Join Me On the Journey

Have you ever thought that you would like to have more faith? I know I have!

Well, Jesus’ disciples thought they needed more faith, too. Let’s look at what Jesus said when they asked for more faith.

One day the apostles said to the Lord, “We need more faith; tell us how to get it.”

“Even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed,” the Lord answered, “you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May God uproot you and throw you into the sea,’ and it would obey you!” Luke 17:5-6 (NLT)

Jesus told the disciples that they didn’t need more faith, they just needed to use the faith that they had. Then, He proceeded to tell them a parable.

Before we look at the parable though, let’s take a moment to look back at what we have learned about faith over the last weeks.

1. Faith is one of the fruit of the Spirit.
2. Faith is tangible.
3. We all have the same amount of faith.
4. Faith helps us withstand the deception of Satan.
5. Faith just appropriates what God has already provided for us.

Now, what is Jesus telling us about faith via this parable?

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn’t just sit down and eat. He must first prepare his master’s meal and serve him his supper before eating his own. And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do.” Luke 17:7-9 (NLT)

Our faith is to be something that we command and control.

Most of us do not relate well to having a servant or a slave, but imagine for a moment that you hired someone to come live with you to do all the things that you didn’t have the time to do.  This person was paid to go out and work in the garden, do the yard work, the cooking and cleaning, the shopping, etc.

If you hired this person to do this job and they came in from a day of work and then expected you to serve them supper, you wouldn’t be too happy, would you?  If you hired someone to do all those jobs, you would expect them to do what they were hired to do.

It’s the same with our faith.

Our faith is tangible…it’s like a servant that we send to appropriate those things that have already been provided by Christ’s atonement.  All of the promises of healing, abundant life, prosperity, etc are there in the spiritual realm, we just have to help it to manifest in the physical realm.  And that is the job of our faith.

Jesus said that we don’t need more faith, we just need to use the faith that we have.

Spend some time meditating on that truth today.

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In order to effect lasting change, you need to define:

1. where you are now
2. where you want to be
3. how you plan to get there

Yesterday, we talked a bit about defining where you are and where you want to be. Today, I would like to talk to you about how to get there.

Again, I would like to emphasize that it’s nearly impossible to go forward until you evaluate where you are. In the same way, if you don’t know where you want to be, you may find yourself wandering aimlessly.

When you begin a cross-country journey, you need to know two points: your starting point and your destination.

Your life is a journey. You are born (your starting point) and you will die (should the Lord tarry). There is, of course, one caveat. You don’t know when the end of the journey is. However, when I am promoted to glory, I know that I want to be working hard on whatever it is that God has placed in my heart to do. If I’m not finished, I know that He has someone else to finish for me.

So, you have defined where you are and you’ve dreamed about where you’re going. You have spent time in your journal dreaming and in prayer seeking God. You have dreamed some big dreams. Now, how do you go about accomplishing those dreams?

First of all, you must define your dream. It must be specific. “I want to be a writer” is a great dream. However, you need to decide exactly what that means to you. A better goal might be, “I want to write Christian fiction.” This is specific enough for you to aim at.

Some of you are naturally disciplined. Some of you thrive on achieving goals and dreams. Some of you have no difficulty breaking down a goal into its component parts, putting a time limit on when you will achieve each aspect and then working until it’s done. (I envy you!)

I struggle with discipline. I continue to work on it, but it is something that is difficult for me. I used to try to make myself “just do it!” However, that didn’t work for me because I was railing against my natural bent. (It took me a l-o-n-g time to learn that.) I’m sanguine, and self-discipline isn’t one of my strong points. (For more information on personality types, please read Intentional Living! Vol 1, Num 2)

I finally discovered that one thing that helped me (and perhaps it will help you if you’re sanguine or phlegmatic) was to write down in great detail, what life would be like when I accomplished a certain dream. For example, if your dream were to write a book, write down how it will feel when your book is finished; write down how it will feel to have people tell you how much they liked your book; write down what bills you would pay off with the royalty checks (if that’s a part of your dream).

As you work toward that dream, you need to periodically stop, reevaluate, and redefine. Dreams can change over time. Hold your dreams loosely and don’t be afraid to allow a dream to slip away. Your priorities change. Life goes on. Your attitudes and situation will change. It’s okay to let go of a dream if it no longer fits. (I know that for some of you, that will be hard, but it can be incredibly liberating. You don’t have to finish everything you start.)
I would recommend having a DREAMS journal. Begin by journaling some of the questions that I posed yesterday. Let yourself dream big dreams. Put down EVERYTHING that comes to mind, no matter how impossible it seems at the time. Writing it down doesn’t commit you to accomplish it…now, or ever. You will have dreams that are for now and dreams that are for someday. You will have dreams that you think are important and over time, you’ll realize they weren’t for you. Sometimes, you’ll find that dreams you thought were your dreams are actually someone else’s dreams for you.

Once you have all those dreams out of your head and onto paper pray about where to begin. If you’re really goal-oriented, break your goals down into steps, put a time-limit and go for it. If you’re more of a free spirit, write down—in great detail—how it will feel to accomplish your dream and purpose to work on it regularly over time.

You will be amazed at the power of writing it down. In addition, make sure that you revisit your dream journal often.

I pray that this will help you to get On Your Way to Where You Want to Be.

God Bless You on Your Journey!

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One of the reasons I started writing here was to share with other women about change and how to accomplish change. That is one purpose for writing to you and I strive to keep that in mind as I write.

In order to accomplish lasting change, you must define three things:

1. where you are now
2. where you want to be
3. how you plan to get there

Now, this may sound like I’m telling you to just make up your mind where you want to go and get there no matter what. It may sound as if I’m telling you to forge ahead without seeking God for direction.

Well, I am making some assumptions here.

First of all, I’m assuming that you are a Christian. If you don’t have a relationship with God, the Bible teaches that you can have a relationship with Him by simply acknowledging that Christ died for you to provide for that relationship. There’s nothing magical about it. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you want a relationship with God, call on Him and He’s there.

Secondly, I’m assuming that you have a desire to fulfill God’s will for your life. Most of us don’t see a huge, instantaneous change in our lives when we make a decision for Christ. The change occurs gradually over time. But, eventually, most of us reach the point where we think, “I need to figure out what God really wants me to do with my life!” It can be confusing, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

The Bible is replete with references that reassure you God wants to direct your life. Two of my favorites are:

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:5-6 (KJV)

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Ps 37:4-5 (KJV)

Now, when I was a younger Christian, I used to think “He shall give thee the desires of thine heart” meant, “He will give you every little thing your heart desires!” But, I came to realize that passage meant that God would place in my heart the desires that He has for my life…He will make me desire what He wants for me. So, if I’m following Him, I can trust that the things that I want to do are desires that He has placed there.

In other words, if you’re thinking, “If I follow God, He’s going to make me go to the deepest darkest place in Africa and be a missionary and eat worms for dinner,” God doesn’t do that. If you follow God, and He asks you to go to the deepest darkest place in Africa, it will be something that burns in your heart…something you cannot deny.

So, now you are a Christian. You are following God and yet you still feel that you’re not fulfilling the call God has on your life.

First of all, if you don’t have the habit of journaling, I would encourage you to take it up. I suppose there are people who can do these things in their heads, but I’ve never met one. When you read biographies of those who have done exploits for the Lord, you’ll find they kept journals…they wrote it down. There is something powerful about writing down your thoughts, dreams, concerns, and fears.

Start with where you are.

• What has happened in your life until this point?
• How have you reacted?
• How can you use what has happened to benefit others?
• Are you married or single?
• Are you a parent to young children, teen-agers, older children, or all of the above?
• Are you part of a ministry outside your home?
• Do you work outside the home?
• What do you like?
• What do you do well?
• What things “come naturally”?

Look at where you want to be.

• What have you “always wanted to do”?
• If money were no object, how would you live your life differently?
• If you knew you only had a year to live, how would you spend that year?
• What are the things only I can do? (be a mother to my children, for example)

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we’ll look at getting from where you are to where you want to be.

I would encourage you to take a few minutes to figure out where you are. It will take some time, but before you can get to where you want to go, you must know where you are.

God Bless You on Your Journey!

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Do you know that God has a picture of you in His wallet?

Well, He would if He had a wallet.

You see, God loves you so much that if He carried a wallet, He would have your picture there. He would take it out whenever He met someone and brag on you.

You are on His mind every moment…of every day…of every week…of every year of your life.

The Bible says that you are “the apple of His eye.” (Deut 32:10; Zech 2:8)

Following are highlights from Psalm 139. I would encourage you to read this passage yourself sometime today. (These verses are paraphrased from the New Living Translation.)

God formed you in your mother’s womb. (v. 13)

He has examined your heart and knows everything about you…everything…down to the most minute detail. (v. 1) Matt 10:30 tells us, “…the very hairs of [your] head are all numbered.” (KJV)

He knows every thought you think…before you think it. (v. 2)

He knows everything you’re going to say…before you even say it! (v. 4) And He still loves you!

God goes before you and He follows behind you. (v. 5) He knows when you sit down and when you stand up. (v. 2) God charts your path, tells you when you need to stop and rest, and knows precisely where you are at every moment of the journey. (v. 3)

He records every day of your life in His book. (v. 16)

God’s thoughts about you are innumerable! (v. 17)

There are so many verses describing how much God loves you, but God’s love for you can be summed up in this one verse:

…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 (KJV)

Before you ever even thought about God, He thought about you and loved you.

And when you accept Christ as your Savior, the Bible says that God adopts you as His child.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom 8:15-17 (KJV)

I encourage you to stop for just a few moments today and think about God’s love for you.

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This blog has been quite an experience for me.

If you’ve been with me since the beginning, you may have noticed nearly constant little changes along the right side (called the sidebar). On the other hand, they may very well have gone unnoticed by many of you, but behind the scenes, I’ve had flashes of sheer terror as I have been messing around with the code that tells the computer how this site is supposed to look and act.

I have spent the last few months (between cooking and cleaning and chores and children) taking an online crash course on coding. I’ve worked through online courses and read several books. I have learned many things that allow me to make those changes to my website, and I have made some changes. But, it has been scary sometimes!

That first moment that I realized something I had tinkered with had caused a problem, I got that feeling in the pit of my stomach. (You know the one?) I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to fix it. I was afraid of what people would think when they visited the site. I was afraid because my hubby had already said, “You’re on your own with this one!” (He’s my computer guru, but he doesn’t know anything about programing.)

But, I’ve heard Joyce Meyer advise people, “Do some things afraid!”

Just think about that concept…Do some things afraid.

I must admit, that is something I have done quite a bit of my life. It could be part of my personality make-up. After all, I’m a fun-loving Sanguine whose natural tendency is to do things to stand out from the crowd. Or, perhaps it’s just a character attribute I developed early; a decision I made to try new things and learn as much as possible about them. Whatever the case, I just don’t mind that feeling in the pit of my stomach that tells me I’m treading new ground and I don’t know what’s coming over the next hill; in fact, I quite enjoy it.

I felt it the days I performed in piano competitions and when I decided that I would do a senior concert in high school.

I felt it when I left for college; and when I faltered and came home after my father left; and when I decided three years later to apply for medical school.

I felt it nearly every single day during medical school and internship and residency…and most days as a physician.

I feel it as a wife, a mommy and as a teacher to my children.

And I feel it now as a writer…and quasi web designer.

Now, I admit, there are times when I get tired of that feeling. There are times when I would just like to avoid it and live a peaceable life, but most of the time, I bask in doing things afraid!

You may not revel in that feeling as I do. But I would encourage you, doing things afraid can help you grow in areas of your life where you may be stagnant. You can learn so many lessons when the discomfort in your gut pushes you to find the answers you seek no matter what the cost.

Isaiah 43:5a says:

Fear not: for I am with thee: (KJV)

Now, this verse doesn’t tell you not to feel the fear. After all, that wouldn’t make sense. No one can go through this life never feeling fear. Instead, this verse tells you not to allow the fear to paralyze you; to be secure in the fact that God is with you always and so He will help you through that fear.

So…Be Afraid…Be Very Afraid! Ask God today what things He would have you do afraid.

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I found a blog that I recommend. Joy in the Journey is a blog written by a mom living in Indonesia. She has five very small children and her family is a missionary family…a different life from the one I live.

But, she worships the same God as I do, and so we have a lot in common, don’t we?

She wrote earlier this week about accepting compliments and about humility. Where do we draw the line between acknowledging that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and “considering others better than ourselves”? (Psa 139:14 and Phil 2:3)

Let’s explore that, shall we?

First of all, we must understand that there is a difference between our spirit, soul, and body. (For further explanation of this, please read the article Spirit, Soul, and Body.)

Our spirit is righteous and holy (Eph 4:24). It is that part of us that is made new at the moment of salvation and it is sealed by the Holy Spirit so that it cannot be corrupted (Eph 1:13). (See Canned Spirit, Anyone?)

Paul says in Philippians 1:6:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (KJV)

He’s speaking of the fact that God created a new creature (our spirit) at the moment of our salvation (II Cor 5:17). The rest of the Christian life is to allow Him to complete that work through the renewing our soul (intellect, emotions, will, conscience) day by day. And we have a big part to play in that.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (KJV) Phil 2:12-13

Our new spirit is a gift from God…something that we do not, cannot earn. But, we are in charge of changing our soul. We are in charge of renewing our mind. Romans 12:1-2 says:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV)

So, what does all this have to do with humility?

The very next verse in Romans 12 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

This verse says not to think of yourself more highly than you ought, but it doesn’t say, “think of yourself as lower than everyone else.”

Romans 12:6a says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…” We have all been given gifts and those gifts are given so that we can minister to each other. We must acknowledge those gifts and strengthen those gifts in order to be effective in the body of Christ.

One verse in the Old Testament that has truly helped me to know my place in God is found in Numbers.

(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Num 12:3 (NIV)

Moses wrote those words under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He wrote those words about himself!

Yes, the Bible exhorts us to “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10) But, Jesus Himself said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” (Luke 10:27 KJV)

Let us honor others through service, love others with the love that flows through us when we love ourselves, and accept compliments from others with a gracious, “Thank you!”

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Most of us know the story of David and Bathsheba.

David spied Bathsheba taking a bath and just had to have her. They slept together and Bathsheba got pregnant. There was just one problem; Bathsheba was already married. In order to try and cover up their sin, David called her husband home from battle and tried to get him to sleep with her, but Uriah, her husband wouldn’t cooperate.

But wait, there’s more…

David then plots to kill Uriah and is successful.

David and Bathsheba are then married. Bathsheba becomes one of his wives. Their son is born and the Bible says that the Lord made Bathsheba’s baby ill. The baby dies.

This is a heart-breaking story and there are many lessons that could be taught from this passage, but I would like to focus on the very beginning. How did all this start? How did David—a man after God’s own heart—fall so far?

I think the key can be found in II Samuel 11:1.

The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to destroy the Ammonites. In the process they laid siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem. (NLT)

I find these phrases so interesting. While I don’t profess to understand how Israelite society functioned at this time in history, this passage gives us a few clues. It says, “The following spring, the time of year when kings go to war…” David should have been out leading his troops, but instead, he had grown fat and sassy and he stayed behind at the palace languishing.

Verse two is even more telling.

Late one afternoon David got out of bed after taking a nap and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. (NLT)

Since David was out of the will of God, he became bored and lazy. I mean, what man do you know that takes a nap in the afternoon? David was not doing what he was called to do. As a result, he lost focus, became bored, and was looking for ways to stimulate his excitement. People do not function well with too much time on their hands. What is the old saying: idle hands are the Devil’s plaything.

How does this apply to our life?

Some of us are knowingly avoiding our call. We know that we have been called to a certain task and we don’t want to perform it.

We all know that when we marry, God desires us to become excellent wives. If we decide to have children, God desires us to become excellent mothers. God wants for us to keep an orderly home. These are a given.

However, we are called to minister to others outside the home as well.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live…Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)

If you are a woman who is farther down to road, you have a responsibility to help younger women learn how to be a good wife and mother and how to keep a home. Perhaps you are running from that opportunity because, “I don’t have enough time,” or “I don’t know how to teach someone to be a wife and mother,” or “Who’s going to listen to me? I’ve made so many mistakes.”

I would encourage you that you have more to offer than you think! This passage isn’t a suggestion. It’s a command from Peter and God. We can see what happened in David’s life when he abandoned his calling.

Now, a caveat to what I’m saying: there are seasons in life.

If if your relationship with Christ is not where is should be; if your marriage is going through a tough spot; if you are the mother of several very small children; if your house looks like a tornado swept through; now is not the time to start a ministry to others outside the home. Perhaps now is the time to pray that another Godly woman come into your life who can walk along side you as you learn how to get your life in hand. Or, you may need to sit down and determine that you are going to seek God for your life; renew your relationship with Him, with your husband, with your children, or with your house.

the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Gal 6:8b-9 (NIV)

If you are struggling in one or more of these areas of your life, take heart in this scripture. Take time to sow to the Spirit and you will reap a harvest.

Perhaps you’re like me and you’re impatient, waiting for your time to follow the call of God on your life. Perhaps you think, like I did, that if you don’t use that call, you’ll lose it. Well, Romans 11:29 was written just for you and me. (I love it in both the King James and the NIV.)

For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (KJV)

for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. (NIV)

That means that if God has a call on your life, if you feel that call burning in your soul, He will bring it to pass.

Decide today where you are. Are you avoiding the ministry that God has for you? Are you bogged down in everyday life? Are you struggling to be a good wife, mother, homemaker?

Take a step today to move from where you are to where you know God wants you to be. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

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I found an awesome post on the armor of God written by Olivia Montgomery. I would encourage you to take a few moments to read it.

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I’d like to talk to you today about something that you may never have stopped to really think about. Why did God drive Adam and Eve from the garden?

Most of us think that God drove Adam and Eve from Eden because they had sinned and He is holy. He couldn’t stand to be in their presence any more after they sinned. I thought:

1. God could no longer fellowship with man until He could send His Son to die for our sin, so He drove man out of the garden and then put a guard at the mouth of the garden so man couldn’t sneak back in.
2. God then abandoned the earth and went back to Heaven. (Of course, I know that God is everywhere at once, but that was just one more thing that I couldn’t reconcile, so I tried not to think about it.)

I thought that because I had been taught that. I thought that until someone encouraged me to actually go back and read for myself what the scripture actually says.

Gen 3:22-23a And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, (KJV)

As a friend of mine is always saying, “When you see the word ‘therefore’ look to see what it’s there for.” God did not send Adam and Eve from the garden because they had sinned and were defiled and He could no longer look on them or fellowship with them. He sent them out of the garden because He didn’t want them to eat of the tree of life and live for ever after they had sinned.

Had He not protected them from eating of the Tree of Life, they could have taken the fruit and still been alive today. Can you imagine what it would be like to have to live in your body for an eternity? The Bible says that God will give us a glorified body (Phil 3:20b-21 …the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.) However, if we had eaten of the Tree of Life, we would be condemned to life in our mortal body for eternity. Yuck!

God has something better planned for us.

Now, what about the second part? Did God withdraw to Heaven and stay there until all the prophecies were spoken in the Bible and Jesus could come into the earth to redeem us?

Well, that answer is, “No.” God didn’t withdraw His presence. God was still walking and talking with man. If you follow the story of man through the next chapter, we find the story of Cain and Abel.

Gen 4:1-5 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And 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: but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. (KJV)

Now, how did Cain and Able know that they were supposed to bring a sacrifice to God? Where did they learn that? Did they learn it from Adam and Eve? Where did Adam and Eve learn it?

Adam and Eve had no need for sacrifice until the moment they sinned. And once they sinned, they were banned from Eden, and I had always believed, banned from walking and talking with God.

Did God give them instruction to sacrifice animals when He killed the animals and covered them with skins?

Well, why did Cain bring a grain offering of grain? Abel brought the “fistlings” of his flocks and Cain brought an offering, but not the first fruits (or tithe). The actual commandment to bring a tithe (or the first fruits) wasn’t given until 2000 years later.

God must have been still talking to man. Otherwise:

1. how did they know what sacrifices to bring
2. how did they know that God had accepted Abel’s offering and not Cain’s

If you find that argument hard to swallow, allow me to take it a step further.

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? (KJV)

Now, we hear people talk about “God said this or that to me.” God does speak to our spirit and I believe that we can hear from God in that way, but we have a regenerated spirit. Old Testament man did not. Our “new spirit” comes at the moment that we accept Christ’s atonement. So, Cain must have heard an audible voice from God.

Let’s look at it another way. What would happen if God spoke to you in an audible voice? I don’t know about you, but I think it would startle me. Cain didn’t seem to bat an eye. This says to me that Cain was used to hearing the voice of God.

Let’s take it a step further.

A short time later, Cain rose up and killed his brother.

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? (KJV)

Now if you were the very first murderer on the face of the earth, and an audible voice from God asked you the whereabouts of the person you had just killed, what would you do? I think I would just die of a heart attack!

What did Cain do? His reaction was, “I don’t know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” He lied to God. That shows us that Cain was so used to having God speak to him that he would just lie to God and not think a thing about it.

Remember the old saying, “Familiarity breeds contempt?”

For Cain to respond to that way is evidence that God spoke to him on an ongoing basis. If God was speaking to Cain doesn’t it follow that He was still speaking to everyone else on the earth. How else could they all know about sacrifices? How else could Cain be so familiar with God’s voice that it didn’t even startle him when God confronted Him in his sin.

It’s amazing what you can learn when you read scripture and take it literally. It’s amazing what misconceptions we have. It’s amazing that we can go for years–perhaps even our entire lives–believing without question things we were taught when we were in church and Sunday School.

I would encourage you to go back and read this account for yourself. Don’t just believe what I had to say about it.

And in your quiet time, keep an open mind when you read your Bible. Read what the scripture says; not what you think it says. (One thing that can help is to read passages from different Bible versions.) You might learn something surprising today.

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I just wanted to take a few minutes to explain to you about RSS feeds. This is an awesome little video.

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