During the years of my despair, I began to read the book of Job. It was a tiny bit of comfort to know that someone was worse off than I was, even though he lived long ago. I found that I could relate to a lot of what he was saying.
Job questioned why the ones who don't even acknowledge God go about their merry ways oblivious to the suffering of the needy and then said, "Men at ease have contempt for misfortune".
His utter hopelessness resounds in his words and I could understand his great despair as one who also thought: "My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart."
He called out to God who seemed to "merely look at (him)" and one of my favorite verses to carry in my head was this one: "When I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness."
It seemed to me that nothing would ever change for the good; that each day brought new tribulations and I was afraid to wake up and have to live through another hellish day.
"Wait on the Lord! Have faith!" Easy to read and more difficult to believe when day after day there seems to be no hope.
But the most troubling to me was something Job also found out in his lowest days.
His family was gone, so I don't know if he spoke with other family members (I am not a Bible scholar), but 3 of his so-called friends came by to talk with him and instead of comforting, they pretty much told him that his situation must be his own fault.
No one said to my face that they blamed me, but actions speak louder than words, or should I say, lack of actions. What happens when you see a homeless man sleeping under a bridge? Is your first thought that he is a loser, and brought on his troubles himself? Is he undeserving of help? What if a realtive lost everything. Would you give them sympathy and stop there?
I think for the most part that Job was right in saying that men at ease (well off and enjoying the good fortune they have been blessed with) have contempt and no compassion for the ones who are facing tribulation.
I would expect strangers to judge me as a loser for losing my home. I would expect to be looked down on and ignored and treated like I don't matter. None of that surprised me. The world is a lonely place for the ones judged to be the lowest of people.
But what I discovered about my blood relatives and in-laws and people I thought would be the most likely to be open handed and compassionate, was that what they offered was much less than I would have thought. And in many cases, nothing at all.
Job 6 says this:
"A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends...but my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels."
Then he talks about caravans traveling and searching for the water they thought they would find but it has dried up...and says:
"They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there only to be disappointed."
Yes, it sure is disappointing to realize that the help you had always assumed would be there in times of great distress has dried up.
"Now you too have proved to be of no help; you see something dreadful and are afraid. Have I ever said, 'Give something on my behalf, pay a ransom for me from your wealth..'"
In the bad times our country now faces, none of us are secure and safe. Don't kid yourself into thinking that no misfortune will befall you. Today a plane crashed into a house in New York. Did the people living in that house ever think for a moment that would happen? Did the people on the plane ever think they would not touch earth again? An illness, a death, a law suit....it could be anything that destroys your happy life, as we are not immune from the evil of this world.
Your only security is in God. He changed Jobs suffering into thanks as he provided him with more than he could have imagined. All Job wanted to do was die and end his suffering, it was so great, but the Bible says, "The Lord blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first."
In all his suffering Job never relented in believing that God was there. Although he wondered why God would let him go on suffering although he thought himself undeserving of the horror that had befallen him, he knew that his best hope for help came from Jesus, the only sure friend we have.
"Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor (Jesus) is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend." Job 16:19-21
And this is the verse I ultimately hold onto while waiting in expectation for whatever God has planned for my life.
"For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves...This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings." Psalm 49:10- 11,13 (NIV)
Let them (those that are rich) do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NKJ)
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Actions or Words?
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:17 & 18
I've been in a position where I have lost everything.
Two people, and they were not related to me, just very dear and kind friends, opened their hearts, mouths and hands, and offered real help in the form of substantial giving.
They offered me a place to live.
When you are without a home, believe me, it's your main concern.
Both of them live very far away from me, hundreds of miles...in other states. But that didn't stop them from offering me a room in their homes.
What was it that touched their hearts more than any of my relatives, who offered sympathy and prayers? Or my many other friends who felt bad and said things like, "If there's anything we can do, just let us know."
Don't say that to someone who is obviously in great need of many things besides pity.
What I needed most to hear, was that if it came down to it and my choice was between living in my car and going to another state, I had a place to go.
It meant, and still means, so much to me. Because besides money, it's what I worried about the most.
I'm thinking of all the people who have lost their homes lately, and the many more who will because of this horrible economy. And I want you to know that you must offer something more than sympathy and prayers.
Look at them. What do they need?
Not everyone has family around to take them in and I've discovered that when times get tough, not even family jumps in to rescue you. People generally don't want anything to do with the ones who are down and out.
Not only that, but a bankruptcy and/or foreclosure will ruin their credit and they will have to live on whatever they have. It means fear of not being approved for anything such as a car, apartment, or rental home. The home that was your largest investment in life, is gone, and unless you ever experience losing a home, I doubt that you will be able to comprehend the far reaching effects it has on everything else in life.
As Christians we are called to be God-like, to not judge and to be open handed. Praying for them is great, but letting them know that they also have backup on this earth in the form of housing, loans until they get back on their feet, clothes for the kids, and help with moving, to name a few, is God in action.
If you are called upon to be the giver, then be generous without judgement and have compassion without criticism.
Being on the other side where I wait and hope for help, I have learned to be forgiving.
...let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:17 & 18
I've been in a position where I have lost everything.
Two people, and they were not related to me, just very dear and kind friends, opened their hearts, mouths and hands, and offered real help in the form of substantial giving.
They offered me a place to live.
When you are without a home, believe me, it's your main concern.
Both of them live very far away from me, hundreds of miles...in other states. But that didn't stop them from offering me a room in their homes.
What was it that touched their hearts more than any of my relatives, who offered sympathy and prayers? Or my many other friends who felt bad and said things like, "If there's anything we can do, just let us know."
Don't say that to someone who is obviously in great need of many things besides pity.
What I needed most to hear, was that if it came down to it and my choice was between living in my car and going to another state, I had a place to go.
It meant, and still means, so much to me. Because besides money, it's what I worried about the most.
I'm thinking of all the people who have lost their homes lately, and the many more who will because of this horrible economy. And I want you to know that you must offer something more than sympathy and prayers.
Look at them. What do they need?
Not everyone has family around to take them in and I've discovered that when times get tough, not even family jumps in to rescue you. People generally don't want anything to do with the ones who are down and out.
Not only that, but a bankruptcy and/or foreclosure will ruin their credit and they will have to live on whatever they have. It means fear of not being approved for anything such as a car, apartment, or rental home. The home that was your largest investment in life, is gone, and unless you ever experience losing a home, I doubt that you will be able to comprehend the far reaching effects it has on everything else in life.
As Christians we are called to be God-like, to not judge and to be open handed. Praying for them is great, but letting them know that they also have backup on this earth in the form of housing, loans until they get back on their feet, clothes for the kids, and help with moving, to name a few, is God in action.
If you are called upon to be the giver, then be generous without judgement and have compassion without criticism.
Being on the other side where I wait and hope for help, I have learned to be forgiving.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Rock or Sand, Wise or Foolish
Matthew 7:24-27
"And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall." (Jesus speaking to the multitudes -- NAS)
Friday, December 5, 2008
Explaining Advent and On-Line Devotions For the Season
Advent is the time -4 weeks- leading up to Christmas when Christians celebrate the coming of Christ.
Can Someone Please Explain ADVENT?
Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time, we observe a season of prayer, fasting and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope and joy. Many Christians celebrate advent not only by thanking God for Christ's first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of time.
The wreath symbolizes the continuity of life and contains 4 candles; 3 purple and one pink (or rose). Each candle is lit one at a time on each Sunday of Advent, beginning Nov. 30th. with the pink one lit on the 3rd or 4th Sunday.
Scripture is read and a prayer is said before the lighting. It's a way to increase the expectation of the Saviour's birth. The real reason for Christmas.
In my house we always do an Advent calendar. The kids always had fun opening each little door to see how close Christmas was. Unfortunately many calendars don't include Jesus and people miss out on the message.
Can Someone Please Explain ADVENT?
Advent is a period of spiritual preparation in which many Christians make themselves ready for the coming, or birth of the Lord, Jesus Christ. During this time, we observe a season of prayer, fasting and repentance, followed by anticipation, hope and joy. Many Christians celebrate advent not only by thanking God for Christ's first coming to Earth as a baby, but also for his presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of his final coming at the end of time.
The wreath symbolizes the continuity of life and contains 4 candles; 3 purple and one pink (or rose). Each candle is lit one at a time on each Sunday of Advent, beginning Nov. 30th. with the pink one lit on the 3rd or 4th Sunday.
Scripture is read and a prayer is said before the lighting. It's a way to increase the expectation of the Saviour's birth. The real reason for Christmas.
In my house we always do an Advent calendar. The kids always had fun opening each little door to see how close Christmas was. Unfortunately many calendars don't include Jesus and people miss out on the message.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Giving Thanks- Advent Begins
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into God's presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
Advent begins November 30
Printable pages: Week by Week in Advent
History of the Advent Calendar
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into God's presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100
Advent begins November 30
Printable pages: Week by Week in Advent
History of the Advent Calendar
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
The Ark of the Covenant
Now that the new Indiana Jones movie is about to be released all of the old Indie movies are constantly being shown on television. The first in the series, and the best one in my humble opinion, is about the quest for the ark of the covenant.
The Ark is mentioned a lot in the book of Joshua as being the power of God which was carried from place to place. The NIV Study Bible calls it the Lord's throne.
Joshua had taken the place of Moses as the chosen one to lead the Israelites to their chosen land and they had to cross the Jordan river which was at flood stage at this time of year. God commanded the priests to carry the ark ahead of the Israelites and warned the people to "keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it." (Joshua 3:4)
Once the priests carrying the ark set foot in the Jordan River, the water flowing from upstream stopped and piled up. The priests who carried the ark "stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." (Joshua 3:17)
Just thought I'd share this one biblical account of the ark of the covenant.
The Ark is mentioned a lot in the book of Joshua as being the power of God which was carried from place to place. The NIV Study Bible calls it the Lord's throne.
Joshua had taken the place of Moses as the chosen one to lead the Israelites to their chosen land and they had to cross the Jordan river which was at flood stage at this time of year. God commanded the priests to carry the ark ahead of the Israelites and warned the people to "keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it." (Joshua 3:4)
Once the priests carrying the ark set foot in the Jordan River, the water flowing from upstream stopped and piled up. The priests who carried the ark "stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground." (Joshua 3:17)
Just thought I'd share this one biblical account of the ark of the covenant.
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