Genesis 4 - 4.28.26

SCRIPTURE:  Genesis 4:2b-7 

“Now Abel kept flocks, Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering - fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.  The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor.  So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry?  Why is your face downcast?  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 rule over it.”

OBSERVATION:  When Adam and Eve sinned, they impacted all humanity by introducing sin into the world. Without a doubt, Cain and Abel brought their offerings because God had revealed to them the necessity of the offering. Their son Cain brought an offering to the Lord, and though the Bible doesn’t specifically say why Abel’s offering was regarded by the Lord, and Cain’s wasn’t, I noticed something that stood out!  Abel’s offering included some of the firstborn of his flock and their fat portions, while Cain’s offering was some of the land’s produce; ordinary crops. God considered Abel’s offering better because it represented his “best”.   It was the firstborn of his flock, reflecting his heart of devotion, whereas Cain’s offering was merely a routine sacrifice, potentially lacking sincerity and obedience. Abel brought a blood sacrifice, and Cain brought a bloodless sacrifice.  (Got Questions.com).

“By Faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did.  By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.” (Hebrews 11:4).

APPLICATION:  “The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ( 1 Samuel 16:7b). The best offering we can possibly present to the Lord is our body;  a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is our true and proper worship.  God desires for us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds as we live to honor and glorify Him. 

PRAYER:  Dear God, You deserve my very best because of Who You are, and for all You’ve done for me!  EVERYTHING I have is from You!   May I be willing to offer You my entire life, and faithfully and cheerfully give back to You what You have required because of my genuine love and obedience to You.  Amen

- Robin Orefice

Mark 8 - 4.27.26

Scripture

Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.””

Observation

In this passage Jesus and His disciples are traveling from village to village, doing ministry together. Jesus then asks his disciples two very important questions:

 1). “Who do people say I am?”

2).  “Who do you say I am?”

His disciples respond to that first question by saying that the public look at Jesus as John the Baptist, Elijah or one of the prophets. Basically the public saw Jesus as a holy figure, but not the Messiah.

But, Peter responds to Jesus’ second question by acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, the promised Deliverer.

Application

Who is Jesus to you?

It is a pivotal point in the gospel and in all world religions today. Who is Jesus? Some religions think he is great guy, a great teacher. Some think of Jesus as a prophet. Some believe Jesus is just one of the many ways to get to Heaven and believe it or not, some religions even think Jesus is the “spirit brother” of Lucifer! 🤦🏽‍♂️ 

Peter knew exactly who Jesus was. He saw it up close and personal. That is why in this passage Peter acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah and if Peter’s admission wasn’t enough for you, we also have the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). These men were personal eyewitnesses of Jesus. They lived with Him. They broke bread with Him. They did life with Him. They even died for Him because they wanted to share the Good News of who Jesus was with everyone. 

So, even if you don’t buy in to what Jesus’ disciples are testifying to, historians can even vouch that a man named Jesus DID exist and walked the earth. He did have great life teachings and perform many miracles. He did die and 3 days later, his tomb was empty.  Now I don’t know about you, but if you put two and two together, (what the disciples witnessed and wrote about, and what historians wrote about), it is clear to me Who Jesus is and I have to say that I concur with Peter. Jesus IS the Messiah. He IS the Son of God. He lived a perfect life yet died a sinner’s death. He did it to pay for my sins and the world’s sins. Jesus is exactly who He says He is. 

“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” -John‬ ‭8‬:‭58‬ 

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””-John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ 

If Jesus is who He says He is, we better take a good hard look at how we answer that question, “Who is Jesus to you?”. It better determine how we choose to live our lives. Our eternal destination depends on it.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for being exactly who You said You are. Thank You for being my Rock, my Redeemer, my Savior, my Lord, and my friend. May the life I live bring You the glory You deserve. I pray for others who may not know You the way I do. I pray that they may come to the logical conclusion of who You are. I pray for You to open their eyes so that they may see, open their ears so they may hear, and may You open their hearts so they may believe. In Your Holy and precious name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi 

Psalm 63 - 4.24.26

Scripture: Psalm 63:1-8

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1 You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.‍ ‍

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.‍ ‍

3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.‍ ‍

4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands.‍ ‍

5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.‍ ‍

6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.‍ ‍

7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.‍ ‍

8 I cling to you; your right hand upholds me.‍

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Observation

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This is a Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. David spent years in the wilderness, hunted by Saul. He hid in caves, in the darkness, relying on God to take care of him. David would cry out to God early in the morning, seeking His face, seeking His protection, seeking His Love. To David, the Love of God was more meaningful than life itself. David longed for God’s love, presence and protection.‍

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Application

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I went through many years in the wilderness. Walking through a divorce after 24 years of marriage. Having my four children with me and not knowing how I would take care of them by myself. My son Joshua starting have mental issues, he did drugs with his friends and drove his car at 60 mph right into a traffic pole. He was in a hospital bed in my living room for 1 year. He started walking and working again, but the mental illness kept getting worse. He couldn’t keep a job, was abusing drugs and alcohol and was abusive verbally to all his family. I ended up kicking him out of the house and he started his seven-year journey on the streets of Santa Clarita.

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I had entered my wilderness season, but the Lord never left me or forsake me. I would worship and cry myself to sleep. The next morning, I would have renewed hope in the future. I would praise the Lord from the moment I woke up and thank Him for watching over me and my children during the night. I was in constant prayer for my son Joshua and would walk the washes praying and looking for him. I would wake up every morning at 3 am worrying about my son, so I figured God woke me up to pray. I would intercede for him about an hour, then I would fall back to sleep. I longed to be in God’s presence, I would close my eyes and picture myself crawling up into His lap and He would cover me with His wings. Day by day I grew stronger and Jesus walked with me every step of the way, His right hand was always there for me to grab hold of. He met our needs and He watched over my children, especially my Prodigal Son.

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If you see me at church, worshipping, praising God, lifting my hands and dancing it’s not that I want to make a spectacle of myself, it’s because I walked through the fire and came out the other side. I will praise Him for as long as I live and His name will forever be on my lips.

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His love is truly better than life!‍

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Prayer

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Dear Lord,‍ ‍

Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me while I walked through the wilderness. Thank you for always reaching your hand out to me to hold. Thank you for protecting my children and walking them through the wilderness also. Thank you for your love that is better than life. I will forever praise your name!‍

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- Michelle Craig