If You Don't Love, You Gain Nothing

We all know Joseph's older brothers hated him, but on the other hand do you think Joseph actually loved his brothers?

The Bible tells us that Joseph would report to his father the bad things his brothers were doing, thus giving his father more reason to love his brothers less and him more. Is that love?

"But Joseph reported to his father

some of the bad things his brothers were doing."

Genesis 37:2b (NLT)

Joseph also knew his brothers were jealous of him. Why then did Joseph accept a beautiful robe specially made for him from his father when his father didn't give one to each of his other brothers? Is that love? 

"So one day Jacob had a special gift

made for Joseph---a beautiful robe."

Genesis 37:3b (NLT)

Then to add more fuel to the fire Joseph told his brothers about a dream he had which implied one day he would rule over all them. Is that love?

"One night Joseph had a dream,

and when he told his brothers about it,

they hated him more than ever."

Genesis 37:5 (NLT)

When Joseph had another dream which had the same implication as the first dream, Joseph again told his brothers about it, even though telling them his first dream caused his brothers to hate him more than ever. Is that love?

"Soon Joseph had another dream,

and again he told his brothers about it."

Genesis 37:9a (NLT)

Joseph's brothers hated him, but Joseph didn't love them either. Joseph may have gotten a beautiful coat from his father, but he gained nothing when he didn't love his brothers the way he should have.

"But if I didn't love others,

I would have gained nothing."

1 Corinthians 13:3b (NLT)

For Us All

Jacob had twelve sons, but the Bible says he loved one of his sons more than any of his other children. Jacob's favorite son was named Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph so much more than any of his other sons, he gave Joseph a very special gift, a beautiful robe, but gave nothing to his other sons.

Jacob was wrong---very wrong! and as a result, he suffered horrible consequences for his sin. His favorite son Joseph was taken from him when Joseph was only seventeen years old, never to be seen again until twenty years later. During those twenty grievous years, Jacob lived with the belief his beloved son died a savage death by a wild man-eating animal and agonized at the thought of not being able to give his precious son a burial. 

Jacob's favoritism also created a breeding ground for hatred to grow in the hearts of his other sons, so much so their initial plan was to murder their own brother. For twenty years, not only did Jacob live in misery, but so did his other sons who had to live with the guilt of selling their younger brother into slavery, lying to their father, and watching their father's heart ache and Joseph's mother's devastation of losing her long awaited first-born son.

Then there was Joseph's pain of rejection from his brothers, loss of his family and home, hardships of forced labor, and prison times.

"Jacob loved Joseph 

more than any of his other children

because Joseph had been born to him in his old age.

So one day Jacob had a special gift

 made for Joseph---a beautiful robe.

But his brother hated Joseph

 because their father loved him

more than the rest of them.

They couldn't say a kind word to him."

Genesis 37: 3-4 (NLT)

Thank goodness God is not like Jacob for He shows no favoritism to any of his children.

"For God does not show favoritism."

Romans 2:11 (NLT)

The Bible says God gave up His own Son for us all and desires to give each of us everything else as well. What God gives to one of His children, He will give to another.

"Since He did not spare even His own Son

but gave Him up for us all,

won't He also give us everything else?

Romans 8:32 (NLT)

And You Healed Me

The children at the boys and girls club tonight will learn the compassionate heart Jesus has for the sick. They will be taught to be compassionate to those who are sick as well. They will make "Get Well" cards for people they know who are sick with the promise of Psalm 30:2 written inside.

"Lord my God,

I called to You for help,

and You healed me."

Psalm 30:2 (NIV)

For a treat I have made edible band-aids for the children to snack on. They are made of graham wafers, cream cheese, and raspberry spread.

I pray the children we learn to be like Jesus and care for those who are sick.

He Takes Hold Of Your Right Hand

Today, my husband Brian and I signed the papers for a 2014 Buick Encore. Brian will be driving the Toyota RAV4 I use to drive and I will driving the Buick Encore. The RAV4 is more powerful because it has a V6 engine. Therefore, the Toyota is better suited for Brian to drive, since he drives mostly on the highways. I, on the other hand, drive mostly in the city, so the Buick's turbocharged inline-4 engine is better suited for me.

When Brian and I bought the RAV4 two years ago, the experience I had dealing with the Toyota sales and service department was nightmarish, so I naturally was sick to my stomach at the thought of buying another vehicle. I was sold a RAV4 that would suddenly accelerate, instead of stopping when I put on the brakes. However, this did not occur all the time, and the first two times it happened, the acceleration only lasted a few seconds. Then the vehicle would stop abruptly. The third time, which was a week later, I couldn't stop the vehicle and ended up driving at an accelerated speed along the shoulder to avoid an accident. When I was able to stop the vehicle by turning off the ignition, I phoned the Toyota dealership to tow the vehicle back to their yard. After the mechanics in the service department drove the vehicle around for twenty minutes, they said there was nothing wrong with it, and told me to take the vehicle back. I, of course, refused, but Toyota wouldn't give me my money back. They treated me like I was crazy, including the salesman. I was then forced to trade the vehicle in for another one.

With those memories in my mind, Brian tried many times to take me to car dealerships to look at other vehicles, but I couldn't. I would freeze in the car and couldn't move. Brian then had to turn around to take me back home. I prayed to God for courage. Finally two weekends ago, I was able to get out of the car and walk into a car lot, only to flee a few seconds later from an aggressive probing salesman. I then prayed to God for courage and wisdom!

Last weekend, God answered both of my prayers. When Brian drove up to a Buick dealership on Saturday, I again panicked, but after we drove around a bit and did some shopping, I felt led of the Lord to go back. When we walked in, we were surprisingly able to look at cars without anyone bothering us. Later when we were ready, I asked at the desk for a salesman. The salesman who was sent to us was a quiet-spoken, unassertive and caring young man. He was pleasure to do business with! and sold us a beautiful car.

If you are afraid of anything, (including car salesmen), God will take hold of your right hand and help you.

"For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

Here is a picture of my new car. The colour is called deep espresso. We were going to buy a used car, but the dealership was offering zero percent financing on a new car. The payments on this car worked out to be the same as one for a used car we were looking at.

I love my car and the salesman God led us to! Little does he know God specifically chose him for us.

The Joy And Peace In Believing

For the last six months I have been praying with a woman for the restoration of her marriage. She had been separated from her husband for two years. and during that time her husband was having an intimate relationship with another woman. In the human mind, it seemed utterly hopeless, but in the spiritual mind, it was absolutely certain. If we believe, the God of hope fills us with all joy and peace. 

"Now may the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you will abound in hope 

by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:20 (NASB)

Two weeks ago, this woman's husband felt convicted of God to finally end his relationship with the other woman, and tomorrow he and his wife are going on a ten-day holiday together to reunite the love they once had for each other. Praise God! Hope abounds by the power of His Holy Spirit!

All Who Are Weary

My son Tim took this picture of our cat Osha resting on the arm of our living room chair, while looking outside our living room window. I think he has a tummy ache again.

"Then Jesus said,

'Come to Me, 

all of you who are weary 

and carry heavy burdens,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you.

Let Me teach you,

because I am humble and gentle at heart,

and you will find rest for your souls

For My yoke is easy to bear,

and the burden I give you is light.'"

.Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

In The Image Of God

Tonight my family and I saw the Lego Movie. It was our third try to see it. The first two times we went to the theater to see the movie, but the movie was always sold out. Tonight it was sold out too, but we went an hour and a half early to make sure we got seats this time. We did. In fact, we were the first ones to pick our seats.

It was a fun movie to watch with my sons. All my sons have loved Lego since they were very young. Lego sets were their favorite gifts to receive at Christmas and birthdays. Even today they buy themselves complicated Lego structures to build and display in their house and rooms. I like this one below.

God created man and woman in His own image, so just like God, people of all ages love creating things.

"So God created mankind in His own image,

in the image of God He created them;

male and female He created them."

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

God Rested To Enjoy

"By the seventh day 

God had finished the work 

he was doing;

so on the seventh day

he rested from all his work.

Then God blessed the seventh day

and made it holy,

because on it he rested 

from all the work of creating

that he had done."

Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

God rested on the seventh day after creation not because He was weary from all his work, but because He was well-pleased. The Scriptures state clearly God never grows tired or weary.

"Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom."

Isaiah 40:28 (NIV)

God rested on the seventh day to enjoy all He created. The seventh day was a day of relaxing pleasure!

Snow Outside, Spring Inside

Quite a bit of our snow has now melted in Edmonton. For several weeks my flower beds near my house could be seen, so I started getting excited about Spring. This week I even planned for the children at the boys and girls club last night to make daffodils for them to bring home, but yesterday it snowed all day. As the snow fell heavily outside, children inside were having fun making spring flowers. Spring may not be here yet in Alberta, but we know it will come. Sometimes we just need to be reminded and praise the Lord!

"Let everything that has breath

praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 150:6 (NIV)

A Wonderful Replacement

It is sad jealousy prevented David from having a close relationship with any of his older brothers. However, after David kills Goliath, God's replaces David's void and heartbreak with a replacement---Jonathan, Saul's own son.

Jonathan and David became one in spirit and loved David as himself, even though Saul, Jonathan's father came to despise David.

"After David had finished talking with Saul,

Jonathan became one in spirit with David,

and he loved him as himself."

1 Samuel 18:1 (NIV)

When Jonathan was later killed in battle, David referred to Jonathan as his dear brother whose love he cherished deeply.

"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;

you were very dear to me.

Your love for me was wonderful,

more wonderful than that of women."

2 Samuel 1:26 (NIV)

When a loved one rejects you, God often replaces that void with another.

Goliath's Aim Was To Attack, Not Defend

Ever wondered why Goliath didn't raise his shield or duck when he saw David reach into his bag, take out a stone, and whirl it at him.

Twice in the Scriptures, Goliath's shield-bearer is brought to our attention. Why then didn't Goliath use his shield?

"His shield-bearer went ahead of him."

1 Samuel 17:7b (NIV)

"Meanwhile, the Philistine,

with his shield-bearer in front of him,

kept coming closer to David."

1 Samuel 17:40 (NIV)

The Scriptures also states that Goliath wasn't just a giant, he was also an experience warrior from the time he was a youth. Why then didn't Goliath make a defensive manoeuver?

"And he has been a warrior from his youth."

1 Samuel 17:33b (NIV)

Goliath made the mistake of aiming only to attack and not to defend himself from someone who was just a little more that a boy. Goliath underestimated the power of God that accompanies faith no matter who that person may be.

 "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him,

David ran quickly towards the battle line to meet him."

1 Samuel 17: 48

Five Stone For Five Giants

Before David faced Goliath, he chose for himself five stones from the brook and placed them in his shepherd's bag.

"He took his stick in his hand

and chose for himself

 five smooth stones from the brook

and put them in the shepherd's bag

which he had."

1 Samuel 17:40 (NASB)

Only one stone was required for God to kill Goliath. David knew this. His faith in God was strong. Why then did he choose five?

"And David put his hand into his bag

and took from it a stone and slung it,

and struck the Philistine on his forehead.

And the stone sank into his forehead,

so that he fell on his face to the ground."

1 Samuel 17:49 (NASB)

According to the Scriptures, there were four other giants in Gath that fell by the hand of David and his servants. These four brothers were sons of a well-known giant who lived in Gath, but it was not Goliath.

"These four were born to the giant in Gath,

and they fell by the hand of David

and by the hand of his servants."

2  Samuel 21:22 (NASB)

One of the four giants is named elsewhere in Scriptures. He is Lahmi, who is stated as being a brother of Goliath.

And there was again war with the Philistines,

and Elhanan the son of Jair

struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite."

1 Chronicles 20:8 (NASB)

Therefore, Goliath had four brothers who were giants as well. David picked up five stones to kill all five giants. Not for one second, did David feel he might need five stones to kill Goliath. If the first stone didn't kill Goliath, David knew he was a goner.

David Boasted Not In Himself, But In God

When David's three oldest brothers had joined Saul's army to fight the Philistines, David, the youngest, went back and forth from his home to the battle field. He had to help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem, as well as deliver food to his brothers and report back to this father as to how his brothers were doing.

On the fortieth day of war, David for the first time heard Goliath shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel, so David asked some soldiers who were standing by what would be a man's reward for killing him. When Eliab, David's oldest brother, overheard David talking to the men, he became very angry at his younger brother. Eliab told David he was arrogant and deceitful.

"But when David's oldest brother, Eliab,

heard David talking to the men, he was angry.

'What are you doing around here anyway?' he demanded.

'What about those few sheep

you're supposed to be taking care of?

I know about your pride and deceit.

You just want to see the battle!'"

1 Samuel 17:28 (NLT)

David was proud, but not in himself.  His pride was in God. When David was able to tackle a lion and a bear with only a club, he gave the credit to God. 

"The Lord who rescued me

from the claws of the lion and the bear

will rescue me from this Philistine!"

1 Samuel 17:37 (NLT)

When David challenged Goliath, he proclaimed the Name of the Lord. He stated emphatically to Goliath the Lord will be the One who will conquer Goliath and rescue the Israelites, not him.

"David replied to the Philistine,

'You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin,

but I come to you in the name of the Lord of  Heaven's Armies---

the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

Today the Lord will conquer you . . . 

. . . And everyone assembled here will know

that the Lord rescues His people,

but not with sword and spear.

This is the Lord's battle,

and He will give you to us!"

 1 Samuel 17:45, 47a, 47 (NLT)

If David had been proud in himself and not acknowledged God as the source of His strength and power, he would have indeed lost the battle.

Foresee The Danger And Take Precaution

Whenever my cat Osha has a stomach ache from eating inedible things in the house, he will lay for hours on the stairs to ease his discomfort. Osha never learns. He will eat anything without giving any thought to his stomach.

A prudent person (or cat) foresees danger and takes precautions, but the simpleton, (or Osha) goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

"A prudent person foresees danger

and takes precautions.

The simpleton goes blindly on

and suffers the consequences."

Proverbs 22:3 (NIV)

Ran To Meet His Enemy

The Bible says when Goliath moved closer to David to attack him, David ran quickly to meet him.

"As the Philistine moved closer

to attack him,

David ran quickly toward the battle line

to meet him."

David had so much confidence in God's presence, power and protection, he ran to meet his attacker, even though his attacker was almost ten feet tall, armed with a heavy bronze javelin, and protected by a bronze helmet, a bronze coat of scale armor, bronze greaves on his legs, and a shield bearer.

David's armor was none. His weapon was a slingshot, and his age was a little more than a boy. But his faith in God was unbeatable!

Know God And Fear Not

King Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified of the giant Philistine warrior named Goliath.

"On hearing the Philistine's words, 

Saul and all the Israelites 

were dismayed and terrified."

1 Samuel 17:11 (NIV)

Whenever the Israelites would see Goliath, they would all flee from him in great fear.

"Whenever the Israelites saw the man,

they all fled from him

in great fear."

1 Samuel 17:24 (NIV)

During that time not one person had the faith to believe God was stronger than a big man, except for a young teenage boy named David. Why? Because David had an intimate relationship with God. He knew God from spending time with Him and experiencing His presence.

"David said to Saul, 

'Let no one lose heart

 on account of this Philistine;

your servant will go

 and fight him.

The Lord who rescued me

 from the paw of the lion

and the paw of the bear

will rescue me 

from the hand of this Philistine.'"

1 Samuel 17:32, 37 (NIV)

David was not afraid. He was a servant who was willing to fight on behalf of an almighty God he knew would be with him.

A Debt That We Owe

There is one thing we owe to God and that is to love one another.

"Owe nothing to anyone---

except for your obligation 

to love one another.

If you love your neighbor,

you will fulfill the requirements

of God's law."

Romans 13:8 (NLT)

You Know The Person You Love

Last week when I was shopping at Shopper's Drug Mart, I stopped to look at all the stuffed animals on display for Valentine's Day. I love stuffed animals! I never had one when I was a girl growing up, so I like to pick them up, feel their softness and dream. One stuffed animal at Shopper's Drug Mart caught my attention. It was an English Sheep Dog carrying a heart in his mouth. I thought it was so cute and dreamed that my husband bought it for me for Valentine's Day. I put the stuffed dog back on the shelf and with that thought left with a smile on my face.

Then Sunday night my husband came home. When I went downstairs to greet him, that stuffed dog I fell in love with at Shopper's Drug Mart was sitting on the kitchen table! I couldn't believe my eyes! My husband knows me. Why? Because he loves me.

