Genesis 37:15 "Between"

I woke early, my mind singing “In The Bleak Mid-Winter”… Gloucester Cathedral Choir - In the Bleak Midwinter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRobryliBLQ

I love using this Genesis 37:15 verse (Amplified) with friends and my younger brothers; maybe their “must have” college class closed out, maybe their A became a C from the final, maybe mom/dad has said, “Grow Up, Get Out”, maybe 1/2 of 3 different jobs is still not enough. Genesis 37:15 is just an iReport from Canaan, zooming in on the life of one of Abraham’s great-grandchildren.

Joseph, on his first errand for father, had a misadventure. And there were more ahead: the bottom of the well, and the bottom of Egypt’s jail.

Yet he was headed to being the trusted household manager for Pharaoh’s head of Secret Service (Potiphar – that’s what his job was!). He was also headed toward being the 2nd most important leader of the largest civilized society of the time. He would show himself as being a veritable genius in both agriculture, logistics, and inventory control of the food supply in Egypt. A negotiator of peaceful internal and external affairs he became, engaged with serving millions of people.

So what was Joseph doing on this early assignment in life, depicted in the Amplified Version of Genesis 37:15? “… lost, wandering in the fields”. Doesn’t sound too fruitful, does it? (Perhaps the man who asked him a question was a Life Coach!)

Been there, I have. He was making absolutely NO progress, with all his useful, youthful energy and freedom and ability to travel in ANY direction.

Bottom of the well? Put there deliberately by those who would have Joseph gone forever, (and would lie to their own daddy about it.) Yes, still have my ticket stub somewhere from that ride!! Bottom of the jail? Put there by lies, deception, accusations that were as deliberate as they were untrue. I’ve visited there, truly have… if you haven’t yet, well, it’s coming!

So, if it seems like a “bleak mid-winter” time to you, maybe Joseph’s diary will give some comfort!!

A Few More Minutes

Ephesians 3: 20-21. Recently saw picture of a "facebook server farm". One of many Huge facilities with Huge rooms Big as Walmart, Filled with racks of computers around the country that support Just Facebook. And I think: "Paul said HE had more capacity than this, and it is on call."

The first time I chaperoned a TBC youth trip to camp in 2003, I'd had years of poor life quality due to inner ear. Many family trips missed, many many events walked out of, many meals left at restaurants to sit in car, taking my meds, wearing my electronic wristband, waiting for family to finish and bring my box. Drive 8 hours to vacation Saturday, be able to leave the condo for lunch by Wednesday...

So I go because the Youth Minister has asked me to fill a sudden adult vacancy, and the girls say "It's the closest that camp will ever be." I drive behind the church bus that I cannot ride, have lunch at a mall food court (which is always a challenge) to an altitude that makes my heart drop. In the first worship service, the fear, nausea, moist eyes began. Out come pills, and electronic bracelet. I already knew where the nearest exits and stairways were (my first check of ANY building!) There were a dozen people to cross over in theater seats, and I'd be on the stairs... maybe I wouldn't throw up in this lovely building, in front of 800 students, 70 from TBC. Maybe I wouldn't have a panic attack, and collapse against a outdoor wall, trembling with sweat in the Georgia summer heat.

And HE SAID: "Can you trust me for just a few more minutes?" Hmmm "you know my history, my life, how warm this balcony is, with all this movement" And HE SAID: "a few more minutes?" Not for camp, not for today, or even the 3 hour session, just maybe 3 minutes. So I said "Yes", and started watching my second hand. I'd taken my pills, the wrist band was working so hard my hand was curling at every impulse; I'd done all I could do.

And I began to calm!! Like never before, in the midst of loud challenging music, a sea of motion- filled teens, and a light show beyond lightning, and I'm beginning to relax!! The symptoms are subsiding. In 5 minutes, we "renewed" our contract of "just a few more minutes". And the minutes continued, and He told me: "you do your part, and I'll do MINE".

Yes, I'd been through 8 years of specialist therapy, which I continue today. And sometimes, I don't know with certainty, what my part is... and He still says, "you do your part, then I'll do MINE".

Praying with you, for the next few minutes....