Pitcher Perfect

Genesis 24:14

“And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac…”

In this passage Abraham's servant was on a mission to find a bride for his master's son.  He prayed a very specific prayer so that he would know the exact woman that God had chosen.  In reading this it seems to me that his request for a woman to offer him and his camels water from a well would not be out of the ordinary. But let's look a bit closer.

The servant probably had about 10 camels and they were most likely Arabian camels, also called dromedary camels, also called ships of the desert.  These camels can drink as much as 30 gallons of water in one "fill up".  That is about 300 gallons of water that needed to be drawn.  I am sure Rebekah did not weigh more that 120 pounds but she must have had great biceps to even offer this task!

I once heard a speaker say that in Bible times it was customary for a traveler to receive water in a town he was visiting but it was NOT customary for the camels to watered by anyone but the owner.  So we can see that this not so ordinary request was in fact incredibly specific and way out of the ordinary.

What a wonderful encouragement for us to be specific in our requests to the Lord.  The scriptures say we can come boldly before the throne because of what Jesus accomplished at the cross.  To be bold is to be, among many things, specific. 

What are you praying for today?  I would encourage you to write your prayer requests in a journal with specific detail, and when detail escapes you and you are not sure how to pray, pray for His will to be done.

“Father as we bring our petitions to you help us to be specific knowing that You already know the desires of our heart.  Increase our faith and help us to trust in You as we wait and look for Your answers. Amen."


This picture is a vase my daughter purchased recently and I felt it fit the devotion on this passage of scripture

ALTER-CATIONS

Genesis 22:5"...I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." 

In Verse 2 of this same chapter God told Abraham to take his only son and offer him as a burnt sacrifice. In old testament times animal sacrifices were very normal for the Jewish people , but not human sacrifice. And in addition, God was telling Abraham to sacrifice the child that He had promised to him and Sarah, the child that was to be foundation for the Jewish people to be numbered as the sands of the sea. 

This would be the conversation had it been me in Abraham's place.  "I'm sorry, what???  You want me to take my child and kill him on the altar?  I'm sorry God, but one of us has lost their mind."  At which point I would have packed up and moved as far from Israel as possible.  Oh my friends, I'm afraid I could have never handled this like Abraham did.  

Lets observe Abraham and his actions after being told to do this.  First, he got up early the next morning!  (What? Early to go kill your child??)  He saddled up the donkey, grabbed a couple of men, got his son, loaded up a pile of wood and rope and they all took off for a 3 day journey.

When they came to the place God had told them to go, Abraham readied himself and told the spare men to wait while he and Isaac went and worshiped and then he said, they, let me repeat, THEY would return to them. 

I believe that Abraham fully intended to sacrifice his son in the manor in which he was told.  But, I believe he expected God to raise his son back up, because his son was a promise and Abraham knew God did not break His promises.  This makes me cry as I write this and see the power in Abraham's faith.  God never breaks His promises.  He will do what He says he will do,  He will keep what He says He will keep.  No matter how far removed He seems, no matter how dark and scary the times, God is faithful.  The altar here didn't represent death and the end of God's promise.  It was a place of hope and returning.

We all know that Abraham bound Isaac, laid him on the altar and was about to plunge the knife into his son when an angel stopped him.  And there, caught in the bushes was a ram for the sacrifice.  I am sure on the trip down the mountain Abraham's load was lighter, having burned the wood and the rope. But I can imagine his heart was much fuller having his son at his side and having seen God keeping His promise.

"Father, Your promises are faithful and true. As You lead me to lay things at the altar, help me remember that what I give totally to You, is safe with You.  As in this story, help me remember that what gets burned at the altar needs to stay at the alter and when the time comes to walk away from the altar, my load will be lighter and my heart will be fuller. Amen."

Timing Is Everything

Genesis 21:2

"For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."

The phrase ‘the set time’ really caught my attention in this passage. Sarah waited 25 years for her promised baby. And during that time she tried to take matters into her own hands by having her maid servant bare Abraham's child.  And we all know how poorly that turned out.

I am afraid that I, at year 10, or earlier, would have convinced myself I did not really hear from God, or that He had changed His mind.  I am confident I would be like Sarah and try to force God's promise in my own time. (After all, I clearly know whats best!) But at almost 100 years old Sarah had a baby! God not forgotten His promise to her and her husband. 

