When We Give Advice...

When we give advice, especially when we don’t have all the facts (we never will for we are not God), be very careful with your words. You may think they are necessary, but often they are not. It is better to put your arm around some one and say nothing, than open your mouth and try to help by using misapplied truth. I know, I find myself thinking it, and every so often letting it out. Here in Job chapter 15 we see Eliphaz doing this very thing. His words were very harsh, especially giving them to his suffering friend. He was trying to help, but in the wrong way. He’d been better off repeating the actions he displayed during his first week with Job. Even though he spoke truth, it didn’t apply specifically to Job. We all need to learn this lesson. Never step into the role of God, unless He specifically tells you to (which only happened once, it lasted 33 years and it saved the world). Our job is to comfort others, speak truth that edifies not condemns. Job had it right in the beginning of chapter 16. If the roles were reversed, he’d be trying encourage and try to take away their grief. This is the attitude we all should have. It’s what identifies the true believer from the pretenders.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: 2 “A wise man wouldn’t answer with such empty talk!You are nothing but a windbag.3 The wise don’t engage in empty chatter.What good are such words?4 Have you no fear of God,no reverence for Him?5 Your sins are telling your mouth what to say.Your words are based on clever deception.6 Your own mouth condemns you, not I.Your own lips testify against you. 7 “Were you the first person ever born?Were you born before the hills were made?8 Were you listening at God’s secret council?Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?9 What do you know that we don’t?What do you understand that we do not?10 On our side are aged, gray-haired menmuch older than your father! 11 “Is God’s comfort too little for you?Is His gentle word not enough?12 What has taken away your reason?What has weakened your vision,13 that you turn against Godand say all these evil things?14 Can any mortal be pure?Can anyone born of a woman be just?15 Look, God does not even trust the angels.Even the heavens are not absolutely pure in His sight.16 How much less pure is a corrupt and sinful personwith a thirst for wickedness! Job 15:1-16

1 Then Job spoke again: 2 “I have heard all this before.What miserable comforters you are!3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?What makes you keep on talking?4 I could say the same things if you were in my place.I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.5 But if it were me, I would encourage you.I would try to take away your grief.6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak. Job 16:1-6

God Does Not Approve....

God does not approve of men who legalize and legislate sin.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side–leaders whose decrees permit injustice? Psalms 94:20

Why I Believe....

Why I believe.... God loves me, and gives me what I need, especially in hard times. When doubts fill your mind, go to Him in prayer. He will comfort you and turn your thoughts away from dismay.

16 Who will protect me from the wicked?Who will stand up for me against evildoers?17 Unless the Lord had helped me,I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.18 I cried out, “I am slipping!”but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.19 When doubts filled my mind,Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Psalms 94:16-19

Hope That Helps Us Endure...

Here’s an amazing thought that Job had, and that we take for granted daily. Salvation and the Resurrection of the dead in Christ should give us hope and strength to endure the hardships of life. We all (believers) should eagerly await the release of death. Job longed for something like this. We have it, yet take it for granted.

14 Can the dead live again?If so, this would give me hope through all my years of struggle,and I would eagerly await the release of death. Job 14:14

86,400.....

What if I told you that you won a contest. You would be given $86,400 deposited in your bank account every day for the rest of your life. The only catch is you have to spend all of it every day in order for that amount to be redeposited the next day. Whatever you don’t spend, you lose. Would you be excited? How would you spend it? Would you help others with it or spend it all on yourself? Would you be up for this challenge? Well, God has given all of us 86,400 seconds each day (time). Time is the equalizer of all men. Each one is given the exact amount. Each one uses it differently. Each one sees it differently. What ever you don’t spend it disappears, never to be seen again. And then the next day it starts over. When you really think about it, time is more precious and valuable than money, we only have a certain amount. How you spend it determines the quality of your life. Your attitude towards the Giver of it also plays a huge role. Spend it wisely, it’s counting on you.

“How frail is humanity! How short is life, Job 14:1a

5 You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5

One of the Greatest Displays of Faith...

One of the greatest displays of faith in all of scripture, Job declares his allegiance to God. In the midst of his suffering, in his immense physical pain, in the repeated, constant false accusations of his (so-called) friends, and mourning the loss of his children, Job could still say this. I only hope that I will ever have this kinda faith.

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; Job 13:15a

Take Care of Your Feet...

