Cain and Abel

Genesis 4:1-16
"Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, 'I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.' And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.'

Cain spoke to Abel his brother, and when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?' He said, 'I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?' And the Lord said, 'What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened his mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth. Cain said to the Lord, 'My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.' And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, East of Eden."

Hebrews 11:1-4 (ESV)
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."

Sacrifice Day

The morning breaks on the day of sacrifice. Cain grumbles as his feet hit the floor. Another day of back breaking work. Cain rubs his eyes and looks at his tired feet sitting on the dirt floor. He remembers the events that took place yesterday and groans. He and Abel had gotten into another argument and just the thought of his brother's face and his protests angered Cain. He grunted and moved to get up and grab some food. Today he'd prepare what he thought was going to be enough for this God that his parents had once walked with. Cain didn't understand what the fuss was about. So many hours of the stories and he still didn't see the purpose for the sacrifice. He worked so hard day after day; breaking ground, tilling the soil, sowing, reaping, and storing away food and seed. He worked. So. Hard. And still this nameless God demanded sacrifice. Why? It just made Cain angry to have to give away his hard earned food to just be burned up. He didn't have time or energy for this. Not to mention, his little two-face brother was just as enamored with God as his parents were, and that angered Cain to no end. Abel was always looking for approval, and the trembling chin and tears as he talked about God did not move Cain. He saw right through the act. He knew that Abel was just trying to gain his parents approval. It pierced Cain's heart to think of the times when his parents talked in tender voices with Abel. Why didn't they notice him? He was the one who worked hard to provide for the family? It was him who was strong and able to provide! "This family is so deceived," he thought.

Later that day, as the family gathered for the time of sacrifice, the family brought various things to be burned on the alter. First Adam and Eve brought their lamb. They went through the ritual, bowed low to the ground, and repented of their brokenness that had broken trust with God. This brokenness which had separated them from communion and fellowship with their Maker, and which they could see in their children as well. They were reminded, once again, of what God had said, and the pain and the hope that mingled pierced their hearts.

Cain moved with stiffness as he went toward the alter with his meager basket of food. His heart mocked his family as they stepped back to make room for him to approach. His anger had subsided from earlier and now he just felt tired. As he stepped back from the alter, he bowed, but he didn't worship. He had worked hard for this fruit, and he wondered again why he had to give it up. He watched as the fire licked the fruit, waited for it to be burned to ash, then stepped back. Abel brushed past him and moved towards the alter with his lamb. Then he stopped. Cain couldn't see why he stopped, and was taken aback when Abel turned.

"Cain, I was angry at you yesterday at something that wasn't my business. I'm so sorry for the way I spoke to you. It has been on my heart all night and I cannot take another step before I ask your forgiveness. Will you forgive me?"

Cain mumbled yes, but his heart was far from forgiveness. In fact, it angered him that Abel would be so two-faced in front of the alter. He'd have words with him later.

As Abel stepped forward to the alter with his bleating lamb, he started sobbing. Abel had raised this lamb with his own hands, and had cared for it when it had been separated from it's mama. He spent so many hours tending his flock he thought his soul was being ripped out of his body.

Abel had spent many hours with his parents talking about the time when they had walked in a garden, when life had been so, so different. Abel knew this God that they had walked with. He could see HIs hand all over the trees, the grasses, the plants, the newborn lambs, the soft wool. He recognized the immensity of creation, and therefore the immensity of Creator God. He said words of thanks often as he glanced around at his surroundings. He said words of thanks when he looked at his previous lambs. Their need for a protector and provider softened his heart towards them, and he cared for them with such a tender heart. To now chance to offer him to Creator God, to have to sacrifice this innocent precious babe because of the broken in him, pierced him. He wanted to run screaming from the alter and never return. But he did it. He wanted to fulfill what was asked because Creator God required it. The greatness and the wildness of God was worth the hurt inside.

As Abel sacrificed his lamb with great sobs, Cain looked on, mocking him in his mind. How could Abel offer his precious little lambs so freely. How could he believe? How could a God require such a sacrifice? And what did it get him? Cain certainly was too filled with resentment and bitterness to see the point. He stayed just as long as was required, than returned to the fields to keep working. His anger subsided, but the questions lingered in his mind...if he ever got the chance to rid the world of his weakling of a brother Abel, what would he do?

