Tag Archives: faith

The Joseph Parallel

Posted on April 2, 2016 by expressyourself4him

The logical individual thinks life should be a series of straight lines from point A to point B and so on.  While everyone may experience progress and natural progressions at times, life is full of detours, road blocks and phases of construction.  Therefore, the next time you find yourself in a period of transition, remember the Joseph parallel.

And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it, Genesis 37:23-24.

Joseph son of Jacob, had high expectations, receiving dreams and visions of the life God intended.  However, envy, jealousy and pride led Joseph down a path of disappointment.  Despite a series of heartbreaks, Joseph remained optimistic, leading to favor from God and man.  Apparently, Joseph didn’t care how long it took to fulfill God’s will.  Rather, Joseph kept plugging away at life until God opened doors that he was ready to walk through.

And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.  But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison, Genesis 39:20-21.

As I look at my own life, its not that different from Joseph.  However, when I experience trials I spent too much questioning God instead of making the best of each situation.  Subsequently, I have wasted countless days, weeks and years complaining instead of currying God’s favor.  In view of Joseph’s parallel, I need to be transformed, embracing hardships like James 1:2-4.  Although the Lord is waiting to bless his children, too many are having pity parties instead of taking God’s hand in faith.  May the Joseph parallel broaden your perspective and inspire you to keep serving the Lord until you reach your final destination.

by Jay Mankus

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As Good as Dead

Posted on April 1, 2016 by expressyourself4him

There are moments in life when things look bleak.  Whether you are talking about a career, health or someone’s future, everyone will face times of uncertainty.  When you reach this point, you have two logical options, resign yourself to giving up hope or keep fighting.

And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore, Hebrews 11:12.

Some of the classic action films in Hollywood lure possess numerous situations when the star should die.  Yet, somehow, someway, this character escapes death time after time.  While these scenes don’t portray an accurate view of real life, they do point to an invisible source called faith.  A hope that keeps many going despite feeling as good as dead.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer, Romans 12:12.

Abraham and the apostle Paul both found themselves in circumstances where each thought they were on the verge of death.  According to the author of Hebrews, Abraham leaned on a promise from God, to be a father of a great nation.  Meanwhile, as Paul faced threats on his life from jealous Jewish officials, Paul turned to prayer.  Therefore, whether your health or life is failing you, turn to the promises of the Bible and prayer to keep hope alive.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Buying Memories

Posted on March 31, 2016 by expressyourself4him

If you are a parent, there is a fine line between celebrating special days and spoiling your children.  Birthday parties, Christmas presents and surprises always make some sort of impact on kids.  These events leave an imprint, a way of expressing your love.  However, is there ever a time when buying memories becomes superficial, fake or over the top?

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever, 1 Timothy 5:8.

As a son of an immigrant, I was always taught to be frugal.  From my grandmother down to my parents, wasting money on unnecessary splurges was frowned upon.  Thus, I’ve become a tightwad, careful to make what little I do have last.  Yet, during my oldest son’s last Spring Break as a high school senior, I let my guard down.  This moment of weakness led to an unprecedented spending spree in an attempt to buy memories for a life time.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous, Proverbs 13:22.

Although it was difficult to say goodbye to hundreds of dollars that is now gone, I am at peace with how the money was spent.  Several foul balls at the Phillies’ game were just in front of us or right over our heads.  The conversation over an expensive seafood meal was enjoyable and at times made me laugh.  When you add my daughter finding a whole sand dollar while snorkeling and my oldest son digging up a perfect shark tooth, our time together was priceless.  Therefore, if you ever have the opportunity in the future to leave a lasting impression, buying memories when the time is right will bring you unexpected joy.

by Jay Mankus

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Fantastic Lies

Posted on March 30, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Over Spring Break, I spent a sleepless night catching up on several of ESPN’s 30 for 30 episodes.  The feature which struck a nerve was entitled Fantastic Lies, a documentary on three Duke University men’s lacrosse players who were falsely accused of rape.  Unfortunately, in recent years certain issues create a firestorm and in this typically case some are assumed to be guilty before all the facts are presented.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful, Hebrews 10:23.

