Regardless of your effort to express or repress them .. Feelings are one of the most important things that we have in this world, think about it. The faith we believe & the God we serve bases everything he does (has done) on LOVE. A FEELING. Feelings are a means of cleansing & expressing them should come out of love, for self & others. Holding them in represents a lack of trust. Trust in God, trust in yourself, & trust in others.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
143
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Freedom bought at a HIGH price.
I'm allowed to do ANYTHING. But not everything is good for you. And even though I can do anything, I must not become a slave to anything.
1Corinthians 6:12
Christ's death freed us from sin, but also obligates us to his service. Our bodies are not our own, they belong to God. "Bought with a high price".
If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building's rules. Well, since we belong to God, do your best not to violate his standards for living.
1Corinthians 6:19-20
" Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food."
1Corinthians 6:13
Just as our bodies were made for the Lord.
1Corinthians 6:12
Christ's death freed us from sin, but also obligates us to his service. Our bodies are not our own, they belong to God. "Bought with a high price".
If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building's rules. Well, since we belong to God, do your best not to violate his standards for living.
1Corinthians 6:19-20
" Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food."
1Corinthians 6:13
Just as our bodies were made for the Lord.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Hospitality
Romans 12:13
"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."
Hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on a spotless home, well prepared abundant food, and a relaxed good natured host. Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guests. Their needs, whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear or acceptance, are the primary concern. Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together. Don't hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain.
"When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."
Hospitality differs from social entertaining. Entertaining focuses on a spotless home, well prepared abundant food, and a relaxed good natured host. Hospitality, by contrast, focuses on the guests. Their needs, whether for a place to stay, nourishing food, a listening ear or acceptance, are the primary concern. Hospitality can happen in a messy home. It can happen around a dinner table where the main dish is canned soup. It can happen while the host and the guest are doing chores together. Don't hesitate to offer hospitality just because you are too tired, too busy, or not wealthy enough to entertain.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Bad Things Happen to Good People
We live in a fallen world where good behavior is not always rewarded and bad behavior is not always punished. Therefore, innocent people sometimes suffer. If God took suffering away whenever we asked, we would follow him for comfort and convenience, not out of love and devotion. Regardless of the reasons for our suffering, Jesus has the power to help us deal with it. When you suffer from a disease, tragedy, or disability, try not to ask, " why did this happen to me? " Instead, ask God to give you strength for the trial and a clear perspective on what is happening.
(ref John 9:2-3)
(ref John 9:2-3)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Uemployment
Some people, as soon as they understand the gospel, want to go to work immediately contacting unsaved people. Instead, begin by mobilizing people to pray. And before praying for unsaved people, pray that other concerned disciples will join you in reaching out to them. Ask God for more workers (: In Christian service, there is no unemployment. God has work enough for EVERYONE ! Look for ways to help.
Luke 10
Luke 10
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wanna Change the World with Me??
If you wanna help me change the world, you must first start with YOURSELF. Sounds practical enough right? Until you attempt to drop an old habit, quit an on going addiction/vice, or leave a bad situation. The reality is, we CAN'T change ourselves. We NEED a Savior for that.
Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus?
Some of us believe that it's too hard to follow God, too many rules and regulations. Some of us believe that as long as we try hard to be good people, do our best, give to charity, & feed the homeless then we're good with God. Some of us compare ourselves to others. Believing that if I'm not doing half the things Joe is doing, & Joe sucks as a person; then I'm doing great! I'm not that bad.
If Joe is a believer, of God & Jesus dying for our sins, although he may be selfish, rude, & just got out of jail for murder. If you & Joe both died today and Jesus asked why should I let you into my gates, do you think He'd let you in if you told him, "well i worked hard, was kind to people, and I did my very best to be a good person in this life." ??
Anyone who feels that they have done "their best" will be condemned. There is no dependency on ourselves and no amount of works that could get us in heaven if we don't believe that Jesus died for our sins. So getting to the gates and telling Jesus that you should get in because YOU did your best or because you were a good person, suggests that Jesus dying on the cross was insufficient. "People are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in god who forgives sinners." Romans 4:5 "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. AND WE ARE ALL CERTAIN TO RECEIVE IT, WHETHER OR NOT WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LAW .." Romans 4:16 "..God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." Romans 4:24-25
So what about all the rules and regulations right??
Romans 3:20-31 tells us this:
Doing perfectly what God's moral law requires is IMPOSSIBLE. EVERY PERSON is cursed by that inability. NO ONE can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law makes sin known, showing us how sinful we are, proving the universal sinfulness of man, and the NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is impossible to gain by human effort. GOD IS IT'S SOURCE. We receive righteousness through Christ & Christ's death. God can bestow his righteousness on all who believe. We receive the gift of grace by faith alone. Our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. Emphasizing faith does NOT mean that we can forget about the law, in fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
So basically, all of our sins are already taken care of and we are existing in A CONSTANT STATE OF GRACE.
