Ending 2016 with Faith

My word to focus on in 2016 was faith.  I wrote a whole list of possible words to focus on during December 2015.  I prayed and asked God to let me know which word to pick. He gave me the word faith, a word that was not on my list, and the verse Hebrews 11:1, a verse I always thought was a bit hard to understand. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

I’m glad that I listened to what the Lord put on my heart and in my head. (No, I did not hear an audible voice.)  He taught me a lot, and He taught me that the more I learn, there is no need to become prideful with knowledge but ever more reason to become more humble as I learn how much more He has to teach me.

           

I wrote earlier in the year about how a third grader defined faith as “not doubting.” I agree that not doubting is definitely part of faith, that complete trust and confidence in our Savior, and we are told to have faith and not doubt (James 1:6), but we are also told to have mercy on those who doubt (Jude 1:22). Doubt can be defined as feeling uncertain or lacking conviction about something, which is definitely the opposite of the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1. So, how does doubt fit into my faith journey?  Did I have a crisis of faith? Did I let doubt slip in?

I have lived a life with faith from a very early age.  I cannot even remember a time without faith in Jesus.  I was blessed to grow up in a family that had passed down faith generation to generation, and I had become a Christian at an early age, by faith trusting Christ as my Savior.  I have spent my whole life holding on to faith as hard as I can.  Through every struggle and heartache in my life, I have told myself truth so I could hold onto faith.  I have tried to assure myself so I could hold it all together.

Why do I try, and try again

To hold on tight, to always win?

To hold it all together?

To never fall apart?

To reach so high, but not ever enough?

Why do I try, and try again

To reach some place never meant

For me..to reach…all on..my own?

I need to rest in You.

I need to trust You.

I need to stop, to stop trying

To hold it all together.

Because when I fall apart,

You will hold me in Your arms.

I need to stop, to stop trying

To hold it all together,

To hold it all together.

I need to rest in You.

I need to trust You.

For You are faithful, You are true,

You’re the only one

Who can hold it all together.

You hold it all together.

You hold it all together.

I can rest in You.

I will find rest in You.

I will rest in You.

Guess what I figured out?  I can’t always hold it together.  My faith in Him needed (and still needs) to be increased, and my faith in myself needs to keep decreasing (John 3:30).  And I need to rest, to rest in Him.

            And guess what I figured out about doubt?  Sometime doubt is the very thing that God uses to build our faith. In Matthew 14, we read the account of Peter walking on water, walking out to Jesus, who was walking on water, initially having faith and getting out of the boat, then letting fear and doubt slip in, and crying out for Christ to save Him.  We tend to talk about how he was able to walk on water (an amazing feat that took great faith), but how it was all ruined by his lack of faith that made him begin to sink. You know what is cool though?  When Peter cried for help, Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and took hold of him.  And then what happened? Everyone that was in the boat worshipped Jesus as God’s Son!  I bet that that doubt built Peter’s faith.  It helped him know that when he fell short, Christ was right there to pick him up.  Jesus said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Of course Jesus didn’t praise him for his doubt; there was no need to doubt because Jesus is completely trustworthy.  He reminded him of this, but He didn’t yell at him to just have faith and get back up while he flailed in the water.  Jesus loves us so very much.  He wants us to learn to trust Him.  He knows that it doesn’t just come automatically.  He knows what it will take to build our faith.  Sometimes we need to let ourselves question everything so that He can show us that there was no need to doubt. 

            God made us to seek out truth, to question and ponder, to search and find (Matthew 7:7).  He tells us in Proverbs 30:5:

           

            Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Isn’t that cool?  We can ask questions and seek to know for sure, and His Word will prove true.  It won’t just be something passed on to us to accept without question.  It will be our own that He has shown us to be true.  And then, did you see it?  He is shield to us who take refuge in Him!  Remember what part of the armor of God (Ephesians 6:16) that faith is?  Our shield!

            Back to Hebrews 11:1 for a final reflection for this year:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

So what if we are not sure?  Let us ask the questions and seek the answer.  And praise God, He will open the floodgates of His love and mercy to show us all around us who He is! He will bless us with assurance and conviction, with FAITH!

And now onto another year and another word for focus, but faith will continue to guide me every year.

MESSIAH

M arked, He is set apart for the salvation of mankind.

E verlasting life He comes to give.

S avior, He has come for sinners.

S inners need a Savior.

I mmanuel, He is God with us.

A nointed, He is King of Kings.

H e is the Light. He is our Light.

Oh, place your faith in Him! And worship Him forever!

Praise God! Messiah has come!

Merry Christmas from the McLennans 2016.

FOREVER

What really matters?
What matters for forever?
What matters is FOREVER.
Forever He's faithful.
Forever He's true.
Forever He is Savior.
FOREVER.
And He came for you
For your FOREVER.
And he came for me
For my FOREVER.
Oh how He loves.
Oh how He cares
About our FOREVER.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus is Lord.
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus is FOREVER.
Come to the Savior,
His arms open wide
To hold you FOREVER.
And go to the world,
Go far and wide,
And tell them of FOREVER.

My Heaven Babies Sisters

We all joined the club,
But it was that one club
That none of us wanted to join.
We are the one in four.
We've all had to say goodbye,
Goodbye way too soon,
Before we wanted to,
Not that we'd ever want to...
Mothers of heaven babies,
We are united in our sorrows,
United in our struggles,
United in our walk,
Which can feel oh so lonely.
My heaven baby sisters,
You mean so much to me.
That same great God that loves us,
That holds our dear sweet babes,
He sent us to each other
So we wouldn't walk alone.
Now united in our healing,
United in our joy,
United in our love for Him
That mends our broken hearts.
Forever we're united,
My heaven baby sisters.

Guest Post: Poetry by my children for National Poetry Day

Dr. Pepper, Dr. Pepper,
I love Dr. Pepper!
I would really much rather
Drink Dr. Pepper
Than Sprite, Sprite, Sprite!
I do like Sprite,
But I'd rather drink
Dr. Pepper!
(Timothy, age 7)

I can't write a poem,
and I'm not sure why.
Jack Prelutsky's are so good, about so many things and people.
I couldn't write a poem even if I tried.
Oh, wait! I just did!
(Lydia, age 9)

Siblings.
Younger than me.
Brothers, a sister, babies too.
Times I with they'd leave me alone.
There's four.
(Luke, age 12)

I love my name.
I love my name.
My name is Alexander...
The Great!
I love you.
You love me.
I love my name.
I love all our names.
(Alexander, age 3)

The Message of Hope

Say it with a poem.
Spread the message,
the Message of Hope!
Everyone is looking for something,
Searching, searching, for something... Someone perhaps.
And there's Someone to be found.
There's Someone that can make all the searching cease,
For He is the Answer.
He is Hope.
He is Mercy.
He is Grace.
He is Love.
He is Salvation,
The Way, the Only Way
To life everlasting.
He is Jesus.

Back in Genesis

Well, after three days in Genesis, then twelve days in Job, we have been back in Genesis for ten days.  Having read Genesis many times, it can be easy to just skim over it and not pay attention because it is very familiar, but I don't want to miss what God is showing me here, whether it is something new or just a reminder.  Looking at Genesis after spending time in Job reminds me that this book, the Bible, is one book and should be read as such, not looking at Job and Genesis as two completely separate stories but part of one long story.  I see the same God, the Sovereign creator in the beginning of Genesis, being sovereign over His creation in Job and continuing as we come back to Genesis.  God's plans prevail no matter what man does.  Redemption is there all along the way.  He is due all our praise!

I love seeing those personal relationships God has with His people, from walking in the garden with Adam and Eve, to Noah and His preserving the human race through him and his family, to Job who was handpicked to be an example of keeping faith through hardships and redemption, to Abraham, who God chose to create a covenant with, whose faith was credited as righteousness, to Joseph who trusted God to use evil for good, and others in between.  We have some great examples of faith here.  We can learn to trust God no matter what, to pray to Him, sharing our hearts with Him, the One who created those hearts, and trust His plans even when we don't understand.  We see God do what man would think impossible, opening a womb that was old and never had conceived.  Though we may laugh at the thought of such a thing, we see God's power, and how nothing can stand in the way of His purposes and plans. We see God entering into covenant with man, THE COVENANT of the Old Testament.  We see beautiful imagery of God's presence as He establishes this covenant.  He loves us.  He truly loves us.  He wants us to be His people.  We see obedience to God's call to move one's family to an unknown land.  We can trust God with the unknown.  It's not unknown to Him.  We learn that though the whole world might seem against us, God can use all the unfortunate circumstances for His glory.  We can trust Him.  At the end of Genesis 40, it says that the cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.   When I read this tonight, I thought, "But God didn't forget him.  God remembered Joseph."  God was still working out His plan, and Joseph was faithful to not sin against God just because everyone else was doing wrong, even when it would be the easy thing to do. What great examples of faith we have here and also truth about our loving God who does not leave forget us.  Isaiah 49 talks about how even when it feel like we have been forsaken and forgotten that God will not forget us, that He has engraved us on the palms of His hands!

On the other hand, there is some bad stuff in Genesis, some grievous sin.  It is amazing to see God continue His plans to redeem His people through some pretty shady folks.  There were quite a few people we met in Genesis that would be best not to emulate.  We see deceit, murder, rape, incest, to name a few.  But God's plan would not be thwarted, and He would even use some of these shady folks in the very lineage of Christ.  It is good for us to see that even with obedience to God, everything will not be perfect for us, but God's plan will prevail.  It is also good for us to see that despite grievous sin, God's plan will prevail.  God is completely Sovereign. He loves us enough to have His redemptive plan in place for us. He loves us enough to show us that we are never too far to be reached by His grace, and He loves us enough tho show us that our deepest hurts can come around to bring Him glory and be used for great good.

