Daily Scripture Verse – John 1:1-5

November 26th, 2007

John 1:1-5   1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Daily Scripture Verse – Isaiah 12:2

October 29th, 2007

Isaiah 12:2 - 2Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”

Book of Genesis – Genesis Chapter 4 Summary

October 12th, 2007

Quick Chapter Summary

Cain and Abel

  1. Eve gives birth to two sons: Cain, the older, and Abel .
  2. Abel is a shepherd a finds favor in God’s eyes by bringing a pleasing offering to the Lord.
  3. Cain is a farmer and skimps on his offering. The Lord isn’t pleased with this.
  4. Cain becomes angry with the fact that his brother’s offering was better than his.
  5. Cain lures Abel out into the field and kills him.
  6. God curses Cain, places a mark upon him and sends him away.
  7. Genealogy of Cain:
    1. Cain fathers Enoch.
    2. Enoch fathers Irad.
    3. Irad fathers Mehujael.
    4. Mehujael fathers Methushael.
    5. Methushael fathers Lamech.
    6. Lamech fathers Jabal — Jabal’s descendants are nomadic.
    7. Lamech fathers Jubal — Jubal’s descendants are musicians
    8. Lamech fathers Tubal-Cain — Tubal-Cain’s descendants are blacksmiths.
  8. Lamech is a very boastful and ungodly man.
  9. Eve gives birth to Seth.
  10. Seth has a son named Enosh.

Full Chapter Summary

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Genesis Chapter 4

1And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. 2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. 4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch. 18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech. 19And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. 20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah. 23And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. 24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold. 25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.

Book of Matthew – Matthew Chapter 7 Summary

October 12th, 2007

Quick Chapter Summary

Continuation of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (these are Jesus’ teachings)

  1. Jesus discusses judgment:
    1. Do not judge anyone, for similar judgment can also be placed on you.
    2. Always reflect on yourself before pointing out other’s flaws. How can you hypocritically point out a small flaw in another when you are guilty of a much larger one?
    3. Teaching others should be done within their spiritual understanding.
  2. Jesus continues with seeking the things of God
    1. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened.
    2. Jesus compares how parents take care of there children’s needs to how God will fulfill our needs in a greater capacity.
    3. The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have the do to you.
  3. Wide and broad is the road to destruction and hell. Narrow is the road that leads to eternal life.
  4. Jesus warns against false prophets. He points out that you can recognize them by the ‘fruit’ they produce, by there works and actions.
  5. Building upon God’s Word is like building on rock. Your faith will stand the storm. Anyone who hears the Word and rejects it is building on sand and is doomed to destruction.
  6. The people listening to Jesus are amazed because He teaches differently; as one who has actual authority.

Full Chapter Summary

If you’re reading this and would like a more in-depth summary on this chapter, post a comment. Thanks.

Full Text Matthew Chapter 7


Daily Scripture Verse – Proverbs 20:24

October 9th, 2007

Proverbs 20:24 - 24A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

Another amazing insight from the book of Proverbs. In my life…this rings true on a regular basis. Sometimes God gives me some foresight into the road ahead…but more often then not, I see the plan in the ‘rear-view’ as I continue my journey to the next part of His plan.

I’m sure there are plenty that will argue that free will is what governs us. I’d challenge you to think of this for a second. A master luthier (guitar/stringed instrument maker) spends months shaping and forming his next creation. And when the finishing touches are put on it and he sits down to play it…wouldn’t it be an absolute shock it the first string plucked sounded like a trumpet… My point is that God made you. He knows every aspect of you. Every facet of your personality, your mind, your being. To often our minds take the phrase ‘God made me’, and turns it into the visual of God piling up so dirt…mushing it into a humanoid shape…and then ‘say the magic words’…PPoofF! We have human. God created more than that. He created the way you perceive things, the environment you’d be exposed to, your ability to interpret things…and the way you see the world. With a hand in creating all of that…it would probably be pretty easy to create us so that we were prepared to take the journey He had in mind for us.

Prayer

Lord,

I praise you for I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. Some days I feel overwhelmed with the tasks set before me. Help me to use the abilities that You have created in me to accomplish the tasks that You have given to me. I love You. I know I don’t say that enough. I love You. Thank You for loving me first.

Amen .