Tag Archive | trust

Joseph’s Bad Rap

Sep15

His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms. — Genesis 37:4

When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. — Genesis 37:18

Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own  flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. — Genesis 37:27

Now in Egypt.

Now when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your slave did to me,” his anger burned. So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail. — Genesis 39:19-20

So here is Joseph, the adored son of Jacob, facing the jealousy of his ten brothers, and the wiles of his master’s wife. From what I could tell he was respectable, a good Jewish boy, a follower of God. So why all the struggles? Because life is hard.

I admire Joseph and have always loved his story. He doesn’t handle obstacles, misfortune, struggles like most would. Look at his brothers and Potipher’s wife when they faced issues in their lives. Joseph faced them with God. How are you facing life’s issues? We should follow Joseph’s example and solely lean on God. He sees the big picture as you would see if you read the whole story of Joseph’s life.

The choice is yours.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Biblegateway.com

Eyes Wide Open

Sep8

Abraham’s wife and her maid, the mother of Abraham’s son Ishmael, did not always get along (to say the least). Sarah finally said, enough is enough, and went to Abraham to have her and Ishmael sent away. In great distress, but in obedience to God, Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

So Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder, and gave her the boy, and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about in the wilderness of Beersheba.

When the water in the skin was used up, she left the boy under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him, about a bowshot away, for she said, “Do not let me see the boy die.” And she sat opposite him, and  lifted up her voice and wept. God heard the lad crying; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter with you, Hagar? Do not fear, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him by the hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” Then God  opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink. — Genesis 21:14-19

Have you been there? I’m sure you have because life is not always kind. You are at the end of your rope, as Hagar is, and so you just distance yourself from the ones you love and focus on the situation before you. Have we forgotten the promises of God as Hagar did?

Moreover, the angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be too many to count.” The angel of the Lord said to her further,

“Behold, you are with child,
And you will bear a son;
And you shall call his name Ishmael,
Because the Lord has given heed to your affliction.

“He will be a wild donkey of a man,
His hand will be against everyone,
And everyone’s hand will be against him;
And he will live to the east of all his brothers.” — Genesis 16:10-12

God made His presence know and when she was reminded her eyes were open to God’s provision.

Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water; and she went and filled the skin with water and gave the lad a drink.

Our focus needs to be on God so we can see His provision. His way. His purpose. Seek Him through His Word where His promises will encourage us, strengthen us and lead us for our good and His glory. And when our focus shifts, we must seek Him in prayer to return our hearts to Him.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Trust The Truth

Sep5

“The Rock! His work is perfect,
For all His ways are just;
A God of faithfulness and without injustice,
Righteous and upright is He.

— Deuteronomy 32:4

Do you believe that God, the Rock, is perfect, just, upright and faithful? Then why don’t you trust Him completely? Surrender everything and trust Him with your life.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

The Calm In The Storm

Jul9

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. — Matthew 8:24

Jesus Himself was asleep. Wow!!! What confidence He had in the Father. What peace He had in the Father. What a witness to us of where our trust must lie in the midst of the storm.

Where do you find your calm in the storm?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Plow, Sow, Cultivate, Reap

Apr14

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,
You have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, — Hosea 10:13

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. — Galatians 6:7-8

The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength. — Psalm 33:16

Trust in the Lord and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. — Psalm 37:3

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight. — Proverbs 3:5-6

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

“Good Behavior”

Mar13

For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. — Romans 13:3-5

When I was a younger woman I always feared authority. Probably a good thing in my teens. Fear in itself is not a bad thing depending on what and who you fear. Fear of something can keep you from danger and regretful consequences. Who you fear can make you respectful to persons and to avoid getting involved with others.

As I matured my fear of authority changed a bit when I realized the One I should fear, God, was the authority over all authority. So, do I want to have no fear of authority? Then I must do what is good.

One of those “do what is good” things, for conscience sake was to obey God’s Word about obeying the law of the land set by and enforced by those in authority. You know the unwritten rule that says you can go over the speed limit by 5? Well, my conscience said that the law says, “Limit” which means the maximum. So, yes, I am that annoying person in front of you going the speed limit.

I’m not writing this to brag but I’ve learned a lot about obeying God by following the speed limit. Like: is it okay to disobey when everyone else is? Is it okay to disobey if I’m inconvenienced (in this case, running late for work)? It’s okay to disobey just a little if I’m anxious to get to my destination, right? I thank God for my limits that keep me safe and my conscience clear. Now that, my friend, is peace.

And I like to think that God blesses my obedience, even when I am tempted to be disobedient (in this case speeding), by blessing me with green lights, merging on the freeway clear of any traffic, no traffic delays, etc. Once again, I made it to work on time. Amazing!

That’s my God, AMAZING!!!!!

Are you trusting God by being obedient?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Convinced?

Feb20

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? — Romans 8:35

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

Do you believe that Jesus is God? Do you trust Him as your Lord? Then nothing can separate you from the love of God.

God’s love for mankind was and is so great that He sent Jesus, His only Son to be crucified so that through Him we may be reconciled to God. Don’t miss what is written, that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. You are already separated from God if you don’t know Jesus as Savior and Lord. But the good news is that after you are reconciled to God, nothing can separate you from the love of God.

Do you believe what is written?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

“It”

Jan25

for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. — Romans 1:16b

“It”. The gospel. “It”. Jesus Christ. “It”. Power.

Trust in “It” to save you by believing. Trust in “It” to save others by telling.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm 146

Jan2

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.
5 How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.

8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
9 The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord! — Psalm 146

Remember And Hope

Dec31

Psalm 33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

33 Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.
16 The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
17 A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.

As we leave behind 2014, remember the great things God has done, the greatest of which was Jesus. We just celebrated the birth of our Lord six days ago and now we look forward to 2015 with hope for what lies ahead. What greater hope can we possibly have than the hope we have in Jesus. May your New Year be filled with the hope found only in Jesus Christ.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon