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  • 20 hours ago
    Posted by Dion Todd
    In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said...
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    Posted by Dion Todd
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    Posted by Dion Todd
    The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far f...
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  • March 25, 2022 - led by Lynn Brown
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Highway to Hel-ven

  • Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.' His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt. Genesis 37:26 WEB

    Very few of us had brothers as bad as Joseph did. They became so jealous over him, his dreams, and his coat of many colors, that one day when he came to them alone, they decided to kill him. 'Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams' (Genesis 37:20).

    Reuben, the eldest brother, wanted to rescue Joseph. At first, they compromised by throwing Joseph into a cistern, and then they sat down and ate lunch. While they were eating their meal, and Joseph was scared and alone in a hole in the ground, a group of traders came by heading for Egypt. When Judah saw them, he had an epiphany and said 'Hey let's sell him! We will make nothing by killing him. After all, he is our own brother.'

    So they sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, dipped his coat of many colors in goat blood, and brought it to his father, who had once used a goat to deceive his father (Gen. 27:16). They asked him 'is this your son's coat?' They did not even use his name or call him their brother (Gen. 37:32).

    Joseph was carried to Egypt by the traders and sold to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. God was with him, he prospered and soon Joseph was in charge of Potiphar's entire household.

    Potiphar's wife became attracted to Joseph and tried to seduce him day after day, but he refused. Joseph basically told her 'there is only one thing in this house that I cannot have, and that is you.' Unlike Eve, Joseph did not see the one forbidden fruit as a point of frustration and he left it alone.

    As time passed, she grew weary of his rejection. She tried everything, but when Joseph would not give in and sleep with her, she finally accused him of trying to rape her and he was thrown into prison.

    God was with Joseph in prison (Gen. 39:21). Joseph prospered and was soon taking care of the other prisoners. After some years passed, he was brought before Pharaoh and elevated to the second-in-command of Egypt.

    Joseph had a dream, but after that he went down, down, down. Joseph went from a special son to a pit, from the pit to a slave, from a slave to a servant of prisoners, and then he was elevated to be ruler of Egypt. What a road to follow. Joseph was on the road to heaven, but it sometimes looked like hell.

    If you would have seen Joseph trapped in a cistern, or as a slave, or as a prisoner, you would not have called him blessed, but he was. God was with Joseph as a young man, in the cistern, as a slave, as a prisoner, and later as a leader.

    Your circumstances do not separate you from God for He is there to help you in the circumstance. Joseph was humbled and learned to be a responsible leader along the way. When the time came, God raised up the one that He had been preparing for years.

    Though your life may have taken a turn for the worse, it will actually work out for the better. Because you feel abandoned in a cistern, does not mean that He is not with you, or that you are not on the right path. Be patient, while God works out the details. Stay sweet, stay loving, and be the greatest servant they ever met.

    Prayer: Father, I thank You for bringing me this far. Help me see this situation through Your eyes and keep the big picture in mind. This will not beat me for I know that You have plans for me. I will not die, but live and declare the goodness of God in the land of the living. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray.

    Note: Good morning! Another group announcement today: our "Haven of Hope" group, which supports people who are struggling with abuse issues, has been providing a weekly discussion topic. This week, the topic is, "What Does PTSD Feel Like?". If Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome is an area you have dealt with, please do join in with the conversation. If you are not already a member of the group, please note that Haven of Hope is a private group, so there will be a short delay until the group leader approves membership requests. Have a blessed day!

