God’s plan for him took him to Egypt…..!

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy

and hatred and anger, sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt;

but God was with him,

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions and

won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding

in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor

over Egypt and all his house.  Acts 7:9, 10

 

Joseph’s brothers held nothing back. The word is very clear

how they felt about him. They were boiling with envy, hatred,

and anger toward him. They wanted to do him harm!

When they sold him as a slave they thought that was the

end of him!

I think the enemy does something similar. he brings things

in our lives to take us out, to do us harm. he doesn’t want

us fulfilling our destiny.

But he is seriously misinformed. Like Joseph, God is with

us in the desert, in the storm, in Egypt!

Consider this:

God had a plan for Joseph but he had to go to Egypt for it

to come to pass!

I believe we all have an “Egypt”

to go through but that is not the most important thing to

remember. The most important thing to remember is,

God is with you!

 

Because God was with Joseph in Egypt the word says,

 

He delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions

(which in reality are many). God will deliver us as well.

 

He won him goodwill and favor and wisdom and

understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, King of Egypt!

Wow….!!!

 

Pharaoh made him governor over Egypt and all his house!

 

That is so crazy right! That all happened in Egypt!!

His brothers wanted to take him out but God stepped in

and turned things around. He delivered Joseph from

the evil plans of man.

God protected him. Anything could of happened to him

but it didn’t because God was with him!

Did Joseph understand at first? Off course not. He had

dreams in his heart, dreams he believed were from God!

But even though he was confused and even though he felt

abandoned, even though he was in fear, even though he

was rejected, even though he was misunderstood, even

though his faith in God waned, even though he was locked

up,

God was with him through it all..…!

 

Friends, please let that truth sink in deep. He is

with us. He knows exactly where you are, what you are

facing. He has not abandoned you, He has not cast you

into the darkness, He has not disowned you, He doesn’t

want to harm you….never! He is with you. He loves you

with an everlasting love! Don’t ever forget that.

be encouraged…….God bless you!

Have a great weekend!

 

Rolain

 

 

 

 

He didn’t want to go that way………!

And Judah said to his brothers, What do we gain if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites
[and Midianites, these mixed Arabians who are approaching], and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers consented.

Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] merchants were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the well. And they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph [captive] into Egypt. (‭Genesis‬ ‭37‬:‭26-28‬ AMP)

We know the story of Joseph very well. He had a dream from God and was not shy to tell anyone! His brothers hated him for the dreams he had been given and his parents rebuked him but the fact remains, God had great plans for him!

God had great plans for Joseph but he was thrown into an empty well by his brothers! What kind of thoughts did he have sitting in that dark empty well???
I can imagine him crying out to his brothers for mercy, pleading to them, begging them to set him free!

If that was not enough his brothers sold him into slavery!! The word gives us a clue into what happened that day:

“They said to each other, “We are being punished for the bad thing we did to our younger brother Joseph. We saw the trouble he was in. He begged us to save him, but we refused to listen. Genesis 42:21

God had a plan for Joseph that is very clear but,
he was first thrown into an empty well then
sold into slavery!!

Did he lose hope?? I would think so……! Was he confused and felt abandoned by God, maybe?

But look at what the word says about Joseph in the darkest time of his life:

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant.
[Gen. 45:5; 50:20, 21.]

His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron,

Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him. (‭Psalm‬ ‭105‬:‭17-19‬ AMP)

God had a plan for Joseph but God knew Joseph had to go Egypt if he was to accomplish God’s call on his life! And the only way Joseph could get to Egypt was as a slave!!! Just imagine if God showed Joseph all that before it actually happened?? I think Joseph would have refused. If Joseph had any say in the creation of his purpose, he would of chosen the most comfortable path! He would of chosen the easiest path! So,

Are you confused at how your life is going right now?
Do you think God has abandoned you?
Does anything make any sense right now in your life?

Just know that God is in control of your life and He loves you! He is guiding you!
Let me share one more scripture with you:

And the patriarchs [Jacob’s sons], boiling with envy and hatred and anger,sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt; but God was with him, [Gen. 37:11, 28; 45:4.] 

And delivered him from all his distressing afflictions andwon him goodwill and favor and wisdom and understanding in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
[Gen. 39:2, 3, 21; 41:40-46; Ps. 105:21.] (‭Acts‬ ‭7‬:‭9-10‬ AMP)

In all the difficult things Joseph went through, God was with him!
God delivered him from ALL his distressing afflictions!

In your dark times, in your trying situations, in your times of testing,
God is with you and He will deliver you! You are not alone!

Joseph thought he was alone in the empty dark well but God was with him, crying with him!
He thought he was alone when his brothers sold him into slavery but God was with Him!!
When he felt rejected because his brothers sold him into slavery God was with him!

As Joseph headed for Egypt he may of thought his dreams were finished but little did he know they were just beginning! You may feel like it’s end of the line for you but it’s actually the beginning! The enemy is lying to you! Your story is just beginning! Trust the Lord because He is with you!

Rolain

Remember God today!

And when, in time to come, your son asks you, what does this

mean?

You shall say to him, by strength of hand the Lord brought us out

from Egypt, from the house of bondage and bondmen.

Exodus 13:14

 

And it shall be as a reminder upon your hand or as frontlets

between your eyes, for by a strong hand the Lord brought

us out of Egypt.

Exodus 13:16

 

Out of all the miracles God performed this is the most talked about.

God has constantly reminded His people to remember what He did

at the Red Sea.

God delivered His people in a mighty way!

His people were called to remember what He did and He told them

to tell their kids. It is clear God didn’t want His people to forget.

The Red Sea moment was a reference point for the Israelite’s!

When they lost hope they would remember what God did for their

ancestors at the Red Sea, and in Egypt! We too are His people and

He is calling us to not forget!

How important is it to remember?

To answer that I would like to share something a friend shared

with me a few days ago,

 

“God is the God of the impossible.

Reasoning your way out of an impossible situation

is not as effective as reminding your way out of it! – Unknown

 

That stopped me cold in my tracks. How many times I have

tried to reason myself out of a situation. The more effective

way is to remember our way out of it!

That brings me so much peace right now because as I began

to think on it some more I realized God wants us to remember

the great things He has done for us. I believe

we all have our “Red Sea moments” that we can look back to for

strength! Don’t forget those times the Lord came through for

you! Those are the things He wants you to remember. He

performed those miracles so you could remember them when

your faith was been attacked!

As I think back on my life I see the small and the big things

God did for me and I know those are the “Red Sea moments”

God wants me to always remember!

When I am in doubt, when my faith is weak that is when I

need to remember!

 

Fight to remember! Write down what God did for you. Tell

people what God did for you!

When the storms come remember what you wrote. God’s

miracles in your life are not just for you but for your kids.

They are to be a testimony for generations to come!

How great it would be if your great great great kids could

talk about how God came through for you! How amazing it

would be if they used God’s miracles in your life as a reference

point for their own lives!

 

Last year is long gone but we are still here because God is with us!

He kept us with care! His hand is on us and we must make sure

we don’t forget!

Fight to remember the miracles, fight to remember the goodness

of God in your life. He is so good!

Rolain

What it means to have a purpose!

Most Christians know God has a plan for their lives.

But when they  are told God has a plan for them, a purpose,

What does that mean? What does that mean for us??

To answer that question I will look at the life of Abraham

the Father of faith!

 

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your

people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Genesis 12:1

• For Abraham, having a purpose meant having to leave

the familiar behind! He didn’t know where he was going but

He trusted God. He took everything he owned and moved!

Could that still apply today? Could God be calling us out of

our comfort zones to a place we have never heard of before,

to a place we have never been to before?

Is he calling us out of the familiar? Is it possible to experience

the new if you haven’t let go of the familiar, if you are in your

comfort zone??

 

 

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham”!

“Here I am, “he replied.

Then God said, Take your son, your only son, whom you love-

Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt

offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:1-2

 

Because Abraham had a purpose God tested him!

He told him he was to sacrifice the one thing he loved more than

anything else – his son! God tested with him with something

he held dear to his heart, his son!

Could it be possible that is our story too? Does God want to make

sure He is first in our lives by testing us?? We say we love God and

He is the most important thing in our lives, but is that the truth???

Only He knows!

 

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision:

Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your Shield,

your very great reward.

But Abram said, Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I

remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of

Damascus? And Abram said, You have given me no children;

So a servant in my household will be heir.

Then the word of the Lord came to him: This man will not be

Your heir, but a son who is your flesh and blood will be your heir.

He took him outside and said, Look up at the sky and count the

stars – if indeed you can count them. Then he said to him, so shall

your offspring be.

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited to him as righteousness.

Genesis 15:1-6

 

Because Abram had a purpose he had to trust God! He had to think

bigger and grander! God’s purpose for our lives is huge but faith

in God is the key. God’s plan for your life will not make sense to

a carnal mind a natural mind! You need faith to see it and accept it!

We know without faith it is impossible to please God. He wants us

trust Him.

Something you need to look out for as you walk in God’s purpose

for your life:

 

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had

an Egyptian slave named Hagar, so she said to Abram, “The Lord

has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave;

perhaps I can build a family through her.” 

Abram agreed to what Sarai said.

Genesis 16:1-5

 

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see what really happened.

Sarai knew what God had promised her along with Abraham but

what really happened? In Genesis 15 it tells us Abraham believed

God and it was counted to him as righteousness but in chapter 16

we read something different. Sarai suggests to Abram that he

sleep with Hagar and he agrees!  Why would Abram agree to that?

He clearly heard from God!

Did he think God had abandoned him?

Had he lost so much hope that he resorted to trying to make things

happen in his own strength?

Was he tired of waiting on God?

Did he focus on his old aged body and Sarah’s deadened womb and

let his carnal mind take over?

We really don’t know but what we do know is he agreed to go

along with Sarah’s plan! They had lost hope in God and set out

to accomplish God’s plan in their own strength!

They were discouraged and dejected!

 

There are things God

will allow and take you through to strengthen you. Like I said before,

it is by faith and faith alone you will accomplish God’s purpose for

your life. Yes, you will need to step out and do things but you will

need faith! If Abraham the Father of Faith could lose hope in God

and rely on his own strength what does that mean for us? It means

we have to be humble and admit we can’t do this alone!

God wants you to walk in the purpose He has for you. Don’t be

afraid.

Trust Him to lead you because He knows the way! He made the way!

Everything He does for you is because He loves you! Your purpose is

amazing and glorious! Be bold and confident as you step into it!

Rolain

 

This Is The God We Serve!!!

God is so great and amazing and we ought not to forget that. We need to have things that constantly remind us of this truth. I was reading the Word of God this morning and I came across another amazing passage. It talks about God’s great faithfulness and mercy. Be encouraged as you read it.
I wrote about the Israelites in one of my previous posts and I will continue in this one because this passage of scripture writes about them. We can learn a lot about God from their story. We can also take encouragement from them. So let us continue.

They refused to obey, nor were they mindful of your wonders and miracles which You did among them; but they stiffened their necks and in their rebellion appointed a captain, that they might return to their bondage [in Egypt]. But You are a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful,slow to anger, and of great steadfast love; and You did not forsake them.
Nehemiah 9:17
– We know this story too well. It is when the spies are sent out to spy out Jericho. When they get back to camp the ten spies tell the other Israelites they don’t stand a chance against the giants in the land. Joshua and Caleb are the only two spies who tell the people that they can conquer the land. Anyway the people believe the ten spies and decide to go back to Egypt. Please understand that they were at the door of the promise land. All they had to do now was step in. But they didn’t. They failed in their faith to God. But even in the midst of all this God did not forsake them. This is the God we serve!
He is ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great steadfast love toward us. He will not forsake us.
God will not forsake you. He cares for you. You may think God has had it with you but He is with you. You may think He has had enough of you because of your sins but He will not forsake you.

Let us look at another verse.
Even when they had made for themselves a molten calf and said, This is your god, who brought you out of Egypt, and had committed great and contemptible blasphemies,
You in Your great mercy forsook them not in the wilderness; the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day to lead in the way, nor the pillar of fire by night to light the way they should go.
Nehemiah 9:18,19

Are there things in your life that are gods? There is only one God and He created the universe. He is Jehovah, the God Almighty. I was shown how I made a certain thing in my life a god. It was a hard reality for me. I realised it had to stop. I had to stop exalting this other thing above God. It has been hard but I keep looking to God for help. But as I was on this journey I thought God had abandoned me. I was so wrong. God is with me and He will never forsake me. God never forsook the Israelites when they made the golden calf. Instead, He kept directing them. He protected them as they travelled. When they realised the error of what they were doing and came to Him, He forgave them. And it is the same for you. God will not forsake you. Confess your sin. It doesn’t help to hide your sin. He is gracious and merciful towards you.

I will stop here but there are many more stories about His mercy and graciousness. Remember, He will not forsake you.
This is the Great God we serve!!!

Rolain.P