God’s promises and plans do have a set time. He has a plan for your life and for the lives of those you are praying for. Letting go and letting God is a saying that has been around for a long time, and honestly I have thought it was a bit cheesy.  However, there is much truth in it.  It not easy to do, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes.  I can think of many things I wish I would have not "helped" God with during my life.  Hindsight is truly better than foresight. 

If you are facing times where you feel God has forgotten you, remember His timing is always perfect.  A dear friend of mine, Francis, has said to me many times, "God is never early, He's never late, He's always right on time." 

“Father help me to be aware of Your timing, not mine. For my family and friends that don’t know You, draw them to You in Your set time. Help me to walk closer with You and be a light to all in my life. Amen.

Lingering Loved Ones

Genesis 19:16 " And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city."

My children’s salvation is something I am passionate about. I love this verse because while they, even Lot, lingered, while they hesitated to leave Sodom, the angel laid hold on their hands and brought them from the city. 

In Strong's Concordance the phrase "laid hold" means to seize tight hold of.  In HELPS Word-studies it says to "take hold of exactly, with decisive initiative".

Stop and think with me on this.  None of this would have happened without Abraham interceding for his family. What a powerful encouragement for those of us praying for our unsaved loved ones.  If it seems the children or family member you are praying for are lingering in their own path, ask the Lord, that He, being merciful, would seize them, would take hold of them. That He would rescue them from where they think they want to be.  I am sure Lot's wife and family were looking around at the destruction that had started and they were still seeing what they wanted to see, unaware of the price that was about to be paid in those two cities.  They needed a firm hand to lead them away. They needed someone praying on their behalf.

I can't help but think maybe some heels were dug in the ground in the process.  BUT If Abraham hadn't interceded, if WE don't intercede , who will? 

Follow along on one more thought.  Consider that us praying for our children is to 'take hold of exactly, with decisive initiative', the spiritual realm in their lives.  I believe in praying specifically.  I ask the Lord to open the eyes of my children that they can see the emptiness of the path they are walking without Him. I ask so often that He will stir a deep, deep hunger in their spirit that can only be filled with Jesus.  I ask Him to give them wisdom, to help them see all the things to be thankful for, to see their need of Him in their lives.  Call out their names before the Father each and everyday, don't lose hope, persist in prayer and watch for the hand of the Lord in their lives.

"Father, draw our children to You. Stir up their spirit man and where they are lingering,  take hold of their hands and bring them forth from the ‘city’. Open their eyes to see the emptiness of life without You. Amen."

Repeated Prayers

Genesis 18:23

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

This verse, followed by many more, is Abraham pleading with the Father to not destroy Sodom & Gomorrah. I love how God was so patient and loving with Abraham toward his requests.

In verse 32, after Abraham had asked God to go from 50 righteous to 10, God was not angry with him or annoyed. God was willing to spare the cities for 10 and I believe if Abraham had asked for only 1, He would have spared them for only 1.  

This passage is such a beautiful example of Abraham interceding for his family. Abraham knew Lot and his wife and children were living in Sodom & Gomorrah and perhaps he suspected partaking in some of the lifestyles there. 

As a parent and a grandparent I believe we carry an awesome responsibility to intercede daily on behalf of our family members, especially those who are not serving the Lord. 

I remember a conversation I had with my late Father in law.  He said to me, "Daughter in Law (he often called me that) I pray for each of you, by name, every day."  I didn't realize it then, but that knowledge was so comforting.  When he passed away. my first thought was, "Whose going to pray for us everyday now?"

As a Mom who has children not walking with the Lord, I deeply desire the prayers of my parents for their grandchildren.  I often stop and think, who is praying for my children along with me?  Whose children am I praying for besides mine?  It is a comfort to know when others share your burden, and we must do the same.

“Father, we lift before your throne our loved ones who are not walking with You. Stir up the spirit man in our children and grandchildren. Stir the gifts and purposes You have placed in their lives and awaken a spiritual hunger in them that can only be filled with You. Amen”

Greener Pastures

Genesis 13:11

11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

We have all heard the expression; the grass is always greener on the other side. In this passage, Lot chose the best looking land but he was not aware that Sodom and Gomorrah could and did provide temptations strong enough to destroy his family.

I remember the day I read this. I was sitting on my patio swing in the early morning sun, enjoying the birds and all my flowers and the Lord began to deal with me about what Sodom and Gomorrah’s I had allowed in my life and in the lives of my children, and in our home. Things like really good movies, with questionable content. How about music with a great beat that sings about cheating on your spouse. Consider a poor or defensive attitude, that when raised, gives room for justification for actions we know were not right. 

My children are all grown now, and I have a handsome grandson, but if  I could turn back the pages of time, I would choose much more carefully what I allowed in our home and in our lives. There is nothing, I repeat nothing, that is more important than the ground we lay for our children.  It is ground worth fighting for and standing up for.  Ground worth the time and effort of sowing and watering and weeding, ground that requires constant prayer and seeking the Lord's direction for.

“Father, show us where we have allowed Sodom’s and Gomorrah’s in our lives, our homes, our marriages and our families. Quicken our hearts when we may be taking a step to the wrong ‘pasture’. Draw us closer to You every day and help us to be a light to our families and to a lost world. Amen.

Clouds, Floods & Rainbows

Genesis 7:21

21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man

It struck me when I read this that the earth was basically returned to creation status as far as the human population goes. It would take hundreds of years for the earth to be as populated as pre-flood times. This was a new beginning, a new Godly foundation with Noah and his family to start. 

Sometimes floods come into our lives and wipe out everything we know, and some floods have the ability to wipe us out spiritually. It is in these times that we need to be Noah’s and climb into God’s boat, ride the waves, and see where the flood takes us. The time will come when the rainbow will show and we can get safely off the boat and build an altar of thanksgiving for what the Lord has brought us through. Then, we get to start building again. Applying what we knew before the flood, what we learned during, and what the Lord will teach us now.

“Father, some of us may be in a flood right now, some may just be stepping out of the boat, and some may be seeing the first rain drops of the storm. Give us peace, knowing we can trust You to be faithful and guide us during the storm and in every step we take when it is over. Let us build our foundations on the rock, Jesus Christ and be a light to a lost world. Amen.”

Walking in the Garden

Genesis 3:8-15
8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day...

I love to garden and I live in the city so I don't have much room for one, but my hubby and I turned an old dog kennel area into a little garden for me! (That is a picture of it below before I put in raised beds) I have spent many early mornings there in prayer and enjoying the peacefulness. I can't help but think how wonderful it would be if the Lord just showed up and we walked in my garden. Granted, it would be a short walk, my garden is about 60 feet long, but what would we talk about? What advice would He give me to better grow my garden? To better grow my life and the lives of my children, my marriage? What weeds would he tell me to eliminate right away and work hard to keep away? Weeds of bitterness, backbiting, anger and jealousy? Weeds choking out self discipline and time spent in His Word? Our lives are just like a garden, we need to allow the Lord to walk and talk with us there and let Him grow beauty in us.

"Father, walk in the garden of my life. Show me where you want to grow me and prune me. Show me the weeds that need to be removed and what I need to plant in their place. Let my life glorify You in every part of it. Amen."

FOOD for thought

Genesis 1:29-30
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

These verses make me pause and wonder what God's original eating plan was for the human race.
As someone who has struggled with weight loss this makes me think on what I should be feeding my body according to how God designed it. He created us and then supplied what He calls ‘meat’ for us. 

Consider, we would never consider using cooking oil instead of Castrol is our cars, they were not created to run on that; the same way we were not created to run on fast food burgers and quadruple shot coffees. I have searched and searched the scriptures but could not find a Dairy Queen mentioned in the Garden of Eden anywhere, but I'm still looking!

A while back I was praying for the Lord to help me to honor Him in every part of my life, and He gently asked me, “Are you honoring Me in your eating habits?” Ouch! That really hit home with me because sweets and pasta are my biggest downfall.  I am also an emotional eater.  When I'm overjoyed, "Hey let's eat!"  When I am sad I turn to sweets to comfort myself.  When I am mad, "Well, It doesn't matter anyway so I'm going to eat pasta and ice cream!"  

Obviously the key is moderation, but I know if we put more herbs, seeds, fruits and veggies in our bodies we would be much healthier and be more productive in our Christian walk.

