His Jealousy

Before I start my reading just wanted to say a few things. Well, first of all, shout out to Barry and Chris. They were two gentlemen at the table next to me yesterday. Sorry for disrupting your meeting but thanks for accepting my cards and I pray you guys will be encouraged by the writings.  

That's not all. There is this one gentleman I have been seeing most mornings when getting Joe's çoffee and my normal things every morning. I've never given him a card yet because they're in my purse.  Joe is trying to hurry up in the morning so I figured I would just leave them in my jacket pockets but I've been forgetting. I guess I didn't have to do that because God had a plan. This morning Glenn was right in front of where I was sitting fixing up some Starbucks stuff. So, I was able to give him my card! He was very accepting of it and just awesome! He said he would read them after he gets off work. Dude, I pray that you will be encouraged by my readings! I say that you start your day with encouragement before you take some coffee orders.

And, of course, I have to say hi to Kevin! I actually gave him a card before many weeks ago, but I haven't seen him in a long time. So he asked for another one and I gave it to him. So, Kevin, I pray you will be encouraged by the writings!

Today I want to write about his jealousy. Okay, if you are human, which I'm pretty sure you are, then you would be familiar with the feeling of being jealous. You probably have in the past or you might be feeling it now or there may even be a chance you will feel like this in the future. I am talking about jealousy.

When I was younger I remember being so jealous of this one girl because my ex-boyfriend was now her boyfriend and he treated her like a queen. He did not do that for me, I'll tell you that. Anyway, let me stop.

Now, I think that my jealousy has matured, definitely with the help of God. We can be jealous of other people, other people's currency status, relationships, talents and gifts, health, maybe even someone's time, really could be anything!

I think the question we need to ask ourselves is this. Will your feeling of jealousy make you hurt a person? Physically or mentally? I think of the famous Bible character Herod. Long story short, Herod was so jealous of Jesus. He contacted people to find him and help kill Jesus if they could find him. And was so jealous because he was told Jesus would be the King of the Jews.  This man Herod wanted Jesus dead because he was jealous of him. Herod was not a very nice guy. When he was mad people were scared of him.

What about you guys? When you get mad at someone, do people get scared of you? Seriously, ask yourself that because that wouldn't be a good thing. I get mad, you get mad, everyone gets mad. Really quickly, I just want to add keep your own mad feelings to yourself. Do you think other people would want to feel the wrath?

What I want to say about jealousy is try not to be jealous. God has a plan and purpose for all of us, instead of being jealous. Herod was jealous of Jesus because he was to become the king of the Jews and not Herod. So instead of being jealous of other people and what the Lord has blessed them with, why don't we be thankful for what the Lord has blessed us with. 

Encouraging thought of the day: 

Learn to be thankful and grateful for everything you have and don't have. Especially be thankful for Jesus!

Matthew 2:1-12English Standard Version (ESV)
The Visit of the Wise Men

 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a] from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose[b]and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.  And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.