Genesis 39:1-23
In this passage of scripture in Genesis, Joseph was a man who has seen it all and acquired much through His faith and love of Christ. Joseph had a very powerful position in the house of Potiphar. With this power Joseph was given, comes much authority.
How much have we heard this, "With much given, there is much expected".
What isn't added to this worldly wisdom is this: Much is also tempted.
Joseph was approached by Potiphar's wife on NUMEROUS occasions for a passionate sexual relation with him. This was wrong for many reasons that are summed up by the two below:
1) Sexual immorality
2) She was not in a union (marriage) with Joseph. In fact, she was already married (unified) with Potiphar
Joseph made effort to flee from Potiphar's wife. He avoided her and left when she was in the vicinity of Him.
For a lot of males that would be hard to avoid. This woman clearly wanted sex and nothing more. Satan wanted everything that Joseph had been blessed with and more. Many men and women, especially believers in Christ tend to fall into situations similar to Joseph's. They may be isolated in close quarters with the opposite sex. Though you know in your mind what you will and won't do, you can't speak on the behalf of the other person's mind. Or even what Satan may tempt you both with.
Make the decision before the decision. If you know you are going to be with someone of the opposite sex and you both aren't unified (married) be very alert for them and for Satan. Just as Joseph did his best to avoid her, Potiphar's wife still managed to make it seem as though it were something that didn't happen. You have got to be careful. Avoid intimacy and how long you may spend with someone of the opposite sex. Stay in public places and respect the space of the person who is your brother/sister of the opposite sex. If you see a situation similar to Joseph and Potiphar's wife, FLEE. Drop everything and immediately leave. Don't go where you are forbidden, don't give satan a chance to pull the wool over your eyes before he stabs you.
Make that decision before the decision and flee from sin!
Just a collection of things that interest me.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Fear NOT.
Isaiah 35:4
With 2013 in front of us and 2012 behind us, people still find it in them to have fear. This is something I struggle with myself. Why are we in fear? We have made another day because of the life that God has breathed into us. Many of us believers have friends around us who are in fear. The light of God manifests in us and they look to us for guidance. We lead them to Christ and walk alongside them so that the light that shines THROUGH us illuminates their path.
I'll ask once again: Why must we have fear in us?
I'll tell you why I have fear. I fear that I will slip up. Become vulnerable. I may have bad history with this person. Our relationship will change if I show them the way.
Sounds foolish right? Count how many times you read the word "I". See the self-centeredness? What did you truly ever do for the lost around you?
When you walk with The Lord, others will walk towards you or walk away from you. Do not walk in fear: walk in truth. Walk alongside others towards Christ. Walk in joy. Walk towards 2013. Walk in faith as this year begins to takeoff. Things that have held you back from sharing with others, shatter them. Share the light with those you meet in passing or in lines.
Why must you have fear in you? Who is looking towards you?
Don't set that example. Fear Christ and SHINE (share) His light through you.
With 2013 in front of us and 2012 behind us, people still find it in them to have fear. This is something I struggle with myself. Why are we in fear? We have made another day because of the life that God has breathed into us. Many of us believers have friends around us who are in fear. The light of God manifests in us and they look to us for guidance. We lead them to Christ and walk alongside them so that the light that shines THROUGH us illuminates their path.
I'll ask once again: Why must we have fear in us?
I'll tell you why I have fear. I fear that I will slip up. Become vulnerable. I may have bad history with this person. Our relationship will change if I show them the way.
Sounds foolish right? Count how many times you read the word "I". See the self-centeredness? What did you truly ever do for the lost around you?
When you walk with The Lord, others will walk towards you or walk away from you. Do not walk in fear: walk in truth. Walk alongside others towards Christ. Walk in joy. Walk towards 2013. Walk in faith as this year begins to takeoff. Things that have held you back from sharing with others, shatter them. Share the light with those you meet in passing or in lines.
Why must you have fear in you? Who is looking towards you?
Don't set that example. Fear Christ and SHINE (share) His light through you.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Loving God First
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV
We are capable of massive amounts of love. Love is a spiritual gift that can open up a multitude of physical and spiritual derivations. In our spirit of Love we can find who/what we worship. When anyone else other than God is in our abundant Love, we give our all to someone/something that is going to fail us. Many addictions, dangerous relationships, sexual immorality may lie within this unstable Love and is fairly easy to fall into.
