MY OFF day!!!!

Finally an off day. A day with my love Christiaan.
Have an awesome Sunday:)

Expect trials from God, because the Christian life is not easy.

Expect tests from God

In the "School of Faith" we must have occasional tests, or we will never know where we are spiritually. Abraham had his share of tests right from the beginning. First was the "family test," when he had to leave his loved ones and step out by faith to go to a new land (11:27-12:5). This was followed by the "famine test," which Abraham failed because he doubted God and went down to Egypt for help (12:10-13:4).

Once back in the land, Abraham passed the "fellowship test" when he gave Lot first choice in using the pastureland (5-18). He also passed the "fight test" when he defeated the kings (14:1-16) and the "fortune test" when he said no to Sodom's wealth (17-24). But he failed the "fatherhood test" when Sarah got impatient with God and suggested that Abraham have a child by Hagar (Gen 16). When the time came to send Ishmael away, Abraham passed the "farewell test" even though it broke his heart (21:14-21).

Not every difficult experience in life is necessarily a personal test from God. (Of course, any experience could become a test or a temptation, depending on how we deal with it. See James 1:12-16.) Sometimes our own disobedience causes the pain or disappointment, as when Abraham went to Egypt (Gen 12:10 ff) and to Gerar (Gen 20). Sometimes our hurts are simply a part of normal human life: As we grow older, friends and loved ones relocate or even die, life changes around us, and we must make painful adjustments.

We need to learn to distinguish between trials and temptations. Temptations come from our desires within us (James 1:12-16) while trials come from the Lord who has a special purpose to fulfill. Temptations are used by the devil to bring out the worst in us, but trials are used by the Holy Spirit to bring out the best in us (1-6). Temptations seem logical while trials seem very unreasonable. Why would God give Abraham a son and then ask Abraham to kill him?

All believers face similar temptations to sin (1 Cor 10:13), but not all believers experience the same trials of faith. God's testings are tailor-made for each child of God, and each experience is unique. God never asked Lot to face the tests that Abraham faced. Why? Because Lot was being tempted by the world and the flesh and never grew to the place of maturity that Abraham reached. In one sense, it is a compliment when God sends us a test; it shows God wants to "promote us" in the "School of Faith." God never sends a test until He knows you are ready for it.

Expect trials from God, because the Christian life is not easy.

The world is in a mess, and it does not seem to be getting any better. What is wrong?

It all goes back to events recorded in the Book of Genesis. Except for the account in chapters 1 and 2, the first eleven chapters of Genesis record one failure of man after another, failures that are being repeated today. The first man and woman disobeyed God and were cast out of the Garden (chap. 3). Cain murdered his brother Abel and lied about it (chap. 4). Humanity became so corrupt that God cleansed the earth with a flood (chaps. 6-8). Noah got drunk and exposed himself to his son Ham (chap. 9). In their defiance of God, men built a city and a tower; and God had to send confusion to end the rebellion (chap. 10).

Disobedience, murder, deception, drunkenness, nudity, and rebellion sound pretty up-to-date, don't they? If you were God, what would you do with these sinners, men and women you had created in your own image?

"I'd probably destroy them!" you might reply; but that's not what God did. Instead, God called a man and his wife to leave their home and go to a new land, so that He might give humanity a new beginning. Because of God's call and their obedient faith. Abraham and Sarah ultimately gave to the world the Jewish nation, the Bible, and the Savior. Where would we be today if Abraham and Sarah had not trusted God?

Consider the elements involved in their experience.

Studing Genesis!!!!

So in the 3rd chapter there is THE FALL!!!! As Ive mentioned before. But it's important to know that Satan is real,BUT is a defeated enemy.

Satan is not eternal; he's a created being. He's not all-knowing, all-powerful, or present in all places at all times. He's limited, but he wants you to think he's as great as God and worthy of your obedience. Satan is very powerful and very subtle, and in ourselves we're no match for him.

Satan wants to be god in our lives; he wants our worship and our service. He tempts us by questioning God's Word: "Has God really said?"(Gen 3:1b) He promises to make us like God, but he never keeps that promise. The first step in victory over Satan is not to listen to his offers or believe his promises. We need to know and believe God's truth if we want to detect and defeat the devil's lies.

Satan has been defeated by Jesus Christ, and through Christ we can claim victory (Col 2:15; Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 10:13).

Furthermore through studding the book so far, that LIVING FOR GOD IS MOST REWARDING LIFE POSSIBLE.

God has a different purpose for each of us to fulfill, and He enables us to fulfill it as we trust His Word and obey His will. Whatever He calls us to do can be done to the glory of God. While there are times when it seems like the righteous are suffering and the wicked are succeeding, in the end, the righteous will get their eternal reward and the wicked their eternal punishment.

The Christian life isn't always the easiest life, but it is the most satisfying and rewarding life.

These are just a few of the basics found in Gen 1-11, and illustrated and explained in the rest of the Bible. When you give your life to Christ and build on these basic truths, you build on a solid foundation that can't be moved. To ignore these basics is to build on the sand and make a life that won't survive the storms of life or the final judgment from God. Jesus calls us all back to the basics. Read and ponder Matt 7:21-27.

Have an awesome weekend!!!!
God bless

What a day!!!

So, like I wrote earlier today. I started with Genesis today.I just have to say, God is AWESOME!!! But as i was doing the 2nd chapter. THE FALL!!!! A question rose up in my mind; "why did God have to test Adam and Eve?If he knew they were going to disobey him. Why not just kill the serpent once off,from the beginning?" But you see. When you start asking questions like that you know you need an answer, and not just from anyone. Obviously from the ALMIGHTY Himself. And this is what i came to: God wanted humans to love and obey Him freely and willingly and not because they were programmed like robots who had to obey. He made Adam and Eve in His own image and gave them the privilege of choice, but this is the way He ordained for them to learn about freedom and obedience.Awesome isn't it. WOW!!!! And that was just the start to my day. A taste to what God has in store for me in the rest of this AMAZING story of how all things came to be,all things started(Like the fall) and what had happened after that. And how God's characters shows through out the whole book. His emotion,grace and mercy for the people. What i learn today and this week and next week on this book, makes me think;if this book means so much to me now,how much more must this book have meant for the Original readers? They needed this book so much. just think of what they must have been through at that time,and here Moses comes with this awesome Book from God.

I urge you all to start reading the book. And find out some more information on the background of who wrote the book?where? and when?Who is the book written?What is the setting?The history of the Original readers? and people living that time?

This will help understand why Moses wrote the book in the first place to the people.And as you go through the book. Keep in mind;Gods character,mercy and how the Origenal reader would response to reading this? How would they feel knowing the things mentioned?What would this book mean to them?And why mention all those names. The background information will help with that. Go in-depth. See the father heart of God and the people he created. And the need for Christ.

Chat soon:)

The beginning of studying GENESIS

So. i am starting to chart Genesis today. Will let you know how it is going. I am really excited. Lectures on it so far had been REALLY interesting. Some very strange but interesting topics brought up. Just an awesome way to study Genesis with the Original readers perspective and what they are going through in mind, when Mosses wrote the book. Because it helps understand why mosses actually wrote the book. Now many people also believe that mosses did not write the book. But that is open for discussion. I on the other hand believe it is Mosses.