Acadia National Park

A series on God’s calling: Abraham
 (Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 12:1-5 

[Traditionally we think of someone who has received “God’s call on their life” as being a missionary or pastor or some other paid ministry position. But God has called all of us into ministry. And there’s not just one way that He does it. In this series, we will look at how God called people in the Bible to ministry, and what that means to us.]

  

Recently my wife and I took a trip to New Hampshire to visit some friends who had moved there last year. Since we’d never been to Maine, and they lived right on the border, we took a side trip to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

 

When we told friends at home about our plans to go to Acadia, we received lots of advice and even tour books. We learned what sights to see, where to park, what restaurants to eat at and most importantly, where to eat lobster. Since we’d never been there, it was all very helpful.

 

Leading up to Abram’s calling from God, the “people of the world” had settled in Babylonia. In their pride and arrogance, they decided to build a city and then a tower to demonstrate how great they were. In order to stop them, God scattered the people by confusing their language.

 

Once again, the Lord needed someone to save humanity from themselves; to restore the world to him. He chose Abram.

 

¹ The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.      NLT

 

Abram didn’t know anything about the land that the Lord had called him to. He’d never been there. Making his decision even more difficult was the fact that he would have to leave his home and everything that made his life stable. But he obeyed.

 

⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran.   NIV

 

We’re not told how long it took or what kind of adversity Abram might have faced during the journey. We don’t know if he had second thoughts about continuing the trip. Only that he obeyed God and eventually arrived.

 

⁵ He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. NIV

 

Unlike my trip to Acadia National Park, Abram had no idea where to go or what to expect. Yet, by faith, he went. And it was his faith that the Lord counted him as righteous. Abram listened when the Lord spoke; he acted; and he completed God’s call when he arrived in Canaan.

 

His call was a seismic shift in how God works. Because now God’s strategy was to work through one man and his descendants to a specific location. God’s promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”, is the beginning of his redemptive plan to restore all humanity to a personal relationship with him.

 

God’s covenant with Abram included land, descendants, and blessings. But its ultimate fulfillment came in the person of Christ, the Messiah.

 

¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ.           NIV    Galatians 3

 

Copyright 2025 Joseph B Williams

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www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

A 1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

A series on the story of redemption – Part II
The story of Rebekah
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 25:19-34; 27:1-40 

[Everybody has a story. Even God has one. His is a story about love and redemption and faithfulness. In this series we are going to take a closer look at God’s story through the lives of the people that He touched. How their story became His story of redemption. And how your story is also a part of it.]

  

I hate puzzles. It doesn’t matter what kind it is… crossword, Wordle, Rubik’s Cube, Sudoku or jigsaw. However, recently I found myself addicted to working on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle of Spartan Stadium, where Michigan State plays football.

 

My strategy was to look for a scene that was identifiable and try to complete that section of the puzzle… piece by piece. Have you ever sorted through 1000 puzzle pieces that all seem to look alike? It can be tedious and frustrating! But when one of the pieces actually fits, you want to celebrate!

 

Life is like a puzzle. We have to problem solve all the time. If trying one way doesn’t work, then try another. Figure it out. Make it work. Take control. Do whatever you need to do in order to solve your problem. At least, that’s what Rebekah thought.

 

Rebekah was the wife of Isaac. Following their marriage, she was unable to conceive for twenty years. Finally, after Isaac pleaded with the Lord, she became pregnant. But during her pregnancy the babies jostled each other within her. When she asked the Lord why, his answer was unsettling.

 

²³ And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”    Genesis 25    NLT

 

Because of this, Rebekah was aware that the Lord’s plan to carry his covenant down through the generations involved Jacob, but not Esau. Many years later, she most likely learned about Esau trading his birthright for a meal. Knowledge is power.

 

When Isaac was old and frail, Rebekah overheard him tell Esau that he was going to give him his blessing. But the Lord had said that Jacob would carry the covenant. Plus, he was Rebekah’s favorite.

 

It would have been an easy step for her to think that she needed to take things into her own hands. With that thought in mind, she devised a plan to trick Isaac into blessing Jacob. More so than Jacob, Rebekah was the master manipulator.

 

But the Lord is sovereign, loving and faithful. His plans are fulfilled despite sinful people. In Romans 9, Paul wrote about God’s sovereignty. As an example, he used the story of Rebekah giving birth to Esau and Jacob.

 

¹¹ But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; ^12a he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.)        NLT

 

The Lord is a master puzzler. That is, he knows exactly where each piece of the puzzle goes. He knows how to make 1000 unique pieces fit perfectly for the picture to look proper. We may not understand it while he’s putting the puzzle together. But he is God, and we are not.

 

²⁰ But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?” ²¹ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?            NIV

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

www.lifelinebasketball.blogspot.com

 

 

 

LOSER!!!

   A Series on Women in the Bible
 (Use the link below to read the verses.)
Genesis 17:1-22

[God worked in and through the lives of countless women in the Bible. These women played significant, if not critical roles in the Lord’s plan of Redemption. In this series, we will look at the faithfulness of some of these God fearing women.]

  

Loser! What image does that word bring to your mind? 

The team that lost a game in overtime? Or the one that got beaten so badly it was embarrassing? A homeless person panhandling on a street corner? A geek; a convict; a dork; an addict; an obese person? The person in your office who can’t do anything right? Yourself?

 

I think Sarai may have felt like a loser most of her life.

 

Due to a severe famine in Canaan, Sarai and Abram traveled to Egypt. Before entering, Abram told Sarai to lie; to say that she wasn’t his wife, but his sister. He said this because she was so beautiful that he feared for his life. This happened not once, but twice.

 

I would imagine that, as a result of Abram’s request to lie, that Sarai could easily have felt like a piece of property; like she didn’t matter; like a loser.

 

Also, Sarai couldn’t conceive. This was a source of great shame; of self-loathing; of failure. As a result, Sarai suggested to Abram that he take their servant Hagar as a concubine to conceive a descendant. Which he did. But this caused even more problems because then Hagar despised Sarai; and Sarai mistreated Hagar.

 

Despite all that she had done to please her husband, Sarai most likely felt like a complete failure because she was unable to fulfill the most important role of a woman in that culture; to bear children, and provide a descendant for her husband. Her identity was defined by her failure.

 

But that isn’t how God defined her.

 

She is commended for her faith in Hebrews 11. Then in Galatians 4, she is recognized as the mother of the covenant nation in an allegorical comparison between her and Hagar. Sarai was not a loser!

 

It’s important for us to remember Sarai’s story; her faith; her legacy. Because we all go through periods where we fail; where we feel like a loser. The Good News is that even if we feel like a failure, the Lord is at work in our life; He can turn our failure into His victory; He can accomplish His will in our life.

 

Copyright 2021 Joseph B Williams

 

 

 

 

Are You Chosen or Called?

A Series on God’s Call to Ministry

Deuteronomy 7:6-9

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%207%3A6-9&version=NIV;NLT

[Preface: How do you know what your calling in life is? Will you know from a big bang experience? Or will it come quietly, almost imperceptible? Will you be inspired by the stories of a visiting missionary; or a book that opens your eyes to the needs of a specific people group; or from your own life experience? This series is about God’s call to ministry for your life; what it means or doesn’t mean.]

Choosing sides for a baseball game was pretty much a rite of passage for boys when I was growing up. If you were chosen first, or near the beginning, you felt pretty good about yourself. However, if you were chosen towards the bottom, or especially last, you wished that you could run and hide.

⁶ For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.  NLT

Quite unlike my experience of choosing teams for a pickup baseball game, Israel was chosen, not because it was big and powerful, but because the LORD loved them. In fact, Israel was one of the smallest and weakest of all nations. But the LORD had made a covenant with Abram, and the LORD was faithful.

In my New Living Testament Bible, the preface for Deuteronomy states the following:

“Deuteronomy summarizes the events that led up to that moment in Israel’s history; the eve of Israel’s entry into the Promised Land. Moses exhorted the Israelites to remain faithful and obedient and called them to rededicate their lives to the task God had given them.

Clearly, Israel was not only a chosen nation, but they were also a called nation. They were called to be a “kingdom of priests”. They were called to enter the Promised Land. They were called to be a blessing.

So, are you chosen by God, or called? The answer is yes!

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”             1 Peter 2:9 NIV

 

It feels good to be chosen first for a pickup baseball game. It feels even better to be chosen by the LORD as his own. But the LORD also calls you to action. He calls you to be a priest; holy and obedient. He calls you to be a blessing to others. He calls you to be a light in the darkness.

Baptism by Fire

“Where are you God?” - A Series from the Psalms

Psalm 60

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2060&version=NIV;TLB

 

I had never flown before. As my plane was circling the Hancock airport to approach the landing strip, darkness covered everything like a blanket.

 

 

Having never visited Michigan Tech, I had no reference point other than all the lights below from the Houghton/Hancock area. It looked like a big city; daunting and dangerous.

 

It was a huge, scary unknown world waiting for me.

 

My parents had tried to prepare me for this. All parents do. They try to prepare their children to become responsible adults who are able to live on their own; who can face the battles of the world; who can struggle and survive. I was now truly on my own; a baptism by fire. But was I ready?

 

Psalm 60 was written by David when he was at war with Syria in the north while Edom invaded Judah from the south. All seemed lost and he wondered out loud if God had rejected him; if God would march with his armies again. David knew what it felt like to be thrown into a baptism by fire.

 

But in the midst of his lament, David remembered God’s banner. Like a flag that soldiers rally around in the heat of battle, David rallied to God’s promises; to His Covenant.

 

^4-5 But you have given us a banner to rally to; all who love truth will rally to it; then you can deliver your beloved people. Use your strong right arm to rescue us. ^6-7 God has promised to help us. He has vowed it by his holiness! No wonder I exult! “Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh—still are mine!” he says. “Judah shall continue to produce kings, and Ephraim great warriors. ⁸ Moab shall become my lowly servant, and Edom my slave. And I will shout in triumph over the Philistines.”                   TLB

 

When you are feeling “rejected by God; shaken and torn open; facing desperate times”; do what David did and reflect on God’s Covenant with you.

