Day 03 : Cain Killed

Genesis 4:1-15

Apparently this lesson was supposed to be on jealousy and getting along with your family.  I've never really had an issue with jealousy and I don't live with my parents any more, so this passage spoke to my heart in a different way.

In my eyes I saw Abel as a servant to God, bringing him the best sheep when the time came for sacrifice.  I do recognize that God is a jealous God and wants only the best; nothing less will be tolerated.  I understand that Cain killed Abel out of jealousy over God's "favoring" him.  But I read more into the difference in Cain and Abel's faith.

Truly, Abel was not around very long in the passage, but his faith is evident.  He brings the best the first time to God.  He doesn't waiver.  He is a servant of God and only wants to please Him.  Cain brought his crop, yes.  But from what is understood about this passage, the crop was not the best.  To me this related to being "lukewarm" as a Christian.  God doesn't want that.  He doesn't care about lukewarm.  He wants HOT or COLD.  And He says straight up, I would rather you be COLD in your faith than lukewarm.  Basically, I would rather you not be a Christ-follower than be a Christian on Sunday (maybe even Wednesday night if you care to show up to church) and be cursing, drinking, partying, and having sex Monday-Saturday!  WOW!!!!!!  And that thought is what hit me...I need to be and bring my BEST to God at all times.  But I asked Him to help me make the sacrafices necessary to be that for Him.  I can't do this on my own.  I recognize that.  So, I want His help.

Day 02 : Adam Bit

Genesis 3

God.  That name resounds in my head when I hear it.  God.  He knows everything.  EVERYTHING!  I think about that in my life and it used to terrify me.  He knew everything I was going to do before I did it.  He planned everything that I was going to do before I was even born.  So when I think about in this passage where God asks, "Where are you?"  it is kind of comical.  He didn't have to ask.  Cause he KNEW!

Relate:  God knew and still knows whats best for me.  If Adam and Even would have simply trusted God and let go of temptation things would be so different now.  I need to learn to trust God in everything because he's got my back for sure. 

Temptation is a tricky thing.  Sometimes when tempted we can simply walk away.  Other times, it is a very hard struggle.  So why put ourselves in a path of destruction?

Rethink

When I read the question:  What is your biggest temptation, I had to stop and think for a moment.  What is my BIGGEST temptation?  What is it that is the hardest to simply walk away from.  I'm going to be very candid.  Think of me what you will, but this is very important.

Sex.

God created sex to be for a husband and wife.  After having my second child, I realized exactly why that is.  Sex creates a blinding effect of sorts, especially for women.  When we have relations with a man we are wired to have emotions involved.  Some women can turn those emotions off (like I did for many years), but sooner or later it will catch up with her.  But in most cases when we have sex we want no other man.  Nothing that man can do will make us want to leave.  We would work through anything with him.  We will put up with things we normally wouldn't...all because of that blinding effect I mentioned.  Suddenly, we are bonded to that man.  That is how God intended it to be.  We were made to become "one" with our husband.  When we have sex outside of marriage that same bond is created, and when things go bad, leading to a break up, a piece of our heart goes with him.  Only God's hands and time can heal that deep of a wound.

In thinking about my greatest temptation I realized that sex is it.  Everything else was easy to walk away from for me.  I've lived of the world.  I've experienced things I pray not many people ever experience.  But even temptations like alcohol, drugs, money, etc. are easy to walk away from in comparison to sex. 

How do I deal with the temptation?  Easy.  I stay away from it.  Its actually relatively easy.  I don't have guys over to my apartment alone.  I don't get deeply involved emotionally.  I keep my heart guarded.  I don't put myself in situations that would cause me to be tempted.  Now, I can't always stay out of those situations...so when I'm stuck in one, I pray.  HARD!  And then I reflect on how premarital sex has caused so much pain in my life.  Back to what I said about having my second child made me realize why sex is so sacred...its because when I was in the hospital preparing to have my son and my mother was the one holding my hand, my heart began to be opened.  When I held my son...alone...my heart began to be pierced.  When I was up during the middle of the night taking care of my child, my heart broke in two.  God did not intend for new life to come into the world that way.  The birth of a child is supposed to be full of rejoicing, but for me, it was full of heartache and pain.  Realizing I couldn't do it alone and placing my second son up for adoption was when it really hit me.  Sex was made for marriage for a reason!  And now, teen pregnancy is the norm.

But now, its time to stand up.  Its time to be pure again.  Its time to face temptation head on with Christ by our side.  Its time to pray.  Its time to "flee the appearance of evil" [1 Thessalonians 5:22].  Its time to trust God with all of our temptations, because He already knows what they are.  Nothing we could pray about would make God blush.  Yes, He knows what we're thinking, but He wants to hear us CALL out to Him.  So when temptation comes our way, turn to Him.  Remember, that sin that you COULD commit is like a nail that pierced through Christ's body.  No matter what, He will forgive you (if you repent meaning: turn away from it).  But if there was anyway I personally could have caused Him less pain on the cross, I would do it.

Day 01 : God Made

Genesis 1-2

"In the beginning God created..."

Because I grew up in church I've heard this and the phrases following OVER AND OVER again.  But this morning as I started "Renew" they took on a new meaning. 

I read the scripture first, not thinking much more about it than I usually have in the past.  When I started to read at 6:30 this morning I honestly felt like...I really wanna go back to sleep...I know these passages so I'll just answer the questions and go back to bed.  But when I prayed the Lord would open my eyes and show me things I had never seen before in these verses, He did exactly that.

No, the verses didn't change, but my view of them did.  After I finished reading, I opened the devotional book up and read the first question...That's when everything changed.

(I forgot to bring my book to work, so you'll have to forgive me if I don't word everything exactly right.) 

The first part is to relate these verses to MY life.  As I thought about how God's creating the Heavens and the Earth and everything in it, I couldn't escape the words...

"Let us create man in our image..." 

I realized, I am created in the image of My Father.  Oh my gosh!  Now to some of you that might not mean much.  But after the things I've been allowed to go through in my life, knowing that I was formed by HIS hands to be LIKE HIM blows my mind!!!

What captured my attention even more was...

"And he saw that it was good."

I believe that after God formed me in my mother's womb [Psalm 139:13] He looked down upon me and said..."She is made in Our image.  Erica Ann Peters is good."  That thought sent chills down my spine.  No matter what my imperfections, HE MADE ME specifically.  I am one of a kind.

  

The last question asked what my favorite part of creation was.  And for me, the answer was simple.  It might sound crazy at first, but just read on and I promise it won't sound crazy for long.

Air.  Oxygen.  This is my favorite part of creation.  Why?  Think about it.  When you wake up first thing in the morning and actually all through the night you're breathing.  While you are asleep, basically unconscious, your body is breathing.  How do you think your body knows to do that?  Because God made us that way. 

"He breathed into Adam the breath of life." 

 I began to wonder...why do I wake up every morning?  Because God breaths the breath of life into me.  No, He doesn't do it like He did with Adam, but if God wanted...I wouldn't wake up in the morning.  Why? Because He could choose NOT to breathe into me.

As I'm writing now I'm realizing even more.  I accepted Christ into my life when I was 13 and that was the day God breathed life into me.  Every breath I take is because He has a purpose for me to live another day. 

Day 1's devotion brought new meaning literally to my life.  I AM LIVING BECAUSE HE WANTS ME ALIVE!