Just who do you think you are?

I recently read a novel called "Love Amid The Ashes" by Mesu Andrews. the book is a work of fiction  about Job and his trials. It got me to pondering Job. 


After Jobs friends accuse him of being disciplined for unrepentant sin, Job asks God Why? Why me Lord. What have I done to deserve this ill treatment?" and demands God answer to him. 


God replies: Job 38: 2 " Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?"


God does not answer Job with a discourse on Jobs innocence or guilt. God doesn't address Job's suffering or Jobs problem with divine justice. God asks Job a series of questions designed to show Job just how awesome God is, our Creator of the world and how in comparison.. there is no comparison. God asks Job chapter 40:1 " Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who accuses God answer him" 
vs 8 God asks " Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 


I hear God asking.. Just who do you think you are to question my motives? 


I think we all have asked God why we suffer. Why He doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should. But who do we think we are to question God? How do we as sinful humans, question our perfect Creator?  


Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 


I think Job had the right of it when he told God Job 42:1-2 I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3b Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.


Stop questioning and whining and start trusting in our Sovereign Lord that He has a plan for us. 


Dear Lord. I know you have a plan for my life. I also understand that I don't have to know why things are not always easy for me. Dear God, help me to learn to trust and rely on you in times of trouble instead of railing and whining.
Amen

The Joy of Tough Times

I met a friend for lunch yesterday and as we were standing in the parking lot saying our goodbyes, my friend Lisa related to me about the time earlier in her marriage, when both she and her husband had been unemployed. They had been underemployed for four years. Four years! 


Between them, my friend and her husband hold three college degrees. Yet they couldn't find a job in their chosen fields or even close. Lisa took jobs serving tables and Robert worked day labor.  Lisa told me they were never once late with a bill and never paid the mortgage late and they never failed to put food on the table.  Many times the money came in from one unexpected source or another at the last minute. 


 I am sure it wasn't easy. I am sure they were stressed. I have no doubt they both thought at one time or another " I have a college degree to work hard labor"?  I would have thought that way, wouldn't you? 


What did happen through this time of trial, is they learned to trust in God to provide. 


Something else that struck me in this conversation was Lisa said they had purchased her dream home prior to losing their jobs. Every day she offered that house to God and told Him if He wanted them to sell the house, she would be willing. This was her dream house! The house they worked so hard to buy. But They were willing to give that dream house up if God wanted them to. God always made sure they were able to make the mortgage so they didn't have to give it up.  I wonder if God was testing them to see if they would be willing to give it all up for Him. Would you pass that test? 


We tend to be so tethered to our "stuff". Sometimes it is our pride " I won't work that lowly position, I am a degreed professional" or " I can't mention God in front of other people, I might look like a fanatic or look silly"


Other times it is our house, our car, our fancy clothes..  but we are so attached we can't even think about offering it to God and just trusting in Him. 


Lisa told me that when they were the lowest, when times were the toughest, was when they got the closest to God. she said they felt they had no other choice but to trust ad rely on him and God never let them down. 


James 1: 2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Serve the Lord with Gladness.. Psalm 100:2

I recently had a job that took me to California 3 weeks of the month. I felt I should be happy to have a job and with the pay I was making from that job, it should have been easy. I always thought I would love a job where I traveled. 


But, I was not happy. I knew I was supposed to be doing something for God. I was supposed to be serving Him. 


Well, I thought, but I need a job, so I am just going to have to find a way to serve Him in California instead of at home in Texas. After searching for months, I finally found a church I could enjoy attending. It wasn't as awesome as my home church, but then, I know God led me to Hillcrest
www.hbcaustin.org  . 


But couldn't God lead me to serve Him in another church? Someplace of my choosing? someplace I could serve Part Time?
Well, since I was still not happy, still not feeling "right" and still knowing in my heart God had something in His plans for me to do and i wasn't doing it.. the answer to that question at that time was no.


So after much prayer, I gave my notice and came home. 
I took two jobs and trusted God would help me make it financially. And I knew peace. Me who has always worried about finances, had peace in my heart.


I made an appointment the following week with the church Education Minister and offered to do whatever was needed. I found myself leading a small group and serving in the singles ministry for my age group. Talk about stepping out into service, I felt more like I was leaping into service! 



I found after I stepped out in faith and obedience, I began singing and laughing and my heart was bubbling over with joy. Friends began telling me how I was not myself before and how much they could see my joy. I had changed!


 I didn't even realize how "off" I was until I got onto the path God wanted me on. I was HAPPY with a capital H. I still wasn't sure how I would manage two jobs, but it didn't matter. I knew God would provide. 




I believe God made us to serve him. I do not think we are happy until we do. 
I now know what having the joy of the Lord is. I get it, having Life to the Full. It isn't having wealth, or a nice car or fine house. It is the peace that comes from obedience to God.

Soon after I started serving in my church, my former employer called me and offered a consulting job for more money than he had paid me as an employee. During the first week of consulting, another company offered me a full time position as a Sales Manager.  They are patiently waiting for me to finish up with the consulting job so i can get started with them.


Isn't God good? 


I think God wants us to desire to serve Him. I think He wants us to trust in Him to handle everything for us and just do what we know He wants us to do. 


Not sure how to serve? Ask your pastor where the need is. Not sure what do do? do something! God will lead you.  Ask your Sunday School teacher, your pastor, a deacon, believe me, churches always need volunteers. 


Matthew 25:40 says "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." 

Take a meal to a shut in. visit with an elderly person. Deliver care bag to the homeless. God will lead you in what he wants you to do.


And you know, sometimes all God wants is for you to desire to serve him, and to do that, you have to believe in Him. 


John 6:28-29 "Then they said to him, What must we do, to do the works that God requires. Jesus answered and said to them, The work of God is this, that you believe on the one He sent."


Dear Lord, Thank you for choosing me to serve you. Please help me to always be willing to serve with a cheerful heart. 
Amen