Tag Archives: Stress

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Finding Fun and Laughter

A child’s laughter is my favorite sound! It is full of sheer joy. A child can be fully in a happy moment. They aren’t concerned with who is watching them. They don’t care if they get loud and rowdy. Catching the scowl of an adult can sometimes start a whole new round of giggles!

When Jesus told us we must be like a child, I think this is one of the childlike qualities He wants us to have. Do you have that “joie de vivre” (exuberant enjoyment of life), able to take joy from the present? Can you still giggle for no apparent reason?

If it’s been a while since you really laughed, it’s way past time! Find something that makes you laugh. Watch a funny movie. Watch a good comic. Dry Bar is a good start at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvlVuntLjdURVD3b3Hx7kxw. Just laugh. It’s good for you and it’s good for the environment. When you laugh, honestly and unashamedly, you bring a smile and light and mirth to those around you. You can change the atmosphere in the room. You can bring happiness into your life and others, even if it just for a moment!

Prayer Focus

Someone needing to laugh and have fun.

Prayer

Dearest God, who created laughter for us, your beloved children, help us to laugh more and to enjoy the life you gave us. Remind us how to have fun and how to share it with others. Show us how to laugh, honestly and fully, with our whole bodies. Amen.

Today’s Thought

How can I share my joy and peace with someone who needs to remember how to laugh and have fun?

Glory, Glory, Alleluia!

Photo by @claybanks on @unsplash.

God is Great! God is Awesome! God is Mighty! God is Amazing! “With God, all things are possible!” (Matthew 19:26) Praise be to our God, who will never let us drown! He will always reach out to us in times of trouble. He pulls us out of the stormy sea. He allows us to endure difficult circumstances so He can teach us things He wants us to know.

For months, I have been given one message: Persevere. Now, finally, I have been told to let loose and share my joy in Christ at a more personal level than ever before. Here is a taste of what’s been going on in the physical world for me.

I’ve been playing chicken with Satan! So far, I haven’t blinked (flinched a couple times, though). It is now a matter of hours before “my things” are gone and I am evicted. Praise be to the Almighty Father!

Photo by Delaney Dawson @delaneykate_ on @unsplash

God put this ministry in my heart. I wrote a book on the Ten Commandments, available on Amazon, and am working on a second book (on the Beatitudes). I blog and post inspirational messages. I am also writing various materials for workshops, study groups, retreats, and conferences. I donate to worthy causes, tithe, do for others what is asked. Jesus told me to persevere. I have tried very hard to be as faithful to the Lord as He is to me.

Photo by Alex Alvarez @a2_foto on @unsplash

As I approach the countdown to this physical meltdown, I have finally been given the go-ahead to share what I have endured. I believe I was green-flagged so I will have witnesses to my miracle when it arrives.

I took care of my dad around the clock, so I have no job. My bank account is currently overdrawn. I’m behind on rent and expenses. I’m even out of dog food and toilet paper! Roughly $5000 all told so far.

Photo by Joe Caione @joeyc on @unsplash

My dad’s estate, out-of-state, has to be probated, and will probably cost around $2000-3000. There are also several outstanding medical bills I haven’t yet sorted out. His mortgage keeps threatening to go into foreclosure, but his credit card has been put on hold, thankfully, until the property has settled.

This ministry requires money, in order to be taken seriously. I need up front money plus an advisory board willing to help me take this ministry to the next level and beyond. I need to draft a vision statement and a business plan. That’s at least another $2000.

I constantly keep in mind that on the other side of great obstacles are great works. I believe great things will happen as a result of this ministry as long as I persevere! Therefore, I rebuke Satan and I refuse to blink.

Glory to God! Praise Him! Shout His goodness and mercy to all corners of the land! I will sing my love for Him with my last breath on this earth! God is Great and Good! Best of all, He loves me and He loves you! Please pray for me and my miracle. THANK YOU! I will post an update when it comes.

MY REQUEST: I need witnesses for my miracle, in whatever form it takes. Please hit the LIKE button if you have read this post and are willing to pray and be a witness. It would be awesome if you’d SHARE with others, too. The more witnesses to a miracle, the greater God’s glory will be revealed when it arrives!

Help Wanted Near You

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (CEB)

Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.

Proverbs 19:17 (CEB)

Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.

