To Be Like Job July 26, 2011

By Rosemary Carver

 

That’s why I hate myself and sit here in dust and ashes to show my sorrow. (Job 42:6)

We all seem to have times when we get so upset with ourselves.

When the road of life seems too hard and we feel so ill-equipped to handle things.

It’s in those times we seem to fall into “stinking thinking.”

 

I love Job! He was a man who loved his family so very much.

He had possessions in life and all the “things” of success that so many people strive for.

However, what he had that was a true treasure was his heart for God.

Many years ago, a man named Job lived in the land of Uz.

He was a truly good person, who respected God and refused to do evil. (Job 1:1)

How different it is with people in the world who grasp for “success.”

 

Furthermore, what I incredibly find impressive was his love and concern for his kids.

After each feast, Job would send for his children and perform a ceremony, as a way of asking God to forgive them of any wrongs they may have done. He would get up early the next morning and offer a sacrifice for each of them, just in case they had sinned or silently cursed God. (Job 1:5)

 

He had kids like kids today who loved to party hearty.

Lovingly concerned about their well-being, he did not pester them.

I am sure they knew what he thought just as our kids do today.

Instead, he got up early and did what he could.

 

As parents, we sometimes worry about what they are doing or may be going through.

At times, we fault ourselves thinking that we did not teach them well or guide them properly.

And we get overwhelmed by all the “what ifs.”

Why am I discouraged? Why am I restless? I trust you! And I will praise you again because you help me, and you are my God. (Psalm 43:5)

 

We need to remember that timing is everything.

But I pray to you, LORD. So when the time is right, answer me and help me with your wonderful love. (Psalm 69:13)

God has the best in mind for us and for our children.

Often times, what is best is for the “right time” to open their eyes, to be ready for the life lesson.

Even if sometimes, like Job’s, friends or family members seem to all say just the wrong things.

God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you today so very thankful!

Thankful that we are Yours and that Your love for us is bigger than anything we ever face.

Help us, Lord, when we feel overwhelmed by the difficulties in our lives.

 

We lift up our children to You asking that Your will and Your way be done.

Thank you that Your love for them is so much greater than the love we have.

Help them to be the people you have designed them to be.

In those dark times of self-doubt, help us to clearly see that You are with us and for us!

 

Then the LORD replied, “I promise to protect you, and when disaster comes, even your enemies will beg you for help.” (Jeremiah 15:11)

 

Help us this day to stand in full confidence that You have a plan in all of it; a plan to help our children and us.

We lift up all those things that cause us to have great concerns.

Help us to leave them with You, knowing that You are never surprised by anything.

Help us to remember that You always work all things for our good.

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 

Even before sunrise, I pray for your help, and I put my hope in what you have said. (Psalm 119:147)

In Jesus name we pray. AMEN.

 

BFF April 4, 2011

By Laurie Hilton-Rowland
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I recently took an airplane trip with a close friend. We were sitting in aisle seats across from one another, and a college-aged girl was sitting next to my friend. After a short time, the girl paused and asked us: “So are you two like BFFs?”
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The question made us laugh, but I mused later wondering what tipped her off. Perhaps it was watching us finish each other’s sentences, or maybe the way we talked about each other’s children as if we raised them (it takes a village!), or how we bantered like sisters. This kind of friendship comes only by countless hours spent together, sharing laughs, hurts, dreams, and, of course, “building each other up in love.” We have both, at times, laid down our lives, being willing to suffer loss to be there for the other when needed.
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I reflected on how my devotional time with the Lord in prayer and study will have a direct impact on how much like Him I will become and thus appear to those I meet. The closer I get to Him, the more in tune I will be at anticipating His move and become a channel of His love as His Spirit leads me. Our fellowship will become so close that I would not only be telling Him of my pain, but actually be sharing in His.
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I know my friend inside out. I know her favorite foods, her favorite color, her favorite shows and music, and all about her extended family. This intimate friendship needs to translate into my fellowship with the Lord. My desire is that, when I meet the people God puts in my path, that it will be obvious to them that I have spent hours of quality time with Him, suffering loss to gain Christ. I pray that in words and in actions, people will know of the impact and impression Christ has had on me and they won’t have to ask if He is my BFF.
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But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1 John 3:2b)

Weeds March 17, 2011

By Phyllis Scott
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Today the rain has finally stopped so I spent some time in my yard weeding. Why is it that the weeds grow without any encouragement? No seeding, no watering, no fertilizer, yet we have to baby our plants to keep them healthy and growing? As my body was responding with pain to the lack of physical work all winter, I realized that in a few years I would have to decide whether to keep pulling weeds, cover the ground with something to prevent them from growing, or hire a professional to take care of my yard.
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Just in these daily simple tasks is when God seems to teach me lessons. Sure enough, God spoke to my heart about sin as I was pondering this. He was telling me that sin is just like those weeds. We all have sin in our lives; this is a fact. “For all have sinned,” it says in Romans 3:23. So because we have sin in our lives, we have choices just like I have with the weeds. We can ignore the sin and, just like the weeds that would take over my garden, they will take over our lives.
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We can try on our own to one-by-one pull the sin out of our lives by trying to do good or stop doing the sin that tempts us. But just like weeds, the sin just keeps coming back the more we try on our own to eradicate it from our life.
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We could just cover up our sin. We hide them from our family and friends: our addictions, our lusts, our deceptions. Have you ever noticed when you put in a cement patio, a sidewalk, or a driveway that the smallest crack allows those weeds to just pop through and grow? So too if we hide away that secret sin; sooner or later some small opening or revelation will allow it to bust through for everyone to see.
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So my thinking is we need to turn it over to the professional to take care of. Jesus paid the price for our sin by taking it all on Himself. He did that for everyone. That makes Him the professional who can forgive, cover and get rid of our sin. “As far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:11-13. Turn it over to the professional. It makes life so much easier and a lot less painful.