Scripture:
Genesis 45:7 "God sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors".
Observation:
As is normal in all the life of Joseph, he gives honor and praise to God for things that were terrible experiences. He realized that God was in control of his life and that even the bad things that are God working in our lives for our good.
Application:
It is so easy to get upset and frustrated when things don't go our way. We tend to feel like God has abandoned us because we don't see good things all around us. We feel like when things go wrong, it must not be God, but God is faithful and you can trust Him with your life. Even the bad things of life, He will turn around for good and He may have allowed them because he knew what was coming in your life and how to prepare for it. Joseph trusted God through some really bad experiences that probably would have left most of us denying God even exists. Instead, he grew from it and walked with the Lord through it all.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust You more in the difficult times and to pronounce Your faithfulness in good times, bad times, sad times and times when I don't even know what to do. Teach me to be a person who fully and completely trusts and knows, "God is going to work this out and I will be blessed through it". You are amazing and I love You!
Jeff Jacob
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Knowing Where Your Power Comes From
Scripture:
Genesis 41:16 "'It is beyond my power to do this', Joseph replied. 'But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease'".
Observation:
Joseph understood where his strength and gifts came from. He understood that it was God who could help Pharaoh and that without God intervening, he was powerless to help in the situation. He communicated and was giving God the glory before the dream was even interpreted. This is true humility.
Application:
God works greatest through those who understand that it is not by their own goodness, their own power, or their own strength that things get accomplished. He chooses to work greatest through those who He knows will give Him all the praise and not take any glory or themselves. Joseph had no problem telling the Pharaoh, I can't do this, but God can. It didn't bother him to say "I can't". He understood his own limitations and God's powerful possibilities.
Prayer:
Lord, You are amazing! Teach me to walk in the humility of Joseph. I want people to know You and Your power. I want people to see You goodness and grace being poured out. I know I can do nothing to bring about any of this, but I also know that You are awesome and work through people who depend on You. Teach me to depend more on You and less on me.
You're the Best!
Jeff
Genesis 41:16 "'It is beyond my power to do this', Joseph replied. 'But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease'".
Observation:
Joseph understood where his strength and gifts came from. He understood that it was God who could help Pharaoh and that without God intervening, he was powerless to help in the situation. He communicated and was giving God the glory before the dream was even interpreted. This is true humility.
Application:
God works greatest through those who understand that it is not by their own goodness, their own power, or their own strength that things get accomplished. He chooses to work greatest through those who He knows will give Him all the praise and not take any glory or themselves. Joseph had no problem telling the Pharaoh, I can't do this, but God can. It didn't bother him to say "I can't". He understood his own limitations and God's powerful possibilities.
Prayer:
Lord, You are amazing! Teach me to walk in the humility of Joseph. I want people to know You and Your power. I want people to see You goodness and grace being poured out. I know I can do nothing to bring about any of this, but I also know that You are awesome and work through people who depend on You. Teach me to depend more on You and less on me.
You're the Best!
Jeff
Monday, March 8, 2010
God's Favor
Scripture:
Genesis 39:21 "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden".
Observation:
The story of Joseph is my favorite story in the Bible. It is a story of God's faithfulness and His favor when someone has a right attitude in their service of Him. Joseph has been sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of sexual misconduct, and now is in prison. While in prison it said that the Lord was with Joseph and showed him His faithful love. Joseph was favored by the warden and Joseph starting working his way up in the prison.
Application:
Many times when we are in the prison of life, we have a terrible attitude! We think god has forsaken us or He just doesn't love us any more. When we don't see things going our way, we tend to think God doesn't care about us any more. Joseph walked in the Lord's love and favor through terrible circumstances. He was treated awful be many different people, yet kept a good attitude through it all. God's favor fell on him and turned his tragedies into triumphs. Don't focus on your circumstances, focus on your God and you will understand that He knows your future and you can trust Him in your present.
Prayer:
Lord, let You favor be on my life. If there is anything I desire, I desire Your favor as You displayed it with Joseph. Help my attitude to be like the attitude of Joseph so that Your favor can flow. No matter what happened to him, he prospered because You were with him and showed Your favor to him. I want You with me at all times Lord. In the good times and in the bad, I want You with me.
Jeff
Genesis 39:21 "But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden".
Observation:
The story of Joseph is my favorite story in the Bible. It is a story of God's faithfulness and His favor when someone has a right attitude in their service of Him. Joseph has been sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of sexual misconduct, and now is in prison. While in prison it said that the Lord was with Joseph and showed him His faithful love. Joseph was favored by the warden and Joseph starting working his way up in the prison.
Application:
Many times when we are in the prison of life, we have a terrible attitude! We think god has forsaken us or He just doesn't love us any more. When we don't see things going our way, we tend to think God doesn't care about us any more. Joseph walked in the Lord's love and favor through terrible circumstances. He was treated awful be many different people, yet kept a good attitude through it all. God's favor fell on him and turned his tragedies into triumphs. Don't focus on your circumstances, focus on your God and you will understand that He knows your future and you can trust Him in your present.
