Present in Bethlehem
This Sunday begins Advent. That word, advent word comes from the Latin verb “to come.” It’s church shorthand for Adventus Domini…the coming of the Lord. As a kid, I thought it was the name of a Christmas countdown calendar that had chocolate hidden in little secret doors. But, it IS a type of countdown. In […]
The Forgotten Man of Christmas
“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (Matthew 1:24) We’ve spent the last three weeks talking about God conceiving and delivering the miraculous in us, and Mary has been our example. But what about Joseph’s miracle? God worked in a […]
Independent but Destitute
“Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. […]
No Other Gods
“You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exo. 20:3) John Calvin once said, “The human heart is a factory of idols. Every one of us is, from his mother’s womb, an expert in inventing idols.” We can turn even good things, like a child or a spouse or a job, into something that has […]
The Waiting Game
“Hope delayed makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12) When something we’ve hoped for has been delayed for many years or seems a long way off, we can despair and be tempted to give up hope. When that which we’ve longed for comes to fruition, it is like […]
The Great Reverser
So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:14) Don’t you believe in resurrection? Not just at Easter, but everyday resurrection? Resurrection in your marriage, in your relationships with your kids, at work, in your finances, in […]
Please Hold
“But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness.” (Gen. 40:14) After Joseph interpreted the cupbearer’s dream and gave him the good news, he had only one request. Remember me. Help me. In my version, Joseph asks the cupbearer for kindness. That word is a very important biblical word…the Hebrew is […]
From Bad to Worse
“Now one day he went into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were there. She grabbed him by his garment and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.” (Genesis 39:11–12) Potiphar’s wife commands Joseph to sleep with her the way […]
When Dreams Become Nightmares
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. (Genesis 37:18–19) Martin Luther King once said prophetically, “You can kill the dreamer, but you can’t kill the dream.” I’m not sure I buy that 100%. Life’s full of […]
Integrity
“Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37, NIV) Jesus is talking about integrity here. Sunday, we’ll study the story of Joseph – a man of great integrity. His integrity gained Pharaoh’s trust and Joseph became the second most influential man in Egypt. […]
