welcome to today's encouragement from our daily bread I'm Kirsten Holmberg and I titled our reading both are true
 after three decades thing Lulu was reunited with her birth family as a toddler she was kidnapped while playing outside her house but through the help of all China women's Federation she was finally located
 because she was so young when she was abducted and Lulu doesn't remember it she grew up believing she been sold because her parents couldn't afford to keep her
 the learning the truth surfaced many questions and emotions
 when Joseph was reunited with his brothers in Genesis chapter 45 it's likely he experienced some complex emotions
 he been sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt as a Young Man
 despite a series of painful twists and turns God propelled Joseph to a position of authority when his brothers came to Egypt to buy food during a famine they unwittingly thought it from him
 Joseph acknowledged that God redeemed their wrongdoing saying he used it to save their lives by a great Deliverance yet Joseph didn't redefine their hurtful actions toward him he described them accurately as selling him
 we sometimes try to put an overly positive spin on difficult situations focusing on the good God brings from them without acknowledging the emotional struggle
 let's take care not to redefine a wrong is being good simply because God redeemed it
 we can look for him to bring good from it while still recognizing the pain wrongdoing causes
 both are true
 today's our daily bread devotional scripture reading is from Genesis chapter 45 verses 3 through 11
 Joseph said to his brothers I am Joseph is my father still living but his brothers were not able to answer him because they were terrified that his presence
 then Joseph said to his brothers come close to me
 when they are done so he said I am your brother Joseph the one you sold into Egypt
 and now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourself for selling me here because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you
 for two years now there has been a famine in the land and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping
 that God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a Remnant on Earth and to save your lives by a great Deliverance
 so then it was not you who sent me here but God
 he made me father to Pharaoh Lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt now hurry back to my father and say to him this is what your son Joseph says God has made me Lord of all Egypt come down to me don't delay you should live in the region of Goshen and be near me you your children and grandchildren your flocks and herds and all you have I will provide for you there because five years of famine are still to come
 otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute
 let's pray
 father God thank you for loving me tending to our wounds
 in Jesus name we pray amen thanks for listening today my name is Kirsten Holmberg and today's encouragement with provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries