A STORY OF HOPE!
Start in Genesis and read the story of Joseph, my all time favorite Bible character. He was faithful, wise, hard-working and trusted God when most would not. Though being sold into slavery by his brothers, enticed by Potiphar's wife, unjustly thrown into jail, and faced possibly his biggest test...fame and fortune, he honored and believed in God.
Read Genesis 37, and then chapters 39 to 45.
I know when life is in a season of turmoil, reading can be a challenge, so take your time. If you have an iPhone, download the Bible app and listen to the audio version.
The reason I encourage reading these chapters is to clearly see the sovereignty of God in a life from beginning to end.
Through new eyes you will view how God had a good plan, though evil and sin were acted upon. Each sorrow was a strand needed in God's grand tapestry. Joseph had to dream those dreams as a child and share the vision in order to enrage his brothers. Their jealousy and sin caused them to sell Joseph into slavery, so that he would land up in Egypt. Potiphar's wife though devious and unfaithful full of evil intent was a pawn in God's hands. God knew Joseph would not betray his master and would be thrown into prison for his faithfulness, but God needed Joseph there so he could interpret the dreams of the wine bearer and baker. Then the dreams had to be fulfilled and the wine bearer restored to Pharaoh's palace. There, the wine bearer would hear of Pharaoh's troubling dreams and the fact no person could interpret them. At that point the wine bearer would finally remember Joseph's unique ability to interpret dreams. Finally Joseph after years of trial, would be right where God planned all along. Joseph's integrity, ability to rely heavily on God, and his outstanding leadership skills would now be used. Joseph was placed in a role of power second only to Pharaoh himself. He implemented and prepared for the coming famine. When the famine hit the land and His brothers came for food, the very ones that sold him into slavery, what do you think Joseph said to them?
And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here: For God sent me before you to preserve life, for these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing or harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God: and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt." Genesis 45:4-8
Through it all, Joseph remained a forgiving man, he forgave his brothers and saved his family from extinction. Why? BECAUSE JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD WAS IN CONTROL AND HAD A PLAN. He allowed God to utilize both trouble and blessing in his life, and chose faithfulness through it all.
What a comfort...For when life meets trouble (which it will), trouble meets God. A God who is not surprised, not undone, not without a plan for your life.
YOU ARE A SPECIAL DAUGHTER, SON, FRIEND OF GOD, AND HE LOVES YOU AND HAS A PLAN. Please think of this while you listen to an inspiring song by JOSH WILSON called "Carry Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCzW0VlFbgU
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About the author
Blossom Turner is an award-winning novelist, and a free-lance writer published in Chicken Soup and Kernels of Hope anthologies, and former newspaper columnist on health and fitness. A Word Guild semi-finalist for Anna's Secret, Katherine's Arrangement, Amelia’s Heartsong, and a Word Guild winner for Best Romance for Lucinda’s Defender. She has found her home in the writing of historical fiction but is open to wherever God leads. The many 5-star reviews attest to the power of love and romance authentically woven into the Shenandoah Bride Series about five sisters and their five love stories.
Blossom lives in British Columbia, Canada, with her husband, David, of forty years and their dog Lacey named after Lacey Spring, Virginia, where this series takes place. A former businesswoman, personal trainer, and mother of two grown children she is now pursuing her lifelong dream of writing full-time. A hopeless romantic at heart, she believes all story should give the reader significant entertainment value. However, her writing embodies the struggles of real life. She infuses the reality of suffering with the hope of Christ to give a healthy dose of relatable encouragement to her reader. Her desire is to leave the reader with a yearning to live for Christ on a deeper level, or at the very least, create a hunger to seek for more.
Co-author Suzie Zanewhich
Suzie is a certified life coach, leader of emotional health, and resource specialist. She has found her niche as a soul coach.
Suzie finds purpose in empowering individuals to move towards growth, healing, and alignment with their authentic self. Suzie is driven by a calling to live authentically, as the person God created her to be, to reach her fullest potential and lead others to do the same. Her passion is to help others find meaning through discovering their strengths, gifts, personality, temperament and core values.
Suzie is a life-long learner, continuously immersing herself in new courses to learn more about human behaviour, relationships, psychology, child development, emotions, trauma and healing. Because of her craving to always learn more she has earned the title of resource specialist in the area of self-discovery.
Suzie Zanewich lives with her husband in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She has a patchwork family of four grown children, two daughters, two sons and three granddaughters.
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