Have you ever read the story of Joseph. I have heard this story many times, but for some reason today it has really made an impression on me, I am not sure why, but it is incredible just how God had gone before Joseph and prepared a way for him.
When we look at our lives it is easy to see where we are, but not see where God is moving us to. We struggle in the small things and yet God has a bigger picture in mind.
Joseph's dreams:
Genesis 37:5-11 "5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?”And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind."
His brothers sold him into slavery. They didn't see the bigger picture, they just saw their anger, they thought they would stop the dreams from happening, but God. What a lesson this is for our lives, we ask if what we are doing is where God wants us, but God has made a way for us and our little minds can not fathom what the reason is.
Joseph went from rags to riches, but he didn't forget where he came from. When his brothers came and bowed down to him he didn't say see my dream came true. He didn't rub it in there face, but he loved them all the same. It would be so easy to make them pay for what they had done, but I think the bigger payment wasn't taking wrong for wrong, but they wronged him and he loved them. He didn't hold it over them, but he brought them to live there. What a lesson for us today. It is easier to say he did that to me and I have the right to do it back to him, but what does God say? Do not pay back wrong with wrong, love them regardless. Romans 12:17-21 "Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
We can learn so much from what is written. Apply the story of Joseph to your life, have you been wronged in the past? How did you handle it? Today if you are wronged in the same way, how will you handle it? God has a plan for your life, just like He had a plan for Joseph's life, even when it looked like he would be a slave, he was used in great ways. We get to see the whole picture, how do you think Joseph reacted to each day in prison? What do you think his thoughts were? God is the God of the impossible.
This lesson has taught me so much, it is easy to look at the place where I am and wonder why God, but know what, God knows why He has me here and I need to rest and trust in Him. He knows, He sees the bigger picture, I see a polaroid He sees the whole thing. There is so much more and I need to trust in Him.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Today
There are many verses about today in the bible. It is so easy to forget the word of God when we talk about today. We look at it as another Monday, as another day to go to work, another day to live, but really what does today hold? We don't know, we know our busy schedules, we are busy about many things, but what is the one thing we should be steadfast in doing? Resting and knowing that God is God and He will provide. When times seem tough, He is the one that will carry us through. When times are easy, it is easy to forget all we have learned from the past days.
Psalm 18:24 "This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it."
It is so easy to think today is just another day, but guess what God made today, He made it for you, He has gone before us and is with us.
Matthew 6:25-34 "Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
God is good and His mercies endure forever. He has gone before us and is with us, we should rejoice and allow God to work, for if we try and do it on our own, we will only grow tired and weary, but rest in God and He will give us strength. Have you ever tried so hard to do something on your own, but can't get it done, but when you rest in God He gets it completed. Allow God to set your schedule, when you get up, say Lord today is your day and I want to rejoice and be glad in it, but I am struggling to accomplish all that I have, Lord please guide my steps and allow me to walk according to your way, not my own. See we can get lost in our ways, but His ways are much better then our own. Isn't it time to walk in His ways? Not just in the morning, at meal time, but all day long. Allow Him to guide you and your time and His timing is so much better.
Today praise Him where ever He may have you, thank Him for the storms and allow Him to lead. More of Him and less of me.
Psalm 18:24 "This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it."
It is so easy to think today is just another day, but guess what God made today, He made it for you, He has gone before us and is with us.
Matthew 6:25-34 "Do Not Worry
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
God is good and His mercies endure forever. He has gone before us and is with us, we should rejoice and allow God to work, for if we try and do it on our own, we will only grow tired and weary, but rest in God and He will give us strength. Have you ever tried so hard to do something on your own, but can't get it done, but when you rest in God He gets it completed. Allow God to set your schedule, when you get up, say Lord today is your day and I want to rejoice and be glad in it, but I am struggling to accomplish all that I have, Lord please guide my steps and allow me to walk according to your way, not my own. See we can get lost in our ways, but His ways are much better then our own. Isn't it time to walk in His ways? Not just in the morning, at meal time, but all day long. Allow Him to guide you and your time and His timing is so much better.
Today praise Him where ever He may have you, thank Him for the storms and allow Him to lead. More of Him and less of me.
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