It’s good I have my photos and notes, reality of the present is creeping in and the past is the past quickly going by. My memories are strong, and so were Joseph’s on day 4 VBS (at the beach church on vacation), teaching from Genesis 40’s, when his family came down to Egypt, in the famine, to beg food. Joseph recognized his brothers who were once jealous of his favorite son status, the fancy coat from their dad Jacob, also named Israel by God, and jealous mad that he told them someday they would bow down to him.  Joseph’s brothers threw him (after that dream interpretation) into a pit and then sold him off as a slave to travelers, who eventually took him to Egypt. (The brothers told their dad an animal had killed him). When the brothers came down to Egypt, some 20 plus years later during the famine, they didn’t recognize grown-up Joseph who was now second in command only to Pharaoh.

VBS on day 4’s, usually and this time beautifully, we learned about FORGIVENESS. “God gives us forgiveness” was our scripture. For Joseph, it was tough, but he granted forgiveness to his brothers, after seeing a repentance in his brothers. There is a great story about a cup hidden to look like Benjamin stole it, being framed for the theft, and his brothers came to his defense and offered their lives for his – so Jesus like… And Joseph’s sacrifice of his easily understandable potential vengeance, to be forgiving of his brothers, that is also so Jesus-like. Likewise, especially when we look at the New Testament teachings, Jesus asks for our repentance, our sorrow and our soul, and also to be humble enough to take His Way over thinking we could do this ourselves (that’s a connection to Peter, Jesus said He HAD to wash Peter’s feet)… Peter HAD to accept it – and so do we… Jesus saves – Jesus gives forgiveness.

VBS friday day 5 – well well the family was all back together – Jacob came down and the israelites prospered for 400 years – fittingly I went into day 6 vbs for me (day 2 for my other friend’s church) to getting out of Egypt with Moses, and day 7 and day 8 (for me) in yet another friend’s church talking about God showing Moses a burning bush to get his attention to tell him to lead the people and later a story about Joshua leading the people forth into the Promised Land. Yes – full circle seemingly convoluted circle but full circle of the people being led into prosperity over famine (south to Egypt), strife, and being slaves – such a consistent story from the bible. And oh on day 5 vbs, we learned that this big big family of Joseph GREW – overtime – over 400 years before we get to Moses. Wow they expanded and the many tribes thrived and then, as I experienced in days 6 7 8 of my vbs at 2 other friend’s churches, God led them all OUT of Egypt to preserve this line that were His people. Talk about persevering!!!

(oh yeah on day 5 Egypt vbs we had an ICE CREAM PARTY for our big family!!!!!)

My favorite part of VBS week, I said jokingly, were the snacks, LOL, and they were good.. but of course my new family with these folks is a favorite memory, and yet that is not the whole truth – my FAVORITE part was/is God putting me where I was supposed to be – and my JOY jumped even more when I gave each child a bible story book (365 days stories from Genesis to Revelation) and a simple dollar store bible – this was the first bible most of these kids received. A sweet little one said he asked his grandma where their bible was (it was at there regular house not this vacation house), and immediately he opened up his new bible (dollar store KJV) and started reading – wow – that sight was the hydration for my soul that will stay with me – the children meeting Jesus in their own special way. I explained that the book of bible stories for children was an even more adapted version for them – that is where I bookmarked the Joseph stories.

For we are all children of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, the scripture for day 5, meant we should love our brothers and sisters. I felt the love – and we love the children for sure.

For vacation days 4 and 5, we went to climb that lighthouse I had seen days earlier. We ate lunch in all the quaint village houses of town – awesome place. and then I even bought my “vacation treat” – an artwork of a 45 record adapter, yellow, on a round canvas that states ADAPT!!! that is totally biblical! and personal! and not about adapting your truth but adapting to truth and adapting your approach to live adaptively (in all things) and ALSO using the tools, like an adapter for records, to make things work at their speed. Go with God’s Speed for you.

Well, I thank God for His placement and slow down speed for me that week of vacation. I finished day 5, all packed, but had to chat with the vet at the emergency room for my cat (who is now improving greatly) and took that call after getting my 3rd lobster roll of the week – yum. I was exhausted of course and pulled over at a rest stop on the expressway – 40 minute subaru-nap so needed – and then as I pulled out I saw the car accident aftermath – rolled over – airbags deployed and even the washer fluid was dangling out – and I am not sure anyone could have survived that – one car – I don’t know – but I know that the Lord reminded/reminds me to “number my days” – appreciate life – go at HIS Speed which is often SLOW DOWN – and also that listening to Him and to my body – and taking that extra 20 minutes of nap could have saved my life too…  I thank the Lord for His ways over mine – and I accept the forgiveness for which He worked so dearly for – and will keep going…  

I have VBS days 1-7 done – and days 8 thru 19 left – in my VBS in July month… 

BLESSED BLESSING BLESS.

AMEN