Job Study: Chapter Nine - "Graceless Words for a Grieving Man"

This week we looked at the chapters of 15-17.  We talked about grace and fog.  First we'll look at what we discussed as a group regarding the fog.  It seems that society is in a constant season of 'fog'. Many words were thrown around when asked 'what causes our fog'?  Such as: compromise, complacency, sin, disobedience, distraction and rebellion...just to name a few.

We need to be aware that there will be a confrontation when the two kingdoms (light and dark) collide - just as warm and cold weather collide and produce the fog. The fog confuses us and makes it difficult to navigate our way...this causing our exhaustion, and lulling us into a slumber. This is where the enemy wants us. The devil doesn't want to be front page news, because he operates in the darkness. He is slimy and he slithers around causing a fog to distract us from the Lord. It's time we wake up from that slumber and realize where we are and what time it is!  The second coming of Christ, and the enemy is irritated because he knows his time is running out!  THE FOG IS THICK...constantly look to the beacon; the only light that cuts the fog is the One who created that light - Elohim - creator God!  

Now let's look at the 'grace' portion of the study...

During this second round of speeches, the fire grew hotter as the three friends focus more on proving Job wrong than on giving him help.  After all, their own peace of mind was at stake, and they were not about to surrender.  If Job was not a sinner being punished by God, then the three friends' understanding of God was all wrong.  But that meant they had no protection against personal suffering themselves!  If obedience is not a guarantee of health and wealth, then what happened to Job might happen to them.  God forbid!

In chapters 16 and 17 Job replies to Eliphaz's sharp rebukes by stating five characteristics of those who lack grace - pride, a tendency to hurl insults, the use of guilt-inducing tactics, a condemning attitude, and words of sarcasm.  Let's break those down:

• First, Eliphaz had a haughty manner and a proud heart.  He began his self-righteous speech by suggesting that he knew exactly what Job should not do (15:2).  His tirade consisted of a series of rhetorical questions meant to silence Job's protests of innocence before God.  This friend's pride, coupled with his suggestion that Job was 'full of hot air' and speaking words that meant nothing, contributed to a speech that was less than comforting for Job.  Instead, it discouraged and humiliated him.
• Second, Eliphaz insulted Job.  He called Job's words 'useless talk', 'not profitable', and 'irreverent'. 
• Third, Eliphaz implied that Job was guilty of sin.  He suggested that Job was simply receiving he just deserts for that sin...insinuating that he was acting in a sneaky, underhanded manner instead of confessing his 'hidden sin'.
• Fourth, Eliphaz condemned Job.  He suggested that Job presumed to 'own wisdom' and that Job took a 'better-than-thou' attitude toward his friends.  In addition, Eliphaz's bitter words revealed that he had been envious all along of Job's close, blessed relationship with the Lord.  Now, he was finally letting Job know what he thought.
• Fifth, Eliphaz used sarcasm and harsh words to last out at Job.  Eliphaz saw himself as God's messenger, sent to give Job the advice that he so desperately needed to hear!

In our discussion time, we covered a fair bit, but some of the things I jotted down to share with you are;

• His grace is the only safe place to be...He gives us grace for today and hope for tomorrow!
• Thankfully we received His grace at the third hour and not at the eleventh hour...this way we have longer to enjoy His grace!
• You never know what someone else is dealing with...grace is always appropriate and always needed!
• We ask for His eyes to see, and by God's grace He will give us just enough of His sight so that we have compassion for others...if we had His full sight we couldn't handle it - and He wouldn't be God!

Chuck shares a story one author tells about riding in a subway car in New York one Sunday afternoon.  It had been a pretty quiet until a man and his kids entered the car.  The father sat down beside the man and closed his eyes.  The kids were being loud and rambunctious and it was quite obviously disturbing the other people.  After a while the man was irritated enough to say to the father of the children..."Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people.  I wonder if you couldn't control them a little more?" ...(the story finishes this way...)

The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly, "Oh, you're right.  I guess I should do something about it.  We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago.  I don't know what to think, and I guess they don't know how to handle it either."

Can you imagine what I felt at that moment?  My paradigm shifted.  Suddenly I saw things differently, and because I saw things differently, I thought differently, and felt differently, I behaved differently.  My irritation vanished.  I didn't have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior; my heart was filled with the man's pain.  Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely... Everything changed in an instant.

Chuck writes...What an important reminder for us to be grace givers!  We often don't know the pain and the sorrow that others may be experiencing or the hurtful situation that may be causing them to speak or act in a certain way.  Let's make it a point to offer a kind word and a helping hand to those around us who may be desperately in need of grace.

When Job replies to Eliphaz in chapter 16 and 17, we see his response divided in to four parts;

• First, Job expressed disgust with his so-called friends. 
• Second, he was distressed by the way God was treating him.
• Third, he was depressed over his prospects in life.
• Fourth, he was despondent, seeing the grave as nearer than ever.

Chuck suggests Job could be saying, "I've reached the breaking point.  God's silent, and I can't figure Him out.  When I pray, I don't get answers.  When I devote myself even more deeply to doing His will for all the right reasons, I continue to lose, and the heavens are brass.  God's disappeared".

Job didn't mince words!  He expressed his emotions fully and cried out to God for answers.  Don't you appreciate the fact that the Bible is full of stories about real people who faced real trials?  Life's not a fairy take full of handsome knights in shining armor charging up on their white steeds to rescue beautiful damsels in distress from their castle-tower prisons.  Life's tough, and not everyone lives happily ever after.

Not only that, but as time goes on, life doesn't get easier; it gets harder.  Marriage becomes more difficult.  Our careers grow more demanding.  Child rearing gets more complicated.  Our dreams and goals become harder to achieve.  Our responsibilities multiply.  Our losses mount.  We flounder spiritually.  Our health gets worse.

That's why Christ died and rose on our behalf - because we can't make it through this life on our own.  We need God's grace to redeem us because we're utterly unable to measure up to His standards of righteousness on our own merit.  We need the eternal hope that only faith in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection can give us.  And we need peace and hope for today that comes only through a growing, vibrant personal relationship with Jesus.  (emphasis added)

So, let's try to remember to look to the Lighthouse when we're in the thick of the fog.  After all, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!  And as we going about our daily routines, keep in mind that we don't know the news buddy in traffic that cut us off has just received; or that the crusty sales clerk just found out she's been let go.  If we extended only a little bit of the grace we are given from our heavenly Father...imagine the ripple effect it would have on this world!!

Until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Eight - "When Rebuke and Resistance Collide"

Last night we read through the chapters of 11-14, Zophar's legalistic tirade of accusations against Job, and Job's response.

In chapter 11 vs 1-4, Zophar accused Job of being guilty of sin.  In the same chapter vs 5-12, Zophar accused Job of being ignorant of God, and in vs 12 called Job and 'idiot' (the meaning in Hebrew is 'to be hollow or empty).  Then thirdly, as chapter 11 continues, vs 13-20, Zophar accused Job of being stubborn in his refusal to repent. 

Zophar delivered a lecture in Theology 101 - as if Job needed another lecture.  And, unfortunately, quite a few Zophars are still on the loose today.  If you haven't met one, just wait.  He or she will come along, with absolutely no capacity to 'connect the dots' or discern your real need.  Zophars don't understand how God is working in your life, yet they have a customized message of shame and blame for you...and they may even say it's from God.  Why do they do this?  Because you are not doing what they believe you should be doing.  Or you're doing what they believe you should NOT be doing.

There were three things Job responded to Zophar with:

• First, Job refuted Zophar's accusation that he had no knowledge of God.  Job affirmed in chapter 12 that he did possess wisdom and understanding, just as his friends did.  He had followed God, worshiped Him, and obeyed Him.  He admitted that he didn't understand the earthly reason for his suffering, but he held on to his faith.
• Second, Job responded to Zophar's accusation that he was a guilty sinner.  In chapter 13, Job affirmed his integrity and his blameless position before God.  In fact, he must have wished that he had something to confess, if that would have meant that God would hear his voice and restore him!  Yet he still maintained his innocence.
• Third, Job closed his speech by challenging Zophar's suggestion that he could have hope if he simply confessed his sinfulness.  Job admitted that he was close to losing hope, but only because he had no sin to confess.  Since he couldn't see the big picture, he begged God to show up and to offer him some perspective on his suffering.

I thought the next few paragraphs Chuck wrote were great:

If you're on the receiving end of poor advice and hurtful accusations, take heart!  As Christians, we're called to be gracious and loving, but we're not called to be doormats.  Jesus modeled kindness and meekness, but He most certainly wasn't afraid to rebuke the Pharisees and chase the money changers out of the temple when necessary.

We aren't obligated to take the advice of every legalistic, joy-stealing person that comes down the pike.  We're neither ignorant nor unimportant.  We're sons and daughters of the Most High God!  No one has the right to mistreat us, shame us, or take advantage of us.

