The Gospel According to Luke

So, for the next Bible Study series, I was actually led to study the Book of Luke.  Typically, I am somewhat reluctant to go through one of the Gospels, since those are probably the most familiar books in the NT and maybe even the whole Bible.   However, on the other hand, because it IS one of the Gospels, and I can't even remember when I went through any of them verse by verse, it would be great to go back to study the foundation of the Life of the Person Who it is all about.  

So, that's why I decided to go with simply the title that is used in many Bibles, "The Gospel According to Luke"; because that is what I want to focus on - the GOSPEL.    So, the outline of the series is the timeline of the Life of Christ:  Birth, Early Life, Baptism, Temptation, Rejection, Ministry, Teaching, Death, Burial, RESURRECTION, and Ascension.  Of course, the pinnacle and the central theology of our faith is the RESURRECTION; and that is what the whole study will lead up to.

The timing of it all works fairly well also, since we start with the story of His Birth in December during the Christmas Season.  It would have been timely to study the Death, Burial, Resurrection chapters at around Easter as well; but, it will actually take quite a bit longer than that... really, to the end of September.

I could've gone with Mark, a shorter Gospel; but, I can relate to Luke.   He is an analytical writer who pays attention to details.   And having gone through Acts, it just pointed me to Luke as the natural choice, since we are now familiar with his narrative writing style.    Also, John is a lot more theological and could pose more of a challenge with my critics in class; and I also would relate to the more Gentile perspective of Luke over the more Hebrew perspective of Matthew.    I may study Matthew whenever I reach the point when I'm ready to tackle the Book of Hebrews.

So, I'm excited to see what God will teach me through this series.   One of the biggest challenges I may face is to ensure that I try to look at these familiar passages with "new eyes"; that I don't just fall into taking the easy road of just repeating what I had learned throughout my life, but that I will allow the Holy Spirit to reveal new "nuggets" of TRUTH that I may never have noticed before; or that He will help me to apply known TRUTHS in a fresh new way.  Amen.

Nehemiah 11

The problem that was identified in Chp 7 of too few people living within Jerusalem at the time, which God put it on Nehemiah's heart to resolve, was now ready to be addressed in this passage.  First, leaders of the people set the example to SETTLE IN THE HOLY CITY.  Then by casting lots, 1/10th of the people were chosen to move to Jerusalem.   And there were even some who volunteered to live there.

Those listed as resettling in Jerusalem included descendants of Judah, descendants of Benjamin, Priests, Levites & Gatekeepers, and temple servants (vs 21).  While the other Israelites chose to live on their ancestral properties in surrounding areas instead, those listed in this passage as RESETTLING IN THE HOLY CITY were commended and honored for being willing to move out of their "comfort zones" and be part of the solution to a problem.

This serves as a challenge to me to consider whether or not I am willing to move out of my "comfort zone" for God's purposes?  As a leader, do I set the example for others?

I do think that I have at times taken steps outside of my comfort zone and followed God's leading.   And I would like to think that I live as an example for others also.

Cooking This Week

While in a spurt of efficiency cooking for the week, there were a couple of dishes worth noting:

• Sweet and Sour Chicken - prepared the diced chicken breast cornstarch and salt.   Then pan-fried the chicken with red onion, bell peppers, cut up pineapple, and sauce.  It was quite tasty and the chicken was not overcooked.
• For the brussel sprouts, asparagus, and brocolli, just roasted with olive oil and salt/pepper (in some cases, and herbed pepper).   The brussel sprouts turned out quite well - they were cooked well enough to be soft inside with some of the outer leaves were slightly crispy.

