Upon This Rock, I Will Build my Church: Written by Mel

Upon This Rock, I Will Build my Church: Written by Mel

The world is a mission field, waiting to be harvested for the Kingdom of God. The Lord is looking for people with hearts filled with love that are willing to answer the call. Recently, I dreamed that there were two young men of different races who repented of their sins. The Lord was their judge, as well as their probation officer. One man had been delivered from drug addiction, the other from pornography. The Lord had them each write a letter of repentance to him. I placed my arms around both of them and prayed for them. I felt tremendous love and compassion for these young men. I felt the necessity to remind Christians not to look down upon those who are captives of sin, but to reach out to them with the love of Christ. You may be the only Christian in the life of someone, and you have the ability to throw a life preserver to a person drowning in his or her sin. I woke up from this dream to a song from Sandi Patti entitled: "Upon This Rock". The lyrics from this song have a powerful message to them. Basically, the song states that if you reflect Christ in your life, then you are a rock that God can build his kingdom upon. Christ told Peter that he was a rock to be built upon. Like Peter, we are to reflect the love and attributes of Christ in our lives.

 God desires for us to look beyond the fault and see the need in others. If Christians would learn to not be easily offended and realize that we all have faults, then they would reap a harvest of souls for God. There should not be any form of prejudice in the life of the believer. If we look down upon a person because of their race, economic status, dress, appearance, or sin in their life, then love has not been perfected in our heart. God looks upon the heart of an individual, not their outward appearance, and we should do likewise.

 The Lord called me to the street ministry at the age of sixteen. I spent many years sharing my faith on the streets of Little Rock, Kansas City, as well as New Orleans. In later years, I served the body of Christ as a pastor, as well as an evangelist. I heard the life stories of many people from many different backgrounds. I heard of tragedy, sickness, sorrow, depression, as well as joy, from ordinary people. The Lord gave me a heart of compassion for people because I asked for it. The Lord will also give you a heart for people if you ask him to.

The kingdom of heaven consists of ordinary people. God is not impressed with the successful, popular, or best-looking; he is looking for ordinary people who are willing to make him Lord of their lives. I have talked to many people who felt that they were beyond hope because of the wicked things that they have done. The truth is, God is willing to forgive us of all of our sins and give us a fresh start if we will confess our sins to him and turn away from them. Grace is not automatic, but there is grace for sins that are repented of, as well as committed in ignorance.  If a person backslides away from Christ and repents, there is restoration because of the atonement that Christ provided for upon the cross. If we fall, we should get back up, repent, dust ourselves off, and press forward in our relationship with Christ. Never give up, learn from your mistakes, and continue to grow in Christ, and produce good fruit. When the Devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Your past is under the blood and is forgotten by God.

Consider the parable of the wedding feast. Christ taught that the kingdom of heaven is like a king who arranged a wedding feast in honor of his son. He sent out servants to invite people to come. Those invited made light of it and mistreated and killed his servants. The king sent out his armies and destroyed the murderers and burned their city. Then he sent his servants to go out into the highways and invite as many as they find, both good and bad, to the wedding. The wedding hall was filled, but the man who did not have on a wedding garment was cast into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Christ said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.” If you belong to Christ, then you are commissioned, to go out into the world, and compel all to come to Christ. The churches are filled with both wheat and tares. It is the Lord who will do the separation in his timing. The tares will be removed and cast into the fire of destruction. This teaching of Christ should remind all of us to keep our spiritual garments clean for the wedding feast of the Lamb. Christ is returning for a bride without spot or wrinkle. God’s Word teaches us that if we continue in willful sins, then we deny both the Father and the Son. In order to be truly saved, a person must be born again, this means to become a new creation in Christ by allowing his Holy Spirit to separate us from the sinful lifestyle of the world.                        

 

Matt 22:1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding." '5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6  And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

Why am I writing a blog?

 

Today, as I pondered over what to write about as my next blog topic, I found myself asking myself with a mixture of sarcasm and cynicism, "Why am I even writing a blog?"  As I seriously thought it over, I realized I knew what I would write about.

