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)