Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Friday January 16, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Genesis.

Today's Message: Guided by God
It is important that our first priority before making any life decision should be to seek God for His guidance. Often we make decisions based on our own feelings and the results can bring many consequences. When we take the time to seek God before we do anything we not only follow His will we also save ourselves from many disappointments.

Today's Bible Reading: Genesis Chapters 46-48
You can read the chapters online by clicking the link above, if it does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2046-48&version=9

Our lives are created to focus our attention on the guidance of God, through faith and trust in Him we are able to endure the tests that are set before us. God is able to take the most pathetic situations and turn them into the most wonderful blessings we have ever imagined. When Jacob learned that Joseph was still alive he did not rush for a grand reunion because he knew that God had planned for his people to live in Canaan, not in Egypt. So he waited on conformation from God before he headed to Egypt. "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes. And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt." (Genesis 46:1-7). Since the will of God remained uppermost in Jacob's heart, he needed assurance from God concerning his journey to Egypt. We too need to seek God in making major decisions regardless of who we want to be with.

The Lord assured Jacob that their sojourn in Egypt was not to be a permanent one, but that it would be a time of preparing his family to become a great nation. Earthly life is a time of preparation for an eternity with God. What gets priority, and how we live, is an expression of our preparation for eternity. Our eyes should not be set on worldly securities and personal achievements, but foremost on being the person God wants us to be in order to accomplish the purpose for which He created us. God will direct our paths to the best life we can possibly have as long as we let Him guide us.

The life of Jacob gives the believer insight into the sovereignty of God, who assists, strengthens, and sustains all who are faithful to Him. As the years in Egypt passed, Jacob came to see how God had been directing, protecting, and providing for him all of his life.

This remarkable man of God received much abuse throughout his life, but God awarded more blessings on Jacob than any other man in Old Testament history. The name of Abraham, the father of the faithful, appears over 300 times in Scripture. The name Isaac appears only 131 times, often only in conjunction with Abraham and Jacob. Jacob, however, is mentioned over 370 times, and his new name Israel, referring to both himself and his descendants, appears over 2500 times.
Jesus Christ is Revealed: By Joseph.
"And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families." (Genesis 47:12). Joseph was placed second only to Pharaoh to sustain life and give provision to his people. Jesus came to this earth to sustain and provide for us. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35).

Today's Psalm: 119:4-6
"Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments."

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
As Your children we need to regularly examine our hearts to see if there are things, pursuits, or attitudes that are drawing us away from Your heart and thrusting us once again into the mindset of the world. Our heart’s examinations are not intended to condemn us, but to refresh our spirit and remind us of our godly heritage. Lord, since You know our hearts more than we do ourselves, reveal to us that which helps and that which hinders our Christian walk. As we walk in obedience to You we’re grateful for the peace and rest we receive in knowing that You do not condemn us, but deliver mercy to help us in our time of need. You do not stand over us in judgment, but You walk alongside us assuring us of Your unwavering love and unending mercy that will see us through on this side of the journey. In Jesus' name............Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God bless you,
Christina
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