Job was blameless and upright...but....

Hi Family and friends,

Greetings from India.

This morning I read the 1st chapter of Job.

Job 1:1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 

Job was a man who was blameless and upright but that did not spare him from trials and pain.

Job lost all he had for no fault of his but though he struggled to understand why all those calamities, he chose to trust God no matter what.

Let's too take one day at a time. We too may face trials, pass through painful situations but Job's life can be a source of encouragement to us.

We can choose to trust God instead of giving in to the temptation of questioning God if He really cared.

When Job lost it all, he said,

 "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
       and naked I will depart.
       The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
       may the name of the LORD be praised."

(Job 1:21)

He did not blame God.

Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Even when his wife said to him,

"Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

(Job 2:9)

He replied,

"You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

 (Job 2:10)

He chose to accept God's authority.

Believing in God does not protect us from trouble but when calamity falls, He gives us strength to bear it.

Isa 43:2, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

So when we walk through tough situations let's not question God or give up on HIM.

He never gives up on us!!

God sure is powerful enough to save us from trials but sometimes chooses to let us walk through such situations.

Job passed his test and proved that people can trust God for who HE IS and not just for what HE GIVES!!

Be Blessed,

YSIC,

Julia

~Forgiveness~ (Album)

As The Lord Jesus forgave us we are to forgive others.

But why do some people find it hard to forgive??

Let's forgive and Let Go!!

" Forgiveness does not change the past,
but it does enlarge the future."

" Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and handcuffs of hate. It is the power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness” (Corrie Ten Boon)

" Only the truly forgiven are truly forgiving." (C.S. Lewis)

" Revenge is the raging fire that consumes the arsonist." (Max Lucado)

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
" Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves."
" Remember, forgiveness frees you. It recaptures the energy that you were giving away in sadness, anger, and revenge. Forgiveness also empowers you. It puts you back in charge of you. "

" When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free."

" The secret of forgiving everything is to understand nothing."

" Forgiveness means to pardon the unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all."

" Forgiveness offers tremendous personal blessing."

“ Forgiveness is not an emotion, it's a decision.”

" To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU."

~Pathway~

Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 
Psalm 17:5, My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
Psalm 18:36, You broaden the path beneath me, so that my ankles do not turn.

 
Psalm 23:3, He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 119:105, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Praverbs 3:6, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 26:7, The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth.

 
Acts 2:28, You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

~Life~

Drinking From My Saucer (A poem)~Author unknown~

DRINKIN' FROM MY SAUCER

I've never made a fortune
And it's prob'ly too late now;
But I don't worry 'bout that much,
I'm happy anyhow!

And as I go along life's way
Reapin' better than I sowed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

Haven't got a lot of riches,
And sometimes the going's tough;
But I've got loving ones around me,
And that makes me rich enough!

I thank God for His blessings
And the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

I 'member times when things went wrong,
My faith wore somewhat thin;
But all at once the dark clouds broke
And light peeped through again.

So, Lord, help me not to gripe
About tough rows I've hoed.
I'm drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

If God gives me strength and courage
When the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings;
I'm already blessed enough!

May I never be too busy
To help others bear their loads.
I'll keep drinkin' from my saucer,
'Cause my cup has overflowed!

Author: © Jimmy Dean

My life...to God is an open book...

Hi ....

Greetings from India.

There's a saying " Don't judge the book by it's cover."

Is so easy to look at the outward appearance of people and judge, but that's not how we should see people. We need to see their hearts.

I think only Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior really knows us, as we really are. The Holy Spirit who lives within us knows every thing about us.

People may fail to see our hearts, misunderstand us, misjudge us, but ONLY GOD really knows us as we are so let us not get upset when people misjudge us.

If people label before reading the book it's OK  it's not what people say we are that matters, it's WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT US THAT REALLY DOES MATTER!

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."We are not on earth to win any popularity show, but to live a life that pleases our Heavenly Father.

Our life is surely an open Book before God.

Nothing is hidden from HIM.

Here's a poem that blessed me this day.

Have a blessed day

YSIC,

Julia

LIFE'S AN OPEN BOOK "

(A poem...)

My life to You God is as an open book.
My ways are ever before You so take a look.
To You there is no cover, all is open and bare.
You know my wants, desires, motives and cares.

How could I think I could keep anything from You?
The pages being transparent, You see right through.
As others read, they think they know the storyline.
Only You oh God can proofread these pages of mine.

At times I get weary and want to put this book on a shelf.
Caringly you read every line, loving me more than I love myself.
Lord help me to write this book for I am not skilled.
Let it be written and established in accordance to Your will.

Lord be my editor and make all the corrections.
Rewriting the story of my life as You give direction.
Tell me how it should read, knowing You are a true friend.
Even before I write it, You know the beginning to the end.

Lord help me to rip off the cover, let there be no disguise.
And let the book of my life be a bestseller in your eyes... (unknown)

What do I fear? ( Posted by Sunny)

 Am I afraid of an untimely death?

Am I afraid of a heart attack?

Is my fear of cancer?

Do I have a fear of some calamity? 

Do I fear the loss of the affection of my loved ones?

Do I have a dreaded fear of flying in an airplane? Is the fear of man prevalent in my life?

If there is any fear in my heart, I must be freed from it. Fear is an actual spirit that moves from without to take up occupancy within my life. Satan takes advantage of my giving place to fear and sees that the thing which I fear is reproduced in my life.

"For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me." ~ Job 3:25.

When Job made this confession he was on the ash heap of great suffering with boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.

He had lost his family, his eartly possessions.

Job evidently had entertained this fear for a long time by his admission that "the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me and that which I as afraid of has come unto me."

What am I fearing?

I must expel every spirit of fear from my life or else that negative, tormenting fear can reproduce into my life the very thing which I fear.

The Bible description of fear is not pleasant. It describes fear as tormenting, soul-snaring, the spirit of bondage, and able to reproduce itself in misery.

Luke 1:74-75 tells us a purpose of Christ's coming to this world is, "We, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear....all the days of our life." That means every day we ought to be free from fear. In the Bible there is a verse against fear for every day of the year.

Now, in the name of Jesus, I take bold action,

"You satanic spirit of fear that has oppressed and vexed my life, I command you in Jesus' Name to depart from my life because it is written, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind." ~ II Timothy 1:7

~We are Christ's Ambassadors~

Just wanted to share something.

If Jesus Christ is our Savior, we are 'Christ's  Ambassadors' 

 2 COR 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

So, we have to carry God's message to this world!

Why should we carry God's message?

1) It's a command and a Commission!

Mat 28: 16 -28

Acts 1:8 8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

2)  Others in darkness need to know the good news of Salvation. We are to be their 'Light'.

Is it an easy job?

No it's not always easy...it's risky & hard at times .

1)We'll be hated by some.

 John 15: 18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

2)We'll be punished unjustly

1 Peter 4:16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.1 1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Is it a rewarding job?

DEFINITELY!

Every single soul is precious to Jesus! There's great rejoicing and celebration in heaven when one soul turns to Jesus.

How can we tell others?

1) By our Personal life:

Most of the time people at home, workplace, Schools, Colleges, neighbourhood, our friends etc may not listen to all we say but will definitely watch how we live. Our Godly life will speak better than words.

As someone once said 'We are the 5th Gospel'.

Let's  be the 'light' & 'salt' God calls us to be!

Light removes darkness & gives warmth!

Salt is a preservative & we too can protect the people around us from being wasted away in sin!

So let's not pressurize people but live out our faith! 

 1 Pet 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

2) By Persuasion :

We need to lovingly persuade and help people accept the truth.

2 Corinthians 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

Jesus never forced people but challenged them by presenting the truth.

Even Paul reasoned and persuaded by explaining and proving the Gospel. 

 Acts 17: 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,[b]" he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.

Let's not get into argument with people who just want to have fun but when people do have genuine doubts clear them!

3) By Proclamation:

We can tell others what God has done in our lives. We are all called to be witnesses! ( John 1: 40-42/ Luke 12:8,9)

John 1: 40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.
      Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).

We all cannot be like Simon Peter who brought more than 3ooo people to the Lord on Pentecost day but I'm sure we all can be like Andrew bringing one soul at a time to Jesus.

4)By Demonstrating the power of God:

In Acts 3 we see the disciples do many miracles in the NAME OF JESUS and also explain who did it.

Miracles arouse interest. When people see or receive a healing or miracle they want to know how & who healed them! That gives us an excellent opportunity to minister to them. God has given His Children the authority.

Mark 16: 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

5)By Prayer:

Prayer can work wonders! We can pray for the lost souls around.

We should pray for the unbelievers around us, pray for God to use us & also for great spiritual revival to sweep the Nations of this earth!

Isn't it great to know we are Christ's Ambassadors?

Come on let's report for duty, the Lord's waiting to send us!

It's wonderful to remember that our Lord is no more in the grave but is ALIVE! HE'S A RISEN SAVIOUR!

God Bless you all!

YSIC,

Julie