If Joseph Carries a Grudge...

In the movie "Rainman" the main character kept a journal of all wrongs done to him. He recorded them.

Most of us harbor aggressions in our head or heart.

After Jacob was buried, Joseph's brothers asked themselves "What if Joseph carries a grudge?" The thought scared them sufficiently for them to beg forgiveness.

Someone once said a grudge is "the heaviest thing to carry."

Psychcentral.com has "8 Tips To Stop Holding A Grudge". They include:

• Acknowledge the problem.
• Share your feelings.
• Switch places.
• Accept what is.
• Take the positive.

These project prudence and pleasantness, but Joseph's answer uncovers an uncomplicated comprehensive course of action. Genesis 50:20 says; “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”

God can change your conflicts into peaceful, positive purposes for others. Like Joseph said, "...to preserve many people." He can take:

• unwanted marital unfaithfulness, and commission you to counsel others..
• disillusionment, and sanction you show others how to deal with disappointment.
• people's anger at you, and offer you opportunities to develop their self-control.
• alcoholism surrounding you, and allow you demonstrate resilience.
• rebellious family members, and enable you to demonstrate God's powerful, gentle perseverance.
• lies about you, and validate your use of truth as your strength.

The goal of this struggle is to allow God to mature you for His use.

Why Bad to Worse

Ever experience someone who could not stop being bad? People reason with them, but they will not listen. Nothing works.

Why will they not change? Today, I grasped an answer.

It is in Proverbs 17:4. "An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue."

Evil people do not follow watchful, loving men or women who recognize the inevitable consequences and endeavor to provoke change.

Instead, self-destructing humans, bent on being bad, solely pay attention to others voicing agitation, discord, depression, and grief. Like zombies, blundering along, they follow the directives of the discontented driving to desecration and disaster. (Is this selective hearing?)

When do people become selective for evil? Where is the proverbial 'point of no return'?

What does God do with the selectively evil? Two answers are:

• Hebrews 10:26-27 "26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."
• Romans 1:28-32 "28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them."

Are you listening to God himself, solidly on good ground, gaining His grace, taking His advice, and struggling to imitate Him?

Be A Kid

Adults are inclined to think like adults. The adult thought pattern, with its complexities and biases, tends to produce practices not productive to God's plans.

Adults:

• are skeptical.
• shake their heads, watching 'heroes' fall into disgraceful living.
• see gray instead of black and white.
• sit and watch others.
• ignore differences for tolerance and political correctness.
• are cruel to people (of road rage?) and animals (ASPCA?).
• refuse to improve through learning new ideas, or declining to adopt good learning practices .
• want to be pleased.
• allow friendships to fade into oblivion.
• are ambivalent or apathetic.
• are greedy and selfish.
• tell personal tales and become isolated from current opportunities.
• want others to take over their jobs.
• are prideful of who their person and accomplishments. 
• lack affection 
• are rude and hateful.

Does Jesus desire these traits in his family? I think not.

Once the adult disciples were thing like adults, They tried to control the crowd like an adult. Parents and grandparents wanted their children to see Jesus, maybe to touch Him or shake His hand. They were being rebuked by adult-thinking disciples.

Jesus rarely got upset, but the adult behavior of His disciples, preventing children from approaching Him, was not good. He became indignant. Jesus was very displeased with His adult acting students.

He claimed a moment for teaching them the characteristics He wants in His church. It was not what they expected. He said God's kingdom is made up "of such AS these." He added, "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God LIKE A CHILD will not enter it at all."

To be a part of Is kingdom, I must struggle to exhibit child-like qualities. I must:

• believe what I read about Jesus.
• appreciate love, kindness, and affection.
• return love, kindness, and affection.
• try to please Jesus through obedience.
• be humble like a child.
• be efficient learners of Jesus, God, the Bible, etc.
• accept responsibilities as they are offered.
• be understanding and responsive to the hurts and needs of others.
• talk about what I am doing (such as TheStruggle and preaching), and share my experiences.
• be aware of the differences in people.
• willing to give more to others.
• be active in His Kingdom.
• be enthusiastic about my relationship with Jesus, and sharing the hope.
• discern between good and bad, eliminating gray areas.
• strenthen the ties with my friends.
• emulate my hero, Jesus.

Will you be my friend and join me in reverting back to a better life?
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Never Give Up!

Have you ever been fortunate to be your father's favorite?

Have you ever been belittled because you were the beloved? Don’t give up.

Ever battled your brothers? Don’t give up.

Did they toss you in a room with no way out? Ever been pitched in a deep hole? Don’t give up.

Ever had a brother trade you to a transcient merchant? Don’t give up.

Ever been traded by a transcient to an owner in a territory that talks in a different tongue?Don’t give up.

Joseph was the beloved boy, putting him in peril. But the Lord was with him.

The brothers dispised him. They hurled him in a hole. They sold him to foreign traders traveling to Egypt. They sold him as a slave to Potifer..

Genesis 39:2 begins with hefty words of hope. “The Lord was with him…”

If the Lord was with Joseph through the troubles, I know he will strengthen me for the small struggles I have.

So be like Joseph.

NEVER give up!

NEVER give up!

NEVER give up!