Month: March 2023

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 31 ~ ~ 1 Timothy 4:1 ~ ~ “But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Some law enforcement agencies regularly make use of hypnosis. It has been widely believed that hypnosis helps people remember details about an incident that they don’t naturally remember. Some judges even accept memories said to be enhanced by hypnosis as evidence in court.

However, there is still much skepticism about whether they are the person’s actual memories or recently created memories due to the hypnosis.

So a University in Ontario decided to test this. They showed test subjects sixty drawings of common objects and then asked them to remember as many as possible. Those who were hypnotized remembered only slightly more of the pictures.

At the same time, they made three times as many mistakes as the unhypnotized subjects in “remembering” pictures they never saw. Also, people who lend themselves most easily to hypnosis are the ones who “remember” pictures that weren’t there most often.

Christians are wise to avoid hypnosis. Not only does it not appear to be legitimate, it appears to leave the mind open to influences that can be harmful, such as demonic activity.

Still, “Christian” churches and organizations not only practice, but blatantly advertise the use of hypnosis to help people get more out of scripture studies!!!

Sadly, this is just one of the things that many churches are getting involved in, concerning occult practices. Many are dabbling in tarot cards, horoscopes, yoga, visualization, hypnosis, psychological counseling, Positive Thinking, Positive Confession, and Eastern meditation techniques.

They’re also using Ouija boards, crystal balls, pendulums, observing times (astrology), enchant­ment (hypnosis), witchcraft, charming (another form of hypnosis), consulting with “familiar spirits” (mediumship, seances, channeling), and wizardry or necromancy (communicating with the dead). The Bible forbids each of these occult practices.

Even though the intent is evil, one would expect some apparent good as a means of enticement. That’s the human weakness. Satan uses the same age-old traps ~ ~ lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life ~ ~ that he used way back in the Garden with Eve. And here are churches falling for the same old lies, even though they should have seen how it worked out!!!!

The end times will be full of things like this, as the many churches that will fall in their apostasy will promote these abominations. Besides Timothy’s warning (above) Paul also told us about the falling away of the churches in ~ ~

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Amp

Let no one in any way deceive or entrap you, for that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first [that is, the great rebellion, the abandonment of the faith by professed Christians], and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction [the Antichrist, the one who is destined to be destroyed],

Be careful to check out any church you become active in. Find out their stance on doctrine, on salvation, (make sure that their belief checks out on these five “solas”: Do they believe that we’re saved: 1. by grace alone, 2. through faith alone, 3. in Christ alone, 4. as revealed in Scripture alone, 5. to the glory of God alone.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God

1 Corinthians 2:16 Amp

For who has known the mindand purposes of the Lord, so as to instruct Him? But we have the mindofChrist [to be guided by His thoughts and purposes].

2 Corinthians 4:4

In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Ephesians 4:23

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind:

Galatians 5:19-23

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 30 ~ ~Job 12:8 ~ ~ “Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.”

The shark seems unlovable to us. However, its Creator lovingly designed special features such as the “miraculous web” into the shark because He loves all the creatures He made.

We’ve all been taught that fish are cold-blooded. In many people’s thinking, perhaps the most cold-blooded of all is the shark. Interestingly, there are four types of sharks can raise their internal body temperatures.

Sharks have a large liver. It can take up to 20 percent of it’s total body weight. The reason the Creator God did this for the shark, is that they need a lot of food, but it can be far between meals of large tuna or other big helpings. So, when feeding is good, they will store it in their liver, as other animals. But for this, they need to digest it more quickly than normal, so as not to lose their meal to others, and be able to store more of it.

For this, He has given them not only a large capacity liver, but also the ability to increase its body temperature above that of the surrounding water by over 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Normally, the heat generated by the shark’s muscles is lost mainly through the gills. However, when the heat is needed to speed digestion, a complex radiator called a “miraculous web” moves into action. The “miraculous web” transfers the heat from the blood going to the gills to the blood coming from the gills. As a result, the shark can more efficiently digest and store food.

I’d like to see evolutionists explain that one!

God loves all of His creation, even the nasty ones in our eyes.

But, He loves His children infinitely more. He created the animals and plants for us! That’s why they all show His great love and care.

1 John 4:19

We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins

Col. 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 30 ~ ~Job 12:8 ~ ~ “Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you.”

The shark seems unlovable to us. However, its Creator lovingly designed special features such as the “miraculous web” into the shark because He loves all the creatures He made.

We’ve all been taught that fish are cold-blooded. In many people’s thinking, perhaps the most cold-blooded of all is the shark. Interestingly, there are four types of sharks can raise their internal body temperatures.

Sharks have a large liver. It can take up to 20 percent of it’s total body weight. The reason the Creator God did this for the shark, is that they need a lot of food, but it can be far between meals of large tuna or other big helpings. So, when feeding is good, they will store it in their liver, as other animals. But for this, they need to digest it more quickly than normal, so as not to lose their meal to others, and be able to store more of it.

For this, He has given them not only a large capacity liver, but also the ability to increase its body temperature above that of the surrounding water by over 13 degrees Fahrenheit.

Normally, the heat generated by the shark’s muscles is lost mainly through the gills. However, when the heat is needed to speed digestion, a complex radiator called a “miraculous web” moves into action. The “miraculous web” transfers the heat from the blood going to the gills to the blood coming from the gills. As a result, the shark can more efficiently digest and store food.

I’d like to see evolutionists explain that one!

God loves all of His creation, even the nasty ones in our eyes.

But, He loves His children infinitely more. He created the animals and plants for us! That’s why they all show His great love and care.

1 John 4:19

We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins

Col. 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 29 ~ ~ Genesis 3:2-3 ~ ~ “And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which [is] in the midst of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”

According to the Bible, God created the heavens and the earth in a perfect condition – without disease or death. However, when man did his own will instead of God’s will, death became a reality, just as God had warned.

Biologists have discovered that living cells have a built-in suicide gene. The suicide gene remains dormant until it is necessary for the cell to die. For example, as a tadpole turns into a toad, its tail is no longer needed. As a result, the suicide genes in the tail cells instruct them to die.

In other words, living cells have a gene in them that prevents the death of the cell until its appointed time. Our cells are continually dying, and creating new ones. However, in the case of growth and development, as in the case of the tadpole, the cells don’t produce new ones. That is all programmed into the DNA of each living thing by the Creator.

God told our first parents that the day that they sinned, they would die. It was obviously the curse of sin that created the genetic instructions for cell death, on the very day that they sinned, but God also instructed it to produce new cells where needed, until the time of earthly death of the individual.

Our resurrected bodies will be different. Although possessing some physical traits, they will never die, nor get sick, or even sad. That is the second stage of the New Creation that we became spiritually when we accepted Jesus as our Lord. We have a lot to look forward to!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5: 1-8

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

So, we can live in peace, knowing that He is in control of every cell of our bodies, controlling the lengths of their lives, and therefore ours, and always in our best interest.

2 Chronicles 16:9

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. ..”

He’s always doing that, but do we always give Him thanks for it, or even notice???

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 28 ~ ~ Proverbs 3:7-8 ~ ~ “Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your body, and marrow to your bones.”

You’re not feeling well, and you have a fever. Is your increased body temperature good for you or should you try to lower it? Sometimes our quest for comfort leads to our own demise.

Everything God does is good. He has provided still another mechanism to kill bacteria in our bodies when we are attacked. Medical researchers are learning what happens in the body when we develop a fever.

They say that the body’s fever response is usually a very important part of our body’s defense against disease. Wow! They figured this out?! Hundreds of generations ago, people knew this, and “sweated it out”. Within reason, of course, fever is the cure. Of course, like anything else, it could go on too much too long, and must be brought down, but it seems now that people reach for the Tylenol a little too soon possibly.

Normally, the body’s temperature varies throughout the day. If the body’s temperature drops below 80° or climbs higher than 108° for a prolonged period, death usually results. Your body sets your thermostat in relation to your health.

When disease germs are detected in your bloodstream, your white blood cells release a chemical called EP. EP quickly makes its way to your thermostat, where it raises the setting. This increase in temperature can make your body increase its production of T cells by 20 times or more to fight bacterial infection. It also increases the production of blood chemicals that fight viruses, while it also blocks bacteria’s ability to make use of the free iron in your blood at just the time bacteria are most in need of that iron.

Even iguanas and fish, and other cold blooded animals, are known to raise their body temperature when ill by moving into warmer environments. How do they know to do this? Again, instinct is God, their Creator, telling them what to do.

The problem is, sometimes, man, who is created in the image of God, is the only one who doesn’t listen to Him. Our bodily functions do, but when our will gets in the picture, many times we block Him out.

We think we know better, and we want to be always comfortable, not willing to take the discomfort that would lead to the cure.

This is true of salvation also. Mankind is obsessed with itself and it’s comfort and entertainment, not with the God of their creation and salvation. In the natural mind, man doesn’t have a clue that they need to be saved from themselves. Only humbly listening to God, as even the animals do, will show us that He has been the ultimate sacrifice for us, because we will never make it by ourselves.

It’s also true in our walk with the Lord after salvation. He allows or gives us problems, trials and tribulations, to get our attention, and to teach us a truth we need, but don’t know we need. But we want to run to the medicine cabinet, to the doctor, to the banker, or to whatever or whomever will make us comfortable quickly. It’s the drive-through and social media mentality. But God doesn’t work that way. He’s not after the quick cure. He’s after the long-term fix in our spiritual life with Him. That can only come when we stop and focus on Him instead of the problem. Preachers tell us that all the time, but how many really listen and do it?

Ps 139:14

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.”

Psalm 139:13

“For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb.”

2Cor. 9:8 Amp ~ ~ “And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.”

2 Peter 1:3

“For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 27 ~ ~ “Job 33:4~ ~”The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Evolutionary scientists studying the workings of the human brain are trying to find out what the human “mind” is. The problem is that everyone, including scientists, knows that human beings are conscious people with minds. Yet, strict, materialistic science says that there is no scientific evidence for the mind.

They already have the AI technology to implant a tiny computer into the brain to control it. They are already testing it on animals.

But research with people who had brain injuries indicates that the brain and the mind are not the same things. The reality of the human mind seems to have no material basis. This presents a difficult problem for evolutionary scientists who have assumed that evolution, with its materialistic view of reality, is correct. According to the evolutionary view of the world, if something is not measurable by science, that thing is not real. Evolution denies that humans have any nonmaterial part.

Some evolutionists have tried to resolve this problem by saying that human beings are not really conscious. They say that we don’t really have minds. We only think we do. It’s a trick played on us by our nervous systems. Entire books have been devoted to this subject. However, this approach creates a new problem. If we really don’t have minds, we cannot trust the truth of anything we might think. We can’t even trust the thought that we don’t have minds. That would include them and their minds also!!!

The debate among these strict materialist scientists actually amounts to an admission that there is a greater, nonmaterial reality that cannot be measured by science. Yes, the existence of the immaterial, but undeniably real, human mind, namely, the “soul” or “spirit” also testifies to the Creator!

What is going to happen when they attempt to control God’s people with a chip? We all know the answer to that. God will be ahead of them, as usual.

Because……Galatians 6:7 ~ ~ “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked….”

They will not be able to control the Spirit of God in us.

Those who think they are in control are in this state:

Psalm 10:4

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But we don’t live for ourselves, we live in and by and through our Savior Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit. The natural man cannot understand that, and when he dies, he will be judged without the Savior: Our spirits will live forever with our Savior.

Ecclesiastes 3:21

Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?

Our (soul) spirit, is what makes us different from animals. God breathed life into Adam. He did not do that with the animals. Our spirit is dead from conception, until salvation when it is made alive. Natural man’s inventions can’t touch our spirit, nor can demonic activity. That is our connection to God Himself. And our protection.

Ecclesiastes 12:7

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

We will be guided by the Holy Spirit at critical times: Jesus told us not to worry about what to say to the evil natural men who seek power and control:

Mark 13:11 ~ ~ And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit

2 Samuel 23:2

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.”

Isaiah 26:9

“With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early; …”

Exodus 31:3

“And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,”

Ephesians 3:16

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,”

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 26 ~ ~Romans 8:28~ ~ “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

Somewhere under this snow, are lawns. On those lawns there are weeds, or flowers, called a variety of names: lion’s tooth, Irish daisy, priest’s crown, peasant’s cloak, or yellow gowan. All of these are on our lawns, and all are edible and medicinal.

None of them ring a bell with you? Hmm– me neither. How about this one: Dandelion? They’re all names for that prolific flower that is the suburban lawn owners nemesis. Meanwhile, we rural people either tolerate it, or call it good grazing for our livestock. But few people actually value it.

Unknown to most of us, the dandelion actually has a very interesting history. It was first brought to North America from Europe because of its beautiful flower. As late as the early 20th century, seed companies were still selling packets of dandelion seeds for home flower gardens!

But there’s still another mystery to grab out of the bag of the dandelion that few people know, or care to bother with. But, the way things are going in the food chain, among other aspects of our society today, we may need to look at the humble dandelion in this other light.

Up to 1957, more than 100,000 pounds of dandelion roots were imported annually to the United States for pharmaceutical use. In spring, the dandelion contains mannitol, which is used as a base for pills, a treatment for hypertension and coronary insufficiency, as well as in manufacturing radio condensers and percussion caps.

This is just the beginning of the wonders of this little yellow flower. Personally, when we make butter, we use dandelion flowers to color it that rich, tempting tone of yellow.

From root to flower, dandelions are edible and highly nutritious plants loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Dandelion greens can be eaten cooked or raw and are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K. They also contain vitamin E, folate, and small amounts of other B vitamins.

What’s more, dandelion greens provide a substantial amount of several minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

The root of the dandelion is rich in the carbohydrate inulin, a type of soluble fiber found in plants that supports the growth and maintenance of healthy gut bacteria in your digestive tract. Incidentally, chicory, a coffee substitute used highly during the rationing of WWII, is also high in inulin, and can help in digestion issues.

Dandelion root is often dried and made into tea, but you can also eat it whole as you do other root vegetables, either cooked or raw.

They are also a rich source of beta carotene and polyphenol compounds, both of which may neutralize harmful free radicals and protect against chronic disease, along with being a very powerful anti-inflammatory.

Chicoric and chlorogenic acid are two bioactive compounds in dandelion that may help decrease blood sugar levels.

Some animal studies indicate that dandelion reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels,

Dandelion may lower blood pressure as a result of its diuretic effect and potassium content. However, very little research is available.

In fact, though, one animal study found that it helped prevent liver damage in mice exposed to sodium dichromate, a compound used to induce liver injury.

Other animal studies have shown that dandelion extract may reduce levels of excess fat stored in the liver and safeguard against oxidative stress, thus helping to save the liver.

This is pretty impressive—but this flower isn’t through yet….

One study in mice also suggests that dandelion extract may aid weight management by reducing fat absorption

Another study in mice found that chlorogenic acid, a compound found in dandelion, reduced body weight, decreased fat accumulation, and altered levels of certain proteins involved in weight control

Some research indicates that dandelion may even have antimicrobial and antiviral properties, which may support your body’s ability to fight infection.

Several test-tube studies have found that dandelion extract significantly reduces viruses’ ability to replicate, while at the same time, other research indicates that some active compounds in dandelion protect against various harmful bacteria.

Dandelion greens are a good source of calcium and vitamin K, both of which play a key role in bone health.

One small study linked an increased intake of vitamin K-rich leafy green vegetables to lower blood levels of osteocalcin, a protein found in your bones, directing it to where it’s needed. This suggests that eating more leafy greens such as dandelion greens may help prevent bone loss.

In one study, dandelion leaf and flower extracts prevented skin damage when applied just before or immediately after exposure to UVB radiation, which is the radiation you get from sunlight. Interestingly, dandelion root did not have the same effect.

However, an older test-tube study showed that dandelion root extract increased the generation of new skin cells, which may support your skin’s appearance as you age.

Additionally, other older research indicates that dandelion extract may reduce skin inflammation and irritation while increasing hydration and collagen production. This may be useful in preventing and treating certain types of acne or rashes.

Don’t go away—-the dandelion’s best act is coming up………

Perhaps one of the most intriguing health claims about dandelion extract is its potential to prevent the growth of cancerous cells in various organ systems.

A 4-week study in rats showed that administering dandelion root extract modified specific pathways involved in suppressing the growth and spread of breast cancer cells, while other test-tube studies have found that dandelion root extract may slow the growth of cancer cells in liver, colon, and stomach tissue.

These findings are encouraging, but human research is needed.