Prayer:
Lord, let You favor be on my life. If there is anything I desire, I desire Your favor as You displayed it with Joseph. Help my attitude to be like the attitude of Joseph so that Your favor can flow. No matter what happened to him, he prospered because You were with him and showed Your favor to him. I want You with me at all times Lord. In the good times and in the bad, I want You with me.
Jeff
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Somebody's Watching
Scripture:
Genesis 26:7 "When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, 'She is my sister.' He was afraid to say, 'She is my wife.' He thought, 'They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful'".
Observation:
My first observation is that Isaac is repeating the exact same mistakes his father had made. It is almost word for word description of what his father did. What Isaac saw his father do, he did! Secondly, there was a fear that went through their generations. What a father fears, his sons will fear. They were afraid of losing their beautiful wives.
Application:
What we don't deal with, will be passed on to the next generation. Abraham blew it in this exact same area. They both told lies about their wives trying to protect themselves. Abraham did it twice and here we see Isaac doing it. This was all done out of fear. Fear is the root of many wrong actions. Fear of what people think and what people will do controls many people. Instead of doing what we are suppose to do, fear causes us to do things that we know are wrong. Fear and faith are opposites. The more faith you have in God, the less you will struggle with fear.
Prayer:
Lord, let my life please You and bring You honor. I don't want my sons to live with the same fears and mistakes I make. Teach me to live the life of a conqueror, that my boys may live the same. Teach me to overcome that my boys may see an overcomer in action and live that way all their lives. Help me to be an example to my children of a godly man who is not afraid of anything.
Love,
Jeff
Genesis 26:7 "When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, 'She is my sister.' He was afraid to say, 'She is my wife.' He thought, 'They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful'".
Observation:
My first observation is that Isaac is repeating the exact same mistakes his father had made. It is almost word for word description of what his father did. What Isaac saw his father do, he did! Secondly, there was a fear that went through their generations. What a father fears, his sons will fear. They were afraid of losing their beautiful wives.
Application:
What we don't deal with, will be passed on to the next generation. Abraham blew it in this exact same area. They both told lies about their wives trying to protect themselves. Abraham did it twice and here we see Isaac doing it. This was all done out of fear. Fear is the root of many wrong actions. Fear of what people think and what people will do controls many people. Instead of doing what we are suppose to do, fear causes us to do things that we know are wrong. Fear and faith are opposites. The more faith you have in God, the less you will struggle with fear.
Prayer:
Lord, let my life please You and bring You honor. I don't want my sons to live with the same fears and mistakes I make. Teach me to live the life of a conqueror, that my boys may live the same. Teach me to overcome that my boys may see an overcomer in action and live that way all their lives. Help me to be an example to my children of a godly man who is not afraid of anything.
Love,
Jeff
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
What are you withholding?
Scripture:
Genesis 22:12 "'Don't lay a hand on the boy!' the angel said. 'Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son'".
Observation:
Abraham had walked with God for a long time. He hadn't lived a perfect life, but he did try to do all God wanted him to. When God spoke, Abraham moved! In this instance God had told Abraham to go and offer his son, his only son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice. At the last second, while Abraham was ready to kill his son, an angel stops him and says the above referenced verse. It says that he knows that Abraham fears God because of what he did not withhold from God.
Application:
Sometimes what we won't give says more about us and our relationship to God than what we will give. Sometimes it is what we withhold from God that tells about our heart and whether we fear and honor God completely. What are the areas of your life that you have told God are off limits? What are the areas of your life that God knows you wouldn't give up for Him or to follow His call on your life? Is it security, health, family, finances? God tested Abraham to see whether he would withhold his only son and the son of promise from the Lord if he asked for him. I believe God tests those He loves to see if we are willing to follow Him completely.
Prayer:
Lord, let there be nothing in my life that I would withhold from You. I surrender all to You my Lord and my King. This is the desire of my heart, but I also know that words come cheap. In the time of testing, let me prove reliable and faithful. May I be someone You can trust who will hold nothing back from my God.
I love you Lord,
Jeff
Genesis 22:12 "'Don't lay a hand on the boy!' the angel said. 'Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son'".
Observation:
Abraham had walked with God for a long time. He hadn't lived a perfect life, but he did try to do all God wanted him to. When God spoke, Abraham moved! In this instance God had told Abraham to go and offer his son, his only son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice. At the last second, while Abraham was ready to kill his son, an angel stops him and says the above referenced verse. It says that he knows that Abraham fears God because of what he did not withhold from God.
Application:
Sometimes what we won't give says more about us and our relationship to God than what we will give. Sometimes it is what we withhold from God that tells about our heart and whether we fear and honor God completely. What are the areas of your life that you have told God are off limits? What are the areas of your life that God knows you wouldn't give up for Him or to follow His call on your life? Is it security, health, family, finances? God tested Abraham to see whether he would withhold his only son and the son of promise from the Lord if he asked for him. I believe God tests those He loves to see if we are willing to follow Him completely.
