This is what led her to give Hagar to Abram.

Back then, when a woman couldn't bear children, her maid servant was commissioned by law to be a surrogate. Sarai figured that since society's law permitted this, that this must be how God intended to give Abram a child. However, as the case is many times today, just because it is lawful does not mean it is moral or just. Sarai was desperate, and just like many of us do today, she let her desperation rule her logic.

God had chosen Abram for Sarai's barrenness as much as for his faith. What better way to show His power in a mere human being's life? What better way to be glorified! God knew that Abram would not stray from his wife unless Sarai permitted it.

Sarai had to be disappointed that she had not conceived a child after so long. Maybe she was past her "change in life" as a woman. (My great-grandmother had a child after her "change". I believe they call them "after-babies". She was the same age as my mother). So, her doubt about the promise God made to Abram was justified in her eyes.

In her eyes. Later, in Isaiah we would read:

Isaiah 55
8 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Saraih forgot that God can do anything He wants to. Sometimes, though, He makes us wait in order to test our faith.

Read the next part of the story.

Pastor Saeed Abedini Released on National Freedom of Religion Day

Today we are celebrating National Freedom of Religion Day with the announcement that Pastor Saeed Abedini, who has been imprisoned in Iran for the last three years has been released today!

We Praise an Almighty God!

Act 12:7
“And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.”

CELEBRATION AND REFLECTION: Thomas Jefferson’s Wisdom Proves Accurate on National Religious Freedom Day, 239 years later

Tomorrow will mark the 23rd National Religious Freedom Day in America. Recognized by Presidential Proclamations since 1993, Religious Freedom Day commemorates the adoption of the 1786 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom by the Virginia General Assembly.

Originally drafted in 1777 by Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was officially adopted by the Virginia General Assembly on January 16, 1786. It was signed into law three days later.

The statute would later serve as the foundation for the First Amendment to the Constitution in the Bill of Rights, ratified in 1791.

Jefferson’s words in the statute caution about what would occur should governmental leaders burden the religious freedom of Americans. America now faces a time when religious liberty is facing unprecedented challenges--and Jefferson’s warnings are proving true.

Read more about this at The Liberty Institute by clicking HERE

Featured Web Site: GETV

GETV is an internet based video channel with a mission to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the Earth. GETV features both “LIVE” and “ON-DEMAND” programming such as: Cornerstone Church Sunday services, specials, classic sermons, events, classes, music, behind the scenes and ALL NEW programming by Pastor John Hagee and Pastor Matthew Hagee that you cannot watch anywhere else. GETV equips you to share the message of Christ. GETV: content wherever you want, whenever you want.

Visit the Web site by clicking HERE!

Carmen Grace: Free to Choose

WE have been given FREE WILL. GOD WANTS a TRUE LOVE RELATIONSHIP with his people. Being a CHRISTian is NOT about RELIGION. LIVING for SELF is NOT FREE. Do NOT be fooled by its bondage to things of this WORLD. SET your mind on things above, make the right choices those that have Eternal value.~CG

Galatians 5:1
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery.”

2 Corinthians 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."

Romans 8:2
“For the law of the SPIRIT of LIFE has SET you FREE in CHRIST JESUS from the law of sin and death.”( law of sin and death = old testament)

Romans 6:6-7
“We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.”

1 Corinthians 10:13
“God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Catch all of Carmen's messages at God Inspires by clicking HERE!

The Powerball

The talk of the day in the break room at my job was the Powerball Lottery. "Did you get a ticket?" "What will you do if you win?" "You know it only takes so many million dollars to win if you played every number sequence...and it's up to 1.5 Billion dollars now, so it would be worth it to get the money..." "Where are you going to get the money?" (Laughter).

I just smiled.

Earlier in the day I speculated about what I would do if I won that amount of money -- for a moment or two.

Then, my mind settled on that list I made of things I'm asking God for. That list should be two miles long, but it's barely a page long right now. I have added things and taken off things for about two years now. God has provided most of what I've asked for. The other stuff, He's either made me wait for, or told me no.

It doesn't even bother me any more when He tells me "No". There has never been a time when He's told me "No" that it wasn't in my best interest not to have what I wanted. I have come to understand that now.

But, $1.5B is a lot of money. It would keep me busier than my present job does, that's for sure. The phone would never stop ringing. There would always be someone to help.

Then I started thinking, "Would Jesus approve?"

I cleaned off my kitchen table as I thought about this. Then, I posted on Facebook that I felt a sense of accomplishment. I noted that I would like to have a desk and a combortable chair to go with it for my computer. I put that on my list of things I'm asking God for, then I got ready to go to work.

Just before I walked out the door I received a message from a friend. "I have a desk and a chair you can have if you can come get it."

WOW.

Ask and ye shall receive, right?

As everyone speculated winning all that money, I decided not to play.

My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. As a matter of fact, He owns the Universe...and I'm an heiress. Anything I want that is good for me, He will give me. All I have to do is ask.

What do I need $1.5 Billion for?

Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Psalm 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

What my pastor did about the rowdy kids at our church

By Joshua Rogers
Published January 10, 2016
FoxNews.com

When I started going to my church in May of 2005, we had about 75 people regularly attending, and almost all of them were single. These days, our church is much larger, thanks in part to the folks who are now married and have kids — lots of them.

At Church of the Resurrection in Washington D.C., the kids are present during the music and communion each week, which sometimes makes for a rambunctious worship experience. Kids have been known to dance during the songs, bolt across the room during the Lord’s Supper, and one time, my daughter walked right onto the stage and into my arms while I was leading worship.

I imagine it’s hard for some of the folks at our church — Lord knows it’s hard for me to keep focused on Jesus when my kids are loudly trying to whisper their Sunday School lesson to me. That’s why I appreciate this message my pastor sent to our church's congregants email list:

Read it...