Pay attention

 My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings."     

                                                                                                     Proverbs 4:20-23    NKJV

God's Word, continues to give us wisdom and the more we read it, we will have a choice to take hold of this wisdom for our own lives. Here, the word says, 'Pay attention.' How many times did we hear that when we were at school? Many, many times if you are anything like me. I have this habit of drifting off into my own kind of world, and I have to work hard to keep the focus.I am sure that I'm not the only one.

We need to listen and be willing to learn. As much as we think we do, we do not, know it all. There is always something new to learn with God. As we focus on the Word of God, we are given wisdom to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to Him; and one of these ways, is our health. We only have one heart and we need to take care of it. In fact, we need to guard it and protect it. Stress and heartache is a killer and we need to guard the heart from all of this.

Wisdom is the best medicine as it, safeguards us from life-threatening evils, if we are not careful our hearts can become contaminated. Jesus says in Mark 7:21: 'For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,' What's in the heart comes out of the mouth. David Jeremiah comments on this, 

'Until Christ is on the throne of a person's life, he or she cannot have the kind of heart that will produce the right kinds of speech; one that is constantly readied and receptive towards God.'

                                                                                   Copyright The Jeremiah Study Bible.

If we want health to all our flesh, we need to start taking care of ourselves. Overwork, lack of sleep and being overweight are strong contenders to bad health. But, so is having ungodly thoughts, speaking foul stuff about people in gossip and criticism. It all has to go if we want to be healthy in our mind, will and emotions.

So therefore, is it time to pay attention and get fit?

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Neglect

"But my own vineyard I have not kept."                    Song of Solomon 1:6    NKJV 

The word 'Vineyard' is a metaphor for the female body. Here the Shulamite woman has possibly been burnt by the sun. This has probably been caused because she has been caring for her brother's vineyards - his wives, instead of herself. This neglect has darkened her skin.

We can so easily neglect ourselves because of the need to care for others. Neglect can rule quite prominently in most areas of our lives. The house can be neglected, the garden, even our daily life with Jesus. It is good to serve others but, not at the risk of neglecting ourselves, our family and our responsibilities. Imagine neglecting a marriage. After a time, it can lead to adultery where the neglected partner seeks the attention and solace with someone who may meet their needs at the time. This is a common area.

Then of course, is the neglect of our health. A person may not feel well but, they will not give in and visit a doctor to get things checked out. They are too busy. The cleanliness of self, the house, all the jobs around the home and the children's needs are other areas that can be neglected. Even our jobs can suffer, not turning up on time or at all; continually taking time off work. These are all important issues that are prone to neglect if we allow them to. 

Imagine your car. Looked after, it can go on for many years. However, if you fail to have it serviced, neglect the lights on the dashboard and those rattling noises and flat tyres, pretty soon, the car will breakdown in the middle of nowhere, or worse, there may be a nasty accident. We can't neglect these things, and we can't neglect the daily, important things in our own lives and family either. 

We need to balance things out and set priorities. The Shulamite woman would not have burnt her skin if she had been more careful. The same may be said of you as well. Be determined to set priorities and avoid neglect at all times

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Marriage

"The voice of my beloved! Behold he comes." v8      Song of Solomon 2:8-13      NKJV  

This piece of scripture describes the beauty and peace of a successful marriage which is rooted in Jesus Christ. It can be described as pre-marriage or during marriage itself. It can also be read, as a love poem of our relationship with Jesus.

The husband longs to be with his bride, his lovely wife. The scripture tells us that, he goes leaping upon the mountains and skipping upon the hills, rather like a gazelle or young stag. The reference to the mountains and the hills speak of obstacles that can get in the way of marriage and how the husband will do all he can to skip over them so that they have no lasting affect on the relationship.

The husband speaks of springtime, a lovely time of year. A time of hope and new growth. The winter is past. Note this, the husband should always be the spring in his wife's winter and

 'Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine, in the very heart of your house,'  Psalm 128:3. It takes both partners to fulfil a successful, God-filled marriage. But a message to husbands, 'If you want a "Summer wife", who continues to bear good fruit, don't bring home winter weather. Leave it outside' 

As we have seen, springtime brings new life, so the man should bring new joy to his darling. 'The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grapes, give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away,'  Song 2:13. 

It may have been a difficult time in your marriage, of late. But this can happen to many couples. But there is success on the horizon! The secret is having the ammunition to blast a way through the bad stuff and reach the good. The winter, with all its troubles, cold, frost and frozen pipes, leave behind; behold, the spring is here and it is time to rise up and leave dross behind. Life is too short for frictions. God intended and still does, for man and wife to dwell together in harmony, and this means, both partners working at the helm.

The voice from heaven is calling, 'It is time to rise up, the winter has gone; spring and a bright future are here. It is time to rejoice and be grateful!

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Joseph The Final Part

"But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."                                                              

                                                                                                       Genesis 50:20     NKJV 

We have seen jealousy, envy, pride, bad parenting skills, abuse, slave trafficking, attempted rape  allegations, imprisonment, hopes dashed and finally major blessing and restoration. Crimewatch has nothing on this family. But who was to blame? Who could we point the finger at for Joseph's suffering. It was not the brothers, they were part of it, yes; but the main culprit behind all of this was Jacob. He was the father and had the responsibility, he should have kept control of the family and most definitely, he should have shared his love and care equally, and not favoured one over the other.

What the brothers saw was learnt behaviour. Jacob had a shady past and had been far from trustworthy in the past. If he knew about all this jealousy, he did nothing to change things and Joseph had to put up with it all. Yes, the brothers acted in an evil manner and when Joseph finally revealed himself to them, he could have paid them back 100 fold, but he didn't. What he did tell them was, 'But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.' God saved the day and restored this family, but their values were changed they had learned some lessons over all of this.

You may not have been through all Joseph had, but probably you can echo with a part of it. You may have been wronged, abused and treated abysmally but look how Joseph handled it. If you do the same, God will match it and turn evil into good.

To a degree, Joseph handled things the way Jesus would have done. He could have wiped his brothers off the face of the earth and Pharaoh would have turned a blind eye. But he didn't. Forgiveness, promise of care and love was what he offered them all. He knew that vengeance was of God; he knew that He would repay, he didn't have to do a thing. Vengeance is of God, we forgive. Did you get that? We forgive.

Is there someone you need to forgive? If there is, then do it. Even if they have died, you can still forgive them and unhook yourself from the past. If you do, God will turn it into good.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Joseph Part 9

"We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us; and we would not hear, therefore this distress has come upon us." v21   

                                                                                             Genesis 42:21- 43:24   NKJV

Joseph's brothers had indeed bowed down to him, as he had said. He also recognised them but didn't say so. He listened to them for a while and then accused them of being spies. He had no feelings of revenge but wanted them to feel remorse for what they had done. He placed them in prison for three days and then on the third day, he said that one of them should remain in prison and the others should go back and bring their younger brother, who Joseph knew was Benjamin.

They discussed this in Hebrew, but unbeknown to them, Jospeh could understand. He heard them saying that they were guilty of selling him into slavery and all the distress that they had caused him. He decided that Simeon should be kept in prison while the others took grain to their father and brought Benjamin back to him. They didn't know it but Joseph had restored all of their money as well, and, when they did, they feared him greatly because he would truly feel that they were indeed spies. 

Why was Joseph doing this to them? Well, we know it was not revenge. He had heard them speaking and he had been led to tears.It was more likely that he detained them to allow them to feel what it felt like themselves. Joseph had been detained in a cistern, perhaps Joseph wanted them to feel this anguish too. It was more likely though, that God was using him to drive them to repentance. God would want them to work through all of this, repent and then be restored. They had already shown their guilt in the conversation that Joseph had overheard.

When they had returned to their father, Jacob refused to send Benjamin back with them. He didn't want to lose another son but as the grain ran out and the fear mounted that they had their money restored to them, he relented, and they set off again to Egypt, this time with Benjamin.

