As we continue to study Permenter's devotional, Rise, we spend about a week looking at Genesis 3-5. I want to encourage you to notice a few matters along the way.
The Fall -Genesis 3.
The Motive- The motive for eating the fruit (we don't know if it was an apple) was to know more and to be like God. The reality is that every sin that we commit is a choice that we make to become our own little god. When we sin, we decide that our will is greater than God's will, our choices are bigger than God's, our guidance is more keen than God's.
The Fault- Who was at fault for the sin? Adam blamed Eve...or he blamed God for giving him Eve. Eve blamed the snake. People have been blaming someone else for their sins every since. Don't be mistaken: we are all responsible for our own sins, even though others do contribute to our spiritual ailments.
The Cost- The fall in to sin costs them a lot more than they ever would have imagined. It always does. The devil will try to tell you that it won't hurt you or anyone else. Sin always hurts you and others. As a matter of fact, it always has a bigger effect than you thought it would.
The Bad Offering and The Bitter Spirit- Genesis 4.
People have been trying to figure out why Cain's offering was not accepted. Was it not acceptable because it was the wrong type? Did God say that He wanted a sin offering or a blood sacrifice? Scripture does not say. I will tell you what it does say in Hebrews 11.4. Hebrews 11.4 points more to the man than the offering. Have your heart right when you give an offering.
Old People- Genesis 5.
The genealogy of Genesis 5 is interesting to me for two reasons. The first is how long people lived before the flood. I believe there was a different atmosphere (a greenhouse or canopy effect) before the flood. Lives get much shorter after the flood. The second observation is how Methuselah died.
Methuselah lived longer than anyone ever has: 969 years. He lived 782 years after he fathered Lamech. Lamech was 182 when he had Noah. The flood came when Noah was 600. Lamech died five years before the flood. Methuselah died when Noah was 600....the year of the flood. I hope grandpa died before the flood came and not after they shut the door. Just something to think about.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Thursday, January 2, 2014
A Few Creative Thoughts
Today, as we continue in Gary Permenter's Rise devotional, we read Genesis 1. We will be reading Genesis 2 in the days ahead. Notice a couple of matters as you read:
It All Came From God.
Nothing existed. God spoke and it was. The emphasis of creation is God.
He brings order to chaos.
The 'without form and void' that is spoken of in Genesis 1.2 is speaking of chaos. Even the 'expanse' and 'waters' that the earth is formed from speaks of chaos. However, God speaks and order comes from chaos. Notice everything He made was made 'according to its kind'. It was not haphazard. It was not an explosion. He speaks and it exists.
He does not leave us alone.
Humans were made to be in relationship with the Lord. He also gave us the opportunity for mutual companionship, so that we would not feel alone. However, we are never alone for He is always there.
The other message is how that applies to us.
All comes from God. Look to Him. He will provide.
Let Him speak to your heart and life. He will bring order to your chaos. Hear His Voice.
Jesus promises us that He will not leave us alone. He will come to us. Rest in never being alone.
Rise is a 50 day devotional written by evangelist and Chickasaw Baptist Associational Missions Director Gary Permenter. If you would like a copy of this devotional work, please contact me (drheeringa@bellsouth.net) or FBC Houston, MS (fbchouston@bellsouth.net) with your information and we will send you one as long as they are available.
It All Came From God.
Nothing existed. God spoke and it was. The emphasis of creation is God.
He brings order to chaos.
The 'without form and void' that is spoken of in Genesis 1.2 is speaking of chaos. Even the 'expanse' and 'waters' that the earth is formed from speaks of chaos. However, God speaks and order comes from chaos. Notice everything He made was made 'according to its kind'. It was not haphazard. It was not an explosion. He speaks and it exists.
He does not leave us alone.
Humans were made to be in relationship with the Lord. He also gave us the opportunity for mutual companionship, so that we would not feel alone. However, we are never alone for He is always there.
The other message is how that applies to us.
All comes from God. Look to Him. He will provide.
Let Him speak to your heart and life. He will bring order to your chaos. Hear His Voice.
Jesus promises us that He will not leave us alone. He will come to us. Rest in never being alone.
Rise is a 50 day devotional written by evangelist and Chickasaw Baptist Associational Missions Director Gary Permenter. If you would like a copy of this devotional work, please contact me (drheeringa@bellsouth.net) or FBC Houston, MS (fbchouston@bellsouth.net) with your information and we will send you one as long as they are available.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
From The Beginning
Today we read Genesis 1.
First Baptist Church and several other churches throughout to state and beyond begin a new study today by Gary Permenter entitled Rise. It is a 50-Day look through the book of Genesis. As Genesis is the book of beginnings (that is what the name means), the new year is a great time to 'begin' again.
It may be that you need to begin reading God's Word and meditating upon it daily. It may be that you need to begin to take better care of your body...your finances...your family...your church family. Whatever it is that you need to revisit and put a fresh touch on, I encourage you to begin it today.
It is a new start for me. I think particularly this morning about four areas. I want to begin again with my health. I have made an effort to lose weight over the last year and half. I lost about 50 lbs. through about August of this year. However, when school started back and changed my morning schedule and my responsibilities began to ramp up, my exercise and diet began to ramp down. My net weight loss is no longer at 50. It is time to begin again.
Although I don't care to begin again, I want to make a new year's effort at being the best husband and father that I can be. I do some things right, but I know I get a lot wrong as well. I just want to do all I can and be all I can be to help my family be as strong and God-centered as possible. The beginning of the year is a great time to 'begin again.'
I am thanking God today for what He has done and is doing in the ministry of our church. I am taking time today, as I have all week, to refocus my attention again on God's agenda for us as a church and strive to plan and prepare for what He has in store this year. I want to be a better pastor, preacher, and friend to everyone that God has entrusted me to minister to.
I also am looking at changing some of the focus and purpose of this blog. I have strived now for over two and half years to provide daily insight into the reading of God's Word for the day. It is 'cold turkey' writing. I do not plan it ahead. I get up at 5 AM, read my Bible and write my blog. Some days it is not worth writing. Some days I feel truly inspired. I enjoy it. However, I have come to the conclusion that we may have missed the point. I have tried to teach folks to pray that God would speak, read God's Word, and write about a truth that God showed them for that day. It is to be a personal message that will apply to your day and help you because God made it real to you. What God points out to me may be different than what He is showing you. I find it can be distracting to get an email or text from someone on their reading insight before I get what God wants to show me. I don't want to be distracting. I want to be helpful.
I have prayed about what that means for my daily blog. I feel God is telling me that we have time that could be better spent. By spending more time prayerfully considering what God is showing me, I could better serve my Lord, my family, my church, and my community not rushing to get a blog out before my day is interrupted by the pace of life. By others spending time in similar reflection, instead of reading mine, they can receive more personal direction from the Lord. I believe God has a Word for you and me. The Word He has for us as individuals is better than any devotion we could read written by others.
Therefore, I plan to change my focus of this blog to be more of a preparation guide for your study. I am going to attempt to run ahead of you in God's Word and prepare you each week for what God will be showing us in His Word. This will give me a better opportunity to dig a little deeper and point out overall truth directions instead of daily personal insights. Will you go with me on this? I hope so. For this week we will be reading Genesis 1 and 2. Tomorrow I plan to give you a few things to consider while you read these chapters this week.
Thank you for reading. I have nearly 50,000 hits since we started this journey together. That kinda blows me away. I hope I bring some encouragement and spiritual refreshment to you from time to time. Let's do this again tomorrow and get back in the Word together.
First Baptist Church and several other churches throughout to state and beyond begin a new study today by Gary Permenter entitled Rise. It is a 50-Day look through the book of Genesis. As Genesis is the book of beginnings (that is what the name means), the new year is a great time to 'begin' again.
It may be that you need to begin reading God's Word and meditating upon it daily. It may be that you need to begin to take better care of your body...your finances...your family...your church family. Whatever it is that you need to revisit and put a fresh touch on, I encourage you to begin it today.
It is a new start for me. I think particularly this morning about four areas. I want to begin again with my health. I have made an effort to lose weight over the last year and half. I lost about 50 lbs. through about August of this year. However, when school started back and changed my morning schedule and my responsibilities began to ramp up, my exercise and diet began to ramp down. My net weight loss is no longer at 50. It is time to begin again.
Although I don't care to begin again, I want to make a new year's effort at being the best husband and father that I can be. I do some things right, but I know I get a lot wrong as well. I just want to do all I can and be all I can be to help my family be as strong and God-centered as possible. The beginning of the year is a great time to 'begin again.'
I am thanking God today for what He has done and is doing in the ministry of our church. I am taking time today, as I have all week, to refocus my attention again on God's agenda for us as a church and strive to plan and prepare for what He has in store this year. I want to be a better pastor, preacher, and friend to everyone that God has entrusted me to minister to.
I also am looking at changing some of the focus and purpose of this blog. I have strived now for over two and half years to provide daily insight into the reading of God's Word for the day. It is 'cold turkey' writing. I do not plan it ahead. I get up at 5 AM, read my Bible and write my blog. Some days it is not worth writing. Some days I feel truly inspired. I enjoy it. However, I have come to the conclusion that we may have missed the point. I have tried to teach folks to pray that God would speak, read God's Word, and write about a truth that God showed them for that day. It is to be a personal message that will apply to your day and help you because God made it real to you. What God points out to me may be different than what He is showing you. I find it can be distracting to get an email or text from someone on their reading insight before I get what God wants to show me. I don't want to be distracting. I want to be helpful.
I have prayed about what that means for my daily blog. I feel God is telling me that we have time that could be better spent. By spending more time prayerfully considering what God is showing me, I could better serve my Lord, my family, my church, and my community not rushing to get a blog out before my day is interrupted by the pace of life. By others spending time in similar reflection, instead of reading mine, they can receive more personal direction from the Lord. I believe God has a Word for you and me. The Word He has for us as individuals is better than any devotion we could read written by others.
Therefore, I plan to change my focus of this blog to be more of a preparation guide for your study. I am going to attempt to run ahead of you in God's Word and prepare you each week for what God will be showing us in His Word. This will give me a better opportunity to dig a little deeper and point out overall truth directions instead of daily personal insights. Will you go with me on this? I hope so. For this week we will be reading Genesis 1 and 2. Tomorrow I plan to give you a few things to consider while you read these chapters this week.
Thank you for reading. I have nearly 50,000 hits since we started this journey together. That kinda blows me away. I hope I bring some encouragement and spiritual refreshment to you from time to time. Let's do this again tomorrow and get back in the Word together.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Today, on the day that we celebrate the Lord's Birth, we read the book of 1 John.
One of my favorite verses reminds me of what this day is really all about. 1 John 5.13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
The promise of eternity is really the joy of Christmas. Eternal life is really the reason for the season. From a humble manger to a mangled cross to an empty tomb to an eastern sky to the land of the river of life, Christmas is all about the opportunity for each of us in Christ. Take time to celebrate that today.
After today, I will be taking a little break in my 'almost daily dairy'. I will be with family and taking some time to focus my direction, both personally and pastorally, toward 2014. Be not mistaken, I will still be in the Word daily, just not writing to you about it. If you were to dare miss it in these days, please voice a prayer for me when it comes to mind as I seek God's direction and vision for this blog, for my church, and for my life.
I will see in 2014, if it's the Lord's will (James tells us to say that). It is a joy to be your friend on the world wide web!
One of my favorite verses reminds me of what this day is really all about. 1 John 5.13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
The promise of eternity is really the joy of Christmas. Eternal life is really the reason for the season. From a humble manger to a mangled cross to an empty tomb to an eastern sky to the land of the river of life, Christmas is all about the opportunity for each of us in Christ. Take time to celebrate that today.
After today, I will be taking a little break in my 'almost daily dairy'. I will be with family and taking some time to focus my direction, both personally and pastorally, toward 2014. Be not mistaken, I will still be in the Word daily, just not writing to you about it. If you were to dare miss it in these days, please voice a prayer for me when it comes to mind as I seek God's direction and vision for this blog, for my church, and for my life.
I will see in 2014, if it's the Lord's will (James tells us to say that). It is a joy to be your friend on the world wide web!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
By The Cross At Christmas
We read John 19-21 today.
John 19.25-...Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
This time of year we often think of Mary by the manger. Mary, also, stood by the cross. This time of year we often think of Jesus in the manger. I believe we ought to see Him on the cross as well, because the joy of Christmas comes in the victory of the cross.
We will celebrate as a church both of these: the coming of Christ incarnate and the sacrifice of Christ eternal at 5 PM in a short Lord's Supper worship at FBC. If you are in town, take a few moments to look past the manger and look to the cross with us.
John 19.25-...Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
This time of year we often think of Mary by the manger. Mary, also, stood by the cross. This time of year we often think of Jesus in the manger. I believe we ought to see Him on the cross as well, because the joy of Christmas comes in the victory of the cross.
We will celebrate as a church both of these: the coming of Christ incarnate and the sacrifice of Christ eternal at 5 PM in a short Lord's Supper worship at FBC. If you are in town, take a few moments to look past the manger and look to the cross with us.
Monday, December 23, 2013
A Daily Guide
Today we read John 15-18.
When Jesus spent that valuable time in the upper room with His disciples, He told them truths to remember when He was not physically with them, when they felt alone, and when times may get tough. One of the greatest truths he shared is found in John 16.13- When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
What makes the truth so great is that it applies to us as well. The Holy Spirit will guide you daily preparing you for whatever may come. Prepare for tomorrow with the Word of God in your hand and the Spirit of God leading your life.
Have a great day!
When Jesus spent that valuable time in the upper room with His disciples, He told them truths to remember when He was not physically with them, when they felt alone, and when times may get tough. One of the greatest truths he shared is found in John 16.13- When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
What makes the truth so great is that it applies to us as well. The Holy Spirit will guide you daily preparing you for whatever may come. Prepare for tomorrow with the Word of God in your hand and the Spirit of God leading your life.
Have a great day!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
The Son in Your Clouds
Today we read John 12-14.
I am blessed to spend a couple of days with my brother-in-law and one of his daughters. I look forward to spending time with my parents, brothers, and their families after Christmas. It is always fun to celebrate with Dawn and the girls. However, I understand the other side of Christmas now. Although we were blessed to go to a nursing home and celebrate Dawn's father's recent hospital release, we will not be going to Hattiesburg this year. Her mother will celebrate Christmas in glory for the second time and that leaves a cloud over the season for us. We realize so very often now how life changes through the days.
I am thankful, however, we are not alone...even when we may feel like we are. There is a lot of folks that have clouds hanging over their festive seasons. However, they are not alone. John 14.1- "Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." He is the reason for the season and He is there with us in the midst of it.
May He shine through your clouds!
I am blessed to spend a couple of days with my brother-in-law and one of his daughters. I look forward to spending time with my parents, brothers, and their families after Christmas. It is always fun to celebrate with Dawn and the girls. However, I understand the other side of Christmas now. Although we were blessed to go to a nursing home and celebrate Dawn's father's recent hospital release, we will not be going to Hattiesburg this year. Her mother will celebrate Christmas in glory for the second time and that leaves a cloud over the season for us. We realize so very often now how life changes through the days.
I am thankful, however, we are not alone...even when we may feel like we are. There is a lot of folks that have clouds hanging over their festive seasons. However, they are not alone. John 14.1- "Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." He is the reason for the season and He is there with us in the midst of it.
May He shine through your clouds!
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