Strong Enough

Just watched Matthew West's music video for "Strong Enough", and was inspired to write about it.   It really highlights well the verse in Philippians 4:13 "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."  What a wonderful reminder whenever we feel like the troubles and difficulties of this world are overwhelming us.
Lyrics:

You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through

Well, forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up

Cause when I'm finally at rock bottom
Well, that's when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not stong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough

Cause I'm broken
Down to nothing
But I'm still holding on to the one thing
You are God
and you are strong
When I am weak

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don't have to be
Strong enough

Fall Shows

Since the TV shows for the new Fall Season have started, just on a whim, I thought it'd be fun to put down some thoughts about some shows thus far.   There aren't any shows that I would group under "must-see TV" or would be majorly upset to miss; but, following are the ones that I would watch if I happen to find some available time:

• Project Runway - It's funny, but this 10th season has already concluded.  However, I did once again enjoy watching the fashion creations that went down the runway this season.
•  Once Upon a Time - It's "cute" to see storybook characters "come to life" and be woven into the show's story line; and the show still maintains the general ideals from children's stories of good over evil, true love, etc.  And it does not hurt that this show has more than its fair share of very good-looking characters.
• Hart of Dixie - I actually didn't start watching this show during it's first season; but, just caught it as I was reviewing episode videos online.   However, I like this light-hearted romantic comedy; and the casting of the main characters in the show fit well. 
• The Voice - I was wondering why I preferred this show over all the other singing competition shows out there.   I think the format is interesting, but more importantly, I like the judges on this show better than on the others.  These judges/coaches seem to genuinely care about their team members.
• Emily Owens M.D. - Again, there are so many medical shows out there; but, I seem to prefer this one probably because I can somewhat relate to the main character.   
• Elementary - I've never really been big on dramas, especially police-related dramas.  But, I like the actors on this show; and seeing how the "mysteries" on the show get solved is interesting.
• Arrow - I generally like superhero-type shows, mainly because good often prevails over evil; and this one is no different.   
• ANTM - My interest in this show has waned over the years, since each season seems very similar year after year.   This year, the format and judging has changed; but, some of the elements introduced may not be for the better.
• Nikita - I was surprised that I liked this show when the first season came out; but, I think my interest has dropped, even though the new organization may be better now than it was before

Overall, I would say that I tend to prefer shows that don't overtly offend my values and ideals.  I am also more drawn to the shows where the main characters or judges are likeable and have a sense of integrity.  And, typically, I would prefer romantic comedies over dramas, especially the action-packed kind.

Nehemiah 10

In this passage, the details of the Israelites' renewed Covenant with God were provided.  First, those who sealed the covenant are listed:  Nehemiah the governor or civil leader; the priests and Levites or spiritual leaders; and the leaders of the people or heads of families.

Then people separated themselves and took an oath with a curse "to follow the Law of God given through Moses the servant of God and to obey carefully all the commands, regulations and decrees of the Lord".

Specifically, they pledged obedience in the following areas:

• PERSONAL - Being set apart (no foreign marriages)
• BUSINESS - Honoring the Sabbath (not working on the Sabbath day) and the Year of Jubilee (forgiving debts)
• SPIRITUAL - Giving offerings so that they would "not neglect the house of our at God"

Of all the commands they could've chosen to specify in the covenant, these were most likely included because they were areas in which they had been disobedient, and were now taking actions to commit to obey through renewing their Covenant.

If I were to renew my covenant with God and put it in writing to be sealed, I would commit to Love God and to Love Others; and I would pledge that my faithful service would be a fragrant offering to Him.

28-Oct:   As I was thinking about why it was important to renew the covenant, I realized that at the core, it's really about their relationship with God.  It was not so much about obeying the laws and commands, even though those are a reflection of Who God IS.   But, when they disobeyed, it was likened to adultery, like breaking the marriage covenant.  Renewing the covenant is like renewing marriage vows - reaffirming that most intimate of relationships.

Fish

I tried a fish recipe today that I would definitely use again.   It was a broiled miso tuna that did not leave my house smelling fishy afterwards.  And, it could be used with other types of fish as well, especially salmon.   I marinated the fish with miso, ginger, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, and sesame oil.   Then broiled it on aluminum foil until it was done.  

It can be topped with green onion at the end.     Next time, I might not use sesame oil, because it seemed like it wasn't as good at the high temperatures.   And wine could probably be used instead of vinegar; and brown sugar instead of honey if preferred.   Overall, I didn't taste a lot of the miso flavor; but, the fish tasted and looked good.

