Category: Genesis

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A New Beginning

Today’s the beginning of a new month. Never again will there be a first day of September 2026.

Let’s look at a couple of verses about beginning.

“In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1a

In the beginning of creation – In the beginning of my life – In the beginning of my current situation – In the beginning GOD! God was there at the very beginning. He will be there halfway through and He will be there at the end!

He has chosen to invest Himself in my life, in my world, in my total existence. Stop and think, meditate, and ponder deeply these words for a few minutes.

“The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 He made all things. Nothing was made without Him making it.” John 1:1-3 NLV

He hasn’t pulled back yet and He won’t. He will continue to be involved in all He has created for all eternity – He is the eternal, the everlasting God and Father. And He’s here for you, because He loves you!

Now let’s look at another verse.

“The one who has spoken these things says, ‘I am coming soon!’ So, Lord Jesus, please come soon! 21 I pray that the Lord Jesus will be kind to all of you.” Revelation 22:20-21

It should give you great joy to know that He is coming soon. Yes, with all the uncertainty in the world one thing is certain, He is coming soon. He was and is and will continue to be kind to all. That’s the reason He came – out of love He became our substitute, the sacrifice for our sins so that we can be reconciled to the Father. Forgiveness is ours; new life is ours, restoration is ours – we simply need to receive it as the free gift that it is.

As you focus on your beginning, you’ll find God and as you look to the end you will see that He’s coming quickly and reaching out to us in kindness.

This new beginning, this first day of September 2026, is a day of purpose. A day filled with promise for the future.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV

Blessings to you this day and this new month.

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Something Greater

I need to tie this in with yesterday’s blog. My reading from Romans, chapter 5.

Yesterday I showed you where Abraham hoped against hope and received the heir God had promised he and Sarah years before. He never gave up believing that God would keep His promises.

The Bible tells us that Abraham was called the friend of God. They walked and talked together – friend to friend. The Lord and Abraham would share a meal and the Lord would reveal His plans to Abraham, they had that kind of relationship. (Genesis 13-19)

“When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them. 17 The Lord said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,” Genesis 18:16-17 CEV

This is when the Lord told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness.

But let’s go back to Romans now and see how Paul ties Abraham’s relationship to the Lord with the relationship the Lord has chosen to have with us.

“By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. 2 Christ has also introduced us to God’s gift of undeserved grace on which we now take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. 3 But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. 4 And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope 5 that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.

6 Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son. 11 And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.” Romans 5:1-11 CEV

Do you see what it says there? Something greater than friendship is ours because of Christ’ death. We have something greater than the friendship that God shared with Abraham, something much greater.

Let’s end today’s thoughts by jumping ahead to Romans, chapter 8. Now remember this is all one long letter that Paul was writing and so these thoughts are all part of one teaching.

” 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.” Romans 8:15 CEV

We don’t have to be afraid of God because of Jesus. His death gave us the right to become God’s children and we now share the same relationship with the Father than Jesus has.

Something greater than friendship is ours. It’s called sonship!!

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How to Continue when Hope Seems Gone

I’m reading through the book of Romans, again, probably for the 30th or 40th time. It becomes fresh in my heart each time I read it.

This morning I was reading about Abraham’s faith in the promises of God. Abraham wasn’t serving God because of rules and regulations. He was faithful to God because of their relationship. Abraham was called the friend of God.

“So you see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. 23 This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, ‘Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God.’ Abraham was called ‘God’s friend.’ ” James 2:22-23 ERV

Abraham’s relationship with the Lord was one that transversed the decades.

“Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ 6 And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:5-6 NKJV

Abram went year after year without an heir. Sarah never became pregnant. But Abram held on to God’s promise. That’s what Paul is telling the Christians in his letter to the Romans.

“There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, ‘You will have many descendants.’ 19 Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak. 20 He never doubted that God would do what he promised. He never stopped believing. In fact, he grew stronger in his faith and just praised God. 21 Abraham felt sure that God was able to do what he promised. 22 So that’s why ‘he was accepted as one who is right with God.’ 23 These words (“he was accepted”) were written not only for Abraham. 24 They were also written for us. God will also accept us because we believe. We believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from death. 25 Jesus was handed over to die for our sins, and he was raised from death to make us right with God.” Romans 4:18-25 ERV

Abraham waited almost 25 years to see the promise of an heir. But that didn’t weaken his faith, it strengthened it. Abraham trusted God, regardless of the circumstances. He knew that God was not a liar; He kept His word.

“Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong.” I Corinthians 16:13 ERV

How long is too long when we are waiting to see God’s promises come to pass in our lives? Let Abraham be our example – never stop believing but grow stronger in faith!

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Like a Dove

This morning we’re going to spend a few minutes looking at the third person of the Godhead – the Holy Spirit.

When we talk about the Holy Spirit, many times He is referred to as it but He is every bit as much “God” as the Father and the Son. He is the ever present, empowering, victory giving, life changing, comforting, teaching, presence of God.

In the beginning he was there. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2

When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Holy Spirit was there to confirm that Jesus truly was the Son of God. “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:” Mark 1:10

As Jesus began to do signs, wonders and miracles, it was “THE” Spirit who filled Him with power. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Luke 4:17

He is the same Spirit that Jesus told His disciples would come and empowered them, and us, as well. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26-27

and

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” John 16:13-14

The Spirit of God isn’t pushy but is patient and He purpose is to glorify Jesus and not draw attention to Himself, but he is our power source.

Paul put it this way in Romans. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” Romans 8:11

The word quicken means to empower or make alive – and that’s what the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit does for us as believers. Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit’s empowering and then they were to go and make disciples.

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit is here to empower us so that we can make an impact on our world the way the early Christians did in theirs.

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Goodness & Mercy Follow

When God leads and we follow, good follows too! Those who are trusting God can’t help but see God’s goodness. It’s just like His love – it’s who He is. God’s command to Joshua on the eve of leading the Israelites into the Promise Land was this:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:8-9 KJV

God promised Joshua if he meditated on and obeyed the Word of God his way would be prosperous and he would have good success. Good success as opposed to bad success. Less you think I am just mincing words here let’s look at Joshua’s battles in taking the Promise Land.

First battle in was Jericho – a walled city – the whole city was destroyed and not one of Joshua’s people were injured or killed. Then they went to Ai – one of Joshua’s people had stolen things from Jericho, which God specifically prohibited and when they went out in battle 36 men were killed. Not good. Joshua went to the Lord and asked what happened. God explained the disobedience and Joshua took action against Achan and his family and when they went to fight against Ai again, they won with no casualties – good success! We can follow all through the book of Joshua and find that each battle where they were obedient to the Lord they had “good success”.

The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians that in Christ we will ALWAYS triumph. The Prophet Isaiah reminded the Israelites that “no weapon formed against thee will prosper” and John, the beloved disciple, said “greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world”.

Good success! Joseph was sold by his brothers to slave traders; he served in Potiphar’s house and then was accused falsely of sexual impropriety and was sent to prison. From prison he was called to Pharoah’s throne room and became the second in command to all of Egypt. When his brothers came to Egypt asking for food during the famine, Joseph said this:

“’Don’t be afraid. I am not God! I have no right to punish you. 20 It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened. 21 So don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.’ And so Joseph said kind things to his brothers, and this made them feel better.” Genesis 50:19-21 ERV

What you thought for evil, God meant for good!

Joseph experienced every segment of his life’s journey looking for God’s good and so those experiences kept him from being bitter and cruel.

Trust in the Lord, be obedient to his Word and then you will be prosperous and goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

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Dry Times?

I hope you take time to look closely at this morning’s image. Do you see the two little sprouts? They are today’s object lesson on God’s love and faithfulness.

I almost forgot about them completely. Last Spring a dear friend gave me this pot of hyacinths. I love their fragrance! At our home in Rio Rico, before we started RVing full-time, I had a half whisky barrel where I planted hyacinth bulbs. Oh, the aroma that would fill the air when they began to bloom…

Early last summer when the blossoms were gone, I placed this pot in a big storage bench we have on the patio and completely forgot about them. Then the other day, I was looking for some potting soil and there was this metal bucket filled with soil. Much to my delight, one little stock was breaking through the bone-dry soil.

I took it out of the bench, watered it and placed it on a tabletop where it would get the warm sunshine. Yesterday, the second sprout appeared. And this morning, it’s a living example of hope.

“ As long as the earth continues, there will always be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night on earth.” Genesis 8:22 ERV

God has a plan for replenishing. Replenishing the soil, yes, replenishing our hope, our joy, our peace, most certainly.

“Then Jesus said, “What is God’s kingdom like? What can I compare it to? 19 God’s kingdom is like the seed of the mustard plant. Someone plants this seed in their garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the birds build nests on its branches.” Luke 13:18-19 ERV

“And what about the seed that fell on the good ground? That is like the people who hear God’s teaching with a good, honest heart. They obey it and patiently produce a good crop.” Luke 8:15 ERV

The Seed is God’s word. Our hearts are the soil.

“ If you plant goodness, you will harvest faithful love. Plow your ground, and you will harvest with the Lord. He will come, and he will make goodness fall on you like rain.” Hosea 10:12 ERV

“For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.” Isaiah 44:3 NLT

“ But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

“…The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it. 15 We are a sweet smell of Christ that reaches up to God. It reaches out to those who are being saved from the punishment of sin and to those who are still lost in sin.” II Corinthians 2:14-15 NLV

Oh, how I love God’s word!

It is like seed planted in our hearts. Our hearts are the soil. the Lord brings His living water to soften the soil so the seed will grow, and the Holy Spirit creates the fruit and our sweet aroma draws others to Christ. Amen and Amen!

You might be like my little hyacinth – hidden in the dark in a bucket of dry soil but take heart. The dry times are behind you – it’s time to grow!

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In The Garden

Do you remember about a week back when I shared the teaching, A Mountain of Strength?

It was a teaching of how Jesus would separate himself from the daily hustle and go to the Mount of Olives where He would spend time talking with His Father. It was His place of solitude and strength.

I truly find strength in that very same way. Being quiet, being still. Shutting out the distractions and listening to the Father speak to my heart.

It’s wonderful to have time with family and friends. There’s a deep sense of compassion that arises during those times – times of learning their stories, the joys and the pain. It’s a time of strengthening the bonds of love that we share.

Do you know that desire for intimacy and fellowship comes from God?

“ And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day:” Genesis 3:8 AKJV

From the very beginning God came to the garden to meet with mankind. A place of solitude.

I want to encourage you all to find that place. For me, it’s my living room in the early hours of morning. Cup of coffee on the side table, blanket wrapped around me, Bible in hand and quiet. We are God’s house.

” We are the house of the living God. God has said, “I will live in them and will walk among them. I will be their God and they will be My people.” II Corinthians 6:16 NLV

Looking out the window, I see the full moon lowering its position in the sky. It’s just another reminder of the faithfulness of God. The sun rises and sets, the moon follows course. Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring. The seasons change; the heavens rotate but the love of God remains the same.

Jesus met His heavenly Father in the garden, God the father met Adam and Eve in the garden. We all need a “garden” where we meet with God.

One of my favorite old hymns says just that, “In the Garden”.

“I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.”

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need. 2 He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. 3 He makes me strong again. ” Psalm 23:1-3 NLV

This weekend Dave and I will be getting away, spending time together and time alone in a garden. I’ll be back to blogging on Monday. I pray that you make a special time where you are alone with the Father this weekend. Listen for His voice, sense His presence, tarry there and experience His peace and joy!

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A Changed Mind

Having a changed mind, or a renewed, transformed mind, as the Apostle Paul says, is a two-sided coin.

We have to realize what God the Father says about us in His word and live that out each day, but we also have to realize that we have an enemy who tries to destroy what the Father desires to do.

We are the deciding factor.

Who do we agree with? If we side with the Father and believe His Word we will see the positive results that He intends for us. If we side with the enemy and agree with him, we will see results of destruction. God is greater than the devil and could just “force” us to believe the right, but He won’t.

God doesn’t want us to be mindless puppets. He wants us to be loving children who hear and obey His word. We have a free choice, even if that brings a negative influence into our lives.

I want to point out a few of the subtle and not so subtle mind games the devil likes to play. He uses the same old tricks he always has so they are pretty easy to spot and through our strength in Christ, easy to defeat.