“Father, help me to honor You in every area of my life, even my eating habits. Help me to take care of and feed properly the body You have given me. As I feed my spirit with Your Word guide me as I feed my body with the ‘meat’ You have intended. Amen

Fruit Yielding Seed

Genesis 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

One of the dearest things to my heart is my children’s salvation. In this journey of nugget discovery, I have found many verses I believe we can apply in our prayers over our children. There are also so many verses that we as parents need to apply to ourselves as well; I believe this is one of them. This verse states that the herb and fruit tree yielded fruit after its own kind. The Lord shared with me, as a parent, a Christian parent, have I produced Christianity in my children? Have I yielded fruit after my own kind? Have I passed on a Godly heritage? What kind of example have I been?

My three children have all been in church since they were infants, many times they sat in the front pew while my husband I played on the worship team.  Yes, I took them to every service, every kids class and every revival meeting we had but what example did I set for them outside of church?  My intentions were always good but at times I went way overboard; like when I decided the Smurfs and My Little Pony were created in the pits of Hell and had to be banished from our home.  My kids still tease me about that.  But then there were, shamefully, so many other times that I was expecting the Sunday school teacher and youth group leader to get them saved and walking with the Lord.  It was in those times that I didn’t pray like I should or be diligent in my watch over what they were doing or what they were being exposed to.

We, as parents, have a great privilege to intercede on behalf of our children.  Many times this privilege can become a burden, seemingly ripping our hearts from within us.  There has also been, though, the times when the Holy Spirit overwhelmed me with His presence when I was in prayer for my children.  When that happens it is imperative that we yield to His leading, to His prayer language over our children.  I  had a conversation about praying in tongues with an elderly man one time. He was questioning praying in tongues and its effectiveness. My response to him was, “Who am I, when the Holy Spirit wants to pray through me, in His language, to pass up that opportunity.  Who knows else how to best pray for my children than the Holy Spirit.”

In my E-Bible on my I-pad I have highlighted all verses that I think can be prayed or pertain to my children’s salvation in purple. I would encourage you to do the same so that when it seems they will never turn to the Lord, and the enemy is telling you they never will, that you can read and encourage yourself in those verses and pray them as many times as it takes. 

 I would also highly recommend Stormie Omartian's book, The Power of A Praying Parent,  as it has so many wonderful scriptures and prayers throughout that us, as parents need to pray over our children.

Prayer: “Father forgive me for all the areas I have fallen short in teaching and setting a godly example for my children. Help me each to day to be an example, to be a light. Draw my children to You and stir up the gifts and purposes You have set for their lives. Amen”

Creation

Amazing how the first verse of the Bible, a verse we have all heard a thousand times, leapt off the page to me with the realization that Satan, the enemy of our souls, actually witnessed creation.

I paused to reflect on that.  Satan was in heaven long before the earth was created, long before the human race took our first God given breath.  He saw God speak into existence the very planet we live on, he watched as the sun and moon were formed. He saw the chaotic mess in the universe turn into grass and trees and oceans and rivers.  He watched as God breathed His breath into a mound of dirt and it became a living being fashioned after God Himself.

As I reflected on this I found myself amazed that Satan could actually witness all of this and still turn against God.

 I have often said I hope there is a movie theater in Heaven with all the stories of the Bible on the big screen as they actually happened.  Imagine with me, surround sound, and God's voice booming out "Let there be Light?" The graphics of Hollywood will be no match for God wielding the power of His voice and his right hand! I can see lightning flashing and chaos and darkness coming together with thunder and an incredible strength. I am sure the first trilogy will be, “The Creation”, followed by “A Snake in the Garden” and ending with “Banished”.  You can be sure if this is the case I will be first in line to buy a ticket!

So, back to my original thought.  If Satan and 1/3 of the angels could witness all of this and still turn against God, how much more we, as humans, need to guard our hearts and minds from all the deceiving forces in the world that would set us up as our own god, our own boss.

Prayer:  Father, I am amazed at Your wonderful Creation.  I can see Your awesomeness in the skies and the mountains.  When I feel a gentle breeze or breathe the smell of fresh rain it reminds me of everything You have created for our pleasure. Help us to honor you in every part of our lives and to guard our hearts and minds against anything that would draw us away from You.  Amen.

I took this photo along the Columbia River shore this past winter on a very cold and foggy morning. It reminds me of how creation may have looked.