Tag: The Bible

Hallelujah! Our Righteous King Has Come!

On By CarmenLeave a comment

As we prepare for this Christmas season, let us not forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse meaning the “mass of Christ” or the church celebration of the birth of Christ.

The birth, life, and death of Jesus on earth is the greatest gift ever given, and not by any human, but by God the Father Himself.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

John 3:16-17

I am so grateful that the LORD Jesus was willing to leave His throne in Heaven, come down to Earth, be born among mankind as an example of how we should live our lives, and take upon Himself the sins of the whole world. 

He was born as King—THE KING of kings—not in a palace with all the wealth and comforts of royalty at that time, but in the humblest of conditions in a manger with animals and their smell surrounding Him.

Jesus is the best gift we’ve ever been given!

His love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice is better than any material thing we could desire.

…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23b

Without Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, we’d all be lost to eternal damnation.

This was God’s plan for the redemption of mankind from way back when Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

We all need a Savior to rescue us from our sin nature. This Savior is Jesus Christ Himself—the perfect Lamb, the perfect Gift.

The Hope of all the world was born, completed His ministry by going to the cross, and resurrected to the Father where He lives seated at His right hand.

Our Savior is active on the throne of Heaven and is present in our everyday lives. He is alive and in command!

Let us not become complacent with such a majestic gift.

Today, we are blessed because we have the Bible, the Holy word of God, to teach us about God’s plan of salvation, our LORD Jesus Christ, and our future based on the choices we make, especially the most important choice we could ever make.

There was a time when Israel, God’s chosen people, was anticipating our Savior, expectantly hoping, and eagerly awaiting.

Life was difficult for them because they sinned against God and subjected themselves to all kinds of consequences that God had warned them about.

God had already spoken His plans through the prophets of old, and because Israel was under the rule of foreign nations, they were waiting on their Messiah to come rescue them.

They knew the Savior was promised by God and they had experienced the faithfulness of His word many times.

Finally, over 2000 years ago, Israel’s Savior, our Savior, was born in Bethlehem in God’s perfect timing when Rome ruled the world.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:1-21

May we continually glorify and praise God as the angels did on the night of our Savior’s birth.

The gift of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ is for everyone who is willing to accept Him in their hearts, invite Him into their lives, and follow Him in all His ways.

As the angels stated at Christ’s birth, those with whom He is pleased will have peace and joy today and forevermore. 

While we’re busy decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, and gathering with our families and friends, let’s remember that without Jesus Christ, there is no Christmas.

Let’s demonstrate the same excitement, wonder, and awe as the shepherds did who went to see Him that first Christmas night!

I wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

Enjoy this song of praise to our Father in Heaven for our most wonderful gift. I have enjoyed this song over the years and hope the same for you.  

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

What Does it Mean to Be Blessed? – Part 2

On By CarmenLeave a comment

In my last post, What Does it Mean to be Blessed?, we examined the word “blessing” by looking at what God says about it in His word, the Bible.

Today, I would like to share even more of what Jesus says about being blessed in the book of Matthew.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;”

Matthew 5:3-12

As we read this scripture based on Jesus’s teachings to His disciples, we find that there are blessings that can be uncomfortable—much unlike what we today view as blessings.

A blessing uncomfortable?

Yes, even grievous for our earthly lives in the here and now.

Please allow me to explain.

Jesus is telling His followers that in this life there will be difficulties if they stand with and for Him.

He was simply preparing them and us to expect opposition from the world—AND to equally expect wonderful blessings from our Father in Heaven when we finally make it to our eternal home with Him.

He gives us hope that the difficulties we overcome here on earth by staying true to Him and His teachings will be greatly rewarded in eternity.

Let’s examine these verses more closely.

Blessed are the poor in Spirit…

Being poor in spirit means recognizing one’s own sinful nature and realizing we cannot forgive ourselves nor make ourselves sinless.

It also means that we understand that only God can forgive us and make us sinless.

A person poor in spirit is humble and seeks God’s mercy much like the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14.

Blessed are those who mourn…

Those who mourn over their sinfulness with godly sorrow are granted salvation through their repentance. (2 Corinthians 7:10)

Their comfort is a result of their repentance that leads to salvation and assurance that they will reach the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blessed are the meek…

Merriam-Webster defines meekness as humble or gentle, and the Bible refers to gentleness as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22-24)

This means that someone who is meek exercises supreme control over his actions guided by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37 expounds upon blessings for the righteous in Christ Jesus and consequences for the ungodly.

One such blessing is the inheritance of the land along with abundant peace and prosperity.