Books

I'm in the middle of reading several different books right now; and I just wanted to make a note of a few of the highlights I have come across.   The two books I've been using as part of devotions are "The One Year Book of Psalms" and "Knowing God's Purpose for Your Life" by J.I.Packer.  And the book that is supplemental reading for my community group study is "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" by Tom Holladay.

Most recently, in my devotional books, God has been clearly reminding me that my character is being refined through the suffering process.   A few of the quotes that have stood out are:

• "God's will is not that I should every moment feel happy, but that I should every moment be holy."  (Heb 12:7,11)
• "As a Christian believer, I can expect to suffer"  (ref. Phil 1:29)
• "Suffering is a natural and necessary part of the Christian life"  (ref 2 Corinth 4:17)
• "God's grace does not shield me from sorrow" (ref John 16:33)
• "God promises that I will not be overcome by suffering"  (ref 1 Corinth 10:13)
• "My suffering can make me a channel of God's life"  (ref 2 Corinth 1:3-4)
• "Patience accepts trials as opportunities for growth"  (ref Heb 6:12)

God is GOOD; for He knew that these truths were what I really needed to be reminded of.   And, from Psalms, as I read Psalm 119, I was struck by how much the Psalmist really loved God's Word.   Coupled with the study in Nehemiah, seeing the revival that came with reading God's word; and the amazing prayer that led to confession and worship, I am compelled to renew my passion for Scripture.

I also gained much comfort from Psalm 121:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

 As families traveled to Jerusalem for the annual Feasts, they often had to travel through territory that was not so safe.   Psalms of ascent like this one would give them comfort for safety, as well as generate excitement for going to worship and celebrate in Jerusalem.   All these years later, I too gain comfort for safety from these words, and am excited that I am able to worship HIM, who watches over my life!

Weekend Reflections

As reflected in the class lesson today, God is truly amazing with His multi-faceted attributes.   He has truly been gracious and compassionate in all the ways that He has been working in my life.

I've been experiencing "healing" through the clear lessons that He has been showering me with:

• I am not alone - He is always with me
• God is just and I can entrust justice into His Hands
• We can grow the most through our adversity and suffering, which will also build our character

Another reflection of the "healing" is that I was able to buy a watch which somewhat replaces what was lost; and this one actually has "Walk by Faith" on the face, which is in line with my life verses.

This weekend was fairly encouraging.  This morning I woke up being drawn to pray for worship, especially as I serve on the AV Team.   And during the devotional today, I was asked to pray; similar to last time.  We sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", for our Assistant Pastor was inspired to sing about the resurrection as he read 1 Corinthians 15.  Class also went well, as we reflected upon the attributes of God. 

Afterwards was the DESIGN seminar, similar to other spiritual gifts lessons I've taken or even taught.  DESIGN stands for:

• D - Desire
• E - Experience
• S - Spiritual Gifts
• I - Individual Style
• G - Growth Stage
• N - Natural Abilities

These together would point us to where we would be most effective serving in the Body of Christ.  What I learned through taking the class today is that in my earliest spiritual gift surveys, often my strongest gifts were Helps and Serving.  Yet, the last one that I took showed that my gifts were Teaching, Helps, and Giving.  And then today,  they were Teaching, Preaching, Giving, Knowledge, and Discernment.   I think what this shows me, is that early on, I may have had more experience with Helps and Serving.   But, as I have grown and developed my gifts, I find that my stronger gift is Teaching, which has also helped develop areas that are related, like Preaching, Knowledge, and Discernment.  

In terms of Individual Style, in the DISC survey, of the different styles: (D)ominance, (I)nfluence, (S)teadyness, (C)ompliance; it appears that my Introvert nature comes out clearly, so, I scored highest with S and C.   Just reading the styles itself, I came out as expected, with Steadyness highest.   However, on reading it more closely, it said that I was more Indirect than Direct and People-Oriented than Task-Oriented.  That's not what I would've guessed; but, it is possible that once again my serving in Teaching and in Leadership has changed me to grow in being more People-Oriented.  As for a Indirect, while I appreciate more when others are Direct with me; but, because I try to be diplomatic and not cause conflict, it is possible that I am more Indirect.

