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
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