12 "Go Back! to the Place Where You Were Dependent on God" Genesis 34-36

#12 Go back to the place where God answered you. Find what’s most alive in you. Genesis 35:1                                                          

                                                                        

Genesis 35:1 "Go back to Bethel," Jacob! You've just "missed" your daughter Dinah unbelievably! Go back, says God. Go back to the place where God answered you. This so speaks to my heart this day as it it did when we received very disrupting news that rocked my world. I didn't want to leave the church and people we so loved! God wasn't in it for us. Was He? The very first couple of pages of 66 Love Letters, Larry quotes Hosea 5:15 - "in their misery, they will earnestly seek Me." I sought God at that moment in my life like never before and He showed up like never before. Maybe, it’s more fitting to say: I showed up like never before.  It's been the best thing that ever happened to my walk with HIM. Really. I Love  Genesis 35:10 where God says He revealed Himself A.G.A.I.N. I AM THE STRONG GOD!

Dear Kids, no matter what happens, God is with you. It's really true.

 Always go back to the place where you were dependent and start fresh brand new again. 

I've hit such rock bottom at times. Never stayed. By His Grace. 

Worship "the One who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” Genesis 35:1-3. 

... then the story of Joseph is so intriguing and this time I notice a little more that Joseph was arrogant, giving bad reports to his dad. It's a peek at Joseph's heart that is going to change. A peek at my own heart every day when sin shows up but so does God! It seems like I'm always having to go back to Bethel! What's most alive in me this day? What's most alive in you? What am I doing with matters of my heart?

Am I disrupted by the story of John the Baptist and how he learned the unforced rhythms of Grace?  "I should be!  God prefers a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual (Matt 12:7)."  "This is war, and there is no neutral ground (Matt 12:30).  If you're not on my side, you're the enemy...Consider this---"There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven (Matt 12:32)."  Take heart!  "It's your heart that gives meaning to your words (Matt 12:34)."

PHOTO:  The place I go to ask these heavy questions. Go back to where God has answered you. Go back in your mind, in your heart, to a place. Go back, kids. Photo taken Christmas 2025.