Blended Not Shaken Ministries and Publications

Christian step/single parent and blended families ministry.

Hello. I trust that at the reading of this blog, you are well. Hopefully you haver been following my blog over the past few months as I have been doing a simple devotional series surrounding the many scriptures used in my latest book- ‘Sing a Song to Single Mums’.

I am discovering that it is quite difficult to create video content in my home, where there seems to be many distractions, noises and other interruptions that are natural to a family environment. However, I have found a few minutes of quiet to record (albeit amateurishly) another two devotionals. While I am not one to enjoy recording myself, I’m hoping my audience can capture my love of His Word and desire to share this with others.

5. Hagar’s story

Watch video:

Read: Genesis Chapters 16-21

Hagar is the first recorded single mother in the scriptures. Her story has a number of learning points for us, but the element of her story that I am honing in on today is that her story shows a God who sees and hears us.

I receive regular emailed devotionals from the Israel Bible Institute. A while back, I read this devotional regarding Hagar. It is fitting to share here.

A girl who names the Lord

Hagar says, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” The translation makes an obvious attempt to present the original Hebrew sentence as comprehensible –if it is translated literally, it says, “I saw after the One (or, the back of the One) who sees me.” This “after” or “back” (acharai, אחרי) is omitted altogether in most English translations: the translators probably weren’t sure about the meaning of this word. Moses’ experience: However, later in the Bible we find another example of this same word. In a famous scene from Exodus 33, when Moses asks God to show him His glory, “the LORD said, ‘I will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see my back.’” The Torah uses almost the same word that Hagar used, acharai. I believe the very fact that Hagar used the same word that God used while speaking to Moses, is extremely meaningful. Judging by the fact that Moses was a great leader and extremely close to the Lord, we can understand how special this girl was in the Lord’s eyes.’

6. God’s Compassion

Read: Psalm 56

Watch video:

The origin of the word ‘compassion’ helps us grasp the true depth of the meaning. In Latin, ‘compati’ means to ‘suffer with’. Compassion means someone else’s pain and suffering becomes yours. God shows His compassion for us in that He takes our heartaches as His own.

Have a read of some scriptures talking of God’s compassion:

Isaiah 30:18
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you: therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice (more of God’s justice in another devotional). Blessed are all who wait for Him!

Isaiah 49:10
“They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat down on them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.”

Isaiah 49:13
“Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth: burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His inflicted ones.”

Psalm 86:15
” But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

The scriptures also show how compassionate Jesus is. (But that topic is for another blog)

Blessings to you xx

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