In this age of political correctness, innocent until proven guilty no longer applies.   The media has a tendency to jump to conclusions, labeling the villian and making it nearly imposible for justice to be achieved.  As the three Duke players and their parents found out, if Americans don’t have the financial means to defend themselves, fantastic lies can place the innocent behind bars.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded, Hebrews 10:35,

From an Easter perspective, those who fear Christianity continue to spread lies about Jesus.  As the sermon that I heard on Sunday proclaimed, if skeptics can prove Jesus never rose from the dead, the Christian faith would be destroyed.  Thus, fantastic lies continue today, hoping that one will cause countless to abandon their faith.  To prevent this trend from being effective, make sure that you open the Bible daily so that the truth within will set you free.

by Jay Mankus

 

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The Allure of Money

Posted on March 28, 2016 by expressyourself4him

If you are a fan of reality television, then you likely understand the allure of money.  Shows like Insane Pools, Tanked and Treehouse Masters help Americans visualize what a couple of hundred of thousand dollars can buy you.  Thus, if you’re not careful, the eternal can be replaced by temporary treasures, distracting individuals for a life time.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs, 1 Timothy 6:10.

Money in itself is okay, used to provide the needs of life.  The love of money is what is harmful.  This love refers to a lust, craving and coveting what you neighbors have instead of being thankful for what God has given you.  This obsession often leads to deception as individuals are lured away from the faith.  For many, they don’t recovery, dragged behind the devil’s door.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5.

The author of Hebrews provides the solution to the allure of money.  The key is maintaining a level head by staying content with the hand God has dealt you.  This is accomplished through a spirit of thankfulness.  When you possess this quality, individuals recognize God is the source behind your wealth.  Therefore, don’t be tempted by what you don’t have.  Rather, embrace the little things in life so that the allure of life won’t hold you down.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Sweat and Blood

Posted on March 20, 2016 by expressyourself4him

The medical term for sweat and blood is hematidrosis.  Initial signs of this rare condition often develop from the forehead, underneath nails or begin as a nose bleed.  Meanwhile, the phrase blood, sweat and tears refers to pouring your heart and soul into a business, career or project.  When you invest a large portion of your life or time into something special, its like a woman giving birth, enduring labor pains until you see the end result, a child of God.

Jesus did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption, Hebrews 9:12.

While every venture in life is a noble cause, nothing compares to the sacrifice made by the Son of God.  Following Adam and Eve’s blunder, the serpent, symbolic of Satan, is notified about an individual who will crush his head.  Yet, this wasn’t possible until a series of event had to play out.  An the eve of the completion of God’s plan, overwhelming stress led Jesus’ sweat to become like blood.  Whether this was figuratively or literally occurred, it doesn’t matter.  The point is that an innocent man laid down his life, willing to die, once and for all to atone for the sins of the world.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, John 15:13.

As another Palm Sunday approaches, don’t forget about the sweat of blood endured for you and for me.  While everyone has their own unique struggles to conquer sin in their life, the author of Hebrews has a simple suggestion.  In your battle against sin, you have not shed blood like Jesus.  Therefore, lean on God’s grace, throw off those things holding you back spiritually and thank the Lamb of God for giving everyone a second chance.  May the truth about the resurrection revive and rejuvenate your faith this Easter and continue throughout the year.

by Jay Mankus

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Faith + Patience = Blessings

Posted on March 16, 2016 by expressyourself4him

Faith is like having an imaginary friend as a child.  However, instead of talking to this person, you develop a strong belief that everything will be all right.  Over time questioning parents are replaced by a cynical world, trying to convince you that you’re insane or hallucinating.  In the final episode of Joan of Arcadia, Season 1, doctors persuade Joan, played by Amber Tamblyn, that her encounters with God have been a figment of her imagination.  In the same way, when God is silent its not uncommon for many to lose faith.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him, Hebrews 11:6.

Patience on the other hand is one of those virtues you would like to possess, but are afraid to pray for.  Anyone who asks God for patience will be ushered into numerous situations that will force you to learn this trait the hard way.  Beyond praying, patience is often acquired over a period of time in the form of lessons learned through trials.  Time has a way of helping individuals see the big picture, using hindsight to recognize God’s hand in your past.  Thus, patient people tend to lean on faith which ultimately leads to blessings.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, James 1:2-3.

