Prayer requests

If you're like me, there are times when sleep just doesn't come easily. Our brains sometimes don't want to "turn off" and take a rest, even if our bodies do.

There are some nights when we glance at the clock hopefully, thinking perhaps we have drifted off to sleep and it's almost morning . . . only to realize that it's just a few minutes since we last checked.

Even King David must have had this problem. He mentions the night watches - most people say that the first two watches are before midnight, and the third is from midnight 'til 3am. The fourth and final watch is from 3am to 6am.

                   My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate
                   on your promises.  (Psalm 119:148)

                   On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the
                   night. (Psalm 63:6)

I wonder if sometimes we are kept awake because we are fretting over something that we should have turned over to the Lord?

Are we tossing and turning because we don't have the peace He promised?

                     ...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
                     supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
                    And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
                    your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Or is this a special time that can be turned toward Him? Can we use our sleepless times as periods of thanksgiving, and of supplication? Can we think on His blessings and praise Him? Can we think of others that we know of, and pray intercessory prayers for them? We may know of some that are close to us, or we may know of others who are far away, and perhaps we know of their needs because of a blog like this one.

Think of people that need His love. Think of some that don't yet believe. Think of some that need His healing.
Lift these up in prayer, and thank Him in advance for what He will do.

Do you have a prayer request or a praise that you can share today?

Jochebed, a faithful woman

What does the name Moses conjure up in your imagination?

Actor Charlton Heston, arms outspread, and the Red Sea parting? Cecil B. DeMille did an awesome job on that mega-picture. (Grin)

The basket, floating gently on the ripples of the water, surrounded by reeds?

Now, what do you think of when you hear the name Jochebed? She is the next woman in our series of studies . . . Moses' mom. Or one of them, anyway. Since Pharoah's daughter adopted him, I guess we should make that distinction.

We read of Jochebed in both the Old Testament, and in the New. Here are the passages:

                      Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she
                      became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was
                      a fine child, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide
                      him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar
                      and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds
                      along the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to see what
                      would happen to him. Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile
                      to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw
                      the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. She opened
                      it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is
                     one of the Hebrew babies,” she said. Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s
                     daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby
                     for you?” “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s
                     mother.  Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him
                     for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him.
                     When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he
                     became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the
                     water.”  (Exodus 2:1-10)

And also here:
  
                     By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,
                     because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of
                     the king’s edict. (Hebrews 11:23)

And here, where Moses' father is mentioned, we learn Moses' mother's name:

                      Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and
                      Moses. Amram lived 137 years. (Exodus 6:20)

At the end of the book of Genesis, Joseph has died. All of his family has emigrated to Egypt for food during the horrific famines that the Pharaoh dreamed of, and Joseph interpreted for him.

With all of those brothers, the family had grown significantly, and it continued to do so! The Pharaoh of Joseph's time was so happy with him, that he didn't mind the Hebrew people being in his country. After some time (the scholars tell us it was about three hundred years) we read how the situation had changed:

                       These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with
                       Jacob, each with his family:  Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; Issachar,
                       Zebulun and Benjamin;  Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. The descendants
                      of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt. Now Joseph
                      and all his brothers and all that generation died, but the Israelites were
                      exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and
                      became so numerous that the land was filled with them. Then a new king,
                      to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said
                      to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. 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.” So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with
                      forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
                      But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so
                      the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites  and worked them ruthlessly.
                      They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with
                      all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked
                      them ruthlessly. The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose
                      names were Shiphrah and Puah, “When you are helping the Hebrew women
                      during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill
                      him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” The midwives, however, feared God and
                     did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.
                     Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have
                     you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”  The midwives answered
                      Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous
                     and give birth before the midwives arrive.” So God was kind to the midwives
                     and the people increased and became even more numerous.  And because the
                     midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own. Then Pharaoh gave
                     this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw
                     into the Nile, but let every girl live.”  (Exodus 1)

Wow! Now we've refreshed our memory of the background and the story; we'll study this after our day of prayer requests, tomorrow.
After all, if Jochebed was honored with a mention in the "Pantheon of Faith" in Hebrews, there's a lot we can learn from her!

