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After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying,
"Do not fear, Abram,
I am a shield to you;
Your reward shall be very great." Genesis 15:1
after these things – these things being: abram leaves his own land and travels to an unknown destination which God will reveal, a famine strikes the new land and he and his family move to egypt where some stuff goes down, abram and lot separate and have their own lands, God promises great things about all he can see, abram rescues lot from the 5 kings war…
after these things God speaks to abram again and reassures him – that He, God will be a shield for this man and that He will provide for him and reward him. this is a great call to trust God, a great call to look for things unseen and to not be dismayed by the circumstances we face.
Abram had just been through battle and the Lord had protected him and he had victory yet his heart’s desire was not yet met. His heart’s desire was for a son. God would have already known this for He knows the desires of our heart. Abram walked so close with God that he knew he could talk with Him as a friend and open his heart to Him and say what I really desire is a son.
God desires us to walk this way with Him too! He desires for us to tell Him our hearts desires. Yes, He knows them already but, I believe, He likes to hear us petition Him for it. When we speak it out loud it builds our faith. Abram’s faith was built up when he petitioned God for a son because God promised him a son. He could then stand on faith that God would give him the desire of his heart.
Are you in need of healing, financial help, a mate, your household to be saved? Then speak with God! Tell Him your hearts desire and then stand in faith.
from youversion note
Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:2-6
Abram longed for a child, a descendant of his own. this was the great reward he longed for. and God promised him thus. and abram believed.
When God told Abraham he would have children, he believed it because he knew god is righteous and doesn’t go back on his word or lie. Why are we not believing God to he righteous!? When we doubt, we doubt that God is truthful enough to stand with his promises. youversion note
i love what Romans 4:17-19 says about this promise and abrams faith.
As it is written: I have made you a father of many nations. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed— the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, So shall your offspring be. Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead— since he was about a hundred years old— and that Sarah’s womb was also dead Romans 4:17-19
Abram believed that even though circumstance looked impossible that nothing is impossible for God. that if HE spoke it and promised it that HE was ABLE to perform it and complete it.
there was quite a space of time between the promise and the fulfilment for abram and sarai. during this time they were tested and in a way, they gave up faith and tried to shortcut God. that challenges me to remember the promise – to remember what God has said – and to trust in that and to trust that though i dont know the HOW that God is powerful and great and good and that He is ABLE to fulfil His promises.
i always take great hope and encouragement that though i may not understand the times or the seasons or the HOW something will work out, that God is GOD and that God is GOOD and that God is GREAT and that He is my heavenly Father, the creator of the universe, who knows how many hairs i have on my head and who rewards those who diligently seek Him. i take great hope as i read about abram and sarai and how God worked in their lives and through their lives. their life and their story teaches me to hold on and have faith.
what promises are you believing in and waiting to see God outwork? have faith. keep trusting.
Sometimes all we need to do is come out of the box that we live in, [tent] and look up to God [sky/stars], and trust in God. youversion note
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3
i love how the bible has suddenly – or just introduces us to people in the middle of their stories. we dont know anything really about abram before this. all of a sudden we meet a man called by God to do something dramatic, to move himself and his family to a strange far away land that God has promised to him and a promise of blessing.
i love the I WILLS in the bible: I WILL show you. I WILL make your name great. I WILL bless you. these are God’s promises. I WILL DO THIS.
because God can never lie and because He is the promise keeper we can be assured and confident that God will act in accordance with what He says. even if we don’t know how or cant see how it will work out, we can be assured and confident that HE does. His I WILLS are secure and trustworthy. and you can live your life on them.
what a huge move – to shift your family and household to another land. in those days there were no moving companies. supermarkets on the way. GPS. air-conditioned cars. you went with your belongings, that what you and a camel could carry, and you walked to the new location and you found food on the way. you went out into the dust and the heat and the rain and the wind and the whatever. you slept in the dark in tents. you every day got up and walked and rode, battling the natural elements. a real exercise of faith!
i wonder if people, neighbours, friends, workmates, family tried to dissuade abram from his course of action? i wonder if people asked him, “did God really say?” i wonder what faith obstacles abram had to cross?
The story of the man who came to be known as Abraham leaving behind the security of everything he knew, to follow a calling… is a powerful lesson in trust.
He was going… but not knowing. In other words there was a major element of potential uncertainty here.
Abraham thought he had heard a voice saying this way… but he never quite got given all the details. Seems a big move, right… up stakes, grab the family and head out?
A faith move… does that sound quaint and old fashioned, a touch naïve? Well, not too different to the journeys of faith we take… every day of our lives.
Rob Harley
what would our response to such a call be?
I drew in the life-giving air and threw caution to the wind. God has sustained me, lifted me up on His wings. He had too. After all, it was His idea, not mine.
evangeline has the best ballet teacher in the world.
this woman exudes encouragement and life and hope.
through the medium of teaching dance.
she touches her students, as she walks past, a touch to say “well done, you’re doing awesome.”
the girls rush to hug her at the end. and she hugs us mums too!
the other day she didnt have any lollies that evangeline could have (my daughter has severe food allergies) and so unbeknownst, or rather ununderstood by me, she rustled through her purse and then disappeared. and returned with a small bag of lollies fine for evangeline. she had run over the road to the dairy and brought them specially. with love. and kindness.
she doesnt just teach ballet. she loves the kids into the dance.
there is one girl, and i even cringe to say it… she isnt a natural dancer. more awkward that graceful. but i dont think she knows it because of the praise, encouragement and kindness of the ballet teacher.
she loves the kids out of their comfort zone and into the movements and performance.
she nurtures them into confidence and grace.
i love the way she teaches, the way she interacts with the kids.
i go and watch each lesson, usually with my husbands flash phone in hand, taking instagram photos, capturing the moments.
but i know i’m not capturing the heart. not with pictures anyway.
but its interesting, i have my best ideas at ballet.
best preaching ideas.
best housegroup ideas.
best whatever ideas.
i always have a pen and a notebook, and usually spend the time snapping and then jotting down ideas, mind maps, quotes, thoughts.
i think there must be something in the atmosphere.
creativity. love. encouragement. potential. possibility.
dance.
#FiveMinuteFriday free write time! <—click to tweet this!
Five Minute Friday is a feature over at Lisa-Jo Bakers TALES FROM A GYPSY MAMA blog. i first read about it on my friend Fee’s blog and thought it sounded fun!
1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..
OK, are you ready?
this is my fb header at the moment. our pastor came and spoke at housegroup on wednesday about Joshua and Gideon – and for both the instruction was BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS, to fight the fear and the discouragement. fear and discourage us hold us back from stepping out into the plans and purposes of God, from living the adventure and from changing lives.
at the zone the other day (kids after school club at our church) they made these awesome placemat/duty lists – well my kids have been uber organised morning and night to get their ticks! loving it! apparently caleb’s creative style was admired by quite a few of other kids…
my daughter loves ballet and i love her ballet teacher. she opens a new studio next term so this is the last week in the bucklands beach war memorial hall.
In this all-inclusive book, Hasselbeck arms you with the tools you need to start living a gluten-free life-from defining gluten and targeting gluten-free food and beauty products, creating G-free shopping lists, sharing recipes, dining out, maintaining a G-free diet at home or away, and managing G-free living with family and friends. : i just read this book yesterday. in a day. thought it was interesting, empowering and informative. made me feel like i was semi in control of what i’ve been going through the last 3 months being gluten free. had a few yummy recipies (i am going to attempt meatballs!) and handy hints while also putting it in real people language. its a book i would def recommend to those who have to go gluten free for health reasons, and for their loved ones. its on my christmas want list…
and as always. i love Jesus with all i am and all my heart and all my soul and all my days. For His glory and the building of His kingdom and the rescue of the lost.
so what are you totally loving this week?
… check out what other peeps are loving whatever day of the week it is over at MNM’s BLOG
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.”
― Mother Teresa
There’s no greater love than this
For You to save us Burdened with all our sin
You came to take this from us.
Verse 2:
As the heavens mourned
And all the clouds went grey
All the earth’s restored by Your saving grace
Verse 3:
Eternal love unfailing grace
The gift You freely gave
Son of God and son of man
At the cross You took Your stand
Pre Chorus:
As the barrier was broken
Between heaven and earth
All the heavens cried out
Chorus:
Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb
Seated on the throne, Seated on the throne
You are God in the highest
Bridge:
You are the One
Who is and will be to come
Glory in the Highest Highest
Highest, Highest, You are God in the Highest
“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure”
~ Peter Marshall.
Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves Genesis 11:4
who are we living for?
ourselves?
our ambition?
to make a name for ourselves?
or for God?
to build His kingdom?
to serve Him?
how often do we try to build our own lives and towers of security? if we build our own name we will be secure and successful… if we have the best and brightest career we will be happy and satisfied…
where does our security come from? what should the tower in my life be?
Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 27:1 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?
Psalm 61:3 For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
vision is good. but our vision must be a God vision, to build for Him and to seek Him and to walk with Him. these early people had a united vision – but it was to build for themselves – to build for their fame – to establish their own kingdom.
its times like this we need to read and take note; Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 1 Corinthians 10:6
things in the bible are not isolated reports or testimonies they are lessons for us to learn from.
when reading i am always asking myself 2 questions:
1. how can this be real in my life?
2. what does this reveal about God and who he is to me?
i also believe that as we read the Word that it “gets inside us” and transforms us and strengthens us and guides us. The Word challenges us and challenges us to draw near to God and to walk in his ways. it reveals who God is. it encourages me to trust Him, to believe Him, to have faith in Him. i believe that as we make intentional time to read it that we are blessed, because God rewards those who seek Him and those who obey Him and those who trust Him.
God intervened and stopped the tower from being built in a dramatic way. He scattered the languages which led to the scattering and disunity of the people. it reminds me that God is in control of not just my life but the nations and though the news may paint a world out of control what the reality is that the world needs Jesus and salvation and hope that only God can give. and that God does intervene in global situations. i want to live my life for HIS fame and HIS glory!
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