He is 600 years old, has survived the worst disaster ever, saved the world and his family is chosen to repopulate the earth. What does he do? He goes out and gets drunk. As they say in AA ‘there but for the grace of God go I.”

Genesis 9:20-21

Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard.

He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent.

Bible Gateway link: Genesis 9:20-21 (ESV))

Some people; worldly, sophisticated people, scoff at dependence on God. For me though, depending on God is infinitely more important than what people think.

Psalm 3:1-4

O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;

many are saying of my soul, 
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, 
my glory, and the lifter of my head.

I cried aloud to the Lord, 
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Bible Gateway link: Psalm 3:1-4 (ESV)

A case for doing the right thing for the right reason in the first place:

Genesis 4:6-7

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Bible Gateway link: Genesis 4:6-7 (NRSVCE)

So here we go! Thank you God for creating me in your image. Thank you for giving me your word to guide my life. (Readers, if you would like to join me in my journey through the Holy Bible this year, there’s a link below and to the right of my blog page that will give you the daily verses.)

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Bible Gateway link: Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

This verse is the last red letter promise of the year. While I wasn’t very faithful with my blog in 2017 I’m going to try again in 2018. I’ll be reading the Bible cover to cover for the 9th time. I hope you will join me in my journey and with God’s help Vine and Branch will be more consistent.

Revelation 22:12-13

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Bible Gateway link: Revelation 22:12-13

That little baby in Bethlehem was sent to reinforce the message from God in the verses below. As always the battle is between the goodness in our hearts and our stubornness. I promise if you open your ears to the Word of God the answer is there.

Zechariah 7:9-11

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,

do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.

Bible Gateway link: Zechariah 7:9-11 (ESV)

My Angels come to me in human form, blessing and changing my life with a comment or gesture. It fills me with radiant gratitude and always makes me worship Him who made heaven and earth and Angels.

Revelation 14:6-7

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Bible Gateway link: Revelation 14:6-7 (ESV)