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08-17-2007, 02:31 AM
I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need. --Charles Spurgeon
Our love for Jesus is the key to spiritual passion.
Open your Bible prayerfully; read it carefully; obey it joyfully.
The majority opinion is not necessarily God's will.
God wants us to enjoy life but to avoid those activities that could lead us away from Him.
The joy of being with a close friend is the closeness God wants to have with us.
God desires that all come to Him, trust in Him, and be saved.
God wants us to come to Him with our struggles and doubts.
God is continually shaping us to be more loving persons.
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THE DEAD SNAKE CAN STILL BITE
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” – Titus 2:11-12
On August 6, 2007, 53-year-old Danny Anderson was feeding his horses on his property near Prosser, Washington. He then spotted a 5-foot rattle snake just a few feet from him. With the help of his 27-year-old son, Benjamin, he pinned the snake with an irrigation pipe and cut off its head with a shovel. A few more strikes to the head and Danny left it sitting under a pickup truck.
When he was growing up, Danny’s father told him never touch a snake. But Danny reasoned that since it was dead, there was no danger, and he bent down to pick in up. “When I reached down to pick up the head, it raised around and did a backflip almost, and bit my finger,” Anderson said. “I had to shake my hand real hard to get it to let loose.”
Anderson’s wife insisted he go to the hospital, and by the time they arrived at Prosser Memorial Hospital 10 minutes later, Anderson’s tongue was swollen and the venom was spreading. He then was taken by ambulance 30 miles to a second hospital to get the full series of six shots he needed.
When asked about handling dead snakes, Mike Livingston, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist said to avoid direct contact with them. “That’s really surprising but that’s an important thing to tell people. It may have been just a reflex on the part of the snake.”
Though we have born again in Christ, the old passions and temptations still pose a danger to us. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you self-control and the strength to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions.
“What makes resisting temptation difficult, for many people, is that they don’t want to discourage it completely.” – Franklin P. Jones
God’s Word: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.” – Proverbs 1:10 --Peter Kennedy
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Never Discouraged
Imagine that I dump 10,000 plastic eggs in your back yard. I assure you that inside one of those hollow eggs is a check for $1 Million dollars with your name on it. Would you get discouraged if you opened the first 100 eggs without finding the check? How about the first 1000 eggs? Of course not ! You'd just keep opening those eggs, just waiting for the moment when you'd find the check.
Paul knew the meaning of the word "suffering." He had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and rejected. And yet Paul said that his sufferings were nothing compared to the glory that would come. In other words, Paul had opened a lot of empty eggs, but he never gave up or got discouraged. He believed that something great was in his future - God's glory revealed in him.
Perhaps it feels to you as if your life has been nothing but empty eggs. You've already opened 99000 of them and you're not sure you've got the will to go on. Let me encourage you today. Don't give up. I don't want to trivialize the challenges you are facing, but I do want to help you put them into perspective. They are only temporary, and God has something much greater in store for you. Compared to the glory that will be revealed in us one day, our suffering doesn't merit discouragement.
Hang on. Don't give up. Keep going. One day God will replace your discouragement with incomparable glory!
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." Romans 8:18 --David Langerfeld
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God's Choice
"Is it a boy? Is it a boy? It is, isn't it?" Carter jumped around the kitchen while his grandmother talked on the phone. Carter's father was calling from the hospital. Carter was so excited, he almost dropped the apple he was holding. "It's a boy, isn't it, Grandma?" he repeated excitedly.
Grandma hung up the phone. "You now have a beautiful baby sister," she said gently. "Her name is Melanie."
"That can't be!" Carter dropped his apple. "I've been praying for months for a brother." He looked as if he might cry. "It's not fair," he insisted. "Cole got a baby brother, and he didn't pray at all. How could God send me a dumb girl?"
Grandma sat down in the chair by the coffee table. "I remember how happy your mom and dad were when they were expecting you," Grandma told him. "When people asked if they wanted a girl or a boy, they said they just wanted a healthy baby."
Carter picked his apple up from the floor. "I'm sure they were glad I turned out to be a boy," he said.
"They were mighty proud of you-but I was a little bit disappointed. I was hoping for a sweet, little granddaughter," confessed Grandma.
"Grandma!" Carter was shocked. "Didn't you want me?"
"Oh, yes," Grandma assured him, "but I already had five grandsons. I thought it would be nice to have a girl in the family. But another boy was God's choice for them, and you know what? Now I couldn't love anybody more." She gave Carter a big hug. "It will be like that for you, too. You'll see. God's choice for you is a sister, and you'll love her and wonder whatever made you think you'd prefer a brother."
"Maybe, but I still don't think it was nice, Grandma, to wish I were a girl," Carter pouted.
Grandma's eyes twinkled. "Less nice than for you to wish your sister were a boy?" she asked.
Carter looked surprised. "I guess I wasn't being nice, either," he admitted. He bit into his apple. "When can Melanie come home?" he asked eagerly.
MEMORY VERSE: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you blame God if He doesn't answer your prayers the way you want? Do you ask for things to satisfy your own selfish desires, or do you ask for God's will to be done? He has a purpose for everything-He even knows how many sisters and brothers you should have. So when He answers your prayer in His way, trust His choices and be thankful. He knows best.
THE KEY: God knows best --Keys for Kids Daily Devotional
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How does God lead?
"My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." John 10:27-28 NLT
Hearing His voice
As our Good Shepherd, Jesus promises that we can hear and know His voice. This does not, however, have to be some mysterious, mystical process. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that God speaks to you quite often. I would venture to say He has spoken to you lately and may be speaking to you right now in some way.
God speaks to us through His Word. God will never lead us contrary to His written Word. It is our litmus test, our bedrock, our absolute.
God speaks to us through circumstances. Those circumstances can include failure. Jonah certainly heard God through his mistake. God may even speak to us through tragedy or hardship. C. S. Lewis wrote that, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world."
God speaks to us through His peace. When we live in God's will, we enjoy His peace. Do you need God to make a crucial call in your life? Then listen for His peace.
And once we have heard God's voice, what should we do? We must follow. Jesus calls, we respond. He whispers, we move. We follow—and then we keep on listening.
Adapted from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie
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LIFE AT THE POOL
I used to love to swim as a boy. My home was just a short walk away from the local pool and I used to spend most of my Summer days there. I would head out early with just my trunks and a towel. I always got there before it opened and then stayed until closing time. It was four hours of pure joy. I loved to dive in that cool, clean water. I would swim, splash, play games with my friends, talk, laugh, and only dry off during the breaks. I always walked home in the evenings with a smile on my face too. As a boy I thought Summertime at the pool was about as good as life could get.
There were some people who came to the pool that I never could understand, however. They would show up everyday carrying around and watching over these huge, heavy bags full of stuff. They would be all dressed up in fancy swimsuits. They always had on hats, sunglasses, and sandals. They would cover themselves in lotion but then sit in the shade of umbrellas. They spent most of their time near their bags, sitting in chairs, and watching other people swim. If they did dive in the pool it was only for few minutes before retreating back to their stuff. I often wondered why they even came to the pool at all. Sometimes I think that life at the pool is a lot like life in general. Some people spend so much time carrying around and worrying about their stuff that they hardly get to swim at all. They just sit in the shade and watch their bags while everyone else soaks up the sun and delights in the day.
Don't become one of them. Life is for living not for sitting with your stuff. Dive deep into God's love today. Swim all day long in joy. Play, love, laugh, and celebrate life with everyone around you. Make everyday of your life as good as it can get and help others to do the same. I want you to walk home to God with a smile on your face, because the bag isn't coming with you. --Joseph J. Mazzella
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SAYINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT GOD AND LIFE
1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?
2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.
3. I am God's melody of life and He sings His song through me.
4. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting for you with open arms.
5. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
6. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.
7. God has a purpose and plan for me that no one else can fulfill.
8. The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
9. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.
10. We set the sail; God makes the wind.
11. Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.
12. Sometimes when God says "no", it's because He has something better in store for you.
13. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.
14. Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.
15. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
16. How come you're always running around looking for God? He's not lost.
--Author Unknown
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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Beloved, I have given you great and precious promises. Indeed it was I who spoke to you seven years ago about things that would come to pass in these days, and you have wondered if these promises would ever produce fruit. Yet, now you will begin to see the signs that I have been working these things out in ways that you have not recognized. Get ready now to both recognize and receive what I have promised, says the Lord. 2 Peter 1:2-8 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I had a vision of driving into an area that could have had a sign that read something like, "Entering Arapahoe National Forest." But instead this sign read, "Entering Resurrection Power." As the vision progressed along the way I was aware of a warning sign, which was diamond-shaped, yellow with black letters, that could have read, "Falling Rocks." However, this sign read "Sudden Revelations." It was a beautiful day with clear skies and perfect weather, and it was a narrow, winding road that led upward to high mountain peaks. Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Stop, look, listen and discern. Check the spiritual climate. There is an acceleration that will require you to be alert and attentive in order to move with a more rapid flow. This can be an extremely exhilarating time if you are willing to yield to this refreshing and stimulating move of My Spirit, says the Lord. Song of Solomon 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
I will confirm all that you have heard Me speak directly to your heart. I will confirm these words with visions, dreams, and signs, which will bring great hope and comfort to your heart and strengthen your resolve to stand still and see My great work in your life and circumstances. Be alert and watch, for certainly you will find the assurance that what I have spoken I will bring to pass, says the Lord. Isaiah 46:11b Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
Maintain a clear and concise focus on your purpose and destiny. Keep looking straight ahead so that you are not distracted or diverted from the path that has been set before you. Any deviation from the path that leads to your destination could bring a time of failure and destruction. Do not look to the right or the left, but rather make sure that every decision is consistent with what you already know about the direction of your life, says the Lord. Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.
