JANUARY 20, 2020

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow.” 
― Thomas Paine

GENESIS 46-48

28Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father^h and wept for a long time.

30Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”(46:1-4)

MATTHEW 14:22-36

25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

JOURNAL 

The triumphant end of the story of Joseph is really the stuff of a fairy tale. It is an absolutely amazing story, especially given that it occurs within the political structure of one of the most powerful kingdoms on earth. Jacob could have never dreamed that this would be how his story would end, in fact when it appeared that everything was turning against Jacob it was really turning for him. I cannot imagine the emotion he must have felt when he finally was able to reunite with Joseph.

It is because of these stories that Jesus reprimands Peter...and it is because of these that must put my own faith in context. This is why things must be written down. It allows us to reflect and understand God in ways that are far greater than the circumstances of today. It helps me to trust him and understand that I too have a place in the story but that story is far bigger than today. Yet my story matters and my actions matter. It is why God and God only is to be the ruler of our lives. For when God is Lord of our lives...He promises that it will not be in vain. He promises that redemption will come and we will get our happy ever after...one way or another. 

28Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father^h and wept for a long time.

30Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”

GENESIS 46:28-30

JANUARY 19, 2020

“Today is the only day in which we have any power.” 
― Steve Maraboli

GENESIS 44-45

27“Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since. 29If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’

30“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, 31sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 32Your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father. I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!’

33“Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.”(44:27-33)

MATTHEW 14:1-21

13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

JOURNAL 

What an ending to a great story...Judah is willing to take the place of Benjamin. Joseph had created a test for his brothers...they passed the test when Judah was willing and actually demanded to take Benjamin's place. At this point Joseph knew that the heart and motives of his brothers had changed. He also was able to see that this path was necessary. It in no way was how he imagined it would happen...yet had it not, they all would have died from starvation and God's promise to Jacob would have been shattered. 

Jesus being overwhelmed by grief of John's beheading, withdraws to mourn, yet the crowds follow. He has compassion on them and that same day he feeds them all from the few baskets of fish...what a day and to think that it started after hearing of the beheading of John the Baptist. It started in grief and ended in triumph.

This is a reminder that by waking up this morning, God has authorized and approved of my place, right here, right now. Do I dismiss this and waste the opportunity? It is an opportunity to act, to get better, to become better and to do it seeking and trusting God. Joseph did this every day after he was sold into slavery. I am sure he had his down moments...how could he not, locked in prison and forgotten? He had to think that he was as far from the vision God gave him as possible, yet he was closer than he could have imagined. 

That is the message of God for me...I believe when we seek him he gives us visions of the future and the life we are to live, yet he also gives us comfort no matter where we are in that story. Even if we are in a circumstance that seems impossible, He still gives us purpose and motivation to give our best, seek him and win the moments and the day. 

When I look at Jesus and Joseph the lesson is crystal clear...give my best today and trust God to bless it. This is truly the best way for me to obey and honor God. In doing so I get to experience his presence, his passion and his purpose. That and that alone is worth it all. 

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

1  CORINTHIANS 1:3-4

JANUARY 18, 2020

“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.” 
― Frederick Buechner

GENESIS 42-43

29As 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.” 30Deeply 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.(42:29-30)

MATTHEW 13:33-58

36Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one,39and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

JOURNAL 

The effect of family on our hearts and in our lives is undeniable. Joseph is overcome with emotion by just seeing Benjamin. Even though it has been 20+ years, his emotions are fresh and he loves his brothers despite the harm they did to him. Joseph is now an extremely powerful leader with a family of his own, yet his own family still he holds close to his heart. 

While the strong emotions of family is certainly a gift, it also can feel like a curse depending on our own family circumstance. How we are raised and those people we call family will always hold a firm and powerful place in our lives. It is important to be aware of this as we seek to obey God. Many times our hearts are still far behind and buried under the experiences of our youth. These experiences can shape our view of life, of God and our current relationships. There may be things that need to be redeemed and healed, because they never will be forgotten. As with Joseph, money, success, new family etc. can never remove them from our hearts and minds. 

18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

1 PETER 1:18-19

JANUARY 17, 2020

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” 

― Maya Angelou

GENESIS 41

33“And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

37The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God^a ?”

39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”(41:33-40)

MATTHEW 13:1-32

18“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:19When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path.20The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

JOURNAL 

Joseph just kept on being Joseph. Devoted to God, humble and consistent. Two years after the cupbearer failed to tell Pharaoh about Joseph...Pharoah has a dream that no-one can interpret and the cupbearer remembers Joseph. 

Then he gets his chance and he is honored and put in charge of ALL of Egypt. To really put that in perspective is like a prisoner becoming President of the United States in one day. What a story...what a God! Yet this is the way God works, when things seem absolutely at their worst God as only God can...comes through.

Thinking through it further...it really is the parable of the seed...Joseph is the good soil that took the seed, understood it and it produced a crop many times more than what was sown. It wasn't because Joseph suddenly had a change of heart...no...Joseph remained the same throughout the 15+ year ordeal.  Joseph was faithful and when the timing was right, God flipped the switch. 

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

GALATIANS 6:7-9

JANUARY 16, 2020

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.” 
― Martin Luther

GENESIS 38-40

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.(39:20-23)

MATTHEW 12:22-50

33“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 

JOURNAL 

I think it is easy to become calloused to stories. Growing up hearing the story of Joseph it is easy to pass right over the difficult parts...because you know how the story ends. But here in the midst of the story as it ends in chapter 40...it all seems pretty hopeless. "The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Joseph has been betrayed by his brothers, cast into prison for 13 years, miraculously brought out of prison and then falsely accused and thrown back in. He now has served several more years and finally gets a break and interprets the chief cupbearer's dream who is then supposed to say a good word in order to get Joseph out of prison. Then in a seemingly fatal, final twist...he forgets about Joseph. 

At this point I really think I would have come completely apart. How cruel God? Really?!? It's really kind of twisted. How is this not too much for Joseph? The only way it's not too much is because Joseph's goals are different than what mine would be. Joseph's objective ultimately is not about his status or position but rather being obedient to God. Whether he is in prison or a ruler of Egypt...does not matter. What matter's to Joseph is glorifying God through his obedience. This is a really tough realization...this is why scripture is so important. I need to be constantly reminded of the ways in which my thinking and the world miss the mark. 

I think this is what Jesus means when he says that "a tree is recognized by its fruit"...your intent will come out of you. If it is for your self...then no matter where you are or what position in life...selfishness will come out of you. However if your intent is goodness and love and obedience to God, then no matter where you are or what circumstances you find yourself, you will continue to seek goodness and follow God and therefore goodness will flow from your life. 

21Whoever pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperity^c and honor.

PROVERBS 21:21