Make it a point to spend time with those who comfort, support, and encourage you in your walk with God.  If those around you offer only negativity, unhealthy peer pressure, discouraging and hurtful words, and a lack of sensitivity to your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, then you may need to get out of your comfort zone and make some new friends!

Wow!  I had a huge 'AMEN' written in the column of my study book for that one.  Possibly it spoke to me because I've gone through the whole 'weeding process' of 'friends' in the past few years.  The unhealthy, toxic ones HAD to go.  And praise the Lord, I have the few intimate friends that I can rely on, who always take me to The Rock that is higher.  I am blessed.

In the 'nuggets of wisdom' section Chuck raises three significant questions that each of us need to answer.  They are as follows:

• First, are you seeking to know the depths of God?  We often tend to just skim the surface instead of taking risks and plumbing the depths of God's wisdom, knowledge, and grace.  Because we feel obligated to 'put on a happy face', we often fake spiritual joy instead of being real about our griefs, trials, struggles, and painful disappointments.  We tend to make happiness the goal of our Christian lives rather than glorifying God no matter the cost. 

We can seek to know the depths of God by cultivating intimacy with Him.  In fact, He's waiting to hear from us!..."Patiently and graciously (our Lord) waits to reveal insights and dimensions of truth to those who care enough to probe, to examine, to ponder.  Such searching is not merely an intellectual pursuit.  God's ways are not discovered through the normal, humanistic methods of research...As important and intriguing as divine depths might be, they defy discovery by the natural means of our minds.  He reserves these things for those whose hearts are completely His...for those who take the time to wait before Him.  Only in that way can there be intimacy with the Almighty..." (emphasis added).

• Second, will all be well when God examines your life?  Scripture says that each of us "will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give and account of the things we have done" (2 Cor 5:10).  We'll be held accountable for our actions and our decisions, and only those who have established a relationship with Jesus Christ through faith in Him will enter heaven (emphasis added).
• Third, when you die, will you inter God's presence, or will you be separated from Him forever?  As far as we know, only four things are eternal: God, His Word, angels and people.  He made us to  live forever.  The question is, where?  Will we live eternally in heaven with Him, or in hell without Him?

These are not light questions.  They are provoking and should be re-evaluated if you don't already stand confident in your answers.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show your honest answers to you, and move a head accordingly.  Hell is no laughing matter, and is very real.

It all comes down to your personal intimate relationship to Christ Jesus.  You and Almighty - only.  You can't ride the coat-tails of friends, family members, or the generation before you, and expect to get a free ticket into heaven.  It simply doesn't work that way!  Chuck said a line in the audio portion of the study I thought was 'fridge worthy'.  He said, "Your destiny is determined when you are alive, not after you die."  Well said!  So, where is your eternal resting place?  If you can't answer with certainty, I plead with you to get alone with God and get right with Him.

Let's deliberately embrace this aim: to "become more intimately acquainted with Christ."

Until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Seven - "Continuing the Verbal Fistfight"

Okay...I know I missed posting last Wednesday, and the thought briefly crossed my mind - "FAIL". However, I remembered quickly that our words (to ourselves as well as to others), are either blessings or curses...I chose not to go the route of the latter (yay...wee success for me!!). Instead, I chose to come under the grace that I'm sure is extended by those of you who read this blog. It was never my intent to completely bypass chapter seven, or even give up blogging the study, but simply stated...life happens :)

So, catching up then...the selection of this chapter seven is from Job 8-10. We started out by a reading of Hudson Taylor's quote "God Is An Infinite Sovereign" (you can read the quote from my earlier post linked here should you choose... http://eternitysperspective-kmc.blogspot.com/2010/09/privilege-of-having-our-needs-met-day.html). And we seemed to be focusing on the word 'integrity'. We're sure that is going to be the bullet that's going to be what leaves the study with us. What does integrity look like in our own lives?

We also discussed how 'back in the day' whenever something 'bad' happened to someone, sin was the immediate explaination...'What did they do to deserve this?'. We find that it still rings true in todays society. Sad but true, we assume 'they must have done something to deserve it', and secretly count our blessings it wasn't us...this time. Instead of realizing sometimes it's just life happening...'it is what it is'!

Brent Curtis and John Eldredge write in their book 'Sacred Romance':

If we will listen, a Sacred Romance calls to us through our heart every moment of our lives. It whispers to us on the wind, invites us through the laughter of good friends, reaches out to us through the touch of someone we love. We've heart it in our favorite music, sensed it at the birth of our first child, been drawn to it while watching the shimmer of a sunset on the ocean. The Romance is even present in times of great personal suffering; the illness of a child, the loss of a marriage, the death of a fiend. Something calls to us through experiences like these and rouses an inconsolable longing deep within our heart, wakening in us a yearning for intimacy, beauty, and adventure...

However we may describe this deep desire, it is the most important thing about us, our heart of hears, the passion of our life. And the voice that call to us in this place is non other than the voice of God.

Chuck takes this a little further by writing;

While our Sacred Romance with our Father begins in a place of beuaty and innocence, we soon recognize that our enemy, Satan, is constantly trying to destroy us by sending us a negative message...Satan pulls back his powerful bow and lets his poisonous arrows of sin, jealousy, rejection, pain, and affliction fly straight into out hearts...Job and God had once shared a special friendship characterized by closeness and overflowing blessing. But now the enemy was using whatever arrows he could to try to make Job's faith falter. That included discouraging words from Job's best friends.

Chuck reminds us the poor advice given to Job from his friend Bildad:

• LOOK UP! - Bildad offered misguided personal insight into the character of God and the reasons for Job's suffering...H.L. Mencken wrote, "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Bildad offres a simplistic solution to an exraordinarily difficult problem. As a result, not only does he fail miserably to sole the problem, he piles more accusation and blame on Job instead of comfort.
• LOOK BACK! - Next Bildad exhorted his friend to seek wisdom from the past (vs 8:8-10)...But Job's experience was personal, and the circumstances surrounding it were unique. Since no one had ever before been in Job's place, he had no point of reference for his suffering. Even the teaching of his forefathers in the faith offered no solutions for his particular dilemma. His only hope was to hold onto his faith in God more tightly than ever.
• LOOK AROUND! - Bildad suggested that Job had experienced severe affliction because he had committed wrongs and refused to confess his sin. Bildad implied that if Job would simpley admit his guilt, God would restore his health, his family, and his fortunes.

Job's reply to Bildad:

• If I could stand before God, what would I say? Job bemoaned that he couldn't bring his case to trial before the Lord. He longed for God's mercy, but God seemed to be against him.
• If I could declare my own innocence, what good would it do? Job constantly asserted his innocence before God and sought for justice to be served. Yet he continued to suffer spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
• If I tried to be positive and cheerful, how would it help me? He sought wisdom from his firends. He sought direction and mercy from God. He tried his best to maintain his faith and hope despite all odds. Yet he was blasted from every side by poor advice, blame, negativity, or worse, silence.
• If only I had mediator, I could have my needs represented, and the truth would be told. Job mourned the fact that he had no 'umpire' to serve as an arbitrator between himself and God...Since Job lived two thousand or more years before Christ, he had no one to argue his case before God. Job's cry would be ours as well if it weren't for the work of Jesus Christ, our merciful Mediator. Thankfully, Jesus serves as our go-between with the Father. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:5-6: "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time".

Woohoo...Jesus is our 'umpire'!! It's so hard for me to fathom what it would have been like back in Job's day. It's hard enough to keep our faith from faltering today even with the Bible, but to not have The Book of Truth to consult with on any given area of our lives, as was the position of Job, I honestly don't know how strong my faith would be. I mean...Job didn't know the ending of his story like we do! No words I tell ya, simply no words!

A few last words Chuck leaves us with in his 'nuggets of wisdom' portion of our study:

• When misery breaks our spirit, philosophical words don't help us cope. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote, "Don't flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become." Having a close friendship with someone doesn't mean that we have the license to say whatever we want to that person! Instead, we're called to take extra care to show lvoe and compassion. Not only that, but we're called to love our enemies as well as our friends.
• When a mediator can't be found, futile searches won't give us hope. If Job learned one positive lesson from his sufferings, it was that only God could truly be depended upon. Even when God was silent, Job trusted that He was there. Even when God's dealing seemed incomprehensible and mysterious, Job recognized His sovereignty. Though Satan buffeted Job, his wife urged him to curse God and die, and his friends condemned him, that partiarch of patience stood the test. Instead of searching for hope in all the wrong places, Job placed his faith in God.

In closing this post, I'll leave you with some words from Chuck that I found very encouraging:

There are many times in life when we don't know the answers and can't understand God's plan. God wants us to cast our cared on Him (1Peter 5:7), to pour out our feelings and frustrations to Him as Job did.

Isn't is great to know and rest in the fact that nothing we throw at God catches Him off guard, and that it's never anything He can't handle?!!

Blessings to you all until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Six - "Responding to Bad Counsel"

We looked at selections from Job 4-7 this week, and some of the 'bad counsel' Job's friends gave him.  This reminded me, yet again, that not all advice is good advice.  Even when it's from other Christians or from those close to us with our 'best interest at heart'.  Job's friends gave advice based on experience, tradition and assumptions, as many of us have done and have had done to us.  We are human after all, and sinful too don't forget!

Although the advice from loved ones is usually well intended, we must remember it is crucial to sift everything through God's Word.  After all, that's our plumb line...or at least it ought to be.  Unfortunately, it's 'easier' sometimes to look through the faulty filters of our sinful and selfish nature.

In the section of 'Taking Truth to Heart', Chuck writes:

No doubt, you've known occasions when another person's heart reflected your own concerns and desires.  Perhaps you had a deep sorrow or concern in the well of your heart that you struggled to pull up.  Then along came someone you loved and trusted who could drop a bucket into that deep well, pull out your sorrow, and comfort and encourage you.

On the other hand, sometimes love prompts our friends to give us counsel that isn't easy for us to hear: "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6).

The Hebrew language that Solomon uses in the first half of the verse suggests this literal translation: "Faithful are the wounds caused by the one who loves you."  Sometimes we receive emotional or spiritual 'bruises' from the words of those who genuinely love us and want to encourage us to grow.  These bruises from friends stay with us for a long time, but usually, if they've been offered in love and with discretion, we're the better for having received them.  Such faithful bruising helps us more in our walk with God than false flattery, trite remarks, or a phony embrace from someone who has their own best interests, not ours, at heart.

An effective word of exhortation, however, must be presented with a loving spirit and at the right time.  When we're hurting deeply, we don't need additional wounds from friends.  We depend on them to provide love, comfort, encouragement, and wisdom during challenging times.  Positive words spoken from a loving heart in the right circumstances may be just the ray of sunlight we need to break through the clouds on a dark, depressing lonely day."

Timing is crucial.  As is the gentleness in our approach to others when they are down trodden.  Simply put...it's the 'Golden Rule' - treat others as you want to be treated.  I think this statement has lost it's weight as it's been thrown around a bit flippantly...in my humble opinion.  Really taking the time to stop and consider for a moment, 'what if the tables were turned and it was me going through...', how would I want people to be towards me?  The more I am learning on my walk with Christ Jesus, the more I see how I need to be.  The more I see how He loves, and the more that makes me want to love as He does.  By no means have I 'arrived' or even come close (I don't believe anyone will as long as we're living on this earth) but I'm making a conscious effort to daily live that way.

Before we take a look at the three lessons from Eliphaz's poor advice Chuck outlines for us, it's important for us to distinguish the difference between 'guilt' and 'shame'.  Guilt is 'convition' - it's from God, and it's always specific.  Shame is 'condemnation' - it's from Satan, and it's never specific.  So before we go 'shaming' ourselves or others, we need to remember where it comes from.  If it's guilt...good news...we can do something about it!  Let's look at Chuck's lessons for us now:

• First, assumptions reduce understanding and insight.  Instead of responding to Job's suffering with comfort and compassion, Eliphaz started preaching.  He assumed that Job had committed sin, and that God had sent trouble upon Job as direct punishment for that sin.  We must be careful what we assume about others' painful situations, and encourage rather than blame them.  Much of the suffering in life happens simply as a result of the Fall, not because of the sufferer's own sin.  Even when we do reap the consequences of our poor choices and sinful actions, positive  words encourage life change much more powerfully than shame and blame.
• Second, shame blocks grace and hinders relief and recovery.  What's the difference between shame and guilt?  Christian author and counselor Jeff VanVonderan hits it right on the head:

Shame is often confused with guilt.  But they're no the same.  God created you and me so that when we do something wrong we experience a sense of guilt.  Guilt is like a spiritual nerve-response to sin, an emotion in response to wrong behavior...In that sense, guilt is a healthy thing.  Because guilt comes as a result of something you and I do, we can do something about it...

Shame, on the other hand, ...is the belief or mindset that something is wrong with you...It's not that you feel bad about our behavior, it's that you sense or believe you are deficient, defective or worthless as a human being

Shame is not from God; it's from Satan.  Our Father never shames us.  Instead, He forgives and redeems us as His children, whom He loves.  The devil, however, uses shame to make us feel unworthy.  He wants to drain our joy and peace in Christ and poison our relationships with those we love.  Through shame, he wants to make sure that we don't accept God's forgiveness, move past our mistakes and sins, and actively pursue God's will for our lives.  Shame-based counsel like that offered by Job's friends loads us down with disgrace rather than lightening our burden with grace.  Shame pushes us further into the downward spiral of our pain.

• Third, we learn that pride eclipses mercy and compassion.  Instead of offering listening ears and compassionate hearts, they heaped condemnation and blame on Job.  Instead of mercifully caring for their suffering friend, they tried to 'fix' him.  They couldn't bear to admit that they didn't understand the mysteries of God's ways.  As a result, they multiplied Job's pain instead of soothing it.

Chuck also outlines two lessons learned from Job's response:

• First, sometimes others' poor advice only makes our troubles worse.  When we're suffering, we don't need harsh words and misguided preaching.  Instead, we long for the quiet presence of a friend.  We appreciate kind words, a warm hug, and a shoulder to cry on.  We're thankful for those who offer to provide meals, baby-sit, or help out with everyday chores in the face of an unexpected loss or hardship.  To a suffering person, and action is worth a thousand words!
• Second, sometimes trying to understand God's unfathomable ways only makes us more confused.  We don't understand the reason behind everything that happens in our lives, and we aren't meant to.  We seek to grow in our knowledge of God and His Word, but His ways are still too marvelous, too mysterious, and too great for us to fully fathom.  That's why He's God!  If we had all the answers and knew every aspect of God's plan for our lives, we'd have no need for faith.  And the Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).  As Christians, our goal is to glorify and serve the Lord as we seek spiritual wisdom and maturity in a community of faith.

In closing tonight, I'll leave you with the final paragraph from our study guide...

The next time you interact with a friend, family member, or even a stranger who is suffering, seek to comfort him or her using the biblical principles you've learned in this chapter.  Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times..."(emphasis added).  That means loving others not just in the good times, but in the difficult times as well.

Blessings to you throughout your week ahead!
Until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Five - "The Mournful Wail of a Miserable Man"

What a heavy night it was last night.  Therefore my notes are scarce of our discussion.  It was a time of being raw with one another...quite a few personal things were shared, which will remain within the walls of the Fireside Room (where our study is held).  What a time of true worship and realness it was.

We looked at Job 3:1-10...when Job finally speaks.  Since I don't have much to contribute of my own, I'll just get right into some of the keys points given by Chuck in either the study guide or the audio portion.

The book of Job has ministered to the hurting for centuries because Job truly understood suffering.  It's no surprise that those who experience times of grief and depression turn to Job for strength, since only those with wounded hearts can truly empathize with such deep and tortured anguish.

After reading verse 1 ("Let the day perish on which I was to be born" - Job 3:3), we might tend to say, "Aha! Satan was right.  Job did curse God."  But he didn't.  He cursed the day of his birth.  There's a big difference!  Asking "Why was I ever born?" isn't the same as saying, "I no longer believe in you, God."  Job's outburst wasn't prompted only by his physical suffering, but also by the fact that he felt out of touch with God.  He felt so alone that he regretted ever drawing his first breath, and he wished he could erase the day of his birth. 

After reading Job's entire lament, not one of us could say we haven't felt the same way.  (Again, not likely to the same degree as Job...but in our own, very real and individual way.)  I found myself taken back to a few key times when I just 'laid it all out there for God to hear'!  Not apologizing to Him for being real and sharing my frustrations...He knows already anyway, and He can handle it!  

Chuck reminds us that:

We've all struggled at times with feelings of painful inadequacy, depression, or utter insufficiency to complete a task or bear a load.  When we travel through these dark, rocky valleys, many of us tend to isolate ourselves from others.  Job, however, didn't run and hide.  He didn't "stuff" his emotions or try to downplay his pain.  He openly unleashed his grief and cried out to God.  He wasn't afraid to wrestle with God in his attempt to come to terms with the tough trials that plagued him.

I remember one time specifically; it felt like the bottom just dropped out from underneath me...I was completely caught off guard by a certain turn of events, and in 'my moment' I fell to my knees, outright sobbing, saying "NO!!"...this couldn't be happening, and asking "WHY??", why was this happening?  I also recall crying out to God immediately after that, telling Him I wasn't angry at Him - over and over and over again.  I didn't realize it at the time, but this was a break-through for me!  Of course, it took time for me to be able to look back on that pivotal moment to realize the place I'd had to come to and why it was so significant to my healing and growing.  A bitter/sweet memory for sure!

There was a little blurb in the study book about Charles Spurgeon I thought was interesting:

The popular nineteenth-century British pastor experienced feeling of inadequacy, depression, despair, and disillusionment that mirrored Job's in some ways.  In a lecture to his students called "The Minister's Fainting Gits," Spurgeon stated openly:

Before any great achievement, some measure of the same depression is very usual...This depression comes over me whenever the Lord is preparing a larger blessing for my ministry; the cloud is black before it breaks, and overshadows before it yields its deluge of mercy.  Depression has now become to me as a prophet in tough clothing.

Isn't that interesting...and somewhat encouraging?!  A human being, just like us...yet we may think he was so 'good' with God.  Just goes to show we never really know a persons struggles.  Phillip Yancey writes,

Very often, disappointment with God begins in Job-like circumstances.  The death of a child, a tragic accident, or a loss of job may bring on the same questions Job asked.  Why me?  What does God have against me?  Why does he seem so distant?...

For Job, the battleground of faith involved lost possessions, lost family members, lost health.  We may face a different struggle: a career failure, a floundering marriage, sexual orientation, a body shape that turns people off, not on.  At such times the outer circumstances - the illness, the bank account, the run of bad luck - will seem the real struggle.  We may bed God to change those circumstances.  If only I were beautiful or handsome, then everything would work out.  If only I had more money - or a least a job - the I could easily believe God.

But the more important battle, as shown in Job, takes place inside us.  Will we trust God?  Job teaches that at the moment when faith is hardest and least likely, then faith is most needed. 

(I added the bold and italics on that last line for impact...I think it's sooo fridge worthy!) 

In the 'nuggets of wisdom' section this week, we are given three principles we can glean from Job's lament and apply them to our daily lives...

• First of all, some days are too dark for the sufferer to see light.  Those who have lost a spouse, friend, or family member through death or divorce will tell you that, even years after the tragedy, they have good days and bad days.  On the good days, the pain seems manageable.  On the bad days, it's almost unbearable.  But guess what?  God can handle even your bad days.  He knows your hurts.  And there's nothing you can say to Him that He hasn't heard before!...Job blurted out exactly how he felt...yet found a way to express himself while maintaining his integrity and his faith in God.
• Second, some experiences are too extreme for the hurting to find hope.  Did Job hope that he would be restored?  Probably.  Yet from his outcries, it seems that he never truly expected to be healed.  Amazingly, he never even ask for healing!  What he asked for were answers from Yahweh and a reprieve from His deafening silence...It took some time for Job to gain perspective on his suffering.. Yet he believed deep in his heart that God had some reason for allowing this calamity.  He maintained faith that the Lord was somehow still sovereign over his suffering.
• And thirdly, some valleys are too deep for the anguished to find relief.  Grief and depression are natural responses to life in a fallen world.  If you're struggling through the grieving process or suffering from depression, don't blame yourself.  Everyone walks through valleys of despair, and everyone feels burdened at one time or another by the tremendous weight of their trials.  Having a godly response to those trials is what matters most.

Chuck reminds us of God's promise to those who suffer:

It's okay to admit that we don't always understand the principles and purposes behind our trials.  God can handle our grievances!  He loves us, and He wants to bring us to greater maturity through our painful experiences.  The prophet Isaiah tells us that our Father sent His Son "To bring good news to the afflicted; ...to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; ...giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.  So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  (Isaiah 61:1, 3; see also Luke 4:18-19).

I love the closing sentences of this chapter in our book!  And after the day of attack I've had today from the enemy, it's something I need to be writing out and sticking everywhere.  I encourage you to do the same!

God can heal even the most painful broken heart.  Keep trusting Him through your trials, and He'll exchange your ashes of mourning for the beauty of joy and praise.

Have a blessed week!
Until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Four - "Job's Advice to Friends And Husbands"

"Crucible" simply put means...'a severe test'.  The dictionary defines it as 'a vessel of a very refractory material used for melting and calcining a substance that requires a high degree of heat'.  Figuratively it means 'a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development'.  Personally, I prefer the 'simply put' definition myself!

As I went through this text, I had an 'a-ha' moment...I am in a crucible of my own!  Now, I'm totally not saying it's anything even remotely in comparison to Job, or Mrs. Job, by any means.  Although I do say, with the understanding that things effect us as uniquely as we are unique.  Therefore, what would be a crucible to me, likely wouldn't be a crucible to someone else.  So, in saying that...I have come to realize that I have been in this particular crucible for a few years now.  And I'll admit, coming to the knowledge that said situation has a name, makes it a bit easier to understand why I'm going through it.  Not to say it's easy being in it...but knowing there will be an outcome that glorifies the Lord, makes it a little less painful.  (Of course being that I keep my integrity intact while I ride it out all the way!)

We studied only 2 verses this week...2:11-13, but there was still a lot to chew on!  In addition to the crucible, we looked at Job's three friends and their response when they saw Job.  We compared the responses of the friends to that of Job's own response. Job saw God and acknowledged Him, falling to the ground and worshipping Him! Quite the opposite of his friends.

First, they wept aloud, indicating their emotional shock and sorrow.  Second, they tore their robes to signify their broken-heartedness.  Job had responded in a similar fashion when he heart of the deaths of his children.  Third, Job's friends threw dust on their heads to symbolize their deep grief.

With that being said, they must have been flabbergasted at the sight of their friend they had once known as the greatest man, to now among the lowest of the low sitting in an ash heap in the city dump.  I honestly don't know what my reaction would be in a case like that.  My heart would break I'm sure.  And sadly maybe speak the words Mrs. Job spoke to her husband.  Simply because it would be too much to bare seeing a loved one in such physical pain.  I don't really know...and I pray I never have to find out!

In any case, these three friends 'made the book', so they obviously have importance to the story as a whole.  They came to see their friend, not knowing what they would face.  Once they did see the plight of Job, they remained with him, silent, for seven days and seven nights!  Not speaking a word for an entire week...wow.  (It was mentioned during discussion last night about how things would have been very different if it was Mrs. Job and three of her girlfriends instead...it would have been a completely different story!)  Their silence was a sign of respect to Job.  It was custom during that time to allow the grieving person express themselves first (this I did not know!).

We then examined the appropriate ways to be there for someone who is in a time of need.  Sensitivity was spoken out first and foremost in our discussion.  It's crucial to be super sensitive when dealing with someone in pain.

When we're suffering, we don't need blame, shame, trite answers, or false labels.  Instead we need true friends.  We seek out listening earls and open hearts.  We desire comfort, and companionship.  In order to mend, our hurting spirits need a healing does of compassion and encouragement.

When we experience suffering, we intuitively know what we need to help us through.  Yet how often do we offer the same caring friendship, comfort, love, and support to others who suffer?

Something I'd never really thought much about before was the fact that often it's the person suffering that brings comfort to others!  Have you noticed that?  And as a result of enduring pain, we become comforters to others!  You know you've done it right when they hate to see you go!  Don't stay too long.  You're suffering presence will be like a balm (perhaps of Gilead!) all over them!

The following is Job's advice for comforting others:

• First, listen well, and always tell others the truth.  Most of us aren't hard of hearing; we're hard of listening.  Often, listening is the best gift you can offer a struggling loved one.  If you do feel led to speak, offer a word of comfort and share the truth in love.
• Second, turn others toward God.  Job reminded his wife that the Lord is sovereign over every moment of our lives.  Our Almighty God is never caught off guard by events or circumstances!  Nothing happens that's beyond His knowledge or control.
• Third, model verbal purity.  "In all this Job did not sin with his lips."  Job could have responded to his wife in anger and frustration.  But rather, he provided her with a gentle reminder of God's blessing and provision.  Instead of cursing God, as his wife encouraged him to do, Job blessed the name of the Lord.
• Fourth, accept others completely and love them unconditionally.  We thrive in contexts where we're appreciated and loved for who we are, and yet are encouraged to become the people that God wants us to become.  We form and cement our relationships with others by weaving cords of trust from thin, fragile threads.  East moment we spend together, each work, each shared experience or event, adds another thread to the cord.  Each hurtful work or action destroys a thread, weakening the cord.  We grown in our friendships and relationships with other by continually adding threads, thus strengthening our bonds with those we love.

From the 'nuggets of wisdom' section this week, Chuck gives us five characteristics of a true friend:

1.  A true friend cares enough to respond without being invited to respond.  When your friends for family members go through a traumatic time, make an effort to call, stop by, send a card or letter, or somehow connect with them.  Don't wait for an invitation to show that you care because a deeply hurting person will rarely offer one.

2.  A true friend responds with sympathy and comfort.  Friends identify with those who suffer.  They comfort others by helping to make their sorrow lighter.  Why?  Because true friends have a covenant-type relationship that cannot be easily broken.  And part of the covenant it the commitment to be there, no matter what.  Your presence during the fun times will be remembered, but your presence during a crisis will be cherished even more.

3.  A true friend openly expresses the depth of his or her feelings.  When a true friend perceives a loved one's suffering, it's not uncommon to see him or her fighting back tears.  Acquaintances don't do that, but friends do.  They empathize with the other' pain.  When their loved ones suffer, they suffer.  And when their loved ones celebrate, they celebrate.

4.  A true friend isn't turned off by distasteful sights.  No doubt, Hob's friends were stunned beyond belief at this sight.  Yet they stuck by him.  They expressed their grief outwardly and then sat down to mourn with their friend for seven days and seven nights.  They exposed themselves to the ashes, gods, waste, and outcasts in order to show Job that they cared.  Now, that's commitment!

5.  A true friend understands and has to say very little.  Compassion, not judgment, heals hearts.  We offer more comfort to hurting souls when we listen that when we try to explain everything.  A caring hug, a warm squeeze of the hand, a visit to a hospital room, a heartfelt prayer...these are what friends offer in tough times.

In closing this week, I'll leave you with a statement made by Eugene Peterson in regards to Job's friends.  When I read it, I quickly highlighted it and put an asterisk beside it with the words 'I SO HEAR THIS'.

There is more to the book of Job than Job.  There are Job's friends.  The moment we find ourselves in trouble of any kind - sick in the hospital, bereaved by a friend's death, dismissed from a job or relationship, depressed or bewildered - people start showing up telling us exactly what is wrong with us and what we must do to get better.  Sufferers attract fixers the way roadkills attract vultures.  At first we are impressed that they bother with us and amazed at their facility with answers.  They know so much!  How did they get to be such experts in living?

More often than not, these people us the Word of God frequently and loosely.  They are full of spiritual diagnosis and prescription.  It all sound so hopeful.  But then we begin to wonder, "why is it that for all their apparent compassion we feel worse instead of better after they've said their piece?"

...Many of the answers that Job's so-called friends give him are technically true.  But it is the 'technical' part that ruing them.  They are answers without personal relationship, intellect without intimacy.  The answers are slapped onto Job's ravaged life like labels on a specimen bottle.  Job rages against this secularized wisdom that has lost touch with the living realities of God.

Right on, eh?!  I'll just let that permeate with you for the week! 

Remember that your presence means the world to a suffering person.  Even if you don't know eactly what to say, be there.  Your compassion and care will make an eternal difference in the life of your loved one!

Until next time,
'K'

Job Study: Chapter Three - "Satan vs. Job...Round Two"

Week three of our study we look at Job 2:1-10.  As we disseceted this week, I found myself realizing that there was a 'Mrs. Job'!  I mean she's always been there, but in a seemingly small way, just in the background.  I suppose, as a woman, I saw her in a different light, and felt something for her that caught me off guard.  Perhaps it's because she was a  woman, as am I, so I could catch a little tiny glimpse of how excruciating her pain of loss must have been.  Notice I said 'a little tiny glimpse', as I don't believe anyone could really know the extent of her trials - except 'Mr. Job' of course!

This time I'm just going to go right into the study guide portion, as there is just so much good stuff to glean from it all!  We are shown in this passage that...

Part of Satan's strategy was to hit Job while he was down.  The cruel deceiver had already snatched away all of Job's possessions, leaving him with nothing but his wife, a few friends, and his faith in God.  Now, Satan was about to inflict upon Job the most terrifying and painful trial of all: the loss of his good health.

However the Lord replies to Satan this time saying, "Have you considered my servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil.  An he still hold fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause." (2:2-3).  This declaration from God that Job 'still holds fast his integrity', shows that God is still confident in Job!

This I thought was great insight to some of the horrible 'doctrine' that is being taught out there now days.  In the 'digging deeper' section of this weeks study, we are given;

the term dualism.  Defined in the dictionary as 'a doctrine that the universe is under the dominion of two opposing principles, one of which is good and the other evil.'  While one should never minimize the power of the devil, it is important at the same time to recognize that his power can be exercised only to the extent that God permits it.  This means that pain, illness, death, and even evil are somehow embraced within His sovereign plan.  As difficult as this may be theologically, the alternative is to posit a dualism, a belief in a God of good and a god of evil, the two locked in irresolvable conflict.  This, of course, is an idea completely foreign to God's Word.

If Satan's power equaled that of God, we'd live in constant fear of Satan and his evil forces, and we could never be absolutely certain that God would triumph over Satan in the end.  But thankfully, this isn't the case!  God created Satan to serve Him, and not the other way around.  God possesses greater power than Satan, and He decides and limits Satan's work on earth.  The Almighty always has the final say!

Throughout the book of Job, the underlying accusation from Satan is that only because God had blessed Job did he faithfully serve God.  But even when Job's good health was taken from him and he went from being the prince of Ur to the lowest outcast sitting in a filthy heap at the citys dump, scratching his oozing boils with broken pieces of pottery, Job's integrity remained intact.  (It was picked up on at study, the possibility of the broken pottery Job used to scratch his sores could be a parallel for how his life was...Job was broken pottery.  But still very much in the hands of the Potter!)

I love the response Job gives his wife after she tells him to compromise his integrity and curse God and die (vs 9).  He says, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (vs 10). 

In essence, Job asks, 'Doesn't God have the right to do what He thinks best?  Isn't He the Potter?  Aren't we the clay?  Isn't He the Shepherd and we the sheep?  Isn't He the Master and we the servants?  Isn't that the way it works?'

Job knew that the clay does not ask the Potter, 'What are you making?'  And he says , in effect, 'No sweetheart.  Let's not do that.  We serve a God who has the right to do whatever He wants and is never obligated to explain it or ask permission.  God is no 'heavenly servant' of ours, waiting for the snap of our fingers.  He is our Master!  He has an extraordianry plan for our lives that is far beyond our comprehension'.  No doubt, Job's reminders helped to broaden his wife's perspective and turn her eyes back toward God.

Now that totally shows Job's character...true ingetrigty!  As I mentioned at the opening of this blog, I came to see 'Mrs. Job' in a way I'd never had before.  It'd be easy for us to quickly judge her for her poor advice to her husband, but we must be reminded just how she had suffered as well.  Honestly now, trying in the slightest, put yourself at the end of this horrible chain of events...

• First - she too had lost ten children
• Second - she too suffered the loss of thier wealth and possessions
• Third - she became the suffering, shamed wife of the most scorned man in the entire town
• Forth - she had lost her companion

...how would we fair in dealing with even one of those tragedies, let alone them all - back to back to back?  Yes, she was 'nabal', (meaning 'spiritually ignorant or nondiscerning') but I would imagine she wouldn't want her husband to be suffering as he was.  Just curse God and die...put yourself out of your misery!  But instead of Job taking her ill advice, he gently reproved her for it, reminding her that God was still in control of his situation!

I'll close with the 'nuggets of wisdom' from this portion of our study;

• First, our lives are full of trials, and we need to remember that there are always more to come.
• Second, our world is fallen, and we need to understand that there are those who love us but will give us wrong advice.
• Third, since our God is sovereign, we must prepare ourselves for both blessing and adversity.

Quite often we want the blessings but we don't like the packages they come in.  But by failing to open them, we can completely miss out on the blessings altogether! 

Life may be unfair and completely unpredictable, but God is svereign.  Sometimes He sends blessings; at others, He allows trials.  But always, He has a purpose too great for us to fathom.

Until next time,
'K'

Job Study - Chapter Two: "Reeling and Recovering From Devastating News"

Well, week two into Job and I'm pretty much left speechless!  The portion of Scripture we focused on last night was chapter 1:13-22 - where Job looses everything!  The highlighted verse was 1:21,

"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the LORD." 

I was reminded of the Greek term 'hupomone'.  I was excited when I looked at this word because I first learned it a year and a half ago when I went to hear James McDonald speak on his bus tour!  Since I am a visual learner, I remember clearly in my head, James demonstrating the definition of 'hupomone'; 'to remain under'.  James had a man stand at the front of the platform on the floor while he was standing on the platform with both hands pushing down on the man's shoulders.  It wasn't too difficult at first because there wasn't much pressure applied by James.  As he continued to increase the pressure upon the man, you could see a shifting in his body.  His stance became a bit more firm - like a 'girding up' if you will.  When the pressure of people, your job, or circumstances come at us, it's crucial we 'hupomone' because it's then that the Lord is refining us for our good and His greater glory! 

As Theodore H. Epp wrote the following statement about Job, I suggest we place our own name where Job's is.  As difficult as it is during the time we're in the valley, it's crucial we keep God's perspective... not our own.

Job could never have come forth purified as gold is purified in the fire if he had not had to go through the situation in which he simply had to learn to trust God implicitly.  (bold and italics - mine)

As we walked through the complete and utter devastation Job suffered with the three successive blows, hot on the heels of one another ending with the loss of all his 10 children, we couldn't imagine what he would have felt.  Some words that were expressed during the discussion time last night were; disbelief, shock, anxiety, heart-broken, helpless, and denial...just to name a few.  In all honesty, we could not even begin to imagine in the slightest how Job was impacted, nor how we ourselves would feel when hit with even one of those blows, let alone them all.  We agreed that shock would likely be the initial reaction, as it usually is before anything else can really set in.  It's also important to remember that Job was human, just like us, and would have experienced the feelings and emotions we have in times of receiving unexpected bad news.

This teaches us that Almighty God is SOVEREIGN. God is in complete control. It was mentioned at study last night about God being the potter and us the clay. Then there was a laugh that came about the room when one woman said, 'Just sit on the wheel and let Him spin'!! I thought that was fantastic and so true! You would think we could just sit there and be obedient, but no, we always have to have our hands in there 'helping' God, when in reality the more we try to 'help' the more we muck things up!

The end of verse 20 'then he fell to the ground and worshipped' nearly does me in!  Man!  This whole story is just so hard to fathom in it's own right, but the fact that he worshipped....aye!  You would think he would have lashed out at God for everything that had happened to him, but no, he fell...prostrate (lying face down, as in submission or adoration)...on the ground and worshipped God!  Job's soul was anchored in the Lord, and he was ready for whatever Satan had to throw at him. 

I agree fully with what Chuck wrote here;

To respond with heroic effort and patient endurance when disaster strikes - and it does in every life - we must be prepared beforehand.  When tragedy hits, it's too late to start training ourselves spiritually and emotionally.  Instead, we must pursue the spiritual disciplines now.  When we spend time daily in prayer, worship, and Bible study, we anchor our minds and hearts in God and His Word.  As a result, the Lord will build our faith, increase our knowledge, and raise our level of spiritual maturity so that we're better prepared to face trials when they inevitably come.

We need to get ready!  Just think, without really knowing it we are living our lives every day in preparation for 'such a time as this' - our own 'Job experience'...to whatever degree that may be.  How efficiently are we doing this though?

We also looked at 'fairness' vs 'justice'.    The actual definitions are: 'fairness' - "conforming with the established rules", ie; like a child would state 'It's not fair, she gets three and I only get two'; and 'justice' - "the administering of deserved punishment or reward", ie; "Justice was served in that court case'.    Basically fairness is selfish; justice is looking at the big picture.  There is no righteousness in fairness.  Chuck writes;

Have you ever noticed that the word 'justice' appears many times in the Bible, but the word 'fairness' never appears?  While life may not be fair sometimes, Scripture tells us that God is always just.  When you face difficult struggles, keep in mind that God isn't punishing you or turning His back on you.  In fact, He'll use your trials to draw you into closer fellowship with Himself.

AMEN!!  I'm so glad I'm on that team!

A few other nuggets from Chuck are;

• We never know when we will have to face a crisis that makes us realize how fiercely we depend on God.
• In order to gain a godly perspective on our suffering, we must not only acknowledge God's sovereignty, we also need to understand the difference between God's active will and His permissive will.  His active will actively reaches into our lives to change our circumstances, demonstrating His love, goodness, and mercy toward us.  His permissive will is demonstrated by allowing things to happen as a result of man's willful disobedience brought on by the fall.
• Corrie ten Boom once said, "I've learned that we must hold everything loosely, because when I grip it tightly, it hurts when the Father pries my fingers loose and takes it from me!"
• Everything is on loan from God...we only borrow it.  (You've never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul!)
• We all enter the world as babies with our hands clenched, and we all leave this world with our hands open (on our chest).
• A relationship with God will give you the perspective of Job.
• Because God is sovereign, we know that we can trust His purposes in allowing suffering in our lives.  And because He is our loving heavenly Father, not willing that any should perish, we can trust His heart.  Remember, life may be unfair, but God isn't.  When disaster strikes, He'll be there with open arms.

In closing of this blog, the entire message could be summed up with three words..."HOLD THINGS LOOSELY"!

Until next time,
'K'

Job Study - Chapter One: "Setting The Stage For Disaster"

As I continue to chew on my JOB study from last night, the thought came to my mind, to begin blogging about the study each week.  This way, should you choose, you can walk along through the study with me (minus the homework and the designated 2 hours each Tuesday night), so obviously it would more so be 'nuggets' for you to carry with you through your week.  Don't be fooled though, sometimes those nuggets can keep you chewing for a while!!  (I will still continue to blog the other things the Lord puts on my heart at the time He places them there, but this weekly JOB post will be something I will have to be diligent about following through with!)

I don't claim to be 'well educated in Theology', and I certainly am far from being a 'fountain of knowledge', but simply put: my heart is for the Lord.  As I continue a close, current relationship with Christ,  He reveals fresh revelations to me that allow me to get to know Him better.  Like any relationship...the only way to truly know someone is to spend time investing in your relationship - in a variety of ways.  So why should it be any different in our relationship with Christ Jesus?!
 
What do you say...are you with me on this?!  If so, let's begin!!
(This study is titled "Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance" and prepared by Chuck Swindoll.)

The following is from the introduction my Bible gives about the book of Job.  I thought it fitting to share this with you as we start digging into a deeper understanding of who Job was and how we can learn from the way he lived his life - with complete submission, sold out devotion and unwavering loyalty to the Lord.

"Why me, God?"  Have you ever thought, whispered, or screamed that question?  Have you ever thought that God was against you personally?  At one time or another, everyone does...even people in the Bible.  That is not surprising.  What is surprising is God's answer to their questions. 

Job loved God, and everything was going great in his life.  He had money, land, possessions, and a large, wonderful family.  But one day his world fell apart.  He lost everything...except his life, a bitter wife, and accusing "friends".  As you might imagine, Job asked why.  Why him?  Why now?  The book of Job tells this story, and it gives Gods' reply.  And after God spoke, Job was silent.

Job is a book about success, tragedy, friends, and faith.  As you read Job, allow God to begin changing your ideas about suffering.  Lear to trust God even when you don't understand.

As we begin the study we are reminded that "Job wasn't a perfect man, but that he shunned moral evil and made his spiritual life his first priority...he was blameless and upright."  Now I'm not a huge 'history' person, but I do find certain information like this becoming more fascinating to me as I continue walking out my faith.  So I found it interesting when I learned  that the word 'blameless' from the Hebrew root means 'to be complete'; and the word 'upright' means 'straight' or 'right' in Hebrew!

The highlighted verse for this chapter is 1:8,  The following bullets are just a few of my own 'nuggets' (or discussed by other participants in our study).  I could go into detail about each one, but won't.  Due to the consideration of time for one thing...but also to just let them sit with you to ponder on your own time with God!  So I'll just begin throwing them out there then...

"The LORD said to Satan, 'Have you considered My servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.' "

• The understanding (becoming deeper and deeper as we grow in Him) of God's sovereignty is essential.
• Be aware; don't be afraid.  Be alert; don't be ignorant. (referring to Satan - 1 Peter 5:8)
• The heart attitude that will protect you against Satan's attacks is humble submission.
• 'The closer we are to Christ, the further we are from Satan.'
• Satan accused God of divine favoritism with Job; and he accused Job of being loyal to God only because God had blessed him with possessions...if all was taken away from Job, "he will surely curse You to Your face." (Job 1:11)
• "God doesn't promise us He will pull us away from a testing or trial but that He will give us His grace and power so that we can stand for Him in it".  (Theodore H. Epp)

In each chapter of this interactive study, we are given a section called 'nuggets of wisdom'.  The one's we looked at here in chapter one, I highlighted them all!  Here they are:

From the first twelve verses of the book of Job, we can glean four principles to apply to our lives.  First, we can't see our enemy, but he's real, and he's powerful.  His strategies will play tricks on your mind.  His ultimate goal is to conquer you and bring you down.  He wants to ruin your testimony and destroy your life.  If that means ruining your family relationships, he'll go there.  If that means tempting you sexually, he'll do it.  If it means convincing you to cut a shady business deal, he'll try.  So be on your guard!

Second, we don't deserve trials, yet God permits them.  We don't always understand why, but God allows suffering to happen in this world.  Yet when life's storms threaten to drown us in a sea of despair, we can seek refuge in the  Rock.  The Bible also says that, like a mother hen, God protects us in the shadow of His wings (see Psalm 17:8).  Over time, we learn to recognize that trials have a positive purpose in our lives.  They teach us to depend fully on God.

Third, we don't always understand God's plan, but it is best.  If we understood everything about God's plan, He wouldn't be God.  We must learn to accept both positive and negative situations as a part of life instead of becoming bitter and blaming God.  Nothing touches our lives that has not first passed through the hands of the Lord.  He is fully sovereign, and He loves us.  So when a dark cloud seems to blot out the sun on your life's horizon, remind yourself that your Father created you and desires the best for you as His child.

Fourth, we experience circumstances that we could not anticipate.  Sometimes we think that if we love God, read His Word, and follow His commands, the we'll reap only happiness and blessings from life.  But we're wrong!  Worldly happiness and spiritual joy aren't the same thing.  We're told in Scripture that seeking after worldly happiness is a losing battle (see Ecc. 2:1-2).  But when we place our trust in our heavenly Father, we have peace and a true joy that lasts, no matter our circumstances.  Psalm 126:5 promises us that "Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting."  We're also reminded that "a joyful heart is good medicine"  (Proverbs 17:22).

I'm sure you will agree these four nuggets are very much 'fridge worthy'!  I encourage you to jot them down and place them anywhere you will see them on a regular basis.  We can never be 'too prepared' when it comes to the battle we are in that's 'not of this world'.

As I close chapter one, I'll leave you with the words Chuck ended with in our books: 

Life may be unfair, but God is righteous and loving.  Though our circumstances may appear adverse, they will work together for good.  Romans 8:28 reads, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  That's a solid promise from God's Word!

Until next time,
'K'

Deployed Soldiers...There's No Place Like Home

Happy (belated!) Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians! The weather we've been blessed with has been just wonderful! We had our family gathering with the turkey yesterday... then we went for a hike through the trails to the falls by Mom and Dad's. It was beautiful! So much to be thankful for I tell ya...I truly have a life blessed beyond what I could have thought up myself. God is so good!

Sunday afternoon, as I settled into my lazy-boy for some relaxation, I came across a tv program I've seen advertised but haven't tuned into before. As I began to watch it, I was tickled with how perfectly it tied into Pastor's sermon that morning. The sermon was about turning towards our heavenly Father and running into His always waiting arms allowing Him to 'catch us'. In other words, 'Coming Home'... which was the title of the show I had tuned into (on TLC). The concept of the show is capturing surprise reunions of deployed soldiers, well...coming home! Some of the reunions are simple little surprises we see unfold as family members capture their own home movies of the event. While others are more elaborately done (with the help of the show) and recorded for the viewers to spectate the joyful...and tearful!...happenings.

There was one really special 'reunion' that comes to my mind that totally swelled my heart, which I shall share with you now :) A Daddy got to meet his 8 week old daughter and hold her for the first time once he landed! I'm sure any parent could try to put themselves in that position and completely appreciate what these soldiers give up for us. Doesn't that make you feel warm inside?! All the 'little things' we take for granted - daily - are the things that many of these soldiers miss out on, for extended periods of time at that!

I'll admit, I bawled for two hours straight! ( I watched two shows back to back...because one hour of crying just wasn't enough, lol!) Yes...the 'emotional' being that I am just couldn't contain myself, lol! I'm sure it was an accumulation of many things wrapped up all together. For one, imagining what that would be like to welcome home a beloved one who'd been gone on deployment for far too long, and never really knowing they would actually return to my arms. This alone was enough to make my overwhelmed heart leap with joyful tears as I watched the gripping embraces. God bless the family members who stay at home and live with that wonder each day their soldier is gone. May the Lord be your strength.

But as I also mentioned above, how perfectly my afternoon viewing tied in with Pastor's message given earlier that morning! When you stop and look at the things of this world through a different perspective...
Eternity's Perspective!..(lol, ok I know that's lame...but it's true!)...you can see how there's just nothing like 'coming home'! For me, that means no matter where I am, what I'm facing or how I'm feeling, in one split second I can choose to be in my loving Father's embrace!

My prayer is that everyone will one day have that! That ALL will come to know our heavenly Father and turn towards Him...running straight into His arms; covered by His Almighty Sovereign hand! I'll tell ya, there's just no place like it! Imagine your most favorite place to be, then times that by infinity (just humor me here!)...I don't even think that would begin to describe just how totally awesome it feels to be in God's arms. (And to think, that's just while we're here on earth...I'm going to be completely undone when it happens 'for real'!!) Even when there are tears and lack of understanding, there just seems to be a calming peace when I run to Him and rest...knowing He's there - my Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is There/Present).

Do you feel God asking you to 'come home'? Maybe it's been a long time since you have been, or perhaps you have never truly been.  No matter what, He'll always want you to come home! My question for you is, why are you waiting?! Return to Him...daily!

As Dorothy says "There's no place like home"!


Until next time,
'K'

To 'go forward'...and 'hold on', or to just 'stand still'...and 'let go'.

I love the quote I just posted to EP's facebook page...

"There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go. At the precise point where we refuse, growth stops. If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used as the Giver means it to be used, we stunt the growth of the soul."

~"Passion & Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot~

I remember reading that quote a couple of years ago and the impact it had on me then.  And now to come across it again, right at this time, it has an even greater impact on me today.  My thoughts on why it's impact is greater on me more today than the first time I read it, is because of the growth of my spiritual walk with the Lord.  Which is a very encouraging thing to actually be able to see...your own spiritual growth that is!

Now not to sound like I've 'come so far' in an arrogant way, it's just fact.  I'm able to say that simply because of input from friends who have walked with me and have seen the transformation within me first hand.  Most times, though I've been encouraged by their insights of my growth, I haven't been able to see it for myself.  However, I'm at a place where I can look back on my walk and truly see the work the Lord has done in my life (and know He'll continue doing)!  Thank you Jesus!  This gives me the strength to continue walking on the path He has laid out for me; by faith not by sight, because He's proven faithful time and time again.  This should not be surprising to any Christ follower, but it should be of great encouragement!

Although at times I really don't see it (or feel it!), the one area I see God's hand in, off the top of my head, has been strength.  We all have situations that are trying in their own right, but the one's I've been facing the past handful of years I know without a doubt, had I tried to get through those times on my own...well, I just don't even want to begin to imagine what it would have looked like.  I see myself as a weak person (as most of us I would say are), so all the glory goes to God Almighty for His strength being made perfect through my weakness!!  I can't count the number of times I was sure I wasn't going to make it through, but by God's grace and mercy I haven't merely 'survived', I've persevered through and overcome!

As for the quote and how it fits into this blog...well I think a lot of times we see strength as something we need to be able to 'go forward'...and 'hold on'.  That's not always the case.  Sometimes it takes a great deal of strength to just 'stand still'...and 'let go'. 

It is written in scripture that if we follow Him, we are to 'let go', to 'give up' everything He has given us here on earth... 

"Anyone who wants to be my follower must love me far more than he does his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters -yes, more than his own live - otherwise he cannot be my disciple.  And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me...So no one can become my disciple unless he first sits down and counts his blessings - and then renounces them all for me." (Luke 14:26-27, 33)

...when we fail to do so (which is likely most of the time for all of us), we don't really realize that we are hindering our spiritual growth.  I'm by no means saying this is a simple, easy or even a natural thing to do...but it's going to have a crucial impact when we arrive at the judgement seat of Christ.  I think at the very least we need to be challenged on this constantly and reminded just how serious we need to be about following Christ. 

Ask yourself, are you in it for what He can do for you?  Or are you in it for what you can do to bring glory to Him?  I don't know about you, but when I meet my Maker I want to hear 'Well done, good and faithful servant'.  Live your life for Him!  Stop and think about the sacrifice He's already given...'nough said!

Until next time,
'K'

Retreats and Potatoes!

I honestly don't know how a whole entire month has slipped right by me since my last blog...  It feels like I just blogged about being less like Martha and more like Mary; now the time has come to put that in to practice!  I can't count the number of confirmations I've been given, in one way or another, that this is my season of 'retreat'...so encouraging, even if it does appear a bit overwhelming to be making this change; I know it's going to be so rewarding!  It does seem though, that there are still so many 'things' added to my 'to do' list while I have this 'down time'.  I suppose that is where my discipline will be exercised to not be filling up my 'retreat' time with 'doing stuff'.  This will have to be very intentional and a top priority. 

It's nice to be back in September!  We finished off our summer holidays with our 2nd Annual camping trip - in which it rained about 90% of the time!  Thankfully we were in a trailer, so it wasn't all that terrible :)  Had we been tenting, I'd have packed up and left!  Mostly it effected our ability to have campfires every night.  The night we did, we made the most of it by making really gooey s'mores - with the giant marshmallows and a Reese Peanut Butter cup...soooo yummy, and very messy!  I would recommend sticking with the large marshmallows...the giant ones in s'mores was just way too much - even for me!

In any case, we managed to get to the pool several times; the kids rode their bikes (when it wasn't raining!); plus we had a birthday party and 2 soccer games during that week as well, so we stayed busy enough.  The kids had a good time - which is what counts.  Making the memories that they will remember and cherish is so important.  This annual camping thing we will continue (as far as I can see!), although we may switch up the locations as the years come. 

I was fortunate that my Mom was off of work for a couple of days that week and was able to take my kids for 2 nights and 2 days, so that I could have some 'alone' time.  Even though it rained all day Wednesday (and to my lack of knowledge...there were tornado watches for our area!) I stayed in the trailer and listened to a 3 part series by Chuck Swindoll...totally digging into that was great with no interruptions!...I also took a bit of a nap - because I could!  Each of the 2 nights on my own I had a friend out for a visit, that was lovely!  All in all, that 'alone' time with God just wet my appetite for my 'retreat' season I'm now beginning.  How wonderfully set up it was!

While camping I watched a great movie called "Faith Like Potatoes".  I'd seen it a couple of years ago and for certain (personal) reasons, I haven't brought myself to watch it again until now.  What a fantastic movie.  I just don't even know if there is any way for me to describe it...without doing it injustice!  It's based on a true story - which makes it even better to watch.  I remember the first time I watched it...we were fairly silent after it was done; processing it and taking it all in, then discussing it's impact on us.  It did the same again this time in watching it on my own.  I'm in such a different place now than I was the first time watching it, and although it had me 'thinking' back then, it struck me in a whole new way this time around.  (This sounds so cliche, but) 'I laughed and I cried'...I was challenged, encouraged, convicted, and refreshed.  I don't want to give too much detail where this movie is concerned, but I highly recommend renting or even buying it!  (I believe they still should rent it out at Blockbuster...at least that's where we got it the first time.) 

At the end of the movie there is a song (which I now have on 'mixpod' so you can give a listen should you choose!), it's found a home on my 'oh I love that song!' list!  It is a staple in my ipod, and it reminds me each time that it comes on, of the 'New Day' Christ gives me.  It's up to me (and to you!) to choose to live for Him and to trust in His best for me (you).  Being obedient and continually asking for the mind, thoughts, eyes and heart of Christ.  Having my 'faith' always tested 'like potatoes' throughout this earthly journey.  It has to be about glorifying God in all that I do, and doing only what is right and pleasing to Him. Easier some times then others because of my natural bend as a sinner.  Thankfully gracious God Almighty gives me 'a new day'...His mercies are new each morning!  Thank you Jesus!

Well, it's come to that time again of signing off.  Things to get done before carpool duties call! 

I pray this finds you all well, and walking in an abundant life with Christ Jesus!

Until next time,
'K'

A Little more like Mary and a little less like Martha!

Seems I've been MIA for almost a month!!  It surely hasn't been there's nothing to blog about, but quite the opposite!  However I have been dealing with a 'sick' computer.  This has been very frustrating to say the least.  Not only have I not been able to blog, but this has effected my ability to get my online banking done; send out invoices for work; send and receive emails; etc.  Although, I do admit, with not having the option of jumping on the computer it's been kind of nice!  So my computer is now at the Dr. being treated and I hopefully will have it back soon.  Fortunately today I was able to pop out to my parent's place and use Mom's laptop to get a few things taken care of.  How nice it's been to sit outside on the porch and do so!  (Yes, I am behind the times and don't yet have a laptop...someday soon I hope that will happen...until then, I have what I have!)

It's amazing just how fast the summer is flying by...for real!!  We have already done quite a few little things here and there, and there are more I'd like to do with the kids before they head back to school.  We'll see what else we can manage to get fit in within the next few weeks...more camping is a for sure thing.  Perhaps a quick visit to the Zoo will happen as well, who knows!  That will be a spur-of-the-moment event if we do!

As fall approaches, I've been contemplating what to do in regards to activities, for myself and for the kids.  I mean it's great to be involved in Christ-centered things, but there also comes a point when I think we need to just 'stop'.  Be still enough to just hear from God and relish in His speaking to us.  I fear sometimes with being so busy (even in 'serving'), we are helping the enemy out by doing his dirty work for him.  Having ourselves so occupied with many 'things', it can take the focus off of building our relationship with God and putting the focus on our 'works' instead...not a good combination, contrary to what the enemy may like us to think!  So, what if we took a 'season' and invested the time we spent running to 'things' and used it to simply sit at the feet of Jesus?!  What would our lives look like then?!  Perhaps I (we) should be acting a little more like Mary and a little less like Martha!  (I'm not saying being extreame here...I don't believe it has to be either/or, more like both/and...and adequate balance!)

That being said, this is the challenge I am proposing to myself.  There will be only one Bible Study I will be attending on a weekly basis, instead of two of them and Kids Club for the children.  This I am hoping will eliminate some of the stress of having to get many things done after school before said activities, and reducing the pressure to get the kids into bed at a decent hour for a good nights sleep in preparation for a full day of school the following day.  The bonus of the one night I'll be heading out for my study, is that the kids spend that night at their Dad's place...allowing me the time to be gone and not have to worry about getting home to relieve a babysitter.  Also, the children get to spend some time with their Dad...a win-win situation for all involved!

The fall study I mentioned is going to be on JOB!!  It's a pretty lengthily study by Chuck Swindoll, and I'm told it should take us right up until about Christmas.  I've gone through Job myself (just reading it), but I'm so looking forward to actually digging into it and sifting through the complexity of his life, and see how God worked through his life.  Surely my life is nothing compared to Job's (although sometimes in the mellow-drama it feels like it, lol!), so if Job was able to get through all he endured and still continue to praise God...then how could I not?  My issues are very small in comparison to his, and I can see the strength God has already given me to get through.  I have no doubt in my mind that the Lord will continue giving me His strength as I walk with Him and lean on Him!!  This takes the pressure off of me, and totally excites me to be able to continue watching Almighty Sovereign God work!

What do you feel about your upcoming fall schedule?  Are you already feeling overwhelmed with all the running it looks like you'll be doing?  If so, maybe this is for you today!  Take the time and ask God to reveal to you what He would have you concentrate on.  Is this a 'Mary' season for you, or a 'Martha' season?!

I pray this blog finds you all well and enjoying God's beautiful nature this summer!

Until next time,
'K'

"God Is Still a God of Miracles!!"

Ahhh, summertime!  What a great season.  The kids and I had taken off camping for a few days the end of last week and joined some of our friends.  The camp about 3 hours away and one that we had never visited before.  I had no idea what to expect when I was packing up the vehicle with bikes, clothes and lots of food...but I knew that getting away for a little bit was a much needed thing.  We had a really good time with our friends, and I really enjoyed the morning and evening services.  I completely felt the presence of the Holy Spirit there...so comforting.  The messages, although given to many, were ones that I felt were really directed toward my heart and my soul.  I wish our stay could have been a bit longer, however work seems to get in the way of 'life', eh?!  It's definitely a camp I would like to re-visit...when, that remains to be seen!

My daughter and I were out at our friend's trailer last Sunday evening for some swimming, barbecued burgers and a great night of fellowship with wonderful friends.  There is just something about being out in the stillness of God's creation that is so soothing to me.  It's good for the soul I tell ya!  (Someday perhaps I'll be able to afford something like that for my family to enjoy on a regular basis.)  I hope to enjoy as much of the summer as possible that way...in the Lord's beautiful splendor!  I hope you all are able to enjoy as much of it as you can as well too!

Alright, so...there have been many posts I have expressed some of my 'challanges'.  And many times I have commented on how difficult it has been to get through them (one in particular), especially when there appears to be little or no understanding of it all on my part.  This is the time that I get to share with you a 'praise report'!  "GOD IS STILL A GOD OF MIRACLES!!"  This it totally true...I am a witness to it first hand (not that it's the first miracle I've been witness too...just that it's the most recent)!  Excluding details, I'll just share that the power of bold and specific prayer - done with commitment - will bring about a change!  As the old adage says, 'Be careful what you pray for, it just may happen' rings true.  Perhaps not the way we are asking for, but it is for me in this particular case.  It's been a long two years of praying in regards to this situation, especially when I was in the rut of digging my heels in and wanting to selfishly 'not pray anymore about it'...because I didn't see God doing anything about it!  How easily we fall into that way of thinking... unfortunately.  But God continued to give me His strength to push through my selfishness, and I was able to persevere...leading to my reward for being obedient!

All praise and glory be to our God and King!  He is making all things new!  Do you believe that?  Do you see that happening in and around your own life?  In your own city?  Remember, prayer does change things!  Don't hesitate to go to Elohim (Creator God) and continually dialogue with Him...then watch His miracles unfold, right before your eyes!

Blessings to you all!  Until next time,
'K'