The Trials of Job

Job 1: 6-22

6 One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.[c]
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Oh, Job! A man to be admired. I can't imagine the grief and pain, the heartache and overwhelming frustration, and the fear that Job endured at the loss of his 10 children, his servants and his wealth. Not only did he lose all these things, but he lost them in one day. And as if that's not enough satan went back to God and asked to take Job's his life. God allows satan to inflict severe pain and sickness on Job, but did not allow the loss of his life. Yes, Job is a man to be admired. His faith was tested and he grew greatly in faith and love for the Lord. But it didn't come easily. Job had to walk through the pain, the grief, and the rebuilding.
I feel for Job as he cries out asking God to explain why this is happening. Through it all Job grew in patience, faith, and more understanding of how God works. Job learned to ask what was to be learned instead of why it was happening.

Yet, the hero in the story is God! God knew Job's heart. He knew that Job would not turn away. He knew that Job would grow and not be destroyed under the pressure. God was patient as Job searched. God didn't grow angry as Job shouted out in pain and fear. God loved him through it! Oh, the love of our God.

Oh, God, the way you sees the circumstances of this life are beyond our understanding. Lord, Teach us to ask 'what' and not 'why' in the trials. Help us to keep our focus on you and deepen our faith as we walk through the messes, pains, and struggles that come our way. Amen

Live on Every Word of God

As humans we need food. Without doubt, we must have it at some point to sustain life. We can go weeks without it, but the time will come when we must eat or die. As we go without food, our bodies weaken. Our spirit may sink and our mind definitely looses sharpness. Yes, we can go without food, but there is a price to pay for doing so.

Jesus had just fasted for 40 days. He was no doubt down in pounds and physically weary. Satan tempted him to turn stone to bread. And yes, by all means Jesus had the power to do so. But he clearly demonstrated trust in God to provide physical food for him. Jesus response to satan reminds us that though we can go days without physical food, it is God's 'every word' that sustains our life and our spirit daily. Here are the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 4:4:

     'Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that    comes from the mouth of God.'

Friends, it is so important that we know the word of God. It is imperative that in order to live on a firm foundation we stay connected to our sustaining source. We are blessed to have every spoken word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. And if we are wise and truly hungry, we will feast on His word daily.

Challenge: Do you live on bread alone? Do you simply sample the delicacies of his word? Or, will you feast on his EVERY WORD! This year I challenge you to read the entire Bible in a year. Below I've included a schedule for reading the entire Bible in a one year period. Your only a few days behind, so jump in now and get caught up!

Chronological Bible Reading Schedule
This comes from www.joniandfriends.org

The Patience Of Noah

We all know that the story of Noah and the Ark is a testament of obedience.  Noah built a huge, out of this world, boat that would have seemed impossible in his day, because God told him to.  He built this ark because God was about to flood the whole earth.  Water was going to pour down from the sky, which had never been seen before, and Noah was in charge of saving animals and his family.  There have been movies and books depicting this story.  There have been suggestions as to how hard this would have been, and the scrutiny he would have dealth with from all the other people.  We can safely say that Noah had huge faith when he said yes to God.  He was not concerned about what anyone else thought but God.......a true story of obedience.  Until a few days ago that is all I ever saw in this story, but God opened my eyes to a story of more than obedience, Noah is also a story of patience.

Noah was now 601 years old.  On the first day of the new year, ten and a half months after the flood began, the floodwaters had almost dried up from the earth.  Noah lifted back the covering of the boat and saw that the surface of the ground was drying.  Two more months went by, and at last the earth was dry!

Genesis 8:13-14 NLT

I guess for some reason I never really paid close attention to the length of time Noah was in that boat.  I must have skipped over Genesis chapter 8!  I always thought it rained for 40 days and nights then God dried up the land and Noah and his family stepped out onto dry land after waiting a couple weeks for the dove to come back.  I was way wrong!!  

It did, in fact, rain for 40 days and nights.  The flood waters covered the whole earth for 150 days until God decided to start drying things out.  At this time the ark came to rest on the top of the mountains of Ararat (v. 4).  It still took two and half more months for the water to continue to recede and other mountains to become visible (v. 5) After this it was still another four and a half months before Noah and his family stepped out of that boat.  All of them must have been so tired of living with animals in a stinky, poor ventilated, wooden boat!  For a whole year Noah waited for God to tell him when this story would finally reach dry ground.  I wonder if Noah ever doubted?  Like me, did he ever waiver and wonder if God was going to stop the flooding?  Did his family start to question why he was so obedient?  A whole year on that boat, did anyone ever wish they had just drown in the flood or lose faith?  I can just imagine the discussions had.  The prayers sent up and all the things they learned in that year as they waited.  Knowing that they were the only living people on the whole earth and that they had the only living animals with them.  It is a fascinating story.  Some may think too fascinating to be true but our God works in fascinating ways!  I believe He could have done all of that in a much quicker time frame, but for reasons only God knows, Noah and his family were forced to wait it out.  An amazing testament to patience and waiting on God's timing.  Just like Noah, we too must be willing to wait.  Even when things seem to drag on, and as satan tries to make us lose hope, we must hold onto our faith and wait on God.  

Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 NLT    

See That It Is Good

Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Genesis 1:31 NLT

When we read the news or see the devestation in front of us we could easily get discouraged by many of the things that happen in this world.  From all of the senseless violence, drug use and sin that runs rampant through the big city streets to the the small country towns spread througout this big, beautiful world, there are a lot of things we wish we could make better, or take away, and there are many things we pray for relief from daily.  We can never know all the answers to why and how and who and what, but one thing for sure is God does not make mistakes in His creations.  7 times, in Genesis Chapter 1, God looked back on His creation and "he saw that it was good".  Even when he chose to flood the whole earth and wipe out all humanity and living things it wasn't because He didn't like His creation or love His people.  God was expressing his sorrow for the choices His people were making.  He was sad over their actions, but never regretful for creating them.  They weren't a mistake, nor are you or anyone else in this world today.  God loves every one of His creations.......big, small, rich or poor, honest, a cheater, sinful or not.  He can look at all of His creation and see that we are very good!  Does he want to punish some?  Absolutely, but His love doesn't fade because of the bad we choose and it doesn't grow because of the good we perform.  God loves us all the same. 

As we begin this new year, God, help us to see others as we see ourselves.  Loved by You, no better or worse.........all beautiful creations that come from You.  Keep us grounded in Your promise of unconditional love, mercy and grace and help us to share that with the people all around us.  For those who hurt us, may we offer forgiveness and see them with Your eyes and continue to love them with Your heart.  Don't let us look down on another human being, Lord.  Remind us of Your love for Your creation and instead of judging and hating may we come to You in prayer and pleadings on behalf of those who need You most.  Help us to look on Your creation and "see that it is good".  

Amen and amen

Sunday Scripture

"Forget the former things;

    do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing!

     Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the wilderness

     and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

Wishing all our GFF's a blessed 2016!

Sing Along Saturday

My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me."

And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 28:8 NLT

The song chosen for today is one that I want to carry with me through all of 2016 and beyond.  It speaks my heart even when my actions don't follow.  As I currently struggle through a stretch of faith, God is showing me to trust Him.  He is telling me to spend time with Him and through our conversations, our good cries and our happy moments He will provide all I need.  With more of His presence in my life I will see His faithfulness, find His joy, and He will reveal His answers.  I want to first seek Him before needing Him.  I want to get to know Him like I get to know a new friend.  I want to make time for Him like I make time for the people I love.  First, above needing God, I want to want God.  Wanting something is choosing something.  Needing something doesn't give us much choice, it's more like desperation.  And although, as long as satan is in this world, I will have moments of desperation and need, I want to know the God I am so desperate for.  I want to already know Who I am seeking out to trust in.  I choose to know that He is right there with me.

Listen to the beautiful words of this song and choose today to seek God first in your life.  Let this year be different.  Be intentional with your time and give God your best.  I love you all for your desire to know God intimately.  I wish you all the best this new year and pray for you to grow in your knowledge and understanding of just how much you are loved by God, and to understand the power you possess by choosing Him first.

First by Lauren Daigle    

The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race;

he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,

if anyone seeks God.

Psalm 14:2 NLT

Like the Wind

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5

As I sit at my desk looking out at the landscape before me, my eyes are drawn to the grass bending in the wind. It approaches from the south and my are are caught up in the wispy bend of the blades as they fall to the ground under the force of the wind. And just as my eyes catch the rhythm of the wind and move forward in anticipation, the wind shifts and the blades bend to the east and to the west. My mind wonders if I saw that movement incorrectly. Shouldn't the wind have kept moving in a northbound path? I am amazed by the sudden change of direction.

I move my eyes back to the south and again the wind mashes the grass down in its path. Soon though, the blades bend to the west as the pattern changes. I feel a still voice call out to my heart that the wind is unpredictable and I am reminded of this verse:

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things. Ecclesiastes 11:5

I am the queen of "why" and "what" when things happen in this crazy thing called life. I try to understand, dissect and determine what God is doing and why he has allowed various events. I don't want to make mistakes. I don't want to miss something he is telling or teaching me. I don't want to 'get it wrong' again. But my ways are not God's ways. I can't understand what he's doing and why he changes directions. I cannot even know where he is leading. My role is to follow.  I can simply sit in amazement and watch as he works.

Can you sit in awe of God, or must you too try to uncover the mystery of his all-knowing, all-divine ways? Let us pray today for peace in knowing his sovereignty.

Dear Lord,
Help me to rest in your sovereignty. Teach me to trust without the questions of "What?" and "Why?"
Show me how to rest in your ways.
Ame