I also love those glimpses of things to come, of salvation, and those physical things that have a profound spiritual parallel.  We see the covenant of circumcision, a physical act, and we can thank God, who cuts away the sin from our hearts and cleanses us as we by faith trust in Him.  We can listen to God promise a seed to Abraham and know that many grandsons later, there will be Jesus!  We see Abraham trusting that God would provide a sacrifice as he obediently went, willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, the promised son.  Isn't is great to see God provide the lamb, knowing He would provide again, the ultimate sacrifice that we all need, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world?!  We see Abraham send His servant to bring back a wife for His son, and we can think about how God the Father sent the Holy Spirit to our hearts to draw us to Jesus as part of the bride of Christ.  How awesome is it to serve a God of Redemption so full of love for His people!

There is so much in this book of Genesis that I haven't even touched on.  I hope you are continuing this journey with me through the Bible chronologically in a year.  There is so much God wants to teach us and remind us, about Himself and His plans for us.  I pray that He may find us listening to His truth and not keeping it to ourselves.

Job 38-42

Here we are in the final chapters of Job.  Here above the large 38 marking the 38th chapter in my Bible, I see the words "The LORD Answers Job."  After all those men tried to come with wisdom, but lacking true wisdom, not having all the knowledge necessary to truly understand, the Lord will answer, and we will see the rest of the story.

Not only is God now answering (giving Job his day in court), but He (Yahweh, the covenant LORD) is answering out of a whirlwind, and He comes forth reminding Job of both of their places.  Before Job's vindications, he needs to be reminded of who God is.  He speaks of His Sovereign rule over creation.  He asks Job where he was when He laid the foundation of the earth and shows him that he simply cannot understand everything because he does not know everything.  I often think of this passage when I cannot understand why something is happening and might be tempted to be angry with God for allowing something.  I remember who am I to understand the ways of God.  He is so mighty and wise!  He is Sovereign Creator!  How very foolish of man to accuse almighty God of not being fair.  Let us really think about creation, about biology and physics, astronomy and chemistry.  It is God that knows the why and caused His creation to act in the way that it scientifically does.  He is God, and He can be trusted even when we do not understand.  God does not answer Job's accusations with an explanation of what happened with Satan and why Job had to experience the troubles.  He rather questions Job and his understanding of Himself.  He asks Job if he knows how all of creation works and can create and control it, many parties of creation with their varying ways, giving lots of examples from the natural world.  Job obviously is humbled, reminded that dominion is the LORD's.  God then (in chapter 40) gives Job a chance to answer.  No longer seeking vindication, but completely humbled in comparison to God's greatness, Job has nothing to say.

God continues to speak to Job, telling him that He will continue to question him and give him a chance to answer.  Of course God knows all the answers to His questions, but He asks them to help Job see the ere in his questioning God's justice, his need to trust in God's all-wise, sovereignty.  After establishing Himself as Creator and Sovereign over the natural world, we see God challenge Job about His dealings with morality, and judgement of the wicked.  He basically asks Him to do his work for Him if Job thinks that he can do a better job.  He then speaks of His great creation of the Behemoth and Leviathan of the land and sea.  While man cannot control these mighty creatures, the Lord can with ease for they are his creation, as is everything under the whole heaven.  The Lord asks Job is he would be willing to stand against these creatures.  Of course he would not, so why does he dare stand before God who is far greater than these.

The final chapter of Job (42) is quite full.  It begins with Job answering God, still without knowledge of why this all happened but in faith declaring God's sovereign rule, repenting of his rash words and doubts, fully humbled before God's magnificence.  Job's eyes have been opened to truly see God's greatness, and his faith grows.  Praise God for revealing Himself to us and growing our faith!  (Even now as we read His Word!)  Satan is proven wrong.  While Job's faith is tested and he has to repent of his wrong thoughts of God, he never turns from God as Savior.  Job's friends are also proven wrong.  The Lord turns to Eliphaz, angry with him, Bildad, and Zophar for their wrong accusations.  He commands them to sacrifice burnt offerings and have Job pray for them.  They do as they are told, and the Lord grants them all forgiveness.  Praise God for the ultimate sacrifice paid for our sins, for Jesus Christ's death and resurrection! Finally we see the end of the story.  The Lord more than fully restores Job's fortune.  He gives him twice a much as before.  All Job's family and friends come together and eat and comfort and bless him with money and gold rings.  The Lord also blesses Job with three more beautiful daughters and seven sons (and he has plenty inheritance for all ten of them).   I love that while we see Job's livestock replaced with double the number, we see the children replaced with an equal number because though his first children were gone from him, their souls live on forever.  Sometimes I think about how the Lord granted me children in my womb after my two losses and that they are not replacements for their siblings, rather additional children, for my sweet Hope and Kyson are alive in heaven, and we will be reunited one day.  Job lives a long life and sees his children to the fourth generation.  What a beautiful story of restoration!

