Worship: For Heaven’s Sake Just as Joseph said, seven years of plenty ended, and the famine began. It was global. People cried to Pharaoh for bread, and he sent them to Joseph. The former slave, made second in command in Egypt, was governor in charge. (Read more below.)
Wellness: For Health’s Sake Pastor Flemons, a doctor of biblical wellness, discussed how sunlight enhances the health of the digestive system. He also discussed persistence and benevolence. Together, they represent the final three laws of health in the Bible-based REFRESHING Way lifestyle. (Read more below.)
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Special Prayer was offered for a live call-in listener: 5438. Pray for focus, direction and wisdom. Pray that he lets go of past regrets and decisions that keeps making him feel that he made a mistake in following God’s will. In other words, pray that he fully accepts God’s grace and power to turn all of his mistakes into blessings!
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TOPICS THIS WEEK
Worship: January 22 – Moses; January 23 – The Plagues of Egypt; January 24 – The Passover; January 25 – The Exodus; January 26 – From the Red Sea to Sinai; January 27 – The Law Given to Israel; January 28 – Idolatry at Sinai [All topics per Patriarchs and Prophets by Ellen G. White, accessible at this link: http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp]
Wellness: NATURAL REMEDIES FOR THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM January 22 – 28
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Words of Encouragement
John 5:9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
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For Heaven’s Sake…
All countries came into Egypt to Joseph to survive the famine. Eventually, so did his all of his brothers, with one exception: his little brother Benjamin. His father Isaac refused to risk losing Rachel’s one remaining son. When the brothers arrived, Joseph knew them; but they didn’t know him. When they approached him, they bowed themselves to the ground, just as had been prophesied in Joseph’s dream.
Using an interpreter, Joseph questioned them roughly, accused them of being spies, and imprisoned them for three days. Afterward, he released them to prove their story by returning with their younger brother. But he bound Simeon and kept him imprisoned in Egypt. Once back home and to their surprise, every brother found his money in the sacks of provision purchased. They feared for their lives and believed that they were reaping the consequence of the evil they did to their brother Joseph. And their father refused to release Benjamin to them, until all the food was gone and there seemed to be no other choice.
They returned to Egypt with Benjamin and carried gifts and the best fruits their land produced: a little balm, honey, spices, myrrh, nuts and almonds. They also took double the money with them. Upon their return to Egypt, however, they found themselves invited to dine at Joseph’s house. They were told that the money they found in their sacks was treasure from God. And Simeon was returned to them.
Testing the brothers, Joseph commanded at mealtime that Benjamin be served five times the amount of food his brothers received. He also commanded that a silver cup be planted in Benjamin’s sack and in time discovered to accuse Benjamin of stealing and brought back to Egypt. But the brothers refused to return home without Benjamin. Judah begged to be kept instead. Joseph was emotionally overcome and convinced. He revealed himself to them. But the brothers were troubled to learn the governor of Egypt was their brother Joseph. Joseph reassured them that although they meant it for evil, God meant it for good so that they could all survive the famine.
Joseph sent his brothers home to move their father to Egypt and dwell nearby in the land of Goshen. The reunion of Joseph with his father was a long tearful embrace. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, until his death at the age of one hundred and forty-seven years. The brothers and Joseph buried their father in the land of Canaan. Fearing that their lives were in danger of Joseph’s vengeance, the brothers renewed their pledge to be his servants and begged forgiveness. In tears, Joseph reassured his brothers that he would care for them and their families. Joseph was faithful to his promise until his death at one hundred and ten years old. One command Joseph left to be done when the children of Israel would be delivered out of Egypt: “Carry up my bones from hence.”
(Please read Genesis 41:54-57; and 42-50. Also read chapter 21, “Joseph and His Brothers,” in Patriarchs and Prophets, by Ellen G. White, available at this link: http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp.)
For Health’s Sake…
Exposure to sunlight is critical to health. Sunlight converts cholesterol in the skin to vitamin D. This helps calcium absorption. It also balances hormones and increases immune function.
Vitamin D affects the entire digestive tract. Vitamin D that is made from sunlight is absorbed into the liver and then into the bile. It keeps the bile acids dissolved, preventing gall stones from forming. Adequate vitamin D may prevent diabetes, since D receptors are located in the islet cells of the pancreas. According to Dr. Judy Tsafrir, “Low vitamin D levels are related to poor stomach emptying as well as bloating and constipation or “irritable bowel.”
“Compromised gut health is often associated with multiple psychiatric symptoms, including depression and mood disorders, anxiety, attention and learning disabilities, as well as more globally disabling conditions such as autism and psychotic disorders.”
Vitamin D deficiency is linked with a “whole host of other conditions, including anemia, autoimmune disorders and cancer, osteoporosis, pain syndromes, balance difficulties, infertility, poly cyctic ovary syndrome, and endometriosis.”
The final two principles are needed for everything in life. People give up too easily. As long as there is life, there is hope. Never give up. Be persistent. Give to others. Be benevolent. Don’t be selfish with God’s blessings to you.
(Please access Dr. Judy Tsafrir’s full article, “Vitamin D: Fundamental to Sleep and Digestive Health,” at this link: http://www.judytsafrirmd.com/vitamin-d-fundamental-to-sleep-and-digestive-health/.)