This is our last full week in the book of Job. We will finish up with 2 chapters next week and jump straight into I Thessalonians. I am eager for our reading this week, as God begins to speak directly to Job. Let's not wait any longer, let's see what God has in store for our reading! Here is this week's reading plan:
Monday - Job 36 Tuesday - Job 37 Wednesday - Job 38 Thursday - Job 39 Friday - Job 40 I'm praying for each of you this week! Keep reading God's word! Joyfully His, Andrea
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Good morning, Sweet Sisters!
We are well over half way through Job. Oh, the depth of sorrow and pain we have experienced along side of him! This week we meet a new man who just couldn't help but to add his opinions to the situation at hand. Here is this week's reading plan: Monday - Job 31 Tuesday - Job 32 Wednesday - Job 33 Thursday - Job 34 Friday - Job 35 I'm praying for each of you this week. May your relationship with Him grow deeper each day and may you be able to see God clearly in the big things and the small. Keep reading God's Word! Joyfully His, Andrea Which one are you?
Seems a strange question, I suppose, but not if taking account of Job's suffering. For the past six weeks we have been reading about Job's great suffering and many of those chapters consisted of deep conversations between Job and his friends. These friends meant well, they really did, but when they could no longer make sense of Job's sufferings their encouragement turned to rebuke. There is a few things I think we can learn from these friends, good and bad. Let's look at the good: "When three of Job's friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words." ~ Job 2:11-13 When Job's friends heard of his suffering, they wanted to help him. They cared and loved their friend enough to drop what was going on in their own lives just to let Job know they cared and he wasn't alone. There are a few things in this portion of Scripture that stand out to me as what to do to show those suffering that we love them. *Show up - Drop what you are doing and just be there. *Grieve for them - Cover them in prayer asking God to let you carry some of their burden. *Stay - True suffering doesn't last only a moment, it tends to last awhile. Don't just show up, offer help, and leave. Make sure they know you are walking this with them. Spend time with them, check in on them, do the things you know are helpful without being asked and let them know you are a quick phone call away if they need you. *Just listen - We must know when to be quiet. There is a time for talking, encouragement and even small talk, but... when others are suffering the best we can do for them is to listen and pray. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar had good intentions and they came to Job to comfort and console him. But what happened? Beginning in chapter three, Job finally speaks. He tries to put his suffering into words. It is at this time that his friends begin their comforting, but it quickly turns to something else. These friends had no answer for the tragedy Job was living out. All they could surmise is that Job must be guilty of great sin to suffer in the ways that befell him. For many chapters, their comforting was nothing more than an argument with the man who was suffering! Where did they go wrong? They assumed. Yes, it's true that suffering can be a direct result of our own sin, and those situations are usually pretty transparent. But Job's situation was different. God Himself spoke of Job's integrity, but Job's friends did not know this. And there lies the problem: they did not know. We cannot comfort someone with assumptions. We cannot declare, in our own wisdom, what God is allowing. If we are not absolutely sure of something, we shouldn't speak of it. "I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are! Won't you ever stop blowing hot air? What makes you keep on talking? I could say the same things if you were in my place. I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you. But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief." ~ Job 16:2-5 Job had finally had enough. He knew of his innocence and he also knew how he would comfort others that may suffer such great trials. He would encourage those hurting and he would try to ease their pain. Let's do the same. May we be the encouraging, comforting hand that helps relieve some of the pain to those who suffer among us. May we use our own trials to help comfort others. "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us." II Corinthians 1:3-7 It's a lot easier to comfort someone who is suffering if you have walked that same road. I have been an unwed teenage mother and have been dragged through custody battles trying to keep my child. I have suffered secondary infertility and I have lost a precious baby in the womb. I have lost people close to me. I have lived second hand to severe anxiety and I have watched my oldest child walk away from me at a young age. I have had my share of suffering, but I count it all as joy if God can use even a slither of it to bring comfort to someone else and ultimately bring that person to Him. It's harder still to comfort those when we don't know what their going through. I can't relate to those who grew up in an abusive home, or those who were widowed or orphaned. I haven't walked those roads, but...... I can love them, I can encourage them and I can be their listening ear when they need it. So, how about you? What will you be, a miserable comforter or an encouraging friend? I'm praying for you, Sweet Sister, whether you are the one suffering or you are the one comforting. Keep reading God's Word! Joyfully His, Andrea Good morning, Sweet Sisters!
Can you believe we are in our 6th week of Job? We have been in the midst of Job's conversations with his friends who seem to know exactly why he is suffering so. Beginning today, we will be reading many chapters of Job's final response to his friends. I find it strangely comforting to know Job was a bit sarcastic when responding to his friends (Job 26:1-4). Sometimes we ourselves revert to sarcasm when others don't seem to understand or know where we are coming from. Here is this week's reading plan: Monday - Job 26 Tuesday - Job 27 Wednesday - Job 28 Thursday - Job 29 Friday - Job 30 I want to apologize for being unable to post more often. Life with a newborn and being back in our homeschool full time has pushed my computer time to very minimal. However, I wouldn't have it any other way! I'm so grateful for each day God gives me with my sweet children and I plan to do nothing more than soak up each moment I have with them, knowing it won't last forever. With that being said, I also know God has brought me here, and I want Him to use me to bring Him glory through our study of His Word together. So, in short, I will try to post here a little more often, but in the mean time, keep reading! Joyfully His, Andrea I am so sorry that I am behind on our reading plan for this week. I have had some things come up this week unexpectedly, that has demanded my attention. So, here is our reading plan as we continue in Job. :)
Monday - Job 21 Tuesday - Job 22 Wednesday -Job 23 Thursday - Job 24 Friday - Job 25 Keep reading God's Word! Joyfully His, Andrea Good morning, Sweet Sisters,
Our reading this past week has been intense. Reading Job's conversations with his friends, as he tries to make sense out of his trials, has brought heaviness to my heart. Not only has Job suffered greatly, but now even his friends seem to be turning against him. This week's reading will give us more insight into how Job feels about his struggles and how he cries out to God for answers. I know this is tough reading, but stick with me, God has much in store for us through Job to help us understand and cope with our own sorrows. Here is this week's reading plan: Monday - Job 16 Tuesday - Job 17 Wednesday - Job 18 Thursday - Job 19 Friday - Job 20 I pray that each of you are seeing God work in your own lives as you are seeking Him out daily. He loves you, He adores you and He wants you to seek Him more. Keep reading! Joyfully His, Andrea |
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " AuthorHi! I'm Andrea, wife to my handsome hubby, homeschooling mama to my 7 amazing blessings, and daughter of the King of kings. I am so glad you have stopped by my little piece of the web. My prayer is that the Lord will use this blog to encourage you in your personal, daily walk with Christ. Archives
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