Author: bidcstark

“One time Dinah the daughter of Le’ah, whom she had borne to Ya`akov, went out to visit the local girls.”
Genesis 34:1 CJB

Dinah’s choice to mingle with the local girls turns out to be a disaster! The result of hanging out with the worldly girls is she gets raped! These things happen to us when we desire to be part of worldliness. It usually ends up in disaster! One bad decision usually leads to another as we will see here.

“Only on this condition will we consent to what you are asking: that you become like us by having every male among you get circumcised. Then we’ll give our daughters to you, and we’ll take your daughters for ourselves, and we’ll live with you and become one people.”
Genesis 34:15-16 CJB

As this story goes the unbelieving Sh’khem (Shechem the unbeliever) decides he really likes Dinah (the believer) and wants to marry her! By doing this they’ll all become one people and live in peace and harmony! This usually never works out! People go through the ritual of being a believer (getting circumcised here) but don’t really mean it! Then once they get what they want, they leave, moving on to shinier things!

“If we claim to have fellowship with Him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth.”
1 John 1:6 CJB

Today, we all need to be on guard of mingling in the world. It may seem harmless at first, but it can turn and bite you! Look what happened here: rape, then deceit and then murder! We need to be on guard with worldly people and stick with the LORD and have fellowship with His people!
May your day be richly blessed!

Here it is: there will be seven years of abundance throughout the whole land of Egypt; but afterwards, there will come seven years of famine; and Egypt will forget all the abundance. The famine will consume the land, and the abundance will not be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, because it will be utterly terrible.”
Genesis 41:29-31 CJB

Good or bad in this life everything comes to and end and then something new begins! We see here seven years of abundance and seven years of famine which both came to and end! Same goes for our situations also!

“Futhermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called in accordance with His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 CJB

Even the things in life that we deem bad like famine, God will always turn to something perfect! In that it gives us a great testimony to share how great He is!

“How great are Your deeds, Adonai! How very deep Your thoughts!”
Psalm 92:5 CJB

Today, don’t get all caught up in the events of the world, because no matter how bad they may be, God has a perfect plan! Know that all things come to an end and God uses that to start something new and beautiful!
Have a blessed day using every situation to glorify the LORD!
Shabbat Shalom!

“Esav (Esau) ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him; and they wept.”
Genesis 33:4 CJB

We all have a relative, friend or acquaintance we’ve held a grudge or grievance with, just like Jacob and Esau. Twenty one years have passed and here we see the grudge no longer mattered, they have reconciled!

“For if you forgive others their offences, your heavenly Father will also forgive yours.”
Matthew 6:15 CJB

Holding onto differences and grudges not only is a waste of time, but it will burn you up and drag you down into sin and bitterness! Be like the LORD and forgive and forget!

“So Esav left that day to return to Seir. Yaakov went on to Sukkot, where he built himself a house and put up shelters for his cattle. This is why the place is called Sukkot [shelters].”
Genesis 33:16-17 CJB

Today, be careful of playing revenge scenarios in your head, bury the hatchet so to speak and move on! Realize. Jacob and Esau reconciled but then went their own separate ways not looking back.
Have a blessed day forgiving and forgetting!
Shabbat Shalom

“Ya`akov went on his way, and the angels of God met him.”
Genesis 32:2 CJB

God told Ya`akov (Jacob) to go back home and He’ll be with him all the way! The same goes for us when we step out in faith. That’s when the LORD will meet us!

“For we live by trust, not by what we see.”
2 Corinthians 5:7 CJB

Remember, when Yeshua called Peter out onto the Sea of Galilee, he walked on water for quite a distance before he realized he shouldn’t be able to walk on water! Guess what happened as he was sinking. Yeshua saved him, because He was right there with him! Same goes for us. We need to step out trusting the LORD, knowing He’s right beside us!

“I will go on walking in the presence of Adonai in the lands of the living.”
Psalm 116:9 CJB

Realize just like our ancestor Abraham, who God told to leave his home to a place He will show him, wasn’t blessed until he left! We need to do the same!

“Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!”
James 1:22 CJB

Today, don’t just hear what the LORD says, but let’s act upon it and do it! He’ll be with us every step of the way!
Have a blessed day stepping out with the LORD!

“Adonai said to Ya`akov, Return to the land of your ancestors, to your kinsmen; I will be with you.”
Genesis 31:3 CJB

When things get tense or difficult, we should return to where the LORD is, that’s anywhere we are when we call upon Him! Remember, He is always with us!

“Adonai is close to all who call on Him, to all who sincerely call on Him.”
Psalm 145:18 CJB

Do we call on the LORD only when we need something or bless my mess situations? Or do we just call on Him because He is everything we need?

“I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies.”
2 Samuel 22:4 CJB

Today, let’s call on the LORD for everything and get away from the land of stress and tension!
Have a blessed day being with the LORD!