...making disciplemaking disciples of Jesus Christ who are becoming fishers of men for the glory of God.

Glenn Leatherman

It is impossible not to be hurt by someoneelses sin in this world. You can see that in the news today. So this story of Joseph and his enslavement is showing us that God is at work even in the trials of life. God has a good plan for his people even if it involves trials and suffering. According to Genesis 50:20 we know that there are 2 levels to this story. One is the story of Jacob and his sons -- especially Joseph, and the second level is the story of God's secret providence. We have seen the hatred against Joseph, and now we continue to see God Providence that is a good plan even if it involves trials. 
 
We first see God's providence in his restraining hand -- he did not let the brothers of Joseph do what they first wanted to do - "Kill him." The brothers mocked Joseph and God's revelation which indicates that they had no faith in God. We must understand that God's providence uses instruments like you and me (Secondary causes). God work the strife in the family to accomplish his goal and guided that strife as well. Remember God meant it for good, that means that he is the ultimate cause while not responsible for evil or sin. Ruben prevented the immediate death of Joseph but God at another level was working that out in the life of Ruben. All came to pass infallibly yet according to secondary causes. God accomplishes through voluntary actions of men (secondary causes) his will. Sometimes we see God's direct providence but most often as here we wee God's indirect providence in using instruments of his creation. 
 
We also see God's providence in his grace toward Joseph in sending him to Egypt away from his brothers who hated him. The Ishmaelite / Midianite traders were an unexpected opprotunity for Joseph's brothers but it was all brough about by God's meticulous providence. I don't think Joseph knew of God's providence, as we do not many times in the middle of trials. Sometimes God's providence rescues us from trials (ex: 2 Kings 6:13-17) and sometimes God's providence restricts harm but doesn't answer our crys they way we make them. 
 
We continue to see God's providence in the coverup, because it gave the time that was needed for Joseph to become leader in Egypt and rescue his family. It also gave time for conviction to settle in on the brothers because of their circumstances. Just as in the circumstances that led to the death of Christ for our sins, Joseph's live at the second level was being orchestrated by God for good. 
 
God uses everything and is the ultimate cause of everything for good. He is not the author of sin or is in any way responsible for the voluntary sin of mankind. From the cruelty of Joseph's brothers, to the intensity of the family strife, to the trail of slavery, God will restore and grant love between this family. It is God's way. God's providence is wise, good, loving, and just. Do you bow the knee and say, "What ever God ordains is right!"

It is impossible not to be hurt by someoneelses sin in this world.  You can see that in the news today.  So this story of Joseph and his enslavement is showing us that God is at work even in the trials of life.  God has a good plan for his people even if it involves trials and suffering.  According to Genesis 50:20 we know that there are 2 levels to this story.  One is the story of Jacob and his sons -- especially Joseph, and the second level is the story of God's secret providence.    We have seen the hatred against Joseph, and now we continue to see God Providence that is a good plan even if it involves trials.  

We first see God's providence in his restraining hand -- he did not let the brothers of Joseph do what they first wanted to do - "Kill him."  The brothers mocked Joseph and God's revelation which indicates that they had no faith in God.  We must understand that God's providence uses instruments like you and me (Secondary causes).  God work the strife in the family to acco

Genesis 37:18-36 - Where's God? (Wednesday Night Bible Study)

Here is the final section of the book of Genesis. God is continuing to relay the story of Israel's trek to Egypt. The bible is divided in ½ at Genesis 12. All the comes before explains the Need of a savior and all the comes after it shows forth God's plan of salvation. We see the full story starting right at Genesis 1 and continuing all through history as recorded in Scripture. God had a plan of redemption and he began a line of hope through the seed of the woman. It continues through Abel and Seth and Noah to Abraham. 
 
God has revealed his intention for Israel to go down to Egypt (Genesis 15:13) for 400 years. Over all we will see God providence in God's people in God's place under God's rule in spite of the sin of men who God works through. We see that this is the account of Jacob and his generations -- particularly Joseph. We can see God at work in sever ways. 
 
We scan see how God is working by noticing that God chooses Joesph to succeed his father as patriarch. You will notice that the Generations or book of Jacob begins and ends with a Joseph -- Joseph, Jacob son, and Joseph Jesus' father. Joseph has been also put in charge of his brothers indicating God's favor is upon him. 
 
We can also see how God is working in that Joseph has become his father's favorite. This causes the tension in the family that will eventually cause Joseph to be sold into slavery in Egypt. All of the events and circumstances are ordained by God for a end that is good. God was working in Joseph's live to tear him away from worldly desires so that he would be the leader to save his own family. 
 
We can also see how God is working is God's revelation to Joseph in dreams. This causes further divisions because they foreshadow where Joseph will be (Egypt) and the authority Joseph will have (as leader of Egypt). It is typical of men to question God's revelation, especially of God's election such as in this case -- God choice of Joseph. The events in Joseph life are not by chance by by divine design. They are the product of the will of God 
 
We can also see how God is working in Joseph character. Joseph is obedient to his father to go and find his brothers even though they hate him. We see Joseph's persistence when he cannot find them and a man (by God providence) shows up and let Joseph know that they are in Dothan. We can see here both God's sovereignty and human responsibility in the life of Joseph. God's choice does not lead him to passivity and inactivity. No. He works to obey his Father in order to be a faithful son. Knowing that his father has chosen him doesn't lead him to be lazy and exert no effort, but to put forth exceeding good effort. This is how the security of knowing that God has chosen any of us should affect our lives. We must balance our beliefs in that Both human responsibility (and voluntary choice), the justice of God, and the sovereignty of God are all true and must be held in tension. These truth should make us work hard for our heavenly father because we are grateful for all that he has done and is doing for us.

Here is the final section of the book of Genesis.  God is continuing to relay the story of Israel's trek to Egypt.  The bible is divided in ½ at Genesis 12.  All the comes before explains the Need of a savior and all the comes after it shows forth God's plan of salvation.  We see the full story starting right at Genesis 1 and continuing all through history as recorded in Scripture.  God had a plan of redemption and he began a line of hope through the seed of the woman.  It continues through Abel and Seth and Noah to Abraham.    

God has revealed his intention for Israel to go down to Egypt (Genesis 15:13) for 400 years.  Over all we will see God providence in God's people in God's place under God's rule in spite of the sin of men who God works through.  We see that this is the account of Jacob and his generations -- particularly Joseph.  We can see God at work in sever ways.

We scan see how  God is working by noticing that God chooses Joesph to succeed his father as patriarch.  Y

Genesis 37:1-17 - Joseph's Coat and Authority (Wed. Night Study)

The Gospel is NOT the first step to deeper spiritual realities that they gain apart from the gospel. Rather the bible declares that the Gospel IS more like a hub of the wheel with spokes going out from it and returning to it. Christians need to learn that we never go beyond the Gospel in our growth, we just dig deeper into it. The Gospel is for pagans and preachers just the same. 
 
In Jonah we see a man who runs from God because he misunderstands of the Gospel of God's loving kindness that has been direct toward him. Yes, the story of Jonah is a real story and not something made up, because Jesus affirm its historicity. Jonah was a prophet that had quite an honor at the time of the narrative here because he had just prophesied to Jeroboam and Israel that God wold bless them in the beefing up of their def fences against the Assyrians during the 8th century. He was popular because is prophecy was pleasant and beneficial and it occurred immediately. He was famous. But when he gets his next assignment from god he balks at it because he still has not learned that the intent of God in Gospel as was being revealed in the Old Testament promises was the extension of saving mercy to all peoples in all the world. There are reasons for Jonah's Gospel confusion and yours as well in this life:. 
 
Gospel confusion occurs when 
 
1. you deny Gods mercy to others because they are not as good as you.. Many times you will only agrees with God when the outcomes are what you expects or are good for you. This confuses what God has promised in his promises and prophecy. 
2. You deny your bent to believe in your self. Every human is a sinner because we are bent inside to deny God's resources, deny that we are God's instruments to be used as He pleases, and deny God's was is better than our way. God is working in all of us to use us as his means of grace to others. If we disobey God doesn't just pick up another instrument but changes the instrument he has (Jonah or you) to accomplish his will. 
3. You deny it is impossible to fee from God. Jonah ran from God when he did not like what God has said, and so do we. We ditch God. We must remember that to obey God we sometimes by disobey ourselves. God sent a storm, a tempest to deal with his man, Jonah. God is always going to win. Everyone in this world is related to God either as judge or as his covenant LORD. The apostle Paul understood this when he was on a ship sailing toward Rome and got caught in a storm. But Paul was not running and did not fall asleep, but declared that God had told him that they would not die if they listen to Him. You cannot run from God, because God is faster and will ultimately confront and deal with you -- either by mercy or in judgment and wrath. God is still in control of Jonah's life (as well as ours). 
4. you deny the goodness of God interference. God's will is always right and best. God always has a redemptive plan when he interferes in our lives. We all like God when he is blessing our natural state of affairs, but many Christians don't want God to interfere with their comforts or gracious plans for their life. As God was interfering to control the situation in Jonah's life he made sure that the sailors and captain of the ship that Jonah was trying to escape on knew what was going on. In fact we see in our text that the sailors eventually believe in the Covenant lord because of how God revealed Himself to them through the disobedience of Jonah. God controls the casting of lots (Prov. 16:33) in this situation for his purposes. God is not hoping to turn Jonah around, but was certain that His plan would work. Jesus is also a great storm and a great mercy. Jesus will interfere in your life to accomplish his redemptive plan in this world. Are you agreeable to this or are you running. 
5. You deny that you are running by legalism or licentiousness. The prodigal son ran from God because of licentiousness, but the old son was also running from God because of legalism. Law keeping can make us think we are better, but we may still be running away from God because we are relying our or goodness to deserve God's blessing 
 
Only the Gospel saves. The Gospel is being affected by what Jesus did on the cross for us in all of life more than the effect of gloomy circumstances, drama, storms that are in your life. The gospel doesn't make bad people good but dead people alive. The Gospel is what Christ has done for us and not what we do. The Gospel of grace is unconditional acceptance to an undeserving person by an unobligated giver. The Gospel should make you aware of your unrighteousness. Again, the Gospel is being effected by what Jesus did on the cross for us in all of life more than the effect of gloomy circumstances, drama, storms that are in your life. Are you trusting in this Gospel, or are you running way from God and his mercy because of your confusion about what the Gospel is?

The Gospel is NOT the first step to deeper spiritual realities that they gain apart from the gospel.  Rather the bible declares that the Gospel IS more like a hub of the wheel with spokes going out from it and returning to it.  Christians need to learn that we never go beyond the Gospel in our growth, we just dig deeper into it.  The Gospel is for pagans and preachers just the same.  

In Jonah we see a man who runs from God because he misunderstands of the Gospel of God's loving kindness that has been direct toward him.  Yes, the story of Jonah is a real story and not something made up, because Jesus affirm its historicity.  Jonah was a prophet that had quite an honor at the time of the narrative here because he had just prophesied to Jeroboam and Israel that God wold bless them in the beefing up of their def fences against the Assyrians during the 8th century.  He was popular because is prophecy was pleasant and beneficial and it occurred immediately.  He was famous.  But when he g

Jonah 1:1-16 - Gospel Confusion - Part 2

We all have convictions. But our our convictions developing. Are we as Christians growing in our commitment to have convictions higher than just the law requires. Are we just trying to get by. Jacob was a man who is just trying to get buy with the legality of his beliefs. While he may cut corners he had not done anything technically illegal, but we all know that his convictions before God leave a lot to be desired. In developing godly convictions we must keeping in mind several good ideas was we want to live by our faith and not at the lowest possible level of legality. 
 
First, all of our developing convictions are based on pleasing God. They are based on doing what is right by God. Jacob cut and run tactic was less that pleasing to God even thought God had told in him in verse 3 to leave and go back to his family and land. The problem he did this underhandedly while Laban was sheering sheep. Rachael also learned from her husband how to cut corners with technical legality by stealing her father's gods. We need to make sure that we are obeying God's commands in a way that is pleasing to Him. 
 
Secondly, all our developing convictions are based on attacking our fear of men. When Laban finally caught up with Jacob, Jacob was afraid and told Laban so. Our convictions should never come because we fear men. We must always trust in God to accomplish His Word in the middle of fear if we are to have the strength of our convictions Jacob did not have this sufficient faith to trust that God would deliver him even from his father-in-law. We need to attack our fears in trusting God. 
 
Thirdly, all of our developing convictions are based on being humble about our ability to earn God's favor. So many times in the Christian life I hear Christians talk about being bless because of their spiritual accomplishments or spiritual maturity. None of us ever are blessed because of our accomplishments from God. When Laban could not find his household gods, Jacob became angry and berated Laban as if it was all Laban's fault. Jacob believe the reason why he was blessed was that God was on his side because of the work of his hands. I say, "Wrong Jacob." God is never obligated to be on your side because of what you have done. Blessings are by God's mercy and grace and are always undeserved. We need to be humble about our ability apart from God. 
 
Fourthly, all of our developing convictions are based on not trusting our own righteousness (or spirituality) in keening the letter of the law. We are all law breakers and we deceive ourselves when we think it is our spirituality that moves God to bless. Laban was not convinced of Jacob's "God on my side" defense, so he made a covenant with Jacob. When you cannot trust a person at their word you have to make a covenant or contract with them. They both set up a pillar and a monument while promising not to harm each other if they would meet again. This prevented future encroachment by Jacob in the future with the use of his (Laban's) household gods as a claim on more of his inheritance that was to be given to the rest of his sons. 
 
Understanding the necessity of building convictions but we must develop them in God's way so that we don't succumb to legalism when we keep the minimum letter of the law without the right motivation in our hearts toward God.

We all have convictions.  But our our convictions developing.  Are we as Christians growing in our commitment to have convictions higher than just the law requires.  Are we just trying to get by.  Jacob was a man who is just trying to get buy with the legality of his beliefs.  While he may cut corners he had not done anything technically illegal, but we all know that his convictions before God leave a lot to be desired.  In developing godly convictions we must keeping in mind several good ideas was we want to live by our faith and not at the lowest possible level of legality.  

First, all of our developing convictions are based on pleasing God.  They are based on doing what is right by God.  Jacob cut and run tactic was less that pleasing to God even thought God had told in him in verse 3 to leave and go back to his family and land.  The problem he did this underhandedly while Laban was sheering sheep.  Rachael also learned from her husband how to cut corners with technical legality b

Genesis 31:17-55 - Building Convictions - Part 2

Genesis 31:17-55 - Building Convictions - Part 1

Christians today need to rejoice over God's patience with them. The accusations of the false teachers which Peter is refuting in 2 Peter 3:8-18 accuses God of being confined by their time bound mentality. Thus the false teachers believe that God is not coming back bodily because he did not come back as soon as he stated. They thought this gave them the freedom to live like they wanted to without worry of judgment. Peter lets Christians know that God is patience toward them and their rebellion, and has given you ways to help you rejoice over God's patience for you. 
 
The first way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to know that God is eternal (3:8-9). He doesn't relate to time at like we do because he is above time and created time and is not confined by time. C.S. Lewis says that He is like the author of a book who is not confined by the time of the story he is writing. Ultimately God is patience because he is calling on you to repent of your sins and trust His Son. 
 
The second way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to live with a eternal perspective (3:10-13). Don't trust your eyes or what is normal because God is not confined by what is normal. The day of the Lord will come suddenly but it will surely come because everything and every event is eternally present with God. Eventually, as the passages says in 3:10-13, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, and people on the stage of the earth will be exposed before the Lord either in judgment or in salvation 
 
The third and forth way to refute these false teachers and to rejoice over god's patience is to (3)know your in a fight for freedom (chapter 2), and (4) fight to believe in God's promises (Chapter 1). We must fight to know the commands that God has given to us as a pay of freedom. We must listen to God for the rules for life rather than to the World. 
 
 
 
 
The fifth way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to work out your salvation (3:14-16). If we are going to live with God we must be godly and the power to do so in in believing in the seconding coming of Christ. Your 3vangelism is an outgrowth of a godly life. You cannot separate evangelism from your worship for it is worship in a great ultimate seance. 
 
Finally the sixth way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to grow in the gospel (3:17-18). Admittedly this is similar to the fifth way to rejoice in God's patience, but is adds the idea the the Gospel, which is all of grace includes warnings about dangers. We must take the warnings in scripture to walk, abide, and not be carried away with error. Warnings serve as a means of grace in keeping to stable on the right path or course in life. We we head these warnings we also need to grow in the promises of God which will enable to have a stable faith that looks forward to the bodily return of Christ as a powerful motivation to rejoice in God's patience

Christians today need to rejoice over God's patience with them. The accusations of the false teachers which Peter is refuting in 2 Peter 3:8-18 accuses God of being confined by their time bound mentality. Thus the false teachers believe that God is not coming back bodily because he did not come back as soon as he stated. They thought this gave them the freedom to live like they wanted to without worry of judgment. Peter lets Christians know that God is patience toward them and their rebellion, and has given you ways to help you rejoice over God's patience for you. 

The first way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to know that God is eternal (3:8-9). He doesn't relate to time at like we do because he is above time and created time and is not confined by time. C.S. Lewis says that He is like the author of a book who is not confined by the time of the story he is writing. Ultimately God is patience because he is calling on you to repent of your sins and

2 Peter 3:8-18 - Rejoicing in God's Patience - Part 1 of 4

Christians today need to rejoice over God's patience with them. The accusations of the false teachers which Peter is refuting in 2 Peter 3:8-18 accuses God of being confined by their time bound mentality. Thus the false teachers believe that God is not coming back bodily because he did not come back as soon as he stated. They thought this gave them the freedom to live like they wanted to without worry of judgment. Peter lets Christians know that God is patience toward them and their rebellion, and has given you ways to help you rejoice over God's patience for you. 
 
The first way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to know that God is eternal (3:8-9). He doesn't relate to time at like we do because he is above time and created time and is not confined by time. C.S. Lewis says that He is like the author of a book who is not confined by the time of the story he is writing. Ultimately God is patience because he is calling on you to repent of your sins and trust His Son. 
 
The second way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to live with a eternal perspective (3:10-13). Don't trust your eyes or what is normal because God is not confined by what is normal. The day of the Lord will come suddenly but it will surely come because everything and every event is eternally present with God. Eventually, as the passages says in 3:10-13, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, and people on the stage of the earth will be exposed before the Lord either in judgment or in salvation 
 
The third and forth way to refute these false teachers and to rejoice over god's patience is to (3)know your in a fight for freedom (chapter 2), and (4) fight to believe in God's promises (Chapter 1). We must fight to know the commands that God has given to us as a pay of freedom. We must listen to God for the rules for life rather than to the World. 
 
The fifth way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to work out your salvation (3:14-16). If we are going to live with God we must be godly and the power to do so in in believing in the seconding coming of Christ. Your 3vangelism is an outgrowth of a godly life. You cannot separate evangelism from your worship for it is worship in a great ultimate seance. 
 
Finally the sixth way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to grow in the gospel (3:17-18). Admittedly this is similar to the fifth way to rejoice in God's patience, but is adds the idea the the Gospel, which is all of grace includes warnings about dangers. We must take the warnings in scripture to walk, abide, and not be carried away with error. Warnings serve as a means of grace in keeping to stable on the right path or course in life. We we head these warnings we also need to grow in the promises of God which will enable to have a stable faith that looks forward to the bodily return of Christ as a powerful motivation to rejoice in God's patience.

Christians today need to rejoice over God's patience with them.  The accusations of the false teachers which Peter is refuting in 2 Peter 3:8-18 accuses God of being confined by their time bound mentality.  Thus the false teachers believe that God is not coming back bodily because he did not come back as soon as he stated.  They thought this gave them the freedom to live like they wanted to without worry of judgment.  Peter lets Christians know that God is patience toward them and their rebellion, and has given you ways to help you rejoice over God's patience for you. 

The first way to refute the false teachers and to rejoice over God's patience, is to know that God is eternal (3:8-9).  He doesn't relate to time at like we do because he is above time and created time and is not confined by time.  C.S. Lewis says that He is like the author of a book who is not confined by the time of the story he is writing.   Ultimately God is patience because he is calling on you to repent of your si

2 Peter 3:8-18 - Rejoicing in God's Patience - Part 2 of 4

Genesis 30:25-31:16 - Scheming - Part 3 of 4

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us. One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us. We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way. Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us. We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted. In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them. Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 
 
You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3) you get into a conflict with God or with others, 4) when you covet someone or something as more valuable than God, and 5) when you fail to pray or acknowledge God is the person who gives all good gifts. 
 
Watch and be encouraged to trust in the God who created the world and the God who loves.

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us. One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us. We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way. Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us. We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted. In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them. Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 

You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3) you ge

Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Forgetting God's Love - Part 5 of 5

Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Forgetting God's Love - Part 4 of 5

Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Forgetting God's Love - Part 3 of 5

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us. One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us. We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way. Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us. We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted. In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them. Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 
 
You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3) you get into a conflict with God or with others, 4) when you covet someone or something as more valuable than God, and 5) when you fail to pray or acknowledge God is the person who gives all good gifts. 
 
Watch and be encouraged to trust in the God who created the world and the God who loves.

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us.  One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us.  We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way.  Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us.  We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted.  In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them.  Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 

You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3

Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Forgetting God's Love - Part 2 of 5

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us. One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us. We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way. Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us. We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted. In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them. Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 
 
You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3) you get into a conflict with God or with others, 4) when you covet someone or something as more valuable than God, and 5) when you fail to pray or acknowledge God is the person who gives all good gifts. 
 
Watch and be encouraged to trust in the God who created the world and the God who loves.

There are several reasons why we don't trust God and go our own way in spite of God's faithfulness to us.  One is that we believe that there is "good" apart from God's will and plan for us.  We are tempted to not believe that God is for us all the way.  Second reason (like the first reason) is that we don't trust God even when he is faithful is because we don't believe God really loves us.  We believe God has ulterior motives and that he cannot be trusted.  In Genesis 29:31-31:24 we find that there are consequences to not trusting in God's love from the example of Leah and Rachael's trust of Jacob's love for them.  Now, Jacob is not a great family man in this passage so his similarity to God stops very short, but when you take the scene as a whole you find that love has been forgotten and written out of the equation on their relationships. 

You will learn that some of the way you may forget God's love is when: 1) you try to earn God's love, 2) you compare God's love to human love, 3) 

Genesis 29:31-30:24 - Forgetting God's Love - Part 1 of 5

It is difficult to keep looking for the grace of God in times of difficulty but that is exactly what God has commanded us to do. Since all of life is lived by the grace of God then we should look for it all the time, and in every situation, and in the lives of everyone. Of course it is easier to complain and become disgruntled, but the christian life is meant to lived on a different level and from a different perspective by believing in God and his son Jesus Christ. Which would you rather get: Judgment or grace? I am afraid many confessed believers live like they expect judgment rather than grace. Do you? Genesis 29:1-30 gives us ways to understand God's work that will cause us to see grace in Disappointments through seeing divine appointments, believing in God's timing, and living for the benefit of others. 
 
You must believe in Divine appointments. You can see divine appointments in the live of Jacob. He was going to Haran to be with his uncle Laban and all of a sudden he meets his cousin Jacob who, in his heart is still not completely honest, is enamored with Rachael and her beauty. He arrives at a cistern where the shepherds water their flock and Rachael, who is a shepherdess, comes there at the right time to meet Jacob. That is a divine appointment and one that will help you see God's grace in your disappointments if you believe that all appointments are divine ordered 
 
You must believe in the timing of God in your life. You can God's timing in the life of Jacob. Jacob had to wait 14 years to Marry the one he really loved -- Rachael. While he worked for Laban, his uncle for a month, God made sure that that time he proved himself a worker that was worthy of a wage. Even the marriage to Leah, was part of God's timing in Jacob's life. He married one who had better character than Rachael. God protected him, even though his choice of Rachael was made only on outer beauty and not inner qualities of character. Leah was more a woman of character. But through all that he had to wait for God's timing provided for his desires and also protected him from his brother Esau. 
 
Finally you must live for the benefit of others. You can see that Jacob was not use to living for the benefit of others. He did not consider the custom of greeting when he met Rachael and kissed her before he told her who he was. He also disregarded the owner o the cistern and moved the rock and water Rachael's flock. He did not consider it important to abide by the rules that the owner had set down. He also did not understand that (while Laban may have been not completely forthright in his formalized agreement with Jacob) that custom would have had him marry the older of the sisters first before. His passions got away from him. 
 
When we are disappointed we typically try to earn God's blessing by our actions. But according to Titus 3. We cannot do anything to improve our relationship with God except trust in the death of His son Jesus Christ. The more we do that the more we are going to see God's grace in all of life. And the more we recognize divine appoints, God's timing, and live for the benefit of others we will see God's grace in the lives of people around us.

It is difficult to keep looking for the grace of God in times of difficulty but that is exactly what God has commanded us to do.  Since all of life is lived by the grace of God then we should look for it all the time, and in every situation, and in the lives of everyone.  Of course it is easier to complain and become disgruntled, but the christian life is meant to lived on a different level and from a different perspective by believing in God and his son Jesus Christ.  Which would you rather get: Judgment or grace?  I am afraid many confessed believers  live like they expect judgment rather than grace.  Do you?  Genesis 29:1-30 gives us ways to understand God's work that will cause us to see grace in Disappointments through seeing divine appointments, believing in God's timing,  and living for the benefit of others.  

You must believe in Divine appointments.  You can see divine appointments in the live of Jacob.  He was going to Haran to be with his uncle Laban and all of a sudden he 

Genesis 29:1-20 - Seeing Grace in all Disappointments - Part 3

Genesis 29:1-20 - Seeing Grace in all Disappointments - Part 1

On the 4th of July it is popular to talk about freedom as one of our cherished values. As we start 2 Peter we must understand that the freedom Peter wants is not the freedom from suffering but the freedom to do what is right, to believe what is right, and to proclaim what is right. There is no room for complacency in this. What hampers our freedom is that we compare our faith with others. We do this wen we think that we are better off spiritually because our self-produced faith makes us closer to God. This is a lie. We must keep from comparing or boasting in our faith to others. We do this is several ways. 
 
First we keep from comparing or boasting about our faith by certainly hoping in Christ's righteousness (2 Peter 1:1-2). Our faith is on equal standing with the faith of the Apostles. There is not a quality difference since our faith is ultimately a gift of God working in us and through us. A new Christian has the same access into the presence of God as a mature Christian. We must be sure that we boast in Christ's righteousness and not the strength of our faith. Right thinking on this precedes right living. You will play like you practice. 
 
Secondly, we keep from comparing or boasting about our faith by restfully trusting God's great promises (1 Peter 1:3-4). God has given us everything that we need in this life to live a godly life. God's promises are sufficient for us to refrain from sin and the corruptions of our hearts, unlike the false teachers. We have freedom of the real kind now as Christians -- freedom from our corruption and our depravity. God's has effectively called us to see and savior Christ. In this effectual calling our eyes are opened through God's promises concerning his character to a beautiful vision Fog God (call the beatific vision) where we rejoice in the splendor and majesty of God through Christ. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us to enable us not to compare our conduct but trust sufficient God's promises for living out our faith. You will play like you practice. 
 
Thirdly, we keep from comparing or boasting about our faith by earnest effort toward moral virtues (2 Peter 1:5-8). There is no hierarchy in his passage but this passage talks about intentionality and effort toward the moral virtues that needs to happen. We don't desire this necessary progress to earn God's favor, but we labor because God has first labored for us already. We make effort in these 8 moral virtues in order to show forth God's character. We must never think that the Christian life is like floating or drifting in the ocean, because floating cann mean drifting to your perrel God promises spur us to make every efforttoo strive against the tide toward moral virtue. You will play like you practice. 
 
Finally, we keep from comparing or boasting about our faith by diligently depending on God's grace (2 Peter 1:9-11). We are to avoid apostasy and avoid comparing our faith with others by looking at God's means of grace. If do not use the means of grace we will be like people who shut their eyes and become blind to what God has done and is doing for us. We will forget our forgiveness and be tempted to take spiritual shortcuts which il-lgetimizes our faith in the first place. There is no virtue without knowledge and No knowledge without ethics. You will play like you practice. 
 
Why do you play like you practice. You must practice godliness by God power through God's promises. In other words, you will live like you believe. Ever deviation from truth is sin and we must see our beliefs and judgments as a great means that God uses to shape our lives for holiness.

On the 4th of July it is popular to talk about freedom as one of our cherished values. As we start 2 Peter we must understand that ...

2 Peter 1:1-11 - You Play Like You Practice - Part 6

On the 4th of July it is popular to talk about freedom as one of our cherished values.  As we start 2 Peter we must understand that the freedom Peter wants is not the freedom from suffering but the freedom to do what is right, to believe what is right, and to proclaim what is right.  There is no room for complacency in this.  What hampers our freedom is that we compare our faith with others.  We do this wen we think that we are better off spiritually because our self-produced faith makes us closer to God.  This is a lie.  We must keep from comparing or boasting in our faith to others.  We do this is several ways.

First we keep from comparing or boasting about our faith by certainly hoping in Christ's righteousness (2 Peter 1:1-2).  Our faith is on equal standing with the faith of the Apostles.  There is not a quality difference since our faith is ultimately a gift of God working in us and through us.  A new Christian has the same access into the presence of God as a mature Christian. 

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