Surely I spoke of things I did not understand; I talked of things too wonderful for me to know. Job 42:3
It's easy to thank God when he does what we want. But God doesn't always do what we want. Ask Job. His empire collapsed, his children were killed, and what was a healthy body became a rage of boils. From whence came this torrent? From whence will come any help? Job goes straight to God and pleads his case. His head hurts. His body hurts. His heart hurts. And God answers. Not with answers but with questions. An ocean of questions… After several dozen questions … Job has gotten the point. What is it? The point is this: God owes no one anything. No reasons. No explanations. Nothing. If he gave them, we couldn't understand them. God is God. He knows what he is doing. When you can't trace his hand, trust his heart. The Inspirational Study Bible (by: Max Lucado) Exemplary means "serving as a commendable pattern to be imitated." No pressure here, but may I ask what about your life as a follower of Jesus would others say is exemplary? If the question leaves you a bit unsettled that's a good thing. Because it shows that you at least care.
Some of us squirm out of false humility. "Aw shucks," we reply, "why, golly, there's nothing in me that even comes close to being like Jesus." Oh, grow up! Others of us squirm for more substantial reasons. We know two things. One, we are called to something better. And two, we are settling for less. Peter said, "Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul." (1 Peter 2:11). Jesus wants to fill us each with His spirit, thereby making our lives exemplary. He wants us to be good friends, good parents, good neighbors good employees, good employers, good people. So good, in fact, that even those who otherwise oppose us cannot help but commend our lives. This is do-able. So. let's do it! We learn from Proverbs 28:20 that A life of faithfully serving and obeying God, allows Him (God) to place us in a position to be consistently blessed.
Pro 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost] shall not go unpunished. [Prov. 13:11; 20:21; 23:4; I Tim. 6:9.] A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an
Olympic diver. The only religious influence in his life came from his outspoken Christian friend. The young diver never really paid much attention to his friend's sermons, but he heard them often. One night the diver went to the indoor pool at the college he attended. The lights were all off, but as the pool had big skylights and the moon was bright, there was plenty of light to practice by. The young man climbed up to the highest diving board and as he turned his back to the pool on the edge of the board and extended his arms out, he saw his shadow on the wall. The shadow of his body, was in the shape of a cross. Instead of diving, he knelt down and finally asked God to come into his life. As the young man knelt, a maintenance man walked in and turned the lights on. The pool had been drained for repairs. He is my source of existence and Saviour. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him I will be nothing. Without Him, I am nothing but with Him I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. Phil 4:13 Having God as our Father means the following: I have someone to talk to who understands and guides me, I love Him so much, I know that he moulds me to His image, that is the way I like it. Being in His image is more the type of person I want to become. It means that I dont have to worry about where is my next client coming from, He solves my problems, He provides food for my family, He keeps me healthy and free. I love Him so much, there is nothing I would not do for Him
We are Gods workers working together 1Co3:9 Its a wonderful day indeed when we stop working for God and begin working with God..... as it is described in 2 Co6:1 NIV we are Gods fellow workers. this means God and us are working together. Check in with Him and follow His lead. Stay in His Preasence and He will guide you on the right path.
My Weekly "To Do" List Monday - Wash Day
Lord, help me to wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve You with perfect humility through the week ahead. Tuesday - Ironing Day Dear Lord, help me to iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others. Wednesday - Mending Day O God, help me to mend my ways so I will not set bad example for others. Thursday - Cleaning Day Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Friday - Shopping Day O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Saturday - Cooking Day Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Sunday - The Lord's Day O God, I have prepared my house for You. Please come into my heart as my Honored Guest so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in Your presence. ~ Author Unknown Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops.
As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals. Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farmhand?” the farmer asked him. “Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man. Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!” The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.” Enraged by the old man’s response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, and he returned to bed to also sleep while the wind blew. Where to take it from here...... When you’re prepared, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life? The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves firmly in the Word of God. |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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