Dream Assassins - Waiting

Continuing in the life of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37, we see another attempt to destroy the dream God had given him. In Genesis 39 following the lies of Potipher's wife, Joseph is thrown into prison for something he did not do. It was there he simply waited and made the most of every opportunity he was given.

Lessons Learned...

• Joseph's waiting came in the form of a prison cell, for you it may be a job, finances, circumstances, a relationship, or even a prayer closet until God says now!!!
• Without the prison cell (waiting place) there would be no palace for the fulfillment of the dream.
• God can still prosper you in your waiting place. Joseph found favor and was given leadership responsibilities even in prison.
• God honors faithfulness!
• People are always watching you in the middle of your darkest or most frustrating moments (v.21)

Thanksgiving Reflections

After eating entirely too much for you and me both I thought I would share a few things I am thankful for...

• Julie who is an amazing woman and mother and willing to go wherever God leads us.
• Jase who is 19 months now and growing way too fast.
• Family. We have always maintained good relationships with both our families.
• Being able to spend the holidays with my mom who should have passed from extreme aggressive cancer 13 years ago.
• College Football. Georgia...maybe next year!
• Golf.
• Food. I actually ate enough today to feed some children in Thailand for a few weeks.
• Being able to serve God with my life.
• My church family and friends.
• Jesus! Thanks for everything you have done.

I will finish the Dream Assassin series starting tomorrow!

Dream Assasins - Deceit

Following Joseph's rejection of Potipher's wife and his faithfulness to God in Genesis 39, Potipher's wife set out to destroy him. As he left the house she grabbed his coat and in his persistence to get away he left his coat. She proceeds to tell a different version of the story in what seems to be an attempt to get back and Joseph for rejecting him. She lies about his intentions to her husband and had him stripped of his position and thrown ito prison.

Lessons Learned...

• There will always be people who will lie about you.
• There will always be people who will believe the lies.
• There is nothing you and I can do to keep it from happening.
• People who are offended, hurt, threatened, or rejected may gather evidence to build a case against you. (Potipher's wife uses the coat as evidence to back her story)
• Many times we will be persecuted for things we did not do.

His First Prayer

Last Night we got home late from The Gathering Youth Service and it was like usual past Jase's bedtime. As I changed his diaper and began to put him to bed he said something to the affect of "i onna wock" which I interpreted to mean I want to rock. I was actually right for a change. Most of the time Julie has to interpret for me. So I sat down in the rocking chair for a few minutes with him and after sitting down for only a few seconds he said "Amen" which is what he says when Julie or I get finished praying. So I ask him if he wanted to pray and he responded with something like "i onna pway." Julie and I pray with him at night, but it is always us who instigates it, but not this time. So I took advantage of it, and about 2 words at a time, Jase repeated after me his first prayer to God. Did he understand...no! Do I care...no! I am just excited and scared all at the same time to raise him and show him how much the God that created him loves him. It's a huge responsibility, but we ask God everyday to give us wisdom. I hope that he will see his mom and day pray more than just at church or at bedtime. I want him to see us live a life of worship to God that he wants to model his "life" after.

Dream Assassins - Sex

In Genesis 39 Joseph finds himself as a servant in the home of Potipher, one of the kings officials. He finds favor with him because he remains faithful to God. In the meantime Joseph gets a not so modest come on from Potipher's wife not just once, but everyday. After many refusals she gets frustrated with him...we pick up there next time.

Lessons Learned

• Sexual Assassins are closer than most of us realize...Potipher's wife watched Joseph daily.
• Our love for God has to be greater than love of ourselves..."How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" v9
• Had Joseph given in, the dream could have been destroyed or altered (See King David).
• Joseph may have never gotten caught, but he said no anyway.
• Greater success can bring greater opportunity for failure.

Dream Assassins - Family

Joseph has a dream that in some way or another he will be in a position of authority over his family. His brothers don't take the dream well when he tells them. So they plot to kill him, but settle on selling him into slavery to get him away so that they can destroy the dream.

Lessons Learned...

• When you have a dream in your life and share it with people in your family, they will not always understand.
• The people that you feel should be the closest to you and give you the most support can sometimes be the ones that selfishly seek to hold you back
• People who do not have God's heart, can't see the things God sees (Isaiah 55:9)
• God always does and end run - he didn't allow Joseph's brothers to kill him

What has God put in your heart that you feel others may have a hard time believing. Read this blog by Steven Furtick.

Dream Assassins

I have always been encouraged by the life of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37. At 17 years old he has a dream and it takes 13 years before he sees the dream become a reality. Along the way he faced threats to his dream. Some of which sought out specifically to see the dream destroyed while others inadvertently could have crushed it. They are what I like to call "Dream Assassins." Dream Assassins are lurking around corners in all of our lives, and if we are not careful, we can allow them to discourage us and cause us to give up on the dream. Over the next few days we will walk through those assassins that are evident in Joseph's life.