50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 31

"I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth."  

                                 Genesis 31:13

I love this verse because it’s a reminder to Jacob of his past, personal, experiential history with God. God has been with him, guiding him, protecting him, providing for him, and incrementally and experientially revealing Himself to him all of his life. And, now, at another turning point, here the LORD is again, reminding Jacob of where they have been, of promises from the past, and providing the relational evidence for the promise of future fulfillments.  

LORD, remind me today of ALL of the ways You have walked and talked with me, guided and provided for me, encouraged and empowered me all of the days my life. Help me to remember that, most assuredly, I can trust You as I step into the future that You have already prepared for me. And, that in You, the Best is always yet to come. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 30

"But Laban said to him, ‘If now it pleases you, stay with me; I have divined that the LORD has blessed me on your account.’"

                              - Genesis 30:27

My Grandpa, Ralph "Pete" Schmutz had a way with words. There are phrases I heard so many times as a child, as an adolescent, and as a young adult, that they became a part of the very fiber of my sense of self. This verse reminds me of one of my Grandpa’s phrases and the "mini-lecture" that went along with it.  

He’d always say to me, "When you don’t know what to do, do what you know how to do, and whatever you do, do your very best. Whoever you work for, and wherever you work, make yourself necessary."

In this verse from Genesis, Laban knows that Jacob is "necessary" to his ongoing prosperity, and he desperately wants him to stay. In what ways will you be making yourself "necessary" to whom you work for and with today? You and I get to choose today whether we are just another "cog" in the machine, or an indispensable member of a winning team.

LORD, help me to do my very best in all that I do this day, and every day. Bless the organizations and the people I serve, and the vocational and professional interactions I have in every context of my life. Empower me to be necessary, essential, and indispensable, to every team I am a part of, as I determine to do what I know how to do, even at times when I don’t know exactly what to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 29

"And it came about, when Jacob saw Rachel...".  

                                - Genesis 29:10

This verse today reminds me of the moment that I first really "saw" the young woman that would one day be my wife. It was a Sunday night after church in Abilene, Ks. I was on a walk with Jesus, just talking to Him in my heart as I headed West on 3rd Street, toward the Mudd Creek Bridge. I heard this truck coming down the street behind me, it was a Vintage, Short-Bed, 55’ Ford Pickup... I watched it go by, and I knew that it was Angie Boyd driving that truck. Angie was a Senior in High School at the time and she was filled with the Spirit and living for Jesus with everything she had. I said in my heart, "Lord, if it be Your Will, please, when You think I’m ready, bring a woman who loves and lives for Jesus like Angie Boyd, into my life." I had no idea how literally Jesus was going to answer that prayer.

That was September of 1990 and we started dating that October. I put an engagement ring on her finger in August of 1991, and on May 15th of 1992 we got married in Browns Park, South of Abilene. It’s been nearly 28 years, we have four awesome Jesus loving children, a son-in-law who loves and lives for the Lord, and... Quite honestly I just can’t wait to see what God is going to do next.

Thank You, LORD, for the unknown and the unforeseen. Thank You that You hear us when we call, You listen to our prayers, and You move in our lives in ways we could never understand, even if You explained it to us. Thank You, that we can walk with You and Trust You with the journey. I Love You, LORD, and am so grateful for Your Grace, Mercy, Kindness and Faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 28

"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’" Genesis 28:16

Isn’t this always our reality? Jacob doesn’t realize it, but he is playing the role of "Captain Obvious" as he awakens from his dream and says what he says. Wherever we are... Jesus knows, Jesus sees, Jesus hears, and... Jesus is present. We are the ones who forget about His presence, but He never forgets about ours.

LORD, help me to be mindful of Your presence in every place I find myself. Help me to be a man who daily calls upon your name, and who walks in constant contact with all of who Your Word has promised You are and will be to me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 27

"Now then, please take your gear, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me;" - Genesis 27:3

Though I’m not a big fan of this chapter of the Bible as a whole, this verse in particular is one of my favorite in all of Scripture.

For me, without question, some of my most intimate moments with God have been in the context of enjoying His Creation while hunting. It is in these Sanctuaries of Alpine meadows, dark timber mountainsides, sage covered Sandhills, hardwood bottomlands, plum thicket prairies, Osage orange hedgerows, windswept plains, deep cut draws, and every other place I find myself outside and in pursuit of game, that I feel God’s presence the most. These are the places where my heart breathes deeply, my head is cleared thoroughly, and my Soul itself is restored. It is in these places where I personally and powerfully feel the Hand of God, as I am surrounded by His handiwork.

Thank You, LORD, for the time You give, and the times You speak to me, as You surround me with the irrefutable evidence of Your Existence in Your Creation. Please continue to speak to me in these moments and places, where I take the time, and find the space, to call on Your Name.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 26

"And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, ‘I am the God of your father Abraham; Do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you, and multiply your descendants, for the sake of My servant Abraham.’" Genesis 26:24

This is going to be a long post, so pull your britches up! :-)

This verse speaks to me because as God is speaking to Isaac, in a sense, it is "through" Abraham. Not Abraham personally, but through the relationship Abraham (his father) had with the LORD, the promises that were made, the miles traveled, the prayers that were prayed and the altars that were built, over oh so many years... Isaac in this verse is identified, in effect, as a beneficiary, a recipient, an heir of the blessings that were a direct result of the faith decisions of Abraham. A relationship that will continue in his (Isaac’s) life as he too embraces the promise and the friendship of, in relationship with, the LORD.

This verse speaks to me, personally, because of what I do now, as I travel in ministry as an Evangelist and a Church Planting Coach, all across the State of Kansas, mile after mile, from one church and from one town to the next. During the day, as I drive, I get to see the distinctive variations of the Kansas landscape from East to West and from North to South. I see the vastness of the horizons and the span of the sky stretched out above them. I see the roads we travel now, and sometimes in certain places I get to see other roads, roads traveled by those who first came to and through Kansas looking for land and a fulfillment of promise for themselves. At night I see the stars standing watch in the sky, in places far from the encroachment of the lights of cities and towns, shining steadily on as a reminder of hope for all those who have ever looked up from where they were while trying to find their way.

This verse, and all of these things, also speak to me because of where I come from. My Great-Great-Grandfather, Niklaus Schmutz was an early pre-statehood settler in what is now the far North-East corner of Dickinson County Kansas. He was a rough-and-tumble Swiss immigrant who spoke Dutch (German), was working on English and who had picked up a couple of American Indian languages to help him out in his travels and trade. By trade he was a US Army Supply wagon driver and spent most of his time on the trail, taking supplies from Fort Leavenworth to the farthest reaches of US Army outposts and forts all across the Kansas Territory.  

In the midst of his life he met an Evangelical Preacher, a German Speaking Circuit Rider (whom he had actually helped save from a flood-stage Chapman Creek) and formed a friendship with him. That friendship resulted in him and his wife attending a holiness camp-meeting and revival in Holton, Kansas, which resulted in he and his family giving their hearts to Jesus. Everything changed for Niklaus after that. Jesus was Lord of his life, and He was leading him to settle down and help that Circuit Rider preacher start a church there in his log cabin, not far from the banks of the Republican River. That church became the Alida Church, and it’s still there today. In fact, I just preached a revival in that church back in November, and it was at that church where my Mom got to hear me preach for the last time before she passed. The Pastor there is an awesome woman of God (who is doing a fantastic job) named Pastor Maria Foerschler, and that church is full of life, promise and possibilities, even though some might say it’s in the middle of nowhere.

