Job 42:1–17

February 1, 2011

Job answers the LORD, "I know you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be ruined... my ears had heard of you before, but now my eyes have seen you..." Beside this scripture I have written:

"Praise God!  4/14/08"

This scripture is how I would describe the journey we have been on. For the majority of our lives we have believed in God, been good people, and have been Christ followers. But in this storm, we have seen the Hand of God!! There is no other way to explain what all has happened. There is no better place to be than living with the Hand of God on your life.   

God then tells Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar that He is angry with them because of what they had done. Then incredibly, God tells them to take a burnt offering to Job; to have Job pray for them; and then God would listen to Job's prayer and forgive them and withhold His punishment from them. After they did this and after Job prayed for them, God again blessed Job's life and gave him success again. AFTER! After the friends admitted their wrong doing to Job they were forgiven because of Job's intercessory prayer. And, because Job did not hold any grudges and because he prayed to God on behalf of his friends, Job's afflictions were gone and he was blessed again by God—receiving double of what he had before! Job 42:12 - "The LORD blessed the last part of Job's life even more than the first part." Job sees God—and that is enough.

"For God gave Job more than Job ever dreamed. God gave Job himself."~ From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado.

And that is enough. We would gladly face "the storm" all over again to see, hear, touch, and feel God's presence in our lives. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

Addendum: 1/3/15 ~ When you have seen the Hand of God you cannot remain the same. It is no longer about believing in God, or being good people, or even calling yourself a Christ follower. It is finally understanding (albeit in a simple and incomplete way) who God is and what man is in relationship to Him. God is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, and we are mere man. He is God, we are not. Conventional idealism would oppose the concept of "mere man," and would view that thought as belittling to man's intelligence, stature and capabilities when in truth embracing the concept of "mere man" does the exact opposite. We can only achieve and become who we were created and meant to be when we fully (in our finite minds) embrace and understand WHO the Almighty is; who we are in relationship to HIM; why we were created in HIS image; and then fully surrender our will to HIS. Then (and only then) can we reach our fullest potential and we can become the person God created us to be. It is not an imprisonment of "self," it is a liberating freeing of one's spirit and will to the King of kings and Lord of lords. And, oh what peace, joy, contentment and fulfillment comes when we are willing to finally step aside and "let" God be GOD!

This morning, as I was reading Job 42, the heading for Job 42:7–17 jumped off the page. I did a double take and looked at it again.

End of the Story   

The End of the Story: God let Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar know that He was angry with them for what they had done. When they finally understood that their actions were wrong and they were misguided in their ways, they repented, and Job was given the honor of praying an intercessory prayer for them. Job went to the Lord on their behalf. The Lord forgave them, and the Lord blessed the last half of Job's life even more than the first.

Oh how I wish we could be given the honor or praying an intercessory prayer for my sister and brother-in-law, but before an intercessory prayer can be prayed, there must first be repentance. Only they can make that choice.


Next Entry: Psalm 1:1 – 3:8

Job 38:1 – 41:34

January 29, 2011

When you read these chapters the only thing you can think to say is: "Majesty, worship His Majesty."

Up until now in the book of Job everyone was talking "about" God as if He was absent and not hearing them. Now they are face to face with the living God. By my count God asked Job 65 questions in these chapters. 65!!

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?"

"God's questions aren't intended to teach; they are intended to stun. They aren't intended to enlighten; they are intended to awaken. They aren't intended to stir the mind; they are intended to bend the knees..." ~ From In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado

And that is what it does. "Majesty, worship His Majesty."

Addendum:  The LORD—He is the One!!! These chapters ought to be required reading every few days. If you ever start to put your "self" on the throne, these verses will quickly put everything back into the right perspective. The LORD is God; we are not!! Job was a self-sufficient and "honest and innocent man, honoring God, and staying away from evil" because it was the right thing to do. But for the first time he came face to face with the Almighty God and his response was, "I am not worthy; I cannot answer you anything."  When you begin to grasp who the LORD God Almighty is the only response you can give is "I am not worthy."

PSALM 8

O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is YOUR name in all the earth.

You have set YOUR glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants YOU have ordained praise because of YOUR enemies, to silence the foe and avenger. 

When I consider YOUR heavens, the work of YOUR fingers, the moon and the stars which YOU have set in place, what is man that YOU are mindful of him, the son of man that YOU care for him? YOU made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

YOU made him ruler over the works of YOUR hands; YOU put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the seas, all that swim in the paths of the sea.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is YOUR name in all the earth!

Next Entry: Job 42:1–17

Job 32:1 – 37:24

January 25, 2011

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have finished talking. They are all convinced that Job is a hypocrite and that the only reason a person would suffer is because of sin in their life. They saw God as a reactionary god. Job knew he had not committed any sin that resulted in the "punishment" he was receiving. But, therein lies the problem. Job thought he was being punished, when in truth, God had allowed Satan to attack Job because he was an "honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil!"

Wow! Job was given what we were given; the opportunity to witness the Hand of God in his life. 

Elihu begins to speak. He has listened while everyone else talked, and now he can sit quiet no longer. He too assumes Job has sinned, but his argument was against how everyone else (including Job) viewed God. (Psalm 8 - "What is man..."?) Who are we to question or accuse God? God owes no one an explanation. Elihu passionately speaks about who God is.

Jane's (Her Name is Jane) KJV Bible has cross-references printed down a center column on each page.  While reading this section, I noticed Jane had circled the cross references for Job 34:21.

• Job 31:4
• II Chronicles 16:9
• Psalm 34:15
• Proverbs 5:21
• Proverbs 15:3
• Jeremiah 16:17
• Jeremiah 32:19

I looked up the verses.  Every verse has the same message. God knows; He's watching; He's aware of everything; and He sees what is good and evil.

While looking up and reading Jeremiah 16:17 - "I see everything they do. They cannot hide from me the things they do; so their sin is not hidden from my eyes," I noticed Jane had also circled the cross references for Jeremiah 17:7 - "But the person who trusts in the LORD will be blessed. The LORD will show him that he can be trusted." I looked up those cross references for that verse.

• Psalm 12:2
• Psalm 34:8
• Psalm 125:1
• Psalm 146:5
• Proverbs 16:20
• Isaiah 30:18  

Every verse has the same message. God will bless those who trust and wait on Him. Wow!!! The first cross references I looked up (that Jane circled for Job 34:21) are all about God knowing. He sees what is happening. He sees the good and bad.  He's aware, and He's watching.

The cross references for Jeremiah 17:7 (that Jane also had circled) are all about God blessing those who trust and wait on Him. The last verse circled was Isaiah 30:18. It reads, "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for Him."

Isaiah 30 is what Jane asked me to read in September '07, just days before my first deposition. When I finished reading the chapter Jane spoke and said, "Read the part about wait on the LORD again." I didn't remember reading that, so starting from the end of the chapter, I used my finger to trace the words saying to myself, "wait on the LORD, wait on the LORD. What if it's not in here? Jane thinks it is in here! What am I going to do? Wait on the LORD, wait on the LORD." And there it was in Verse 18, "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him." It goes on to say in Verse 21, "If you go the wrong way, to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the right way. You should go this way." Wow!

It is such an encouragement to be reminded that: 1) God knows; He sees what is happening; He's aware; He's watching; and 2) God blesses those who trust and wait for Him.

