Genealogy

A while back, I had my DNA tested. I am now connecting to relatives that I didn’t even know existed. I am finding it a fun experience and somewhat of a mystery as at least one name has come up high on the list but I have no idea who this person is. Oh! that is a good mystery! I can hardly wait to solve it.

Today I started reading 1 Chronicles and find it so much fun to go through the names of past generations and I almost feel like I know them personally. But, I also realize that not everyone feels the same about all these names…names that are hard to pronounce! Name upon name! My advice to a friend who said she gets bogged down in those genealogies in Scripture is to skim them, or even skip over them. Don’t let those names stop you from reading the Bible!

I am getting so into genealogy that I’ve started filling out charts and papers starting in Genesis, the first being Adam and am now up to David. Frankly, this never entered my mind until about a year ago, a dear friend came knocking on my door to show me his Biblical genealogy chart. He had it on his computer and we sat for quite some time as we went over who belonged to whom. I could usually find a name in Scripture pretty easy and give my friend more to add to his list. When he came to me that day, I never thought I would be doing the same thing but right before my friend went to see Jesus, I decided that I would start a few sheets to see how far I could get. I am thankful to Norman for spurring me on to further research concerning the Bible and helping me understand those names.

I hope your Bible reading is coming along and that you’ve read more than you’ve ever read before. Keep going! You can do this! A little bit of reading the Bible every day … sort of like one tiny bite at a time… can result in finishing the Bible before you know it! God doesn’t expect you to do this perfect, or to understand every word you read, but He does expect you to be persistent. To keep going until you have finished the task.

The hardest parts are almost behind you and you will soon be in the Psalms and then the Proverbs. At some point when you hear a sermon, you are going to be able to understand where the Scripture reference came from, perhaps even a little history behind what is being preached.

Most importantly, may we remember as we go through those genealogy lists, is that our actions DO matter. They may not affect you but what about your grandchildren? Our actions can affect generations to come! Now, that is something to ponder…

In the meantime, Happy Mother’s Day!

Only God

I just finished reading 2 Kings 17:14-15 and am reminded why I love this passage of Scripture. We see the people continually rejecting the Lord’s instruction and following after the other people living near them. “They worshipped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves.” (2 Kings 17: 15)

Are you comprehending this principle? Are you trying to figure out what is wrong with so many around you? Perhaps even you?

When we don’t listen to the Lord. When we refuse to believe in the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. When His instructions are rejected by people who say they belong to Him. When we despise all the warnings that God has given us, then…let me repeat, THEN we (as people) start to feel worthless. THEN we start looking for ways to meet that need within us so as not to not feel worthless. THEN we start looking to the “gods” of the people around us. THEN we start following the behaviors of people around us. BUT have we forgotten that there is only ONE true God of the Universe and He has already given us commands to follow.

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.”(Proverbs 13:20) “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”(2 Thess 3:6) “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”(1 Tim 4:7)

The more we hang around people who are of questionable character, the quicker we will become like them. It may seem pleasurable for a time but heed God’s warning, “Do not be misled, “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Cor 15:33) I hate to tell you this but you are not a special person who can handle being around such questionable behavior. God has told us what we need to do in order to live a life pleasing to Him. The best part, when we please Him, we also are pleasing to ourselves and those around us. We no longer feel worthless!

Hebrews 10: 22-24 is so helpful, “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Don’t you love that last part? To encourage one another towards love and good deeds!

It is not the good deeds that bring you to Christ because then we would turn such behavior into a pat on the back for ourselves. Yep, we would brag that the reason that God loves us is because of what we are doing for Him. But that is far from the truth of the Word. Ephesians 2:8-10 is clear, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Doesn’t that give you hope? What a special gift we are offered from God…His grace. We are all sinful beings but the blood of Jesus is waiting to wipe that sin away when we turn our hearts to Him. When we confess our sin, He is waiting with open arms. The best part is that He has a special mission for each one of us as we give our lives to Him. No one mission is any better than another. He has planned it all out in advance, just waiting for us to see that He is the only one who can make us worthy.

Let’s finish with Hebrews 12: 1-2a, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...” None of us are sinless, only Jesus! Is He calling to you today to throw off the worthless idols that are around you? Tell Him…that’s right…tell Him that you want to change. That you want to serve Him and not the people that you once highly esteemed. Are you ready to give up your past and turn to the only One who can bring you peace and joy?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I have sinned! I have looked to myself and those around me for the answers in life and have ignored your Word. I believe that You are the only one who has the answers to life and I am making the choice to take Your hand and start on a new path. Thank you Lord for loving me and being so patient with me. In Jesus name, Amen

Jesus Set Me Free

Maybe this is too much information but today I am reminded of being set free…Good Friday. But it started last night as I went to a local church, where several friends were singing in the choir, to watch their reenactment of the Last Supper. It was touching as the men got up one by one and spoke of their friend Jesus. Their questions were very real, they didn’t understand how any of them could betray their Master, they knew He was the Son of God, they knew He was God! “Lord, is it I?” was the question asked over and over.

That one question made me stop and reflect how often I have sinned or rejected Jesus, all the while claiming that I love Him so dearly. Have I denied my Lord? Yes, sadly I have. I have not spoken up at times when I should have told someone my story, how Jesus loved me when no one else did. Yeah, I was afraid of being rejected once again. Have you ever been there? Your story might be different than mine, but it still has the same result.

Back to last night, as all the men left the room, we then heard the crack of a whip and someone crying in agony. Then…then Jesus, carrying a cross, came right by me. Blood was dripping off his back and I began to cry. The choir sang a song that made me cry more. And that’s when I was reminded that He died for me!

Oh yes, and for you. I continued to reflect a bit more. Some 43 years ago I invited Jesus to come live in my heart. I made that decision to live for Him and not for myself but I’ve not always lived for Him. I’ve made some wrong choices that were to satisfy my flesh…I still do. But last night, ever so gently the Holy Spirit reminded me that I was forgiven and my sin was as far as the east is from the west when I went to Him with a repentant heart.

He has set me free! He has set you free! Jesus cared so much for us that He became the Sacrificial Lamb to cover our sins. The best is that three days later, He arose from that grave and lives today!

He called people like Peter, who denied Him or Thomas, who questioned if it was really Him. Today He calls people like you and me, to serve Him. When those around us haven’t forgotten our sinful lives, He has and He intends to use our past to reach out to others who need to know Him. Others who don’t feel they are good enough. Isn’t that the lie told to us by the evil one? That we aren’t good enough…for Jesus…to serve Him…but He loves each of us just where we are and longs for us!

So, in my case, I have been abused most of my life. The earliest memories I have of being physically abused is about 2 years old. I thought it would stop when I left home but then I seemed to attract men and women who only wanted to use me and abuse me. Most of my life I have been compared to one person or another, that told me that I wasn’t ever good enough being me. By the time I was 15, I wanted to end my life but was never successful.

Why? Because even before I knew Jesus, He knew me. He saw potential in me! Can you imagine? He kept me safe even when I tried to hurt myself. He’s kept me safe to work with children who feel much like I did growing up. He’s kept me safe to reach out to people who are “different”, to have compassion for the hurting. What has He kept you alive for?

Easter is a time to rejoice that our Savior lives and loves us. Easter is a time to once again reflect of how we have been set free to serve Him. Easter is a time of healing and repentance. He is waiting for us with open arms…even when no one else is there Jesus is there!