Who is this King of Glory?

Psalm 24:1-4, 7-10 (I recommend reading this whole Psalm, and Psalm 91, to have a better understanding of God's name, Lord Almighty.)
"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters. Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false."

"Lift up your herds, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may com in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty– He is the King of Glory. Selah

Psalm 84:1, 4
"Save me, O God, by your name; vindicate me by your might. Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth."

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me."

Psalm 84:1-2, 11-12
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul years, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you."

Psalm 114:7-8
"Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, and the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water."

Psalm 144:2, 15 (I recommend reading the whole Psalm!)
"He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples (this is King David, King of Israel speaking...for us, thoughts, spiritual enemies?) under me."

"Blessed are the people of whom this (see previous verses) is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord."

In light of who God is, Almighty God, sustainer, provider, protector, stronger than any other...I bend my knee. I submit my circumstances and momentary trials to Him. "I consider that our present sufferings (persecution, beatings, imprisonment) are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)" If Paul considers these trials, I have not encountered trials. I have encountered "bumps" along the way. I've encountered things that are different than my expectations. I have encountered so little because my walk of faith isn't really a walk of faith. It is weak. It is a walk by sight. If God is who He says He is, let my feet walk by faith and not by sight.

God, what are you asking me to do? How are you asking me to trust who you are? In light of you being El Shaddai, God Almighty, where would you have me go and what would you have me do? Let my life be a reflection of who you are! Let my life say of you, "God is who He says He is!" God lead me in confession, in submission to you. Lead me. My life is yours. Help me to understand deeper, and my life reflect, who you are, the King of Glory, God Almighty. Praise your Name for inviting us to know who you are. Praise your Name for not only showing us in your Word, but showing us in our very lives, in our present time and hearts, who you are. Praise your Name, King of Glory, God Almighty!

In whom do I put my hope?

Psalm 23:1-3
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Psalm 53:5
"There they were (those who say, "there is no God."), overwhelmed with dread, where there was nothing to dread."

Psalm 83:18
"Let them (our enemies) know that you, whose name is the Lord–that You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

Psalm 113:4-9
"Who is like he Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord."

Ps. 143:8
"Let the morning bring me word of you unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul."

As I consider my day and the busy plans we have made, I can easily get overwhelmed. However, I don't put my trust in my own strength to get through the day unscathed. How little I really control...and in the end, the question that stands is, whom or what do I worship? As I read these Psalms I'm reminded that as I worship God (fix my mind on His promises instead of trying to control my circumstances, dancing in worship instead of moving from this or that thing in desperate attempts to control something, anything; being still in my thoughts as I, again, fix them on God's truth), He stills my mind and speaks softly of His love (the cross, His word), His grace (all that I see around me), His mercy; and I drink in His peace. All the while, the kids need to be taken care of, the paper mess corralled, the dishes done, the laundry washed, the weeds picked, the kids picked up from school, the babies bottled and changed, the concert attended, horn played, etc. My eyes are fixed on Jesus, who knows and understands that craziness. And I run the race marked. out. for. ME. And I "consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that [I would] not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-2,3) I place my hope of ever coming through today with peace, in my Shepherd, My Savior, and the One who endured the cross so that I could grab His hand and run. Looking to Him today.

Where are you placing your hope? What are you fixing your "eyes" onto? What promises are you dwelling on today?

These truths have such huge impact, not only for the crazy days, but for the truly hard times, and for those times we consider the truly dramatic and traumatic things going on in our world today. God, YOU are our only hope.

Do I trust God?

Psalm 22

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O God I cry out by day but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent." "Yet, you are enthroned in heaven as the Holy One…”

The precious words of Christ. While the wrath of the Father was being poured out on Him, as He carried the sins of the world on His shoulders. He walked to the cross trusting the power of God. Never doubted. Never wondered like I do. God proved Himself to be trustworthy because Christ rose again. He came back to life. Yet His soul, my soul, cries out. Do I really entrust myself to God? While I'm NOT in the thick of the hard thing...yes. While I'm in the thick of the hard thing and my emotions are high and there's tension, t's harder to stand with strength and say that same yes. HOWEVER, God is enthroned in heaven as the Holy One. No matter what is going on in life, His character remains, His holy intentions are the same. Regardless of my emotions, He is who He is.

How are you entrusting yourself and your circumstances to God, as Christ did?

You Know Me

Psalm 21

"O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!
You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah"

Close. Tight. I know Him, and He knows me. We have gone to battle together. We've had adventures together. I know His strength and rejoice in it. He knows the desires of my heart and has seen fit to give them to me. He has heard my request. I have the freedom to ask, and He has not withheld them from me.

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord through...through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken."

Presence. God's presence with me. He calls me to trust Him. I trust. He always keeps his promises and continually, continually, continually confirms His faithfulness to me. Because of God's unfailing love I WILL. NOT. BE. SHAKEN. (James 1:5-7) He calls me to ask. (John 16:24) He invites me to be close enough to ask without hesitation. To ask, because He is...faithful in His love.

"Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might."

Psalm 51
Confession. He presses in, convicts, leads me in confession.

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place."

He invites me to be honest with myself and with Him. Then I ask..cleanse me, for You are holy, I am not, and this thing that stands between us causes us pain.

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

And He does. (1 John 1:9)

And then we go deliver...

"Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you."

And then, here's the thing. Here is what allows the closeness that God desires and my soul thirsts for...

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you do not despise."

(What does a humble heart look like? This resounds in my heart when I'm tempted to revel in a deed, a thought...Philippians 2:6, Who, being in the very nature God, [Jesus] did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant...")

Psalm 91
Almighty God. El Shaddai. Powerful protector, loving provider.
"If you make the Most High your dwelling–even the Lord, who is my refuge–then no harm will befall 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." (v.14) 'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him. I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.'"

Again. Closeness. Relationship. I trust Him because He is faithful. He protects, provides, because we share a love and closeness. We are family. We are family with NOTHING between us. No judgement. No condemnation. No lies. No hidden agendas. No deception. Only truth. Only love. Because of His mercy on us and our sin. Because of His good favor towards us. Because we love Him. Because we trust Him. He provides protection and salvation. But only because of Jesus (Romans 5:8).

Psalm 141
v. 1-2 "O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice."

Again. Closeness. If God is faithful, my first response will be to call out. "Father!" He will hear. My voice calling will be like incense. It will be a sweet sound, just like the sound of my own children are sweet in my ear. My hands raised will be like an evening sacrifice. It will be a cherished thing to my Abba Father.

v.3-5b Lord, you know my thoughts and words (Psalm 139). "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers..." Discipline me, Lord. Keep my feet in step with yours!

God's presence. He invites us to be close. He invites us to trust. He invites us to trust His character and find Him lacking in nothing. He invites us to set down our sin, the things our heart worships other than Him. John 8:11 "Go now and leave your life of sin." When we do, we are called the children of God. Our Father, El Shaddai, is the perfect Father.

Psalm 20, 50, 90, 140

To God be the glory

let all creation cry

Praise and honor to Christ,

Word of God, Word of life.

 (My Soul Longs for the Lord-Getty)

Ps. 20

Our God is mighty. He saves with the power of His right hand those He has anointed (believers in Jesus and those He is bringing near to Him.) We trust in the Name of the Lord our God, because He is trustworthy. He does not disappoint. We rise up and stand firm. When we celebrate victory, we will shout for Joy and declare glory to God, for it is He in whom we have placed our trust. It is He who has given us the victory!

What does this look like in my day? Month? Year? I don’t go to a literal battle…yet I do everyday. I go to battle against the messages and thoughts that cause me to fear the future, that would cause me to feel alone, that cause me to covet, etc. I trust not in my own wisdom or strength, but in the promises of our God who saves. I trust in His Word as truth, for it is like pure gold and sweeter than honey to my soul. His Word says that every good thing comes from the Father of Lights (James 1) and that He is working everything together for my good (Romans 8) and that nothing can separate me from His love (Romans 8). I can rest assured that everything that God asks me walk through is good and will produce perseverance (James 1). As I place my trust in Him and remember His many promises to hear my cry (help, Lord!), He fills me with hope and joy.

Ps. 50

Harsh. God knows the intents and motives of the heart. You say one thing, but you do another. V. 16 But to the wicked, God says: “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.” You join in with those who are wicked, you use your mouth to speak against others and to slander them. You thought God was lawless. God will not stand for this.

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and He prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”

When I read this, it causes me to immediately examine my ways. Do I recite God’s word and then turn around and speak unkindly? What does that mean? The messages of the world, the religious words and patterns, are engrained in me. So, yes. When I agree with the ways of the world and act on it, when I speak against those around me and slander them (even in my mind), I’m walking as those to which God refers. What is the antidote to this? The last verse. It takes humbleness to truly be thankful, TO EVEN NOTICE what God has done. We know that God speaks about pride in His word. James 4:7-12. Thank you, Lord for so quickly giving us a way of escape for our very natural response, our automatic response sometimes, and for your grace and Holy Spirit which works in us to elicit a different kind of response. A response which gives life to us and keeps us close to you, and protects us. You know, Lord, that one day we will stand before YOU. You have that day in mind and you are very purposefully bringing the humble closer to purity with that day in mind. You are worthy of praise!

Ps. 90

Praise! “Lord, YOU have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, YOU are God.” God is the beginning, was at the beginning, is the creator and sustainer of all things. He sees generation after generation.

The weight of days. The weight of everyday. I feel this weight. I feel the weight of day after day. The same things day after day. Because we fear God, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

When I read about my sin, about salvation, about God’s wrath…I see Jesus on the cross, taking my sin, taking God’s wrath, and gratitude fills my heart. Praise is on my lips. Because of Jesus, I will not be subject to God’s wrath. I full accept His discipline because by it I know I am loved (Hebrews, James), but I know that Jesus took God’s wrath on His shoulders so that I would not have to.

The weight of days…”Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing fro joy and be glad all our days.” “May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us–yes, establish the work of our hands.” It all points back to God and His grace as He works in the details of our lives. If I see myself and my wisdom working out the details, whom do I have to praise at the end of the day. Me? My wisdom? My strength? “In the last days men will be lovers of themselves (2 Tim 3). That certainly has been a natural way of my mind and heart, but now that I see that, it is like dust in my mouth. It chokes, it suffocates, and I run from it. God is at work in the details, I seek His wisdom, and at the end of the day I have Him to praise and worship. And it is He that establishes the work of my hands. I have direction and purpose. I praise His love and faithfulness! I am seen and known by Almighty God, and His wisdom and strength worked out the details of my life and He deserves all of my praise and worship. I give it, and am filled with joy!

Ps. 140

Rescue me, O Lord, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day.” This isn’t a physical thing in my very comfortable life in the US. It just isn’t a thing. I know there are places in the US where this is a thing. I know there are people who struggle with enemies. I do not have any. I have thoughts that I need to be more vocal about my stand with Christ. For now, I know that I have an enemy who devises evil plans against me. (Romans 8) Our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood…

V. 6 is the cry of my heart against those plans that are devised. My head turns, my eyes lock with Jesus, and I am saved. I am saved though, all the while, even while my head is turned away. The words in v. 6…I say, I cry. Words. Out loud. I declare that it is God who hears, God who shows mercy. He is my strong deliverer. He comes when I cry. I love that I have a prayer against those who devise evil against me. God is just. God works and will fight on our behalf, we need only be still. (Ex 14:13-14).

Why Blog?

The Whole Earth is Filled with His Glory

Every day, every person, exhibits the glory of God and the depravity of man. 

The glory of God is on display as we are fed, warm, have relationships.

What about those in prison cells? 

What about those who are enslaved? 

What about those you are captors? 

How is the glory of God displayed in them?

The above text was a post that I never published, but is the reason why I choose to begin again to blog. The whole earth is filled with His glory...every day He desires to put His glory on display in my life in order that others may know He is God and what He says is true. I choose to write because He has shown me such great compassion and I want His glory to be put on full display! So, I add my voice to the millions of others who declare His praises!

1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

And so, I choose to declare His praises...