Day 135 – Let your relationships reflect the blessings of God.

Today’s Reading: Job 41 – Psalm 3

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seats of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2.

Oh, how God has blessed me. This humbly pours forth from me because it isn’t the blessing of financial wealth, but from the relationships He has given me.

These family and friends lift me up and encourage me. They share Joy with me and trust me. These people walk with me through the grandest parties of life and the lowest moments of life.

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33.

God has taught me what good relationships are, they do not take advantage of me or ruin my morals. He has shown me the path to take and who to take it with. He has given me friends and family that speak His Truth and share His Word. They are Good company!

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and it’s leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3-4.

My friends and family make me prosper. They move me forward on the path God has before me. I am blessed, and all I can pray is that from my walk, my children may see true friendships and build great relationships that will bless their lives to come.

Day 134 – It’s time to put on our big boy pants.

Today’s Reading: Job 38 – 40

“Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” Job 40:7.

The Lord finally answers Job. He’s done with all the blame throwing, He’s tired of all the complaining, the Lord is ready to challenge Job and his disputers.

God wants to know why they’ve questioned Him and why do they all think they know the reasons of Job’s misfortunes.

So the Lord asks Job many questions:

Did he set the world in motion? Did he put the snow in its storehouses? Did he shut the sea in, or command each morning to arise?

Yet Job put his hand over his mouth and didn’t answer God. However, God didn’t give up and came back at Job with a challenge.

It was time for Job to put on his big boy pants and answer God. He had enough courage to question his problems, but when God responded he became like a child and turned his back.

If we have enough courage to question God’s Sovereignty, then we need to be ready to answer Him when He does speak.

The Lord’s ways are so far beyond ours, His knowledge so much greater.

Isaiah 55:8-11 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snowcome down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

God’s plan for each one of us is going to put us in situations at points where we just don’t understand. When we get in these predicaments it’s a possibility we will question him and so will those around us, but we need to Trust His Sovereignty and be ready to answer Him when He calls. We can’t hide after we hear from Him; He can see us and wants us to stand up strong, ready with our reply. It’s time to put on our Big Boy pants and worship our God with obedience!

Day 133: The one without sin can throw the first stone.

Today’s Reading: Job 35 – 37

Job 36:4 “Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”

It is so much easier to see the fault in another than recognize the sin within ourselves. Elihu was still at it! Confirming his own perfection and Job’s imperfection, yet ending with the point that God regards no one that is wise in their own eyes. Elihu was trying to throw a stone without regarding any stones thrown at him.

Matthew 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Don’t we all do this? We so easily see the issues of another before we look at our own self and get our heart cleansed. Are any of us perfect?! Is it our job to fix someone else before we fix ourselves? It’s so easy to forget our own flaws when we see another’s flaws. We must strive to get our heart right with God before we use His Words to teach and rebuke another, and when we do find a flaw in someone else we must go to them out of love and concern, not judgement and conceit. We are given God’s Word to help others grow in their walk with Him, not push them down. You can’t throw a stone when you are washing feet.

James 4:11 “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.”

The next time you feel the urge to judge your neighbor and possibly pass it around (Gossip), STOP, PRAY, and Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that needs fixed. I always tell my kids, we can’t fixed others but we can fix ourselves. Only throw the stone if you have no sin.

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, God, and know my heart;test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Day 132 – Remember, when you judge someone, judgment is one’s own opinion.

Today’s Reading: Job 32 – 34

“Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'” Job 32:10.

Elihu was new on the scene with Job and his friends, but he definitely thought he was more righteous. He was sure that Job’s friends had no idea what they were doing since they hadn’t gotten Job to confess to his sins, and he was quite angry that Job hadn’t confessed either. Elihu decided that because of his righteousness, he would place judgment on Job from his own opinions. However, the only thing Elihu got right, was his judgment would be his opinion alone.

I for one have been caught many times in the line of judgments’ fire and sadly, also been behind the gun firing off judgment here and there. But judgment isn’t truth and it isn’t kind. Judgment that comes from the mouth of man is one’s own opinion, but judgment that comes from the mouth of our Lord is true and just.

Revelation 19:1 says, “After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.”

The funny thing is, the moment we place judgment we feel that everyone else feels the same way we do, but feelings aren’t fact. Sometimes, Our feelings get so strong we’re sure they’re true. We begin to form an opinion and it turns into judgment and judgment begins to shoot off. But once we hear the Truth our fact will become false and all that time was wasted and the wounds were made.