Friday slowdown

This week we touched on Joseph; he was placed in a situation that was challenging, perhaps even dangerous.
But as we saw in the verse we read, God "meant it for good."

And we know for sure that He was there with Joseph, each step of the way.
This song celebrates that fact -- Our God is with us. In fact, when we feel like we've been plopped down into a situation that we just can't handle . . .

He's already there.

Potiphar's wife - what can we learn?

I found myself wondering while I studied this . . . wonder if Potiphar's wife would have acted differently if she'd had more to do? If she wasn't bored?

Well, be that as it may, we pick up our story and find that she kept after Joseph. She asked him many times to come and join her in her bed. No wonder he tried to avoid her! For crying out loud, lady, can't you take a hint?

Now, she had nothing else to occupy her mind and attention, so she waited her chance. She probably made herself as desirable as she could . . . just the right clothing, perfumed hair and body, her best jewels . . . that day when they were alone, she caught hold of his clothing and asked him once more. But Joseph could not be persuaded, and he turned and ran -- but she kept pulling on his cloak, and he left it behind with her. Oh, boy. A woman spurned. And probably fearful that he would tell his master.

So she hatched a story; she told the servants that he had tried to rape her. Then she told that story to Potiphar when he came home.  He was outraged, and took Joseph to the prison.

Clang!

The doors shut.  Potiphar stalked away.
There are two interesting things here. First, Potiphar had every right to have Joseph executed, but he didn't. And second, he didn't throw him into just any prison; he took him to the prison where the king's prisoners were kept.

Have you ever wondered if Potiphar suspected his wife was lying? It kinda looks that way to me! Maybe he could see that his wife was a hollow shell of who she used to be; she wasn't the woman he loved before -- her soul was decaying from lust and hate. She may have been surrounded by luxury, but she was spiritually poor. She was full of herself, and that left no room for God.

Looks pretty bad for Joseph, doesn't it? Looks like a pawn in this situation, and now he's been tossed aside, and most folks don't leave this prison alive. But he's not a loser. He's a winner, just as those who follow God and yearn for righteousness are:

                           I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with
                           integrity.  (I Chronicles 29:17)

                           Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked,
                           or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company
                           of mockers, but who delight in the law of the Lord, and
                          meditate on his law day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2)

Temptation is a very difficult thing to deal with. Temptations come in all sizes and shapes. For some, it may be a sensual or sexual enticement. For others, it may be the allure of power or notoriety. Still others may be tempted by the temporary appeal of food. It seems to be true, though, that humans are sorely tempted in the sexual department.

As Christians, we must be vigilant. If we find ourselves becoming emotionally involved in a relationship that is inappropriate, we need to break that habit before we act on those desires. We must fight the tendency to daydream about a relationship that we think would be so much better than what we have. It's probably good to remember our grandmother telling us the "Grass is always greener" over there, where we aren't supposed to be.

We need to focus on our relationships that are pure; we need to devote ourselves to the ones that we've committed to. And we need to pray that God will help us to draw closer to Him in the only relationship that will give us lasting (eternal) peace. He will show us what is right, and He will give us power to resist temptation.

                    No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And
                    God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can
                    bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that
                    you can stand up under it. (I Corinthians 10:13)

                    Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help
                    those who are being tempted.  (Hebrews 2:18)

                    As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His
                    people, both now and forevermore. (Psalm 125:2)

                    Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within
                    me. (Psalm 51:10)

We know what happened to Joseph . . . we know the rest of his story. We don't know what happened to Potiphar's wife. Did she continue to desire empty pleasures? Did she keep on wanting things that were not really hers?

We can learn a lot from her, even if we don't know her name. Let's commit to keep our hearts pure, full of love for those He has placed in our lives; let's ask Him to help us stay away from temptations; let's hunger for His righteousness and His peace. Those are the pleasures that will last!

Potiphar's wife

Yep, let the fireworks begin!

