Moonlight

An evil man has no hope of escaping the darkness. There is a sword somewhere waiting to kill him. He wanders from place to place, looking for food. But he knows a dark day is coming, which he brought on himself.
Job 15:22-23 ERV

I have much to "chew on" from the Book of Job this day but I'm hard-pressed to find encouraging words to share. So once again I will dole out from the Encouraging Word Bible:
*************************************************
The moon models our role.

What does the moon do? She generates no light. Contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light.

And she’s happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects. Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of bad jokes, you won’t hear ol’ Cheeseface grumble. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth.

What would happen if we accepted our place as Son reflectors?

Suffering, as difficult as it is, needs to be regarded from God’s perspective. He allows certain situations in our lives for reasons beyond our understanding. Our job is to continue to reflect His life—even through our suffering...

*************************************************

Prayer:

Father,

           Give us eyes to see from Your perspective. We pray for understanding. And if we don't get a full understanding, please never let us go. Let our faith and trust grow in You in such a way that we completely understand that You are God and we are not. And let us be at peace with it, knowing that nothing touches our lives without Your purpose. Light us up, Father, to make us a reflection of You.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Accusing

God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.
Job 13:15-16 NLT

I'm reading the Bible in chronological order this year, and currently studying through the Book of Job. It has always been my least favorite book of Scripture. I can't say that I've ever studied it before. I've read through it, but after the first time, at best, I skimmed through, much like we often do with the "begets" - you know, "the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er..." Although as I've gotten older, I'm more interested in the biblical genealogies. And now, I am also interested in Job.

There is no one I know who will deny Job's tragedies were horrendous. And it's where casual believers begin to question God's goodness when they read how Job's heartaches began. I won't go into all the he-said-then-he-saids other than to say, through the first 13 chapters, all of the monologues had some Truth in them. (I thank God for www.biblegateway.com. I admit, it helps me to use the Easy-to-Read version so I can grasp a better understanding.)

However, I will fast-forward to the here and now because God's Word is eternal and is always relatable. When most people suffer loss, the first thing they do is accuse God. By and large, people mistakenly believe that living a Christian life exempts us from suffering. Au contraire... There are no Scripture references to support that thinking.

It is in the dark times that our faith grows - if we will turn TO God instead of away from Him. It is in the loss, the suffering yet continuing to hope in God that we find His strength and Grace. The Word assures us that ALL things work together for our good. The good and the bad. The sun and the rain. The pruning and the fertilizer...

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for judging anything You do. Open our eyes to see Your goodness and embrace Your process for us. We pray as David prayed, Make us to know Your ways, O Lord; teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, for You are the God of our salvation. Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of our youth or our transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember us, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Intentional Acts

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 NLT

Worldwide, there is an anti-bullying movement. Websites, organizations, crisis prevention and in-school programs, and even the government at StopBullying.gov. There are clothing lines, posters, and entire print ads and TV ad campaigns promoting "Be Kind" with the premise that we don't know what someone may be going through. 

It's a great movement. Heralded as an idea whose time has come... However, it was first espoused in the Bible - Old and New Testament. According to our Promise for Today, it is what God called us to do!

Listed below are multiple Scriptures in support of being kind, but obviously not all that are written. Kindness is to be an intentional act, not a maybe...

Job 6:14 NIV - Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Proverbs 11:17 NIV - Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

Proverbs 19:17 NIV - Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Luke 6:35 NLT - Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12 NLT - Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 John 3:18 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Be kind on purpose. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We want to be more like You. We want our character to truly reflect Your character. Show us how we can be conduits of Your kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to the people You have purposefully placed in our lives. Open our hearts to remember Your Word and live our lives according to Your purpose for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

It's Not Fair

"One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God. But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God. This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did:
'He never sinned, and he never told a lie.'
People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly."
1 Peter 2:19-23 ERV

Have you ever gotten in trouble for something you didn't do? Have you ever felt as though you were in an interminable season of life where everything or someone was against you and none of it was because of something you did? How did you handle it? Did you want revenge or were you able to forgive and turn it over to God?

The Bible tells us that whoever angers us controls us, which is a terrifying thought. Better to forgive so that we can be forgiven, too. We must learn to live and love like Jesus who cried out from the Cross, "Forgive them, Father..." Talk about 'not fair'.
***********************************************
An excerpt from the Encouraging Word Bible reads,
"Vengeance fixes your attention at life’s ugliest moments. Score-settling freezes your stare at cruel events in your past. Is this where you want to look? Will rehearsing and reliving your hurts make you a better person? By no means. It will destroy you."

"Folks, if you’re expecting to be given a fair shake in your life, forget it! You won’t be. You’re going to face illness. And your body is going to wear out. You may be the victim of someone else’s mistake. But you can get through those tough times if you prepare your heart now, living to know and serve the Savior who loves you and died so that you might have an eternal home free of pain and sorrow.

"The struggles that you’re going through now—don’t discard them. Listen to God as He teaches you so that you can teach others. You see, a time of suffering teaches us something we never knew before and may prepare us for a time of counsel that we will give someone years from now...