As you move into the season of expansion and increase watch and discern carefully. There will be opportunities for you to be strengthened in faith and service in My kingdom, but there will also be opportunities that will draw you away from your current level of dedication and consecration. Consider and weigh the outcome of the decisions that you make at this time. Make faithfulness and commitment a priority in all of your considerations at this time, says the Lord. 2 Chronicles 2:4b Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him...
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FREE INDEED
Fear not, 0 broken sinful heart,
And tremble ye no more;
For Jesus died on Calvary,
His mercy to outpour.
Though strongly held by Satan's power
Your wretched soul may be,
Just cast yourself on Jesus Christ,
And He will set you free.
So when temptations plague your soul,
You need not pay them heed,
For Jesus Christ has made you free,
And you are free indeed.
--Wava Campbell
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A SINNER'S PLEA
As the days went by so fast,
I wondered if my strength would last.
I was weary and in distress,
wondering how I got in this mess.
Every day I struggled to win,
Facing each day with my sin.
Sorrow and shame was my lot,
Misery and fear was what I got,
Not a friend could be found,
My heart and soul was so bound.
What had I done to deserve all this,
Something had happened I was amiss.
Who could I turn to in my despair,
Was there anyone who would care?
What could they do to help me,
There's not anyone that I can see.
I was tired of trying to hold on,
most of my strength was already gone.
Just in time I found my way,
Something happened that very day,
God sent someone to rescue me,
He cast my sins into the sea,
I was told the story, of Jesus' love,
How He was sent down from above,
To rescue souls just like me,
To break all bondage and set me free.
How happy I am to share with you,
He did it for me, He'll do it for you,
You don't have to be, all bound in sin,
Not if you'll let Jesus Christ come in.
He has the power to help all of us,
Who confess our sins and in Him trust.
I can't even tell you how great it is,
When you become a child of His.
It's different from all you've ever had, You ought to try Him, you'll be glad.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
--Mary Eldridge 3/13/03
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Do Not Love the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:28-40
Final Instructions
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
What does the Lord your God require of you except to listen carefully to all He says to you, and to obey for your own good the commandments I am giving you today, and to love Him, and to worship Him will all your hearts and souls. Deuteronomy 10:12-13
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
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Don’t Let Your Love Grow Cold
Jesus tells us many things that will happen as the time gets closer to His return. Most of them I can’t do anything about: famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war.
But there’s one thing Jesus mentions in Matthew chapter 24 that I can do: don’t let my love grow cold. Jesus says:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12:13).
I can see how our love could grow cold. As the world approaches its grand finale, with rampant, widespread destruction, it would be easy to become embittered, frustrated, heartsick and fearful. I can see how people could turn away from God, and turn away from each other.
But Jesus gives us the key to surviving those times. And it’s really the key to surviving whatever we’re facing right now, too. The key is this: “Don’t let your love grow cold.”
When your love grows cold, the end really has come. When your love grows cold, that’s the end of joy, the end of relationships, the end of happiness, the end of hope. At all costs, whatever it takes, we need to keep our love alive. Our love for God, and our love for others.
I was speaking to a group one time about what to do when people treat us poorly. The answer, I suggested, was to “Love ’em more.” What should we do when people run away from us? “Love ’em more.” What should we do when people break our hearts and disappoint us? “Love ’em more.”
One of the people in the group came up to me the next day. She said she loved that message on “Love me more.” Whenever people would treat her poorly, she’d remind them that they’re supposed to “Love me more.” She was joking, of course, having gotten the two key letters backwards, turning “em” into “me.” It’s a minor change with major ramifications. When things get rough in relationships, we expect others to “Love me more.” But what God calls us to do is to “Love them more,” or as I put it, “Love ’em more.”
This is a message that we don’t have to wait to put into practice until the end of the world as we know it. It’s a message that we can start practicing today, so when the end comes, we’ll be ready. In fact, we’re closer to Jesus’ return today than ever before. We’re not lacking in famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war. If there’s a time to put our love into practice, we need to start “practicing” now.
None of us know when the day of His return will come. Although there will be signs, it will come suddenly. People will be eating and drinking as usual, marrying and giving in marriage up until that day. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41).
The grand finale of life will come upon us in an instant. What can we do about it? 1) Don’t be surprised when these things happen. Jesus says, “but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6b). 2) Don’t let your love grow cold.
How can we keep our love from growing cold? By fanning the flames of our love.
When people hurt you or mistreat you, “Love ’em more.”
When people leave you or forsake you, “Love ’em more.”
When people sin against you or hate you, “Love ’em more.”
Just like Jesus did for us when people hurt and mistreated Him, left and forsook Him, sinned against and hated Him. He just loved ’em more.
Even to the very end, the thing that will save the day will be love. As wickedness increases all around us, we need to do what Jesus did : “Love ’em more.”
Prayer: “Father, help me to love others more, even as -- and especially when -- we see the end approaching. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” --Eric Elder
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THE PARTY
Sometimes you don’t know what you are missing until you get there.
My husband and I recently had the honor of attending the Billy Graham library dedication. We knew it would be a special day, but we didn’t know we were about to witness a day of historical significance. It was not until we pulled up to dozens of huge satellite discs with every major network present that we caught on. Then came the parade of celebrities, three former presidents of the United States, and Billy Graham, himself, only ten rows away. It was like seeing Moses incarnate!
We began to feel very humbled and a little awe-struck because we knew who we were in this crowd of “greats” and we knew we had no fame or fortune to bring us there. Actually, it was my father-in-law who was invited and we just got added to his list. Someone jokingly said to us, “I guess you are wondering how I got here.” To which I replied, “I know how we got here. We just know how to ride the coat tails of our dad.”
Then, a recurring theme began to surface. One after another, the speakers credited Billy Graham with a life that reached beyond his humble roots to impact the world for God. But Billy Graham directed all the credit to God. In fact, he preferred that his name not be mentioned much in his own library. There were more stories of how embarrassed he was with so much attention. He knew it wasn’t about him.
That is when God began to speak to me, and all the star-gazing changed to focus on the Son. I realized there was more to see here than a building. I found that the key to grabbing hold of a life that makes an eternal difference is letting go. Letting go of the temporal, what matters only to me, to grasp the only thing that matters. Letting go of the weak threads of a
self-centered life and grabbing onto the coat tails of the Father. That is how we get to experience more than we could imagine. That is how we live beyond ourselves.
Then why do we settle for less than the Father has waiting for us? Unfortunately, because letting go feels unnatural. Letting go brings images of falling or failure. It is too easy to want to make a name for ourselves. We want to leave a legacy that has our signature on it. That’s what feels natural. But living a Spirit-filled life takes what is natural and makes it supernatural. Fear becomes trust, control becomes freedom and selfishness becomes humility.
We begin to live an outward-focused life. Then, a trip to the salon can turn into a listening ear and a seed is planted. A trip at the drive-thru becomes an act of kindness and someone’s view of "church" is changed. Bringing food to a sick neighbor becomes God’s love through a friendship. So why do we have this passion in our hearts to give so freely of ourselves to others?
Because we know it’s not about us.
Because we know who we really are. Just children of God who received an invitation to join Him.
Because we have a taste of where living with the Father can take us—to new heights of joy we never imagined.
Because someday there will be a gathering you really don’t want anyone to miss. With more celebrities than sand on the seashore (the real Moses included).
Because we know we did not do anything to get there on our own. We just grabbed hold of His cross and experienced an unmerited place at the banquet.
There are still too many who don’t know what they are missing!
We know the Father. Let’s make sure everyone gets invited to the party! --Susan Michelle Van Hook
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God, help us make time to partake of the nourishment offered in reading and obeying your word. Amen.
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Read Through The Bible
Genesis 43
The Second Journey to Egypt
1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little more food." 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' " 6 Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?" 7 They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. 'Is your father still living?' he asked us. 'Do you have another brother?' We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?" 8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice."
11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty [a] grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved." 15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon." 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, "We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys." 19 So they went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks." 23 "It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there. 26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, "How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?" 28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to pay him honor. 29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." 32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
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God, we thank you for your everlasting love and your desire for a personal relationship with us. Help us to let go of the debris of this world and to store up our treasure in heaven. In Christ's holy name. Amen.
Our love for Jesus is the key to spiritual passion.
Open your Bible prayerfully; read it carefully; obey it joyfully.
The majority opinion is not necessarily God's will.
God wants us to enjoy life but to avoid those activities that could lead us away from Him.
