Working on Other People’s Dreams

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Working on Other People’s Dreams

May 26, 2024 • Mark Bailey • Genesis 40

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There are times when we find ourselves in limiting situations – we run out of options and we could even feel trapped. All of us go through these seasons of life where it just doesn’t make sense.

Our career might be at a dead end or we feel isolated or we feel like God forgot about us. It’s hard to hold on to the dream when we are treated unfairly or circumstances are just so hard and hopeless. How do we cope? How do we keep the faith? How do we respond to extreme disappointment?

I believe we have an opportunity to flip the script and that’s what we’ll focus on this Sunday. Invite someone to sit with you as we look at Joseph’s time in prison, it’s a profound time in Joseph’s life and pivotal for living the dream.

Changing the Narrative

June 23, 2024 • Mark Bailey • Genesis 48

We all have a story to tell, these stories often define us and set the tone for our future. The dream will always consist of both battles and blessings, the question is what will we focus on the most? We might be living the dream, but we are still carrying the pain of past experiences. While these realities are true, they don’t have to consume the story of our lives. We know that God took Joseph from pain to promise and from brokenness to beauty. There’s something beautiful that happens when our lives are marked with God’s faithfulness and His goodness and that’s what we emphasize without denying the hard times. This is our last part of the series and it has been so enriching to journey through the last 14 chapters of Genesis.

Blessing and Honor

June 16, 2024 • Marie Bailey • Genesis 49:22–26, Genesis 50:1–5

Living the Dream comes with special privileges. Joseph’s life was a shadow pointing to Jesus Christ. Just like Joseph honored and appreciated his father, we know that Jesus honored and appreciated our heavenly Father. Joseph eagerly desired the blessing of his father and so Jesus also walked in the blessing of our Father. The beauty of this reality is that all of us can have that close relationship with our heavenly Father. We can honor Him, prioritize Him and desire His blessing. Our heavenly Father loves us deeply and His words are life to our soul. Unlike Joseph’s father, our Father is not weak and He will never leave us or forsake us.

How to Handle Success

June 9, 2024 • Mark Bailey • Genesis 44, Genesis 42, Genesis 43, Genesis 45

Jim Carey famously said that he thinks everyone should become rich and famous so that they can see that it’s not the answer. Many people want the dream, but they don’t want the responsibility that comes with the dream. We dream about having kids, getting promoted, leading in the church or serving with a non-profit etc. All of this calls for the empowering Grace of God – it’s one thing to see the dream fulfilled, it’s another thing to acknowledge that God made it possible. While living the dream, we need to extend mercy instead of revenge, acceptance instead of rejection, humility instead of pride and vulnerability instead of pretense. Join us as we open our hearts to God as He shows us how to handle success.