Posted by tglusk | Posted in Grow in Your Faith | Posted on 10-07-2010
Favor Even In Distress
Genesis Chapters 37-50
Background: Joseph was the one of the son’s of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 30:25). Jacob, however, was also married to Leah, Rachel’s sister, and he had other sons with her. Because Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son, his brothers (Leah’s sons) envied him. One day Joseph shared a dream that annoyed his entire family, then he shared another dream, the one that pushed his brothers over the edge. This time his dream was that his brothers, father, and mother would one day bow down to him. The dream upset his brothers so much they threw him in a pit, then reconsidered, pulled him out, and sold him into slavery instead.
Though he was sold into slavery and the worst of conditions were now a part of his life, Joseph had God’s favor. He was positioned in Potiphar’s home, Pharos’s captain of the guard. It was a great job until like always, an unfortunate event occurred. Potiphar’s wife came onto Joseph (Genesis 38) and when he refused her, she accused him of pursuing her and he was put into prison.
Genesis 39:20-23, NIV
20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Joseph was thrown into an environment where others meant for him to be miserable. Though technically, he should have been miserable, he made the best of it, and the Lord blessed him because of it. We don’t read anywhere that he:
Complained
Fussed
Blamed God
Wished he would of taken up on the offer Potiphar’s wife put on the table
Wished vengeance on his brothers
Joseph remained faithful and it is obvious that he loved God and wanted to please him as we read in Genesis 39:9, “No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
It was easy for him to give into the pressure of doing the wrong thing. Instead he chose to honor God even when it was hard to do the right thing and remain faithful knowing that the road could be tougher ahead of him. It is easiest to do the right thing when you are completely sold to God.
- What challenging situation do you find yourself in presently?
- How are you reacting to your situations:
- With faith and obedience? With complaining or blaming?
- If we don’t have faith it’s sin. You know you may be in sin if you are blaming others, complaining, and bending the rules while you wait for justice because you feel “you don’t deserve this”. Faith is doing your best not to be moved through your circumstances through the strength God provides for us when we love him and are given to him fully.
- What promises can you stand on while in this challenging time? Write down some scriptures that apply to your situation. If you would like you may look these up and read them out loud daily until you are put in a position of favor and justice.
Exodus 14:14 “ The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Jeremiah 9:24 “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight, declares the LORD”
For more detailed scriptures visit http://www.biblebell.org/lap.html
Copyright © 2010 Teresa G. Lusk
COUNT IT ALL JOY!
James begins his book of the Bible by telling us to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials”. The reason, he continues, is b/c of the result of our trials being the strengthening of our faith.
I used to view this concept with a bit of disdain, I must admit. I was raised Catholic which shaped my thinking along the lines of martyrdom, i.e. the more you suffer, the holier you are. I felt like God’s little victim, powerless to change the path of suffering He had ordained for the “perfecting of my faith”. Recently I had a revelation that totally blew this mindset out of the water when it comes to suffering.
It all started when I expressed my disappointment regarding family vacations. Being a single mom, when it comes to vacations, we don’t have them. Period. I always dream of taking my kids to Sea World, or the beach, or even a weekend getaway, but it never happens. As I voiced this disappointment to a group of brothers and sisters in the Lord, 2 things happened. First, one of the group encouraged me that God was testing and trying my faith. This wasn’t very encouraging. I responded that I was tired of hoping things would change.
The second thing that I noticed was how I was feeling sorry for myself. Red flag! As I drove home that night, I had to repent. I have it so much better off than most of the world just b/c I live in the U.S. Granted we have our own set of trials here, but compared to the world, we are rich!
So I began to explore, with the help of the Helper, the source of this self-pity, which never comes from God. Self-pity is evidence of a victim mentality. Remember, God’s little victim?
As I looked back over my life and I began to realize that I really was more joyful during the times of tribulation. Those were the times I felt the closest to God, I sought Him and focused on Him more fully, and my faith was activated. During trying times, we sometimes have no choice but to trust God. When things get beyond our control and comfort, we more easily trust God and therefore, more readily see His hand in our lives b/c of our increased faith and focus on Him.
James said it this way: “count it all joy” He didn’t say that joy was a possibility, he says we can COUNT on it! That means it’s definite. I thought about Jesus and His ability to look at the cross and “count it all joy”. Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the JOY set before Him, endured the cross”. Jesus knew something we would do well to learn. Put simply, I see it as this: in the midst of suffering, there is joy. He knew there was resurrection on the other side of the cross. He knew, He would reap a pure and spotless Bride due to His sacrifice on the cross. We, too, can be assured that if we die with Christ through our suffering, we will rise with Him! It is a definite proposition.
I love to think about how God is sovereign even over Satan. Satan really has no authority or power over the life of a child of God. Everything he does, fulfills God’s plan for us. I love to think about that. He truly is powerless over us. It makes me realize how victorious I am in Christ. Satan is under my feet!
When Satan nailed Jesus to that cross, he didn’t have a clue that he was playing right into God’s plan. When Satan attacks you, it’s the same. Remember this, God uses ALL things FOR OUR GOOD! There is joy in that realization. I belong to God, and He belongs to me. Satan – can’t touch this!
I used to view suffering as poor, poor, pitiful me, but now I realize what an honor it is to be in the hands of God; to be counted worthy to suffer for His name. Acts 5:41 says the apostles REJOICED that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name. There is beauty in suffering with joy and with God. Anyone can live a cushy life, but those that suffer b/c of the joy on the other side, are precious to God! And this is the joy: a faith that is more sure of the goodness of God and a renewed dependancy on the One Who loves us too much to leave us as we are!
One thing I am assured of is that when we suffer, God is up to something. He does not allow us to suffer needlessly. There is purpose in it. We are not God’s little victims. When we willingly submit to the Potter’s hand in our lives, we will reap the benefit. It’s a given!
Submitted by
Amy Hayes, Founder/Director
The Parent Coach
myparentteach.com
214-385-0898
Amy, a mother of 8 children, has a vision to change the world by affecting the lives of our children through parent mentoring & training. For more information, visit her website: www.myparentteach.com
Weeds in your Heart
Early this morning before the rain started I went outside and began to dig out the weeds from part of my front yard. Our home was second from worst on this block and it would only be a matter of time before we got a nasty letter from Sergeant Homeowners Association.
The amount of weeds was outstanding so I raked them off the lawn to see the descent grass that was under all that mess. When I was done, it looked much better. The lawn, however, will never be perfect unless the Master Gardner treats the weeds thoroughly.
As I was gardening something came to mind. Over the weekend, I asked one very dear to me why he wasn’t “sold” to Jesus or this Christianity thing. He told me he had never really had an experience with the Lord. He believes in Him, that He is real but His motivation to read the Word as a daily part of life or even live out his faith passionately is not apparent in his daily life.
I followed his comment by, “have you ever prayed for something and got an answer?” “Yeah, sometimes, but I have never heard Him speak”, he said. It broke my heart to think that he has believed Christians literally hear His voice, as he continued to share. The truth is most of us could say that the Lord speaks to us in our heart and spirit. We get a knowing that is just there. The latter may be true for others, however.
But what could possibly hinder us from hearing the Lord in our spirit, ears, or through His Word? What about that nagging feeling that we are not close to Him, therefore, He does not love us?
Sometimes it’s the sin in our life, at others it’s the noise we won’t shut off, but for many it’s the unbelief which is also sin. YUP! Many of us don’t make an effort to believe in God and His Son. Why? Because He has not shown Himself to be real to me me, you may say?
If you look back to the stories of the Bible there were many miraculous things occurring right in front of the people and yet they did not believe. The sea parted, the blind saw, the deaf heard, the possessed were freed from demons. People literally got to see Jesus face to face and perform miracles at the same time and it was still not good enough to believe in Him.
I don’t think it was the miracles they didn’t believe in, I think it was all the things in their heart that I represent as weeds today. Desire to keep walking in their ways, anger they were not willing to give up, hate they harbored, selfishness, unnecessary businesses, rebellion, stealing, greed, and more.
Sometimes, it feels like too much effort to pull the weeds by the root so we choose to let them reside right where they as it’s easier than to have to believe or change.
For those of us who are ready to make that change and/or believe but feel hopeless, don’t. As I told my dear one, “When you are ready, all you have to do is ask”. There is story in the Bible where a man had unbelief and he prayed for the ability to belief (Mark 9:24).
If it’s a certain sin, then repent from it. Repent, meaning ask for forgiveness and choose to stop participating in that which hinders you. Repenting means you will turn away from the behavior for good with His power, not ours. We can’t do it alone.
We all have a thorn in our flesh which means no matter how much we love the Lord we will struggle with wanting to stop doing something that hurts us yet it seems hard to overcome. Paul struggled with this (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). But the Lord gives us grace to overcome the guilt, shame, and the thorn allows us to keep coming back at His feet. If the Lord was disgusted with our weakness, He would not have told Paul that His grace is sufficient for Paul to overcome his thorn in the flesh. How interesting that he even calls it a “thorn”.
To clean the weeds out of your garden, ask the Master Gardner, Jesus, for the help to believe, ask for freedom from your sins, and if you have not asked Jesus into your life and heart, ask Him to by simply saying…
Lord, come into my heart, cleanse me from my sins, be my Lord and Savior. I believe you were born of a virgin; you died on the cross for my sins, were buried and rose again on the third day to be seated at the right hand of the Father.
If you do this today, let someone know so that you may be kept in prayer.
