Removing the Superfluous

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Superfluous means excess and unnecessary. Cluttered desks, cluttered tables, and cluttered living spaces cause our thoughts to be cluttered and undisciplined.
 
When I typed the 35 ebooks in 2016, I put two spaces after each sentence. It was the way I was taught back in high school. However, in compiling seven ebooks into a paperback, I have to delete the extra space. You would be amazed at how much it saves in the printed product.
 
The superfluous in our lives is an entanglement. 2 Timothy 2:4 says, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
 
We are soldiers in God’s army. In order to have clear minds, we need to remove the superfluous. This sheltering in time is a great opportunity to evaluate the essentials.
 
An essential is something that is absolutely necessary. It is extremely important. Therefore anything that pulls us away from walking in truth needs to be removed. 1 Peter 1:24-25 says, “…all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”
 
Verse 25 reiterates for us that God’s word is an essential. It is through His word that we learn the truth to apply to our hearts. 1 John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
 
Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Part of speaking truth in our hearts comes from verbally speaking God’s word.
 
Psalm 46:10 says, “…Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 131:2 says, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 23:2 says that our Shepherd leads us beside the still waters.”
 
Moses’ words to the children of Israel are great words for us as well. The uncrossable Red Sea was before them, and Pharaoh and his army behind them. They were in a humanly impossible situation. Exodus 14:13 says, “…Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today…”
 
Learning to be still before the Lord is an essential. We cannot hear His still small voice when our heart is cluttered with the anxieties and cares of this world. Jesus went apart from the crowd to be alone with the Father.

3 FREE ebooks

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FREE ebooks today and tomorrow on Amazon
 
Heart Forgiveness: embracing truth that will set you free
 
Watermarks: authenticity of a follower of Jesus
 
Trophies of Grace: steadfast endurance
 
These are from chapters 4, 5, 6 in Victorious Garden. Note: it helps to put J Marilyn Adams after the title in the search.

The Legacy

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Joseph took his two sons to Jacob. Now watch what happened. I never connected the significance of this conversation before. Genesis 48:5 says, “And now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Rueben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”
 
Later when the tribes of Israel were named, Jospeh was not there. Ephraim and Manasseh took his place and the place of Levi. Judah received the blessing of the firstborn since Reuben abdicated it through his immorality.
 
In chapter 49 Jacob called his sons to tell them what would befall them. He revealed their legacy through their character. Here is what he said about Joseph. Verse 22 says, “Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a well; his branches run over the wall.”
 
Jacob died and they carried his bones to Canaan to be buried beside Leah. Then as Joseph was dying, he foretold what would happen in Genesis 50:24. “…God will surely visit you, and bring you out of the land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
 
Verse 25 says, “Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you shall carry my carry up my bones from here.” That was fulfilled in Exodus 13:19. “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath…”
 
What legacy are you leaving to your natural children and your spiritual children? David taught Solomon about wisdom. When the Lord said ‘Ask’ Solomon knew to ask for wisdom. God gave him wisdom such as never before him nor after him.
 
Psalm 20:4-5 says, “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.” There are many ways we can sow into our legacy. One is through prayer, that they may reap His righteousness in their lives.
 
 
 

Joseph’s Dreams Fulfilled Part Three

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Joseph had to tell his brothers twice who he was. Then he declared again God’s purpose in all his trials. Genesis 45:7 says, “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
 
Then Joseph sent them back to get his father and their families. Genesis 45:17-20 are Pharaoh’s words after he heard that Joseph’s brothers had come. Verse 20 says, “Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
 
When the brothers got back to Canaan, they told their father that Joseph was alive and that he was the governor over Egypt. Verse 26 says that Jacob’s heart stood still. His heart stopped in shock. Verse 27 says, that after they told him all and he saw the carts which Joseph had sent, “…the spirit of Jacob their father revived.”
 
Note: the entire family that went from Canaan to Egypt was 66 persons. 430 years later, the children of Israel could not be counted because there were so many.
 
God sent Joseph to preserve his family, who would become the twelve tribes of Israel to enter the promised land. Joseph’s dreams included the promise that the Lord made to Abraham. Genesis 15:5-6 says, “Then He brought him outside and said, Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. And He said to him, So shall your descendants be. And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.”
 
Whatever the Lord speaks, He fulfills. Circumstances do not deter Him because He orchestrates them. His word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11). He completes what He begins (Philippians 1:6). His timing is impeccable. His gifts and callings are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). He acts for those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:4). He waits to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18).
 
As we shelter in, the temptations will rise to do something in our own strength, or to attempt to interpret what only the Lord knows. This time certainly brings out the hidden impatience. James 1:3 says to count this trial as joy. The JBP says to welcome it as friends.
 
Hebrews 10:26 is a great reminder. “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

3 FREE Ebooks On Amazon

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Here are 3 more ebooks FREE on Amazon today, Thursday, and Friday

Reviving Burned Stones: rejection recovery

Power of Thoughts: harnessing truth births inner transformation

Cracking the Code of Unforgiveness: letting go of past hurts

These short ebooks are from the first three chapters of my paperback entitled Victorious Garden: true heart forgiveness. I will be posting free ebooks off and on so you have something to read during this sheltering in time. These were all published in 2016.

Joseph’s Dreams Fulfilled Part Two

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So many scenes unfolded as the Lord continued to fulfill Joseph’s dreams. No one obtained the stored grain without Joseph’s approval. Not only did they feed the Egyptians, but those who traveled from other areas.
 