The first thoughts that ran through my mind were all the reasons why I felt like I should not be writing a blog.  I am a not a lecturer or a preacher, and I do not even feel comfortable trying to be as such.  I am merely a housewife (one who is not very tidy, by the way), and in no way any kind of expert on the bible.  Then again, the so-called biblical scholars are not even accurately teaching the masses what the bible really says, just what sounds good in order to get their congregations to put money in the offering.  So who am I to write a blog?  I certainly do not think I am better than anyone else.  As I have said before, I do not even think my skill as a blogger is that great.  I do believe God has gifted me with a talent for writing novels but not for articles.  I am full of personality flaws as well.  What I am (or at least attempt to be) is a faithful servant striving to live a life according to God's principals.  I have a happy, successful, faithful, loving marriage, because I believe in taking God's Word literally.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-be-power-couple.html I read and study my bible often and though I do not have any professional experience, I have 44 years of hearing and reading God's Word and taking the time to really learn what the words of Jesus Christ meant.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/06/how-to-understand-bible.html Therefore I would say that is one of the reasons why I write.  To pass on my insight to anyone who reads my words; not as an self-proclaimed expert, but as a humble servant doing her best to learn at the feet of Jesus.  What I share with you is the same thing Jesus shared with His followers 2,000 years ago.  Or at least that is my goal.  Not to glorify Julie, but to glorify Jesus.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Philippians 2:3

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

I write because I have compassion on my fellow humans.  Just as Jesus does not wish that any man perish in the fires of hell, I also feel this way (though not to His degree, as I am certain no one can).  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-parable-of-lost-sheep.html I want to encourage you to strive to live in the ways of holiness and not to fall asleep under the false doctrines being taught.  The churches arte putting believers to sleep and sending them to hell.  I do not want to see that happen.   http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/01/awake-you-sleeping-giants.html I want us all to have victory over sins and give them up, not make excuses and say, "I'm only human and God gives me grace, so it's okay I do wrong."  There is peace and joy in living a clean life.  No regrets, no hangovers, no guilt, no jail time, no ruined marriages, no betrayals, no lost jobs, etc.  I want us all to remember we are accountable for our actions and to keep that in mind each and every time temptation tries to lure you into sin.  God is indeed full of grace and forgives, but only when we repent and strive for lives of  holiness. 
 
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his father with His angels, and then he will reward every mam according to his works. Matthew 16:27

On that same thread, I want to remind my readers that there is a distinction between dark and light.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/01/light-dark-cannot-coexist.html  & http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/05/dont-exchange-truth-for-lie.html You will get burned when you play with fire, and not just yourself.  Families and friends suffer the consequences of our sins as innocent victims.  Your affair or addiction to pornography will not only harm your spouse but your children.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/05/pornography-is-not-victimless-sin.html When you lose your job for unethical and/or illegal behavior, your family suffers from the lack of income.  Spending money on drugs and alcohol rather than groceries will harm your kids and spouse as well.  Not married?  Well, your past can just as easily affect your future.  Although I do not know much about it, I do know sexually transmitted diseases can come back years later because of a promiscuous lifestyle.  Abortions can affect your ability to have children, as well as the emotional scars you are certain to face forever.  Again, I strive to encourage you all to think before you act.  Both positive and negative actions today will reverberate throughout your entire life.

Open their eyes, and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins.  Acts 26:18

Jesus wants us to stay busy as long as we are on this world.  Therefore, I also write to please my Master and work for Him.  While this may not be a perfect interpretation, here is my take on Jesus' parable in Luke 19:11-27  "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." Jesus left heaven to come to earth to build a kingdom, then he returned to heaven.  He gave His servants money and told them to "Occupy till I come" (or keep busy).  After the nobleman returns (Jesus ascends into heaven and later returns to judge mankind) he judges them on how well they used the money he gave them (or how well they used their talents - not literal money - to serve Him to contribute to His kingdom).  The more the servants have done, the more He rewards them, and the "enemies" that did not want the nobleman to reign, he orders their death (those who reject Christ are sentenced to hell).  In other words, God wants us to work for Him.  We are all given some semblance of talent, and we are to use our gifts to help others.  There is no task too small as long as we perform it for the glory of God.  I mentioned Moses a few blogs ago and how he argued with God that he was not the right man for the job.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2017/01/will-you-answer-call.html God reminded Moses that God would direct his paths and to be obedient to God's calling.  He even agreed to send Aaron as Moses' helper.  God supplies us with what he deems to be sufficient to serve Him; where we are lacking, He will provide a partner of some sort.

Just as I do not consider myself better than any of you, I most certainly do not consider myself better than my Creator.  Jesus came as servant, He even washed the feet of His disciples.  Who am I to think should not serve as Jesus served?  My service is an attempt to imitate Christ.

