GOD hears me

Exodus 2:²³ During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. ²⁴ God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. ²⁵ So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

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“One more mile to go” was the thought in my tired mind. This wasn’t marathon training rather it was my commute home from school. We got off the third bus of our commute and instead of waiting on the last one we decided to walk.  As we began our journey across a massive grocer parking lot we were met with a gang of hoodlums.

We looked at each other, said where we would meet and took off “zigzag” running in opposite directions. Track practice had paid off for us. We joined each other after I was sure the police were on their way.

• There are times where I will face adversity.
• There are times when things will seem like everything is going wrong.
• There are times when I will be sure “this is going to end very badly.”

I used to ask why GOD allows so many problems to happen to me.  I mean shouldn’t I be problem free since I believe in HIS SON for my salvation?  Now that I have matured I realize it’s because of my belief that I will face adversity!  GOD knows this life will be difficult and HE is there for me.

• GOD hears me when I am scared.
• GOD hears me when I am worried.
• GOD hears me when I feel like giving up.

GOD knows exactly what I’m going through.  HIS hand of protection forges my faith in HIM because HE has delivered me time after time.  HE hears my groans and rescues me!

• Are you facing adversity?
• Do you feel like crying out for help?
• Do you realize GOD hears you?
• Can you understand that GOD has a plan for you on the other side of this trial? 

Am I paranoid of people who don’t look and act like me?

Exodus 1: ⁶ Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, ⁷ but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

⁸ Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. ⁹ “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. ¹⁰ Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

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A person of another race reached out to me to befriend me. Memories of acts of hatred from others of his race rushed to mind. “What does he want from me?” my suspicious mind conjured. I bet he is trying to steal my ideas.  I better put my guards up around this guy.

• When I become paranoid, I dream up the worst about people.
• When I become paranoid, I put up my guards.
• When I become paranoid, I go into self-preservation.

Call it a defense mechanism but I don’t like my hopes raised only to have them dashed to the ground, so I get ahead of the game by putting up my guards. If someone doesn’t look or act like me, I become suspicious.

• GOD says to me “open your heart to many and I will draw them to ME.”
• GOD says to me “stop looking on the outside so I can look on the inside.”
• GOD says to me “drop your defenses so my grace can consume all ills.”

GOD wants me to get out of the way of HIS grace.  When I place my judgmental attitude on someone, there is no room for grace.  Is there a chance I could get hurt? Yes, but GOD’s grace covers that too. HIS grace is sufficient.

• Are you paranoid over reaching out to someone who does not look like you?
• Do you dream up why you are different rather than think of what you have in common?
• Can you see others as GOD sees them?
• Won’t you reach out to those you feel paranoid about and help them seek GOD?

In memory of James Washington

GOD’s grace is contagious

Genesis 50: ¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 

¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

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Many times I have been wrong and when I am, I get scared of the person who I’ve wronged.  Sometimes I hide or I may even speak in ways that seem to ask for forgiveness. Little do I know that the evil I had planned was mean somehow for good. I have run into people who were gracious instead of righteous.

These people gave me mercy instead of judgment and it seemed to come at the right time. Maybe I should do the same.

• When I am gracious I build a person up.
• When I am gracious I enable people to see GOD.
• When I am gracious I act a little like GOD.

GOD’s grace is contagious. HE allowed HIS SON to die for me just to show me grace. HE expects me to show others grace while HE deals with their heart. HIS grace is sufficient.

• Have you wronged someone?
• Are you afraid to admit it to them?
• Can you face what you’ve done and ask for forgiveness?
• Won’t you forgive yourself and know GOD has forgiven you?

GOD’s plan for me can’t be stopped

Genesis 48: ³ Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me ⁴ and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’

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Sitting at my desk preparing for a meeting my boss’s boss came into my office exclaiming “The head of the department wants to meet with you. What’s this all about?” “I have no idea” was my true reply. As I sat in this rare meeting I soon found out he was asking for a favor from “me.”

The project I was working on had some personal meaning to him and he wanted special care of it. I promised and followed through with my commitments to him.  I went back to business as usual. Years later I discovered that my fast track promotions were all because he was watching over me and I didn’t even know it.

• When GOD has a plan for me, no one has the power to disturb it.
• When GOD has a plan for me, it will happen just as HE planned.
• When GOD has a plan for me, HE says “I will” which means “it will” happen.

Sometimes I think I have to do stuff to be noticed or become great, BUT GOD has a plan that is far greater than any plan I could come up with. Many times I can’t see HIM working but HE is there. HE has calculated my sins along with the sins of everyone involved and built a plan that can’t fail.

When GOD says “I will” it means HE built the plan without consulting me, and that’s a good thing! HE only has love built into HIS plan for me and my input would be sinful and selfish. I am glad GOD made the choice to include me in HIS plan.

• What is your purpose?
• Is GOD using your life or are you busy worrying?
• Can GOD have everything including your sin?
• Won’t you let GOD direct your steps and let HIM take care of the plan no matter how complicated or desolate it seems?

Desperate to be a slave

Genesis 47: ²⁵ “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”

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“Incumbent” was the word I learned at the end of my college career. It meant I owed them some money and unless I came up with the cash, I would not graduate. I hadn’t done the math but I quickly figured my lack of income plus bills equals problems.

I panicked and went into the counselor’s office.  Taking out a loan was my option but I knew I needed to start paying within months of graduation. I needed a job! One company took a chance on me. I was saved. I could pay my bills.

• When bills pile up I get nervous.
• When cash is low I get nervous.
• When the future seems cloudy I get nervous.

The Israelites grew desperate and sold themselves into slavery. They sold their land and themselves because of a sever famine. They were desperate.

When I get desperate, I panic and will do pretty much anything for self-preservation.  This may mean working for groups I don’t want to work with.

• GOD understands my desperations and has taken them into account when building a plan for me.
• GOD understands my panicked behavior and wants me to settle down enough to listen to HIM.
• GOD understands my blindness to my situation and desires that I communicate with HIM to show my reliance on HIM.

In order for GOD to be supreme in my life I must be willing to accept HIS plan for me, the way HE designed it. This may mean some bumpy times but rather than becoming desperate HE wants me to become reliant on HIM.

• Are you becoming desperate?
• Do you feel panic ensuing?
• Won’t you look to GOD for peace?
• Can you turn you panic into helping someone else become calm by telling them about GOD’s love?

GOD’s plan may include a journey

Genesis 46: ² And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

³ “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ⁴ I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

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“Is there someone who will go with me?” was the question posed to me that changed my life completely.  I had never been out of the country before and my thinking at that time was “why would I?” I mean we have nice beaches, mountains, scenery and sinners.  If I wanted to tell someone about CHRIST or vacation I could do it here!

I don’t know why, but I found myself getting up and volunteering. After the exhilarated feeling, fear consumed me. We were going to go to a country in Africa and all I could picture was dirty water and dirt sandwiches for dinner. I am glad I was thoroughly wrong as I went on the trip twenty years ago!

• The reason I don’t “go” is out of my fear and self-preservation.
• The reason I don’t “go” is because I may not be informed.
• The reason I don’t “go” is because I love my lifestyle and I don’t want to feel uncomfortable.

Not everyone is cut out for missions work but it truly has opened my eyes to a global gospel. Every word spoken in the Bible has to apply to all humans, not just a segment.

• When GOD told me to “GO” HE took away my fears.
• When GOD told me to “GO” HE opened my eyes to global compassion.
• When GOD told me to “GO” HE already had a plan for my protection.

I’m not saying everything went according to plan on all my trips, but HE has enabled me to meet people who will spread HIS message around the world and I truly feel blessed.

• Are you stuck in a rut?
• Is your life confined to the four walls of your home or job?
• Can you listen to GOD and see where HE is sending you?

GOD even uses evil for good

Genesis 45: ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

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Scared and confused I left a company that I had poured heart and soul into. I had run into the wrong mix of people and found myself on the outside of “the club.” For a while I felt like I was in the desert. “GOD where are you?” I would cry out.

The desire to start a business was swelling in me. I pursued many options but nothing seemed right. I finally settled on a path and GOD started delivering people to me in droves. Many have helped me and some I helped. I prayed with many and cried with them. I never would have met these people if GOD hadn’t sent me.

• GOD knows I have to face painful situations so I can grow.
• GOD understands I have to face adversity in order to be made into what HE wants me to be.
• GOD delivers me into HIS house in spite of any evil plan thought up by others or me.

Humans think they have control of lives and situations BUT GOD knows better. HIS plans are far above my thoughts, desires or worries. HE is the deliverer of my salvation!

• Are you going through something?
• Do you think GOD has left you alone?
• Won’t you open your eyes and see HIS deliverance?
• Can’t you give HIM your best AND your worst so HE can show you HIS plan?