I have had a very trying week. It's been trying emotionally as well as physically. I went to bed last night at around 6:30. Woke up from 8:30-10 and passed back out after that. Apparently I was really really tired! I have had so many friends and students who have confided in me about trials that they're going through in their life. I have hugged students this week and let them just cry it out. I've spoken with friends who's lives seem to be falling apart. It's easy for us to ask, "God, where are you?" When all if this is going on. Honestly, I was so shocked by some of the things I have heard about that I asked the exact question when I was praying last night. Where was God? Why did he allow that to happen? The when two separate people asked me that very same question, I had no answer for them. I told them that was there with them as he always is, but I don't know why those things happened. There are unknown things that happen to us and we can't explain them because they're spiritual issues that are beyond our understanding. Just like Job, we must stay true to God and trust him.
In this chapter, we see Eliphaz, who was Job's friend, wrongly accuse Job of sinning. He made the assumption that sin brought on afflictions and that good people never suffer. Those are wrong! Job wasn't suffering bc of his sin. We saw that in the first few chapters. Job was suffering because Satan wanted to tempt him. That's all it boils down to. I tried not to get angry while I was reading Eliphaz's little rant that he went on. He claims to have gotten a vision from God. Then he quotes some scriptures and tells Job that he needs to plead his case before The Lord. He assumed that all bad things happen to only people who have sinned and that people who have changed for the better only HSBC good things happen to them. This isn't the case. Just because we get saved doesn't mean we get a golden ticket on the fairy train of "the good life." After becoming saved, life is usually rough because Satan doesn't want you to grow spiritually. He will try everything in his power to keep you down, just like he did with Job.
It is important for us, when sharing the word of God, to share everything that is included and not use the Bible to our advantage. Sometimes people tend to elaborate a bit and it causes problems. I truly felt bad for Job in this Chapter. He is going through all of this bad stuff and he tries to speak with a friend and the friend doesn't even listen. He begin to ridicule Job and blame him for his sins. We need to be wary of those who preach for themselves.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Job 2-3
I am so sorry I haven't posted in several days. Last week was crazy. I have gotten some good news concerning my career and my future for myself and for Lane, so I know that God is still working in my life as he always is. Just as I wrote this last sentence, I really began to think about Job and the chapters we have read so far. I had a friend call me today that is going through some things and I was able to share Job's story. She was confused as to why some very influential people in her life that are Christians could be so cruel and turn their backs on her. I have been amazed at the people who have told me stories of what they're experiencing right now, at this very moment. I just began reading Job. So after I wrote the sentence above about God working in my life just because of good things happening to me, I began to think about Job. Even though Job was going through all of this terrible stuff, God was still working in his life. He never abandoned him and he never has abandoned any of us. Job couldn't see it at that moment in time because our human perception of things is only capable of showing what is directly in front of us. God sees the entire picture. He sees the future and he knows what choices we will be faced with. Notice that in chapter 2, satan returns to heaven and asks God to give him permission to inflict pain and suffering just on Job's skin and bones. Even though this a terrible thing for someone to go through, we can see that God is using Job to bring Glory to his name. My human self is probably the most selfish because I definitely do not want to have to endure pain to bring glory to God's name, but there are already so many decisions that I have made myself that brought pain and suffering on and God rescued me. That is what we can learn from Job. Even though we may be suffering and mourning at this point in time, God isn't finished with us. He is NEVER finished with us as long as we allow him to use us on a daily basis.
In chapter 3, Job cursed the day he was born. This isn't him cursing God, but cursing the actual date of his birth. I've never been that miserable that I wished I hadn't been born. Job knew that he wasn't going to curse God, but I believe that he also felt that he had been forsaken by God. There is so much spiritual warfare that is going on all around us and we don't even see it. It is important for us to keep in mind that even though we may feel like God has forsaken us, he never does. He loves us more than we can even begin to imagine and that is the reason why he allows us to go through things. He has to give us free choice. If we are never faced with trials, tribulations, storms and temptations, then we will never grow in our relationship with Christ.
