Remember weekends are your chance to share and encourage each other and my chance to spend some time with my wonderful family. My husband and I are going to a Panthers Play-Off Party tomorrow night, childless I might add. (Yippee) Sunday we are headed to church for another great message from our amazing pastor. He is preaching a series on Tough Topics.
I hope you girls have an incredible weekend. I love serving you and learning from you through this great adventure. Keep reading.
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You will live by your sword,
and you will serve your brother.
But when you decide to break free,
you will shake his yoke from your neck. (Genesis 27:40)
Esau‘s father could hear the bitterness,the anger and even hatred that had taken hold of his son’s life.
Like must parents,who are concerned with their children's future,Isaac was warning him of the danger to such emotions.
Esau's life would become a prison,if he was to hold on to the unforgiveness that was rooted in his heart.
Someday,Esau would have to “decide” if he was going to break free from the yoke that was placed around his neck because of the unforgiveness towards his brother,Jacob.
One thing keeps coming up through studying God’s Word and that is “it’s our choice.” It’s our choice to live a life of fullness in the Presence of God or to hide in the darkness of the enemy.
I chose Life!
Two things struck me in today's reading. In Gen 28:20, I notice that Jacob's vow to God was conditional; If God protects me, feeds and cloths me, gets me home safely THEN He will be my God. How many times do we do that? Ugh.
And, like a pattern, we have more women CONTROLLING their men, the situation, doing God's job, etc... God is convicting me. I see it Lord, I see it. Please help me to give it to You and let You do a much better job than I ever could.
Morgen - Minnesota
Wendy,
What a fun weekend you have planned. Enjoy! This past week has been awesome. Reading my scriptures each morning has turned into a highlight of my day! What a way to begin the day!
I want to share something that I've been doing that maybe some of you might like to try.
I read the scriptures in the morning...then, when I'm driving around doing carpools, errands, etc. and I'm alone in the car...I listen to the same verses on CD. I have the verses by Zondervan in the NIV. It's amazing! The people come alive. It's like they are all in the car with me. Different voices, for different people! Sometimes, I can't stand it...I keep wanting to go ahead because it is so good! It surprised me how much I could listen to even on a short erand, like just taking the kids to school. It's also been good, to focus myself on God in the car...rather than let my mind wonder to other thoughts! I've felt God's presence all day long this way. I don't know if this would help anyone else, but it has really changed my life. It is expensive to purchase the Bible on CD's, but so worth every penny!!!!!!!!!!!
Love all you sister's from all over the nation! Your comments help me so much every single day.
ENJOY the weekend!
Blessings,
Lori
Mesa, AZ
Acting out of spite, bargaining with God, deceit, selfishness, pride, and jealousy; boy, is the Word of God relevant to our lives today or what?
In just this one chapter alone we find the characters dealing with so many of the sins that entrap us today and make us ineffective for His kingdom work.
Today's reading had a convicting power over my life as I realized that I too struggle with these emotions. However, I was not left without encouragement. In each situation I could see my two favorite words. . . "But God." God was present in every situation and He was working His plan. It maybe did not seem like it in the moment, 'but God' is always in control. My goal is to soften my heart, open my mind, and close my mouth in order for me to hear His voice. I do not desire to grieve the Holy Spirit, but to allow Him utter and total control of my life. I want to serve Him faithfully all the days of my life.
What an encouragement it is to be on this journey and to know that so many of my fellow sisters are journeying with me!
My heart focused on Leah today. I just finished writing my post about my thoughts here: http://ponderinginhispresence.blogspot.com/ Her path from brokenness to praise spoke deeply.
Walking through God's Word is such a journey. Looking for Him to speak to me daily and listening to His heart for me as His Spirit opens up His Word to me.
Thanks again Wendy for doing this. Have a great weekend.
Love & prayers,
Joy
Thankfully we have all these examples in the bible to think and ponder and yes, learn to make right choices and learn from their examples. I like what Rachel had to say today, "God has removed my disgrace." I am so thankful that God does remove our disgrace and gives us a new name and that we can begin again each day with him. Blessings on your weekend gals!!
Raylene
Boone, IA
Wendy, have a wonderful date night with your hubby!
I can't say enough how much I am enjoying this reading! I love reading to many different ways the Bible speaks to each of us. You all make me think about difference situations that didn't come to me as I was reading. I love it!
