Job 31 July 22, 2008

Reflection: I really don’t have a lot to say on this chapter. I feel so sorry for Job. He has been obedient to God and had served him well, and God still lets horrible things happen to him. It is so hard for me to understand how such a loving and caring God could out us through so much pain. I understand the concept that it is to test our faith and belief in him, but I’ve always wondered if there might be a different way of soing that. It is a difficult question that nobody really knows the answer to. Except God anyway. I guess I’ll just have to ask him.

Prayer: Lord I ask for understanding and patience.

Job 30 July 5, 2008

Verses 9-11:And now their sons mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.They detest me and keep their distance;  they do not hesitate to spit in my face.  Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me, they throw off restraint in my presence.

Reflection: All I could think about when I read these verse was how some people will turn their backs on you when you say you believe in God, but then have something horrible happen to you.  It raises so many questions for me.  Right now as I write this my family is downstairs watching an episode of Planet Earth.  I am completely in awe of God, but I often question how he can put the people he loves through so much pain.  It certainly doesn’t help our case when trying to evangelize.  I am just imagining that I am a person who doesn’t believe in God and have just heard this speech about how much God loves me.  I look at the person telling me this and consider their situation.  In this situation, my evangelizer is in the middle of a broken family and has suffered a lot.  OK, I say to myself, sure God loves me.  But if he loves me so much then why does he make me go through so much.

I can remember a time a few years ago, I think I was 8 years old.  I was seriously questioning if God was real.  My parents had just gone through a divorce and my Father was remarrying.  It was a really difficult time for me and I remember praying to God and asking him why he did this to me.  I was a confused 8 year old who didn’t know why her parents couldn’t get along.  I still wonder why god makes us suffer.  I can understand that he does it to test us, but I often wonder if there is an easier and more enjoyable way that we can show our faith in God.

My thoughts are a little jumbled on this one and I need to pray about it

Prayer: Lord, I know you love me, but how can you put us through so much pain?

Job 29 July 3, 2008

Reflection: I am not going to pick a specific verse for this chapter because the entire thing spoke to me.  I think this is what will happen to any person if he or she is a true follower of christ.  People will listen to your every word and respect you.  You will be blessed by God and by the people around you.  Job is the perfect example of what it is to be a real christian.  I remember my first attendance to LP; it was during the “it” series. I think that Job is a great example of being “it”. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to be like Job.  I want to be a true christian and follower of you.