Tag Archive | good morning girls

Job 3 – When you hit rock bottom

Jan6

Good evening y’all. Today we are studying Job chapter 3.

Be blessed 🙂

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In todays chapter, it seems Job finally hit rock bottom. He had what i would describe as an emotional melt down. His physical side kicked in. He was starting to feel the pain and the reality of his situation was beginning to dawn on him. Rather than curse God, he decided to curse the day he was born. He sincerly wished he wasnt born and just wanted a way out. In short brother Job was suicidal!!! Yes its the bible and yes! our brother Job who told us in chapter 2 that how can we expect good from God and not expect any evil was feeling suicidal.

I’m sure there are a few of us that can relate to Jobs lamentation here. I have found myself in situations where i have hit rock bottom and really thought there was no way out. But God in His mercy and grace always shows up just before its too late. He has never left me stranded 🙂

For as many that may be going through one challenge or the other, remember God’s promise to never leave us nor forsake us. He is always present to help us. Even though in the trial, it might seem as if He has forsaken us but the truth is, He can and will never leave us alone. Keep trusting and believing Him. Hold on to the promises He has given you.

I will leave us with a few of my favorites scriptures that have helped me through rough times.

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you”. (Isa 43: 1-4 NLT)

“I love you, Lord;
    you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me;
    floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
    death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;
    yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary;
    my cry to him reached his ears”. (Psa 18: 1- 6 NLT)

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand”. (Isa 41:10 NLT)

“For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
    ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob,
    don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.
I am the Lord, your Redeemer.
    I am the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa 41: 13 – 14 NLT)

“God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea”. (Psa 46: 1-2 NLT)

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deut 31: 6 NLT)

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!
See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands”.(Isa 49: 15-16 NLT)

“And we know that God causes everything to work together[m] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”.(Rom 8: 28 NLT)

I pray God will give us the grace to trust Him continually even as we go through the trails of life. I pray we will feel His presence near at all times and will hear His voice clearly speaking to us. I pray His Spirit will encourage and comfort as many that are going through one trial or the other right now In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Thank you for joining today . Pls feel free to share your thoughts on the chapter.

Have a blessed evening
Jumbug …XXX

***With God all things are possible***

Job 1 and 2 – Trials Trials Trials

Jan5

Good evening y’all. Happy new year. I’m so excited about 2016 and all God has in store for us. I hope you all had a good break.

Today we start our study on the book of Job. I will be doing a combined study on Job 1 and 2

Be blessed 🙂

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As I read through chapter 1, I noticed that the writer spent time explaining to us the kind of man Job was. We were told of his location, his character, his family, his wealth and above all his devotion to God.

Verse 1 in GNT translation  says ……He was a good man, careful not to do anything evil.

This tells me that despite the amount of wealth that Job had, he was still humble before God. He loved God enough to make sure he didn’t do anything evil. He went as far as offering sacrifices on a regular basis on behalf of His kids, just incase they have done anything wrong against God.

I ask myself if I was to be described, will they see me as someone who loves God and passionately shuns evil?

As we start 2016, let’s make a decision to live for God and Him alone. Lets make a decision to seperate ourselves from anything that will seperate us from God.

As we go further in the chapter, we are  presented with a scene in the court of heaven. We are told the sons of God gathered and Satan also turned up.This reminded me that, whenever God’s children gather, Satan also gathers to accuse them. We see this further evidenced in the conversation between Satan and God.

“One day as the angels[d] came to present themselves before the Lord, Satan, the Accuser, came with them.“Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. And Satan replied, “From earth, where I’ve been watching everything that’s going on.” (v6-7 TLB)

If God is all knowing surely He knows what Satan was there to do, so why did God have to ask satan the question? I guess God used that as a bait to boast about Job to Satan.

In verse 8 God boasted about Job. I had to pause and ask myself can God boast about me to the devil? Can God take a risk on me? Will I crack or can God trust that I will be able to handle the trial?

Satans response in verse 9-10 shows what God does for His children who fear Him.

“Why shouldn’t he when you pay him so well?” Satan scoffed. “You have always protected him and his home and his property from all harm. You have prospered everything he does—look how rich he is! No wonder he ‘worships’ you!” (v9-10 TLB)

        – God protects his own. He puts a hedge around us
        – God prospers us and provides for us on all sides .

God agreed to the challenge from the devil. I still wonder why???? I’m guessing it’s because God wants to further proof to Satan that Job is a loyal servant, unlike him who got too big for his own good and had to be demoted. God knew Job would never deny him. Also God never puts more on us than we can bear.

“Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that Job has is in your power, only do not put your hand on the man himself.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord”. (v12 AMP)

This vese 12 makes it clear that God sets the  boundaries even for the enemy. The devil doesn’t have authority or power to do anything to us, unless God permits it and if God permits it, there must be a reason. In Job’s case it was to proof and build up His faith in God. I am so happy the devil is limited in what he can do!!! and that God; The Merciful and Gracious ONE, determines how far he can go. Hallelujah!!!

Fast forward to verse 20- 22, after all the bad news job heard, he fell down and worship God. I’d be very honest here and say I don’t think I can do what Job did. This man despite the pain…decided to praise God. I know it must have been very difficult for him. I strongly believe he wasn’t able to do that in his power. I believe God supplied the grace he needed to be able to praise Him in the midst of that situation. Job understood the sovereignty of God.

“He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”  In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God”.(v21-22 NLT)

In chapter 2, we start with the court room again. Satan tells God the reason job hasn’t denied him yet his because God didn’t allow him tamper with his body. God gave him permission to go ahead.

Boils and sores came upon job yet he still refused to curse God even when his wife told him to curse God and die. I don’t blame her to be honest. She was probably tired and couldn’t understand why God would do this to them. She probably thought to herself this man is better dead than alive the way he is now. And she probably didn’t mean what she said, rather her emotions speaking for her.. In all of this, Job still refused to curse God. He held on to his faith in God.

“His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.” But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong”. (Job 2: 9-10 NLT)

In every trial God’s grace is sufficient for us. No wonder James encourages us to consider it joy when we are faced with trials.

“Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing”.(James 1: 2-4 NLT)

I pray as we journey through 2016, God will supply the grace to stand in the midst of trials and to keep trusting in Him. In Jesus’s Name. Amen

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to leave your thoughts on the chapter.

Have a blessed day

Jumbug….XXX

***With God all things are possible***