It is the same with our relationship with God. If we love Him, we want to know Him.

"I want to know Christ---

yes, to know the power of His resurrection

and participation in His sufferings,

becoming like Him in His death."

Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

God's Love Endures Forever

Each week, I create a craft for the children to make on Wednesday nights. These crafts always have a Bible verse on them, so when the children take the crafts home, the other family members will also have the opportunity to read God's Word and know His truths.

"Give thanks to the Lord,

for He is good;

His love endures forever."

Psalm 118:1

This week the children will hear that God's love endures forever. Hopefully the truths of God's Word will be implanted in the children's minds and hearts as they continue to grow and live for Him.

Can't See, But Can Feel

"No one has ever seen God.

But if we love each other,

God lives in us,

and His love is brought

to full expression in us."

1 John 4:12 (NLT)

Even though no one on earth has seen God, if we love each other, we experience His love. For love comes from God!

"But anyone who does not love

does not know God,

for God is love."

1 John 4:8 (NLT)

How Does Love Flourish?

Love flourishes when we learn to forgive each other, but love withers when we don't. 

"Love prospers 

when a fault is forgiven,

but dwelling on it 

separates close friends."

Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)

True Love Waits

Jacob in the Bible loved Rachel so much that he was willing to work for her father for seven years before he could take her as his wife. And the Bible says those seven years seemed like only a few days to Jacob. 

So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,

but they seemed like only a few days to him

because of his love for her."

Genesis 29:20 (NIV)

Jacob's willingness to wait for Rachael with joyous anticipation in his heart proved his love for her was pure for true love waits.

Love Is, Love Is Not

Love gives us life and loving others gives them life.

Love is patient, kind, truthful, protective, trusting, hopeful, and steadfast.

Love is not envious, boastful, proud, disrespectful, self-seeking, easily angered, unforgiving, joyful with evil, and failing.

"Love is patient,

love is kind.

It does not envy,

it does not boast,

it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others,

it is not self-seeking,

it is not easily angered,

it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil

but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects,

always trusts,

always hopes,

always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (NIV)

Our Worth And Our Gain

Loving others is all that is important. Speaking all the languages of earth and of angels, having the gift of prophecy, understanding all of God's secret plans, possessing all knowledge, having great faith to move mountains, giving everything to the poor, and even sacrificing our body means nothing to God when there is no love in our hearts for others. 

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels,

but didn't love others,

I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I had the gift of prophecy,

and if I understood all of God's secret plans

and possessed all knowledge,

and if I had such faith 

that I could move mountains,

but didn't love others,

I would be nothing.

If I gave everything I have to the poor

and even sacrificed my body,

I could boast about it;

but if I didn't love others,

I would have gained nothing."

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NLT)

How much we love others determines our worth. How much we love others determines our gain.

God's Love Creates In Us Love

God's love to us is prior to our love to Him. It is unconditional and everlasting.

"We love each other 

because He loved us first."

1 John 4:19 (NLT)

God loved us even before He formed us in our mother's womb.

"I knew you 

before I formed you

in your mother's womb."

Jeremiah 1:5a (NLT)

Because God loved us first, we are then able to love each other. Having and knowing God's amazing love for us makes it easy to love Him back and others too.

Cannot Be Quenched, Swept Or Bought

 "Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot sweep it away.

If one were to give all the wealth

of one's house for love,

it would be utterly scorned."

Song of Solomon 8:7 (NIV)

The flames of true love cannot be quenched by any amount of water. Neither can true love be swept away by rushing rivers, or bought for a price. This is God's love for us, but God also created us with the ability to love Him and others in the same way. Therefore those we truly love or have loved in this world, we love forever for love cannot be quenched, swept or bought.

Tie Them Around Your Neck

My dog Barney never leaves my side when I am at home. Loyalty and kindness are tied around his neck.

 "Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!

Tie them around your neck

as a reminder.

Write them deep within your heart."

Proverbs 3:3 (NLT)

These traits as valuable as precious stones. May we too write them deep within our hearts.

Waiting

"Waiting for our blessed hope,

the appearing of the glory

of our great God

and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Titus 2:13 (NLT)