One of the most important things that I read in chapter 3 is going to be typed below and then I'll discuss it. This came out of my study bible.
3:23-26
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
Job had been careful not to worship material possessions but to worship God alone. Here he was overwhelmed by calamities that mocked his caution, and he complained about trials that came despite his right living. All the principles by which he had lived were crumbling, and Job began to lose his perspective. Trials and grief, whether temporary or enduring, do not destroy the real purpose of life. Life is not gocen merely for happiness and personal fulfillment, but for us to serve and honor God. The worth and meaning of life is not based on what we feel, but on the one reality no one can take away-- God's love for us. Don't assume that because God truly loves you, he will always prevent suffering. The opposite may be true. God's love cannot be measured or limited by how great or how little we may suffer. Romans 8:38-39 teaches us that nothing can separate us from God's love.
That excerpt was in my study bible and I honestly agree 100%. Serving as the children's director and serving on the youth committee has helped me blossom so much as far as becoming a new creature. When I went through my divorce, it was difficult for me to feel needed and to feel loved. I felt like nobody would ever need me again and I felt like nobody would love me again. What I didn't know was that God hadn't ever stopped loving me. I had recently passed up the position for pre-school director/teacher due to some personal issues that I shouldn't have let get into the way of my life at church. Luckily, after my separation and throughout my divorce, God gave me the opportunity to work as an adult leader with the youth group, work as the preschool director as well as become a teacher in a public school. I wouldn't have ever take on any of these positions if I hadn't gone through what I went through. I never would have had the self confidence to go through with it on my own. So I want to encourage those of you who are experiencing rough times. God loves you unconditionally. No matter what. Give your situation to him so that your burden will be easier to carry. God bless.
In chapter 3, Job cursed the day he was born. This isn't him cursing God, but cursing the actual date of his birth. I've never been that miserable that I wished I hadn't been born. Job knew that he wasn't going to curse God, but I believe that he also felt that he had been forsaken by God. There is so much spiritual warfare that is going on all around us and we don't even see it. It is important for us to keep in mind that even though we may feel like God has forsaken us, he never does. He loves us more than we can even begin to imagine and that is the reason why he allows us to go through things. He has to give us free choice. If we are never faced with trials, tribulations, storms and temptations, then we will never grow in our relationship with Christ.
One of the most important things that I read in chapter 3 is going to be typed below and then I'll discuss it. This came out of my study bible.
3:23-26
Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water.
Job had been careful not to worship material possessions but to worship God alone. Here he was overwhelmed by calamities that mocked his caution, and he complained about trials that came despite his right living. All the principles by which he had lived were crumbling, and Job began to lose his perspective. Trials and grief, whether temporary or enduring, do not destroy the real purpose of life. Life is not gocen merely for happiness and personal fulfillment, but for us to serve and honor God. The worth and meaning of life is not based on what we feel, but on the one reality no one can take away-- God's love for us. Don't assume that because God truly loves you, he will always prevent suffering. The opposite may be true. God's love cannot be measured or limited by how great or how little we may suffer. Romans 8:38-39 teaches us that nothing can separate us from God's love.
That excerpt was in my study bible and I honestly agree 100%. Serving as the children's director and serving on the youth committee has helped me blossom so much as far as becoming a new creature. When I went through my divorce, it was difficult for me to feel needed and to feel loved. I felt like nobody would ever need me again and I felt like nobody would love me again. What I didn't know was that God hadn't ever stopped loving me. I had recently passed up the position for pre-school director/teacher due to some personal issues that I shouldn't have let get into the way of my life at church. Luckily, after my separation and throughout my divorce, God gave me the opportunity to work as an adult leader with the youth group, work as the preschool director as well as become a teacher in a public school. I wouldn't have ever take on any of these positions if I hadn't gone through what I went through. I never would have had the self confidence to go through with it on my own. So I want to encourage those of you who are experiencing rough times. God loves you unconditionally. No matter what. Give your situation to him so that your burden will be easier to carry. God bless.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Job 1
I am shocked at this first chapter of Job. I have read it before, but for some reason I didn't know that all of those things happened to Job in the first day that Satan began to test him. In this chapter he lost all of his sons and daughters, he lost his sheep and shepherds, he lost his oxen and donkeys and he lost his camels and camel drivers. This is a classic example of, "When it rains it pours!" I couldn't help but feel sorry for Job and at the same time it made me realize how great I have it. I have always heard that bad things happen in threes, but this is way worse than that!
