It is the time of Lent. a time of preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lent is a forty-day period before Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection. Lent began on 25 February 2009 and ends on 11 April 2009, which is the day before Easter.
Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent. Some focus in by giving certain things up for Lent. Others focus in by doing special devotions and Bible reading and by attending special services of the season.
May we soak up Biblical teaching and find a passionate witness to bring people to Christ, and to challenge the church of Christ to holiness of heart and purpose of life; to a Spirit-filled walk with God; to a brokenness of heart in humble earnest and believing prayer for God to pour out His Spirit in true revival power.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Be Still and Know He is God
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” What comforting words in Psalm 46! They assure us that God is there for us -- whenever we are in need, whenever we are in trouble. Throughout the centuries, people have turned to the psalms for comfort. When we are troubled or worried, the psalms give us encouragement and reassurance to get on with the task of living our lives.
Psalm 46 reads: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” These are supposed to be words of assurance. The Psalmist is saying that God is with us. We have nothing to fear. Even when our world seems to be crumbling down around us, God will be present to sustain us.
These words are reassuring when we feel the Divine presence strongly in our lives. We can take comfort in the fact that God will always be there for us, even in times of trouble. . . . Yet what about those times in our lives when God does not seem present, when our world is falling apart and it feels as if we are all alone? What about those moments of deep despair when we call out in agony and God seemingly ignores our cries? Why is it that we feel God’s presence keenly when things are going well and we’re content with our lives, but when a tragedy occurs and we desperately cry out, God seems silent?
When author Frederick Buechner was a child, his father committed suicide. In the book Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner, Buechner tells about the impact this had on him, and with the story of his father’s suicide as a backdrop, he describes how he understands God’s presence in our lives. He writes:
As I understand it, to say that God is mightily present even in such private events as these does not mean that [God] makes events happen to us which move us in certain directions like chess[pieces]. Instead, events happen under their own steam as random as rain, which means that God is present in them, not as their cause, but as the one who even in the hardest and most hair-raising of them offers the possibility of that new life and healing which I believe is what salvation is.
For instance, I cannot believe that a God of love and mercy in any sense willed my father’s suicide; it was my father himself who willed it as the only way out available to him from a life that for various reasons he had come to find unbearable. God did not will what happened that early morning in Essex Falls, New Jersey, but I believe that God was present in what happened. I cannot guess how God was present with my father -- I can guess much better how utterly abandoned by God my father must have felt if he thought about God at all -- but my faith as well as my prayer is that God was and continues to be with him in ways beyond my guessing.
God continues to be present with us as well -- in ways that we will never know or be able to guess. Scripture does give us some clues, however
The Psalmist has written, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Why does the Psalmist mention the God of Jacob? And how is the God of Jacob our refuge? God promised Jacob protection and companionship. The promises made to Jacob have also been made to us. Listen to the promise God made to Jacob, which is recorded in the 28th chapter of Genesis: “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” The Psalmist tells us that just as God promised to be with Jacob and to keep him wherever he went, God has also promised to be with us.
Believing in God can be sustaining in and of itself. Our faith can help to carry us through even the darkest of times.
Listen again to the words of the Psalm: “God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help the city when the morning comes.” The morning will come and when it does, God will help the faithful. Psalm 46 ends with the words: “Be still and know that I am God!”
God is found in the stillness. God does not leave us when the going gets tough. God does not abandon us. He is our refuge in times of trouble.
Psalm 46 reads: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.” These are supposed to be words of assurance. The Psalmist is saying that God is with us. We have nothing to fear. Even when our world seems to be crumbling down around us, God will be present to sustain us.
These words are reassuring when we feel the Divine presence strongly in our lives. We can take comfort in the fact that God will always be there for us, even in times of trouble. . . . Yet what about those times in our lives when God does not seem present, when our world is falling apart and it feels as if we are all alone? What about those moments of deep despair when we call out in agony and God seemingly ignores our cries? Why is it that we feel God’s presence keenly when things are going well and we’re content with our lives, but when a tragedy occurs and we desperately cry out, God seems silent?
When author Frederick Buechner was a child, his father committed suicide. In the book Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner, Buechner tells about the impact this had on him, and with the story of his father’s suicide as a backdrop, he describes how he understands God’s presence in our lives. He writes:
As I understand it, to say that God is mightily present even in such private events as these does not mean that [God] makes events happen to us which move us in certain directions like chess[pieces]. Instead, events happen under their own steam as random as rain, which means that God is present in them, not as their cause, but as the one who even in the hardest and most hair-raising of them offers the possibility of that new life and healing which I believe is what salvation is.
