The Withering Heart; The Flourishing Hope

The Bible story of Job who lost everything he had in the course of several days can be viewed as relevant to many in this day and age. It is a time in history where many of our futures are classified as unknown. Changes engulf us on every level. Our economy continues to plunge... wasted oil lingers closer to the borders... prices soar... pay decreases... and we wonder what we can possibly do to control our lives...

Job found out the hard way.. that we cant... we can only go one day at a time... and with every new day.. God gives us a bundle of new grace to handle whatever struggle.. whatever disaster... comes our way... His grace is sufficient... His lovingkindness is never ending..

We get so caught up in our present circumstances.. our stress at home.. at work.. we are vainly aiming to please a multitude... and we forget to please a Savior.. Job says in chapter 8 "Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless."

We lose hope becuz we put all of our hope in ourselves.. and forget to take our burdens.. worries.. sorrows.. to a Savior... We remember the movie "Passion of the Christ".. the beatings.. the humiliation... the death... the pain... but we should not lose sight.. that Christ beat death... beat humiliation.. beat the pain... to save the "godless"... the "unqualified"... we are all thats left of Him on earth.. living breathing messengers for him... may we never be a "withering reed" but a "flourishing papyrus" in a marshless desert.. the world... it needs us.......

Comments

Failure is a Gift

I sat in the room, nervous. I had sensed this moment coming all week. Though I felt a small comfort and peace, deep inside, I was terrified. I was bracing for the letdown—far from my first. I made small talk with someone twenty years my junior, knowing that soon, he would ask me to step down. That reality was hard to face. My mind drifted back to my first year as a deputy. I had called my father repeatedly, distressed over my fifth write-up. Each time, he told me to thank them for the discipline, not to quit, and to keep my head up. But I was overcome with sorrow. I felt like a failure. Maybe I could earn straight A’s, but I had no common sense. I feared I would never catch on. I was beginning to give up. Still, my dad insisted I keep going. In my first week alone, I had discharged my weapon—firing over sixteen rounds at a bull on Super Bowl Sunday. Not long after, I found myself in a full-blown foot pursuit of an escapee, my face, mostly pride battered from the struggle. My track...

My Weapon is a Melody

Every day can be a battle. A battle for our hearts, a battle for our minds, a battle to discourage, a battle to get out of bed, a battle to be content in whatever state we are in, a battle to bless God even in the darkest times. Satan seeks to crush and destroy us. When we are so focused on our own pain and battles, we are less useful. Think of a nice shiny car, but with a broken hose. This small hose can cause the entire car to be out of commission. This too is how Satan works in our life. He may sit back and watch us break with the smallest hose. That is all he needs to put us out of service. Many of us have been out of service for quite some time. This is because we have so focused on goals or things that may be outside our purpose. How do we fight battles in our life and overcome them? What should our only purpose be? Praise and worshiping God. That is it. God is constantly seeking out people who just want to worship Him. We constantly ask for blessings in our life, but how many ...

Hurricane Milton: The Anxiety Chronicles

October 8th is National Face Your Fears Day, and many Floridians are confronting that reality as Hurricane Milton approaches, less than 24 hours away. While the news is filled with alarming phrases like "explosive Category 5 hurricane," it only amplifies the anxiety of millions who already struggle with fear. Yet, in the midst of this, we must remember who is in control of the storm. "You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them." Psalm 89:9 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." Isaiah 43:2 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7 The prophet Haggai had a word for the Israelites when they were focused on beautifying their homes and lives. They had the best decor, the latest tech, and endless feasts, but Haggai called them to take a hard look at their priorities He said, “You’ve ...

I Am NOT Just a Number

Search This Blog