Genesis 4 Thoughts

 

Genesis 4:7 "...sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”

Sin is lying in wait for you. It's out to get you.

The important thing to remember here is we were born into sin. God Almighty knows this. He knows it's sitting there waiting for us. It knows we are weak to it- bent towards it. It's unfortunate, but it's our human nature.

HOWEVER-

God is telling us here- it's waiting for that weak moment. Sin is waiting to pounce on us....

YOU'VE GOT TO MASTER IT.

To master something means to be dominant; to conquer; to overcome.

We have to be dominant over sin. We have to conquer sin. We have to overcome sin-

otherwise sin turns into more sin. 

Just like in Genesis 4 when Cain's jealousy and anger turned to murder.

Sin breeds more sin. 

We've got to master it! 

Genesis 3 Thoughts

 

Genesis 3:17-19

He told the Man:

“Because you listened to your wife

and ate from the tree

That I commanded you not to eat from,

‘Don’t eat from this tree,’

The very ground is cursed because of you;

getting food from the ground

Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife;

you’ll be working in pain all your life long.

The ground will sprout thorns and weeds,

you’ll get your food the hard way,

Planting and tilling and harvesting,

sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk,

Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried;

you started out as dirt, you’ll end up dirt.”

In this chapter, we read about the preciousness of obedience. 

God asked Adam and Eve not to eat from one tree- and they listened to the serpent and disobeyed the one request from God Almighty.

And after disobedience, God cursed the ground.

Our obedience is directly tied to our life- and where it takes us.

I'm not saying that every bad thing that happens to an individual is because of disobedience, but- obedience is the BREEDING ground for BLESSINGS. It can only push us further in this life. Obedience opens the door to so much beauty in our lives and the lives of others. 

I am starting to understand this concept. And work it into this life of mine. I'm not perfect, but I'm trying my hardest to do better than I did yesterday. 

Adam and Eve gave us a map of what not to do in some circumstances. Their life may not have been as difficult as it turned out to be (i.e working the land, childbirth, etc.) had they been OBEDIENT. God isn't anger and bitterness fueled, but if we follow HIS path- instead of doing what *WE* want all of the time- it may turn out better than we could have ever imagined and not as difficult.

Have you ever went ahead and did what *you* (speaking to myself here) wanted as opposed to listening to His Word and it was just a complete mess? 

ME TOO.

This chapter taught me so much about obedience. And I am forever grateful.

Genesis 2 Thoughts

Genesis 2:18- "God said, “It’s not good for the Man to be alone..."

It is not good for man to be alone.

It just isn't.

There are moments when alone time is crucial. 

I get my peace from those still moments when I can listen to music, relax, read a book, write my feelings, paint...

but God didn't intend for it to be this way all of the time. 

We need the power of positive influences, friends, and family.

We need to cultivate precious friendships that push us to be the best that we can be.

It is vital.

It is necessary.

Today- let's work on that!

Genesis 1 Thoughts

 Praying and listening to music the other afternoon-

I felt God tug on my heart to read His Word the entire way through-

and find something beautiful to grow from in each chapter. 

Dig deep- find it- find a nugget of truth- something to cling to.

So, we started that journey and I wanted to share it with all of you. 

This is all part of my journey to a healthier, happier me. 

Genesis 1:3-5

God spoke: “Light!”

And light appeared.

God saw that light was good

and separated light from dark.

God named the light Day,

he named the dark Night.

It was evening, it was morning—

Day One.

The message from this chapter:

The power of our words- our voice.

There is power in speaking things into existence.

All God did was SPEAK "light" and it was here.

We have the same power in our lives as God Almighty.

SPEAK things into existence.

What do you want from this life?

What do you need?

SPEAK IT.

Day 5 of '30 Day Spiritual Journal Challenge'

Tuesday, September 5th: What is one thing that is stressing you out right now? How can you find rest in Jesus during this time? What other ways can you address the stress and eliminate it?


I have honestly felt like my hypochondria and anxiety is creeping up a little bit. It is very frustrating for me because I know I'm the only one that can fix the situation-- I'm the only one that can work with God Almighty and control my own mind. I have an issue where every time something hurts on my body, i instantly think the worst situation possible. It is very aggravating for me because when I feel like something is wrong, my anxiety increases as well leading to hyperventilation, etc. 

I HAVE TO REST IN JESUS.

He is the ONLY one that can fix my situation. Another human being can't fix my brain-- they can't rework it. It is only HIS peace that can heal this.

Psalms 4:8 says, "When I go to bed, I sleep in peace, because, Lord, you keep me safe."

And I keep trying to trust what He says in Psalms 85.

Psalms 85:8- "I heard what the Lord God said. He said there would be peace for his people and his loyal followers. So they must not go back to their foolish way of living." 

He said there would be PEACE for His people-- and if I am His child-- He promised I would have peace. I just have to trust...

as hard as that is for me some days!

When I feel anxiety creeping up lately, I have been trying to recenter myself. Get a hot bath, watch a comedy, lay down and read the Word, sing worship songs... whatever it takes to bring myself back to earth... back to a place of rest. 

Day 4 of '30 Day Spiritual Journal Challenge'

Monday, September 4th: What is your best characteristic (outwardly and inwardly?) 


Hafiz stated, "The words you speak become the house you live in."


What are we speaking about ourselves?


I would say my best characteristic inwardly is my sense of humor/personality. I absolutely love having fun. I love laughing. I love making jokes. Sometimes it IS hard for me to be serious, but I love that aspect. I try to laugh about just about anything! 

I would say my best characteristic outwardly is my smile. It just seems to be the one thing I get compliments on. I always hear that it looks genuine. I feel like it is genuine most days. I just feel happy and bubbly inside and that hopefully is emitted from my pearly whites! 

Day 3 of '30 Day Journal Challenge'

Sunday, September 3rd: What is your favorite passage of scripture? Why? 

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am....' (Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 15:9)

By the grace of God, I am what I am.

I dont deserve to be anything for Him... When I restarted my relationship with Him, all I could say.. All I could offer... Was a repentant heart. Thats it. That's all I have. That's all He had to work with.

By the grace of God, I am what I am. By His grace, I haven't had alcohol in 27 days. By His grace, I crave the word of God. By His grace, I don't have to live in shame. By His grace, I get to experience His peace and love. By His grace, I get to live redeemed. 

Those words keep hitting home today, guys.

By the grace of God, I am what I am. This is going to be my new mantra. I don't deserve any of it!! But His mercy is new every single day!!!! 

By the grace of God, I get to do this every morning. I get to experience Him every morning. By the grace of God, I get to praise Him taking my daughter to school in the morning instead of pulling over half way there because the anxiety is too great. By the grace of God, I get to read His word every morning instead of laying in bed, scared of what the day was going to bring. By the grace of God, I get to rest in repentance and forgiveness instead of wallowing in shame and pity!

And by the grace of God, I am what I am. A sinner saved by grace.