27th Week Genesis 4-8 (Click on title for Video Intro)

 Click on Title for Video Intro

Monday, Genesis Chapter 4

Genesis 4

Verses 3-5

Matt Strayer

July 7, 2006

Verses 3-5:  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

THOUGHT

Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the Lord. The difference in their offerings was not that one was fruit and the other meat. The difference was that Cain didn’t give God his best, and Abel brought the best part from his firstborn flock to give to God. I wonder where Cain’s heart and mind were when he was getting his offering ready. I wonder if he was distracted and preoccupied, or maybe he was only bringing God an offering because he knew it was something he should do and not something he truly wanted to do. 

I know I have been guilty of all of these things during my time worshipping God. Let this be a reminder to all of us to make sure our hearts are in the right place when we offer worship to God, because that is what pleases God the most.

PRAYER

God, we confess that there are times when we have offered worship to You for the wrong reasons or insincerely. Please forgive us and help us to come before You with the right motivations and frame of mind. We want to please You in all we do. I pray for all of our times of worship this Sunday. Help us to focus on You completely. Keep distractions from us so we can truly connect with You.  AMEN

Tuesday, Genesis Chapter 5

Genesis 5

Verse 2

Jeanie Boldt

July 9, 2006

Verse 2:  He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man”.

THOUGHT

There are days especially in my profession that I look at the human body and realize what an intricate miracle it is. God has created different systems that all work independently yet must work together in order to survive.  At the same time He has made us all individuals. There are no two human beings completely alike. He looks at His creation and says that “It is good.” but He looks at us and says, “I have created you for my enjoyment.” So enters the phrase - LOVES US JUST AS WE ARE. We must love ourselves for if we do not we are not loving a very special creation of our Heavenly Father.

This chapter is full of genealogies. It tells us where we come from. We all come from Adam’s line. Our ancestors are something that we do not get to choose. We are all a part of our past. We are not to reason why some of us are born in wealth and some in poverty, some with disease and some with handicaps, some with intellect and some with mental handicaps, and some with musical gifts and some with athletic ability. However, WE ARE ALL GOD’S CHILDREN FIRST. Then all the rest of the lineage follows.

PRAYER

Father, Thank You for this family. We honor and praise You for our parents and grandparents and great grandparents in each family represented. Your direction in each of their lives was appreciated. Now as we have been placed here to make choices and decisions, may they be of Your Will and Way so the legacy that we pass on will be done with YOU as the baton. Thank You for our lives and the abilities You have given each of us. We are so glad that You created us to love and enjoy because we LOVE and ENJOY YOU!!!! AMEN

SPECIAL NOTE

Please note that after each person, it is written - - - -“then He died.” except after Enoch. It is written, “Enoch walked with God, then he was no more, because God took him away.” Enoch did not die. God raptured him away to heaven. This is the “blessed hope” of all Christians everywhere

Wednesday, Genesis Chapter  6

Genesis 6

Verse 6

Jeanie Boldt

July 10, 2006

Verse 6: The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

THOUGHT

Doesn’t this verse just hurt your heart?  There is a saying that I knew oh so well as soon as I had children. It was, “When those you love hurt - so do you.” When something would go wrong for the girls, I would just feel their sadness too. Isn’t it sad that our sinful nature saddened the Lord so much that it hurt his heart enough to have to destroy us and begin again with Noah and his family, a man who walked with God. I know that the Lord knew that even a flood could not wash away sin. It was always going to be there. Only the blood of Jesus washes away sins but God washed mankind away for He was grieved that He had made us. 

I so can parallel this with our children. We will always love our children. However, there will be times that we do not like them because of their actions.

Just look at our world now. I can imagine that God our Father is crying tears each and every day. Salt Shakers, let us be the ones to put a smile on His face and wipe His eyes dry with praise and admiration.

PRAYER

Father, help us to live lives that will not disappoint and grieve the Lord. Please forgive us Father when we act as though we do not respect and follow You. Help us keep our eyes on Jesus and follow His every step.  Thank You for Noah’s heart and for making him a man of God. May our minds and hearts follow   s story and faith walk with You. We want to love YOU more each day.  AMEN

There had been no rain yet in God’s perfect world before the rains of the flood.  God provided water and moist ground without rain.

Thursday, Genesis Chapter 7

Genesis 7

Verse 5

Jeanie Boldt

July 11, 2006

Verse 5:  And Noah did all that the Lord commanded him.

THOUGHT

Can you imagine how loved and proud the Lord was of Noah as he was working to obey the Father’s instructions? He had to have loved Noah in such a proud and worthy way with integrity and dignity. How are we listening to the Lord? Do we take the time to be still and listen? And then when we do take the time, do we obey or do we try to justify other signs that the Lord may be giving us? Delores, my spiritual mom, is such a holy person. She time and time again will say, “I asked the Lord, and He told me to.” May our faith be as strong as that example. May we take all our cares and concerns to Him and listen for His answer.

Noah heard God’s Word, believed God’s promise of protection and proved his faith by his works. There was only one way to be saved from destruction, and that was by entering the ark. It had only one door. This is a picture of the salvation we have in Christ.

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for caring so much for us that You give us guidance and understanding tied together with love. May our ears be open to this along our journey. Thank You for being with each of us and for always being there for questions in areas of uncertainty. Help us to not only seek answers but strive to fulfill the direction that You give us. Continue to be with SF and give her healing and peace and reassurance. Be our guide. Be our strength. We love you.  AMEN

Friday, Genesis Chapter 8

Genesis 8

Verse 1a

Jeanie Boldt

July 12, 2006

Verse 1a:  God remembered Noah.

THOUGHT

The Lord promises never to forsake us. Noah had faith in God’s promises, and God did not disappoint him.  This faith does not get in a hurry. Noah waited until the Word of God told him what to do. For 120 years Noah waited for the Lord’s instruction. Can you believe living in this arch without sun, with animals, smell, no grocery store or Quik Trip and only your family to visit with? Some on us get tired of a simple Bible Study that lasts 3 months and when we are studying, we get to live in a normal fashion. 

Wonder if Noah ever got discouraged?  OH, I am sure he did but God gave him a peacefulness because of His love for Noah.  Noah and his family were the only believers on earth, yet they witnessed courageously for God against the evil of their day. They were faithful to God when everything seemed to be against them.

God still calls His people to stand alone if need be, and He promises never to forsake us. Remember that God will judge us not on the basis of our popularity but on our faithfulness to Him.  God needs courageous witnesses today.

PRAYER

Father God, thank You for our homes and how You care for us and our land. At times we see severe natural disasters but never bad enough to erase all Your creation from the earth. Thank You for Your Promise. Give us FAITH and COURAGE to love You ever so bravely. May we proclaim Your love, grace and mercy to all those we meet and come in contact with. Put people before us who know You not so that we may share. We bind Satan and his evil ways from this group in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Guide us and direct us and may our eyes be on Your Son, Jesus. We love You, Lord. May we wait on You as we journey on.  AMEN

SPECIAL NOTE

The boat touched land in the mountains of Ararat, located in present-day Turkey near the USSR border.  There it rested for almost eight months before Noah, his family and the animals stepped onto dry land.