We're kicking off this series with a bad girl -- Potiphar's wife!

Nope, I'm not crazy, just shaking things up a bit. Let's start with reading a passage and then we'll dive in! Ready?  Let's read the 39th chapter of Genesis:

            Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
² The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, ⁴ Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ⁵ From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. ⁶ So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, ⁷ and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!”
⁸ But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” ¹⁰ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
¹¹ One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. ¹² She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
¹³ When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, ¹⁴ she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. ¹⁵ When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
¹⁶ She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. ¹⁸ But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.”
¹⁹ When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. ²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ²² So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³ The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Kind of a long passage, but we needed to refresh our memory of the story. Incidentally, did you notice that we don't even know her name? We only know her as "Potiphar's wife"! She seems to be a spoiled woman, the wife of an important and prosperous Egyptian official; she's determined to use her charms to seduce the young slave, Joseph.

Remember how he came to be there? In previous chapters of Genesis, we read of the jealousy of his half-brothers and how they sold him into slavery when a caravan happened through. Surely this was better than murdering him, right? At least, that is what one of them said, as they sold him to the traveling merchants. It was in Egypt that Potiphar bought the young slave and gradually entrusted to him the entire household, for everything that Joseph touched prospered -- the blessing of God was upon him, and Potiphar didn't fail to notice.

So here's Joseph, diligently taking care of his master's household and his business matters. And if we saw the household, we'd probably be pretty impressed. Potiphar's importance and rank would have meant that his home was filled with furniture of ivory, precious woods and ebony. There would have been elegant vases and ornaments on the tables and walls; the walls would probably be painted with colorful murals.

Now, Potiphar's wife led a life of ease and luxury. She was surrounded by prosperity (due in large part to Joseph's diligence) and could have most anything she desired. Until it came to her desire to have Joseph, that is. (Grin) The Scriptures note that Joseph was a good-looking young man, and she just came right out and asked him to share her bed.

I imagine she was completely astonished at his quick rejection! She probably thought that he'd give in because he wanted to remain in his post: higher ranked than the other servants, and serving in a lovely place.  Instead, Joseph wanted to remain pure -- he told her he didn't want to disrespect his master, nor did he want to sin against God. And from then on, he tried to avoid her.

But she wasn't finished with Joseph, yet. We'll see the rest of the story tomorrow and see how it can apply to each of us.

What are you listening to today?

Some days do you feel like a hamster in a cage?

Are you spinning your wheels and not getting anywhere?

Take a break.

Take a breath.

Listen to a song or some music that will direct your thoughts toward God.

                             Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would
                             take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul;
                             he would feel better.... (I Samuel 16:23a)

                             He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our
                             God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in
                             him.  (Psalm 40:3)

We have many examples in the Bible of music and singing. Jesus even sang with his disciples. When you feel you're getting nowhere, when peace has escaped your grasp, take a moment to breathe deeply; breathe a prayer, too, of thankfulness. Then take a moment to listen to your choice of music, or think of a hymn that means a lot to you. Hum the tune, think on the words.

You'll feel much better.

And your day will go more smoothly after that.  That's the voice of experience talking. (Grin)

What are you listening to, today?

Fresh beginning - our new study

I'm so excited to tell you about the direction that our new study is taking us in!

This is a study blog for women, although we have had some Christian gentlemen who read here and some have commented, as well.

The Spirit gave me an idea, and we are going to embark on a study of women found in the pages of the Bible. There are many to choose from -- some are lovely, pure women; some are desperate, decadent women!  But there is much to be learned from all of them.

We will not take them in any certain order, so we will "bounce" from passage to passage, as the Holy Spirit guides us and instructs us from the lives of these women. Some individuals will be familiar to us, and some may be new to us. We will find character traits that we want to emulate as well as those we wish to avoid. We are going to meet strong, virtuous women, and others who are well-known for their sins!

God used women in the past, and still is using women today, to advance His kingdom on earth. I hope that these studies will be significant to you, and will bless you as you walk with Christ each day. We'll start up on Wednesday.

Won't you join us?