We all have opinions, but the next time we start to judge we need to regard our words as opinion and not fact and be willing to hear what others have to say so we can work together to find truth. Truth is the only thing that will set us free and with freedom we can find fulfillment in the life we were meant to live, a full abundant life.

Day 131 – Turn your “Back When”….into “What Now”.

Today’s Reading: Job 29 – 31

Job 29:2-3 “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone on my head and by his light I walked through darkness!”

Change — it can be a difficult pill to swallow. Job’s change was negative to him, so he kept looking to his past and yearning for his “Back when” God did this and I had that. If only he could have looked to God and said, “What now would you have me do Lord.” When this is our response to change, our time in change moves faster and the outcome comes quicker.

Yet, in the midst of change, many people want to look back and say, did I make the right decision, if only I could turn back the hands of time, can I just go back, or it was so much better Back When.

Change can be an act of pruning. It’s trimming back the roughage or cutting off the scraggly limbs. Both of these exercises will make the plant more beautiful in time, allowing it to bear more fruit and become even fuller. Once we make it past the change by moving forward and not looking back, we will be able to see the gifts from God on the other side.

My life has been marked by drastic changes, and this is what I learned: During change, try to handle yourself with as much grace as possible. Be at peace with not feeling like yourself until you’ve made it through. Some friendships will grow deeper and out of no where, and some friendships will fall away. God gives us the ability to calm our heart, but Grieve well and Seek your dreams. Forgive even when it isn’t easy; sometimes the things that seem easy will be the hardest overall. Lastly, I learned to keep moving forward like Lot, so I wouldn’t become a pillar of salt like his wife and blow away in the wind of change. Are you in the middle of change? Ask God what He would have you do now?

Day 130 – Even but a whisper from God can magnify His Indescribable Power and Glory across Creation.

Today’s Reading 26 – 28

Job 26:14 “And these are but the outer fringe of his works;how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

On one of my morning runs, all of my senses caught an amazing piece of creation. Frogs, ducks, birds and even gators greeted every passerby with their morning calls. The swampy edges of the lake gave off a fresh sweet scent, reminding me of the likes of a Pennsylvania “crick” from my visits there as a child. The brisk air felt like a Fall or Spring morning awakening the earth to the upcoming season. You could even smell the aromatic blossoms of the nearby jasmine and gardenias in the beautifully manicured lawns. In the Western sky, were 3 bright and strangely near stars in the formation of a triangle, and in the East, oh the most beautiful East was the painted horizon with every color of the wind. It’s amazing to think how all of this was formed during creation by the Word of God, and He looked around and said, “It is Good.”

To think, these are just glimpses of all God did with His mighty power.

We can’t even begin to understand all He can do. And yet, just think of what His whisper into your heart and soul can accomplish for the Kingdom. Job too knew, that God in all His power could do anything He wanted, and Job didn’t worry over His integrity, He did not allow the words of His friends to bring Him down. Job knew that God in all His Wisdom and Understanding knew the Truth, and Job would just sit and wait.

As you ponder on His Majesty and watch His Majestic Creation, be still and listen for His Still Small Voice of truth.

1 Kings 19:12 “After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.”

God creates the earthquake, He makes all you see, hear, feel, and smell, but He speaks His power in the whisper. Listen for Him.

Day 129 – Never Give Up!

Today’s Reading: Job 21 – 25

“But He knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold;” Job 23:10.

Thinking back to my childhood, I fondly remember the story of “The Little Engine that Could.” I remember constantly telling myself, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. My mom must have read that story to me over and over again.

As soon as I realized that I really COULD do something as long as Christ was with me in it, I knew that nothing could hold me back.

When God tests us, and He will, it isn’t a test to see us fail, it is a test to strengthen our Faith.

James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Job was going through these same tests for sure. These happened to be initiated by Satan, but God was watching the entire time, making sure Job was safe and trusting that Job would come forth as Faithful.

Sometimes I feel like Job, like my entire life has been filled with test after test. Yet God has never given up on me and through these trials my Faith has been strengthened.

Last night, as I was watching one of my favorite movies, Steel Magnolias, I noticed how Shelby’s mom had to endure the many trials her daughter went through. She had to watch as her daughter chose the life of a child over her own life. And as a mom, I know how she feels, I hurt more for my children than myself, but I know God will work all things out.

Through every trial and every test, my own mom looks at me with eyes of adoration and encouragement, and what I think looks like tarnished brass she sees as gold. No fire is too hot or mountain to high for me to conquer because my mom has reassured me with “God’s got big plans for you.”