Grace: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. The condition of being in God's favor. "Immunity", if you will.
"God's grace has set us free from the law. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace." Romans 6:14 "Realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey. You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. " Romans 6:15-16
A lot of people don't go to church because they feel that whats being spoken about is impractical and irrelevant to them. No concrete application to their everyday lives. This implies that as a listener you know what you need and what's best for you. But how is this so?
He knit us together in our mothers womb. He watched us as we were being formed in utter seclusion, as we were woven together in the dark of the womb. He saw us before we were born. Every day of our lives were recorded in his book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:13-18
So how is it that we know what we need & what's best for ourselves? Trusting in our own power as creator and sustainer is foolish. Do you trust God more than you trust what your own hands have made?? "Claiming to be wise, they instead become utter fools." Romans 1:22
Only those who acknowledge that they need HIM will be saved.
Prayer is a form of acknowledgement. Prayer shows that we NEED GOD. That we are dependent upon him. And when we don't pray it's as if we feel we don't need him.
Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will responded to this need for workers. Often we pray for something, & God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Matthew 9:36-38
So from my heart to yours,
.."Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you the spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called, his holy people who are his rich glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms"... Ephesians 1:17-20
Do you believe in God? Do you believe in Jesus?
Some of us believe that it's too hard to follow God, too many rules and regulations. Some of us believe that as long as we try hard to be good people, do our best, give to charity, & feed the homeless then we're good with God. Some of us compare ourselves to others. Believing that if I'm not doing half the things Joe is doing, & Joe sucks as a person; then I'm doing great! I'm not that bad.
If Joe is a believer, of God & Jesus dying for our sins, although he may be selfish, rude, & just got out of jail for murder. If you & Joe both died today and Jesus asked why should I let you into my gates, do you think He'd let you in if you told him, "well i worked hard, was kind to people, and I did my very best to be a good person in this life." ??
Anyone who feels that they have done "their best" will be condemned. There is no dependency on ourselves and no amount of works that could get us in heaven if we don't believe that Jesus died for our sins. So getting to the gates and telling Jesus that you should get in because YOU did your best or because you were a good person, suggests that Jesus dying on the cross was insufficient. "People are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in god who forgives sinners." Romans 4:5 "So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. AND WE ARE ALL CERTAIN TO RECEIVE IT, WHETHER OR NOT WE LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LAW .." Romans 4:16 "..God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God." Romans 4:24-25
So what about all the rules and regulations right??
Romans 3:20-31 tells us this:
Doing perfectly what God's moral law requires is IMPOSSIBLE. EVERY PERSON is cursed by that inability. NO ONE can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law makes sin known, showing us how sinful we are, proving the universal sinfulness of man, and the NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is impossible to gain by human effort. GOD IS IT'S SOURCE. We receive righteousness through Christ & Christ's death. God can bestow his righteousness on all who believe. We receive the gift of grace by faith alone. Our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. Emphasizing faith does NOT mean that we can forget about the law, in fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
So basically, all of our sins are already taken care of and we are existing in A CONSTANT STATE OF GRACE.
Grace: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. The condition of being in God's favor. "Immunity", if you will.
"God's grace has set us free from the law. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace." Romans 6:14 "Realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey. You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. " Romans 6:15-16
A lot of people don't go to church because they feel that whats being spoken about is impractical and irrelevant to them. No concrete application to their everyday lives. This implies that as a listener you know what you need and what's best for you. But how is this so?
He knit us together in our mothers womb. He watched us as we were being formed in utter seclusion, as we were woven together in the dark of the womb. He saw us before we were born. Every day of our lives were recorded in his book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:13-18
So how is it that we know what we need & what's best for ourselves? Trusting in our own power as creator and sustainer is foolish. Do you trust God more than you trust what your own hands have made?? "Claiming to be wise, they instead become utter fools." Romans 1:22
Only those who acknowledge that they need HIM will be saved.
Prayer is a form of acknowledgement. Prayer shows that we NEED GOD. That we are dependent upon him. And when we don't pray it's as if we feel we don't need him.
Many people are ready to give their lives to Christ if someone would show them how. Jesus commands us to pray that people will responded to this need for workers. Often we pray for something, & God answers our prayers by using us. Be prepared for God to use you to show another person the way to him. Matthew 9:36-38
So from my heart to yours,
.."Asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you the spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called, his holy people who are his rich glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms"... Ephesians 1:17-20
Monday, August 15, 2011
Motivation
Recently I read a book called "Every Young Woman's Battle" by Shannon Ethridge & Stephen Arterburn. It had a lot of really great concepts, information, & HELP for women in general. But especially for young women seeking purity. I definitely recommend it or any of the other books in the series : " Every Young Man's Battle " " Every Woman's Battle " " Every Mans Battle "
I was so captivated by the book I wanted to share some of the things that stood out for me in my reading.