The results of our past sins follow us around and their comes a time when we need to put them right. If we've confessed them to Jesus, then they are forgiven and will not be mentioned again. They are under the blood. However, if they haven't, they will surface from time to time and may just resurface when we least expect them to. It is always best to confess all of our sin. This way, God can then begin to help us build a new life and restore us to Himself.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

Joseph Part 8

"Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.'   v49                                                     Genesis 41:46-57   NKJV 

The 30 year old Joseph had stood before Pharaoh and given him the meaning of his dreams. Now he stood in front of the whole of Egypt as Prime Minister, second in charge to Pharaoh himself. What a change and what a transformation. Where he once had no power, he now had it all. He could do with it what he felt necessary.

However, Joseph never forgot his roots. He belonged to God and although he had been through so much, he knew that God had been with him and honoured him; and it was not over yet! From his marriage to Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherath priest of On, he had two sons. He honoured God by giving them the names, Manasseh, which means, He causes me to forget, and Ephraim which means, Fruitful land - God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. God had not forgotten Joseph and Joseph had not forgotten God. This is why he gave them Theocentric names - God-centred.

Joseph became an industrious and creative manager and created a thriving business. He gathered so much grain and stored it carefully, that it was immeasurable. As the famine struck, people who went to Pharaoh for help, were directed back to Joseph with the words, 'Go to Joseph; whatever, he says to you, do.' This reminds us of Mary at the wedding in Cana, where she told the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it.' John 2:5. 

This should be uppermost. in our minds, whatever He tells us to do, we need to carry it out and quickly. At times we are so busy or full of pity party feelings, that we fail to carry out God's directions. We need to change this and quickly because the word has the power to get us out of the situation. To dilly-dally, means we may muss out. This is why we need to spend more time with Him. To fail to do so, is a recipe for a dry spiritual life.

Joseph had prophesied to his brothers, and later to his father, that they would come and bow down before him. Genesis 37:10-11. They had been very angry with him. But don't forget, Jacob had kept the matter in mind. v11. Joseph's word was about to come true; they were about to bow the knee to their brother.

You know, God will always have His way no matter how much we may struggle or refuse Him. He'll wait until we're ready. But while we are waiting, time is going on. God has all the time in the world, we don't. We need to make the most of it while we can. Is there something you need to do? If it is Godly directed, then do it.

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

 

Joseph Part 7

"Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" v38   

                                                                                                          Genesis 41    NKJV 

It was now two years since the chief butler had been released and returned to work for Pharaoh, and Joseph had heard nothing. We all have to wait for things and it can be very difficult, but in Joseph's situation, it would have been devastating. He had entered the prison when he was 17; and he is now 30 years old and he has no future to look forward to.

And then, Pharaoh had a couple of dreams and no one could interpret them for him. The professionals tried - Pharaoh's magicians, and failed and Pharaoh was far from pleased. All of a sudden, the chief butler remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh how he had interpreted his dream. Joseph was sent for straightaway. You know, God waits for the appropriate time. When we're waiting, it can feel like God has forgotten us. Not so, He waits for the right time and then moves. This may be where you are at this time. be confident, God will work for you at the most perfect time.

Now we all talk about wearing our 'Sunday best.' Well in a way, this is what Joseph did. He shaved and put on some different clothing. It would have to do because this was all he had. He stood before Pharaoh and he explained the dreams that he had had, expecting Joseph to work some magic. Joseph was quick to reply, 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.' Joseph said this to show Pharaoh that it was God, not him that could do such a thing. 

Joseph explained the dream and told him that there would be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Pharaoh knew at once that he needed a man who would be wise and intelligent enough to work through these two time slots. He promoted Joseph right there and then. He was given Pharaoh's signet ring - a symbol of power and authority; a wardrobe of beautiful clothes and his very own chariot. Joseph had become a somebody. In fact, he had been transformed from an unwanted sibling sold into slavery, an attempted rapist, a prisoner and now the Prime Minister of Egypt.

When God is setting something up, He won't let human wisdom come up with the answer. He is God and only He, has the answers.

You may not end up as the Prime Minister but, God can transform you in the blink of an eye. He can turn you from a nobody into a somebody. Get ready, a blessing is coming your way!

Copyriight 2021 Grahame Howard

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com 

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE