Shaking off Our Troubles

1 A STORY IS TOLD OF A FARMER 2 • WHO OWNED AN OLD MULE WHO ACCIDENTALLY FELL INTO AN OPEN WELL • AFTER CAREFULLY ASSESSING THE SITUATION • THE FARMER DECIDED NEITHER THE MULE 3 • NOR THE WELL WAS WORTH SAVING • SO, HE CALLED HIS NEIGHBORS TOGETHER TO HELP HAUL DIRT • TO BURY THE OLD MULE IN THE WELL • AT FIRST, THE MULE WAS HYSTERICAL 4 • BUT THEN IT OCCURRED TO HIM • THAT EVERY TIME A SHOVEL OF DIRT HIT HIS BACK • HE COULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP • SO, HE DID - SHOVEL FULL AFTER SHOVEL FULL 5 • "SHAKE IT OFF; STEP UP," HE REPEATED TO HIMSELF • "SHAKE IT OFF; STEP UP" • IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE OLD MULE • STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE TOP TO SAFETY 6 • THE DIRT HE THOUGHT WOULD BURY HIM TURNED OUT TO BE A BLESSING. • SOMETIMES LIFE CAN FEEL LIKE BEING BURIED IN A WELL • THINGS JUST KEEP PILING ON, BILLS, FAILING HEALTH, TRAGEDY 7 • WE NEED TO KNOW GOD IS WITH US IN THESE TIMES • THAT HE HAS BLESSED US AND DOES SUSTAIN AND PRESERVE US • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT • GOD BLESSING NOAH AFTER THE FLOOD • GOD’S PROTECTION AND PROVISION • TURN TO GENESIS 9:1 • THE FLOOD WAS OVER, THE WATER HAD RECEDED 8 9 • NOAH HAD BUILT AN ALTAR AND MADE OFFERINGS TO GOD • GOD HAD JUST PROMISED TO NEVER DESTROY EVERY LIVING THING AS HE HAD DONE IN THE FLOOD GENESIS 9:1 AND GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS SONS AND SAID TO THEM, “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH. 10 Shake it of & KNOW WE ARE BLESSED 11 • NOAH, HIS WIFE, HIS SONS AND THEIR WIVES • HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH THE FLOOD • YES THEY HAD SURVIVED BUT IT HAD BEEN A VERY HARD ROUGH TIME 12 • AND IT WAS NOT GONNA GET EASY ANYTIME SOON • THEY HAD NOTHING, EVERYTHING • AND EVERYONE THEY HAD KNOWN WAS GONE (PAUSE) • SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN WE SURVIVE A TRYING TIME 13 • WE DO NOT FEEL BLESSED, EVEN IF WE ARE BLESSED (PAUSE) • SO GOD MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY ARE BLESSED • THE TEXT SAYS; AND GOD BLESSED NOAH AND HIS SONS AND SAID TO THEM • THAT MEANS THIS WAS A VERBAL BLESSING 14 • SOMETHING THEY COULD REMEMBER AND HOLD ON TO • AN AFFIRMED BLESSING THAT WAS CERTAIN BECAUSE IT WAS FROM GOD • AS CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW BLESSED WE ARE • JUST LIKE NOAH HAD VERBAL WORDS TO CONFIRM HIS BLESSING • WE HAVE GOD’S WRITTEN WORD TO CONFIRM OUR BLESSINGS 15 PHILIPPIANS 4:19 16 AND MY GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY IN CHRIST JESUS. JAMES 1:17 17 EVERY GOOD THING GIVEN AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, COMING DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHIFTING SHADOW. EPHESIANS 1:3 18 BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HAS BLESSED US WITH EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST, 19 JOHN 1:16 FOR OF HIS FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED, AND GRACE UPON GRACE. 20 • THAT WAS 4 VERSES DESCRIBING HOW WE HAVE BEEN • AND ARE BEING BLESSED BY GOD • I COULD GO ON.. AND ON.. AND ON.. • THE BIBLE IS FILLED WITH WORDS DESCRIBING • AND PROMISING THAT WE ARE BLESSED • IF WE BELIEVE THESE WORDS WE NEED TO 21 22 SIO & LIVE LIKE WE ARE BLESSED • THE NEXT PART OF GOD’S BLESSING INVOLVED AN INSTRUCTION • GOD TELLS THEM TO “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH. 23 • NOW IF THIS PHRASE SOUNDS FAMILIAR THAT IS CAUSE • GOD SAID THE EXACT SAME THING TO ADAM AND EVE 24 GENESIS 1:28 GOD BLESSED THEM; AND GOD SAID TO THEM, “BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH, AND SUBDUE IT; AND RULE OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA AND OVER THE BIRDS OF THE SKY AND OVER EVERY LIVING THING THAT MOVES ON THE EARTH.” 25 • WELL NOW I KNOW I SAID THAT GOD SAID THE SAME THING BUT THE TRUTH IS • THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO STATEMENTS • WITH ADAM AND EVE GOD SAID SUBDUE THE EARTH AND RULE OVER THE ANIMALS • BUT WITH NOAH THE SUBDUE AND RULE PART IS NOT MENTIONED • MAYBE THAT’S BECAUSE THE FALL HAD CHANGED A FEW THINGS, SINFUL FALLEN MAN • IS NOT INSTRUCTED TO SUBDUE OR RULE OVER THE EARTH • BEFORE THE FALL WE WERE QUALIFIED TO SUBDUE AND RULE • AFTER THE FALL WE ARE NOT 26 • HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE DO NOT HAVE INSTRUCTIONS • FROM GOD THAT WE NEED TO BE FOLLOWING • THE INSTRUCTION HERE IS VERY CLEAR AND SIMPLE • “BE FRUITFUL MULTIPLY, AND FILL THE EARTH” 27 28 • CONSIDERING HUMAN NATURE THAT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO FOLLOW • AND YET WE WILL SEE AS GO ALONG • THAT THEY FAIL TO FOLLOW THIS INSTRUCTION • THEY DON’T FILL THE EARTH 29 • THEY COME TOGETHER TO BUILD A GREAT TOWER • IF WE REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GOD HAS BLESSED US • WE WILL PUT OUR TIME AND EFFORT IN TO DOING WHAT HE COMMANDS • WE WILL NOT RUN AROUND DOING THE THINGS 30 • WE THINK WE NEED TO DO, AMASSING WEALTH • COLLECTING CARS, HOUSES, BOATS • BUILDING GREAT TOWERS • THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST STUMBLING BLOCKS TO SERVING GOD 31 • WE LOOK AT OUR LIFE AND SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS • AND THE SUFFERING, TRAGEDY, LOSS • AND WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW MUCH GOD HAS BLESSED US 32 • SO WE SPEND TIME TRYING TO “FIX” WHAT WE THINK IS WRONG IN OUR LIVES • AND UTTERLY FAIL TO FOLLOW GOD’S COMMANDS OUT OF • THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR ALL HE HAS DONE FOR US A SIGN WAS POSTED 33 • LOST DOG - $50 REWARD. • BLACK AND TAN DOG OF POODLE AND GERMAN SHEPHERD DESCENT. • FLEA-BITTEN, LEFT HIND LEG MISSING, NO HAIR ON RUMP, • BLIND, AND RECENTLY NEUTERED. • ANSWERS TO THE NAME "LUCKY." • JUST LIKE LUCKY DOES NOT SOUND SO LUCKY • SOMETIME THE BLESSED PEOPLE OF GOD • DON’T FEEL SO BLESSED 34 35 • BUT THE TRUTH IS WE ARE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE • IN WAYS WE CANNOT FATHOM • GOD’S WORD TELLS US OVER AND OVER AGAIN HOW BLESSED WE ARE • WE NEED TO BE STRIVING TO DO GOD’S WILL 36 • OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR HOW HE HAS BLESSED US • UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW BLESSED WE ARE (PAUSE) • ONE OF THE WAYS WE ARE BLESSED IS WHEN GOD • PROTECTS & PROVIDES FOR US GENESIS 9:2–4 37 “THE FEAR OF YOU AND THE TERROR OF YOU WILL BE ON EVERY BEAST OF THE EARTH AND ON EVERY BIRD OF THE SKY; WITH EVERYTHING THAT CREEPS ON THE GROUND, AND ALL THE FISH OF THE SEA, INTO YOUR HAND THEY ARE GIVEN. 38 “EVERY MOVING THING THAT IS ALIVE SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU; I GIVE ALL TO YOU, AS I GAVE THE GREEN PLANT. “ONLY YOU SHALL NOT EAT FLESH WITH ITS LIFE, THAT IS, ITS BLOOD. 39 SIO BECAUSE WE ARE SECURE IN GOD • IN THE GARDEN MAN HAD LIVED PEACEFULLY WITH THE ANIMALS • AFTER THE FALL THAT RELATIONSHIP CHANGED • NOAH HAD JUST SAVED THE ANIMALS FROM THE FLOOD 40 • BUT COULD NOAH COUNT ON THE ANIMALS TO REMEMBER THAT? • PART OF GOD’S BLESSING ON NOAH AND HIS SONS • WAS THAT ALL THE WILD ANIMALS WOULD FEAR MAN • NOTICE IT DOES NOT MENTION CATTLE OR HERDS 41 • MAN IS NO LONGER FIT TO RULE OVER THE ANIMALS • SO FOR HIS PROTECTION THE ANIMALS WOULD FEAR HIM • “THE FEAR OF YOU AND THE TERROR OF YOU” • FEAR CAN MEAN RESPECT OR REVERENCE 42 • BUT WHEN IT IS COMBINED WITH TERROR LIKE IT IS HERE • THE MEANING IS CLEAR THE ANIMALS ARE AFRAID OF MANKIND • AND I FOR ONE AM GLAD THEY ARE • WE WOULD REALLY BE IN TROUBLE IF THEY WERE NOT 43 • GOD PROTECTS US IN SO MANY WAY • WAYS WE NEVER DREAMED OF • WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE MINDFUL OF HIS PROTECTION • AND GIVE THANKS FOR IT DAILY • UNDERSTANDING THAT WITHOUT HIS PROTECTION • WE WOULD BE OVERWHELMED BY NOT JUST • THE WILD ANIMALS OF THIS OF THE WORLD • BUT BY ALL THE DANGERS IN IT • GOD PROVIDES OUR SAFETY • HE ALSO PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS 44 SIO GOD PROVIDES 45 • HAVING THE WILD ANIMALS NOT EAT YOU IS A GOOD THING • BUT SAFETY DOES NOT MEAN MUCH ON AN EMPTY STOMACH • BACK IN THE GARDEN GOD HAD GIVEN THE PLANTS TO ADAM AND EVE 46 GENESIS 1:29 THEN GOD SAID, “BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN YOU EVERY PLANT YIELDING SEED THAT IS ON THE SURFACE OF ALL THE EARTH, AND EVERY TREE WHICH HAS FRUIT YIELDING SEED; IT SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU; • BUT NOW IN ADDITION TO THE PLANTS • GOD GIVES THEM THE ANIMALS AS FOOD • “EVERY MOVING THING THAT IS ALIVE SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU; • MANY BIBLE SCHOLARS THINK MANKIND ONLY ATE PLANTS 47 • BEFORE THIS, AND I THINK THAT IS LIKELY, HOWEVER THE • TEXT NEVER SAYS MAN ONLY ATE PLANTS BEFORE THE FLOOD • NOW, THERE ARE A FEW REASONS GOD MAY HAVE DONE THIS • MAYBE BECAUSE OF THE FLOOD THERE WAS NOT MUCH PLANT LIFE 48 49 • FOR NOAH AND HIS FAMILY TO EAT • OR POSSIBLY THIS WAS DONE TO KEEP THE REPOPULATING OF THE ANIMALS • IN BALANCE WITH THE REPOPULATING OF MANKIND 50 • IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TO HELP THEM MULTIPLY AND FILL THE EARTH QUICKER • WE DON’T REALLY KNOW FOR SURE WHY GOD DID IT • BUT WE KNOW HE PROVIDED • WE SOMETIMES LIKE TO THINK WE PROVIDE FOR OURSELVES 51 • WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT REALLY EVEN AN OPTION • UNLESS YOU CAN MAKE SOMETHING FROM NOTHING • YOU CANNOT PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF • EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE NEVER • RECEIVED PROVISION FROM GOD YOU HAVE 52 I WAS COUNSELING A MAN ONCE AT 2ND MILE • I COULD TELL HE WAS HAVING A VERY TOUGH TIME ASKING FOR HELP • HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD SPENT 45 MINS OUT IN HIS CAR • CRYING ABOUT HAVING TO COME IN AND ASK FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE 53 • HE SAID HE HAD ALWAYS PROVIDED FOR HIS FAMILY • UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO HE HAD A 6 FIGURE JOB • MADE GOOD MONEY HAD A BIG HOUSE AND A NICE CAR • BUT HE GOT LAID OFF AND THAT BIG HOUSE AND NICE CAR 54 • ATE THROUGH HIS SAVINGS IN A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS • AND NOW HE NEEDED FOOD • HE WAS ASHAMED TO ASK FOR HELP, HE KEPT SAYING • HE HAD NEVER NEEDED ANY HELP FROM ANYONE IN HIS LIFE 55 • AFTER HE CALMED DOWN SOME I ASKED HIM A QUESTION • “DID YOU MAKE THAT AIR YOU ARE BREATHING” • HE SAID “WHAT?” • I SAID DID YOU MAKE THAT AIR YOU ARE BREATHING 56 • I TOLD HIM HE HAD BEEN GETTING HELP FROM GOD • EVERY DAY OF HIS LIFE, THE AIR HE BREATHED • THE WATER HE DRANK, THE GRAVITY THAT HELD HIM TO THE EARTH • WERE ALL HELP FROM GOD 57 • THE IDEA THAT WE DON’T NEED HELP IS STRAIGHT • FROM SATAN, “YOU CAN BE LIKE GOD” • IT IS ONE OF THE MOST PRIDEFUL THINGS WE CAN EVER THINK (PAUSE) • GOD PROVIDES FOR US, OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE WE SHOULD SIO AND OBEY 58 • GOD BLESSES NOAH AND HIS SONS BY GIVING THEM THE ANIMALS AS FOOD • BUT HE PLACES A RESTRICTION ON THIS FOOD • HE TELLS THEM • “ONLY YOU SHALL NOT EAT FLESH WITH ITS LIFE, THAT IS, ITS BLOOD. 59 • THIS RESTRICTION IF FOR THEIR GOOD • THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESTRICTION IS TO BUILD A RESPECT FOR LIFE • MOSES HAD EXPLAINED WHY GOD HAD FLOODED THE WORLD GENESIS 6:5 60 THEN THE LORD SAW THAT THE WICKEDNESS OF MAN WAS GREAT ON THE EARTH, AND THAT EVERY INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS OF HIS HEART WAS ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY. 61 • LIFE HAD BECOME CHEAP WICKEDNESS FILLED THE EARTH • THE WAS NO RESPECT FOR LIFE • GOD EXPLAINS THIS RESTRICTION IN LEVITICUS 17:11–12 62 ‘FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD, AND I HAVE GIVEN IT TO YOU ON THE ALTAR TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS; FOR IT IS THE BLOOD BY REASON OF THE LIFE THAT MAKES ATONEMENT.’ 63 “THEREFORE I SAID TO THE SONS OF ISRAEL, ‘NO PERSON AMONG YOU MAY EAT BLOOD, NOR MAY ANY ALIEN WHO SOJOURNS AMONG YOU EAT BLOOD.’ 64 • SOMETIMES GOD EXPLAINS HIS RESTRICTIONS • SOMETIMES HE DOES NOT • BUT WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST • THAT ANYTHING GOD HAS RESTRICTED • HE HAS DONE SO FOR OUR GOOD 65 • GOD HAS RESTRICTED SEX TO ONLY BETWEEN A MAN & WOMAN IN THE COVENANT OF MARRIAGE • AND THAT IS CERTAINLY FOR OUR GOOD AND OUR PROTECTION • HE HAS RESTRICTED US FROM DRINKING TO EXCESS 66 • AND THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FOR OUR GOOD • WE MAY NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF SOMETHING BEING RESTRICTED • BUT GOD ONLY PLACES THESE RESTRICTIONS ON US FOR OUR BENEFIT • HE DOES THIS BECAUSE HE LOVES AND VALUES US GENESIS 9:5–7 67 “SURELY I WILL REQUIRE YOUR LIFEBLOOD; FROM EVERY BEAST I WILL REQUIRE IT. AND FROM EVERY MAN, FROM EVERY MAN’S BROTHER I WILL REQUIRE THE LIFE OF MAN. “ 68 “WHOEVER SHEDS MAN’S BLOOD, BY MAN HIS BLOOD SHALL BE SHED, FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE MADE MAN. “AS FOR YOU, BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY; POPULATE THE EARTH ABUNDANTLY AND MULTIPLY IN IT.” 69 • GOD VALUES US SO MUCH THAT ANYONE WHO TAKES A HUMAN LIFE • WILL HAVE THEIR LIFE TAKEN FROM THEM • GOD INSTITUTES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR HERE MURDER • “SURELY I WILL REQUIRE YOUR LIFEBLOOD; 70 • PREVIOUS TO THE FLOOD THIS PENALTY WAS NOT IN PLACE • CAIN MURDERED ABEL AND WAS NOT EXECUTED • THE WORLD BETWEEN THE GARDEN AND THE FLOOD • HAD BEEN BRUTAL AND WICKED 71 • BUT GOD VALUES HUMAN LIFE TO SUCH A DEGREE • THAT HE REQUIRES A PAYMENT OF A LIFE FOR A LIFE • GOD DOES NOT DO THIS TO BE MEAN OR CRUEL • HE DOES THIS TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE 72 • NOTICE HOW THIS IS STATED RIGHT AFTER • ALLOWING THE TAKING OF AN ANIMAL LIFE • SLAYING OF THE BEAST IS ALLOWED WHILE SLAYING OF MAN IS FORBIDDEN • THIS IS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND MAN IS NOT A BEAST • AND GOD ENFORCES THIS UNIVERSALLY 73 GOD REQUIRES PAYMENT FROM ALL 74 • NOTICE WHO GOD WILL REQUIRE PAYMENT OF A LIFE FROM • “FROM EVERY BEAST & FROM EVERY MAN” • SO IF AN ANIMAL TAKES A MANS LIFE GOD REQUIRES THE ANIMALS LIFE • THIS CONCEPT IS STATED VERY CLEARLY 75 EXODUS 21:28 “IF AN OX GORES A MAN OR A WOMAN TO DEATH, THE OX SHALL SURELY BE STONED AND ITS FLESH SHALL NOT BE EATEN; BUT THE OWNER OF THE OX SHALL GO UNPUNISHED. • AND IF A HUMAN MURDERS A HUMAN GOD REQUIRES THE KILLERS LIFE 76 EXODUS 21:12 “HE WHO STRIKES A MAN SO THAT HE DIES SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH. 77 • BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT LAST PART • “FROM EVERY MAN’S BROTHER I WILL REQUIRE THE LIFE OF MAN.” • MOST SCHOLARS THINK THIS IS A REFERENCE TO CAIN AND ABEL 78 • GOD HAD NOT REQUIRED CAIN’S LIFE FOR MURDERING HIS BROTHER • BUT GOD IS NOW ESTABLISHING THAT HE DOES REQUIRE A LIFE FOR A LIFE • I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY 79 • AND WE SURE WANT TO BE CERTAIN THE PERSON DID IN FACT MURDER