Cease from anger and abandon wrath;
Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing.
For evildoers will be eliminated,
But those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.
Yet a little while and the wicked person will be no more;
And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.
But the humble will inherit the land
And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 37:8-11

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…

When we submit to God’s righteousness rather than reveling in our own self-righteousness, we will experience an inseparable knowledge of Christ through our faith.

What could be better than having a right relationship with God that fills our hunger and thirst with deep satisfaction as opposed to the emptiness of the world’s promises?

We will truly know our LORD Jesus and understand not only His suffering, but the supernatural power of His resurrection as well. (Philippians 3:8-11)

This is nothing we should fear or shun but peacefully anticipate sharing in His perfection.  

Blessed are the merciful…

Mercy is defined as compassion that forbears punishing even when justice demands it.

Forgiving others is what we are taught by Jesus to do. (Matthew 18:21-35)

If we have been forgiven for all our sins by our LORD and Savior, we should gladly forgive others for their wrongdoing toward us.

This is not always easy, but I do remind myself of this scripture and forgive as Jesus told us to, because I want the blessing of God’s mercy when I see Him face to face.

Blessed are the pure in heart…

Do you know anyone who is pure in heart?

Perhaps it’s someone you’ve observed for some time who does what they say no matter the cost to them.

Or someone with whom you shared intimate details in your life who kept it private.

Maybe it’s someone who walks away from gossip or changes the subject when others start to gossip.

A person who is pure in heart and follows God’s ways while living in peace with others will see God in Heaven. (Hebrews 12:14)

Blessed are the peacemakers…

My husband is a peacemaker. He always looks for a solution that can make the situation better for all involved in a disagreement. He forgives those who wrong him and does not hold grudges.

Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to pray for them because God is good even to those who do evil. (Matthew 5:44-45)

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake and when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me…

If there is one thing that makes me angry, it’s seeing people who do what is right being abused. I can only pray for them to have the strength and courage to keep moving forward, trusting that God will one day right the wrong done to them.

There have been and still are many people across the globe who are suffering for their faith and steadfastness in Jesus.

Many have lost their jobs and homes, suffered imprisonment, and have even been martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.

God tells us in His word that those who are persecuted for His sake will be blessed. (1 Peter 4:12-14)

We are told to be the salt of the earth, i.e., to be of good use and to preserve the word of God.

We defend God’s word and make the world a better place by doing what He tells us.

When we do, we are seen as different in that we “leave a good taste” in others’ mouths as true representatives of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus tells His followers that we are the light of the world and that we are to let our light shine as a beacon of His word.

We are to be guides and lead others by our actions to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

To all the Christ followers out there, don’t lose heart when you encounter sorrows and trials because the LORD sees all the workings of mankind and He takes pleasure in your steadfastness to abide in Him.

He will right all the wrongs done to you and He has many blessings stored up for you in eternity.

May you be blessed by this song that tells us that whatever we go through, God is with us.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

What Does it Mean to Be Blessed?

On By Carmen1 Comment

We’ve all seen the decorative motif “BLESSED” worn or displayed proudly on personal items like t-shirts, bracelets, pillows, and—yes, even on license plates!

But what does it mean to be blessed?

I think many of us would agree that a blessing is something that benefits us and makes us happy.

For example, a blessing could be something that we’ve been wanting or anticipating, like a home or a trip that we’ve been saving for.

It could be having enough money in an account to take care of emergencies, help others, or provide for anything you want or need.

Or it could even be something that is not material or monetary, like good news from the doctor about a health concern.

Let’s take a look at what the Bible says about blessings.

The Blessing of Peace

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul writes to those in the church in Philippi about having peace in their daily lives.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

What a blessing peace is in the midst of turmoil!

God wants us to have this type of peace “that surpasses all understanding” when we face uncertain times much like today.

We are experiencing many issues within and outside the U.S. that make the most confident of men concerned.

Economic uncertainty, division (even within our families and churches) due to political turmoil, and wars and rumors of wars are at an all-time high.

When we understand and believe that God is still on the throne, we can give these concerns to Him and relax knowing that He is in charge of ALL the affairs of the world.

This doesn’t mean that we have a nonchalant attitude. On the contrary, we should stay informed of what’s going on, but we don’t let it overwhelm us and ruin our peace.

If you’re a child of God and you’ve walked with Him through good times and bad, you know that He loves you and will take you through the storms of life to a better outcome.

Trials serve to build our trust in God and create an unshakeable faith that brings peace.

For more on the promise of faith, see my post Trusting God.

The Blessing of Discipline

While most of us don’t like discipline, we would welcome it if we understood the blessing it holds for us.

The author of Psalm 94 tells us so.

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,
    the one you teach from your law;

Psalm 94:12

Likewise, the author of Hebrews 12 expounds on the blessing of discipline from the LORD.

“. . .My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. . .For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Hebrews 12:5-11

If you are a godly parent, you instruct your children so they know what is best for them. You want them to act in a way that leads them to good outcomes so they may have productive lives that lead to peace and happiness.

When they act in ways that bring destruction into their lives, you discipline them and give them consequences for their actions to turn them around.

Discipline does not mean abuse; it means loving instruction and consequences for wrong actions. Your child may not like it, but you do it because you love them and want what is best for their future.

This is why God disciplines us—to lead us to a sound future with peace and happiness.

The Blessing of Eternal Life

Who wouldn’t want to live forever in a world of continual peace, without physical and emotional pain, rejection, unjust criticism, lies, fraud, division, war, —you name it?

This is the way God intended for us to live from the creation of the world. This is the way that Adam and Eve, the first man and woman God created, lived in the beginning with God.

But sin changed all that by separating us physically from God. We were thrown out of the Garden of Eden and placed in a tainted world susceptible to Satan’s wiles.

Because of sin everything changed, and we now live with all the consequences that drive discontent and fear into our lives.

Our hearts, minds, and bodies are affected by sin every day which is why we see so much mental illness, disease and premature death, as well as division among family members and fellow citizens.

Thankfully, God has provided the solution to this sin problem and its effects. He has promised us that we can go back to the way He intended us to live from the beginning.

This is the promise of eternal life with Him in peace and without the woes of the world we experience today.

We can have this peace today while we’re still living in this world AND be reunited with our heavenly Father when we are called home.

The apostle John who lived and walked with the LORD Jesus over two-thousand years ago bears witness in his letter to us.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 

John 3:16-18

There is a choice that we have to make—we must recognize that we are sinners, repent of our sins, ask the LORD Jesus to save us, and earnestly seek after Him.

We must choose to receive His free gift of eternal life simply by believing in Him.

My prayer for you is to choose (if you haven’t already) Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior so you will have the blessing of eternal life.

In my next post I plan to write about and explain the blessings we receive when we follow our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ as he taught us in Matthew 5 from His Sermon on the Mount. I hope you’ll join me.

If you would like to receive more about the goodness of God, subscribe to my email list below.

As usual, I have included a beautiful song for your listening pleasure, and I can’t think of a more uplifting song to share with you for this post.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

God Sees It All

On By CarmenLeave a comment

I can’t help but write about what I consistently tell my husband most mornings after watching the news.

God sees it all!

You may feel the same way I do after watching the news on politics and all the other happenings by people who lie, scam, steal, and kill.

My husband and I like to stay informed on current events in our country and around the world, but we have had to limit the amount of news we watch because it is so grievous.

If I didn’t know God and His ways, I would think there is no hope in the world today.

I know that such offenses have always occurred, but it seems so rampant today.

It’s refreshing when we see stories of decent people helping others because they want to do what is right, but I can’t help thinking that the tide has turned now in recent years with so much evil in our nation and around the world.

And, I have often pondered how we got here.

I think it’s because most either don’t believe in God or don’t believe God.

We don’t take the time to study, learn, contemplate what God has already told us in His word, the Holy Bible.

We are blessed as a nation built on Christian principles to have God’s word, but we don’t delve into it for understanding.

For example, while reading in 1 Kings recently, I came across how the nation of Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, because of ungodly leadership with the majority of the people following along in sin.

King David loved the LORD and is called by God, “A man after his own heart.” (1 Samuel 13:14)

King David was certainly not without sin. However, when he was reprimanded by God, he was repentant and accepted the consequences that God gave him.

God forgave him because He knew David’s heart, but there were still consequences.

Later in life, as King David was grooming his son Solomon to succeed him as king, he instructed him as a young boy to seek wisdom.

He was teaching Solomon God’s wisdom and to seek and follow God in every choice he would make as a future ruler as well as to avoid making wrong choices and falling into sin.

When King David died, and Solomon was crowned king of Israel, God told King Solomon to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom. God was pleased with his choice and made him not only the wisest of kings, but also the richest.

Having wisdom is great but following it separates the wise from the fools.

King Solomon started out well, but over the years he turned away from God’s laws and ways which led him into idolatry and caused the kingdom of Israel to be split in two.   

For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. Solomon followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD; unlike his father David, he did not follow the LORD completely. 1 Kings 11:4-6

I highly recommend you read 1 and 2 Kings to understand the full story and implications of King Solomon’s straying from God which led most of the subsequent kings and nation of Israel into sin and severe consequences.

When we sin (individually or corporately as a nation), we sin against God. We anger God.

He is a jealous God who deserves our worship and praise. We should seek after Him and abide in Him.   

Why?

Because it is God who has given us life and everything good thing that we have and experience.

We should always walk humbly and follow His statutes and His ways.

When we don’t, there are consequences that we won’t like.

Because we are all human, we are all sinners. The Bible tells us not one of us are without sin. (Romans 3:10-18)

The only human who ever lived and never sinned was Jesus Christ, God’s beloved Son. He alone is our example of how to live.

So, what do we do when we sin, and we realize the error of our ways?

We turn back to God, ask for forgiveness, ask Him to help us follow Him, and stay away from what makes us sin.

When we are sincere about repenting of our sin, He is faithful to forgive us and helps us move forward.

He puts away our sin as if it never happened. (Psalm 103:12)

In King Solomon’s case, his continued sin of idol worship led the whole nation into sin which later caused the division of Israel into two kingdoms, constant wars, invasions by foreign countries, and eventually exile to foreign lands.

The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command. So the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.” 1 Kings 11:9-13

With the division of Israel into two kingdoms (Israel and Judah), the Jewish nation fought against itself and set itself up for invasions by foreign countries.

The majority of the kings who ruled Israel and Judah after King Solomon also failed to follow God and continued in their sin of idol worship.

Idol worship is putting anything above God—pride, money, position, power, material things, various wrong behaviors, etc.

When the leader of the nation sins and refuses to follow God, most of the people will do the same, and the nation falls in to despair and destruction.  

The good news is that God is a forgiving God.

In His word, He tells us that if we who belong to Him will repent of our sin and humbly turn back to and pray to Him, He will restore our nation.

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

If you are as concerned about the state of our nation as I am, please commit to pray with me for our leaders and fellow citizens to

  • turn back to God and seek after Him—putting Him first in our lives
  • repent of their sin and turn away from their sin
  • teach our children at home and in school to walk with God and follow His precepts
  • seek forgiveness and forgive one another
  • unite as “one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all” as we used to recite daily in school from the Pledge of Allegiance
  • humbly serve God and one another as He instructs us in His word
  • treat one another as we would want to be treated

I love Jesus Christ, and I love these united states of America where I was born.

My hope is for us to turn back to God before it’s too late.

May God bless you and may He bless the United States of America.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Another Day, Another Miracle!

On By CarmenLeave a comment

Hello and Blessings to all!

I was planning to write about the Proverbs 31 woman this week, but I am happily compelled to share another miracle I witnessed a few days ago.

This was the impetus for starting this blog—to write to you about how very good God is!

So, I must share these occurrences when they happen to give glory and praise to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and to encourage you to continue in your faith.

Last Monday, President’s Day, a few members of our family decided to go hiking and we took our dogs along. One is a golden retriever named Bella, and the other is a miniature schnauzer named Lulu.

Bella is our beautiful 8-year-old sweetheart. Lulu is about five months old, new to the family, and we absolutely adore her. She is our grandchildren’s first dog, so she is very special because they have been wanting a dog for a few years.

After we returned home from hiking, I was warming up some soup in the kitchen, and all of a sudden, I heard a commotion going on in our breakfast room. My husband and stepdaughter were frantically trying to free Lulu from Bella.

This was a freak accident—the dogs were playing as they usually do in a friendly manner, but somehow Lulu’s collar got stuck on one of Bella’s lower canines.

I suppose they noticed it when neither Bella nor Lulu could break free, and poor little Lulu was dangling from Bella’s mouth. They tried and tried to free Lulu but couldn’t and were beginning to panic.

I ran to try to help, but none of us could free her and time was running out. Lulu was fighting for her life and bit all of us as we were trying to help her.

I heard my Bella yelp in pain, and at this point my husband focused on keeping Bella calm and still while my stepdaughter and I worked to free Lulu.  

I ran to get the scissors to try to cut little Lulu’s collar, but I couldn’t get my finger under the collar to cut it. The collar was so tight it was strangling her.

NOTHING was working!

We saw Lulu go limp and my stepdaughter started crying, “Lulu! Lulu! Please don’t die, Lulu!”

Then I cried out, “LORD Jesus, please help us!”

Suddenly my stepdaughter decided to lift Lulu’s limp body up and was able to break her free from Bella’s tooth. I worked quickly to cut her collar, hoping for the best.

She laid little Lulu down and she was not responding, her body was limp, and her tongue was blue just hanging out of her mouth. The poor baby had defecated on one of our phones and it was all over the floor and us.

No doubt, little Lulu was dead, but I kept saying, “LORD Jesus, please help us, please help us!”

I heard my stepdaughter say, “now mouth to mouth!” So, she opened Lulu’s mouth and started breathing into her as we both worked to pump her heart. I could tell my stepdaughter was losing hope, so I started giving mouth to mouth to keep the momentum going and to give her a break.

Suddenly, Lulu opened her eyes!

