The Story – Esther

For the past few weeks, I’ve been running posts I wrote for Gloria Dei during a series on The Story, a chronological abridged version of the Bible.

This post on Esther is the sixth, and last, post in this series.

To read the first five posts:

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But The Lord is With Us (Joseph)

God Will Amaze Us (Moses)

The Faith of a Child (Samuel)

Two Brave Queens

(First posted at Gloria Dei on February 6, 2013)

One king. Two queens.

God’s upper story. Two lower stories.

God isn’t mentioned in the Book of Esther, and yet, He’s there weaving the lower stories together for His purpose—to save His chosen people from annihilation.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 NIV

We don’t know much about Queen Vashti, but I wish we did.

What we do know is that she is queen when King Xerxes throws a 7 day banquet, following a full 180 days in which he displayed his vast wealth. 

King Xerxes likes to show off.

During the banquet, in which he has provided unlimited amounts of wine to all of his guests, he commands Queen Vashti to join them.

Scripture doesn’t say how long she’s been queen, but I imagine she knew what he was like—that He liked to drink and put what was his on display.

She also would have known that when the king issued a command, he wasn’t asking for an opinion. He wasn’t issuing an invitation and asking for a RSVP. A command was expected to be carried out, or there would be consequences.

Queen Vashti had to have known this, and yet, her answer was no.

But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Esther 1:12 NIV

Although I’m not-so-secretly cheering for Queen Vashti, I have to ask, Why now?

What made Queen Vashti take a stand and refuse the king’s command? It probably would’ve been easier to do what he “requested,” get it over with, and get back to the banquet she was giving at the time.

But she decided to not obey the king’s orders, and she was banished from the palace, with her royal title being stripped from her.

Queen Vashti’s lower story doesn’t make sense. But her piece fits into God’s upper story.

There is now an opening for a queen, and whether she likes it or not, Esther gets the role.

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 NIV

Esther makes the best of the situation and everyone likes her, including the king.

Helping her situation is the fact that her uncle Mordecai overhears of an assignation plot, and Esther is able to warn the king.

When the plot is investigated and found to be true, both Esther and Mordecai gain credibility with the king. And credibility, along with having won the king’s favor, is what Esther needs to walk through the next part of her lower story.

Mordecai tells Esther of Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jews, and instructs her to go to the king and beg him to save her people.

Esther is not naïve. She knows what happens to someone who refuses the king’s command, as well as someone who goes to the king without being summoned. Queen Vashti proved that no one is exempt from the king’s temper.

Where Queen Vashti made her choice, Queen Esther doesn’t have much of a choice. If she goes to the king, she may be put to death. If she doesn’t go to the king, her people will be wiped out. What an enormous responsibility for a young Jewish orphan girl who was thrown into being queen!

Esther’s lower story on its own doesn’t make sense. But when we see the lower stories of Vashti and Esther woven together, we see God at work.

Our lower stories often don’t make sense, but who knows that maybe God brings us into situations as well—in His time, for His purpose.

Have you experienced a time when life didn't make much sense, but you knew God had a purpose for it?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty and Soli Deo Gloria

The Story – Samuel

Welcome! For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been sharing posts which were written for a series on The Story, and first posted on the Gloria Dei blog.

Today is the fifth of the six posts, written about young Samuel and the first time the Lord called him. Samuel had unquestioning faith that God was indeed calling him.

Do we have that kind of faith to know when God is trying to get our attention?

To read the first four posts:

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But The Lord is With Us (Joseph)

God Will Amaze Us (Moses)

The Faith of a Child

(First posted at Gloria Dei on November 20, 2012)

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:8b-9

Did you catch that?

Samuel went back to bed. He didn’t question Eli on why God would be talking to him—a child. Perhaps that is why I’ve always liked the story of young Samuel. It’s not long, but as I read it, I see his innocence, his obedience, and his unquestioning acceptance that God may indeed be trying to get his attention.

Three times God calls Samuel and each time Samuel runs to Eli, thinking it was Eli who called him. After the third time, Eli catches on to what is happening—God is calling out to the boy.

At that time, God wasn’t often speaking through visions or in messages through prophets and priests. So, while Samuel was assisting Eli and serving the Lord, he had not actually heard from the Lord. I wonder if Eli, as Israel’s chief priest, had ever heard directly from God.

