Day 4450: Enjoying the Central Coast of CA with relatives from Minnesota. So thankful to live in such a beautiful area!

Scripture: The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in His heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.” Genesis 8:21, 22

Thoughts/questions: Most of us are familiar with God’s promise to never again destroy the world and the confirming rainbow. But what I noticed in today’s verses was the promise that basically covered the entire universe. Without the WHOLE world being pretty much just as it is now, we would not have seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night never ceasing. And as far as recorded history, our world has not changed much if at all!

So from the tiniest animal to the universe itself, God has put into motion a system that we all enjoy each day, each season, and each year! Seasons are the engine that drives Earth’s habitability. Without our tilt, very few of us would exist on the planet. Scientists hypothesize a big crash that tilted the earth. God said He created the seasons and did so intentionally at creation by tilting it. I’m going to believe God rather than people projecting what just might have happened millions of years ago!

Yes, as the song says, ‘He’s got the whole world in His hands!’

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, many people try to eliminate You from existence, but I know You created everything . . .

Day 4449: TGIF — Thank God I’m Forgiven and it’s Friday!

Scripture: (God speaking) You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” Genesis 6:19-21

Thoughts/questions: The account of Noah’s Ark has been controversial to say the least. Here are a couple of thoughts that I’ve heard and they’ve helped me as I consider this amazing event. The first is fairly simple – Noah didn’t take full-grown animals on the ark. There’s such a great size difference between adults and much younger ones! This creates a lot more room for their bodies and requires a lot less food as well. They didn’t have a problem with water, did they!

The other is from a debate between a creationist and an evolutionist. The evolutionist had a problem with 2 of each animal producing so many animals. She used dogs as an example asking, ‘So you believe that all of the many dogs came from only 2 dogs?’ The creationist responded, ‘Yes I do and it’s a bit of a problem, but your problem is bigger, as you believe all of these dogs we see today came from NO dogs!’

There is a lot more evidence supporting a massive flood, but these simple things help me when I reflect on Noah and the ark! I trust this makes sense to you as well!

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, You are a God of the miraculous and nothing is too difficult for You . . .

Day 4448: May the Lord grant you His peace . . .

Scripture: The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that He had made human beings on earth, and His heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8

Thoughts/questions: Given that humanity currently challenges so much of Genesis – that God even exists; evolution not creation; male and female were created, but not limited to that now – one has got to imagine that God might just be regretting making human beings again! He’s promised not to wipe us out ever again, But maybe He could consider coming back soon!

So as God searches the earth and the people He has created, do His eyes find favor in you? Many people in the world will always cause God to potentially regret His creation, but when His eyes rest on those who call themselves Christ followers, He should find favor in them! A great goal for February – always be the type of person who finds favor in the eyes of the Lord!!!

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, may my life be a blessing to You . . .

Day 4447: Hello short little hard-to-spell February!

Scripture: Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Genesis 5:24

Thoughts/questions: In this verse, being faithful was the major criterion for God taking Enoch to heaven. And most of God2me readers are probably aware of the verse in Matthew stating, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ So, here are two references to eternity that contain a form of the word faithful – must be important, eh!

There are four parts in the definition of this important adjective and all apply to our walk with God! The first is: steadfast in affection or allegiance. We persevere in our love and commitment to Jesus! The second is: firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty. Our duty is to believe and obey!

The third is: given with strong assurance. God wants us to have a faith that confidently believes and then behaves accordingly. And the fourth is: true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original. The Bible and a Biblical worldview are mandatory beliefs for a Christ follower.

So this is what God expects of us: For us to be steadfast in affection or allegiance; to be firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty; for our faith to be given with strong assurance; and finally, to be true to the facts, to a standard, or to an original. Be faithful! Walk faithfully! And enter the joy of our Lord!

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, may I always be found faithful . . .

Day 4446: 2023 is moving fast!!! Enjoy each day!

Scripture: . . . a time to weep and a time to laugh, Ecclesiastes 3:4a

Thoughts/questions: Maybe being around grieving people recently has caused me to notice these two uniquely human traits — laughing and crying. One could list quite a few similarities between animals and humans and even certain similarities with vegetation. However, laughing and crying would not be on either list. To my knowledge, animals just don’t cry or laugh! Evolutionists want to argue that certain animals make laughter like sounds and that some shed tears, but when is the last time you’ve observed the type of crying or laughing humans exhibit from any animal?

No, as an expression of joy and a reaction to sorrow, humanity stands out – far out! Why? We ‘religious’ types attribute those very unique forms of behavior to God creating humans differently than animals. And we can be thankful! What a joy to laugh even to the point of crying, and crying from sorrow or even from joy to the point of laughing.

Ecclesiastes tells us there is a time for both! And both we should do; and do often! God gave us these characteristics for a reason; they are uniquely ours; so let’s take advantage of what we’ve been given and let’s laugh and cry often!!!

Suggested prayer: Creator God, may I use Your gifts often and wisely . . .

Day 4465: Happy 53rd anniversary to Linda and me!!! MMM Make your Monday Matter!

Scripture: This is the written account of Adam’s family line. Genesis 5:1

Thoughts/questions: Genesis 5 continues with a genealogy of Adam and Eve’s family. It is one of 25 or so genealogies in the Bible. And God introduces Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So what’s the significance of these Biblical accounts? One reason for sure is that God cares about family trees! After all, He is the One who created the family unit, and He put the DNA in our systems that ties families together throughout their generations.

And it follows that if He cares for family trees, the various roles within individual families are important as well. Whether a son or daughter, a father or mother, a sister or brother, a grandpa or grandma and even an aunt or uncle – God expects us to fulfill that role in the way He planned.

The Bible isn’t shy about defining those roles either! And most God2me readers are functioning in multiple family roles. And if you haven’t taken those roles seriously, now is the time to start. Make contact, encourage, support, be an example, leave a legacy, and seek to move your family members closer to God. There’s a lot to do!!! And do it we must!

Suggested prayer: Lord God, help me to be the family member You intend me to be . . .

Day 4464: The funeral went well yesterday; a family was reunited; and many reminders that heaven awaits!

Scripture: The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:1, 13, 14

Thoughts/questions: Significant life events are times to reflect and funerals are certainly one of those times. At Linda’s Mom’s funeral Friday, the pastor spoke on her Mom’s favorite Psalm – Psalm 27 from which I took the first verse and last 2 verses for today’s scripture.

Fear is rampant in today’s world and has shown to be an effective means of controlling the masses. Fear of death is one of the major fears humanity faces, but knowing the Lord should alleviate that fear for sure. Is the Bible true? Has Jesus truly prepared a place for all Christ-followers? If we wait for the Lord will we eventually see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living?

If yes – no fear of death. If no, the unknown can truly be a scary place! And if no fear of death – who or what else should cause us to fear! Trust, believe, commit, have faith, and persevere!!! It ain’t heaven yet, but it will be soon!!!

Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, You have conquered death, and I say Hallelujah . . .

Day 4463: It’s Friday and a special day to TGIF – Thank God I’m Forgiven, as I’m at a funeral today – an important reminder to be thankful for God’s forgiveness.

Scripture: The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. Genesis 4:4b, 5a The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Genesis 4:10 Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. Genesis 4:15b

Thoughts/questions: This chapter contains three interesting actions by God. #1) In this God loves everyone, very early in the Bible we are made aware of our God setting a standard and not showing favor to ones who don’t meet His standard for them. Yes, God loves us all, but also has expectations of each of us.

#2) God hears more than we think. Even after a deed is done, He remembers! Inappropriate behavior cries out to God for justice. And He listens! Often the world seems very unfair, but God knows what’s going on and will respond! #3) God is practical. Cain believed he was condemned and would be killed wherever he went. God didn’t just say, ‘Oh, you’ll be OK.’ No, He protected Cain with a mark! And He’ll protect us as well!

So, we learn that God has a standard that He expects us to meet; He may not act immediately, but He WILL bring justice; and He is committed to protecting us. Yes, our God is a great God!

Suggested prayer: Almighty God, I need to get to know You more . . .

Day 4462: Headed down south for my Mother-in-laws’s funeral Friday. My wife is pretty sad, but her Mom’s in heaven!

Scripture: To the woman God said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

To Adam He said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.” Genesis 3:16-18

Thoughts/questions: I’ve certainly experienced both of these curses God gave Adam and Eve. I actually have given blood because of them. The Eve painful labor curse definitely resulted in tough and drawn-out pain for my wife. Our Lamaze classes fell a bit short of perfection, so towards the end I just let her hug me during the contractions. Lying there, she could only hug my head and I had glasses on. Her ‘strong’ hugs squeezed my ears and my glasses dug into my head and cut the top of my ear! So I experienced the pain of childbirth as well!

The thorns and thistle curse has been a thorn in my side since my youth pulling weeds in my yard. Throughout my life, things I want to grow don’t grow well, and the things I don’t want to grow (thorns/thistles) do very well even though I try everything I can to stop them. Many times I bled doing this hated chore!

Many argue against creation being accomplished by our God. I can’t! These 2 curses have come to pass ever since then. I’m a simple person, so that’s plenty enough for me to believe!

Suggested prayer: Lord God, Your promises are true whether I like them or not . . .

Day 4461: Body, mind, spirit – find balance!

Scripture: But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman You put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:9-13

Thoughts/questions: Adam and Eve knew God in a personal way. But maybe not totally. Their initial sin separated them from God, and soon after they confirmed that yes, they were sinners! In this conversation recorded above, Adam immediately started lying. I’m sure he was afraid, but certainly not because he was naked. He’d been that way before God for a long time. Remember, there weren’t any laws on the books yet, but Adam surely was aware of truth and that he wasn’t speaking truth.

Next, he shirked the responsibility of his actions blaming God first for giving Eve to him and then blaming her – sounds like he’d fit right into today’s culture and society! Then Eve did the same in blaming the serpent – she’d fit in as well! It sounds like they were weak and not God’s first created beings. Yet in fact, they sound a lot like us. Regularly we also shout out – Yep, still a sinner!

But a sinner who is forgiven. Thank You, Lord that even though I’m a sinner, You still love me and put up with me . . .

Suggested prayer: Lord Jesus, truly I am only a sinner saved by grace . . .