Sometimes public speaking can have its hazards.  After all, once things are said, there is no taking them back.  Altogether yesterday was a tough day.  Running on little sleep coupled with spending a lot of time on the go yesterday, by the time church came around last night, well, let’s say, I wasn’t completely there.

That is my disclaimer for the failed illustration.  During my sermon, I was talking about being hidden in Christ and that Christ covers us.  In covering us, when the Father looks at us, He sees Christ in us.  So let me just share the illustration I used and how it came out.  Please remember, my brain was tired during my sermon

Here goes:

“This might seem like a cheesy illustration tonight, but, everyone raise your middle finger…no I mean your index finger.” 

I couldn’t look up to see if anyone followed my instructions.  After the laughter, especially my own, it was hard to make the true point of the illustration.

The truth is, it is good to laugh at ourselves, if we don’t someone else will.  Failure is inevitable.  We will not always perform perfectly.  As leaders, we should never be afraid to get back up after making dumb mistakes.  However, it might help to be a little more careful the next time.

Do you ever marvel at God’s amazing providence? That even in the midst of the storm, His hand guides you?

Joseph was a mighty man of God, set apart for the Master’s service. He was envied by his brothers because of the favor he was shown. Being filled with jealousy, Joseph’s brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites to be a slave. In turn, they sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian ruler. From the day Joseph was born, he was shown special favor because He was the child of Jacob’s main love, Rachel. Being barren for many years, the Lord opened her womb and Joseph was born. Joseph is now an Egyptian slave, and many of us would think this is a raw deal. Let’s look at what the Bible says about this raw deal.

Genesis 39:2-4 says"The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority."

Joseph, a slave, was shown favor by God and in turn was shown favor by Potiphar. Even in your circumstance God can work. You might be a slave to your trials, but God can prosper and bless you where you are. After Joseph was made overseer, he was framed by a rejected adulteress, and thus Joseph was thrown into prison. (Another turn in the life of Joseph.) God blessed him when he was at home with his father. God blessed him as a slave, and now he is thrown in prison.

Genesis 39:21says, "But the Lord was with and showed him mercy, and he gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison."

God now shows him favor in prison. The lesson I want us to learn is that all of us will go through hard times. There are two things we can do in trials: 1) Roll with the punches and take things in stride allowing God to work His mighty hand and bless us or 2) Become a slave or prisoner to our trials.

Joseph chose to fulfill the Scripture, "All things work together for the good to them that Love God, to them which are called according to His purpose." Joseph gave his all to God no matter what came his way.

One thing I noticed in the first text was that Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight and served Potiphar. In your circumstance and trial, you must hold your head up and serve God to the fullest, not allowing the trial to bring you down. God has a plan for you, and He brings you through these things to fulfill a much greater plan than the now. Think of what happens in the end. Joseph is exalted to second in the kingdom and has charge over the rationing of all the food. He was there to distribute it to Israel when the time came. Joseph told his brothers, "God sent me before you to preserve a remnant for you in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance."

Had Joseph not gone through all of the trials, Israel would have starved to death. Do not think of what you are going through today but to where God might be taking you. You might be the next Joseph to save a generation of God’s people. Stand strong, hold your head up high and God will fulfill His purpose in you. You are important to God.

We enjoyed a great day Sunday.  What a powerful service!  God moved in our midst and I believe lives were touched.  One person gave their heart to Christ…that’s what it is all about. 

Sunday night, we had our annual business meeting which went well.  Congrats to our two re-elected deacons, Stan and Gerald.  All of our departments shared the great things God has been doing in their ministries.

When I think about RFA, I can’t help but be excited about our future.  We are seeing growth and I believe that will continue.  God is sending new people our way and we are making preparation to minister to them and make them a part of RFA.

I am looking forward to our future.  Thanks RFA for joining us on this journey!

Since it is Valentine’s Day, here is a story that will help us see how to have a happy marriage.

“A father of five young children won a toy at a raffle. Back home, he called his kids together to let them determine which one should have the present.

"Who is the most obedient?" he asked. "Who never talks back to Mother? Who does everything she says?"

Five small voices answered in unison: "You, Daddy!"

HT: Mikey’s Funnies

"One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time." – John Piper

I am not one to brag often about my kids because I don’t want people to think that I think my kids are better than theirs.  But since this is my blog I can brag a little about my son, Josh.

Monday night, we had parent teacher conferences at school.  I know when I was a kid I never told my mom and dad about them because I didn’t want them to talk to my teachers.  Josh, however, let us know.  I went to all of his teachers and they all raved about Josh.  They said he was a respectful young man, well behaved and did not cause them an ounce of trouble.  The one comment that was shared by at least three of the teachers was, “I wish I had a room full of students like Josh!”

I am thankful for Josh.  He is an incredible young man.  He is the kind of kid that is comfortable with who he is and is not moved by the leading of the crowd.  In fact, he tries to lead the crowd.  In his second semester of his first year in public school, last year, Josh started a Bible Club that meets once a week.  He has formed a leadership team and is beginning to develop a plan to make sure the Bible club continues after he graduates.

I would like to take credit for how Josh is turning out, but I can tell you that I feel inadequate as a father and really believe it is the hand of God on his life.  Even through our flawed parenting, God has given us a godly son.  Thank you Jesus!

One more thing:  Josh’s Algebra teacher asked if we had any more children coming up that are as good as him.  I had to tell her, “I don’t know about my other one, only time will tell.”  She acts too much like me!

We are proud of you son!

Athiest Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) states that he doesn’t respect Christians who don’t share their faith. This is sound and convicting:

“I’ve always said, you know, that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”

HT. Baptist Press