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
P.S. Again, here is Crossroads CEO Lorna Dueck’s important message for August…
This has been a remarkable year at 100 Huntley Street with a growing audience on TV and an exploding audience on the web through our website, social media platforms and on You Tube (where we now reach almost 1 million views every month). It’s also looking like a turnaround yearfinanciallybecause we’re SO CLOSE to finishing our fiscal year (August 31) with a balanced budget…the first time in six years! Lots of hard work, cost-cutting, financial restraint and generous donors who believe in this ministry have made this goal achievable. We have exciting, new plans in mind for our new media mission year that begins in September. I’m so committed that Crossroads be Canada’s “megaphone of the Gospel”…and we will not be silent about how Jesus can change lives… Jesus alone offers hope! Your donation today will make a difference in many lives. – Lorna
CLICK HERE TO MAKE A SPECIAL YEAR-END GIFT TO HELP US BALANCE THE BUDGET AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED THROUGH A SPECIAL $10,000 CHALLENGE GRANT! YOU CAN ALSO CALL 1-800-265-3100 TO DONATE BY PHONE.
Yes Lord teach us what you want us to learn in the life of Job. Blessed by the story of Reynold when he was a young boy and how it has carried over into his present life. Looking across the road to the golden field of grain almost ready for harvest. Has been raining here and pray this for British Columbia. My foundation work is done and thank you for your prayers everyone. Looking forward to hearing from Pastor Lim who is suppose to arrive home today. Blessings Pastor David and all saints!
God bless you, sister Ger!
Amen Ger…thank you for sharing!
isn’t that such a BLESSING having Pastor Lim home in Canada!
I pray great celebrations will take place, let us know Ger as soon as he arrives! Don’t know why God chose this path, but He has His reasons!
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!
everyone please continue to pray for rain in British Columbia! Thank you, everyone, God bless everyone amen
Thank you for the gift of another day Oh Father God where we can give praise and honour to You.
Thank you Rev. Mainse & family for your commitment & dedication in preparing this daily blog to nourish our souls.
The book of Job is a favourite of mine for a number of reasons; one is for the example Job taught of choosing to continue serving God amidst the great tragedies and adversities .
I thank you Rev. Mainse for teaching / reminding us that God wasn’t the one who robbed Job of his children and his posssssions; it was the enemy satan. We understand that it was with God’s permission; and so we know that what God allows; it is designed to bring out His purpose. Weeping may endure for a night….. multiple nights even….. But joy comes in the morning!
“El Shaddai, El Shaddai, …..age to age You’re still the same by the Power of Your Name.
El Shaddai, El Shaddai,…… I will praise You till I did my El Shaddai.”
https://youtu.be/SKHa6Cm62uI
Wishing all my fellow blog readers and the Mainse family a wonderful & blessed weekend!
Amen Marti…yes, the gift of another day where we can give praise to Our Heavenly Father!
So true, Marti !
Amen, Marti, amen!
Thank you Pastor David for opening your heart and pain as you as a father being helpless to relieve the pain of your son Reynold, and his heart and compassion for others who are in pain and struggling. Jesus our Redeemer!
This song comes to mind:
“There is a Redeemer, Jesus, God’s own Son;
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Thank you, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit ’til the work on earth is done.
Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names;
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, O for sinners slain.
Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit ’til the work on earth is done.
When I stand in Glory, I will see His face,
There I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place.
Thank You, oh, my Father, for giving us Your Son,
and leaving Your Spirit ’til the work on earth is done.
Perhaps someone can post the music to it, it is something I have not learned to do.
Blessings to you and your family Pastor David and all boggers. Have a wonderful day.
Amen Irene!
Thank you too for the words to this beautiful song.
Thank you Pastor David, I had tears when I thought of the pain Reynold must have been going through at such a young age. Norma Jean and you looked after him so well and God healed him. He and all your children turned out to be a blessing to you both and to many more.
God is faithful if we would just Trust and Obey Him. Blessings to all. Eleanor M.
The open tomb–such a fantastic photo! And such a great message from Job! To our faith in God, amen! Thank you, David and blessings fellow saints in the Lord!
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord… 2 Peter 1:2 NKJV
David Dunn, Grace Will Lead Me Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYj5hy9SHTw
Amen Beverlee Kay!
Such another beautiful song.
Here are the lyrics, Marti. I just love David Dunn–such a fantastic song writer and singer. Also, Jordan Feliz is fantastic and their songs together.
Lyrics for Grace Will Lead Me Home by David Dunn
There is a place prepared for me
More beautiful than eyes have seen
When these burdens weigh me down
I won’t lose heart, I will not doubt
Grace will lead me home
Grace will lead me home
Through every trial I have come
Only your grace will lead me home
There is an end to suffering
Where I will rest in perfect peace
And in the presence of the King
My eyes will see what I’ve believed
Grace will lead me home
Grace will lead me home
Through every trial I have come
Only your grace will lead me home
Lead me home, yeah-ah
When I’ve been there ten thousand years
And mercy’s dried off every tear
My debt was paid but still I’ll owe
My life to grace who led me home
Grace will lead me home
Grace will lead me home
Grace will lead me home
Grace will lead me home
Through every trial I have come
You were the shelter through every storm
God you were with me all along
Only your grace will lead me home
Only your grace will lead me home
Lead me home, lead me home, lead me home
Writers: Hank Bentley, Benji Cowart, David Dunn
Thank you very much for sharing the lyrics Beverlee Kay!
Amen Beverlee…yes, Grace will lead me Home!
met a young 19 year old, 6 foot 6 inches tall, is involved with Canada Armed Forces, is getting ready to join for a career; he needs to go through some issues for the next 6 months to see if he has the endurance, stamina, I believe he has;
he’s working, he has good standards in his life, has great parents, has a compassionate heart; I pray to be able to keep in touch and share Jesus Christ with him; I spoke about my faith; he was very respectful, I truly believe he is going to do very well at his career; for a young man he has an idea of the situation in our world today, I thank God that I had a chance to speak with him; as usual, I learn alot from these conversations with others!
please pray TR; pray the Lord will lead him into a relationship with Jesus Christ;
God bless everyone this day; may God grant good health to all; In Jesus Name we Pray amen
Joining with you in prayers for T.R. that God will sustain him through this time.
Also for God’s Holy Spirit to keep your conversation & sharing of your faith at the forefront of his mind; in so doing this will lead him to a full relationship with God.
God bless you as you continue to share the good news of Christ with others Sah.
Happy Birthday David. May God Bless you for your faithfulness to Him.
p.s. I think you were a cute 1 year old