No Distress! (Gen 45:5) by Pastor Steve Selfridge

11 Jul No Distress! (Gen 45:5) by Pastor Steve Selfridge

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB).  Leaders.  Guest Authors.
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“But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.  It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” ~ (Gen 45:5) (full readings)
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Pastor Steve’s Reflections:  What powerful words from Joseph!  Here was a man who endured so much!  He had been forsaken by his brothers, sold, taken captive, thrown in prison, and accused of harming a lady.  All of this could have made him mad!  I would have been mad – wouldn’t you?  But no, not Joseph, he used everything for good.  How awesome is that?  He saw a bigger picture; he said, “God is in this”; he refused to have a pity party (okay, maybe he did on a couple of days); and for the most part he kept looking to the One who loved him, the one who brought him out of a pit.  And now he was positioned to very easily cause great grief to his brothers and they would have never known it was him.  Instead, he forgave.  He saw God’s bigger plan.  What a viewpoint he had!
* Steve Selfridge is a pastor at First Wesleyan Church in Rapid City, South Dakota.  He has a beautiful and awesome wife and four children that rock the world!
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Faith Challenge:  Look at the situation you are in and see that God has sent you there.  It may not be pleasant, fun or exciting; but do not give into distress because it is God who has you there.  Share His message of His life in and through your existence today.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed & Patron Saint. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  Memorial of Saint Benedict.
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Faith Quote: “Don’t be distressed today because God is already working ahead of you.” ~ Pastor Steve
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Through Christ Our Lord,
Pastor Steve