After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers were fearful he would repay them for all the wrongs they had done to him (Genesis 50:15). Their assumption was that Joseph had been kind to them out of respect for their father and now that Jacob was gone, retribution was soon to come. When they met with … Continue reading Everything is in the Hands of Our Faithful God – Even the Bad Stuff
Sometimes what a friend in trouble needs is just a listening ear.
Restoring and helping a brother in trouble is task for the spiritually mature.
If you have ever watched those car or house restoration shows, you’ve seen those restorers who look at an old heap and see potential where everyone else can only see failure. Praise God the He is the Master Restorer Who can look at any broken life and still see potential not just for redemption but … Continue reading God’s Restoring Touch
As a mature believer, I have the liberty to love my Christian brothers and sisters enough not to provoke them.
John tells us that the number of miracles Jesus did in his earthly ministry was so great that the world could not contain the books it would take to record them all (John 21:25). So, to give us a clear picture of Who our Savior is, the gospels are selective in the accounts they convey. … Continue reading The Gadarene Demoniac, a Picture of Hope
For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalms 30:5, ESV) Problems seem insurmountable when you’re tired beyond your limits or when they wake you in the middle of the night. Because when the crisis is … Continue reading Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Waiting on the Lord through crisis. Do you know how hard that is? Anyone who has ever had to probably does. Waiting on the Lord usually means waiting past the endurance of our faith. Let’s face it: It’s easy to be spiritual at the beginning of a crisis, before the reality of it really takes … Continue reading We have a perfect God who loves imperfect people.
You know how in the movies the good guy gets to give the bad guy his “comeuppance?” It’s so common that it’s cliché: The bad guy’s bad. The good guy is bullied and terrorized by the bad guy. The good guy finally puts the bad guy in his place, roll credits. If Joseph’s life were … Continue reading Life’s not fair! Part 4. Reconciliation, not revenge.
What if we could go back in time and visit Joseph in prison, and let’s say we could ask him one question: “Joseph, don’t you think what’s happened to you is unfair?” I think if we were to ask him that, he’d be puzzled by the question, not because he didn’t understand it, but because … Continue reading Life’s Unfair! How to Deal with It. Part3: We worship the same God Joseph does
Grace in Waves 