I began to wonder. Were there other times Jane had circled cross references in her Bible? Had I just missed them before? I decided to look and see. So starting from where I was reading in Job, I leafed through all the pages in her Bible from Job back to Genesis. I found only one other time. It was for Deuteronomy 32:35 - "I will punish those who do wrong; I will repay them. Soon their foot will slip because their day of trouble is near, and their punishment will come quickly." I looked up the cross references (Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30). Again, wow!  The ONLY cross references Jane has circled in her Bible SENDS me to verses throughout the Bible with the following message just as "the storm" is picking up velocity: 

1)  God knows, He's aware, and He's watching.
2)  Blessed are those who trust and wait on Him.
3)  Vengeance is the LORD's!

This is HIS battle not ours. God is still using Jane to "speak" to us. This time through what she has circled in her Bible. Is it a coincidence that these three cross references are the ONLY ones she has circled? I think not. Is it a coincidence that even though I began keeping a journal while reading through the Bible over two years ago that this is the EXACT time we find them? I know not.

May all Glory and Honor be given to Christ the King.

I believe.

Addendum: 1/2/15 ~ Oh how grateful I am that I began this journal over five years ago and that there is a record of what all God has done. I am in awe of how God works and provides for those who trust Him. It is the start of a new year. My husband and I went walking this morning and surrendered everything to the LORD—again. It is so comforting to KNOW that HE knows; that HE is aware; HE is watching; HE blesses those who trust and wait on HIM; and that "the storm" is HIS battle.

Job 34:10 - "God can never do wrong! It is impossible for the Almighty to do evil."
Job 34:30 - "He keeps the wicked from ruling and trapping others."
Job 37:23 - "The Almighty is too high for us to reach. He has great strength; he is always right and never punishes unfairly." 

WE KNOW:

• This battle is not ours, it belongs to the LORD
• He blesses those who wait and trust in Him
• God is in control, and that is ENOUGH!

Psalm 140:12–13 - "I know the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Surely the righteous will praise his name and the upright will live before him."


Next Entry: Job 38:1 – 41:34

Job 29:1 – 31:40

January 22, 2011

Job continues to defend himself and speak of his innocence. He goes on and on about all he has done. But, it doesn't matter how "good" we are or what we have done, we are nothing compared to God. Our thoughts are not his thoughts, and our ways are not his ways. Who are we to decide if God has the "right" to do what HE decides to do? Who are we to question what God does or does not do? Psalm 8 - "What is man that you are mindful of him?" It's all about understanding the relationship.
                                           

God

↓

Man

I Peter 3:15-16 - "But respect Christ as the holy LORD in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have, but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed."

Addendum: 1/1/15 ~ "The words of Job are finished." Job's last words are all about I—me—my. There were at least 43 references to I—me—my in the first 25 verses of Chapter 29. Job 29:11 - "Anyone who heard ME spoke well of ME, and those who saw ME spoke well of ME."

On and on Job talks about himself. Job was "an honest and innocent man, honoring God and staying away from evil," but you have to wonder after reading these chapters. Was he honest and innocent and stayed away from evil AND honored God? A self-sufficient man. Or, was he honest and innocent and stayed away from evil BECAUSE he honored God? A God-reliant man. Job 3:25 says, "Everything I feared and dreaded has happened to me." That sounds like a self-sufficient man. Chapters 29–31 sounds like a self-sufficient man.

Before you think I am being too hard on Job for being "human" let me say this: being self-sufficient is exactly how I (and most other "Christians" I've known) lived my life for a very long time. If I needed God, I could go to Him. If I needed help, He would be there. He was the spare tire in the car and not the driver. It wasn't a conscious overt decision to be self-sufficient. I was a good person. I was a capable person. After all, isn't that the way we are supposed to live? We've been taught our whole lives to be strong, independent, capable, and full of good self-esteem. Surely that is what God wants us to be... right? Wrong. If I had told my story earlier in my life it would have sounded like Job's description in Chapters 29–31. I did this—I did that—I—me—my. A self-sufficient person.

God is not impressed by what WE can do. His desire is not for us to be SELF sufficient. His desire is for us to obey His very first command—NO other gods—and that begins with SELF. We need to be willing to surrender to HIM our self, our pride, and our need to be in control. I—me—my. It is not a one-time deal, it is on a daily basis. God's desire for each of us is not SELF-sufficiency. It is to learn what it means to be GOD-reliant.

Job "gets-it" in the final chapter. He finally sees WHO God is and it brings him to his knees and he changes his life. This is the lesson God has taught us throughout this seven year trial/trail journey, and it has brought us to our knees and we have changed our lives. This is why we can now say that we are the recipients of a Blessed Event and not the victims of a vicious lawsuit. It is also why we can say we are grateful, truly grateful for this trial/trail time in our lives.

Our story is HIS story. It has nothing to do with us/me and it has everything to do with HIM. To GOD be ALL Honor and Glory. Amen.


Next Entry: Job 32:1 – 37:24

Job 28:1–28

January 21, 2011

Wisdom → Understanding. A few years ago I started a study to discover the differences between wisdom and understanding. Proverbs makes it very clear that wisdom and understanding are two very separate things. This same theme of wisdom and understanding is throughout the entire Bible. Here in Job 28, God answers my question about the differences.

Job starts out with what "wisdom" is not. It isn't wealth. You cannot attain it by mining for gold or treasure. It's not in the deep ocean and it's not in the sky. Wisdom cannot be brought with gold, even the finest gold. So where can wisdom be found? Where does wisdom come from? Where does understanding live?

Job 28:23 - "Only God understands the way to wisdom, and he alone knows where it lives."
Job 28:28 - "Then he (God) said to humans, "The fear of the LORD is wisdom; to stay away from evil is understanding."

Wow! There is the answer. You cannot obtain true wisdom unless you understand who God is. When you know God, you "fear" him. Not "fear" as in scared of being zapped by a mean and punishing angry God. No, not at all. "Fear" as in being in awe of who God is. Understanding you only possess one small grain of sand in your comprehension of the majesty of who THE LORD is while you also realize that all the grains of sand in the world would still not be enough to fully describe God.

Job 28:28 - "The fear of the LORD..."
Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom."
Isaiah 33:6 - "The fear of the LORD is the key to the treasure (wisdom)."

So wisdom is clearly God-given in response to our "fear." Wisdom is God's. He can only give it to us when we are surrendered to Him. Wisdom you get from God. "Understanding or knowledge" is what you do with the wisdom God gives you. Job 28:28 - "..to stay away from evil is understanding." In other words—DO! Do what you have learned and stay away from evil. Do what I (God) have shown you. I could fill the pages of this book with what God calls evil. Not what I have decided is evil but what God has clearly said is evil. Understanding.   

Understanding is following the wisdom that God gives you when you fear Him. 

Proverbs 2:2–11 - "Listen carefully to wisdom; set your mind on understanding. Cry out for wisdom, and beg for understanding. Search for it like silver and hunt for it like hidden treasure. Then you will understand respect for the LORD, and you will find you know God. Only the LORD gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding. He stores up wisdom for those who are honest. Like a shield he protects the innocent. He makes sure that justice is done, and he protects those who are loyal to him. Then you will understand what is honest and fair and what is good and right to do. Wisdom will come into your mind, and knowledge will be pleasing to you. Good sense will protect you; understanding will guard you."

Proverbs 3:5–6 - "Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don't depend on your own understanding. Remember the LORD in all you do, and he will give you success."

Addendum: 12/30/14 ~ Proverbs 2:7–8 - "Like a shield he protects the innocent. He makes sure that justice is done, and he protects those who are loyal to him." Psalm 140:12–13 - I KNOW the LORD secures justice for the poor (makes sure that justice is done) and upholds the cause of the needy (protects the innocent). Surely the righteousness will praise his name and the upright (those who are loyal to Him) will praise HIS name.

