"And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's cattle and the herdsmen of Lot's cattle. And the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land [making fodder more difficult to obtain]. So Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife, I beg of you, between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself, I beg of you, from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot looked and saw that everywhere the Jordan Valley was well watered.  Then Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley and [he] traveled east. So they separated. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the [Jordan] Valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom and dwelt there. But the men of Sodom were wicked and exceedingly great sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to Abram after Lot had left him, Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;  For all the land which you see I will give to you and to your posterity forever.  And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted. Arise, walk through the land, the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to you." -The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

 

People (employers, jobs) either add or subtract to you (your vision, life, dream and growth.)

 

My dad called me this week.  I haven't spoken to him in YEARS.  He wasn't around in my life when I was growing up; not at one game, one graduation, one birthday party, as my mom raised me on her own.

 

At first, I struggled at how to address him when I called.  I even rehearsed it, "Hi Dad, Hi Eddie, Hi Ray," before calling him.  Then God convicted me of the many family reunions or funerals I have gone to and met distant cousins, uncles and aunts.  Without fail, someone approaches me and says, "Oh, this is your 3^rd Uncle; this is your Aunt Janine, etc." and even in having no prior relationship with them, I still call them by their kin title.

 

So, I decided I would call him dad, because I refuse to live my life in offense (strife or contention) with God or man.  I asked him, "How are you doing dad?  How are your (other) kids?"  He replied, "The boys aren't doing nothing but living off their women."  Not once did he ever ask about me or my family.  I purposely did not volunteer information to see if he would.  Later he said, "I like talking to you."  I ended the call by saying "Dad, stay in contact ok?"  He replied, "I know I have not done well in that area and I will."

Afterwards, I appreciated my mom a little more because she always kept me grounded in God and the right thing.  She always taught me I could be anything I dreamed and inspired me by her resilience and passion in pursuing the gifts God bestowed upon her life.

 

She ADDED to my life.

 

When Abram refused to live with strife and made a decision to separate from those that subtracted from him, God gave him two awesome promises:

 

1^st Promise:     

• All the land that you see, I give to you and your lineage.  In other words, God promised Abram: "The blessing, favor, increase, plans, purpose and inheritance I've prepared for you is too big for one lifetime (or generation), SO I WILL MAKE YOUR DESCENDENTS LIKE DUST; So if a man could count the dust of the earth, then could your descendants also be counted."

2^nd Promise:

• Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;  Arise and walk through the land, the length and width of it, for I will give it to you. But Abram received the worst portion of the land.  It's amazing, when you first look at what God has promised or given you, it doesn't always look like much (or what it is going to look like in the future.)  But even if it seems like you have received the worst hand of the draw, the worst job or promotion, the worst church, business or marriage partner, God is faithful to give you whatever you can see, dream or pray into your future (destiny):