Oh Melissa, You had to Ask...

Melissa at The Inspired Room is hosting a link party featuring

things that have inspired us this week.
My contribution has nothing directly to do with
homemaking or decorating but

let me tell you, this has been a week full of inspiration.

Some for good and others not so wonderful.

I should probably just pick one thing, huh?

Well, maybe just two!

Two separate things that will go together, 

I promise.

Yesterday I told you about the Blogger Meet

at Sight and Sound Theatre.  What I have not 

talked so much about is why this particular story

moves me to the core.

You see, the story of Joseph speaks to the part

of me that used to be extremely fearful.

I feared everything.  

Faith was just a word in my vocabulary 

when it came to trust in God.

You know, what if He chose to let something

horrible happen to me or someone I loved?

What if....So many of these if's.

But when you see the story of Joseph laid out

in live action you realize that life can stink pretty 

bad and still be within the Will of God.
Encouraged yet?
Ha!

I mean, how many of us have had our siblings

toss us into a pit with the intention of allowing us

to die a slow and painful death?

Or....sold us into slavery?

Not so much.

How many of us have spent three years in 

prison for something we never did?

It happens.

But not to me.

Most likely not to you either.

But the thing that grabs my heart and soul

is the knowledge that God did not allow 

any of these things for evil intentions or 

because He didn't care about Joseph or his 

brothers.  He allowed it specifically because...
Are you ready?

He loved them THAT MUCH!!!!

Because of these seemingly

cruel and unusual circumstances 

God saved Isreal.
A family was restored and a life of
a Faithful man became one of Honor.

Through all of this,

He preserved the line through which He

would bring the Savior.

This is the best of all!

He loved US THAT MUCH!!!

I have spent so many hours in worry and fear.

Even this morning I opened my eyes and crawled

out of bed early because of concerns relating to 

my health.  

Yes!  

Today!! 

I am not over this whole

tendency to worry.  

If it hadn't been about test results
that now require a trip to the doctor
in a week or so....I likely would

have been trying not to hyperventilate

about Mikey's determination

to get his motorcycle license!

However, I am wholly encouraged

by the fact that God is intimately involved in my life.

His plan was established before the beginning of

time and it is all as it should be.

Will I always see the pathway clear?

Nope.

That I can guarantee.

But sometimes a miracle happens just when you need

most to see it.

Such was the case today.

Our neighbors were in a horrific accident.

They were pulling a large camper behind their 

SUV when a tire blew out on the camper.

Their SUV and camper went flipping down 

the road rolling three times.

I got the call as they were still attempting

to get one of the ladies out of the vehicle.

 Credit for this photo goes to 
WGALTV.
You'll find the story here.

It was necessary to remove the roof 

to get her out.  

She is the only one

of six people, two dogs and a cat 

who is injured enough

to remain in a hospital this evening.  

She has a badly 

broken finger.

Really!

It truly is a miracle. 

The youngest child was three.

The oldest person was a senior citizen.

I just know that things could have been so 

different.  Sometimes they do work out 

horribly otherwise. But, if God wishes to 

intervene and allow a miracle, 

He can and will 

do it.  

If He chooses to allow us to travel through 

bleak times...even years... as in Joseph's case

what is most important is that we remain 

faithful.   Always knowing that He is at work.

His plan is perfect.

Truly.

I wish I could quote the challenge

given at the end of Sight and Sound's performance

but it is along the lines that God is 

looking for those who will stand up

for Him today.

It reaches into the core of me

each and every time I see it

and it is all I can do not to jump 

from my seat shouting

"Me!  Pick Me!"

Now that is inspiration.

Straight to the heart.

Be encouraged that our Heavenly Father
knows what He is doing.
It is good.