Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 17 January 2017

We are well into the last half of January now.  The first day of Winter is nearly a month behind us, the first day of Spring is just over two months hence.  We shall look forward to that milestone, though we fully expect winter weather for at least a month thereafter, and on occasion have seen it for longer than that.  But it is some sort of progress, and we are hopeful.

Dear Wife is doing the "watching" of the next-door Great Niece today.  If the plans made hold true, then the second great niece, the daughter of wife's sister's son, will be appearing for the next round of this on Thursday.  Wife has been asked to deal with her, as the child's parents are in court that day.  As previously noted, a little while back, just before Thanksgiving, a drunk driver ran off the road, ran into their porch then their vehicle in the driveway, and then left the scene.  Police caught up with him, and he spent the weekend in jail.  But now comes the follow-up.  Nephew's wife had let ALL their insurance policies lapse.  So the damage to the porch is essentially unfixed.  Efforts continue to find rear window and hatch to repair the damage to their van, but to do so on the cheap.  They live in a pretty down-at-the-heels section, (comparable to ours but with more use of alcohol and drugs), and their house is barely off the street, such that there is just, barely, room to park a vehicle parallel to that front porch and to be -- mostly -- off the street.  Which is how the drunk managed to hit their house's porch.  Been no fun, and they are hoping to squeeze some money out of the guy.  So we're watching the little one, as parents sit at the courthouse.
We hope to be able to take the great niece next door to the "story time" thing at the local public library. I have some books to go back.  Gives me a chance to do that.  The books were not that good, looked a whole lot better on the shelf than when I set myself to read them.  Often the case.  Does the Little One good to be at home with books: that does not often seem to be the case in this area.

Wife was doing a teeny bit better yesterday, though progress is very slow and sometime does not occur at all.

I see that the political squabbles also continue.  The inauguration of the President is scheduled for a few days from now, but one seriously doubts that it will end the fights going on.  And, of course, some of the nastiest fights are at the state and local levels.

Some day, I hope, we shall look back at all of this and laugh.  I hope so.

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The Old Testament reading for this morning is chapter 41 of the Genesis.
This is more of the story of Joseph.  Joseph begins this account as a prisoner, falsely accused of a terrible crime.  It ends with him in an incredibly powerful position in Egypt, directly under Pharaoh.  And, by virtue of the Lord's leading, able and active in preserving the lives of many.  Who could have imagined that a poor shepherd boy, one of many sons, could somehow be transported into such a position?  A position that no one could have imagined, but now in a position to do great good for a great many.  As we shall see.    I guess the Lord was up to something.  You think maybe??

Genesis 41

1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill favored and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. 9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: 18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favored; and they fed in a meadow: 19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favored and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 20 And the lean and the ill favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: 21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he showeth unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-32 of the 13th chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 13:1-32

 

1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.  

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:  

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:  

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.  

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:  

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.  

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.  

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.  

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  

15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.  

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.  

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.  

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.  

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.  

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.  

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  

25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.  

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?  

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?  

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.  

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.  

31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:  

32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.