A few months ago, I was way out in the country near Minneola (Western Kansas, near Dodge City), eating with a family whose family has owned a farm for a few generations now out by a natural spring that has been there... forever. That spring, this family had made into a crystal clear pond, and then built a house next to it. The pond stays full, and the spring still flows year round, just as it always has. From the East, there’s an old trail that you can still see coming down the hill that approaches the spring near the house. I looked up from the pond where the landowner was showing me around and saw that trail and I asked him, "What Road is that?" He said, "That’s the old ‘Fort Supply Trail,’ and it comes down to this spring and then heads off West." I realized in that moment, I was standing someplace where my Great-Great-Grandfather had once stood, and I wondered if in some ways, who I am and what I do, where I am and where I’m going, what I envision and who I hope to become, might be an answer to a prayer, the fruit of a relationship, the distant result of miles traveled in relationship with Jesus, by someone who traveled long before me...

Thank You Lord, for the ways you weave our lives together, and for all of the ways our pasts find their way into our future. Praise You, Oh Lord, for how You work all things together for the Good, and prayers that are prayed from times long before us, are forever before your face, as we walk in answers and blessings of which we have no real understanding. Thank You for Your Love, Mercy, Grace and Pursuit of us, even in spite of ourselves and our choices. Your Love for me is a mystery I am so very thankful for. Thank You Lord, for being Who You are to me and to all who long to trust You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 25

"Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." Genesis 25:34

There’s a lot here... but it boils down to this, Esau exchanged the "not yet" for the "now." He gave up what could have been, for something he wanted in the "right now." The promise, the "right" he had by birth order, to be experienced in its fullness later in his life, was traded in an instant, for a fleeting few moments of indulgence and consumption.

Forgive me Father for the times I have fallen into this same trap. Lead me not into the temptation of seeing the world through the eyes of Esau, to be so caught up in the "now" that I forsake the "not yet." Empower me to live for all that You have promised, and hold in trust, for those who love You. (See: 1 Corinthians 2:9). In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 24

"Then Abraham said to him, ‘Beware lest you take my son back there!’" Genesis 24:6

This whole chapter is just an amazing account of how God goes before us to prepare our way to fulfill His Will for our lives. This verse, however, and verse 8 which reiterates verse 6, just spoke to my heart as a father this AM.  

Abraham has journeyed with the LORD for many years now, and for oh so many miles... There is a place he once was, a place God has led him from, that he has determined he will never return to. And, he clearly states in these verses that it is no place he wants his son to return to either...

I get that. There is so much that Jesus has led me out of and away from, and I definitely hope and pray, in fact, to the best of my ability, I am whole heartedly determined, that my children will never experience what and where I myself was once delivered from.  

Please God, give my children hearts for You. Keep them from the paths and decisions of destruction that I myself once walked and made. Fill their hearts with a desire to fulfill the purpose for which they were born, and go before them to prepare the path You desire them to walk. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 23

"And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her."       

- Genesis 23:2

In some ways, this verse is a beam of light shining on one of the things that unites all of us as humans. In a time of such great division across our culture and our Nation, there are still so many things that can bridge the gap between our differences, and grief is one of those things. In life, we all know, or soon come to know personally, the weight and the substance of death and the experience of grief. And, when we see someone who is grieving it changes how we relate to or interact with them. Why? Because we, I believe, instinctively and intuitively "get it."  

I wonder what might happen if across all ideologies, theologies, philosophies, faith backgrounds, religious creeds, dogmas, world views, and all manor of theoretical hypotheticals, we could just personally center ourselves on something the Bible tells us Jesus said: "Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12.  

And, what if those of us who are followers of Jesus, became personally determined, every day, and in every way, to do our BEST to be "Jesus with skin on" to everyone we encounter... for such a time as this? I wonder what might just happen, if in the midst of all the division of our time, Jesus "followers" just started acting more like Jesus?

It was in the ancient city of Antioch where Jesus followers were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). And, they were called that because the people in the city couldn’t get their heads wrapped around the radical lifestyle these "Jesus people" were living as they lived out, to the best of their ability, what it meant to follow the teachings of Jesus. The term "Christian" that the people of Antioch tagged them with was one that literally meant "little messiahs" or "little Christs."  

The world today seems to hate "Christians..." but I wonder what might happen if we returned to the origins of our identity? What might happen if today we just radically followed Jesus, walked by the Spirit, loved people, lived out our purpose and laid down our lives as we served a divided, deluded and confused world? What might happen if we ministered to people today in the midst of the things that unite us as humans, loved people where they were, and demonstrated Christlikeness, to the best of our ability, in and through every action and interaction?  

I’ve said it a million times as I’ve preached... "the Gospel is transformational!" But, what if we became intent on relationally introducing people to the Gospel by demonstrating the transformation that has taken place in us through our own personal relationship with Jesus? What if people wanted Jesus in their lives not because of how loudly we shouted at them that they needed Jesus, but because the Jesus, and the transformation He has brought about in us, was so beautiful, so remarkable, so obviously real, they just had to have it? Call me crazy, but it just might be something like this would turn this world upside down...

Help me, Lord, to submit to You and Your lead fully, and in such a transformational way that people want You because of the You they see in me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 22

"And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together." Genesis 22:6

As followers of Jesus, the One who bore the Cross and laid down His life to save us from our sins, can we see the parallel imagery in this verse and this passage? Surrounded by, and feeling the multiple influences of idolatrous cultures of various kinds, Abraham, who has been chosen by God, is walking in relationship with a God that has repeatedly set Himself apart as... different from all other gods to say the least. And, ultimately as a God who is relationally revealing Himself to Abraham, as The Only, One True God.  

Abraham, in this passage, though relationally walking in obedience, is learning that his God does not require him to sacrifice his son. Though there are cultures and religions of Abraham’s time that do that very thing, Abraham, walking in faith, is about to come to know his God as YHWH-jireh, "The LORD My Provider."

Paul, in Philippians 4:19, through his own experiential and relational walk with Jesus, reminds the Church at Philippi Whom they are walking with as they trust Him through various trials when he says: "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

Today, do we realize, and will we choose to remember Who we walk in relationship with? Whatever we face, whatever the challenge, no matter how huge the cost, no matter how much the expense, or how large the bill... our Jesus can be trusted to provide exactly what we need, in the exact moment in which it is needed most. Will you trust Him today?

Thank You, Lord, for Your Faithfulness! Thank you, that in the 30 years in which I have walked with You, You have never once let me down. Thank You, that you always come through. Help me, LORD, to trust You more and more with each passing day.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 21

"Then the LORD took note of Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had promised."                             - Genesis 21:1

How Awesome is it that our God takes note of us?!? That He sees Who we are, Where we are, What we are going through, and ALL that we Long for and Aspire to. And, in the midst of it, as we walk in relationship with Him, He makes promises (Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 3:5-6, Matthew 6:33, Philippians 1:6 & 4:19) that touch the very core of our identity and our sense of self. Then, through His overabundant mercy, grace and love, He does for us as He has promised.

Thank You, LORD, for noticing, for promising, for fulfilling... Thank you for proving and providing... Thank You!

In Jesus Name, Amen!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 20

"Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." - Genesis 20:7

What a crazy passage this is! So, Abraham (with a brand new name, identity, and walking in covenant relationship with God) road-trips South. And, as he journeys he reverts to a former pattern of behavior where he lies, or at least fudges the truth, about the identity of his wife. While there, and because of the fudged truth, a local King decides to take Sarah (also sporting a new name and new identity in relationship with God) as his wife. Then God visits this King (who has actually knowingly done nothing wrong) in a dream and says: "Dude! You are a dead man because of the woman you have taken, for she is married." (Gen 20:3). And, in God’s conversation with this King (Abimelech), God defends and calls Abraham a "prophet" (a part of Abraham’s identity that he himself doesn’t even really know yet) and tells the King that Abraham, will pray for Abimelech, after he returns and restores Abraham’s wife, and he and his whole family/people will be healed and live... Wow!

What blows me away here is that God defends, stands up for, guards, and empowers Abraham supernaturally, even when he knowingly acts outside of faith, chooses to lie, and behaves in a way that is cowardly. God proves Faithful to His covenant, even when one whom he has chosen, walks outside of it. Interesting...