The areas that contribute to Growth are:  Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship, and Trials.   Here again, I'm reminded that Trials can help me to grow.  In terms of Natural Ability, I thought of writing; and strengths as being detail-oriented, reliable, and balanced.

Overall, I think that Teaching is what I am called to do right now, and where I am able to serve effectively.  Also, in terms of Giving, our church is launching the next steps of expansion, Advancing God's Vision.   I have prayed about what God would want me to pledge, and the amount I settled upon is interestingly related to the "healing" process I've been going through.

It's neat to see God at work and Him using me.  Amen.

After the class, one of the people (someone I had never met before) said to me that my smile reflected JOY. That was a nice and encouraging thing to hear.

Nehemiah 9

After celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and reading God's Word throughout, the people gathered together once again, this time to fast, mourn, to be set apart, and to confess sins.  As they read more of God's Word, they continued to CONFESS and WORSHIP. 

In this passage, the Levites led them in a beautiful and amazing PRAYER listing many of the characteristics of God as He revealed Himself through events in Israel's History from Creation, the Abrahamic Covenant, Egypt and the Red Sea (Deliverance) to the Wilderness and Mt Sinai (Ten Commandments).  Some of the characteristics of God shown in this passage are that He is:  Eternal, Glorious, Exalted, LORD (the I AM), Creator, Life (Giver and Preserver), Worshipped, LORD God, Sovereign (Chooses), Omniscient (sees the heart), Covenant-Maker, Promise Keeper, Righteous, Compassionate, Omnipotent (powerful with signs and wonders), Guide, Light, Omnipresent, Word, Law-giver, Just & Right, Good, Holy, Provider, Giver, Bread (of Life), Water (Living), Forgiving, Gracious, Patient (Slow to Anger), Love/Kind, Faithful, Teacher, and Sustainer.  What an amazing awesome God He is!

In reading God's Word and reflecting upon events in our history, CONFESSION would naturally follow from recognition of who we are in light of Who God is, which should then lead to WORSHIP.

16-Oct Update:  As the Prayer continued, Israel's history through the rest of the OT to their present time was recounted, which included the Promised Land, the Judges & Kings/Prophets, and the Exile/Captivity & Return.  The attributes of God revealed through these time periods were that He is a Giver, a God of Order, Life, Promise Keeper, Omnipotent, Goodness, Admonisher, Just, Compassionate, Merciful, Deliverer, Patient, Gracious, Great, Mighty, Awesome, Love, Faithful, Law-Giver, and Good.  After the conclusion of this amazing prayer of CONFESSION and WORSHIP, the people were moved to make a written binding agreement sealed by the leaders, Levites, and priests to renew their covenant with God.

More Cooking

I cooked for most of the day today, and am pleased with the results.   The dishes made were:

• Salmon - fan-fried and then simmered in a miso-wine-vinegar-soy sauce marinade with green onions, garlic, and ginger.    It was pretty tasty; but, next time, I'd like to be able to bring out the miso taste more somehow; and also make it less salty.  Should be pretty good served over the garlic spinach that I made.
• Pad Thai - the sauce is not the most flavorful  (I bought another bottle of a different kind, which hopefully will make it even better next time); but the dish turned out quite well.   I cooked the rice stick noodles (it took longer than the package said; and would've been better with more water).  Then I pan fried eggs, mixed in bean sprouts and tofu  (should've added the matchstick carrots at this time, but forget, and just added it at the end which was still okay) with green onions, ginger, and garlic, and some fish sauce and some of the Pad Thai sauce.  Then, set aside.  Then, pan-fried the noodles with the Pad Thai sauce, and mixed the other ingredients back in.   Then topped it with peanuts crushed using a mortar and pestle.
• Chinese Rice Noodles - the rice stick noodles actually are similar to the fresh rice noodles we can buy at the stores.  So, since, I didn't need the whole package for the Pad Thai, I just the rest for a Chinese Rice Noodle dish.   Made a mixture of mock abalone meat, baby corn, and some fresh romaine lettuce; along with seasoning sauce (soy, oyster, etc).   Then added to noodles to it.
• Enchiladas - Made enchiladas with this almost-chili mixture (tomatoes, corn, black bean, and chili beans).   It had enough sauce in it, that I decided not to use an enchilada sauce.   Filled the flour tortillas, rolled them, and topped with more sauce and cheese.  Then baked.    I like the corn tortillas better; and dipping it first in the enchilada sauce is better as well.   But, this is simpler and cleaner; and turned out fine.
• Kale chips - Baked kale until it was crispy.  It simply had olive oil, seasoned pepper, and a seasoned herb mixture.   However, it came out a little salty; so, I definitely will not add salt next time.   

WDCH

I was finally able to go to the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Thursday.  My friend and I have been wanting to go since it was built, which makes it nine years.   It did not disappoint.   The building architecture is beautiful, Gustavo Dudamel the conductor was great, Beethoven's Piano Concerto #1 performed by Leif Ove Andsnes was good, and the LA Phil sounded wonderful.  It truly was a special evening and a memory to cherish.

Parking in the WDCH parking garage was convenient ($9).  We had dinner at Noe Restaurant in the Omni Hotel; which was less than a half mile walk.   It was even a pleasant walk when  going through California Plaza past the Museum of Contemporary Art.  The restaurant had a nice view of parts of the downtown LA skyline; and the decor is elegant.    The food is French Cuisine with a touch of Japanese influence.   I had the salmon, served over vegetables fresh from the hotel garden.  And for dessert, we had the house-made ice cream.   The meals were $25 each and dessert was $8.   At Patina, the WDCH restaurant, dinner probably would've been about twice as much; though, it has gotten reviews as one of the best in the world.   Maybe one day......

We had parked at about 5:30PM, and we just made it to the pre-concert talk at 7-7:45PM.   That gave us just enough time to find our seats by 8PM for the concert.   We had seats in the center of the back row of the balcony.   I actually liked our seats.   There was no one behind us; the balcony seats all have railings in between them, and there is room for people to walk by, without having to stand up.    And the back of the center section actually opens to a walkway so there is air circulation and even a view of part of downtown.  I might actually even prefer these over the seats in the terrace and orchestra where there were no railings in between the rows, even if they are stadium-type seating in most places.   And the seats behind the orchestra don't even have armrests in between.  The balcony seats were $63 each + $8 ticket handling.

I liked the Largo movement of the Piano Concerto the most, over the Allegro con brio and the Rondo:  Allegro scherzando.   The slower movement was just more poignant.   The acoustics in the concert hall are so good that it picks up every sound.  So, between the first and second movement for late seating, it actually took awhile before they were able to start up again; and at one point, the pianist even closed the piano lid and humorously crossed his arms to wait till everyone found their seats and it quieted down again.  And between the Piano Concerto and the "Eroica" (or Heroic) Symphony, Leif Ove Andsnes surprised us with an  encore, even though it was not the end of the concert, though it was the end of his part in it.   He played the last movement in another one of Beethovan's pieces; and it was utterly beautiful and impressive.  That was a nice added surprise.

Then, for the Symphony, it was well performed.   For most of it, I was watching Dudamel as he conducted.   He is so expressive and really gets into some parts of it, where it's almost like he is dancing.  I enjoyed all movements - the Allegro con brio, Marcia funebre:  Adagio assai, Scherzo:  Allegro vivace, and the Finale:  Allegro molto.

What a special evening.   My friend said that it inspired her; and also made her miss playing in orchestra.  I look forward to going to another concert; and maybe it'll be within this season.   My enthusiasm must have been evident when I was talking about it to my parents, for they also expressed an interest in going as well.  What a blessing to have had the opportunity to go.   I read in the playbill that Dudamel's contract has been renewed until the 2018/19 season,, which will be the 100th anniversary of the LA Phil.

Spiritual Leadership

"Spiritual Leadership" by J Oswald Sanders comes highly recommended by my Assistant Pastor as the "Bible" on this topic.  I will be embarking on a self-study course through this book this year as part of my church's L.E.A.D University curriculum. 

