Job - Perfect & Upright

Today I began reading the book of Job. I have heard of Job for years, ever since I was a little girl. I was taught he was a wealthy man and God "gave" him lots of possessions and then God "took" them away. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about Job.

Job Chapter 1 begins...

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.

5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Job thought (doubted, worried, and feared) that maybe, perhaps, just quite possibly, his sons had sinned and cursed God in their hearts. And so because of this doubt, worry and fear, Job offered burnt offerings for them all.

Skipping ahead to verse 13 we read,

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of god is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19 And behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

What would you have done in this situation? All of your oxen and asses have been taken away. Your sheep have been burned and consumed. Your camels have been taken away. All the servants that take care of the animals, except for the messengers of the calamity, have been slain. And now your children have been killed by the roof falling in on top of them.
Let’s see what Job did.
20 Then Job arose, rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The Bible says that Job worshipped! Job sinned not! And he did not charge God foolishly! This man who lost all he had did something that not many of us would think to do. He worshipped God and sinned not.
What an amazing example he set for us!
I will write more about Job in the next post. Until then, remember to be thankful for God’s goodness and God’s love.

Husbands & Wives

Today is Danny & Heather's 1st Anniversary and in light of that fact, I have been thinking about what God says in His Word.

The Bible says in 1Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything gives thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Being thankful is one of the greatest keys to remember.

In Ephesians 5:20, God tells us through the Apostle Paul,

5:20

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

5:21

Submitting yourselves (1) to arrange under, to subordinate; 2) to subject, put in subjection; 3) to subject one's self, obey; 4) to submit to one's control; 5) to yield to one's admonition or advice; and 6) to obey, be subject) one to another (one another, reciprocally, mutually) in the fear of God.

5:22

Wives, submit (same as above) yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

5:24

Therefore as the church is subject (same as "submit" above) unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

5:25

Husbands, love (to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly) your wives, even as Christ also loved (to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly) the church, and gave himself for it;

5:26

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

5:27

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

5:28

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (love-loveth - to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly)

5:29

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth (1) to nourish up to maturity, to nourish; and 2) to nurture, bring up) and cherisheth (1) to warm, keep warm; and 2) to cherish with tender love, to foster with tender care) it, even as the Lord the church:

5:30

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

5:31

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

5:32

This is a great mystery (a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding): but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

5:33

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love (to welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly) his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence (to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience) her husband.

I think it is interesting to note that it should not be a difficult thing for the wife to submit to her own husband. In Ephesians 5:21, if we are obeying God, then we are already "submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God." And it should not be a difficult thing for the husband to love the wife because in Ephesians 5:25 it says, "even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it." And we know how much Christ loved and how much he gave up when he laid down his llife for each of us.

As the years go on, the bad times are forgotten and only the good times remain in our memories - if we let them. Philippians 3:13 tells us a lot of interesting things about Paul.

3:13

Brethern, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

3:14

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul had done a lot of things that he was not proud of, i.e. persecuting the church and killing the Christians, and it was all because he was zealous of the traditions of the Jews' religion. (Sound like something we will be watching this next Saturday night? LOL [Denise and Deborah were in "Fiddler on the Roof" at HU on July 25, 2009]) Anyway, he forgot the things that were in his past and he believed God to forgive him and he pressed on and taught the accuracy of the word that he was taught after being born-again. He had to do the forgetting and the pressing on. We have to do the same. It is an everyday, every hour, minute by minute walk with God.

Remember to be thankful for God's goodness and for God's love.

July 12, 2009

Well, I finally finished the book I started a couple days ago. "Alaska Twilight" by Colleen Coble is a Women of Faith Fiction book. The beginning of the book was a little confusing, but it intrigued me. In the end, all the answers are in the book. I encourage you to read this book.

Reading has become a favorite past time for me. I usually read before I go to sleep at night, and sometimes it gets pretty late before my light goes out. A few authors that I enjoy reading are Janette Oke, Robin Jones Gunn, and Colleen Coble. I am anxious to read Denise Hunter's books, too.

I enjoy reading the Tales From Grace Chapel Inn series. I didn't realize it at first, but several people have written books for the series. The last one I read was written by Diann Hunt. It was a great addition to the series. I think it is interesting how each writer continues the series with continuity for each of the characters. It was a pleasurable book to read.

Have a great day!

July 11, 2009

Today has been a wonderful day. It started last evening around 7 pm. I was lying on our bed reading and Daniel was working on the computer. Our dog Belle started barking. Now if you know Belle, she usually just whines. I thought perhaps Dannae came home from work - but Belle doesn't bark at family members, so that didn't make sense.

Daniel went to the front door and our good friends from Canada - David, Sandy, and Chelsea - were standing there. We knew they had gone to Kentucky for a few days, and that there was possibility they would stop by, but we didn't know when. What a pleasant surprise!

The last time we saw them was a year ago at Danny's and Heather's wedding. That was a very hurried time, so we didn't get to visit a whole lot. Plus, David was the photographer for their wedding, so he was quite busy. We chatted for awhile and then Dannae ordered pizza - yummy!
We talked until almost 2 am and the our friends left to sleep at the local hotel.

This morning we enjoyed their company again for a few hours before they began their 8 hour drive home. We had a wonderful time visiting. Thank God for good friends :)

Have a great night and remember God's goodness and God's love!

Fiddler on the Roof

Time is flying by quicker than usual. I know time doesn't change and go faster or slower, but it just seems that way.

Denise and Deborah started the Huntington University Theatre Camp on June 29. The production this year is "Fiddler on the Roof Jr" and it has some of my favorite music. The camp runs 4 weeks, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. The productions will take place on July 25 at 2 pm and 7 pm. If you want to purchase tickets, you can contact us. From watching the girls dance and sing around the house, it looks like it will be a fun time.

Remember God's goodness and God's grace in your life :)

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

What a week we have had so far. A friend came to visit over the weekend and Sunday was my birthday. It was a wonderful day spent with my family and friends. After a cookout at my older son's house, my family gave me a cake that said, "Happy 16th Birthday" and was nicely decorated by my youngest daughter, who is almost 18. The kids gave me a neat mug that says I am the greatest mom in the universe! WOW - what an accomplishment. I also got a pair of earrings and a lovely purple flower bouquet. It was all very nice.

Have a wonderful day!