For instance, I cannot believe that a God of love and mercy in any sense willed my father’s suicide; it was my father himself who willed it as the only way out available to him from a life that for various reasons he had come to find unbearable. God did not will what happened that early morning in Essex Falls, New Jersey, but I believe that God was present in what happened. I cannot guess how God was present with my father -- I can guess much better how utterly abandoned by God my father must have felt if he thought about God at all -- but my faith as well as my prayer is that God was and continues to be with him in ways beyond my guessing.
God continues to be present with us as well -- in ways that we will never know or be able to guess. Scripture does give us some clues, however
The Psalmist has written, “The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Why does the Psalmist mention the God of Jacob? And how is the God of Jacob our refuge? God promised Jacob protection and companionship. The promises made to Jacob have also been made to us. Listen to the promise God made to Jacob, which is recorded in the 28th chapter of Genesis: “Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” The Psalmist tells us that just as God promised to be with Jacob and to keep him wherever he went, God has also promised to be with us.
Believing in God can be sustaining in and of itself. Our faith can help to carry us through even the darkest of times.
Listen again to the words of the Psalm: “God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help the city when the morning comes.” The morning will come and when it does, God will help the faithful. Psalm 46 ends with the words: “Be still and know that I am God!”
God is found in the stillness. God does not leave us when the going gets tough. God does not abandon us. He is our refuge in times of trouble.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Dare to be a Daniel -- Let the Lions Roar -- You Will Be Safe!
It is in the Scriptures. A man was unjustly accused and affected by an unjust, stupid law. People plotted against him for political reasons. But God had the final say, and Daniel made it through the lion's den, and in the end his plotters were eaten by the lions themselves! (Read Daniel 6:1-28). Daniel did not let circumstances affect his faith in God and his practices of worshipping God. But there were those who plotted against him. Here is how the story begins:
"It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."
"Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered - in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians [see Ancient Empires - Persia], which cannot be repealed." So King Darius put the decree in writing."
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and Prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"
Ah, yes, Daniel was thrown in with the lions, but God sent an angel to protect Daniel, and the rest of the story is one of overcoming tough circumstances! He was protected and he ended up prospering, while his enemies perished in their own plot. Praise the Lord!
Perhaps you feel like you have been thrown into a lion's den, surrounded by possible harm. Perhaps you are the victim of deceitful plotters, of lies and unjust situations, of stupid laws and evil people. If so, remember Daniel, because he found victory while looking danger in the mouth (several mouths to be exact). Hold on to your faith in God and you will see such a victory, too!
"It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent."
"Finally these men said, "We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God." So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: "O King Darius, live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into the lions' den. Now, O king, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered - in accordance with the laws of the Medes and Persians [see Ancient Empires - Persia], which cannot be repealed." So King Darius put the decree in writing."
"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and Prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: "Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or man except to you, O king, would be thrown into the lions' den?"
Ah, yes, Daniel was thrown in with the lions, but God sent an angel to protect Daniel, and the rest of the story is one of overcoming tough circumstances! He was protected and he ended up prospering, while his enemies perished in their own plot. Praise the Lord!
Perhaps you feel like you have been thrown into a lion's den, surrounded by possible harm. Perhaps you are the victim of deceitful plotters, of lies and unjust situations, of stupid laws and evil people. If so, remember Daniel, because he found victory while looking danger in the mouth (several mouths to be exact). Hold on to your faith in God and you will see such a victory, too!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Have No Fear -- God Will Make a Way for You!
One of my favorite praise songs is "God Will Make a Way," where it speaks of God's care and provision for his people, and for you and for me:
God will make a way, Where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, Hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see, Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain, He will do something new today.
God will make a way,Where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, Hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way,
God will make a way!
This is the message we find throughout the Bible -- God will make a way. The story of the Hebrew people in Genesis and Exodus is that God will make way. It continues in Numbers and Joshua and on throughout the Old Testament. Pslams testifies, again and again, God will make a way. The story of Jesus is to show us that God has made a way!
The Bible is filled with stories and words of hope. No matter how hopeless, desperate, or dark your future may appear to be, may the truth of Jesus be yours today: God will find a way. Even where there appears to be no way, God will find a way.
Whatever your problem, give it to God in prayer. Let Him work in your behalf.
Do you and your spouse need to find a way to save your marriage? God will find a way.
Do you need a way out of difficult financial problems? God will find a way.
Do you need help dealing with an illness of your own or of someone you love? God will find a way.
Do you need to find a way out of a long tunnel of grief or sadness that seems to have no end? God will find a way.
Have you been unjustly accused? The truth will win out for you. God will find a way.
Do you need to receive forgiveness and assurance that God loves you despite some terrible thing you might have done? God will find a way to forgive you and give you eternal life. His name is Jesus.
No matter what you are facing: God will find a way.
God helped Mary and Joseph find a way to bring their precious child into a world that seemed stacked against them, and to save Him when they fled to Egypt. He gave Paul ways to escape when persecution was near. He did the same for David. He can do the same for you. God will find a way for you. That is our Christian hope. That is our Christian promise from our Loving God. Be still and know He is your God! (Psalm 46:10)
God will make a way, Where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, Hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness, He'll lead me
And rivers in the desert will I see, Heaven and earth will fade
But His Word will still remain, He will do something new today.
God will make a way,Where there seems to be no way.
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, Hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way,
God will make a way!
This is the message we find throughout the Bible -- God will make a way. The story of the Hebrew people in Genesis and Exodus is that God will make way. It continues in Numbers and Joshua and on throughout the Old Testament. Pslams testifies, again and again, God will make a way. The story of Jesus is to show us that God has made a way!
The Bible is filled with stories and words of hope. No matter how hopeless, desperate, or dark your future may appear to be, may the truth of Jesus be yours today: God will find a way. Even where there appears to be no way, God will find a way.
Whatever your problem, give it to God in prayer. Let Him work in your behalf.
Do you and your spouse need to find a way to save your marriage? God will find a way.
Do you need a way out of difficult financial problems? God will find a way.
Do you need help dealing with an illness of your own or of someone you love? God will find a way.
Do you need to find a way out of a long tunnel of grief or sadness that seems to have no end? God will find a way.
Have you been unjustly accused? The truth will win out for you. God will find a way.
Do you need to receive forgiveness and assurance that God loves you despite some terrible thing you might have done? God will find a way to forgive you and give you eternal life. His name is Jesus.
No matter what you are facing: God will find a way.
God helped Mary and Joseph find a way to bring their precious child into a world that seemed stacked against them, and to save Him when they fled to Egypt. He gave Paul ways to escape when persecution was near. He did the same for David. He can do the same for you. God will find a way for you. That is our Christian hope. That is our Christian promise from our Loving God. Be still and know He is your God! (Psalm 46:10)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Divine Protection -- Our Inheritance in Christ
God’s protection is what actually keeps us safe, not our own power or intelligence. It is great to know that God Himself watches over you! How cool to have God as your father, what more could a man ask?
God promises us that we will have His protection in everything against many, many things! Let’s take a look at some of them.
"He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever." Psalms 121: 3-8
Here we can see that the Lord keeps us He protects us, He never goes to sleep and He never stops...nothing can happen to us without Lords will. God knows where we are, what we are doing and His protection is over us, it is a continuous protection. That does not mean that nothing bad is ever going to happen because that is not true, many times God allows trials and tribulations to come into our lives to teach us a lesson to help us understand something and to bring us closer to Him, but that does not change the fact that His protection is a continues thing.
"I raise my eyes toward the mountains Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1, 2
The protection of the Lord is something necessary in our lives, we picture here a man looking to the hills, but he is not really expecting help to come from the hills because in verse two he answers his own question: his help is coming from the Lord. Without God looking over us we can get nothing accomplished, we cannot get anything done for the Lord in our own strength...we are weak and we are sinners, that is why it is a necessary thing for the Lord to watch over us and care for us because we certainly cannot, and even the most proud person will some day have to admit that. Our life as a Christian is not one of independence; it is supposed to be a life of utter dependence on God.
"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
Here we can see one of the things where we have God's protection. God will never tempt us above what we can take, and every time that there is a temptation that has come our way and it just seems that it is too big and that we will surely fail, remember these verses, remember the fact that God has provided a way for you to escape, remember the fact that God is there with you watching over you; all you have to do is to trust Him. Remember the verse that says that "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me"? Take heart and fight on because God is right there beside you.
God’s love and protection is round about us and as the Bible says, we shall be covered by Him, we shall have His complete protection in Him, it is then that nothing can touch us; it is then that nothing can happen to us, but we have to be in Him...we cannot expect God to protect us and watch out for us if we have never accepted Him as our Savior. The person living exactly the opposite way that the Lord would have him live cannot expect too much protection, following the Lord's will and doing the best you can to fulfill His will in submission to Him is key to enjoying the blessings and benefits that come with it.
Take a look at Israel’s past, every time they strayed away from the Lord they were chastised and it was those times that they lost the protection of the Lord, and they suffered for it. It happens the same in the Christian life, when God tells us that He wants us to do something and we refuse, we cannot shake our fists at heaven when that divine protection is lifted...because it was our own fault that it went away.
God promises us that we will have His protection in everything against many, many things! Let’s take a look at some of them.
"He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber. Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep. The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side. The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life. The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever." Psalms 121: 3-8
Here we can see that the Lord keeps us He protects us, He never goes to sleep and He never stops...nothing can happen to us without Lords will. God knows where we are, what we are doing and His protection is over us, it is a continuous protection. That does not mean that nothing bad is ever going to happen because that is not true, many times God allows trials and tribulations to come into our lives to teach us a lesson to help us understand something and to bring us closer to Him, but that does not change the fact that His protection is a continues thing.
"I raise my eyes toward the mountains Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1, 2
The protection of the Lord is something necessary in our lives, we picture here a man looking to the hills, but he is not really expecting help to come from the hills because in verse two he answers his own question: his help is coming from the Lord. Without God looking over us we can get nothing accomplished, we cannot get anything done for the Lord in our own strength...we are weak and we are sinners, that is why it is a necessary thing for the Lord to watch over us and care for us because we certainly cannot, and even the most proud person will some day have to admit that. Our life as a Christian is not one of independence; it is supposed to be a life of utter dependence on God.
"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil." 2 Thessalonians 3:3
"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to humanity. God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
Here we can see one of the things where we have God's protection. God will never tempt us above what we can take, and every time that there is a temptation that has come our way and it just seems that it is too big and that we will surely fail, remember these verses, remember the fact that God has provided a way for you to escape, remember the fact that God is there with you watching over you; all you have to do is to trust Him. Remember the verse that says that "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me"? Take heart and fight on because God is right there beside you.
God’s love and protection is round about us and as the Bible says, we shall be covered by Him, we shall have His complete protection in Him, it is then that nothing can touch us; it is then that nothing can happen to us, but we have to be in Him...we cannot expect God to protect us and watch out for us if we have never accepted Him as our Savior. The person living exactly the opposite way that the Lord would have him live cannot expect too much protection, following the Lord's will and doing the best you can to fulfill His will in submission to Him is key to enjoying the blessings and benefits that come with it.
Take a look at Israel’s past, every time they strayed away from the Lord they were chastised and it was those times that they lost the protection of the Lord, and they suffered for it. It happens the same in the Christian life, when God tells us that He wants us to do something and we refuse, we cannot shake our fists at heaven when that divine protection is lifted...because it was our own fault that it went away.
Unjustly Accused? Joseph was Patient and God Made a Way
Many people in the Bible are unjustly accuses, including Jesus, Paul, Peter, Stephen, and many of the prophets. The story of Joseph is another such one of great pain, suffering and tribulation. Yet, it is also one of joy and tremendous accomplishment. However, it was the test of his character during times of crisis that would define Joseph as a person.
Joseph was the son of Jacob and firstborn of Rachel. He was the eleventh of twelve brothers, who were all shepherds by trade. Joseph, at age seventeen, would report to his father all that his brothers did in the field—both good and bad. This was something that his brothers did not appreciate.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children, and made him a special coat. This caused Joseph’s brothers to envy him. Joseph described some dreams that he had to his brothers and father. His father meditated on them, but they caused his brothers to hate him even more.
One day, as Joseph approached his brothers in the field, they plotted to kill him. However, Reuben stopped them from committing the crime. He implored them to cast him into a pit in the desert. This would give him a chance later to save Joseph from the pit and return him to Jacob safely.
They all agreed, stripped Joseph of his coat and threw him into a pit. However, while Reuben was away, the brothers sold him to merchantmen. When Reuben returned and found the pit empty, he was afraid and asked the brothers what they were going to do. They killed a goat, dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood and returned to their father. When Jacob saw the coat, he immediately recognized it and assumed that Joseph had been killed. Jacob was heartbroken, and he continually mourned for Joseph.
Joseph had endured his first injustice. And it was at the hands of his brothers—people whom he loved. Later, the merchantmen sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Joseph had been made a slave in Egypt. But, the Eternal was with him. He prospered in everything he did, and Potiphar saw it. Therefore, Potiphar promoted Joseph, making him overseer of his entire household. Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph.
But, in the background, Potiphar’s wife was eyeing Joseph. She was attracted to him and ready to make a move. She tired to seduce him. When she made advances toward Joseph, he refused her. However, this did not deter her. She tried even harder, grabbing a piece of his clothing. Joseph was forced to flee from her presence, leaving the garment behind in her lustful hands.
Furious that Joseph rejected her advances, Potiphar’s wife went to her husband and lied. She told him that Joseph had attacked her and that he only fled when she screamed for help. She showed him the article of Joseph’s clothing to back up her story.
Potiphar was outraged. He immediately had Joseph seized and thrown into prison. Joseph had endured his second severe injustice. He had done the right thing, yet he suffered for it. But he was patient and he never lost faith in God. In the end he was made Governor of Egypt and he was given a chance to show mercy to his brothers! Read it all in the Book of Genesis, from Chapter 37 until the end in chapter 50.
Like Joseph, you must never quit. You should not allow anything to make you bitter. Let the Spirit help you rise above the nastiness of others. Notice: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:31-32).
When you are going through tough times, remember Joseph’s example. Do not lash out. Keep things close. Pray. Be patient, wait and trust in God, and He will work out the problem for you.
Joseph was the son of Jacob and firstborn of Rachel. He was the eleventh of twelve brothers, who were all shepherds by trade. Joseph, at age seventeen, would report to his father all that his brothers did in the field—both good and bad. This was something that his brothers did not appreciate.
Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children, and made him a special coat. This caused Joseph’s brothers to envy him. Joseph described some dreams that he had to his brothers and father. His father meditated on them, but they caused his brothers to hate him even more.
One day, as Joseph approached his brothers in the field, they plotted to kill him. However, Reuben stopped them from committing the crime. He implored them to cast him into a pit in the desert. This would give him a chance later to save Joseph from the pit and return him to Jacob safely.
They all agreed, stripped Joseph of his coat and threw him into a pit. However, while Reuben was away, the brothers sold him to merchantmen. When Reuben returned and found the pit empty, he was afraid and asked the brothers what they were going to do. They killed a goat, dipped Joseph’s coat in the blood and returned to their father. When Jacob saw the coat, he immediately recognized it and assumed that Joseph had been killed. Jacob was heartbroken, and he continually mourned for Joseph.
Joseph had endured his first injustice. And it was at the hands of his brothers—people whom he loved. Later, the merchantmen sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Joseph had been made a slave in Egypt. But, the Eternal was with him. He prospered in everything he did, and Potiphar saw it. Therefore, Potiphar promoted Joseph, making him overseer of his entire household. Potiphar was blessed because of Joseph.
But, in the background, Potiphar’s wife was eyeing Joseph. She was attracted to him and ready to make a move. She tired to seduce him. When she made advances toward Joseph, he refused her. However, this did not deter her. She tried even harder, grabbing a piece of his clothing. Joseph was forced to flee from her presence, leaving the garment behind in her lustful hands.
Furious that Joseph rejected her advances, Potiphar’s wife went to her husband and lied. She told him that Joseph had attacked her and that he only fled when she screamed for help. She showed him the article of Joseph’s clothing to back up her story.
Potiphar was outraged. He immediately had Joseph seized and thrown into prison. Joseph had endured his second severe injustice. He had done the right thing, yet he suffered for it. But he was patient and he never lost faith in God. In the end he was made Governor of Egypt and he was given a chance to show mercy to his brothers! Read it all in the Book of Genesis, from Chapter 37 until the end in chapter 50.
Like Joseph, you must never quit. You should not allow anything to make you bitter. Let the Spirit help you rise above the nastiness of others. Notice: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:31-32).
When you are going through tough times, remember Joseph’s example. Do not lash out. Keep things close. Pray. Be patient, wait and trust in God, and He will work out the problem for you.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, February 09, 2009
Answered Prayer: The Story of George Mueller
George Mueller was a man of faith. He was also a man of love. In 1835 he started caring for children born in wedlock and whose parents had both deceased. For over ten years he had been renting houses for orphanage facilities. Renting had numerous advantages such as being able to invest more money into kingdom needs. Something happened though that changed his course of thinking.
On October 30, 1845, he received a letter from a man living on the street where the four orphanages were located. It was a kind and friendly letter, but he did state how the people of Wilson Street were being variously inconvenienced by the Orphan Houses. He left the affair into Mueller's hands.
For ten years Mr. Mueller did not have any desire to build, but he did begin to think of this situation totally different when he got this letter. He wrote down the reasons to and not to move. In the end, he discerned that it was God's will to move. The primary reason was the inconvenience to the neighbors. Philippians 4:5 affirmed this for him.