Amazing promises. HE will protect us from "the storm."


Next Entry: Job 29:1 – 31:40

Job 27:1–23

January 20, 2011

Despite all the accusations that were constantly being hurled at him, Job knew that he was innocent and had a clear conscience. This whole chapter is amazing. There is so much I want to write about but can't.

The Bible says we reap what we sow. Even the world understands this and calls it "karma." I'm only responsible for what I sow. The if—when—where—or how there is "reaping" belongs to God and God alone. What I do know is that someday we will all stand before God. We will answer to Him for our life choices. Every knee will bow.

Job says the wicked will feel alone. What hope do they have? They amass things, but those things will disappear over night. Fears will overcome them; the wind will chase them; they will feel as if even the wind is making fun of them.

Job 27:11 - "I will teach you about the power of God and will not hide the ways of the Almighty."

The Life Lesson for Job 27 included these verses about a clear conscience.

Acts 24:13–16 - "They cannot prove the things they are saying against me... I always try to do what I believe is right before God and people."

Romans 9:1 - "My conscience is ruled by the Holy Spirit, and it tells me I am not lying."

I Timothy 3:9 - "With a clear conscience they must follow the secret of the faith that God make known to us."

Hebrews 9:14 - "He offered himself through the Eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God."

I Peter 3:16 - "...but answer in a gentle way and with respect. Keep a clear conscience so that those who speak evil of your good life will be made ashamed."


Next Entry: Job 28:1–28  

Job 25:1 – 26:14

January 19, 2011

Job and his friends continue to go back and forth. Job continued to claim his innocence and his friends continued to accuse him of sin.

From the topical page inserts in my Bible:

Fear Insert: "Faith is often the child of fear.. .Great acts of faith are seldom born out of calm calculation... at the beginning of every act of faith there is often a seed of fear."

God's Presence Insert: "And because we look for the bonfire, we miss the candle. Because we listen for the shout, we miss the whisper. But it is in burnished candles that God comes, and through whispered promises he speaks: 'When you doubt, look around; I am closer than you think.' "


Next Entry: Job 27:1–23

Job 22:1 – 24:15

January 18, 2011

Job 23:10-12 - "But God knows the way that I take, and when he has tested me, I will come out like gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have stayed in his way; I did not turn aside. I have never left the commands he has spoken; I have treasured his words more than my own." 

Life Lesson:

"We must come back to the truth that while God is in absolute control of all life, He is not the cause of all life's mishaps. Rather, His plan allows those mishaps for the great purpose of raising up "many brethren conformed to the image of Christ"... what we think is best and what He does are as different as whipped cream and concrete. We think He'll make us happy. In effect, we envision these warm, fuzzy feelings. But He plans to make us holy... it is through gaining God's perspective that we begin to see true wisdom." ~ From When God Seems Far Away by Mark R. Littleton

Addendum: 12/3/14 ~ "My feet have closely followed his steps; I have stayed in his way; I did not turn aside." Job started out by saying his thoughts in present tense and future tense. God knows.  I will be vindicated.Then he goes on to state his case in past tense.

God knows our hearts. We can trust him to judge fairly. We are: Walking and following HIM on His Footpath. Past. Present. Future. That is how I want to live my life and how I want my life to be known.


Next Entry: Job 25:1 – 26:14

Job 20:1 – 21:34

January 17, 2011

Zophar answers. Again assuming that what was happening to Job was because he was evil Zophar says, "The happiness of evil people is brief, and the joy of the wicked lasts only a moment. Their pride may be as high as the heavens, and their heads may touch the clouds, but they will be gone forever, like their own dung... Evil may taste sweet in their mouths, and they may hide it under their tongues. They cannot stand to let go of it; they keep it in their mouths. But their food will turn sour in their stomachs, like the poison of a snake (Psalm 140) inside of them... This is what God plans for evil people; this is what he has decided they will receive."

Job responds. Job is becoming weary. Weary from the emotional, physical, psychological, and mental toll of this trial. He is also weary of his friends falsely accusing him of being evil, and he expresses his frustration to them and God.

From Life Lesson:

"The key to forgiving others is to quit focusing on what they did to you and start focusing on what God did for you. Unforgiving servants always end up in prison. Prisons of anger, guilt, and depression. God doesn't have to put us in jail; we create our own.... Hatred will sour your outlook and break your back. The load of bitterness is simply to heavy. Your knees will buckle under the strain, and your heart will break beneath the weight. The mountain before you is steep enough without the heaviness of hatred on your back. The wisest choice, the only choice, is for you to drop the anger." ~ From In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado

Addendum: 12/3/14 ~ Praise is key to forgiveness and letting go of hurts and anger because they cannot co-exist together. Praise keeps everything in life in the proper perspective. This is why we say that by far, the most important thing Jane (Her Name Was Jane) taught us, was the importance of keeping praise first and foremost in our lives. When praise is at the forefront of your lives, you can let go of everything else. All the real or perceived injustices—gone. Anger—gone. Fear—gone. Unrest—gone. Hurts—gone. Angst—gone. Self-imprisonment—gone. When those things are gone from your life, the voids where they once existed are filled with peace, joy, contentment, understanding, a calm demeanor, and freedom. When you open your hands to surrender and let go, your hands are also open to receive the blessings that only God can give. To hold onto grudges brings imprisonment. To let go brings freedom. We choose freedom. We choose to praise the LORD!


Next Entry: Job 22:1 – 24:15 

Job 18:1 – 19:29

January 13, 2011

Bildad speaks again. He speaks on the assumption that Job is reaping what he has sown. Bildad describes what happens to wicked people. While what he is saying is true, it does not apply to Job.

Job 18:7-10 - "They will fall into their own evil traps. Their feet will be caught in a net when they walk into its web. A trap will catch them by the heel and hold them tight. A trap for them is hidden on the ground, right in their path." (Exactly what they planned for others - Psalm 140.)

Job replies. Job 19:25-27 - "I know my Defender lives, and in the end he will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin has been destroyed, in my flesh I will see God. I will see him myself; I will see him with my very own eyes. How my heart wants that to happen!" Praise the LORD!!

From Life Lesson ~

Blamers - They avoid accepting responsibility for their actions by criticizing other people or blaming past experiences which cannot be changed or undone.
Hurtful Joker - They specialize in laughing at people instead of laughing with them.
Fault Finder - This person seems to have an insatiable need to point out others' defects... usually with a smile saying, "I'm just trying to be helpful."
Cannibals - These people don't criticize in a joking manner or settle for mere nitpicking. They go for the jugular... they attack through the most severe forms of personal criticism and put downs with complete disregard for the feelings of others. 

Destructive critics may say they are only interested in remodeling you into a better person by sharing a little constructive criticism. But in reality, these critics... are intent on putting you down, tearing you down, punishing you, and manipulating you. Their brand of criticism does not nourish, it poisons...

Remind yourself that you are responsible to answer to God and to yourself, not to the critical person. Being responsible to God, you look to Him for direction and approval.  Being responsible to yourself, you take ownership of your feelings, attitudes, and behavior. If you are aligned with God and with what He wants you to be, you don't need to fear criticism or try to justify your position. You have the power to make your own choices and grow through the experience of criticism.

As a nondefensive person, you respect and feel good about yourself. You believe in your worth and your capabilities. You possess your own identity and sense of security.

