Three Garments to Promotion

Three Garments to Promotion

You are all right to desire promotion. However, learn from the Bible story of Joseph. Before the kingly vestures, he lost two garments he liked. Are you willing to let go of some garments that hinder promotion. The garments say the following:

>>Humble yourself. Joseph let go of the beautiful garment of a favored son. Before his brothers threw him into the pit and sold him they took his beautiful garment. The event marked departure from his comfort zone and the protection of his father. It took him away from the luxury of the familiar. He was cut from people who mattered most. He was left with only God to trust in. In the end, he gave God credit for all he achieved. Humility is a precondition for promotion (James 4:10). He served diligently, competently and faithfully in Potiphar’s house and in the prison despite his big unfulfilled personal dreams. He did not fully understand what was going on but did not complain. 

>> Pass the moral tests. Joseph had to let go his precious garment as a poor slave. Keeping it would have stood between him and his promotion.  He maintained his integrity even though he was sent to prison on false accusations. He remained faithful to God’s word. At college to progress to the next level, you have to pass tests. Joseph passed the moral tests for promotion.  He refused to let Mrs. Potiphar seduce him. Instead, he ran away from her like someone fleeing from mortal danger (Genesis 39:12).  He also refused to become bitter despite having been mistreated. 

>>Expect amazing elevation. Joseph was arrayed with royal vestures of fine linen with a ring of kingly authority and a gold chain of honor. He hastily received amazing elevation when time was ripe. What garments are keeping you from your kingly robes? Joseph’s faith, character and relational qualities in the valley of his life promoted him. It is neither by power nor by might. Let us meet at a higher level.  

Three Dreams to Promotion

Three Dreams to Promotion

Promotion neither comes from the east nor the west but from the Lord[1]. As in Joseph’s case, God promotes from the dungeon against all odds[2]. God’s works through how you handle three kinds of dreams.

>>Dream 1 – Your personal dream. Joseph's journey began with a personal dream. Preoccupation with his dream however dangerously brought him to a dungeon via a pit.  Announcing a dream can land the dreamer into serious trouble but the dream lives on.

>>Dream 2 – Your neighbors’ dreams. Joseph was ready to serve people around him even in the dungeon. He realized people around him also had dreams but could not interpret them. He therefore moved from talking about his personal dream to interpreting the dreams of fellow prisoners. Helping fellow people understand their dreams opened doors for him. It gained him a contact in the place of his divine appointment.

>>Dream 3 – Your leaders’ dreams. Joseph got the opportunity to interpret the dream of the leader linked to his dream role. Instead of leaving the leader, depressed with the meaning of his dream Joseph inspired hope with his words, ‘Now therefore let Pharaoh take [the following action]’. Joseph turned a dream problem to a dream solution. As for you, refuse to specialize in reporting problems. Suggest solutions for problems everyone else is talking about. Behind every problem, there is an opportunity to provide a solution. The world has enough questions and few answers.  Start interpreting dreams and more so, start recommending solutions. The king appointed Joseph as the Prime Minister not for his gift to dream and interpret dreams but for offering wise advice.

Being able to help solve the problems leaders face is the key to promotion.  For Joseph wisdom began with ability to keep Gods favor by maintaining his integrity during set backs.  ‘But if any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally...’[3]

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[1] Psalm 75:6-7

[2] Genesis 41:15-41

[3] James 1:5

Under the Sun

Under the Sun

During my school days, a favorite simile was ‘as persistent as a mosquito’. Experience had already taught me this one before I read it in the Student’s Companion. Given an opportunity, I could have also come close on ‘as wise as King Solomon’. Solomon definitely started right by asking for wisdom above everything else under the sun. Doubtful questions however arise about how well he applied the wisdom to his personal life. Especially when one remembers from the Psalms that wisdom is acknowledging God in one’s life[1].

At the beginning of Solomon’s career, everything under the sun was meaningless in comparison to wisdom. Having got it right at the beginning, he sadly lost it along the way. Instead of wisdom, He pursued knowledge only to condemn it as a source of grief[2]. He sought amusement and pleasure only to find it empty[3].  He chased after women only to experience what it was like to chase after the wind[4]  He had many wives and concubines who bore him many children. He was in charge of many people as a king. He had power, fame and acquired riches. At the end of this elusive search for meaning, he found himself back where he started crying out, ‘Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless… Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” [5]

Solomon managed to go the full circle. You may not make it. Instead of attempting 360 degrees, you can do a 180-degree turn today. Fear God and keep his ways. The grace in Christ is enough for all.

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[1] Psalm 14:1

[2] Ecclesiastes 1:4-11, 17, 18

[3] Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

[4] Ecclesiastes 7:26

[5] Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12:13

The Farmers’ Joy

The Farmers’ Joy

Farmers are delighted when rain falls at the right time and in right amounts. Where I grew up the prayer of every farmer was ‘let it rain’. The coming of rain brought joy. When rain came, not only farmers became alive. Trees and plants turned green, frogs croaked, birds sang and insects chirped and buzzed. Children rejoiced as they played outdoors at the onset of the rain season  and encouragingly sang ‘Go ahead fall so we can have something to eat’. 

The rain of the Holy Spirit is falling (Joel 2:23). Rain is however wasted unless the farmer:

>>Knows the opportunity. Fill yourself with the knowledge of God

>>Steps out. God is only pleased by faith.

>>Builds a team. You cannot do it alone or with people just like yourself.

>>Thinks long term. Lay the foundation for the future.

>>Gives something. The measure of giving indicates that of the harvest.

>>Focuses on causes. Thirst  for a better relationship with God not just his benefits.

>>Is patient. .  “…that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12)”.

To read more on this refer to:

http://wordoers.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-farmers-joy.html

Handle With Care

Handle With Care

Imagine what would happen if God dealt with humanity carelessly. Because He is all-powerful and loving, He has to handle humanity with utmost gentleness[1]. Just a careless drop of His hand can crush planet earth to nothing. Just a careless wave of His hand can sweep people off the universe to unknown emptiness in an instant. However, out of love, He chooses to put His power under control to produce benefit not harm. God is love and gentleness is a vital mark of love. David acknowledged the elevating impact of God's gentleness in his life, 'Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great [2]'.

It is amazing how gentleness in speech and actions can promote harmonious relationships. A colleague shared how things did not seem to go well in his marriage. Beginning of one year as he made his personal development plans he asked his wife for one thing he could work on that year to make her happier. She thought for a little while. She had heard lots of ‘I love yous' from her husband already. She was longing for love in a different word - gentleness. She said he should just work on being gentle. He decided to evaluate and set goals to improve how he spoke to her, how he responded to her and handled her generally. A miracle happened by year-end. It was as if they were happily married all over again. Beginning of the following year, he asked again for something to work on. She said just keep working on the area of gentleness. The following year it was the same and their marriage life was greatly transformed positively.

Faithfully walking in gentleness also works wonders in other relationships such as parental and team relationships. Every person  can do with a ‘Fragile: Handle with Care’ sign on him or her, because people are easily hurt if handled carelessly. Let your gentleness be known of all men. The Lord is near.  - Philippians 4:5

To read more visit:    http://wordoers.blogspot.com/2013/09/handle-with-care-gentleness.html

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[1] 2 Corinthians 10:1; Mathew 11:29; 21:5

[2] 2 Samuel 22:36; Psalm 18:35