Ex 4-6 Overwhelmed by Leadership

January 19th, Exodus 4-6

       We think we want to know what God's will is for our life. D.L. Moody said you actually don't want to know. Moody said if you knew what God's will was for your life you'd never do it. What God invites us to is so overwhelming we don't want to participate, take Moses and his future...
       God gives you couple of cools signs to perform to Pharaoh...that's about where the fun part ends. Next go to the most powerful nation in the world and demand anything from them. Take your family into the storm with you. Leadership lesson 101... make all of the people you are about to lead hate you with the whole brick/straw debacle. The people he was called to save are now cursing him for Pharaoh's new work order.
       A moment like this would make me wonder when the whole snake/staff and leprous hand/pocket tricks were supposed to be used. I moved my family here for this!!!!
       BUT...Genesis 6:1 "But the Lord said to Moses, Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of the land." 
       God continues chapter 6 with his promises to his people and the hearing of their cries and the redemption that will come. Finally a promise about a new land and all God wants them to possess.
       Moses feels the same thing you and I feel in the midst of leadership. It says the people were not listening to Moses because of a broken spirit and harsh slavery. Why would Pharaoh listen to me? In the midst of our leading sometimes, it seems no one is listening. But leadership is about bringing the flock to a new pasture, bringing a child to a new behavior, bringing a group of people to see all that God intends. I pray that we would grow in our ability to lead, to face challenges and not shrink back, to breath life into situations around us.

Grace, Peace, Strength, Courage for the Journey.

Gen 43-45 God's Will

January 15th, Genesis 43-45

       It's a question that gets asked over and over again. It might be worded different, asked for individual or corporate reasons, but in the end the question goes something like, what is God's will for......? Joseph says to his brothers, 

       "so it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharoah, and lord                                              of all his house and ruler over all the land." Genesis 45:8 

       Joseph is speaking this line to ease the pain, embarrassment, and fear his brothers felt in the midst of facing their own personal failure. Praise God that in the midst of some of our evil intent, God can use it to make his will come to life.

       This thing of God's will can become something that seems to paralyze people sometimes. In an effort to find some perfect God ordained situation we wonder in regards to job's, schools, a spouse, a place to live whether or not that thing is God's will for us. Let me make it a little easier on you.

       God will for my life, yours, and everyone around us is that we be Holy. In all of the God's will questions we ask, it seems to be the last one we seek. If God wants you or I in a certain place in a certain time he can provide a bunch of jealous brothers who will sell you to Egypt. In the mean time God's desire for my life today, regardless of any of the circumstances, is to be Holy. If we find ourselves seeking to honor our Lord regardless of circumstance, I have no doubt we will be called upon to be a blessing to many. 10 or Millions is not important, simply a blessing to many.

Gen 16-18 God's not as Worried as I am...I'll go ahead and fix it.

Jan 5th, Genesis 16-18

       Notice how God takes several thousand years to work out his plan. Maybe it's one of the benefits of eternally existing. There's no pressure of time. I only have 80 years. If God promised me I'd be a great nation, I'd need some land and some kids. As the commercial says "I WANT IT NOW!"
      Chapter 16 is classic human behavior. A need, followed by a realization, lack of faith, a plan excluding God, plan works, resentment, rejection, chaos in the home. Too often it's plan A, and often it is the way that prompts people to question God.
       Chapter 17  I notice God doesn't clear this issue up anytime soon. Four years is the span between chapters. That's a long time to resent the people you live with. God still has a plan, it still includes the people of promise, and it includes the unexpected. God will fulfill His thing, His way and what God wants from his people is to consistently be a people who ask and live in faith, rather than prescribe to God and wonder how this got offtrack.
       Other items of note: Glad I got circumcised before I could remember anything!!! There is rich blessing waiting for God to fulfill His plan. Being close to God and witnessing His power is more grand than doing my own thing. Prayers to God can be bold, never telling Him what to do, just asking(Genesis 18:22-33).
       God is fulfilling His plan in your life today. Don't fight it, just join with it and Him.

Working With God, This and Every Day...