Let's Talk about Timing! Part 2

Let’s move on to Joseph. I have to get a little in-depth here to make my point. Joseph is Isaac’s grandson and Abraham’s great grandson. Okay, so Joseph was the firstborn of Jacob’s (Isaac’s son) favorite wife. But he had many brothers, 12 to be exact (they become the 12 tribes of Israel). Joseph was second to the last of the brothers, yet God gave him visions that placed him above his brothers with them bowing down to him. At this his brothers grew furious. They bound him and placed him in a cistern. When an Ishmaelite caravan came by, they sold him into slavery. Consider how confusing this must have been to Joseph. God had promised him honor and power, yet he allowed Joseph to become a slave. I wish I had faith as strong as these men. No where in the bible did it say that Joseph forsake God, or grow angry with him. Instead, it showed how he ministered to people and worshiped the Lord during his captivity.

I am not sure how long Joseph had to wait for God’s promise to be fulfilled, but here is what happened to him to help you understand the span of time. When he arrived in Egypt, he was sold to Pharaoh’s captain of the guard; “the Lord gave him success in everything he did,” and his master put him in charge of his household. However, when the Captain’s wife made advances towards him, Joseph escaped. She made false claims, and Joseph was sent to jail. Again Joseph was successful in what he did there, and the warden made him in charge “of all those in the prison.” While he was in jail he interpreted dreams for two of Pharaoh’s servants, a cupbearer and baker, their fates were just as God had revealed it to Joseph. He asked the cupbearer to not forget him, but he did forget for two years until the Pharaoh had a dream no one could interpret. So you can see that Joseph was waiting a very long time! Not only did he have to gain the favor and trust of the captain of the guard and warden, but then he had to wait two years in prison before Pharaoh had his dream.

Yet everything happened for a purpose and happened at exactly the right time. If Joseph hadn’t been in jail, he would have never met the Pharaoh. If he hadn’t met the Pharaoh and interpreted his dreams (which meant there would be 7 good years of crops and 7 years of famine) hundreds of people would have died. Not to mention, Pharaoh gave Joseph authority over Egypt saying “Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” thus fulfilling Joseph’s own promise from God. Genesis 41:40

Joseph himself acknowledge God’s perfect timing, “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you…But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” Genesis 45:5-8 Joseph relied on God even at the worst of times. I can’t even imagine being sold into slavery by my family. Or spending that much time as a slave and later as a prisoner. Joseph never doubted God’s power to deliver, and he never failed to give God the glory He deserved. He continually said, “I cannot do it…but God will…” Genesis 41:16. Genesis 37-50:26

So what have I learned through these men? Well I learned that God’s timing is God’s perfect timing. It doesn’t usually happen instantaneously; although God definitely has the power to do it instantly. Those who follow through with God’s plan are blessed beyond measure. I also learned you must have complete trust in the Lord of Creation who has overcome the world and never lies and is always always faithful. But I think most importantly, we need to continually return the glory to God with thanksgiving and humility. Because without him, we can accomplish nothing Philippians 4:13.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:6-5

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

Thank you for taking this journey with me, and I encourage you to read the stories of these amazing men for yourself! =)

Let's Talk about Timing! Part 1

What do Noah, Abraham, and Joseph all have in common? Well lots of things! But specifically they all had to wait and rely on God's promises. I was recently doing my devotion in Genesis, and really praying about the direction God has pushed me towards. I think what I have been looking for are quick fixes. I wanted the whole picture, I wanted it now, and there had better be fast results. I think my mentality of that stems from all the fiction we absorb. Movies and books have fast plot lines. Anyway, my frustrations grew when God kept telling me to wait. I felt that my time was wasting away because he wasn't working on my time-line. However, I had forgotten that God’s timing is perfect, and he is utterly dependable. *I am going to write a longer post on Joseph for tomorrow*

Let’s look at Noah. Here is a man who found favor in God’s eyes at a time when God was grieving the creation of man because of their wickedness. God told Noah, “I have found you righteous in this generation” so build an ark and gather your family and the animals because I will destroy the earth and mankind with water. God gave Noah direction and a promise. Yet, Noah had to build the ark. Think about that, here is a man who is super old (he is six hundred years old for the flood) and has to build an ark. He would appear just like Chicken Little to the other people. Think of the amount of time he would have had to doubt God’s word, to turn away from his original purpose because it seems ridiculous or impossible. Think how Satan must have been whispering in his ear like he did to Eve by saying, “Did God really say that?” Now, I don’t know if any of those doubts really occurred to Noah, but I could see these issues arising in my own life. Yet, Noah persisted and finished the ark. I don’t know how long it took for him to complete it, but I bet it wasn’t a week. Noah had to rely on God completely. He had to trust that God would do what he said. And not only trust for a day, or a week, or a month, but for years and years. And God proved himself faithful. Genesis 5:28-9:29

Let’s look at another example with Abraham. Now Abraham has a lot of amazing examples, but I think I will only look at two with you. The Lord told Abraham (his old name was Abram) “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing..” Genesis 12:1-2. Okay first off, God doesn’t tell Abraham where to go. He just says go to where I will show you. Abraham had to take the first step of faith in following God. God didn’t reveal the whole plan to Abraham. God only told him to go and he would be blessed. I don’t know about you, but the thought of totally, wholly, relying on God to the point of leaving everything familiar and comforting in your life, would have terrified me. But Abraham, the great man of Faith in the bible, did as God asked. He traveled and traveled for most of his life; it was not a quick trip, but a journey with God. And the blessings God poured on Abraham are numerous; you will have to read it for yourself.

The second point I would like to make, is that God continually promised to make Abraham’s offspring numerous—more numerous than the stars in the sky. “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Genesis 15:6. He didn’t doubt or laugh at God as Sarah his wife did. Rather he BELIEVED the Lord could do what he said without questions. Now, again, this was not an immediate result. No, no. God continually promised this to Abraham and didn’t give them a child until it was beyond a doubt God’s doing. They were both very old when Isaac was born. Genesis 11:27-21:7

Part 2 to follow!!

yum

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5-6

"...the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business." James 1:11

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." James 3:13-18

"Humble yourselves therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts by troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

"...It is impossible for God to lie..." Hebrews 6:18

vroom vroom

Another piece of my childhood is gone. My car of 7 years served me well, took me to great places, been with me through all my ex-boyfriends, and experienced school with me. It witnessed my tears, my first speeding ticket, and gave me my first taste of freedom. Goodbye friend. I hope your new owner treats you well since you were a great car.

skirts and aprons!

Here is what I've been up to. =)

"It's Big, It's Hard, and It's Comin AT YA!"

The more I watch Anime the more I want to be Japanese. Then I'd have a sweet name like Ayumi or Haru or Kagami. But then I'd have to like seafood too. hm.

Trash Review

There used to be a time when people could look to Hollywood for reaffirmation of what is "right." "Leave It to Beaver," "The Waltons," "The Brady Bunch," even "Family Matters" helped show what is appropriate for American behavior. But now, we are bombarded with situational bias, blinded to the consequences. And by situational bias, I mean the message that says 'If YOU do it, it's okay and justified.' After seeing "She's Just Not That Into You," I am going to have to say the age of Hollywood morality is over.

I recently saw this movie with my family. My dad bought the tickets; otherwise, my husband and I would have left and got our money back. The movie is set up as a half documentary, half fictional film that follows the lives of five women. Each woman has a different life situation: the online dater, the desperate dater, the married woman, the adulteress (I doubt H. would label her that), and the committed but unmarried woman. In every case, men appear as liars, cheaters, and players. The movie makes it look like women must (and do) trap men into relationships, often using sex to accomplish their means. I would like to watch the movie again to be able to write down exactly what the characters say that makes it so morally crippling. But then that would mean I would have to watch it again...

Anyway, back to the men, the woman narrator walks us through how we (women) are fed lies about men and relationships--that if a guy is mean to you, uses you, cheats on you, does anything that hurts you, it is because he really really likes you. The movie tries to work through this point, so women would figure out that it is wrong. On this point, the movie holds some moral binding. But what woman at the age of 25 doesn't know this? If someone hurts you like they listed, obviously it is not a healthy relationship. Unfortunately, men are not the "exception, but the rule." If you are a man, you are screwed. You are doomed to ruin women's lives until you marry them. Until then, you are a horrible person, so live with it. This is as far from the truth as possible. I only know three men who live a life as described above. The rest are honest men who are very respectful and wouldn't dream of hurting other people on purpose for their own gains. Which makes me wonder for our new generation: will the young men in our country absorb these messages like in this movie, and start to believe that it is okay to act that way? That because it is known and accepted as a cultural fact, that it is okay to cheat on women and treat them like trash? This point critically concerns me.

Another point, as I realize this is getting lengthy, is the issue about the adulteress. *Warning spoilers, but honestly don't go see the movie* This woman meets a man in the grocery store. He is attracted to her, but says he is married and he can't "do this." She gets his number anyway, and low and behold, we have to witness a seduction take place. (My husband and I were just cringing in our seats as we had to watch this happen). He rejects her twice when she calls, but her friend encourages her and justifies her actions of "stealing" this husband because "it could be her true love." That makes perfect sense right? =/ Anyway, the husband caves because he isn't happy in his relationship and feels like he was tricked into marriage. I don't know if the rest of the audience felt like it was okay that this was happening. I didn't feel that way. I wanted to slap the man. However, the way it ended, with the husband divorcing his wife who forgave him and wanted to work it out until she realized he continually lied to her, made it look like it was for the best. The adulteress got mad at him and never wanted him to touch her again but now she is very happy pursuing her career (true love right?), the ex-wife moved on with her life, and the ex-husband who says "marriage? what's there to miss about it." All of this makes me so angry. Everything sacred about the covenant of marriage is destroyed in this movie. If you want to sleep around, GO AHEAD. If you want to wreck a marriage for your selfish gains, GO AHEAD. If you think men are scum bags, YOU ARE RIGHT.

There are so many things wrong with this movie that I could keep going and going and going. I would even expand on the show "The Girls Next Door." But I will save you that rant for another time. Either way when we have children we need to be excessively careful about what they see and digest. Otherwise they will come to accept what Hollywood is throwing out there as hegemony. And that will be a dark, joyless, painful society.