Hebrews 13:16 (CEB)

Devotion

This ministry needs your help. I need your help. At this point, I am a one-person army. As much fun as it is, I can’t reach everyone who needs help. This is a worldwide ministry, after all. But, there are even needs in my own neighborhood I am having trouble fulfilling. Here are some of the people I visit in my small 55+ community. Of course, these are not their real names.

Mable lives alone. She is very frail. She has a lung condition that requires she give herself oxygen treatments every few hours. Like all of us, she has things she needs done around her house, including yardwork and mowing. I watched her walk from her kitchen to her living room, not very far at all, the other day. It took her more than a couple of minutes. There is no way she can do much for herself. Her son helps some, but he is not young and lives too far away to run over every time she needs help.

One neighbor, Sarah, moved in with another neighbor, Beverly, to take care of her as best she can. Beverly is also on oxygen, and I have never seen her without hoses in her nose. Sarah can’t drive anymore, so Beverly does the driving when they go shopping, run errands, or go to doctor appointments. Both ladies know this is not a very safe situation. Their primary need is for a driver, and help with grocery shopping and errands.

Violet is a shut-in, and needs someone to talk to, and to check in on her. She doesn’t leave her house. The only other person she sees is her caregiver, who came in on a Monday and found Violet had fallen on Saturday and badly injured herself. Worse, she was still where and how she fell, with nothing to eat or drink all weekend.

Theresa has scoliosis. Her house has some basic handyman needs. There is a soft spot in her floor at the entryway. She has a wiring problem she seems to think is minor, but needs to be fixed. There is an inside door that sticks, and when it does she has to walk all through the house to go the twenty feet from her kitchen to her living room.

I’m sure your neighborhood has a Beverly, a Mable, a Violet, a Sarah, or a Theresa. Look around. Do you have neighbors you have never seen, who are perhaps shut-ins? Would it hurt to just knock on the door occasionally to see if they are okay? Is there something you can do to help make their isolation a little less depressing and solitary? Even if they greet you gruffly and with suspicion, keep going by. One day, they will realize you are trying to be a friend. After all, it took time for them to build those barriers between them and their neighbors. It will take time to break them down.

Keep trying and keep praying. The rewards are well worth the effort! Join me, and we will conquer the world with love, one neighbor at at time.

Prayer Focus

Neighbors in need

Prayer

Lord, lead me to someone who needs my help. Show me how to reach out to them and connect with them. Let me be a blessing to them. Amen.

Final Thought

Join us!

Acting On a Dream

Photo by Mike Horton.

Bible Passages

13 Why do you complain against Him that He does not give an account of all His doings? 14 Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. 15 In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, 17 That He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep man from pride; 18 He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol.

Job 33:13-18 (NASB1995)

“I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33 (NABRE)

Devotion

I have a friend who is a struggling Vietnam veteran. He hasn’t had a good night’s sleep since he arrived in Vietnam. He was wounded, and pain flares up at times. He has also been a widower for only a few years. He misses his wife every day. He suffers inwardly much more than he lets on outwardly. He has told me several times that he lives in hell.

An ordained minister, he left the church after an incident in Vietnam. Fortunately, he never left his relationship with God. He is still very religious, and prays often. This has saved his life many times as he faces life’s difficulties.

Now retired, he makes and sells birdhouses, just to have something to occupy his mind and body. He does other woodworking projects from time to time, too. He makes beautiful furniture and decorative pieces. He is very creative and talented.

One day, he acquired a burled piece of wood he really liked, but had trouble figuring out what to make out of it. After it sat on a shelf several weeks, staring at him and begging him to make something with it, he asked God for help. That very night, he actually had a dream about it. God showed him exactly what he needed to do with that piece of wood.

With the help of an artist friend who painted the backdrop, he created the crucifixion scene pictured here. He added the crosses, but had trouble figuring out how to do the blood on Jesus’ cross. God whispered in his ear. Obedient, he grabbed a nail and pierced his own finger. He used his own blood as paint, letting it drip on the four places it was needed. He added the landscaping features and sealant. It looked just like the one in his dream.

Crucifixion scene in natural room lighting. Photo by Mike Horton.
Photo by Mike Horton.

He then brought it to his shop and put it on a display shelf. A couple of people asked him about it, but he could not part with it. A few days later, he decided to bring it home. He put it on a table in his living room, next to a scented lamp. He’d enjoy it when he passed by, but he didn’t really think much more about it than that.

Last night, he decided to light the lamp sitting next to it. Later, he left the room and turned the light off, forgetting to turn off the lamp. When he came back in the room, the cross grabbed his heart. Out loud, he exclaimed, “Whoa!” He got so excited, he took these pictures and sent them to me. Then he called. He just had to share the profound effect this had on him!

He actually got over 8 hours of sleep last night! A peaceful night’s sleep.

I believe God is using this to help him heal. By giving him a vision and a direction, God instilled in him an immediate love for that piece. Working on it gave him a new sense of purpose. His heart would not let him part with it. Now, having fully realized what he created, he is filled with a new sense of awe and wonder at God’s plan for his healing.

Side-by-side comparison of both photos.

I believe he’s going to be okay. It will take time, but he’s on the road to recovery. Obedience to God is vital to healing. Because he listened, he was rewarded with a new peace, which is beginning to settle in his soul.

Prayer Focus

War veterans

Prayer

Gracious God our Father, thank you for being there during our darkest moments, holding us tight and seeing us through to the dawn of a new day. Amen.

Final Thought

You will be amazed at what God can do when you obey.

Listen!

Man listening. Photo by larry-george-ii on unsplash.
Photo by larry-george-ii on unsplash.

Bible Passages

For God speaks again and again,though people do not recognize it.

Job 33:14-18

Be still and know that I am God.

Psalms 46:10

If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name,” says the Lord of hosts, “then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.

Malachi 2:2

But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster

Proverbs 1:33

Devotion

How often in a day do you find yourself bored? In the “old days,” you might have counted ceiling tiles, looked for dirty clothes under the bed, examined the shoes of the lady ahead of you in line, or pulled lint out of your navel. Today, you play games or watch videos on your phone.

News flash! That down time is on purpose, a gift from God. It’s a time to reflect. Count your blessings. Pray for guidance. Recite Bible verses. Sing songs of praise and worship. Spend time with God. Listen.

If you listen with your heart, God speaks to you non-stop. Put down your phone and listen. Turn off the television and listen. While your babies are sleeping, listen. It’s very important to learn to listen to God’s voice. It’s so important to God that “the word ‘listen’ appears 278 times throughout the books of the Bible.”[ConnectUS] Practice listening. You might not hear His voice the first few times you try, so keep at it. The world is shouting at you. Ignore it. Find the whisper. It’s a gentle, quiet voice filled with love and hope and peace. That’s the one you should hear. Focus on it. Listen.

Notice I said, “Listen.” It means you don’t just hear something. You strain for meaning. You lean into it. You take action. Hearing is passive, requiring nothing of you. Listening is participating.

When you ask God for help or guidance, you have to give Him time to respond. Don’t just say a prayer, jump up, and run back to your day. Hang out with God. Spend some time listening for His voice. Before long, you’ll find it’s easier and easier to hear what He is saying. Doing what He commands will bring you more and greater joy and peace and happiness. Therefore, just listen.

Prayer Focus

Listen to the Master

Prayer

Lord, help me open up my ears so that I may hear Your sweet, gentle voice. Amen.

Final Thought

Hey! God is talking to you.

I Am a Fraud

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 6:1-14.

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 16:28 (ESV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

Devotion

I am a fraud. I pretend to be holy and righteous. I’m not. I’m a sinner. I think terrible thoughts at times, some of which escape my filters and pop out of my mouth. I am also moody at times, especially when I don’t get enough sleep. That, too, comes out occasionally, and I lash out. My tongue can be vicious. My loved ones are most often the ones who suffer my foul mood. Because I know them best, I know exactly where to aim the verbal sword. As much as I try to avoid it, I have hurt my favorite people with my words. No amount of apologies can take back the horrible things I have said.

I used to criticize the Jewish people being led out of Egypt. I used to marvel at how forgetful they were. Moses would leave them for a couple of days, and come back to find them falling into their old habits. I was busy looking at the specks in their eyes, not realizing I was doing the same thing. I was quick to judge them, and harsh. I realize now that after I repented something I said, I would turn around and do the same thing again. I, too, fell into my old, comfortable, familiar routines of poisonous behaviors, thoughts, and words. My quick “wit” could cut through anyone’s heart, and got me into all kinds of trouble.

Every morning I pray that I will be a blessing to someone. When I do or say something to lift someone up, I negate that good work when I do or say something that displeases God. I have now added the prayer my father recited in the pulpit at the beginning of every service,

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 (NASB1995)

Repeating this verse helps me remember to keep my focus on God, no matter my mood or how rested I am. It helps me remember to keep an even keel at all times. It reminds me to be respectful and humble. It reminds me to filter my actions and my speech using God’s standards.

I have since added a new filter. It still leaks a little. Things still slip out that would be better left unsaid. After all, I’m a work in progress. Every night I pray for forgiveness for the times I slipped that day, and for the strength and wisdom to learn from my mistakes and to do and be better tomorrow.

Prayer Focus

Filtered speech

Prayer

Dearest Lord and Savior, help me be a better person today. Grant me the wisdom to hold my tongue when needed, and to speak up only when it adds to Your glory. Amen.

Final Thought

I am not always what I seem.

Angels Among Us

Photo by Christophe Van der waals on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Read Psalm 91.

20 Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word, obeying the voice of His word!

21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, you who serve Him, doing His will.

Psalms 103:20-21 (NASB1995)

Devotion

Late one very dark night, as I was driving in the well-lit parking lot, headed home, the brakes went out. Mine was the only car around. I was the only person around. “Okay,” I thought, “I’ll see what’s going on. Maybe I can fix it.” I prayed that God had provided me with the knowledge and tools I needed to figure out how to fix this. With a deep sigh, I opened the hood and started trying to locate the problem.

Sure enough, I located the problem fairly quickly. I happened to have some cardboard, large enough to lay down under the car. I pumped the brakes and checked the cardboard. By the size of the puddle on the cardboard, the leak was directly above it, near the master cylinder. The master was dry, so it had to be in the hoses. As I looked at the hoses, I found a split had formed. If I could find some tape to wrap it, I could at least get it to the parts store for a replacement hose. I looked high and low. There was no kind of tape to be found. No duct tape. No electrical tape. Not even Scotch tape!

About that time, I saw someone walking toward me. It was a man wearing a backpack. At a respectful distance, he asked if I needed help. I was not afraid of him, even though there were so many reasons I should have been. I said a quick prayer of thanks, and explained my situation to him.

Still at a respectful distance, he began to rummage through his backpack, telling me he would see what he had that might work. A couple of minutes later, he pulled something out, but I couldn’t see what it was. He did look very embarrassed, though.

He told me he was homeless. A local church had recently handed out bags of things like toiletries, towels, and socks. God bless that local church. Among the items in that bag were a few condoms. He ripped it open, wrapped up the leaky hose, and sent me on my way!

He refused a ride. It was too late to buy him a meal, and everything was closed. He didn’t even take the cash I had on hand, a whopping $10. He said he didn’t need anything, and that he’d be fine. As I drove away, I took one last look back, trying to see him walk away. He was nowhere to be seen. He literally disappeared into the darkness in less than a minute! In that confirming moment, I knew he was really one of my guardian angels.

Every time I think about that night, I give thanks to God for sending me that angel. Although it was a few years ago, I know I’ll see him again in the next realm, where I can say a proper thank you and let him know how much I appreciated his help.

Prayer Focus

Homeless angels.

Prayer

Beloved Heavenly Father, in your perfect timing, thank you for always providing exactly what and who I need. Amen.

Final Thought

Angels show up when we need them.

Hard Times

Man sitting on bench waiting. Image by mykyta-martynenko on Unsplash.
Image by mykyta-martynenko on Unsplash.

Bible Passages

Read Matthew 18:10-14.

Read Luke 15.

If 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.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)

Devotion

Before you were born, God set a special path, designed just for you and only you. He created you to be the perfect person for that path. Only you can travel your special path. If you stay on that path, it will be easy and fun (mostly). Along the way, He will hold your hand. He will carry you through the difficult parts, the challenges, the tests.

The Bible is full of examples of people who went through hard times and came out with more blessings than they imagined. Joseph, Moses, Jonah, Abraham, Hannah, Noah, Ruth, Isaiah, Job, and most notably Jesus, to name but a few, showed us how to follow Him. They showed us how to be godly, happy, and blessed. Even when they fell into darkness, God was with them. We remember them because they held tightly to God’s hand through the bad times and the good times. We remember them because we love to hear their stories over and over. Their stories put our own troubles into perspective, and give us hope when we’re going through dark times. They remind us that God loves to take us out of our lowest moments, and bring us to our highest moments. Just like the dark nights makes us appreciate the sunrise, our dark moments make us appreciate God’s blessings with praise and gratitude.

Joseph was on top of the world as a child. His family was prosperous. He lacked for nothing. His father favored him above all his other children, but his siblings were jealous. They started a series of events that should have made him crumble. Joseph endured all the many hardships set before him, praising God all the while. Joseph’s faithfulness to God paid off and God’s plan for him was fulfilled.

Job did everything right and was doing quite well, but lost everything anyway. Through no fault of his own, he lost his wife, his children, his livestock, and his crops. Through all his losses, Job kept praising God. Job knew God still loved him, even though it didn’t always seem that way. Try as he might, the devil couldn’t get any traction on Job. Job was loyal to God. He never cursed God. The devil finally gave up trying to tempt Job away from God. That’s when Job’s rewards kicked in. He got back more than double what he had before. Job got a new wife, twice as many children, and his crops and livestock were more than doubled.

We aren’t always as faithful to God and Joseph and Job. Sometimes we lose our way. Think of the parable of the lost sheep, in which Jesus reminds us that no matter how far from God we stray, He hasn’t forgotten or abandoned us. He sends messengers (human and angel) to remind us of His love. Like Joseph and Job, we need to grab onto God. He is waiting for that. When we do, He will carry us through the brambles and rocks and other rough patches to bring us back to the flock. Just by reaching out to Him again, He will rescue us from our troubles and bring us home.

When we return to Him, just like the father of the prodigal son, He will joyously run to greet us and welcome us home. He will throw a party in heaven in our honor, complete with a live band and a spiritual buffet. We will feast until we overflow with His love and grace. He will bless us in heaven and on Earth. We don’t all get the same rewards, but they will be the rewards we need in that moment. We will be delivered and free, forgiven and comforted, rich in spirit and happy in our hearts, safe under His protective wings.

Follow where He leads you. He will provide almost everything you need to succeed. The only thing missing is you. God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves what we do with our lives. He wants you to give yourself, fully and completely, to Him. When you do this, the results will amaze you!

Prayer Focus

Those in danger of turning away from God.

Prayer

Heavenly Shepherd of the lost, thank you for keeping me in Your loving arms. Help me stay focused on You. When I stray, help me find You again. Gladden my heart with Your love and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Final Thought

God is waiting for you.

God Sees It Differently

Bible Passages

Read Isaiah 55.

Your eyes saw me when I was still an unborn child. Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place.

Psalm 139:16 (GW)

Devotion

Recently, God filled my heart with a new purpose which would require all my time and energy. He gave me a full-time job. Spread the Love Ministries, this mission, is that new purpose. I have several qualities that make me a good fit for this mission. However, there are also many, many things missing from my resume. God sees it differently. He believes in me, even when I have doubts.

At the time, I had no other job, no income. I saw this as a hindrance. God sees it differently. Bills kept coming in: rent, electricity, my dad’s medical bills, and so much else. I was overwhelmed. I had a hard time not worrying. I had a hard time trusting God would provide me with everything I needed, even though I knew He would – just as He has a million times before. I had to be strong. God sees it differently. He is the source of my strength. He will lend me the strength I need to do His will. All I needed to do is ask.

This was a big ask, though. I didn’t feel worthy. I didn’t feel up to the task. God sees it differently. He has my path mapped out, and will show me, each step of the way, what I need to do. He will take care of the rest. All I have to do is ask.

I prayed hard about it. I prayed unlike any prayer I had ever prayed before. I laid myself at His feet, begging for His help and guidance. I asked.

A few days later, I began to see how God was taking care of my needs. I received unexpected money from family and other sources. I was gifted food. I got an offer to help with my sorely neglected yard. The vision I had been given to help my neighbors began with my neighbors helping me! [I think God has a passion for irony, wry humor, and precision timing.]

I realized then that although I am not the leader I thought I needed to be. God is. I am the follower. I am not strong. God is. I can’t see the path I am walking, but I know how to get to where I’m going. All I need to see is the next stepping stone God has laid for me. I stopped worrying about living up to my idea of God’s expectations and let go of the reins. All I need do is what is required of me, one step at a time.

When I think I am at the end of my rope, God sees it differently. He uses those times as opportunities for my growth as a Christian. He simply gives me a longer, stronger rope! He will provide, exactly as He promised. I just need to make sure to put my trust in Him, and ask for His help, in all things.

Praise God in all things!

Prayer Focus

People who are unemployed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father who made me for a specific purpose, thank you for being there for me every step of the way you have laid out for me. Help me to stay on course, centered on You, and keep me safe as I do Your will in all things, big and small. Amen.

Final Thought

God has a plan for me.

The Favorite Son

Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

Bible Passages

Read Genesis 37-50.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time

1 Peter 5:6 (NASB1995)

Devotion

Before you were born, God set a special path, designed just for you and only you. He created you to be the perfect person for that path. Only you can travel your special path. If you stay on that path, it will be easy and fun (mostly). Along the way, He will hold your hand. He will carry you through the difficult parts, the challenges, the tests.

All you need do is follow where He leads you. He will provide almost everything you need to succeed. There is only one thing missing: you. God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves what we do with our lives. He wants you to give yourself, fully and completely, to Him. When you do this, the results will amaze you!

The Bible is full of examples of people who went through hard times and came out with more blessings than they ever imagined. Joseph, for example, shows us how to follow God’s path. He shows us how to be godly, happy, and blessed. Even when he fell into darkness, God was with him. We remember him because he held tightly to God’s hand through the bad times and the good times.

We remember him and so many others because we love to hear their stories over and over. Their stories put our own troubles into perspective, and give us hope when we’re going through dark times. They remind us that God loves to take us out of our lowest moments, and bring us to our highest moments. Just like the dark nights make us appreciate the sunrise, our dark moments make us appreciate God’s blessings with praise and gratitude.

Joseph was on top of the world as a child. His family was prosperous. He lacked for nothing. His father favored him above all his other children. God blessed him with dreams, showing him that one day he would be in a situation where his brothers would bow to him. Confused and excited, he shared his dreams with his brothers, who already thought he was too big for his breeches. Hearing they would kowtow to him, it was the last straw for his jealous siblings.

Soon after, he was ambushed by his own brothers and sold into slavery, literally thrown away. Joseph was steadfast in his love of God, however, and he continued to be true to himself. He was kind to others. He held to his beliefs and worshiped God. He developed leadership skills. He remained trustworthy and honest, and loved God. God continued to bless Joseph and those around him, bringing them prosperity. God also continued giving him dreams, which he shared with others.

Through a series of events in which Joseph was falsely accused of misdeeds, he found himself in jail. While Joseph was in jail, the pharaoh had a dream. His advisors had no idea how to interpret this dream, but God told Joseph what the dream meant, and provided the opportunity for Joseph to witness to pharaoh. Joseph was immediately released from prison and installed as the second-in-command over Egypt, answering only to the pharaoh. Joseph was still enjoying the blessings of God, and Egypt prospered.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s family fell on hard times. A drought plagued the land, and his brothers were going hungry. Joseph’s father sent his brothers to beg for the mercy of the pharaoh, hoping he would share some food with them. They were presented to Joseph to plead their case. They were bowing and groveling at his feet so much, they didn’t recognize him as their brother. After putting them through a couple of challenges designed to test their characters, Joseph revealed himself to them and granted their request. The story continues, but I will stop here. As predicted in his childhood dream, Joseph was lifted up into the exact position God planned for him.

Joseph endured all the hardships set before him, praising God all the while. Joseph’s faithfulness to God paid off. God’s plan for him was fulfilled. Joseph was set on high, blessed beyond his wildest dreams, and lived a full and happy life. He remains an example of what it means to hold tight to God.

Prayer Focus

People with big dreams.

Prayer

Our Great and Mighty Father on high, thank You for making me. Thank You for loving me. Thank you for your blessings and your trials. Thank you for giving me everything I have. Use me as a vessel of Thy great and everlasting love. Amen.

Final Thought

God pushes us to be better.