Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Disappointments



As the Cupbearer left the prison, he gave a thumbs up. “It won’t be long now. You’ll be out soon!” For the first time in a long time, Joseph’s hopes were surging. 

This was surely a “God” thing right? He sent this erstwhile cupbearer across his path in the prison. The cupbearer had a dream, and God gave Joseph the meaning. The cupbearer would be freed and retain his position. 

It happened just as God said. He urged the cupbearer to plead his case before Pharaoh. “Remember me and show me kindness. Mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

Every morning he work up with anticipation. Would this be the day? He expected any day now to walk out of here. 

But days and weeks pass and nothing happens. A sad commentary is Genesis 40:23; “The Chief Cupbearer, however did not remember Joseph, he forgot him.” 

One disappointment is bad enough, but when you get hit numerous times it can take a toll. It can become a mindset. You get used to being let down, the second option, forgotten about, ignored. 

You learn new habits: keep your expectations low, close yourself in, tuck in another hurt. After all, you have to protect yourself from another hurt. 

And it’s just a short step from disappointment with people to disappointment with God. We pray for God to move in our favor. That He would change people’s hearts toward us. 

Do you think Joseph prayed passionately in the prison? “Please God, make the Cupbearer remember me. Get me out of here. Move on my behalf.” 

Yes, God did use the Cupbearer, and yes, He did answer Joseph’s prayers. Just not in the way Joseph imagined. It was “beyond what we can ask for or imagine” wasn’t it? 

In my opinion, disappointment has to be a favorite weapon of the enemy. Perhaps there are those who are indifferent; they can just brush it off. 

But I’m sure they are in the minority. And believe me, I’m not one of them. 

The truth of the matter is, if you are walking around on this earth, eventually you will face disappointment. It is inevitable. 

So where does our security lie? 

“The chief cupbearer however did not remember Joseph, he forgot him.” 

Yes, people can forget. People can be fickle. Was the Cupbearer purposely out to get Joseph? No I’m sure he wasn’t. He forgot. 

I forget. I let people down. Do you? 

You may feel completely forgotten, that even God has forgotten. But this is not so. 

He does not treat you as the world does. He alone is your resting place. Your security. 

Psalm 27:10 says, “ Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me”  Isaiah 49:16, “See I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before me.” 

Tomorrow is unknown to us. But we can walk in confidence and authority because God is in our tomorrows. He is already there and will be sufficient for us. 


He will answer in a way not imagined or even asked for. Trust Him in this and see if He won’t prove true. 

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Rambling Thursdays


I’m sharing another travel location on today’s Rambling Thursdays edition. If you enjoy antiques, flea markets, food, cheese, anything Amish made; then Holmes County Ohio is for you. Click here for a website full of information. 

Holmes county has gentle rolling hills with neat as a pin farms. Charming villages dot the county.  We spent an enjoyable weekend. I would go back again. 

Millersburg is the centerpiece of the county. It is a quant town with plenty of shopping. You could easily spend a day here. Other nearby towns are Sugarcreek, Berlin, and other tiny villages. Click here for maps. Each town has something for you. 

We stayed overnight in Millersburg. Click Here for a list of options. There are plenty of hotels or bed and breakfasts. 

If you can’t find food, cheese or a baked item, there’s a problem. These wonderful items are Everywhere! The hard choice will be what to eat now and what to take home. Make sure you bring a cooler. You will bring stuff home to enjoy later. Here is a list of all Amish Fare.

We ate at Chalet in the Valley, which as the name suggests sits in a beautiful valley. Right across from the restaurant is a cheese house, just in case you didn’t get that cheese fix yet. They serve authentic Swiss and Austrian cuisine. The building alone looked like it belonged in Switzerland. The food was really good. Highly recommend it. 

The county is full of antique shops, flea markets and various other shops. You will find something to buy. I guarantee it! Here is a shopping guide. 

While you are in the area you must visit Lehman's in Kidron, which is just to the Northeast of Millersburg. The 35,000 square feet store is a unique shopping experience. There are items here that you will not see anywhere else. Plan to visit for awhile, it’s that big! 

Just to the west off of US 30 is Orrville, home of Smuckers.Yes, the jam. They have an awesome store. We’ve been here a few times and always leave with a bag full of goodies. There’s a cafe where you can get a toasted PB&J with of course... Smuckers jelly. 

As you can see, this is a wonderful getaway to enjoy great food and shopping. Perhaps not so much for kids, although we did drive up to Canton to the Football Hall of Fame. Since both of us are huge football fans, we loved it. Kids would love this. 

I highly recommend visiting Holmes County. We loved our time there and would go back. Happy Vacation Planning! 

Monday, May 1, 2017

The Pregnant Pause



I'm sharing this blog post from a few years ago. It encouraged me this morning. I want you to know that in whatever season you may be in, that God has not forgotten you. It is not a wasted season in His plan. 


Pregnant Pause: A pause that gives the impression that it will be followed by something significant. 

Since we have a DVR, I love the pause button. It comes in quite handy when a interruption breaks up a great show or scene. Instead of missing out, I can pick up the remote and click pause. After tending to the interruption, I can click play and pick up right where I left off. 

Needless to say, this has transformed my TV viewing. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could apply this to life? If we could pause those nasty interruptions that barge into our lives? Better yet, if we could click play and go back to the much longed for days we had before? A nice thought, but alas it can never be. 

I read the definition of a pregnant pause this morning. The pause I’m in right now doesn’t feel like a pregnant pause. I honestly feel sometimes nothing significant will come from this.  Perhaps you feel the same way about yours. 

Do you think Joseph felt that his situation was a pregnant pause? We all know that yes, something very significant happened at the end. But in the middle of a pause, the outlook can be quite grim sometimes. 

Somewhere along the way, Joseph began to see that God had him and this situation well in hand. Genesis 45:5-8 reveals his awesome faith in his God. Listen to what he said when he revealed himself to his brothers:

 “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God."

Reading this really elevates your faith doesn’t it?  When you know your purpose and whose hand is on your life, the interruptions of life will not sway you.

It also means that the pauses of life aren’t wasted seasons. We don’t just endure this “wasted” season of our lives until favorable conditions return. There isn’t a pause in His presence, His grace, in His purpose for us. 

God is working now. He is preparing our hearts. Changing us from the inside out. Easing the bitterness out of the wound, and creating a tender heart. He is blessing others through us now. Yes even now in this pregnant pause. 

Joseph was a blessing to his master, and to his fellow prisoners. God used him powerfully in the middle of the pause. But you and I have to let Him do this don’t we? It’s alway a choice isn’t it? 

I don’t always want to choose the right way. The old twisted sister would love to wallow around in self pity, moan and groan to whoever will listen about my sad lot in life, indulge in those ugly thoughts, and just be miserable to everybody. 

Like David, I’m speaking to myself the truth. That my God is still at work now. His purpose for me has not ended. I can be a blessing now. 

This isn’t just a pause, an interruption. It’s a pregnant pause. Because of the faithfulness of my God, something significant will happen. 

The Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the LORD, who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:6 NIV