Creating A Genealogy

From the beginning of the Bible right there in the Garden of Eden God had to show us our need for a Savior.
Have you ever given any thought to how Adam and Eve reacted to the first sacrifice? Remember everything was perfect for them in the Garden. Adam named all the animals, they were tame and if your a pet lover you have to assume he liked them. They didn't hurt him and he didn't hurt them. There was no hunting or killing or shedding of blood.
Can you imagine how they must have felt when God scarified the first animal? Not only did He kill it in front of them but He skinned it so they would have something to wear? That must have been a pretty brutal scene for them the first time. How much more horrific was it going to be when the sacrifice was God's only son?
In Genesis 4 & 5 the Bible gives us a genealogy from the creation of Adam. This in not unusual, we see it often in the Bible as God is showing us the blood line from Adam to Jesus.
In Bible times a persons name had a meaning that correlated with what was going on at the time.
I'm going to list the names shown in Genesis 4 & 5 and the Hebrew meaning of these names.
Adam- man
Adam son Seth – appointed
Seth son Enosh- incurable, miserable
Enosh son Kenan – sorrow
Kenan son Mahalalel – Blessed God Praise
Mahalalel son Jared – Come Down
Jared son Enoch – teacher
Enoch son Methuselah – His death shall bring
Methuselah son Lamech – dis-pairing
Lamech son Noah – to bring relief, comfort
Now I wish I could take credit for the information in this jewel but I can't. I learned it at a Bible study I attend on Friday nights, however, I love to share with you what I learn.
Right here in the meaning of these names is the plan of salvation.
Watch what happens when we put the meaning of the names into a sentence.
Man appointed incurable sorrow, blessed God came down teaching his death shall bring despair to bring relief and comfort.
Is God amazing or what? Nothing is by accident or coincidence. He was giving us the plan of salvation in chapter 4 of Genesis!
It was God's choice from the beginning of time to save us from our sins, He didn't owe us He bought us. He is the creator we are the creation. Our creator, God, gave us the Bible to show us how we are to live. Our life here on earth is to daily look more and more like Christ.
But are we looking more and more like Christ? Do we even think about what Christ endured for us on the cross?
“One of the reasons we are not as Christ-centered and cross-saturated as we should be is that we have not realized that everything - everything good, and everything bad that God turns for the good of his redeemed children- was purchased by the death of Christ for us. We simply take life and breath and health and friends and everything for granted. We think it is ours by right. But the fact is that it is not ours by right. We are doubly undeserving of it.”
Quote from Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper.
We have become a generation that thinks we are owed something and have taken words out of our Christian vocabulary like judgment, holiness and obedience.
As in any parent child relationship there are blessings when your obeying and discipline when you're not.
Christ died for our sins because God decided at the beginning of the world it would happen that way but we have a responsibility to strive to live an obedient life for Him.
What are some of the reasons we refuse to do something God specifically commanded us to do? Pride, doubt, bitterness or resentment over our past and selfishness are a few that come to mind.
These may be our justified reasons in our minds but they are in no way acceptable excuses.
God is always willing to forgive us when we ask Him but today most people don't even feel it necessary to ask for forgiveness.
I think some people don't ask for forgiveness because they don't think they'll get it and some don't ask because they compare themselves to others and think their not as bad and then there's the ones that just don't think they need forgiveness.
How you feel about it doesn't change the truth that all have sinned all fall short of the Glory of God Romans 3:23
My grandsons are going through a tough time right now and they sometimes act out their emotions in a negative way.
For example, their school had a breakfast for Grand Parents day on Friday and I was so excited about attending. We counted down the days together and they seemed as excited as I was. The day before the big event they had something happen that caused them understandable stress so unfortunately the next morning they were not on their best behavior. The morning did not go at all as I had hoped and I had to be stern with them at the school. I let them know we would talk about their behavior when we got home that night.
I totally understood why they were having trouble with their feelings but I could not ignore their behavior.
That night we talked about what transpired at the school. When we finished talking I told my older grandson I wanted him to write me an apology letter and my younger grandson to draw me one since he's only 5. They went to their room with heads hanging down and two very sad faces.
I wanted to make sure they understood why I was unhappy with how our morning went.
When they came out with their letters/pictures I just about cried. Anthony the 7 year old wrote his apology but then he had a picture at the bottom of the page of him and me. He had those little bubbles over our heads where you write what your saying. The picture of him said “sorry Nanna” and my picture said “It's OK” and we are both smiling in his drawing.
Lucas the 5 year old also drew a picture of the two of us and in his picture we are also both smiling and holding hands.
I loved these pictures because even though this was a discipline moment and they knew they had misbehaved they also knew I would forgive them. They had no doubt of my love for them but they also had no doubt I wouldn't put up with disobedience.
They knew if they said they were sorry and really meant it Nanna would say OK.
It made me stop and think of my relationship with Jesus. I know He loves me but I also know and have experienced His discipline.
This relationship was only made possible by the cross. It's not because I'm such a great person or because I have had a sad past or because I tithe it's all because of the salvation plan that was designed way back in Genesis, I can't take any credit for it.
Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Why would Paul boast about Jesus dying on the cross? The same reason we should, if it wasn't for what Christ did on the cross I would have no relationship never less forgiveness from God.
My grandsons had no problem asking for forgiveness because they knew I wanted to give it to them, not because their behavior deserved it but because I love them and want us to get back on track. Our fellowship was broken because of sin but it was restored because of love.
It's the same with our Heavenly father, our fellowship is interrupted by our sin but it is restored when we repent and ask forgiveness.
I am making a conscience effort to boast in Christ crucified to remind myself and share with others the unexplainable love of God.
It is my prayer that later in life if someone were to do my genealogy and give meaning my family names it would read something like this.
Gena daughter of God – forgiven
Anthony son of Gena – walking with God
Amanda daughter of Gena – understanding true love
Nathanael son of Gena- sharing the gospel
Jessica daughter of Gena – boasting in Christ crucified
Anthony & Lucas grandsons of Gena – carrying on the message
You have a chance to write part of your genealogy as well. What will yours read?

Free Kindness

I took part in an act of random kindness outreach this weekend washing cars for free. Totally free no donations accepted, just doing something kind for someone expecting nothing in return. It's not a new concept we did it at the last church we attended but this time I was on the front lines so to speak.
I stood at the entrance of the church parking lot on a very busy street with 4 other people holding bright colored posters saying car wash. We had one neon green sign in the middle with the word FREE written in huge black letters.
The first thing that got my attention was only 1 out of ten people that passed us by was NOT on the phone. That's scary all by itself.
Some people honked at us and some actually waved back but for the most part people didn't even notice us.
They drove by oblivious to our bright colored signs and more amazing than that they didn't even seem to notice us yelling FREE.
They were driving right by a free blessing and didn't even know it.
We figured the ones that did acknowledge us didn't believe it was free. They probably thought there was a catch and they didn't have the time or desire to find out what the catch was. Some passed by because they figured it was free but they didn't have any cash on them to give the “free with required donation.”
A few took the bait and pulled in and were surprised when we would not take any money from them. No donation, no church enrollment, no future commitment just a free car wash.
This really took people by surprise. The catch was there was no catch.
One young man around 19 or 20 asked if we were doing it to increase church membership. I said no but he was welcome to come visit any time. I explained the reason we were washing his car was to give us an opportunity to be kind to someone and demonstrate the love of God in a tangible way. He thought that was interesting and went on to tell one of the men who was washing his car all the upgrades he put into it and they talked motor talk for a while.
I just watched as this moment, for lack of a better word, happened. The more interest the older man showed the more information the younger man gave. He seemed to fill with pride as he talked about his racing clutch and special wheels. The older man, who was washing the car, smiled and confirmed he too thought she was a beauty. This bond happened right there with 2 strangers. Without them knowing they were each being blessed, one for his obedience to show kindness and the other for not passing by a blessing.
Before he left he told us he was going to come visit our church and would bring his brother too. Again, this was not the goal but praise the Lord we represented a Jesus he wanted to know more.
Another woman, after we would not take a donation, shared with us that she and her husband had been dealing with sickness and just having a general hard time with life. She said she felt this sensation like angels were around her. She told us she felt like God cared about her just by having us wash her car.
Both of these people didn't open up until after they saw we meant what we said that the car wash was really free.
God took this simple act of kindness that we did for Him and used it to reach out to two different people in two different ways.
There were multiple moments happening that day. Our small group reaching out to the community and our small group becoming a community.
What I mean is we only washed about 4 cars for people that didn't belong to the church. You might think the day wasn't successful based on the number of cars that passed us by, however, God knew exactly who would be volunteering that day and He gave us an opportunity to get to know each other better.
We built our church community closer that day too.
As always I was reflecting on the day when I laid down that night and was still so surprised how many people in dirty cars drove right by a free car wash.
I wonder how many people everyday are passing by the many blessing Christ has for them.
The biggest of course is a relationship with Him. The promise of life for eternity in Heaven.
Do people pass by because they don't believe God wants to bless them? Do they pass it by because they think there's a catch?
God's gift of salvation is still free!
I know in my world I am ALWAYS getting blessed by the Lord. I'm not kidding, always. It's not because I'm better than anyone else or sin less it's just that I give credit to the one who blesses me.
For example, and this is just one small example, I was having a tough time financially and we needed groceries. I prayed and asked the Lord to send us food and 2 days later I saw a friend of mine and she said “Oh Gena I have something for you, the Lord told me to give it to you a couple of days ago but I didn't see you.” Guess what she gave me? Two Walmart cards! Guess what I bought? Groceries....
It get's better. I was hanging out with my son and we both really wanted a treat. I couldn't decide between a caramel Frape from McDonalds or a sundae. We only found enough money to buy one or the other for each of us. We decide on the frape and head to McDonalds. When we get to the window the cashier hands us 2 sundaes and says we made these by mistake so you can have them both.
That is my sweet Jesus blessing me for no other reason than because He loves me.
Blessings come in many forms on many occasions whether your the one receiving the blessing or giving the blessing you both get blessed.
Gems, I pray you wont get so consumed in your world that you pass right by an opportunity to be kind to someone. That you won't miss a “moment” to show someone the Love of God in a tangible way. And here's a thought, do it for FREE!

Go And Know

I was reading a story in Judges chapter 6 about a man named Gideon. I'm going to give you the Gena translation and as always I suggest you read the book for yourself.
Before we meet Gideon we see the nation of Israel worshiping other gods and basically being disobedient to the commands of God. God leaves them to their evilness and eventually they are being persecuted and oppressed by other tribes. When they can't take any more they cry out to God to save them. He of course does, again, by sending them a deliverer.
The problem is they only stay obedient for a short time and then once again go back to their own selfish and futile desires and become disobedient and so the cycle continues.
It amazes me that the cycle continues today. We try and walk in obedience and truly honor God with our lives and then gradually the line moves and we become more and more disobedient. The next thing you know we are crying out to God because all of a sudden our lives are out of control.
The thing is Gems it wasn't all of a sudden. It was a process of one bad decision after another and we somehow think God is going to continue to bless our disobedience. Guess what? He's not.
Back to our story. The children of Israel are once again totally oppressed this time by the Midianites and they are crying out to God for help.
Judges 6;1 Again the Israelite s did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.
The Lord responds to their plea with a reminder of how they got there.
7 When the Israelites cried to the LORD because of Midian, 8 he sent them a prophet, who said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 9 I snatched you from the power of Egypt and from the hand of all your oppressors. I drove them from before you and gave you their land. 10 I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not listened to me."
The bottom line then is the same bottom line we have today. We do not listen. God gives us instructions in the Bible on how to live and most of us don't read it never less obey it. Again, we can't expect to have power over our enemies (greed, anger, selfishness, loneliness, finances, etc.) if we are not listening to God.
God sends an angel to Gideon who calls him a mighty warrior and reminds him that God is with him.
I love this part because it's just like us humans, you have to butter us up first so we'll pay attention. The angel didn't just call him a warrior, he called him a mighty warrior. Now you know this got Gideon's ear. Can you just hear his thoughts “yea, I'm not just a warrior I'm a mighty warrior.”
It didn't take long though before he came back to reality. He responds to the angel. What do you mean God is with u? Are you new in town? We are starving and hiding in caves. These Midianites are killing us and in case you haven't heard they are like a swarm of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels.
What happened to our mighty warrior?
Pay attention to the next verse.
14 The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
A couple of things jumped out here to me.
The go in the strength you have and am I not with you.
Sometimes we have to go in our strength and know the Lord is with us.
15 "But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
Here our mighty warrior starts telling God why it won't work instead of focusing on the “am I not with you.”
How many times has the Lord asked us to do something and the first thing we do is start listing all the reasons we can't do it instead of focusing on the “am I not with you.”
One of the many things I love about God is He allows us to whine for a moment but then He gives us the final pep talk . He reminded Gideon it was God that called him a mighty warrior so not only could he start the task he could finish it.
This is the Lord's response.
16 The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."
God doesn't just say strike them down but that they will go down all together.
King James Bible says as one man.
Basically he wasn't going to have to fight one man at at a time but they were going down all together.
The last part of this story I want to share with you is the best part.
Right before the battle Gideon gets really nervous because remember there are more Midianites than can be counted and God tells him he can only have 300 men in his army! You do the math.
You seriously need to read the story to learn how all that happens, it's amazing.
OK so let's recap. God tells Gideon he's a mighty warrior, not to worry the Lord is with him and he will defeat all the Midianites with only 300 men.
God tells him all this but the Bible says Gideon is afraid.
There are many times I know the Lord tells me to do something and I know the Holy Spirit will give me strength but I still get afraid.
Check out what happens next.
Judges 7:10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed."
14 His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."
15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands."
Isn't it sad that Gideon didn't totally believe God until he heard what the people said?
He put more faith in what man said than what God said.
I'm not throwing stones from a glass house because there have been many times in my life when God has told me something and the first thing I did was go to my friends to see what they would say.
Don't get me wrong I'm not saying you shouldn't seek counsel from wise friends but the bottom line is we need to believe what God says.
The danger in seeking man is sometimes we will keep asking one person after another until we get the answer we want instead of the truth, especially if the truth is scary.
The story ends with a miraculous battle. The odds were stacked against the Israelites by God's design so there was no question as to who won the battle. The story of Gideon is an amazing one but I want to remind you, you have an amazing story too.
I pray you will listen to what God says about you, that you will stay in the word and be obedient to God's instructions on how your to live.
I pray that when God calls you a mighty warrior you'll believe Him. Remember wherever He sends you it's your strength that's needed to say yes and move forward but it's His strength that will make the plan successful.