Noah - Pot of Gold

Genesis 8:20-22 & 9:12-17 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Chapter 9:12-17 And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." So God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth."

Sometimes we forget all the promises that were given when Noah got off of the ark. God says that as long as the earth endures (still spinning on its axis) "seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease". I don't know about you, but there has never been a time that I've heard of that the sun didn't rise in the morning and set in the evening. Never been a Christmas gone by and the weather hasn't been colder in that month than it was in June. And people try to say that this all "just happened". I am confident, without a shadow of a doubt - even if God calls me home today - that the sun will still rise in the morning and set in the evening.

God gives Noah and his sons their next assignment: Have kids. Rule the animals. The first one sounds like fun, the second one: not so much. God is completely aware of the trauma that this family has gone through. It is so indicative of what goes on today. Just because we're Christians does not mean there is no strife. There IS strife and God is well aware of it. Noah was HONORED because of his relationship with God - he also suffered for it. God knew this and gave, not just Noah, but all of us, a wonderful gift. The Rainbow. It is His promise to us that he will not destroy the earth again with water. It should also be a reminder to those of us who remain faithful - to hang in there - there truly is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - His name is Jesus.

Thank you for joining me as I walked through the story of Noah - I'm excited to see who I'll get to study next!

Noah - Perfect Timing

Genesis 8:15-19 Then God said to Noah, "Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it." So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark, one kind after another.

I have to admit I sometimes struggle with controlling my anger while driving. I make an honest effort to control my tongue and not get upset when someone cuts me off. Because I know that's not how Jesus wants me to act, and because my kids are watching me from the back of the van. I often find it amusing, however, when sitting in heavy traffic and some'body' (see, that's me refraining) is weaving in and out of traffic, cutting me off, trying to get to the front of the line - only to see them right beside me at the next traffic light. If they would've just waited, there would have been a lot less stress on everyone involved and they would be in the exact same spot. Noah had sent out the dove, and it was gone. Okay. Now what? They still sat on the ark. God then tells Noah, okay - time to come out. Noah being the obedient servant of God that he is, came out.

Since I myself struggle with patience, I found this point amusing. Noah spent an entire month sending birds back and forth, back and forth trying to see if it was time to come off the ark. If he would have just waited on God, God told him when it was time. Not that Noah did anything wrong by sending out the birds, it just confirms our human nature.

So many times in life we are in such a hurry to see what lies ahead. We are sending out messengers to see what might be in store for us next. When we don't get the answer we want, we wait a little bit, then send out another messenger to check again. If we would be content to wait on God's ultimate, concise, clear message of "Noah, get off the boat" - what other things could we better spend our time doing? Instead of worrying what the outcome of what lies ahead may be - why not use that time to do the things we know God wants us to do anyway. Spend quality time with our families - be in God's Word more - strengthen our relationship with our spouse. When will we learn that EVERYTHING is in God's time. . .

Noah - Rollercoaster Phenom

Genesis 8:2-14 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible. After forty days Noah opened the window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find no place to set its feet because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him. By the first day of the first month of Noah's six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.

I realize there are several verses here, but there's a reason for it - I promise. This passage of scripture tells the story of how Noah knew it was time to get off the ark. If we'll remember in the last post, God caused a movement - now the ark has landed and the water is subsiding. He sends out birds and they come and go and come and go and come and go and never come back. This had to be a test of patience.

Have you ever stood in line at an amusement park to wait on a rollercoaster you've been dying to get on? I have. I have waited on a ride for over an hour for a two minute spin - time and time again. Why do we do it? Because we know if we're just patient enough, if we just stick it out long enough - the reward will be great! This is what Noah was doing.

If they would've gotten off the ark too soon - it would've meant a lot of trekking up and down a mountain side because they would've only gotten so far and realized they'd have to turn back because there was no dry ground below. Makes one wonder why God landed the ark on a mountain top. Why did God land the ark on the mountain? Was it to give meaning to the dove? Was it so the mountain lions didn't have to climb uphill? Any takers?

Noah's work was no where near complete. Even after the water had receded and they could walk on dry land, there was nothing left. No homes to move into, couldn't stay in the ark - it was all the way at the top of the hill. Noah would have to build himself a home and plant some crops.

Our work is never finished, but God is good and faithful and promises us that He will always be there and will never give us more than we can handle .

