Scriptures for Sisters... and nieces too! :)

Hi Everyone,

I would like to introduce you to my niece, Maggie who has decided to read through the Bible with me this year. I told her about how we will do a post every Monday and she e-mailed me her thoughts today. I'm so honored to be reading it with her. She is my sister, Vic's daughter and I just know my sister is smiling down from Heaven tonight as I publish this post. Oh, and I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for the internet. I live in Michigan and Maggie lives in California. God is SO good! ~Angie


Here is what I wrote. Hope you like.

Hello my name is Maggie and this is my first time ever blogging. I’m not the best writer but I am trying new things. I have been reading along with scripture for sisters and I wanted to write what I thought about so far. I do have some questions also as that I was hoping to get answered. Since I missed last week this week will be long because I’m starting at the beginning of Genesis. Here goes…….

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

As I sit and think about how great God is it is amazing that he wanted to create us in His image. He wanted us to be like him. I think about the world today and how many people don’t even know Christ. This makes me realize that we need to do a better job at spreading His word so that more people can be like Him. That’s what we were created for.

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Thank you Lord that you knew that it is not right to be alone. I couldn’t imagine my life alone. As I think about this and have been struggling in my relationship I know that I am never truly alone because I have Christ in my life but even Christ knew that we needed an earthly companion.

Genesis 4:6 …..But if you refuse to do what is right watch out. Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.

Sin is knocking at the door all the time, it is our choice how we react to it. I find as I spend more time with the Lord and as my relationship gets stronger with Him, the enemy is closer than ever trying to destroy what I have. We have to learn how to not give in to the enemy. I struggle with this but I am finding the more I fight with it and not give in it the easier it is to control.

My first question?

Genesis 20:4 ….”Lord will you destroy an innocent nation?”…. This is where Abraham lied and told everyone that Sarah was his sister and not his wife because he did not want them to kill him and take her. My question is the bible keeps referring to nations. I think they are referring to families but I am not sure. If they are why do they call them nations?

Genesis 21:6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

I love that this made Sarah laugh. What a blessing to have a baby at such an old age. I hope the day I get pregnant I will laugh with God as well.

This is directly out of my study bible and I really like it so I thought I would share it.

Genesis 27:5-10 When Rebekah learned that Isaac was preparing to bless Esau, she quickly devised a plan to trick him into blessing Jacob instead. Although God had already told her that Jacob would become the family leader (25:23), Rebekah took matters into her own hands.

I think that we do this a lot when we are not patient. These verses really stuck out to me this week. I have not been patient in my relationship because I want it to move faster than God wants it to move. God has a great plan for our future and we have to be patient to receive it.

This brings up my next question: Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau because Rebekah and Jacob deceived him. Why would God keep that blessing? As we read through Genesis we read about all of the blessings that he gave Jacob and then gave Jacobs son Joseph. Do you think this is because he asked Esau for forgiveness? I know that God is a forgiving God and I am very thankful for that.

Then in Genesis 33:4 we get to see Esau forgive his brother after what he had done to him. I think that as much as the Lord wants us to ask for forgiveness he wants us to forgive others.

Genesis 30:22-24 As we read through these passages we read about how Rachel wanted a baby in her own time. She was not patient and had her servant girl sleep with Jacob to gain a baby. God knows our wants and desires and will bless us we just have to be patient and believe in Him.

Genesis 32:9 Then Jacob prayed…

When Jacob was returning to his family land and saw Esau he was afraid of the outcome. He prayed to God for guidance and strength. I find that when I am in difficult situations or I am angry I have so many other emotions going on that I forget to pray. I have been making a conscious effort this week to control my emotions and pray and ask God what he wants me to do.

Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.

I admire the faithfulness of Joseph. Even when he was locked away in prison and in the worst situations he was faithful and tried to make the best out of his situations.

Genesis 45:5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

Genesis 49 While Jacob is in his last days he blesses all of his children. He does this based on their past. God is in total control even when we think that he is not. This makes me look at bad situations and try to get the best out of them.

Each and every day has an effect on our lives so we need to live them the way that God wants us to live them.

My bible also had this that I wanted to share with you. Your faith is like a muscle-it grows with exercise, gaining strength over time.

I told Maggie I like to add a song at the end of my posts and she told me this song got her through the week; it's perfect!

"Wrap Me In Your Arms" by Michael Gungor



I love you and am honored to read and learn with you, Mag. Now let's try to get some answers to your questions.
~Aunt Annie