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Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

To Spread Cheer

Holy God, as I stumble through this life, help me to create more laughter than tears, dispense more cheer than gloom, spread more joy than despair. Let me remind those I meet that our final existence will be total joy, and that we may taste this joy through the Spirit even today. Never let me become so indifferent that I will fail to see the wonder in the eyes of a child, or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged. Never let me forget that my total effort is to cheer people, make them happy, and forget momentarily all the temporary unpleasantness in their lives. And in my final moment, may I hear You whisper, “When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.”

by Nancy Mehl

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

O   God, who is near us always, I thank you for all the good gifts with which you have filled my life; for love that makes life beautiful, for all thoughts that uplift and gladden, for faith to believe and strength to attain, for every experience which humbles and teaches the need of you. Let me never doubt that, having led me thus far, you will lead me to the end. I wish to serve you; show me how I can do it best. Graciously look upon me and use me as you will. And grant that I may employ all of your gifts to the end of setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,

Blessing for the Day

Oh God, hold me in the palm of your hand. I pray that you will mold me into what you want me to be. May I joyfully fill the role you have given to me and feel your peace deep in my soul, today and always,

Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.

Psalm 106:1-3 (NKJV)

Genesis 41:37-45 (ESV)

Joseph Rises to Power [1]

This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot.

And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.

Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Notes on the Scripture

his ancient story does not read like a history, but like a very condensed version of the high points of an ancient occurrence. One might imagine that the events did not occur in a neat, quick sequence. But then, the story was passed down for innumerable centuries, the story of how a Canaanite slave came to be the governor or prime minister of Egypt.

Even more noteworthy is that the Pharaoh speaks here of “God.” We cannot believe that this Pharaoh became monotheistic, for the society of Egypt even this early was interwoven with a complex and important polytheism, of which the pharaohs were a critical part. The pharaohs themselves were, to varying degrees at different periods, considered demigods

But Pharaoh, here, is tremendously impressed with Joseph and the powers that he has demonstrated from this one God of the Hebrews. And throughout history, polytheistic civilizations have been able to accomplish the logical impossibility of accepting God and even Christ, without giving up inconsistent beliefs in their many little gods.

Joseph takes an Egyptian name and marries an Egyptian woman. One might conclude that he became Egyptian over a period of time and grew to his full power more gradually, or simply that the story is completely accurate and Pharaoh declared this slave the domestic ruler of Egypt in a moment of passion; absolute rulers have done stranger things.

Nothing is given about Joseph’s religion, and we must assume that he stayed faithful to God and did not accept the worship of any of the many Egyptian deities. Judaism was archaic at this time and would not become the religion we know until the rise of Moses, many centuries later. But God does not abide idolatry or the worship of false gods at any point in the Bible; so we must assume that Joseph remained completely faithful to the God of his father Jacob, his grandfather Isaac, and his great-grandfather, Abraham.

Daily Inspiration

“The Way”

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