Prayer:
Lord, let there be nothing in my life that I would withhold from You. I surrender all to You my Lord and my King. This is the desire of my heart, but I also know that words come cheap. In the time of testing, let me prove reliable and faithful. May I be someone You can trust who will hold nothing back from my God.
I love you Lord,
Jeff
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
There is a SET TIME!
Scripture:
Genesis 21:2 "For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him".
Observation:
God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. He told him that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore. Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 when she gave birth. They had been married for decades and not been able to produce offspring. The child Isaac came at the "set time".
Application:
There is always a set time for the things God has spoken to His people. God is a god of order and process. He knows when the right time is and sometimes we rush ahead of God's process and timing. We must realize that God's timing and ours are seldom the same. We must realize that His timing is perfect and what He promises, will come to pass. This is an area of trust that we need to grow into. It is difficult to trust God when He is saying something that doesn't make sense. Trusting God and understanding that there is a "SET TIME" is crucial to following Him.
Prayer:
Lord, teach us to realize that You are a god of times and seasons. That You are in control and we don't have to rush anything. You are amazing, powerful, and nothing is too difficult for You! Teach me to slow down and let things happen in Your time because Your time is the right time!
Jeff
Genesis 21:2 "For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him".
Observation:
God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations. He told him that his seed would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand on the seashore. Abraham was 100 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 when she gave birth. They had been married for decades and not been able to produce offspring. The child Isaac came at the "set time".
Application:
There is always a set time for the things God has spoken to His people. God is a god of order and process. He knows when the right time is and sometimes we rush ahead of God's process and timing. We must realize that God's timing and ours are seldom the same. We must realize that His timing is perfect and what He promises, will come to pass. This is an area of trust that we need to grow into. It is difficult to trust God when He is saying something that doesn't make sense. Trusting God and understanding that there is a "SET TIME" is crucial to following Him.
Prayer:
Lord, teach us to realize that You are a god of times and seasons. That You are in control and we don't have to rush anything. You are amazing, powerful, and nothing is too difficult for You! Teach me to slow down and let things happen in Your time because Your time is the right time!
Jeff
Monday, March 1, 2010
Singled out for Generations
Scripture:
Genesis 18:19 "I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised".
Observation:
God is speaking to Abraham and letting him know why he was singled out. It says he was singled out so that he would direct his children and their families to keep the way of the Lord. God thinks generationally! When he wants to get something done, he will start a work in a man or woman with the intention of their children or grandchildren fulfilling His word. He sees a hundred years from now who He will need to get something done in the earth and He is already preparing your descendants by preparing you.
Application:
Sometimes we feel like our salvation is only about us, but God thinks generationally. He "IS" very interested in you, but He is also thinking about how you will raise your children and what He will need in place at a certain time in history. I know my grandmother died for several minutes and saw the Lord and was sent back to the earth to raise her four daughters. Many of my cousins are preachers today. My mother almost died having me, but God's promise remains. God let her live so that she could raise me to follow the Lord, that my life may be blessed and many would come to Christ. My children are blessed because of my grandmother and mother. I believe my children will do more for the Lord than I could ever do. God thinks generationally!
Prayer:
Lord, let us see your plan. you know what You are doing and have a purpose for all of our lives. You are building and preparing Your kingdom. We trust You have brought us to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Teach us to think generationally. Each generation can do more for your kingdom than we could ever do. Let us invest in the next generation instead of only worrying about ourselves.
Love You,
Jeff
Genesis 18:19 "I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised".
Observation:
God is speaking to Abraham and letting him know why he was singled out. It says he was singled out so that he would direct his children and their families to keep the way of the Lord. God thinks generationally! When he wants to get something done, he will start a work in a man or woman with the intention of their children or grandchildren fulfilling His word. He sees a hundred years from now who He will need to get something done in the earth and He is already preparing your descendants by preparing you.
Application:
Sometimes we feel like our salvation is only about us, but God thinks generationally. He "IS" very interested in you, but He is also thinking about how you will raise your children and what He will need in place at a certain time in history. I know my grandmother died for several minutes and saw the Lord and was sent back to the earth to raise her four daughters. Many of my cousins are preachers today. My mother almost died having me, but God's promise remains. God let her live so that she could raise me to follow the Lord, that my life may be blessed and many would come to Christ. My children are blessed because of my grandmother and mother. I believe my children will do more for the Lord than I could ever do. God thinks generationally!
Prayer:
Lord, let us see your plan. you know what You are doing and have a purpose for all of our lives. You are building and preparing Your kingdom. We trust You have brought us to the Kingdom for such a time as this. Teach us to think generationally. Each generation can do more for your kingdom than we could ever do. Let us invest in the next generation instead of only worrying about ourselves.
Love You,
Jeff
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