What I learned in Church today

I feel lead to post this blog. I believe GOD want to speak to someone through it. So here we go....

today's topic was forgiveness.

we learned three action steps we need to take in regards to forgiveness.

first step: suffering. this is the hardest step. because usually we try to push the suffering down. but we must let it out. for only when we let it out can we deal with it. only as we allow ourselves to feel the pain can we pin point exactly what we are forgiving. it also reveals our need for healing..which begins with revealing the pain that someones wrong has caused us.

second step: surgery. this step is about removing the bitterness and pain that the wrong doer has caused us. this step is about removing that which will keep us in our silent suffering. this is done as we look at the wrong done, and without belittling the wrong done or excusing the wrong doer. we choose to forgive them for the sin they have done. this is done first in the presence of GOD. then if needed the forgiveness can be extended to the offender. forgiving someone does not meen you have to stay in an abusive or harmful situation where more harm can be done. Forgiveness does not remove all the consequences of the wrong doers actions. Forgiveness means that you have chosen to punish them no more for thier offence. it means you release the bitterness you have toward them. it means you change from wanting them dead to hoping that they will better thier lives. forgiveness is about moving from praying they are punished to praying they will experience healing themselves.

third step. starting over. this step allow for forgivness to reach it's completed state. as unforgiveness and bitterness flee through the act of forgiveness. One finds that the suffering also begins leave. and healing begins. during this step we now fill the place in us where the pain and resentment was with love and concern. we fill ourselves up with GOD'S love and a purpose for the future. we move from hurting to starting over. we go from hurting to holding the hurting.

one last thing..this is the part I really felt GOD wanted me to write. In the bible their is a passage where the writer is instructing a church about forgiving someone within their church that had done some wrong. the passgae says this.

"you need to forgive him, and comfort him, otherwise he will be swallowed up with excessive sorrow"

I feel that someone is going to read this blog who is very sorrowfull for some wrongs they have done. you feel like you are being swallowed up. you feel your swallow is eating you alive inside and you are struggling to make a change. I believe GOD wants me to tell you

that he forgive you.

You are forgiven, pardoned, released.

GOD forgives you.

GOD wants you to just rest in his arms for a while. so go to him. and find rest and healing.

I love you all.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

All that you have is your soul

this song is so beautiful. the words, her voice, the guitar. it's just beautifull. and it is ooh so true.

love you all.

The calling

I am preparing for a message about how we find our calling in life. How do we discover what the purpose is for our life?

During this message I want to look at several people from the bible and discover how they found their calling in life. In order to see if we may be able to learn something from them.

The first person I wanted to look at is Joseph. His story can be found in Genesis chapters 37-to preaty much the end of the book.

early in josephs life he recieves a dream from GOD that reveals that he would reighn over his family some day. needless to say his brothers were not real found of this. it probably did not help that Joseph was excited about the calling he had discovered.

as the story develops Joseph life seems to go anyway but what the calling suggested. and even when the calling is realized Joseph discovers the calling is so much more than he origionally thought.

Joseph life spirals out of control when his brothers conspire to kill him because of envy. One brother decides that they probably sould not kill him. so the sell him into slavery. From there Joseph is sent to egypt.

so joseph has suffered a great betrayal by the ones who are suppose to love him most. It is easy when we read a story such as this to seperate ourselves from how Joseph must have felt. This had to rip his heart right out. I am sure it made him mad, confused, sad, etc.

from there Joseph is sexually harrassed by his masters wife. In an attempt to do what is right he is framed and accused of trying to rape her. He is then thrown in jail, and more pain is added to the life of Joseph.

joseph is thn betrayed by a man he helps get out of jail. the man forgets to mention that Joseph should be released to and thus Joseph is left to rot in jail. I am thinking that Joseph is probably really wondering what happen to his calling. why does his life suck so much?

then one day the ruler of egypt has a dream. joseph who is able to interpret dreams through GOD's help is summoned. he tells the ruler that seven years of good harvest are coming after that seven years of famine are coming. He advices the ruler to store up food during the years of pleanty so that they can survive the years of famine.

the ruler like joseph so much that he placed him in charge of the whole thing. one day his brothers were sent to egypt to ask for food because the famine was so bad.
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

long story short one day he reveals to his brothers who he is. but rather than revenge he offers forgiveness to them. it is important to realize that this was a healing moment for Joseph. and it was not easy. but it lead him to the fulfillment of his calling.

here is what the bible says happened. " then Joseph could not refrain himself before all the people and he cried. he asked everyman to leave, and there he stood alone with his brothers to make himself known to them. and he wept aload and the egyptians could hear it and joseph said to his brothers "I am joseph, does my father still live?" and his brothers were silencesd and troubled by his presence.
and joseph said to his brothers, come close to me. "do not be grieved or angry, you sold me into slavery, GOD has sent me here to preserve your lives."

soemtimes are calling is found in healing from our wounds. soemthing to notice is in order to heal we must let the pain out. we need to talk about it and cry. just cry. we cannot keep the pain inside or it will destroy us. we must give our wounds to GOD and ask him to heal us. then comes the second part, we must follow GOD as he directs us because he knows the pathway to our healing. Joseph needed to forgive his brothers and he did.

he came to realize that his calling was found in healing from his wounds. he also discovered that his calling was not about ruling over his brothers, it was about loving and caring for them. Joseph knew the importance of love and the effects of being denied it. he had been battered and bruised. and as he healed he gained the calling and power to answer his calling. a calling to be one force in this world that will fight the evil that batters and bruises us by being a force of love who cares and provides, and loves us. his calling was to be a source of life in a world of pain. this calling was found in the healing of his wounds.

I know some of my readers are hurting alot. GOD has a great calling for you. lets heal together so we may be free. the next step is the most important as you seek your calling. our calling is found in GOD, because he is our healer. so make your next step one's that lead to him.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST,
Joe W Hartsell Jr

i was wondering

Sometimes I wish that love

was something you could package

into a box and tie it up with a bow

or put it into a card or something like that



Then you could just give it to who ever you wanted

and you would know if they recieved it

and/or if they were impacted by the love

that you gave to them



And sometimes I wonder if the love we gave away is felt

by those we give it to

I wonder if love is understood by those who recieve it

the same way it was meant to be understood by those who give it



Sometimes I sit and think about the love I have recieved

and I wonder if those who gave me that love

know how much I appreciate it.

I wonder if they know how it has brought goodness to my life



Sometimes I wonder if those who make fun of love

know what they are making fun of

do they know what they are missing out on

sometimes I wonder if those who are busy being tough

realize there is nothing tougher than love.

for it conquers everything.



Sometimes I wonder if we know what love is

it is not lust, nor should it be compared to it

for love is what it is

even when we call things that are not love, love

love remains true to itself, for it comes from GOD

who cannot be anything but himself, GOD changes not

love changes not



Sometimes I am glad that love cannot be packed up

and wrapped with a bow

or put into a card.

because love is too big for this.


It was never meant to be contained

but it was meant to be given away

just as much as it was meant to be recieved





a servant of JESUS CHRIST,

Joe W Hartsell Jr

sooo...yeah

Hello friends,

I plan to write on a more regular basis here on the cup of joe blog. It has been a while since I have posted anything. I have been waiting on some information before posting anything new.

so in the fututre I will share with you some updates as to what is Going on in my world in regards to missions, preparation, and my daily journey with GOD.

Also I have had many teaching oppurtunities lately. I hope to start posting blogs about the lessons I am teaching.

so Until then please feel free to visit the links on the right hand side. Also feel free to visist the random Joe thoughts link. I have been posting a few things on that blog.

thanks everybody.

please check out the prayer requests.

a servant of JESUS CHRIST
Joe W Hartsell Jr