7 random things...

Well, this should be easy. I feel like my middle name is "random". ( : I am supposed to write 7 random things about myself because my friend Laura J. tagged me. Here goes...

1. I hate fish, but I eat it as often as 3 times a week. (for my health AND my husband).

2. Despite what others might think, I tried out for cheerleader (at least 3 times) and DID NOT get picked... EVER.

3. While on a missions trip to Costa Rica, I was in an earthquake. (I just happened to be (ahem) using the restroom and on the 2nd floor of the hotel we were staying at). FUNNY STUFF.

4. While I was in high school, we moved out of our house multiple times due to septic tank flooding. Including graduation week. (sigh)

5. Coke makes me behave uncharacteristically ridiculous.

6. I love brownies. At all times, on all occasions.

7. I am a complete baby about flying. Complete.


So, I tag my SIL Anj. and Rachel White and Dalene...

Git-R-Done!

Job

I wish I could say that I have never missed a day in my "daily" Bible reading. Oh, how I wish. But, I have been doing well at reading through the Bible in a year in a very "hit and miss" kind of fashion. Better than nothing, right? So, each time I read Job, I think, I really wish I understood the BIG message in this book. I know many people have preached on it etc. But, really, if you have read it all, you know that there are many things that leave you scratching your head. The conversation part loses me sometimes, I sit going..."Now, WHO is talking here?" LOL.
But, recently, when I opened my Bible, desperate for some refreshment. I opened it to Job. I almost started flipping to find another book that I usually enjoy more... but I didn't. I read a chapter that I have many times before and all of a sudden, I felt like some things came into focus. It was the chapter where God is talking to Job, comparing Himself to one of the greatest, most ferocious creatures on earth. How would anyone dare request anything of Him?
Two things struck me... ONE, Job answers to God..."I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ...therefore, I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You , and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes." Funny, that I have read this so many times and never noticed that Job repented of speaking about God in a way that was wrong. The whole book, he spends telling God that he hadn't done anything wrong, so he didn't deserve this treatment... that he was waiting to hear God's indictment of him.

So, Job AND his friends got it wrong. God was saying, it is not about you doing everything right... and as your friends imply, it is not about you having done something wrong... it is simply, that I AM GOD, and YOU are not. But... the important part is next...

Job had repented before God, then his friends ask Job's forgiveness and offer burnt sacrifices...
and then, this... "The Lord restored the fortunes of Job WHEN HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold."

So, we have to accept what circumstances we are in AND, what circumstances our friends are in. Then, we have to not judge or tell them what they are doing wrong... OR, NOT doing right, and pray for each other. Because, truly, NONE of us deserve the eternal gift of salvation through Christ, or any other blessing we happen to get here on this earth. AND, none of us deserve the horribly sad, difficult things that happen... they are part of life, and hopefully a part that will send us to the feet of our savior and make us more and more like Him.

Just a thought on election day

You know what... nevermind.