Thank you to all MOMS who encourage their children in the faith. You may not see the fruit now, but as you plant the seed, the Holy Spirit will water it, and God will make it grow. In the end with your encouragement your Child will come forth as Gold!

Day 128 – Who do you need to prove yourself to?

Today’s Reading: Job 16 – 20

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.” Job 16:19.

Hi, my name is Kristen, and I’m a recovering people pleaser. Or thankfully, trying to work on just pleasing God and not having to please man. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I truly love helping others, but when I think someone doesn’t like me, I will make myself sick trying to figure out why. So it makes things worse when I constantly feel like I’m being judged. That’s when I try my hardest to just make others happy.

Thanks be to God, He has really opened my eyes to this, and I feel like I’m gaining my voice again and being able to be myself. This isn’t a harsh voice, I’m just being me, the one God made me to be.

We are created to Glorify God, not to allow worry and anxiety to tear us up inside over the thoughts of others. I still try to love others well, but I love God most.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10.

The Lord sits on high and He is our only judge. If we do what He wants we are essentially thinking of others more than ourselves, because we are reflecting Him to the world by being a servant to all. We are pleasing God by loving others enough to reveal to them the many gifts of God.

Job was confronted by this very same situation, yet He did not give in to the pressure, He just asked God to be his witness.

“My friends scorn me; my eyes pour out tears to God, that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbor.” Job 16:20-22.

As I wake every morning, I am mesmerized by God’s creation. It is all beautiful in its own way, and creation doesn’t try to change who it is to make others happy. The more I watch creation the more it reflects God to me and the Heaven I can’t wait to get to.

It can be truly exhausting to please others, yet so freeing to please God!

Why do we waste our breath and our time on anything other than what God wants. Let’s choose now to please only God, so that in pleasing Him we can Glorify Him to others and He will stand as our witness in the days yet to come.

Day 127 – No matter the hurt, no matter the heartache, I will Hope in Him.

Today’s Reading: Job 13 – 15

Job 14:7-9 “At least there is hope for a tree:If it is cut down, it will sprout again,and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth shoots like a plant.”

Job, in his lowest moments, looked at a tree and saw hope. The tree could be cut down to its stump, but as long as its roots found water, a new tree would bud and new limbs would grow. Job recognized what we should see too, that the tree has hope to be new again and we can have this same hope in Christ.

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.” John 7:38-39.

The Holy Spirit has now been given to us when Jesus was glorified through His death, burial, and resurrection. In our belief in Him we have hope of salvation and eternity. Even when we are banged on, bruised up, cut down, and hurting, we still have eternal life and full restoration available to us. We just need to have Faith in Jesus Christ as Our Savior, not just words and not just works, but full belief where our Faith is magnified by our actions.

James 2:17-18 “In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.”

When Job’s life was falling apart, one limb at a time, he still had hope.

Psalm 33:18-22 “But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. We wait in hope for the Lord;he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,even as we put our hope in you.”

No matter what’s going on in your life right now, no matter how hard things have gotten, have Faith in our Lord and hope for your Future.

Day 125 – What can I even say, God?

Today’s Reading: Job 7 – 9

Job 9:19-21 “If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty!If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse. I am blameless; I regard not myself;I loathe my life.”

Have you ever been in that moment, that month, or maybe even that year? You find yourself in a period of life where you want to speak to God, but you don’t even know what to say?! You are flabbergasted, frustrated, feeling lost, and possibly alone. You know He’s there, You hope He’s there, Or maybe You wonder, is He even there?

Job was at this point. He was going through the worst time. He was walking through the valley and didn’t even have the slightest idea what to say. How could he, a man, even speak to God, he thought. God is so wise, so strong and not even human, how could he condemn Him, answer Him, or even summon Him. Job was so lost in his own misery he didn’t even realize the Truth he already knew….he could go to God anytime, and so can you and I.

Too often we find ourselves in the valley building up a wall of despair. These bricks get so dense, so wide and so tall that we can no longer see or even hear God. We have to take the sledgehammer of His truth that He has placed in our hearts and tear down that wall. We need to seek Him and we will find Him when we seek Him with all of our heart. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even a man after His own heart fell prey to this wall, but David sought the Lord and the Lord heard his pleas.

Psalm 28:1, 6 “To you, O Lord, I call;my rock, be not deaf to me,lest, if you be silent to me,I become like those who go down to the pit. Blessed be the Lord!For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.”

Tell to The Lord whatever is on your heart, He’s ready to listen.