Responding To Problems

Responding To Problems

 I know that everything that happens in life has a reason, but it's up to us how we respond.  There are things in life that happen that are very hard to get past.  I think of Joseph who went through a number of things that would be very hard to get over easily.   It must of been very hard being rejected by his brothers , who had shown no mercy at his cries when he cried from a pit in which they had thrown him.  Worst of all they took him and sold him into slavery and had not one drop of mercy as he looked back in tears.

I know it must of been very hard for Joseph to get past being accused of something he didn't do.  Especially because the accusation against him would harm his testimony as a Godly man.  Then to be thrown into prison for years and seemingly forgotten.  How he must of been tempted to become bitter at his situation. He must of spent many hours praying and wondering in his heart why.   Still he trusted and stayed faithful to God.

Then came the day  he became the "savior of the known world." God had blessed him with the unusual ability to know things through the interpretation of dreams.  He was blessed with the gift

even as a child.  The gift was one of the reasons his brothers hated him. His family did not believe him but the talent that God had given him would be used to save many people from starvation.  God had a greater purpose.

Now this story I'm about to tell  you may not seem to be as hard a thing to go through as what Joseph did,  but I know it is something  kids can learn from today.  When I was around seven or eight years old. I was an A student in my music class.  The school was having a Christmas program and I was in the bell choir.  I was all excited about it and ready to give it my all.  We stood up to perform our song and it was perfect as far as I can remember, but to my surprise, not a good surprise at all,  The boy behind me decided he wanted to move my chair from behind me.  The teacher motioned for us to all be seated and what happened?  I fell flat on my behind and bells were ringing everywhere.  Kids were angry at me for messing up the whole program.  They stood there laughing and some were mad.   The teacher pulled me aside and guess what,  She informed me my grade would be lowered  by one letter because of what someone else did to me.  Now I don't  remember what happened afterwards,  I'm sure I  was very heart broken, but I do know this.  When you get punished for something that someone else does  to you it's not something that you get over easily.  

Through life we go through things sometimes, so that later on, we can help others who may be going through tough times.  We may have even been unjustly treated just as Joseph.    God has given us the story of Joseph as an example how to react to life's problems. In the story of Joseph,  He becomes a very powerful man over all of Egypt.  He even had the power to put people into prison, but Joseph also knew to show mercy as he was lead by God.  Joseph was a powerful man but He also was a very humble man because of everything God allowed him to go through.  He was able to react to those who treated him unjustly with love and forgiveness, but he also used caution in his choices.  He was prepared by His problems for a greater purpose.

When problems come along in your life, remember Joseph and learn from his choices.  God has a purpose for you and if you stay faithful he will bring you to that purpose and your eyes will be opened to the why, just as Joseph learned why.

Genesis 50:20

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 45:6-8

 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Children's Devotion:

Susan Y  Nikitenko November 17th, 2013

Poetry And Other Materials On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Bible Centered Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All my poems with stories are both real and fictional designed to illustrate a biblical truth. All Rights Reserved. Please Include Site Name And Link Back To This Blog. Thank-You.

Being Consistent

Being Consistent

I have two daughters, they are six years apart.  When my daughters were babies I used to lay on the floor by their crib in the darkened room.  I would sing to them softly hymns about Jesus.  When they would drift off to sleep I would pray with tears for God to use their lives.  In the quiet by my baby's bed, I prayed God would give us a strong Christian home.  I prayed for their safety in this dangerous perverted world. 

I read to my children every day.  I loved reading, " Uncle Author Bed Time Stories "  these books have a lot of stories that teach biblical character.  We read through those books a number of times through the years.  I constantly quoted verses and sang songs to my children to remind them to make the right decisions.  Sometimes singing works better than scolding.  

We listened to all the "Patch the Pirate" songs.  These songs are cute, fun and teach deep biblical truth that helps our children resist doing the wrong things.  We also listened continuously to "Odyssey", from "Focus on the Family."    This was a family activity...We listened for hours when traveling.  We listened in the afternoon as the kids colored.  We listened to the daily broadcast.  They listened after lights out as they drifted off to sleep.  We were excited about the next episodes.  My kids still love "Odyssey" even though they're both grown.  We avoided watching the Saturday morning cartoons and instead we marched together as a family with Uncle Charley from the Children's Bible Hour.  My Kids woke up to Christian Radio..every Saturday morning.  Their Saturday morning  started out with hearing...."RAAAANGER BILLL"!  

I always pushed devotions in our home.. We routinely read devotions together as a family.  When our kids were little we used the "Keys for Kids" for our family devotions.  When they got older we read the scripture along with the "Daily Bread Booklet along with reading the Bible reading.  We did this for years.  Then my children started doing them faithfully on their own. 

I tucked my children into bed and prayed with them every night.  Sometimes they would start opening up about something that was bothering them.  I would pray with them about the problem, talked about forgiveness and not going to bed angry and sang to them gently until they felt at peace and sometimes laid beside them until they went to sleep. Our family went faithfully to Sunday School and Church Services.  There were a few times we became inconsistent, but we learned our lesson.  I learned a long time ago... We can't do things without God.  We were not perfect but no one could ever say we didn't care or never tried.  Sometimes times we made some bad decision, but by Gods grace, we got back on track. 

Maybe it's time for your family to get back on track.  Maybe you're not being consistent with the important things.  If you take care of your families biblical needs first..everything works out better in the long run.  Being consistent is delivering a message to your children.  You are telling your children..."This is important and this is how we should live."  You are telling your children..."God is important and we need to put Him first." 

What are your choices for teaching your children? 

Susan Y Nikitenko   February 07, 2012


Poetry On This Site Can Be Freely Used For Christian Personal Bible Centered And Non-Profit Ministries And must Remain Unchanged In Any Way. All Other Purposes Are With Permission Only. You May Make Requests At I reserve the rights and ask you give me credit for my writing. "treasurebox18@yahoo.com" All Rights Reserved