LEARNING FROM OUR TROUBLES
Today’s Reading: Job 1-2
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
There is a tomb in Nazareth Village that represents the tomb were Jesus was buried. Nazareth Village is a tourist attraction in modern Nazareth that re-enacts what life would have been like when Jesus lived there. Today we begin reading the book of Job. Job cries out for a redeemer and a mediator between himself and God. The empty tomb is proof that Jesus is Redeemer and Mediator, and that the last enemy, death, is conquered!
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Job 1:21
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
The enemy of Job is Satan! Job is unaware of the work of Satan. Satan is the one who has “taken away,” but only with God’s permission. Even though Job believed that God was causing the disasters, he remained faithful to God.
Job is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible. The Sabeans and the Chaldeans were nomads who had not yet settled into cities as later history indicates. Job lived for 200 years, which makes him at the very least a contemporary of Abraham who lived for 175 years. Job uses the Name for God used by Abraham, “Shaddai,” 31 times. This means “The Almighty One.” There are no references to Israel, the Law or the Tabernacle. Therefore, we can conclude that Job did not have the first books of the Bible for his instruction. Because we have the Bible, we know far more than Job about the destructive spiritual powers waging war in this world. As an example of the knowledge we have available to us, read 1 Peter 5:6-9. Satan is still active in this world, but we know that the death and resurrection are proof that Jesus took Satan’s evil actions upon Himself. James 5:11b says, “You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord – that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, I ask for grace to always apply to my everyday life the knowledge which I have as a result of reading the entire Bible. I pray that I will learn the very difficult lessons taught here in the book of Job. I ask these mercies in the Name of the Redeemer/Mediator for whom Job was seeking. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
My new baby son, David Reynold (our photographer), came home from the hospital with a staph infection, causing boils on his little head. Job had boils. I’ve had one boil only, and that was very painful. My heart was pained for Reynold as I had an idea about his suffering. At the time I was working from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, on a new church building in Deep River, Ontario. We lived in Pembroke, 26 miles away. When I would arrive home, Norma-Jean would hand Reynold to me to put to sleep. She had been holding him all day, as it was painful for him to lay his head on the pillow because of the boils. I would rock him for 2 or 3 hours until he fell into a sleep deep enough to bear the pain. I often wept for him as I would pray for his healing. When he was old enough, we purchased a Jolly Jumper, hooked it on the door frame, and he would fall asleep there, his little legs still kicking occasionally. God did heal him eventually, but the results of his months in the Jumper were yet to come. He went to University on a full football scholarship and was the fastest runner on the team. Of course, I’m not saying that this was the reason God allowed the boils. There may have been another reason. He is a man who feels the pain of others. For example, when he was 8 years old, we lived across the road from Queensdale school in Hamilton. He would dash out the door after lunch and I thought he was going to play in the school yard. When we moved from there, the neighbours came by to wish us well. A lady I had not met before said to me, “Thank you for Reynold. He would come by my home at noon each day and take my blind son for a walk along the street. He would describe the leaves, the squirrels, etc. and then return him to my door.” I wept! Perhaps the blessings of Job’s later years were as a result of the sufferings he had endured.
Yours for learning from our troubles,
David
It is difficult to watch your child who is sick! I used to pray that I could take the pain for my child, however, eventually they grow up and become very productive people and God continues to bless them all!
this is nothing to do with todays readings…..it is about the upcoming election in Canada….I know of one Christian politician in the Canadian Government, his name is Preston Manning, his father was Ernest Manning, Leader of the Social Credit party in Alberta for 2 decades! He was also a preacher! He was a good man! All was well in Alberta!
I wonder sometimes how Preston Manning votes on various pieces of legislation, for instance, the abortion pill! I wonder how someone who is a Christian can be a policitian! There are certainly some very conflicting views between Christianity and the world!
Doing this blog has made me realize that David Mainse walks a very narrow road and I so appreciate his total honesty in how he has dealt with issues in the past and how he looks at lfie as a child of God!
I have a difficult time in deciding who to vote for because I don’t believe that a policitian has the people’s best interest at heart! I can’t help but think it’s all about the pensions, the money that politicians get paid and all the little extras!
I will be praying and asking God what to do? I appreciate the fact that we have the right to vote! As I said this has nothing to do with todays reading, it seems that there is much misleading information in our country and some misleading policitians! They need to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour! They need to be very transparent to God! No one can hide!
So, I invite all people to pray for our leaders! May God grant us good leaders!
DEAR DAVID I was receiving the 100 words Daily and it blessés me so. for some reason it stopped coming and I do not know why maybe a computer glitch…
I am asking You to please sign me back up because I have tried several times but I Never get a reply.MAY GOD bless You and in turn You bless so mamy with tour 100 words. sincerely Nancy Wigmore b
P.S.
on reading the bio of Ernest Manning and reading the blogs of David Mainse one word comes to mind, “humble” and both these people have felt compelled to use their God-given talents and abilities for the edification of others!
What a compassionate little boy Reynold was and still is today to be in Uganda. Quite a writing sah! The old enemy, Satan is around seeking whom he may devour, especially the young people. I observe that in some of the family postings on Facebook. Please pray for me for wisdom as I interact there.
Thank you Lynda for your suggestion.
My pleasure Ger.
Pastor David, I think Reynold gets his compassion from you. It just about brought me to tears when I read about you putting him to sleep every night . Ger understand what you are saying I am going around the block for a walk and I will pray for you. Love to all Eleanor M.
Oh David, what a touching story and so encouraging too. We can trust God that ALL things work to HIS glory and our good! Blessings
Job’s wife was so blessed to have Job for a husband. Great pic today Reynold as always.
Found this lovely hymn on YouTube: I Come to the Garden Alone
https://youtu.be/x2jYB_IbQsQ
Satan needs to be fought off daily but with God’s help and the knowledge of His Word we can do it.
Blessings fellow saints.
A devotional for today:)
https://youtu.be/2n4lLN7dyv4
Amen!!
I am deeply touched by today’s blog. Such compassion in you rocking Reynold to sleep and I believe God WAS preparing him for the life he and Kathy now live to serve The Lord. Also his walking the little blind boy each day, without telling anyone!!! Most youngsters would have shouted it from the rooftops. Such a blessing in a son.
This blog keeps me grounded and growing in my faith of The One who paid it all.
Thank you Pastor David and fellow bloggers. Have a blessed day.
P.s. Must not forget how Norma-Jean cared for Reynold until you got home.
So thankful for Shaddai- The Almighty One! Lord may we follow Job’s example of faithfulness and look to You, The Almighty One with the joy of knowing You love us and will provide what each one needs according to Your will. Amen.
That’s amazing;an 8 yr old child doing that…a child of God.
Lord God Thank You for your word: Lamentations 3:22-24 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in Him.”
Thank You Lord that Your mercies are new every morning, they are new today. My hope is in You. Trusting in You. Job did not turn from You in the testing, his faith in You stood firm.
Your story today Pastor David is a great example of love and compassion; as you nurtured your son Reynold through his
pain. An example of God’s love and compassion toward us, His children.
What a blessing Reynold is to you and many others that he has touched, not only with his great pictures, but with his compassion and love for people in need.
Sah, yes, Ernest Manning broke ground in Alberta not only as one of the Premiers of Alberta, but through his daily radio ministry presenting the Word of God. Thank you for sharing.
Such a powerful testimonial about your son, David!! Blessed be the name of the Lord!
I pray for blessings of boldness and wisdom for Ger and say AMEN Sah!!
Thank You God for this daily blog that speaks to me solely!! Let it speak to ALL!!!
I so agree with Sah about how hard it must be to be a Christian and a politician at the same time. it really IS hard to know who to vote for….there are so many issues. Grant wisdom to us all, dear Lord.
God bless those who commented about my blog! I believe it’s true: Ernest Manning made an impression on me! I was just a kid back when he was our Premier, but he visisted our farm and our schools and prayed with the people!
Ger, God bless you! I also pray for our young people and my heart is so heavy somedays because there are so many broken parents and children and the only thing I can do is call out to God and Say LORD, YOU KNOW THE HEARTS OF THESE PRECIOUS PEOPLE, LEAD THEM, GUIDE THEM, KEEP THEM SAFE, SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SPEAK TO THEIR HEARTS, MAY PARENTS AND CHILDREN SEE JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR FRIEND, THEIR HEALER, THEIR PROVIDER, THEIR SAVIOUR. Blessings to all. Let us continue to pray for each other, encourage each other, share humour and personal testimonies with each other, God bless