~ From How to Get Along with Almost Anyone By H. Norman Wright

Addendum: 12/1/14 ~ Wow! Looking back I can remember how much reading this encouraged me. Critics can say whatever they want. They can accuse, blame, and try to tear you down. But, whatever they try to falsely accuse you of doesn't really matter. Praise the Lord! I know the truth. I am perfectly comfortable answering to God and myself  I am not fearful of anyone and I have no need to try and justify myself. With some people you can't win, lose, or draw. My sister is one of those people. I can't change that. The only person I can change and am responsible for is myself. I choose to see myself through my Savior's eyes. I am an upright, honest, capable, and loving person who seeks to find the best in others and whose desire it is to do what I can to leave this world a better place from my time spent in it. I want my life to bring honor and glory to HIM. I am who I am because of who HE is. There is nothing I want more than to share the love of Christ and what I have learned along this journey with others. 

Oh, how I have changed. There was a time when I was very content to just live my life in my own safe little cocoon, and I was satisfied with that. No longer. I want my life to be an offering of praise to my Savior. I want to share HIS love with those who are lost or struggling on their own paths. I want to make a difference in HIS Kingdom. 

Addendum #2: 4/11/19 ~ There is song by Hillsong called Who You Say I Am. I love the words. Listen to it here. People who are seeking to harm you can accuse you of all sorts of things... but it doesn't matter. I am who HE says I am.


Next Entry: Job 20:1 – 21:34    

Job 15:1 – 17:16

January 12, 2011

Eliphaz continues. Again, much of what he says would be true if Job was being disciplined by God and reaping what he had sown. But Job wasn't being disciplined for his actions. Job was being tested (pruned) because of his uprightness, not because of sin. Pruning—verses—discipline.

Pruning and Testing: God allows things and events in our lives to grow us and increase our witness.   As a result, God gets the glory and good comes from it.

Discipline: Man reaping what he has sown. God holding him accountable for his actions and the sin in their lives. Unfortunately, many people have an incredible ability for self-denial and they choose to believe that they are being pruned and refuse to believe they are being disciplined and therefore accountable for their actions.

In Job's case his friends all assumed he was being disciplined, but he wasn't. If he was being disciplined their assertions would have been correct.

•  You can't shake your fist at God and not be held accountable.
•  The riches the wicked have will not last.
•  The wicked should not fool themselves by trusting in what is useless. (Their god is in their pocket.)
•  People who take money to do evil, who plan trouble and give birth to evil, who plan ways to trick others in their heart (Psalm 140), will not produce anything and their tents and things will be destroyed.

Job responds. He defends himself to his friends and God. He cries out to God for help. His spirit is broken. He is surrounded by people who insult him and want to harm him. 

Job 17:3-4 - "God, make me a promise... you have closed their minds to understanding. Do not let them win over me." The NIV says, "... therefore you will not let them triumph."

Job 17:5 - "A person might speak against his friends for money, but if he does, the eyes of his children go blind."  Blind—to truth. Blind—to salvation. Blind.

Job 17:8 - "Honest people are upset about this; innocent people are upset with those who do wrong. But those who do right will continue to do right, and those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger."  NIV - "Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger."

Addendum: 12/28/14 ~ There is no such thing as a little sin. Sin by its very nature progresses until it takes over. 

Job 16:34-35 - "People without God can produce nothing. Fire will destroy the tents of those who take money to do evil, who plan trouble and give birth to evil, whose hearts plan ways to trick others." Those verses remind me of both Psalm 140 and Psalm 7:14-16. "There are people who think up evil and plan trouble and tell lies. They dig a hole to trap others but they will fall into it themselves. They will get themselves into trouble; the violence they cause will hurt only themselves." The NIV says it this way - "He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment." Psalm 140 - "Rescue me O Lord from evil men, Protect me from men of violence who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day... let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused... I KNOW the Lord secures justice..."

Our faith is in the LORD and HIM alone. We believe HIS words. We trust in HIS promises. Job 17:8 - "Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger."


Next Entry: Job 18:1 – 19:29

Job 11:1 – 14:22 (Continued)

January 11, 2011

"God prepares his people for what is coming."

Addendum:  12/1/14 ~ The only thing I have written on this day's entry was this quote from a sermon series I heard. It was a continuation from what I wrote the day before. The page was left blank intentionally because once again I wanted to write about things that I didn't feel I should yet put down on paper.As we look back over this seven year journey, we can see how God has prepared us all along the way. We didn't always understand it and the path didn't always appear to make sense, but the pages of this journal are filled with examples of how God prepared us all along the way. 


Next Entry: Job 15:1 – 17:16

Job 11:1 – 14:22

January 10, 2011

Scofield describes Zophar as "a religious dogmatist who assumes to know all about God; what God will do in any given case, why he will do it, and his thoughts about it. Of all forms of dogmatism this is most irreverent, and least open to reason."

Zophar starts in. He not only thinks Job is a hypocrite, he also thinks he is a liar. He, like the others, say much that is true. Job 11:11 - "God knows who is evil and when he sees evil, he takes note of it." But, Zophar was making the assumption that Job had done evil and therefore was being punished by God for doing so. The truth is Job was not being punished because he had done evil. Job 1 and 2 clearly explained the reasons for the "testing" Job was going through.

Job answers. Job 12:6 - "The tents of robbers are not bothered, and those who make God angry are safe. They have their god in their pocket."

David Jeremiah on 1/7/11 talked about the "mark" of a Christian, the "measure" of a Christian, and the "method" (I think) of a Christian. He was saying that God only prunes (method) someone who is already bearing fruit. You don't prune a grapevine that is dead and not producing fruit (their god is in their pocket); you instead prune the vines that are producing fruit so that they will produce even more. The test is: Are your producing fruit? And, are you producing more fruit today than you were earlier in your Christian walk? Sometimes pruning is confused with discipline.

Job continues. Job 12:13-16 - "But only God has wisdom and power, good advice and understanding. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; anyone he puts in prison cannot be let out. (Psalm 140) If God holds back the waters, there is no rain; if he lets the waters go, they flood the land. He is strong and victorious; (Psalm 150) both the one who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him."

Job 13:7 - "You should not speak evil in the name of God; you cannot speak God's truth by telling lies.

Job 13:15-16 - "Even if God kills me, I have hope in him; I will still defend my ways to his face. This is my salvation. The wicked cannot come before him." (Psalm 1)

Job 13:18-19 - "See, I have prepared my case, and I know I will be proved right. No one can accuse me of doing wrong. (Psalm 140)

Quotes from a sermon I heard.

•  "Don't underestimate your enemy or overestimate yourself."
•  "Following Jesus does not exempt you from hardships but prepares you for them."
•  "Supernatural events are often marked by natural things."
•  "When He calls you to follow Him He know where He is taking you."

Next Entry: Job 11:1 – 14:22 (Continued)

Job 8:1 – 10:22

January 07, 2011

Scofield describes Bildad as "a religious dogmatist of the superficial kind, whose dogmatism rests upon tradition and upon proverbial wisdom and approved pious phrases... his platitudes are true enough, but then everyone knows them, nor do they shed any light on such a problem as Job's."

Bildad speaks. He thinks Job is a hypocrite. The things he says are true in a general sense but they don't fit Job's situation.

Job 8:13-15 - "That is what will happen to those who forget God; the hope of the wicked will be gone. What they hope in is easily broken; what they trust is like a spider's web. They lean on the spider's web, but it breaks. They grab it, but it does not hold up."

Job 8:22 - "Your enemies will be covered in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be gone."

Job answers Bildad. Job understood the relationship between

God

↓

 Man.

He knew he was a sinner and that only God could save. He was not a hypocrite. He wasn't claiming perfection, but he also knew he had done nothing to cause the trouble he was having.

Job 9:4 - "God's wisdom is deep, and his power is great; no one can fight him without getting hurt." The NIV says "and come out unscathed."


Next Entry: Job 11:1 – 14:22

Job 4:1 – 7:21

January 6, 2011

Eliphaz speaks to Job. Scofield describes Eliphaz as "a religious dogmatist whose dogmatism rests upon a mysterious and remarkable experience. Did a spirit ever pass before Job's face? Did Job's hair of his flesh ever stand up? Then let him be meek while one so superior as Eliphaz declares the causes of his misfortunes. Eliphaz says many true things... but he remains hard and cruel, a dogmatist who must be heard..."

Job 4:7–12 - "Remember that the innocent will not die; honest people will never be destroyed. I have noticed that people who plow evil and plant trouble, harvest it. God's breath destroys them, and a blast of his anger kills them. *Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger. The cubs of the mother lion are scattered."

Job 5:12–16 - "He ruins the plans of those who trick others so they have no success. He catches the wise in their own clever traps and sweeps away the plans of those who try to trick others. Darkness covers them up in the daytime; even at noon they feel around in the dark. God saves the needy from their lies and from the harm done by powerful people. So the poor have hope, while those who are unfair are silenced."

Matthew 10:16–29 - "Listen, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as smart as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be careful of people, because they will arrest you and take you to court and whip you in their synagogues. Because of me, you will be taken to stand before governors and kings, and you will tell them and the non-Jewish people about me." 19 "When you are arrested, don't worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given the things to say. It will not really be you speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

21 "Brothers will give their own brothers to be killed, and fathers will give their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and have them put to death. All people will hate you because you follow me, but those people who keep their faith until the end will be saved..." 26 "So don't be afraid of those people, because everything that is hidden will be shown. Everything that is secret will be made known. I tell you these things in the dark, but I want you to tell them in the light. What you hear whispered in your ear you should shout from the roof tops. Don't be afraid of people, who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is the one who can destroy the soul and the body in hell. Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it. God even knows how many hairs are on your head. So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows... 29 A person's enemies will be members of his own family (Micah 7:6)....whoever is not willing to carry the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who try to hold on to their lives will give up true life. Those who give up their lives for me will hold onto true life."

Addendum: 11/28/14 ~ I purposely left the next page in my hand-written journal entirely blank because there was so much I wanted to say but because my earlier journal entries were caught up in "the storm" I didn't feel comfortable writing out my thoughts about the significance of this passage and what it meant to us. I put an asterisk by the area I wanted to say more about. Here is a portion of what I wanted to say earlier.

*When faced with difficult circumstances you sometimes need to make equally difficult decisions. This was one of those times. The decision we had to make was gut-wrenching, and we knew the ramifications we could face would be equivalent to putting our heads "into the mouth of the lion."

Within days of making that gut-wrenching decision to "put our head into the mouth of the lion," I read these words: "Lions may roar and growl, but when the teeth of a strong lion are broken, that lion dies of hunger." To even write that now—years later—it brings tears to my eyes. I don't think I can ever accurately convey the courage it took to make the difficult decision or how encouraging it was to read those words at the exact time we needed to hear them—while reading in Job of all places.

Throughout this whole journey God has provided encouragement and wisdom at every turn. We watched this verse literally happen just a few weeks later. The teeth of the strong lion were broken.

The Life Lesson Exploration verses were also very pertinent and encouraging. All of these totally unexpected assurances and promises came while I was reading in Job. Our Lord is bigger than the giants in our lives. We can trust Him to protect us from "the storm." Praise God!!

Addendum #2: 12/28/14 ~ What jumped off the page this time was the statement, "I tell you these things in the dark, but I want you to tell them in the light. What you have whispered in your ear you should shout from the roof tops."   

"I tell you these things in the dark..."
When you are following HIS lead on paths unknown, you are literally "in the dark." You don't know where the path leads, you don't know the length of the journey, and you don't know the plans for the journey. But HE is there! And HE is leading, HE is supplying all your needs, and HE has a plan. As you step out in faith and follow HIS lead, HE provides a "lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"—and that is enough. 

"...but I want you to tell them in the light."
Share what you have learned. Tell them that as you step out in obedience and learn to trust HIS lead, the light HE provides for each step truly is enough. No matter where the path leads. Tell the story! Tell HIS STORY!! 

"What you have whispered in your ear..."
You are not alone. I have sent my Holy Spirit to be with you. HE will guide you. HE will lead you on the path I have chosen for you. Come to me. Surrender. Seek my wisdom. LISTEN! My still small voice will speak directly to you. I will show and tell you things that human minds cannot comprehend. Whether you go to the left or to the right, I will be behind you and say walk this way. (Isaiah 30) Listen for my voice!

"...you should shout from the roof tops."
TELL MY (HIS) STORY!! Tell others what I have shown you and what you have learned. Don't keep it to yourself. TELL MY STORY. You are the mouth piece for what I have taught you. Tell others of my love; my protection; my amazing grace; my guiding hand; my provisions. Tell them also that I am a God of justice and I judge fairly. Tell them accountability happens. Tell them that when they humble themselves and turn from their evil ways, and seek my face, THEN I will hear them and I will forgive. TELL MY STORY! Shout it from the roof tops.

Shout it from the roof tops! You can't get it any more public than that. I believe God is confirming what He has been telling us in the dark and whispering in our ears. This journal, (which is our story and my journey through HIS word), and our encounter with Jane, (the story of HIS amazing faithfulness) is HIS STORY and it is to be shouted from the roof tops and made public.

LORD, I will tell YOUR story. 


Next Entry: Job 8:1 – 10:22

Job 3:1–26

January 5, 2011

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar heard about Job's troubles and they come to meet Job to show their concern and comfort him. They couldn't even recognize Job. They sat with Job for seven days and seven nights without saying a word because of how much he was suffering. After seven days Job spoke. He cried out and cursed the day he was born.

Job was unbearably miserable. He wished he would have never been born. He wanted to die. He wanted the pain to end. But in all his pain and misery Job did not curse God. "No matter how powerfully troubles crush, God's hold is more powerful."

One statement Job makes surprises me. Job 3:25-26 - "Everything I feared and dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace or quietness. I have no rest, only trouble." Job 1 - says Job was an honest, upright man who honored God and did what he knew was right. I would not have expected him to be fearful. Yet, here it says he feared pain and loss. Interesting that what he was fearful of is exactly what Satan used to attempt to get him to curse God. Thankfully, his love, devotion, and commitment to God was stronger than his fear of pain, and Job remained faithful and did not curse God.

Addendum: 12/27/14 ~  II Corinthians 4:16-17: "Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary (!) troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."


Next Entry: Job 4:1 – 7:21

Job 1:1 – 2:13 (Continued)

January 4, 2011

The angels come to show themselves to the LORD—again. Satan shows up—again. God questions him—again. God says have you noticed Job? He is honest and innocent. He has integrity. He honors God. He stays away from evil. "You (Satan) caused me to ruin him for no good reason, but he continues to be without blame." Satan answers, Yeah, I saw him... but... one skin for another. You didn't let me touch his body. Hurt his body and we'll see what he does. He'll curse you then.

So, God allowed Satan to put painful sores all over Job's body. Job was in utter misery from head to toe. Unimaginable suffering. He was unrecognizable. His wife tells him to curse God and die. Job answers, "...should we take only good things from God and not trouble?"

In spite of all of this Job did not sin. God is God. He knows what He is doing.

