Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday January 10, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the book of Genesis chapters 28-30. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-january-10

As a child, we set goals, although they may change over time, it's our goals and we strive to reach them. Often, those goals get altered as our parents have completely different goals in mind. God gives us all talents and gifts to enable us to fulfill His will first, so, what we think is the will of our children may not be. Of course, we want them to have a better life than we had or see them succeed in life, but we need to seriously take a look at what we want for our children, is it what we want, or what God wants. While God had chosen Jacob to be the heir to the Abrahamic Covenant, Isaac had other plans and tried to pass it along to Esau, but his scheme failed as Rebekah helped Jacob in a scheme of their own. When Isaac realized that God had overruled his scheme he trembled knowing that he was wrong for what he had done, however, he openly acknowledged that Jacob was the one God had chosen to receive the birthright blessing and reassured him that he was about to receive the sacred Abrahamic Covenant blessing. Shortly after, he went to Rebekah, not to accuse her of any wrongdoing, but to decide how best to plan for Jacob's future. They decided to send Jacob to find a wife out of Rebekah's brothers family. “And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughers of Laban thy mother's brother. And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.” - Genesis 28:1-4. It was important that Jacob marry a godly woman, for if he had violated the Word of God in marrying an idol-worshiping woman, as Esau had done, then he would have not received the blessings that God had promised.

As Jacob was headed toward Padanaram he had no idea what the future would bring him, he was forced to camp out in a tent overnight and it was during that time that God had spoke to him. “And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.” - Genesis 28:11-16. I imagine Jacob felt a little uneasy, I mean he was pretty much forced from his home because his only brother wanted to kill him, on top of that he had the pressure of having been blessed with this gift to be heir to the Abrahamic blessing, which he probably did not understand either. However, God was in fact with him and assured him that he was doing the right thing. Thankfully God understands our questions and fears and somehow shows up to assure us that He is always with us and in control whether we realize it or not.

I remember growing up and wanting to be a teacher or an artist, I was even accepted into an art school when I was seventeen. However, my parents had different plans for me, I really do not remember what my mother wanted me to be, I do remember her arguing with me because I wanted to go to the art school and I never did. My father wanted me to marry someone rich and not worry about getting an education. While most women dream of the husband, with two kids, a dog, and a house with a white picket fence, I did not. Why? Because what I saw in a marriage between a husband and wife in my parents I did not want and ran from it. I wanted to make sure that before I even thought about getting married that I had an education for back up just in case the same thing happened to me. You know, the things we do in our lives have a major impact on our loved ones, especially children. Children will mimic who they are around, I heard a saying years ago that a daughter will end up with a man that is similar to her father. I use to think that was ridiculous until I realized one day that I had a fiance in prison for doing the same thing that my father did years ago (not now though). Now, after many years and failed attempts at different careers, I am a missionary, Sunday school teacher, and a website designer. So, I did reach some of my childhood goals, that is, the goals that God had for me. You see, what plans I have for me are nothing compared to what God has, no matter who, what, or how long it takes God is still in control.“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” - Romans 12:4-9. I am no different than any other person here on earth, God gave us gifts and we are to use those gifts for His glory and He will make sure that happens, no matter how long it takes us to figure it out.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn About Salvation Only Made Through Jesus Christ
Go to: I'm Ready to Get Saved
http://www.readytofollow.com/salvation