Never forget the simplicity of the Gospel. Never complicate it. Never add to it, or take away from it. It accomplishes what it’s supposed to, as it should. And it’s our job to present it in the most blameless fashion possible. The way we live our lives, helps in determining how willing people will be to listen. We are the conduit in which God uses to effectively reach those in whom He chooses. Keep it simple... and always remember, “we can plant, and we can water, but God is the One Who makes it grow”. Take care of your feet.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. 11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” 12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:9-15

Misdirected Zeal....

Even though this passage is about how the Jews’ enthusiasm is “misdirected zeal”, isn’t all people who refuse to believe have “misdirected zeal”? The Jews here use the Law to govern their ways. They don’t know the Law’s true purpose (to show us our sin and point us to Our Savior, Jesus 1Tim1:8-11). Unbelievers do the same by making up things about God, then defending them throughout their lifetime. This “misdirected zeal” is disguised as religion, or any other type of organized practices that put self first and impose “do as I say not as I do” mentality. It has infiltrated many people’s belief system as acceptable. “There are many ways to Heaven”, or “My belief system says...”, or even “My interpretation of scripture is...”, these are all “misdirected zeal”. Just because you’re enthusiastic about it doesn’t make it true or how God designed it. There will be many enthusiastic goats standing before God on judgement day. Don’t be one of them. Jesus said, (my paraphrase) “God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth”. You can’t just practice one without the other. Knowing truth but not being excited about it is just as bad as being excited about a lie. We have to be excited about the Gospel, and make sure it’s true. How do we know if it’s true or not? If it comes from God, the source of Truth, then it’s true. And when we have peace, knowing it’s true, who wouldn’t get excited about that? “Misdirected Zeal”, study it. Learn to spot a counterfeit, and encourage in others the real excitement only God can infuse in you by putting it into practice.

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. 2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. 3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with Himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. 4 For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in Him are made right with God. Romans 10:1-4

Your Next Breath...

It’s a sad thing to think about how God gives us our next breath and we take Him for granted. We worship the gift and not the Giver. When will we understand this? Better yet, when will we decide to honor Him with our lives? Just think, if God sees fit to take our last breath, would we have regrets? If so, make it right today. Live your life drawing on His wisdom. Live your life out of gratitude towards the Giver of your next breath.

10 For the life of every living thing is in His hand, and the breath of every human being. Job 12:10

The Christian Belief System Is Simple...

The Christian belief system is simple. We are sinners by birth (we prove it with our behavior). We cannot be made right with God By anything we do to earn it. We can’t keep the law. The only way to be made right with God (salvation) is by believing and trusting God, agreeing with His way. And that is putting our faith in Jesus. We are powerless to change, be reconciled, without God. Again it’s simple, yet so hard to let go of our selfishness.

31 But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 32 Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in Him. They stumbled over the great rock in their path. Romans 9:31-32

Taking Advantage of Others.....

When you go against what you know to be right, there are always consequences. Don’t do it just because you can. Taking advantage of someone is wrong, just plain wrong. You will find ruin if you do; it will be your own.

22 Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court.23 For the Lord is their defender. He will ruin anyone who ruins them. Proverbs 22:22-23

God Is More Powerful....

The next time you are at the ocean’s edge, and you hear the waves crashing against the shore, let it be a reminder of how powerful God truly is. Even if the waves are powerfully crushing the shoreline in anticipation of a storm, God is more powerful than this. And although it may seem detrimental to any living thing in its path, remember it’s necessary; to clean the beaches and rocky shorelines. He washes it clean daily. In all His power, there is purpose, even if we don’t fully understand.

4 But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore–the Lord above is mightier than these!5 Your royal laws cannot be changed.Your reign, O Lord, is holy forever and ever. Psalms 93:4-5

The Only Attitude a Believer Should Have....

The only attitude a Believer should truly have is one of humility. Job had it, and even though he was wrong about the reason for his suffering, he knew his place. Compared to God we are all wicked. Job was full of integrity, and he had an upright heart. He realized that we are all sinners, and his only hope for mercy was to have a mediator; someone Who could bring us (God and man) together. I wonder if he knew Jesus? I wonder if after all of this, he met Jesus? The fact that he knew we couldn’t make ourselves right with God, especially since he was a righteous man (for God said it in the beginning of the book), we need a Savior. He got it right, even in his suffering, he knew the truth. Why don’t we get it? We have the Bible. We have the theology. We have Churches, and people to teach us. Why can’t we get it right? The answer is simple: we don’t want to get it right. Our sinful/selfish nature doesn’t want to give in and submit to God’s authority. We don’t want to give up control and direction in our lives. We want to be in control. We cry out to God when we get ourselves in trouble, but still aren’t willing to die to self (as Jesus calls it). We will never become the people God calls us to be by captaining our own ship. It’s not our ship to begin with. It was given to us, to be used to sail the seas for God’s purposes. Until we get this, we will continue to be lost at sea.

15 Even if I were right, I would have no defense.I could only plead for mercy. Job 9:15

20 Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. Job 9:20

32 “God is not a mortal like me,so I cannot argue with Him or take Him to trial.33 If only there were a mediator between us,someone who could bring us together.34 The mediator could make God stop beating me,and I would no longer live in terror of His punishment.35 Then I could speak to Him without fear,but I cannot do that in my own strength. Job 9:32-35

Swelling With Pride....

01082021 For any reason you may need to be humbled today, any reason you feel your head swelling with pride; here’s a verse (truth), that should bring you back down to earth. Once we think we can do something to earn God’s grace, we are treading on thin ice. We are traveling down the road called PRIDE. It’s not the way to God, rather it’s a way from God. It’s what got Satan kicked out of Heaven, remember?

But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to His own purposes; 12 He calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) Romans 9:11-12a

15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose,and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying My power in you and to spread My fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and He chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Romans 9:15-18

One of My Deepest Desires....

One of my deepest desires is to still be useful, serving a purpose, producing fruit in my old age. I don’t want to be living my life to myself, content to be retired. Someday, I may retire, but I won’t retire from my faith, especially in this life.

12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.13 For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house.They flourish in the courts of our God.14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;they will remain vital and green.15 They will declare, “The Lord is just!He is my rock!There is no evil in Him!” Psalms 92:12-15

We Have No Business Playing God...

Never, never, in a million years, would I ever say this to someone who has lost a loved one (specifically a child). And neither should you. Bildad says this to Job. If I was Job, I would’ve simply walked away from him when he said it. He wouldn’t have been given another chance to speak. Period. We have no business stepping into the role of God, especially when we don’t know the truth. Never forget this, it will save face for you, and a lot of pain for someone else, later in life.

4 Your children must have sinned against Him, so their punishment was well deserved. Job 8:4

Reincarnation.....

Reincarnation: according to the Bible in numerous references (here are two), we only die once. There’s no coming back; not as a dog, a bug, or even another human being. This thinking is just one more ploy Satan has in his bag of tricks, to deceive people into staying or straying away from God. If you were to follow the theory all the way through, you’d find what the system strives for (nervana, moksha, or non-existence), doesn’t really make sense. Why would anyone strive for that? If that were true, evil wouldn’t exist. We wouldn’t have names, people wouldn’t be selfish, and we would live in a socialistic, shangri la society. Nothing would belong to anyone, and we would share everything (think about that, share everything). Most importantly, we would strive to cease to exist. Why wouldn’t everyone just commit suicide to speed the process up. We would be the nameless society, that has no value. Non-existence just doesn’t fit our human nature. Whatever the ultimate goal is, it’s not Biblical. Once you die, according to the Bible, you face judgement. You will stand before God and either be welcomed into His kingdom (because of your faith in Jesus), or you will be condemned to Hell (because of your unrepented sin). There are no second chances. Here, Job makes a reference to it in his lament to God. And the writer of Hebrews does the same. If you plan on reading, and preaching the Good News of scripture, you have to have a basic understanding of what it says. Clearly here, there is no room for a smorgasbord of ways to Heaven or world views. Only One Way, and that’s through Faith in Jesus.

9 Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back.10 They are gone forever from their home–never to be seen again. Job 7:9-10 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, Hebrews 9:27

Nothing Can Separate Us....

When you’re down and out; distraught with overwhelming emotions, remember this: nothing can separate us from God’s love. Nothing. No one can condemn us. No one can accuse us of being unworthy. And no matter what kind of calamity or persecution, or pain and sorrow we are experiencing, it doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Do you believe it? Do you really believe Him? Pray today that the Holy Spirit will confirm this to you, so your fears for today or worries about tomorrow will fade away in experiencing His presence today.

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one–for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one–for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow–not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39

Money Won’t Keep You There.....

Money may buy your way in, but eventually, it won’t keep you there. Your motives & money may get you to the penthouse, but your selfishness will take you to the outhouse, and keep you there. Integrity matters. Developing your character should be your focus. Use your money to help promote that. You’ll find when you invest it in others, your character development will follow.

16 A person who gets ahead by oppressing the poor or by showering gifts on the rich will end in poverty. Proverbs 22:16

Evil Doesn’t Last...

Evil doesn’t last, nor does it pay. It may seem temporarily beneficial to the rebel, it won’t last, but the consequences will last forever.

5 O Lord, what great works You do! And how deep are Your thoughts.6 Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this: 7 Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. Psalms 92:5-7

Not Controlled By Chance...

Whatever God allows to come into our lives is designed to conform us to the image of his Son. Our lives are not controlled by chance, it’s controlled by God, Who is too loving to be unkind, and too wise to err.

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Instead of Listening to Ourselves Talk...

The reason those not redeemed by the blood of Jesus can never please God is because they are controlled by their sinful nature. The unredeemed allow their minds to be controlled by their sinful nature. Sometimes, that means letting your feelings control your thought life. Instead of listening to ourselves talk, we need to tell ourselves what we know to be true. The redeemed allow God’s Spirit to control their thinking, and thus have peace, by knowing God is in it. This “telling ourselves what we know to be true” is listening to the Spirit. By agreeing with God, you know you are right with Him.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. Romans 8:5-8

Be Careful With Advice to Hurting People...

We, as believers, must always use restraint when we give advice or quote scripture. We should always go to God first before we spout off scripture or truths about God in any situation. The reason I say this is because what we say (to help) may be true (of God), but it may not apply to the situation we are addressing it to. The perfect example of this is in Job chapter 4. Eliphaz’s first response to Job contains truth, but he is dead wrong about this situation. And so we need to take caution when addressing issues with hurting people. Like the earlier entry, sometimes the best thing we can do is just sit beside the grieving person, and say nothing. Be careful with advice to anyone suffering.

1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job: 2 “Will you be patient and let me say a word?For who could keep from speaking out? 3 “In the past you have encouraged many people;you have strengthened those who were weak.4 Your words have supported those who were falling;you encouraged those with shaky knees.5 But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart.You are terrified when it touches you.6 Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence?Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope? 7 “Stop and think! Do the innocent die?When have the upright been destroyed?8 My experience shows that those who plant troubleand cultivate evil will harvest the same.9 A breath from God destroys them.They vanish in a blast of His anger.10 The lion roars and the wildcat snarls,but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.11 The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey,and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered. 12 “This truth was given to me in secret,as though whispered in my ear.13 It came to me in a disturbing vision at night,when people are in a deep sleep.14 Fear gripped me,and my bones trembled.15 A spirit swept past my face,and my hair stood on end.16 The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape.There was a form before my eyes.In the silence I heard a voice say,17 ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God?Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’ 18 “If God does not trust His own angelsand has charged His messengers with foolishness,19 how much less will He trust people made of clay!They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth.20 They are alive in the morning but dead by evening,gone forever without a trace.21 Their tent-cords are pulled and the tent collapses,and they die in ignorance. Job 4

14 “One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty.15 My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring Job 6:14-15

You, too, have given no help.You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid.22 But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift?Have I begged for anything of yours for myself?23 Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies,or to save me from ruthless people?24 Teach me, and I will keep quiet.Show me what I have done wrong.25 Honest words can be painful,but what do your criticisms amount to?26 Do you think your words are convincingwhen you disregard my cry of desperation?27 You would even send an orphan into slaveryor sell a friend.28 Look at me!Would I lie to your face?29 Stop assuming my guilt,for I have done no wrong.30 Do you think I am lying? Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong? Job 6:21-30

Political Correctness.....

Reading through Jeremiah chapter 1 we come to a truth that modern day Christians seemed to have forgotten. In a politically correct world, speaking truth is offensive. And trying to be accommodating, Christians have watered down the Gospel. If we as Christians believe it’s true, why do we hold back? According to Jeremiah, God’s word (His truth) tears down what needs to be tore down. It uproots what needs to be uprooted. It also builds up and plants. God’s word accomplishes what it is set out to do. Why then do we refrain from promoting that message? Stopping what is set out to fix? We do it out of pure selfishness. We don’t want to offend, or better yet, want to be “not liked” by others. This “self-preservation” does more harm than good. I mean if we stop the gospel from reaching hurting souls, we are a hindrance. We are in effect acting as if we are an enemy of God, not a follower of Him. How can we claim Him to be Lord, if we water down His message? Understand that if we withhold truth in speaking with others, we are not living by faith. And we do not trust God. God’s word accomplishes what it supposed to. And if that means offending others, then I guess they needed to be offended. It’s the enemy of PRIDE. It’s not the people that speak truth that offends, it’s the truth itself, confronting a person in the wrong that offends. It’s built into our DNA. Shame, regret, guilt are all part of the process. If God’s word doesn’t offend evil, selfish behavior, then the recipient of His message has been blotted out of His book of life, and there is no hope for that soul. As harsh as it sounds, God is in control, not us. Political Correctness is a worldly thing. And it’s proof we are worldly minded when we give into it. Speaking God’s truth without watering it down is our duty. And it’s proof when we speak it, Who really is Lord in our lives.

4 The Lord gave me this message: 5 “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.Before you were born I set you apartand appointed you as My prophet to the nations.” 6 “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for You! I’m too young!”7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put My words in your mouth!10 Today I appoint you to stand upagainst nations and kingdoms.Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.” Jeremiah 1:4-10

We Can’t Fix Ourselves....

Without God, we can’t fix ourselves. It’s not possible. It’s only through Jesus’ work on the cross and by His perfect life that we are made right in God’s sight. Religious practices, or even the total abandonment of God, are ways people try to cope with this very unpopular truth. The bottom line is without God’s help, we are unfixable. Praise be to God for all that He has done.

21 I have discovered this principle of life–that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:21-25

Why is Sin so Terrible?

Why is sin so terrible? Because it uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. Let that sink in for awhile.

13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes. Romans 7:13

Being There....

The best thing Job’s three friends did was at the beginning; they sat in silence with him. This showed solidarity, regardless of the reason for his suffering. We need to learn this type of consolation. When we have someone close to us suffering, the best thing we can do is be there for them. This can be done in many ways, but the best, most effective way is just be there. This may be physically, or spiritually, but the fact that you made yourself available to them, not even having to say a word, plays a huge role in the coping process. Just knowing you are there, sometimes unknowingly by the griever, brings a comfort that helps them cope. Don’t preach, or quote Bible verses, just sit there, next to them and share in their sorrow. A Swedish proverb says, “Joy shared is double joy... and Sorrow shared is half sorrow”. Be there for your loved one, you don’t even need to utter any words. Solidarity has a way of helping those in need, just by showing them you care and putting an arm around the one in desperate need.

11 When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. 12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. Job 2:11-13

Job Knew God....

Every time I read the book of Job I can’t help but look at his faith. He knew God. He knew Him intimately. When he lost all of his possessions and children, did he curse God? No. When he became covered in boils from head to toe, did he curse God? No. Why? Because he knew God. He knew that God is supreme. He knew that God can do whatever He wants. He knew that God is loving and just. Job accepted the fact that God is the One in control, not himself. Job stated that God gave him good things, and God took them away. It’s not our job to curse God, but to enjoy Him while we live here on earth. We are to enjoy the gifts of God, while we possess them. The problem is that we have mistakenly worshipped the gifts and not the Giver of those gifts. When they are gone, we still praise Him for the time we had to enjoy them. I think the problem with modern day theology is we lack this intimacy that Job had with God. Aside from Adam, in the beginning, Job was the closest example of what it means to know God from a human perspective. He had the right mindset because he knew God personally. He knew God was trustworthy and in control. We (myself included) lack this intimacy. Sure, we can know God from reading His Word (our Bibles), but do we really know Him as being real? A real, living, active Being, Who is involved in every aspect of our lives on a minute by minute basis. The reason people argue topics in the Bible is because they don’t know the Author of the Bible. If they did, I think they’d change their approach when reaching out to hurting people. Know God, know peace. No God, no peace. If you were to suffer through what Job did, would you be able to react the way Job did? Honestly, I don’t think I would. Would you?

20 Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. 21 He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb,and I will be naked when I leave.The Lord gave me what I had,and the Lord has taken it away.Praise the name of the Lord!” 22 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. Job 1:20-22

9 His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. Job 2:9-10

Sin’s Power....

I’m not free from sin, I’m free from the power of sin. I have the knowledge of what sin is, the consequences, and Who to ask for help to flee from it.

12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. 13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. 14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.19 Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:12-23

The One Who Trusts Is Invincible....

The one who trusts in God is invincible until His work is done. There is safety in the Lord. Never forget this, especially when hard times come.

 911 Those who live in the shelter of the Most Highwill find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.2 This I declare about the Lord:He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;He is my God, and I trust Him.3 For He will rescue you from every trapand protect you from deadly disease.4 He will cover you with His feathers.He will shelter you with His wings.His faithful promises are your armor and protection.5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,nor the arrow that flies in the day.6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,nor the disaster that strikes at midday.7 Though a thousand fall at your side,though ten thousand are dying around you,these evils will not touch you.8 Just open your eyes,and see how the wicked are punished. 9 If you make the Lord your refuge,if you make the Most High your shelter,10 no evil will conquer you;no plague will come near your home.11 For He will order His angelsto protect you wherever you go.12 They will hold you up with their handsso you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! 14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me.I will protect those who trust in My name.15 When they call on Me, I will answer;I will be with them in trouble.I will rescue and honor them.16 I will reward them with a long life and give them My salvation.” Psalms 91

Reason to Celebrate....

Traditions, how many do we have? How do we celebrate them? Traditions can be a good or bad thing. Good being -remembrance of an event, keeping us from forgetting something important. Bad being - celebrating something but forgetting the real reason behind it. And these celebrations can be both good and bad at the same time. An example of this would be Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It could also be seen as bad because there are many people who don’t even know the “why” behind it. They think it’s about the Easter bunny, searching for hidden eggs, and food. Another example of forgetting what a tradition celebrates is Mardi Gras. It was supposed to celebrate the beginning of the Lent season, but unfortunately it’s gotten so distorted that it’s blasphemous. In New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro it can be seen as the perfect example of sinful behavior on display. And the world flocks to join in. The purpose of tradition of the Israelites was always to remember what God did for them. Whether it be rescuing them out of Egypt (Passover), or for Messianic Jews, the taking of bread at the Last Supper in communion, or to the tradition in today’s passage in Esther, Purim, the entire point is to remember what God did for His people. Our job is to celebrate by not forgetting God, which usually means putting Him first in our lives. When we celebrate and forget why we celebrate, or substitute in any other reason other than the real one, the tradition becomes a “religious” activity, that will separate us from God, not bringing us closer to Him. Today, examine the traditions you celebrate. See if you’ve forgotten the real purpose for the celebration. If you have forgotten, ask God to forgive you for forgetting Him, and to help you see all that He has done and continues to do in your life. Traditions are great, fun, and a time to fellowship with family and friends, but make sure you know the real reason why you celebrate. It will mean so much more to you and to others.

20 Mordecai recorded these events and sent letters to the Jews near and far, throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes, 21 calling on them to celebrate an annual festival on these two days. 22 He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor. This would commemorate a time when the Jews gained relief from their enemies, when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy.23 So the Jews accepted Mordecai’s proposal and adopted this annual custom. 24 Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had plotted to crush and destroy them on the date determined by casting lots (the lots were called purim). 25 But when Esther came before the king, he issued a decree causing Haman’s evil plot to backfire, and Haman and his sons were impaled on a sharpened pole. 26 That is why this celebration is called Purim, because it is the ancient word for casting lots.So because of Mordecai’s letter and because of what they had experienced, 27 the Jews throughout the realm agreed to inaugurate this tradition and to pass it on to their descendants and to all who became Jews. They declared they would never fail to celebrate these two prescribed days at the appointed time each year. 28 These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire. This Festival of Purim would never cease to be celebrated among the Jews, nor would the memory of what happened ever die out among their descendants.29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote another letter putting the queen’s full authority behind Mordecai’s letter to establish the Festival of Purim. 30 Letters wishing peace and security were sent to the Jews throughout the 127  provinces of the empire of Xerxes. 31 These letters established the Festival of Purim–an annual celebration of these days at the appointed time, decreed by both Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther. (The people decided to observe this festival, just as they had decided for themselves and their descendants to establish the times of fasting and mourning.) 32 So the command of Esther confirmed the practices of Purim, and it was all written down in the records. Esther 9:20-32