Breakfast For Your Soul

Monday, October 26, 2009

And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.  And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

[Genesis 50:18-21]

‘PERFECT TIMING’

Good Afternoon Beloved,

If the last few days have taught me anything, it is that God has perfect timing.  I heard Bishop TD Jakes say that, “a blessing out of season can be a curse” (book~”Can You Stand To Be Blessed”).  If we are not at a place in our life to accept it, it can actually do more harm than good.  People want financial abundance, but until we realize the responsibility and weight that comes along with it… we are not ready.  There are people who are very wealthy …and very miserable. Their lives are ‘jacked-up’ and unhappy.  They have everything that money can buy, and they can tell you that it means nothing if you don’t have people around you that you trust, your mental, physical and emotional health… and peace of mind and spirit.  I thought about Joseph (one of my favorite biblical people).  His life is one of the few in scripture that is chronicled before his birth, and even after his death.  We meet his great-grandfather Abraham, called the “father of the faith” and a “friend of God”.  His daddy, also entered into covenant with God and was changed from ‘Jacob’ (“the deceiver”) to ‘Israel’ (“God-Wrestler or Champion of God”).  What a legacy!  Look how many variables there were to get Joseph to Egypt.  The timing was perfect.  His birth, alone was a miracle.  His mother was unable to have children … then she had him.  Timing…. the day that Israel sent him to check on his brothers, not knowing how deeply they hated him.  He had no idea what his sons were plotting against their own baby brother.  Timing … along comes Ismaelite traders (remember Ismael? Son of Egyptian maid Hagar and Abraham… married an Egyptian woman … yeah… Joseph’s great uncle… un-huh… there is a lot going on in the bible).  Timing … from the plains of safety and prosperity with his daddy, to the pit of fear and despair created by his brothers, to Potiphar’s place of trust and provision, to the prison of drudgery and stagnation, to the palace of authority and honor… timing.  That is good news for us.  His story can resemble ours at times.  During the times when we feel like we are in a ‘holding pattern’…during the times when we feel unsafe, and fearful, God allows great testimonies such as Josephs’ to remind us that He is faithful.  Whatever God has promised, He WILL bring it to pass… in His own TIME.

… and that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed!

Have A Great Evening

Regina

“They That Wait On The Lord”, Fred Hammond & John P. Kee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wcdY2v5Kio

“Never Shall Forget”, John P. Kee & New Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82A1N_JUf7M

“Jesus Is The Light”, Hezekiah Walker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH_opiNl7IA

“Order My Steps”, GMWA (Women of Praise)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bia4zMpSiVA

“Another Level”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVbsab0j3vE\

“Breathe Into Me”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJEWF49y2k

“Long Life”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33L9DZae81I

“Your Latter Will Be Greater”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j5gTIXmsOs

“Success Is In Your Hands”, Fred Hammond & RFC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMoVbLc7ZSg

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

[Genesis 37:3]

Favored One….

Good Morning Beloved,

We’re coming up on Father’s Day weekend.  That is topic that brings about a mixed bag of reactions.  I remember wishing one man a happy Father’s Day a few years ago, and he went on a 15 minute tirade on the disparity between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.  He wanted to know how come mothers got flowers, jewelry, clothes, and expensive dinners, and all he got was a tie (please be good to the good fathers/father figures in your life, and give them the honor they’re due… amen?).  I’ve been thinking about some of the fathers mentioned in the bible.  Nothing in scripture is ever wasted.  Every story, every parable, every event recorded has a significant purpose.  Because the Word of God is alive, we can glean from the testimonies of those highlighted, and apply certain principles to our own lives.  It is amazing.  The story of Joseph is one of my absolute favorites. His daddy Jacob doted on him.  He was the favored son because he was the first-born son of the ‘favored’ wife.  Remember, Jacob never wanted Leah in the first place… he always loved her sister Rachel and was tricked by the girls father into marrying Leah.  God blessed Leah to give birth to 6 sons and 1 daughter.  The two sisters went into child-birth competition, each giving her maid-servant to Jacob, and each servant had 2 sons (those children were legally considered theirs).  Then Rachel gave birth to another son, but she died shortly after he was born.  So that made 12 sons and 1 daughter Jacob had.  However, all of Jacobs’ affections were poured out on Joseph… and the other sons hated Joseph because of it.  His feelings probably intensified after the death of his beloved Rachel.  Joseph was blessed with a special gift, but he was a child.  He had to have known how his brothers felt about him because the bible says that they, “could not speak peaceably to him“.  Yet, he would say things to them like, “hey!.. y’all better be nice to me, cuz one day all y’all gonna bow to me … mommy and daddy too!”  (Genesis 37:5-10 Regina translation).  Jacob, unknowingly, set up the very scenario that had his son taken from him for the next 22 years.  It ended well though.  It was all part of God’s ultimate plan to save not only Jacobs’ future family, but families all over the land.  There are situations that happen in our life that we don’t understand.  There are no simple, pat answers.  The bible never said that bad things would never happen to us, but we have a blessed assurance, “that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, and to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).  Remember, Joseph was the favored son.  His dreams really did come from God.  Everything he saw was absolutely going to happen.  He could never have foreseen the life that he would lead… from overseer (for his father), to a pit (courtesy of his brothers), to slavery (sold by his brothers), to overseer (in Potiphar’s house), to prison (set up by Potiphar’s lying wife), to overseer (in the jail), to “Vizier”, or second in command in Egypt.  Probably not the path he would have chosen for himself.  If we could interview Joseph, I wonder what he would say.  As he was able to look into the eyes of his wife and sons.  As he was able to sustain his entire family through a severe famine.  Everything and everyone in Egypt was subject to him. Even Potiphar AND his wife…hello!? I believe he would probably tell us that it was well worth it.  Reminds me of another ‘Favored Son’… the only Begotten Son of God who came and was cruelly treated by those He came to save.  He was betrayed, maligned, mocked and beaten, but because of His willingness to go through all of that, we have been put back in right standing with God.  We have been given the privilege of being called His ‘siblings’… favored ones of the most High God.

….. and that Beloved is really Good News!

U Blessed

Have a Fabulous Day

Regina

“Blessed and Highly Favored”, The Clark Sisters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWxshbbTYkc

“No Weapon”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV4Hl3hLdU8

“Praise Him In Advance”, Pastor Marvin Sapp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvganA6nrf0

“Encourage Yourself”, Donald Lawrence w/Sheri Jones Moffett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6yhgFxDQMw

“Faithful”, Hezekiah Walker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTqIBTZix5w

“Farther Along”, Rev. Dewey Smith Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7JGahCqGH4

The Lord is my Strength -Philippians 4:13 121 of 126   Whatever weight we may have to lift, it is good to know that our older brother Jesus is there to give us His strength to lift it. May 10, 2009

Concentration -Isaiah 26:3 34 of 126   There are plenty of voices in this world telling us that we are going to fail. But if we keep our attention on the Lord and His Word, and trust in Him, we will succeed. June 17, 2007

Patient Hen -Hebrews 6:12 27 of 126   It may seem that God’s promise is too big for you to receive. The hen cannot see any change in the egg from day to day, yet she patiently and steadfastly sits on the egg. Then one day, suddenly, the egg cracks, and she receives the fulfillment of the promise. April 28, 2007

Copyright 2009 Michael D. Waters

Monday, May 4, 2009

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

[Genesis 39:5]

“Blessed to Be a Blessing”

Good Morning Beloved,

 Happy Monday! 

For the outside observer the story of Joseph is one of the most confusing scenarios in the bible.  Here you have a boy whose only real crime was being born to the favored wife.  His daddy doted on him and his brothers hated him.  On top of an already tense situation, God starts to give him dreams where he is lord over his family, and perhaps unwisely, he tells his brothers.  They decide to get rid of Joseph and end up selling him into slavery.  He is sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard.  Potiphar held a lot of power and prestige, but Joseph’s arrival did something to his household.  The bible says that Potiphar’s house prospered because of the blessing of God that was on Joseph.  The change had to have been radical for anyone to even notice.  Joseph was elevated over the house to the point that Potiphar did not even know what he had.  He completely trusted Joseph.  I believe God does the same with us today.  We are all strategically placed whether we are working in the White House or the House of Pancakes, we are there for a season and a reason, and God will bless that establishment because we are there.  I’ve found that when our season is over at a place, it is over.  We may be ‘down-sized’, or the company may go under, but basically that closed door, is another door opening someplace else for us.   I’ve been there.  At the time, it is uncomfortable and scary.  Our heart screams, “God, what is going on?  I have bills, family, living expenses!  I need a job!”.  God knows our needs before we ask.  While we are squirming under the pressure, the way is already made.  Sometimes we know the answer, but we don’t like it, so we drag our feet through that door.  Once we submit our will to God, and acknowledge that His ways are not like our ways… once we realize that He knows what He is doing because He knows the whole story, and we only know a fraction of it … a large part of the struggle is over. 

… and that Beloved is Good News!

U Blessed

Have A Fabulous Day

Regina

Father God, in the Name of Jesus.  Forgive us for any way that we have fought against Your will for us.  You know what we are made of.  You know what we are capable of doing through You.  We know that You have a purpose and a mandate on our life.  A destiny that will affect many others.  You have called Your church to be a lighthouse in the middle of dark stormy waters, leading the lost to You.  May we realize that You have already stamped Your blessing on us.  A blessing meant to be a blessing to somebody else.  Father help us to see Your assignment for us today…in Jesus beautiful and matchless name.. amen.

************

“Here I Am To Worship”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9KKWMSAJSc

“For Every Mountain”, Kurt Carr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7YXaJKZunk

“Awesome Wonder”, Kurt Carr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCGoxPT6db8

“You Are God Alone”, Pastor Marvin Sapp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpdk2bQF9M

” Great Is Your Mercy”, Donnie McClurkin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmHMKfD_iY

“Breathe Into Me Oh Lord”, Fred Hammond

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXiK1-84RHs

Bread of Life -2 Corinthians 2:14 2 of 120   Jesus said in John 6:36 “I am the bread of life”. It is up to the believers to take the Bread of Life (Jesus) out of the Bakery (the church building), to where the hungry people are. After eating “Satan’s Garbage”, the aroma of the Bread of Life will certainly smell good. January 1, 2007

Desert Oasis -Isaiah 55:2 9 of 120   The Kingdom of God, the Church, is an oasis in the middle of the dry desert of the world. God invites those who are thirsty to come and partake of His bounteous table.. January 1, 2007

Copyright 2009 Michael D. Waters

Peace Rock -John 16:33 41 of 120   Even in the midst of a stormy sea of trouble, we can have peace in Jesus, a peace as solid as a rock. But if we give in to worry and fear, we will be in danger of sinking. August 5, 2007