Genesis 1:25 -- Testimony of Faith

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible

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. -- Genesis 1:25

Everything God does is good. He does nothing bad. Everything God does, He does for a reason: to be fruitful; to multiply; to fill the earth with His goodness.

Because God gives us free will, if bad things happen to us, it isn't because God is bad or because He did something bad, it is because we did. When bad things happen, therefore, we must work to make it good again. We must learn from our mistakes, repent of our sin that led us to that point, and move forward with faith that God will give us a great testimony to share through that experience.

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. -- Ecclesiastes 8:6

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Genesis 1:24 -- Stay Positive!

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible

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. -- Genesis 1:24

God made all the living creatures, and gave them the ability to make more of their own kind. A dog will have more dogs, and a cat will have kittens.

The same can be said about the fruits of our life: Good thoughts brings goodness, whereas sinful thoughts bring about more sin. God doesn't want us to be negative because He doesn't want us to have negative things in our life; because once the negativity is there, it takes a while for the positivity to wear it down.

This is why it is important for us to have faith. Jesus said,

...for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. -- Matthew 17:20

If you can believe that what He says is true, then you can believe that He wants you to have good things in your life. So, believe! Believe that God is capable of anything, and anything is possible with Him!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him -- Hebrews 11:6

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Genesis 1:23 -- Each Day Has a Purpose

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. -- Genesis 1:23

Each day, God gives new commands. Each day, God has a new gift to give the world. Each day, God wants to find someone who is grateful, who is praising Him for what He does. If you are thankful for what God does, and humbled each time He does small things for you, God has a plan for you. He has a job for you, and He wants you to be rewarded for your effort on His behalf.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: -- 1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourself before God. Let Him love you and show you how much He appreciates you with praises to him and thanksgiving. The results will be overpowering!

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Genesis 1:22 -- Being Fruitful

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible
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Genesis 1:22 -- And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

God wants us to be fruitful. He wants us to gain something in our time here on earth. And, He wants more people to bear more fruit. In this passage, He was telling Adam and Eve to have children and to populate the earth. Though He still wishes for us to have children, today there is an even greater calling: to bear fruit for the Lord. The only way to do this is to follow the teachings of Jesus.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:5)

Jesus wants to give everyone the hope of an eternal life with the Father, where there is no more pain or sorrow. So it is our job, as Christians to tell everyone we know about Jesus and what He has already done in our life.

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 36:18-20)

If we do this, we will bear much quality fruit for the Lord.

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Genesis 1:21 -- The Key to Happiness

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible

Genesis 1:21 -- 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.

Whatever God does, He does in abundance. He makes enough to last as long as His will desires. All He asks is that you follow His commands: to love Him, and to love one another. There is no better way to show God that you appreciate all He has given you than to love others and show the same mercy and goodness to others that He has shown you.

God gave you a heart. In it is stored who you are. If you are good, you will say good things. If you are evil, you will say evil things.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (Matthew 12:34)

So it is always best to take thought in what you say, because what you say can put to motion the blessings or the curses of God.

If you determine in your heart that you are going to love God and love others, you will come to love yourself. Loving Him is the key to finding happiness and contentment in your life.

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How Great Is Our God: The Essential Collection

2011 release from the Christian singer/songwriter. As one of the most-sung artists in the church, Chris Tomlin writes music that connects people to the heart of Jesus and leads them to a greater worship of him. After six studio albums and numerous appearances on Passion live worship albums, Chris releases his first-ever greatest hits collection Of the 14 songs on the album, three are all-new recordings of classic Tomlin worship songs. Included is a new recording of the #1 song 'How Great Is Our God', which features guest appearances from renowned international worship leaders, singing parts of the song in their native language.

Buy the CD by clicking HERE!

Genesis 1:20 - The Abundant Life

Written by Shonda Ponder
All Bible verses taken from the KJV of the Open Bible


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.

The fish and the birds were created in the same day. The fish can't breathe in the open air, and the birds can't breathe in the water; but, both are equally important to God, or He wouldn't have created them.

When God created the birds, He foresaw a time when the birds would feed the Israelites as they wondered for 40 years in the wilderness. When He created the fish, He knew one day He would have to use a great fish to swallow Jonah, so that Jonah would be convinced to do as God willed. Know this: everything God creates is at God's disposal. What you are going through right now will one day be solved by God's great creation, if you seek to honor Him.

Does this mean you won't make mistakes? No. Jonah made a big mistake when he ran from God's will in his life. The same creation that God uses to help you can envelope and chastise you as you look upon it. What God does, however, is out of pure love for you and the rest of His creation.

There is as much a purpose for you today as there was yesterday, and the day before. There is a place for you in God's creation, just as the birds have the air and the fish have the water. No one else can fulfill the purpose for which you were made.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began... (2nd Timothy 1:8,9)

God can will that you go through some pretty uncomfortable times in order for His plan to work. Jonah wasn't happy with the task that God commanded of him, but it didn't stop him from getting the message that God wasn't going to let up until he did it. When you choose to follow God, you choose to let Him use you as He wills. You will never be comfortable outside of the will of God.

Just remember, Jesus taught that He had come to give us life, and to give it more abundantly:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

He also taught that:

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. (Luke 9:24)

You may not see the logic in God's will for your life, but if you learn to let go and let God, you will enjoy life so much better in the end, because the will of God will strengthen you, and you will be called blessed.

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