" Let your forbearing spirit (yieldingness) be known to all men. The Lord is near."
He felt a great responsibility for the noise of the children and the abuse of the sewerage system (houses weren't built for so many occupants). He tried to think of other solutions but could not think of any. Others conferred he should build. After he prayed for a season, he sensed God was using this occasion to show God's love to the neighbors and better provide for the children. Of course, behind all of this was his concern that people would know of God's great and glorious work.
One might think little of this matter except that he had no money in hand for building. By policy he did not he ask for funds. Furthermore, he would not go into debt. Making a decision to buy ones own place big enough for 300 children was one matter. Anyone could decide to do it. But where would the funds come from? Mr. Mueller was not living by what resources he could plan for but by what God would provide.
Is this not the pattern we saw when Jesus fed the 4000 men and families? Mr. Mueller estimated the cost back then:
2-3,000 pounds for property (6-7 acres) around Bristol, England
6-8,000 pounds for a building (lower estimate)
1,500 pounds for bare furnishings for the 3-400 people using it.
He said, "This is indeed a large sum of money which I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing. It has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of the letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I received the letter, I had no more thought about building premises for the accommodation of the orphans than I had had during the ten previous years." (1)
Love and the glory of God shaped his thinking and firmed up his decision to start on this project. Without asking, 15,784 pounds were sent in and after everything was built and cared for there remained a balance of 776 pounds. This was 1,195 days since he began asking the Lord for the building. 300 orphans were cared for in the new orphanage on Ashley Down.
I am amazed how similar this story is like the one where Jesus fed the multitude. Love should dictate our decisions rather than our resources. We need to be need focused rather than money focused.
Our walk with Jesus will primarily be one made up of miracles. We simply do not have what it takes to meet the needs of the people and situations that God will have us meet up with. Whether it be supplies, healing, wisdom, direction, power, etc., we are to let love move us into faith and let God work out the details.
On October 30, 1845, he received a letter from a man living on the street where the four orphanages were located. It was a kind and friendly letter, but he did state how the people of Wilson Street were being variously inconvenienced by the Orphan Houses. He left the affair into Mueller's hands.
For ten years Mr. Mueller did not have any desire to build, but he did begin to think of this situation totally different when he got this letter. He wrote down the reasons to and not to move. In the end, he discerned that it was God's will to move. The primary reason was the inconvenience to the neighbors. Philippians 4:5 affirmed this for him.
" Let your forbearing spirit (yieldingness) be known to all men. The Lord is near."
He felt a great responsibility for the noise of the children and the abuse of the sewerage system (houses weren't built for so many occupants). He tried to think of other solutions but could not think of any. Others conferred he should build. After he prayed for a season, he sensed God was using this occasion to show God's love to the neighbors and better provide for the children. Of course, behind all of this was his concern that people would know of God's great and glorious work.
One might think little of this matter except that he had no money in hand for building. By policy he did not he ask for funds. Furthermore, he would not go into debt. Making a decision to buy ones own place big enough for 300 children was one matter. Anyone could decide to do it. But where would the funds come from? Mr. Mueller was not living by what resources he could plan for but by what God would provide.
Is this not the pattern we saw when Jesus fed the 4000 men and families? Mr. Mueller estimated the cost back then:
2-3,000 pounds for property (6-7 acres) around Bristol, England
6-8,000 pounds for a building (lower estimate)
1,500 pounds for bare furnishings for the 3-400 people using it.
He said, "This is indeed a large sum of money which I need; but my hope is in God. I have not sought after this thing. It has not begun with me. God has altogether unexpectedly, by means of the letter before mentioned, led me to it. Only the day before I received the letter, I had no more thought about building premises for the accommodation of the orphans than I had had during the ten previous years." (1)
Love and the glory of God shaped his thinking and firmed up his decision to start on this project. Without asking, 15,784 pounds were sent in and after everything was built and cared for there remained a balance of 776 pounds. This was 1,195 days since he began asking the Lord for the building. 300 orphans were cared for in the new orphanage on Ashley Down.
I am amazed how similar this story is like the one where Jesus fed the multitude. Love should dictate our decisions rather than our resources. We need to be need focused rather than money focused.
Our walk with Jesus will primarily be one made up of miracles. We simply do not have what it takes to meet the needs of the people and situations that God will have us meet up with. Whether it be supplies, healing, wisdom, direction, power, etc., we are to let love move us into faith and let God work out the details.
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