In the meeting on Sunday, it was pointed out that all problems are spiritual.  There are not two separate buckets, one spiritual and the other not; so, we should deal with issues in a spiritual way.  We also talked about what hurts ministries (e.g. lack of commitment, ego/pride, lack of communication, etc) and what helps them be successful (e.g. prayer, unity, care for one another, etc).   And a principle that we were left with was that when we encounter issues, we should first try to work it out with the person, then bring others in, if if needed bring it up with the oversight elder.   God expects His leaders to make unresolved conflict a priority, for there is a relationship between our worshipping God and our relationships with others.  True worship is enhanced by better relationships between those who come to worship. 

We were given a diagram illustrating how we can approach spiritual leadership  (naturally, we should strive for RR):

     RR     |       RW
--------------------------
     WR    |       WW

(RR = Right Things, Right Way; RW = Right Things, Wrong Way; WR = Wrong Things, Right Way; WW = Wrong Things, Wrong Way)    

Following were the concluding points:

• God will bring things to mind when we spend time in His Presence
• Ask the LORD for a teachable attitude
• Get eyes off myself and listen to what's going on with others   (when we have eyes on others, we get distressed; eyes on myself, we get depressed, but eyes on God, we are blessed)
• If we are a leader that ministers to people, be willing to have our rights violated, in the Philippians 2 sense
• Trust God for the outcome
• Be clear on the goal

Joseph

My Pastor started a series on Joseph, and there have been many great lessons taught.  Three points that have stood out so far are:  1) No matter what our immediate circumstances, God often has a bigger Plan that we may not see yet; and 2) No matter what, the phrase often repeated in Scripture was that the LORD was with Joseph, and 3) Suffering is the indispensable foundation and framework for a noble character.

In the first lesson, we see that Joseph as the favorite and privileged son, becomes the despised brother; and is sold to the descendents of Ishmael for the price of a slave.  This displays some of the dangers of favoritism.   Often the other children will either be so discouraged that they give up, or they will try to outperform to overcompensate.   "Sweeping things under the carpet makes for a lumpy living space", so it is better to confront the matter and move on.   Petty jealousies can ruin our lives and lead to shameful behavior.  It is good to remember that an injustice suffered is not the end of the story, and we can entrust our uncertain future to God.

In the next lesson, Joseph's brother Judah may have been "on the run from his family" due to his plan to sell Joseph.   Genesis 38 describes a thoroughly wicked story in the life of Judah, as he stepped outside of his faith and into the world of the Canaanites.  Yet, in Matthew 1:3, we see that God's grace was greater than all the wickedness, and His Plan prevailed.   Despite what happened, the amazing epilogue was that from the line of Judah came the Messiah.

In Genesis 39 is the story behind the picture for this entry.  In vs 2,3,21,& 23, it is repeated that the LORD was with Joseph.  We don't hear him complaining through his circumstances, even when it seems to take a turn for the worse, with Potiphar's wife falsely accusing him.  Life is often not fair while we are here on earth.  Also, God's silence can be as important as His loudest commands.  We see in Joseph's story that though he is thrown into prison unjustly, God ultimately had a plan of redemption his nation through using Joseph.  And, of course, this passage illustrates the need to flee (a continual command) temptation.   The dangerous progression of temptation is:  thought > act > heart > life > eternity.   There is a battle for our moral purity in this polluted world.  So, the strategy to deal with sin is:

• S - Stay away from tempting places
• T - Turn off any rationalizations to sin
• O - Offend your own feelings and focus on responsibilities
• P - Practice the presence of God in your life

The message on Joseph's time in prison was so timely.   In times like these when life doesn't seem to make sense and isn't fair, Joseph is a great example of courage in the face of injustice.   To illustrate that one way to heal is to minister to others, Joseph helped his fellow inmates the baker and the cupbearer while he was in prison.  He told the truth no matter what, even when it was not so favorable (like the outcome of the baker's dream).  And, we do sometimes face big letdowns, like when the cupbearer forgot Joseph; although we know that God did not forget him (God knows, cares, and understands).   Still, Joseph ended up waiting 2 years in prison.  We just need to remember that God has a purpose in all our difficulties - trust Him for He has a plan in the big picture.  Some life lessons from this passage:

• God uses disappointments and injustices to bring us to a place where we trust only in Him  (Psalm 42:5)
• Injustice can be a turn-around moment or a downturn moment - we can choose either to receive iron in our soul and steel in our character; or to let disappoint destroy us  (Gal 6:9)
• God is still in control even when on the surface it appears to the contrary (Romans 8:28-29)
• Circumstances may be cruel and unfair, but God is always loving and just (1 Peter 4:12-13)
• God's promises are guaranteed but His timing and methods are beyond human understanding (Romans 11:33)
• You are responsible for your own attitudes and behavior, not someone else's (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• God's grace is sufficient to get you through any trial (2 Corinthians 12:9)

7-Oct:  As my Pastor continued the series on Joseph, focusing on his "Upward Journey from Prison to Palace", he pointed out that God's Plan sometimes is not to change the circumstances, but to change us in the circumstances.  God can use our pain to mold and shape us.  In Genesis 41, Joseph's character is revealed in that he consistently gives God the glory, and even the pagan king recognizes that the Spirit of God in Joseph (vs 38).  And, in vs 42, he is given an even better robe than before.  This passage is a reminder that:

• The school of suffering is God's indispensible method of refining you for greater things (1 Peter 2:21)
• Waiting on God's timing is not wasted (Isaiah 40:31)
• God opens closed doors for those who trust in Him (Revelation 3:8)
• Give God the credit when you get a break and rise to success (1 Corinth 10:31)
• Economic policy either can make or break a nation (Prov 22:7; Deut 15:6)
• You are given success b/c God has greater purposes in mind for you to do for others (Luke 12:48)  -> Greatness comes not from us, but from God; use it for HIM

As believers, we have actually already experienced the rags to royalty story; all because Jesus died for our sins and enabled us to be adopted into the family of God, the King of Kings.

14-Oct:  As Prime Minister in Egypt, Joseph was able to secretly provide for his family.  Rather than harbor bitterness toward his brothers for what they had done to him, Joseph moved on, as shown in the names for his sons:  "Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, 'It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.' The second son he named Ephraim and said, 'It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.'"  (Gen 41:51-52)  And when they came to Egypt begging for food b/c of the famine, he didn't rub their noses in the fulfillment of the dream he had as a boy; but rather, tested to see that they had changed and then showed them much grace.

Nehemiah 8

In this next step of the restoration process, Ezra the scribe and priest is called upon to READ GOD's WORD in a public assembly where the "men and women and all who were able to understand" gathered "together as one".  The people stood up, "listened attentively" from daybreak till noon, and praised and worshipped the LORD.  Then when they "understood what was being read", with the help of the Levites, they mourned and wept, most likely due to recognition of their sinfulness contrasted with the holiness of God.   But, they were encouraged to celebrate and rejoice instead, "for the joy of the Lord is [their] strength".  The next day, they came back for more from God's Word.  When they recognized that they had not fully been observing the Feast of Tabernacles, since the days of Joshua, the way that God had instructed; they celebrated the Feast and were filled with joy.  And they continued READING God's Word throughout the festival.

In this passage, I see that when we are ready to listen (e.g. unified, respectful, attentive), reading God's Word will help lead us to praise, worship, repentance, joy, and obedience.    And it can whet our appetites for more of God's Word.

The phrase "The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength" is used often, and I've even sung it in lyrics of songs; but, what does it really mean?   In the context of the passage, it is basically saying that in the JOY that comes from God, we can find strength in the midst of troubles and mourning.   In other words, that JOY fortifies us.  I also see it being related to how God can turn our mourning into joy; in that He heals us not only physically but also spiritually.    When we mourn for our sins in repentance, we can rejoice that He is at work and that He forgives.  But, also, when we rejoice in HIM, we have strength to endure and continue.