SOMEONE • BUT WE NEED TO ALLOW GOD TO DECIDE • WHAT THE PROPER PUNISHMENT FOR MURDER SHOULD BE 80 • HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE THIS CHOICE • SINCE HE IS THE ONE WHO CREATED AND SUSTAINS US SIO MADE US IN HIS IMAGE 81 • GOD IS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE REASON HE REQUIRES A LIFE FOR TAKING A LIFE • “WHOEVER SHEDS MAN’S BLOOD, BY MAN HIS BLOOD SHALL BE SHED, FOR IN THE IMAGE OF GOD HE MADE MAN. • THAT’S THE REASON RIGHT THERE • WE ARE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE • THE IMAGE MAY BE DISTORTED AND DAMAGED FROM THE FALL • BUT THE IMAGE IS STILL THERE. • GOD DOES NOT REQUIRE A LIFE FOR A LIFE 82 83 • BECAUSE WE ARE SO IMPORTANT • SO WONDERFUL, SO NECESSARY • HE REQUIRES A LIFE FOR A LIFE BECAUSE WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE • AND KILLING SOMEONE MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE IS 84 • AN AFFRONT TO GOD’S GLORY (PAUSE) • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHO WE REALLY ARE • WE CAN SEE WHY GOD REQUIRES A LIFE FOR A LIFE 85 SIGMUND FREUD SAID WE ARE A BUNDLE OF DESIRES. • DARWIN SAID WE ARE AN ACCIDENT OF BLIND NATURE. • SOCIETY SAYS WE ARE A CONSUMER • WITH THE SACRED RIGHT OF CONSUMING WHAT WE WILL. 86 • AND MOST INSIDIOUSLY OF ALL, • OUR SELF-CENTERED FLESH TELLS US WE ARE GOD. • WHO DO WE BELIEVE? WHO DEFINES THE WORD HUMAN? • AS A CHRISTIAN I BELIEVE THAT GOD DOES, BECAUSE HE CREATED US. • AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE FIND HIS DEFINITION • OF WHAT A IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN IN SCRIPTURE • THUS IF WE ARE TO PROPERLY UNDERSTAND OURSELVES, • OUR PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE, AND OUR RELATION TO GOD, 87 88 • WE MUST LOOK TO SCRIPTURE TO INFORM US. • IN GENESIS WHEN GOD SAID, "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE." • THAT MEANS EVERY HUMAN IS A BEARER OF THE LIKENESS OF GOD. • EACH OF US IS IMPRESSED WITH HIS MARK. • THIS IS HOW AND WHY WE LOVE AND RELATE AND REASON AND CHOOSE. • THIS IS WHY HE REQUIRES A LIFE FOR A LIFE • THIS ALSO WHY HE BLESSES US, PROTECTS US AND PROVIDES FOR US 89 90 SOMETIME LIFE STARTS FEELING • LIKE BEING WE ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF A WELL • AND SOMEONE IS TOSSING DIRT IN ON US • PROBLEMS KEEP PILING ON AND WE SURE DON’T FEEL BLESSED • NOAH HEARD GOD SPEAK HIS BLESSINGS • WE HAVE GOD’S WRITTEN WORD TO REMIND US OF HIS BLESSINGS UPON US • WE NEED TO REMEMBER HIS BLESSINGS 91 92 • AND LIVE LIKE WE ARE BLESSED • DOING OUR BEST TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS • OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US 93 • REMEMBERING THAT HE PROTECTS US FROM SO MUCH IN THIS WORLD • AND PROVIDES FOR OUR NEEDS IN WAYS WE MAY NOT EVEN KNOW • GOD DOES THESE THINGS BECAUSE WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE 94 • AND BECAUSE HE LOVES • HE LOVES US AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • BUT WE ALL SIN… 95