Time for Action

Reading 15: Exodus 3

I'm not sure that my first response to a burning bush would be to rush over and look at it. I'm pretty sure, I'd have panicked probably thinking of ways I could put the fire out. But Moses rushes over to this miraculous bush, and recieves a direct and personal word from God.

What are the "burning bushes" in my life? What miraculous signs has God placed around me that I am running away from? I don't think my instinct to run is limited to physical fire. I often run away from spiritual fire, emotional fire,...anything that has the capacity to burn or hurt me.

But what if instead of running away, I did like Moses and ran towards it? Think of all the possibilities that this "burning bush" holds! I think that in every 'burning bush' we will hear a direct and personal word from the Lord, but too often we are running away, afraid of getting hurt.

A Long Forgiveness

Reading 14: Genesis 45

Joseph forgave his brothers. A long hard road that eventually led him to the top of the local economy, and he just forgave them.

Joseph chose the higher road in his situation. He was able to see the bigger picture, the picture that involved God weaving the details together. He was able be objective in his situation.

In the passing of time in my own life, am I taking an objective view? It's rather helpful, in taking a look at the whole of my life and "connecting the dots" of how God has pieced together His story in my life's events.

Behind the Scenes

Reading 13: Genesis 41

I sit eating beef stew for dinner, with no thought or concern as to where my next meal will come from. People in Gaza tonight, have no such luxury. Famine and distress are as real today as they were then.

Pharaoh was warned in a dream, interpreted by Joseph, and acted accordingly. It's another lesson for me on how when God speaks into my life, what is my response? Am I slow to act? Do I rationalize non-action? Or do I comply with the desires of my God?

Part that stuck out to me today was that Joseph was shaved and given new clothes (vs. 14) before coming before Pharoah, and then presented with new clothes and new jewelry. It's important to prepare for the role we will play in God's plan...

The Plan

Reading 7: Genesis 15

Abraham had been chosen by God for a very specific promise: your descendants will be as numerous as the stars.

A new 'rite' seems to be established as part of God's people; the covenant. God passes through the time's customary display of a covenant between two people, but He passes alone. This signifies that He alone is responsible for the complete fulfillment of the covenant being made.

The part that catches my attention in this reading is the fact that God prepares Abram that his descendants will be slaves for 400 years! He knew and believed in God's promise still! He accepted God's plan and God's decisions...if only I could be so faithful...

The other line that speaks to me specifically today is:

Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own

As I am a stranger in a country not my own, I can identify with this plight. Just a few days ago I was mentally tallying how many of the "great" Biblical characters were foreigners in their time of ministry. It's just a chance God takes to remind me that I'm not the only one to deal with being away from home or being a cultural newbie...

The Story Begins

Reading 1: Genesis 1

It's always a struggle to not just skim through relatively familiar passages of Scripture. As I start this 'adventure' of letting God turn my life around, I want to make sure that I don't miss anything. I have to be paying attention if I'm going to see God do His 'brand new thing' (Isaiah 43: 16 - 19).

So, Genesis 1. The story of creation, the story of the beginning. As I continue to read through the rest of the 179 days remaining, why does God start His story this way?

Besides the fact that every story must have a beginning, I think that God is setting up a model of how He works.

Note how God's Spirit was always there. He was hovering above the surface. God is always here. He's always present. We don't have to find Him, we have to pay attention and SEE Him.

Note the order, rather than chaos that He creates. He takes nothing and makes something. I can attest in my own life that He took nothing and created something, something with purpose and direction only given by Him. He brought me out of the chaos.

He also called everything GOOD. In God's eyes, all of His creation is good. ALL of His creation was formed by His hands and His work. And He said it was good.

I also noticed that God typically only worked on one project a 'day'. That could be a major lesson for me. Too often I try to take on lots of various things, and end up frustrated at the end of the day when I've not finished any of them.

As I continue to read, I wonder how these themes will pop up again???