I have what may be a silly question, but one that stuck out to me. How did Jacob not know that Laban had given him Leah as his wife instead of Rachel? Also, my mind just can't wrap around the idea of multiple wifes and their maids being given to him to bear children. Would love to hear some input.
Kim
Griffith, IN
Today was the first time that I have ever really paid attention to Genesis 28:6-9. This is the passage describing how Esau marries someone within his own family rather than from Canaan. It also states he made this decision after hearing his father bless his brother and tell him not to marry someone from Canaan.
I never realized the small steps of change in Esau. Was this the beginning of his turnaround? Was God already beginning to work on softening his heart both toward his father and Jacob?
It is true. God does work out everything for good. Look what he is doing in Esau. He even is using the circumstances of Jacob's wives to bring about the promise of the twelve tribes of Israel.
God truly is amazing! I am so glad we can trust Him with our mess-ups and tainted hearts!
Kim - I've often wondered the same thing. Did Leah come into his tent with a veil on or something? Was it so dark and she pretended to be her sister?
From these scriptures you can see why polygymists believe having multiple wives is okay. But God never intended for this. Was it due to the "be fruitful and multiply" command, or was there lots of conflict and wars so then less men to go around? I'm sure I've read that Solomon had like 900 wives....wow...was it possible for him to even sleep with all of them? Questions, questions...
Morgen - Minnesota
Ladies, I have a confession to make. Ever since beginning our readings on Leah and Rachel, I have felt a little self-righteous comparing myself to them. When I compared their desperate measures to my own, I seemed to come out looking pretty good.
Until today...
Today, as I read the final listing of all of Jacob's sons, the tears began to flow as I realized we are no different than Leah and Rachel. Just as they wanted children "now" and went to extreme measures to get them, haven't we too? No, we may not have servant girls or may not make deals with our sisters. But don't we attempt the same with science and medicine. We try to make things happen when we want them, all in effort to meet our own desires.
Yet, what is even more amazing is that just like with Leah and Rachel, God in his incredible grace allows us to be blessed through our sometimes desperate actions. He did not condemn Leah and Rachel for their deepest desires for children. He allowed them to be blessed! I am overwhelmed right now by His grace.
God truly is our loving, forgiving, and compassionate Lord.
Blessings to all of you!
The verse that held my heart this morning was Genesis 31:19b, "Rachel stole her father's household idols and took them with her". A few thoughts have been awakened as I read this verse.
First, it has made me question what "household idols" I have and second, I am struck by the reality that my goods can be stolen, but not my God. Oh, our idols can be stolen, and they can steal from us, but no-one can take away our God. That's why God's Word tells us in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." It truly is a heart issue.
Why would Rachel even want to take the household idols? Didn't she have everything? She was beautiful. She was loved. She was blessed with children. The Lord had just given her the baby her heart had longed for, but obviously this child still didn't fill the emptiness in her life.
Kelly Minter, author of "No Other God's" sums this up so perfectly. She writes, "I have found myself in both the shoes of Leah and Rachel: Leah's when I am miserable because I lack, and Rachel's when I am miserable in my fullness. The way out? Jesus Christ."
Regardless of our state, contentment can be found in God alone. Paul expressed this truth in Philippians 4:12, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Only God can satisfy.
Looking around the home of my heart. Do I see "household idols"? Are their gods that can be stolen? Maybe the best thing that could happen in my life would be to have my heart burgularized so that only One thing remains. The One thing that can never be stolen - God!
His,
Joy
Joy, yes i have had my heart burgularized, never thought of it that way but it a makes sense. It has not been a good feeling, quite painful actually, but all that is left there for now is Our Lord Jesus Christ, and it has "forced" me to see Christ as the only one I ever need there. He has used this time show me how much He loves me and how much I can grow deeper in love with Him. He is preparing my heart to be restored, but with Him as the center always and forever. Love, Susan
I noticed that Jan 10th reading began with what Esau KNEW... after all the anguish and pleading to his father for a blessing.
He KNEW his father had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to find a suitable wife. He KNEW Jacob had obeyed his father. "It was NOW very clear to Esau..."
I am without excuse... how many times have a done something I KNEW was not a wise choice, but self-gratification ruled? Amazing what we realize in hindsight - NOW it's clear... if only I had...
OUCH... I'm going to feel like a pin cushion before this study is over!!! LOL
Susan, VA
PS Joy, appreciated your observations on "household idols".
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