Wednesday, January 20th “Desperate Hope” – Job 5 – 7:21

So…did you sing along yesterday to the worship songs that were left at the bottom of my blog? If not, you’ll definitely have to back and read yesterday’s entry and rock it on in your blog reading time. The last song from yesterday was sung by Candi Pearson-Shelton. She was at the retreat I was at with Cup of Joy this weekend, and she is by far my favorite worship leader to hear sing—1. Her pipes rock the house 2. If you have ever seen this girl sing or know her heart–she gives the glory to God in her gift of singing. Truly, I feel the glory of God when she leads worship—AND she sings REALLY loud so it makes even me sound good following her…and that says a lot.

Candi recently wrote a book “Desperate Hope: When My Faith in God Overcame My Dispair” after the death of her brother. She has an AMAZING story about how the book came to be that you can read about here. She told me that day 8 is the WOW READ—so don’t cheat…and read her events leading up. And you can buy her book now on Amazon on pre-sale-but it’ll be released in just a couple of weeks!

I thought this book was an appropriate share during our study of Job as it’s about how God whispers to Candi and her family along their journey of Rick’s diagnosis and death…and how her mourning was transformed to praise as He revealed His glory through pain. This is Candi’s first book–and David Cook published it…which is the same company that read Frances Chan’s work and went for it. SO…I think it’s gonna be a good read! You can also purchase her new worship cd “Sycamore: Yet I Will Rejoice”here that I picked up this weekend at the retreat…GOOD STUFF!

Job 5 – 7:21

Today’s reading was a bit easier to read than yesterday when tragedy actually struck–but still…it isn’t an easy read. Job’s friends come to comfort him, but in most of chapter 5 Eliphaz really seems to be accusing Job of sin. I mean, after all—bad things don’t happen to good people…right?! Not so much. But too often, this is how the world thinks and it’s often our first reaction especially to ourselves. And this is exactly what satan would want us to think or assume. But, we have to remember WHY this was happening to Job—hmmm…and WHY would YOU say this is happening to Job? I believe it’s the answer to every WHY when things go wrong. This would NOT be the time to resight Romans 8:28…although it is true;). I’m just saying. Although Romans 8:28 is true and part of it—I think Romans 11:33-36 is most fitting for WHY this is happening. JOT THIS DOWN. MEMORIZE IT. REMEMBER IT. So that when hard things come (when NOT if), you will have this written on your hearts:

…So that He may be glorified. So that He may be glorified. So that He may be glorified. In chapter 6, Job expresses his hurt to Eliphaz of his accusation (verse 14) “One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty”. Eliphaz doesn’t get it. And Job is starting to lose it. I wish I could say I would and could be as calm as Job. But not me. Can I just say I don’t like reading Job? I don’t. Remember that PRAISE I had yesterday for getting the email address in the grocery store—my miracle of the day?! Lost it. Yep. It’s true. Can’t find it any where. I think I left it in the grocery cart. Cleaned out the trash today…no luck. Then I didn’t get a shower today until 5pm and dinner guests were going to arrive at 6pm. Dinner still uncooked. Kids every where. Jumping out of the shower, throwing on clothes and then racing to put on the sweet diamond necklace that Richard gave me when I had baby Frank in the hospital (3 diamond circles to represent each of my babies). Gone. Yep, we’ve had a 4 year old princess who is addicted to playing in my jewelry box. So…either she played with it or I lost it. I was so upset, accused my 4 year old of taking it and it is JUST A WORLDLY POSSESSION and then screamed at Parker when he wouldn’t obey. I just sat on the kitchen floor—looked right at Frank and said, “Well God, I’m nothing like Job. I can’t even handle losing a necklace and kids who aren’t listening to me without losing it!” Frank just smiled—well, because he can’t talk yet. But still—today I had a new appreciation for Job…and that brings me to chapter 7.

I honestly don’t think I would have made it as long as he did before finally saying what he said. In verse 16, Job begins to lose heart and says, “I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me along for my few remaining days.” And I wish I could say he was talking to his boy Eliphaz when he said those words. But he is not. He is talking to God. “Oh, just leave me alone.” I know what all the commentaries say about what Job’s response SHOULD HAVE been. Oh, I know the right words to say alright too. But it’s easier said than done. I wish I had some good insight on an appropriate response. But I don’t. I know that I want Job to fall on his knees and worship again–but that’s not the story in this chapter. The only thing I can take from this today…is that I hope I can be a different kind of friend than Eliphaz when my friends go through trouble. Help us Lord to hold their hands–and to help them praise. Lead us to remind them of your goodness and to stand beside them until the fog is cleared and they, too, are able to see Your glory. Help us all to trust you NO MATTER WHAT.

Adoption Prayer Request: We got a letter in the mail yesterday that said USCIS received our application (praise!) and cashed our check. BUT we still have not received a letter for our biometric fingerprinting appointment that MUST be done and cleared for us to receive our referral. Will you please pray that our appointment letter comes soon and that we are cleared BEFORE we get to the bottom of the referral list? THANK YOU! This is the ONLY pending thing for us…and we need it to happen as soon as possible. Thank you for praying. Trusting in the Lord’s timing.