Love God with your all. All your heart, all your soul, and all your might (body).
When you can love God with your abundant Love, then He becomes the only piece that was ready to fit into the equation. All other pieces won't fit, because they are made with faults. People, objects, tools to serve God, habits, mindsets, and anything else other than God tends to get our Love many many times. This breaks God's heart. In return as a child of God, He must break our hearts for what breaks His.
Don't get caught up in the Love of any other than God. Dive deep in the never ending Love of none other than God. Read His word, The Gospel, the Bible. Write, take note of, post on your living/work spaces reminders of Christ and His Love for us.
Bind them to everything you own and share everything you know with those amongst you daily. Israel was being prepared for the promised land of God's glory. You are being prepared as well.
Is your house in order? Is your community in order? Is your heart in order? Is your mind in order? Is your body in order? Love God with your everything and all things will be added unto you.
We are capable of massive amounts of love. Love is a spiritual gift that can open up a multitude of physical and spiritual derivations. In our spirit of Love we can find who/what we worship. When anyone else other than God is in our abundant Love, we give our all to someone/something that is going to fail us. Many addictions, dangerous relationships, sexual immorality may lie within this unstable Love and is fairly easy to fall into.
Love God with your all. All your heart, all your soul, and all your might (body).
When you can love God with your abundant Love, then He becomes the only piece that was ready to fit into the equation. All other pieces won't fit, because they are made with faults. People, objects, tools to serve God, habits, mindsets, and anything else other than God tends to get our Love many many times. This breaks God's heart. In return as a child of God, He must break our hearts for what breaks His.
Don't get caught up in the Love of any other than God. Dive deep in the never ending Love of none other than God. Read His word, The Gospel, the Bible. Write, take note of, post on your living/work spaces reminders of Christ and His Love for us.
Bind them to everything you own and share everything you know with those amongst you daily. Israel was being prepared for the promised land of God's glory. You are being prepared as well.
Is your house in order? Is your community in order? Is your heart in order? Is your mind in order? Is your body in order? Love God with your everything and all things will be added unto you.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tree Stump.
Ezekiel 17:24
A tree is an amazing representation of many things. Life, growth, spreading, progress, and the list can go on and on. Recently, I got to witness a tree that was cut down to a stump, give way to a totally different sapling. This was no coincidence - God allowed what was seemingly abundant in the original tree to be cut down and replaced by a younger, more fragile new-growth.
How much more does He allow these things to happen in our lives?
This passage of scripture is affirmed by what I was able to witness from this tree stump new growth. We are all abundant in some blessing or gift from God. Many have used this blessing or gift for the wrong reasons or are using it and leaving God's will out of our own will. This may get us to lofty heights, but will always solidify a great fall. Just like the great big tree that stood before, we can GROW out of God's will. When that happens, we are vulnerable to anything and everyone that wants to take that away. We are brought down in a process called "humbling" and that strips away all of the former abundance. We are in an essence, cut down.
Many of those who have accumulated for themselves, reach a point where they fall and become stumps. From that point, God can either:
1) Use that person who is now become a stump in our world, but a gateway in the spiritual realm. For them to be used by God THEY MUST SUBMIT TO CHRIST FIRST.
Or
2) Use ANOTHER person who is the weaker sapling to grow in what once stood before. There is much to gain and nothing to lose for this person and the humbleness allows them to submit to Christ and let HIM dictate how the growth will be and what they can do to help others around them grow.
From the scripture, the new tree will inevitably grow big and tall like the former, but house many birds and give way to more trees growing around it. These birds and new trees represent the many NEW souls that are on fire for Christ.
A tree is an amazing representation of many things. Life, growth, spreading, progress, and the list can go on and on. Recently, I got to witness a tree that was cut down to a stump, give way to a totally different sapling. This was no coincidence - God allowed what was seemingly abundant in the original tree to be cut down and replaced by a younger, more fragile new-growth.
How much more does He allow these things to happen in our lives?
This passage of scripture is affirmed by what I was able to witness from this tree stump new growth. We are all abundant in some blessing or gift from God. Many have used this blessing or gift for the wrong reasons or are using it and leaving God's will out of our own will. This may get us to lofty heights, but will always solidify a great fall. Just like the great big tree that stood before, we can GROW out of God's will. When that happens, we are vulnerable to anything and everyone that wants to take that away. We are brought down in a process called "humbling" and that strips away all of the former abundance. We are in an essence, cut down.
