January 18, 2008

Read Genesis 43-45 and Matthew 12:24-50

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Matthew 12:30 This verse really tells it like it is and flies in the face of all that is popular today; imagine that. :-) "All paths lead to God." "Jesus was a great man." All these catchphrases the world has to prove how tolerant they are, you know, because of this great power inside themselves and the whole stretching and chanting routine. A former Wiccan, I have no tolerance for the occult or new age garbage. Jesus said if you're not for Him, you're against Him. It's one side of the fence or the other, folks. We all know the only way to heaven...and we need to tell others.

12:30-31 I would like to revisit this some time. I know I have heard someone teach on it before. Is blasphemy against the HS like calling Him a name, or, oh, what was it? It's the end of the week, guys. My brain is mush. It's a wonder I can even speak coherantly on Saturdays.

v 33 A tree is known by its fruit. In my case, it would be mangos. Man, I love mangos...anyway, it's hard to hide a tree's fruit; once it blossoms it's pretty much there for the world to see. So it is with us. Sometimes the fruit looks nice and sweet on the outside but you cut it open and it's icky and sour or filled with bugs or worms. Some trees don't produce a bumper crop but the few pieces of fruit it does produce are beautiful and sweet and filling. There are days I feel more like a shrub, but I hope and pray that I'm bearing good fruit.

v 34 Oh my gosh....what am I saying??? How many idle words come out of my mouth on a given day? I did an experiment one day to try and pay close attention to what I said. People kept asking me what was wrong. It's true though; what comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in our hearts....I know someone who continually is angry and a big user of profanity, yet insists they are completely happy and nothing is wrong. I know on days when I am snappish and/or being mean-spirited, even in jest, I need to check my heart and get to the deeper problem that's troubling me, which usually = sin. V 36 tells us that we will give an account for every word we speak. I am in so much trouble.

V43-45 Literal or figurative? This is a passage that if someone asked me to explain it, I'd be stymied. Help??

V 49-50 This is another time I used to think Jesus was just being cold. I see it differently now. I thought he was dissing his birth family, but in reality, He showed no partiality to even his own flesh and blood....He was doing the will of His Father. He played no favorites. This was a hard passage for me for a long time....I may even study it more at length and go into the original Greek and such. Oh, yeah....when I can carve a few more hours into the day!

Genesis 43:2 I wonder how much time passed between when the brothers left to go home and get Ben. I wonder if Simeon was scared in prison. I wonder how much his brothers agonized over their original wrongdoing, knowing they were finally getting theirs. I also wonder why they didn't just tell dad the truth; you'd think with that many of them, one would have broken down by now and confessed. What if they had, and repented??

43:18 Ever been in a public situation and just lose it? It's embarrassing....especially if you're wearing mascara. Being he was in Egypt, I wonder if Joseph wore eyeliner. I mean, I know that's not the reason he ducked out to do his weeping elsewhere, but still....

45:5 What a picture of God's grace and forgiveness! I would have probably still been cheezed off. I might have even made them replace that multicolored coat. Joseph saved his brothers when they totally didn't deserve it, when they had been awful to him, just like Christ did for us. How cool is that???

45:7 I wonder if, during the famine, Jacob doubted God's promises. For all he knew, his family was going to die of starvation. Whether he did or not, look where he ended up! It's another picture of someone going through so much sorrow, only to end up restored beyond what they had, in Jacob's case getting "the fat of the land" in a place he probably never dreamed he would end up living. Life is such an adventure, guys. I mean, never lose heart or give up, because things seem one way, like you're in this time of major famine...but we have the Word to remind us of God's promises; he's not going to forget us, no matter where we are or what we're going through, so don't be afraid! Read Ephesians if you want to be reminded of His promises to us....and God can't lie! (Happy dance!)

Oh sweet Friday....and a 3 day weekend! Have a great time at the Pastor's Conference....get rested and refreshed and come back and teach us more good stuff! I am sooo sad to not be able to go, but I can't miss the time from school. I'll be there in spirit though. :-)

January 18, 2008 at 5:36 PM
Anonymous said...

I love Joseph's story. What men meant for evil, God turns for good. "In all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."

I think it's very interesting the Pharaoh welcomed Joseph's family to come to Egypt...offering them the best of everything, providing for their every need. How many people were there...hundreds? A future Pharaoh won't be so generous, leading to the Exodus.

see ya!

January 19, 2008 at 8:44 AM

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