Journey through Life with Encouragement

In the post Journey through Life with Respect, Joseph invites his brothers to dinner and respects the Egyptian custom of serving Hebrews separately. His brothers show respect to Joseph and humbly give gifts. As we live on this earth, there are several common sense lessons that were brought out in the post.

We should always make God our number one priority. We should always live with integrity in order to build trust with others. We should respect the customs and values of the country in which we live. We should celebrate the successes of others and wish them the best. And we should ask for God’s help in using words that help and encourage others as this today’s video points out: Words – Hawk Nelson.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14

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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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Repairing Bad Feelings

Jacob wanted to repair any bad feelings with his brother for tricking their father and receiving his blessing. The key lessons learned and written about in the post Humility and Kindness to Resolve Conflict is that words are important.

Jacob communicated his desire to meet with Esau. The words he used were kind and respectful. What we make happen for others will be given back to us so when we give a smile, a smile will be given back. When we act kind, we receive kindness from others. As brought out in this video, the words we use are so important: Words – Hawk Nelson.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. - Ephesians 4:32

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Initiating Spiritual Growth

By initiating spiritual growth with regular Bible Study and reflecting on experiences along the journey, there will be spiritual maturity. What we write about today may not sink in but write it anyway and someday your words like seeds will take root. Refuse to stop. Instead, do God’s work and eventually will blossom a flower for the world to see. Enjoy today’s video: I Refuse – Josh Wilson.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Matthew 6:33

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Finishing in Grand Fashion

God’s way is the winning way. As we compete in the fast paced race of life, nothing is more important than being highly favored by God because He is big enough to make up for our deficiencies and provide the power to get us across to the finish line in grand fashion. Enjoy this inspiring video today: O Fortuna – ThePianoGuys

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. - 1 John 5:4

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Choosing to Accept Grace

In the post He is in Control, the thought is that God is in control of our future. Written about is the story of Jacob’s life who worked hard and developed skills in raising livestock. He was shrewd and used his skills to become a very prosperous man that God would use to start a great nation.

By choosing to accept the grace God has given us through His Son, we are able to receive tremendous advantage in life and like Jacob, we will also be blessed. As fellow believers, we are on the same team and God made each of us to be AWESOME! Here is today’s inspirational Video: How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God be with us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31

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Love is Unstoppable

Written about in the post Love Beyond Measure, a deal was made by Jacob with Laban (Rachel’s father) to work for him for seven years and in return Jacob could have his daughter in marriage. We are told in Genesis 29:20 that the seven years only seemed like a few days because of Jacob’s love for Rachel.

When love takes us over, the days fly by. Just like with Jacob, years of hard work seem like only a few days. Like this video, love can be an emotion that becomes unstoppable. What we think is impossible becomes possible: Unstoppable – Rascal Flatts.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. - 1 Corinthians 13:7

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Blessings Multiplied

After the dream that Jacob had at Bethel as written about in the post An Amazing Future in His Presence, he acted promptly and stepped ahead with a purpose. The world tells us that everything is limited but with God, everything is unlimited and the blessings are multiplied.

Jacob’s dream gave him hope and optimism for a blessed future. It gave him momentum to apply his faith and do what is right including giving a 10th of all he would receive to God. Today’s video is about God’s love and our growth potential in His presence: Multiplied - Needtobreathe.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28

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Making the Needed Adjustments

History is a great teacher and we must learn from history to help in making the needed adjustments in life. In the account of Jacob getting Isaac’s blessing in Genesis 27, we are given a sad chapter of everyone doing the wrong thing and examples of how the world has become a broken place.

In this account of God’s written Word, each parent had their favorite child. Rebekah convinced her favorite son to trick his father and receive his blessing instead of Esau. The results were disastrous. Rebekah never saw her son again, Jacob’s brother wanted to kill him, Esau became the founder of an enemy nation, and Jacob was exiled from his family for years.

God has provided the path for us to follow but it’s not always followed and the results are disastrous. Our prayer should always be that God searches inside us and clears out what should not be there. Here’s a video to inspire this desire: Search Me Lord - Gaither Vocal Band.

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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