 

 

And like David, you can rally around God’s banner; the banner of Jesus Christ; the banner who brings you hope; the banner who will lead you through your own baptism by fire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Coaches’ Lesson

Exodus 32:15-24

 

 

Coach Steward stood 6 feet 8 and weighed about 275. It was half time and we were been behind so he lit into us like there was no tomorrow. As the volume and intensity of his words hit a fever pitch, he slammed his fist against the clip board in his hand, breaking it into pieces. He had our full attention.

 

^19 “When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain.”

 

Aaron then responded to Moses’ question about what had happened by saying, ^24 “So I told them (the Israelites), ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” 

 

Obviously Moses wasn’t impressed, because following this explanation he instructed the Levites, “Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.” About three thousand Israelites were killed that day. God had their attention.

 

Have you ever had consequences to sin in your life like that? The correct answer is yes! Two thousand years ago Jesus paid the price for our sin. Maybe you’re thinking that you would never do anything like the Israelites did; nothing so bold and in your face. Even the Lord admitted that they were a “stiff necked people”.

 

But if we are honest with ourselves, we have to admit that we aren’t that different from them. After all, what motivated the Israelites if it wasn’t pride and control? And how many times every day does our pride lead us to try to take control because we don’t trust God?

 

Coach Steward’s actions were to motivate us to not be lazy, but to be the best that we could be; to recognize that the little mistakes we were making could cause us to lose.

Moses did the same thing, but with more severe consequences because the result of sin is not losing, it’s dying... and Jesus came to bring life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Promises Kept

Psalm 145

  

When my granddaughter was about 3 years old, she took a swimming class. The highlight of the class was at the end when the water slide was opened up. One Saturday, my daughter asked me to come to the class and go into the water with my granddaughter. I was more than happy to oblige.

 

During the class, my granddaughter told me several times how much fun the water slide was, but she made me promise that I absolutely wouldn’t let her head go under water at the bottom of the slide. I vowed that I would never let that happen.

 

As we began our descent from the top of the slide, I had both arms wrapped tightly around her. But as we continued our downward spiral, I began to lose my grip. The slide was tossing me from side to side. Instinctively, I let go with one hand and then the

Although we are both there, all you can see are my feet.

other to regain my balance. Suddenly, without warning, we were at the bottom and into the water with both of our heads going under.

 

When we got out, my granddaughter looked very, very distressed. When asked if she wanted to go down the slide again, her response was a very clipped, “No. I want to go home. I want my Daddy.” Grandpa had failed to keep his promise.

 

Promises, and how we respond to them, reveal our character. Ultimately, it reveals who we are by how we treat others. David wrote in Psalm 145 about the character of God. God’s character can be seen by how He works in our lives. In fact, seven times in this Psalm David mentions “your works”.

 

For me, it is easier to see God’s works with twenty-twenty hind sight than it is during the daily grind of life. Afterwards, I can look back and see how He brought certain people or experiences or even books or a movie into my life to shape my thinking. God has been constantly at work in my life because He loves me.

 

My granddaughter didn’t think much of my character on that Saturday morning in question. All she knew was that her grandpa had not kept his promise, whether it was intended or not.

 

We never have to worry about that with our Lord. He always keeps His promises. He shows His love to us by His faithfulness, and as His followers, we are to show His love to others by our faithfulness. Therefore, let us love one another with Christ’s love through promises kept.

 

 

Do You Make Everyone Around You Better?

Acts 3:17-26

 

Peyton Manning, at age 39, retired this past week from the National Football League. During his NFL career of 18 years, he set numerous records while winning five league MVP awards and two Super Bowl championships. Following his emotional speech, there was a huge outpouring of tributes from other players.

 

Perhaps the greatest praise of all came from Manning’s rival and friend, Tom Brady, who posted this on his Facebook page. “Congratulations Peyton, on an incredible career. You changed the game forever and made everyone around you better. It’s been an honor.”

 

In the passage today Peter is preaching to a crowd in the temple. No doubt, these are many of the same people who wanted Jesus dead. Listen to his words:

 

^25 “And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ ²⁶ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”                        NIV

 

The initial covenant that God made with Abraham had to do with inheriting land and becoming a great nation with many descendants. But Peter was pointing to a far greater meaning. He was stating that ultimately Israel was blessed because God had given them the message of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

 

As a result of Peter’s outspoken preaching, Acts 4 tells us that, “the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand”. You might say that Peter was blessed by God, and as a result he was a blessing to others. You could even say, that he made everyone around him better.

 

As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you will have opportunities to be a blessing to others. You do that by investing in people’s lives; by ministering to those who are unable to help themselves; by sharing the Gospel in word and deed.

 

I have no idea if Peyton Manning is a Christian, but he embodies God’s promise to Abraham; “You are blessed to be a blessing”. And like Manning, when you do that, “you make everyone around you better”.

 

Do you?