Guys vs Girls
Guys are motivated by an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT set of factors than girls are. They are built for visual stimulation. Females are built for relational stimulation, emotional bonding.
Guys:
Driven by physical desires
Crave physical intimacy
Stimulated by what they see
Give love to get sex
Body can disconnect from mind, heart, & spirit
Girls:
Driven by emotional desires
Crave emotional intimacy
Stimulates by what they hear & feel
Give sex to get love
Body, mind, heart & spirit intricately connected
Imtimacy = in to me see
For a woman, the relationship is the prize; sex is simply the price she pays to get the prize.
All temptations are common. And because God creates all human beings as sexual beings, sexual & relational temptations are the most common.
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."
(1 Corinthians 10:13NLT)
Imagine what it would be like when two sexually pure people get married. He has guarded his heart & bounced his eyes (immediately look away at something else), & she is the only naked woman he has ever seen. Can you imagine how amazing she would be to him? And she has never been held so intimately that she knows the smell of any man's skin but his. She has no one to compare his touch & caress to. Guilt free sex! No comparisons. No disappointment. No guilt or shame.
.. No man should engage a womans heart in the way a husband would unless he intends to marry her. Not just talking about it, like one day. But dating with a purpose & intentionality. Nothing less. Dating one person with the intention of getting married.
A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her -Lucado
Think of your sexuality as a table. Just as a table has 4 legs that give it balance, our sexuality is also comprised of 4 distinct components that bring balance to our lives. 1) physical 2) mental 3) emotional 4) spiritual. If one of the legs of a table is missing or broken, the table easily loses it's balance & becomes a slide instead. When one of the legs of your sexuality buckles your life can become a slippery slope leading to discontentment, sexual compromise, self-loathing, & emotional brokenness.
Sexuality is not what you do, it's who you are. It's not about just remaining physically abstinent. Try your best to guard your heart, mind, & body against compromise that threatens your sexual integrity. Seek trusted accountability; a friend who can encourage you. A wise mentor can sharpen you, not judge you.
John 14:15-17
Masturbation does NOT satisfy sexual desires; it intensifies them. If you give in to your sexual desires through masturbation, you do not gain practice in self control. If you can't control your desires when your alone you definitely won't be able to control your desires when your with someone else.
ONCE YOU AWAKEN YOUR SEXUAL DESIRES, YOU WILL FIND THEM HARD TO PUT BACK TO SLEEP ..But not impossible!
"The only way to kill a habit is to starve it to death." It might be painful but not as painful as letting it rule over you.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Ephesians 5:3
Our pride says, " God may want me to wait until marriage, but I don't want to. His way takes too long & too much self control. I'll just take care of things myself, my way."
Just because we are tempted, doesn't mean we have to give in. Don't entertain it. Resist. ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ; Matthew 5:27-28 )
If you want to be a young woman of sexual integrity, you may need to let go of some of your freedoms (in dress, thoughts, speech, & behavior) in order to serve the best interest of others out of love. Don't dress to seek make attention, but you don't have to limit your wardrobe to ankle length skirts & turtleneck sweaters either. No self seeking or seductive motives. Your beauty should shine from the inside out.
Painting a new picture of perfect beauty. "Charm is deceptive & beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" Proverbs 31:30
"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." (1 Peter 3:3, 4 NLT)
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 NLT)
In other words: You can do most anything, but it isn't always in your best interest or in the interest of others. Focus NOT on what is 'allowed,' but on what is best for all involved.
Luke 17:2
James 3:5-6
I was so captivated by the book I wanted to share some of the things that stood out for me in my reading.
Guys vs Girls
Guys are motivated by an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT set of factors than girls are. They are built for visual stimulation. Females are built for relational stimulation, emotional bonding.
Guys:
Driven by physical desires
Crave physical intimacy
Stimulated by what they see
Give love to get sex
Body can disconnect from mind, heart, & spirit
Girls:
Driven by emotional desires
Crave emotional intimacy
Stimulates by what they hear & feel
Give sex to get love
Body, mind, heart & spirit intricately connected
Imtimacy = in to me see
For a woman, the relationship is the prize; sex is simply the price she pays to get the prize.
All temptations are common. And because God creates all human beings as sexual beings, sexual & relational temptations are the most common.
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."
(1 Corinthians 10:13NLT)
Imagine what it would be like when two sexually pure people get married. He has guarded his heart & bounced his eyes (immediately look away at something else), & she is the only naked woman he has ever seen. Can you imagine how amazing she would be to him? And she has never been held so intimately that she knows the smell of any man's skin but his. She has no one to compare his touch & caress to. Guilt free sex! No comparisons. No disappointment. No guilt or shame.
.. No man should engage a womans heart in the way a husband would unless he intends to marry her. Not just talking about it, like one day. But dating with a purpose & intentionality. Nothing less. Dating one person with the intention of getting married.
A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to seek Him just to find her -Lucado
Think of your sexuality as a table. Just as a table has 4 legs that give it balance, our sexuality is also comprised of 4 distinct components that bring balance to our lives. 1) physical 2) mental 3) emotional 4) spiritual. If one of the legs of a table is missing or broken, the table easily loses it's balance & becomes a slide instead. When one of the legs of your sexuality buckles your life can become a slippery slope leading to discontentment, sexual compromise, self-loathing, & emotional brokenness.
Sexuality is not what you do, it's who you are. It's not about just remaining physically abstinent. Try your best to guard your heart, mind, & body against compromise that threatens your sexual integrity. Seek trusted accountability; a friend who can encourage you. A wise mentor can sharpen you, not judge you.
John 14:15-17
Masturbation does NOT satisfy sexual desires; it intensifies them. If you give in to your sexual desires through masturbation, you do not gain practice in self control. If you can't control your desires when your alone you definitely won't be able to control your desires when your with someone else.
ONCE YOU AWAKEN YOUR SEXUAL DESIRES, YOU WILL FIND THEM HARD TO PUT BACK TO SLEEP ..But not impossible!
"The only way to kill a habit is to starve it to death." It might be painful but not as painful as letting it rule over you.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5
Ephesians 5:3
Our pride says, " God may want me to wait until marriage, but I don't want to. His way takes too long & too much self control. I'll just take care of things myself, my way."
Just because we are tempted, doesn't mean we have to give in. Don't entertain it. Resist. ( Hebrews 4:15-16 ; Matthew 5:27-28 )
If you want to be a young woman of sexual integrity, you may need to let go of some of your freedoms (in dress, thoughts, speech, & behavior) in order to serve the best interest of others out of love. Don't dress to seek make attention, but you don't have to limit your wardrobe to ankle length skirts & turtleneck sweaters either. No self seeking or seductive motives. Your beauty should shine from the inside out.
Painting a new picture of perfect beauty. "Charm is deceptive & beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" Proverbs 31:30
"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." (1 Peter 3:3, 4 NLT)
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23, 24 NLT)
In other words: You can do most anything, but it isn't always in your best interest or in the interest of others. Focus NOT on what is 'allowed,' but on what is best for all involved.
Luke 17:2
James 3:5-6
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Red Light Green Light
Someone Caught your eye???
Attention - Attention is based on what you see. Physical appearance, which progresses to attraction ONLY as a result of multiple conversations getting to know each other. No such thing as love at first sight. Green Light.
Attraction - It's reasonable for a girl to meet a very ordinary looking guy, pay little attention to him, but later get attracted once she gets to know him; because females are stimulated more by what they hear than what they see. Green Light.
God wants us to appreciate one another & be drawn to one another in Christian Love. BUT focus your love & adoration on the Creator, not just the creation.
Affection - Check your motives behind the affection expressed. Hanging out (group events) & exploring the possibilities of a future. Strengths & weaknesses. Yellow Light.
Attachment - imagine a strip of clear packing tape. Sticky & eager to bond with anything it touches. Once attached it won't come off without tearing the box & leaving paper residue on the tape. The tape might be sticky enough to bond to something else, but the more you attach & remove it, the less sticky it becomes. Eventually, it loses it's bonding ability all together. Yellow Light.
Affairs - control your appetite for unhealthy relationships! Red Light.
Addiction - Romance & sexual activities can be more addicting than drugs or alcohol. Red Light.
Attention - Attention is based on what you see. Physical appearance, which progresses to attraction ONLY as a result of multiple conversations getting to know each other. No such thing as love at first sight. Green Light.
Attraction - It's reasonable for a girl to meet a very ordinary looking guy, pay little attention to him, but later get attracted once she gets to know him; because females are stimulated more by what they hear than what they see. Green Light.
God wants us to appreciate one another & be drawn to one another in Christian Love. BUT focus your love & adoration on the Creator, not just the creation.
Affection - Check your motives behind the affection expressed. Hanging out (group events) & exploring the possibilities of a future. Strengths & weaknesses. Yellow Light.
Attachment - imagine a strip of clear packing tape. Sticky & eager to bond with anything it touches. Once attached it won't come off without tearing the box & leaving paper residue on the tape. The tape might be sticky enough to bond to something else, but the more you attach & remove it, the less sticky it becomes. Eventually, it loses it's bonding ability all together. Yellow Light.
Affairs - control your appetite for unhealthy relationships! Red Light.
Addiction - Romance & sexual activities can be more addicting than drugs or alcohol. Red Light.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Relationships vs Single Life
Having a relationship doesn't rid you of all your problems; your only exchanging one set of problems for a different set of problems. If your wounded & incomplete, you will attract the same, & the two of you will multiply the negative factors of each other.Two people who drain each other because they have nothing to invest makes for a very unhealthy, unfulfilling relationship.
You can't change or save anyone. Only God can successfully complete that task. Love does not change a broken persons behavior. It only validates it.
The Messiah complex: tendency for caring people to become rescuers who try deliver others from their problems & difficult life circumstances.
A good relationship is more about BECOMING the right person than FINDING the right person.
You can't change or save anyone. Only God can successfully complete that task. Love does not change a broken persons behavior. It only validates it.
The Messiah complex: tendency for caring people to become rescuers who try deliver others from their problems & difficult life circumstances.
A good relationship is more about BECOMING the right person than FINDING the right person.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Ignorance is NOT virtue
Evil and injustice seem to have the upper hand in the world we live in but don't be discouraged.
It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. "Wait Patiently." To trust God fully means to trust him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do.
"Be patient! i will work out my plans in my perfect timing." -God
(Habakkuk 1:2-5)
It isn't easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God hates sin even more than we do. Punishment of sin will certainly come. "Wait Patiently." To trust God fully means to trust him even when we don't understand why events occur as they do.
"Be patient! i will work out my plans in my perfect timing." -God
(Habakkuk 1:2-5)
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Story of Joseph
(reference Genesis 37-45)
Joseph was Jacob's most beloved son, because Jacob had Joseph at an old age in his life. Because Joseph was so loved by his father, Joseph's brothers were jealous. Joseph told his brothers about dreams he had of them bowing down to him. This infuriated the brothers and the plotted on how to murder Joseph. The brothers instead sold Joseph into slavery and made their father, Jacob believe that Joseph had been killed by an animal.
Joseph was a slave to Potiphar (Pharaoh's captain of the guard). Because God was with him, Joseph succeeded in everything he did. Potiphar made Joseph his personal attendant and put him in charge of everything he owned, Potiphar's entire household. Potiphar's wife began to lust after Joseph and attempted to seduce him into sleeping her. Joseph refused so she framed him, stating that he tried to rape her. Potiphar put Joseph in prison.
Even in prison the Lord showed Joseph his faithful love by giving him favor among the prison warden. The warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. Pharaoh's cup barer and baker were both imprisoned with Joseph and both had dreams that they could not interpret. Joseph interpreted their dreams, telling them that in 3 days Pharaoh would release them. The cup barer would return to his job and the baker would be killed. Joseph asked that when this happens that the cup barer remember him and ask Pharaoh to let him out of prison because he had be kidnapped from his homeland. Everything happened 3 days later just the way that Joseph said it would, however the cup barer forgot about Joseph.
Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream that needed interpretation. The cup barer told Pharaoh about Joseph and Joseph was called before Pharaoh to interpret his dream. Joseph told Pharaoh that God was preparing Pharaoh for what was about to happen. There would be 7 years of prosperity in Egypt followed by 7 years of sever famine. Joseph told Pharaoh how to survive the next 14 years, storing food in store houses during the 7 prosperous years so that when the 7 years of famine came the people of Egypt would not go hungry. Pharaoh, realizing that Joseph was filled with the spirit of God, appointed Joseph the second in command, gave him an Egyptian name, and an Egyptian wife (who gave birth to Joseph's two sons). At 30 years old, Joseph was established as a leader in Egypt.
Years of suffering and separation from his family had not harmed Joseph's faith. Genesis 41:51-51, "God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father's family." "God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief."
When the 7 years of famine hit, people in surrounding areas heard that Egypt had grain available. Jacob sent Josephs brothers to Egypt to buy enough grain to keep them alive. Jacob would not let the youngest, Benjamin, go with them for fear that some harm may come to him, just as it did to Joseph. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately but they did not recognize him. Joseph pretended to be a stranger as his brothers bowed before him asking for grain. Joseph told them they were spies and would remain in Egypt in prison until they brought their youngest brother to him. After 3 days in prison Joseph told them to choose one brother to stay in prison while the rest go home with grain. If they brought back their youngest brother it would prove they were honest men and they would not die. The brothers agreed to the conditions realizing that they were being punished for what they had done to Joseph so many years ago.
When the brothers returned home, all but Simeon, they told their father what happened and the deal they had made. Jacob refused to allow the youngest, Benjamin go back for fear that he may not return so Reuben said to his father, " you may kill my two sons (Jacobs grandsons) if I don't bring Benjamin back to you". Jacob said no. Eventually the family ran out of grain so Jacob had no choice but to send his sons back to Egypt with their youngest brother to get more food, otherwise they would all die of starvation.
When they arrived back in Egypt with their youngest brother, Joseph told them that they would be staying for dinner. The brothers gave Joseph gifts and told him that when they got home they realized that someone had put the money they paid for the grain back into their sacks, so they brought the money back as well as more money to buy more grain to take home. Throughout their visit, enough clues had been given in Joseph's previous questions about the family and his personal knowledge of them for them to wonder about him. Obviously the brothers simply did not believe that Joseph was alive and certainly not as a personage of such immense influence and authority. Joseph even showed favoritism to the youngest, Benjamin, to test their attitudes; any longstanding envy, dislike, or animosity could not be easily masked. None surfaced.
When the brothers were ready to leave Joseph told his palace manger to put his personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother's sack. Once the brothers left, a short distance, Joseph told his palace manager to chase after and stop the brothers to ask them why they had stolen Josephs silver cup. The brothers facing a charge of theft, protested their innocence and integrity. They suggested death to the perpetrator and slavery for themselves. They had passed the second test of devotion to Benjamin. Judah, showing how his heart changed, acknowledging the providence of God in uncovering their guilt and did not indulge in any blame shifting, even onto Benjamin. Judah's evident compassion for Jacob and readiness to substitute himself for Benjamin in slavery proved that these were not the same brothers of yesteryear and finally overwhelmed Joseph; he had been away from his brothers for 22 years.
Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. He told them not to be upset or angry at themselves for selling him into slavery because (Genesis 45:5-8) "it was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. God sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. It was God who sent me here, not you". Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to bring their children, wives, and their father to Egypt. He would give them the best of the land in Egypt and they would eat from the best that land produced.
The story of Joseph displays omnipotent faith and trust in the Lord as well as God's faithful love to us. In everything Joseph experienced, God was with him. He kept his faith in God and though he experienced hardships, God was with him through his adversity. Joseph acknowledge God in everything he did. Allowing all that Joseph did, become prosperous and for his good. Joseph displays the importance of forgiveness as well as grace; evidencing the marks of a spiritually mature man. Even when Joseph came into a position of power he did not dismiss God's greatness. When he saw his brothers again he did not hold a grudge against them for the trials he went through of being enslaved, and then imprisoned. Joseph was not even mad at God for putting him through those hard times, instead he was thankful! That God was able to use him to save so many other lives in the future, including the lives of his family. The lives of the very same brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph was able to look back over his life with great fullness to God and see the usefulness of his struggles for God's greater plan. Joseph had no idea what God had planed for his life or his family but he walked by faith, regardless of the obstacle. He was unshaken.
Joseph was Jacob's most beloved son, because Jacob had Joseph at an old age in his life. Because Joseph was so loved by his father, Joseph's brothers were jealous. Joseph told his brothers about dreams he had of them bowing down to him. This infuriated the brothers and the plotted on how to murder Joseph. The brothers instead sold Joseph into slavery and made their father, Jacob believe that Joseph had been killed by an animal.
Joseph was a slave to Potiphar (Pharaoh's captain of the guard). Because God was with him, Joseph succeeded in everything he did. Potiphar made Joseph his personal attendant and put him in charge of everything he owned, Potiphar's entire household. Potiphar's wife began to lust after Joseph and attempted to seduce him into sleeping her. Joseph refused so she framed him, stating that he tried to rape her. Potiphar put Joseph in prison.
Even in prison the Lord showed Joseph his faithful love by giving him favor among the prison warden. The warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. Pharaoh's cup barer and baker were both imprisoned with Joseph and both had dreams that they could not interpret. Joseph interpreted their dreams, telling them that in 3 days Pharaoh would release them. The cup barer would return to his job and the baker would be killed. Joseph asked that when this happens that the cup barer remember him and ask Pharaoh to let him out of prison because he had be kidnapped from his homeland. Everything happened 3 days later just the way that Joseph said it would, however the cup barer forgot about Joseph.
Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream that needed interpretation. The cup barer told Pharaoh about Joseph and Joseph was called before Pharaoh to interpret his dream. Joseph told Pharaoh that God was preparing Pharaoh for what was about to happen. There would be 7 years of prosperity in Egypt followed by 7 years of sever famine. Joseph told Pharaoh how to survive the next 14 years, storing food in store houses during the 7 prosperous years so that when the 7 years of famine came the people of Egypt would not go hungry. Pharaoh, realizing that Joseph was filled with the spirit of God, appointed Joseph the second in command, gave him an Egyptian name, and an Egyptian wife (who gave birth to Joseph's two sons). At 30 years old, Joseph was established as a leader in Egypt.
Years of suffering and separation from his family had not harmed Joseph's faith. Genesis 41:51-51, "God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father's family." "God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief."
When the 7 years of famine hit, people in surrounding areas heard that Egypt had grain available. Jacob sent Josephs brothers to Egypt to buy enough grain to keep them alive. Jacob would not let the youngest, Benjamin, go with them for fear that some harm may come to him, just as it did to Joseph. Joseph recognized his brothers immediately but they did not recognize him. Joseph pretended to be a stranger as his brothers bowed before him asking for grain. Joseph told them they were spies and would remain in Egypt in prison until they brought their youngest brother to him. After 3 days in prison Joseph told them to choose one brother to stay in prison while the rest go home with grain. If they brought back their youngest brother it would prove they were honest men and they would not die. The brothers agreed to the conditions realizing that they were being punished for what they had done to Joseph so many years ago.
When the brothers returned home, all but Simeon, they told their father what happened and the deal they had made. Jacob refused to allow the youngest, Benjamin go back for fear that he may not return so Reuben said to his father, " you may kill my two sons (Jacobs grandsons) if I don't bring Benjamin back to you". Jacob said no. Eventually the family ran out of grain so Jacob had no choice but to send his sons back to Egypt with their youngest brother to get more food, otherwise they would all die of starvation.
When they arrived back in Egypt with their youngest brother, Joseph told them that they would be staying for dinner. The brothers gave Joseph gifts and told him that when they got home they realized that someone had put the money they paid for the grain back into their sacks, so they brought the money back as well as more money to buy more grain to take home. Throughout their visit, enough clues had been given in Joseph's previous questions about the family and his personal knowledge of them for them to wonder about him. Obviously the brothers simply did not believe that Joseph was alive and certainly not as a personage of such immense influence and authority. Joseph even showed favoritism to the youngest, Benjamin, to test their attitudes; any longstanding envy, dislike, or animosity could not be easily masked. None surfaced.
When the brothers were ready to leave Joseph told his palace manger to put his personal silver cup at the top of the youngest brother's sack. Once the brothers left, a short distance, Joseph told his palace manager to chase after and stop the brothers to ask them why they had stolen Josephs silver cup. The brothers facing a charge of theft, protested their innocence and integrity. They suggested death to the perpetrator and slavery for themselves. They had passed the second test of devotion to Benjamin. Judah, showing how his heart changed, acknowledging the providence of God in uncovering their guilt and did not indulge in any blame shifting, even onto Benjamin. Judah's evident compassion for Jacob and readiness to substitute himself for Benjamin in slavery proved that these were not the same brothers of yesteryear and finally overwhelmed Joseph; he had been away from his brothers for 22 years.
Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. He told them not to be upset or angry at themselves for selling him into slavery because (Genesis 45:5-8) "it was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. God sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. It was God who sent me here, not you". Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to bring their children, wives, and their father to Egypt. He would give them the best of the land in Egypt and they would eat from the best that land produced.
The story of Joseph displays omnipotent faith and trust in the Lord as well as God's faithful love to us. In everything Joseph experienced, God was with him. He kept his faith in God and though he experienced hardships, God was with him through his adversity. Joseph acknowledge God in everything he did. Allowing all that Joseph did, become prosperous and for his good. Joseph displays the importance of forgiveness as well as grace; evidencing the marks of a spiritually mature man. Even when Joseph came into a position of power he did not dismiss God's greatness. When he saw his brothers again he did not hold a grudge against them for the trials he went through of being enslaved, and then imprisoned. Joseph was not even mad at God for putting him through those hard times, instead he was thankful! That God was able to use him to save so many other lives in the future, including the lives of his family. The lives of the very same brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph was able to look back over his life with great fullness to God and see the usefulness of his struggles for God's greater plan. Joseph had no idea what God had planed for his life or his family but he walked by faith, regardless of the obstacle. He was unshaken.
Friday, July 15, 2011
We all stumble some times
The entire book of Psalms entitled "Praises" in Hebrew text; presents a day to day reality. From the sinfulness of man, patterns of the wicked, to the periodic stumbling of believers.
Psalms 103:2 tells us to never forget the good things he does for us.
These earthly gifts from God included: 1) forgiveness of sin 2) recovery from sickness 3) deliverance from death 4) abundant loving kindness and mercy & 5) food to sustain life
Psalms 103:8-10
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us or remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
When situations become difficult or trouble arises and we can no longer see an end insight we often become angry & ready to run away. Insecurities & feelings of hopelessness surface. Some of us begin to feel as if we are being punished.The reality is ...in comparison to eternal punishment and God's sacrifice for our sins, the turmoil we experience is a mere pebble dropped on the foot vs a ACME anvil to the head. Recognize this, the presence of grace unbeknownst at times & undeserved. Those moments of difficulty & strife are meant for our refinement. Think of it as sand paper smoothing and finessing our characters, our hearts, & our thinking for something greater. Tests or teachable moments that take you from Genin to Chunin, from Karate Kid to Sensei, from elementary school to middle school, from the mail room to district manager. Consider it a form of graduation that's given you tools you may not have had before but they are guaranteed to help you when you get to the next level.
Psalms 103:15
..like grass. Man's life is short & transitory.
Psalms 103:17-18
Those who appeal to God's mercy by proper fear and obedience will over come the shortness of physical life with eternal life.