When you add two numbers together in math, the outcome is always identical.  Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about life.  Job endured horrible disappointment which led friends to believe these events were a form of God’s punishment for some unconfessed sin.  These anomies continue to exist today, pushing faith and patience to the limit.  Nonetheless, if you follow the words of Deuteronomy 28:1-3, over the long haul you will find that faith plus patience leads to blessings.

by Jay Mankus

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Don’t Let Time Shrink Your Faith

Posted on March 12, 2016 by expressyourself4him

The other day I went shopping when I encountered a child throwing a temper tantrum.  As soon as this boy realized he wasn’t getting to get what he wanted, he lost it.  Although this event reminded me how thankful that I am for having grown children, one thought came to my mind.  When time ceases to provide any glimpses of hope, progress or results, faith can shrink.

And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised, Hebrews 6:15.

The author of Hebrews dedicates an entire chapter known as the Hall of Faith.  One of the initial recipients is Abraham who waited decades until God gave a promised son through his wife Sarah.  Beneath the surface and under their breathe, I’m sure there were moments of doubt, especially for a woman reaching 100.  Yet, this example reveals a painful truth about life, God doesn’t always answer prayers according to your schedule.  Rather, the Lord uses time, trials and uncertainty to fireproof your faith.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see, Hebrews 11:1.

One of the most difficult stretches I’ve had to endure was in 2012 and 2013, struggling to find a permanent job after teaching high school for ten years.  There were days, weeks and months that I lost hope, not believing that God would change my hapless situation.  I wish I was stronger, but my faith shrunk as I lost my place in this world.  While I have ended up on my feet today, I am still searching for that perfect fit where my gifts match God’s will.  If Abraham had to wait decades, I guess I can hold on a little longer, praying that one day my dreams will come true.

by Jay Mankus

 

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The Power of Diligence

Posted on March 11, 2016 by expressyourself4him

A couple of weeks ago, I listened to a talk show about the impact mojies and texting is having on the English language.  Initially, I was unfazed, not seeing the connection between the two.  However, the more I think about it, social outlets like Instagram and Twitter are enabling slang to steal the power of words.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized, Hebrews 6:11.

Subsequently, dynamic vocabulary is fading away, becoming extinct like dinosaurs of the past.  One of these terms is diligence, referring to an attentiveness, motivated by vigor to carry something to completion.  This trait once made the United States a great nation, igniting the Industrial Revolution.  Yet for now, those who possess this quality is limited.

We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised, Hebrews 6:12.

According to the author of Hebrews, those who lack diligence tend to fall prey to laziness.  The solution to this potential snag is to imitate the faith of Israel, willing to wait up to 400 years before finally possessing God’s promised land.  When diligence is exhibited in the hearts and minds of individuals, God’s promises don’t feel so far away.  Yet, when doubt causes God’s people to lose hope, the fruits of diligence disappear.  Therefore, the next time an urge to walk away from your dreams arises, fight back with the power of diligence.

by Jay Mankus

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R and R

Posted on March 9, 2016 by expressyourself4him

R & R is a military phrase made popular by the 1970 television series MASH.  This abbreviation is slang for rest and recuperation.  In the show, nurses and surgeons would receive weekend passes throughout the year, usually spending time relaxing and recreating.  This break from the stress of life provided individuals a chance to unwind, before returning back to work.

For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works, Hebrews 4:4.

Perhaps, its time for busy Americans to apply this biblical principle.  Although, its hard to imagine the Creator of life needing to rest, God created the Sabbath for us.  In His infinite wisdom, the Lord knew the wear and tear a week takes on individuals.  Thus, the soul needs a break, to refuel on fellowship, prayer and worship.  Without taking a day to recharge, people will eventually, crash from sheer exhaustion.

For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish, Jeremiah 31:25.

One day, Jesus was disappointed by the lack of faith in those places where he performed miracles.  After lashing out at those who failed to believe, Jesus makes a plea to those in the audience who were hurting, tired or weary.  Within Matthew 11:28-30, the Lord lays out a blue print for finding rest.  First, don’t be ashamed to come to Jesus with your excess baggage.  Second, let go of your burdens, by laying them upon the altar of grace.  Finally, lean on the Holy Spirit to revive your soul.  In this, I pray that you will experience R & R.

by Jay Mankus

 

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