What about Joseph?

I know that today is supposed to be about Jesus--and rightfully so--but I've been thinking about Joseph.  Earlier today, while watching The Nativity Story, his character (as portrayed in this film) really jumped out at me.  Not to spoil it for those who may not have seen it, but there are a few scenes that really make me admire the [kind of] man Joseph was.

Photo credit: Wikimedia.org

For example, his reaction to Mary's pregnancy was nothing short of remarkable--especially considering that his fiance` was not having his baby! This was even before he was tipped off in a dream, so his true character was one of integrity and compassion.  He wasn't tryna be spiteful and drag Mary's name through the mud, even though he had every right to, and more: the law actually called for her to be stoned to death (for the apparent charge of adultery).

Though I couldn't find corresponding illustrations in the Bible, the movie has an extended scene showing the journey Joseph and Mary took from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census ordered by King Herod.  He led them through the desert for several days, and he and Mary seemed to bond during that time.  But what really impressed me about the journey was how Joseph put his leadership swag on full blast. He walked until his feet bled and never uttered a complaint. While Mary and the donkey carrying her got rest, he prayed. He fed the family--including the donkey--first and took what was left.  And when Mary went into labor in Bethlehem, he was her doula... mind you, men weren't allowed anywhere near childbirth activity in those days. If these aren't the characteristics of a true man of God, then I don't what else to say!
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Throughout the movie, I found myself becoming infatuated with Joseph's persona. Don't laugh, I know it sounds corny but it's true!  I was thinking things like "No wonder he was chosen to raise the son of God!"; and "Now THAT is the kind of man that I'm holding out for!"  Seriously, a man of integrity and Godliness is beyond sexy!!  See, for a man like Joseph, the whole wives submit to your husbands* thing immediately becomes a non-issue for me. #truestory  I would trust his judgement without hesitation because he would be completely submitted to God.  And though he would make mistakes, as we all do, I would still receive his leadership because he consistently demonstrates that our family is his top priority.

All of these considerations show me the importance that God places on the cohesive family unit.  Yes, Jesus was God's son but He still ensured that there was a positive father figure in His life on Earth.  Mary could have just been a single mother--which wasn't probable for that day and age, but neither was immaculate conception--yet both parents were chosen to raise Him together.  It's not always possible to do that nowadays; I know, being the product of a single mom.  But thinking about Joseph's role only solidifies my resolve to unite, under the hand of God, with a man who is worthy of starting and raising a family with me.

Christmas blessings ,

pVI

*referenced Scriptures: Ephesians 5:21-23 and Colossians 3:18

Strange dream

I drifted in and out of sleep earlier this morning; not by choice, though.  Between my alarm/snooze button and my neighbors using a jack-hammer for home improvement, sound slumber was just not on the agenda. But finally, somehow, I managed to drift back off to sleep... only to have a disturbing dream.

I won't bore you with the details, but it involved:

• going back to high school (in uniform)
• meeting a transfer student from New Zealand
• getting bullied assaulted by a ginormous chick
• trying to call security

Now, this is freakishly weird for me since--even though I was bullied in elementary school--I'd never even been in a schoolyard fight.  I had no clue what to make of it but I woke up, startled.  So as soon as I caught myself, I started praying in the Spirit and rebuking demonic attacks. As of right now, I haven't detected any manifestations of said dream, but I'm still keeping a heads-up.

Have you ever had a strange dream-and part/all of it came true or gave you a hint about the future??  I've had some non-sensical dreams in the past but never anything of a 'prophetic' nature, yet I know that some people have that particular anointing [enter Joseph of Old Testament fame]. Caribbean people tend to be superstitious anyway; like, if someone dreams of fish, it means that a female relative is pregnant (or something to that effect). But I'm curious to know if God has ever shown you something in your sleep that later made sense or happened in 'real life'. If so, I wanna hear ALL about it!

be blessed!
pVI

“The Process”, part 2: Joseph

This has been in the making for a while long time and I have to apologize for the delay in continuing from part 1. SO sorry to leave you hangin’ like that; I actually have a personal disdain for unnecessary suspense!  But since I want to be sure that I do justice to each example, I’m going to dedicate a post to each one; so this has morphed into a kinda-sorta series in its own respect.

Soooo, enough with the small talk—let’s get into ‘The Process’ in action!

Joseph:

Yup, that dude—with the coat of many colors, who could interpret dreams, who became the ‘savior’ of Egypt and surrounding lands­—went through ‘the process’. His life story is an inspiration to many as we see his transformation from boy shepherd, to lowly slave, to inmate in a foreign prison, to governor of the most powerful country of the world at that time; or as the catchphrase goes ‘from the pit to the palace’.

Without re-hashing his whole life story, let’s zero-in on his gift/blessing/anointing and how God used that to set him up. Joseph’s first two prophetic dreams, when shared with his family, ultimately led his brothers to almost take him out. That’s kinda harsh considering that he didn’t ask for the dreams, but God determined that Joseph’s ability to have—and later to interpret—dreams would be necessary to save the world as they knew it. This could only come to fruition once Joseph was processed accordingly.

The specific purpose that God had in mind for Joseph required him to be a good steward shrewd manager, so his process involved two specific situations to build that particular skill set. First, as a slave in Potiphar’s house, he rose up through the ranks to become the estate manager. Second, Joseph entered the king’s prison as a regular inmate but in a matter of time, he was runnin’ the joint—literally! Of course, these were harrowing ordeals in and of themselves but there was plenty of other drama along the way: the wife of Joseph’s boss accusing him of rape, being forgotten after interpreting the dreams of two ‘distinguished’ inmates, and I’m sure all kinds of other stuff went down that didn’t make it into the final draft of the Bible. Yet, while his ‘training’ was gained under extreme duress, the Bible lets us know that God always had Joseph's back.

Fast-forward two full years to when Joseph is standing before Pharaoh as the newly-appointed governor of Egypt. He was able to interpret both of the king's dreams and ultimately save the land from starvation (including his brothers who wanted him dead)...

• because the winebearer remembered that Joseph interpreted his dream in prison;
• because he was the prison warden's assistant;
• because he was imprisoned for a false accusation of rape by his master's wife;
• because his work ethic as a slave was so outstanding that his master named him estate manager;
• because he was sold into slavery by his brothers;
• because God anointed him with two prophetic dreams as a teen.

This series of [un?]fortunate events represented the process of transforming Joseph into the person that God destined for him to be. While seemingly cruel and unusual in the natural world, the supernatural agenda of his life was structured in such a way that he would be taken to the far edge of his sanity and back--more than once. But each excruciating situation represented a hurdle that, once passed, added exponential value to Joseph's knowledge, strength, faith, wisdom and leadership ability.

The 'funny' thing about the process, though, is that when you're in the middle of it, you are absolutely clueless about what's going on. I'm willing to bet that young Joseph was scared to death and often questioned the God he clung to for dear life. But on the other side of all his blood, sweat and tears, I could definitely imagine him saying to his brothers (or at least thinking), 

"How ya like me now?!" 

#winning

 OK, OK, that was me, but this is what he really said:

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ 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. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

 ⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.  [Genesis 45:4-8 New International Version (NIV); emphasis added by me]

Be blessed (especially if you're in the midst of your process)!
pVI

P.S. Stay tuned for part 3!