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26 comments
  • 3
Marisa Jackson
Marisa Jackson Amen!  God thank you for always being with me, protecting, guiding and loving me always.  I love you and your Son Jesus who is my Savior.  Amen!!
November 4, 2015
  • 2
April Cosper
April Cosper Amen
November 4, 2015
  • 1
<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen, God is so good.
November 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
  • 3
Phoebe Tillman
Phoebe Tillman Thanks for the Word!  As always, God lately uses each devotion to encourage me!
November 4, 2015
  • 1
April Cosper
April Cosper Amen
November 4, 2015
  • 0
<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member That is wonderful, that Jesus always knows what we need, at just the right time. God is so good and He loves us so much.
November 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
  • 3
Rachael Burke
Rachael Burke Amen, thanks pastor Todd for this wonderful message
November 4, 2015
  • 0
<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen and Amen
November 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
  • 3
Obioma Ukegbu
Obioma Ukegbu Thank you  Sir for adding more capsules of hope to my expections though it seems not reachable. The  LORD bless you a thousand time more.
November 4, 2015
  • 3
April Cosper
April Cosper On time reading thank you Lord Jesus be encouraged today all my brothers and sisters in Christ 
November 4, 2015
  • 1
<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Amen and may you have many blessings today and be encourage in The Lord.
November 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
  • 2
<i>Deleted Member</i>
Deleted Member Precious Jesus, may anything that satan has mean't for evil, may You turn it around for our good, just like You did for Joseph.
November 4, 2015- Edit- Delete
  • 3
Carol Pady
Carol Pady Amen! We are called to perseverance in the midst of trials, to not look upon these things from a human perspective,  to lean on God's word and prayers. 
November 4, 2015
  • 3
Teresa Bridges
Teresa Bridges Amen!  Thank you, precious Father, for taking me away from the circumstances I was in and once again blessing me with a brand new start.  You have truly showed up and showed out in my life because I believed that only you could prevent me from falling.  I adore and love you and will worship you forever.
November 4, 2015
  • 3
Dorene Glaze
Dorene Glaze good message
November 4, 2015
  • 4
Antoinette Acosta
Antoinette Acosta My life in a nutshell... Thank you God!!! Thank you Pastor Dion for posting!
November 4, 2015
  • 3
Mary Pat Taylor
Mary Pat Taylor Thank you God for this word, and bless Pastor Dion for bringing it to us.  This really speaks to me right now!  
November 4, 2015
  • 3
Margaret Ponchel
Margaret Ponchel As I was reading this today, I was brought to remembrance of how God can take the ugliest situation (greed and jealousy) and lift up a person to overcome and be triumphant. Without the caravan offering a goodly sum for Joseph, his brothers would not have been able to "benefit" from Joseph's departure. Years later, they benefitted greatly even though their prior motives had been purely selfish.  
November 4, 2015
  • 3
Kathy Banfield
Kathy Banfield I always related best to Joseph and whenever I read his story, I cry! I can't imagine how his own brothers could do that to him--yet, years later, Joseph was able to forgive them! That reminds me of Jesus' own words: "Father, forgive them because they know not what they do." I pray that I'll be able to forgive all those who have hurt me---especially my own family members.
November 4, 2015
  • 1
Barbara Mango
Barbara Mango That is a very challenging thing to do. I don't think I can ever forgive my sister for the series of terrible wounds she inflicted on me. We havn't spoken in almost 10 years.
November 4, 2015
  • 2
Iris Parlin
Iris Parlin Being patient is the hardest part. Amen
November 4, 2015
  • 2
Cheryl Hepler
Cheryl Hepler I like be patient while God works the details out.  Thanks Pastor Todd.
November 4, 2015
  • 2
Scott Riegelmann
Scott Riegelmann Amen Pastor thank you
November 4, 2015
  • 1
Barbara Mango
Barbara Mango I can relate to Joseph's story because my older sister has done something to me almost as awful as Joseph's brothers. What's so amazing about the whole story is how he rescues his family in the end. Though I know we are told to forgive, I doubt that I will ever be able to forgive the deep soul wounds she inflicted upon me. I pray that I can continue to heal to the point where I can forgive someday.
November 4, 2015
  • 1
Ticardo Williams
Ticardo Williams Amen.  Praise God!  Thank you!  Lord, help me to see every situation from the right perspective, and to trust you completely.
November 5, 2015
  • 1
Melchorita Fahey
Melchorita Fahey Amen and amen!
November 5, 2015