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Step Ahead with Faith and God will Pull Us Through

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Mark Shields

Laban’s sons began to accuse Jacob of taking away their father’s wealth as noted in Genesis 31 and Laban’s attitude toward Jacob began to change. Jacob was told by the Lord to return to Canaan so Jacob talked to Rachel and Leah about the situation. Both realized that their father’s attitude toward Jacob had changed and agreed to leave their home and go with Jacob. They were concerned about their inheritance but rationalized that what Jacob had gained from their father was now their inheritance.

Rachel, Leah, and the children left with Jacob as he returned to his homeland in Canaan. They took the livestock and goods with them. When Laban heard what had happened, he went in search for them. Upon finding them, he and Jacob had a confrontation but God had told Laban in a dream to not say anything that would destroy their relationship.

Laban and Jacob met together and made a covenant at Mizpah which is summed up in verses 49-50. “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.”

So Mizpah was an agreement between Laban and Jacob. God was their witness. The meaning today is a bond between people who are separated. The meaning is made tangible today with the use of jewelry which is exchanged between two in a relationship. It’s in the shape of a coin cut in two with a zig-zag line bearing the words “The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.”

We are never completely prepared for what life brings our way. In today’s passage, Laban’s sons accuse Jacob of taking away their father’s wealth. All we can do is step ahead with faith and believe God will pull us through.

Jacob had worked hard for Laban over the years. He had gained wealth because of God’s guidance even when Laban would put obstacles in his way. He listened to God’s direction when told to return to his homeland. In a time of despair or doubt, always remember that faith gives courage to get through any situation. This day with God, maintain the passion to finish strong on the journey to where we need to be by remembering that hope gives optimism and we can do anything with His help.

Posted in Courage, Genesis, Hope, Optimism | Tagged Canaan, Courage, faith god, Hope, Inheritance, Jacob, Mizpah, Optimism, Relationship, Wealth | 2 Comments

Keep our Eyes on the Lord

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the study of Genesis 11 a while back, the thought was about how society thought they had all the answers. They depended on themselves rather than on God. It’s not much different today and so this thinking inspired a poem. Hope you have a wonderful weekend my friends!

Step Ahead

History tells us of societies
Going in the wrong direction
Trying to make it on their own
Losing a spiritual connection

The thinking is no need for God
To build things on their own
Tower of Babel comes to mind
As they relied on themselves alone

In many ways we are the same
Today we want the best car
The biggest house
To be a film star

The government thinks
They can run health care
Provide for our needs
And clean the air

But only God provides it all
His way is the best way
So develop a skill
And earn your pay

Find your purpose
And be real smart
But rely on God for
The amazing part

He can take talent
And shine the light
Use it for what is right
Take you to new heights

So attention to God first
Doing great things with His aid
Building things…

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Choosing to Accept Grace

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Mark Shields

In the post He is in Control, the thought is that God is in control of our future. Written about is the story of Jacob’s life who worked hard and developed skills in raising livestock. He was shrewd and used his skills to become a very prosperous man that God would use to start a great nation.

By choosing to accept the grace God has given us through His Son, we are able to receive tremendous advantage in life and like Jacob, we will also be blessed. As fellow believers, we are on the same team and God made each of us to be AWESOME! Here is today’s inspirational Video: How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God be with us, who can be against us? – Romans 8:31

Index of devotionals

Posted in Genesis, Good Common Sense | Tagged Blessings, Future, God, Grace, Happiness, Idea, Jacob, Jesus, Life, Livestock, Prosperity, Skills, Success, Trust, Wealth, Work | 3 Comments

He is in Control

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Mark Shields

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We can plan out our future, take action, and work hard but following God’s will is most important for a bright future. In reading Genesis 30, we get examples of just how omnipotent and sovereign God is because in everything from bearing children to career success, we see that God is the ONE who is in control.

After working for Laban for 14 years, Jacob was ready to go back to Canaan but Laban wanted Jacob to stay because God had helped Laban prosper through Jacob. Then an agreement was made that Jacob’s wages would consist of receiving the black and multicolored goats and the speckled and spotted sheep.

Very few off color sheep and goats would normally be born from a solid color flock. Then, Jacob had some ideas to help with breeding so that more off color sheep and goats would be born. These ideas gave him advantage so that his flock would be of high quality and quantity.

Once God blessed Jacob with off color lambs and goats, he separated them from the solid color ones and thus increased his chances of getting more of the off color livestock. God had chosen to bless Jacob. He became a very prosperous man and a great nation was started.

Like Jacob, God has chosen to bless everyone who believes in His Son. He has given believers the advantage of grace through His Son. This day with God, believe He is in control and trust that He will do amazing things through us. God thinks each of us are AWESOME because we can use the skills we were given, be happy with who we are, and let God work out the rest.

Posted in Common Sense, Genesis | Tagged Future, God, Grace, Happiness, Idea, Jesus, Success, Trust, Wealth, Work | 1 Comment

Love is Unstoppable

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Mark Shields

Written about in the post Love Beyond Measure, a deal was made by Jacob with Laban (Rachel’s father) to work for him for seven years and in return Jacob could have his daughter in marriage. We are told in Genesis 29:20 that the seven years only seemed like a few days because of Jacob’s love for Rachel.

When love takes us over, the days fly by. Just like with Jacob, years of hard work seem like only a few days. Like this video, love can be an emotion that becomes unstoppable. What we think is impossible becomes possible: Unstoppable – Rascal Flatts.