Turning Adversity and Heartache Into Miraculous Living |
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| Joseph, the son of Jacob, was only seventeen when his world came crashing down. His own brothers threw him into a well and left him for dead. Then they had a change of heart when they happened to see a caravan of merchants headed toward Egypt. They decided that instead of leaving him for dead, they would retrieve him from the well and sell him into slavery. In a matter of minutes, Joseph went from being the most cherished son of his father to becoming a slave transported to a foreign country. Everyone he loved was ripped from him in an instant. He lost all of his privileges and rights; he lost his beloved family, his friends, and all of his hopes and dreams were stolen. He found himself in the middle of hardship and suffering. The only future he could see was that of being a slave. Later, after becoming a trusted servant and manager of his owner's estate, he was thrown into prison for refusing temptation and instead choosing to honor his owner and honor his God. Yet, despite his terrible circumstances, he became the most revered and highest-ranking individual in Pharaoh's empire. His actions saved two nations from starvation. How could this happen to someone whose whole life had been stolen and whose future had been trashed? The answer can be found in his intimate and unique relationship with God. Now consider the "other" Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. He and Mary were betrothed. They planned a future together and, in a moment, their plans changed. Suddenly the future the "other" Joseph saw looked totally different. This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. — Matthew 1:18 The "other" Joseph knew something about hardship and suffering. He found himself in an impossible and unimaginable situation. His betrothed was having a baby. He actually contemplated a divorce and then God intervened. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit'. — Matthew 1:20 The Joseph of the New Testament heard from God and then he chose to follow Him in an intimate relationship with God. He and Mary were called to parent God's Son, the Messiah. Together they raised Jesus. They parented Him as a baby, a toddler, and then a teenager. They parented the Savior of the world. |
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God wants to give us a spiritual joy that is not based on circumstances. |
God wants to give us a spiritual joy that is not based on circumstances. |
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Both Josephs, the son of Jacob and the earthly father of Jesus, were chosen by God to endure hardships and suffer difficult things to impact the lives of others. They recognized the sovereignty of God and trusted their futures to Him. When you believe in your heart that God is truly sovereign and that He loves you more than you love yourself, you will experience a supernatural peace and joy even amid extreme adversity, hardship, and suffering. God wants to give us a spiritual joy that is not based on circumstances. Not only does He want to give us this joy — He wants to give it to us abundantly. He wants to fill our hearts with this joy to the point of overflowing — spilling out of our hearts and affecting those who surround us and those who enter our path for even a moment. This is the kind of joy Jesus had, and He even referred to it as "My joy." In John 15, Jesus told the disciples and us some things that He promised would put His joy in us. He said, These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. — John 15:11 NASB Jeremiah wrote, Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and [intimately] knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,' says the Lord. — Jeremiah 9:23–24 NKJV God said that the great joy and purpose of our life — our glory — should flow out of our intimacy with Him. The word translated as "knows" in this passage is the Hebrew word for "intimately knowing." The Joseph of the Old Testament and the "other" Joseph understood having an intimate relationship with God. He called and they followed because they trusted Him and knew Him. If God says that intimacy with Him is to be our glory and Jesus equates eternal life with intimately knowing Him and the Father, then of course They want intimacy with us. Knowing that Jesus defined eternal life as intimately knowing Him and the Father, take a fresh look at John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. When you believe in Christ to the point of hearing and doing what He says, you will have eternal life — intimacy with the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. |
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As Mary and Joseph anticipated the birth of Jesus they encountered difficulties, but they had faith. Next time you're really stressed, weary, or burdened, you have a choice: obey His words in Matthew 11:28–30 or don't obey them. If you obey them, you're taking steps of faith, loving Him and the Father using Their love language, and you will receive His miraculous promises. Learn from the faith of Jacob's Joseph, the "other" Joseph, and Mary. |
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Turn heartache into healing |
The Joseph Principles: Turning Adversity and Heartache into Miraculous Living |
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+ FREE shipping on all orders $35 and more |
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In 2016, a year after releasing his book Jesus Speaks, bestselling author Steven K. Scott's mentor and dearest friend, Gary Smalley, fell asleep in his bed and woke up in heaven. Steven had lost not only his best friend of forty-three years but also his most enthusiastic encourager. Brokenhearted, he lost his passion to write. In 2020, Steven was hospitalized, wondering if he'd survive COVID, and the Holy Spirit let him know, in no uncertain terms, that it was time to break free from past hurts and disappointments, start living in the present, and do what God had called him to do. Inspired, Steven began studying the life of Joseph, a biblical figure who suffered trauma after trauma but used his suffering as a tool. With so many people living in a world of hurt and uncertainty, The Joseph Principles gives you what you need to heal your hurts and successfully navigate through current trials and future adversities. By following examples from Joseph's life and the corresponding teachings of Jesus, begin confronting your deepest hurts and find freedom, using your past trauma as a springboard to a closer relationship with God. |
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Through The Joseph Principles, you will: - Discover a clear pathway to the joyful and abundant life that Jesus makes available to his followers
- Find amazing hidden treasures that can truly change the course of your life
- Experience God in the "miracle of the moment" by not dwelling on the past or jumping to the future
- Be empowered to forgive even when you don't want to--even the worst of your offenders
- Discover God's love language to become more intimately connected with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
- Bring miracles of God's love, mercy, compassion, wisdom, and righteousness into every aspect of life
In The Joseph Principles, you'll discover specific steps to provide a clear pathway to the joyful and abundant life that Jesus provides for believers. |
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The God of the How and When Online Bible Study |
by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel |
The God of the How and When Online Bible Study |
by Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel |
"My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . . as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8–9 Friend, let's kick off the new year studying God's word together! Sign up now and join us for The God of the How and When Online Bible Study with Kathie Lee Gifford and Rabbi Jason Sobel. |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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