The joy of being with a close friend is the closeness God wants to have with us.
God desires that all come to Him, trust in Him, and be saved.
God wants us to come to Him with our struggles and doubts.
God is continually shaping us to be more loving persons.
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THE DEAD SNAKE CAN STILL BITE
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” – Titus 2:11-12
On August 6, 2007, 53-year-old Danny Anderson was feeding his horses on his property near Prosser, Washington. He then spotted a 5-foot rattle snake just a few feet from him. With the help of his 27-year-old son, Benjamin, he pinned the snake with an irrigation pipe and cut off its head with a shovel. A few more strikes to the head and Danny left it sitting under a pickup truck.
When he was growing up, Danny’s father told him never touch a snake. But Danny reasoned that since it was dead, there was no danger, and he bent down to pick in up. “When I reached down to pick up the head, it raised around and did a backflip almost, and bit my finger,” Anderson said. “I had to shake my hand real hard to get it to let loose.”
Anderson’s wife insisted he go to the hospital, and by the time they arrived at Prosser Memorial Hospital 10 minutes later, Anderson’s tongue was swollen and the venom was spreading. He then was taken by ambulance 30 miles to a second hospital to get the full series of six shots he needed.
When asked about handling dead snakes, Mike Livingston, a Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist said to avoid direct contact with them. “That’s really surprising but that’s an important thing to tell people. It may have been just a reflex on the part of the snake.”
Though we have born again in Christ, the old passions and temptations still pose a danger to us. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you self-control and the strength to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions.
“What makes resisting temptation difficult, for many people, is that they don’t want to discourage it completely.” – Franklin P. Jones
God’s Word: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.” – Proverbs 1:10 --Peter Kennedy
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Never Discouraged
Imagine that I dump 10,000 plastic eggs in your back yard. I assure you that inside one of those hollow eggs is a check for $1 Million dollars with your name on it. Would you get discouraged if you opened the first 100 eggs without finding the check? How about the first 1000 eggs? Of course not ! You'd just keep opening those eggs, just waiting for the moment when you'd find the check.
Paul knew the meaning of the word "suffering." He had been beaten, stoned, imprisoned, shipwrecked, starved, and rejected. And yet Paul said that his sufferings were nothing compared to the glory that would come. In other words, Paul had opened a lot of empty eggs, but he never gave up or got discouraged. He believed that something great was in his future - God's glory revealed in him.
Perhaps it feels to you as if your life has been nothing but empty eggs. You've already opened 99000 of them and you're not sure you've got the will to go on. Let me encourage you today. Don't give up. I don't want to trivialize the challenges you are facing, but I do want to help you put them into perspective. They are only temporary, and God has something much greater in store for you. Compared to the glory that will be revealed in us one day, our suffering doesn't merit discouragement.
Hang on. Don't give up. Keep going. One day God will replace your discouragement with incomparable glory!
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us." Romans 8:18 --David Langerfeld
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God's Choice
"Is it a boy? Is it a boy? It is, isn't it?" Carter jumped around the kitchen while his grandmother talked on the phone. Carter's father was calling from the hospital. Carter was so excited, he almost dropped the apple he was holding. "It's a boy, isn't it, Grandma?" he repeated excitedly.
Grandma hung up the phone. "You now have a beautiful baby sister," she said gently. "Her name is Melanie."
"That can't be!" Carter dropped his apple. "I've been praying for months for a brother." He looked as if he might cry. "It's not fair," he insisted. "Cole got a baby brother, and he didn't pray at all. How could God send me a dumb girl?"
Grandma sat down in the chair by the coffee table. "I remember how happy your mom and dad were when they were expecting you," Grandma told him. "When people asked if they wanted a girl or a boy, they said they just wanted a healthy baby."
Carter picked his apple up from the floor. "I'm sure they were glad I turned out to be a boy," he said.
"They were mighty proud of you-but I was a little bit disappointed. I was hoping for a sweet, little granddaughter," confessed Grandma.
"Grandma!" Carter was shocked. "Didn't you want me?"
"Oh, yes," Grandma assured him, "but I already had five grandsons. I thought it would be nice to have a girl in the family. But another boy was God's choice for them, and you know what? Now I couldn't love anybody more." She gave Carter a big hug. "It will be like that for you, too. You'll see. God's choice for you is a sister, and you'll love her and wonder whatever made you think you'd prefer a brother."
"Maybe, but I still don't think it was nice, Grandma, to wish I were a girl," Carter pouted.
Grandma's eyes twinkled. "Less nice than for you to wish your sister were a boy?" she asked.
Carter looked surprised. "I guess I wasn't being nice, either," he admitted. He bit into his apple. "When can Melanie come home?" he asked eagerly.
MEMORY VERSE: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you blame God if He doesn't answer your prayers the way you want? Do you ask for things to satisfy your own selfish desires, or do you ask for God's will to be done? He has a purpose for everything-He even knows how many sisters and brothers you should have. So when He answers your prayer in His way, trust His choices and be thankful. He knows best.
THE KEY: God knows best --Keys for Kids Daily Devotional
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How does God lead?
"My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish." John 10:27-28 NLT
Hearing His voice
As our Good Shepherd, Jesus promises that we can hear and know His voice. This does not, however, have to be some mysterious, mystical process. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that God speaks to you quite often. I would venture to say He has spoken to you lately and may be speaking to you right now in some way.
God speaks to us through His Word. God will never lead us contrary to His written Word. It is our litmus test, our bedrock, our absolute.
God speaks to us through circumstances. Those circumstances can include failure. Jonah certainly heard God through his mistake. God may even speak to us through tragedy or hardship. C. S. Lewis wrote that, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to arouse a deaf world."
God speaks to us through His peace. When we live in God's will, we enjoy His peace. Do you need God to make a crucial call in your life? Then listen for His peace.
And once we have heard God's voice, what should we do? We must follow. Jesus calls, we respond. He whispers, we move. We follow—and then we keep on listening.
Adapted from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie
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LIFE AT THE POOL
I used to love to swim as a boy. My home was just a short walk away from the local pool and I used to spend most of my Summer days there. I would head out early with just my trunks and a towel. I always got there before it opened and then stayed until closing time. It was four hours of pure joy. I loved to dive in that cool, clean water. I would swim, splash, play games with my friends, talk, laugh, and only dry off during the breaks. I always walked home in the evenings with a smile on my face too. As a boy I thought Summertime at the pool was about as good as life could get.
There were some people who came to the pool that I never could understand, however. They would show up everyday carrying around and watching over these huge, heavy bags full of stuff. They would be all dressed up in fancy swimsuits. They always had on hats, sunglasses, and sandals. They would cover themselves in lotion but then sit in the shade of umbrellas. They spent most of their time near their bags, sitting in chairs, and watching other people swim. If they did dive in the pool it was only for few minutes before retreating back to their stuff. I often wondered why they even came to the pool at all. Sometimes I think that life at the pool is a lot like life in general. Some people spend so much time carrying around and worrying about their stuff that they hardly get to swim at all. They just sit in the shade and watch their bags while everyone else soaks up the sun and delights in the day.
Don't become one of them. Life is for living not for sitting with your stuff. Dive deep into God's love today. Swim all day long in joy. Play, love, laugh, and celebrate life with everyone around you. Make everyday of your life as good as it can get and help others to do the same. I want you to walk home to God with a smile on your face, because the bag isn't coming with you. --Joseph J. Mazzella
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SAYINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT GOD AND LIFE
1. If you feel far away from God, guess who moved?
2. Fear knocked. Faith answered. No one was there.
3. I am God's melody of life and He sings His song through me.
4. No matter what is happening in your life, know that God is waiting for you with open arms.
5. God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
6. Do your best and then sleep in peace. God is awake.
7. God has a purpose and plan for me that no one else can fulfill.
8. The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you.
9. We are responsible for the effort, not the outcome.
10. We set the sail; God makes the wind.
11. Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.
12. Sometimes when God says "no", it's because He has something better in store for you.
13. The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.
14. Prayer: don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.
15. Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.
16. How come you're always running around looking for God? He's not lost.
--Author Unknown
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Small Straws In A Soft Wind by Marsha Burns
Beloved, I have given you great and precious promises. Indeed it was I who spoke to you seven years ago about things that would come to pass in these days, and you have wondered if these promises would ever produce fruit. Yet, now you will begin to see the signs that I have been working these things out in ways that you have not recognized. Get ready now to both recognize and receive what I have promised, says the Lord. 2 Peter 1:2-8 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self–control, to self–control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I had a vision of driving into an area that could have had a sign that read something like, "Entering Arapahoe National Forest." But instead this sign read, "Entering Resurrection Power." As the vision progressed along the way I was aware of a warning sign, which was diamond-shaped, yellow with black letters, that could have read, "Falling Rocks." However, this sign read "Sudden Revelations." It was a beautiful day with clear skies and perfect weather, and it was a narrow, winding road that led upward to high mountain peaks. Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."
Stop, look, listen and discern. Check the spiritual climate. There is an acceleration that will require you to be alert and attentive in order to move with a more rapid flow. This can be an extremely exhilarating time if you are willing to yield to this refreshing and stimulating move of My Spirit, says the Lord. Song of Solomon 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
I will confirm all that you have heard Me speak directly to your heart. I will confirm these words with visions, dreams, and signs, which will bring great hope and comfort to your heart and strengthen your resolve to stand still and see My great work in your life and circumstances. Be alert and watch, for certainly you will find the assurance that what I have spoken I will bring to pass, says the Lord. Isaiah 46:11b Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it.
Maintain a clear and concise focus on your purpose and destiny. Keep looking straight ahead so that you are not distracted or diverted from the path that has been set before you. Any deviation from the path that leads to your destination could bring a time of failure and destruction. Do not look to the right or the left, but rather make sure that every decision is consistent with what you already know about the direction of your life, says the Lord. Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.
As you move into the season of expansion and increase watch and discern carefully. There will be opportunities for you to be strengthened in faith and service in My kingdom, but there will also be opportunities that will draw you away from your current level of dedication and consecration. Consider and weigh the outcome of the decisions that you make at this time. Make faithfulness and commitment a priority in all of your considerations at this time, says the Lord. 2 Chronicles 2:4b Behold, I am building a temple for the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to Him...
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FREE INDEED
Fear not, 0 broken sinful heart,
And tremble ye no more;
For Jesus died on Calvary,
His mercy to outpour.
Though strongly held by Satan's power
Your wretched soul may be,
Just cast yourself on Jesus Christ,
And He will set you free.
So when temptations plague your soul,
You need not pay them heed,
For Jesus Christ has made you free,
And you are free indeed.
--Wava Campbell
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A SINNER'S PLEA
As the days went by so fast,
I wondered if my strength would last.
I was weary and in distress,
wondering how I got in this mess.
Every day I struggled to win,
Facing each day with my sin.
Sorrow and shame was my lot,
Misery and fear was what I got,
Not a friend could be found,
My heart and soul was so bound.
What had I done to deserve all this,
Something had happened I was amiss.
Who could I turn to in my despair,
Was there anyone who would care?
What could they do to help me,
There's not anyone that I can see.
I was tired of trying to hold on,
most of my strength was already gone.
Just in time I found my way,
Something happened that very day,
God sent someone to rescue me,
He cast my sins into the sea,
I was told the story, of Jesus' love,
How He was sent down from above,
To rescue souls just like me,
To break all bondage and set me free.
How happy I am to share with you,
He did it for me, He'll do it for you,
You don't have to be, all bound in sin,
Not if you'll let Jesus Christ come in.
He has the power to help all of us,
Who confess our sins and in Him trust.
I can't even tell you how great it is,
When you become a child of His.
It's different from all you've ever had, You ought to try Him, you'll be glad.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
--Mary Eldridge 3/13/03
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Do Not Love the World
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:28-40
Final Instructions
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt.Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
What does the Lord your God require of you except to listen carefully to all He says to you, and to obey for your own good the commandments I am giving you today, and to love Him, and to worship Him will all your hearts and souls. Deuteronomy 10:12-13
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
"The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26
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Don’t Let Your Love Grow Cold
Jesus tells us many things that will happen as the time gets closer to His return. Most of them I can’t do anything about: famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war.
But there’s one thing Jesus mentions in Matthew chapter 24 that I can do: don’t let my love grow cold. Jesus says:
“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12:13).
I can see how our love could grow cold. As the world approaches its grand finale, with rampant, widespread destruction, it would be easy to become embittered, frustrated, heartsick and fearful. I can see how people could turn away from God, and turn away from each other.
But Jesus gives us the key to surviving those times. And it’s really the key to surviving whatever we’re facing right now, too. The key is this: “Don’t let your love grow cold.”
When your love grows cold, the end really has come. When your love grows cold, that’s the end of joy, the end of relationships, the end of happiness, the end of hope. At all costs, whatever it takes, we need to keep our love alive. Our love for God, and our love for others.
I was speaking to a group one time about what to do when people treat us poorly. The answer, I suggested, was to “Love ’em more.” What should we do when people run away from us? “Love ’em more.” What should we do when people break our hearts and disappoint us? “Love ’em more.”
One of the people in the group came up to me the next day. She said she loved that message on “Love me more.” Whenever people would treat her poorly, she’d remind them that they’re supposed to “Love me more.” She was joking, of course, having gotten the two key letters backwards, turning “em” into “me.” It’s a minor change with major ramifications. When things get rough in relationships, we expect others to “Love me more.” But what God calls us to do is to “Love them more,” or as I put it, “Love ’em more.”