I will end with this: God is in control.  He is wise and faithful.  We can trust Him.  No matter what we are going through, we can rest in Him.  And when we fail to fully trust in His will, and we question and complain, He lovingly reminds us of who He is and is faithful to forgive us.

Job 32-37

Instead of one post to finish out the book of Job, I decided to just look at Elihu's speeches found in chapters 32 through 37 today.  I'm happy that many have continued reading and seeking to understand this book.  When we remember that all the scripture is "breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work," (2 Timothy 3:16-17), it helps us to continue on.

We meet Elihu in chapter 32.  He is younger than Job and the three counselors that initially spoke with him, and he waited to speak until they had finished their discourse, respecting his elders.  Many commentators see Elihu as a haughty individual, but looking forward to the epilogue, we do not see Elihu rebuked when God chastises the others.  Also Job does not answer back to him.  Elihu is angry with Job, not for living a wicked life deserving of punishment, but for seeming to be more concerned with his own vindication than how he speaks of God, for criticizing Him instead of recognizing that He might have a loving purpose in allowing Job's suffering.  He is angry with the three friends for only blaming Job and not finding an answer for him.  He does wait his turn and even speaks of his own fear and timidness to share before his elders.  This seems humble of him to me and also courageous, so I will not be quick to call him a self-important know-it-all, although I think he could have been a bit gentler with suffering Job.  It makes me think about my interactions of others, that I might be gentler so that I do not come across haughty and uncaring.  There is so much to take from each passage we read.  From Elihu's words in chapters 33, we see that he, unlike the previous three, leaves room for grace and mercy from God.  He challenges Job to not assume that God was silent, rather to look for how He might be speaking, and to remember that God does not have to answer man for His ways.  Elihu uses quotes from Job, to show him his ere in how he spoke and defends God's goodness and justice.  He spoke to Job about his argument of not seeing wickedness punished and reminded him that God is just whether it is evident or not.  He chastised Job for not speaking more wisely about the ways of God.

This brings us to chapter 35 with Elihu still speaking.  He speaks of God's greatness above man and Job's wrong thinking that God is indifferent to his cries or that there is no difference before God for the righteous and wicked.  His advice is to come humbly before God, not at a place of defensiveness and pride.  While this was good advice, it was still not completely appropriate to Job who God found righteous before Him.  When Elihu continues to speak, he is trying to prove before them that he is worthy to listen to, which I do feel comes across as prideful, but I really do not know the appropriate speech for the culture so I will not give that judgement.  He continues to discourse on God's mightiness and His dealings with man, including mercy and justice, watching over the righteous, bringing about repentance, teaching, rewarding obedience, and punishing sin.  He speaks of how God opens the ears of man by adversity.  We see the new suggestion that suffering might be used to draw us closer to God.  I think this is a very important point for us to take note of.  I know that I have grown in my walk with the Lord during hard times.  Elihu also cautioned Job to not get caught up in his complaining, leading him to sin against God, but rather to remember to praise God in His power and works, His greatness that we cannot comprehend.   How often to we fall in to the trap of being negative and miss the greatness of the Lord all around us?  I like the saying, "Do not miss the roses for the thorns."  He continues in chapter 37, proclaiming God's majesty that we see through creation.  I have to stop and really think about this.  Do I take notice of God's greatness and power in the clouds, in the thunder and lightning, in rain and snow, in the animal kingdom?   We cannot even look into the sun when the storm has passed and it is bright in the sky.  How much mightier is God than the sun, and we must fear Him and remain humble before Him in all His majesty!  He is mighty and just and completely righteous!

I hope that this section of scripture has left you, like we, reflecting on God's goodness and our humble place before Him.  Continue reading because we are going to hear God speak beginning in chapter 38 and also find out what happens with Job!

Job 14-31

We have continued reading through Job this week, and I have enjoyed reading and discussing with my oldest children and hearing what others reading alongside have to say.  Today I will try to summarize and reflect on Job 14 through 31, the end of Job's response to the first cycle of speeches, all of the second and third cycles of speeches, an interlude on wisdom, and a monologue by Job.  Many have commented that Job is a hard book to understand, especially this middle section.  I agree. The literary format, though common during the ancient times, is not one that we are familiar with reading and the poetic dialogue is definitely tougher to navigate than the narrative we are accustomed to in many of the other books of the Bible.

In chapter 14 we find Job continuing his response after the three friends have confronted him.  He has just proclaimed in chapter 13 that he will continue to hope in God no matter what.  He has declared that he believes he will be vindicated after being wrongly accused.  Satan originally wrongly accused him of being faithful to God only because of the good things that God had blessed Job with, and that when the trials came, he would curse God.  Now Job's friends have been wrongly accusing Job of wrongdoing that is leading to punishment from God.  Job's poetic discourse in chapter 14 is about death, and he appears to no longer be speaking to his friends, but rather to himself and to God.  He reminds himself of his own frail, sinful humanity and inevitable death in contrast to God's sovereign mightiness.  He pleads with God to let him die until God's wrath might pass.  He wrongly is believing that God is angry with him. He does not have the insight that we have here, having not known of the scene between God and Satan that we were able to glimpse at he opening of the book. Here he longs for a resurrection from death to a new life without the misery.  We find him at the end of the chapter feeling hopeless.

Chapter 15 is the beginning of the second cycle of speeches.  Eliphaz does not even seem to try to show any compassion, even mocking Job.  He appears to be angry with Job's response and believes that he does not fear God and remains full of unconfessed sin and pride in a false sense of integrity.  Job answers in chapters 16 and 17.  He tells the counselors that they are miserable comforters.  He is weary with their lack of helpfulness and in tears that his friends have become his mockers.  Job is still thinking that God must be against him even if he does not know why.  He is utterly miserable but does believe that he has a witness in heaven that testifies for him.  Praise God we have Jesus that testifies for us in heaven!  He not only testifies for us, but He took our place for us that we might have His righteousness!  Job pleads to God to vindicate him and prove to his counselors that he is right.  He tells of his awful state he is living in with this disease.  He is holding to walking in righteousness and is open to wisdom but is not finding it from these three men.  His hope is still found in God, but he is still thinking of death.

Bildad speaks in chapter 18, rebuking Job in his state of great suffering, still holding to his belief that God is punishing wickedness. Job answers in chapter 19, once again tormented by the words of these men.  He rehearses his suffering, still believing God is against him and wishing that his words could be preserved (which they are in this book now!), then declares that he knows his redeemer lives and will stand on the earth.  We know the rest of the story, that Job is vindicated, and that ultimately the Redeemer of mankind will stand on the earth, Jesus Christ.  All praise to Him!  Job then warns his friends that they should be careful of falsely accusing him as they may experience punishment for it.

Zophar's second speech is found in chapter 20.  He also speaks of the wicked suffering under the wrath of God.  They continue to try to teach Job about the fate of the wicked, pointing the finger at him.  In their opinion Job must be wicked for all of this to be happening to him.  Job answers in chapter 21 that he sees wicked men prosper.  He wanted them to see that though he does not understand why, it was not as simple as they believed, that wicked suffer and righteous prosper.  Sometimes the wicked prosper and righteous suffer.

The third cycle of speeches begins in chapter 22 with Eliphaz again.  He now says that Job must be abundantly evil.  He also paints God as lofty and not concerned with personal relationships with men.    He lists sins that Job must be guilty of to deserve his suffering.  He rejects the idea that the wicked ever prosper and calls Job to repent of his wickedness and return to God that he might receive blessings.  In the counselors' eyes, they see only a system of works and blessings, sins and punishments.  They leave no room for mercy and grace.  Job responds in chapters 23 and 24, not to Eliphaz but with a cry of longing to be in fellowship with God again, wanting to understand all that is going on and to feel God's love once more.  He longs to be vindicated by God.  He is not feeling God's presence but has not turned from His ways, and he still declares His sovereignty.  He wishes he could see God's plan.  Job talks about wickedness and his not understanding why he does not see it punished.  He concludes that their punishment must be coming.

Chapter 25 is a short speech by Bildad restating that God is high and mighty and man, like Job, is lowly and sinful.  Bildad misses that while man is depraved, he is also made in God's image and has worth and dignity.  Job responds in chapter 26 with sarcasm to his friends' worthless "help."  He then moves to speak of God's majesty and power.  Job continues in chapter 27, defending his righteousness and refusing to accept their false accusations. He shows them that he understands as they do that God's wrath will come on the wicked.  The fact that wicked suffer has nothing to do with Job's suffering though because he was a righteous man.

Chapter 28 is no longer dialogue but rather a poem on wisdom, similar to the wisdom literature of the book of Proverbs.    Finding wisdom is compare to the arduous task of mining for precious stones and  minerals.  The men have been discoursing on Job's plight for all this time and Job comes to the conclusion that God has true wisdom and understands everything, not man.  Ultimately we find great truth in verse 28, "the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding."  Do not miss this!  We are not going to understand why everything happens, but we will learn wisdom through reverence and obedience to God, and we can trust Him, knowing that He is all-wise.  That reminds me of an old hymn, "Trust and Obey."

1. 
   
2. When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
   What a glory He sheds on our way!
   While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
   And with all who will trust and obey.
   • Refrain:
     Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
     To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
3. Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
   But His smile quickly drives it away;
   Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
   Can abide while we trust and obey.
4. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
   But our toil He doth richly repay;
   Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
   But is blessed if we trust and obey.
5. But we never can prove the delights of His love
   Until all on the altar we lay;
   For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
   Are for them who will trust and obey.
6. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
   Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
   What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
   Never fear, only trust and obey.

Chapters 29 through 31 are a monologue by Job.  He reminisces of the days of God's blessing on his life.  He recounts his good deeds, contrary to the false-accusations. He was indeed a virtuous man that stood up for the weak.  I found these verses to be an encouragement to me to be more willing to stand in the gap for the less fortunate.  Job had expected to live a long healthy life.  He was revered and sought for his counsel, but no longer.  Now he was mocked.  In chapter 30 Job laments his losses, including his great loss of fellowship with God, still feeling that God is against him.  He is in bitter distress.   He gives a final appeal for vindication from false accusations in chapter 31, speaking of different areas in which he could have and did not sin and accepting the curses due if he had.  He signs his name to his testimony and his words are ended.  Again, I find this chapter one to encourage us to seek to strive to live a life of integrity.

This is the end of this section of the book of Job.  The monologues of Elihu (chapters 32 through 37) and God Himself (chapters 38 through the beginning of 42) will come next, followed by an epilogue that finishes out chapter 42.

May working through this hard text help us to continue to seek God, the ultimate all-wise, sovereign Father, for wisdom and understanding and remember to trust Him even when we cannot understand because He is faithful.

I Open Your Word

I open Your Word, and You speak to me.

You show me just who You are.

You show me who You made me to be.

You make me to feel Your love.

You teach me to love Your truth.

Oh, I open Your Word, and You're there with me.

We reminisce about long ago.

You tell how You created the world,

How perfect it was, how You rested.

You tell me how man fell away.

I think of how I have failed You.

You tell of men and women of old,

And I learn from their faith and mistakes.

I learn You're always there.

Nothing's outside Your control.

Yes, I open Your Word, and You teach me.

I learn about Your law, how You wrote it on stones and now on my heart,

How no one can keep it but Jesus.

I open your Word, and I'm guilty; there's nothing that I can do,

But I am filled with hope, and my faith is alive

Because You paid that death I was due. 

I open Your Word, and You paint for me pictures.

I see Eden and fresh flowing water,

Beautiful plants and majestic animals,

The serpent and Adam and Eve and the fall. 

I see Noah, the ark, the rain pouring down, the flood carving the valleys, wiping earth clean.

I see your rainbow drawn in the sky.

I see parting of rivers, wars, and slavery.

I see fire from heaven and idols torn down.

Oh, I see angels, and I see baby Jesus, 

I see heaven open as He's baptized by John.

I see children under the Savior's feet, Mary washing those feet.

I see the lame dropping their crutches, the blind opening their eyes, the crowds listening to Jesus. 

Oh, I see them arrest Him, they beat Him, they spat on Him. 

I know that I am guilty.

I see His face as He hangs on the cross.

I hear Him say, "It is finished!"

Oh I open the Word, and You shows me Your power.

Death, where is your sting?

Jesus didn't stay dead, He arose: conquered death!

He paid the debt that we owed. 

We were dead in our sins, but let us praise Him! 

By grace, we have been saved.

Our faith's placed in Him, our Savior, our King.

Oh praise Your Holy Name!

I open Your Word, and You gives the command:

Go into all the world, tell them, tell them

All I have read, tell them Your story today. 

Know that You are forever, You were then and now and to come. 

They'll be a new heaven and a new earth, and You love us enough to want us there. 

Oh let's invite everyone! 

Job 1-13

I began reading through Job this week. I think every time I read Job, it is a humbling experience, a chance to be reminded that God is sovereign and I am but His child. It's a reminder that I am not in control and that's a good thing because I can't see the whole picture. It's also a good perspective to see that anything I've experienced is nothing compared to Job, and he made it through to the other side of his trials. I'd like to reflect a bit on Job 1-13.

The scene that takes place at the opening of the book of Job is a great reminder that we do not have the whole picture. We are often not aware of why things are happening in our lives. We are presented with Job, an honorable man that walks with God. He has a personal walk. He doesn't just call himself a believer; he walks the walk. And God suggests Job to Satan. Wow! I think the thought of God suggesting us to Satan often bothers us. We might think, "Why would a loving God allow Satan to bring trials into our lives?" Perhaps it feels unfair. We, like Job's friends, feel like trials should be for the ungodly, those deserving of negative consequences, or punishment. What about asking ourselves, "Would God think highly enough of me, is my faith strong enough, to be tested, that God might be glorified through it all?"  The thing is God never left Job. The scripture says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."”‭‭(Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬). Through it all, God was still bestowing His grace upon Job that he might remain faithful. God is the "author and perfector of faith." (Hebrews 12:2). We see from Job's response to the news of all that he lost, that Job understood who God is, that He is worthy of praise no matter what our circumstances. “He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD." Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” (Job‬ ‭1:21-22‬).  I clung to verse 21 when I found out that my unborn Baby Kyson passed away within my womb in the summer of 2012. I knew that this truth needed to be written on my hurting heart. I knew that through the hurt, God was still good and worthy of my praise.

