"Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him. therefore trust thou in him." Job 35:14
"He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom." Job 36:4 & 5
After Job's three well-known 'friends' are done speaking, and Job is once again baffled by his circumstances and unanswered questions we see Elihu come on the scene. Elihu is a younger acquaintance of Job's. In chapters 32 -37 he stands up for God, so to speak. He paves the way for Job to hear and understand what God would be saying to Him in the following chapers. As Job listens he is reminded that even though we cannot see God, nor feel him we can trust in God because His justice is true and right. God knows all, his knowledge and understanding is perfect. This is the God we must trust our lives to amidst our pain. Elihu reminds Job of the many things that God does which we are in no way capable of doing. As Job sits there listening his heart is agreeing with Elihu, but he is still caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and grief. I can imagine his head is saying, "God, I really need some answers." And his heart saying, "Just trust, He is the Almighty God, the One who's in charge.
In this whirlwind, we find God comes, or should we say God, who had been there all the time, begins to speak. (chapter 38) God didn't say, "You know Job, you've been going through a lot. I have felt so sorry for you. And I'm here to fix your problems." God begins by telling him to be a man. Then in essence God says, "I have questions for you, I want you to answer." These question helped Job to realize the vastness of God. Some of these questions went like this? Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth? (38:4) Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days? (38:12) Canst thou send lightnings? (38:35) Who hath put wisdom in the inward part? or who hath given understanding to the heart?" (38:36) We could go on and on with a myriad of questions. Questions that were asked to bring Job to a deeper depth in his relationship with God. God wanted Job to learn who He was. In so doing, a trust far deeper than Job had known would be developed. I can imagine Job sitting there in the dirt, with his head bowed. As he hears God ask these questions one after another, a sense of unworthiness comes over him. He begins to think, "Who am I to question God? I just need to keep my mouth shut." (see 40:3) Then God once again says to Job, "Gird up thy loins now like a man:" (40:7) The questions continue. When God is finished speaking, a deeper understanding of God is within the heart of Job. In chapter 42 Job says, " I know that thou canst do every thing...mine eye seeth thee,..I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (42:2, 5. 6) Job humbled himself and repented of his complaining attitude and presumptuous questions toward God. He realized that though trials may come, God doeth all things well. Job gave to God his troubled heart, his complaints and his grief and in its place he grasped the thought that the Almighty God was worth trusting without question.
This renewed trust and hope in God brought on a deeper acceptance from God, Himself. "my servant Job...him will I accept." (42:8) "The Lord also accepted Job. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends." (42:9 & 10)
Throughout the trials and problems in our lives let us renew our trust and hope in the God who will take us through, no matter the size of our mountain. Let us minister to others by touching heaven's throne for them. The bonds of our captivity will soon be loosed, all praise to the Almighty God!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Country Signs from the Hollow
My sons are having a yard sale tomorrow. He has been building things to sell and keeps asking, "Mom, what can I make?" I mentioned signs. So we went into "business" together. He cut the boards, drilled the holes, and strung the wire. I did the painting. I think they turned out pretty cool. The signs are 10" x 18". So if you're down in the hollow, stop by and check out the yard sale where you will find these 'bargains made by boys'.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Accepted by Job's God
I have been reading the book of Job for the past little while in my devotions. To tell you the truth Job has never been one of my favorite books. To me it has always been a hard-to-understand book. This time through, though, things began to make a little more sense to me.
One of the things that always bothered me about Job was his despair, his feeling that God wasn't anywhere around to help him, and his wish that he had never been born. To me that all just didn't add up to my standard of the way I thought a Christian should feel or talk. Now I feel more of a kinship to Job. There are times we don't feel that God is working, there are times we see no purpose in our lives and times when despair is as good as it gets.
After I had read about 10 chapters of Job, I had to turn to the back of the book to see how it all turned out even though I "knew" things got better and "he lived happily ever after." I needed to see the words, how it was written. I read the verse "...the Lord also accepted Job." (42:9b)
As I read that verse I realized that God really does understand all those "not so Christian" emotions and feelings of despair and questioning. Job had them and God accepted Job. God hasn't changed. He still accepts us when despair is all we see and the doubts and questions come crowding in. I'm not saying that we get to continue to live with despair, but that God does understand. He is the Almighty. He doeth all things well. We have to learn to trust Him.
