This morning Pastor Sean spoke about Joseph.The sermon was so
enlightening, I wanted to share it with the daily lilies. We don’t know a
lot about Joseph, but as the Pastor spoke, I learned that we are a lot like
him. Most of us have a plan for our lives. We have it all laid out –
college, career, marriage, family, advancement, and retirement. Joseph had
it all planned out too, then, Mary informs him that she is pregnant. His
plan is shot. What is he to do next? Like us he probably raked his mind
trying to find a solution that his mind could justify, not sleeping, pacing
the floor, near throwing up thinking and thinking and thinking.
Sometimes in our thinking the options may be embarrassing, like in Joseph’s
case. Joseph continues to try to come up with an option that is suitable,
placing God in a box asking him to choose one of his options to get out of
the mess or situation. In order to get Joseph to be silent so He could
speak to him, God has to have him in an unconscious state so he could
get a word in.
Sometimes in our hyperactive state, we like Joseph cannot hear
from God. We have so much going on in our lives from T.V., computers,
music, activity, plus activity. When is God to speak. God chose to speak
to Joseph when he slept, and he said “Joseph, Son of David”. There wasn’t a
line of Josephs, and he pointed Joseph, Son of David step forward. God was
reminding Joseph that he was God’s chosen and that included all his promises
that he had made where there for him and him alone. The angel also reminded
Joseph to not be afraid. Fear is our greatest enemy. The angel reminds
Joseph that in the midst of all things that are not according to Joseph’s
plan – don’t fear. Joseph listened to God and thought no more of his plans.
He changed his course, his plan and chose God’s direction. He realized he
didn’t have all the answers. He admitted he was wrong. He then decided to
do it God’s way.
We like Joseph have so much clamber in our lives. We need to slow down and
listen to what God is telling us to do.. How do we slow down?
1. Join a small group at your church.
2. Read devotional materials – they often speak out to you as you read.
3. Read the blogs on this site. (Incorporated by a daily lily)
4. Set aside a time to pray and be alone with God
Joseph is quite a bit like us. His plan was dashed. In the midst of
difficult times, God says, “I love you, I’m here in the midst of your
difficult times. You are mine, and I’ll stay with you during this time.
During this season and the months ahead have courage and the peace to hear
from God and follow Him.
thedailylily.com 
I love and try and do all four of your slow downs. I am a firm believer in small groups. I grew up in a small community church and I have been to many very large churches. But, I have always had the priviledge of a small group both in large and small churches. Such a blessing. 2) I love reading devotional materials off and on all day long. I believe in time alone daily with God to pray and hear from Him. And, I love reading and sharing in the blogs and comments that each one of you write.
I feel that The Daily Lily is such a marvelous village of loving, sharing and caring as we all endeavor to speak forth the miraculous Love of Jesus.
“Most of us have a plan for our lives. We have it all laid out –
college, career, marriage, family, advancement, and retirement.”
Do you think this statement from this blog applies to most of the world’s population or to a very small group of a specific local church?
I belong and live in the village of The Daily Lily and all during the day the things that I have read and responded to from the Daily Lily blogs stay by me and help me to calm down when things seems to get all wound up…the words of wisdom and love that have been shared remind me that I am not alone and that God is there even when Im not aware..(Sara taught this at the Dance of Healing Farming Spiritual retreat)…God was in this place….and I never knew it…but if we be still …..and know that He is God…and trust Him to see us through…and know that what ever the outcome if we are obedient …we will have Gods best…His best…not ours….
Hearing From God and Doing it God’s Way (whatever NEW way that might be at the moment) makes me think of the way many of us are about following the direction of the Holy Spirit. Joseph thought to “put Mary away” privately, because the letter of the Law called for a more severe punishment for the condition in which he found her. Joseph is no different than some of the rest of us. We are so busy defending what GOD has done in the past that we miss what He is doing right now. (Lisa Bevere’s comment on a Religious kind of attitude or religious spirit). But that seems to be fitting in the situations that we come up against, every day. Sara said Sunday that obedience brings the rewards of the Lord. “If we are willing and obedient we shall eat the good of the land.” When we try to do things our way, and when we do Not heed the still small voice because, as the pastor indicated, there is so much “surround sound” assailing our ears, then we opt for our own way an bumble through wondering why we are not getting the victory.
I just received an article in which said that there are two truths that we can count on when things don’t go according to plans. We know that the change/s in plan may be minor or major. According to Charles Swindoll we must remember:
1. Nothing touches me that has not passed through the hands of my heavenly Father. Nothing. Whatever occurs, God has sovereignly surveyed and approved. We may not know why, but we do know our pain is no accident to Him who guides our lives.
2. Everything I endure is designed to prepare me for serving others more effectively. Everything. Since my Heavenly Father is committed to shaping me into the image of His Son, He knows the ultimate value of this painful experience. It is being used to empty our hands of our own resources, our own sufficiency, and turn us back to Him-the faithful Provider. And God knows what will get through to us.
In other words:
Things may not be logical or fair, but when God is directing the events of our lives, they are right.
This article says to me that our thoughts and plans may be on one level or plane and God’s on an entirely higher one.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
It’s hard to hear someone when you are in the basement and the other person is on the third floor of house…different levels.
It is also hard to hear when you are busy talking. I have been thinking quite a bit about this phrase from Sara’s ‘Dance of Healing’ book…”Listen or your tongue will make you deaf”.