DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PESSIMISM

 PESSIMISM
Genesis 43:15-16, 18
 
"So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, 'Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.'....Now the men were afraid because they were brought in Joseph's house; and they said, 'It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us a slaves with our donkeys.' "
 
While Joseph was preparing a feast for them, the brothers were imagining the worst, perhaps because of their own guilty consciences. Pessimists see a dark lining in every silver cloud. When as a student, I was called into the principal's office, I always went with fear because I knew I would be chastised for some wrong I had done, but often it was to tell me a good thing. I still tend to be a pessimist, imagining the worst in a situation. But that is not faith. God has good things prepared for those who love Him (Psalm 84:11). His plans for me are to give me a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). I can trust Jesus.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Fear and pessimism are not faith in the goodness of God.
 
[end]
 
Have an optimistic day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IF IT MUST BE SO

 HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Genesis 43:11a, 13
 
"And their father Israel said to them, 'If it must be so, then do this: ..... Take your brother also, and arise, go back to the man. And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!' "
 
Prior to this, Joseph's father was "Jacob" – deceiver, supplanter (Genesis 42:36). He responded to the situation as the natural man, fearful and unbelieving. Now he is called "Israel" – prevailing with God. He had a change of heart and perspective. He was now ready to trust God that there was a future, even if it involved sorrow. It was another dark night when Jesus met with his followers in the face of His impending death. The disciples did not understand the future and their hearts were heavy. Jesus said to them, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me." God had special things prepared for the future when the new day dawned. (John 14:1-2). My own heart has been heavy with grief for the future of America after the ruling of SCOTUS regarding homosexual marriage. In my natural mind, things look very bleak and fearful for the future of my beloved country. After a sleepless night, I awoke with John 14:1 in my heart and also Psalm 130:7 – "Hope in the LORD." When the future is dark and "if it must be so," I can trust God that there is a future on the other side.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When the future is dark and hard to understand, God is our source of hope.
 
[end]
 
Have a hopeful day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SEEING HIS FACE

 SEEING HIS FACE
Genesis 43:1-3
 
"Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, 'Go back, bring us a little food.' But Judah spoke to him, saying, 'The man solemnly warned us, saying, "You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you." ' "
 
Joseph had the right and the authority to make the rules. The only way to see his face again was to bring Benjamin. Jacob didn't like the mandate. It would mean admitting his own need, giving up Benjamin – the pride and joy of his life, and submitting to Joseph's demand. Their future depended on doing it Joseph's way. There were only two options: trust in the sacrifice of Benjamin or die in the famine. There was no other choice. He had to do it Joseph's way. In effect, Benjamin became the payment required to come to Joseph. God has set the requirement for us to see His face. It is admitting our own need, giving up everything that is dear to us – our pride and our joy, and trusting the payment Christ has made. People may not like God's mandate, but there is no other option if I want to see His face. My future depends on doing it God's way. Either I submit to His plan or I will die in my sins.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The only way to see God's face is to come God's way – through faith in Jesus.
 
[end]
 
Have a trusting day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- UNTRUSTWORTHY

UNTRUSTWORTHY
Genesis 42:37-38
 
"Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, 'Kill my two sons if I do not bring [Benjamin] back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.' But [Jacob] said, 'My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is left alone. If any calamity should befall him along the way in which you go, then you would bring down my gray hair with sorrow to the grave.' "
 
Reuben, as the oldest of the brothers, should have been the most dependable and responsible of the family. But Jacob knows his sons well, and he knows that Reuben, for all his grand speaking, cannot be trusted to live up to his word. He is not reliable. When Jacob pronounced blessings on his sons, he called Reuben "unstable as water" (Genesis 49:3). Now Reuben is making a rash promise that Jacob knows he cannot control or keep. Reuben knows for sure that Jacob would not kills his two sons, so that guarantee was worthless. Reuben was all mouth, but his words meant nothing to Jacob because Reuben had proven himself untrustworthy. Trust is earned over time, and Reuben had demonstrated that he could not be trusted. I want my life to back up my words so that I can be trusted. It is important to say what I mean, and mean what I say, so that my words are not just hot air.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trust is a precious commodity that is earned over time, but can easily be lost.
 
[end]
 
Have a "trustworthy" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- EVERYTHING IS AGAINST ME

 EVERYTHING IS AGAINST ME
Genesis 42:29, 36
 
"Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them......And Jacob their father said to them, 'You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.' "
 
Situation after situation kept piling on Jacob. The brothers even wanted to take away from him one of the most valuable things in his life – his youngest child. Jacob thought everything was going against him, and he became depressed. One of the symptoms of depression is loss of hope that things will get better. He could not see that God had a special plan in all of this. It is hard to live in Romans 8:28 – that God works everything together for good – when all I see is loss and destruction. But that is where faith enters the picture. We do walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7). Faith trusts God has a plan and a purpose, even in the dark times of life when everything seems to be going wrong. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When everything goes against us, we can be sure that God is in control.
 
[end]
 
Have a trusting day. Love you.
 
P.S.: Re yesterday's Dad's Ramblings – What in the world is "skinking?"

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THAT SKINKING FEELING

 THAT SINKING FEELING
Genesis 42:26-28
 
"So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. So he said to his brothers, 'My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!' Then their hearts failed [margin: sank] them and they were afraid, saying to one another, 'What is this that God has done to us?' "
 
The brothers did not know that Joseph had ordered their money to be returned to them, so they did not understand what was happening. I know that sinking feeling when the bottom drops out, when things seem out of control and I don't understand why life is the way it is. Then that sinking feeling turns to fear because I don't know what to do about it. The brothers did the right thing: they turned their thoughts to God. The only recourse when I have that sinking feeling is to cry out to God – "God, what are You doing?"
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: When engulfed by a sinking feeling, the best thing is to turn to God.
 
[end]
 
Have a trusting day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLNGS -- A PICTUE OF GRACE

 A PICTURE GRACE
Genesis 42:25
 
"Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them."
 
What a picture of grace!!! These brothers did not deserve anything but retribution for the evil they had done to Joseph. But Joseph did not repay them evil for evil, perhaps for the sake of their father. Instead he filled their sacks with good things, restored their money to them, and gave them additional provisions for their journey. How much like the Lord Jesus, Who, for the sake of the Father, fills my life with good things, restores, and gives provision for my journey to Heaven. God calls me to be such a person of grace also. It is a great challenge to be gracious when other people are not. My natural tendency is to get even. But God says, "Repay no one evil for evil .... Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:17, 21). Lord Jesus, help me to be gracious like You.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Grace does not repay evil for evil, but responds to evil with good.
 
[end]
 
Have a gracious day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CONFESSION AND TEARS

 CONFESSION AND TEARS
Genesis 42:23-24
 
"But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke through an interpreter. And he turned away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes."
 
As Joseph listened to his brothers talking among themselves, he understood every word and was overcome by emotion. His brothers' confession released something inside that Joseph had carried for many years. There is something about confession that clears the air and there is something about tears that cleanses the soul.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Confession cleanses the conscience, and tears cleanse the soul.
 
[end]
 
Have a "cleansing" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- DEALING WITH GUILT

 DEALING WITH GUILT
Genesis 42:21-22
 
"Then they said to one another, 'We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.' And Reuben answered them, saying, 'Did I not speak to you, saying, "Do not sin against the boy"; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us.' "
 
Joseph had not yet revealed his identity, and nothing had been said about how Joseph had been mistreated as a youth. Apparently, they carried guilt all these years, and something that was said brought it to the surface. Guilt over past mistakes is a hard burden to carry, and it accomplishes nothing but pain and sorrow unless it is a motivation to make restitution or change the way I live now. "Shoulda, woulda, coulda" is of no value because I can't change the past. But I can change going forward based on past mistakes.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The only purpose and value of guilt is as a motivation to change.
 
[end]
 
Have a changing day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- A STEADY FAITH

 A STEADY FAITH
Genesis 42:18-20
 
"Then Joseph said to them the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God: If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.' And they did so."
 
During all the trials he experienced, and then in his prosperity as Pharaoh's right hand man, Joseph never lost his faith in God. He could still say, "I fear God." There are two things that cause people to lose faith – failure and success. Bad experiences can cause me to question God's power and his goodness. Is there really an omnipotent loving God Who would let me to go through this suffering? And prosperity can cause me to become self-sufficient and think I don't need Him – that I can handle life on my own. In the words of Agur: "Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8b-9). Keeping faith in the extremes is a challenge because my view of God becomes distorted. Lord, help me to be like Joseph who kept his faith through thick and thin.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: A steady faith comes from understanding that God is in control, in both times of distress and in times of peace.
 
[end]
 
Have a steady day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LET'S GET REAL

 LET'S GET REAL
Genesis 42:9b, 13, 17, 21
 
"[Joseph] said to them, 'You are spies!" .... And they said, 'Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more." .... So he put them in prison three days. .... Then they said to one another, 'We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.' "
 
For all these many years, Joseph's brothers had carried their dirty little secret. At first, they just said that they thought Joseph was dead – "one is no more." But three days in jail, not knowing if they would be killed as spies, gave them time to reflect, and their time of trouble finally caused them to admit their sin against Joseph. Trouble can be a wake-up call to do some self-examination to see if my problems are caused by hidden, unconfessed sin. Sometimes it takes distress in my life to cause me to face my own failures. When I finally come to grips with my guilt, then I can get real and admit it, and that opens the door to forgiveness. "But let a man examine himself..." (I Corinthians 11:28).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Trouble can be the impetus to face the past and confess hidden sin and
failures.
 
[end]
 
Have a "real" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FULL CIRCLE

 FULL CIRCLE
Genesis 42:6-7a, 8-9a
 
"Now Joseph was governor over the land, and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them...So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them...."
 
The story has come full circle. The dream that Joseph had as a teenager of his brothers bowing before him has now come to pass. Joseph is probably at least 44 years old. (He was 30 when he interpreted Pharaoh's dream, and there have been 7 years of plenty, and 7 years of drought.) I imagine that when Joseph saw his brothers, a lot of emotions surfaced, and he remembered how they had despised him and treated him roughly as a teenager. Even though he chose to forget (Genesis 41:50), the memory still lingered below the surface. I don't know if his rough treatment of his brothers and the accusation of being spies was a part of the retribution for their actions 27 years before, or if it was just a charade to make his brothers feel uncomfortable. Either way, the brothers were paying a price for how they treated Joseph years earlier. The brothers' actions have also come full circle. There is no statute of limitations on the results of doing wrong. Even though I am forgiven in heaven, there may still be consequences in this life. Life does go full circle. The past does impact today. It may lay buried, but it will come to the surface at some point.  "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known" (Luke 12:2).  That is why it is so vital to be careful how I live.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Life goes full circle, and both good and bad actions will be revealed.
 
[end]
 
Have a full circle day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IS THERE A PROBLEM HERE?

 IS THERE A PROBLEM HERE?
Genesis 42:1-2, 5
 
"When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, 'Why do you look at one another?' And he said, 'Indeed, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die' .... And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan."
 
Jacob and his sons all recognized their need for food during this famine. I take the phrase, "Why do you look at one another?" to mean that the boys were asking each other, "What shall we do?"
The first step to solving a problem is to recognize that there is a problem. I will not act to meet a need until I am aware that there is a need. I will not seek food unless I am hungry. It is like the Laodiceans who said to themselves, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," but did not know that they were "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (Revelation 3:17). People will not seek a Savior unless they know that they are lost. They will not feel the need to repent until they are convinced that they are sinners. Jesus said to the Laodiceans, "I counsel you to buy from Me...." (Revelation 3:18). I know what I am – a sinner – and I need Jesus, whatever the cost.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The first step to satisfying a need is to recognize the need.
 
[end]
 
Have an awareness day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- SEVERE FAMINE

 SEVERE FAMINE
Genesis 41:53-54, 56-57
 
"Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread....The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. So all the countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands."
 
There was severe widespread famine in the Earth. America has never experienced famine. Drought, yes, but never famine where people starve to death, like famines in other nations. Jesus predicted that famines, along with pestilences and earthquakes, would be a sign of the end times (Matthew 24:7). But there is another kind of famine prophesied by the prophet Amos: " 'Behold the days are coming,' says the Lord GOD, 'that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD' " (Amos 8:11).  It seems to me that America is in a severe famine. As a nation, we have had years of plenty when the Word of God was abundantly preached and honored. Now, we have abandoned the Word of God in our nation, and even the pulpits seem to be desolate of God's Word. But there are storehouses where the bread from heaven can still be found by those who are willing to seek them out. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: There are storehouses where the hungry can find spiritual bread in the time of famine.
 
[end]
 
Have a hungry day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- LIVING TODAY

LIVING TODAY
Genesis 41:51-52
 
"Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house.' And the name of the second he called Ephraim: 'For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.' "
 
Did Joseph really forget his childhood and all the hardships he had endured? I don't think so, or he wouldn't have called his son Manasseh – "making forgetful." It's not like he had amnesia. Instead, I think this was a conscious choice Joseph made not to live in the past, but to enjoy the Ephraim – the fruitfulness – of the present. Some people are so consumed by past heartaches, injustices, and pain that they fail to recognize God's blessings today. I don't want to forget the faithfulness of God Who has brought me through many trials. But I don't want to dwell there. I want to appreciate His gifts of blessing and goodness today. God has given us a "present" of the present.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God has blessed each of us with today so we won't have to live in the past.
 
[end]
 
Have a "today" day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- IN THE WORLD

 IN THE WORLD
Genesis 41:50
 
"And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him."
 
This is a very curious situation in the life of Joseph. Joseph, a believer in Yahweh, married the daughter of a priest an Egyptian god. An emphasis of Scripture is for believers to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We are "in the world, but not of the world." I suppose Joseph could have remained celibate, but I don't know all the facets of the drama. Perhaps this marriage was not his choice but was forced upon him. This I do know. Sometimes I am put into situations that necessitate becoming involved in the world system. It is unavoidable if I am to exist in this world. The challenge is to keep my faith intact. Joseph remained strong in his faith, and so can I.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The Believer must remain vigilant to keep his faith strong while he lives in this alien world.
 
[end]
 
Have a strong day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HOARDING OR PREPARING?

 HOARDING OR PREPARING?
Genesis 41:46b-49
 
"And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them."
 
Joseph was led by God to gather the grain and save it in anticipation of the future drought. There are two approaches to material things. One is to hoard, and the other is to prepare. So what is the difference? Hoarding makes money a god to be treasured and loved. It is like the king in the children's song who sat in his counting house counting out his money. Jesus told the story of the rich man who kept building more and more barns so he would have "many goods laid up for many years" (Luke 12:18-19). Having material things was his focus in life. Jesus said not to lay up treasures on earth and not worry about tomorrow, but to live day to day like the birds (Matthew 6:19, 25-34). On the other hand, we are instructed to be wise and consider the ant because it gathers food in the summer (Proverbs 6:6-8). Winter is coming and it is wise to prepare for it. So what is the balance? Hoarding is the acquiring of goods for the sake of having stuff. Preparation is using stuff to prepare for the future. This is a heart matter. The rich man who is a hoarder "lays up treasure for himself, but is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Jesus put it this way: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). I need to prepare for the future but not make material things my god to be treasured and worshiped. I can trust God to supply my needs for tomorrow because He is the source of all I have. But I am also called to be a good steward of what He has given me today so I can prepare for tomorrow.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The wise person prepares for the future, but does not make material things his god.
 
[end]
 
Have a preparation day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- TRAINING TIME

 TRAINING TIME
Genesis 41:39-41, 46
 
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Inasmuch as God has shown you all things, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house and all the people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.' And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.' .... Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt."
 
Joseph's story began at the age of 17 when he told his family his dreams. Now he is 30. So 17 years have passed. Most of that was a time of training, learning to rule Potiphar's household, and in prison, learning organizational skills. He would not have been prepared to rule a nation without the experience and training time. God's clock may seem to move slowly, but it does move surely. I get so impatient. I want things to happen now! But the preparation time is vital. God has His ways of preparing me for the task He has set before me. In fact, my lifetime of training here on earth is preparation for the things He will have for me to do in heaven, where I will rule and reign with Him. I just need to be faithful and available to opportunities He gives me here and now to develop myself and my skills.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God puts us through apprenticeship to prepare us for future tasks.
 
[end]
 
Have a "training time" day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD

WHO SPEAKS FOR GOD
Genesis 41:3
 
"And Pharaoh said to his servants, 'Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?' "
 
Pharaoh, the ruler of the nation, recognized that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and that Joseph spoke for God. Chuck Colson wrote a book entitled, "Who Speaks For God?" My prayer for several years has been, "O God, give us a prophet who can speak Your word to our nation and our leaders." It seems that America has no national prophet on the order of Billy Graham. We desperately need someone who can grab the attention of our leaders with a prophetic word from God. Maybe God will raise up someone from the younger generation – perhaps even an alien who is in prison – who will declare God's message and turn our nation to God.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: God uses prophets to speak to a nation's leaders and people.
 
[end]
 
Have a prayerful day. Love you.
 

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HEEDING THE WARNINGS

 HEEDING GOD'S WARNINGS
Genesis 41:25-28, 37
 
"Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, 'The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads [of grain] are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.' ..... So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.""
 
God warned Pharaoh through his dreams what was going to happen. The fact that Scripture is filled with the prophetic word is one of the proofs of the Bible's truth and authenticity. God warns us in His Word what will happen if we obey or disobey His instructions. Pharaoh listened to Joseph's words and heeded them. Just suppose that Pharaoh had rejected these warnings. The story would have turned out very differently, both for Egypt and for the Hebrews. How different my life would be if I had always heeded God's warnings. I could have saved myself and my family much grief and heartache. The pathway to blessing is obedience to God's Word. As Moses said to the Israelites, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice...." (Deuteronomy 30:19b-20a).
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: The way to blessing is obedience to God's instruction and warnings.
 
[end]
 
Have an listening day. Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE HONOR OF A GIFT

 THE HONOR OF A GIFT
Genesis 41:14-16
 
"Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they brought him quickly of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothes, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.' So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.' "
 
Joseph had a reputation as a dream-interpreter, but he did not take the credit for himself. Instead, he deflected the glory to God. How easy it is to assume the honor for a ministry gift that God has bestowed, when the honor and glory really belong to God. The church at Corinth had been given many spiritual gifts that excelled other churches, but they became proud of their spirituality. Paul wrote to remind them, "Who makes you differ from another? [Why do you think you are better than anyone else?] And what do you have that you did not receive [was given to you]? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" It is one thing to humbly acknowledge God's blessings in my life. It is quite another thing to think it is because I am so good, and to take the honor and glory for myself. Joseph gave the glory to God, and was able to give an answer of peace (shalom) to Pharaoh from God.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: All the glory and honor for any spiritual gift or ministry belong to God alone.
 
[end]
 
Have a God-honoring day.   Love you.

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HOPE

 HOPE
Genesis 41:1a
 
"Then it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream....."
 
Two years can seem like an eternity when one is in a dark place in life as Joseph was. It seemed like nothing was happening. He was stuck in prison through no fault of his own, and seemingly forgotten, even by God. He probably thought, "Will this nightmare ever end?" But unknown by Joseph, God was working behind the scene, setting the stage for Joseph's deliverance. I love those words, "It came to pass" – it didn't come to stay. Even though I may not see it at the time, God is working to bring about a victory. And that gives me hope. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). I will live by faith.
 
TODAY'S PRINCIPLE: Hope is inspired by the knowledge that God is at work even when I can't see it.
 
[end]
 
Have a hopeful day. Love you.