This is a message that we don’t have to wait to put into practice until the end of the world as we know it. It’s a message that we can start practicing today, so when the end comes, we’ll be ready. In fact, we’re closer to Jesus’ return today than ever before. We’re not lacking in famines, earthquakes, wars and rumors of war. If there’s a time to put our love into practice, we need to start “practicing” now.
None of us know when the day of His return will come. Although there will be signs, it will come suddenly. People will be eating and drinking as usual, marrying and giving in marriage up until that day. “Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40-41).
The grand finale of life will come upon us in an instant. What can we do about it? 1) Don’t be surprised when these things happen. Jesus says, “but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6b). 2) Don’t let your love grow cold.
How can we keep our love from growing cold? By fanning the flames of our love.
When people hurt you or mistreat you, “Love ’em more.”
When people leave you or forsake you, “Love ’em more.”
When people sin against you or hate you, “Love ’em more.”
Just like Jesus did for us when people hurt and mistreated Him, left and forsook Him, sinned against and hated Him. He just loved ’em more.
Even to the very end, the thing that will save the day will be love. As wickedness increases all around us, we need to do what Jesus did : “Love ’em more.”
Prayer: “Father, help me to love others more, even as -- and especially when -- we see the end approaching. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” --Eric Elder
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THE PARTY
Sometimes you don’t know what you are missing until you get there.
My husband and I recently had the honor of attending the Billy Graham library dedication. We knew it would be a special day, but we didn’t know we were about to witness a day of historical significance. It was not until we pulled up to dozens of huge satellite discs with every major network present that we caught on. Then came the parade of celebrities, three former presidents of the United States, and Billy Graham, himself, only ten rows away. It was like seeing Moses incarnate!
We began to feel very humbled and a little awe-struck because we knew who we were in this crowd of “greats” and we knew we had no fame or fortune to bring us there. Actually, it was my father-in-law who was invited and we just got added to his list. Someone jokingly said to us, “I guess you are wondering how I got here.” To which I replied, “I know how we got here. We just know how to ride the coat tails of our dad.”
Then, a recurring theme began to surface. One after another, the speakers credited Billy Graham with a life that reached beyond his humble roots to impact the world for God. But Billy Graham directed all the credit to God. In fact, he preferred that his name not be mentioned much in his own library. There were more stories of how embarrassed he was with so much attention. He knew it wasn’t about him.
That is when God began to speak to me, and all the star-gazing changed to focus on the Son. I realized there was more to see here than a building. I found that the key to grabbing hold of a life that makes an eternal difference is letting go. Letting go of the temporal, what matters only to me, to grasp the only thing that matters. Letting go of the weak threads of a
self-centered life and grabbing onto the coat tails of the Father. That is how we get to experience more than we could imagine. That is how we live beyond ourselves.
Then why do we settle for less than the Father has waiting for us? Unfortunately, because letting go feels unnatural. Letting go brings images of falling or failure. It is too easy to want to make a name for ourselves. We want to leave a legacy that has our signature on it. That’s what feels natural. But living a Spirit-filled life takes what is natural and makes it supernatural. Fear becomes trust, control becomes freedom and selfishness becomes humility.
We begin to live an outward-focused life. Then, a trip to the salon can turn into a listening ear and a seed is planted. A trip at the drive-thru becomes an act of kindness and someone’s view of "church" is changed. Bringing food to a sick neighbor becomes God’s love through a friendship. So why do we have this passion in our hearts to give so freely of ourselves to others?
Because we know it’s not about us.
Because we know who we really are. Just children of God who received an invitation to join Him.
Because we have a taste of where living with the Father can take us—to new heights of joy we never imagined.
Because someday there will be a gathering you really don’t want anyone to miss. With more celebrities than sand on the seashore (the real Moses included).
Because we know we did not do anything to get there on our own. We just grabbed hold of His cross and experienced an unmerited place at the banquet.
There are still too many who don’t know what they are missing!
We know the Father. Let’s make sure everyone gets invited to the party! --Susan Michelle Van Hook
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God, help us make time to partake of the nourishment offered in reading and obeying your word. Amen.
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Read Through The Bible
Genesis 43
The Second Journey to Egypt
1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little more food." 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' " 6 Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?" 7 They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. 'Is your father still living?' he asked us. 'Do you have another brother?' We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?" 8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice."
11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty [a] grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved." 15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon." 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, "We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys." 19 So they went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver—the exact weight—in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks." 23 "It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there. 26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, "How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?" 28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to pay him honor. 29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." 32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
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God, we thank you for your everlasting love and your desire for a personal relationship with us. Help us to let go of the debris of this world and to store up our treasure in heaven. In Christ's holy name. Amen.