“… He was always against the truth. There is no truth in him. He is like the lies he tells. Yes, the devil is a liar. He is the father of lies.” John 8:43-45 ERV

“…The snake spoke to the woman and said, “Woman, did God really tell you that you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1

“The devil came to tempt him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these rocks to become bread.” Matthew 4:3 ERV

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMP

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus…” Romans 8:1-2 KJV

Identify the words of the enemy; he comes to bring doubt, destruction, condemning and “if” thoughts. “You can’t do it; look at your past; God won’t use you; did God really say that; you’ll make a fool of yourself; “if” you try you’ll fail; are you really sure you’re saved and God will come to your rescue?” All of these and so many more are the tactics of the enemy.

The devil’s a liar but God cannot lie!

If the thoughts that come to your mind are any of the above, you know the devil is at work trying to dis-courage or destroy what God has promised. Condemnation doesn’t come from God. When we do things wrong, He will correct and instruct and even discipline us but it always comes in a loving, you-can-do-better type of way. He doesn’t ridicule or defame.

“[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),” II Corinthians 10:5 AMP

We are to take EVERY thought captive into obedience in Christ!

Don’t let thoughts that aren’t from God take residence in your mind, drive them out as Jesus did – IT is written, it IS written, IT IS WRITTEN!

God’s word creates a changed mind!

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Another “But God” Moment

This morning I found where Jacob, the patriarch of the Jews, had a “BUT GOD” moment. As a young man Jacob had been sent by his mother to stay with his relatives. Why, you might ask? He had tricked his brother out of his birthright. So he arrives in Haran and goes to work for Laban, his mother’s brother.

He meets Rachel, Laban’s daughter and falls in love with her. He must work 7 years to earn enough to marry her and then on the wedding night he finds that he has been tricked and is actually married to her older sister, Leah. Now he must work another 7 years for Rachel and finally marries her. The whole time he is working for Laban who swindles him time and again.

Laban promised Jacob goats and then changed the terms again and again. Now finally, Jacob has the flocks and his wives and children and is ready to leave and head back to Canaan – probably more than 20 years. They leave when Laban is gone and are 3 days into the journey when Laban finally catches up with them.

Jacob, the one who had tricked his brother out of his birthright, lived working for Laban, the master trickster, for many, many years. But in all this, Jacob was faithful to do the work that Laban required of him. Now this is what Jacob says to Laban.

“I worked 20 years like a slave for you. For the first 14 years I worked to win your two daughters. The last six years I worked to earn your animals. And during that time you changed my pay ten times. 42 But the God of my ancestors, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, was with me. If God had not been with me, you would have sent me away with nothing. But he saw the trouble that I had and the work that I did, and last night God proved that I am right.” Genesis 31:41-42

BUT GOD saw what I have been through and He proved that I am right! God sees what you have been through and He will defend you.

“I know the LORD will provide justice for the poor and will defend the helpless. 13 Those who do what is right will praise your name; those who are honest will live in your presence.” Psalm 140:12-13 ERV

In times of trouble, in disappointment, in hardship or any kind of trouble look up. If we only had our own resources BUT with God all things are possible!

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In the Midst of Winter

Hearing of the storms that are blanketing the nation, I know that winter can be a treacherous time for many.

Living in North Idaho and Montana we saw our fair share of snow and freezing temperatures. Nothing uncommon there. The evergreens would be flocked with snow and the deciduous trees had their bare branches covered with ice and their trunks packed with white. They looked stark and dead.

The young saplings were protected since they grew close to the base of the larger trees. The mind set of those facing such harsh conditions was Spring can’t come soon enough.

Winter comes to all of our lives both spiritually and physically. Winter is a time of resting, a time to rejuvenate; it’s not a time of death. Spring will come shortly and new life with break out.

“As long as the earth continues, there will always be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and hot, summer and winter, day and night on earth.” Genesis 8:23 ERV

If you feel like you’re in winter – cold, dormant and unproductive, take heart! God is working in you and through you. You haven’t been abandoned or deserted. New signs of growth will spring forth soon.

“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. 2 Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night. 3 So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream—a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.” Psalm 1:1-3 ERV

As I was finishing this writing, a song from my time at high school summer camps came to mind, “Pass It On”.

“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s Love,
Once you’ve experienced it,
You spread the love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

What a wonderous time is spring,
When all the tress are budding
The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming;
That’s how it is with God’s love,
Once you’ve experienced it.
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring,
You want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I’ve found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you’re bound,
I’ll shout it from the mountain top – PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.”

In the midst of your winter, remember Spring will be breaking out very soon! Pass It On!!

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