In chapters 2, we see that Satan is not even impressed with Job's faith after all his loss, and God allows him to strike Job's health. We are again reminded that God is in control and Satan must have  permission from the Almighty. Satan is sure that Job will not continue to praise God after that, sure that Job's allegiance is based on his own comfort. Job's wife asks him why he doesn't just give up, curse God, and die. “But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” ‭‭(Job‬ ‭2:10‬). How often do we eagerly accept good from God, praising His name for His goodness? Yet His goodness remains the same even when we are not granted "the good." Also in chapter 2, we meet Job's three friends, and their initial response to simply sit with him as he mourns is spot on. Often in a time of loss, we just need the presence of a friend.

In chapter 3, we see that Job is in complete anguish, wishing not only for death, but that he had never been born.  The verse about miscarriage brought my mind back to my heaven babies, Hope and Kyson, and I thought about the earthly trials they never had to live to experience, that they went straight to the glory of our Savior. I have great peace in that thought.

In chapter 4, Job's friends begin making the mistake so many of us make. They have given their friend a week to mourn and now they feel the need to try to fix things. I think this is a good reminder to us that sometimes we just need to be there for our friends, not try to figure out the whys for them because we might be wrong, and instead of helping, we might just hurt them more. Eliphaz was wrong about Job being punished for wrongdoing. It's a good reminder to us that when we suffer loss, we need not blame ourselves.  Trials are not necessarily consequences of anything we have done,

Chapter 5 holds some truth about God and how He is just. Unfortunately, Eliphaz is still holding to the notion that Job needs to repent of something. Job knows God is just; he is not cursing God. The friends seem to need to glean some wisdom from Job, that God can remain just even if He allows bad things to happen to us that have nothing to do with punishment.

In chapters 6 and 7, Job responds to his friends, reminding them of what terrible anguish he is in and telling them that they are being of no help. He knows that he is not in need of repentance, that this calamity is not punishment. He needs their support to help him keep his faith in the midst of this trial, and they are only wrongly accusing him. He just needs them to sit with him in what he believes to be his last days, to comfort him, but they are making him feel worse. Job then turns to God, pouring out his heart to God, still longing for death, seeking to find peace with God.

In chapter 8, another friend, Bildad, speaks. He, like Eliphaz, speaks of God being just, and still does not understand that God can be just and allow these things to befall Job without due cause on Job's part. He must have either missed Job's speech on how they were not helping or just ignored it because he pretty much did the same thing as Eliphaz. Again, we have a reminder to us to really listen to people when they are going through troubles, hear what it is they need from a friend in their times of trouble. I know I often don't know what to say to someone going through a trial, that I would like nothing more than to "fix" things, but sometimes we just need to be there for support. May we also be reminded that we are not to judge why a trial comes upon someone.

In chapter 9, Job answers Bildad, speaking of God's greatness and humbling himself before God.  He doesn't bother to tell Bildad that he is wrong to speak of what he does not understand. He simply continues to speak of God. We can see his desire to have peace with Him, to walk with Him once more. What I really like is when Job speaks of the desire for a mediator, someone that can touch God and mediate for man. He knows this can be no human. We see a glimpse of the Savior here, for we know the rest of the story. We know we have a  redeemer, Jesus Christ, the God-Man, who intercedes for us even now (Romans 8:34)!

Chapter 10 shows us Job crying out to God, not understanding why this is happening and feeling perhaps that God, who lovingly made him and loved him, is now against him. It is a sad state in which we see Job.

Job's third friend, Zophar, begins to speak in chapter 11. He, like the other two friends, simply pours salt into Job's wounds, holding that Job should stop confessing his integrity and needs to repent of whatever sin brought about this calamity that Job might be restored before God. He too fails to see that what Job is experience has nothing to do with sin.

Job answers in chapter 12 and tells his friends that while they think they are better than him and have made him a laughingstock, they are wrong. Job knows of God's greatness and does not deny it. He continues in chapter 13, that they should not speak for God. He declares, "Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” ‭‭(Job‬ ‭13:15‬) Do we have this kind of faith, faith secure in who God is so that though our world around us is falling apart, we still hope in Him? Job again turns to God, longing for answers as to why this is all happening, longing to be at peace with his God.

Thirteen chapters of this complex book of Job find me at a place of being humbled and feeling blessed. I am ever grateful that Jesus came to redeem us from this place of suffering and grateful of the good God has given me while I am on this earth. I know that nothing good I have is deserved, that it's all grace. I am humbly reminded of my finiteness and the glimpse I have of the whole picture and my need to rest in the One who is in control of all eternity.

Rest

So I started reading through the Bible in a year again today. The reading for today was Genesis 1-3. I am very familiar with this passage so I prayed that God would show me something new or with fresh eyes today. I love how He loves to answer our prayers to speak to us through His Word!

So what stuck out to me today: REST.

I don't even know how many times I've read the creation account. I grew up hearing it, I've taught it to my children, and I've taught it to other children. I know that seven is a number of perfection in scripture, and I know that creation took 6 days and that on the seventh day, God rested from His work. I guess what I've never thought about was what God resting looked like.

          “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of
           the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
           ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28‬ ‭

From the above scripture, I had known that our perfect infinite God does not grow tired the way that we finite beings do.  I never thought about Him as resting by taking a nap like we might because I know God does not require sleep. Honestly, I'm just not sure I ever really thought about what God resting meant. It's funny how we can read something over and over, know it as fact, and yet never really think much about what it means.

           “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was
           evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” Genesis‬ ‭1:31‬
           “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh
           day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his
           work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God
           rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” Genesis‬ ‭2:1-3‬

In the passage about God resting, the Hebrew word shabath is used. It means to cease or rest from work. To rest because of being tired or weary is another word. When I look at the passage, I do not see anything specifically that God did except rest because He was finished with His creation. I do see  that right before He rested, He said that everything He made was very good. I can just start to picture His rest as "sitting back" and admiring His finished work like an artist might put down his paintbrush and stand back and look at his masterpiece.  He rested in Himself, and He calls us to come and rest in Him as well.

I know that God is speaking to me through this, telling me to rest, to really sit down and rest. I need to rest in Him, to "taste and see that the Lord is good."  I need to "take heart; He has overcome the world." I need to see the "very good," to think about "whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise."  I need to just rest in His goodness and grace. I need to cease worry and cease trying to do everything myself. I need to rest in His completed work, to rest in His perfect plan.  I need to rest "in God alone," fixing my "eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith."  (‭‭Psalm 34:8, John 16:33, Genesis 1:31, Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬, Psalm 62:5, Hebrews 12:2)

There is so much more to study here, to learn about rest, about Sabbath, about celebrating the creator, our little foretaste of heaven where we, His people, will worship Him face to face for all eternity, forever resting in Him.

What a perfect start to my reading, to find God calling me to rest in Him, knowing I have 364 days of readings to find rest in Him!

God is good... It is well

God is good, and that's enough
For me to say, "It is well."
It is well within me
For my hope is in Him.
It is well within me
For my faith is in Him.

God is good, and that's enough.
His love overflows.
His mercies never end.
His grace, oh His grace
That saves sinners from their sin.

God is good, and that's enough
For me to say, "It is well."
It is well. It is well
Because of Him.

I want to write again! I can feel it inside... FAITH

I want to write again! I can feel it inside, that desire to put my heart into words, to bring praise to God through writing.  I have asked the Lord to help me focus on faith this year. It only seems fitting to write on that first.

FAITH
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬)

What is faith?

To believe, to trust, but more than that...

The assurance of things hoped for... What does that even mean?

The conviction of things not seen... Again, meaning?

Well, the scriptures also say, “for we walk by faith, not by sight-” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:7‬) We live inside the realm of time. Although I sometimes have a good idea of what might come tomorrow, I do not really know what the future holds. I cannot SEE the future.

BUT, the Word says I can have assurance (a great confidence based on the truth I know, the truth written down long ago of our great God and Savior and His promises) of things hoped for (like all things good: love! peace! joy! mercy! grace! hope! salvation! eternal life!). The Word says that I can be convicted (strongly persuaded, convinced because there is proof) of this even without seeing it. This is faith!

Someone recently reminded me, "God is good, and that's enough." Isn't that true? Isn't that the basis of our faith? Even if I know nothing else, it is enough. This week I asked a group of 3rd graders what faith is as we discussed that a "shield of faith" is part of our spiritual armor. One answered that it is "not doubting." When we have confidence in who God is, we can trust Him: faith, without doubt. The scriptures say, "in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians‬ ‭6:16‬) That's powerful! Faith is our shield, not only blocking the enemy's arrows, but also extinguishing their flames.

Faith is not only a weapon of defense in this spiritual war; we are saved by faith! “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‬). What a beautiful gift!

May we have faith in Him who is faithful, faith to believe unto salvation and faith to keep on believing all He has for us and our futures. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬)

I pray the Lord continues to teach me and grow me in the area of faith. May He do this for you as well.  "I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark‬ ‭9:24‬b)