So I am going to sit on the topic of Job. I don’t know about you but this has never been a favorite book of mine. Who in their right mind would think of Job as a favorite? But yet it is rich with so much to learn. I admire Job in many ways. He was strong in the Lord. Through most of his trials, he still trusted in God. He understood his smallness and God’s greatness.

“Then Job answered the Lord and said:“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.””  Job 40:3-5

His story is a beautiful picture of repentance and restoration.

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent[a] in dust and ashes.”” Job 42:1-6

I have thought a lot about the fact that God never told Job why he endured all he did.  Don’t we always want to know why?  But I feel like the Lord revealed a simple reason.  PRIDE.  That nasty terrible thing that leads to death in many ways.  Had Job known why he was picked and just how much the Lord loved him. . . pride would surely have reared it’s ugly head.  But I also think of Romans 8:16-17.

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

The question it provokes is why do we think everything is suppose to be easy.  Believe me, I am a big wimp so this idea of suffering is not one I cherish. But it has been one I am convicted of.  Truly we want our nice, easy, simple life but what about getting our hands dirty for God. What about suffering for Him? What makes us think that our time here should be about self comfort or happiness?  How would it look if I truly laid down my life for Him?

I believe that a life laid down for Him is full of joy, hope, redemption, but also heartache.  I believe to see all the positives then we must endure some negatives.  Now to try to put this into practice.   Then comes the real rub.  Because there are things we are passionate about that truly matter to God and these are pretty easy to do.  But what about the ways that aren’t so comfortable.  Those that really make our life seem burdened at times.  It might be mission trips, orphans, helping the homeless, etc.  But it always deals with letting hurting people become part of our life. It always gets messy. BUT GOD is there when we have a heart for what matters to Him.  It is then that we see His hand in such a way that He becomes incredibly real to us. So my prayer these days is that I will have a heart for what matters to God.  Please let it be so Lord.

But what if the Lord had looked upon us, our sin and the condition of our heart (which He did). But what if He said. . .Bless her heart that is just too much.  My greed and my selfishness saddens me. I am sure it saddens the Lord.  So often, I am not sure how much I can handle. The truth is that I can handle very little.  But why do I continually decide what Christ (living in me) can handle?  Why do I say “no” before allowing Him to guide?  God is so good and patient with me.  He takes me one step at a time. Prayerfully making me a bit more like Him. I pray He will give me a heart like His.  That I might love unconditionally, show tremendous grace and mercy, and give sacrificially.

There are so many needs.  So many children who have nothing and no one.  How can we get so busy and forget?  Do we even care as we sit down to three plus meals per day that there are children starving right now? More importantly. . .how can we call ourselves Christians and do nothing?  We must step up!!! There are a few hands trying to do a daunting amount of work.  Let’s be the hands and feet of Christ.  Here are a few ways to get busy:

The Forgotten Initiative

Miracle Hill

Safe Families

If you want more info or would like to know how to help some local children, please contact me. You can leave a comment if you are not sure how.

In some ways, I envy the Israelites.  Can you imagine being able to follow a visible sign from God? They went where the cloud went.  The cloud moved they moved and if the cloud stopped they stopped.  To me in my limited thinking, that seems simple.  Oh how I long for simple.  But truth is that we make it much harder than it need be.  God gave us something much greater than a cloud.  He gave us Himself!

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

Ephesians 5:17-18 goes so far as to tell us to be intoxicated with the Spirit.  As Christians, this should be something that we understand. Yet, I fear based on some of my own history that is often not the case.  Matthew 12: 31-32, truly convicts on this:

“Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”

But there is more! When the Israelite marched, they did so in a certain formation.  You might think that they did so to protect certain people or things.  Perhaps especially the Ark of the Covenant.  But guess what? The Arc of the Covenant was in front!  The war was not a physical war but rather a spiritual war.  With God first. . . they could not loose!  Any battle they lost was because they failed to put God first and trust in Him. Sound familiar? It is the same with us.  If God is first, then we cannot loose!!!  That sounds really comforting.

Numbers 10:35-36 says “And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O Lord, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.” And when it rested, he said, “Return, O Lord, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.”

I don’t want to be like the first generation who lost the Holy War but rather I want to watch the walls come tumbling down. How about you? We don’t need the Arc of Covenant because God sent a helper to us. His precious Holy Spirit lives within every Christian.  So many of us fail to hear because we have quenched the Spirit. But it is there if you are a Christian.  My prayer is that I will never again miss the leading of the Spirit but be finely tuned in.  For when He goes first, every battle is already WON!

Then God quietly but forcefully whispers what He has for you.  What you must do. Shock and denial role through your mind as you consider the bazaar.   Then realization sets in. . . if God says it then I must obey and it is best.  Then turmoil gives way to joy.  Sweet joy always comes with surrender to God’s will for your life.  Wow!

It seems that three of the things that God gives this little shove to are full-time ministry, mission work, and adoption. Yep, I believe that God puts adoption way up there.  His own Word says he places the lonely in families.

“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

Psalm 68:5-6

It also says that pure and genuine religion in the sight of God is caring for the orphans.

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27

I am sure you have seen or heard of some family that has a large number adopted children.  Their Christmas picture is like a beautiful multicolored puzzle of love. As an adoptive family ourselves, we have come in contact with a number of such families.  We also know first hand that sometimes it is really hard to raise children especially those who had a hard start.  So we have looked upon those families thinking how amazing they are, how gifted they are, and sometimes how crazy they must be.  But what if they are not? What if they truly get it? What if it is not about adopting our token child or two? What if, as Christians, we are called to adopt until there are no more children left to adopt?

I have been thinking about this lots lately.  It is not an easy thought. It requires us to be incredibly selfless. . .giving up our lives.  Fully surrendering to the authority and plan of God. Just like His Beloved Son. . .Jesus Christ.  What if. . .that is the very way to transform most into the image of Christ? What if, we miss that opportunity?

If you doubt the Holy Spirit. . .I wish you could have been there at that moment. He graciously gave every word to say to her. Praise Him!!!! Immediately, I said to her that her first parents did several very loving things.  For one, they allowed her to live and grow in her mommy’s tummy.  Then I told her about Moses.  There are so many similarities.  During Moses’ babyhood it was the boys who were in danger for their lives.  But the Lord helped his mother (and sister) care for him and protect him.  When they could no longer protect him, they put him in a basket and watched from a safe distance.  Once someone of authority took him, then they knew he would be safe.

Sometimes we think so harshly of those who don’t choose to raise their children themselves but we shouldn’t always.  I believe based on adopting three children and one failed adoption that the most unselfish thing a mother can do is seek something better for her child if she is not able.  I cannot imagine having to give up a child.  I nearly was crushed under the weight of giving up a child that I did not birth.  So how could I imagine such.

My dear sweet daughter and I sobbed as we talked about her feelings.  Now we are praying that her first mommy and daddy know Jesus (so she might know them in Heaven).  Praise God for His Word! It truly provides ALL we need to know to live.  His Holy Spirit is incredibly God within us! How could we ask for more? And yet He too adopted us into His family that we might have life eternal!  Praising our Lord and Savior!  I would love to hear some of your adoption stories and the ways the Lord has worked through them. Please feel free to comment and tell your story.

This seems like a simple thing but it is not. We live in a time when you can go to church religiously and never “get it”.  It is so sad. People are desperately broken.  I know this because it was out of such brokenness that I have begged the Lord’s help.  In 2 Corinthians 4:5-12, it talks about us as fragile earthenware vessels.  We truly are.  Think of how many deal with depression, loneliness, unforgiveness, fear, anger, etc.  Often the circumstances of our lives in this broken world are difficult but perhaps the biggest problem is that the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).  We believe the lies of the enemy and our own desires. Then we so often loose hope. Without hope what good is anything?

Because of my own journey, I am convinced that knowledge of the Holy Spirit is often what is missing.  Isn’t that what seems missing for so many Christians.  How is that? How is it that we can profess to be Christians and yet not realize that the Holy Spirit Himself lives within us? We have the power and presence of our God within us!!!  If He does not live within you, then you are not a Christian.

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:25-27

I want so badly to experience His spirit even as never before.  I don’t want to miss a moment of Him and His work around me.  I was to be a usable vessel that is over flowing with His love which also fills every broken crack.  Fully submitted! Humbled! All His! Nothing held back! That would be daily victory in our King Jesus.

As God gives me such hunger to be closer to Him and in His will, I take another step forward.  Far too often they are baby steps, but I am prayerfully waiting and hoping for what might be a giant step.  Too much has been held back for too long.

During this time, over and over the Lord God has reminded me “Be still and know that I am God”.  I honestly feel now that the season was long because I was so incredibly stubborn.  It was so hard for me to rest in Him no matter what.  There were many times over the years that I felt His presence and amazing love.  Still I was filled with anxiety, heartache, confusion and loneliness.  Looking back I  realize that if God weren’t so merciful, I could have lost so much more than the six years.  A message that God keeps putting before me right now is this. . .If I don’t continually stay filled with Him then anything can get in.  I must have His daily filling and restoration.  Every thought must be tested against His word.  I am far too gullible to the enemies lies.

Last October, we moved again to a small town down the road about 40 minutes.  Not so far really, but in many senses a world away.  As we went to Hobby Lobby looking for somethings to fill the walls of our new home, I couldn’t help but be drawn to a rather large cross that is made up of the names of God.  It took a couple of weeks for me to have the courage to buy such a large cross.  But it marks a change in my life.  From “Be still and know that I am God” to seeing who He is more fully.  I love it!  It marks even more of a change though.  I am overwhelmed how God has blessed us these few short months.  He has brought the most loving, caring, beautiful people into our lives.  When Jim and I sit and talk about it. . . .there are no words.  We are stunned! How could we love people and feel so loved in such a short time?  The only explanation is the Holy Spirit. It would take pages for me to tell you all that has happened.  We are overwhelmed by the hand of God and how obedient so many have been.  I even sat on a sofa and poured out tears of love, faith and joy with a sweet sister this week.  Praising God for how He loves us down to every little detail.

Not sure why I am telling you this other than I believe so many people (especially women) are lonely.  They so desperately need a humble sweet prayer partner who will risk revealing the details of her life.  It is not an easy thing. We have no problem sharing health concerns, legal concerns and even money problems to some degree.  But forget about the things that most burden a heart. Just can’t risk that.  As we prepared to moved, I prayed desperately that God would provide deep friendships. You know, the kind only found between people who love Christ more than anything else.  Praise God. . .He is faithful and He gives us the desires of our heart when we believe and trust.

I have a feeling that if you are still reading this. . . then you understand.  You either need that friend or you know you need to learn to be that friend.  I know it is hard but it is worth the risk!  I pray you will begin today!

For accountability purposes – I completed week 3, day 1 of the James study.  Oh my word, I love the book of James! There is so much packed in this little book.  It is such sweet enrichment to my soul.

Then for my Old Testament reading, I am on Exodus 10.  The richness of the lives described is amazing. I am daily overwhelmed my how the Lord is using these stories that I already knew to speak new truth. I am also amazed at how exciting these stories have become. For those who love to read a good fiction book, just think how much more exciting it is when you know they are based on a true story. Well, this is even greater. It is exciting like any good fiction book but is ALL a true story.  Praise God for He is a God like no other.

As I have read through the stories of the plagues, the Lord spoke to me about how we often harden our hearts. It could be regarding anything the Lord calls us to do.  As Christians, how often have we not even heard or understood because we didn’t know it was from the Lord or didn’t have a Godly fear. I thought. . . I read this story so often thinking poorly of Pharaoh when my own sin is no less.  How humbling.  If you are a non-Christian, is the Lord calling you to Himself?  If so, don’t drag it out. The pain caused along the way is not worth it.  The eternal punishment is definitely not worth it. As Pharaoh discovered, in the end it doesn’t matter what we believe.  God is still God.  We can be obedient and feel His love and peace. . . or go down a path that leads to death and destruction.

Father, please help us to be obedient. Please help us to not act like Pharaoh continuously going back on our word.  Lord, please press your truth upon our hearts and minds that we might truly know that you are God (and there is none like you).  Father, please make us hungry every day for your Word.

^“2 Count it all joy, my brothers,^[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass^[c] he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

¹⁶ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.^{[d] 18} Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

Unfortunately those who truly know me know this. . .I am often concerned with figuring out how to help with the family finances.  My husband is most always very gracious and rarely ask for any kind of help. But I feel responsible. As a homeschool mom, it simply cannot be my priority.  Wanting to be self sufficient (urg) that does not sit well lots of times.  Today as I went through my Bible Study, it was a visit to a lesson the Lord has graciously laid on my lap on multiple occasions. Therefore, rather than realize He was telling me something. . .I thought it was review. How foolish!  Rather than review, it was another opportunity to learn.

See I thought it was about needing to take care of the poor (and it is). However, He was pointing to my own sin. How I have refused to see how He has continually provided. How I refused to do what He called me to do and rest in Him.  Praise Him for His patience and His willingness to cut to the chase and speak directly to us.  I am humbled before the Almightly God! He is my provider! He is my King! Praise His name!

Jehovah-Jireh 

“The Lord will provide”

The James study is also going well.  The battle of taking the good news to the gentiles was much harder than I had realized before. Between the Old Testament reading and doing this study about the time period when Christianity was born. . .I realize that the condition of our world today is not hopeless. God is able to win any battle and has in fact already won!!!!

Also, our sermons for the last two weeks have pressed upon me.  Particularly giving an understanding of the Armour of God that I had not had before.  We have talked about several of the parts so far but not all.  I am hoping to put together a post regarding the parts once the sermons are complete.  I believe that this will be greatly helpful to others if I can find the words to express it correctly. I also hope that these words are encouraging to you. If you are not experiencing a quiet time then I hope it will make you excited to.  It is so worth it.

Then Abraham drew near. . .Genesis 18:23

Lord, please help me to draw near to you.