"When you can't trace his hand, trust his heart." Max Lucado

Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) KJV describes what happened to Job as being in Satan's sieve. Wealth—gone. Family—gone. Satan's "theory" was that Job was good because he was prosperous. It may have been Satan's sieve, but it is God who is in control.

Addendum:  12/27/14 ~

"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. God is with you. God is with you! The same God that guided his Son through death and back to life said he will never leave us or forsake us. He is right there with you, perhaps even more in times of crisis than any other time." ~ From Suffering in The Inspirational Bible.

Next Entry: Job 3:1–26

Job 1:1 – 2:13

January 3, 2011

Job. An honest, upright man. He honored God; did what he knew to be right; and stayed away from evil. Yet he suffered incredible pain and loss.

Two different times (Job 1:6 and Job 2:1), the angels came to show themselves before the LORD. Satan showed up both times. He had no business being there, I'm sure it was just so he could be in God's face as an affront. God asked him where he came from (as if He didn't already know) and Satan replies that he has been roaming the earth. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan thought he was the "winner" in the "contest" between him and God. And, for a time he has been allowed to be in control of the earth. The key words here are allowed and for a time.

God asks Satan, "Have you seen my servant Job?" Satan of course thinks Job is only righteous because everything has went well in his life... let him be confronted with trouble and then see if he remains righteous. So, God allowed Satan to test Job. God's only restriction was that Satan not touch Job himself.

The attacks were severe and relentless. First Job is told that his oxen (five hundred teams), and his donkeys (five hundred female), were attacked and carried away. The servants with them were all killed except the servant who carried the message to Job. While the messenger was still talking another one came to report that the sheep (seven thousand), had all been destroyed by "lightning from God" and the servants with them killed except for the messenger. While he was speaking another servant arrived and reported that Job's camels (three thousand), had been stolen and the servants with them killed and he was the only one left. While he was still speaking another messenger arrived and said ALL of Job's sons and daughters were killed when a storm came out of the desert.

Attacks. Relentless. Extreme. Everything Job owned—gone. His children—gone. And, what did Job do? He got up, shaved his head, tore his clothes to show how sad he was, and  THEN he bowed down to the ground to worship God!!

"I was naked when I was born, and I will be naked when I die. The LORD gave these things to me, and he has taken them away. Praise the name of the LORD."

"In all this Job did not sin or blame God."

Addendum:  11/27/14 ~ "Satan does things "to" you. God allows things "for" you." (A quote I once read on a church sign and wrote in the margins of my Bible.) 


Next Entry: Job 1:1 – 2:13 (Continued)

I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

November 25, 2014

I didn't know—

I thought I was just going to a nursing home to clear my mind of the vicious accusations and hurt caused by the betrayal of loved ones. I didn't know I was walking into a God-ordained divine appointment which was part of a Master Plan HE had been weaving together for years. Even in my wildest imagination, I could have never imagined what God had in store for Jane (Her Name Was Jane) or myself.

As more and more people heard the miraculous story of Jane, their response was always the same; this needs to be told. I would nod and think to myself, "That's what I am doing... I'm telling you." But in my heart, I knew I was to do more. I knew I was to somehow tell HIS STORY, but I didn't know what that meant. I felt totally incompetent and unqualified. But I knew this wasn't about me or my abilities—it was HIS STORY. What He needed from me was my availability. Who am I to refuse to tell HIS STORY, or decide I am incapable of it?

It was a long, difficult process of acceptance. I hid behind the word "IF" for a very long time. IF—there is to be a book. IF—I am supposed to write something. IF ... IF ... IF. Most people will never know the amount of courage it took for me to quit hiding behind that word and to finally take the step of faith and admit what I knew was the truth. It was not IF—it was WHEN. It was more than just a fear of inadequacy. It was also a fear of being viewed as arrogant and presumptuous. What would people think? Who does she think she is? What does she know about writing a book? 

I didn't know meeting Jane E. Wolfe was a divine appointment orchestrated by God or that HE would later want me to tell HIS STORY—BUT GOD DID!

I didn't know—
A new realization is slowly sinking in, and it has literally brought me to my knees. The time for "The Book" is now? What?!? I knew I was supposed to someday tell HIS STORY, and I knew when it was time God would show me what to do, but it wasn't something I spent time thinking about or even wondering about. I didn't know when it was supposed to happen. I just thought when it was supposed to happen, it would happen. To be truthful, I was glad it was still somewhere out there in the future and not something I had to deal with yet. Besides, "the storm" wasn't over yet. Surely I had to wait until "the storm" was over to tell HIS STORY.

I didn't know it was time for HIS STORY—BUT GOD DID!

I didn't know—

This is it. My journal and this blog is what God wants me to do. I had NO idea this was the direction God was going to lead me to. It was five years ago when I knew I was to start a journal of my journey through HIS WORD. I'd never kept a journal before. Me, who always thought it would be neat to journal had never been able to follow through with any kind of commitment. How many journals do I have stored away with about two entries in them? But this time I knew I was to begin and there was never a doubt in my mind that I would finish.

I read the Bible through multiple times during the first years of "the storm." I had many dates and notations written throughout the margins of HIS WORD. In order to tell HIS STORY, I knew I would have to somehow organize all of my notations. So my journey of keeping a journal began. I thought my writings were just a private written record of God's faithfulness to leave my children and grandchildren. It took me five years to complete my journey of reading through the Bible while keeping a written record of everything I was learning and recording the events surrounding "the storm" in my journals.

I didn't know HIS STORY was already written—BUT GOD DID!  

I didn't know—

One year after I began my journey of keeping a personal journal while reading through the Bible, my worst nightmare happened. My personal writings got caught up in "the storm" and I had to send my private journals to the very people who were seeking our destruction. I felt shell-shocked at the violation of my privacy and I lost confidence in my private thoughts remaining private. For several weeks I quit writing. When I began writing again I started where I was reading at that time. I didn't know The Lost Chapters were saved for such a time as this so the very end of my journey through the Bible would be the fulfillment of Jane's last God-given message of restoration.

I didn't know it was part of God's plan for HIS STORY—BUT GOD DID!

I didn't know—

We don't know what we don't know. I didn't know God had plans for my journals. I thought I was just being obedient and following God's lead. That is what it takes. Obedience, and following. It really is that simple. We all have a choice to make. We can choose to make and follow our own paths—or we can choose to follow HIM on His footpath. We can choose to be angry—or we can choose to forgive. We can choose to live in fear—or we can choose to believe and trust. We can choose to serve our own selfish pride—or we can choose to obey HIS word.

Our decision has been made. We choose to follow. We choose to forgive. We choose to believe. We choose obedience. We choose to surrender ALL. And in the process, God has blessed our lives beyond measure. What was meant for our harm HE has used for our good.

I didn't know our story was going to become HIS STORY—BUT GOD DID!!

HIS STORY is woven throughout my entire journals. I stand amazed. Who are we, LORD? "What is man that you are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8) Why would you choose to show yourself to us? We are just simple, ordinary people who have chosen to believe in and serve an extra-ordinary God. This isn't what I expected LORD, but I will tell about YOUR faithfulness. I will tell YOUR Story.

HE took us to our knees so we could rise with HIM. Praise HIS Holy Name.   

Walking By Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness
and

Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead)

Next Entry: Job 1:1 – 2:13

The LORD Answers!

Today is November 11th, 2014. It's been about two and one half weeks since I first wrote LORD – What Am I to Do?  I'm continuing to read back through my journal/blog entries and adding the new labels. Today I am reading in the middle of II Kings and I came across my September 2010 journal entry titled "The Book." 

I didn't recall any of the specifics and I'm thinking to myself, Hmm... I wonder what it says? How does what I wrote in September 2010 fit with all the questions I have now in October 2014?

I start to read the entry–

"Unless God shows me differently, I believe I know what He wants the book to be titled:

Walking By Faith:

A True Story of God's Faithfulness

I then go on to say–

After Jane (Her Name Was Jane) died, I was given several boxes of her personal belongings to look through. I instantly loved one of the pictures of Jane. I think Jane's adopted sister found it odd that of all the pictures to choose from, the one I was instantly drawn to only shows Jane's back.

The picture* is of Jane walking away from the viewer—following a path. To me it represents Jane following God on His path for her life, and God using Jane to lead us as we follow His path for our lives. I believe the picture is to be part of The Book and the title of The Book is to be: "Walking By Faith."

LORD, please continue to give me wisdom and direction. May every word on every page be Your words and may You receive the honor and glory." 

I have known for some time now that I am supposed to share HIS Story of HIS faithfulness. Not knowing any specifics, I have always just generically referred to it as "The Book." What I have not known is the how, when, or even what it was supposed to be. God would periodically give me a glimpse of what He wants done and where He is leading. Obviously, when I wrote my earlier journal entry, God was beginning to show me what He wanted "The Book" to be called. But I still didn't have any idea of the how, when, or what.

Then, "LORD – What Am I to Do?" happened.

While questioning, wondering, crying out, and asking God what it is HE wants me to do with my journals and this blog, one thought kept coming to my mind. How would my journal writings make any sense without FIRST having the story of Jane and God's faithfulness told in a separate, concise, and unconvoluted way? The story of how God used Jane to bless our lives while navigating "the storm" is woven throughout my journals. But if my personal journals are to be made public, how would someone ever be able to understand and fully grasp the meaning of what God has done when it is told in such a woven way? My journals are the result of God's faithfulness. Doesn't the story of His faithfulness need to be told first?

My question has been: LORD – What Am I to Do? Today, just a little over two weeks since I began asking that question, I am reading what I wrote in my journal four years ago, and it suddenly became very clear. There was no audible voice but the feeling was just as clear. Start a second and separate blog, and use the title you were given four years ago. Hmm... I wonder if that title is available on Blogger. What would be the chances of that? So, I checked, and guess what? IT IS!! I now have it reserved.

The story of Jane and God's faithfulness can be told in a separate and clear way—FIRST. Jane's autobiography and other writings I found while going through the box of her personal belongings I was given after her death (and I have always felt should be part of whatever "The Book" turned out to be), can now be used. The picture and Jane's life verse can be used. There can be a link to The World Missionary Press if someone would like more information about the organization that gave so freely to Jane and was a passion of her heart. There can also be a link to this blog where I wrote (long before I could have ever imagined God's plans for my personal journals) about my desire to have "...every word on every page be Your words and may You receive the honor and glory," would actually happen because my journals chronicle my journey of reading through HIS WORD while writing the thoughts HE gave me! How cool is that?!

When you inquire of the LORD, He answers. I stand amazed. Slowly (but surely) HE is revealing what HE wants done. The question as to why I was once again put into a "paused" mode and sent back to read my earlier entries has been answered. When will the blogs be made public?  I don't know. What I know is this: HE is leading, and I will follow.
  

*****

When I went to Blogger to see if the title I wrote in 2010 was available, I typed in the title, "Walking by Faith: A True Story of God's Faithfulness" and I was shocked to see it was available. Oh me of little faith. Then I needed to select a web address. The first web address I tried was WalkingByFaith. It was not available. So then I tried: ATrueStoryofGodsFaithfulness. It was available, and again I was shocked. When am I going to learn?

As I typed the web address in, the first two letters jumped out at me—and I had to smile. Does God have a sense of humor or what? ATrueStoryofGodsFaithfulness. AT—the acronym for the Appalachian Trail—the path God used to link Jane and I together and the path He used to teach us so much. How fitting that "A True Story of God's Faithfulness" is what was available when that is what this journey is ALL about—God's Faithfulness.

When we are willing to walk the path by faith following HIS lead—HE IS FAITHFUL!

*Jane walking down a stone path at Mt Gretna, Pennsylvania. 

Psalm 32:8 ~ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you.


Next Entry: I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!!

Time Is of NO Importance!

11/06/14 ~ I am still reviewing and adding the new labels to my old posts. Today as I was reading and reviewing I Kings 15:1 – 16:34, one of my "Big Thoughts" just really resonated with me.  

God's promises are true. When He says "I will" it is fact. Time is of no importance. When God says it—it WILL happen.   

Wow. I've written many, many, times about how God's promises are true and that when He says, "I will" it is past tense and the same as written in stone. I believe that with every fiber of my being. But what literally jumped off the page at me as I was reading this time was the phrase:

Time is of NO importance!

It does not matter that "the storm" is not yet over. His promises ARE just that—promises.

It does not matter what the timeline is until His promises are fulfilled. It may be a day, a month, or it may be many of years.

It does not matter! Oh, what peace it brings when you finally understand this Truth!

Time is of NO importance!

Seven years have passed since the lawsuit and "the storm" began. The passage of time does NOT diminish or change His promises. What matters is that we remain faithful and that we wait patiently for HIS plans to unfold. There is such peace, joy, and comfort in knowing that God is in control and that His faithfulness does not waver. The waiting becomes insignificant because time is of NO importance!

It's all about the journey!

Obviously, God put me in a paused mode for a reason. He sent me back to read through my journals again because He is still teaching me, showing me who HE is, and preparing me for my next step. It is just so humbling to watch and experience God's Hand at work in our lives. My heart just overflows because of His grace and His goodness. I am so grateful for His Spirit's presence and leading in our lives. Time is of NO importance!

It's all about the journey!!

It does not matter how long "the storm" lasts. There is JOY in the journey.

    

Next Entry: The LORD Answers! 

LORD – What Am I to Do?

October 23, 2014 - I am continuing the process of reading back through the journal entries I have already entered into this blog so I can add the new labels where appropriate. (See Malachi 1:1 – 4:6) It has been a humbling, and at the same time exhilarating, process. This morning, as I was reading in Judges and then in I Kings, I began to realize that my readings over the last several days have stirred and created a cumulative effect in my soul. God is up to something.

When God stops you in your tracks and sends you back to the beginning it is for a reason.

LORD, what is it you want me to do with my journal writings? How do you want me to do it? When do you want it done?  LORD, you know there are tears flowing right now. A slow realization has been building, and it is a little frightening. Actually, it is very frightening; I am literally shaking. Are my journals how you want YOUR story told? Are you sure, LORD?

LORD, I always pictured telling your story in a short story format or a few paragraphs in something like Guideposts. Are you telling me my personal journals are "The Book"? Am I to make this private blog with my personal journal writings public? Are you sure, LORD?

LORD, I have so many questions. If my journals are to become public, am I the one who is supposed to do it? Is someone else to make this public after I am gone? Should all the personal parts of our lives be included? Should all the ugly and sordid details of my sister and brother-in-law's actions and "the storm" be removed? How does YOUR story get told without at least some details of "the storm" being included? 

LORD, there is something else I don't understand. If this is the way you want your story to become public, how does that work? How can the words you have given me to say be released in such a public format when the lawsuit my sister and brother-in-law filed against us is also public? How can our story, which is a YOUR story—an account of YOUR amazing love, YOUR protection, YOUR faithfulness, YOUR provisions, and YOUR hand working in our lives while in the midst of this difficult time, be told in a public format without YOUR story becoming contaminated by the lies and vile accusations that are also public? How does YOUR story not turn into a he said—she said? Are you sure about this, LORD?