Many of those who have accumulated for themselves, reach a point where they fall and become stumps. From that point, God can either:
1) Use that person who is now become a stump in our world, but a gateway in the spiritual realm. For them to be used by God THEY MUST SUBMIT TO CHRIST FIRST.
Or
2) Use ANOTHER person who is the weaker sapling to grow in what once stood before. There is much to gain and nothing to lose for this person and the humbleness allows them to submit to Christ and let HIM dictate how the growth will be and what they can do to help others around them grow.
From the scripture, the new tree will inevitably grow big and tall like the former, but house many birds and give way to more trees growing around it. These birds and new trees represent the many NEW souls that are on fire for Christ.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Love Yields
Luke 6:43-45
We love and we care and we pour out into other people. Many of us do this over time and eventually over years. We give and we give towards things and expectations that we hope will be returned. This is so dangerous!
People can be quite selfish and the worst part is that they aren't even aware of that half of the time. This passage in Luke however, provides some wisdom on the matter: you will know people by what traits they bear in front of you.
Just as you wouldn't expect an apple from a poison berry tree, you can't expect good things from a bad person. To take it a step further, you can't expect love from someone who doesn't love you back. You can't force anyone to do anything in return and call it genuineness.
Many times we are so certain that people are right for us. So we pour into them for this wrong reason and we build our world around them. They may take refuge in this world, but will eventually walk away if and when they find something more attractive. At the end we are left in desperation.
Don't pour into others that way. We love, but we must love without expecting anything in return. That is a love that also has discipline in it: the ability to correct what is out of place. Many you will love. Few will return it. Even fewer than that will love you more than you have. Cherish these things and above all else, love the Christ that is in everyone around you!
We love and we care and we pour out into other people. Many of us do this over time and eventually over years. We give and we give towards things and expectations that we hope will be returned. This is so dangerous!
People can be quite selfish and the worst part is that they aren't even aware of that half of the time. This passage in Luke however, provides some wisdom on the matter: you will know people by what traits they bear in front of you.
Just as you wouldn't expect an apple from a poison berry tree, you can't expect good things from a bad person. To take it a step further, you can't expect love from someone who doesn't love you back. You can't force anyone to do anything in return and call it genuineness.
Many times we are so certain that people are right for us. So we pour into them for this wrong reason and we build our world around them. They may take refuge in this world, but will eventually walk away if and when they find something more attractive. At the end we are left in desperation.
Don't pour into others that way. We love, but we must love without expecting anything in return. That is a love that also has discipline in it: the ability to correct what is out of place. Many you will love. Few will return it. Even fewer than that will love you more than you have. Cherish these things and above all else, love the Christ that is in everyone around you!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A little while longer.
Psalm 37:5-13
As a believer, it is sometimes hard for me to sit by patiently and watch others get by me or anyone else, anyway they can. It seems like those who do what is right by God face the penalty of what is wrong. These verses are reassuring and remind me of what My Lord says: A little while longer.
A little while longer before they will face their judgment.
A little while longer before they face their penalty.
A little while longer before He rescues and restores me.
A little while longer before He rewards me.
A little while longer before the joy He will bless me with.
A little while longer before my desires for happiness and companionship are here.
A little while longer before my education is done and His will is carried out through my career.
A little while longer before hunger, disease, and war continues on our earth.
A little while longer before the innocent get their reward in full.
A little while longer before The Lord's patience is set aside for The Lord's judgement.
Wherever you may be or whoever you may be or whenever you are waiting, just know that The Lord says this: A little while longer. My brothers/sisters please hold on to your faith and in times of despair, discouragement, depression, detriment and impatience you can pray these things:
A little while longer, Father.
Have a day that is filled with abundance in joy and long-suffering! Just a little while longer! :-D
As a believer, it is sometimes hard for me to sit by patiently and watch others get by me or anyone else, anyway they can. It seems like those who do what is right by God face the penalty of what is wrong. These verses are reassuring and remind me of what My Lord says: A little while longer.
A little while longer before they will face their judgment.
A little while longer before they face their penalty.
A little while longer before He rescues and restores me.
A little while longer before He rewards me.
A little while longer before the joy He will bless me with.
