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Listen while you read: "O Breath Of Life"1 (Lyrics) |
Recently, I'd been feeling sorry for myself, when my mentally-challenged son called. As he usually does, before he hung up, he said, "Mom, I love you. Huggies and kissies." He lightened my spirits, making me feel a lot less lonely. No sooner had I set the phone on the table when it rang again. This time, my daughter called. This conversation lasted over an hour as she poured out her heart.
Life can be messy.
Joseph's eleven brothers knew about life's messiness from experience. They had sold Joseph into slavery, and then they lied to their father Jacob to cover their deed. Later, without his family's knowledge, Joseph rose to become Egypt's prime minister. When a devastating famine hit the area, his brothers came seeking food from the distribution that Joseph managed, but without knowledge that they were seeking it from their brother, who revealed his true identity only much later. After settling everyone in Egypt, their father died, and the brothers feared that Joseph would get even.
Genesis 50:19-21 – But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (NIV)
Joseph's brothers wanted to be rid of him, but God used their actions for everyone's ultimate good.
Tonight, my daughter and I prayed that God would take the mess that sin had created and sort it out; that God would take what Satan meant for evil, and reverse the consequences; that God would bring something wholly positive and good from the situation. As Paul reminds us:
Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (NIV)
Yes, life can be messy, but God brings something good from what goes wrong.
Prayer: Father God, past decisions and actions have created a mess in our lives and in the lives of others. We ask for forgiveness for ourselves and for them. In Jesus' name, we pray for something good to come from these situations. Amen.
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Sunday, May 28, 2023 – Worldwide — Day of Pentecost—Pray that our churches worldwide may experience a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit, so that we may be better enabled to share our faith with our families, friends, and communities.
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Thank you Cass.
Good reminder Cass.
Perfect timing to hear this.
Thanks for sharing your godly wisdom. We can rejoice with you.
Cass, Just in time. Thanks for the Time putting your words on air. All in all God is good. Bless you.
Thank you Cassandra a good a very helpful message. I will continue to pray for good outcomes for our actions.
Good word Cass. Thanks for writing.
Blessings.
Thank you for this encouraging message today.
God bless you.
Good to keep in mind when we are in the valleys of life.
Love the story of Joseph.
Thanks for the reminder.
Cass, you and Your messages are such a blessing to others, it is easy to forget that your life has “messes” too. You and yours will be lifted in prayers for good to come from the “mess”. Grace and Peace.
Great analogy Cass. I love the story of Joseph. There is so much to learn from his example.
Enjoy this beautiful weekend!
Blessings.
Thanks, Cassandra, for an uplifting message reminding us that Our God is there in the messes of our lives and that, like He did for Joseph, He can use our mess for His good.
Blessings.
What an excellent devotional to remind readers that we should trust God for HE can turn situations around for good & help us when we ask, just as HE did with Joseph!
Do continue to write!
Blessings.
My dear Cass – Thank you for sharing this story of how you and your daughter have asked for God’s guidance in your situation.
I have also rendered a prayer for you and your daughter. Jeremiah 32:27 – Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me? (NASB).
Hi Cassandra,
Enjoyed your devotional this morning. As it happens I have doing a series of Bible Studies at the local Long Term Care Centre, the last one is on Joseph. And the one thing I noticed is that Joseph through all the bad times and good times too always told people about his God. I’m sure you have noticed that as well.
Blessings.
Thank you Cassandra for the devotion you prepared for today: I was blessed as I read it.
I have 2 children that require constant care.
My wife passed away and I often feel like it is a mess.
I take courage in knowing that God can even take our messes and turn them into good.
Thank you again and may God grant you His “gift of Peace” in it all.
Dear Cassandra,
Your message has been just what I needed this morning. Yes, truly life can be messy. I have been responding to you mentally, thanking you and praying for you and your children. I have one child, a precious daughter who has been ill. I am seriously fearful for her as I am her only financial help and my resources are quickly being depleted.
Only God can bring about something good from this and I thank you for your encouragement and the scriptures you’ve given. Your prayer with your daughter is my prayer for mine.
God Bless You.
I was thinking about your devotional, and realized that so often we report how God brought good out of a bad situation, but your devotional was different in that in the midst of the bad situation, you simply expressed your trust that God would bring good out of it. That must be tremendously encouraging to people who are still in their own mess.
Dear Cassandra:
My heart aches for you, because I know how your heart aches when you realize things are not going well for your daughter.
Often, even as Christians, we wonder why, but then we are reminded of the assurance that “all things work together for Good” when we place our hand in His and lean on His Everlasting Arms to uphold and support us.
Comfort and guide your daughter in her time of need. A mother’s love and comfort is so important any time, but especially when we are hurting.
My prayers and thoughts will be with you and your girl.
Blessings Always.
Dear Cassandra, Thanks for your devotional.
God worked out his great GRACE, through the horrors of the cross, but Jesus bought us that way.
That is his gift of undeserved pardon and on-going goodness. Trust him. Repent and believe and he will receive you all. And teach each one of them the same, and that Jesus took ALL of our sins in his own body on the cross. He can make evil turn around to create great good.Stick close to the Word of God.
For Jesus sake.
Praying for you all.