GENESIS - EXODUS

Today I leave Tennessee to go back to the promised land.  Yes, Oregon!  I will go there to see the flooding and snowing that has still been happening.  Even from Tennessee I saw the overflowed Clackamas River in Oregon City, OR.  Wow, to see your hometown on national TV because of flooding is not good!  Pray for us. As I looked Genesis and Exodus early this morning, I thought of just these few things: 1) TESTED- In Genesis and Exodus, and perhaps throughout the Bible I see how God puts man to the test.  Noah was tested for 100 years building an ARK before the flood came and his family was delivered.  Abram was tested from age 75 when he was promised his son to age 100 when Isaac was born, and then perhaps ten years or so later, when he had to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise!  Isaac was tested as being married at 40, and yet his two sons were not born until he was 60!  Twenty years he is the only hope of being a great nation his father must have told him about.  (I'm sure he wanted a dozen sons himself)  Then Isaac was tested in digging the wells that others claimed. Jacob was tested for 20 years with Laban and then tested with Esau when he came back home!  Joseph was tested for 13 years in slavery and prison before he became the third ruler over Egypt.  Joseph's brothers were tested by Joseph to see if they were worth saving, and they were!  Moses was tested for forty years before God spoke to him and then he was tested as he stood against Pharaoh.  Finally, Pharaoh was tested and he failed his test!  (1Pe 1:7)  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  (1Pe 4:12)  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: Trials are a part of life.  Remember this.... before God uses you..... He will test you!!  Pass the test!! 2) BLESSING- After the tests are passed, the blessings are given!  Genesis ends with Jacob blessing his sons.  I was thinking when we stopped doing this.  We need to bless our children as Jacob did and ask God to shower on them His blessings, and give our chidren our blessings!  Bless your children!! These are the two thoughts that came to me this morning.  Tomorrow is Sunday!   I preach on "My Vision for 2009" tomorrow morning, and get to share with the people the goals and plans for the year.  I'm excited about it and know that God will bless the year.  It may be a hard year for the world, but with God's help, we will make it just fine.  May God bless you and yours!  Pastor Mike Mutchler