For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.  Mark 10:45

And lastly, I write because I want to have beautiful feet!  Okay, so that was my stupid sense of humor, but Romans 10:14-15 does say those that minister peace will have beautiful feet!  I want to minister to you.  My blogs all have the same goal, even when the subject matter changes.  I want to be an encourager for your walk with Christ, and for your marriage.  Life is tough, and often times not very fair.  I want to remind you of all of God's promises of peace, joy, hope, love, and eternal life (when we walk in the ways of righteousness). http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/07/how-do-we-survive-in-this-world.html  I want to nurture your faith and encourage you not to give up, to read your bibles as often as possible (a bible journal is a great way to focus in even more on what you are reading), spend time on your knees in prayer, fast whenever you feel you need a breakthrough or just to honor God.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/08/fasrinh-and-prayer-written-by-mel-and.html  Don't just listen to music, but praise the Lord.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/02/when-we-dont-know-how-to-praise.html  Pray for the Holy Spirit.  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-ministry-of-holy-spirit-written-by.html  Read devotionals.  There are so many false teachers out there, but there are some good preachers that still exist or at least once existed.  Find the ones that encouraged holy living and not the empty grace message.  If you are not being challenged to put away sin, but make excuses for it, you need to find someone else to read (and a different church to attend).  Again, I am not out to promote myself, but my blogs as well as my husband's blogs http://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/ are full of advice on how to live a holy life; feel free to read through our teachings - there are many to choose from.  Number one is to study the words of Christ because your life and soul literally depend on it. 

How can they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how can they preach except they be sent?  As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!  Romans 10:14-15

So why am I writing a blog? For your spiritual health as well as for mine.  Quite often the topics I feel God is prompting me to write about are issues for me.  I'm not just preaching to the choir, but to myself as well. 

Bottom line:  I am not a lecturer, a bully, a holier-than thou, an expert, or a perfect person.  What I am is a woman with compassion and a heart for struggling believers, non-believers, and even for those of you with a strong faith (especially since even those with a strong walk will face tough times).  Even if only one of my blogs I have written in the past 4 years, 10 months has helped just one person in a positive way, I feel I have done what God has asked me to do.  Thank you for reading, and  may God bless you!

Why do the Righteous Suffer? Written by Mel

 

Another Excellent post by my hubby: http://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/

Why do the Righteous Suffer? Written by Mel

Many people ask the question, why me? Why do bad things, happen to good people? We live in a fallen world, where two kingdoms are at war over the souls of men, the righteous are tried, through the hard knocks of life. We should never judge someone, because they are sick, or unemployed, or have experienced much loss in their life. I have known some Christians, as well as pastors, who believe that God is punishing those, who experience tragedy or loss. They are quick to reprove those, whom they are convinced are living in sin.

 Job is a good example of a righteous man, who was blameless before God, but was condemned, by his friends, because of his severe trials. Job lost seven sons and three daughters, as well as, all his servants, and livestock on the same day. It appeared to his friends that God was punishing Job, because of his sins. But, it was because of Job’s righteousness, that Satan accused him before God in heaven. Satan claimed that the only reason Job served God, was that God blessed and protected him. God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job with the exception of his life. Job naturally complained about the harsh trial that he was experiencing, but in the end, he remained faithful to the Lord. Because Job remained faithful to the Lord, God blessed Job with new sons and daughters, as well as more wealth than he had previously. Job was also, blessed to live one hundred forty years after his fiery trial.

 We are all tested and tried in many different ways; our hardships are normally not the result of wickedness. However, in some cases, sicknesses, as well as, tragedy, are the result of sin. Jesus told some of the people that he healed, to go and sin no more, so that nothing worse would overtake them. Habitual sins known as bondages, as well as un-forgiveness, will block people from being healed, or blessed. God’s Word teaches that if there are any sick among you, to have the elders anoint them with oil, and pray for their healing. James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. There are gifts of healings that God grants to many of his children. However, not everyone is healed, God grants healings, according to his will, and timing.     

 Jesus passed by a man who was blind from birth and his disciples asked him who sinned that this man was born blind. Jesus told them that no one sinned; he was born blind so that the works of God, should be revealed in him. This passage shows that sickness, or deformity, is not normally the result of personal sin, but is the result of living in a fallen world. John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. The prophet Elisha died from an illness when he was old, also Jacob’s wife Rachel died in childbirth, and their deaths were not the result of sin or punishment.               

