Genesis 46, 2 Chronicles 20, John 12:37-50, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, Psalm 34: Today’s passages are filled with so much hope! A long lost son sees his father again. Israel thought his son was dead and yet not only was he alive, but he was second only to Pharaoh and was the reason many would live through the famine.
Jehoshaphat faced certain destruction as 3 conquering forces joined together to attack Judah. The country fasted and prayed and God told them to stand still and see Him defeat the enemy. As they praised God defeated all 3 conquering forces and when the watchers looked out to all they saw were dead bodies! It took 3 days to collect all of the spoils of war.
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
And the Psalm overflows with Thanksgiving.
Psalm 34:
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!
All of these have a focus of remembering who is in control even in the darkest times. We are to pray, praise and trust the Lord at all times. As we trust Him He can and will fight for us and bring about what we never thought possible. In His strength through His power nothing is impossible!!!! Now whatever your struggle is, take it to Him and praise Him for the answer He is providing. Trust Him and know that someone greater than your greatest challenge is fighting for you!

Genesis 44, 2 Chronicles 16-17, John 12:1-19, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Psalm 32: HE’S COMING BACK!!! If you heard me shouting you are exactly right. I am!!! Jesus is coming back. Check out 1 Thessalonians 4 to get all of the details for yourself of how it will happen. Here is a thumbnail sketch.
1 Thessalonians 4:6 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
This is why so many are keeping their eyes and ears open. With the shape our world is in there are many of us expecting it at any minute! The trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will rise and we will meet them in the air! Then we will go home to be with Him FOREVER!! No more tears, no more sorrow, no more bills to pay, no more sin to corrupt, no more pain, NO MORE SATAN to tempt!!!! GLORY!!!!! I can’t wait! May it be today. And yet, if it were today who do you love who would be left behind.
Don’t wait, share today!!! When He returns it will be like any other ordinary day. There won’t be warning sirens. It will happen in the blink of an eye. That is why we have got to get ready ourselves and tell others today. We long for none to be left behind. This is our purpose not just today but every day!

Genesis 41, 2 Chronicles 10-11, John 11:1-16, 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5, Psalm 29 What if…… What if for God to receive the greatest glory you had to go through the darkest times. Would you be willing?
That is one of the hardest questions as a believer we will ever face. I can’t imagine what it was like for Mary and Martha as they cried out to their friend that was their only hope. Then for Him to delay until in their minds all hope was lost. Their darkest days were upon them. Yet Jesus knew that this would be the biggest sign of His Sonship. When Jesus addressed his disciples even before Lazarus’ death He said it was for God’s glory. In the end we know Lazarus’ death fed the hatred of the Jews toward Jesus and gave them again a reason to want Him dead. It was one of the trigger points that began the end of Jesus’ ministry here on earth.
Your darkest days may not look anything like Mary and Martha’s, but your struggle could still have the same purpose. As we trust God through our trials He can receive great glory! We show the world around us that God is real. He is powerful and He has power over all creation. He is Healer, Provider, Shelter in the storm and so much more.
If you are in these dark days don’t give up even when it looks like all hope is lost. God can and will come through. He may not bring your loved one back to life, but He can be a comfort through the storm. He can speak peace over you when all around you is chaos, and He can provide when there looks like all is lost. Hold on my friend. Keep believing and see the power of God at work in and through you. You never know whose life may be affected by seeing your faith. May He be glorified!

Genesis 39-40, 2 Chronicles 9, John 10:22-42, 1 Thessalonians 2:9-16, Psalm 28: The story of Joseph always fascinates me. I can’t imagine how he could hold on with such faith when time after time it looks like he just gets a bad break or things are stacked against him. Yet in the prison of the turns of his life God still favors him and he is entrusted with greater and greater responsibilities. Even then the payback for kindness doesn’t seem to be rewarded.
Yet God’s economy and ours is very different. God used these prisons to refine Joseph and prepare him for the coming tasks. His ability to manage people and resources were being given opportunity to grow. His experiences taught him lessons that would serve him well in days to come. In each of the twists and turns he held tightly to his faith and God rewarded that obedience.
What a great reminder to me as well as challenge. Life may not have you were you want to be or where you thought you would be right now, but God is still at work. Around our house we call that in the Meanwhile God is doing something we can’t always see. His plans are best and His timing is perfect. What we see is not always accurate to what will be needed in days and weeks to come so trust the Father’s hand and His timing. He may have huge plans for you in days to come but wants to refine and prepare you in the trenches you presently serve.
No matter where you are I pray today that you will know and experience God’s favor. I pray you will be diligent and obedient right where you are. Then when the time is right I pray you too will rise to the challenges you will face with His power and His strength at work in you.

Genesis 38, 2 Chronicles 7-8, John 10:1-21, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Psalm 27: It is easy to see how God was pleased with Solomon and the people of Israel in 2 Chronicles 7. They had completed the building of the temple. They were feasting in His honor. They were offering up sacrifices by the thousands. Their hearts were red hot for God and their actions showed it. God responded like this.
2 Chronicles 7:12Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. 13When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
It almost makes you want to shout along with them doesn’t it! But God spoke over me “Page this is how I feel about you when you confess your sin, offer prayers of thanksgiving and bring Me honor. It is not about the animals or the building. It is about the heart that is pleasing and willing to obey.” Wow! I too can have these blessings poured out on me! My Father will hear my prayer as I humble my heart before Him. He will forgive my sin and help me as I turn from my ways to His. He will heal my land. As our nation debates many things that are far from God’s plan I want Him to find me humble, clean, interceding for those who have no voice yet. I want Him to find me standing in the gap for leaders trying to stand up for truth. I want Him to be well pleased with me and I long for Him to heal this country I love. I offer Him my heart. He offers me healing and prayers heard. May He be glorified in us His church today.

Genesis 27; 1 Chronicles 24-25; John 7:25-36; Galatians 4:1-7; Psalm 19: Did you see the blood moon Sunday night. What went through your mind? I wonder if you did not quote some of Psalm 19.

19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

The Psalm goes on to speak of how nature speaks the majesty of God. His handiwork speaks to His greatness day by day and night by night. If all of nature calls out His majesty how do so many of us miss it?

As I pondered this it made the think of an illustration I heard once about a man who did not believe that God made the heavens and earth. He thought it all just came together by accident or on its own. The illustrator said, that is like taking all of the pieces that make an expensive Swiss watch, putting them all in a bag, shaking the bag and it coming out as a working time piece. The chances of that happening are non existent. But God, our intelligent Designer spoke and creation took form from nothing. He did not even need the pieces in the bag. He spoke not shook and light, darkness, sky, sea, land, vegetation, animals, fish, and eventually man were all created. By His word and His hand all things came to be.

So when you look at the blood moon or even the stars at night you can know the same Intelligent Designer who created all things is still in control. Not only that but He longs for an audience with you today. He loves you and hears your every thought. That is why the Psalmist ended with this verse and so will we.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Genesis 26; 1 Chronicles 23; John 7:14-24; Galatians 3:15-29; Psalm 18: Years ago Life Action Ministries come to our church and preached a revival. God did huge things that week and some of the wise saying and principles helped form our parenting philosophy. We see one of those principles lived out in our scripture today. “What we excuse in moderation our children will practice in excess.”
Isaac had heard how his father had deceived leaders by telling them that Sarah was his sister. For them it was somewhat true because she was a half sister. For Isaac it was completely false when he claimed the same thing. Isaac had watched his father tell half truths and justify his behavior. For the son deception became an acceptable practice because he had watched his father. It is interesting that Isaac names one of his sons Jacob which means deceiver. That son would live up to his name deceiving his own father.
What do you practice in moderation believing that just a little won’t hurt? Remember there is alway someone watching you. If you call yourself a Christ follower remember whose name you carry. Ask these things:
* Would I do this if Jesus was sitting here with me?
* What is contributing to making me feel like this is okay?
* Will this bring glory to God?
As you work through those questions evaluate your answers. Jesus is within you not just beside you. Through the power of the Holy Spirit you can say no to whatever the temptation. If fear of man and peer pressure pushes you, stand strong in the power of the Spirit. Be You not them! In the end our purpose is to bring Him glory so say no to the desires of the flesh to say yes to the Spirit. Keep some verses of scripture on your tongue and in your mind that will help you fight the fleshly desires for things that will never satisfy and may bring even greater heart ache as you children repeat the behaviors. God’s strength is there for you!

Genesis 25; 1 Chronicles 21-22; John 7:1-14; Galatians 3:1-14; Psalm 17: Do you have the gift of being able to see things before they are there? Last evening we were talking with a gentleman that is a metal fabricator. He said of himself, “I can just see things before they are there.” He has the ability to look at metal and see a door, gate, or wall. Others have the ability to look at a piece of fabric and see a dress, shirt, or outfit. David had the gift of vision as well. He looked at the Ark of the Covenant and the tent it was in. Then he dreamed and visioned a grand temple to put it in that would honor God. So he began to make plans. Though he was not the builder, he was definitely the one who saw what would one day become the temple. He began gathering stones, timbers, gold, silver and the other items that would adorn the beautiful place of worship. Solomon became the eventual architect that made it happen, but David dreamed the dream.

It reminds me of the story of Walt Disney. He dreamed the dream of a place where people could come and see stories come to life. He had a vision of rides, shows, and food that would please the eye and the taste buds. Walt died before the park ever opened. At the opening of the great part one man said, “I wish Walt was here to see this.” Walt Disney’s wife said, “He did!” You see Walt had the gift of seeing a vision and making it come to pass.

Has God given you a vision? Does it seem too big to really come true? Don’t worry about the details, just start where you are and begin to work toward that dream. You may or may not be the one to finish it, but with God’s help you may very well see it come to pass.

Genesis 24, 1 Chronicles 19-20,
John 6:60-71, Galatians 2:11-21, Psalm 16: I really do love Hallmark movies. I know you may be thinking but they all end the same. That’s okay with me as long of the good guys win. lol Today’s bible story reads so much like a Hallmark movie. What seems impossible as the Father gives command to the servant to travel to His homeland and find a bride for his son becomes reality. The servant travels far and wide to the homeland and prays as he travels that he will not disappoint his master. He gives the Lord the exact scenario that he would like to see happen and before his eyes it comes to pass. A beautiful young woman gives him a drink from the water she has drawn and offers to water his camels until they are full as well. I wonder what the expression on his face looked like. Was it awe? Was it a smile? Then to ask this same young woman who her family was and to find out it was his Master’s family line I can see why he could hold the gold ring and bracelets no longer. I wonder if he was giddy with delight are in shock and awe mode still praying that he would find a receptive male heir when he talked to him. In the end the real shock was when Rebecca said yes because it meant she would leave to go far away never to see her family again. Her mom asked for a few weeks with her, but Rebecca said no that she was ready to go. So they departed. The icing on the cake was the reaction of Isaac when the servant brought him his wife. She filled the empty place in his heart that his mother dying left.
I wish I could say they lived happily ever after. We will read their story and it does have some bends in the road, but it is a beautiful love story. Did you know God is writing a beautiful story in your life as well. He longs to fill the empty places in your heart. Some important things to keep in mind are prayer was a huge part of the story. Are you praying? The servant went looking. Are you looking daily for where God is at work around you? He acted upon what he saw. Do you go through the paths the Father is opening for you or are you scared to take the next steps? The great payoff may be just around the corner of your next decision. Last thought, we read this as though it happened in a day or two. That is not accurate. It took weeks and maybe even months for the servant to travel that far and to return. Your story is going to take a while as well. Take one step at a time one day at a time and watch the Father write your story!

Genesis 20-21 1 Chronicles 16, John 6:22-14, Galatians 1:11-24, Psalm 14: Whose gospel do you preach? You may think that an odd question, but as I look around at the people who claim the kingdom these days I have to question if we are all reading the same text. Listen to what Paul says in Galatians
1:11 “For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

I think at times we preach man’s gospel where we are not the sinners but just poor souls trying to find our way. Man’s gospel says, if you are good enough you will inherit eternal life so live life doing good. Man’s gospel says you can do what makes you happy as long as you feel like it is right in your heart. But man’s gospel is wrong and leads to hell.

God’s gospel says we are all sinners in need of a Savior! God’s gospel says the wages of that sin is death and eternal separation from God. God’s gospel says the only way to the Father is through Jesus Christ the Son and you can’t do enough good to get there. God’s gospel says it is not about being happy but being obedient to God’s commands no matter how you feel about it. God’s gospel says that no discipline feels good at the time but is necessary to bring us into right relationship to God through obedience to His word. It has nothing to do with how we feel about things. It has everything to do with how the Creator said it should be.

We have the choice of life or death. We make that choice by listening to God’s gospel or man’s, but they lead to two very different places in the end. May we all not just speak God’s gospel but live it so that others see there is a distinct difference.