Jacob was in Canaan. He sent his 10 oldest sons to buy grain. In Joseph’s dream his brothers bowed down to him. Genesis 42:6 says, “…And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.”
 
Joseph recognized them, but hide his identity from them. He accused them of being spies. They spilled the beans in verse 13. “And they said, Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.”
 
Joseph put them in prison three days. Then he said that he would keep one brother in prison, and the rest would go home with grain. The condition was that they would bring their youngest brother.
 
The 10 brothers talked among themselves and Joseph heard them. Verse 24 says that he turned himself away from them and wept.
 
Simeon stayed in prison, and the rest went back. When they told Jacob what had happened he was upset that they said anything about Benjamin.
 
The grain that Joseph sent was used up and they were faced with the famine again. Jacob finally consented and sent Benjamin. There is much drama which you can read for yourselves.
 
Fast forward. Joseph saw his little brother. He sent everyone from him and revealed himself. Genesis 45:3 says, “Then Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph; does my father still live? But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.”
 
Can’t you just imagine the shock? Verse 5 helps us understand Joseph’s perspective in his trials. It says, “But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.”

Joseph’s Dreams Fulfilled

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Pharaoh had two dreams. None of his magicians or wise men could interpret them. The butler remembered Joseph. He told Pharaoh there was a Hebrew in prison with him who interpreted dreams.
 
Genesis 41:14 says, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.”
 
Pharaoh’s dreams spoke of a coming famine. There would be seven good years, followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph’s dreams fulfillment, became the answer to the impending disaster.
 
Verse 33 Joseph said, “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set his over the land of Egypt.” He went on to explicitly explain God’s plan.
 
Pharaoh placed Joseph over all the land. He gave him his signet ring, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck.
 
23 years after the dream, Jospeh was second in command of all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh gave him a wife. Verse 49 says, “Joseph gathered very much grain as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.”
 
They had seven years of plenty. Joseph wisely stored provision for the coming seven years of famine. When the famine arrived, Joseph was prepared. Verse 56 says, “The famine was over all the face of the earth…And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt.”
 
Joseph had no clue that the impoverishing famine would connect him to his father and brothers. Remember back in Psalm 105, it said that God called for a famine. The Lord orchestrated every moment in Joseph’s life, just as He does ours.
 
Job 42:2 says, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” God had to get Jacob and his extended family to Egypt, so 430 years later He could raise up Moses to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. All of history, as we know it, was divinely orchestrated. Our present pandemic is also. May the Lord’s purpose be fulfilled in our lives in this moment of history.
 

Developing Joseph’s Character

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Joseph had two dreams when he was 17 years old. At that age, he did not have the maturity to step into the dreams. It took 23 years of trials that stretched, and trained him for the fulfillment.
 
His brothers sold him as a slave to a band of Midianite traders. They took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
 
Genesis 39:2 says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” Verse 3 says that the Lord made all he did to prosper.
 
Joseph was set up by Potiphar’s wife. He fled the scene, but was thrown into the dungeon because of her false accusations. Joseph excelled in prison. Verse 22 says, “And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison.; whatever they did there, it was his doing.”
 
Two of the king’s servants offended him and he had them thrown into the prison where Joseph was. Note how attentive Joseph was. Even though he was in prison, he took his position seriously.
 
Joseph noticed one morning that the king’s butler and his baker were sad. He asked them why they looked so sad. They both told him their dreams which he interpreted.
 
In Genesis 40:14 he asked them to remember him when they were released. Verse 15 is the first mention of how Joseph felt about his trial. It says, “For indeed I was stolen away from the land of the Hebrews; and also I have done nothing here that they should put me into the dungeon.”
 
Genesis 42:21 in another glimpse of his trail. His brothers were speaking. It says, “…for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear…”
 
There is a great narrative in Psalm 105:16-20. It reveals for us God’s purpose, His tools, and the fulfillment. First He sent the famine. Verse 17-18 says, “He sent a man before them–Joseph–who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, he was laid in irons.”
 
Verse 19 is the purpose which is applicable for us as well. It says, “Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.” The Lord always tests the word He plants in our heart. It is His pattern for developing the character needed to fulfill His purpose. Ephesians 1:11 says that He works all things according to the counsel of His will.

Sowing Tenacity

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Jacob refused to let go of the angel that was wrestling with him. Genesis 32:26 says, “And He said, Let Me go, for the day breaks. But he said, I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
 
Have you ever wrestled with God over an issue in your life? It is in the wrestling that the inner change comes. Jacob knew what the Lord had promised, and he was not going to give it up.
 
Circumstances in Jacob’s life were hard. He labored for a deceitful man. All the while he held onto God’s promise to take care of him and return him to his home place.
 
We do not wrestle with a physical angel as Jacob did. We wrestle with thoughts, mindsets, and strongholds. What God has said, He will do. There is no question.
 
However, we may play presumptuous scenes in our mind, or negative dialogue against a person or circumstances, or allow doubt, fear, or unbelief to creep in. Each one of these will begin the process of undermining our faith.
 
That is why Ephesians 6:16 says to take up the shield of faith. Only our faith will quench the fiery dart lies of the enemy. Here is another verse. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”
 
The breastplate protects our heart which is our belief center. Anything done in our own strength will not be from love but from our own selfish ambitions. Love and faith are both persevering gifts from the Lord.
 
The helmet of salvation protects our minds. It is our anchor of hope in the storms of our life. 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Sowing tenacity is essential for us to finish well.