Day 15 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 15– God doesn’t NEED our prayers to KNOW our problems, He WANTS our prayers to KNOW we NEED Him.

**Congratulations you have made it through your first book of the Bible!

Todays reading: Exodus 1:1-3:22.

Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Years passed and a new generation of Israelites were flourishing in the land. The new Pharaoh didn’t know the God of the Israelites and only knew that Israelites were getting to strong for his people. So Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and tried to kill any male child born to them. But one Israelite woman from the Levite tribe gave birth to a son. She found the child to be special and nursed him for 3 months. She then built him a basket and put him in the Nile.

At the same time the Pharaoh’s daughter was down in the Nile and found the baby. She took the baby as her own and named him Moses. Moses grew and with his growth began to dislike how the Israelites were treated. He showed his dislike by killing a fellow Egyptian, but Pharaoh found out and Moses fled to another land.

While Moses was gone the Israelites cried out in prayer to God and God heard their prayers. But God already knew what was happening and just waited on them to need Him. He then did what God does best and went to the man that would save the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians….and this man was Moses.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for knowing what we need before we ever know we need it. Thank you for always providing before we even ask. Please take our anxiousness about what’s to come and fill us with your peace. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 14 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 14 – No matter where you are, who you’re speaking with, or what circumstances you’re in, there is always an opportunity to Share God’s Love, your testimony – His Story for God’s Glory.

Today reading: Genesis 48:1 – 50:26.

Genesis 49:23-26 “With bitterness archers attacked him;they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady,his strong arms stayed limber,because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father’s God, who helps you,because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the skies above, blessings of the deep springs below,blessings of the breast and womb. Your father’s blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains,than the bounty of the age-old hills.Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,on the brow of the prince among his brothers.”

Jacob was on his death bed with not many breaths left in him. He looked up at his son Joseph and took the opportunity to tell of God’s love for their family and the fulfillment of the promises the Lord has bestowed upon them. This overflow of gratefulness from Jacob’s heart and the testimony of faithfulness that he shared with Joseph flowed directly into Joseph’s heart as well.

Joseph then spoke openly of his own testimony of the blessings and trials he had gone through. He told Jacob God had given him 2 son’s and he told his brothers of God’s great love for them (they may have meant evil against Joseph, but God meant to use it for good).

What has God done in your life, what is He doing now, and where do you have the opportunity to share His Love and Faithfulness, the Story He has given to you? Who knows if you are there at this time to save someone else’s life.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the story you have given me. Please never let me miss and opportunity to tell of what you’ve done through my life. Let my life be a testimony of You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 13 – 365 days through the Word

Day 13 – Recognize the Sovereignty of the LORD!

Today’s reading: Genesis 45:1 – 47:31.

Genesis 45:7 “But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”

Years before, when Joseph was sold into slavery he had dreams that he would rule over his brothers. But what his brothers and his father thought were not the thoughts of God. They thought it meant Joseph would be harsh to them, telling them what to do, but in actuality it was for their good and the good of God’s chosen people.

Joseph always trusted in the Sovereignty of God and in turn had Hope throughout his trials. This Hope was for his future, for his families future, and Hope for the future nation of Israel. Joseph’s trust in God’s Sovereignty blessed him in the eyes of the Pharaoh, and lead Pharaoh to also believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and now Joseph!

Are you trusting God fully in your trials and in your blessings? Give all the Glory to Him and HOPE for your Future will never be lost.

Dear Heavenly Father, My hope is fully in you. Let me not lose sight of your sovereignty in any of the trials I face. Let me always point to you no matter what comes my way. In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.

Day 12 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 12– Compassion, Anger, Fear, and Faith all come from the same place…the overflow of one’s heart.

Today’s reading: Genesis 42:1 – 44:34.

Genesis 43:30 “Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.”

As Pharaoh’s dreams were confirmed, 7 good years came to the land and 7 bad years filled with famine were now upon them. Jacob, Joseph’s father, sent his sons to Egypt to get food for their family. All but his son Benjamin went because he was the only remaining son of Rachel. When the brothers made it to Egypt Joseph recognized them immediately, however, they did not know him.

Joseph’s first instinct was to treat them harshly out of anger for what they had done to them, but his heart was full of compassion for them as well. He began to bargain with them over supplies in exchange for seeing their youngest brother Benjamin. The brothers made it back to their father Jacob, and told him what Joseph had said, but out of Fear and loss, he refused to let Benjamin go.

Yet, if the brothers didn’t return with Benjamin, Joseph had already told them they wouldn’t be able to have anymore food. The thought of Death of the entire family ripped at Jacob’s heart, so he turned to his faith in the Lord. Jacob prayed that God would grant them mercy on their trip.

You see, even though Anger and Fear can come from our heart, God’s heart is full of Love and Compassion. God’s love will overcome fear and anger everyday. What condition is your heart in? Let God’s Love fill you with compassion and faith pushing out all anger and fear!

Dear Heavenly Father, You alone see the state of my heart. If fear, anxiousness, anger, or hate live there, please remove them by the presence of your love and compassion. Please don’t let the overflow of my heart stop me from following your call. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 11 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 11 – Though our time on this earth may be filled with all sorts of trials, God can fill each trial with an abundant number of blessings.

Todays reading: Genesis 39:1 – 41:57.

Genesis 39:21 “the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.”

Joseph’s journey was plotted out by one trial after another. It all begins with his father loving him more than his brothers and his brothers selling him into slavery….

Joseph’s brothers told their father he had been killed by an animal, but in actuality the Lord put him into the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian Master. In this house Joseph was made overseer of the entire household because Potiphar noticed the Lord blessed everything Joseph touched. However, Potiphar’s wife was also watching Joseph and begged him to sleep with her. Joseph being found righteous continually denied the woman and she was so humiliated she lied to her husband and said Joseph tried to force her to be with him. In anger, Potiphar threw Joseph into prison, but God was still with Joseph and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Joseph was then put in charge of all the prisoners. One day the cupbearer and baker were thrown in prison by Pharaoh and each of them had a dream. With God’s help Joseph told them the interpretation and asked them to remember him when they were freed….

2 years later, Pharaoh has 2 dreams of his own and the cupbearer told Pharaoh of Joseph. Once again Joseph looked to the Lord for interpretation, and the Lord blessed him through Pharaoh who made him 2nd in command over the entire land of Egypt.

Each picture you see is a different time, when a different trial or blessing occurred in my life, some of the pictures may seem like the blessed times and others the trials, but behind each picture is a story of God working in my life in such a way that no one knew but Him. He could be working that same story in your life right now. If you are in a trial, just wait, a blessing is ahead. If you are being blessed, keep it as a fresh reminder and encouragement because a trial could be on its way. When we stay faithful in the trial, He promises to be faithful in our future.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for how you always make something good out of the hard places in my life. Please help me to remember this when the hard times come. Please reveal yourself when I struggle to see you in the difficulties that come my way. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 10 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 10 – Dreams can span the spectrum: desires, fears, memories, last thoughts, and even Visions from God.

Today’s reading: Genesis 34:1 – 38:30.

Genesis 37:6 “He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:”

Jacob’s family had troubles just like you and I. Each trouble came from a choice either they had made or someone around them made. Along with the 12 sons named, there was 1 daughter, Dinah. Now today, this wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, but in that age, women were just not named.

Dinah’s story, on the other hand was pertinent to the path of Jacob. In the area where they were living the prince of the land found Dinah to be extremely beautiful and took her and defiled her. He then sent his father to Jacob to beg for her hand in marriage, but Jacob and his sons were furious. His sons tricked the men of the city and killed them all, leaving Jacob’s family as a stench in the area. God told them to arise and go to Bethel and He would protect them.

In Bethel, Rachel gave birth to Benjamin but died during child birth. From there they went to Bethlehem to bury Rachel and traveled on to Hebron to visit Isaac before he passed away.

Soon after, Esau and Israel buried their father, but the 2 had accumulated so much there wasn’t enough room for them both. Esau moved to the hill country and Israel settled in the land of Canaan.

Out of all his sons, Israel loved Joseph most. Joseph’s brothers hated him because of the love of his father, but God had BIG plans for Joseph and began to reveal them through his dreams. These dreams showed that One day Israel and his sons would bow down to Joseph and he would have authority over them. The dream was not only a foretelling of what would happen but a way of encouraging Joseph on the difficult journey he was about to take.

Like Joseph, all of our dreams can be completely different: funny, scary, lifelike, or totally whimsical, but sometimes in these dreams God may be speaking to us or revealing to us a special gift from Him.

Years ago, we had many dreams with our Son Hayden in them. One dream our daughter Hannah had was extremely vivid. She dreamt of playing Operation with Hayden, but Operation wasn’t a body, instead it was a picture of Heaven and Hayden was showing her everything. God gave her a gift through her dream, a vivid memory to treasure for eternity.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for the dreams you give. Thank you for taking opportunities to show us things in our dreams that are truly from you. Please help us to recognize these things and remember you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 9 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 9 – It’s never to late for forgiveness.

Todays reading: Genesis 29:1 – 33:20.

Genesis 32:9-12 “Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”

When Jacob left his mother and father in fear of Esau he fled to his mother’s family to find a wife. Laban, his uncle, was excited to see him, but made him work for the hand of his daughter Rachel. After 7 years of work Laban tricked Jacob into marrying his other daughter, Leah. Jacob was furious. So, Laban said if he worked 7 more years he could marry Rachel, too.

After both marriages were consummated only Leah was able to bare a child, but Jacob truly loved Rachel. A battle began between the 2 sisters over how many children they could each have including to their servants. It was jealousy that lead to this, but the Lord still blessed Jacob with 12 sons, 1 daughter, and many livestock.

After 20 years he decided it was time to return to the land the Lord had promised him and leave his uncle’s home. Leaving Laban would be much more difficult than expected, but even more difficult would be his decision to return to the land where his brother lived because when he left Esau had wanted to kill him.

Jacob prepared for his return by separating his people, preparing an offering for Esau, and praying to the Lord for the journey ahead. That night he would wrestle with the Lord. God in turn changed his name from Jacob to Israel because he prevailed against the Lord, not that he had beat God but he sought God fully. The next morning he met Esau who welcomed Jacob with open arms and love. Forgiveness. In the same way it is never to late to return to the Lord. Forgiveness is always given.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you that no matter what I can always turn back to you because I seek you fully. Please never let me forget this. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 8 – 365 Days through the Word

Day 8 – Dependence on human thought is only as deep and long as the earth has given explanation, but depending on Heavenly wisdom from God takes us far above the earth into the heavenly realms where His thoughts are so far beyond our thoughts and His ways so far beyond our ways.

Today’s reading Genesis 26:1 – 28: 22.

Genesis 28:16-17 “When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

In the days of Isaac there was a great famine, and naturally he wanted to take his family to the food in Egypt. Yet God said, “Stay where I have planted you and I will bless you right here. I will give you this land and I will multiply your offspring.”

So Isaac settled there in Gerar and sowed in that land and from what he sowed he reaped one hundred fold in a year. Even while being blessed Isaac remained humble. Anytime people of the land claimed a well he had dug, he didn’t fight or complain, he’d just move on to another place.

The Lord blessed Isaac in his humility and compassion because Isaac understood all things belonged to the Lord and it wasn’t really his anyways. So when someone needed something, Isaac would give it and God would provide him with more.

Isaac’s sons on the other hand suffered with Jealous greed. Esau worked hard on the land and had the legal birthright as the first born. But Esau would arrive home extremely lazy and take advantage of his brother. Jacob grew wise to his Esau’s demands and commanded his brother to give up his birthright for a delicious home cooked meal.

Isaac was growing old and decided it was time to pour out his blessing on Esau, but Jacob in deceit and wittiness conned his dad into believing he was Esau and received the blessing of the first born child. This was no means the “Right” way and Jacob would suffer the consequences. Both boys sought the wisdom of the world and suffered from their choices, but Isaac chose to look to the wisdom of God and was blessed. Seek his wisdom and not your own, and look to see the 100 fold blessing to come.

Dear Heavenly Father, Let me not get lost in the thoughts of the world, but let me find wisdom from above and hold onto it like the most treasured gift. Allow me to experience all you have for me and not worry about what the world thinks. Your thought are not my thoughts and your ways are not my ways, yours are so much Greater than I could ever imagine. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 7

Day 7 – Many people think “Seeing is Believing” but I think “Believing when you can’t See is GREAT Faith”. A Faith that is strong and solid like the Rising Sun will warm the hearts of those in the reach of its Rays.

Today’s reading: Genesis 23:1 – 25:34.

Genesis 24:26-27 “Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

The deeper we get into Genesis the more we see Abraham’s faith grow. The strength of his faith in his God caused even his servants and the surrounding communities to believe in the Lord. They could truly see how obedient Abraham was and how the Lord was blessing him through it, so they were devoted to Abraham and His God. You see this devotion when the Hittites desired to give Abraham the land to bury Sarah, but Abraham refused to be given the land without paying for it. Then Abraham’s servant obediently went in search of the chosen wife for Isaac in a land and people he was unfamiliar with.

Yet, the servant believed by faith that God would show him the woman and He did!

Such strong faith shown by a servant, who grew his faith through Abraham, would encourage Rebekah’s family to give their daughter to said servant of a man they didn’t physically know. But all this through Faith, they believed that Abraham was blessed by the Lord and entrusted their daughter to his family.

The last example of faith we see in these chapters is the faith that has grown in Abraham’s son, Isaac, who would be out in the field praying as his future bride approached. It is by this same Faith that we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and through this Faith we are saved.

How strong is your Faith? Are you beaming from ear to ear with rays of Faith that will affect your own thoughts and decisions as well as those around you? Today choose to take some type of leap of Faith and see where it lands you and how it affects the Faith of those around you. Your life and theirs will be changed forever!

Dear Heavenly Father, Even when I can’t see, help me to believe. Help my Faith to radiate from every action I take and every word I speak. Let my Faith be like Abraham’s and lead those around me to believe in you too! In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day 6 – 365 Days Through the Word

Day 6 – God never promised the journey would be easy, BUT God has promised to provide everything we need along the way.

Today’s reading Genesis 20:1 – 22:24.

Genesis 22:17-18 “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

As Abraham was going along the path God had for him he met many challenges. He landed in the land of the Philistines ruled by King Abimelech. The King found Sarah to be very beautiful and took her as his bride, but the Lord came to him in a dream and made him return Sarah to Abraham (her husband not brother). Because of the King’s shame and fear of the Lord he also provided Abraham with land to live on, food to eat, and silver for recognition of Sarah’s innocence.

In this land, the Lord came upon Sarah and opened her womb, and she gave birth to the promised child, Isaac. But Hagar and Ishmael were very jealous of the new son, so Sarah made Abraham banish them from the family. Abraham hurt for having to banish his son Ishmael, but the Lord told him to listen to Sarah because He would provide for Ishmael as well. For Ishmael grew to be a man and marry and have many offspring.

After all this turmoil, the Lord tested Abraham’s faithfulness and told him to sacrifice the promised child, Isaac. Without even a breath of hesitation, Abraham takes Isaac up on the mountain, ties him to the altar and pulls out a knife to kill him. And because of the Faith of Abraham, the Lord speaks as the knife is in the air, exclaiming Abraham to STOP and right then and there a ram appears as the offering.

Abraham by no means had it easy, but he was always obedient to the Lord. Through his obedience, the Lord promised to bless all the nations and people of the earth through his offspring.

Dear Heavenly Father, Your call on me is greater than anything I could imagine. Help me not to fear the call but trust you, the caller. Help me to remember that you will provide the ram even when I don’t see a way. In Jesus Name, Amen.