1Peter 3:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

In the same way, that gold is purified in the fire, so our faith is also refined in the fiery trials of this life. The goal of these trials is that our lives may bring praise, honor, and glory, to our Lord when he returns. The trials of life may bring about bitterness or backslidings if we allow them to. We all have the choice to become hard or bitter, or to allow these trials to build character, as well as strengthen our faith. I am well acquainted with suffering. I have experienced the deaths of both of my parents, my brother (my only sibling), my nephew, as well as my wife of fourteen years. I was bitter toward God, for a period of time, and I had to learn to forgive him. When I forgave God, he granted me visions of the afterlife, as well as, explained things to me that brought me great comfort. The Lord has also blessed me with a wonderful new wife, and she is my perfect match. I have made the choice to reach out to others who are suffering the loss of loved ones, and use my pain, to help others get through their dark time. When you help others get through life’s hard times, the Lord will strengthen, as well as, bring healing to you.

 

Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

2 Peter1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

 

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. 2 And seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. 4 And his sons would go and feast in their houses, each on his appointed day, and would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 So it was, when the days of feasting had run their course, that Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did regularly. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.

7 And the Lord said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" 12 And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. 13 Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house;

14 and a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 when the Sabeans raided them and took them away--indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!" 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, 19 and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!"

20 Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.   

God's Perfect Timeline

Often in my life I wonder why I must wait for God's promises to be fulfilled.  My husband and I have a precise ministry waiting for us in the future, but we must wait on a very specific incident to occur before this ministry of the future can begin.  (Sorry for the vagueness, but my point is not in the details, but the concept that follows.)  As a couple, we have been waiting for 4 years, 10 months.  Mel has been waiting a few years longer than that.  When we grow impatient, we try to remember to look at the bigger picture.  If we start our ministry too soon, it could be disastrous as the theme of our work will be helping others during difficult times.  We would not be able to help those in need if we begin too early.  God knows this knows and we must wait until He says the time is right.  We are also waiting, I am sure, for specific people to be brought to us and God is currently working on their hearts until the appointed time.
 
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you," saith the Lord, "Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a hope and a future.  Then you shall call upon me, and I will hear you.  And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart, and I will be found by you," saith the Lord.  Jeremiah 29:11-14
 
This is not the only time in my life I have been in a holding pattern.  I was 39 before I met Mel, and, as you can imagine, I never thought I would get married.  I always had a feeling I was waiting on the man I would marry to be ready for me, and for me to be ready for him.  I was more accurate than I ever realized.  You can read more about God's perfect timing in the blogs where I share my testimony (http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-testimony-1972-1995.html  &  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-testimony-1999-2009.html  & http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2014/06/my-testimony-2009-present.html ).  When I lost my job at the insurance company, it was absolutely the best thing for me.  I needed to hit the spiritual reset button in my life.  Had I met Mel just 3 months before I did, I would have not been in a good place spiritually or emotionally to make a good wife.  God prepared my heart just in time to be ready to be a respectful, loving, patient, faithful, Godly wife.  When you read my testimony, you will see how each event linked to the next, to the next, right up until the day I met Mel.  God had indeed been planning my every step.  Mel could say the same.  Although I hate to say that he had to endure tragedy before he met me, it is why he came to Idaho where we met.  He even temporarily got into some religious beliefs that neither of us believe in, just so he could meet the person that introduced us.  Thankfully, God has since corrected Mel on those religious errors, and his theology is now back on the right track.  My point is, that God knows Mel is a Godly, righteous man and heeds to Voice of God,  so he allowed Mel to temporarily get involved in the wrong groups for a short time just so our paths could cross.  Our marriage is truly designed and ordained by God!

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Psalm 37:23
 
I had not planned on writing so long about myself, so I will continue forward!  The theme of this blog is to show how God so carefully links seemingly small events in our lives to one another for the bigger picture.  If we really stop to think about it (and I really challenge you to do the same with your life, even if you have to physically draw a time line of your life), you will be amazed as I was how God weaves all the pieces together so beautifully.  You may not even realize how much the little pieces fit together like a jigsaw masterpiece until you sit down and really analyze your life as I have done.  But then, I am an overly-analytical person, so it was not such a stretch for me to see my life through logical eyes. 
 
Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."  Then said I, "Ah, Lord God! behold I cannot speak: for I am a child."  But the Lord said unto me, "Say not, 'I am a child' for thou shalt go to all that I send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  Be not afraid of their faces, for I am with thee to deliver thee," saith the Lord.  Then the Lord out forth His hand and touched my mouth.  And the Lord said unto me, "Behold, I have put my words in they mouth."  Jeremiah 1:4-9
 
If you look to the bible (which is better than looking at my life!!), you can often see God's perfect timeline over and over. 

The story of Zacharias, Elizabeth, and their son John the Baptist can be found in Luke 1:5-80 & 3:1-22 (not including John's death).  A few nights ago I was thinking how Zacharias and Elizabeth had to wait many, many years to have John.  It was the thoughts that swam through my head as I lay awake that inspired this blog.  If Zacharias and Elizabeth had their son too early, John would not have been able to prepare the way for Christ.  The same can be said if he had been born too late.  It was the custom of their time that the first born child (more literally, the one that broke through the mother's womb first) would be set apart as consecrated unto God.  John had to be their first born (probably their only child, but the bible doesn't say).  We know Zacharias & Elizabeth were not being punished or any such nonsense by having no children for the majority of their lives.  The bible even says that God finally blessed them with a son because of their righteous lives.  They were chosen to be the parents of the child that pointed the way to Jesus because they would be the perfect parents to teach John about living a holy life.  So you can see here how his parents having John late in life was perfectly planned according to God's timeline for a very specific reason. (see also my blog:   http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/03/profile-of-doubter-part-3-zacharias.html

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.  Luke 1:6

You can read about Joseph in Genesis chapters 37 - 50.  Since you are probably familiar with the story, let me sum it up for you.  Jacob showed his son Joseph favoritism because he was the first born son of the wife he loved the most, Rachel.  (The bible also says it was because Joseph was the son of his old age.)  Because Jacob spoiled Joseph, he made his son a colorful coat he had not made for any of his other children.  Joseph's brothers were very jealous of him.  What made matters worse, Joseph had two prophetic dreams he shared with his brothers, telling them he would someday rule over them.  Because Jacob had shown favoritism and Joseph had prophetic dreams, Joseph's brothers hated him, threw him in a pit, and sold him to the Egyptians.  At first, Joseph is favored by Potiphar until he is falsely accused of assaulting Potiphar's wife.  Joseph is then thrown into prison for 13 years.  Because Joseph is accused of a crime he did not commit and thrown into prison, he interprets dreams of the imprisoned butler and baker.  Because Joseph accurately interprets these dreams, he is called upon to interpret a dream for Pharaoh 2 years later.  Because Joseph again accurately interprets the dream, he is released from prison, where he is given the second highest position in the kingdom.  Because Joseph has been given such authority, and because of the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, he is able to stockpile enough food to save many lives during seven years of famine.  You see it, don't you?  If not, link all the becauses together in this paragraph.  Each and every event in Joseph's life led to the bigger picture of him saving people's lives, including the lives of his brothers and father.  (See also my blog:  http://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2016/10/genesis-15-50.html )

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.  Genesis 45:5
 
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Genesis 50:20

 
Those are just two (well, four if you count my husband and myself) examples of how God so beautifully plans every detail of our lives.  But I do not want you to simply read this blog and say, "Hmmmm."  Again, I challenge you to spend some time thinking about the pieces of your life and how they all fit together even way back 10, 20, 30, 40, and more years ago.  Whether you work it out in your head or on paper, you will be glad you did, and by the time you are done, you will be thanking God even for the hard times.  However, if you are like Mel and me, your puzzle is not complete and there are pieces missing that make it difficult to make out the details.  This is true for most of us as we still have life left on this world!  It is during those times when the pieces are hard to find or seem permanently lost or forgotten that we can get discouraged.  You may not even know what the future is supposed to hold and that makes it that much more frustrating.  It is during those time I find solace knowing how much God has orchestrated thus far, and I remind myself that He is still working.  Even in the sad times, God is in control.  Even when tears stain your pillow, God has not forgotten you or His plans for your life.  Remember the good God has done and acknowledge Him for it.  Celebrate the wonderful things in your life today (even if it's just one thing, it is better than zero).  Anticipate the future and all the limitless blessings that will shine on you. 

Here are some more scriptures that I hope will encourage you:
 
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14
 
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?  Psalm 56:8
 
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  I Corintians 13:12
 
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:26-28
 
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Matthew 10:30