A Work in Progress….

Genesis 6:1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,

Lord, These are interesting times in which we are living, but they aren’t unique. Help us to live each day with the sole purpose of shining Your light, pointing others to You.  Help us to try to put a little bit of good into the world every single day. That’s doable. Help us to try.

Genesis 6:2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.

Father, You are still on Your throne. You are still sovereign. You are still love incarnate. Thank You. Help us not to lose sight of who You are and who You are to us and in this world. Personally, I claim You as my Rock and my Fortress, my Savior and my Salvation. Now and forevermore. Thank You.

Genesis 6:3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”

Precious Savior, This world is not my home. Thank You for the reminder not to get too comfortable here. Help me to encourage and uplift others while I’m here, to point them to You. Help me to root myself in You and draw closer to You with each breath. Amen.

Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

Today’s verses begin with two mentions of Enoch walking faithfully with God. That phrase, walking faithfully with God, puts me in mind of a Ram Dass quote that I love: We’re all just walking each other home. Enoch spent 365 years walking home with God. How beautiful that must have been.

Genesis 5:25-27 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.

One of the things I have a hard time doing is staying in the present moment. I fret about the future and the past all the time, but the present moment is often ignored. Walking each other home, walking with God, is all about the present moment. Right now. Jesus, Help me stay rooted in You in this present moment.

Genesis 5:28-31 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. He named him Noah and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Lamech lived a total of 777 years, and then he died.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder of the importance of staying in the present moment. Thank You for the reminder of the importance of faithfully walking with You as we walk each other home through this life. Help me not to worry about the past, which is over, or the future, which will take care of itself. Help me to stay in this moment as I faithfully walk with You each step. Amen.

Genesis 5:32 After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 5:9-11 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.

Today is Election Day. And with the presidential election on the ballot and, in my state, some key state positions that could directly impact my livelihood, it feels like an important day, a nerve-wracking day. But today’s laundry list of who lived how long has helped to put today back into its proper perspective.

Genesis 5:12-14 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. After he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.

“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). No matter how the day turns out, no matter what happens or doesn’t, I can rejoice because the Lord created this day. Period. I’ve done the one thing I can to affect this election. I’ve cast my vote. Now all I can do is trust in the Lord, trust in the process, know that the sun will come up tomorrow, and seek to give God praise and glory. Always

Genesis 5:15-17 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. After he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.

Precious Savior, Sometimes I get so hyper focused on what’s directly in front of me that I forget that it is only a piece of the whole. Thank You for the reminder that You are the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8). Thank You for this day that You have made. Help me to rejoice and be glad it in. Help me to draw closer to You. Amen.

Genesis 5:18-20 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 5:1 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God.

Seth, to me, falls into a similar category as Lamech: I know I have read this scripture before, yet I do not connect the name Seth as a son to Adam and Eve. So I’m left pondering the meaning and message here: What is the point of my life if, when I’m gone, I won’t be remembered?

Genesis 5:2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.

Sorry about the deeply fatalistic turn there, and know that this is not an angsty, nihilistic reflection. I think that if I make my life all about me–about my legacy, my contribution–I’m going to be disappointed because, eventually, I will not be remembered. However, if I make my life about God–about His goodness and mercy, His grace and compassion, His presence in my life–that legacy of praise will live on because I am pointing others to Him, a worthy pursuit for all.

Genesis 5:3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.

Precious Savior, I think we all want to leave some sort of lasting legacy. Thank You for the reminder that this life is not about us, it’s about You, about drawing closer to You, about learning to seek You and see You, about pointing others to You and illuminating Your glory. I am Your masterpiece. We all are. Help us to act like it and to not forget why we are here. For You. Amen.

Genesis 5:4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 4:19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.  

The name Lamech is not a notable one in the Bible. If you had asked, I would have sworn I had never heard it before, even though I’ve read these very verses before. Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah…the big ones, I know, but Lamech? Nope. Not familiar.

Genesis 4:20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock.

And that fact surprises me when I look at the descriptions of his three sons: Jabal, father of those who live in tents and raise livestock; Jubal, father of all who play string instruments and pipes; Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. These seem to be foundational, society-building functions: those who live in tents, raise livestock, play instruments, forge tools. I’m surprised that these men, who “fathered” incredible growth, aren’t more important in the Bible. But maybe that’s part of the issue–humans are impressed by shiny, new, revolutionary. God wants us to draw closer to Him. The two don’t easily coexist.

Genesis 4:21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes.

Precious Savior, Thank You that You know my heart, that You know how easily I can be swayed by shiny and new. Thank You for knowing that my wayward heart needs time to sit with You daily, to talk to You, to read Your word, to ponder You universe. Help me to stay connected to You, rooted in You. Always. Amen.

Genesis 4:22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.

Have a blessed day.