Noah - Wake up and Smell the Coffee. . .

Genesis 8:1 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

The beginning of this verse certainly may cause concern for the undiscerned believer. Did God forget poor Noah meandering about in the waters across the world? Was Noah completely left to his own while floating along the Pacatlantindiarc Ocean? What else was God possibly doing during this time that he would forget Noah?

Well the verse doesn't say God "forgot" Noah. It says, "God remembered Noah". It just means that Noah's time of being on the ark was nearing it's end. That the quiet time of just floating around was over. God was going to make His move.

Sometimes we can get torn down. It's hard for us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We do our best to do what God wants us to do - but as life wears on, people give you trouble, husbands cause arguments - we get worn out waiting for the benefits to show up. I wonder if Noah would think about when he would be able to get off the ark and start his next mission. Is that how we are? Are we too busy trying to get one thing over with that we miss the blessing of doing what God has told us to do - where he's told us to do it.

God sent a strong wind to start the waters receding. I'm sure Noah felt this. It had been over 150 days with nothing. Now finally, some movement. Are we willing to work hard where we are planted? Despite our oppositions? Are we willing to stick it out until God sends some movement our way. I hope so.

Noah - Weight Watchers 101

Genesis 7:19-24 They rose greatly on the earth, and all the high mountains under the entire heavens were covered. The waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet. Every living thing that moved on the earth perished—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind. Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds of the air were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark. The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

I love my job. I have the opportunity to meet all different types of people from all different walks of life. I speak to people in companies about Weight Watchers. I try to encourage them along their weight-loss journey. I have met some truly sweet people. However, many of them do not believe in Jesus. They don't go to church, they don't read the Bible, they don't think about how important it is to know Jesus. Even though I don't share the commonality of Christianity with some of my members, I enjoy their company and being around them.

What if all the people that you knew, that you see on a daily basis - were suddenly gone? Your mailman? Your favorite server at your lunchtime restaurant? Your boss? Your co-workers? Your friends from high school and college? Your grocery store clerk? Your doctor? People that you interact with on a daily basis, but not people you go to church with or worship together. Would you miss them? Of course you would.

Noah may have been at the top of the ark looking out when the floods came, but I would venture a guess to say that when he started to hear the screams, he headed down to the center of the ark where only the moos of the cows and the roars of the lions could be heard. If Noah was the righteous man that God called him (which we know he was or God wouldn't have said it) he had to be torn with grief over the loss of these people. These were people he talked to every day. His neighbors, his fellow hunters, his school classmates. To walk out to the top of the ark and see that it was completely gone - nothing but water - must have been devastating.

We forget that Noah had to go through the turmoil of losing everyone around him (except his family). Do we ever stop to consider who we may never see again if Jesus decides to come back tomorrow? Are we willing to do everything we can to prevent that?

Noah - Dead Man Walking

Genesis 7:17-18 For forty days the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth. The waters rose and increased greatly on the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the water.

Why didn't Noah die? We've had localized flooding here in Florida and all over the globe and just because you're sitting in a boat when the water rises doesn't mean you're going to be safe. Plus, Noah's boat was weighted down with more passengers than any cruise line ever held, AND the boat was grounded. Also, it didn't say that the water gently streamed under the boat lifting it to higher levels. The Bible says the floodgates opened and down it came.

Noah listened to God, did what he was commanded to do and even through that - there was no way he should've survived a downpour like that - even with the best constructed boat. That water should've covered over that ark just like everything else.

Refusing to do something God is telling us to do because it just doesn't seem like a good idea - doesn't fly. Noah stepped out on faith - completely. It isn't feasible to think that he would be safe from that water just by being on the ark - he was safe from that water because he was in the hands of God. God can raise men from the dead and calm the storm - He can make a heavy immovable ark float. We need to be willing to trust that if God calls us to do something - He's going to follow it through - from beginning to end.

Noah - How Long Can You Tread Water?

Genesis 7:13-16 13 On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark. 14 They had with them every wild animal according to its kind, all livestock according to their kinds, every creature that moves along the ground according to its kind and every bird according to its kind, everything with wings. 15 Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD shut him in.

Once again we are getting the duplicate story of the animals entering the ark. I can't help but picture a Sunday School class of little 6 year old boys: "Well, did Noah have chickens on the ark?" "Yep, all livestock", "Did they have Iguanas on the ark?" "Yep, all creatures that move along the ground", "Did they have ducks on the ark?" "Yep, everything with wings." It's like God knew that people would continue to question His word. It was ALL the animals, okay??!! If the animal was breathing - it was on the ark. A girl and boy of every species - there - does that do it for you?

So why are people trying to find holes in the story of Noah? If people can disprove the oldest Bible stories, then they can begin to disprove the Bible as a whole - therefore making way for their own type of belief. Satan will use whatever he can to attack God, one of those things is questioning the validity of the Bible.

All these verses about the animals are followed with verse 16 that ends in "...Then the LORD shut him in." It's almost as if God is saying "Here's the way it went - and that's the end of it". I am giving you all the information that is there - everything you need - and I'm closing the door. At this point, you can choose to believe it or you can choose not to - but Noah is on the ark, and he's not coming off.

Christians, are we on the ark or are we off? Will we believe the Bible to be completely true - even if we don't understand some of it? Will we trust wholly on the Almighty God of Creation and willingly close the book and say 'Amen'? One day, God will close the door again - I refuse to be left in the water. . .

Noah - Are We Done Yet?

Genesis 7:8-12 Pairs of clean and unclean animals, of birds and of all creatures that move along the ground, male and female, came to Noah and entered the ark, as God had commanded Noah. And after the seven days the floodwaters came on the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.

So I went to the movies and saw the new film that's out "Fireproof" with Kirk Cameron- as if that alone weren't enough to make me go see it. My husband and I went and took the kids along too. If you haven't read the previews, it's about a married couple who are struggling. The husband takes on the task of "The Love Dare". This is something that requires 40 days of different ways to show love to your spouse. It was a great movie and we really enjoyed it, but the reason I'm relating that movie to this passage of scripture is because of that time frame = 40.

The number 40 is mentioned in the Bible several times and has a lot of significance. A 40-something time period, whether days, months, or years is ALWAYS a period of testing, trial, probation, or chastisement and ends with a period of restoration, revival or renewal.
Just like in the movie, the husband struggled during those 40 days. While the rain fell on Noah, this was a time of trial and testing for the entire family.

Now, the animals had all come to the ark, just as God had promised. Noah just had to give them their room key and usher them along to get unpacked. After which time, the water just poured. Have you ever driven into a rainstorm? You see the dark clouds ahead, you know it's about to rain and you see it coming but it always seems to hit your car harder than you expected it. Noah knew the water was coming, he'd been preparing for it, but when the time came and the rain started to pour - I wonder if he began to worry. . .

Noah had been through many things in all his years, but nothing could possibly compare to this period that he was about to go through. We must realize that when God sees the trials and testing coming our way, He, in all His graciousness, has an awesome plan of restoration and renewal in store for us. So when it feels like you're ready to cave in on day, hour, year 39, just remember that God has something wonderful awaiting us.

Noah - Singing in the Rain

Genesis 7:6-7 Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth. And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

I wonder how long it had been since Noah had completed his task when the rain started. Was it like when we finish cleaning our house and we sit down to turn the TV on to relax and the phone rings? I wonder if he had just asked his wife to go ahead and fix dinner - that he was finally done - and then it started to rain. . .

Six hundred years old!! While the life expectancy was much higher in those days due to the atmosphere and way of life and such - still, the effects of gravity had to have their toll. The process of aging today was probably similar, it just took longer in Noah's time. I wonder how many times he had to stop and go to the bathroom in the middle of hammering some wood? Did he have to grab his reading glasses to finish looking at the blueprints? Did his hands swell in the morning from all the extra work he was doing with his fingers?

Not once does it mention that Noah complained. Some of us refuse to begin exercising because when we get up in the morning we'll be sore - More sore than chopping down tree after tree after tree of cypress wood? We grumble about cleaning the bathroom because it's so dirty and you have to really get in there and scrub - More dirty than coating an entire structure inside and out with tar? I read a blog the other day where they talked about being joyful in your work. Praising God while you sweat - so to speak.

How can we possibly look at Noah, study his life, see what he did with rejection from his peers for what took YEARS to accomplish and ever think our job is so tough? Do not let age deter us from the work God is calling us to do. He will never give us more than we can handle - and He will never leave us or forsake us - so what's our excuse now?

Noah - Webster Entrance

Genesis 7:2-5 Take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth. Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made." And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.

God is now starting to reiterate His orders. Noah is being told, very specifically, the types of animals he needs to have on the ark. God tells Noah that he will need seven of every kind of bird - male and female. First of all, they're birds - do they really need a home? Maybe some bird houses on the top of the ark. Some newspapers lining the deck - maybe that's where the term "poop deck" comes from. . . All joking aside, this was another monumental task for Noah to accomplish.

God tells him again that it will rain for forty days and nights. Verse 5 is a repeat "Noah is obedient". If there is something in the Bible - it's in there for a very good reason - and we need to note that. But if there is something in the Bible TWICE that means it's REALLY important. Look at the birth and death of Jesus - that's covered over several books of the Bible and repeated numerous times - pretty important stuff. The fact the God tells us again and again that Noah is obedient is very important.

This is just the opposite of Jonah, whom we discussed previously, Jonah didn't obey God and look what happened - he got swallowed by a whale. I guess he hadn't heard about Noah and his obedience. If we don't take the time to study what other people have done in their walk with Christ, then we won't know what to expect. It's easy for us to ask our friends how a teacher was that they had in class and how good they were, or to try a product that worked well on a co-worker, yet we won't pick up our Bible and daily read how others made it through their Christian life. So don't yell at your kids until you read the life of Sarah and don't talk bad about your husband until you read the life of Joseph and don't gripe about your physical ailments until you read the life of Job and don't complain about your job until you read the life of Noah.

Noah - Valedictorian?

Genesis 7:1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

When I was a sophomore in high school, I took a typing class. We didn't have the keyboards or laptops that we use today - in fact, we were doing good to get at a desk that had an electric typewriter rather than a manual one. On average, I was a 'B' student at best - but in this typewriting class, I excelled. I could type faster than anyone in the class and I looked forward to learning something new every day and increasing my speed. Often, Mr. Santelli, our teacher, would compliment my work in front of the class. He would use me as an example as how the rest of the class should be doing the work. While I was proud, I tried to show humility - not because I was resting on God's word - but because the other kids would make fun of me and try to point out any time I made a mistake. It didn't deter me. I kept doing my best every day and eventually got up to around 70 words per minute. (Which I can still hit on a good day). (http://www.typingtest.com/default.asp-for your enjoyment) .

Anyway, on the final day of school, during the awards ceremony, Mr. Santelli got up and stood in front of the whole school and announced the winner of the typewriting award. It was me! He had several typing classes all day long, but he said I was his best student of the year. While I realize it was a small award - it wasn't Valedictorian or even close - it meant a lot to me that he recognized my work over everyone else.

Noah was being recognized. God took Noah aside and gave him some hard assignments. God told Noah along the way that he was a good man in God's eyes and he would be spared. Now, after the ark had been built and Noah's building was complete - God took Noah in front of the world and said, "Get in the boat, Noah, you're the best in the class!" Many times we are knocked down for the work we are called to do by God. We are ridiculed for 'wasting' our time going to church. We are mocked for bringing our children up by the Bible's standards. But one day - God is going to stand at the podium and call our name and say - Well done, Good and faithful servant - here is your reward. . . and it will be so much more than a ribbon or trophy or plaque.

Noah - A True Soldier

Genesis 6:19-22 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them." Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Isn't it something how everything is revealed to us - in time. Noah didn't reply when God told him how big to build that ark. He didn't question Him when told how many stories it had to be. Finally (a few verses later) the whole plan comes together. Noah would be housing all the animals. At least the animals would come to him, and he wouldn't have to go and hunt them all down.

They didn't have refrigerators back then, and even if they did, it wouldn't be able to be plugged into any source since the world would be flooded. Noah was going to have to find a place to plant seeds and animals to raise to eat. Not only for himself and his family, but for all the animals as well.

Then the kicker comes in the very last verse of the chapter: "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Why is it so hard for us to just do what God tells us to do? This was not a small task that Noah was given. This job would take months and months of preparation and once on the ark, an unknown time of how long he'd be on the water. Noah did not know when his chore would be finished - all he could see ahead of him was working on the task the Lord had set before him. We know that our task will be complete when everyone has heard the name of Jesus, or we die. We have no idea, however, when that will be. Our best plan would be to do the task that God lays out for us - WHEN He lays it out for us - with a willing heart - and do it to completion. Can we have the determination of Noah? The blessings, like we'll see with Noah, will be worth it.

Noah - Marriage=One Man, One Woman

Genesis 6:16-18 Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.

And there it is - the words we've all been waiting to hear: "I will spare you, Noah, and your family". Whew! Again, we have God giving very specific instructions as to the structure, but Noah must have already had the knowledge of how to go about it. This finishes up the requirements of the ark itself. Now there had never been a flood on the earth before, I doubt that Noah had any idea - or even came close to imagining the dramatic geographical changes that would take place because of this. Or did he even realize the consequences that this would have on how he lived life and starting completely over again from scratch?

Here's another thing: We don't know whether Noah's wife was a godly woman or not - we can assume simply because she's married to Noah, but it's not mentioned. Neither is it mentioned about his sons' wives. But yet, God knew that Noah needed his wife, just like the sons needed their wives - and in His great wisdom - chose to spare them as well. There is a reason - since Genesis - that God has structured marriage between one man and one woman. He knew what was best for us over 2000 years ago and that still holds true today. It's a good thing our democratic candidates weren't the deciding factors on the ark - we never would've repopulated: but that's another post. . .

Noah - was an ARKitecht

Genesis 6:14-15 So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.

And so it begins. God starts laying out orders for Noah. Remember - God still has not said anything to Noah about sparing his life. God tells him to go find some cypress wood. God knew what He was doing. They didn't have the stains and chemical treatments used to build things like we do back then, but listen to the qualities naturally found in cypress wood: The tree produces an oil called cypressine which acts as a natural preservative within the wood. This inherent characteristic of the Southern Cypress makes it durable and extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions, insects and fungus. Cypress wood lacks sap and doesn't bleed. The lumber is lightweight, scarce of knots, medium textured, and dimensionally stable with a closed straight grain. It is easy to cut, saw, nail, and resists splitting, warping, checking, splintering and cracking.

Sounds like the perfect material for a boat that will be at sea for awhile. Then He tells him to use pitch (which is tar) inside and out - that's some pretty messy stuff. Notice that Noah is still quiet and already what he's being told to do is going to be hard work - then it really gets laid out for him: "The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high." HELLO - For what purpose could He possibly need this boat to be that big! That would've been my response, but not Noah. He still listened to what God was telling him to do.

Here's what I noticed: God is very specific about what He wants Noah to do. I really feel like we are getting the whole conversation here. I don't believe the scriptures are leaving anything out of the conversation. So what strikes me is this - God doesn't tell Noah HOW to build the ark. We are not told what Noah's profession is, but surely he must have some knowledge on how to build boats because Noah doesn't say, "Um, how do I get the boat to float?" or "how many nails will I need to put it together?" Noah must have previous knowledge of how to do this. How many times do we gripe and complain about our jobs? Do you question where God has put you? Maybe, just maybe, God has an ark He's going to want you to build and you need to know how to do it. We need to be happy no matter where God has placed us, for He knows the plans He has for us - so don't complain, just grow where you're planted.

Noah - Begins

Genesis 6:5-10 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God. Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

My husband and I were able to take our very first cruise last weekend. As I looked out across the miles and miles of ocean - it inspired me to pick my next person in the Bible to study - Noah. I start to get excited when someone from the Bible just jumps into my thoughts - I feel like it means God has something very special for me to learn - I hope you get that feeling too.

At the time of Noah - I wonder if he knew how the people around him were living. Do you think he realized how awful they truly were - I mean so awful the God was "grieved that he had made man". That's pretty bad. Even when my kids are being the worst they can be - I've never wished they hadn't been made- not even close - really - I promise.

Noah was living his life, a righteous man with a family. But no one else in the WORLD was living for God. It says they thought evil all the time. Which brings me to this point. . . Have you ever thought that 'what if there was no one else around you who loved Jesus'. What if there were no other blogs proclaiming the truth? What if you showed up at church and your family was the only one there? What if you turned on the television and/or radio on Sunday morning and there was not one sermon broadcast to be found? We need to be thankful for our Christian friends and our church families and even our internet faith pals. Thankful that we were not in the situation Noah was in that he had no neighbors to worship with, or friends to pray with. So today, thank you for staying strong in your walk with Christ and for being here.