Joe and the Egyptians

Trials, distress and adversity are common in today world - seems like every where we turn there is some catastrophe happening.

When trials come, and they inevitably will, I wonder how we will react - I know how my best friend reacted.....

David Mackenzie was only 40 years old when he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease - This horrible disease often begins with weakness of the muscles in the arms or legs and eventually leads to total and generalised paralysis.

It was my privilege to get to know David and the Mackenzie family - I must admit I was a bit awe stuck when I met David in 2002 - here he was labouring under a death sentence yet trusting in God and actually writing a book.

David's book "Coming to Life" changed my life; He reckoned he wasn't 'going to die' in fact he was 'coming to life'.

The entire book chronicles his journey with MND from diagnosis to leaving a legacy not only for his beautiful wife Jill and children Andrew, Fiona and Scott but also to his future Grandchildren.

It also leaves a legacy to any who happens to read it - including me.

Throughout this amazing book, David asks some pretty straightforward questions and gives some pretty straightforward answers.

As his illness took hold of him more and more and he became more physically weaker, he chose to embrace his life and became a real inspiration to everyone who met him.

He always looked for the blessings in things and we both talked for hours about miracles and amazing advances in technology but basically he knew that the actual miracle was to be found in us!

It was how we coped when the chips were down - who we relied upon when we were in total distress and when the adversity and anguish had all run it's course, who in fact were we trusting?

David's faith in God totally blew me away and not just once. No matter what happens in my life - David's faith will shine like a beacon; a constant reminder of the utter loveliness of our God and how a life of faith can change lives.

David passed away on 16th June, 2007; He left behind an amazing legacy.
He was my mentor; my wise teacher and my very best friend.

So learning from David - I now realise that blessings in fact do occur in our trials and tribulations.

We can always look for miracles when everything goes pear-shaped but the amazing thing I have leaned and so often shared with David was the fact that the very best miracle of all happens in us.

God works miracles every day of the week - which actually brings me to our subject for this blog - "Joe and the Egyptians".

Joseph was the 2nd youngest son of Jacob who had in fact 12 sons and at least one daughter as we read in the Bible.

Joseph though was special; - he was the first-born son of Jacobs favourite wife Rachael. Jake had worked 7 years for Rach and was tricked at the alter by his cunning old Father-In-Law, Laban, who passed off his older daughter Leah in Rachael's place.

Jacob though had a special place in his heart for Joseph because of Rachael and favoured him above all his other sons.

I guess we all the know the story pretty well - how because of jealousy, his brothers sold him into slavery, how Joseph was lusted after by his masters wife, accused wrongly of rape and thrown into prison where he languished for a few years before correctly interpreting Pharaohs dream of 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine.

Daaadaaaa Joseph made Governor of Egypt!!

The 7 years of famine were well under way when the brothers came scrounging for food, not even considering poor old Joe whom they had sold into slavery - he was probably dead anyway!

The brothers had done a great job on Joseph - they had got rid of their problem - Old Dad had finally accepted the truth/lie that some wild beast had eaten him; things settled down; no more dreams being interpreted; no more coats of many colours bandied around by a doting dad and no more jealousy!

They made their way to Egypt; scrounged the food they were after; got accused by the some high falutin Governor of spying, but apart from that they were on their way back to dad with the grain; had to leave old Simeon behind and were made to promise to bring Benjamin back with them next time., but nevertheless they were on their way WOOHOO.

Must have been about 2 years later the food ran out and they were stuck, Jake didn't want them to take Benjamin to Egypt - after all he was the only son left of his and Rachael's line, but the 9 remaining  brothers won out and Ben was soon mounted on his donkey and away!

The brothers has obviously done a great wrong to Joseph years earlier, and when he finally reveals the truth to his brothers in Genesis 45:8 he does not gloss over any details of their offence nor their culpability for it.

Rather, he focuses his mind, and theirs on the key message of this saga of sagas: and that message is GOD IS AT WORK EVEN AMID THE PLANS OF EVIL MEN.

The brothers were responsible for their actions, but Joseph forgave them.

We don't know how he felt in the middle of all his trials and tribulations (I can only guess) but he remained faithful through them.

By the time his troubles came to an end, God had given him wisdom to understand that his slavery, rejection and imprisonment had accomplished the purposes of God for his entire family.

So.... when we suffer hardship, we aren't always privy to Gods amazing purposes, even at the end of our trials.

We may have to show an even greater faith that Joseph had - more like my friend David maybe - BUT in Jesus Christ we have someone greater than Joseph to follow.

So I reckon our trials, distress, anxiety whatever, can come attached to blessings of BIBLICAL proportions - what we have to do is to look for the miracles - accepting the fact that the miracle we are looking for maybe in us!

Catching a glimpse of the REAL awesomeness of God

The waters saw you, God

the waters saw you and writhed;

the very depths were convulsed:

the clouds poured down water,

the heavens resounded with thunder

your arrows flashed back and forth

Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind

your lightning lit up the world

the earth trembled and quacked.

Your path led through the sea

Your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.

Psalm 78

How mighty is our God - How incredible is He? how many adjectives would it take to describe the Lord; our God?

We so commonly throw around these words trying to describe various things in our lives - from the latest clothes to our new car - everything is  awesome, astonishing, breathtaking, mind-blowing even overwhelming.

We use them so much they have become 'throw-away' cliches; even the word 'great' has lost it's proper meaning!

In the Bible, things, events, even people were described as 'great'. God is great to an infinite degree, because He is limitless.

God's very nature is overwhelming and mind-boggling. His works are staggering and stunning.

Consequently, God deserves  to be represented by Christians who have been bowled over by His awesome character.

God is indeed awesome, but we have made Him sound just like a bowl of ice cream or a vanilla milkshake.

What does the actual word "AWESOME" mean - it means full of dread - it means to produce AWE in someone - fear and serious threatening. Nothing really soft and warm in that word.

So... When we describe our God as Awesome- we are really shedding a whole new light on our God - a God who can be terrifying as well as merciful; wrathful as well as just .

The real meaning of the word "awesome" when talking about God should make us fall flat on our faces or at best send shivers up our spines.

It says in Hebrews 10:31 "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God"

On saying all of that - when we hand our lives over to Him - the actual 'scariness' of such a terrifying God becomes like a big warm blanket on a freezing cold day - it gives you instant warmth, comfort and reassurance that everything is going to be alright no matter what the world throws at us.

God's very AWESOMENESS runs through our veins; our lives; our very hearts. It gives us confidence in the future and takes away any fear of dying.

His Holy Spirit comes into our lives at that moment and changes us completely - we don't have to be "scared" of God - we know that we have been created just for Him, in His likeness.

We do however, have to show Him utmost reverence - and in today's world where His Holy name has been derided, our leaders mock and laugh at Him and where he has been excluded in almost everything that we as a nation used to hold dear, then holding Him in reverence will be hard and sacrificial for us to do.

When we finally do encounter our Lord face to face - The one true God who is truly AWESOME!! we are all going to be speechless - there will be no words to describe that moment.

When you sit down and think about it; maybe that is the better way - maybe speechless is the only way to approach God's awesomeness.

In the silence of His very being; those times when we are alone with him; those may be the very times He needs to speak to our hearts to turn them from stone into His throne.

God is AWESOME! He is the one who holds the seas in His hand, who measures the span of the galaxies. He spoke the world into existence.

It doesn't matter what the so-called Skeptics have to say - our God IS AWESOME - and that same AWESOME God saved me and that same AWESOME God can save you.

You don't have to know all of the theological answers to all the books in the Bible - you don't have to WOW! the person beside you with your answers to unfathomable mysteries: Our AWESOME God is the answer to all of our questions.

All we have to do is to come to Him with Faith and come without delay. Our God is a BIG God - a God who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty; rolls up His sleeves and commands us to get going and live and love for Him.

Same God but a different side; This time we see the gentleness of the God - who cares for the weak; the sick; the doubting and wounded.

So just how "Awesome" is the God you know? Have you relegated Him to the awesomeness of a vanilla milkshake or a Plasma TV set?

AWESOME indeed is a strong word and one which should be used sparingly and with reverence when referring to our God.

He is pleading with you to come and get to know Him. This AWESOME God of mine - a God whose grace and mercy are as deep and as unfathomable as the galaxy and beyond.

Of course there are heaps of people who don't even think about our Awesome God nor His saving grace and the special gift He has of eternity.  God has a message for them as well; a message of sadness; destruction and endless separation.

Are you prepared to give your life to this AWESOME God. I'm personally gripped by His grace and forgiveness, I just pray that you will be too.

The Corporate Ladder - way to Go??

What is your strategy for succeeding in life?

I know what mine USED to be.

I was the expert in organisation; had all the business catchphrases down pat; was up and rearing to go with my Key Point Indicators/ flow charts/ Timecel NSS/ Industrial and Organisational Analysis and behaviour definitions and also my Document Revision History.

Not only that I was a whizz at all things Human resources From Workforce Training to Remuneration to Organisational Communication - you name it - I was your man.

The books I read and the people I looked up to as my mentors were second to none and I rose quickly, confidently and quite easily to the top WOOHOO!

I could quote jargon with the best of 'em eg " The theory and proactive liasions between employers, employees, union and government, as well as the management of people within an organisation is vital, including recruitment, selection, remuneration, appraisal and training and development. These provide a critical and in-depth analysis of the human resource management theories, paying particular attention to the concept of strategy, people management and organisational performance."

Now you did understand that didn't you???  I hope you are impressed???? very impressed!!

I used to be - that was my goal; to impress; how I made my living and what a saw as the very very best way to achieve.

I lived by Warren G. Bennis's code of "How to be a  good leader and his strategy for success."  And here it is..... DaaaDaa!!

"Good leaders make people feel that they are at the very heart of things, not at the periphery. Everyone feels that he or she makes a difference to the success of the organisation. When that happens people feel centred and that gives their work meaning"

Well there you go - that was my working life all wrapped up in a few short sentences - a success!! I did it!! and I did it on my own!!! Climbed the good old Corporate Ladder - well done... slap on the back!!

Oh the business world!! - what a mess and so so contrary to what God is saying to us throughout the whole of the Bible.

While reading Psalms the other day especially Psalms 37 & 38 I came across some real gems.

What is your strategies for succeeding in life?

If you are a fan of self-help or, like I was, getting ahead in the business world there are heaps of books that will be able to help you along the way.

There are questions and answers to the most detailed problems; what to do in a crisis and what not to do; how to motivate your team; how to relax and communicate to your inner self; How to rise to the top and discard those who don't come up to the standard.

There is certainly something to be said for visualisation; net working, entrepreneurial confidence etc etc but here in Psalms, David offers a much simpler approach to finding fulfilment in life.

In Psalm 37 David tells us not to fret about what others are doing; don't get envious about those who do wrong: take delight in the Lord.

In other words make Him No 1 in your life. Focus on pleasing Him. Living your life according to His Word and pay attention to His leading.

David goes on:- Commit your ways to the Lord and trust in Him; Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret - it only leads to evil.

Amazing words, so true; so simple and yet so earth shattering.

If I had only taken that road instead of trying to climb the corporate ladder; what a different life I would have had.

God wants to give you the kind of success that doesn't come from self-improvement books, or crash courses in Management and Organisational Ethics.

He wants you; your life; your time; your love. As David says in the Psalm "The Lord wants to help you and deliver you if you take refuge in Him."

Psalm 38 continues along a similar line but this time David points out to the reader that God is all so ready to help us in all sorts of situations in which we get ourselves.

He pleads with God not to forsake him in the hour of trial and temptation of which we all suffer.

The evil one is so entrenched in our lives that he will never be truly driven out while we still live here on earth.

But even though we are often tempted and tried, with God as our captain; at the helm of our boat; in charge of our salvation; we can be more than conquerors. Now that deserves a WOOHOO!!

But it is not only in times of trial that we should ask God not to forsake us, but we should use this prayer all the time.

It is also through the joys in life - Don't forsake me Lord unless through pure joy I forget you and rely on me and me alone.

Don't forsake me Lord when I am in grieving and have almost given up in case I get angry with you.

Don't forsake me when I am feeling weak because I know with you I can be strong.

God is so willing to help us - He will never forsake us - so model your strategies for living on Jesus - He and He alone can give us the kind of success the world can't possibly offer.

Do an about face today - forget the corporate ladder and how to climb it - I know I wish I had.