Job 37:14 “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.”

Elihu is speaking now. He is described in chapter 32 as having waited to speak because the other three men were older. But as Elihu listened to the three he became angry because they were condemning Job without reason. He also was angry at Job for trying to justify himself rather than God. The wisdom Elihu gives is to be in awe of God, not to have any sense of earning His mercy, but to be aware of God’s greatness & our smallness. Elihu is pointing out the wrong focus, the human response of “it’s all about me, isn’t it?”. There was a spiritual battle going on that these humans were unaware of. Job’s tragedies weren’t because of his actions.

We can never go wrong giving this advice to a friend or to ourselves- stop being self- absorbed. Consider God’s wonders, His faithfulness in the past and His promises to us for the future. We can never earn His grace, be thankful for the free gift of salvation, for His amazing love. Thank You Lord!

“All my fresh springs shall be in thee.” Psalm 87:7b

How fascinating that this verse is from today’s reading, especially since we are seeing a bit of our own moisture fall around us. It always seems a bit unjust for me living in Oregon to have any bit of rainfall in the summertime. We are “blessed” with it enough throughout the other seasons, right? But when I think deeper about the issue, I know that the beauty around me would not be in existence if it were not for this.

Psalms 87:7b has a lot of depth in its meaning to me. No matter how much I enjoy the sunshine and light…it can be damaging without the rain. Life cannot grow without water. We ourselves are even made up of some water! And even more so in our spiritual life…without the watering of God’s spirit, we are thirsty.

I love how this particular part of the verse reminds me that my water, my spring, my LIFE comes from Him. And even the sweet phrase “fresh spring”, to me that means new life. The old Linda is gone and the new Linda lives simply because of my Lord. How refreshing is that?!!

So, as we see (and perhaps feel) the moisture around us today, thank the Lord for the fresh spring that He has given you!

Thank you God for new life! Thank you that each day is a chance to praise you, worship you and serve you. Thank you for the rain today and for the many ways that you replenish my soul with your love and your Spirit. I love you.

A strange title, you say?  Perhaps a little inflammatory?  Yes, I suppose it is.  It is true there is a struggle between good and evil within our own hearts, Paul confirms that for us in Romans 7.  But we shouldn’t let ourselves get duped into thinking that there is some cosmic arm-wrestling match between God and the Devil… one alternately advancing on the other.  Maybe it is better to think of it as God as the largest of buildings, and Satan as a wounded ant, banging his head against the base in hopes of doing damage.  I don’t underestimate the power and craftiness that the Evil Spiritual forces have, they just don’t compare to The One True God.  The Lord wins.  Period.

In our Esther passages you see God delivering His people once again.  One of so many plots to wipe out the Jews that was met with failure.  In this instance, the Jewish people were given the right to defend themselves “to the death,” unbeknownst to their enemies, they had Jehovah on their side.  God is not specifically mentioned by name throughout the entire book of Esther.  Not once.  But as I read the scriptures through the lens of God’s promises to His people, Israel, I can’t help but see Him and His providence and faithfulness in most every sentence.  Even in our reading from the Psalms, we see another instance of someone out to destroy the people of God.  Don’t be fooled into thinking this is a possibility.  Jesus said even the gates of Hell cannot overcome His church.  We certainly should pray to God for deliverance from those who want to kill us, it may be the only emotionally honest prayer we can make in times of grave danger.  And yes, believers have and will be killed by wicked people because they choose to name the Name of The Lord… but no one, and nothing can ever destroy the people of God as a whole.  And even people who have been martyred have not been destroyed - they are present with the Lord eternally.  So, we as believers in the God of the Bible should not be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. 

God, help me (and all of us) to live my life in The Way you ask me to with boldness, not in fear of the “next catasrophe” that comes my way.

Esther 6:11b,12a
“This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate.
King Xerxes found out what Mordecai had done for him in helping to save his life. He came to the realization that Mordecai had not been recognized for his good works. Xerxes wanted to make an example of Mordecai so that others would be inspired to do as he had done. After Mordecai was honored by the king he returned to his work at the city gates.
I am humbled to think of how God, my King, has blessed me. I am convicted to give Him the thanks for that and to become a better servant of His so that others will want to be better servants, also. I want to be deserving of what He gives to me. I need to share about the promises that God keeps so that others will be inspired to serve Him and thus enjoy His blessings. I have to admit that I’m not sure that I am like Mordecai and really deserve what God honors me and blesses me with. That should make me all the more grateful. Mordecai didn’t let all of the attention go to his head. After all the king did for Mordecai, he returned to the gate – he went back to the work he needed to do.
Lord, may I be like Mordecai, always about doing what You have for me to do. May I be an inspiration to others to serve our God & King. Thank you for honoring me by keeping your promises and by blessing me. You are so good to me!

A few weeks ago we read in 2 Kings 22 as King Josiah read the Word of God for the very first time and wept (it had been lost in the church).  He was eighteen years old, but Josiah led his people in the reading of the Word, then broke images and altars to false gods and abolished immorality.  Revival came to the kingdom of Judah. 

One hundred years later and after many years of captivity we see again the profound impact of God’s Word on His people.  Ezra had been, for years, committed to the study of the law and now he set out to teach it.  Ezra stood behind a wooden podium made for that purpose (Nehemiah 8:4).  (Perhaps it was much like the one Steve Maricle made for First B) As he opened the book all the people stood up (Vs.5)  He read from “early morning until midday” (Vs. 3)  These Israelites had been in captivity for seventy years and were hungry for the Word.  In fact, the writer says that “the people wept when they heard the words of the law” (Vs.9)  After hearing the Word they went out rejoicing and serving (Vs 10) and celebrating “because they had understood the words made known to them” (Vs.12)

I remember, too, when I really heard the Word for the first time.  I was nine years old.  I had heard many Bible stories, but this time it was different.  I listened as the pastor read to me from I John 2:12, “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.” I wept, for I had received Christ and was experiencing great peace and joy from His Word. 

The writer of Nehemiah goes on to tell us in Chapter 9 of how the people listened to the Word being read for six hours and then for another six hours they confessed their sins and worshipped the Lord. 

The prophet Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 15:16, ” Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart…”  In Hebrews 4:12 we read, “For the Word of God is living and active…”  I pray that I will hunger more and more for His Word, that I won’t allow my Bible to become lost in my home or hidden on my shelf.  I pray that by reading it I will be drawn to confession and worship.  I pray that it will be a joy and a delight of my heart.  I will pray that for all of us at First B.

Nehemiah 5:9  “… So I prayed for strength to continue the work.”

Nehemiah stays focused.  He doesn’t allow himself to get distracted or discouraged.  He understands that in the midst of adversity, his first line of defense is to pray for God’s strength and help as he is faced with a challenge.

This is a great example for me of what I need to be doing in my life.  Pray.  Nehemiah’s solution…  Pray.  “So I prayed…”  

That is what I need to do.  My natural response and tendency needs to be prayer.

Lord help me to be more focused on prayer as a first response, rather than an afterthought or last resort.

Psalm 73:26: My heart and flesh may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Inwardly, in his soul, David said he felt exhausted. His physical body, his muscles, became exhausted, too. In either case, (or when both happen simultaneously) God was the support David needed and his possession (in a spiritual sense) forever. He felt God’s presence, care and love always and knew that it would be there without end.

This reminds me that feeling inwardly or outwardly exhausted is normal, part of being human. How I handle the “down” times, where I put my focus, is what makes the difference. David put his mind on the fact that God was his support inwardly and would continue to be so for eternity. He turned his eyes upward in order to handle the down times. The exhaustion of my body can be greatly minimized when I handle the inner exhaustion ~that which I feel deep in my soul~ by realizing and remembering that God is giving me what I need for today and that the same will happen every day and forevermore. Lamentations 3:24 says “The Lord is my portion (my spiritual possession) therefore I will wait for Him.” Isaiah 40:31 says “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Because I get exhausted, I need to wait and hope in the Lord for renewed strength. Then, up I’ll go! The cycle will never end here on earth. God is my portion FOREVER. He’ll never leave me.

Thank you God for the days and eternity I have in front of me. I praise you for being my strength by giving me strength ~forever and for today. Thank you for that promise. I wait and hope in you today. Let me soar, let me run ~for you.