Category Archives: Monday Memo

Monday Memo – Abraham

Encouragement, Genesis, Monday Memo,

The earliest days of the life of Abraham are a bit foggy. He lived in the east, in a place called Ur. He lived with his wife, his father and brothers. The place where they lived was given over to pagan worship. Men worshipped numerous gods, each with responsibility for some aspect of their lives. But Abraham’s family was different. His father, Terah, was told by God to leave Ur and travel west. Now we know that thier travels would eventually end in the conquest, by their distant family, of the land of Canaan.

God called their family to a great leap of faith. They were to leave everything they knew and travel to a place not yet revealed to them (Genesis 11:31,32). And that is exactly what they did.

Perhaps God has given you a great leap of faith this week. Continue reading Monday Memo – Abraham →

Monday Memo – Noah

Encouragement, Genesis, Monday Memo,

Have you ever noticed how God has a way of using ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things? It is one of the great themes of Bible to study how God can take an average man or woman and place them on the steps of greatness. When they are faithful, they become heroes.

Consider Noah. We first meet this boat builder in Genesis 6:8. After describing the depravity of man the Bible simply says “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” He is next described in three ways. The text says he was a “righteous” man, a “blameless” man and a man who “walked with God.” Only one other man was said to walk with God and that was Enoch who was translated so that he should not see death (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5). Beyond these obvious spiritual traits, nothing is said of Noah’s abilities. He was neither king nor prince, neither wise nor educated. He was simply a man who loved the Lord and was obedient to him.

Beginning in Genesis 6:14 God lays out the plan. Build a large boat for yourselves and for the animals. The rains and floods will come and only those inside will be saved.

We know that Noah was obedient to the Lord’s command. But have you ever stopped to think about what was going through Noah’s mind as God gave him the plans for the ark? Continue reading Monday Memo – Noah →