In Jeremiah 31:3 it says, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Then in Psalm 40:5 we read, "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward...." As we keep these two Scriptures in mind we find in Job 23:13 & 14 Job speaking. He says, "But He is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." God desires to draw us near to Him. His thoughts are toward us. He will do what He desires. He knows what plan and purpose He has appointed for us. He knows what it will take for us to understand Him better. What it will take for us to see the Almighty God for who He is. If it takes dire circumstances, with despair, He will bring that into our life. His desire is to usward. He longs for a real relationship with us. He is the one with the eternal perspective. We are not. As Job, who couldn't really see beyond the day or the moment in his suffering, we still must hold onto the knowledge that "He knoweth the way that I take.." (23:10) Our trust must be as stalwart as Job's. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" (13:15) Job's heart rending questions were not answered. "And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?" (17:15) " Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" (23:3) Though Job's despair and overwhelming attitude of grief were very real, he still had within Him a longing for God and His ways. This longing is what God saw. He saw that amidst his trouble Job's heart was still surrendered. Yes, there were bitter compaints, and the all-consuming emotional heartache of God not answering or intervening in his situation. More importantly though, there was that knowledge that came to the top every so often "For I know that my redeemer liveth,"(19:25)
As I continue to read the book of Job, it is comforting to know, that though I cannot see His hand, I can trust His heart because His thoughts are to usward. We, the people of his heart, are His desire.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Ephesians 1:4 - 6
One of the things that always bothered me about Job was his despair, his feeling that God wasn't anywhere around to help him, and his wish that he had never been born. To me that all just didn't add up to my standard of the way I thought a Christian should feel or talk. Now I feel more of a kinship to Job. There are times we don't feel that God is working, there are times we see no purpose in our lives and times when despair is as good as it gets.
After I had read about 10 chapters of Job, I had to turn to the back of the book to see how it all turned out even though I "knew" things got better and "he lived happily ever after." I needed to see the words, how it was written. I read the verse "...the Lord also accepted Job." (42:9b)
As I read that verse I realized that God really does understand all those "not so Christian" emotions and feelings of despair and questioning. Job had them and God accepted Job. God hasn't changed. He still accepts us when despair is all we see and the doubts and questions come crowding in. I'm not saying that we get to continue to live with despair, but that God does understand. He is the Almighty. He doeth all things well. We have to learn to trust Him.
In Jeremiah 31:3 it says, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Then in Psalm 40:5 we read, "Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward...." As we keep these two Scriptures in mind we find in Job 23:13 & 14 Job speaking. He says, "But He is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him." God desires to draw us near to Him. His thoughts are toward us. He will do what He desires. He knows what plan and purpose He has appointed for us. He knows what it will take for us to understand Him better. What it will take for us to see the Almighty God for who He is. If it takes dire circumstances, with despair, He will bring that into our life. His desire is to usward. He longs for a real relationship with us. He is the one with the eternal perspective. We are not. As Job, who couldn't really see beyond the day or the moment in his suffering, we still must hold onto the knowledge that "He knoweth the way that I take.." (23:10) Our trust must be as stalwart as Job's. "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:" (13:15) Job's heart rending questions were not answered. "And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?" (17:15) " Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!" (23:3) Though Job's despair and overwhelming attitude of grief were very real, he still had within Him a longing for God and His ways. This longing is what God saw. He saw that amidst his trouble Job's heart was still surrendered. Yes, there were bitter compaints, and the all-consuming emotional heartache of God not answering or intervening in his situation. More importantly though, there was that knowledge that came to the top every so often "For I know that my redeemer liveth,"(19:25)
As I continue to read the book of Job, it is comforting to know, that though I cannot see His hand, I can trust His heart because His thoughts are to usward. We, the people of his heart, are His desire.
"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love; Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Ephesians 1:4 - 6
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Puppies for Sale
These adorable puppies are 4 weeks old. One of these German Shepherd pups would make a great addition to your family. Of course, they will not be ready to go to their new home until they are 8 weeks old. For pricing and more info see our website http://www.conifercanine.com/
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