A Goldilocks Life

Living in the Light of God’s Grace

As I grapple with how to live for Jesus in a world that is dominated by sin and our enemy, Satan, the book of Job has helped me gain insight. In Chapter 38, the Lord begins His discourse to Job in reply to Job’s friend, Elihu. Verse 2 says,

“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.”

The chapters that follow are God’s first discourse and Job’s response, followed by God’s second discourse and Job’s repentance.¹ One verse that blew my mind as I read it is Job 41:11:

“Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.”

The question requires no answer, really. God doesn’t owe us anything. “Everything under heaven belongs to me,” He says. There are those who would dispute that. Some people think that the Lord God owes them a positive answer to every prayer they pray. Many others expect that He should show them His favor because they do good deeds. The things we do may please God, but He does not owe us anything for whatever piddling thing we might have done. Considering all the Lord has done for us, we are prideful if we think He should bless us for anything we do. Yet He does, every day. The Bible tells us that the Lord allows the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, both on good people and wicked ones (Matthew 5:45). Who are we to expect that God owes us anything?

Let’s live in light of the truth that every day we get out of our warm beds and fix ourselves breakfast in our handy kitchens is a gift from God. His grace and kindness deserve our thanks and praise, not our expectation of more of the same.

From Zondervan NIV Study Bible-Introduction to Job. ↩︎

We’re Family

From bronchitis to ear infection to summer cold, I’ve been sick for a month. I’m finally riding my bike again and almost sleep through the night except for 4 AM coughing spells. Watching Sunday sermons online is better than nothing at all.

I missed the privilege of singing on the worship team. That combined with not seeing my church family left me feeling low. Thankfully, friends encouraged me by phone and text. But it’s not the same as experiencing Pastor’s preaching and praising the Lord alongside my brothers and sisters.

We gain so much from one another, as Hebrews 10:24-25 reveals:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Conversations reveal practical and prayer needs and motivate us to serve in love. I believe my healing resulted from people praying. As the day of Jesus’ return approaches and darkness grows, we sense trouble may come. Let’s encourage one another to live together with Jesus Christ.

911

Our nation will never be the same since September 11, 2001. I join with you and all our friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans in never forgetting what took place on that awful day. Rather than recalling where I was when I learned about the attacks at the World Trade Center, I choose to thank the Lord that it was not as serious as it could have been thanks in part to Todd Beamer and other brave people on Flight 93 who gave their lives stopping the terrorists from crashing the plane into the White House.

I pray for the peace and comfort of families who lost loved ones that day and in the days that followed. Thank You for workers at the trade center, the brave people who went into the buildings to try and save lives before the towers crashed and burned. What a blessing the fire fighters and police, the military, our leaders, and especially President George W. Bush were during that crisis. It was amazing that in the months after 911, there was unity in our nation like I’d never experienced.

I thank You, God for our church. We gathered that night for a prayer vigil, most of us with tears streaming down our faces. We continued to pray together in the weeks after for all the people who were grieving and those who were trying to locate the missing and fight terrorists around the world. We watched as attendance at church nearly doubled. Many soldiers were lost in the years the followed because of the war on terror. Bless their families and thank You for their sacrifices.

Our Heavenly Father, You created this world, and we trust You to continue to direct it. Thank You for the United States of America. Please continue to protect us from terrorism of many kinds. We pray for peace in Jerusalem. Please may there be end to the war with Iran and between Ukraine and Russia. May Bible teaching churches keep on preaching the Gospel and helping us to grow in our faith and witness through their faithful work. Use us to reach other people who don’t know that Jesus is the Savior of the world and the way to heaven. Thank You that we have freedom to worship and share His love.