Archive for Joseph

God Redeems Our Mistakes… Christine McDonald

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christine "Clarity" McDonald with tags , , , on May 8, 2020 by paulthepoke

Pain is a pesky part of being human. I’ve learned it feels like a stab wound to the heart, something I wish we could all do without, in our lives here. Pain is a sudden hurt that can’t be escaped. But then I have also learned that because of pain, I can feel the beauty, tenderness, and freedom of healing. Pain feels like a fast stab wound to the heart. But then healing feels like the wind against your face when you are spreading your wings and flying through the air! We may not have wings growing out of our backs, but healing is the closest thing that will give us that wind against our faces. —C. JoyBell C.

One of the most quoted verses in Scripture also happens to be one of the most profound—and one that often makes no sense to us. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28, NLT)

Do you realize what this means? It means that your mistakes, your failures, your wins, and your successes all work together for your good and according to the Lord’s purposes for you. When you look back over the span of your life, I’m sure you can think of several moments you would love to hide from memory (yours and God’s). Yet these moments—yes, even the ones when we are sinning against Him—are all usable once we surrender to Him.

He is the master Creator who takes all of our moments and uses them as the raw material to build a work of art in you that you never could have imagined. While He doesn’t rejoice in our wrongdoings, once we have washed ourselves in His cleansing love and accepted Him as our Lord, every breath we have ever breathed becomes His.

A perfect example can be found in the story of Joseph of the Old Testament. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery out of their own jealousy and then lied to their father about it. Many years later, when the brothers found themselves begging for food in Egypt, they discovered that Joseph was now second in charge of all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. They feared what Joseph might do to them, expecting him to have a grudge toward them.

Joseph’s wisdom, however, was not what they expected. He said, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:19–20, NIV)

God redeems our mistakes and the mistakes of others against us. It is not our place to hold those past choices and circumstances against who we are today or who we will be tomorrow. Nor is it our place to hold them against others. Perhaps, instead, we should look on one another with as much wisdom and grace as Joseph had for his brothers, recognizing that God is infinitely greater than all our wrongdoings, and that He can make princes out of slaves.

Contact Information:
Christine C. McDonald
636-487-8986
Christine.CryPurple@gmail.com

“Love your neighbor, all of ’em.” -Christine Clarity McDonald

https://crypurplemovie.com/

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The Birth of Christ and Taxes, God’s Will

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Christmas, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , on December 24, 2019 by paulthepoke

December 25 is the day we culturally celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church declared December 25 as the day of the birth of Christ. This declaration occurred in 336 AD. It was an attempt to replace the Roman holiday Saturnalia, a week long holiday of every imaginable debauchery. December 25 was the birthday of the sun. In the interest of getting along with the culture, the Catholic Church replaced the birthday of the sun with the birthday of the Son.

Today in the 21st century, we have returned to the roots of Saturnalia. The “Christmas” celebration through New Year’s has become a week long party. There is nothing new under the sun…

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Christmas/christmas.html

There is no Biblical evidence for a specific December 25 date for the birth of Jesus. If you find it, let me know. Christmas, December 25 is not a God Appointed Feast or holiday, plain and simple.

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Luke 2:1-3 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

This is the context of the birth of Jesus. Joseph and Mary were on their way to pay taxes.

Now, say you are a money grubbing emperor or a king or a politician. Let’s say you want to collect tax revenue from your subjects. When would you do this? For maximum collection of funds, travel conditions and weather would need to be at their best. People are going to have to travel to register.  Would you pick late December? I don’t think so. Greed dictates a different season of the year to allow for the best possible participation and revenue.

Yes, God can use the payment of taxes to fulfill His Word and His will. Jesus needed to be born in Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

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There are many factors that point toward Jesus being born in the early fall. Some of these include: the timing and relationship to the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1), shepherding habits and timing (Luke 2), Biblical patterning of God’s appointed Fall Feasts, and Zechariah’s appointed priestly Temple service.

Excellent arguments are made for Jesus being born during the Spring Feasts. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn makes an articulate case.

The bottom line is this. The Bible does not say specifically when Jesus was born. When He was born is not the issue.

But, what is of the utmost importance is stated by the Apostle Paul. This is the priority. As believers in Jesus Christ we should draw a line in the sand and stick a flag in the ground over this issue.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

He was born. It is not about when He was born.

Christ died for our sins. He was buried. And Jesus was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

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Please… God’s Grace in the Old Testament

Posted in Gospel, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

The notion God is not gracious in the Old Testament is ridiculous. He is not a mean, sadistic God who is looking to squish people with His foot. He has always been gracious. Look at the people who received God’s grace in the Old Testament.

Laban recognized God’s grace and favor through Jacob.

Genesis 30:27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”

Joseph was extended grace by God via a prison guard.

Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

 

The nation of Israel was granted favor on the way out of Egypt.

Exodus 11:3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.

Exodus 12:36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

 

Moses received God’s grace throughout Exodus 33. See one of many examples to Moses below.

Exodus 33:12 Moses said to the LORD, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’

 

Gideon received grace and favor from God personally via a sign in Judges 6:11-27.

Hannah was granted grace and favor in the birth of Samuel in 1 Samuel 1.

King David was anointed with grace.

Psalm 45:2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.

 

Grace is given by God to those who walk in truth.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

 

God blesses the afflicted with favor and grace.

Proverbs 3:34 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

 

God’s grace for His nation Israel is eternal.

Jeremiah 31:1-3 “At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” Thus says the LORD: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you…”

 

God’s Grace is better than material wealth despite what the culture says.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

And yes, God’s grace in Jesus Christ is promised from the Old Testament prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn…”

 

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Bubble Deflating? Have a Plan…Featuring Michael Douville

Posted in Michael Douville with tags , , , , , on February 19, 2018 by paulthepoke

Genesis 41:33-36 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

MichaelWhat do you do with your money when the Stock Market is unstable? Is the Bubble Deflating? Michael talks about your options. Do you have all your money in stocks and bonds? What happens if we see a sharp reduction in the markets? Have you prepared your life boat? Michael talks about alternate ways to make income without worrying about the markets.

Click on the link below for video.

 

 

Have a plan. Joseph did. The good times never last forever.

Check us out at https://michaeldouville.com. The first consultation is always free. Michael’s Book, How to Create a Real Estate Money Machine and Retire with Income, is available on line. Email Michael at michael@michaeldouville.com

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For a child…

Posted in Christmas, Gospel, Isaiah, Millennial Kingdom, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , on December 25, 2016 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us…

Delivered and fulfilled.

Luke 2:16  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.

 

Isaiah 9:6b …a son will be given to us…

Delivered and fulfilled.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

This prophecy was written 700-800 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah is the author. His name in the original Hebrew is ישעיהו/Yesha’yahu. It means “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh has saved”. God is our salvation and He saves. (Strong’s Concordance).

“Yahweh is salvation” is prophesying about the One who will be born and will save. The promise is Jesus or Yeshua in the Hebrew. Yeshua means “to rescue or deliver.”

The prophet Isaiah writes one sentence regarding the birth and promise of the coming of Jesus. One sentence is written about the giving of the Son.

But, Isaiah elaborates regarding the coming promise of His eternal kingdom. Complete peace in the kingdom will be limitless. God will make it happen. He is committed to the cause.

Isaiah 9:6c-7 And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Today, we remember the birth of the Promise and we wait patiently…

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Isaiah 7:14 Born of a Virgin

Posted in Christmas, Isaiah with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 16, 2012 by paulthepoke

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

The message is straight forward and not confusing in the original Hebrew… the Lord Himself will give you a sign. The Hebrew word for “sign” is ‘owth. According to Strong’s Concordance the word means:  sign, signal, a distinguishing mark, banner, remembrance, miraculous sign, omen, warning, token, ensign, standard, miracle, or proof.

Virgin, this is the word where the debate is taking place. According To Strong’s Concordance the word means the following: virgin, young woman, of marriageable age, maid or newly married. The Hebrew word is almah. The word is generally translated as young woman or maiden.

The critic would argue that since this word is not translated “virgin” elsewhere and it does not literally mean “virgin”, that it is a reach to translate the word “virgin”.

70 Jewish translators and scholars of the Bible in the 3rd century B.C. translated the word “virgin” in Isaiah 7:14. This was before the birth of Jesus. One cannot accuse the scholars of translating to fit an agenda. The concept of a “virgin” conception/birth was made at least 200 years before the world even knew of Christ.

In Matthew 1:23, the apostle quotes Isaiah 7:14. He uses the word “virgin”. The fact that Mary is a “virgin” is restated in Matthew 1:25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus. The grammar of verse 25 in the Greek is indicative that Joseph did not have sex with Mary until after she gave birth to Jesus.

Previously in verses 18, 20, Matthew spells out that Joseph was aware Mary was pregnant prior to their marriage and she was a virgin.

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 1:20, an angel communicates to Joseph that Mary has conceived from the Holy Spirit. Translation, she physically did not have sex and had not had sex prior to this event of conception.  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

The name Immanuel means “God with us” or “with us is God” in the Hebrew.

In the final analysis, it does not matter what I think. It does not what anybody else thinks. What matters is what you think. Do you believe the Bible? Was a man, Jesus, who claimed to be God, born of a virgin?

Merry Christmas!

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