Genesis
Opening oneself to God may be a decision made in the moment, but learning to align our heart with His is the work of a lifetime. Following God is a process that requires growth. Growth takes practice. Practice takes time. Jacob does something amazing in this passage that illustrates his
Genesis
God doesn’t need perfect people; He needs people open to following. God’s plan spans generations. His hands move across nations and through time in ways we could never fathom. He doesn’t need us to generate some incredible plan. He wants us to come along side of Him
Genesis
We often reap what we sow. If I go out of my house and treat everyone with contempt, most people will treat me with contempt in return. On the other hand, if I smile at everyone while wishing blessings upon them, I shouldn’t be surprised when people smile back.
Genesis
God’s hands produce incredible things through broken people because He is glorious. As James says in his letter, all good things come from the Father. He deserves the credit. He may work through me and you to produce something great, but we do not deserve the credit. He redeems
Genesis
Thankfully, God redeems our choices and restores the value for what He intended us to receive. We’re not perfect. We lose sight of the prize all the time. We lust after what feels good on the surface and ignore things meant to genuinely feed us on a deeper level.
Genesis
God is there for us in the middle of whatever life brings. He does not forsake us. He sees our situation; He understands the sinfulness that put us in in the situation. He knows we have messed up His perfect creation. He comes to us and shows us His love
Genesis
Sometimes human nature makes life interesting. We are all different people. We have different values. Our goals are more individual than they are communal. When we get together, human interactions can be interesting to navigate. Once he completed the seven years, Jacob asked for his wages. Laban tricks him, swaps
Genesis
Love is always worth it. Given that yesterday was Valentine’s Day, I feel like I just barely missed the boat with today’s opening line. It’s still a good message. Love is always worth pursuing. Love can be a great challenge, but the reward is always greater than
Genesis
When a person takes the time to align their heart to God’s agenda, life is both rewarding and fulfilling. God knows how we were created. He knows our gifts and our talents. He knows our weaknesses and our growing edges. He knows what makes us complete. In Him – and
Genesis
He is a great God, and He is worthy to be praised. I don’t know about anyone else, but I find it easy to lose sight of how amazing God because of my day-to-day life. I get caught up in the routines of life, the rhythms of life, and
Genesis
God is already here, working in your life. Sometimes it is obvious, like when He teaches a lesson through life experience. Sometimes it is less obvious, like when He meets us subtly in our thoughts and prayers. Whether we notice Him or not, though, it does not change the fact
Genesis
A deep understanding of how our sin affects our relationships can be the biggest impetus for forgiveness and moving past the effects of sin. It isn’t easy to see our sin play out. It isn’t easy to understand our part in breaking relationships in the world. Often, though,