Let's start at the beginning. Satan came to Heaven with some angels and was talking to God during this time about how he had been down on Earth and was just checking things out to see who was doing what. God immediately bragged on his servant Job. Job was described as a faithful man. He was also a good parent. The first chapter said that he woke up and offered a burnt offering on behalf of his children every day. He did this just in case they had sinned against God inwardly and he didn't know about it. Now we know that the only way to be forgiven for our sins is for each individual to ask for forgiveness on their own, but Job was pleading for mercy on his children. As a parent, I know that I don't do this near enough. I should be on my knees praying for God to have mercy on my child and to protect him from evil daily. Spiritual warfare is constantly going on around us. I know we don't really think about it too much, but we need to constantly be in prayer for ourselves, our children, our family, our friends and our country in general. Job made this sacrifice on behalf of his children on a daily basis and we can really learn a lot from him as far as prayer and meditation on behalf of others.
The part of this chapter where God strikes a deal with Satan reminds me of a good versus evil movie where there are deals that are struck behind the scenes. God told Satan that he could test Job, but he said that he couldn't hurt HIM. This tells me that God was giving Satan permission to tempt Job. We should take comfort in this because although we may sometimes feel that Satan is in control of our lives because of the things that are happening, we need to remember that God allows Satan to tempt us. Everything that happens may not come from God, but it is approved by God which means he is still in control. He doesn't tempt us without allowing us a way out of that temptation. Job's way out of the temptation to curse God was to immediately begin to praise God for the things he has done for him. He knew that God gave, but God also took away. This is still true today. We cannot expect to go through life without suffering hard times. If we never went through anything bad, then we wouldn't be able to learn from those experiences. I know I have been through some awful stuff, but it's nothing compared to what some people go through. There are people that are held captive in the Middle East for being a Christian and they suffer. They are tortured and they are burned alive. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through but they don't give up. They don't curse God. They praise him in the storm. Many times people get angry with God for the things that they have gone through or they are going through. Instead of blaming who is truly to blame, Satan, they blame God for allowing it to happen. It is easier to blame God because God allows it. This reminds me of the cross. God allowed Jesus to die on the cross. If he had wanted to, he could have gotten Jesus down off of that cross, but he didn't. He allowed it to happen. I think one reason why is because it allows us to know that Jesus has suffered just like we do. His suffering was mental and physical. Mental because his own father had to turn his back on him. Physical because of all of the horrible torture he went through. The sacrifice that he made relates to so many different situations that we go through on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the trials I have endured. They were difficult to go through at the time, but they have made me the person that I am today.
I think that we can all learn from Job and the things that he goes through. As we continue on throughout the book, we will see that Job's life will get even more difficult. He will see his friends and family turn on God and he will feel like he is all alone in the world, but he still loves God throughout the whole ordeal. Thanks for reading and thanks to those who gave me the suggestions for which book of the Bible to read and study next.
Let's start at the beginning. Satan came to Heaven with some angels and was talking to God during this time about how he had been down on Earth and was just checking things out to see who was doing what. God immediately bragged on his servant Job. Job was described as a faithful man. He was also a good parent. The first chapter said that he woke up and offered a burnt offering on behalf of his children every day. He did this just in case they had sinned against God inwardly and he didn't know about it. Now we know that the only way to be forgiven for our sins is for each individual to ask for forgiveness on their own, but Job was pleading for mercy on his children. As a parent, I know that I don't do this near enough. I should be on my knees praying for God to have mercy on my child and to protect him from evil daily. Spiritual warfare is constantly going on around us. I know we don't really think about it too much, but we need to constantly be in prayer for ourselves, our children, our family, our friends and our country in general. Job made this sacrifice on behalf of his children on a daily basis and we can really learn a lot from him as far as prayer and meditation on behalf of others.
