Notes of Faith September 11, 2025
Remember those who suffered and died 24 years ago in New York city when the twin towers were destroyed. Remember the family of the young and inspiring Charlie Kirk, who was taken from us yesterday. Pray for the Lord Jesus to come and end the evil that is in this world.
Sniffing the Perfume
It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Genesis 41:16
Joseph and Daniel were so alike! Young men exiled from their home who ended up in the palace of pagan rulers who awoke with disturbing dreams. Both young men told the ruler, in effect, “I can do nothing, but I know God, and He can do everything.” It reminds us of the apostle Paul, who said, “Not I, but Christ” (Galatians 2:20, KJV).
For Christians, receiving compliments is a bit of a challenge. We’re to be thankful and gracious to the one talking with us, and we don’t want to ignore, deflect, or devalue their kind comments. At the same time, we don’t want to harbor anything in our hearts that can lead to pride or self-sufficiency. That’s why it’s good to think through our response to applause and tributes. It’s always nice to respond with “Thank you,” “Praise the Lord,” or “You’re so kind and encouraging.” One pastor, whenever complimented for his sermon, simply smiles and says, “I hope it was helpful.” Another says, “Thank you, and thank the Lord!”
A big part of being sociable is learning to accept compliments gratefully while giving God all the glory in our hearts.
When people come up and give me a compliment…I take each remark as if it were a flower. At the end of each day I lift up the bouquet…and say, “Here you are, Lord.”
Corrie Ten Boom
Gen 41:9-16
9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
I love the t-shirt that says, “I can’t, but I know a guy”. I hear that kind of reference often when I ask for help about something around the house. It is a very poor way to express the person of Almighty God and yet some might listen to that simple reference and say, Oh yeah…He can do anything! It is God who has made us, who sustains us, who gives us our every breath, heartbeat, and thought. I give God thanks and praise for these thoughts that I send to you each day, for they are given to me to share with you. May you be blessed today by sharing with others what God has given to you that they so deeply need.
Pastor Dale