Thank you, LORD, for being to us and in relationship with us, a Covenant God, who refuses to break His Word to us. Even when we walk outside of our true identity and outside of our saving relationship with You, You remain True. Thank you, LORD, for remaining faithful, even at times and through seasons when we ourselves are faithless. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 19

"...for the compassion of the LORD was upon Him;"

                          - Genesis 19:16c

This phrase just grabbed me this morning as I read from Genesis 19. I came back to it again and again, and just kept thinking about it... It just makes me so thankful for the day of my salvation 30 years ago when Jesus grabbed my hand and led me out of my life of sin, self-will, and destruction. And, it makes me realize how even now, Jesus’ hand of favor and compassion continues to be upon me, guiding me, directing me, leading me to safety, and into more and more freedom every day.

Thank you, Jesus, for your miraculous and moment by moment power, presence, guidance, deliverance and provision in my life. I truly love you, Lord!   - In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 18

"Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, at this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." Genesis 18:14

This whole Chapter is just so Rich. It’s hard to choose just one verse today. But, if I have to choose, the verse that stands out most is what the LORD has to say on His own behalf to Abraham. "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?"

No matter what I face, within the 365 days that make up the year 2020, it is so empowering to know that Nothing will be too difficult for the LORD. And, how inspirational it is to have the assurance that through faith there will be no such thing as an impossible situation. In 2020 whatever God Wills for me or for you, is Totally possible!

Help me, LORD, to draw as near as I can relationally to You. Speak Your possibilities into me through Your Word and Prayer, and empower me to Trust and Obey in and through each and every day. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 17

"And Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying...", Genesis 17:3

This verse stands out to me today because it makes me wonder what might just happen if we spent more time on our faces before God than we did with our faces in front of our devices or than we did doing FaceTime with our friends? In this verse, after Abram fell on his face, God talked with him.

Bring about whatever circumstance are necessary today, Lord, to bring us before You in such a way that we can hear and receive a Word from You. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 16

"Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, ‘Thou art a God who sees’; for she said, ‘Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?’"

                          - Genesis 16:13

How awesome it is to know that we have a God who truly does see us. He sees... Where we really are, Who we really are, How we really are. There is nothing that escapes His notice or attention. Sometimes we all feel unknown, unseen, unwanted... but Jesus sees us, and His arms are open wide.

Lord Jesus, let someone who reads this today feel that You are there with them. Let someone who reads this today know that they are not alone. Let someone who reads this today know that there is hope... that You see them, that You care about them, that You can help them. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 15

"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

This verse finds me in an "After these things..." moment. The last six weeks, the last 12 months, has been a pretty challenging season of life. And yet, I can feel God’s presence, I can sense His leading, I can hear His promise to me, and I can see the vision that He has for me. I will not be deterred, discouraged, or distracted.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Faithfulness! Thank You, Lord, for the relationship which You have initiated with me! Thank You, Lord, for Your unfailing, relentless, reckless Love! Empower me to be both a recipient and a carrier of it, and of all that it means. Grant me Your Favor as I share Your message with all to whom you lead me. Amen.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 14

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High."  

                              - Genesis 14:18

I love this verse (and this chapter as a whole) because it’s a reminder to me that there is always a lot more going on around me than I realize, and that I am made by God to be both an agent of His deliverance and a partaker of His provision. It encourages me to know that God can not only be trusted to bring about miraculous victories, but that He can also be trusted to bring about miraculous insertions into my story, my context, or my circumstances at literally any turn. In fact, He can be trusted every day of my life, to be present at precisely the right time, with exactly what I most need... every time.

Lord Jesus, meet me where I am today. Make me aware of Your presence and Your plan. Use me to help set others free, and empower me to graciously receive of Your miraculous provision and sustenance.  

- Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 13

"Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you." Genesis 13:17

This is a verse I think about whenever I drive from one place to the next in my evangelism ministry, or whenever I’m working with local churches and helping to train them in prayer walking.  As I drive across the county lines or as I cross into the city limits of a community I will be preaching in, I pray and claim the Authority and Dominion of Jesus in every place I travel to. As I walk throughout a community when leading or teaching prayer walking, I pray and claim the Dominion and Authority of Jesus in and over that community. In every case, and in every place I go, I choose to believe that God has given me favor and blessing as I do whatever He leads me to do in the places where I get to go and do ministry.

In 2018 I completed the mission of praying in every County and at every County Courthouse in Kansas. Now, whenever I go wherever I go in this great State, right here in the heart of America, God reminds me that I’ve already prayed for this place, for these people, and that I can trust Him to bring forth fruit from my efforts in ministry. It’s an amazing blessing of confidence that I am now able to walk in because I trusted Him and completed the mission He gave me. What if you asked God to give you a place to pray over, around or through? Your home, workplace, school or community, perhaps? I believe God wants to move powerfully in us and through us, but in many cases He’s waiting to see if we’ll trust Him enough to take that first step.

I believe that now is the time for a New Great Awakening! And, I believe that it’s starting right now, in the heart of America, and in the hearts of the people of God right here in the center of this Nation. A Nation that God will literally give us if we’ll trust Him enough to go...

Father, please raise up a New Generation of people who believe, who are willing to take You at Your Word, and who are willing to "Go" wherever You lead them to go, Do whatever You lead them to do, and Be whoever You lead them to be in order to reach someone for You. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 12

"Now the LORD said to Abram, Go forth from your country, And from your relatives, And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;"

                       - Genesis 12:1

I love this verse for so many, many, reasons. One, I love it that the first word is "Now," which is a reminder to me of the timeliness of God’s Word. It comes to me in the "Now" of my reality whenever I read it. Two, it’s a reminder to me that God lovingly speaks to us and guides us even before we are officially "believers." And, Three, the words "Go" "from" and "to" are all reminders to me that God knows exactly where we are, where we come from, and... that where He is leading us, what He has for us, and what He ultimately wants to "show" us is so much better than anything we could even begin to come close to having, finding or gaining for ourselves. All we have to do is trust Him and Go...

Help me Father to be a man who trusts You enough to Go wherever You lead. Let my life be a life You have complete access to, Whenever, Wherever, However... no matter what. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 11

"And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built." - Genesis 11:5

This verse makes me wonder what Jesus would say to me if He walked in my front door. What would He say of my life, of my family, of what I’m doing with all that He’s entrusted me with?  

This verse reminds me of the little book written by Pastor Robert Boyd Munger called "My Heart, Christ’s Home." Here is a link if you’d like to check it out: 

(https://www.usna.edu/Navigators/_files/documents/MHCH.pdf)

Lord Jesus, as You see me, my life, and all that I am, my prayer is that what You see is pleasing and honoring to you. Correct and Redirect me Lord, in any way that is not so. I trust all of who I am and all that I want to be, fully into Your hands.  

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 10

"These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations; and out of these the nations were separated on the earth after the flood."  

                           - Genesis 10:32

This verse stands out to me from chapter 10 because of the word "families...". The family has always been of immeasurable significance to God. And, as the family was the agent through which mankind fulfilled God’s command to be "fruitful and multiply," the family is also the context into and through which He himself put on flesh that He might Save and Redeem His creation.

Father God, let my family be a place in which my children see and feel the reality of Your presence. Let them grow in their faith that they might live to personally know and faithfully fulfill the purpose for which You put them on this earth. - Amen

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 9

"Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant." Genesis 9:3

The hunter and fisherman in me truly loves this verse. And, without question, as I look back over my life, the time that I have been given and spent in the outdoors, in the pursuit of these moving creatures (in the context of hunting and fishing) are some of the most positive, memorable, and life-giving experiences I have ever had. And, to literally feed my family with the wild game I (we) have pursued and that God has provided (it’s literally what we eat every day)... I just consider it to be a tremendous honor, privilege and a blessing. And, theologically speaking, it is also a continuation of the fulfillment of the "Noahic Covenant" (Genesis 9:1-19).

Thank you Lord, for hunting and fishing, and for the time You spend and speak with us in and through Your Creation, as we experience and enjoy all of the bounty and blessings that go along with it.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 8

"Then God spoke to Noah, saying..." Genesis 8:15

This verse stands out to me today for a few reasons. One is because it’s the first audibly spoken Word from God since the week in which Noah and his family entered the Ark. Think of all the time that has passed, and all that they have gone through from that point until this one, without a spoken Word from God in between.  

Another reason is because it is evidence that God still has more for Noah. That the best God has is still to come. That, though He’s completed his mission, God is still speaking. He’s fulfilled his calling, but there’s more to live for, to do, to be, to become. God’s not done speaking to Noah, and He’s not done speaking through Noah. This verse is a reminder that, what God leads us TO, He will also see us THROUGH, in order that we may become fully WHO He has created us to be. It’s ALL for a reason... Everything. And, there’s more...

Finally, I guess I just have to wonder, what was the tone of God’s voice in what Noah was about to hear? How was He about to speak and what was He about to speak? As a parent, I know that my kids know my "tones" of voice. Really, there is a tone for every verbal interaction I have with them. And, many times, my tone is intentionally communicating something my words don’t even come close to saying.  

The timing of this verse feels to me as if it is leading to a tone of intimate, personal, approval, affirmation and encouragement. At least, that’s probably the tone I would have chosen as a parent for this moment. A tone that communicates a combination of "I love you so much!" / "Way to Go!" and "Dude! That was Totally Awesome!"

Speak to me Lord, today. Help me to not only hear, but to also receive in my heart everything I need to make it through everything that is still to come. I trust You. I believe in You. I choose to know that the best You have for me is still to come, and that I hear in my heart Your tone of encouragement as I Keep on Keepin’ on in Jesus.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 7

"And it came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth." Genesis 7:10

I don’t want to write about this verse today. I just don’t want to do it. I want to write about 7:5. Something quick, short, and tweet-able... But, I feel like God is saying something to me about 7:10. So... here it goes.

Something tells me that those were an unimaginably difficult seven days for Noah and his family. Seven days of choosing to continue to believe. Seven days... following a century of the relentless pursuit of the fulfillment of an "impossible" task, of choosing to press daily into the toil of his heavenly calling, of willing himself into persistence, of embracing tenacity, of choosing faithfulness decade after decade, year after year, month after month, week after week, day after day... and now it comes to this. Seven days of waiting and just looking at this... Ark. Seven days of waiting for God to do what He said He was going to do. In those seven days was Noah thinking to himself "Will all of this really happen just like God said it would?"

As I think about those final seven days of waiting, I wonder about myself... Would I have even made it that far? Would I have "pitched" the "Ark" idea long before, and left it for something more practical, feasible, plausible, doable...? What would my wife have thought about all of that Ark Stuff? What about my friends? Would I have remained faithful to the heavenly vision no matter what or who it cost me? Could I have been like Noah? 

In reality, all of us who love Jesus and who are living for Him now, are actually in the same "boat" as Noah and his family. Aren’t all of us in a season of waiting? Ultimately, aren’t all of us as followers of Jesus, waiting for Him to come back, waiting for God to fulfill His Word to us, waiting to see if it’s all going to happen like God’s Word says it is? In the mean time, have we received a life-task, a vision, or a calling, from God? If so, are we choosing the relentless, tenacious, faithful pursuit of its fulfillment? If not, why not? And, if not, are we in fact forgetting, or maybe even dismissing, or disregarding... the Great Commission itself?!?

Our lifetime’s today don’t allow us to fulfill a one hundred year construction project, but they do allow us the building of a network of people we are sharing or are attempting to share Jesus with. Are we doing that? After those last seven days, Noah and his family had an Ark that they had built that they could enter and be spared in as the flood waters were unleashed upon the earth. Do you and I have a network of people we have reached out to and poured into who will be with us when Jesus comes back? Is there even one? If there is one, then couldn’t there be two? And if there are two, couldn’t we make it four? And, if four, why not eight? Is there really any limit to how many people God wants us to share Jesus with?

I guess my point is this, or maybe it’s God’s point, the task you and I have been given today is so much easier than Noah’s. All we have to do is pray for and then talk to the people we know and love, about Jesus. Will we? There’s still time you know... at least there is now, at present, in this moment and in this day. Let’s do something with the days we have left.  

Waddya say?!?

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 6

"But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD." 

                                - Genesis 6:8

This verse stands out to me so much. For me it is and always has been one of those verses that makes me want to be a better man. If there is one thing I want, in fact if I could only choose one thing to ever have or experience in my life, it would be this, to know that I have found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 

Lead me LORD, by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to walk in Your Favor. Fulfill in and through me the purpose for which I was born. Forgive me for all of my many failings and empower me to be the man You desire me to be. - Amen 

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 5

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:24

I love this verse because it reminds me that I get to choose "who" I will be and "how" I will be known. Enoch chose to walk with God, and was known as a man who did just that, a man who "...walked with God." And, he walked with God in such a profound way that he captured the attention of God, and God took him. How cool is that?!?  

The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back, and that we are closer now to that time than ever before. Am I choosing to walk with God in such a way that I am ready... to be caught up? Today I choose to walk with God as closely as I possibly can. And, if God gives me the time, I’m planning on doing the same thing tomorrow, and for every day following, as long as I have breath in my lungs, until Jesus comes back.

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 4

"And to Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD." Genesis 4:26

The phrase that speaks to me most here is... "Then men began to call upon the name of the LORD." I want to see a time like this, a time when people call upon the name of the LORD. I believe that NOW is a great time for a time like this to begin! NOW is a great time for a New Great Awakening! 

 If you’d like to join me as I pray for this very thing, set a reminder on your phone for every day at 3:16pm, and let’s call on the Name of the LORD together and ask Him to bring about a New Great Awakening!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 3

"Then the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’"  

Genesis 3:9

I love this Verse because it reminds me that Jesus always looks for us. Even when we have failed Him and when we Hide, Jesus still comes to find us. Everyone else may fail and abandon us, but Jesus never will!

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50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 2

50 Day Genesis Challenge, Day 2

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24

This verse means so much to me at this particular time in my life. My wife has been such a source of encouragement and strength, and I truly praise God for her. Thank you Father, for a wife whom you have placed in my life to walk with me through such a time as this.

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"The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." Genesis 1:2

This verse means so much to me as I look back over the past year. So many times as circumstances out of my control unfolded, it felt like things were dark, chaotic, and to be totally honest, there were many times I even wondered where God was. 

 This verse reminds me that even in the face of darkness, difficulties, and challenges, the Spirit of God is nearer than I can imagine. And, in those circumstances He is moving, hovering, and... ultimately He is preparing me for something transformational that He is about to speak into my reality.

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#50DayGenesisChallenge

50 Day New Year’s Challenge 

Hey! If you are looking for a Totally Doable New Years Resolution that’ll both help you grow Spiritually and help you become a more effective Witness for Jesus, I’d like to invite you to join me in a 50 Day Genesis Challenge!

Here’s how it works...

1. Every Day for 50 Days, read One Chapter from the Book of Genesis starting with Chapter 1 on January First.

2. Pick One verse that speaks to you or means something to you from the Chapter you read. Then...

3. Text, Tweet, Post or Share the complete text and reference for that verse and why it means something to you as you share it.

What you are doing in accepting this 50 Day Challenge is you are choosing to daily engage with God’s Word in a personal way, and then making your engagement public. This is the essence of evangelism, sharing the good news!

And, listen to what The Bible tells us God does when His Word is Shared:

"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." - Isaiah 55:11

So, Join me for 50 Days in 2020, and let’s see what God does both in us and through us when we faithfully engage with and share the Word of God, as we Keep on Keepin’ on in Jesus into the New a Year!

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