Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Reading through the bible with a One Year Bible, this year I'm using the ESV.

But anyway

I was reading about Joseph, and how he was sold into slavery, but God made all he did prosper.

Later on when his brothers came to Egypt for food and Joseph reveals to them that even though they sold him into slavery God has preserved him, and he says to them

". . . now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life."

and the whole thing is kinda strange. because God could have just prevented the famine in the first place. but he allows Joes brothers to throw him into a pit, his Father is bereft with grief. Joseph is thrown in a dungeon and has to live with the knowledge that his brothers were going to kill him but decided to sell him instead.

but he tells his brothers, don't worry God planned this all out so I could save your lives.

It's kind of a recurring theme, create a situtation where you know everything is going to be messed up, then create a solution, the solution comes at the cost of heavy pain and suffering.

then I thought, it's kinda like God is hazing these people, maybe to get them to form a bond so they could become a nation, like what you do in the military or a fraternity.

I mean God is the only game in town, where else are we going to go, but, sometimes the plan seems messed up to me.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

hmm, I'd like to submit that you may be attributing to God things which are not His, here, and that the story might be more about how good comes of these things, even though they started out without God in them in the way you are reading, I think-despite Joseph's stated opinion here, maybe, which should only be true as far as it goes, imo?.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Read the book of Job, if you have more of the same questions.... because Job has already asked God. Why? It's a great read. Then God just answered his questions with more questions.

In the end of it all, pain and suffering are part of God's plan, because it brings forth a change in us, typified in the very life and death of Christ. Without suffering, no pain, no gain. No death, no resurrection. Without seed in the ground (death) there can be no life (fruit).

Try reading Job. It helped me with some of the same questions...

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

http://www.fpcpalmbay.com/Live%20Webcast.html

funny you said that, Pastor Myers is preaching on Job 38 as we speak.

we serve a mighty God, God is in charge of everything we see and dont see
we serve a God who knows the end from the beginning
and he controls everything
and we can take refuge in that knowledge
he knows every valley
he is touched by the feelings of our infirmity
he is touched and affected by the needs of his people.

He comes to Job out of a whirlwind
God is not a static God
When we are in a whirlwind, God is in the middle.
and he is riding on top of it

He sits on the circle of the Earth, God is on top of it all.

People want to be associated with something that is successfull
People want to win by association
drawn to things bigger then ourselves

the mightiest, greatest power, is Jesus
He has never lost.

thank you Jesus for loving me when I was unlovable
for saving me when others had given up on me

God questions Job:
Job doesnt have the answers

sometimes we can't see the way out of a situation
but in our situation, we need God

Our next breath is the mercy of God.
We can't make it without God.

Everything I've got belongs to Him and I give it back to Him.

Why God?
confusion, distant from God?

we are a privileged people and we are blessed

if there has ever been a time to be thankfull to praise to rejoice, it's this moment.

Who do you think you are Job? being so limited with your understanding?
How does God react to those who question and mock?
Do you really understand who you are dealing with?

He does not owe me health, wealth, an explanation, he does not owe me even an answer.

Job 38:4 Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Jesus can speak to the seas and the storms and say stay.

His mercies are renewed every day.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Did you write this Amanah? It speaks to my heart.

"He does not owe me health, wealth, an explanation, he does not owe me even an answer." This is so true.

He owes me nothing; I owe Him everything!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Sis. Freeman was preaching, and said that you do not ask God why. Her statement was, "People do not see the power and glory of God when they ask why." (This is Jay's version essentially accurate to the thought.)

When you look at the miracles of Scripture, you see only once or twice anyone asking God why and receiving a miracle. If a miracle was performed, it occured at the hands of a person who did not ask that question.

I made up in my mind that it was pointless to question or be angry with God as it serves no purpose. You have more hope arguing with the wind, and it is a better use of breath.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

I was typing notes while Pastor was preaching, the service was incredibly moving. I stopped typed when he began to speak to specific needs in the congregation as I was to involved in the service at that point.

I'm going to see my oncologist tuesday and Pastor spoke to "someone who is afraid . . . you shall live and not die"

I got a specific word from the Lord for faith and strength to face my fears and have them flee.

note: We attend in person on Sunday morning, and then I watch the services on my computer on Sunday and Weds night. Thank god for technology.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

At the risk of hijacking the thread: Isn't this a bit like the pastor saying "And there is someone here who has a father, or uncle, or male cousin who's name begins with 'J' who died in the past week, or month, or year or two."

Sorry. I'm glad it calmed you down a bit personally, but in general "words of so-called knowledge" are a sore spot for me.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

I guess the bottom line is this,
God does not owe me anything,
but I fall on his mercy and he will decide.
If he decides to keep me cancer free, bless his name.
If he decides that it is time for me to go home to be with him,
blessed be the name of the Lord.
We are are born into this world, and will die,
some sooner than others.
a life well lived matters greatly.
a life lived with eternity in mind matters with far reaching consequences.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

ha, kind of illuminates how satan will do his best to muddy the waters of important Biblical concepts.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Why is it a sore spot if it encourages someone?

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Someone being encouraged is not the issue. It is the way the "encouraging" takes place, the infamous 'words of so-called knowledge' are (almost) always as reliable as the message on a piece of paper found in a fortune cookie at PF Changes.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

your comment feels insensitive and uncaring to me
why you would bring doubt and unbelief rather than some type of encouragement sadens me, makes me want to cry, makes me want to not come back to these boards

it is sad when someone is more concerned about expressing their doubt and unbelief then caring for someone who is facing life or death

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

It almost sounded like a poem that you wrote. Thanks for sharing though!!

I will be praying for you!!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Sorry sorry sorry.

I DID go off on a tangent and was in no way alluding to your issue. If someone who had just lost their whole family in a plane crash came on and said something similar that their pastor said, I would have probably posted the exact same thing (without thinking of course).

Again, I am truly sorry and will probably start another thread as I tend to go off on tangents of tangents (sometimes called hijacking).

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

It takes all kinds to make the world go 'round, as my mother would say. Ignore the unbelief, and rest in the peace God has given you!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Sometimes our fingers work faster than our brains... you had a question in your heart and it seemed a good time to express it, even though you didn't realize it could hurt...

Something we could all be accused of at times.... I'm sure.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

I am the KING of what you just said.

Again, I apologize profusely.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Amanah, you are a lady with a sweet, sweet spirit. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about facing the unknown.

There are some of us who know that we have something amiss in our body, but a diagnosis cannot be given...because medical science just does not know everything.

But God does! Sometimes simple words of faith helps more people than you may ever realize.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Randy - It's ok, thank you for caring enough to respond back with concern.

on my part, sometimes I forget that it is not wise to open up to much on a forum, a lesson I'm still learning. I treat the forum like a journal sometimes, and then when it bites me, I'm shocked.

AYR - I love you Sister. We are partners in prayer.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Oh no, it is perfectly fine to open up when you need to! I have a couple of times over the past several years when things got truly desperate. I would just try to make the thread specifically about the need otherwise guys like ME will pick out some other detail and go with it without seeing the real reason for the thread. :)

Will be praying!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

It's ok to feel afraid and it's ok to find hope "in a word" from preaching. Even the oncologists prescribe positive affirmations for their patients.

I love you too Sister. Hugs to you. :hug4

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

I too feel like the plan is messed up,but I guess this is where faith comes into play.

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Well said. Will continue to hold you up in prayer!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Just checking in to see how you are doing today Amanah... Keeping you in my prayers, as I remember you had a doctor's apt. today, and wanted you to know I was praying for you!

Re: Thinking about my bible reading today
 

Ah, well I guess I understand the Joseph ref a little better now. You are in my prayers, Amanah.