Elf Girl in the City

S. Brenda Elfgirl - I was told I am an elf in a parallel life, and I live in the Arizona desert exploring what this means. I've had this blog for a while and I write about the things that interest me. My spiritual teacher told me that my journey in life is about balancing "the perfect oneness of a sweetness heart and the effulgent soul". My inner and outer lives are like parallel lines that will one day meet, but only when there is a new way of thinking. Read on as I try to find the balance.

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Day 16 Bible Readings - Genesis 50:25-26 (NLT)

Genesis 48-50, Psalm 16

Genesis 50:25-26 (NLT)

“Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, ‘When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.’ So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”

In Genesis 50:25–26, Joseph made his brothers swear that they would take his bones back to the Promised Land. As Joseph was dying, he reminded them that the Lord would one day help their descendants leave Egypt. When that time came, Joseph insisted that his bones be carried with them so that he could be laid to rest with his ancestors. Joseph lived to the age of 110, and after his death, his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

These verses remind me of the absolute faith Joseph had in the promises of the Lord. Even though he spent most of his life in Egypt, Joseph never forgot the covenant promises that Father-God had made to his father Jacob and to the descendants of Abraham. Joseph was so confident in the Lord’s faithfulness that he required his brothers to swear an oath not to leave his bones behind when they eventually departed Egypt. Scripture later tells us that Joseph’s bones were carried out of Egypt, meaning he was never truly buried there. Some biblical scholars note that Joseph’s coffin remained unburied for generations—a visible reminder that the Lord would one day fulfill His promise to lead His people out of bondage.

Joseph’s faith also challenges me to be mindful of my words and actions regarding my own future. Joseph never expressed doubt about the Lord’s promises, even though their fulfillment would come long after his lifetime. His confidence was so strong that he acted as if the promise were already settled. Instead of only asking Father-God to help me accomplish something, these verses remind me to thank Him in advance, trusting that He will guide me through the work by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s example inspires me to align my faith and actions with the same confidence he had in the Lord’s promises.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who always fulfills His promises to His people—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Being part of a Holy Spirit–led church community has deeply shaped my faith. If you’re searching for a place to grow, worship, and encounter God, you can explore my church and its affiliated campuses here: https://revivaltoday.com/

Day 15 Bible Readings for January 17 - Genesis 46:3-5 (NLT)

Genesis 46-47, Psalm 15

Genesis 46:3-5 (NLT)

“‘I am God, the God of your father,’ the voice said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.’ So Jacob left Beersheba, and his sons took him to Egypt. They carried him and their little ones and their wives in the wagons Pharaoh had provided for them.”

In Genesis 46:3–5, Jacob receives reassurance from the Lord as he prepares to travel to Egypt to see his son Joseph. Father-God tells Jacob not to be afraid to go to Egypt, promising that He will care for Jacob’s family there and make them into a great nation. The Lord also assures Jacob that He will bring him back to the Promised Land and that Joseph will be with him at the time of his death. After receiving this reassurance, Jacob trusted the Lord and continued his journey to Egypt.

These verses remind me that the Lord knows our fears even when we do not speak them aloud. Jacob was afraid to move his entire family to Egypt, even to be reunited with Joseph, and the Lord met him in that fear with reassurance. These verses also show believers that when we are in a covenant relationship with the Lord, He is present with us through every season of life. Father-God understands the desires of our hearts; He promised Jacob not only provision and protection, but also a peaceful death surrounded by his loved ones and a final resting place among his ancestors. Jacob’s immediate obedience shows believers how to trust in the Lord’s promises for our own lives.

When I look back on the many changes I have experienced throughout my life—especially after my salvation—I can see how the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit helped me navigate those transitions. His presence made difficult changes feel less frightening than similar moments before I knew the Lord. Because I have experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand, I trust in His provision and promises for my life.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who brings peace and guidance through life’s changes—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Friday, January 16, 2026

Day 14 Bible Readings - Genesis 43:25-26 (NLT)

Genesis 43-45, Psalm 16

Genesis 43:25-26 (NLT)

“They were told they would be eating there, so they prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon. When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him.”

In Genesis 43:25–26, Joseph’s brothers make a second trip to Egypt to buy grain, and we see the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream from Genesis 37:7. When they arrived, Joseph invited them to dine with him. The brothers prepared the gift their father Jacob had instructed them to bring in order to find favor with Joseph. When they came before him, they bowed down, mirroring Joseph’s dream of his brothers’ sheaves bowing down to his own.

As I read these verses, I immediately thought of Joseph’s earlier dream. The brothers had already bowed before Joseph during their first visit to Egypt, but in this scene, they also brought gifts to gain his favor—treating him with the honor due to a ruler or king. When Joseph first shared his dream, his brothers rebuked him for believing he would reign over them. Now, without realizing it, they were acting in fulfillment of that very dream.

These verses remind me that the Lord’s plans and promises may take time, but they are always fulfilled. Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned, yet he remained faithful to Father-God. He did not abandon his trust in the Lord, even when circumstances seemed to contradict the promises he had been given.

If the Lord has given you a dream or a plan for your life, do not give up on it. Father-God gave me a desire to write many years ago, but it took a long time for me to develop the confidence to consider submitting my work for publication. Still, I never let go of the sense that the Lord had called me to write. I explored many paths—taking classes and writing short stories and screenplays—while continuing to trust Him. It wasn’t until I entered into a deeper covenant relationship with the Lord that I gained the clarity and confidence to pursue a story that felt right for publication and to begin researching places for submission. My dream is not yet complete, but I trust that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it will be fulfilled.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who gives purpose to your life and helps you fulfill it—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Day 13 Bible Readings - Genesis 42:21-22 (NLT)

Genesis 41-42, Psalm 13

Genesis 42:21-22 (NLT)

“Speaking among themselves, they said, ‘Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.’ ‘Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?’ Reuben asked. ‘But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!’”

In Genesis 42:21–22, we see Joseph’s brothers acknowledging that their past sin against Joseph is connected to their current distress. The brothers traveled to Egypt to buy grain, where Joseph recognized them but accused them of being spies. He imprisoned them for three days and told them they would only be released if they brought their youngest brother, Benjamin, back with them to prove their innocence. At this point, Reuben reminded his brothers that he had warned them not to sin against Joseph, but they had refused to listen.

This scene reflects the biblical principle of sowing and reaping—that sinful actions have consequences. Joseph’s brothers had sinned against him, and their guilty consciences now forced them to confront the results of what they had done. Their distress awakened a recognition that they were reaping what they had earlier sown. Reuben’s words reinforced this truth when he reminded them that they now had to answer for their crime against their brother.

These verses remind me that my actions have consequences, especially when those actions involve sin. The fact that Joseph’s brothers immediately connected their suffering to their past behavior shows that sin is not easily forgotten. Our sinful choices can linger in our consciences, reminding us that we missed the mark, acted out of fear, and failed to trust in the Lord’s provision and blessings.

Recently, I heard a sermon in which the preacher said that believers must be intentional about what they watch and give their attention to. When we repeatedly see people sin without apparent consequences, it can subtly influence our thinking. This doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy entertainment, but it does mean we should be discerning. Constant exposure to unrepentant behavior can dull our awareness that sin has real effects. I find myself reading posts on X and asking, Is this person reacting out of fear or out of love? My faith in the Lord gives me a firm foundation that helps me evaluate my own responses. When my actions reflect how Christ would respond, I find that my choices lead to better outcomes.

If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who calls us to act in love rather than fear—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer, expressing your trust, your desire to walk with Him, and your willingness to welcome His presence into your life. God is faithful and ready to meet you exactly where you are.