But Samuel had found favor with the Lord, and it is Samuel God chooses to speak to. So, although Samuel didn’t yet know the sound of God’s voice, God begins to get Samuel’s attention.

And Samuel never questioned that it was really God speaking to Him.

Is God trying to get your attention?

Maybe He’s led you to a specific Bible verse or maybe your conscience is nagging at you.

God will sometimes lead me to the same message in different ways…through Scripture, through something a friend says, through a devotion’s perfect timing in my e-mail inbox. And when they all happen in a short period of time, I know God is trying to get my attention and I’d better get focused.

Are you open to hearing from Him?

As a society, we often attribute things to coincidence, but Jesus said…

“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 NIV

What if we opened our hearts to have the faith of a child…innocent and unassuming, believing that God does look to get our attention?

How He does that may be different for you than for me. But until we get to know Him through His Word and by spending time with Him, how will we know when He’s speaking to us?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, Soli Deo Gloria, #TellHisStory, and WholeHearted Wednesday.

The Story – Moses

Thank you for joining me here today! This is the fourth of six posts written for a series on The Story, and first posted on the Gloria Dei blog.

Have you ever wished for a burning-bush-moment like God gave Moses? I have.

A burning bush is hard to miss and would clearly tell me what God wants me to do. But…is it really that easy? After the clear instructions comes obedience, often without knowing what’s to come, or how things will work out. And with obedience comes waiting faithfully (and patiently) for God’s plan to unfold…in God’s time.

Waiting patiently is something I’ll always be working on…how about you?

To read the first three posts:

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But The Lord is With Us (Joseph)

God Will Amaze Us

(First posted at Gloria Dei on October 3, 2012)

Are you familiar with the saying “It’s going to get worse before it gets better?” It’s usually said as a way to make us feel better…“This seems to be worse than it was before, but then it has to get better.”

Although they didn’t know it at the time, this certainly seemed to be the case for the Israelites in Egypt.

The Lord told Moses to go talk to Pharaoh. Moses was obedient and went with Aaron to see Pharaoh. But later that day, life only got worse for the Israelites.

Pharaoh changed the rules. Instead of straw for the bricks being supplied, Pharaoh ordered the Israelite slaves to find the straw themselves and still make the same number of bricks as before. In other words, they had more work to do, with the same quota of bricks to be completed, in the same amount of time. And the slave drivers appointed by Pharaoh didn’t take kindly to the work not being completed on time.

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23 NIV

Moses was discouraged. The Israelites were discouraged. But where this lower story did not make any sense on its own, the upper story tells of God’s plan for His people.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.

“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.’” Exodus 6:1, 6-7 NIV

I wonder if the Israelites were thinking, too little, too late. Just as they didn’t understand God’s timing, I don’t either. But I’m not called to understand. I’m called to trust Him and be obedient.

God promised the Israelites deliverance, but it would be in a way that was humanly impossible. God wanted there to be no mistake that it was His work for His people.

What does that mean for us today?

Often life gets worse through no wrongdoing of our own. But what about the times when life gets worse because we think we can do it on our own?

How often do we forget to take an issue to God before trying to solve it on our own?

Or when we do take it to God, but then take it back? Thanks for your help, God. I’ll take it from here.

It seems God will let us exhaust our efforts until we’re out of ideas and energy. Then when we see no way and think it’s impossible, we go back to Him. Whether it’s how we want or in a way we never dreamed of, God will amaze us. And He wants us to know it was of Him, not our own efforts.

The Israelites were understandably frustrated and discouraged. But what if they had chosen not to follow Moses?

Not only would they have missed the amazing miracle of walking through the Red Sea, but also receiving the Ten Commandments, and ultimately entering the Promised Land.

What will we miss if we don’t wait for God?

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Winsome Wednesday, WholeHearted Wednesday, and Thought Provoking Thursday.

The Story – Joseph

Welcome! This is the third of six posts written for a series on The Story, and first posted on the Gloria Dei blog.

Joseph, of the Old Testament, goes from having it all, to having nothing. Life goes like that sometimes, doesn’t it? Everything seems to be going well, and then…we feel as if the rug has been pulled out from under us.

How do you react when this happens—do you lean in closer to God, or do you turn away?

To read the first two posts:

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But The Lord is With Us

(First posted at Gloria Dei on September 26, 2012)

Coat of many colors Joseph.

That’s how I grew up knowing him. Scripture introduces us to Joseph when he is 17 years old, and he is clearly his father’s favorite child…as evidenced by the beautiful robe given to him.

To set the scene of this family dynamic, think about this for a moment.

Jacob had two wives, Leah and Rachel. Of these two sisters, (yes, sisters!) Jacob loved Rachel, but wasn’t interested in Leah. However, Jacob was tricked (by the girls’ father!) into marrying Leah before he could marry Rachel. If there wasn’t already some tension between Leah and Rachel, there was now. (Genesis 29-30)

The relationship between the two goes from bad to worse as Leah has four sons and Rachel is unable to have children. Jealousy is never a good thing, and there is plenty of it in this family.

At long last, Rachel gives birth to a son, Joseph. Jacob is now advanced in years and finally has a son with Rachel—his favorite son—Joseph.

After years of living with the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, and Joseph obviously being daddy’s favorite, it’s not surprising that Jacob’s other sons don’t care for Joseph.

Joseph’s not doing too bad though…he’s got Jacob’s approval, a beautiful ornate robe, and he’s sharing dreams of others bowing down to him with his family.

And then the rug gets pulled out from under him.

I wonder if he ever saw it coming.

Do we?  

When life takes a turn we didn’t anticipate, what do we do?

In times of trials, we can choose to turn one of two ways…toward God, where we grow closer to Him and learn to trust, depend, and rely on God and His promises. Or, away from God, often blaming Him for our circumstances.

Joseph certainly could have turned away from God in this lousy turn of events, but it appears that he grew closer to God.

It’s not until after Joseph has been sold into slavery in Egypt that Scripture says…

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master. Potiphar noticed this and realized that the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.” Genesis 39:2-3

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Genesis 39:20b-23

During trial after trial, Joseph turned to God and trusted Him, and God prepared Joseph for the future.

What if our stories read like Joseph’s?

She struggled through another miscarriage, but the Lord was with her. He comforted her and walked beside her.

He lost all that he had worked for, but the Lord was with him; He lifted him up and showed the man a new beginning.

The unwanted divorce papers arrived and crushed what was left of her spirit, but the Lord was with her. He walked with her through the valley, giving her the strength she needed to move on.

In our lower stories, all we can see is what’s going on around us. Often times, it’s impossible to see how good can come from what we’re going through. But it’s in the trials when God gets our attention. When we’re broken is when He can do the greatest work in us, preparing us for what He has planned.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The Lord sees it all. Just as He knew how Joseph’s lower story fit into His upper story, the Lord knows the same about us.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, Soli Deo Gloria, and WholeHearted Wednesdays.

The Story – Abraham

Welcome! For the next few weeks, I’m sharing six posts, written for a series on The Story, and first posted on the Gloria Dei blog.

As I reread these posts, I’m reminded of the struggles the men and women of the Old Testament went through, and what I can learn about their faith and trust in God.

This is the second post—about Abraham. To read the first, click here: My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story.

Faith, Trust, and Hope

(First posted at Gloria Dei on September 19, 2012)

It seems God’s timing rarely matches the time frame we would prefer. We’re an instant gratification society. From fast food to drive-thru everything, we don’t like to wait. Does anyone besides me get impatient if the internet is a few seconds too slow?

So, reading about Abraham and Sarah reminds me that the patience to wait on God’s timing comes through faith, trust, and hope. But better still is God’s grace for them as they struggled with impatience and took matters into their own hands.

Abraham (known as Abram at that time) was 75 years old when God told him to leave his country, his people, and father’s household, and go to a new land, where God would bless him and make him into a great nation.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NIV

Faith, as defined in The Story, is complete trust. True faith is much deeper than mere intellectual agreement with certain facts—it affects the desires of one’s heart. (The Story pg. 14)

In Abraham’s lower story, he didn’t know where God was taking him. He didn’t know how his obedience fit into God’s upper story, but he didn’t need to know. Abraham trusted God and wanted to be faithful, so he packed up and went.

Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. (NLT Study Bible, Tyndale)

Trusting God is knowing that what He says will happen. We might not know when or how, but we can be sure that God will always keep His promises.

Abraham trusted God, but the waiting and longing for a child had to be awful. What did Abraham think every time he saw the pain in Sarah’s eyes? How did Sarah respond when surrounded by the children of family and friends, knowing that a family was not in her future?

Years later, God told Abraham again that he would be the father of many. But Abraham still didn’t know when or how that could happen, only that he had God’s word.

At some point during the wait, I would have wavered between faith and hopelessness. I would have wanted to ask God, “How long God? I can’t do this anymore—it’s too hard. Why did you tell me I’d have descendants when it seems impossible? Why did you give me hope for a son when it’s not to be?”

Abraham said it more eloquently when the Lord came to him in a vision…

But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.”

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Genesis 15:2-5 NIV

I can hear the compassion in God’s voice as He answers Abraham. God knew his pain and lovingly confirms that Abraham will have a son and be the father of many. And then God goes a step further and makes a covenant with Abraham—a promise that only God can keep.

When it all seemed impossible, Abraham had faith in God. He trusted God. And His hope was in God.

Abraham hoped for a son. He desperately wanted a son. Just like many of us desperately hope for or want something—a child, a spouse, maybe a change in circumstances.

But I like this definition of hope…

Hope is the confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment. (NLT Study Bible, Tyndale)

Hope in God is knowing He will be there, no matter what.

Hope is knowing He will act in our best interest, according to His grand upper story.

Hope is knowing that when life hurts, we’re not alone—God will never leave us.

God kept His promise to Abraham. 25 years after God first told Abraham he would be a father, Sarah had a baby boy named Issac. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90.

Abraham and Sarah couldn’t see past their lower story, just like you and I can’t see past ours. There are times when the story eventually turns out the way we want it to, as it did for Abraham and Sarah. But sometimes God has something different in mind. Through faith, trust, and hope, we have the assurance that our lower story is part of God’s upper story…fulfilled His Way and in His time.

In Christ,

Laura   

Linking up with Winsome Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.

The Story – My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Last fall, my church congregation began reading through The Story, a chronological abridged version of the Bible. During the series, I had the privilege of guest posting on Gloria Dei’s blog for six weeks, writing about a few of the Old Testament heroes.

I often need to reread my own words, and I’ve been reminded of the lessons I can learn from these men and women in the Old Testament. For the next few weeks, you’ll find these posts here, in their entirety, as first posted on the Gloria Dei blog. My prayer is that they will bless another reader, as well.

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

(First posted at Gloria Dei on September 6, 2012)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

This is one of my favorite verses in Scripture, but sometimes I want to ask, “God, my life doesn’t seem to be going all that well right now. Is this what you have planned for me?

Everyday life often doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why things happen, why people act the way they do, or why something doesn’t work out when I did my very best. I don’t know why some days are so difficult.

But here’s the thing…my life isn’t the complete story. It’s only a piece of God’s story.

Author and pastor Randy Frazee says to understand the Bible, we need to view it with a dual lens, one that allows us to see the Upper Story and the Lower Story. The Upper Story is God’s grand story of something larger—His eternal plans.

The Lower Story is our individual stories of everyday life—the struggles, the joys, the getting through the day-to-day. God’s Upper Story encompasses our Lower Stories.

Since the very beginning, God has wanted to be with us. That’s why He created Adam, and then Eve. He wanted to be with them every day, to share His love and joy with them, and to live with them in a perfect place—the Garden of Eden.

However, God does not force Himself on us. He wants a personal relationship with each of us, not out of obligation, but because we want to be with Him.

Enter free will.

I used to wonder why God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden to begin with. Maybe you have too. In order to want to be in a relationship with God, we have to have the freedom to choose. God gave us that freedom in the form of a tree. And when Adam and Eve ate from it, we lost the perfect relationship God created us to have with Him. Forever.

From that time on, God’s plan has been to have that relationship with us again. And He has given us that hope through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The only way we could ever be with Him again was for Jesus to pay the price of our sins. Through His death and resurrection, He conquered the hold sin has over us. No longer are we slaves to our sinful nature, but through Him we have the ability to align our lives with God’s Will. And when we do, we can know without a doubt that no matter what happens in our Lower Stories, God will work it out for the good of those who love Him. 

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
Romans 8:28 NLT

Throughout the Bible, God used the Lower Stories of sometimes the most unlikely people as part of His master plan. And He continues to do this today as He uses our Lower Stories, for good in His Upper Story.

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with The Weekend Brew, Sharing His Beauty, Soli Deo Gloria, and #TellHisStory.

Two Brave Queens

Welcome! I’m guest posting for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today. As a congregation, we are reading through The Story, a chronological abridged version of the Bible. The Story uses Scripture from the NIV and reads as a seamless story.

Periodically, I have been a guest contributor during this sermon series. Today I’m there talking about two queens in the Book of Esther—Vashti and Esther. (I’m cheering for both.)

Here’s a bit of what you’ll find…

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14 NIV

One king. Two queens.

God’s upper story. Two lower stories.

God isn’t mentioned in the Book of Esther, and yet, He’s there weaving the lower stories together for His purpose—to save His chosen people from annihilation. Read more…

God is at work today—even when we can’t see it.

And who knows…maybe God brings us into situations—ones we don’t understand at the time—in His time and for His purpose.

To read more of my post, please join me at the Gloria Dei blog. And if you would, leave a comment. I’d love to know you stopped by!

In Christ,

Laura

More on The Story...

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But the Lord is with Us (Joseph)
God Will Amaze Us (Moses)

The Faith of a Child (Samuel)

Linking up today with Winsome Wednesday and WholeHearted Home.

The Faith of a Child

Welcome! I’m guest posting at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today where, as a congregation, we are reading through The Story. Today I’m looking at the first time God called Samuel, who was only a boy at the time.

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 1 Samuel 3:8b-9 

Did you catch that?

Samuel went back to bed. He didn’t question Eli on why God would be talking to him—a child.

Perhaps that is why I’ve always liked the story of young Samuel. It’s not long, but as I read it, I see his innocence, his obedience, and his unquestioning acceptance that God may indeed be trying to get his attention. Read more…

To read this entire post, please join me on the Gloria Dei blog, and feel free to leave a comment here or there so I’ll know you stopped by. J

When have you felt God speaking to you? Are you open to hearing from Him?

In Christ,

Laura

More on The Story...

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But the Lord is with Us (Joseph)
God Will Amaze Us (Moses)

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, On Your Heart Tuesdays, Soli Deo Gloria, Just Write, God-Bumps and God-Incidences, Women Living Well Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday, WholeHearted Home Wednesdays, and Winsome Wednesday.

God Will Amaze Us

Welcome! I’m writing about Moses and the Israelites today on the Gloria Dei blog, as we continue to read through The Story as a congregation. Here’s the beginning of my post…

Are you familiar with the saying “It’s going to get worse before it gets better?” It’s usually said as a way to make us feel better…“This seems to be worse than it was before, but then it has to get better.”

Although they didn’t know it at the time, this certainly seemed to be the case for the Israelites in Egypt. 

The Lord told Moses to go talk to Pharaoh. Moses was obedient and went with Aaron to see Pharaoh. But later that day, life only got worse for the Israelites.

Pharaoh changed the rules. Instead of straw for the bricks being supplied, Pharaoh ordered the Israelite slaves to find the straw themselves and still make the same number of bricks as before. In other words, they had more work to do, with the same quota of bricks to be completed, in the same amount of time. And the slave drivers appointed by Pharaoh didn’t take kindly to the work not being completed on time.

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23 NIV

Moses was discouraged. The Israelites were discouraged. But where this lower story did not make any sense on its own, the upper story tells of God’s plan for His people.

To read how the Lord responded to Moses and my post in its entirety, please follow me over to the Gloria Dei blog… And if you would, let me know of your visit by leaving a comment. Thanks!

In Christ,

Laura

More on The Story...

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Faith, Trust, and Hope (Abraham)

But the Lord is with Us (Joseph)

Linking up with Word Filled Wednesday, Women Living Well Wednesday, Unwrapping His Promises, Getting Down with Jesus, and Walk With Him Wednesdays.

But the Lord is with Us

Welcome! I’m contributing at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today where we, as a congregation, continue to read through The Story.

Today I’m talking about Joseph. His lower story certainly didn’t make sense as one thing after another happened to him. But as part of God’s upper story, Joseph’s story has a purpose.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll find…

Coat of many colors Joseph…

Family tension…Jacob (Joseph’s father) with two wives, who are also sisters…

Older brothers who are jealous of Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son)…

Joseph’s not doing too bad though…he’s got Jacob’s approval, a beautiful ornate robe, and he’s sharing dreams of others bowing down to him with his family.

And then the rug gets pulled out from under him.

I wonder if he ever saw it coming.

Do we?

When life takes a turn we didn’t anticipate, what do we do?

In times of trials, we can choose to turn one of two ways…toward God, where we grow closer to Him and learn to trust, depend, and rely on God and His promises. Or, away from God, often blaming Him for our circumstances.

Joseph certainly could have turned away from God in this lousy turn of events…

To read my post in its entirety, please follow me over to the Gloria Dei blog. And if you would, leave a comment. I’d love to know you stopped by!

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with WholeHearted Home, Life in Bloom, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.

Faith, Trust, and Hope

Welcome! I’m guest posting for Gloria Dei LutheranChurch today. As a congregation, we are reading through The Story, a chronological abridged version of the Bible. The Story uses Scripture from the NIV and reads as a seamless story.

Periodically, I will be a guest contributor during this sermon series. Today I’m there talking about Abraham and how through faith, trust, and hope he waited for God’s will in his life. And maybe even more difficult, Abraham waited on God’s timing...

It seems God’s timing rarely matches the time frame we would prefer. We’re an instant gratification society. From fast food to drive-thru everything, we don’t like to wait. Does anyone besides me get impatient if the internet is a few seconds too slow?

So, reading about Abraham and Sarah reminds me that the patience to wait on God’s timing comes through faith, trust, and hope. But better still is God’s grace for them as they struggled with impatience and took matters into their own hands.

Abraham (known as Abram at that time) was 75 years old when God told him to leave his country, his people, and father’s household, and go to a new land, where God would bless him and make him into a great nation.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NIV

Faith, as defined in The Story, is complete trust. True faith is much deeper than mere intellectual agreement with certain facts—it affects the desires of one’s heart. (The Story pg. 14)

In Abraham’s lower story, he didn’t know where God was taking him. He didn’t know how his obedience fit into God’s upper story, but he didn’t need to know. Abraham trusted God and wanted to be faithful, so he packed up and went.

Trust is the assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. (NLT Study Bible, Tyndale)

Trusting God is knowing that what He says will happen. We might not know when or how, but we can be sure that God will always keep His promises.

Abraham trusted God, but the waiting and longing for a child had to be awful. What did Abraham think every time he saw the pain in Sarah’s eyes? How did Sarah respond when surrounded by the children of family and friends, knowing that a family was not in her future?

To read more of my post, please join me at the Gloria Dei blog. And if you would, leave a comment. I’d love to know you stopped by!

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up today with Walk with Him Wednesdays, WholeHearted Home, Life in Bloom, Thought Provoking Thursday, and Faith Filled Friday.

My Lower Story in God’s Upper Story

Welcome! I’m guest posting for Gloria Dei Lutheran Church today. As a congregation, we are reading through The Story, a chronological abridged version of the Bible. The Story uses Scripture from the NIV and reads as a seamless story.

Periodically, I will be a guest contributor during this sermon series. Today I’m there talking about how our lower stories fit into God’s upper story. Here’s a bit of what you’ll find…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

This is one of my favorite verses in Scripture, but sometimes I want to ask, “God, my life doesn’t seem to be going all that well right now. Is this what you have planned for me?"

Everyday life often doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why things happen, why people act the way they do, or why something doesn’t work out when I did my very best. I don’t know why some days are so difficult.

But here’s the thing…my life isn’t the complete story. It’s only a piece of God’s story.

Author and pastor Randy Frazee says to understand the Bible, we need to view it with a dual lens, one that allows us to see the Upper Story and the Lower Story. The Upper Story is God’s grand story of something larger—His eternal plans.

The Lower Story is our individual stories of everyday life—the struggles, the joys, the getting through the day-to-day. God’s Upper Story encompasses our Lower Stories.

To read more of my post, please join me at the Gloria Dei blog. And if you would, leave a comment. I’d love to know you stopped by!

In Christ,

Laura

Linking up with Life in Bloom, Women Living Well Wednesday, Thought Provoking Thursday, Faith Filled Friday, and Spiritual Sundays.