Is there a dream we've been chasing after with all we've got? Perhaps we've 'caught the vision' and we're pursuing exactly what we know we should be pursuing right now. If so, well done to us! Or perhaps not. Maybe we missed that big and special opportunity, or made the wrong choices at some point.

If we're disappointed in where we find ourselves, let's take a look at the story of Joseph in Genesis 50. The fact that his brothers left him for dead didn't set him up with the best start in life. In fact, Joseph had very little choice in where he'd land in life. In the bottom of a well, and then later in a jail... But he gave his difficult situations to God, and let him take the lead. God knew exactly what gifts, talents and dreams Joseph had and brought him through.

So, if we're in a tough place, let's know that it isn't the end of the road. Really. Let's look at today's verse again. We're limiting ourselves if we believe that we've reached a dead end. Let's know that God is on our side; he's never going to abandon us or leave us without hope, no matter how dark the situation becomes. That isn't the Jesus-way. God is working all things 'for the good of those who love him' (Romans 8:28 NIV).

So what now? Those places in your life that feel stagnant or dead? God wants to resurrect them. Thank God that he always intends these challenges for your good and for his glory.

Terrible things happen to people across the world, including Christians. It's impossible to watch the news and not see this. So, how do we respond? Jesus' first followers give us some examples of how not to. Peter responded to a violent assault and tried to protect Jesus with some unwanted sword action, and one of the mob lost an ear. Jesus immediately put the brakes on Peter's revenge rampage, and healed the guy's ear.

Fast-forward a few months and Jesus has died, risen and left his Spirit with his followers. Suddenly they're all behaving differently. No more blade-wielding Peter. No more revenge quests. The disciples saw themselves and all other human beings on a level playing field, all in need of the living God to help them. In the book of Acts we see them reaching out with Jesus' compassion to help and heal others, and boldly telling others that Jesus is Lord. They prayed for their own jailers and torturers. Things had changed because they saw everyone's need for the gospel. Their eyes were opened to the weakness of all humans.

Henri Nouwen puts it like this: 'In the face of the oppressed, I recognise my own face and in the hands of the oppressor I recognise my own hands. Their flesh is my flesh, their blood is my blood, their pain is my pain, their smile is my smile.'

So what now? Today, pray for persecuted people around the world. And pray for their persecutors.

There are two major types of Christian persecution going on in the world right now: the 'smash' type, where Christians are violently tortured and murdered, and the more gradual 'squeeze' type, where society pressures Christians out of self-expression and the general leading of societal roles, events and projects.

What can we as fellow Christians do to counteract this? First up, we cannot respond with violence or hatred in the face of oppression or violence against Christians. That's not what Jesus did. He told us to cling to God, and respond with bottomless love. Next, and importantly - let's do what we can to help. Let's not lose sight of the fact that the Church is still proclaiming Jesus as Lord and bringing people to life in him. Jesus is the King of kings and he defeated the enemy on the cross. Jesus saw persecution coming and told his followers to expect it. But he is not expecting it to stop the growth of the Church: 'His power will never end; peace will last forever' (Isaiah 9:7 CEV).

But, as believers we're part of a family that's being horribly treated. What do we do when we hear that someone in our family has been hurt or attacked? We drop everything and do whatever we can to help them.

So what now? Want to be part of showing the never-ending power and peace of God's Kingdom? There are many churches and charities doing good work to help persecuted Christians. Do your research, and see which you could get alongside, either to support financially or in prayer.

Jesus told the Christians of his day: 'Don't let anyone fool you. For many will come claiming to be the Messiah and will lead many astray. When you hear of wars beginning, this does not signal my return; these must come, but the end is not yet. The nations and kingdoms of the earth will rise against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in many places' (Matthew 24:4-7 TLB). And these words apply to us today, too. Let's face it, when we watch the news, it's easy to panic about everything that's going on. Wars and rumours of wars? Check. Famines and general world hunger? Check. Earthquakes and other natural disasters? Check.

In Isaiah 9:7 TLB, we are told: 'His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule with perfect fairness and justice from the throne of his father David. He will bring true justice and peace to all the nations of the world'. Our job, as God's representatives at this time, is to see where we can love and help people in the midst of these scary times. We can support through praying, giving financially and bringing encouragement.

We have God's authority to bring about his 'ever-expanding, peaceful government, and to show God's goodness and victory in the 'wars and rumours of wars' (Matthew 24:6 NIV).

So what now? Catch up on the news today and consider what you can do to help one of the situations reported on - whether raising money, lending a hand or generating awareness. Your actions will make a difference.

We're living in the period between the time that Jesus physically spent here on earth and the time he'll return physically to earth again. We've been in this period since Jesus ascended to Heaven; this is nearly 2000 years. God himself has said that only he knows when his Son will return (see Matthew 24:36) and that, 'the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come' (Matthew 24:14 NLT).

On a practical level, this means there's less need for apocalypse-type yelling and placard-waving, but a much bigger need for living in the way that Jesus wants right now (including lovingly telling people about him). So, if we're meant to make a difference in our world now, let's remember what Jesus said way back then: 'Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, "I am the Messiah." They will deceive many' (Matthew 24:4-5 NLT). Not good.

To stay true to God in our day-to-day lives, let's always ask, 'Does this match up to Jesus?' Whatever anyone teaches us, offers us or asks of us, let's pray about it and ask if it fits with what Jesus wants, or what Jesus would do himself. If it goes against the ways of the Jesus in the Bible, then it's definitely something to avoid.

So what now? While you're waiting for Jesus to return, live in the moment: share your love of Jesus with others.

Busy guy, the apostle Paul. In Acts 17 we find him spending a good chunk of time going round Greece, checking out the different idols the people worshipped. What did he find? Well, he learned that the Christian church was pretty focussed on the whole being-religious thing (Acts 17:22). They spent a whole lot of time talking about what to worship and how they should do it. Their main problem? They'd tried to fill their lives with all-things-worshipful, but not with the actual, living God who made the world and everything in it (Acts 17:24). Essentially, they'd missed the point by worshipping God's creation and not God himself.

How prone are we to do the same? The world is full of stuff that grabs, and keeps, our attention. In that sense, we too can get quite religious about certain things. Money, material stuff, social media, gaming, etc - how often do they rise to the top of our priority list?

Instead of feeling bad about our sometimes upside-down priorities, let's remember this: the things of the world can't satisfy us, but the things of God do, and will, bring a whole new level of purpose when we seek him first - and he is always available to be found.

So what now? Skip social media today. Each time you get the urge to check your timeline, pray instead. True, you can pray while you're doing other stuff during your day, but on this occasion we mean focussed prayer. Bring each part of your life to God and ask his will for it.