Run Joe Run

Day 2 of the @YouVersion plan ‘Problems and Solutions’ got me thinking. Here is what I got from it:

RUN JOE RUN

Joseph faced severe temptation in Potiphar’s mansion in the guise of a bored wife with time hanging heavily on her idle hands.

What was his only and best option to keep him pure?

Run away from the source of the evil and not get drawn into its net.

Had he delayed or reasoned with himself or lingered a little bit longer, Joseph’s story would have ended up a lot different- an altered future with no honor, less of a legacy (if any at all), and no blessing for sure.

Let’s not reason with evil or make excuses for our moral failures.

Don’t rationalize sinful behavior.

There’s always an option to make the right decision.

Remember Paul in jail faced the most challenging trial of his life, but iron bars did not constitute a prison for him. His writings while in confinement are some of the most inspiring chapters in the Bible. No despair, murmuring or boredom for Paul. He saw his situation as a reprieve and used it as a channel for God’s glory. 

So we see that most problems have workable solutions.

There are some that are so overwhelming that we can only run away before we make the wrong choice or simply weep and lay them down at the Master’s feet in prayer.

Prayer is a lifeline with a solution at its end.

Temptations come to everybody. Even Jesus was tempted. It’s how we overcome that reveals our moral fiber. So let’s not say that God tempted us. He allows the temptation but also provides a way of escape.

So then, submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you.
James 4:7 GNB
https://bible.com/bible/296/jas.4.7.GNB

---

Text, Credits, and Resources:

Genesis 39:7‭-‬12 EASY After some time had passed, Potiphar’s wife saw that Joseph was handsome. She said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ But Joseph refused to do that. He said, ‘My master does not need to think about anything in the house. I take care of everything that belongs to him. No one has more authority in this house than I do. My master keeps nothing from me, except you. That is because you are his wife. I could not do such a bad thing. I could not do a sin that is against God.’  Potiphar’s wife continued to speak to Joseph every day. But he would not agree to go to bed with her. He would not even go near her. One day Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the other servants were there in the house. Potiphar’s wife suddenly took hold of Joseph’s coat. She said, ‘Come to bed with me!’ Joseph left his coat in her hand and he ran out of the house. Genesis 39:7‭-‬12 EASY

Happy are those who remain faithful under trials, because when they succeed in passing such a test, they will receive as their reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. If people are tempted by such trials, they must not say, “This temptation comes from God.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But people are tempted when they are drawn away and trapped by their own evil desires. Then their evil desires conceive and give birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:12‭-‬15 GNB
https://bible.com/bible/296/jas.1.12-15.GNB

From day 2 of the @YouVersion plan ‘Problems and Solutions’. Check it out here:http://bible.com/r/3Qw

If you have time to walk and extra mile on this thought, think about the young boy David who God guided to run toward, head long, into a very big, literally giant, opposition: 1 Samuel 17:45‭-‬52 GNB David answered, “You are coming against me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the Israelite armies, which you have defied. This very day the LORD will put you in my power; I will defeat you and cut off your head. And I will give the bodies of the Philistine soldiers to the birds and animals to eat. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a God, and everyone here will see that the LORD does not need swords or spears to save his people. HE is victorious in battle, and HE will put all of you in our power.” Goliath started walking towards David again, and David ran quickly towards the Philistine battle line to fight him. He put his hand into his bag and took out a stone, which he slung at Goliath. It hit him on the forehead and broke his skull, and Goliath fell face downwards on the ground. And so, without a sword, David defeated and killed Goliath with a sling and a stone! He ran to him, stood over him, took Goliath’s sword out of its sheath, and cut off his head and killed him. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they ran away. The men of Israel and Judah shouted and ran after them, pursuing them all the way to Gath and to the gates of Ekron. The Philistines fell wounded all along the road that leads to Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron.
1 Samuel 17:45‭-‬52 GNB
https://bible.com/bible/296/1sa.17.45-52.GNB

One of the shortest, and yet most powerful messages I ever heard was, “1 Stone, 1 Throw, 1 Dead giant.” For outline go to https://wp.me/p6Exj2-2ov

Abiding Resurrection Power

I finished the The Secret Power Of Abiding Bible reading plan from @YouVersion! Here is part of the final day, day 3, of that plan:

Discover what God’s viewpoint is on any matter. Learn what He is asking you to do through His Word. Then do it.