"Trying to avoid suffering in this life is like trying to avoid breathing. It can’t be done. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that those who desire to live a godly lifestyle will suffer. Ask God how your suffering can bring you closer to Him. Then thank Him that He is a good God no matter what you’re going through."
***********************************************
Prayer:

Father,
            We don't always understand trials and tribulations, but humbly we ask, as we forgive and turn them over to You, please help us to embrace what You would have us learn from it. We want to be a reflection of Your Light and love in this world. Let our only thoughts of fair be with regard to countenance. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Stick with It

But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Luke 8:15 The Message

Have you ever thought about a seed? I mean, since grade school when you put the lima bean in the plastic cup with the paper towel and kept it moist. However, thinking back on that, do you remember the wonder and amazement you felt watching it germinate and grow? And even though as a child, it seemed like it took forever, it really was only a few days.

Think about that for just a moment. In that one hard, dry bean - useless in that state, until water is added either to cook it or grow it - there is enough life to eventually produce a bumper crop if you were to stick with it. In one apple, there is an orchard. In a kernel of corn is the potential for acres and acres of golden tassels blowing in the breeze.

In the parable of the sower, the seed is sown everywhere. Everyone has the opportunity to reap a harvest from the seed given to them. In The Message Bible, Luke 8:11-14, Jesus explains, The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved. The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone. And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.  

And then today's text, But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Okay, let's think about one more thing. Our lives without Christ. Most of us were one hard, dry life - and useless - until the Living Water (Jesus) was added to it. Then slowly, but surely, we began to grow. He plants us where He wants us, where we're gonna get the most growth, the right temperature, the right light, the best environment. Sometimes, there's cultivating,  pruning, and fertilizer - none of which is fun, but all are necessary for growth. If we seize the Word and hold on - No Matter What - and stick with it, there will be a harvest.

Let's stick with it.

Prayer:

Father, 
            We don't always understand the process of growing, but we know that You are in control. You are the Creator of life and the Author and Finisher of our faith. You are the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and the End. Your Word assures us that You've got it covered and we choose to trust You. Help us to stick with it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Longsuffering of Hope

Then the Lord said, “What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground. Now when you work the soil, the ground will not help your plants grow. You will not have a home in this land."
Genesis 4:10-12a ERV

This is part of the LORD's declaration to Cain (the farmer) after Cain murdered his brother Abel. And as Cain left the land, the line of descendants began to be listed. The curse on the land remained for the next 9 generations. It is generally believed to be about 1,250 years until Noah was born.

Noah was the tenth generation from the start of man, the ninth generation from the murder of Abel. When Noah was born, his father declared over him, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”  Imagine being a relative at the birth of Noah and hearing that this baby boy will bring relief from the curse that has been on the land for over a THOUSAND years! They were obviously still aware of it or the relief wouldn't be such an announcement. 

The sad thing about it is there was the hope that relief would come, but it didn't happen immediately so the people lost their hope of it and just gave up following God. They had ample time to repent and turn again to God, but they did not. Noah was 500 years old when God warned him about the flood. He was 600 years old when the flood erupted and the rains came. 

Today I see Him as the God of Hope to those who intentionally follow Him. If He said it, He will do it. Don't lose hope.

Prayer:

Father,

           You are faithful and trustworthy. Even if we don't see the fulfillment in our time, we choose to put our hope and trust in You, knowing Your Word accomplishes what it is sent to do. Help us to remain steadfast and sure, rooted in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

hat I had not ever thought about as far as the timing of it.

No Plan B

And BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. [emphasis mine]
Ephesians 1:5 ERV

Through the years, I have worked for various employers who always had to have a backup plan for whatever plan they created. After hearing a proposed plan, there were also those who would ask, "What's your Plan B?" In reality and in their defense, I believe they were driven by a desire to succeed and were trying to provide for all contingencies, known and unknown, utilizing as many plans as deemed necessary to cover all the bases.

Today, I started a new (to me) Bible plan for reading God's Word all the way through in a year. This one is laid out in chronological order, starting with Genesis 1, 2 and 3. The focus of this plan is to look for who God is, and how His character is portrayed. In the first few chapters of Genesis, I've always seen Him as the Authority, the Creator, Maker of the Rules, Judge, Disciplinarian. How often have we read about the fall of man and thought, "Well, we messed that up - what's Plan B?" and maybe not consciously, but somehow believed God had to come up with another plan to fix that first one.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I have never connected the dots before. I've never seen "God as Love" in the creation story. But today, He revealed Himself as the Lover of my soul. I just kept thinking "before the foundation of the Earth..." and it finally connected. God is eternal - Alpha and Omega. Nothing shocks or shakes Him off the Throne. He planned for our redemption BEFORE the world was made. Read again our Promise for Today - "And BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it."

Christ coming to Earth as our Savior was NOT Plan B to fix what we had broken. He already knew we would be broken. God's Plan A was, is, and will always be eternal.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your promises that never fail. For Your love that never fails. For Your Plan that cannot fail for those who choose Christ. Thank You for providing salvation before You ever created the first human. And thank You that Your Plan is eternal so we are included. Help us to grasp Your Truth and be as sure as Paul was "that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen