24May2014 - My Rights are Wrong

How you doin?  I'm slowly but surely becoming that old dude who doesn't like summer.  Which is really weird for me, since I've lived most of my life for summer.  Oh, well.  Maybe God will change my heart in this matter.  Stacey has a great outlook or copying mechanism for traffic and the inconsideration of seasonal visitors.  I'm jealous of her when it comes to this.  I'll try to follow her lead.  I find that my drive to be out in front of life is causing hardship and separation from God.  I find myself lured to sitting back and not being first.  To let someone else go before me.  I'm not sure if this makes sense.  I may be starting a thought in this email that's in the middle of my thought in my head.  My thought is about conceding my "rights".  My human "rights" do nothing but make me angry and suffer.  They only work if everyone in the world also agrees that I have "rights".  That's a daunting task to convince everyone that I have the "right" to serve my "self".  Come on God, help me stop raising the dead me to life.  Falling back on the basics helps me.  "Turn your eyes upon Jesus". 

I'm finding Job to be a tough read.  Job's friend Eliphaz, who is rebuked by God, sounds like he's making sense to me in Job 5.  I do know in this story that Job doesn't receive his friends statements very well (Chapter 6).  I also know that God says He's angry with Eliphaz for what he said.  The only thing I can think of is, Eliphaz is speaking from his own opinion of what he sees and hears.  He's not in a place of fellowship with God.  Eliphaz seems to be very religious.  Meaning that his position is that God is good to the good people and bad to the bad people.  This is hard to understand because this is written before the old covenant.  This is all before Moses.  It would make better sense if the law was in place.  Eliphaz isn't in agreement that God is good.  His position is that Job has done something wrong and that he needs to repent.  God says that Job is upright, fears the Lord, and turns from evil.  To me that sounds like he has favor.  Like I said before, this book in the Bible doesn't answer questions for me, it causes me to ask more questions.  There's a part of God's character and nature that I'm missing here.  I will be praying for understanding.  "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" today.     

PS   Stacey pointed out that it sounds like Eliphaz is speaking from his life's experience vs his relationship with God.  That makes sense to me.

23May2014 - Relationship vs Works

How you doin?  While praying this morning, I was convicted that my relationship with God is the most important thing in life.  I can't allow anything I do out weigh my relationship with Him.  Nothing that I do, deeds or works, can increase my closeness to Him.  Spending time with Him and seeking His face draws me closer.  Alone time with Him draws me closer.  Deeds and works are a consequence of my intimate relationship with Him.  Understanding the Scripture doesn't draw me closer to Him.  Knowing and seeking Him gives me understanding.  My motives have everything to do with the effect of my actions, devotions, study, prayer, and ability to love others.  If I do these things to potion myself in good standing with Him, it goes the opposite way.  God wants me to love Him and not perform my way into good standing.  I'm not sure why I'm sharing this very personal stuff.  It's just how my prayers went this morning.

Job 4 today.  You're pretty much on your own with this one.  I need to be at work early today so that's it for me.  I'm not sure what this chapter is about.  Sadly enough I'm out of time and God had something else for me today.  Love Him and seek Him today. 

22May2014 - Taking Lumps

How you doin?  There's a super cool article in yesterdays Herald by a super cool author.  Here's the link, http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/100533-if+they+can+do+it+i+can+do+it#comment-form.  There was a comment at the bottom of the article from a religious AA-er.  One of the things I don't see eye to eye with the program is the concept of being one drink away from being a drunk.  In the same way I'm not a "sinner saved by grace".  True freedom from the Lord is just that true freedom.  Living in human tradition is like remain in your cell of captivity with the door open.  God offers you to walk out into freedom, but some people choose to remain in the fear of whatever God freed them from.  It's like being on parole.  You're out of captivity, but still under the authority of your punish-er.  Of course I'm not willing to get into an exchange of "comments" on the Herald's website, but I will say that I am NOT one drink away from being a drunk.  I walk in the freedom that only the Lord can provide.  I do now and have always done a lot of things that the program warned me against.  Things like handling alcohol.  I handle different kinds of wine, vodka, brandy, and sometimes beer at my job regularly.  I can honestly say I'm freed from alcohol.  I do NOT live in fear of it.  I also believe that human tradition keeps the program inside the four walls.  Human tradition also keeps what happens in church inside the four walls.  Fear is a nasty thing.  True freedom to me is walking out and away from the "cell" of captivity and being willing to share the "GOOD NEWS" with whom ever I can.  I'm more then willing to take my lumps along the way.  Freedom often involves perseverance and persecution.  That's a nice segue way into Job 3.

Verse's 1-4, "Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed ^[a]the day of his birth. ² And Job ^[b]said,

³ “Let the day perish on which I was to be born,
And the night which said, ‘A ^[c]boy is conceived.’
⁴ “May that day be darkness;
Let not God above care for it,Nor light shine on it."  This chapter is dripping with pain and anguish.  Job is suffering in a tremendous way.  I did notice that Job never speaks against God.  In fact while he's wishing he were dead he still recognizes that God cares for his life and that light had shined on it.  These chapters are the chapters that make me think that the story of Job is about perseverance, not patients.  When I read them, I hear Job standing his ground with integrity.  He does not waver from the thought that God is good.  He states his life is torturous and that he wants out of it, but he never turns on God.  This is truly a great story of withstanding persecution and perseverance.  Stand your ground in the integrity that comes from the Lord today.   

21May2014 - God's Faith

How you doin?  Sometimes I think fairly poorly of myself.  Attacks on my identity or attempts at identity theft boggle my mind.  I tend to allow other peoples "stuff" to rub off on me.  Other peoples anxiety, worry, greed, fear, and discontentment.  It's awful when it's going on, but it's funny once I regain my identity.  I love watching super hero movies and mutation shows and movies.  X-Men is one of my favorites.  In these types of movies/shows there's usually a character that can take on the appearance, voice, and characteristics of other people.  Though this makes for a cool mutation in a movie/show, it stinks in life.  Whenever I take on other peoples "stuff" I'm not in my own identity.  God didn't create me with this mutation.  He created me to be me.  He created me to walk in my identity and destiny.  I especially don't handle other peoples fear.  God is bringing me out of a state of fear over the last 10 years of sobriety.  He is bringing me into a state of love.  His love and faith.  When I accept someone's fear it feels horrible.

Job 2 today.  Verses 1-6, "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. ² TheLord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” ³ The Lord said to Satan, “Have you^[a]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man^[b]fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ^[c]ruin him without cause.” ⁴ Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. ⁵ However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” ⁶ So the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your ^[d]power, only spare his life.”'  Here it is again.  Satan presenting himself to God along with other angels.  Satan is a created being of God.  Is it possible that he still must present himself to God because of God's supreme sovereignty?  We know Satan is against God, but he is also under God.  Perhaps these dialogs occur in the second realm of heaven and not the third.  This is also the second time that Satan suggest that God "put forth Your hand".  Each time God gives Satan permission to do what he does... evil.  Both times God restricts Satan.  The first time was Satan couldn't touch Job's body.  The second time was Satan couldn't kill Job.  Satan's rebellion is on display here in this dialog.  God's faith in Job is also on display.  God knows His creation very well.  I can't picture God doing all this and He's chewing His finger nails all nervous and wondering if Job will hold up.  God test Job because He knows Job will pass the test.  Verses 9-10, "Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” ¹⁰ But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips."  Empathize with Job here.  You just lost everything you owned and your kids.  Now you're covered in painful sores.  Would you sin with you lips?  Would you be like Job's wife?  I'd like to say no, but I wonder.  I've experienced suffering in my life and I didn't handle it very well.  I'm in a much different relationship with God, but I still wonder.

This Scripture may forever baffle me.  I just don't get this one.  When I read it I get questions, not understanding.  If I'm conscience of my flesh in heaven I'll ask Father God about this Scripture.  Unless He tells me here on earth.  Stand your ground and pass your test today.       

​PS   I can't understand Satan being amongst the angels and in the presence of God.  All I've ever read on Satan is that he's trying to destroy God's creation.  That he fights with angels, particularly Michael.  Perhaps Satan is subdued in this environment.  Otherwise I would think he would be unleashing fury.  I know I don't need to understand everything, but this one really gets me.  I can't wait for breakthrough.

PPS   Since our Doug Addison event has shown up on Elijah's List, our phone an email has blown up.  Please pray for us to have the words and strength to minister to the extreme needs of the people that are drawn to this extreme ministry.  This is going to be off the hook.  We will be stretched and we will grow.  God is AWESOME!!!!!!!  I thank Him for seeing us as able to pass this test.  COME ON!!!!!!!  ​

20May2014 - A Yielded Life

How you doin?  As I said before, Stacey and I are reading the NIV Chronological Bible.  On Sun 5/18 we read Genesis 11 and 1 Chronicles 17-27 because they went together chronologically.  Today the first chapter in Job.  Again this is in chronological order.  Life is incredibly busy.  I look at my schedule and my list of things to do and feel overwhelmed.  I'm trying to find balance in prioritizing and organizing.  So much stuff going on.  Memorial Day weekend at work will be crazy and requiring me to work on Sunday.  Then the Doug Addison conference which will require me to be off for two days.  Plus we have #1 and #2.  Those two keep us busier then anything.  We're praying for peace and a sound mind.  We're praying for awareness of His Presence.  God is so good.

I've always heard that the story of Job was about patience.  When I read it in our first read through I thought it was more about perseverance.  Job didn't seem very patient to me, but he did seem to have a tremendous amount of perseverance.  Today I saw chapter 1 as an example of spiritual warfare or the ridiculous battle that goes on between God and Satan.  I also noticed how Job was extraordinarily yielded to God.  The part that fascinates me the most is verses 6-12, "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and ^[b]Satan also came among them. ⁷ TheLord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” ⁸ The Lord said to Satan, “Have you^[c]considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man,^[d]fearing God and turning away from evil.” ⁹ Then Satan answered the ^[e]Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” ¹² Then the Lordsaid to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your ^[f]power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord."  The first thing is that Satan is among a group of angels that were presenting themselves to God.  I thought that Satan was cast out of heaven.  Apparently he has access to heaven.  God seems to take it all in stride and strikes up a conversation with him.  There must be tons more for me to learn about this exchange and dialog.  God asks Satan where he came from and Satan replies casually from roaming around and walking on the earth.  Are you for real.  Then God offers up Job as though to rub Satan's nose in His victory.  That part I like.  I'm not sure if I understand any of this Scripture.  I do find it fascinating.  I look so forward to the day I have a better understanding of this Scripture.

The chapter goes on and messengers tell Job that he basically lost everything he has, including his children.  He response by worshiping God.  Verses 20-22, "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. ²¹ He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

²² Through all this Job did not sin nor did he ^[m]blame God."  Now that is an example of a surrendered life.  That's an example of someone who has denied their "self".  I often refer to tough questions.  What makes a questions tough is either I don't know the answer or I'm not giving the desired answer.  So when I read this story, I ask myself a very tough question, "would I respond like Job?".  I can't say that I would.  I would like to, but I'm not sure if I would.  I like being tested and challenged.  I like tough questions, which lead to refining fires.  I do have the desire to have that kind of a yielded life.  To have that kind of a relationship with Him.  Where things of this world don't matter.  Ask yourself tough questions today.

19May2014 - Deny Your "self" not Money

How you doin?  So I was woken up at 3am by dehydration and a bathroom trip.  While awake I started talking to God and I heard Luke 18:24.  Whenever this happens I have trouble falling back to sleep because I'm so curious about what that verse says.  Not just that verse, but the verses around it.  A lot of the times the verses around the verse I hear in prayer are the ones that stand out to me.  I'm convinced that the Holy Ghost wants me to find things for myself.  It's like the Easter egg hunt.  The joy is watching are kids find the eggs.  We hind them in places that they will be able to find them based on their age and skill set.  When they are very little we hind eggs in the middle of the coffee table and floor in the living room.  As they get older we hind them in harder and harder spots to find.  As I mature as a follower of Jesus, He knows I'll search until I find His message or lesson for me.  That's why when He does this to me at 3am I usually just get up and start praying and reading.  Today I did fall back to sleep for a few hours.  I'm so exhausted.  I did wake up every so often thinking about Luke 18:24.

Luke 18:18-27, "A ruler questioned Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”¹⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” ²¹ And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” ²² When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²³ But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. ²⁴ And Jesus looked at him and said,“How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to ^[g]go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”'  I warned you that I read around the verse that God gives me.  I actually read the entire chapter and Matthew 18 as well.  That's another story.  This is the story of "The Rich Young Ruler".  So this story describes or puts Matthew 16:24 into action.  Matt 16:24, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me." (NLT)  Matt 16:24, "Then said Jesus to his disciples, 'If any one doth will to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," (Young's Literal Translation).  Matt 16:24, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (NASB)  I've heard all my live that "money is the root of all evil".  Luke 18:24 has been misread and misunderstood for so long that some Christians hate money.  Money is good folks.  "Self" is the bad thing in this passage.  Take another look at verse 22, "When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack; sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”'  Jesus was simply trying to get this "Rich Young Ruler" to deny himself, disown himself, and to turn from his selfish ways.  We have examples of how money can benefit the Kingdom in the right hands.  J.C. Penny comes to mind first.  We tend to be so stuck in the old covenant and under religious teaching that we can't see past deeds, performance, and sin.  Under the influence of religion we read this and think we literally need to sell everything we own.  Jesus was appealing to this man's "self".  Denying your "self" comes in all shapes and sizes.  For me it was drugs and alcohol.  My addictions became my identity.  It became my "self".  If this story were about me it would be titled "The Drunk Drug Addict".  Whatever keeps us from our true identity, destiny, and following Jesus MOST GO.  This story isn't about bashing money, wealth, and riches, it's about denying your "self" and following Him.  Being crucified with Jesus is a good thing.  Necromancy is for those you practice black magic and witch craft, not for followers of Jesus.  Deny whatever your "self" is today.      

18May2014 - Avoid Ourselves

How you doin?  I'm pretty tired today.  It was a tiring week of work.  I did have a good day yesterday.  It was busy and it went well.  Stacey and I have been sowing prayer into the Doug Addison conference for months.  Not one day has gone by that we didn't pray for God to call the people who He wants in attendance and for Him to be there in a recognizable way.  We've prayed for this conference to usher in a new perspective of the Kingdom.  That those who attend will step into their identity in Christ.  I just can't help but think that something great is going to happen.  I belief people will be equipped to minister, freed from captivity, and they will receive revelation and understanding.  The Kingdom message does different things for different people.  It's so fun to watch God work. 

We read Genesis 11 today.  I must admit that I really didn't get much from today's reading.  Chapter 11 ends with Shem's genealogy up to Abram (which is Abraham).  The story of Babel (which is Babylon) is a bit confusing to me.  I've always heard that these people did what they did in "self" promotion and "self" serving motives.  Verse 4, "They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”'  When God came down and saw what they were doing, He did to them exactly what they were trying to prevent.  Verses 8-9, "So the Lordscattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. ⁹ Therefore its name was called ^[h]Babel, because there the Lord confused the ^[i]language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth."  I guess I could gather that I need to avoid my "self".  I'm not sure what or why, but there's something to this.  I'm confident that when the Lord wants me to understand, I will.  In the mean time, I'm going to keep loving Him.  I'm going to keep my eyes, ears, and attention on Him.  Because He's good.  Please pray to hear if God is calling you to our conference with Doug Addison today. 

17May2014 - Which Son/Daughter Are you?

How you doin?  This won't be a very long email today (I think).  I'm extremely busy at work preparing for Memorial Day weekend and are summer season.  I will say that I have my favorite group of employees I've ever had.  That is certainly helpful.  I had a melt down yesterday at the end of my day and my sous chef really step up in support of me.  He recognized that I was at my wits end and jumped in to help/support me.  He very respectfully suggested that go home and get some rest.  He pointed out the task that he would finish by the end of his shift so to make me feel comfortable that we would be ready for the weekend.  It's everything to have a good team.  My team at work makes me think of how the body of Christ should work.  My guys have stepped up and have really embraced their roles, responsibilities, and contribution to the betterment of our kitchen/restaurant.  Hopefully the FOH will follow suite.  I wonder what the western church would look like if we had this mentality.  If we all understood our identity, destiny, that we have access to all of the spiritual gifts, and that the five fold ministry is a gift from Jesus and was established to help us usher in the Kingdom.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  The thought of have unity in the body.  Not compliance to leadership or doctrine, but unity based on Christ likeness.  COME ON!!!!!!!  I am not writing a fictional email today.  Let's start praying for knowledge of our roles and the anointing on the body of Christ.

We did read Genesis 10 today.  This chapter is the genealogy of Noah's children.  Based on yesterday's revelations about Gen. 9 and that Noah wasn't a drunk, I noticed one thing in Gen. 10.  Ham, the son who mocked and dishonored Noah, fathered some bad people and places.  Out of Ham's genetic line came Babel, Assyria, Nineveh,  the Philistines, Canaan, Gaza, Sodom, andGomorrah.  I recognize these places and people as being against God and His people.  The curse that Ham received from Noah for his actions was severe.  His line was cursed.  I notice a pattern throughout the Old Testament that there are contrast in brothers.  Cane and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Essau, and here Noah's sons.  It's almost as if God is giving us examples of the results of the choice we make.  There are only two choices, God or no God.  Choose wisely today. 

16May2014 - Noah was not a drunk

How you doin?  A good day at work yesterday.  Thank you to those who were praying for me.  I did want to encourage you to respond to this email as you feel led.  I love feedback.  I can certainly see how our minds can take us places that the Truth doesn't want us to go.  I saw an example of this today while reading Genesis 9.

Verses 20-24, "Then Noah began ^[j]farming and planted a vineyard. ²¹ He drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. ²² Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. ²³ But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were ^[k]turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. ²⁴ When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him."  I've always heard and even said myself that Noah was a drunk.  After reading this story today, I've changed my mind.  This story is way more about Noah's sons then it is him.  One account of drunkenness after drinking juice from a new vineyard hardly makes someone a drunk.  He probably didn't even know the juice was going to do that to him.  Verses 22-27, make it clear to me that this story is about the sons.  It just doesn't sound like it's telling how Noah was the town lush.

I've received words about this sort of thing before.  God makes it clear to me not to put people down so to put myself up.  I heard this from my parents all my life as well.  I think that I/we tend to see righteous men and women in the Bible and try to find the flaws in them so we can relate to them.  Some kind of weird comfort in associating or relating to something other then their righteousness and the favor they've received.  It's like we rationalize and justify why we aren't living in accordance with who God created us to be.  It's weird.

Verse 6,  “Whoever sheds man’s blood,

By man his blood shall be shed,

For in the image of God

He made man."  I believe this the fourth time this is mentioned in the first 9 chapters of the Bible.  We are created in God's image and likeness.  If we're not measuring up to that then we need to start asking hard questions of our selves.  More then that we need to yield ourselves to God.  I'm taking a chance in using "we".  I'm doing that in an attempt to encourage you.  I can easily change out all the "we" for "I".  I want to live a life yielded to God.  I life that reflects His glory.  I want to KNOW Him and LOVE Him.  COME ON!!!!!!!  My desire to stop making excuses for myself and to start living in the fullness of Christ in me, the hope of glory is peaked here this morning.  I see two choices, 1) continue in the deception of religion, human tradition, and unbelief, or 2) yield myself to Him and start the process of becoming like Him.  WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!  Thank you Jesus for making it possible for me to choose God through your acts on the cross.  Yield yourself to Him today.

15May2014 - Let Your Peace Return to You

How you doin?  I'm very tired today.  I was up at 4am due to dreams.  Fortunate that a dream interpreter is coming here.  Sometimes I think I may be better off not knowing what my dreams mean.  It's no surprise to me that the dream that woke me up was work related.  It was a very long day yesterday and even a longer night.  Oh well!  There's way more good days then bad at work.  Today's a new day.  Genesis 8 today.

Verses 8-9, "Then he sent out a dove from him, to see if the water was abated from the face of the land; ⁹ but the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, so she returned to him into the ark, for the water was on the ^[d]surface of all the earth. Then he put out his hand and took her, and brought her into the ark to himself."  This verse has always stood out to me.  I see the dove as a symbol of the Holy Ghost.  It's the Holy Ghost that is our Helper here on earth.  So it would make sense.  The way that the dove "returned to him into the ark" and not just returned to the ark is very personal.  The way that Noah "brought her into the ark to himself".  The parts that I highlighted makes me think of Luke 10:5-6, ^"Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ ⁶ If a ^[c]man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you."  As you all know the dove eventually brings back a freshly picked olive branch.  In verse 12, "Then he waited yet another seven days, and sent out the dove; but she did not return to him again."  The dove had a place to rest.  I could be way off on this, but it sounds like this is what we are to do in the world.  It sounds like a means of spreading the good news.  I've experienced this in different places where I tried to share the good news and it was not received well or at all.  I wished I could pull my words back to me.  Know I believe I can.  It's really the loving thing to do.  If someone isn't receiving the peace that's in you, it will most likely turn into an argument or debate.  Convincing someone of truth is futile.  It's like someone that doesn't believe the sun rises and you're trying to convince them it does.  If you think about it, you most likely have never argued a point as truthful as the sun rising.  To me the right Gospel is as true as the sun rising.

Verses 20-22, "Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. ²¹ The Lord smelled the soothing aroma; and the Lordsaid ^[k]to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the ^[l]intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again ^[m]destroy every living thing, as I have done.

²² “While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”'
I love God's compassion here.  These verses represent the fellowship that I so desire with God.  Noah worshiped Him and God lavished love on to him and the earth.  Send out your peace, but let it return to you if it has no resting place today. 

​PS   This personal sending and receiving of the Holy Ghost also reminds me of Matthew 7:6, ​

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

​"  There's something about having a personal element to my relationship with Him.  He's not just the warden who releases me out of the prison of hell.  It's a fellowship with Him that is most important. ​