Lay Out Your Case

I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me.  Would he use his great power to argue with me?  No, he would give me a fair hearing.

Job 23:4-6

By this time Job was being ridiculed and beaten up with words by three men who claimed to be his best friends.  Job was tired of being accused of sin.  He was grieving a loss so hard to imagine, and he was broken.  Although he was ready to die, to find rest from his suffering, He was sure that God had not given up on him.  He knew that God would answer his plea whether in his life on earth or after death.  He never gave up on God.  I love this scripture above because Job knew God's character.  He knew God and had confidence in what a discussion with him would look like.  He wasn't willing to settle with the advice of his friends and have to believe if he had google back then he would not have been satisfied with an internet answer either.  He was looking for God's wisdom and knowledge and Job would not be happy until he heard directly from Him.  He was confident he could lay out his case in front of God.......the disappointment, the hurt, the anger, the sadness, the suffering.......he would not leave a thing out, and God would hear him til the end.  Job was patient and willing to hear His answer.  He would only be sattisfied with what God said to him and then he would understand.  He trusted that God would give him a fair trial and he knew that whatever came of it was just and fair.  Job had ridiculous faith and confidence in God.

Friend, what burdens are you carrying?  Does something seem unfair in your life?  Are you going through hard circumstances?  Is your hurt so deep you don't know where to turn?  Turn to God.  Tell him your anger, fear, disappointment and all the things that are bottled inside.  Present your case to God and seek His peace and His answers.  Be confident, like Job, to trust that God has never and will never give up on you regardless of your past and present and the hurt you are dealing with.  He does have you in mind.  He holds you in His hands and has plans far greater than you can imagine.  Hold onto your trust even when everything worldly says to give up and turn away from God.  You will be blown away by the way He can help you.  God will give you a fair hearing and He has answers waiting for you if you would be open to sharing with Him.  Lay out your case in front of God and lay down your hurt.  Wait for His answers and trust in His timing.        

Sunday Scripture

“If only they would always feel this way! If only they would always honor me and obey all my commands, so that everything would go well with them and their descendants forever.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:29‬ ‭GNT‬‬

Sing-along-Saturday

There are so many beautiful new songs today. Songs that reach into the most intimate places of our hearts. Songs that shout His praises. Songs that bring hope and healing. Songs that tell His story. Today I want you to enjoy an older song that just brings a smile to my face overtime I hear it!

It's a simple song about the reason we can smile and laugh through every day, even through the days that don't go our way... WE ARE SAVED!

If for no other reason, today is a good day because salvation is ours!

Click Here to hear "It's a Good Day!" by FFH

Faith

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, 

to be certain of the things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:1 GNT

We all need this reminder from time to time.  This scripture describes our faith in one simple sentence.  It tells us to stop worrying about things, says believe even when you cannot see or understand, encourages us that those things we hope for will come to be.  It is a single sentence with amazing power to encourage someone.  What is it you hope for?  A new job, a loved one to find healing, a friend to know Jesus, your child to stay safe in a crazy world.........the list is endless!  We all have things we hope for and with faith we can be sure that those things will happen in God's time. That's it!  We hope for something, we wait it out, and we are sure it will happen.  We can leave it with God once and for all!  We don't have to keep picking it up worrying about it or trying to manipulate it in some way.  No, we just hand it over and have faith, sure that it will come.  And even when we cannot possibly see how it will happen or when.......faith says we are certain that it will still come.  Faith is a small word with a big punch.  A punch in satan's face when we refuse to worry about things.  He can't get us to fall or cause others to fall when we are full of faith.  Work on your faith today!  Strengthen your faith today!  Call on your faith today!  

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