My Love Life

 Written April 2, 2016

“Which is the most important command?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.” Matt. 22:36-39

Life is all about learning to love and God gives us a lifetime to get this commandment right. We fill our life up with so many other things and even good things. For example, the first thing we do when we have a child is accumulate all that is needed for that child. The crib, the layette set, the diapers and all the beautiful little things we see in the baby stores for our little ones. We focus on accumulating the money needed to bring up that child, our careers and our children's education. All of these things are important and well meaning in life.

At this stage of my life as I look back and realize now that all those things and all those concerns were not really where I needed to focus. The best use of my life, my time and my energy for my husband and my children would have been a life of Love. Yes, of course I loved them all but was it really my primary focus each day? As parents, we do the best we know how to do but humanly speaking it can lead to much disappointment.

If we really understood God's redeeming love for us then everything else would be fine. Why? Because if we believe in a God that is all about "Love & Grace" then we will reflect that same "Love & Grace." Do our children see our love for God and our love for others in our daily life? What would our children say was our focus? A million other things? 

Do I write this because that is exactly what I did or do now? No, I write this because I didn't get it right at all and want others to learn from my own mistakes. My blogs need to expose me for all my own sins and my own mistakes, not the sins of others. There is much to be learned from just my mistakes, trust me! Thank God I am redeemed at the cross for ALL my mistakes in the past and ALL my mistakes in the present and future. 

Romans 7:18-20For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 

This picture was taken many years ago of our family when we stayed in the Cumberland Mountains ~ wonderful memories!

A Mother's Dream

When Eve held her babies in her arms I am sure it is much like we all do when we have our own children. We begin to hope and dream a bright future for each of them. Eve didn't dream that one child would grow up to be jealous of the other. She certainly never dreamed that one would grow up to kill the other one. As parents we are so devastated when our dreams for our children begin to unravel and we find ourselves grieving instead at the loss of those dreams.

Adam and Eve passed on the curse of their own sin to their children as we do ourselves. Fortunately, God in His mercy gave them another child named Seth and hope for the future. It is easy for us to look at other parents and see all their mistakes but not always our own. Before we blame Eve for the demise of her son or any other parents for their own weaknesses we have to realize how truly broken we ourselves are too. 

For ALL have sinned and that means ALL.....I look back now on my own life and can see more of my own mistakes as a mom than the mistakes of all the other moms around me. When I was a young mom I didn't see my own mistakes but I do now, it's called hindsight. If I had advice as a grandmother to younger mom's it would be not to judge other parents. Be kind to everyone and ask God to guide you moment by moment with your children.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”  And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26

This picture was taken on a road along the Mediterranean Sea leading to 

Nerja Spain when I visited in 2007.

A Mother’s Dream

When Eve held her babies in her arms I am sure it is much like we all do when we have our own children. We begin to hope and dream a bright future for each of them. Eve didn't dream that one child would grow up to be jealous of the other. She certainly never dreamed that one would grow up to kill the other one. As parents we are so devastated when our dreams for our children begin to unravel and we find ourselves grieving instead at the loss of those dreams.

Adam and Eve passed on the curse of their own sin to their children as we do ourselves. Fortunately, God in His mercy gave them another child named Seth and hope for the future. It is easy for us to look at other parents and see all their mistakes but not always our own. Before we blame Eve for the demise of her son or any other parents for their own weaknesses we have to realize how truly broken we ourselves are too. 

For ALL have sinned and that means ALL.....I look back now on my own life and can see more of my own mistakes as a mom than the mistakes of all the other moms around me. When I was a young mom I didn't see my own mistakes but I do now, it's called hindsight. If I had advice as a grandmother to younger mom's it would be not to judge other parents. Be kind to everyone and ask God to guide you moment by moment with your children.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”  And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26

This picture was taken on a road along the Mediterranean Sea leading to 

Nerja Spain when I visited in 2007.

A Mother’s Dream

When Eve held her babies in her arms I am sure it is much like we all do when we have our own children. We begin to hope and dream a bright future for each of them. Eve didn't dream that one child would grow up to be jealous of the other. She certainly never dreamed that one would grow up to kill the other one. As parents we are so devastated when our dreams for our children begin to unravel and we find ourselves grieving instead at the loss of those dreams.

Adam and Eve passed on the curse of their own sin to their children as we do ourselves. Fortunately, God in His mercy gave them another child named Seth and hope for the future. It is easy for us to look at other parents and see all their mistakes but not always our own. Before we blame Eve for the demise of her son or any other parents for their own weaknesses we have to realize how truly broken we ourselves are too. 

For ALL have sinned and that means ALL.....I look back now on my own life and can see more of my own mistakes as a mom than the mistakes of all the other moms around me. When I was a young mom I didn't see my own mistakes but I do now, it's called hindsight. If I had advice as a grandmother to younger mom's it would be not to judge other parents. Be kind to everyone and ask God to guide you moment by moment with your children.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”  And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26

This picture was taken on a road along the Mediterranean Sea leading to 

Nerja Spain when I visited in 2007.

A Mother’s Dream

When Eve held her babies in her arms I am sure it is much like we all do when we have our own children. We begin to hope and dream a bright future for each of them. Eve didn't dream that one child would grow up to be jealous of the other. She certainly never dreamed that one would grow up to kill the other one. As parents we are so devastated when our dreams for our children begin to unravel and we find ourselves grieving instead at the loss of those dreams.

Adam and Eve passed on the curse of their own sin to their children as we do ourselves. Fortunately, God in His mercy gave them another child named Seth and hope for the future. It is easy for us to look at other parents and see all their mistakes but not always our own. Before we blame Eve for the demise of her son or any other parents for their own weaknesses we have to realize how truly broken we ourselves are too. 

For ALL have sinned and that means ALL.....I look back now on my own life and can see more of my own mistakes as a mom than the mistakes of all the other moms around me. When I was a young mom I didn't see my own mistakes but I do now, it's called hindsight. If I had advice as a grandmother to younger mom's it would be not to judge other parents. Be kind to everyone and ask God to guide you moment by moment with your children.

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”  And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4:25-26

This picture was taken on a road along the Mediterranean Sea leading to 

Nerja Spain when I visited in 2007.

Gardening of the Soul

 Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Have you ever read an article or book on gardening? When you read it, does it make you a gardener? Of course not, we have to follow the instructions and actually do the planting in order to benefit from what we have read. The same principle applies to reading our Bible; the scriptures tell us that we are not just to be hearers of the Word but doers......it does make a difference!

God's Word can transform our lives if we will apply it's principles to our lives and can grow us spiritually. If we read it and don't apply it would it give us the same benefit? We choose what to do with the information just like we choose when we read the gardening books. We have to apply that knowledge into planting and learn from all our mistakes. For instance,  when I began gardening it was A LOT of failure at first, then I would try again and I never gave it up. I remember the first time a neighbor walked by and said, “your garden is beautiful.”  I was so thrilled and realized after many, many years of trial and error I finally was a gardener....now people are always asking advice on how and what to grow because they know I have the knowledge and experience. Did I obtain it from just reading the many books and magazines? No, it took a lot of years and I had to actually get down in the dirt and get dirty, disappointed, and all that comes from cultivating a garden. 

We are to meditate and memorize God's Word so that it will be in our hearts and live out in our lives!

Took this picture on my walk January 15, 2012.

Genesis Chapter 20

 

This chapter took place when Abraham was 99 years old, approximately 1897 BC and Sarah was 89 years old. Genesis chapters 1-11 covers about 2000 years. Genesis chapters 12-21:1 covers about 25 years. Genesis chapters 17-20 covers about 6 weeks. In chapter 17 is when God changed Abrams name to Abraham. Chapters 21-50 covers about 260 years.

Verses 1-7

After Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Abraham and Sarah went to live in Gerar.

They met the king Abimelech and Abraham told him she was his sister. Abimelech took Sarah into his house to become his wife but God appeared to him in a dream warning him she was someone’s wife and he was a dead man.

Abimelech told the Lord he didn’t know she was someone’s wife and the Lord knew his heart was pure.

In verses 3-6 it shows that sometimes non-believers have more integrity than believers because in this chapter while Abraham was lacking integrity Abimelech showed integrity. Abraham has compromised his wife for his own safety and tarnished his reputation as a Christian.

Vs 7 God told Abimelech to return Sarah to Abraham or he would surely die. God also says that Abraham is a prophet which is the first time this word is used in the Bible. Abraham will never foretell the future but he does act out prophecy.

Verses 8-18

Abimelech asked Abraham why he lied to him.

Abraham said he thought Gerar was a godless place and he was afraid someone would kill him to have Sarah. So Abraham wrongly assumes that because he is in a town with non-believers that they must be evil and untrustworthy.

Sarah was his half sister so it was a partial truth. She was the daughter of Abraham’s father. (There were only 8 people on the ark so there were definitely marriages within the families to populate the earth again) Abraham’s half truth is still a whole lie.

Abimelech gave Sarah back and gifted Abraham with sheep, oxen, servants

and 1,000 pieces of silver.

Abraham prayed for  Abimelech and the Lord healed him, his wife, and their female slaves.

For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife.

The actions of Abimelech shows that he feared God and was afraid of the consequences of sin.

There is so much life application in the book of Genesis because whatever was written in former times was written for our instruction.

The first time Abraham told Sarah to say she was his sister was back in chapter 12 when they were in Egypt. Now in this chapter he tells her again but they are closer to home. Seems to be a pattern of deception in his life which we will see was passed down to future generations as we study the book of Genesis.

Sometimes we make the same mistake over and over again just like Abraham.

He was scared for his life so he lied which was his excuse for his bad behavior. These stories are written for us as a warning and we must be careful not to excuse sin.

God will act on our faith. Remember He will make a way where there seems to be no other way. Keep believing and keep trusting in the God of Abraham who used him in spite of his mistakes just as He is able to use us in spite of ours. With God all things are possible!

Genesis Chapter 12

  

In this chapter we are going to learn what happens when you follow the Lord. Abram would become Abraham - the Father of Faith and the beginning of the Jewish nation. 

Verses 1-9

Abraham heard God’s voice saying, follow me.

Verse 2 God says, I will bless you. 

God promised to make his descendants a great nation and bless all the people of the earth through him.

He took his household and his nephew Lot and departed out of Haran around 1921 BC

Abram built an altar in Bethel before continuing their journey.

Verses 10-20

The famine was the first sign of trouble. Abram made a decision to go down to Egypt over what God said. Egypt in the Bible always represents the world. 

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help;…But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!

Abram knew his wife was beautiful and asked her to lie and say she was his sister because he was afraid they would kill him. The Pharoah of Egypt took her to his house and God sent plagues. When Pharaoh realized what was going on he gave Sarai back to Abram and sent them out of Egypt.

Abram showed little faith in God with his family and in front of Pharaoh and his household. He didn’t trust that God was working on his behalf. 

Psalm 37:23 says The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way.

Let’s learn from Abrams mistakes to trust God is working on our behalf. 

God never gives up on us!

Facing Failure

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

Micah said, when I fall, I shall arise. I may stumble, I may make mistakes and I may fail, but with God's help I am determined to get up and keep going.  Life is full of failures for all of us!

Failure comes in many forms such as not living up to our own expectations or the expectations of others. There are times we have been a disappointment to others or to ourselves. There was once a man who said, “We are either failing, or living with the consequences of failure, or recovering from failure, or facing failure in the face, or living with the fear of failure.” 

In almost any area of our lives, we can feel like a failure. We may have failed our parents, our spouse, our kids, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors and the list goes on.  A great reminder of failure is the verse, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  

Failure is not just something for a limited few but instead is common to everyone.

These are treats the kids at church made on Sunday, January 2014.

Under Construction!

Many times people have said to me that I must be writing my blogs about them because of things we have discussed. It's so funny to me when I hear that because in all honesty these devotionals are about my own struggles, my own sins, my own doubts and fears. Family and friends have said that I have a way of writing that encourages them when truthfully I am also writing to remind myself to stay encouraged.

You might assume because I have been going to church all of my life and involved in full time ministry over the years that I have all the answers but it really isn't that way at all. I am still struggling, growing and learning myself right along with everyone else. Under construction is the best way to describe me in my walk with the Lord.

I am grateful for family and friends that are in my life that accept me with all my struggles, faults and many mistakes that I continue to make daily. We are all on this journey together, thank God!

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This picture was taken in my dining room, September 2013 

and the smaller picture was taken of my  nephews 
with my grandbaby Easter 2013.

Under Construction!

Many times people have said to me that I must be writing my blogs about them because of things we have discussed. It's so funny to me when I hear that because in all honesty these devotionals are about my own struggles, my own sins, my own doubts and fears. Family and friends have said that I have a way of writing that encourages them when truthfully I am also writing to remind myself to stay encouraged.

You might assume because I have been going to church all of my life and involved in ministry over the years that I have all the answers but it really isn't that way at all. I am still struggling, growing and learning myself right along with everyone else. Under construction is the best way to describe me in my walk with the Lord.

I am grateful for family and friends that are in my life that accept me with all my struggles, faults and many mistakes that I continue to make daily. We are all on this journey together, thank God!

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This picture was taken in my dining room, September 2013 

and the smaller picture was taken of my  nephews 
with my grandbaby Easter 2013.

Releasing My Grief

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

There was a time in my life that I did not allow others to see my grief because I was afraid. Most of my life I didn't even allow myself to see and feel my own grief. I didn't like feeling weak and vulnerable but instead more in control of my own emotions. 

Life has taught me that it is healthier for me to release my grief. Crying out to God that I am hurting like David does in the book of Psalms. Dealing with my grief is better than rehearsing it over and over in my head or stuffing it. Feelings that are pushed down will only fester up in time.

Frozen anger and resentment will manifest in other forms. I have learned to be honest in my words with others and with myself. Unfortunately, I have hurt feelings in the honesty of my emotions and for that I am truly sorry. I do not want to cause anyone any pain because life has enough difficulties. I am trusting God to protect me and my relationships because He has the power to overcome any of my mistakes. I can't always trust others to say or do what is right. I certainly cannot trust myself to always say or do what is right but I can trust GOD!

He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.

Psalm 107:29

This picture was taken of a wall that I decorated for my granddaughter September 2013. I wrote on the picture the words from the song Love Lifted Me talking about God's love.

Facing Failure

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

Micah said, when I fall, I shall arise. I may stumble, I may make mistakes and I may fail, but with God's help I am determined to get up and keep going.  Life is full of failures for all of us!

Failure comes in many forms such as not living up to our own expectations or the expectations of others. There are times we have been a disappointment to others or to ourselves. There was once a man who said, “We are either failing, or living with the consequences of failure, or recovering from failure, or facing failure in the face, or living with the fear of failure.” 

In almost any area of our lives, we can feel like a failure. We may have failed our parents, our spouse, our kids, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors and the list goes on.  A great reminder of failure is the verse, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  

Failure is not just something for a limited few but instead is common to everyone.

These are treats the kids at church made on Sunday, January 2014.

Releasing My Grief

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

There was a time in my life that I did not allow others to see my grief because I was afraid. Most of my life I didn't even allow myself to see and feel my own grief. I didn't like feeling weak and vulnerable but instead more in control of my own emotions. 

Life has taught me that it is healthier for me to release my grief. Crying out to God that I am hurting like David does in the book of Psalms. Dealing with my grief is better than rehearsing it over and over in my head or stuffing it. Feelings that are pushed down will only fester up in time.

Frozen anger and resentment will manifest in other forms. I have learned to be honest in my words with others and with myself. Unfortunately, I have hurt feelings in the honesty of my emotions and for that I am truly sorry. I do not want to cause anyone any pain because life has enough difficulties. I am trusting God to protect me and my relationships because He has the power to overcome any of my mistakes. I can't always trust others to say or do what is right. I certainly cannot trust myself to always say or do what is right but I can trust GOD!

He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.

Psalm 107:29

This picture was taken of a wall that I decorated for my granddaughter September 2013. I wrote on the picture the words from the song Love Lifted Me talking about God's love.

Genesis Chapter 12

  

In this chapter we are going to learn what happens when you follow the Lord. Abram would become Abraham - the Father of Faith and the beginning of the Jewish nation. 

Verses 1-9

Abraham heard God’s voice saying, follow me.

Verse 2 God says, I will bless you. 

God promised to make his descendants a great nation and bless all the people of the earth through him.

He took his household and his nephew Lot and departed out of Haran around 1921 BC

Abram built an altar in Bethel before continuing their journey.

Verses 10-20

The famine was the first sign of trouble. Abram made a decision to go down to Egypt over what God said. Egypt in the Bible always represents the world. 

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help;…But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!

Abram knew his wife was beautiful and asked her to lie and say she was his sister because he was afraid they would kill him. The Pharoah of Egypt took her to his house and God sent plagues. When Pharaoh realized what was going on he gave Sarai back to Abram and sent them out of Egypt.

Abram showed little faith in God with his family and in front of Pharaoh and his household. He didn’t trust that God was working on his behalf. 

Psalm 37:23 says The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way.

Let’s learn from Abrams mistakes to trust God is working on our behalf. 

God never gives up on us!

Facing Failure

Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me. Micah 7:8

Micah said, when I fall, I shall arise. I may stumble, I may make mistakes and I may fail, but with God's help I am determined to get up and keep going.  Life is full of failures for all of us!

Failure comes in many forms such as not living up to our own expectations or the expectations of others. There are times we have been a disappointment to others or to ourselves. There was once a man who said, “We are either failing, or living with the consequences of failure, or recovering from failure, or facing failure in the face, or living with the fear of failure.” 

In almost any area of our lives, we can feel like a failure. We may have failed our parents, our spouse, our kids, our friends, our co-workers, our neighbors and the list goes on.  A great reminder of failure is the verse, Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  

Failure is not just something for a limited few but instead is common to everyone.

These are treats the kids at church made on Sunday, January 2014.

Genesis Chapter 16

  

Genesis 16

This chapter continues the story of Abram and his wife Sarai but introduces a new character to their story, Hagar. (Sarai’s Egyptian servant) 

The story of Abram is an example to us how to grow in our own faith. In Romans 4:16 Abraham is called the father of all who believe. He makes mistakes but he does continue to grow spiritually.

Verses 1-6

Sarai’s first recorded words are “the Lord has kept me from having children.” - she speaks her circumstances instead of speaking God’s promises.

Sarai told Abram to take Hagar as his wife and have a child with her. Abram listened to his wife. (Now this is not God’s way of doing things and we are still dealing today with the consequences of that decision).

Hagar had a child and looked down on Sarai and this caused conflict between the two women. 

Vs 5 Sarai is mad at Abram and blames him for the conflict between her and Hagar.

Vs 6 Abrams gave Sarai permission to do what she wanted to Hagar and she dealt harshly with her so Hagar runs away.

Verses 7-16

An Angel found Hagar and asked her where she was going. She told him she was getting away from Sarai.

The Angel told her to return to Sarai her mistress and submit to her because she was pregnant with a son and the Lord was going to make his descendants into a large nation.

Vs 12 She was instructed to name her son Ishmael. The Angel foretold that Ishmael would be a wild man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s against him. In other words, he will live in hostility towards all his brothers. (This is a prophecy given 4,000 years ago that the Jewish people and the Arabs will be in hostility towards each other and that has been going on for 4,000 years).

Hagar called the Lord “the God of seeing” because He looked after her in her time of trouble.

The spring of water where the Angel and Hagar met became known as Beer-lahai-roi.

Hagar the Egyptian believed God’s promise and returns in faith. She comes back obedient to God.

Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

God has given us these details about Abrams life for us. In some of these stories of Abram he gets it right and in some like this story, he doesn’t. The greatest lesson here is NOT to speak our circumstances but instead speak God’s promises. Speaking circumstances never activates the promises of God.

We can’t rush God by taking matters into our own hands. God had promised to make Abram’s descendants into a great nation in Chapter 12. As they got older the chances of that seemed impossible. Sarai decided to solve things her own way but that ended up causing more problems in their home. This story teaches us that it is better to trust God patiently.

Gardening of the Soul

 Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Have you ever read an article or book on gardening? When you read it, does it make you a gardener? Of course not, we have to follow the instructions and actually do the planting in order to benefit from what we have read. The same principle applies to reading our Bible; the scriptures tell us that we are not just to be hearers of the Word but doers......it does make a difference!

God's Word can transform our lives if we will apply it's principles to our lives and can grow us spiritually. If we read it and don't apply it would it give us the same benefit? We choose what to do with the information just like we choose when we read the gardening books. We have to apply that knowledge into planting and learn from all our mistakes. For instance,  when I began gardening it was A LOT of failure at first, then I would try again and I never gave up. I remember the first time a neighbor walked by and said, “your garden is beautiful.”  I was so thrilled and realized after many, many years of trial and error I finally was a gardener....now people are always asking advice on how and what to grow because they know I have the knowledge and experience. Did I obtain it from just reading the many books and magazines? No, it took a lot of years and I had to actually get down in the dirt and get dirty, disappointed, and all that comes from cultivating a garden. 

We are to meditate and memorize God's Word so that it will be in our hearts and live out in our lives!

Took this picture on my walk January 15, 2012.

Genesis Chapter 16

 

Genesis 16

This chapter continues the story of Abram and his wife Sarai but introduces a new character to their story, Hagar. (Sarai’s Egyptian servant) 

The story of Abram is an example to us how to grow in our own faith. In Romans 4:16 Abraham is called the father of all who believe. He makes mistakes but he does continue to grow spiritually.

Verses 1-6

Sarai’s first recorded words are “the Lord has kept me from having children.” - she speaks her circumstances instead of speaking God’s promises.

Sarai told Abram to take Hagar as his wife and have a child with her. Abram listened to his wife. (Now this is not God’s way of doing things and we are still dealing today with the consequences of that decision).

Hagar had a child and looked down on Sarai and this caused conflict between the two women. 

Vs 5 Sarai is mad at Abram and blames him for the conflict between her and Hagar.

Vs 6 Abrams gave Sarai permission to do what she wanted to Hagar and she dealt harshly with her so Hagar runs away.

Verses 7-16

An Angel found Hagar and asked her where she was going. She told him she was getting away from Sarai.

The Angel told her to return to Sarai her mistress and submit to her because she was pregnant with a son and the Lord was going to make his descendants into a large nation.

Vs 12 She was instructed to name her son Ishmael. The Angel foretold that Ishmael would be a wild man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s against him. In other words, he will live in hostility towards all his brothers. (This is a prophecy given 4,000 years ago that the Jewish people and the Arabs will be in hostility towards each other and that has been going on for 4,000 years).

Hagar called the Lord “the God of seeing” because He looked after her in her time of trouble.

The spring of water where the Angel and Hagar met became known as Beer-lahai-roi.

Hagar the Egyptian believed God’s promise and returns in faith. She comes back obedient to God.

Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

God has given us these details about Abrams life for us. In some of these stories of Abram he gets it right and in some like this story, he doesn’t. The greatest lesson here is NOT to speak our circumstances but instead speak God’s promises. Speaking circumstances never activates the promises of God.

We can’t rush God by taking matters into our own hands. God had promised to make Abram’s descendants into a great nation in Chapter 12. As they got older the chances of that seemed impossible. Sarai decided to solve things her own way but that ended up causing more problems in their home. This story teaches us that it is better to trust God patiently.