Many people feel that they are good communicators because they can speak volumes. Speaking is only one part of communication. For there to be communication, there has to be a two-way exchange. Effective communication requires listening. Talking, while necessary for communication, is only one part. Listening is just as critical. Communication is just as important in our relationship with God as it is with each other. We can pray until our tongue falls out of our mouth, but if all we do is talk to God, we miss an essential part of the equation. We must also listen to Him. We are happy when God gives us the answers we want, but how do we respond when the answer is no? What happens when the answer is wait? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive, but listening is active. If we are honest with ourselves, we are not very good at listening. Listening is not our natural behavior. Many times we are too focused on what we are going to say next, or how we can shift the conversation to something else. We have to decide to focus on what we hear to really listen. That advice that works in human relationships is also essential in our Godly relationship. Our ears do not limit God’s ability to speak; our listening limits it. It is so important to be tuned in to what God is saying because there will be times that we will not hear His voice. Sometimes that is because there is too much noise. We have to be sensitive to God’s voice. Even though all the noise that fills our day, God still speaks to His people. We might be tempted to ask God to speak louder so we can hear Him over the distractions, but often we have to be still and listen for that still small voice. How often do we expect God to change how He speaks, when we really need to remove the noise and put ourselves in place to tune all that out.

Many people feel that they are good communicators because they can speak volumes. Speaking is only one part of communication. For there to be communication, there has to be a two-way exchange. Effective communication requires listening. Talking, while necessary for communication, is only one part. Listening is just as critical. Communication is just as important in our relationship with God as it is with each other. We can pray until our tongue falls out of our mouth, but if all we do is talk to God, we miss an essential part of the equation. We must also listen to Him. We are happy when God gives us the answers we want, but how do we respond when the answer is no? What happens when the answer is wait? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive, but listening is active. If we are honest with ourselves, we are not very good at listening. Listening is not our natural behavior. Many times we are too focused on what we are going to say next, or how we can shift the conversation to something else. We have to decide to focus on what we hear to really listen. That advice that works in human relationships is also essential in our Godly relationship. Our ears do not limit God’s ability to speak; our listening limits it. It is so important to be tuned in to what God is saying because there will be times that we will not hear His voice. Sometimes that is because there is too much noise. We have to be sensitive to God’s voice. Even though all the noise that fills our day, God still speaks to His people. We might be tempted to ask God to speak louder so we can hear Him over the distractions, but often we have to be still and listen for that still small voice. How often do we expect God to change how He speaks, when we really need to remove the noise and put ourselves in place to tune all that out.

Many people feel that they are good communicators because they can speak volumes. Speaking is only one part of communication. For there to be communication, there has to be a two-way exchange. Effective communication requires listening. Talking, while necessary for communication, is only one part. Listening is just as critical. Communication is just as important in our relationship with God as it is with each other. We can pray until our tongue falls out of our mouth, but if all we do is talk to God, we miss an essential part of the equation. We must also listen to Him. We are happy when God gives us the answers we want, but how do we respond when the answer is no? What happens when the answer is wait? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive, but listening is active. If we are honest with ourselves, we are not very good at listening. Listening is not our natural behavior. Many times we are too focused on what we are going to say next, or how we can shift the conversation to something else. We have to decide to focus on what we hear to really listen. That advice that works in human relationships is also essential in our Godly relationship. Our ears do not limit God’s ability to speak; our listening limits it. It is so important to be tuned in to what God is saying because there will be times that we will not hear His voice. Sometimes that is because there is too much noise. We have to be sensitive to God’s voice. Even though all the noise that fills our day, God still speaks to His people. We might be tempted to ask God to speak louder so we can hear Him over the distractions, but often we have to be still and listen for that still small voice. How often do we expect God to change how He speaks, when we really need to remove the noise and put ourselves in place to tune all that out.

The pandemic has pushed many of us into isolation. While we may have had some contact, many miss seeing friends and loved ones in person. We miss coming to church and seeing the smile across the aisle. We miss the handshakes or hugs that we used to enjoy. Some have used this time to draw closer to God, but sadly, some have drive farther away. It may not have been intended, but the waves of life have pushed us well away from where we thought we were. When we find ourselves in that situation, it is all too easy to feel as if we are alone and that no one knows we are struggling. Even if we have drifted, God knows where we are. This health crisis has forced into isolation for our collective safety. But in this isolation, the enemy will come with every lie he can to separate us from God. He will say that we are alone and that not even God cares where we are. It is too easy to believe these lies when we are beaten down and weak. Our text is a clear statement that God has not forgotten any one of us. Even Jesus was tempted. After He was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After forty days of fasting and temptation, Jesus relied on the word to withstand Satan’s attacks. Multiple times, He said, “it is written…” The word of God will sustain us when we find ourselves out in the wilderness fighting the enemy. The wilderness is a time when we appear to be headed in the opposite direction of our dream. The wilderness is a place where God is proving us. The wilderness us a pace where we feel alone, isolated, and abandoned. Even in the wilderness, God knows where we are. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Paul, and John all found themselves in a wilderness. Each of these men had a promise, a blessing, and a calling on their lives. But, between being called and realizing the promise, they had to experience the wilderness. The wilderness is the preparation ground for future work in the Kingdom. None of us want to be in the wilderness. Israel murmured and complained while in the wilderness, but the promised land was still ahead of them. God fed and provided for them in the wilderness. God knows exactly where we are, even in this quarantine time. God is taking us through this to prove us, to show us that we can trust Him. This situation has a purpose, and God will use it for His glory. Our text says that the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search for the one. This does not mean that he abandoned the ninety-nine, but that he left them in a safe place while he went to search for the lost one. We may be in the wilderness, but we are not alone. There are ninety-eight others waiting with us while He searches for the one. He may have left us for now, but we are alright.

The pandemic has pushed many of us into isolation. While we may have had some contact, many miss seeing friends and loved ones in person. We miss coming to church and seeing the smile across the aisle. We miss the handshakes or hugs that we used to enjoy. Some have used this time to draw closer to God, but sadly, some have drive farther away. It may not have been intended, but the waves of life have pushed us well away from where we thought we were. When we find ourselves in that situation, it is all too easy to feel as if we are alone and that no one knows we are struggling. Even if we have drifted, God knows where we are. This health crisis has forced into isolation for our collective safety. But in this isolation, the enemy will come with every lie he can to separate us from God. He will say that we are alone and that not even God cares where we are. It is too easy to believe these lies when we are beaten down and weak. Our text is a clear statement that God has not forgotten any one of us. Even Jesus was tempted. After He was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After forty days of fasting and temptation, Jesus relied on the word to withstand Satan’s attacks. Multiple times, He said, “it is written…” The word of God will sustain us when we find ourselves out in the wilderness fighting the enemy. The wilderness is a time when we appear to be headed in the opposite direction of our dream. The wilderness is a place where God is proving us. The wilderness us a pace where we feel alone, isolated, and abandoned. Even in the wilderness, God knows where we are. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Paul, and John all found themselves in a wilderness. Each of these men had a promise, a blessing, and a calling on their lives. But, between being called and realizing the promise, they had to experience the wilderness. The wilderness is the preparation ground for future work in the Kingdom. None of us want to be in the wilderness. Israel murmured and complained while in the wilderness, but the promised land was still ahead of them. God fed and provided for them in the wilderness. God knows exactly where we are, even in this quarantine time. God is taking us through this to prove us, to show us that we can trust Him. This situation has a purpose, and God will use it for His glory. Our text says that the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search for the one. This does not mean that he abandoned the ninety-nine, but that he left them in a safe place while he went to search for the lost one. We may be in the wilderness, but we are not alone. There are ninety-eight others waiting with us while He searches for the one. He may have left us for now, but we are alright.

The pandemic has pushed many of us into isolation. While we may have had some contact, many miss seeing friends and loved ones in person. We miss coming to church and seeing the smile across the aisle. We miss the handshakes or hugs that we used to enjoy. Some have used this time to draw closer to God, but sadly, some have drive farther away. It may not have been intended, but the waves of life have pushed us well away from where we thought we were. When we find ourselves in that situation, it is all too easy to feel as if we are alone and that no one knows we are struggling. Even if we have drifted, God knows where we are. This health crisis has forced into isolation for our collective safety. But in this isolation, the enemy will come with every lie he can to separate us from God. He will say that we are alone and that not even God cares where we are. It is too easy to believe these lies when we are beaten down and weak. Our text is a clear statement that God has not forgotten any one of us. Even Jesus was tempted. After He was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After forty days of fasting and temptation, Jesus relied on the word to withstand Satan’s attacks. Multiple times, He said, “it is written…” The word of God will sustain us when we find ourselves out in the wilderness fighting the enemy. The wilderness is a time when we appear to be headed in the opposite direction of our dream. The wilderness is a place where God is proving us. The wilderness us a pace where we feel alone, isolated, and abandoned. Even in the wilderness, God knows where we are. Abraham, Moses, Joseph, David, Paul, and John all found themselves in a wilderness. Each of these men had a promise, a blessing, and a calling on their lives. But, between being called and realizing the promise, they had to experience the wilderness. The wilderness is the preparation ground for future work in the Kingdom. None of us want to be in the wilderness. Israel murmured and complained while in the wilderness, but the promised land was still ahead of them. God fed and provided for them in the wilderness. God knows exactly where we are, even in this quarantine time. God is taking us through this to prove us, to show us that we can trust Him. This situation has a purpose, and God will use it for His glory. Our text says that the shepherd left the ninety-nine to search for the one. This does not mean that he abandoned the ninety-nine, but that he left them in a safe place while he went to search for the lost one. We may be in the wilderness, but we are not alone. There are ninety-eight others waiting with us while He searches for the one. He may have left us for now, but we are alright.

We do not have to try very hard in life to be offended. A simple review of social media opens a world of people who are offended about almost everything. Jesus said that offenses will come, but He did NOT say that we had to be offended. If we get upset about every unkind word or perceived slight, we are not doing anyone or ourselves any good. Jesus said “Many will be offended.” He says this in response to the disciples asking how they will know the time of His return. This is one of the signs of the end times. The word used for offenses here is related to a trap. Being offended is a trap that holds us down. As long as we hold on to an offense, we are trapped by them. If we look at our life and see that we are being offended by many things, then perhaps we need to look at ourselves to see how we can deal with it differently. On the other side of the equation is the offender. Many people use excuses to explain how they are offensive: “It is just my nature.” The bible says that it would be better to be cast into the sea with a millstone around their neck. The truth is that hurt people hurt other people. As children of God, we are called to be a light unto the world. We cannot be a light, if we are caught up in the same trap everyone else. If we are to minister to a hurting and lost world we have to be something different. We have to demonstrate a joy and happiness that we cannot do if we are mired in petty offenses and bickering.

We do not have to try very hard in life to be offended. A simple review of social media opens a world of people who are offended about almost everything. Jesus said that offenses will come, but He did NOT say that we had to be offended. If we get upset about every unkind word or perceived slight, we are not doing anyone or ourselves any good. Jesus said “Many will be offended.” He says this in response to the disciples asking how they will know the time of His return. This is one of the signs of the end times. The word used for offenses here is related to a trap. Being offended is a trap that holds us down. As long as we hold on to an offense, we are trapped by them. If we look at our life and see that we are being offended by many things, then perhaps we need to look at ourselves to see how we can deal with it differently. On the other side of the equation is the offender. Many people use excuses to explain how they are offensive: “It is just my nature.” The bible says that it would be better to be cast into the sea with a millstone around their neck. The truth is that hurt people hurt other people. As children of God, we are called to be a light unto the world. We cannot be a light, if we are caught up in the same trap everyone else. If we are to minister to a hurting and lost world we have to be something different. We have to demonstrate a joy and happiness that we cannot do if we are mired in petty offenses and bickering.

We do not have to try very hard in life to be offended. A simple review of social media opens a world of people who are offended about almost everything. Jesus said that offenses will come, but He did NOT say that we had to be offended. If we get upset about every unkind word or perceived slight, we are not doing anyone or ourselves any good. Jesus said “Many will be offended.” He says this in response to the disciples asking how they will know the time of His return. This is one of the signs of the end times. The word used for offenses here is related to a trap. Being offended is a trap that holds us down. As long as we hold on to an offense, we are trapped by them. If we look at our life and see that we are being offended by many things, then perhaps we need to look at ourselves to see how we can deal with it differently. On the other side of the equation is the offender. Many people use excuses to explain how they are offensive: “It is just my nature.” The bible says that it would be better to be cast into the sea with a millstone around their neck. The truth is that hurt people hurt other people. As children of God, we are called to be a light unto the world. We cannot be a light, if we are caught up in the same trap everyone else. If we are to minister to a hurting and lost world we have to be something different. We have to demonstrate a joy and happiness that we cannot do if we are mired in petty offenses and bickering.

We live in troubling times. Our leaders today face the same challenge that Pharaoh did in our text. They have the impossible task of making decisions. No matter what decision they make, some will criticize and complain.

In our text, we learn about Pharaoh’s dreams that troubled him. None of his advisors could explain them. One of his attendants remembers Joseph. Out of desperation, Pharaoh brings Joseph from the prison to interpret his dreams. Joseph explains the dreams, but that explanation was not enough to give Pharaoh peace. Joseph goes on with the wisdom given to him by God; he provides a plan to carry Egypt through the coming hard times. The explanation combined with the wisdom was the answer of peace.

God had prepared Joseph to put him in a place to bring glory to Him. God caused Egypt to prosper because of Joseph. Through Joseph, God blessed that entire area of the world during the famine. He stocked the storehouses with supplies that were more than enough to sustain them through the troubled times. In the global situation we now find ourselves, be assured that God has stockpiled the storehouses through His church. God has an answer of peace.