© 1998-2014
Fellowship at Cross Creek
Gen. 45:1ff
The Loudest of All Tears…
5.11.14

Intro… Three possible intros..1) Have you ever cried your guts out? Why? How did you feel afterwards? Did it help to cry? Have you ever been a situation in which you wanted to cry, but couldn’t? Why couldn’t you? Do you want to cry now? Can you find a safe place or person to cry in or with? Why is crying so so important? Why do people cry in the first place? What are tears? Emotions? How do emotions connect with thoughts? What is grief?

2) Have you ever lost a meaningfully important relationship due to some conflict…one that you understood or perhaps you didn’t understand the reason or cause of the breakup? Struggling with a parent, sibling or family member? Why do people have conflict in the first place? Why do conflicts cause people to break apart? In your best case scenario, what would it take to reconcile the broken relationship of friendship? What about offering up a specific, sharp cutting-edged “tomato” prayer for the reconciliation’s presumed essentials?

3) Could the suffering or injustice you recently experienced be a part of God’s greater plan for your or someone’s deliverance? In other words, can or is God using your patient endurance of unjust suffering for a greater purpose, a purpose you can’t even imagine? If so, does knowing that there is or could be a purpose to what you are going through give you hope or make the suffering less painful?

Recently, we began a new unit or section or person of study…the life of Joseph. Essentially, the story of Joseph, is for the most part, our story. Chosen by God for a special purpose, Joseph must first endure much suffering and injustice before arriving at his God-ordained purpose and calling, and what a purpose it will be.

As we read, I want you to continue pondering, your special identity in Christ, and that just because you may be going through difficult days, your suffering…your waiting is NOT in vain. As God’s child…as God’s children, just as with Joseph and his brothers, you…we…all have a purpose in Christ (Romans 8; Eph. 1; 1 Peter 1).

Your servant,
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