Maybe you’ve tried to do what counselors, self-help books, and television programs have told you to try, but you are still sliding backwards, backsliding, not moving on, or just stagnantly trapped in neutral.

To help us come alive again, and to stay alive in Christ, what you need, what we all need, is a resurrection.

Whatever may be killing your joy, your maturity (Spiritual growth), keeping you back, God can take that dead or dying scenario and call forth a resurrection.

He can take what looks like a rotting situation and give it new life.

He is “the resurrection and the life!”

(John 11:25-26)

The Bible declares that Jesus is seated on the right hand of the Father, always making intercession for us.

You can discover what that means by abiding in Christ daily and letting His words reach deep within you. Accept the fact that Jesus talks to God for you as you Abide in Him.

Take God at His Word:

Jesus said to her, ‘I have authority over death. I raise dead people, and I give people true life. Anyone who believes in me will live. Even if that person dies, he will continue to live. People who live because they believe in me will never die. Do you believe that?’
John 11:25‭-‬26 EASY

God raised Jesus, to make him alive again after his death. Now God’s Spirit lives in you. So God, who raised Christ from death, will also cause your human bodies to live again. He will do that by his Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:11 EASY

These thoughts, lessons, and words of encouragement have been taken from the @YouVersion 3 day plan ‘The Secret Power Of Abiding‘. Check out all 3 days here: http://bible.com/r/5ml

Remained, Reclined, Recognized

From day 2 of the 3 day @YouVersion plan ‘The Secret Power Of Abiding’ we read this:

After the resurrection, two men were walking toward Emmaus when they were met by a stranger who walked alongside them. Though they didn’t recognize Him, that stranger was Jesus, and He talked to them about the Scriptures. As they approached their village, they “urged Him” to stay with them for the evening. They wanted more.

When Jesus saw their sincere desire, He remained with them. And as He reclined at the table to eat dinner with them, their eyes were opened: “So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him…” (Luke 24:29-31).

It wasn’t until they fellowshipped with Him that they saw who He truly was.

The recognition came when He broke the bread.

As He lifted the bread to bless it and break it, they must have seen the nail prints in His hands. Their eyes were opened, and they saw the Lord.

It is this intimacy that makes biblical truth come to life. Without it, there is no life (John 5:39-40).

May we have our eyes opened so we can “see” Jesus.

Today’s reading comes from, “The Secret Power Of Abiding” • Devotional.

Day 1👈Seek The Secret

God’s Word:

But they wanted him to stop there. They said to him, ‘Please stay in our home with us. It is getting late, and it will soon be night.’ So Jesus went into their house to stay with them. He sat down to eat with them. He took the bread and he thanked God for it. He broke it into pieces and he gave some to them. Their eyes became clear and they recognized him. But then he disappeared , and they could no longer see him.
Luke 24:29‭-‬31 EASY

I pray that God will bring light into your minds. Then you will understand about the many good things that he has prepared for you. You know that you will receive those things because he has chosen you to be his people. God has prepared very valuable things for you in heaven.
Ephesians 1:18 EASY

You study carefully what the Bible teaches. You think that those books will give you life with God. And those books do really explain what is true about me. But then you refuse to come to me so that you could have life with God!
John 5:39‭-‬40 EASY

For Christ’s Sake

What comes to mind when you hear, “For Christ’s sake!”, said?

Too many times people say, “For Christ’s sake!” In vein. They said it before or after things that are not for His sake, His purpose, His Plan, His reasons, His glory, or His mission.

I’m not easily offended by words that are considered, assigned, or designated as, “cuss” words but I am truly offended when I hear people us my saviour’s name for their own sake. Not in prayer, or with meaning, just thrown out there; not talking to Him or calling in Him, just using it as a negative expression.

I understand it means nothing to them. I don’t judge them I am just offended personally because His name and His purpose means so much to me.

The verse of the day, from Psalm 23, drove this home today:

He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3 AMPC

May we live, truly, for Christ’s sake.

Drum Psalms

Take up a song and strike the drum! Sweet lyre along with harp! Psalms 81:2 CEB https://bible.com/bible/37/psa.81.2.CEB

Don’t Stop The Music:

Seek The Secret

Sometimes your greatest revelation of Jesus is likely to come in the midst of your most hopeless situation. Your greatest kingdom encounter will come when you are at your lowest point emotionally, spiritually and physically.

When we got rock bottom.

Your greatest manifestation of Christ will come when He seems the furthest away.

It’s not necessarily going to come by going to church or during a small group study. It will come when you seek His presence.

Let’s say that again, Your greatest kingdom encounter, our greatest manifestation of Christ will not necessarily come by going to church or during a small group study. It may come when He seems the furthest away; but rather, most certainly, it will come when we seek His presence.

Our eyes will be opened to Jesus and all He is, both in us and for us when we are hanging out in His presence, watching Him and keeping our eyes focused on His every move. 

More often than not, Jesus will reveal Himself to you in the middle of the ordinary moment in life, when He sees that you are focusing on Him because you want to. 

John 15 says that if you will abide in Him and His Word, and He abides in you, you can do anything. You can overcome anything. Your prayers will be answered because your prayers will be aligned to Him. Jesus says,

Jesus doesn’t want you to just learn about Him, study some stories, post some Scripture and throw up some prayers. He wants a relationship with YOU.

That’s the kingdom encounter we need to pursue. 

It’s called: abiding. 

Here is a big fat question:

Are you allowing religious activities to take the place of abiding in Christ?

This devoted thought is taken from day 1 of the @YouVersion plan ‘The Secret Power Of Abiding’. Check it out here:
http://bible.com/r/5ml

See day 2 👉The Secret Power Of Abiding👈

Check out Too Big to Fail by Petra on Amazon Music:

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0087RCQGO?trackAsin=B0087RCXV2&ref=dm_sh_4qEMQDjSca1F2qwdjm0ocejw8

Ya Don’t Have To Debate (Audio Devotional)

This post is more about listening than reading and speaking. I hope it will be extra helpful to you, especially during these times of so much double talk, debate, and confussion all around us (October 2020). The theme here is:

“Avoid Foolish Talk”

The thoughts/audio is from the, “Avoiding The Nonsense” • Devotional
(https://bible.com/reading-plans/15321/day/1?segment=0)

Does your pride ever keep you from stepping away from a foolish argument?

The theme of this meditation from Titus 3 is coming to recognize and then evading foolish conversations, learning to avoid what is foolish to pursue what is righteous.

👂🙊👉Click here for 15 min. Audio Devotion👈🙊👂

God’s Word on the subject:

If someone teaches a false message that causes trouble, warn him. If you warn him twice and he still does not stop, stay away from him.
Titus 3:10 EASY

How do we show real love? We show it when we live in a way that makes God happy. We obey his rules. He tells us to love one another, and that is how you should live. You have heard that rule from the beginning.
2 John 1:6 EASY

Now it is God’s Spirit that gives us life. So we must let God’s Spirit lead us in how we live.
Galatians 5:25 EASY

“Avoid The Nonsense”

---

The audio meditation and Bible verses here are found in day 1 of the 3 day “Avoiding The Nonsense” Bible reading plan from @YouVersion!

Day 2 covers, “A theme from Proverbs 21, learning to avoid some of life’s nonsense so you can discover the good gifts of life, success, and honor.”

“Do you ever feel like you are living in a hectic teeming tidal pool constantly being smashed by waves?” Day 3 covers that thought.

For the whole plan, with guided audio, visit:
http://bible.com/r/3z7

Above all else remember, you don’t have to debate, we don’t have to argue our points, our stance. We don’t have to convince or try to win over anyone to, “our side.” Hold tight to your faith in Christ and feel free to walk away, stay silent, and even avoid all together foolish talk.

Smiles From Heaven (part of Hit Play Series)

Hit play on video below so the music plays as you read:

I’m never sure who is reading what I write, or how much they know about me; not that I matter much, but so that, they kinda know where I am coming from.

Some family and friends tell me that as they read what I’ve written they can actually hear my voice in their head as if I am right there saying it to them.

I believe that is true. Isn’t it wonderful when you know the author and recognize their voice?

Even listening to interviews or reading about the author has always been interesting to me. When you get to know about them or learn where they are coming from it makes reading their work more fun, entertaining, relatable, and meaningful.

We write what we know, who we are, what we’ve been through, what we are presently enduring, and hope for what may come.

We can’t possibly know what’s in our future, what remains to be written. Sure, we can plan, we can take precautions, and work toward goals but in the blink of an eye that can all be changed.

Bottom line, I just wanna know “The Author” of Life more and more, better and better everyday. It can be challenging to get to know a friend who has no face, no body for us to touch. In the same way,

We can’t see the wind. We can see the effects of the wind but we can’t see the wind.

-Billy Graham

Although we can’t see Him we can hear Him through reading His Words, the very Words He inspired and still inspires people to write.

Since His ascension to heaven He is no longer in bodily form; therefore, He is no longer physically visible, but we can feel His touch down in the depths of our souls. It’s hard to explain but those who have called Him or have heard/felt His touch can definitely relate.

No, We can’t see Him, but we can see Him in other people’s actions.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit!

No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus , who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Hebrews 12:1‭-‬3 MSG

…Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
Romans 12:1‭-‬2 MSG

… Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…
Hebrews 12:2 MEV

It is my hope & prayer that, if you’re just not in touch with The Author Of Life or feel the need to get to know Him, that you will just cry out to Him, let Him reign.

If you already know Him, and you’re going steady with Him, may you continue to prep for that final great wedding day.

Make no mistake, He is looking down from Heaven. No doubt some times He is crying over us and for us; He is also smiling and rejoices when even just one lost sheep, prodigal son, valuable coin (soul) is found.

One last thought before this song is over, I hope that you’ll know God is not only sending smiles from heaven He has also sent His Holy Spirit to live in us and stay with us from now on unto eternity.

Enjoy Him and may He smile on you (bless you). Also, may you make Him smile (bless The Lord).

In Him & for Christ’s sake, beetle

📣📣EXTRAS📣📣

You can also check out “Smiles From Heaven” by Michael Fair on Amazon Music:

Or on Spotify:

If you wanna get to know me a little better and hear my story, where I am coming from, here is the link to my: About Page (https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/about/)

Like A Tree I Shall Not Be Moved

Even in the fall (Autumn) a tree may lose its leaves but it still holds its ground.

Lyric Video:

You can also check out I Shall Not Be Moved (feat. Solomon Jabby, Vanessa Mardueno & Avion Blackman) by Christafari on Amazon Music https://music.amazon.com/albums/B008OI1PUO?trackAsin=B008OI1YFU&ref=dm_sh_PQwDhyjZZ51gWdEvAdVBrDRwd

John Mehler – Back In Love – 1987 Classic Christian ROCK

2nd Album from Drummer John Mehler – Back In Love – 1987 – Full Album (HQ) on YouTube. This came out the year after I graduated from High School. As I moved into young adulthood, college and career age, I clung to my Faith in Christ and this album helped feed my Faith.

Enjoy, Beetle

More info. from Real80s CCM:

Real 80s CCMMENU

John Mehler – Back In Love – 1987

This is John’s 2nd solo album but he had several compilation albums.

He really should have done more solo albums as he really does some great Rock & Roll.

I will admit that there are a few songs with a new wave vibe but generally it’s a good Rock & Roll album. The fact that John is a drummer actually comes through in his music.

I’ve never heard so many songs start with a drum intro on any album. It’s not a complaint however because it works great on this album. Bottom line is that this is a great album that should be in your 80’s collection.

Playlist:

Track Listing:
1 – Hey Landlord
2 – Child of Heaven
3 – Drive Away
4 – Point Of View
5 – Back In Love
6 – Channel 53
7 – Gate Into The Sky
8 – All Of Your Love
9 – Call For Surrender
10 – There Will Come A Time

Credits:
Co-producer – Bill Batstone
Producer – John Mehler

Link to his first solo Rock album: https://tombeetlebailey.wordpress.com/2020/10/10/listen-john-mehler-bow-arrow-1982-full-album-hq-on-youtube/

He also did some instrumental jazz work with Kenneth Nash. Here is a good sample: