January Day 7

Genesis 18-20 - Sarah's response to hearing that she will have a child always makes me laugh.  I think it is good for us to see the humor in scripture to help us remember that these are real people.  
18:14 is a phrase that I am holding on to right now.  I feel like one of the things God has said to me this year is that we need to have Mega Faith.  God's response to Sarah's laughter - Is anything too difficult for God?  I was reminded that faith stories follow faith steps.  We want the story first before we take the steps.  We don't want to take the faith step for fear of looking stupid.  I feel like God is saying - seek him, listen to what he wants to do, believe He will do it, and demonstrate your faith by taking "stupid steps".  Those steps may feel stupid in the moment, but when God moves, and you get to look back to tell the story of what God did, they aren't stupid anymore.  They are steps of Mega Faith.

Genesis 20 - I still struggle with why Abraham and Sarah Lied about their relationship twice.  God protected them and took care of them anyway.  I guess for me it is comforting to know that God doesn't give up on us, even when we are repeat offenders.  

Psalm 7 - This is something I feel like we should pray - that God would end the evil deeds of the wicked.  I think often we pray against people rather that understanding our battle isn't with flesh and blood.  Our prayer should be that God would end the evil, and that the wicked would come to know him and their lives transformed by the love of Jesus. 

Matthew 4:1-11 - In each of these temptations, Satan tries to get him to prove his identity.  He tempted him with his physical appetite, with his trust that God would protect him, and with a promise of earthly power.  Satan still tries to get us to trade our identity in Christ for the temporary things of this world. 

Acts 4:23-37- First of all - I love the stories in Acts.  The 2 biggest things that stand out to me (and there are many) - V.20 - we cannot stop telling people about what we have seen and heard.  I hope this will be true of me and other followers of Jesus.  Then I really like the prayer in verse 29 because it is largely what I would love to see happen at Grace.  Give us boldness in our preaching, show us your power, do the miraculous through the name of Jesus.  I hope to tell many stories of how God does these things at Grace!