The part of this chapter where God strikes a deal with Satan reminds me of a good versus evil movie where there are deals that are struck behind the scenes. God told Satan that he could test Job, but he said that he couldn't hurt HIM. This tells me that God was giving Satan permission to tempt Job. We should take comfort in this because although we may sometimes feel that Satan is in control of our lives because of the things that are happening, we need to remember that God allows Satan to tempt us. Everything that happens may not come from God, but it is approved by God which means he is still in control. He doesn't tempt us without allowing us a way out of that temptation. Job's way out of the temptation to curse God was to immediately begin to praise God for the things he has done for him. He knew that God gave, but God also took away. This is still true today. We cannot expect to go through life without suffering hard times. If we never went through anything bad, then we wouldn't be able to learn from those experiences. I know I have been through some awful stuff, but it's nothing compared to what some people go through. There are people that are held captive in the Middle East for being a Christian and they suffer. They are tortured and they are burned alive. I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through but they don't give up. They don't curse God. They praise him in the storm. Many times people get angry with God for the things that they have gone through or they are going through. Instead of blaming who is truly to blame, Satan, they blame God for allowing it to happen. It is easier to blame God because God allows it. This reminds me of the cross. God allowed Jesus to die on the cross. If he had wanted to, he could have gotten Jesus down off of that cross, but he didn't. He allowed it to happen. I think one reason why is because it allows us to know that Jesus has suffered just like we do. His suffering was mental and physical. Mental because his own father had to turn his back on him. Physical because of all of the horrible torture he went through. The sacrifice that he made relates to so many different situations that we go through on a daily basis. I am so thankful for the trials I have endured. They were difficult to go through at the time, but they have made me the person that I am today.
I think that we can all learn from Job and the things that he goes through. As we continue on throughout the book, we will see that Job's life will get even more difficult. He will see his friends and family turn on God and he will feel like he is all alone in the world, but he still loves God throughout the whole ordeal. Thanks for reading and thanks to those who gave me the suggestions for which book of the Bible to read and study next.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Esther 8-10
The chapters in Esther are so short that I have combined the last three chapters of the book. Esther's story is such a wonderful story of hope and redemption. I am sure that throughout the time that this was happening, Esther was having some major anxiety and was probably feeling like she wasn't in control...and she wasn't in control at all. God was always in control. I firmly believe that Esther knew that God was in control which is why she asked for fasting and prayer in the previous chapters. I have been thinking about my control or lack of control as far as my life goes. Some days I feel like I'm getting nothing done. I run around like a chicken with its head cut off and at the end of the day I have accomplished nothing but a half done job of cleaning in each room of the house! I try to control things but it never fails, something happens that causes my whole day to be thrown off. Esther could not control anything that happened. She had to fully rely on God and that's what allowed her to be calm in the midst of a very stressful and dangerous situation. Esther didn't just go before the king once without being invited. She did it several times. Can you imagine what was going through her mind as she walked up towards those doors. I can imagine her heart pounding so loudly that she could hear it. I'm sure her adrenaline was going. i know she probably thought she was going to die. There was a large possibility that she could be punished for going before the king without being summoned. I believe that Esther's story was included in the Bible because it shows us how God works behind the scenes to bring forth victory in every situation if we allow him to work and we fully trust in him. Esther was a Jewish woman who broke cultural norms to be the voice of her people. If she hadn't done that, then Gods plan for Jesus would have been altered. When we don't listen to God and obey his commands, we are not the only ones affected. There are tons of people who don't listen to God, myself included, and we all have altered the plan that God has for our life. BUT the good thing about that is that God can and will bring beauty from every bad situation if we allow it! It has happened in my life and it can happen in yours also. Giving our lives over to God and allowing him to work in our lives will fix the issues that we have caused ourselves so far. There is nothing that God cannot do and nothing that is too big for God to handle. The book of Esther proves that. Because of Esther and Mordecai's obedience to God, a whole nation was saved.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Esther ch 6&7
I know I haven't posted in several days. I did complete the 30 day challenge and that was awesome! I hope that all of you are really getting something out of the readings. I know I am. I have been reading at night every though I haven't been posting too much. I will continue to try to post nightly. These two chapters are about Esther being such a brave woman. She knew that if she went before the king without being summoned that she could be killed. She trusted God and the people who were praying for Her. I firmly believe this is what made the difference in this situation. She prayed, went before the king, then invited the king and Haman to a celebration the next day. Now why would she think to wait and discuss matters with him in her own time? It's because it was all A part of God's plan. That night, Xerxes decided to read the book of chronicles. In it, he saw all of the good things that Mordecai did. He made Haman go honor him. The next day, Esther asked them to return to the dinner. When they did, the king asked her what she had to request of him. She then told him about the Jews and how Haman had tried to exterminate them. Xerxes sentenced him to die on the same pole that he had originally planned to use for Mordecai. This is quite ironic to me. I never would have thought that Haman would die that way. I think Hamans vice, that eventually got him killed, was pride or arrogance. He thought too highly of himself when others didn't think of him as anything even similar. It's very hard not to be prideful though. We need to take delight in our work and our acquaintances that we have. But just because we hold a Friendhsip position to someone in a powerful position doesn't mean that we are any better off than any other person. We need to keep this in mind. Haman became arrogant and haughty. So arrogant in fact that he took the planning of Mordecai's death Into his own hands and didn't consult the king which I am sure infuriated him! We have to be careful not to overstep our boundaries and make sure that we are right where God wants us to be!
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Esther chapter 5
Wow what a day it has been! Today has been another long and stressful day but definitely much better than yesterday. I am very grateful for the lord's presence in my life today. I really needed his peace to give me the strength to shut my mouth on several occasions. In a way, I see a lot of Esther in me because she was a very determined person. I am the same way. If I feel an injustice is being done, then I am going to speak up and attempt to fix it. Esther did the exact same thing but she had to have a little bit of a push from Mordecai before she would go through with it. The difference in myself and Esther is she is meek and humble. I am not! If I had been in Esther's shoes, I probably would have marched into that throne room with guns blazing and demanded a meeting with the king. Esther's humbleness proved to be an asset for her. There have been so many times when I have begged God to allow me to be meek, to get rid of the attitude, to stop being so opinionated, and much more. I've never been the "Proverbs 31" woman. I never wanted to be the opinionated person out of all my friends. As I've gotten older, I have mellowed out some, but at times the old me pops back out. I can learn a lot from Esther because not only was she humble, but she was patient. I am one of the most impatient people ever! I hate waiting on things. I don't even like getting to school early because then I have to wait for a few minutes before I get Lane out of the car. I just don't like waiting; however, Esther did. She asked Mordecai and all the Jews to pray for her and fast for her. This played a major role in how King Xerxes accepted her into his throne room. Not only did he accept her, but he was glad to see her. He tells her that whatever she wanted would be hers(only up to half the kingdom). She asked if Haman and the King would come
To a banquet that she prepared for them. Once there, she invited them
Back for a second banquet and we will learn about why each of these banquets are significant tomorfow night.
To a banquet that she prepared for them. Once there, she invited them
Back for a second banquet and we will learn about why each of these banquets are significant tomorfow night.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Esther ch 4
I didn't read or post last night and I regretted it today. I needed a word from The Lord this morning due to some issues that I've had. I could tell that I didn't red it because I needed a calming peace today and honestly I was so upset that I didn't even think to ray. Usually that is my very first thought, but today I was so upset that I couldn't even think straight. I couldn't eat it go either and I carried it with me throughout the entire day, which in turn made my day miserable for me and everyone else. I had every intention of leaving school early, but didnt leave until 5 this afternoon. I came home, and Satan was attacking me again. It has just been one of those days. This part week our pastor spoke about spiritual warfare and there was definitely some of that going on with me today for sure!
