Read Genesis 50:15-21
But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.
16 So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us 17 to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. 18 Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
19 But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
This is one of the most amazing passages i've read and am reading it again thru our devotions at the shop today.
Besides what the commentaries have said about not taking revenge and looking at our circumstance in God's light, this thought came to mind....
Joseph could have turned out to be a real bitter, angry, hateful, revengeful person. After all life's circumstances created it for him. He was cheated, lied to, abandoned, abused, forgotten and God knows what else was done to him. He wasn't shielded from the evil of the world. He faced them all .... and if he was bitter and angry and revengeful... counselors today would feel sorry for him and do everything they can to help him. Or he would be a bag case and insecure and ...... He probably had more bad memories than good ones.
He had the right to be all of the above. And yet he wasn't..... How did he stay sane in circumstances like that? How was he able to forgive his brothers who did the worse evil to him? How could he continue to love his enemies....
I can't imagine how humanly possible that is. But i know one thing Joseph had.... He had his focus on the Lord. No matter what happened, he just stayed focused above. God rewarded him of course... the story has a happy ending here on earth. But many stories we know today may not have such happy successful endings.... But then again.... where is our focus? The end is not here where we are on transit.... the end and happily ever after does exist.... not here and now... but eternity! Rick Warren said in Purpose Driven Life... Life is just a dress reheasal for the real thing. The drama is about to happen! We are not there yet! Stay focused!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
THANK YOU GUYS!!!
I don't know if any of you guys will read this but i needed to say this..... You guys are the best friends a girl will ever have. I wouldn't have made it and come out sane if it had not been for your support, prayers and help during one period of my life i'll never forget.
THANKS SO MUCH!!!
LOVE YOU GUYS
.... TINA, CECILIA, JOANNA, REUBEN!!
YOU'RE THE BEST!!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Phew! What a week!
The last week has been quite a week. I'll never forget it as long as i live for sure.
We(cecilia, mother, joanna, reuben and myself) were all supposed to be following Jasmine and the girls to Singapore in Reuben's Avanza. Joanna and i were supposed to take the train down later that night. then we would leave ama behind for two weeks with jasmine to help her settle in with the girls. Wilson is already there. All were set. Then...
Ama got this fever that refused to leave. Everyday that passed got her feeling worse. We were taking her to the clinic to get her treated. On the 6th day, the doctor told us to get her admitted. Something is wrong. I got her to University Hospital and after getting checked by the doctor, she got her admitted and diagnosed with dengue. I came home that night and Jasmine and Shayna were having the fever too. The next day, i took them to Pantai for a check up and thats where Shayna vomitted all over me and the hospital. Jasmine and Shayna got admitted for dengue too. Thank God they got the same room. So here was a situation... mum in University Hospital in PJ, Jasmine and Shayna at Pantai and i was left to take care of 1+ year old Andrea.
Thank God for friends... i just want to thank God for Cecilia, Reuben, Tina, Shanti and Joanna during this period. They were the best friends i had. Helped me with visiting mum, keeping shayna and jasmine ok... and cecilia stayed the night with me to watch Andrea. And Andrea was the best kid ever. Was so cooperative and the most adorable kid i ever watched.
Ama got out first, followed by Shayna and then Jasmine. But a few days later Jasmine got so bad, her internal organs were swelling up we had to take her back. Thats when she got admitted again and was put in the ICU! She got so bad, her blood count was dropping and liver was so enlarged she was in alot of pain... and we got so worried. And thats when God showed up thru people from the Wesley Church and other friends who started to pray!! She got out on Saturday and is on the road to recovery.
Dengue can be fatal if not arrested early. And its caused by a mosquitoe. And there is no cure for it either, just lots of fluids and rest and monitoring by the doctors. Many people have died because of dengue.
We(cecilia, mother, joanna, reuben and myself) were all supposed to be following Jasmine and the girls to Singapore in Reuben's Avanza. Joanna and i were supposed to take the train down later that night. then we would leave ama behind for two weeks with jasmine to help her settle in with the girls. Wilson is already there. All were set. Then...
Ama got this fever that refused to leave. Everyday that passed got her feeling worse. We were taking her to the clinic to get her treated. On the 6th day, the doctor told us to get her admitted. Something is wrong. I got her to University Hospital and after getting checked by the doctor, she got her admitted and diagnosed with dengue. I came home that night and Jasmine and Shayna were having the fever too. The next day, i took them to Pantai for a check up and thats where Shayna vomitted all over me and the hospital. Jasmine and Shayna got admitted for dengue too. Thank God they got the same room. So here was a situation... mum in University Hospital in PJ, Jasmine and Shayna at Pantai and i was left to take care of 1+ year old Andrea.
Thank God for friends... i just want to thank God for Cecilia, Reuben, Tina, Shanti and Joanna during this period. They were the best friends i had. Helped me with visiting mum, keeping shayna and jasmine ok... and cecilia stayed the night with me to watch Andrea. And Andrea was the best kid ever. Was so cooperative and the most adorable kid i ever watched.
Ama got out first, followed by Shayna and then Jasmine. But a few days later Jasmine got so bad, her internal organs were swelling up we had to take her back. Thats when she got admitted again and was put in the ICU! She got so bad, her blood count was dropping and liver was so enlarged she was in alot of pain... and we got so worried. And thats when God showed up thru people from the Wesley Church and other friends who started to pray!! She got out on Saturday and is on the road to recovery.
Dengue can be fatal if not arrested early. And its caused by a mosquitoe. And there is no cure for it either, just lots of fluids and rest and monitoring by the doctors. Many people have died because of dengue.
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