‘Sunrise at Triveet Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada”. Picture by Deb Fowler submitted by Lynn Brady.
The Holy Spirit inspired our blog.
Alleluia Refrain
The Kingdom of God is at hand:
repent and believe in the Gospel.
Mark 1: 15
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Extraordinary Time
The first reading is about Joseph, who is now second in command in Egypt, giving out food that was stored up over the past seven years to feed people who came from all over the world to get food because Egypt was the only source of food.
Joseph’s brothers, who sold Joseph into slavery, are here begging for food.
At this time, Israel’s family had only seventy people.
God used the famine to:
- Bring the family back together.
- Establish Joseph as their leader.
- Joseph gave them the best land in Egypt to grow as a family, and in four hundred years, they grew from seventy people to over two million people.* They will soon leave Egypt to inherit the land promised to Abraham as a Priestly Nation. A Priestly Nation is unique in the world.
- The road to Salvation continues; remember, salvation started with Adam and Eve.
It’s interesting how God works.
Our problem is we get caught up in the moment and don’t have the advantage of seeing the world in the same way as God does, and we are too impatient and want our way, not God’s way.
Joseph’s brothers wanted food. They weren’t thinking of establishing the Jewish Nation of Priests, which ultimately led up to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Our job, though, is easy.
We don’t have to question what God is up to; all we have to do is accept our function as a disciple, love God with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves.
Loving God and neighbor will establish us as a light in a dark world, and maybe your light will encourage someone else to find Jesus and find a Joy filled life.
Easy!
We live in Extraordinary times because the Kingdom of God was established at the Resurrection of Jesus and the coming of The Holy Spirit
Jesus defeated death!
Jesus won!
We have the privilege of holding the ground we are standing on and not allowing satan to determine our actions and thoughts.
If you want to join Team Jesus, try praying. “This is the day the lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Sidebar:
The Return of the Unclean Spirit. “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person it roams through arid regions searching for rest but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings back with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they move in and dwell there; and the last condition of that person is worse than the first. Thus it will be with this evil generation.” Emphasis mine Matthew 12: 43-45
For over twenty years, I have prayed, “Get behind me, satan,” but I failed to consider the above Gospel reading, which is odd because we talked a lot about this reading in the jail.
I noted in prior blogs that I said this prayer many, many times during the day, and to be honest, I was frustrated at the frequent attacks by satan.
A few weeks ago, the Holy Spirit brought the above reading to mind and suggested a prayer change.
Notice:
Before the change;
I throw satan out of the house, the house being my mind; my mind is then clean,
BUT
I don’t fill the clean house with anything else.
satan seeing this, comes back, and it’s even worse, and we have reported this.
The answer The Holy Spirit gave me was easy.
Now I, or should I say we;
Throw satan out, “Get behind me satan,” and invite the Holy Spirit in, “Come Holy Spirit and fill me with your love, Joy, and Peace.”
We have said this prayer over the past few weeks, and I have seen a difference. The attacks are fewer, and I stay in the Love, Joy, and Peace of the Holy Spirit longer.
Now that’s a win!
We pray you will try this and enjoy the same results.
- Twelve Unlikely Heroes by John MacArthur is a Great read.
John MacArthur gives important background information on Enoch, Joseph, Miriam, Gedeon, Samson, Jonathan, Jonah, Esther, John the Baptist, James the lord’s brother, Mark, and Onesimus. Next year I intend to reread this book when I reach the point in the Bible where one of the above persons is mentioned, and that section will come alive.
Picture:
Good morning Fred. I look forward to your reflections each week. The included photo is ‘Sunrise at Triveet Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada”. I live in Carlyle, Saskatchewan—picture by Deb Fowler submitted by Lynn Brady.
Please keep Snapping!
Several people from foreign countries have asked for my email address, but I am still waiting to hear back. We decided to include my email for your convenience.
fprince101@gmail.com
Remember, if you want to submit a picture, no people, please, because we have to get permission from that person to use their photograph. By sending your picture, you consent to allow us to reprint that picture in our next book, God Thoughts 2023, with your name and any comments in the Blog.
