And so It Is: Recognizing God's Presence in Our Lives Today

By Sheri A. Sutton

Where is God in todays world?

No matter where you are in your faith or your life, And So It Is gives you an opportunity to develop and strengthen your relationship with God through the relevance of Scripture, as it applies to everyday experiences.

The daily devotionals presented inside capture in a few words a topic for reflection and meditation that allows you the opportunity to discover God within your own life circumstances. You will be taken through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation as each day highlights a verse for contemplation. Through the words of Sheri Sutton, you will see that:

God exists in all things God is always faithful Gods love is forever

Since God is found in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary, And So It Is can help you find Gods presence in the everyday activities of your life.

Conversationallyas if over a cup of morning coffeeSheri Sutton reminds readers of the nearness of God, helping to open minds and hearts to His powerful, loving presence in our day-to-day lives.
Marjorie Hodgson Parker, author of Shaken to the Core (and Finding Gods Strength)

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 25, 2013
• ISBN: 9781449782719

Sheri A. Sutton

Sheri A. Sutton graduated from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas and spent the majority of her professional career in the accounting field. She retired in August 2009 to pursue a writing career. Sheri has been published in the Secret Place devotional magazine and the Lenten Devotions on the Lord’s Prayer. She is currently a member of the Wichita Falls Poetry Society and the Poetry Society of Texas and has been recognized in various contests. Her poetry has been published in the Wichita Falls Literary Art Review magazine and The Poetry Society of Texas’ A Book of the Year. Sheri also offers professional services that include writing and editing for books, newsletters, and other materials for individuals, companies, or organizations. Visit her website, www.sheriasutton.com, for more information. Sheri and her husband, Mark, live on a small farm in Wichita Falls, Texas.

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Copyright © 2013 Sheri A. Sutton.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-8270-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-8269-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-8271-9 (e)

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013901242

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/01/2013

CONTENTS

PREFACE

PSALM 91

JANUARY 1

JANUARY 2

JANUARY 3

JANUARY 4

JANUARY 5

JANUARY 6

JANUARY 7

JANUARY 8

JANUARY 9

JANUARY 10

JANUARY 11

JANUARY 12

JANUARY 13

JANUARY 14

JANUARY 15

JANUARY 16

JANUARY 17

JANUARY 18

JANUARY 19

JANUARY 20

JANUARY 21

JANUARY 22

JANUARY 23

JANUARY 24

JANUARY 25

JANUARY 26

JANUARY 27

JANUARY 28

JANUARY 29

JANUARY 30

JANUARY 31

FEBRUARY 1

FEBRUARY 2

FEBRUARY 3

FEBRUARY 4

FEBRUARY 5

FEBRUARY 6

FEBRUARY 7

FEBRUARY 8

FEBRUARY 9

FEBRUARY 10

FEBRUARY 11

FEBRUARY 12

FEBRUARY 13

FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 15

FEBRUARY 16

FEBRUARY 17

FEBRUARY 18

FEBRUARY 19

FEBRUARY 20

FEBRUARY 21

FEBRUARY 22

FEBRUARY 23

FEBRUARY 24

FEBRUARY 25

FEBRUARY 26

FEBRUARY 27

FEBRUARY 28

FEBRUARY 29

MARCH 1

MARCH 2

MARCH 3

MARCH 4

MARCH 5

MARCH 6

MARCH 7

MARCH 8

MARCH 9

MARCH 10

MARCH 11

MARCH 12

MARCH 13

MARCH 14

MARCH 15

MARCH 16

MARCH 17

MARCH 18

MARCH 19

MARCH 20

MARCH 21

MARCH 22

MARCH 23

MARCH 24

MARCH 25

MARCH 26

MARCH 27

MARCH 28

MARCH 29

MARCH 30

MARCH 31

APRIL 1

APRIL 2

APRIL 3

APRIL 4

APRIL 5

APRIL 6

APRIL 7

APRIL 8

APRIL 9

APRIL 10

APRIL 11

APRIL 12

APRIL 13

APRIL 14

APRIL 15

APRIL 16

APRIL 17

APRIL 18

APRIL 19

APRIL 20

APRIL 21

APRIL 22

APRIL 23

APRIL 24

APRIL 25

APRIL 26

APRIL 27

APRIL 28

APRIL 29

APRIL 30

MAY 1

MAY 2

MAY 3

MAY 4

MAY 5

MAY 6

MAY 7

MAY 8

MAY 9

MAY 10

MAY 11

MAY 12

MAY 13

MAY 14

MAY 15

MAY 16

MAY 17

MAY 18

MAY 19

MAY 20

MAY 21

MAY 22

MAY 23

MAY 24

MAY 25

MAY 26

MAY 27

MAY 28

MAY 29

MAY 30

MAY 31

JUNE 1

JUNE 2

JUNE 3

JUNE 4

JUNE 5

JUNE 6

JUNE 7

JUNE 8

JUNE 9

JUNE 10

JUNE 11

JUNE 12

JUNE 13

JUNE 14

JUNE 15

JUNE 16

JUNE 17

JUNE 18

JUNE 19

JUNE 20

JUNE 21

JUNE 22

JUNE 23

JUNE 24

JUNE 25

JUNE 26

JUNE 27

JUNE 28

JUNE 29

JUNE 30

JULY 1

JULY 2

JULY 3

JULY 4

JULY 5

JULY 6

JULY 7

JULY 8

JULY 9

JULY 10

JULY 11

JULY 12

JULY 13

JULY 14

JULY 15

JULY 16

JULY 17

JULY 18

JULY 19

JULY 20

JULY 21

JULY 22

JULY 23

JULY 24

JULY 25

JULY 26

JULY 27

JULY 28

JULY 29

JULY 30

JULY 31

AUGUST 1

AUGUST 2

AUGUST 3

AUGUST 4

AUGUST 5

AUGUST 6

AUGUST 7

AUGUST 8

AUGUST 9

AUGUST 10

AUGUST 11

AUGUST 12

AUGUST 13

AUGUST 14

AUGUST 15

AUGUST 16

AUGUST 17

AUGUST 18

AUGUST 19

AUGUST 20

AUGUST 21

AUGUST 22

AUGUST 23

AUGUST 24

AUGUST 25

AUGUST 26

AUGUST 27

AUGUST 28

AUGUST 29

AUGUST 30

AUGUST 31

SEPTEMBER 1

SEPTEMBER 2

SEPTEMBER 3

SEPTEMBER 4

SEPTEMBER 5

SEPTEMBER 6

SEPTEMBER 7

SEPTEMBER 8

SEPTEMBER 9

SEPTEMBER 10

SEPTEMBER 11

SEPTEMBER 12

SEPTEMBER 13

SEPTEMBER 14

SEPTEMBER 15

SEPTEMBER 16

SEPTEMBER 17

SEPTEMBER 18

SEPTEMBER 19

SEPTEMBER 20

SEPTEMBER 21

SEPTEMBER 22

SEPTEMBER 23

SEPTEMBER 24

SEPTEMBER 25

SEPTEMBER 26

SEPTEMBER 27

SEPTEMBER 28

SEPTEMBER 29

SEPTEMBER 30

OCTOBER 1

OCTOBER 2

OCTOBER 3

OCTOBER 4

OCTOBER 5

OCTOBER 6

OCTOBER 7

OCTOBER 8

OCTOBER 9

OCTOBER 10

OCTOBER 11

OCTOBER 12

OCTOBER 13

OCTOBER 14

OCTOBER 15

OCTOBER 16

OCTOBER 17

OCTOBER 18

OCTOBER 19

OCTOBER 20

OCTOBER 21

OCTOBER 22

OCTOBER 23

OCTOBER 24

OCTOBER 25

OCTOBER 26

OCTOBER 27

OCTOBER 28

OCTOBER 29

OCTOBER 30

OCTOBER 31

NOVEMBER 1

NOVEMBER 2

NOVEMBER 3

NOVEMBER 4

NOVEMBER 5

NOVEMBER 6

NOVEMBER 7

NOVEMBER 8

NOVEMBER 9

NOVEMBER 10

NOVEMBER 11

NOVEMBER 12

NOVEMBER 13

NOVEMBER 14

NOVEMBER 15

NOVEMBER 16

NOVEMBER 17

NOVEMBER 18

NOVEMBER 19

NOVEMBER 20

NOVEMBER 21

NOVEMBER 22

NOVEMBER 23

NOVEMBER 24

NOVEMBER 25

NOVEMBER 26

NOVEMBER 27

NOVEMBER 28

NOVEMBER 29

NOVEMBER 30

DECEMBER 1

DECEMBER 2

DECEMBER 3

DECEMBER 4

DECEMBER 5

DECEMBER 6

DECEMBER 7

DECEMBER 8

DECEMBER 9

DECEMBER 10

DECEMBER 11

DECEMBER 12

DECEMBER 13

DECEMBER 14

DECEMBER 15

DECEMBER 16

DECEMBER 17

DECEMBER 18

DECEMBER 19

DECEMBER 20

DECEMBER 21

DECEMBER 22

DECEMBER 23

DECEMBER 24

DECEMBER 25

DECEMBER 26

DECEMBER 27

DECEMBER 28

DECEMBER 29

DECEMBER 30

DECEMBER 31

SOURCE NOTES

PREFACE

For the 2005 season of Lent, the membership of First Christian Church in Wichita Falls, Texas, wrote a devotional series about the Lord’s Prayer. Through my participation in that project, the seed was planted for this book.

We all seem to be seeking a closer relationship or a deeper understanding of a power greater than we are. We struggle, we question, and we pray. Is there a God and if there is, where is He in today’s world? Even in our questioning, we are affirming God exists and as we pray and say amen, so it is.

To see God in all things is the intent of And So It Is. To help the reader recognize God’s presence in his daily life, this book uses everyday experiences to understand the significance of noted Bible verses found in the Old and New Testaments. By identifying with the topics of the devotionals, the reader’s awareness of God’s presence becomes a daily occurrence, not an occasional event.

The first devotional of And So It Is begins with a verse from Genesis and continues in a sequential order through both Testaments. The reader has the opportunity to see the presence of God working through the Old Testament patriarchs, psalmists, and prophets; the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the movement of faith by the disciples.

The months of January through May incorporate passages from the Old Testament. June through August spotlight verses from the Gospels, which are presented in chronological order according to Christ’s life. The rest of the book focuses on remaining portions from the New Testament. Each devotional brings into focus the relevance of the biblical passages in light of today’s issues.

From the mundane to the significant, God is present in all things. And So It Is illuminates the extraordinary presence of God in the ordinary moments of each and every day. If you are seeking, may this book help you find Him. If you have found Him, praise Him. May He forever fill your life with His light, peace, and love.

And so it is.

Sheri A. Sutton

PSALM 91

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you say, The Lord is my refuge,

and you make the Most High your dwelling,

no harm will overtake you,

no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread on the lion and the cobra;

you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Because he loves me, says the Lord, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation."

JANUARY 1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:1–2

Today begins a new year filled with infinite possibilities. Like a canvas waiting for the artist’s touch, today is waiting for you to create the beginning of a wonderful journey. What will you create?

So much of life is filled with disappointment because we think it is someone else’s responsibility to make us happy and fulfill our dreams. Often, it’s difficult to celebrate the many blessings we have in our lives because of our unrealistic expectations. Even through our unhappiness, however, we keep searching for God’s presence. We know that on some level God exists; we just don’t believe that he will reveal himself to us on a daily basis.

And then due to the circumstances of life, our perceptions and attitudes change. We discover that God is always present if we open our hearts and minds. And as he created the world out of emptiness and darkness, so can he help us to create a better life.

So today we begin this year with a sense of hopefulness and expectancy of God’s ability to transform our lives and give us the power to create a life of happiness and fulfillment. Our journey begins.

Prayer: God, may your light illuminate my path and your hands guide my steps as I begin this new year. Amen.

JANUARY 2

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Every creation is an image of the creator. If you write poetry, the words express your experiences and perceptions of life. If you dance, the movement symbolizes your feelings and emotions. If you paint, the paintings capture the color and texture of your life. Regardless of what you create or how you create it, the result speaks of who you are on a level usually much deeper than that which you appear to be. And so it is with God.

God creates us in his image, perfectly designed without flaw. The world teaches, however, that we are not good enough, pretty enough, or smart enough to have all the promises of our Creator—promises of abundance, freedom, and purpose. And because he gives us freedom of choice, sometimes we choose to listen to the world. We don’t look beyond the surface to see who we really are—wonderful children of God.

If we want to create a life of happiness and fulfillment, we must first become aware of the presence of our Creator and his relationship to us. Then we can begin to reflect his image in our lives.

Prayer: God, I pray for the courage to look beyond the world and see myself as your creation. Amen.

JANUARY 3

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31

Very good—exceptional, superior, of a favorable tendency, well made, whole, true, real. Interesting, isn’t it? God looked at his creation and saw it was very good. We look at a part of God’s creation, ourselves, and find fault. And not only do we find fault with ourselves, we find fault with others. Or we compare ourselves to someone else, never seeing who we really are as children of God—whole, true, and real.

When we see ourselves as less than we really are, we deny the existence of God’s well-made creation. Scripture tells us to let our light shine before men but that seems arrogant and egotistical, and we become afraid. After all, who are we to be talented, beautiful, and wonderful? But in reality, who are we not? If we are created to manifest the glory of God, being less than who we are serves no one.

Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love stated, It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us…. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.¹

Today we can become willing to let those who are fearful and uncertain see God’s light shining in and through us. As we become more fearless, may those around us be liberated as well.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I manifest your glory in all that I do by letting my light reflect your presence in this world today. Amen.

JANUARY 4

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2

Resting is difficult. To be productive and full of purpose, you must be doing something, anything. No time to rest or relax. Always busy and always tired. It’s a way of life, and it is exhausting.

Even God knew the importance of rest and relaxation. In the verses prior to chapter 2, he created the heavens and earth and all therein. And when he had finished, he rested. Not only did he rest, he blessed the day and made it holy because he rested.

Of course, you say. He was God, and after all, he made the world. But me—I can’t rest. My life isn’t that important. I am only someone if I continue to prove myself. So what are we trying to prove? During different times in life, we drive ourselves to complete exhaustion before realizing it is happening. And for what or for whom is a mystery. It never occurs to us that resting in God’s shadow is more important than fulfilling our own or others’ agendas.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Eccl. 3:1). There is a time to work and a time to rest. Beginning today, may we become willing to rest in the peace and quietness of God’s shadow, finding the strength and comfort to begin anew.

Prayer: God, help me come to you for rest and find new strength in your presence. Amen.

JANUARY 5

The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Close your eyes. Breathe in and out, slowly and deliberately. Imagine God’s presence in every breath, giving you life for this moment. The power of a single breath is amazing! The scientific explanation is that oxygen is absorbed by cells in which oxidation occurs, and carbon dioxide and water are expelled. In man, this combined action of inspiration and expiration occurs about eighteen times per minute when the body is at rest. Breathing sustains us; without it we would die.

How many times in life have we forgotten to breathe? Issues produced by our perceptions and attitudes concerning family, jobs, relationships, or health problems result in chaos and confusion. And in those moments of stress and struggle, we literally forget to breathe. Oh, our bodies function even in crisis, but we don’t deliberately sit still breathing in and out letting God’s power fill every cell of our bodies.

It is a privilege to witness the birth of a child and hear her take her first breath as she comes into the world. What a magnificent moment, seeing the miracle of life unfold before your very eyes. A tiny baby, so fragile because he is a new creation, yet strong because God has breathed into him the breath of life. You watch mesmerized at the wonder of creation, a divine plan with purpose and meaning breathing in and out God’s power and presence.

Prayer: God, help me to sit still and breathe into every cell of my being your power and purpose. Amen.

JANUARY 6

And the Lord God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. Genesis 2:16–17

Curious. God gave man the entire Garden of Eden except for the tree of knowledge. A temptation? A test? Perhaps, but maybe God was trying to keep man from his own downfall.

As parents, we set rules for our children concerning curfew, activities, study time, entertainment, and so forth. Why? Because by our own experiences we have learned that there are times, when left to our own devices, we will make the wrong choices.

Think back to when you were a child. Did your mother or father ever give warnings about something because it would be detrimental to your safety? Did you listen? Probably not, as most young children have a stubborn streak. But had you listened, two things would probably not have happened: you wouldn’t have been hurt, and you wouldn’t have been disciplined. However, both were the result of your actions.

It takes many years to take full responsibility for all our choices. Possibly we have blamed others for the condition of our lives. Today we can know that our lives are a result of all our choices, healthy or unhealthy, and the consequences of those choices and take full responsibility. For when you eat of it you will surely die. When we open our minds and hearts to God’s voice, we can hear him tell us the pitfalls ahead. It is our choice to listen.

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, strengthen me to listen to your words so that I can make the right choices. Amen.

JANUARY 7

Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. Genesis 2:22

Relationships require a lot of work. It doesn’t matter what kind of relationship you speak of—friendship, marriage, work related, or familial—because all relationships involve two or more parties of equal importance. Doesn’t always feel that way, does it? Perhaps we forget what God intended.

In the story of creation, God created man, and then from man, he created woman. Some might believe because woman was created after and from man that she was less significant. But look at the facts. There was none other in creation suitable for man. In order for Adam’s partner to share in a full relationship with him, woman had to be fully human. And so from man’s side, signifying equality, God created woman.

Because we are all created equally and in the image of God, we are entitled to the fullness of God’s creation and the full realization of our potential. The creation of man and woman is a testament to God’s infinite wisdom in defining the importance of relationships. And it is through relationships, that sacred journey with another, that God’s glory is manifested.

Relationships are our greatest teachers. It is through others that we see ourselves more clearly, and it is through God that we see others more clearly. And in that moment, we are all the same.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, grant me the blessing to see that we are all created equally in your image. Amen.

JANUARY 8

You will not surely die, the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4–5

The slithery snake is often disguised as someone you know—the friend who wants to cheat from your test paper, the co-worker who wants you to snub another co-worker, or the married man who wants to take you to dinner. And have you noticed that there is always a valid reason? I lost my study notes. Appeals to your sympathy. She got a raise, and we didn’t. Invokes jealousy. Let’s go to dinner and talk about your problem. Validates your situation.

The strategy of evil is always to separate man from God, and humans have a tendency to fall for the obvious. Isn’t that what Eve did? She knew God had said, You must not eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die (v.3). But she fell prey to the cleverness of evil. "‘You will not surely die,’ the serpent said to the woman." There is nothing more clever than for someone to question your truth.

There is always that voice in our minds testing our faithfulness to God’s teachings. And God allows us to make the choice, just as he allowed Eve. But with the freedom to choose comes the responsibility of right thinking. The right choice is always found through God nudging our spirits to be the men and women that he created us to be.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, give me the ability to make the right decisions today. Amen.

JANUARY 9

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:23

Banishment, to drive out or remove. Sounds harsh and ugly, doesn’t it? Do you wonder what Adam and Eve were thinking when they left the Garden? Were they fearful or filled with disbelief or regret? It was recorded that Adam lived 930 years before his death. Did he live all those years thinking that if he had not listened to Eve his life would have been different? And what about Eve? Did she know the impact of her decision to listen to the lies of the serpent?

We all have those moments in our lives where we have to choose, and every choice we make impacts our lives—forever. We too become like Adam and Eve because we banish ourselves from a life of abundance and freedom. Instead of listening to God, we listen to the serpent—society, the media, friends, co-workers, family, and whoever else promises us a better way. It is the human condition, always looking for the easier and softer way—the way with no rules or consequences.

But life is not without consequences. Sir Isaac Newton stated it as to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. A righteous life is not for cowards. It takes courage and an inner strength that only comes through faithfulness to God’s word. Maybe that is the lesson of Adam and Eve—the garden is always within our reach, if we so choose.

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, please guide me to be faithful to your teachings and commands. Amen and amen.

JANUARY 10

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it. Genesis 4:7

In the story of Cain and Abel, death entered the world, and its impact on human experience was demonstrated. This story is one of the most powerful and popular in the Bible. Two brothers—one was faithful; the other, rebellious. One found favor with God, and the other fell short. And the one, who fell short, blamed his brother. Jealousy filled his heart, and he committed the unthinkable—murder with deliberate deceit. Then he suffered the consequences—his fields were barren, and he lived an itinerant life thereafter. Not a pretty story. But the most critical consequence of his actions was his separation from God.

Don’t we all make choices at times killing our relationship with God? Is this the sin crouching at our door? Having free will is a wonderful thing—the personal power to choose at any moment what we will or won’t do, think, or say. But it also brings great responsibility—to do what is right regardless of the circumstances.

We are not unlike Cain because most of us have made unhealthy choices and then blamed others for our actions. And in doing so, we have walked away from God, even if only for a moment. Every day life’s circumstances give us the opportunity to either manifest the glory of God or the darkness of sin. It is always our choice.

Prayer: Holy God, empower me to make wise choices today. Amen.

JANUARY 11

The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. Genesis 6:6

It’s not easy to conceive that God grieved to such an extent that his heart was filled with pain. Just five chapters back, God saw all that he had made, and it was very good (Gen. 1:31). What happened? Man’s free will. Think about it. God created man to have dominion over all of creation, and man destroyed it through greed, jealously, envy, and overall decadent behavior.

The phone rings in the middle of the night, and the policeman on the other end of the line says, We have your son in custody for drunk driving. One morning, your husband turns to you and says, I don’t love you anymore. I have found someone who understands me. Or your boss calls you into his office and says, We are downsizing. Your position of thirty years is terminated.

What do you do? You grieve. You know—that gut wrenching, paralyzing pain that grabs you right in the middle of your being. And you think that all is lost. You grieve, and God grieves with you. He knows your disappointment, your anger, and your hopelessness. He knows because he grieved first.

We will always fall short of the glory of God. We will always disappoint those who love and respect us the most. But there is hope. God will lead us through the pain, and on the other side, there will be peace.

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, guide and move me forward through my pain and grief so that I might find peace. Amen.

JANUARY 12

So the Lord said, I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air— for I am grieved that I have made them. Genesis 6:7

Pretty serious response to man’s sinfulness, isn’t it? Pain does that to you. Fills you with such despair that you want to wipe the slate clean and start again. It’s hard to imagine God full of grief so painful that he was in despair. After all, shouldn’t God be above all of that?

But think about it. God, the Creator, created the universe and all therein. And then man, part of God’s creation, became wicked and his heart full of evil. The perfect world ceased to be perfect. And what God envisioned for his creation appeared lost. So God grieved.

Think about a writer. He creates the arrangement of words in such a way that you, the reader, can identify with his life experiences. Perhaps you will find solutions to your own problems or a spark of hope to eliminate your despair. And if you do, then his creation becomes something good and noble. But if you take what he has written to cause harm and injury to others, then his creation becomes ugly and evil. And, without doubt, a true artist would grieve.

Look at the world today. Not much has changed. There is still good and evil, and sometimes it appears evil is winning. Are we still giving God a reason to grieve?

Prayer: Dear God, please show me your mercy when I struggle in this world you created. Amen.

JANUARY 13

So make yourself an ark of cypress wood. Genesis 6:14

Do you think that Noah looked around to see if God was speaking to someone else? Build an ark. Did Noah even know the meaning of ark? Was he thinking Why me?

Well, it seems that God found favor with Noah because he was a righteous man in the midst of an evil world. One good apple in a whole barrel of rotten ones. Did Noah question God at all, even if only in his mind? A subsequent verse states, Noah did everything just as God commanded him (v. 22).

Put yourself in Noah’s shoes, what would you ask? What is an ark? What do you see in me that makes you think I can do this monumental task? How can I possibly accomplish this job without any help? Are you crazy? Those are just a few of the questions that come to mind. But Noah went about God’s work, doing everything just as God commanded. And he and his family were saved.

The lesson just might be that God knows more than we do, and it would be to our advantage to follow his direction. Simple. God speaks, we listen, we follow, and we are safe. Obedience means following commands or directions. And if we do that on a daily basis, our lives are better.

Most of us today are not faced with a forty-day downpour threatening to destroy the world, but we are faced with a world of compromise, greed,