After weeks of learning about this dysfunctional family, we begin to see changes. The first change is an immediate obedience to God. The next change is setting up boundaries with a family member that wants to drag them back to dysfunction.

Competition is the thief of joy. As Leah begins to grow in God's grace, her competition with Rachel pulls her back into the world's operating system and creates a huge mess.

Last week Jacob had an aha moment. He realized that he could trust God, but trust is a muscle that needs to grow. In chapter 29 we see Jacob's trust begin to grow.

We all have defense mechanisms that do more harm than good. It might be sarcasm, using the silent treatment, or lashing out in anger. Each one of these feels good in the moment but actually aggravates the situation instead of solving it. When we trust God, we can let go of our broken defense mechanisms, and trust in God's protection. That is exactly what Jacob learns in Genesis 28:10-22.

In a world full of dysfunctional relationships, where people use each other to feel fulfilled, the only way to truly love, with freedom, is by getting your needs met by God.

God didn't waste anything in Abraham's life, nor anything in Isaac's life. God will also use everything in your life to grow you into the person He created you to be. With God, nothing in wasted!

How do you react to God's grace? Do you believe God needs help? Are you jealous of God's grace in others' lives? When we don't live in God's grace it creates disastrous results in our lives.

For the last few weeks, we have been learning about the child that was born, the son that was given in Isaiah 9. This week we examine the titles that Isaiah gives him.

The first line of Isaiah 6 let's us know that a child will be born, a son given. the next line, along with verse 7, will describe his dominion.

About 700 years before Jesus was born God promised a child would be born, a son would be given. As we prepare our hearts for this Christmas season, we examine who this child is.