That's Not Fair

                                   

          Great people -
 Don’t throw pity parties

That’s Not Fair!

“But the Lord was with Joseph, and was good to him, and made the keeper of the prison his friend”.

Genesis 39:21

Her eyes lit up as Joseph entered the spacious Egyptian home. Taking extreme caution that all servants were dismissed, Potiphar’s unfaithful wife sauntered towards Joseph with seduction in every step.  Her eyelashes fluttered and as her lips parted she smiled with daring confidence. Her gown revealed her well-formed breasts and she had taken care for Joseph’s eyes to rest there. Tracing her fingers up his muscled torso she whispered in tormenting sweetness, “Lie with me, Joseph.”

Lovely, yet deceitful, Potiphar’s spouse set her eyes on Joseph. Today she’d get her man. Joseph had guarded himself from her. But now, as her perfume tantalized his senses, he had to act quickly. If he lingered, unbridled passion would take hold. Sin against God, forget who he was? No, there was only one thing left to do—run! And he did!  

The cheating wife screamed—rapist!

Potiphar in his pride yelled —how dare you touch my wife!

For good behavior Joseph was thrown—into jail!

Not fair!

And until Joseph became second ruler in Egypt, he sulked, felt sorry for himself, grumbled, and told everyone his story.

 It just wasn’t fair… What those people did to me…and where was God?

No! He didn’t do that—would never reach God’s best that way. God had given him a dream...a destiny...for greatness!

Instead

Joseph rolled up his sleeves, and asked the jail keeper, “How can I help?”

Even while his feet were in chains,

            even while his dreams of great purpose faded away,

                            even when God seemed not to care,

                                            Joseph honored God.

Why?

Great people don’t grumble when life is unfair. And great people know that God doesn’t lie…can’t lie. And great people will rise from the rubble of life because—God is with them— they just can’t fail!

Take this and run with it—today! He’s called you—to greatness!

Dear Lord, I can to this because you were nailed to a cross for me. Was that fair?

Unlocking Dinah's Diary

Unlocking Dinah’s Diary

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”

Micah 7:8

“I was so ashamed of my sin. Why I chose to wander away from home and look at what I thought would be fun was just plain selfish—rebellious. I knew the rule. Don’t mix with unbelievers. Oh, I’m just exploring. Just checking out my options…what's the harm? And when Shechem looked my way, and when I knew he was a prince, and when I considered that such a powerful man set his eyes on me, I just couldn’t say no...just couldn't run.

And in an instant I was damaged goods. 

‘I’ll marry you. I’ll make it right. I’ll talk to your father.’ But it could never work. His words were comforting but I continued with him—giving myself to him.  

And the horror of my brothers Levi and Simeon killing all the men in that small town brought even more shame. They snatched me out of Shechem’s house and I returned home.

I never left again. I stayed close and even went with my family into Egypt when my little brother Joseph became Egypt’s prime minister.

God has given me peace, my friend..a new start too. My name means justice and although my brothers were way out of line God has made me right and brought me back to His people…my people. He didn’t have to do that.  He wanted to. He’s the only one who could. He loves me—I love Him too!

 Have you been where I was? What God did for me…He can do for you!”

Dear Lord,

You can make me white a snow. I need you, Lord. Thank you for your love.

The Pure Heart

The Pure Heart

“Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends”

Luke 15:29

John wiped his brow as he removed the yoke from his oxen team. They had plowed long and hard today.

“Someday I’ll own all of my father’s estate. That’ll be something to celebrate. My idiot brother will have no part…I’m glad. He was Father’s spoiled little boy. He got everything he wanted and in the end he took what he wanted and was gone. Good riddance! I don’t care if I ever see him again.  But Father just keeps looking down the well-worn path.

 Let him go, I tell him. Let him rot in hell. He deserves it. After all…squandering your inheritance on harlots?”

John patted the heads of his oxen and made his way home.  Was that music he heard? What in the world?

“Hey John, your brother is home. We just killed the fatted calf. It’s Time to party.”

“This isn’t fair! Dad, are you crazy? This is the boy who lived like a heathen. What about me? I did everything right. I was no slouch, no bum. When is it my turn?”

“Where is your mercy Son? Your brother has humbled himself. Turn him away after such a broken heart? I can’t do that. God won’t let me.”

And so we see two boys. One did everything right but his father never had his heart. That was all he truly wanted. The heart he saw was a proud one.

 The other, full of sin, begged for mercy and a tender father saw a heart that was broken a heart that was pure. It was all  Father ever wanted.   Not perfection—not a flawless

slate—but a perfect heart…a pure heart.

Don’t Label Me

Don’t Label Me

Did you see that? She turned me down flat—me!

Oh, don’t you know she’s a religious freak? She has no clue about life. She’s what you’d call boring, boring, boring and did I mention… she’s boring!

I think I got it. Boring!

So the cruel label stuck. But think about it. Who has the power to label you? Who puts the label on the milk you buy? Who places the tag on the jeans you wear?

Correct answer – the manufacturer.

So I ask you. Do those teen aged boys have a right to label someone? Are they the manufacturer of their target? Did they create her?

Your maker is God. Read the label He places on you.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”

Psalm 139:14 (NKJV)

You have been washed clean by Jesus Christ. You are pure. Let no man or woman ridicule you for walking in purity.  

Your peers may make jabs at you because you’re a Christian. They may place labels on you because you don’t go their way. But in the end, the Almighty will call court and those who  mocked God’s old fashioned people, will tremble before Him.

I encourage you today. Your obedience to Father’s will is the key to walking into His destiny for you, His plans for you. Don’t be ashamed to shine for Jesus. There are those who are watching you and wanting what you have—so shine on!