God Bless,
Teresa G. Lusk
Posted by tglusk | Posted in Grow in Your Faith | Posted on 22-02-2010
John 3:17-22 (New American Standard Bible)
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.19We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
God has an expectation of us and that is to love with action, not just our hopes or good hearted intentions for someone. He literally expects us to labor and toil for the good of someone else. His Word also mentions that He wants us to love in truth. Let’s explore what His Word directs for us today. I have inserted brackets to give you the original meaning in the Greek for some of the words used in the passage. It will bring grater light and understanding as you read this.
18 Little children, let us not love with word [meaning something said, communication] or with tongue [flapping your gums] but in deed [toil and labor] and truth [truth is Jesus as stated in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth and the life.]
In fact, His Word assures us that we know we belong to Him when put forth physical action and work toward His kindgdom. I believe this includes serving at our church, serving people whom we would not love if God wasn’t looking and people who simply need a glimpse of who Jesus is. In addition, the Bible tells us that our heart condemns us [hearts in this passage means thoughts, feelings, mind] but that blessing others by labor and toil we are assured and have evidence that we belong to Him when in doubt.
19We will know [be sure and understand] by this that we are of the truth [the truth is Jesus], and will assure [inward certainty, evidence, belief, trust,] our heart before Him 20in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart.
What an awesome passage in v.19 that it reminds us that God is greater than our heart, our mind, our thoughts, and our feelings. So when we are feeling sad, down, lonely, while doing God’s work and wondering what the purpose of it it, here is your friendly reminder!
21 Beloved, if our heart [again our thoughts, feelings, and mind] does not condemn us [condemn means note against, find fault with and blame], we have confidence [assurance, boldness, free and open confidence] before God.
There is a link between doing things, working in action toward others for the glory of God and confidence we gain in ourselves. First, there is a supernatural link between the two. He says that if we love in toil and labor for the benefit of others, we are assured by this that we are His children which bring confidence. Secondly, when we focus on others we forget about ourselves, our worries, needs and desires. However His grace, love, and mercy do not end there. The Lord, turns around and blesses us which also increases our confidence. See the next verse.
22 and whatever we ask [ask meaning beg, call for, crave, desire, or require] we receive from Him because we keep [keep meaning hold fast to, prevent from escaping, guard] His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
It is clear, we can walk with our head up high when we are assured we are His children. Our minds, thoughts, and feelings can condemn us but only for a moment as we are reminded that if we act on loving-kindness in toil and action toward others, we are His and can be reminded of our place in the Kingdom of God.
Teresa G. Lusk
Speaker, Author, Teacher
www.teresalusk.com
Copyright © 2010 Teresa G. Lusk
I Kings 3:1-7 and I Kings 9-14
Son of King David *King of Israel after David*Built God’s Temple* Ruled Wisely
5In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”
Note: God welcomes us to put our desires at His feet. Early in Solomon’s reign God appeared to Solomon and made Himself accessible for Solomon to ask what He wished to help carry out his new responsibilities. He knew Solomon’s potential to fail at his assignments. This is good; it is an example of the mightiness in the God you serve. He desires for us to ask Him for the help we need in running anything we are responsibly for, our homes, business, marriage, friendships, children, ministry and more.
6Then Solomon said, “You have shown great loving-kindness to Your servant David my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You; and You have reserved for him this great loving-kindness, that You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.
Note: Before Solomon placed his request a the feet of God , he began by giving acknowledging His great works in his fathers life and the blessings that He received. Though the Lord wants us to come to Him to place our requests, we should approach Him with praise for all He has already done and plans to keep doing.
7“Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in place of my father David, yet I am but a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.
Note: When Solomon says I am but a little child, he acknowledges his inability to be a leader of anything, especially a great nation. However, it is said that he may have been at least 20 years old. What in our lives are we but little children, failing to lead, deal with, or create because we feel incapable, like little children?
9“So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern [distinguish, have intelligence, know, perceive,] between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Note: All matters are God’s matters no job should be taken lightly. Not homemaking or running your own business.
10It was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, instead have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice,
Note: What is this that he asked for? An understanding heart to discern good and evil so that hey may rule wisely.
13“I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days.
Note: When we ask for first things He adds the rest, no questions asked.
Yes, it continues on to say that no one will ever be as wise as Solomon but God’s Word still promises wisdom to those who ask for it.
James 1:5, 5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Questions:
What have you been asking God for lately in regards to your family and business? Have you been asking for what you think is best?
What can you begin to praying for that which will impact all of your life’s decisions and relationships in a positive, say, God way?
Sometimes running a home and business can get overwhelming and we may ask for help and extra finances and all other things that we thing would be good for us. However, King Solomon proved that asking for a discerning heart, or wisdom as several Bible translations use is the best and first thing to ask for, then He, will add all other things to us.
Copyright © 2010 Teresa G. Lusk