A little while longer before my desires for happiness and companionship are here.
A little while longer before my education is done and His will is carried out through my career.
A little while longer before hunger, disease, and war continues on our earth.
A little while longer before the innocent get their reward in full.
A little while longer before The Lord's patience is set aside for The Lord's judgement.
Wherever you may be or whoever you may be or whenever you are waiting, just know that The Lord says this: A little while longer. My brothers/sisters please hold on to your faith and in times of despair, discouragement, depression, detriment and impatience you can pray these things:
A little while longer, Father.
Have a day that is filled with abundance in joy and long-suffering! Just a little while longer! :-D
Monday, December 10, 2012
Identify Yourself.
Beau Hughes from The Village Church in Denton, TX brought this matter to our attention.
It is the end of the year. People began to see the fruits of what has taken all year to ripen. Many people choose to share these fruit with each other and great joy comes from this. There is also an abundance of anxiety during this time of the year. December is anxious in 2 major reasons:
1) Many are nervous about the things that they did during the year.
2) Many are nervous about the things they didn't do during the year.
Both of these come from an identity crisis.
Their Identity are in things that they do: tasks, jobs, college, school in general, sports, health, marriage, friendships, sex life, hobbies, politics, finances, and much more.
People strive to do well in these areas listed above. There is a happiness that comes when they not only beat goals but they surpass them. There is nothing wrong with this but when you begin to set this activity before God, then you begin to falter. One way to know if you have set this in action is by your satisfaction. If you give your best effort being a child of God, then you are trusting God with the outcome of your work. If you aren't trusting God you will value negative criticism more than the positive edification.
As a college student I've notice that we always prep for the next semester with this one statement: "Next semester will be better. Next semester I'll get my act together". There is no problem with this, but we don't realize that we can give our all right now. We work and we work and we give our best effort. Some will do any and everything to get an A. This too is not a bad thing at all. When we strive for an A and receive anything less then that is the tipping point. I have seen many of my fellow classmates and believers lose themselves trying to attain a simple label. Even after they receive that desired label, they are not satisfied. Their identity is lost in what they earn and work towards.
They need to find this in God. Psalms 119:35-37 warns us of seeking selfish gain instead of pursuit after God.
At the end of the day, these things that we do only label us. They can't define who we are, yet God can. They can't help us with problems in other areas of our lives that aren't receiving attention, because God can. For me as a college student, the pursuit of grades were never my identity-Gods plan for his work to be done is who I am. He is who I'm working for, not people or the things that I can receive.
May God bless you with identity today! :-)
It is the end of the year. People began to see the fruits of what has taken all year to ripen. Many people choose to share these fruit with each other and great joy comes from this. There is also an abundance of anxiety during this time of the year. December is anxious in 2 major reasons:
1) Many are nervous about the things that they did during the year.
2) Many are nervous about the things they didn't do during the year.
Both of these come from an identity crisis.
Their Identity are in things that they do: tasks, jobs, college, school in general, sports, health, marriage, friendships, sex life, hobbies, politics, finances, and much more.
People strive to do well in these areas listed above. There is a happiness that comes when they not only beat goals but they surpass them. There is nothing wrong with this but when you begin to set this activity before God, then you begin to falter. One way to know if you have set this in action is by your satisfaction. If you give your best effort being a child of God, then you are trusting God with the outcome of your work. If you aren't trusting God you will value negative criticism more than the positive edification.
As a college student I've notice that we always prep for the next semester with this one statement: "Next semester will be better. Next semester I'll get my act together". There is no problem with this, but we don't realize that we can give our all right now. We work and we work and we give our best effort. Some will do any and everything to get an A. This too is not a bad thing at all. When we strive for an A and receive anything less then that is the tipping point. I have seen many of my fellow classmates and believers lose themselves trying to attain a simple label. Even after they receive that desired label, they are not satisfied. Their identity is lost in what they earn and work towards.
They need to find this in God. Psalms 119:35-37 warns us of seeking selfish gain instead of pursuit after God.
At the end of the day, these things that we do only label us. They can't define who we are, yet God can. They can't help us with problems in other areas of our lives that aren't receiving attention, because God can. For me as a college student, the pursuit of grades were never my identity-Gods plan for his work to be done is who I am. He is who I'm working for, not people or the things that I can receive.
May God bless you with identity today! :-)
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