Encouragement Prevails

In Genesis 18 God in human form, Jesus, appeared to Abraham, telling him the good news that Sarah would be pregnant in a year. The conversation then takes a turn toward Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.” Genesis 18: 20-21 (CSV) I love the beauty that God, Jesus, is having this situation looked into before doing anything. The two angles that came with Jesus walked to Sodom to look into the situation. Jesus remained with Abraham and their conversation continued. Abraham stepped forward and said “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the judge of the whole wor...

“He also said to Him, ‘I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.’ But he said, ‘Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?’ He said to him, ‘Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.’ So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half….When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals. On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying ‘I give this land to your offspring, from the Brook of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River. Genesis 15:7-10,17-18 CSB This is an obscure weird occurrence for us to read about. Surprisingly it was weird in Abram’s time as well, but for very different reasons. The instructions that God gave to Abram were something he was familiar with. It was a common practice wh...

Up until the moment that I wrote this, I’ve viewed Abram in quite a negative light. “He’s so passive. Besides going where God calls, He doesn’t seem to follow God in any of these situations.” While Abram has moments of not trusting God, he also has moments of reflecting Jesus and what Jesus stood for. “Now, Lot who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. But the land was unable to support them as long as they stayed together, for they had so many possessions that they could not stay together, and there was quarreling between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock…So Abram said to Lot, ‘Please, let’s not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives. Isn’t the whole land before you? Separate from me: if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.’” Genesis 13:5-9 CSB Abram was not avoiding conflict here. He faced it. Did he lay d...

Thinking back on the first 10 chapters of Genesis, where did the division start? Did it begin in Peleg’s time? Was it when Ham shamed Noah, his father? Was it when mankind's every thought was evil and the flood came? Was it when Adam’s son was the first to murder? Was it when Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden? “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves….and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:6-8 It’s amazing how one “I want this” decision affected so much. Immediately it affected someone else. Immediately it affected their state of well-being. It didn’t stop there though. In our journey to look back,...

"You are to take seven pairs, a male and its female, of all the clean animals, and two of the animals that are not clean, a male and its female, and seven pairs, male and female, of the birds of the sky – in order to keep offspring alive throughout the earth.” Genesis 7:2 (CSB) Once I was able to get past the initial shock that it wasn’t just 2 of each animal, as I had grown up thinking, I was then curious about why He was so specific and why there needed to be more of the clean animals for them to survive than the unclean. Was it because of the Jewish laws of only being allowed to eat clean animals? “Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything.” Genesis 9:3 (CSB) No, the Jewish laws weren’t established yet. They were free to eat any animal. “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. He took some of every kind of clean animal and every kind of clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” Genesis 8:20 (C...

How do we rise above sin, the sin of the world, the sin in our own lives, the temptation to sin? The story of the flood gives a beautiful picture of this. “Understand that I am bringing a flood —- flood waters on the earth to destroy every creature under heaven with the breath of lie in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark with your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives.” Noah was righteous. While others followed their desires, Noah chose to do something quite unusual, because God asked him to. God had Noah fulfill His plan of cleansing the world by building a giant boat in the middle of land. Noah didn’t do it alone. He asked others, his family, to join him. His family believed him and followed his lead. Potentially by helping to build the ark despite persecution and then getting on the ark with countless animals. They did all of this even when there was no water in sight. In the end, none of their actions were...

I once heard someone ask “What are you looking forward to doing with Jesus in heaven?” After reflecting upon that question I realized I just wanted to walk with Jesus. I wanted to be in the midst of His creation, nature, completely free from the worry of coming across anything bad. I can imagine taking in the beauty He created while discussing it and many other things with Him, not second guessing if it was His voice I was hearing, but knowing because He was right beside me. When thinking of this I couldn’t help but be reminded of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:8 states “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden and the time the evening breeze.” I imagine that this happened daily. That they would walk with God every day. It was a joyful norm for them. Until they had turned from the Tree of Life and instead of joining God in His walk “they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8 continued (CSB) This has ha...

When “the Fall” happened in Genesis 3, life as it was known got flipped on its head. Adam and Eve went from living in the paradise of Eden with God to being removed from Eden living in the chaos they chose. They went from The Tree of Life to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, chaos of the mind. God didn’t abandon and reject them though. The first thing He did was promise that He would right the wrong that had been done. We are on dot one and Jesus is already brought into the picture! Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy of Jesus. He is the offspring that will strike the serpent's head, while his heel is struck, a deadly blow vs. a temporarily debilitating blow. He then gave them consequences that matched their actions. Eve, Adam’s help mate, did not help produce life but led him towards death. While she still has the privilege to create life from her very body it will now be painful. She longed to call the shots and will continue to, but her husband will ultimately rule as crea...

When looking for Jesus in Genesis 1:26-31 & 2:8-9,15-24, the word fruit stood out to me. I thought of all of the times that Jesus talks of fruit in the New Testament. When looking specifically at the calling that God gave to us: “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it (the earth).” - Genesis 1:28 And connecting it to Jesus’ words: “A good tree doesn’t produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn’t produce good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren’t gathered from thornbushes or grapes picked from a bramble bush. A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart. “ Luke 6:43-45 (CSB) It brings a whole new meaning. From this perspective, it’s so much more than having a fruitful womb, multiplying ourselves, and filling the earth with our offspring. Being fruitful means we are to be someone who refle...

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord. “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my word to you.” So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, working away at the wheel. But the jar that he was making from the clay became flawed in the potter’s hand, so he made it into another jar, as it seemed right for him to do. The word of the Lord came to me: “House of Israel can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?” - this is the Lord’s declaration: “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so you are in my hand, house of Israel. At one moment I might announce concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot, tear down, and destroy it. However, if that nation about which I have made the announcement turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the disaster I had planned to do to it. At another time I might announce concerning a nation or kingdom that I will build and plant it. However, if it does what is evil in my sight by not listening to ...

My sweet little 2-year-old, Stephen, has been having tummy issues. We aren’t sure what started it. We just know where we’ve ended up. He’s been struggling with acid reflux and stomach pain. We are now giving him a bland diet and it’s resolved all issues with his stomach that is. You see within the past month little man found out how to open the fridge. He happily helps himself to anything from the fridge or pantry whenever he pleases. Regardless of mom’s “no”. Trying to keep this little guy on a bland diet isn’t easy. Yesterday for breakfast he had a banana, apple sauce, tortilla, and rice cereal. He felt like he was living the life. Lunch was a different story. “I know you want bacon, but we’re having special food to help your tummy get better. Bacon will hurt your belly right now. You can have applesauce, bread, banana, rice cake, cereal, tortilla, or noodles. These will help it get better.” “NO!! I want bacon!” he responds pulling on the fridge. This went back and forth wit...

In 1Kings 3 Solomon has a life-changing opportunity. He is approached by God in a dream and asked “What should I give you?” Wow, how huge is that? I encourage you to take a moment and pause to think. What would you ask? Note your initial response, and then continue to think more deeply about it. What is your true heart’s desire? Solomon asked “Give your servant a receptive heart to judge your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?” 1Kings 3:9 What a great thing for a king to ask for and seek. God was pleased with him. “I will give you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has never been anyone like you before and never will be again. In addition, I will give you what you did not ask for: both riches and honor, so that no king will be your equal during your entire life. If you walk in my ways and keep my statutes and commands just as your father David did, I will give you a long life.” 1Kings 3:12-14 The next 7 ch...

Is it worth it, If just one person sees? Is it worth it, If it was just for me? I may never see All that it can be. I may never hear what it did and fear. In the end obedient I must stay, Relying on Him each and every day. He has a plan beyond what I can see. His great plan is so much bigger than me. Yes, it was just three, But three is divine. Even if it’s just one, There’s a victory won. It’s not all about me. It’s all for His glory. There’s no need to worry. Cause it’s not up to me.

Dear No One, You have been so close to me all my life. You were thankful for my jokes. You enjoyed my weird stories. My goofiness brought you such joy. I could easily be myself with you. You stood up for me and protected me. You were a safe place to go. I could seek you for comfort. You saw me when I felt invisible and was debating on ending things. You were encouraging, even in the little things. You would pull me in and include me. You were such a good friend that I could rely on. But now there’s Someone. Even in the midst of our friendship, He was pursuing me. In those moments of despair and complete darkness, He was there. He encourages me and lifts me up. He never leaves my side. He celebrates all of the little things that I do. I don’t know where I'd be without Him and I really don’t want to even think about it. And finally, I’m starting to see, that maybe He’s not the only one. He has brought others who are there for me now too. He has brought encouragers and listeners....

“Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬ Do you ever feel the roaring thoughts of condemnation pour in? “Who do you think you are?” “That was stupid.” "They don’t like you.” “They canceled on purpose.” “They’re talking about you.” “You’re failing.” “You’re too much.” “Try harder.” “It’s all your fault.” Victim thoughts separating you from your relationships? “They just think I’m their slave.” “You didn’t even notice what I did for you did you?” “I never get to do anything for me.” “They don’t even see I’m struggling.” “They ruined my plans.” “Don’t they see I’m doing something important?” Or maybe it’s not thoughts, just a feeling of darkness and gloom, unidentifiable, dark, and seemingly endless. There’s an important word in that verse: LIKE. Our enemy tries to be a lion and can act the part well, causing us to be filled with fear. Nonetheless, it’s just an act. ...

