Happy 10 day anniversary for those of you reading the Word with me this year! Isn’t it AMAZING to have your heart SATURATED with His Word?! I just wrote the LONGEST post…and with one click of the wrong button—it all erased…don’t you hate it when that happens? But I have something to say–and I guess someone doesn’t want me to say it—so here I am…typing it again! Today I am reminded of the POWER OF PRAYER, listening to the Lord and acting on what the Holy Spirit leads and asks you to do. ONLY–the only way to hear from the Lord is to be in PRAYER with Him and to know His voice through the practice of reading His Word. I have a confession to make. For the last 5 years–as long as I’ve been a mommy–my time in the Word has been scattered and some times the only praying I do in a day consists of a “popcorn prayer”. I have justified it as it only “being a season” and by confessing this to other moms in the same place…and hearing them say the same thing has helped me tell myself it’s okay. The more I dive into the Word and get to know His heart (again) I realize HOW MUCH I REALLY NEED HIM. I was watching a video last night posted on my friend Kim’s blog and Colt McCoy, the quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, said it better than I could “Your time is now”. There is NO better time to dive into the Word and know Him…than now. There is no better time to hit your knees for your future, for your children’s behalf…than now.
I do know that some 400 people stop by my blog every day–and I also know that the only thing that I have to say of value is…well, actually I don’t have much to say of value. But if you are here–and you are reading this RIGHT NOW…then maybe it’s not me who is trying to talk to you. Maybe the Lord is calling you deeper into His heart. Maybe He wants you to do some shifting in your schedule…stop reading books on parenting…not worry about measuring up to someone’s craft in a blog or for that matter having a really cool blog at all…maybe He wants you to take some time out and make more room for Him. To invite Him to be a part of your life…right NOW. It is through reading His Word and prayer that we will connect with Him. And these two things I want to be a priority in my life—for my sake and for the sake of my children and generation after generation…if I want to break the chains…I can only do it through His power…through getting to know His heart through prayer and His Word.
I am reminded also as we read His word, we need to pray for Him to open our ears and our hearts…to soften our hearts to the Holy Spirit so we can hear His voice. As you read Genesis 28:6-30:24, ask the Lord to speak to you. I can’t wait to share what He showed me today in His Word. And I can’t wait to hear how He is calling you more to Himself today too.
Some verses that stuck out to me…
Verse 28:15—in the Living and King James version—the Lord says “Behold” and “What’s more” before “I am with you”. He wanted to bless Jacob. Give him land. Bless his children. To bless others through his children…but WHAT’S MORE…BEHOLD…He was going to be with Him. AND THIS IS GREATER than ANYTHING else! Is my being with God and God being with me GREATER than ANYTHING else I could get? Is being with God the most important thing in my life?
Ch. 28 – Isn’t it interested how Jacob is deceived much in the same way he deceived his own father??? He was sleeping in the bed and got fooled in his moment of weakness (it was probably very dark and after the wedding feast/celebration he probably had wine—Isaac was nearly blind and in bed when Jacob deceived him…it makes you wonder if Jacob ever thought about this and regretted his actions)
29:31 – I love the Lord’s compassion on Leah here! He saw her pain…her rejection…and the Lord enabled Leah to bear children while causing Rachel to remain childless. I felt so sad for Leah here, and I was so comforted to see the Lord’s grace upon her life. Yet, I couldn’t help but wish that Leah would have just tried to find her worth in the Lord. I also, though, can’t imagine her pain and desperation to feel loved by her husband. After all, it wasn’t her choice to marry Jacob but her father’s. She wasn’t as pretty Rachel–and I’m sure there was a lifetime of comparison between her and Rachel. And as if that wasn’t enough–she had to marry the SAME man as Rachel and live with rejection. Do I live for the approval of man—or the approval of the Lord? Is He enough for me???
THEN FINALLY in verse 35—Leah finally says what I’ve wanted her to say all along…forget Jacob…”Now I will praise the Lord!”
Chapter 30 – But Leah’s eyes quickly get off her praising and back to her sister and her jeolousy when Rachel get’s ole Sarah’s bright idea to get her servant to sleep with her husband so she can have a child. See some generational repetition here?! HOW WE NEED TO BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH PRAYER! Oh, how I wish that Sarah had the opportunity to sit with Rachel and tell her all about her life—and even her sin. Would she have told her about Hagar and her regret? I think it’s so important for us to use our lives—living testimonies—for the glory of God! As much as I don’t want my children and grandchildren to know everything about my crazy high school days…I know if they are going to be any different, I have to be transparent in my regret and how the Lord changed me.
And are these sister’s SERIOUSLY in a rat-race to see who can birth the most children from Jacob with their concibines? Is this FOR REAL? This reading just BLEW my mind! And boy was Jacob busy wasn’t he?! If anyone ever thought the Bible wasn’t full of things that make your eyes big…they need to read this reading don’t they?!
30:15 – Ouch! (That’s all I can say right now about that!) What pain and hurt is in this verse. For the most part it seems Leah has remained pretty quiet…but here she has just had enough. It makes me so sad to see these sisters torn apart. But because of their parent’s sin—how could they not be? Oh that I would live a life on my knees on my children’s behalf! That I would be changed daily…and that I would do nothing to create bitterness between them.
I have A LOT of thoughts on today’s reading—but I want to hear first how the Lord spoke to you! Love you my friends!!! Press on…and do not give up on the reading of His Word! And speaking of reading…I’ve started a sweet little collection basket of my favorite books that are full of diversity, love through adoption, and Africa for our baby…
I Wished for You…an adoption story by Marianne Richmond
On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman
Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
The Lion that Finally Roared by Obi Chidebellu-eze
Animals of Africa – Planet Earth
A Mother for Choco by Keido Kasza
Please Baby Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Pancakes with Chocolate Syrup by Rebekah Barlow Rounce
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
If you know of a children’s book that is just too sweet not to share and a must have—please let me know! I’m always looking for books to add to all of my children’s library to remind them HOW much they are loved! I know our baby throughout the years will have many questions, and I want to always have lots of books on hand that makes him feel like he knows his heritage and that it is also a part of him. Having a ministry in Africa, we plan to continue yearly trips to Africa—and it will be so fun to have our little man in tow as he grows so Africa can remain a part of his precious life. And who knows–maybe one or all of our children in the process will develop a heart for Africa in the process and bravely set off to make a difference there in time as well. I am reminded that I need to pray for my children’s future in the mission field. How DIFFERNT I seem to think and REACT when I realize I am raising future missionaries! It is my prayer whether they are in the “work place” or on the field that they would be missionaries for the gospel. Something to reflect and remember throughout the day when I make discipline and my personal reactions to them throughout the day!
XOXO,
Andrea
by admin
I love Jacob’s vision. “Jacob’s Ladder” is what we hear it called. God told him He would bless him & be with him where ever Jacob went. Jacob & Esau both married their cousins! Esau went to his dad’s brother to find a wife, & Jacob went to his mom’s brother to find a wife! Interesting! Jacob must have LOVED Rachel. It said that him working for her for 7 years was only like a few days to him because of his love for her! That’s precious! But I often wonder, why didn’t he realize the first girl he married wasn’t Rachel, it was her sister Leah, until the morning? What took so long? That just seems a little strange to me, but I don’t know all of the culture from back then. This is all just the start of a bad father-in-law & son-in-law relationship! Here on out Jacob & Laban pretty much constantly are trying to deceive one another.
Then Leah is blessed with 4 little boys! Rachel is jealous & gives Jacob her maid & she has 2 boys, then Leah gives him her maid & she has 2 also. Then Leah has 2 more! Wow! Finally Rachel has 1 child, Joseph, & I believe he turns out to be a favorite! Back to 30:15, that’s a big OUCH! I can’t imagine how Leah felt. Her husband didn’t really want her, he wanted her sister & her sister is jealous of her. I’m sure in Leah’s eyes she doesn’t think there’s anything to be jealous of except her children because Jacob is deeply in love with Rachel still. He shows that over & over in the next few chapters. It’s a little crazy though, Rachel & Leah are bargaining or “selling” him out! I wonder how that made Jacob feel!?
Andrea..thank you for the reminder on prayer! I had the priviledge of being at the bedsides of 3 of my grandparents before they went on to glory, and each one reminded me that they had prayed for me earnestly my whole life, and instructed me to pray earnesly for my children. I spend lots of time nowdays praying for our adoption and our adopted child… but this was a good reminder to pray for the hearts and minds of those littles ones in my care now! OK, so as to Jacob and all of his women…. let me just say I am so glad that I did not live back in the day. Ugh, can you imagine, these women (sisters no less!) and fighting over a comon husband and even throwing their maidservants (slaves) at him, fighting for nights with him…um, so glad God saw fit to intervene in this lifstyle. I’m kindof laughing, thinking, “what you sow, you shall reap.” Take a lot of wives… you are pretty much asking for it!
Since we’re going to be dealing with this issue throughout much of the OT, I have to say that every single time I read about men sleeping with — and having children with — more than one woman, it makes me sick to my stomach. I can’t imagine how broken those women were, how defeated they must have felt. It’s no wonder they sought to have the most children, to be the “favorite”, to literally fight for their husband’s love… because it’s not the way God designed it to be. So sad… and yet again, God does so much with so little. Amazing.
Thanks so much, Andrea, for taking the time to spur us all on in the reading! 🙂
thanks so much for mentioning about colt mccoys link…i sent it to my husband who is a BIG football fan!
Hey Andrea:
Just stopping by to say hello! I met some friends of yours at Passion2010 (can’t remember their names right now…but I was running on zero sleep at that point so forgive me!) I hope to meet up with you soon in real life, but for now, I enjoy reading your posts and celebrate with you as you inch your way closer to the Babe of your Heart.
joy-
Emily V.
I just started my readings for the year….almost caught up. What can I say….we have had a really rough start. I know reading the Word is where I need to me. I was not in the Word enough for many years….same thing really. I would have great spurts, but that was it. Last year I was challenged by another blog to read the Bible in 90 days (which was a little longer than that for me, but not bad). I LOVED IT!!!! So if there is anyone out there in doubt- it may not be easy….may seem like a chore….may seem like too much to ask, but once you are into it….once God has Blessed your socks off……..you will CLING TO IT!!!! Because STORMS WILL COME- not if, but WHEN they do……your heart will be GROUNDED in HIM!!!! Just know that 🙂
thanks for posting the books you have gotten so far…i have a mother for choco but want to get many more!
I feel convicted all the time of my lack of devotions and personal prayer time. I keep justifying to myself that I’m busy and later is okay. But you’re right, NOW is the time! So thank you again for starting this Bible study. I feel grateful that I feel a sense of accountablility to actually do my devotions every day. And yes, when you are immersed in The Word you have a whole different perspective on life! Even something as simple as my husband asking me to make dinner after I’ve had a crazy day and I’m tired. I want to answer, “How about you take a turn” but instead I catch myself not even hesitating to not only make him dinner, but serve it to him. And the glory goes to GOD because that is soo not me! =)
More thoughts on the reading on my blog.
Hey Andrea… I just have to add that my husband and I also pray for our children to one day go into “all the world”. Their little hearts are already so sensitive in that arena. We have some friends, who are 11th generation missionaries. Way back when, a little old lady on her deathbed prayed that God would raise up missionaries from her descendants, and now 11 generations later, her descendants are literally all over the globe, still spreading His good news!
SOOO much great insight! Andrea, I just love your commentary and I’m so thankful God led me to your blog and you invited us all to take this journey. I love what you said about excusing ourselves because of the “season” were in. With four kiddos it would be easy for me to try to justify my lack of time for bible reading and devotion. But look again at my life and yes I am busy with four kids but there are so many other “things” that distract me from being in the word and in prayer with Him. Oh how I have loved doing this reading and how I feel Him calling me each day to open up my bible and read more. The best part is I CAN’T wait to spend time with HIM! I love what Megan said about your change of perspective when you’re immersed in the word. I find myself doing/saying things that are not from me but truly the Holy Spirit working…praise God! Something I want to share that keeps pressing on my heart as I do this reading is how disgusted and disappointed I feel with so many of these people. Why couldn’t Abraham learn his lesson and stop manipulating? Why did Sarah have to be so hurtful to Hagar and Ishmael? What kind of wife and mother is Rebekah to play favorites and then fool her husband? And then’s there’s Jacob and his deceit and of course Rachel and her cruel heart towards Leah. Just as I’ve had enough of these people guess what He does? He reminds me I am no better. I am a sinner just like them, I fall short every day and He STILL loves me even with all my messiness. I manipulate, I judge, I covet and the list goes on. Oh thank you Lord that your ways our not ours. Thank you for forgiving me and thank you for your word that I can see how since the beginning we have been falling short and since the beginning you continue to love us.
I love children’s books! So far in my “collection” I have
“Little Miss Spider” David Kirk ( did you that the Spider family is a transracial adoptive family!? )
Spotlight on Shimmer – Kirk- Shimmer talks about being adopted
I Like Myself- Karen Beaumont
Shaoey and Dot – Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman
A Blessing from Above- A little Golden Book that I found at Lifeway
On my wish list is:
It’s OK to be Different – Todd Parr
How I was Adopted- Joanna Cole
Happy Adoption Day- ?
Have you been to the Amharic Kids website? They are linked on my blog, near the bottom right I think….