No Strings
Mood:  irritated
Topic: Healing
Job 21:34 GW How can you comfort me with this nonsense when your answers continue to betray me?"

Job's friends came up with all sorts of reasons why Job was suffering--sin, hurting others, etc. They were more interested in finding answers than in comforting or helping Job.

When others around us suffer do we speak our minds or wait for God's guidance. Do we help or just add a layer of hurt and guilt? Am I ready to listen, not speak, hug and keep my mouth from offering judgment, comments or suggestions?

Am I willing just to be available, recognizing this isn't about me and love doesn't come with theological strings?

Frustration
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Attitude
Col. 4:5-6 GW Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside the Christian faith. Make the most of your opportunities. Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.

We've all known of cases where
someone with a Christian bumper sticker flips someone off or loses control over some frustrating public or business situation. Maybe we've done it ourselves.

There is truth in the saying, "The only Jesus many will see is in you and me."

Do I claim to follow Christ but shame Him with my actions, attitudes and words? Do my actions draw others to Jesus or turn them away? Do I need to apologize to God, others? Do I need to choose to lift up rather than tear down and not take my frustrations out on others?

Help me focus on You, Jesus, and not take my frustrations out on others. Amen.

Am I a Job's Comforter?
Mood:  hug me
Topic: Healing
Job 16:1-5 GW Then Job replied to his friends, "I have heard many things like this before. You are all pathetic at comforting me. Will your long-winded speeches never end? What disturbs you that you keep on answering me? I, too, could speak like you if we could trade places. I could string words together against you and shake my head at you. I could encourage you with my mouth, and my quivering lips could ease your pain.

Job's friends at first just sat with him. Their presence comforted until they opened their mouths to figure out "why?" Of course, they assumed Job had sinned and needed to repent. Their words only added to Job's burden.

When someone is hurting, are we willing to share grief in silence or do we speculate, make demands and pontificate nonsense instead of offering a hand, hug and a listening, non-judgmental ear? Am I a Job's comforter, or a real comfort?

Oh Give Thanks
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Celebrate!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. I Chronicles 16:34

Isn't it great that God doesn't get so tired of our whining and complaining, He turns His back when we come to Him for help.

Today on Thanksgiving Day we can begin a new habit of counting our blessings instead of our complaints.

Up Front and Personal
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Faith
Job 13:15-16 GW If God would kill me, I would have no hope left. Nevertheless, I will defend my behavior to his face. This also will be my salvation because no godless person could face him.

Job has such confidence in God he trusts his life and death to him. But more, he assumes a rational God who listens to and interacts with His creation.

Is my God a cosmic "something," or the God of all who came that we might have a personal relationship with Him?

Do I have Job's type of relationship with God--Up front and personal--where it matters?

Trusting Like Job
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Choices
Job 10:12 GW You gave me life and mercy. Your watchfulness has preserved my spirit.

Despite all Job was going through, in all his pain, frustration and wish that he'd never been born, comes this ringing affirmation of faith. He trusted, even in the worst of circumstances--losing his children, his health, his wealth, that God was a good God.

He didn't understand and he had a lot of questions for God, but he knew who'd given him life, who sustained him and, regardless of circumstance, was not about to turn his back on the only One who cared and could heal and restore him.

When my life doesn't go as I plan, will I have Job's unshakeable faith?

Trusting Jesus is a choice.

Buying into Satan's Lies
Mood:  down
Topic: Doubt
Job 1:9-11 GW Satan answered the LORD, "Haven't you given Job a reason to fear God? Haven't you put a protective fence around him, his home, and everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His cattle have spread out over the land. But now stretch out your hand, and strike everything he has. I bet he'll curse you to your face."

Satan's whole approach is about getting us to believe a liie. He will twist truth sometimes subtly, sometimes into a pretzel--whatever he thinks we'll accept.

His first in Job, that many accept, is that Job would only trust God when everything was going well for him. Many do turn away when a family member dies or they suffer economic reversals. Satan tried to prove Job's faith was not really based on trust in God, but in himself and a false image of the real God.

Job proved Satan wrong and refused to buy into the lie of "I trust because God blesses." How shallow a faith that cannot withstand bad as well as good.


Job 1:20-21 GW Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother, and naked I will return. The LORD has given, and the LORD has taken away! May the name of the LORD be praised."

Jesus, help me not buy into Satan's lies. Help me to trust in You no matter what my circumstances. Amen.

Need For God's House
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Attitude
Psalm 122:1 GW A song by David for going up to worship. I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go to the house of the LORD."

Do I view going to worship as a "If I Feel like it" or "If I have time" or "If I'm not too tired" activity? Or, do I recognize time in God's house is not optional? God says we need not only to worship Him, but that we also need the fellowship and suppoort of other believers.

Why? There is power, strength and joy in worshipping together.
To grow in our walk of faith through hearing God's Word.
To put our faith in action by reaching out to others--
a welcoming hand shake, smile
helping with coffee, etc
teaching SS, etc

We were not meant to be alone. Christianity is a relationship between the person and Jesus, but that relationship is meant to be honed in community.

Help me, Jesus, find joy in worshipping with your people today.

To Whom Do I Belong?
Topic: Following Jesus
Phil. 1:27a GW Live as citizens who reflect the Good News about Christ. ...

Do I live as a good citizen not just of my earthly country, but also my heavenly home? Do I live as though Jesus lives in and through me by my loving actions and words toward others?

Jesus, today, help me reflect You that others might see to whom I truly belong. Amen.

Where Arrogance Leads
Mood:  cheeky
Topic: Attitude
Esther 6:6-7, 9-10a GW So Haman came in. The king then asked him, "What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to reward?"
Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to reward more than me?"
So Haman told the king, "This is what should be done: ...Give the robe and the horse to one of the king's officials, who is a noble. Put the robe on the man whom the king wishes to reward and have him ride on the horse in the city square.
The king's servants are also to shout ahead of him, 'This is what is done for the man whom the king wishes to reward.'"
The king told Haman, "Hurry, take the robe and the horse as you said. Do this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. ..."

Because of his pride, arrogance and self-centeredness, Haman lost sight of the big picture. He couldn't see anything outside the context of him as center.

He ended up honoring the very man he hated with a passion, a man he was seeking to destroy along with his whole people, a man much better than himself.

When we put ourselves at the center of life, we will fail. We become arrogant and selfish, because without God who is caring, hope and love we are miserable creatures indeed.

Who is at the center of my life? Me or Jesus? The choice makes all the difference in who we are and who'll we'll become.

What I Rely On
Psalm 119:97-99 GW Oh, how I love your teachings! They are in my thoughts all day long. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, because your commandments are always with me.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, because your commandments are always with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, because your written instructions are in my thoughts.

What I Rely On

I must not rely on my faulty knowledge of God's Word,
nor believe all those who seek to teach about God know what they are talking about
--many don't know God at all.

I must not rely on childhood memories from Sunday School or my parents
for knowledge of God on which to base my decisions
My life.

Memories of God are not the same as knowing God
Not the same as communicating with and
Experiencing Him each day in my life.
Reading books and listening to others talk about God
Is not the same as reading, studying, meditating on and memorizing God's Word for myself--regularly,
daily discovering guidance and wisdom for myself.

God's Wisdom is wisdom I acquire as I commit
to knowing His Word and communicating with Him
Daily, moment by moment,
Heart to heart
Not in fading memories
Or stand ins.

Help me, Lord, make a commitment to You,
Your Word
Finding in You
Wisdom to live, choose and astound a world that needs Your wisdom, too. Amen.

TRUST JESUS OR ME
Psalm 119:89-90, 93 GW O LORD, your word is established in heaven forever. Your faithfulness endures throughout every generation. You set the earth in place, and it continues to stand. ...I will never forget your guiding principles, because you gave me a new life through them.

God's principles and promises do not change with time, circumstances or feelings. We can rely on what God says because, unlike you and I, He is unchangable and eternal, and so are His principles and promises.

Why then do I so often go my way instead of trusting that His way is best?

Help me, Jesus, learn to listen and trust You and Your Word over my own selfish, self-centered heart. Amen.

What is My Motivation?

Ephesians 8:8-10 GW  God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it.
  God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do. 

Good works to really be good works and not something done for praise, to meet an agenda or to manipulate, starts not with us, but with God.

Only as God works in and through us will our motives be pure for love, real, self-sacrificial love doesn't come from the self-centered heart of humankind. Real loving acts of service and self-sacrifice come from God's heart, for God is love. Without Him we cannot live or love or reach out.

Help me, Jesus, make sure when I reach out that my motives are pure and stem from Your love inside--not from my own needs or wants. Amen.

Have I A Teachable Spirit?

Psalm 119:66 GW Teach me to use good judgment and knowledge, because I believe in your commandments. 

We like to think we know wjat we're doing. But how often do our decisions and choices get us into trouble? Why? Because we relied on ourselves instead of on the One who knows us because He created us, understands the past, present and future, who loves us and seeks our good.

When we realize we don't know it all, when we're willing to seek help and guidance, when we come to God with a receptive, teachable attitude, He'll teach and guide us to the very best decisions and choices for us.

Jesus, help me have a teachable spirit. Amen.

Do I Honor God's Word

  Nehemiah 8:5-6 GW Ezra, standing higher than all the other people, opened the book in front of all the people. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra thanked the LORD, the great God. All the people responded, "Amen! Amen!" as they raised their hands and then bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped the LORD. 

After not having God's Word for a long time, they appreciated being able to hear it. The people showed respect to God's Word and to the One responsible for the Scriptures and their new-found freedom from captivity in a foreign land.

America has lived too long on a fading memory of God's Word, relying on what others say about it rather than taking the time to learn what the Bible says directly to us. We no longer respect God's Word or His principles, partly because we don't know what they are.

The Israelites knew God's blessing when they listened to, respected and heeded His Word. Do I honor God by honoring His Word?