BEWARE OF UNGODLY COUNSEL Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. —Job 5:17             Wow!  Truth is truth, but truth misapplied isn’t true!  Now that is something to think about!             Eliphaz the Temanite is “counseling” Job when this truth is mentioned.  And yet Job is not being reproved by God for wrong-doing.  Nor was Job being disciplined for some sinfulness in his life.  What was happening in Job’s life was a “scheme” of Satan’s (II Corinthians 2:11) and Eliphaz was being used as his mouthpiece.  This was also true of Job’s wife when she said, “Are you still maintaining your…

SERVANTHOOD IN/THROUGH ADVERSITY There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil. —Job 1:1 And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil. —Job 1:8   Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.  And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken…

REJOICE!  BE JOYFUL! Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. —Habakkuk 3:17-18             Do we trust God only when things are going well?  Will we trust Him when things are not going as we think they should?  Habakkuk concluded that this is what he would do.  Even if things were not going well he would “rejoice in the LORD” and “take…

TAKE REFUGE! The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. —Nahum 1:3 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.  The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.  But with an overflowing flood he will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. —Nahum 1:6-8             What will people do with the Lord when He is angry with them?  What will they…

GODLY CHARACTER He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? —Micah 6:8             Yes, God had told us what is good and what He requires of those who follow Him.  This is it— “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  Justice is to make sure people are treated equally and fairly.  Loving kindness is to do “to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12; 22:37-40).  To…

THERE WILL BE PEACE! Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. —Micah 4:3             The time is coming!  Imagine when there will be no more war!  No more conflict!  In this fallen world war has been learned.  How sad it is that the human race has developed weapons to destroy their fellow man?  From stones, spears, bows & arrows and catapults to— “The Metal Storm gun, on the other hand, makes the M134 look like a toy. The prototype gun system was rated at 16,000 rounds per second or 1,000,000 rounds per minute. The gun system was developed by an Australian weapons company…

OBEY WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE! Why did Jonah disobey and flee from God’s call?  Are we willing to spend money to avoid God’s what desires to follow our own desires?  Are we willing to travel great distances to avoid what God desires to follow our own desires? Are we willing to endure storms to avoid what God desires to follow our own desires?  Are we willing to put others in danger to avoid what God desires to follow our own desires?  Are we willing to die to avoid what God desires to follow our own desires?  Do we need to be close to death before we do what God desires…

THE JOY OF CHILDREN! May you see your children’s children! —Psalm 128:6             As a follower of Jesus it is so exciting to see my children having children.  But what a joy is must be to see your children’s children having children!  The Psalmist’s desire was that we might see our children’s children and that has happened for me and this brings me to rejoicing.  To be able to watch my grandchildren to grow and learn is incredibly satisfying.  We are told that “children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Psalm 127:3).  It is the Lord who forms a child in the womb…

OUR LORD DESIGNED MOTHERS TO BE MOTHERS Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. —Psalm 127:3             The fruit of a garden or orchard brings great joy.  How much more do children to their mothers?  When a child is born there is great joy.  Even before a child is born there is.  A mom to be has a baby shower given to her.  People come with gifts for the soon to be born baby that makes one a mother.  Presents are open by the mom to be for the baby to be.  There are ooohs and aaahs as gifts of clothing, blankets…

GOD IS IN CONTROL! Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?  Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing?  Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?  Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? —Amos 3:3-6             Now here is something for us to think about! —Does disaster come to a city,…