God had just flooded the earth destroying all creature. He then seems to be upset that He had to do it and establishes this first covenant with man. Over and over again we see that man fails to live up to his end of the covenant and God brings all kinds of punishment to mankind but He has lived up to His promise and has never again flooded all the earth.

Once in a while I am privileged to see a rain bow and I try to remember that God placed it there so I could remember to Praise Him. I fail quite often to give God his well earned Praise. I will try today to remember the Rain Bow.

Noah and his family sure had a lot of faith in God. I can not imagine telling my wife that we were going to be sealed in boat for a year. Go figure. Have you ever looked at how long they were on the Ark. Below is how Hailey’s breaks it down.

• Noah went into the ark seven days before it began to rain (7:4, 10).
• It began to rain on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noah’s 600th year (7:11). It rained for 40 days (7:12).
• The waters flooded the earth for 150 days (7:24; 8:3).
• The ark came to rest on the 17th day of the 7th month (8:4).
• Noah removed the ark’s covering on the 1st day of the 1st month of Noah’s 601st year (8:13).
• Noah and his family went out of the ark on the 27th day of the 2nd month (8:14–19).
• This means that they were in the ark for 1 year and 17 days (5 months floating, 7 months on the mountain).

I have trouble sitting in the car for 8 hours going on a vacation. How did Noah convince his family to ride out the flood in an ark with a small window. It had to be dark dirty and depressing. Only through faith could Noah endure a year in a small ark.

I pray that God would give me that kind of faith and patience.

Once again man failed to live up to God’s Expectation. What is it in Man that makes it so hard to stay in God’s Grace. God offer this grace to everyone all we need to do is accept it and to live a life that is approved by God. It is not a big deal most of what God requires is easy to do. Why do we fail so often? It is our own fault if we would just trust God and Love him He will give us the ability to live a life that is pleasing to Him We just need to allow God to help us make the difficult decisions when it come to temptation.

All my life I have heard this scripture and heard many preachers talk about Enoch. It is amazing to me how a man could be so in tune with God that he never died. We do not know anything about Enoch just these few words in the Bible. But what a story it is. How can we strive in our life to be so close to God that we are spared the pain and anguish of death and be taken into God’s presence in Heaven.

Do you have a brother or a sister? How many times have you had a fight or been jelous of them? I think it is only human to feel that way sometimes. In the grand scheme of things what goes on in your family is small potatoes. What is important is your relationship with God and how freely you give of yourself to Him. Today lets try to do that to love God and treat Him the way we know we should and to give freely of our blessing also. Praise Him from Whom all blessing Flow.

What happened why did Eve choose to eat the forbidden fruit? It happens to all of us now everyday we are tempted and have to make decisions in our daily walk. There are so many things today that cause us to fall. (Television, movies, books, work environment) How do we continue to make the right choices? We must rely on the Word of God (Bible), and on prayer. Remember even Jesus was tempted

.Mat 4:3 -11 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”  Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,  and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’”   Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’”   Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory;  and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”  Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’”  Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him (NASB)

On the Seventh Day God Rested and He wants all of to do the same.  I remember when I was 16 there was very few stores and restaurants open. Most cities and towns had blue laws and everyone went to Church had a nice Sunday lunch with the family. That sure was a relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon. I am as guilty as I can be. I think nothing of going to  a restaurant for Sunday Lunch or even shopping if I need something from the store. How do we go back to that simpler, better way of worshiping God on Sunday.

As I drove to work this morning it was beautiful like it can only be Early in February when the sun is shinning brightly and it is warm. Makes me think of Spring and all the beautiful trees and flowers that come with the first breath of warm weather. How can anybody see all that beauty and doubt that God created it all. I am lucky enough to live in the foothills of North Carolina and I can see God in the Mountains that I love so dearly.