I’m afraid I’m terrified There’s something there There’s something looming “No matter what you do They’ll find out that something Isn’t good enough in you” The taunting The truthful lies Always masked And disguised As my own thoughts A dear old friend Well I don’t want you coming back again You don’t belong here anymore Sin isn’t the end like it was before My “not good enough” doesn’t have the final say He makes me good enough every day I must believe the tides are changing That my prison walls are shaking May I live in freedom at last No longer looking at the past Thank You, Lord, for making me new I’m so much more when I’m with You -Sierra Nellenbach

"David again assembled all the fit young men in Israel, thirty thousand. He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-Judah. The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim...David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all kinds of fir wood instruments, lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. When they came to Nacon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled. Then the LORD's anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God. David was angry because of the LORD's outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah. David feared the LORD that day and said, 'How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?' So he was not willing to bring the ark of the LORD to the city of David; instead, he diverted it to the house ...

1 Samuel 17:47 - “It is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s. He will hand you over to us.” YES!!!! Jesus did not save by sword or spear by any means. Matthew 26:50-51 - Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested him. At that moment one of those with Jesus reached out his hand and drew his sword. He struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear. Luke 22:49 .- But Jesus responded, “No more of this!” And touching his ear, he healed him. Matthew 26:52-54 - Then Jesus told him, “Put your sword back in its place because all who take up the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will provide me here and now with more than twelve legions of angels? How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” What was the way it must happen? First, he was put on trial before the high priests and found innocent. Yet, this ended in him getting spat in the fa...

4 women are mentioned in Jesus’ genealogy and another is referenced. With so few, it seems to shout out the significance and importance of them being there. I was intrigued, especially after reading about the first woman, and decided to research them all. Their stories are dark and rough. They are by no means perfect. Yet God is there moving and using them for such a great purpose. They were a part of our salvation. Let’s meet them. TAMAR is introduced to us in Genesis 38. She marries Judah’s firstborn son. Genesis 38:7 - Now Er, Judah’s firstborn son, was evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord put him to death. It was the next family member’s duty to step in and redeem her husband, producing offspring to carry on his name. Onan, Judah’s next son was given this task. Genesis 38:9-11 - But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he released his semen on the ground so that he would not produce offspring for his brother. What ...

Genesis 28:20-21 “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God.” In Genesis 28 Jacob is on his way to his uncle’s house. He had recently agreed to his mother’s plan to steal his older brother’s blessing. His older brother, Esau, now was plotting to kill him when their father passes away. His mother convinced Issac, the father, to send Jacob to this uncle to marry one of his daughters instead of a woman from the nations around them. One night as he was traveling Jacob had a dream. In the dream, God extends the covenant He initiated with Abraham to Jacob. Genesis 28:13-14,15 “I will give you and your offspring the land in which you are lying. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth…. Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I h...

Psalm 139:17-18 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, O God! How vast in number they are! If I try to count them, there would be more of them than there are grains of sand. This verse has been a sweet sentiment to me as long as I can remember, yet the whole chapter of Psalm 139 has not. When I would read it, I would have an uncomfortable feeling well up inside me. Psalm 139:1-6 Lord you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I stand up, you understand my thoughts from far away. You observe my travels and my rest; you are aware of all of my ways. Before a word is on my tongue, you know all about it, Lord. You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it. “You know everything? Even…that? I can’t hide anything? I know that thing doesn’t please. I don’t feel comfortable with you knowing that…” I knew God to be a loving kind Father. I knew His thoughts of me were good...

"The World is the worst it's ever been." "Why isn't God stopping that?" "Why is he allowing this to happen?" "Why did God tell the Israelites to kill all of those people? Just so He could give them land? That doesn't seem like Jesus." When I read Genesis 18-19 all of these questions and statements came to mind, but it didn’t leave me wondering. It brought me clarity. In Genesis 18 God in human form, Jesus, appeared to Abraham, telling him the good news that Sarah would be pregnant in a year. The conversation then takes a turn toward Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 18: 20-21 The Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious. I will go down to see if what they have done justifies the cry that has come up to me. If not, I will find out.” I love the beauty that God, Jesus, is having this situation looked into before doing anything. The two angels that came with Jesus walked to Sodom...

“It’s the least I can do. I mean he died on the cross for me.” I heard this statement the Easter of 2023 and it still comes to mind this day. It’s the least I can do… to attend church on Easter, to pray before a meal, to give to a charity, to read the Bible, and the list goes on and on. That phrase bothers me. It is a lie I am all too familiar with. That I need to be a good Christian. I need to be Jesus. In my strength, I need to check the boxes. I believe Jesus came to free us from checking boxes. Jesus died on the cross to free us from sin, which means to miss the mark. To break the barrier it had between us and God. To free us from the hold Satan had on our lives. The least we can do is accept the freedom given to us. Stop pushing aside what He so painfully and passionately fought for us to have. When I mess up as a parent, the least I can do is receive His grace. The beauty is, that doing so results in so much more. It changes my mental state to peace versus frustration, sel...