September 7, 2017
Humility and service are the benchmarks of a Christ follower. You and I have a place in God’s story. And Joseph shows us how to play our part. No matter where you find yourself, you can just walk with the God who is for you, and serve with whatever gifts and talents God has given you.
September 7, 2017
Reaching People Understanding where people are coming from – Luke 15 Lost in the wilderness Lost in religion Lost in one’s heart How Jesus reached people – John 4 He risked connecting He engaged in meaningful conversation He asked strategic questions He practiced redemptive dialogue
August 20, 2017
God who formed your heart, wants to be reunited with you. The Father wants you to know Him. The Father wants you to be with Him in an eternal relationship. Your relationship with Him is the number one thing on His heart. Like Joseph, we were lost and He’s done everything in His power to bring you home to Him. That’s why He sent Jesus. This is the gospel in a nut shell: For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 1 Peter 3:18 Nothing heals a broken heart more than being reunited with the one you love.
August 8, 2017
Can there be a more beautiful picture of reconciliation than this? There is no animosity in Joseph, only grace. No more separation, but embrace. No more hiding, but total acceptance. No more guilt, just tears of joy. After 22 years of brokenness due to jealousy and hatred, God’s family was whole again. And their future is secure.
August 1, 2017
God has forced them to come to grips with their sin. Why? Because He loves them too much to leave them the way they are. At this point they are totally lost. “Their hearts sank” And that’s good thing. Because that is what God’s discipline is meant to do. It’s meant to bring us to the end of ourselves so that God can change us.
July 25, 2017
God hears your prayers. And sometimes He needs to work in you or your surroundings before He’s ready to answer. You see, God had to do His work in Joseph, and He had to do His work in Pharaoh, and when the time was right, Pharaoh was ready to hear from God through Joseph. God works in mysterious ways. His timing is not like ours.
July 18, 2017
You see, you and I will face difficult days; circumstances beyond our control; people who will fail us. Any of those things can put you in a dark place. But we have the same hope Joseph had: God is within reach. And because God was there, Joseph could handle his darkest hour. And if God did that with Joseph, imagine what he can do with you? “even the darkness will not be dark to you!”
July 11, 2017
Potiphar knew a good man when he saw one. And Joseph was that man. But it wasn’t just his character that he rewarded. He saw that Joseph was a man of faith. And that God was with Joseph in all that he did. And because God was with Joseph in everything he did, Potiphar trusted Joseph with everything he had. With Joseph running the details of his household, Potiphar didn’t have to worry about a thing, except his diet.
July 4, 2017
God was up to something in Joseph’s life. Jacob made him a leader too soon and it went to his head. God’s dreams didn’t help too much either. He was young, brash and a bit full of himself. But God wasn’t done with Joseph. That’s why his story is only beginning. What looks like a nightmare now, may just turn out for his good. And by the way, what’s true of Joseph is also true of you. What looks like a nightmare in now, may just turn out for your good. God may just be up to something good for you.
June 27, 2017
Jacob has brought his people back to God. He has led his people to worship God. And now He will be the man to lead the people of God. God has spoken in to His life. His Word renews Jacob faith in a great God. His Word renews Jacob’s faith in a good God. And His Word renews Jacob’s faith in a faithful God. God renews His covenant with Jacob, to renew his faith.