When Joseph finally had the chance to talk to his brothers face to face after being thrown in a pit, sold as a slave, and then imprisoned by Pharoah, he looked them in the eye and said, “… You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result …” (Genesis 50:20 NIV)
I want to look at life like Joseph did. I want to take unkind words from others and see them as teachable moments from God. I want to take bad decisions that I make or my children make and see them as opportunities to learn more about God’s grace. I want to take bad news and see the potential in it for bringing glory to God.
Do you have someone or something in your life that appears to be bent on bringing you down? Do you feel that your life seems to take one bad turn after another? If Joseph could sit down and have a cup of coffee with you, do you know what he would say? I do! He would tell you that what seems like evil against you now is actually going to be used by God to bring about a good result in the future!
Paul affirms this teaching when he tells us to “press on toward the prize.” If you have ever watched or ran in a long marathon, you know that the people running are not skipping and smiling as they near the finish line. Their faces are often grimaced in pain. Their muscles are twitching in pure agony. Finding a deep breath is often difficult. However, they press on knowing that the finish line is worth the race. This life is tough. We will all face challenges that seem bigger than we can bear. However, God promises in I Corinthians 13 to never give us more than we can handle. He is constantly working in us and through us to bring glory to His name.
I have had to learn through the years to let go of the past and to know that God meant it for good. I have had to learn that some people will never be nice, but God can teach me through their unkindness about how I can be nicer. I have had to learn that my children will make mistakes, and that I must extend grace to them just as God daily extends grace to me. I have learned that no matter how close I feel to God, I still disappoint Him many times with my actions or my words. In these moments, I am trying to learn that God is teaching me that to become like His Son is a 24/7 work. I cannot expect to become like Christ only by attending church or even by praying and reading the Bible once a day. Christianity is a 24/7 life journey.
Like Joseph, I want to see God’s Hand in every minute of my life. As 2008 gets underway, I commit to having a “Joseph-perspective” on this world. I am excited to see all the good God has planned!
In December of 2007 as our youngest son, Nick, was fighting brain cancer, I began to blog. Writing provided a way for me to release all of my questions, fears, and doubts. It also allowed me to share the ups and downs of Nick's journey with people who were praying for him all over the world. When Nick went Home in November of 2008, my blog became my way of searching for God in the midst of my deep heartache. My heart was broken and grief brought to the surface every emotion imaginable. Being able to release those emotions through my writing brought a sense of purpose to my pain. Having already walked the road of grief in 1992 when we lost our daughter to SIDS, I knew I needed a way to keep from falling into a pit of depression and despair. I had walked close to the edge of a bottomless pit when we lost our daughter,and I knew I couldn't let myself get that close to the edge again. This blog has been and continues to be my tiny corner of the world where I can share My Heart as I journey through God's Word.......thus the name........ My Heart His Words. Thank you for taking time to share life with me. If we do not meet while here on earth, I look forward to hearing all about your life when we reach our final destiny.........Heaven! Email me anytime at 
