W.A. Criswell noted
something interesting about the Mississippi River. Even though everyone knows
it flows from north to south, if you fly the length of the river, you will find
it at times flows north, at other times west. But ultimately, the river flows
south. It starts near Canada and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. What really
matters is not the river’s temporary direction, but its ultimate destination.

Joseph’s life took many twists and turns, but had an ultimate destination that
accomplished the perfect plan of God. His brothers sold him into slavery in
Egypt. He was falsely accused and thrown into prison. But ultimately, he was
made a ruler in Egypt where he saved his family from starvation in Canaan. He
told his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.
. . to save many people alive.” If your life is flowing “west”
instead of “south” at the moment, remember that God is in charge of
the ultimate direction and destination.
The turns life takes are not as important as where it begins and where it ends.

 – Turning Point Daily Devotional, 11/3/03


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When you are ministering to the sick and dying, share these words of David Livingstone:

“I am immortal until the will of God is accomplished in my life!”


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“Lord, if it will be to Your glory, heal suddenly. If it will glorify You more, heal gradually; if it will glorify You even more, may your servant remain sick awhile; and if it will glorify Your name still more, take him to Yourself in heaven.”

(Ole Hallesby, Norwegian theologian)

 


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Sometimes we wonder, “What did I do to deserve this?” or “Why did God have to do this to me?”
A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she’s failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, “Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.”
“Here, have some cooking oil,” her Mother offers.
“Yuck” says her daughter.
“How about a couple raw eggs?”
“Gross, Mom!”
“Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?”
“Mom, those are all yucky!”
To which the mother replies: “Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

(from Pastor Tim’s Sermon Illustration and Inspirations List – http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh)


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