Since the lowly weed is free, and doesn’t bring wagonloads of money to big pharma, you probably won’t see it on the shelves anytime soon, nor will it be promoted by the “powers that be”. But here are a few dosage estimates by knowledgeable people in the medical field.

• Fresh leaves: 4–10 grams daily
• Dried leaves: 4–10 grams daily
• Leaf tincture: 0.4–1 teaspoon (2–5 mL) three times per day
• Fresh leaf juice: 1 teaspoon (5 mL) twice daily
• Fluid extract: 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 mL) daily
• Fresh roots: 2–8 grams daily
• Dried powder: 250–1,000 mg four times per day

The dandelion illustrates that God has not made anything that is without use. It is up to us to put what He has given each of us to use for His purposes. Who knows, we may be grazing on our lawns one of these summers if leadership doesn’t change!

But, no matter what happens in the world around us, it remains true, and forever will, that God always has and always will provide the substances and guidance we need for “such a time as this”

2 Cor 9:9 And God is able to make ALL grace ABOUND toward you, ALWAYS having ALL sufficiency in ALL things, so that you may ABOUND in every good work.

Look at all those superlatives!!! Promises don’t get any better than this!

Or this:

2 Peter 1:3

According as his divine power has given us ALL THINGS that pertain to life AND godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:

Psalm 25:9

The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.]

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

Ps 89:13

You have a mighty arm;
Strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.

1Samuel 2:9

He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness, for by strength shall no man prevail.

Ps 4:8

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, Lord only make me dwell in safety.

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 25 ~ ~ Revelation 15:3

“And they sang the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Your ways, King of saints.”

There are some interesting and instructive events in the history before and after the flood.

After the fall of man, when Cain brought evil into the family line, and continued it in his progeny, God was working in the Godly line of Seth. Enoch was the 6^th generation from Seth, who was the son of Adam and Eve.

Enoch was one of only two people in the Bible who did not die. Elijah was the other one. It says that “All the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty five years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” That was generally, only a third to half the length of the lives of other patriarchs of that time.

We need to look at Enoch’s life, what made him different. We need to ask the Lord how it applies to our lives.

Matthew Henry says this of Enoch:

He quotes Amos 3:3 “For two cannot walk together except they be agreed.”

“To walk with God is to set God always before us, and to act as those that are always under His eye…. It is to make God’s Word our rule and His glory our end in all our actions. It is to comply with His will……”

He summed up Enoch’s life like this: “He was entirely dead to this world, and did not only walk AFTER GOD, as all good men do, but he walked WITH GOD, as if he were in heaven already.”(e.m.)

Enoch’s son in the line was named by him, “Methuselah”.

The meaning of the name leads us in this direction: Methuselah means “his death will bring,” and the year of Methuselah’s death was also the year the flood came upon the earth. He was the longest living man in history, at 969 years, Being that the length of his life represented God’s timing in judgment is witness to God’s desire for grace to abound to sinful man as long as possible, encouraging repentance.

As we read in 2 Peter 3:9 ~ ~

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was the father of Lamech, who was the father of Noah. Thus Enoch, whom God took without death, was Noah’s great grandfather. That must have impressed him to know that a man’s walk with God was that important.

Noah’s father, Lamech, said this when he named him Noah, (a name meaning “rest”)   “This one will give us comfort from our work and from the hard labor of our hands caused by the ground which the Lord has cursed.” He was referring to the curse on the land and the wild animals from Adam’s sin. Life was very difficult in those days. The animals were vicious toward each other, but equally so to mankind. Just walking out of their homes/fortresses they could be killed and eaten. The soil too was cursed, so producing food was backbreaking work constantly. The soil was weak and crusty, and weeds took over the crops. He felt that somehow, God was going to give them relief from this curse in Noah’s lifetime. He was right. God made the animals fear man after the flood. (Gen. 9:2) Maybe because of the effects of the flood stirring up the land, the soil was better, and, logically, all the decaying plants and animals all over the world would make a fertile topsoil. We aren’t told this in the Word.

Both Lamech and his father, Methuselah died shortly before the flood. Again, God’s timing, and His mercy to His own, should be apparent to us in this, and applicable in our own lives, that He will take care of us in the judgments that are to come into the world in the future.