As I sat down to read my Bible I began to reflect on my day and then I started thinking about what type of emotions that Esther must have had going through her mind whenever she had to deal with all of these pressures that were thrown upon her at one time. She had the entire Jewish race resting on her shoulders. If she was not well-received by the king, then it wasn't just her death that was imminent, but the entire race of Jews which would eventually lead the way to Jesus being born.
In chapter 4, Esther shows her dignity and her bravery in so many different ways. When she found out that Mordecai was dressed in sackcloth and was mourning, she sent a servant to find out why. He told her that she must go in tnsee the king and beg for mercy for the Jews. She sent back word that she had not been summoned to the kings room for 30 days and that if any wine appears to the king without being summoned, if he does not hold his golden shelter out to them, they were to be out to death for showing up uninvited. Whew! Talk about a plus for King Xerxes. He had it all. Too many women and not one of them could bother him unless he wanted them to!
Esther knew that she could possibly be sentenced to death if she entered in to see the king without being summoned. When she sent this message to Mordecai he told her that she shouldn't think that she was so high and mighty just because she was married to the king, and that her heritage will eventually be found out. Then she would have died along with all of the Jewish race. At this time, Esther sent Word for all of the Jews to fast and pray for her as she went before the king. I'm sure this was a very emotional time for Esther. She told Mordecai that if she died, then she died and there wasn't anything she could do about it. While reading this, I began to think about the Christians who are being persecuted for ISIS. At this very moment, a church could be meeting behind closed doors just so they can read the bible together. These people are faced with true adversity. Esther and these current Christians have so much in common. They are risking their life to tell others about what Jesus did for them and to just speak about God. They have the same attitude that Esther had. "If I die then I die!" We need to practice being brave like Esther. We may not be able to do anything for prisoners in the Middle East but we can pray that god gives them leave and a dying grace as they move from this world into the next.
As I sat down to read my Bible I began to reflect on my day and then I started thinking about what type of emotions that Esther must have had going through her mind whenever she had to deal with all of these pressures that were thrown upon her at one time. She had the entire Jewish race resting on her shoulders. If she was not well-received by the king, then it wasn't just her death that was imminent, but the entire race of Jews which would eventually lead the way to Jesus being born.
In chapter 4, Esther shows her dignity and her bravery in so many different ways. When she found out that Mordecai was dressed in sackcloth and was mourning, she sent a servant to find out why. He told her that she must go in tnsee the king and beg for mercy for the Jews. She sent back word that she had not been summoned to the kings room for 30 days and that if any wine appears to the king without being summoned, if he does not hold his golden shelter out to them, they were to be out to death for showing up uninvited. Whew! Talk about a plus for King Xerxes. He had it all. Too many women and not one of them could bother him unless he wanted them to!
Esther knew that she could possibly be sentenced to death if she entered in to see the king without being summoned. When she sent this message to Mordecai he told her that she shouldn't think that she was so high and mighty just because she was married to the king, and that her heritage will eventually be found out. Then she would have died along with all of the Jewish race. At this time, Esther sent Word for all of the Jews to fast and pray for her as she went before the king. I'm sure this was a very emotional time for Esther. She told Mordecai that if she died, then she died and there wasn't anything she could do about it. While reading this, I began to think about the Christians who are being persecuted for ISIS. At this very moment, a church could be meeting behind closed doors just so they can read the bible together. These people are faced with true adversity. Esther and these current Christians have so much in common. They are risking their life to tell others about what Jesus did for them and to just speak about God. They have the same attitude that Esther had. "If I die then I die!" We need to practice being brave like Esther. We may not be able to do anything for prisoners in the Middle East but we can pray that god gives them leave and a dying grace as they move from this world into the next.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)