Real Adoption
I have a happy grandson on his last day of kindergarten!
Real Adoption
Genesis 48
Joseph, lesson 36
Here’s the true picture of our devotional study this morning...I just read Genesis 48 and I really have no idea of the main point of the passage. This is a little embarrassing. This is a like having a bad dream that I’m standing up to preach and I realize I’m only wearing my underwear.
There are so many smarter Bible teachers than me. I trust you know that. My goal of writing this blog is to share with you my journey of going through the Bible chapter by chapter and NOT giving into the temptation to skip over chapters that aren’t initially motivating, interesting or devotional.
My process is to follow the pattern of the three R’s. Read, Reflect and wRite. Part of reflecting is praying for enlightenment, reviewing the notes of my study Bible and maybe a few other Bible Study sources. Then I just start writing and prayerfully ask for clarity. Sometimes I write for a while and look back and realize, ‘I got nothing.’ It’s just not good at all. So I’ll scrape it and start again. It sounds frustrating and it kind of is. But I remind myself that the experience of wrestling with the Word is actually the source of my greatest spiritual growth. It is the great adventure of discovering the richness of God’s Word and therefore, the depth and breadth of God Himself. I encourage all of you to do the same.
Okay, I have been avoiding this chapter, so, let’s get to it: Read more
One-Sided
This mug shot is of my grandson Ryker. It was about 10 months ago. Moving to a new home, a new country and leaving his moma for the first day of kindergarten. Come back next time to see his pic on the last day of kindergarten this week.
One-Sided
Psalms 145
In our general conversations with people, whether close family and friends or casual acquaintances, the flow of the conversation is usually two-sided. Otherwise, we get irritated. Sometimes we talk or meet someone and we walk away saying, ‘I couldn’t get a word in edgewise’. That’s a one-sided conversation in which a person only speaks about themselves or their experiences. But in most cases, our conversations are mutual in that we speak of our perspective and listen to the other’s perspective.
David writes Psalms that are two-sided. He will begin by telling God how he feels (usually distressed and hurting) and then He writes from God’s perspective to bring him back to the right place. I think of it as; ‘David takes himself low writing about himself and then brings himself back up by writing about God.’
Psalm 145 is different. It is completely one-sided. It is all about God!!! Praise and worship is not a conversation of mutual sharing. It is all about God. David writes 21 glorious verses about God: Who He is and what He has done! When I reflect, I have to admit, it is not natural for us to speak or write this way. Read more
The Fairness Doctrine
This is Leigh's brother Jim and his beautiful family.
The Fairness Doctrine
Genesis 47
Joseph, lesson 35
Pharaoh said to Jacob, ‘How many years have you lived?’ So, Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life.’ 47.8
In my older age, I have found myself to be more and more reflective. Jacob, in his old age becomes reflective in front of Pharaoh and says, ‘few (compared to Abraham and Isaac) and unpleasant have been the years of my life.’
The Bible is filled with stories of victory and joy. But this morning I’m reminded that many of the Bible characters lived difficult and painful lives. These weren’t the villains of the stories; they were servants of God and part of His plan and work. In Jacob’s case, part of what contributed toward his unpleasant life was his own sowing and reaping. But at the same time, God allowed Jacob to suffer, mostly emotionally and relationally, in order to accomplish His purposes. Read more
Glorious Reunion
My dear friend from Malawi, Pastor Charles Tsukuluza, with his wife Ella, graduated with a doctorate in Theology.
Glorious Reunion
Genesis 46
Joseph, lesson 34
Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.
Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, ‘I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 46:29-31.
Allow me to mention a boring detail for a moment. I haven’t fully researched this yet, (I guess because it’s kind of boring), but for some reason, the Egyptians did not mingle with keepers of livestock. When Pharaoh set up Jacob and his clan in the land of Goshen, they were isolated from the rest of Egypt. Providentially, it seems God had all this planned out so that the Israelites would flourish and grow without Egyptian intermingling.
As to the devotional part of the text and in an effort to be transparent with you in my journey through this section of Genesis, all I can say is ‘I got nothing.’ You recall that Jacob wrestled with the angel of the Lord and he would not let go until he received a blessing. Well, I feel like I’ve been wrestling with Genesis 46 and 47 the last couple of days and I don’t have any rich and inspiring insights of devotional application. Read more
When You Don’t Feel Like It
When You Don’t Feel Like It
Psalms 143
Hear my prayers, O Lord; give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness! 143:1
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead. Therefore, my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart is appalled within me. 143.3,4
Bringing accountability into my life to have daily time with God has been so good for me. However, I could say, ‘sometimes I love accountability and other times, well, I don’t.’
Can you relate? Read more
To Contend
This is me and Leigh recently attending the HS graduation of our goddaughter, Ally Bennett, in Danville, CA
To Contend
Genesis 46 & Hosea 12
Joseph, lesson 33
Last time, we read that Jacob stopped to worship and hear from God on his trek to Egypt to see Joseph. Jacob had many faults but we can learn from his passion to interact with God. You can read about Jacob’s night of wrestling with the angel of God, the pre-incarnate Son of God, in Genesis 32:24-32. However, most people don’t realize that the prophet Hosea wrote a God-inspired commentary about Jacob’s experience.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel, and in his maturity, he contended with God. Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor.
He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the Lord, the God of hosts, The Lord is His name.
Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually. Hosea 12.3-6 Read more
Voice of God
This is Buster Mikesell carrying a fellow recruit during training. He is the son of Michelle, one of my work associates and follower of my blog. On the 75th anniversary of D-Day last week, Buster completed Marine-Recruit training and became a Marine! We are forever grateful for his service and for all our military who serve to protect our freedom!
Voice of God
Genesis 46
Joseph, lesson 32
Then Israel said, ‘It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’
So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes. 46:1-4
God Speaks
Sometimes we need to be reminded of the voice of God. He speaks and He affirms that ‘I am God; do not be afraid; I am in control; you can trust Me; I will keep My promises.’ Read more
A Big God
A Big God
Genesis 45
Joseph, lesson 31
Now when the news was heard in Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, it pleased Pharaoh and his servants. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, 'do this: load your beasts and go to the land of Canaan, and take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.’
‘Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ Genesis 45:16-20
When reading Bible narratives, such as this, I try to keep in my mind that there is a ‘big picture’ plan that God is unfolding within the story. In addition, He is giving particular attention to the individual lives that He is affecting while accomplishing His large-scale purposes. It’s the same thing in our lives. We are not the center of the world. Jesus is the center of the universe. God is accomplishing His large-scale plan around us and we are His subjects in His massive production. Read more
I Am Your Savior
I Am Your Savior
Genesis 45
Joseph, lesson 30
If you have access to Google, then you can find many stories of siblings reunited. Some are more compelling and emotional than others, but all are remarkable. But none compare to the story of Jacob’s sons.
- Joseph’s brothers intend to kill him. At the last minute, they instead sell him into slavery and guarantee him a life of misery. Most likely, he will die an early death.
- Through a series of unlikely events, Joseph gains favor with the Pharaoh of Egypt and rises to the top ranks of leadership of a foreign nation. The likelihood of such a chain of events is a trillion to one.
- The brothers of Joseph end up bowed down in front of Joseph in desperate need of food, just like Joseph predicted twenty years earlier. The odds of this are a hundred trillion to one.
- Through a series of moral tests, the brothers exhibited transformed hearts, led by the blood-line heir to the Messiah, Judah. Joseph forgives his brothers and with uncontrolled tears, reveals the truth: I AM YOUR BROTHER! This level of forgiveness is unfathomable. It is a picture of the forgiveness of Christ toward me and you.