do me no harm

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

- Genesis 50:20

 

People hurt us a lot, intentionally and even unintentionally, regardless of the intent, hurt is still hurt.

It could be something as little as hearing that someone you considered a friend was saying bad things behind your back.

It could be something major like someone placing the blame on you for wrongdoings that could result in you losing financially or even a job.

People tend to hurt others to move themselves forward in the world.

In the book of Genesis, we see this play out several times in the life of Joseph – his brother’s jealousy pushed them to sell him into slavery and lie to their father about his disappearance. 

His owner’s wife was so smitten by his good looks that she threw herself at him and when he refused her advances, she lied about him to her husband and he was thrown in prison.

But God had a plan – and that plan took the horrible things that people did to Joseph and turned them into a path for Joseph to save all of Israel from famine, including his brothers who set the wheel in motion in the first place. 

People will continue to hurt us. 

We need to know that no matter what Is done to us, we should keep our eyes on God, He knows what we are going through and even though we may not see it today, there is something good that will come of every harm that is done to us, if we just put our hope in Him.

 

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trust

O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

- Psalm 7:1-2 (NKJV)

 

Trust is earned, not freely given.

How many times have we heard that statement growing up and even still today?

It seems that we trust in people today more that we trust in God. 

Our forefathers saw the value of trusting in God – they even had it printed on our money, a practice that still exists today and I pray will continue for a very long time.

Trusting in people can hurt us, but trusting in God will keep us safe.

Trusting in people we often find ourselves in the midst of trouble or danger, but God will keep us safe.

Trusting in people will often result in hurt feelings and destroyed friendships, but don’t you know that God will always keep us safe.

Put your trust in God, He will save us.

 

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temper, temper

One who is slow to anger has great understanding; But one who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness.

- Proverbs 14:29 (NASB)

 

I will be the first to admit I have a very quick temper and also the first to admit that this is not a good thing.

My temper gets the best of me sometimes and I say things that I immediately regret, other times that regret is down the road.

Do you ever wish that you could take something back after you have said it?

I sure do, a lot.

The Bible tells us fifty-two times that we need to be slow to anger – fifty-two, that is like a reminder each week.

I pray often that God teaches me and gives me the wisdom to control my temper, I know that I am happier when my temper is under control, and I am pretty sure that others are as well. 

How is your temper?

 

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labor

So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.

- Ecclesiastes 3:22 (NLT)

 

Do you love your job?

I mean really, really love it?  

I have so many secular songs running though my mind as I am writing this, from Alabama’s I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why) to Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle.

We work so hard to get the things we want and do stuff, we sacrifice time with our families and we often sacrifice our own health.

But if we aren’t happy in our work, what are we accomplishing?

At the end of a busy day, do you feel like you made a difference or do you feel like you have to go repeat everything tomorrow?

Even those stay at home parents and the folks that are retired – find something you LOVE. 
Spend time doing things that matter, that make a difference, take time with family and most important, take time to be with God.

The last line of this verse – no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die

We can’t take it with us and we can’t come back.

It is your choice to be happy.

 

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words

For no word from God will ever fail.

- Luke 1:37

 

We have all been let down before, endured some form of heartbreak.

Plans that fall through, a promotion that never happens,  a promises from someone that is broken, the disappointment of the dream not coming true.  

People have a tendency to go back on their word, things fail. 

God has never gone back on His word, He has never failed us.

If He says He is going to do something, He will do it.

You can trust in His word.

I challenge you to find someplace in the Bible where God’s word failed.

I don’t think you can.

God doesn’t fail. 

 

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harvest

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

- James 3:18

 

Typically harvest season starts late September or early October for those farming and growing crops outside.

Before the weather changes and cools as autumn approaches, the crops are cut and collected, ready to be used for cooking and eating.

If a farmer did not plant good seeds in the spring, he is not likely to get a good harvest in the fall.

Did you know that it works that way with people too?

If you spend your time being hateful and mean, doing horrible things, you might think you have a lot of friends but when you fall off your mountain – and you will – there won’t be anyone to catch you as you tumble down. 

But if you spend your time caring for others, doing good works, loving and helping people then when storms come in your life you will have a tribe of people to help you stand against the wind and rain. 

We have a choice, we can plant seeds of hate, anger, selfishness, and evil and when the harvest comes we will reap failure, bitterness and jealousy or we can plant seeds of humility, charity, faith and love and bring in a bountiful harvest of peace and righteousness.

What are you planting?

 

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I love you anyway

You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

- Matthew 4:43-44

 

We all have those people in our lives that drive us crazy.

You know the ones, they are the drama llamas and the ones that can twist a story faster than a tornado and make it all about them and how they are the victim.

The worst ones are the ones that we can’t block or ignore because they are important to us or our family (heck, sometimes they are family!). 

There are people that you just want to give up on and walk away from.

Those are the people that hurt us over and over and eventually we are no longer friends with them because they are just too difficult to love.

But God says we need to love them anyway.

Even when they are so terrible to us, get us in trouble or cause us pain, we are to love them and pray for them.

So here is my prayer:

God, this person has done so many thing to hurt me, to hurt my family. 

It seems this person is not happy unless they are causing drama and making waves, they have said and done terrible things and have made others feel worthless and unloved.

Lord, I ask you to give me a heart of understanding, to change my opinion of them and to create in them a pure heart, that they may find your peace and love so they can be part of our lives without all the hate and anger.  
Father I ask that you give them mercy and that you love them as much as you love me.

Amen

If you have someone in your life causing pain, pray for them.

If you are being hurt by someone, know that you are covered in prayer.

If you do not see yourself in either role, I love you anyway.

 

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