© 1998-2014
Fellowship at Cross Creek
Gen. 41:1ff
At the End of Two Full Years…
3.9.14

Intro… Two possible thoughts here: 1) Does life seem to always get better, worse, stay the same or go up and down and why so? And if up and down, when things are up, do we expect them to go back down, or if things are down, do we expect them to go back up again? Or do we think things will continue to become better and better or worse and worse? Why is this? Why is it human nature not to expect change? And finally, is God big enough to sustain us through the change, unexpected or not? How? How can or does or could he do this?

2) What do you think you are good at? What are your gifts and abilities? Now ask yourself, could and how could God use these someday to minister, serve, deliver or help other people in significantly meaningful ways? For example, as a kid I thought I wanted to be a football player, lawyer or doctor, but I could argue with a fence post my family always said. So maybe I should have been a lawyer? But my passion to communicate led me into the ministry where I both teach and counsel today. My passion is to help take what was difficult to me and make it understandable to others, particularly, how to live and think about life and its many struggles with God’s help and the truth of his Word…so that a person has half a chance in this difficult world. I want to make things understandable…the difficult, but practical and important…understandable and repeatable. I want to teach people how to live life. What about you? What are your skillsets and gifts and how may God be using your gifts to make a difference in the lives of others?

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,
jc
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