I grabbed her and held her upright and started shaking her gently to help her breathe. Then I felt her heart starting to beat again—we were so relieved!

The poor puppy was dazed and just stared at me for a while.

Our grandchildren were in the foyer of our home, scared for their puppy, while we were trying to save her, but immediately came running over when we said, “she’s breathing, she’s alive!”

THANK YOU, LORD JESUS!

To YOU be all the glory!

We witnessed a miracle in our home before our very eyes!

The three of us (my husband, stepdaughter, and I) agreed without hesitation that little Lulu was dead.

We are not overly emotional or tale-telling people, but more reserved in our personalities and behavior.

Jesus went to the extreme to show me once more that He cares about us and what we care about. He knew our hearts would be broken if we lost little Lulu so tragically.

I believe He did this to also show some that day who may not believe in Him that He is indeed alive and powerful as our LORD and Savior.

In the Bible, Jesus tells us to believe in Him and to have faith in Him. He healed many sick people and even brought some back to life.

Below is the story of Jesus bringing his friend Lazarus back to life.

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.…So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”…he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”…Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days….So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him….Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit…. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”…It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

John 11:1-44

Not long after Jesus restored life to his friend Lazarus, He Himself was resurrected from the grave three days after willingly dying for ours sins.

Resurrection power belongs to Him and God our Father alone!

Jesus is still raising the dead to life today!

If we will believe IN Him and believe that He CAN raise the dead, He will show us His power and perform a miracle before our very eyes!

In fact, I started writing this blog because of the miracle healing he did for my oldest brother. He brought him back from the dead also. See my first blog, God Still Performs Miracles.

I share this with you because I want to share good news.

Jesus is the Good News in our lives now and into eternity!

If you haven’t already, I pray you place your trust in Him and let Him show you his miracle working power.

Below is one of my favorite Christian songs that I hope will put a smile on your face and help you to believe in his power.

“Rattle!” – Elevation Worship

Starting the New Year with Promise

On By Carmen1 Comment

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?

Most of us probably have and perhaps our resolutions look something like the following.

  • I’m going to join the gym and lose some weight.
  • I’m going to ease up on shopping and save some money.
  • I’m going to give up _____________________.

Sound familiar?

They are for me.

There is nothing at all wrong with these resolutions and in fact they are very good if we stick with them.

I’m wondering if anyone has instead (or maybe in addition to one of these) resolved to create a space in their busy schedule to spend time with God. What I mean is, have we carved out time to read and study God’s word on a daily basis?

If you are a seasoned Christian, maybe you do this already. I am writing to those who are new Christians or those who perhaps don’t yet have this habit worked into their daily schedule.

Studying God’s Word Helps Us to Know God and Brings Blessings

God tells us plainly that knowing Him gives us wisdom, and following His ways benefits us.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For by Me your days will be multiplied,

And years of life will be added to you.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

And if you scoff, you alone will suffer from it.

Proverbs 9:10-12

I always like to share as many verses as it takes to comprehend the full meaning and outcome in God’s word. We should know the full truth of God’s word, even if it is hard to read. This is not to scare anyone, but to provide exactly what God says.

God gives us His word so we can make wise choices, and He always spells out the results if we choose to not follow His wisdom.

We should take His word literally.

Studying and Applying God’s Word Gives Us Peace and Joy

I am also writing to those who are dissatisfied with life and long for more—more fulfillment, more peace, more hope.

You may be wondering how to achieve this.  

Joshua, God’s mighty warrior who led the nation of Israel into the promised land, was instructed by God to not ONLY read, but to MEDITATE on God’s word.

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.

Joshua 1:8

This success that God promised to Joshua was to achieve His plan for Joshua’s life—to be successful in his campaign to take possession of the promised land.

In order for Joshua to do this, he had to read God’s promises, follow God’s laws, be courageous, and follow through with all that God told him.

Joshua also needed to meditate or think upon what he read in God’s word daily, or more specifically day and night, for it to become engrained into his life. In other words, he had to start his day with God’s Word and he had to end his day with God’s Word.

This process applies to us as well. It’s been said that it takes some time to form a habit. Years ago, I read that it takes at least a month to form a new habit. Today, I read that it’s more likely two months and even more depending upon the individual.

The point is that it takes time to study God’s word and apply it to our lives so that we can reach what God has for us which is His very best.

God’s best is not the same as what the world offers. Let’s look at what Jesus tells us about following Him.  

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

I can say by experience that no matter what the world offers—money, status, material goods—it is nothing compared to having the peace of mind and grace that only God can give.

God loves us and wants only the very best for each and every one of us. He has given us His promises and instructions on how to live a better life than what the world offers. He has given us His one and only Son to forgive our sins and to set us on the road to eternal joy in this life and the next.

Studying God’s Word Brings Us Hope

One of my favorite pastors, Dr. Charles Stanley, has helped me in my walk with God for 25+ years. Although he is with the LORD now, his teaching ministry still impacts millions around the globe. I came across one of his many messages in a calendar devotional I keep on my desk. A couple of days ago, I read his personal message about the following verse.

They will be my people, and I will be their God. And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me.

Jeremiah 32:38-40

Dr. Stanley said, “God doesn’t just speak to an elite few. We are all in the same category when it comes to His speaking and our listening. He treats all His children on an equal basis.”

I believe what Dr. Stanley is saying is that God’s promises are for all His children, those who have submitted their lives to His Son, Jesus Christ. There are verses in the Bible that are written specifically to certain people, mostly the Israelites. Yes, they are called His chosen people, but those surrendered to Christ are also His people.

I hope you’ll join me next for Spending Time with God.

I wish you a happy, healthy, and blessed 2025.

May you experience God move in your life in supernatural ways.

I have included a beautiful song below for your listening pleasure.

“Take You at Your Word” – Cody Carnes

Israel—Chosen by God: A Blessing to All

On By CarmenLeave a comment

The nation of Israel was chosen by God to be a blessing to all people.

In my nine previous posts, the Israel—Chosen by God series, scripture has been clear about this promise God made to Abraham, the father of Israel, and to every generation of Israel until the end of time.    

God chose Israel to be His nation, to follow His ways (which results in blessing), and to provide the ultimate blessing—a Savior.

This promise was first made to Abraham in Genesis.

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

                                                                                                             Genesis 12:1-3

This same promise was reiterated by God to Isaac, Abraham’s son of promise in Genesis 26:2-5, and later to Jacob, Isaac’s son, in Genesis 28:13-15.

Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel when he was on his way back to Canaan. Israel means “he strived with God and prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-31)

So, it is from the nation of Israel that the blessed promise was given to all mankind.

This promise is salvation through Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

                                                                                                           Matthew 1:1-17

Jesus’s birth was planned from the beginning of time. The Bible is about the creation of the world, sin, redemption, and defeating evil.

Jesus Christ is the center theme of the Bible and He was with God the Father at the creation of the world. (John 1:1-3)

Jesus is our redemption that was promised and prophesied throughout the Old Testament by the prophets, and He is the God man who left the throne-room in heaven and came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem of Judea in Israel.

He came to this world to teach truth, love, and forgiveness, but most importantly, to be the sacrificial Lamb.

The apostle John who walked with Jesus during His ministry here on earth testifies to this.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

                                                                                                                 1 John 2:1-2

The only perfect human to live on this earth was destined to become the sacrifice for our sins—perfection taking on the iniquity of the whole world.

This is how God the Father planned the redemption of mankind, past, present, and future.    

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

                                                                                                               John 3:16-18

Jesus did not come to this earth to condemn it, but to save the world through drawing the lost to Himself.

He is the fulfillment of the Law given by Moses, not the replacement of the Law, as some may think.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” 

                                                                                                         Matthew 5:17-18

One of the godly men that I have followed over twenty years is John F. McArthur, pastor of Grace Community Church and host of Grace to You, national Christian media ministry.

He explains Matthew 5:17-18 stating, “Jesus was neither giving a new law nor modifying the old, but rather explaining the true significance of the moral content of Moses’ law and the rest of the OT…Christ was indicating that he is the fulfillment of the law in all its aspects. He fulfilled the moral law by keeping it perfectly…And he fulfilled the judicial law by personifying God’s perfect justice.”

McArthur further clarifies, “Christ was affirming the utter inerrancy and absolute authority of the OT as the word of God—down to the smallest stroke or letter…This should not be seen as supplanting and abrogating the OT, but as fulfilling and explicating it.”

Therefore, the ceremonial requirements of the law (Colossians 2:16-23) were fulfilled by Jesus Christ and are no longer required to be followed by Christians. However, other mandates of the law are not to be abolished and very much remain as a standard of scriptural truth in the New Testament. 

Because Jesus obeyed His Father in heaven and died for our sins—the whole world’s sins, we are resolved of our past wrongs if we surrender our lives to Him, ask Him for forgiveness of our sins, and abide in Him.

Jesus’s sacrificial love for us along with our personal acknowledgment of His deity and following Him in obedience shields us from eternal damnation.  

We are indeed blessed through Israel; if from Israel we were given Christ, what better blessing can we acknowledge?

From the twelfth chapter of Genesis, we have been called to bless Israel.

We should certainly want to because of what God has given us through the nation of Israel: Our Lord and Savior—and with Him, forgiveness, freedom, blessings, and eternal life with God.

If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who gives us eternal life through His loving sacrifice, I hope you will do so today.

I will be happy to help you in making your decision for Christ in any way that I can. Send me a message in the comments and I will respond.

I hope this series has been a blessing to you and has helped you understand why we should bless Israel.

Join me next for Why Stand with Israel?

Below is a song that glorifies our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May it bless you.

“Thank You Jesus for the Blood” – Charity Gayle

Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 7

On By Carmen1 Comment

In the previous post, Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 6, we learned about the preservation of Israel through Joseph, Jacob’s first son by Rachel.

Joseph was sold in to slavery by his jealous half-brothers, which landed him in Egypt where he suffered many wrongs. God, however, was watching over Joseph, and preparing him for a great role—one that would make him second in charge under Pharaoh over all Egypt.

Impressive?

Yes, but Joseph had a role to play in God’s plan, just as we all do if we’re surrendered to Him.

God chose Joseph to carry out His plan to save the nation of Israel, just as he chose Abraham, Issac, and Jacob to bring about the greatest blessing of all time.

But first, Let’s see how the rest of Jacob’s life unfolds.

We resume with Joseph’s brothers on their way back to Canaan to their father Jacob to give him the good news about Joseph.

When they arrived in Canaan, they told Jacob that Joseph was alive and ruled over the land of Egypt. At first, he did not believe them, but when he saw all the provisions that Joseph sent, he became a renewed man. The Bible says his spirit revived.

Jacob was looking forward to leaving Canaan and going to Egypt to see his son Joseph before he died.

So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

Genesis 46:1-4

Did you read what Jacob did?

He didn’t forget to thank God for His faithfulness by worshiping Him and offering sacrifices to Him.

When God makes a way for us, it benefits us to give Him praise and thank Him for His faithfulness, protection, provision, miracle—whatever it is that only He could have done for us.

Next, God spoke to Jacob and assured him that it was okay for him to go down to Egypt and that He would be with him.

Often, when God purposes something in our lives, He will confirm it. Whether it be through His speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, through someone who speaks to us, or through something that we read.    

Don’t forget that God also reiterated His promise of making a great nation of him.

So, Jacob took all his family (sixty-six in number), servants, belongings, and livestock with him down to Egypt.

Jacob and Joseph were reunited with tears of love and joy. Imagine being reunited with your loving father or lost son for over twenty years. No doubt it was an emotional day.  

Joseph tells his father and brothers that when they meet Pharaoh and he asks their occupation to tell him that they are keepers of livestock. This was done so that they could live in Goshen which was a great place to graze herds. Also, shepherds were not well accepted in Egyptian society, they were looked down on and thought of as an abomination.

Joseph’s wisdom about where to place his family came from God. This distance between Israel and the Egyptians was to keep the Israelites from intermingling with the Egyptians and picking up their customs.

Remember that God chose Israel for His own. He did not want them to follow the customs of other cultures because they were set apart and were to be different from all the rest of the world.

Joseph chose five of his brothers to meet with Pharaoh, and he asked them about their occupation. They told Pharaoh they were shepherds just as their fathers were. They stated they needed land for their livestock to graze, because the famine was severe in Canaan.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Genesis 47:5-6

What favor!

God not only saved Jacob and his family from famine, He took them to another land that was at that time better for them and their livestock. He gave them the best land in Egypt perfectly suited for them and their livestock.

What is it that God is moving around in your life, child of God?

Even if it feels uncomfortable and “way out there,” you can trust Him. He will only give you His very best and provide opportunities you never dreamed of.

The Bible tells us that God even gave Pharaoh, a Gentile, the opportunity to be blessed. Yes, Joseph brought his father in to meet with Pharaoh, and after they spoke to each other, Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

My friends, we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

It doesn’t matter whom we meet, we have the privilege to bless others. This is serving the LORD, this is our mission, this is our calling.

Israel settled in Egypt and became successful and grew greatly in number.

When Jacob was dying, he called Joseph and made him promise that he would not bury him in Egypt, but in Canaan where his fathers were buried.

Jacob told Joseph that his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, although born in Egypt before Jacob came to Egypt, were his (Jacob’s), and any other children born to him would be Joseph’s own. 

So, two Egyptian-born citizens instantly became citizens of Israel and were blessed accordingly with all the other children of Jacob.

Jacob then blessed Joseph and told him that God would be with him and take him back to Canaan where he had a plot of land for him.

Then he called his other sons to bless them and prophesy their future. 

Some received good news and others did not. Those who caused him grief and trouble did not get positive news in Jacob’s blessing. (Genesis 49)

Jacob’s sons are the Twelve Tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, and Joseph.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—the field and the cave that is in it we bought from the Hittites.” When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 49:28-33

Jacob died at the age of 147 years after having lived 17 years in Egypt.

Although Jacob was not perfect and endured some difficulties during his life, he was blessed by God.

He kept the promises of God forever on his mind and believed Him for not only his own life, but the lives of his children, his grandchildren, and his descendants for years to come.

It’s important to note that over 400 years later, one of his descendants from the tribe of Levi, Moses, led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the promised land. The land was divided among the following twelve tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh.

Although Joseph was given land, it was not listed as part of the land of the twelve tribes. The lands of his sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were.

Levi’s descendants did not inherit land because they served the LORD at the tent of meeting and later in the temple. Some were priests and others were laborers, and their inheritance was the LORD Himself. They received tithes from the congregation and lived in cities among the twelve tribes where they pastured their flocks.

Please join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: A Blessing to All

I have included a song for your listening pleasure and to help you in your walk with God.

“Faithful Still” – KingsPorch

Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 4

On By Carmen2 Comments

In my last post, Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 3, we learned about Jacob’s life in Haran after marrying Leah and Rachel, both daughters of his uncle Laban who lived in Paddan-aram (Haran).

We resume today with Jacob having just left Haran to return to his home in Canaan. He was actually fleeing Laban due to his deceit and hostility.

Laban found out about Jacob’s departure three days later and began to pursue him. It took him about seven days to catch up to him and he found him near Gilead, a hill country.

God sent Laban a warning to not harm Jacob.

But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

Genesis 31:24

When Laban encountered Jacob, he accused him of fleeing without allowing him to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren and send him off with a celebration. He also accused him of stealing his gods.

He told Jacob that he had every right to attack him, but the God of Jacob’s father spoke to him and warned him to not harm Jacob.

Jacob explained that he left without telling Laban because he was afraid that he would not allow him to leave with his wives. He also told him that he did not steal his gods and that he could search his camp for them. He also said that if he found them, the person who had them would die for stealing them.

Jacob didn’t know that his beloved Rachel had stolen them, but Laban never found them because she was sitting on top of them and made an excuse for not getting up to greet her father Laban.

I am certain that God protected Rachel because of His relationship with Jacob. She was not found out, so she lived.  

We can say that Rachel was blessed through this protection.

Jacob confronts Laban and tells him that he (Laban) has not been good to him even though he worked for him for 20 years (14 years for his wives) and made him wealthy; that he never took anything from Laban even though Laban cheated him by changing his wages ten times.

He acknowledged God’s blessing and protection in his life.

“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.”

Genesis 31:42

So, Laban and Jacob made a covenant between each other with God as a witness to their actions toward each other and their families. They set up stones as a pillar and marker that each would not cross over to do the other harm once they started back to their homelands.

Laban leaves the next morning after saying goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren and pronounces a blessing over them.

With Laban behind him, Jacob continues his journey toward Canaan with yet another concern on his mind.

His focus has turned toward Esau his brother, from whom he fled Canaan twenty years earlier.

Jacob sent servants as messengers ahead of him to meet Esau to ask for favor and to determine the safety of his family. They reported that Esau was on his way to meet him with four hundred men. Jacob divided his family into two camps so that one group would be able to escape if the other was attacked.   

The Bible says that Jacob greatly feared Esau and he called upon God to protect him.

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

Genesis 32:9-12

Jacob then sent servants one by one ahead of him with droves of different animals as gifts for Esau to appease him, so that he would not attack him and his family.

He also sent his wives and children across the Jabbok River away from him for safety. He slept alone that night prior to meeting Esau.

God changes Jacob’s Name

That night the Angel of the LORD, Jesus Christ Himself, wrestled with Jacob until morning.

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 

Genesis 32:24-30

Israel means “striver.” We have seen Jacob strive with several people, and now finally, God—and fighting with all his might, Jacob prevailed. He went from being a deceiver to a fighter.

Jacob just did not give up!

Jacob received a two-fold blessing from God. He was not only blessed, but was able to see God’s face and live. Jacob was not about to let go of the Angel of the LORD without a blessing. I believe that his intent was understood and favored by God probably because of his faith.

At this point, Jacob knew where he stood with God. He was His chosen son and would live for God out of relationship and love for Him.

When we surrender our lives to God and repent, He forgives us and protects us, but this does not mean that we will not have consequences.

Jacob certainly had consequences and learned his lesson about deceiving others.

My sincere wish for you is that you would not look at your past with shame, fear, or disillusionment, but that you would surrender to and trust God—right here, right now.

He loves you and will show Himself to you if you sincerely turn to Him in faith.

Jacob had great faith, and we are told that without faith, it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

The Bible also says that we need faith only the size of a mustard seed. (Matthew 17:20)

Below is a song about never giving up in prayer to God.

“Don’t Stop Praying” – Matthew West

Join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 5