Noah was called by God, a righteous man, and perfect, as God said of Job also. As Matthew Henry put it: “Not with a sinless perfection, but a perfection of sincerity”,

With their long lives (because of the canopy still being above them, screening out the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun, and making the climate temperate), sometimes 8-10 generations could easily be alive at the same time. Thus, the story of the fall of man, translation of Enoch, and the prophesies of a savior defeating satan, were easily and accurately passed down, both written or vocal.

Adam was alive yet when Lamech was alive, thus only a few years before Noah was born. That’s nine generations!

The people of Noah’s days became very corrupt. The righteous descendants of Seth intermarried with the cursed descendants of Cain,(Adam’s first son who killed his brother Able) and gave a highway to the evils of demonic deception, and God “repented that He made man” in Gen. 6:5-6. The obvious question is, “Can God repent??”

Again, looking at the inspired wisdom of Matthew Henry, “It does not imply any change of God’s MIND but it expresses a change of His WAY. Now that man had apostatized, he could not do otherwise than show Himself displeased: So, the change was in man, not God.” (e.m.)

And thus began the 100 year building project called today the ark of Noah, which is really another of the preliminary steps in the salvation of mankind. The ark, was not only a cleansing vehicle, but the symbol of our salvation from the evil within ourselves, and in the world system around us, in and through embracing Christ’s substitution for our sins on the cross. This was the message that was passed on down the generations after Noah as they lived and worked with their grandfathers. Although the lifespan of mankind gradually got shorter after the flood, because of the loss of the protective canopy, they did live much longer than we do for a while, so generations overlapped more than now, for the continuation of recording history.

Abram (Abraham’s original name) was 58 years old when Noah died! Abram was the 10^th generation from Noah’s son Shem!! This, of course, was after the flood. So Abram heard about the flood first hand from Noah, and thus, he heard about what it represented, namely, the sacrifice of the Messiah, and our salvation IN Him, as they were saved IN the ark.

They passed on the fact that the Messiah who would be the sacrifice, would be in their family line.

Of course, Abraham passed that on to Isaac, so when God told him to sacrifice Isaac, they both had to know that He couldn’t let Isaac die permanently and still fulfill the promise. This was in their minds constantly, so the ram in the bushes was an affirmation of the coming salvation for them, as it is for us.

Thus Abraham said, in Genesis 22:8

“… My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together”

Abraham didn’t just mean the ram in the bushes—that wasn’t a lamb, and it wasn’t THE LAMB, but in that statement, he also prophesied about the Lamb of God.

And so God certainly did provide the sacrifice. That sacrifice was HIMSELF, in the form of the Son on Calvary. “God will provide HIMSELF a lamb.”

John 1:29

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”

John 3:16

“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Acts 4:12

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 24 ~ ~ Genesis 7:11-24 ~

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.

 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:

All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.

And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

40 days and nights of continuous deluge…. Remember, it had never rained at all before this.

From creation, the land was watered by rivers and by a mist that came up from the ground at night. The water pouring in torrents from the sky, as well as the rivers and lakes overflowing within days, must have torn the people with fear. Then they saw the animals miraculously and peacefully marching in from all over the world, but, still,………they would not repent and go into the ark!

The ark began to float, until the water at the level of the bottom of the ark was at 22’6” above the highest mountaintop, so the ark could float uninhibited. It remained at that level for 150 days, at which time God began a wind across the whole earth to dry up the waters.

On the seventh month, they landed on Mt. Ararat, and stayed in the ark, watching for the other mountains to appear, which took three more months, at which time Noah began releasing the test birds. First the raven, which would find food if there was any dry ground with all the death, then the dove, which took 14 days before there was anything green for her to eat.

That was over a year in the ark! But, they certainly weren’t cramped in there, contrary to the toy arks they make for kids. Figuring the math, it was plenty large for all the animals, plus food for all the animals and people for a year or more, and extra room in case people wanted to come, (which we can be sure the Lord allowed for, even though He knew they wouldn’t.) and still lots of room for exercise.

Remember, God brought over two of every “kind” of animal, not two of every “species”. Species developed within the kinds, but He only needed one of every kind—example, one pair of the dog kind, not a pair each of wolves, coyotes, fox, poodles, dachhunds, etc. etc. (thinking ahead here) All the information for developing different species later, was already in each kind’s DNA.

Also, only those animals that walked on land and “had breath in their nostrils” were taken. Obviously, water animals were fine, including water dwelling mammals, such as whales, dolphins, etc. They were no doubt more than a little shook up, what with the rough water, but they had food.

When we figure the size in even the smaller of the two possible cubit measurements that they could have used, it was 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, with three decks. This totals over a million and a half cubic feet of space.

Figuring the kinds of animals known, two of the unclean, and 7 of the clean ones, that would be about 30,000 animals, and figuring the average size of all land animals, including insects all the way to elephants, and the numbers of kinds of each, the average size would be smaller than a sheep.

So, using that, the ark could hold 125,800 sheep-sized animals, but they only needed room for 30,000 sheep-sized animals, so there was lots of room for food for everyone for over a year, and stretching room.

This space is equivalent to 522 railroad stock cars! That’s a lot of room.

An interesting idea is that, logically, God would have sent the smallest, youngest individuals of each animal, not the largest and oldest, which would make a big difference.

As far as food, another theory is that God could easily have had, at least the biggest eaters if not all of them, go into hibernation, to eliminate a LOT of work for Noah’s family, not to mention food storage.

I like to imagine the people and the animals, with their first steps down the ramp on their sea legs, into the bright sun, which was brighter than ever they saw before they entered it, because now the protective cloud canopy, the upper canopy, was gone, and, coming out of the dark ark, it must have been a double shock, and then deal with solid ground besides. The landscape was so different. Mountains where there were none, none where there were, little or no vegetation, …..and the SMELL! That must have been terrible! What an adventure! No wonder Noah got drunk——-(Oh, did I write that out loud?)

But then they saw the promise! The rainbow!! This will never happen again! Not by water, but judgment will always be a large part of the character of God, as we are seeing signs of coming even maybe in our day!!!

Genesis 9:8-17

 “And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;

And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

And I will establish my covenant with you, neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.”

Tomorrow, Lord willing, more about what the ark and flood means to us.

GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 23 ~ ~ Psalm 46:2-3~ ~Isaiah 26:2~ ~ “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in.”

From 500 A.D. until their invasion by the Incas in 1476, a large and powerful civilization lived in what is now northern Peru. That empire when joined with the Incas, extended across western South America from Quito in the north to Santiago in the south. It is the largest empire ever seen in the Americas and the largest in the world at that time, and they did it without the use of the wheel, draft animals, knowledge of iron or steel, or even a system of writing, nor any money system. Instead, they used knotted strings (quipu) for record keeping and communication, It was all bartering, including a fine woven textile industry, and “taxes” were paid in labor to the community. They had an extensive road network reaching all corners of the empire.

But most interesting is that between 500 and 1200 A.D. they built the largest network of irrigation canals ever constructed in South America. This canal system was built using methods that are considered impressive even by modern standards. The canals no longer work, because of geographical changes, but the remains of the canal system can still be seen today, and were extensively studied. Without those canals working, farming is only possible on less than one-half of the lands used by the original Indians.

Geologists studying the canal system discovered that portions of the South American continent shifted so rapidly that the Indians had to continually redesign their canal system to keep water in it. Evolutionists are telling us and our children that any changes of this type would take millions of years. However, they found that the plates on which South America rests deep under the surface of the Earth changed the slope of the ground so rapidly that the Indians could not keep up with the changes, and their civilization eventually collapsed. What “scientists” tell us took many millions of years, happened during one civilization.

This is just another “notch in the gun” of the Truth showing itself powerful against the lies that are designed to take down faith in the Word of God.

If people don’t believe the physical proofs that the Word of God is true, which proofs are so abundant now with modern testing and archaeological practices, how will they believe the spiritual truths?

The next generation is being inundated with these lies, even though they have been proven false for many years. In fact, behind closed doors, even evolutionists admit that their theories simply aren’t possible, logical, or even reasonable.

Isaiah 59:4

“None calls for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.”

And, don’t expect their official stand to change anytime soon. We need to speak the Truth to everyone we can—-especially the next generations. Souls depend upon it!!!

Isaiah 38:19

“The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known Your truth”

John 8:32

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Isaiah 25:1

“O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”