Psalms 51 is a passage displaying man's repentance and God's forgiveness of sin. David had an affair and murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with (Bathsheba & Uriah). David recognized that his sin was not God's fault in any way, and blamed no one but himself. David begged for divine forgiveness. God is GENEROUS, WILLING, & EAGER to uphold the believer. However, ritual without genuine repentance is useless.
Paul (Saul) wrote the book of Romans to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers. Rich doctrinal and practical instruction.
Romans 3:20-31 tells us this:
Doing perfectly what God's moral law requires is IMPOSSIBLE. EVERY PERSON is cursed by that inability. NO ONE can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law makes sin known, showing us how sinful we are, proving the universal sinfulness of man, and the NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is impossible to gain by human effort. GOD IS IT'S SOURCE. We receive righteousness through Christ & Christ's death. God can bestow his righteousness on all who believe. We receive the gift of grace by faith alone. Our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. Emphasizing faith does NOT mean that we can forget about the law, in fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:32
" So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. "
Psalms 103:2 tells us to never forget the good things he does for us.
These earthly gifts from God included: 1) forgiveness of sin 2) recovery from sickness 3) deliverance from death 4) abundant loving kindness and mercy & 5) food to sustain life
Psalms 103:8-10
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us or remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
When situations become difficult or trouble arises and we can no longer see an end insight we often become angry & ready to run away. Insecurities & feelings of hopelessness surface. Some of us begin to feel as if we are being punished.The reality is ...in comparison to eternal punishment and God's sacrifice for our sins, the turmoil we experience is a mere pebble dropped on the foot vs a ACME anvil to the head. Recognize this, the presence of grace unbeknownst at times & undeserved. Those moments of difficulty & strife are meant for our refinement. Think of it as sand paper smoothing and finessing our characters, our hearts, & our thinking for something greater. Tests or teachable moments that take you from Genin to Chunin, from Karate Kid to Sensei, from elementary school to middle school, from the mail room to district manager. Consider it a form of graduation that's given you tools you may not have had before but they are guaranteed to help you when you get to the next level.
Psalms 103:15
..like grass. Man's life is short & transitory.
Psalms 103:17-18
Those who appeal to God's mercy by proper fear and obedience will over come the shortness of physical life with eternal life.
Psalms 51 is a passage displaying man's repentance and God's forgiveness of sin. David had an affair and murdered the husband of the woman he had an affair with (Bathsheba & Uriah). David recognized that his sin was not God's fault in any way, and blamed no one but himself. David begged for divine forgiveness. God is GENEROUS, WILLING, & EAGER to uphold the believer. However, ritual without genuine repentance is useless.
Paul (Saul) wrote the book of Romans to teach the great truths of the gospel of grace to believers. Rich doctrinal and practical instruction.
Romans 3:20-31 tells us this:
Doing perfectly what God's moral law requires is IMPOSSIBLE. EVERY PERSON is cursed by that inability. NO ONE can be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law makes sin known, showing us how sinful we are, proving the universal sinfulness of man, and the NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Righteousness is impossible to gain by human effort. GOD IS IT'S SOURCE. We receive righteousness through Christ & Christ's death. God can bestow his righteousness on all who believe. We receive the gift of grace by faith alone. Our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. Emphasizing faith does NOT mean that we can forget about the law, in fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:32
" So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. "
Friday, March 4, 2011
10:35PM
Traveling the highway passenger side. The sky is clear, all but one star in the sky. Immediate I'm drawn & lose focus of what I was previously doing. Diligently researching, worrying, & questioning the fate of humanity as we know it & as the bible reads. All at once I'm overcome with various emotions one after another. The star sways from the far right of the front windshield all the way to the left. Could it be the winding of the road before us? Never the less, I pray a sinners prayer. I pray a selfless prayer. I pray an annointment fullfilled. Thanking God. Before I can absorb it, words form in my mind. I'm lead to share it. As follows:
..And just like that, a moment of clarity. My guardian angel is present & speaks a language only I can understand. <3 God is Love. Peace. "A star brightly shining" ..Thank You :)
A feeling of peace & reassurance follows as I stare at the star in the sky unable to look away. So from my heart to yours.
I'm awake..
..And just like that, a moment of clarity. My guardian angel is present & speaks a language only I can understand. <3 God is Love. Peace. "A star brightly shining" ..Thank You :)
A feeling of peace & reassurance follows as I stare at the star in the sky unable to look away. So from my heart to yours.
I'm awake..
Friday, January 7, 2011
Apocalypse
From dead birds, to fish, to 40,000 crabs washing up on England's shore. Mass animal deaths have been reported across the world. Thousands of dead birds fell from the sky in Arkansas on New Year's Eve, and similar incidents were reported on different days in Louisiana, Kentucky and Sweden. Two million fish were discovered dead in Maryland, with other fish kills also reported in Brazil. Dead and dying birds in Italy. Could this really be a sign of the Apocalypse?
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