for me to process our bible study

all of the info below comes from the bible and from Job Lessons in Comfort by Frances Bennett.  I have really been getting tons out of this bible study that I attend on Tuesday mornings.  It has been good for me to go through the book of Job at a slow pace and soak it in.

Here is what is striking me today...first a summary of Job as told by Barnes and noted by Bennett in her study guide..then the stuff that struck me.

summary of Job:
"A great and good man falls. His comforts all depart.  He sinks to the lowest degree of wretchedness.  To explain this, and all kindred subjects, his own mind is taxed to the utmost, and four men of distinguished sagacity and extent of observations are introduced--the representatives of the wisdom of the world--to explain the facet.  They adduce all that they had learned by tradition, and all that their own observation had suggested, and all the considerations which reason would suggest to them; but all in vain.  They make no advances in the explanation, and the subject at the close is left as dark as when they began.  Such an effect, and such a train of discussion, is admirably fitted to prepare the mind to welcome the teachings of revelation, and to be grateful for that volume of revealed truth which casts such abundant light on the questions that so perplexed these ancient sages."

stuff that is striking me:
"Job and his four counselors lived before most of the Bible had been written.  You and I, however, live with the revealed truth that Jesus Christ is our mediator and our ransom, and that He has conquered death.  We have access to God's entire written Word in our own language."

me:
so why is it that i still use reason and logic to comfort?  God's word is the only Word that is truth, that holds water, that stands..so why do I bring my own wisdom or my own observation as tools to rely upon when comforting myself and others, if God's tools have proven?  I know that all people have a hole the size of God in their souls that yearns to be filled and that only God can fill..yet, i still am leery or worried that His word won't be good enough.

Oh, me of little faith...the core issue is thinking that I know better than God.  Lord, help me to be in your Word so that I have tools that hold to offer myself and others who are suffering.


God:
Proverbs 3:1-8

 ¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,
   but keep my commands in your heart,
² for they will prolong your life many years
   and bring you peace and prosperity.

 ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
   bind them around your neck,
   write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name
   in the sight of God and man.

 ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.^[a]

 ⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;
   fear the LORD and shun evil.
⁸ This will bring health to your body
   and nourishment to your bones.

the Lord whispers

so a friend mentions a family to me on sunday, the mere mention of someone's name doesn't always affect me, i think about the family immediately after the conversation, during church, then on the way home from church the family comes to mind again, then i talk to jack about the family, that night before bed the Lord gives me an idea of how i can reach out to that family, i email out to try to make it happen, monday has brought many thoughts of this family to my mind...i stop and pray each time i think of them.

this is how He whispers.

no, i am not dead

so much has transpired since I last wrote here..in fast forward..
family drove to savannah, spent 5 days with mom, drove to sea island spent 3 days with jack's fam, enjoyed nye with them, spent 3 days alone at sea with jack and jackson, drove back, have been cleaning and organizing like a crazy woman for 3 days, jack's birthday is tomorrow..after that life goes back to a little calmer and more orderly.  which in turn may lead to more orderly blogging, posting of pictures, reading blogs..

but for now, I am not dead.  I am just living so i have more to write about when i rest.