​Every time I read the Exodus of Israel from Egypt I get frustrated at how quickly they forget that God is with them. But in my frustration God reminds me of how often I too forget... God’s proves himself over and over to His children and yet we still doubt, we still are afraid. My prayer today for each of us comes in Exodus 13:13-14...
THE LORD SHALL FIGHT FOR YOU!

​Genesis 50:20
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
‭
As we wrap up Genesis today, I pray that God’s perfect Word has solidified His truth in your heart. It is so important for us to hold to that truth in a world full of lies. In the last chapter the verse posted above is one of my absolute favorite verses. The humbleness of Joseph. A man that’s life was robbed from him by the sins of his brothers, has the wisdom to look back and see God’s Hand all over his life! Today I wonder if you may take a moment and look back over your own life and tell Satan, “You thought evil against me, but God has used it for good!”

​This morning I saw a group of buzzards on the side of the road devouring some road kill. As I got close enough I noticed (both by sight and smell) they were eating a skunk. My first reaction was Man, that is NASTY! I wondered to myself why anything would stoop so low for a bite of food. Then God brought it to an illustration in my mind. As Christians, God has brought us into a new life. A life that can be free from the sin of this world because of what He has done. But how often do we find our selves going back to the sin that God has freed us from. You know if you think about it the lives that we lived before Christ, it was a mess. It stunk, not unlike that skunk, and when we accept Christ that old stinky life is dead, not unlike the skunk. We go through our new life in Christ soaring in God’s beautiful blue sky and spot something that is dead and stinky lying on the side of the road. Even though we know it’s dead and it stinks we go in for a closer look. We circle around a few times trying to decide if it’s worth it. I know I’ve got it good up here soaring around but that sure looks interesting! We think oh that would be good for me! I know it stinks and I know it’s not good for me, but I really want it. Ultimately it brings us in. Why do we do it? It wasn’t good for food before it was dead and it’s surely no good now!
Today as you read look at the life of Esau, Esau was arrogant, disrespectful, angry, proud, and rebellious. All things that are against the character of God. All things that today in knowing Jesus as savior, are dead in you. Don’t return to those characteristics that take us away from the heights of our relationship with God! Keep soaring and don’t be a buzzard.

​Scripture tells us that Salvation comes by faith through grace. In that statement lies the foundation of our Christian walk. We walk by Faith. The same faith that leads us to salvation directs the steps of our lives, but that’s not easy! It’s not easy to have Faith that the God of creation cares about what I do today, but he does! It’s not easy to relinquish control of our own lives in favor to live under the control of an almighty being. But, that is Faith. The first book of the Bible points to faith many times and today’s reading is no exception. Look at the life of Rebekah in Genesis 24. She had a choice to go and marry a man that she had never met. What she knew of him was based on the testimony of someone she had just met, and the stories of his father she had known. Rebekah chose to step out on Faith and go and meet her husband! Today you may have that same choice to make as Rebekah. You are being invited to be the bride of Jesus Christ. Maybe you have never met him and all you know of him comes in the way of the testimony of people you barely know. You have heard of his father and seen his handiwork all around. But the choice is yours. Will you go? Will you listen to the Holy Spirit that has gone before the testimony to call out to your heart and prepare the way? The decision is hard but the way has been made perfect for you, just say yes. And then when you see the Savior, the Husband, you, just like Rebekah, will run to His arms! My prayers today are for salvation! Salvation through faith by grace!

​In our first full week of reading we have seen God display his Characteristics of Love, Grace, Righteousness, and Mercy, all while being the God of Truth and Promise. Keep reading and let the Words of God RENEW your mind!
​
If you missed last week, don't worry pick up with us now. Here is the Week 2 reading plan!Day 1 - Genesis 16-18
Day 2 - Genesis 19-21
Day 3 - Genesis 22-24
Day 4 - Genesis 25-27
Day 5 - Genesis 28-31
I’m so excited for this next week of reading! We start off the week with Abram and Sarai becoming Abraham and Sarah! What I love is even though they are failing in almost every chapter, they continue to be in God’s Hand! Maybe you have felt like you have failed God. Maybe you feel unworthy of the calling you have received. Maybe you just don’t see how God is going to fulfill His promise. Just trust him and be obedient to His Word. He will never let you go!

​Faith! In this one word everything changes. Noah’s Faith to build the ark and prepare for an unheard of event is an incredible display of faith that changes everything about a person. Hebrews 11 says that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. It is the faith that a believer has in Jesus Christ that changes our identity. The hope is Jesus, he is our substance and he changes our lives! I wonder today after reading through this miraculous story of faith if God is calling you to take a step. Stop for a moment and ask the lord to shine the lamp unto your feet and show you the next step!