February - Day 1

​Here are my notes from today's reading - I'd love to hear your thoughts - 

Exodus 1-3 - God caused the Israelites to multiply greatly and they became powerful, and filled the land.  God birthed the nation while they were in a foreign land.  It reminds me that it doesn't matter where I am in life, God can grow me and prepare me for his purpose.  The origin story of Moses shows that God preserved the life of Moses, even in the most impossible situation. 
Moses sinned when he murdered the Egyptian and caused him to have to leave.  There were natural consequences to his decision, but they did not disqualify him from being used by God.  While his sinned sent him into the desert, God used it to prepare him for His purpose.  
God's mighty hand is ultimately what will cause the Egyptians to let the Israelites go.  This reminds me that it isn't my job to do the impossible. My job is to obey God and trust him to do what only He can do.  

Psalm 24 - Everything in the world belongs to God.  When we live in a way that honors God, it positions us to experience His goodness in our lives.  It doesn't mean we earn it, but rather that when we take a posture of living that honors God, it is a bless able posture. 

Matthew 1-:21-42 - God cares for the birds - he provides all they need.  If he cares for them, he will care more for us who have been made in his image and he calls his masterpiece.  When we worry about our basic needs, it is a sign that we aren't fully trusting God.  
God wants our relationship with him to be on display.  Following Jesus is a personal decision, but should not be a private one.  This is one reason baptism is so important.  It is the public declaration of our faith and an object lesson of what God has done in our lives when we placed our faith in him. To fully follow Jesus, it requires full surrender.  Anything less than full surrender isn't real surrender.

Acts 16:22-41 - Paul and Barnabas split up because they did not agree about who should go with them.  While this disagreement was probably not pleasant, God still used their decision to go different directions with different people to multiply their efforts.  ​