Deja Vu

Have you ever had something occur and you feel like you have been there before? It’s like on the old TV show “Raven” when she could see into the future. That’s kind of what happened with Joseph as his dream is realized.

In the post Dream Coming to Fruition, Joseph’s ability to see into the future allowed him to be prepared for the famine. Every detail of what was needed could be mapped out so his actions would lead to the dream he had many years ago when his brothers bowed down before him.

It’s the same with us; hope becomes reality through prayers so paint a colorful and detailed picture. Let God deliver His blessings as we study the Holy Scripture. Here is a video I produced a while back with these thoughts in mind: Blessings Throughout Each Hour.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. – James 1:22-24

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Blessings from His Word and Prayer

Written about in the post Guidance, discussed was how Joseph could interpret dreams and help others take action. Today, God speaks to us through His Word; blessing those who seek advice and follow through on His guidance.

Pray for blessings; for peace, His healing, and that His love will provide what we need. Take a few minutes and begin the day with a prayer and this inspiring video: Blessings – Laura Story.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. - Proverbs 29:18

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His Word Makes a Way so it’s Okay

In the post Receive Direction From His Word, I wrote about the circumstance of Joseph while in an Egyptian prison. During the time of Joseph, God spoke through dreams but today God speaks to us through His Word.

Think back to days when things are not going your way. A day may start out with a challenge and that’s why we want to seek God first thing to help us take on the challenge the best we can.

Many challenges may seem like mission impossible but then as we take a jump of faith and meet the challenge, it is extremely rewarding. God’s Word makes a way and it will be okay. Here is a video I made from a poem I wrote that’s about overcoming bad situations: Jump

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. - Revelation 3:21

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Gaining a Heart of Wisdom

As I wrote in the post Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, the blessings of God brought Joseph great success. With each passing day, there was success in everything he was in charge of and we can take this lesson to help us in how we live. Each day, we can live more abundantly than the day before. Knowing that God is with us, there is faith that we can accomplish more than we could ever have dreamed possible.

Make the decision to live by God’s standards and He will be faithful so that our every need is met. Like Joseph who faced adversity, stress, and temptation, the favor of God can bring us out of our difficulties and turn them around for good. Today’s video is about asking for God’s help as we take on the challenges we face: Carry Me – Josh Wilson.

Teach us to number our days aright. That we may gain a heart of wisdom. - Psalms 90:12

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Follow the Path to Freedom

In the post The Importance of Honesty and Doing What We Say, I wrote about just one of many examples found in the Bible of how life gets difficult when people are deceptive and get off the path that should be followed in life.

We all want things to go our way but if our way is not God’s way then it leads to places we may not want to go. Deceivers lead themselves and others down a path of rough times.  Living the way Jesus teaches is following the right path; leading to meaningful places and making an impact on lives.

We can be thankful for God’s plan for us. With God there is a freedom ... a freedom that helps us live, give, and love. A freedom that will speak and teach; laying out a clear path that we can follow. Here’s today’s inspirational video: Losing – Tenth Avenue North

Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. - Psalm 25:4-5

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Words are Powerful

In a few thoughts expressed after reading Genesis 37 and writing in the post Treating Others with Kindness and Tact, I wrote that Joseph did not show tactfulness to his brothers. He had a dream and told his brothers in a boastful way about how he would rule over them. This caused a situation that damaged the whole family.

The words we use are powerful. Here are a few more thoughts about the words we use: 

·         Using the wrong words can cause a business to lose customers

·         Using the wrong words can get someone fired

·         Be gentle in what we say and how we say it

·         Words direct our life

·         Think about how even a small child can direct a powerful horse with just a few words

·         Use words that help and encourage

This day with God, let us understand the power of words. They can fill us up or break us down so let our words encourage, inspire, bring about positive actions, and be of truth. Here is today’s video called Words by Hawk Nelson.

Be careful! Our words can hurt or help. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up". - Ephesians 4:29

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Commitment to Spiritual Growth

The actions of today can have long-term, far-reaching implications in our living for the future. Below are a few actions we can take that effect our future in a positive way:

·         Be decisive and accept Christ as Savior

·         Stay focused on His ways

·         Write out plans or a road map for spiritual growth

·         Take the steps needed to get to where you want to go

·         Take a look at the roadmap of your journey to measure how you are doing and where you are at

·         Involve others who will hold you accountable and help you maintain integrity

·         Learn from mistakes that get you off track

·         Take corrective action that will get you back on track when needed

·         Make it interesting, fun, and rewarding as you reach the destination

Here is an inspirational video as we seek to be committed to spiritual growth: Lead Me to the Cross – Hillsongs.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. - Proverbs 16:3

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Make sure the Path is Clear

From the first encounter with God at Bethel to the second encounter, Jacob got off the path and those around him had gotten off the path. Sometimes along our journey, we can lose our focus on God because of His rivals, idols that take our attention away from Him like cars, houses, and other material things.

Jacob and his family had gotten off the path but after the second encounter with God at Bethel, he made a stand and decided to bury the idols that his family had accumulated. This allowed him to make a stand for the ONE and only God that had helped him through the crisis.

At this point along the journey, he surrendered it all and built an altar to the ONE who gives all much like what this video is about: The Stand - Hillsong.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. - Colossians 3:2

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The Best Way Out of a Situation is Always Through It

In any tough situation in life we go through, we want immediate action but most of the time the best way is to think it out and ask for God’s direction to stay on track. In the post Handling Situations, I wrote about the scandal of Jacob’s daughter being raped by the son of the ruler of the land.

Jacob was thinking ahead to handle the situation with his daughter Dinah in a civil way. He resisted the temptation to physically harm the man that had defiled Dinah but perhaps he accepted a compromise too fast instead of going to God for direction.

The best way out of a situation is always through it. One step at a time, let it run its course. Go to God with questions, admit your pain, and ask for the best way to handle the situation. Like this video, God can best bring you through: The Hurt and the Healer – MercyMe.

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

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