The Patriarch's

Our Friday Women's Bible Study had brought so much depth and fruit into our lives over this past year. If I could share everything, I would be writing for hours. But, I realized that I should share the most important points that we have learned with you all.

We are studying Joseph right now (do you know he bragged incessantly, tattled on his brothers and was probably very spoiled as a child?). Before him it was his father Jacob (who stole his brother's inheritance and his brother Esau..of course we learned much about Isaac and Abraham (who asked his wife to pose as his sister so that he would not be killed) One thing that has been pointed out over and over is just how human these men (and their women) were!! They were not perfect! They lied, deceived, bragged, stole...and yet they were God's chosen? What this all brings to my mind is how I have placed these Biblical human beings (not just characters in a book) on such high pedestal's over the years. These were God's chosen people. He loved them deeply.

Yes, they had their major flaws, their weaknesses, and yet, God so truly loved them!!! He stood by them, he taught them, he carried them, because they loved him and worshipped him. He turned their bad decisions into good. He pulled them out of the holes that they dug themselves into!

How many times do we make horrible mistakes? Some of us have gone through such hard lessons in life that we try and follow God more closely and try to live our lives in a better way (from our past). Some of us are just now starting to understand and embrace God. Either way, we are still making mistakes. We hurt each other, we don't always make the best decisions for all of those around us... but we love the Lord and we know that He watches over us....even though....we are flawed, we are not perfect.

We sometimes make decisions that don't include God... we go on on a path He has not chosen for us and we feel that something is very wrong. We feel that God has turned His back on us. I beg you, when you are feeling like this, look at your life and analyze where you are. Are you allowing God on the path you have chosen, or do you know He wouldn't want you there? Are you seeking Him? Are you speaking, praying to Him? Because God never turns away, we do. God never stops trying to get our attention, we turn our backs. He is always there waiting, like a father waiting for a long lost child to come home. He longs to hold us and to tell us everything is going to be ok. Will you allow him to do that for you?

I ask you, this week, to read Genesis if you have time. See what I have seen in the heroes our Bible speaks of. You will see that you are just as worthy of God's love as they were. Don't ever feel that you are not. His door is always open.

Dave says that hell's door is locked from the inside, meaning if we feel like we are in the depths of hell here on earth, we have the power to let ourselves out and back into the light of God. All we need to do is turn the handle and walk through and God will be waiting there for you, with arms stretched wide and probably with tears of joy on His face. Waiting for you.

I will leave you with that beautiful picture!

He is waiting, to bring you His Kingdom on Earth today. To fill your days with joy and love...today.. don't wait, run and don't miss another minute of all He has for you!

God bless you and yours on this beautiful day!!