Day 4, Jan 4

Genisis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalms 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23

As I read through the passages everyday I notice things that stick out to me but I'm not sure how to write about them or even put them into a whole thought...I'm going to just write them down anyway and maybe there will become a theme OR maybe it is just my silly little mind thinking there is a "clue" there I should be paying attention to.  Either way I just wanted to explain it to you...

Gen 8
There are 7's EVERYWHERE!!  I even noticed earlier when they were giving the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:17..it is written 14 generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ...14 being 7 double...Now I feel like Nichols Cage in National Treasure but there is such a theme there...I could go on but you get the point.

Gen 8: 12-15
I like that I can still see this rainbow and be reminded of God's covenant to us all...Like getting to see a little miracle every time it rains.

Gen 8: 21
Ham had to make sure his brother knew of his fathers transgression.  Instead of covering up his shame he had to broadcast it...
I am very guilty of this..I have a family member that has a drug problem but do I walk in backwards and cover him??  NO, I pass judgement and whisper to others how bad off he is.  Then I justify my actions by pointing out more examples of his wrong doings...Shame on me.  I am reminded of Matthew 7:3 why do you look at the speck of saw dust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
This is the second time in 2 weeks that God has layed this on my heart...I hear You.

Matthew 4:12
Come follow me...
And that's all it took?? I couldn't imagine a man walking by my house and saying to Logan "Come follow me" and Logan saying "SURE, I've never seen you before but you look like a good enough guy to follow"  WHAT??  Not only would I think the man was crazy but Logan as well...I would like to think I would have all this Divine wisdom to know the Son of God walking down the road but truth is I'm not sure...

1 of 2 things...

1. That Jesus possessed such a profound spirit that if you saw Him in person you KNEW of His calling.  You would KNOW, "This is the ONE and nothing like any preacher we have ever seen!" and couldn't help but follow Him.

2.  It was a different time when peoples faith was an every day decision maker and they didn't question things like we do today.  They depended on their faith for fishing, crops, rain, children...EVERYTHING.

Proverbs 1: 20-21
I had to go back and read this several times before I got it...All of these places wisdom call aloud from are very noisy, busy, bustling places... I had to really think about what this is saying....
It would be like if I were to be downtown Nashville on the corner of Broadway and 5th calling out words of wisdom....How many people would hear me?  ONLY the ones seeking it.  The others would be trying to get to the restaurant or bar to hear their favorite band, so they could delight in the simple things of this world.  Wisdom is something you must seek! It will not always be the easiest to see, but look around and you will find it everywhere.

I love how the Living Word is able to speak to me in 2011 just like it did 500 years ago to that generation of people. 

Love you all!!

Heather