The Blessings of God

This morning I was reading about Jacob in the book of Genesis.  He had come to a place of desperation.  He was returning back to his homeland, and he was fearful of the reception he would receive.  He had fled twenty years earlier because he deceived his father into giving him, his brother's blessing.  His brother, Esau, wanted to kill him.  Now God had spoken to Jacob telling him to return home.

Jacob sent word to his brother that he was coming home and hoped that his brother would receive him.  The word that returned to Jacob was that his brother Esau was coming with 400 men!

Jacob was terrified and in great distress!

After dividing his people and animals into two groups and sending gifts to Esau, Jacob was left alone.  He had done all he knew to do, now he turned to God.  On that night, he received the response to his cries.  A "man" appears and wrestles with Jacob all night.  During the course of this wrestling match, the "man" tells Jacob to let him go, but Jacob refuses to let him go until the "man" blesses him.

And the "man" does.

As I read the statement, "Then he blessed him there," I pondered the thought, "What was the blessing?"  Here are some thoughts.

• He had an intimate, face to face encounter with the living God, and lived.

This "man" was God himself.  Jacob recognized the significance of this encounter.  It was not everyday that a person was able to see the face of God and live.  In fact, later God talks about the friendship that he has with Moses.  He spoke face to face to him, not in dreams or riddles, but clearly. Numbers 12:6-8, deut 34:10.  This special friendship was reserved for a select few.  Abraham was also called a friend of God.  James 2:23 God spoke directly to Abraham, face to face, revealing his plans and purposes.  And  let us not forget that Adam walked with God every day, in the cool of the day.

Jesus calls his followers, not simply servants but friends.  

John 15:14-17 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Let us follow Jacob's example and cling to the living God, DON'T LET HIM GO.

• Jacob received a new name--Israel

Jacob's name meant deceiver.  Deceit was his way of living.  He obtained his brother's birthright and blessing that way.  He also left his father-in-laws's home through deceit.  This was how Jacob operated, through his wit.  Now God changed his name to Israel which means "he struggles with God."  Now Jacob's way of living and thinking was changed.  God was saying, "No more deceit, come to me. "

This story reminds me that I don't need to use wit, manipulation, or any of my devices to bring God's plans to fulfillment in my life.  I need only to look to God and fully obey Him.  It also reminds me that often my thinking is ALL WRONG, and God needs to completely change my thinking.

Humans live "trying to figure things out" for themselves.  We do what we think is right, or at least what we think will bring about the outcome we want.  God calls for a completely new way of living and thinking.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

If you know the rest of Israel's story, you know that God brought his plans and purposes to pass.  Israel was blessed and the entire world has been blessed through Israel.  God plans are always immeasurably bigger than we can fathom, and he gladly fulfills his plans if we will allow Him do his great work.  

Cling to God today and receive His blessings:

a special friendship

and

A new way of thinking and living

Jealous lover?

Our God is a jealous lover.  He intensely longs to have our hearts alone.  He desires our complete devotion.  He will not share our hearts's affections with another.  We CANNOT give ourselves completely to God and to __________(fill in the blank).  When He takes up residence in our hearts, there is no room for anyone or anything else-- because He completely satisfies.  But there is a lie that our enemy continually whispers.  That every other thing will satisfy and God will not.  Most of  us who claim to follow Christ want God and _____.  Just enough of God to get us to Heaven when we die, and to fix our messes when we're in a jam, but not ALL of Him.

That might mess up our world.

He just might take over, setting up His kingdom and ruling Supremely in my life.  That means we're no longer in control.

I like being in control.

And I like gods that I can control.  Though I often try, I know I can't control the Supreme, and Living God.  He will not bow before me.  And He will not enter into my life unwelcomed.  He stands at the door and knocks.

Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I wil come in and eat with him and he with me. Rev 3:20

Living in Love

I am in my Father's care
I have entrusted myself completely to the Father
I know His love
I trust His love

You are in my care
I have made myself intimately known to you
I have entrusted you with all that I have
and all that I am
My life and my love are completely yours in FULL measure
Entrust yourself to me
completely
vulnerably
Open your heart to me
and I will fill it
I will satisfy you in ways
you've never even imagined
Do not fear for even a moment
I will never fail you
I am able to care for you
I am able to protect you
I have EVERYTHING you need
just give me ALL  of you
and I will give you ALL of me
Give me your hopes
Give me your dreams
Give me your children
and all that you hold dear
Give ALL to me
You can trust me
I won't withhold any good thing from you
Let me love you
fully
perfectly
Let me pour my inexhaustible love through you
Join in my beautiful, wonderful work
For it is my plan to love you as you love others
GIVE
and ALL will be given to you
The more you give
the more you will be filled
the more you will be satisfied
Just imagine yourself as a perpetual fountain
That fountain is my love and my life in you
You will experience All
in excess
in abundance
in huge and generous proportions
in such great measure
as you've never seen or imagined
My supply can NEVER be diminished
and neither will  yours
as long as you stay connected to me
vulnerably
openly
honestly
submitted completely to me
You never need to worry that you won't have ALL you need
The one who supplies for your physical needs
also supplies for your spiritual needs
I will keep you near me
You need only to say “Yes” to me
You need only to give up your way
And take my way
I also supply enough for you to meet the needs of others
in generous proportions
I am also the one who INCREASES
I MULTIPLY your giving
and I abundantly supply for you in EVERY WAY,
Any time a need arises
you will always have MORE THAN ENOUGH to give
even when the need seems far beyond your ability to meet the need
Remember, no need is beyond my ability to fully satisfy it
I can.
I will.
Just make yourself available to me
and I will supply
AS YOU GIVE
I will satisfy you
AS YOU GIVE
Just entrust yourself to me
Believe my words
for they are truth
I will do it.

from Jesus.

40 Days of Discovery - Day 15

Today was a day of letting go.  Letting go of control. Of even trying to understand.  I really like to understand.  Often it hinders me receiving what God has for me.

God's ways infinitely higher than ours. He can and will do things that astound me, that I won't understand.  Yet, I can still receive.  I don't have to understand the cross to receive His forgiveness.  Neither should I wait to understand His gifts in order to receive them.  I receive them because they are good, and from the hands of my trustworthy, and loving Father.   I can also trust Him to protect me from any and all deception.  That is a constant prayer.  I ONLY want His gifts, not the enemy's counterfeits.

His gifts are astounding, and mind blowing! 

 EPH 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Spring Cleaning

Spring is such a great time for "spring cleaning".  Honestly, I'm not sure why.     It's just a great time to purge, and  get our house in order.  Personally, we clean because we're ending our school year, and the house is a complete mess by this time.  We need to catch up on some much needed cleaning!   

What about your life?  Have you taken inventory lately, and done some spring cleaning?  What things have you held on to that you need to let go of?  Are there people in your life, who are harmful?  Are there habits in your life that are hurting you?  Are there activities sucking up your time that could be better spent developing intimate relationships?  Are there material things that have captured your heart?  This is a great time to purge.  Holding on to the bad--even the mediocre--prevents us from receiving the good that God has for us.  If your cup is already full, how can God fill it with His glorious blessings? 

We are told in Hebrews 12:1 to throw off everything that keeps us from moving forward in God’s purposes for our lives, that includes the sin that would entangle us and keep us from running free and unhindered toward our destiny.  We need to ask God for the courage and strength to help us let go of everything in our lives that is not good for us, so that we can receive the good that God has for us.  

Let me know how I can be praying for you as you "Spring Clean".