Moral Courage, part 1
Me and my mom in 1982. Happy Mother's Day!
Moral Courage, part 1
Genesis 42
Joseph, lesson 21
When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, ‘The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly with us and took us for spies of the country. Be we said to him, we are honest men, we are not spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father today in the land of Canaan.
The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men; leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go. But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.
But Jacob said, ‘My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow. 42:29-38 Read more
I Fear God
This is my grandson Ryker on our recent trip to Maui.
I Fear God
Genesis 42
Joseph, lesson 20
Now Joseph said to them on the third day, ‘Do this and live, for I fear God; if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.’ and they did so.
Then they said to one another, ‘Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul, when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore, this distress has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, saying, ‘Did I not tell you, do not sin against the boy; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.
They did not know, however, that Joseph understood, for there was an interpreter between them. He turned away from them and wept. Genesis 42:18-24 Read more
Sowing and Reaping
This pic is with our grandsons in Maui last week.
Folks, my schedule has been especially busy recently and is going to continue for a little while. The time it takes to write, edit and post 5 days a week has been a little challenging. I'm going to post Monday, Wednesday and Friday for awhile to catch my breathe. Thank you for reading and thanks to many for the kind and encouraging emails.
God bless, Larry
Sowing and Reaping
Genesis 42
Joseph, lesson 19
The full effect of the famine has set in. Jacob has sent his sons to Egypt to purchase grain. They came before Joseph, who was the master over the distribution of the storehouse of grain.
But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and said to them, ‘You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.’ Then they said to him, ‘No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man; we are honest men, your servants are not spies.’ Your servants are twelve brothers in all, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no longer alive.’
Joseph said to them...by this you will be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here! ...So he put them all together in prison for three days. 42:8-17.
The day of reckoning is here. The sowing of wickedness will eventually reap the consequences of justice. The full circle of irony has arrived: Read more
Fancy Meeting You Here!
Folks, my schedule has been especially busy recently and is going to continue for a little while. The time it takes to write, edit and post 5 days a week has been a little challenging. I'm going to post Monday, Wednesday and Friday for awhile to catch my breathe. Thank you for reading and thanks to many for the kind and encouraging emails. God bless, Larry
This is a scene from our walk on the beach in Maui.
Fancy Meeting You Here!
Genesis 42
Joseph, lesson 18
After a break last week, we are back to the story of Joseph and the Covenant keeping providence of God in our lives. Joseph has interpreted the Pharoah’s dream and seven years of famine will be coming upon them after seven years of great abundance. Pharoah exalted Joseph to second in the kingdom, but Joseph didn’t just sit around and enjoy the luxuries of life in the palace. Pharoah assigned authority and responsibility to Joseph to prepare Egypt for the drought. Joseph went to work during the time of plenty and worked with the people to save and store food for the future.
When seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread...The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth. 41:53-57 Read more
Behold, Our God! 4
Nate and Ryker chillin' in Maui.
Behold, Our God! 4
Great is Your Holiness
- God’s holiness is His defining attribute. All others characteristics flow from His holiness.
- The holiness of God is not to be conceived of as one attribute among others. It is rather a general term representing the conception of God’s consummate perfection and total glory. It is His infinite moral perfection crowning His infinite intelligence and power. Charles Hodge
- Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty. Revelation 4:8
- I saw the Lord, sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple...Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. Isaiah 6:1-3
- For thus says the High and Exalted One who lives forever, My name is holy. Isaiah 57:15
- He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning the wisdom. Psalms 111:9,10
- Lord, we have a name for You and it is Holy, Holy, Holy. You are so much more than a few attributes. How can You be loving and merciful and just and righteous at the same time? Because You are holy. How can You be separate and unique from us and far above us yet be close and intimate at the same time? Because You are holy. You are not pigeon-holed or placed in a box so that we can feel like we understand You or can explain You. No, You are Holy, Holy, Holy. There is none like You! Amen!
Behold, Our God! 3
My daughter, Beri and Joe
Behold, Our God! 3
Great is Your Wisdom
- So that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. Ephesians 3:10
- Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:33-36
- But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits. James 3:17
- In Your wisdom, You not only know everything, but You act wisely in all matters; including all matters regarding me. Your wisdom leads to Your perfect decisions every time. I don’t have to worry that my providence is left to chance; that I may be forgotten; that I am a victim of random circumstances; that I am on my own. In Your wisdom, you not only know what is best for me but you apply it to my life in perfect harmony; orchestrated with perfect timing, tempo and pitch. It is well with my soul because You apply Your perfect wisdom to my life. Amen!
Behold, Our God! 2
The amazing McCary family!
Behold, Our God! 2
This week, let’s reflect upon the amazing attributes of God through this compilation of attributes & scriptures. They describe, from God’s Word, the attributes of God that He directs toward those He loves.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God. I John 3:1
Great is Your Mercy (to withhold what we deserve)
- David said to Gad, ‘I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands. 2 Samuel 24:14
- Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Psalms 51:1
- But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ. Ephesians 2:4,5
- To give to His people the knowledge of salvation, by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us; to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace. Luke 1:77-79
- Father, how is it that you saw me when I was poor, destitute, wandering aimlessly down the dark alleys and feeding on the trash of the streets? What about me gained your attention? How is it that you saw me, took me into your palace, bathed me, fed me and wiped away every ounce of shame and despair? Every remnant of my past failures is wiped away as well as every foolish thing I will do in the future. Behind and before there is no hint of condemnation, no ledger of wrongdoing, no record of my sins? Where did they go? They are nowhere to be found! Who deserves such mercy? I know I don’t; nevertheless, here it is. Mercy Me! May I now live everyday ‘pinching myself’ as a reminder that I AM UTTERLY AND TOTALLY FORGIVEN!
Behold, Our God
He is the God of the city!
Behold, Our God! 1
This week, let’s take a break from Genesis and reflect upon the amazing attributes of God through this compilation of attributes & scriptures. They describe, from God’s Word, the attributes of God that He directs toward those He loves.
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God. I John 3:1
Great is Your Goodness
- Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalms 34.8
- You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Psalms. 119.68
- Every good and perfect gift comes from above... James 1.17
- And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes. Roman 8.28
- Father, Your good goes way beyond what we understand as ‘good’. Your ‘good’ covers everything that intersects our lives with Your mind-boggling Providence that takes us to heaven with a heart ready for eternity. Regardless of the temporary circumstances of this world, You have changed our hearts and there is nothing is better!
The New
The New Covenant
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises...Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will effect a New Covenant...I will put My laws into their minds and I will write them on their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be My people...For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:8-12
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 12:20,21
I ended last time with this statement, Read more