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God said through Joseph that there would be seven years of abundance and then seven years of famine. Wow that is just what happened, and because Joseph listened to God he was OK. Outstanding, that was just like Noah when God told him the world would flood. Noah did what God said and he was OK. Incredible that was just like Moses when the Egyptians were chasing him and his people. Moses did what God said, parted the Red Sea and he and all his mates were OK. Hold on a minute, all this happened in the first book of the Bible, it is almost like God knows what is going to happen. It is almost like God knows what is best for us, and if we listen to him we will do OK. Surely that can’t be the truth; surely there can’t be an all-knowing God who only wants the best for us? The problem is of course that God has also given us the freedom to do what we want. He did not make us robots that must do what he says. No we can do what we want. We can be like Adam and Eve, ignore God and eat the fruit he says to leave alone. We can be like Jonah and try and run away from God. We can be like so many people in today’s world, ignore what God wants for us and just be in the world for what we can get out of it. Or we can ask God to tell us what it is he wants us to do, and ask him to help us want the same things as he does in our lives. Because it seems that the God that created this world, that God that created you, knows what is going to happen and might just know what is best for you.

Author - Max Cross, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Discerning and wise is how the Pharaoh describes Joseph all because he listened to God. But actually if we look at Gods words of wisdom we can use what Joseph told the Pharaoh in many areas of our lives. He was saying that the harvest was going to be good for seven years, and then bad for seven years, so put some of the first seven years food away for the bad seven years. Or put even simpler there are good times and there are bad times so don’t spend all that you have during the good times. I know I can do this with many things in my life. I can spend all my money during the good times and then struggle during the bad times. I can ignore the people that care for me during the good times, forgetting that they are the ones who help me during the bad times. I can say I am to busy to pray during the good times, only to find out that God is the only one who will listen during the bad times. How about you what is it that you forget about during the good times that you so desperately need during the bad times? God doesn’t change; he is the same during the good and bad times. It is us that need to take a look at where we are both during the good and bad times. It is us who can learn from Joseph.

Author - Max Cross, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Paul Oakley wrote a song that proclaims, “It’s all about Jesus”. Now the issue is, that I often forget that everything I do is all about Jesus and turn this around so that it is all about me. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from Joseph here. The Pharaoh says, “Hey big man I hear you are pretty good with the whole dream thing.” Joseph plays it cool and simply says “No not me, but the main man God can tell you what your dream is all about” Joseph doesn’t have flashing lights and isn’t jumping up and down on a stage say hey look at me. No not this guy he has learnt from the past and all the boasting he did then. It is very simple Joseph knows that all good things come from God and should be used to glorify God. What gift do you have that glorifies God? Can you fix computers? Can you sing? Can you cook? Can you garden? Can you run? There was this famous runner called Eric Liddell and he said “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” I believe God made you for a purpose. What is it that you do so well that you feel Gods pleasure when you are doing it? Whatever it is, be like Joseph and let people know that it is a gift from God and you are happy to use that gift to glorify him.

Author - Max Cross, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Man this is one for me to learn from. Have you ever promised something and then not delivered? I am constantly saying I will do something and then simply never getting around to it. It is not that I don’t want to do what I said I would do; it is simply that I promise too much. I am the type of person who likes to help others, how about you? Now we have a problem here because in Matthew 5:37 we are told to simply let our yes be our yes and our no be our no. Plainly speaking that simply means do what you say you will. Now in the same way that the cupbearer got busy and forgot to tell the Pharaoh about Joseph for two years; we can get busy with school, college or work and forget or simply not have time to do what we say we will. So how do we avoid not doing what we say we will? We do it by making the main thing the main thing. We do it by not getting involved in loads of stuff that God has not directed us to. If God directs you to work with Children and spread his good news with the young people in this world, then don’t go getting involved with loads of other stuff that isn’t part of that. If God tells you he wants you to be the best singer you can be for him, then practice like mad on that, but don’t get dragged into the Sports outreach. Simplify you life and simply let your yes be your yes and your no be your no. Now I’m off to review what isn’t part of Gods plan for my life, how about you?

Author - Max Cross, Uncategorized | No Comments »

When we get a message from God for someone and it is good news we can’t wait to see them. We might bound up to them full of energy and blurt out the great piece of encouragement that God has given us for them. Just like Joseph, he would have been happy to pass on to the Cupbearer the good news that he would soon be free and have his old job back. However how are we when we have bad news to talk to our fellow Christians about? Do you dread the thought, as I do? Sometimes times God will use us to tell our mates about things that they need to look into. Maybe they are doing stuff that is not good for them or is simply wrong. Are we able to talk to them without judging them? The Baker can’t have enjoyed the news Joseph passed onto him, but Joseph delivered this tough news anyway. Next time you feel the Holy Spirit nudge you about a mate, take the time to pray and ask God for his wisdom and grace and then know that you have all you need to deliver the news in a way that is best for them.

Author - Max Cross, Uncategorized | No Comments »