“Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more.” (Genesis 37:5)

 

June 2010,

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. Here we are, finally going into summer! The sun is shining, the flowers are all in bloom, and everything is alive! It is a time of refreshing, and rest, and enjoying God’s creation. Take a deep breath and put your feet up, and relax a while.

I have been going down memory lane lately, thinking of all the events in my life, and taking a look at the good times and bad. Growing up when I did, girls were not encouraged too much to dream. The goal my family had for me was to finish high school, become a secretary, and get married. That was a good goal, certainly a much needed one in the corporate world, and like any young girl, I hoped to get married at some point. However, my restless spirit would send me  to the park to lie under a tree and dream of what my future would really hold. Most of you know my testimony, that I received Jesus into my heart at the age of eight, and then He miraculously healed me of polio. I had a close relationship with Him, and I talked with him daily about what was on my heart. My mom had to work full time because Dad left when I was eight, so I was left to myself a lot. We did not have much of an extended family to turn to, so it was mostly Jesus and me. I had dreams of becoming a missionary, going to foreign lands to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was open about Him with all my friends and everyone that I met, and was always so grateful to tell everyone about what He did for me.

However, as with most teenagers, friends became important in my life, and my thoughts turned to other things. Eventually I got married. As time went on, and life’s trials hit, the dreams that I had as a young girl came back to me. One night I sat alone by the living room window, watching the heavy rain come down under a threatening dark sky. As I watched the rain drops hit hard against the window I suddenly began to think of the twists and turns that my life took. Suddenly the tears came like a flood, and I began to cry out to Him, asking Him whatever happened to the dreams He gave me? Where was my life going? I was blessed with two beautiful precious daughters, but my marriage was over. My husband later died around the time I remarried to a wonderful man. But at that time, I felt so lost and alone. My new husband shared my faith, and he encouraged me to keep active in the church, but it was still not enough. Something was missing... One day as I watched the TV Program The 700 Club, Ben Kinchlow asked for volunteers to answer their prayer line. So I called, and was told to come in to the center near me. That began the greatest adventure of my life!  I loved answering the phones and ministering to people and praying for them!! When the center closed down, a group of us remained open as the Christian Hope Network, and God has kept us for over 20 years of ministry. During that time, with my husbands’ encouragement, I finished High School and went to I.M.I.B.C.S Bible College and Seminary, where I was ordained and followed through to earn my Ph.D. in Ministry.  And God has allowed me to minister to people all over the world! I do not have to travel to do this, the calls come in from both our Hope Connection Helpline and our God TV Prayer line.  Praise God!

What I want to encourage you with is this; if God has given you a dream, please know that even though sometimes life’s circumstances can pull you away, there is still always the opportunity to fulfill that dream! It takes courage, it takes hard work, but if you press in and never give up, you will see that dream come to pass.

Joseph had a dream and his brothers despised him for it. His brothers decided to cast him into a pit and leave him to die! Finally they decided that they should sell him to the Ishmaelites because there was no profit if he died. (Gen. 37:26-28) This began a journey for Joseph that would take him to a new dimension which would take him to the fulfillment of his dream. He would be bought as a slave, he would be successful in what he did, and the master would see that everything he did prospered. So Joseph found favor in his sight. After a while the masters’ wife had her eyes on him and when he rebuked her advances she lied about what happened and he was sent to prison. In time, God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he was given Pharoahs’ Signet ring and made the highest officer in the land. Everything he did prospered and the land was saved from famine. When his family came for help, they did not recognize him, but he knew them. He forgave them, and in time they connected and wept and their relationship was restored. His father saw his son again, alive and well!

God gave Joseph a dream. Has He given you a dream? Has it been years since you thought of it? Perhaps a dream to return to school? Or change jobs? Or go into full time ministry? Paul was called to Apostleship... and just think of his life! At one point he was murdering Christians thinking he was doing the right thing! Then God.... then God...(tears)  came to him and revealed Himself to him. Wow! His whole life was changed! Now he had a different dream, one that would take him to martyrdom for the cause of Christ. What dream has He given you? Was it given when you were a young child? Has life gotten in the way of its fulfillment? Has your dream changed since becoming Born Again? Where are you at this point in time? It does not matter where you are, God has a handle on it. If your desire and dream is one that will bring glory to Him, then know that He is in it. This does not mean that you leave your family and take off to foreign lands! It simply means that He has a plan, and He will work around that plan to fulfill His purposes. Take time to get before Him every day. Stay in the Word! Ask Him for fresh revelation of His purposes in your life, and then write it down.  Lord, I pray for this reader, and ask You to give this reader back that dream, and the means to bring it to pass! Encourage this person Lord, and fill his or her life with Your love, Your peace and Your hope. In Jesus Name, Amen! God bless you!

Rev. Barbara Yovino, Ph.D.