LORD, you know about all the vicious, vile and false accusations against us. We have been accused of lying, stealing, cheating, vengeance, greed, manipulation, threats, and just about everything else that is wicked and vile. Their accusations against us sound like a line-by-line description of someone who has no regard for YOUR commands. What we are accused of goes against everything a follower of Christ stands for and are things YOU hate! LORD, you know how my sister and brother-in-law have specifically singled me out to be mentally unstable, emotionally unpredictable, untrustworthy and downright crazy. LORD, we know the truth, our family and friends who know and love us know the truth, and you know the truth, but what about everybody else? YOU know we are YOUR devoted followers and innocent of all their vile and vicious accusations, but LORD, people who don't know us don't know that. We don't want YOUR story and YOUR name harmed in any way. This isn't our story. This is YOUR story!!  Are you sure this is how you want YOUR story told?

LORD, you know that we have always wanted to be publicly declared innocent of their lies and accusations. To be honest, it was probably at least partially due to pride. We wanted our names cleared. LORD, we are beyond all of that. That doesn't even matter to us any more. LORD, what we want is YOUR name cleared.

LORD, I am going to step out on a ledge here. I am going to ask you to do something that looks absolutely impossible in my eyes. We are YOUR followers. As Christians, we bear YOUR witness and are YOUR representatives to a lost world. Our reflection is YOUR reflection. LORD, you know about every underhanded attempt that has been made to try and destroy our witness. LORD, our name is not important, but YOUR name has been smeared because of our name and their actions. So LORD, I am going to ask you to do the impossible. LORD, I ask you to clear YOUR name from the stigma that has been caused by our name being falsely accused.

LORD, rise up. Face the enemy that is trying to distort the truth and YOUR Truth, YOUR name, and YOUR will. Reclaim your rightful position of honor. LORD, we pray the words found in Psalm 17:13 - "Save us from the wicked by YOUR power, save us by YOUR sword."

I don't understand, LORD. But, there is one thing I do know. Your thoughts are not our thoughts. LORD, over these last seven years you have taught me to literally ask you what it is you want me to do. So, LORD, I am asking. What is it YOU want me to do? How do YOU want me to do it?

LORD, I pray that YOU will make our path clear. Show me the next steps YOU want me to take. We will continue to stand strong. We will continue to believe. We will continue to follow YOUR lead, no matter what. We will continue to tell our story—which is YOUR story.

LORD, show me the way.  Show me YOUR way.

LORD – What am I to do?

*****

*2020 Update: For privacy reasons, I decided to remove from Blogger the portions of my handwritten journals which included private details about my sister and brother-in-law's lives, their behaviors and actions, and the lawsuit they filed. The ugly details are not what is important. HIS Story is not about them—HIS Story is about our journey while following HIS footpath and how the amazing Hand of God protected us from them.  

Next Entry: Time Is of NO Importance!

Malachi 1:1 – 4:6

December 29, 2010

Malachi speaks to the people about the disrespect they had for God. The people were self-reliant. They were being punished, yet they were sure that they could rebuild and prosper in their own strength. They defiled God's altars by bringing God what they didn't want (the blind, sick, crippled animals) instead of giving God their best. They kept arguing and questioning God. They weren't questioning God about what they should be doing, they were arguing with God about what He was doing and trying to "explain" or rationalize their wrong behavior as right. God clearly says that the person who cheats will be cursed. The cheater promises to do what is right, and has the means to do so, but then chooses to do what God says is wrong.

"Honor my name," says the LORD. "If you don't, I will send a curse on you and your blessings." God goes on to say very graphically what He will do to them. He holds them accountable. "With your teachings you have caused many people to do wrong... you have not been careful to do what I say, but instead you take sides in court cases. So I have caused you to be hated and disgraced in front of everybody... I hate people who do cruel things as easily as they put on clothes... so be careful and do not break your trust." The LORD Almighty says, "I will come to you and judge you. I will be quick to testify against those who take part in evil magic, adultery, and lying under oath, those who cheat workers of their pay and who cheat widows and orphans, those who are unfair to foreigners, and those who do not respect me."

"I, the LORD, do not change... return to me and I will return to you." Then God says to test His faithfulness—give Him your best and a full tenth of what you earn—and He will open the windows of heaven and pour out all the blessings you need. ALL! He will totally provide everything you need.

Malachi goes on to say that there will come a day of judgment. Those who have honored and respected the LORD will be remembered and be His own. But, that cannot be said for everyone. The differences between good and evil people, between those who serve God and those who don't will be exposed.

"There is a day coming that will burn like a hot furnace, and all the proud and evil people will be like straw. On that day they will be completely burned up so that not a root or branch will be left... But for you who honor me, goodness will shine on you like the sun, with healing in its rays. You will jump around like well-fed calves. Then you will crush the wicked like ashes under your feet on the day I will do this," says the LORD All-Powerful.

We have no right to argue with and question* God. He is God—we are man. He is the Potter—we are the clay. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

*We absolutely should inquire of God, but we have no right to question God's authority.  

Addendum: 9/15/14 ~ The pause button has been hit again. After not adding any new labels for months, this past week I added three: Accountability; God's Will; and Confession. I have talked about those topics many, many times before. How did I miss creating labels for them sooner? So, before I continue on with Job,I am going back to the beginning and re-reading what I have already completed and tagging those labels where appropriate. I'm sure in the future it will become clear why those topics were added at this time and why I have been paused again.

Accountability. God's Will. Confession.


Next Entry: LORD, What Am I to Do?

Nehemiah 11:1 – 13:31

December 27, 1010

The wall was offered as a gift to God. Two large groups of choruses went up on the top of the wall and sang songs of joy to God. (This is the same wall that Sanballet and Tobiah said would fall down if a fox ran up it.) God gave them great joy. The Book of Teachings was read to the people. The Teachings said no Ammonite or Moabite was allowed in the meeting to worship with them because of what they had done. They had hired Balaam to put a curse on Israel. But God turned the curse into a blessing.

Later Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem. He discovers that the ties with Tobiah had not been broken. Instead, he had been given a room inside the temple. Nehemiah was upset and threw him and his belongings out. He ordered the room to be purified and brought back to what it was supposed to be used for. He also restored the Levites and Sabbath as a holy day.

Three times in Chapter 13 Nehemiah says, "Remember me, my God." Remember me for my love of you. Remember me because of Your great love and mercy. Remember me. Be kind to me. Nehemiah asks to be remembered by God because of his faithfulness to God and because he understood the order

God

↓

 Man.

Then Nehemiah says, "Remember them, my God." Remember Sanballat and Tobiah. Remember those who tried to oppose the Israelites by ridicule, by anger, by discouragement, by greed and heartlessness, by deceit and trickery, by scare tactics, and by fear. Remember them for what they have done.

Addendum:  9/15/14 ~ See Genesis 19:30–38 for how the Moabites and Ammonites began. See Jeremiah 48 & 49 to read what God says about their end.   

Addendum #2: 12/26/14 ~ In Nehemiah 13, Nehemiah asked God to "remember." Remember me—for my obedience. Remember me—for my love for the Temple. Remember me—for doing what was right. Remember me—for my faithfulness. Please be kind to me. Then Nehemiah says—remember them. Remember how they disobeyed you and went against your teachings.

Malachi records what will happen. God will remember and judgment will happen. We must take God and His commandments (and consequences) seriously. 


Next Entry: Malachi 1:1 – 4:6