Bible Study Snacks, Job 32:1-37:24

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday! Welcome again to Bible Study Snacks. I sincerely hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapters 32:1-37:24. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine Elihu's perspective in the debate regarding Job's suffering.
2) Notice how Elihu appears to prepare Job for what the Lord will have to say.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 32:1-37:24

We are now introduced to a new voice in this discussion. Having remained silent up to this point because of his youth, Elihu now speaks. Angry with Job justifying himself rather than God, and by the inability of Job's friends to provide an answer, Elihu feels compelled to speak (Job 32:1-33:7). He takes issue with Job's claim of innocence while charging God with counting him as His enemy. He proposes that God often uses various means to keep man from death ("the Pit"), including discipline with pain. Therefore Job should be looking at suffering as a disciplinary measure from a loving God, not as a punitive measure from one's enemy (Job 33:8-33).

The bulk of Elihu's speech then focuses on the justice of God, which Elihu feels Job has blamed. Elihu charges Job with adding to his sin by multiplying words against God without knowledge (Job 34:1-35:16). He concludes his speech with an effort to speak on God's behalf and by attributing righteousness to the Almighty. This he does by reviewing God's justice and majesty. The former as seen in His dealings with man, the latter as seen in His dealings in nature. With advice for Job to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God, Elihu seems to be preparing Job for what is about to follow (Job 36:1-37:24).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Why had Job's three friends stop speaking? (Job 32:1)
2) Who now begins to speak? (Job 32:2)
3) Why was Elihu angry with Job? (Job 32:2)
4) Why was Elihu angry with Job's three friends? (Job 32:3)
5) Why had Elihu held off speaking until now? (Job 32:4)
6) According to the outline above, what four reasons are given for why Elihu now speaks? (Job 32:1-5; Job 32:6-14; Job 32:15-22; Job 33:1-7 )
7) With what statements of Job does Elihu take issue? (Job 33:8-12)
8) What examples does Elihu provide of God's effort to save man from death? (Job 33:14-30)
9) How then does Elihu view the reason for Job's suffering?
10) What two statements of Job does Elihu respond to next? (Job 34:5-9)
11) What is Elihu's response? (Job 34:10,12)
12) What does Elihu then go on to describe? (Job 34:16-30)
13) Of what sin does Elihu charge Job? (Job 34:37)
14) How does Elihu answer Job's complaint that it profits a man nothing to delight in God? (Job 35:4-7)
15) What reason does Elihu give for why God might not answer the cries of men? (Job 35:12)
16) Maintaining that God is just, what does Elihu counsel Job? (Job 35:14)
17) What does Elihu feel that Job has done? (Job 35:16)
18) At this point, what does Elihu presume to do? (Job 36:2-3)
19) What does he first proclaim concerning God? (Job 36:5-23)
20) What does he then proclaim concerning God? (Job 36:24-37:24)
21) What does Elihu counsel Job to therefore do? (Job 37:14)
22) What are Elihu's closing words? (Job 37:23-24)
 
After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Practice Forgiveness

"He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven."  -Thomas Fuller

I'm sure that most of us have heard all of the old clichés regarding forgiveness. Honestly, whenever I find myself in a situation where forgiveness is called for, I find myself dragging my feet just as much as the next person. Why is forgiveness, more often than not, easier said than done?

Interestingly, in our daily attempts at living the Christian life we don't acquire our principles in a set of laws. Instead, we let the character and actions of Jesus Christ provide us with a divine example to follow with the assistance of his Holy Spirit.

Regarding forgiveness, let me point to the example set by our Savior as he faced the great crises of his suffering, and ultimately his death, on the cross (Luke 23:34). After you let his words soak in, ask yourself, "What can the words of the Savior from the cross say to today's society (us) concerning the manner in which we should face the crises, struggles, and hurts of life?

And, can we agree to make a serious and combined effort to face life with its crises, responsibilities, and opportunities as our Lord did? If we listen with open hearts, Our Lord's words from the cross tip us off as to how he faced the unpleasant things of life. How did He do it? He faced, met, and conquered mistreatment by practicing, you guessed it, forgivness!

The late minister, Dr. Roy L. Smith once said,"the art of forgiving is a spiritual grace every Christian should develop." Because this is so difficult to put into practice, he offered the following suggestions, which I am sharing with you here as follows:

1. Begin by assuring yourself that compared to Christ’s suffering you haven’t been seriously wronged at all.
2. Recall the many kind deeds that have been shown to you, perhaps even by the person who has harmed you.
3. List the benefits you have received from the Lord.
4. Thank Him for blessing you with His love and forgiveness each day.
5. Make an honest effort to pray for the one who has injured you.
6. Go even further by looking for an opportunity to help him.
7. If the offense is especially hard to forget, try to erase the memory by thinking gracious and generous thoughts.
8. Finally, before you fall asleep at night, repeat slowly and thoughtfully that phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Some people try to punish themselves for their sins. They do not stand on the promises of forgiveness and Christ’ propitiation.

When you feel that you have been exploited, or done wrong, how do you respond? Do you resort to personal revenge or try to get even in word or action? Do you respond by fostering an attitude of resentment; which then leads to to self-pity, then despair within your heart? Do you respond with an attitude of hostility that develops into deep bitterness and hurtful hate?

Embedded within the teachings of our Lord, "to forgive" means to dismiss or reject the right to retaliate, to restore a fractured friendship, to return good for malicious, and to heal broken relationships.

Furthermore, with God's help in practicing forgiveness you too will become a conduit through whom others will experience forgiveness, both human and divine.

Scripture: Matthew 6:14-15; Luke 6:37; Ephesians 4:32; John 13:34; Acts 10:43

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I ask now for Your forgiveness for the wrongs that I have done, and the things that I've neglected I ask for Your forgiveness; for the people I have hurt along the way, and those who I've failed to love as You love. I ask for Your forgiveness. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Heidi

Video - Beth Moore: New Clothes

Bible teacher Beth Moore reveals the beauty of being clothed in Christ as he covers our spiritual nakedness and shame. Enjoy!  ~Eve

We Are All Refugees Here

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."  -Socrates

Who among us is not aware of the current refugee crisis that has captured the attention of the world? We have seen the horrifying photos of drowned refugee bodies washing up on shore; the video clips of long lines of people being led down roads like herded cattle to holding facilities by armed security personnel, and the close-ups of anguished children's faces and the forlorn expressions of the elderly.

Sadly, this scenario and hundreds more like it have been played out down through the history of the world. Whether caused by political or military oppression, or natural situations that necessitated migration; the movement of a people to safer, more stable environment is not new.

God's people too, are not strangers to this situation. Those who lived in both Old Testament and New Testament times were familiar with the story of the refugee. The Bible itself is a chronicle of Our Heavenly Father's devoted relationship with people as they live out their days. We see stories of movement and change as people and nations grow, mingle, and take on various attributes.

For example, in the Book of Genesis, we can see the beginnings of "movement" and "change" that started with Adam and Eve whom, when expelled from the Garden of Eden, were forced to start over in new surroundings (Genesis 3:23-24). There was Noah and his family who were called by God to leave the sinful world behind and plant the seeds of a new society (Genesis 6:13). 

Later, Abraham, a descendant of Noah, and his wife Sarah were sent out by God to establish a new land (Genesis 12:1;15:7). In the New Testament, even Jesus and his parents had to escape into Egypt to flee from the infanticide of King Herod (Matthew 2:13). While exiled in Patmos, the apostle John wrote the book of Revelation (Revelation 1:9-11).

I have attempted to show today how these few references from scripture bring into sharp focus the stories of people who were also forcibly displaced. As mentioned above, this unfortunate saga is not soley a phenomena of today's modern society. Today, as then, there are many challenges faced by refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced individuals. Unfortunately, there are no countries which haven't been affected by this.

We have all heard the voices of opposition and hate. These people have been targeted as security threats, economic problems, and social burdens. This refugee issue is both a political polarizing and complicated humanitarian dilemma. Including the current circumstances, the United Nations reports that there are over 59.5 million forcibly displaced people in the world. That’s about 1 in every 123 people alive today.

What this tells us is at the very least, we all need to think about where we go from here. As Christians, we should take the time to make ourselves as biblically informed as possible regarding all of this. We are lucky that we have points of reference by which God has, in his infinite wisdom, left for us to turn to.

In essence, we are all refugees here. But we all have one Father who created us in His image; and the message eternally ingrained in our hearts has always been: love and compassion for each other (John 15:12). Remember that.

Scripture: Exodus 1:8-14; Leviticus 24:23; Ecclesiastes 4:1; Jeremiah 22:3-5; Matthew 5:10-11

Prayer:  Almighty God, who has created us in His own image: Grant us grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom, help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our communities and among the nations, to the glory of Your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you!

Jo-Ann

That We Might Be Made Righteous

"The righteousness of Jesus Christ is one of those great mysteries, which the angels desire to look into, and seems to be one of the first lessons that God taught men after the fall."  -George Whitefield

We are made righteous in the sight of God; in other words, we are accepted and treated as righteous by God by virtue of what the Lord Jesus has done. Jesus, was made sin; we are made righteousness. He was treated as if he were a sinner, even though he was perfectly holy and pure. We, on the other hand, are treated as if we were righteous, though we are corrupt and spoiled goods. What we see here is an evident and beautiful contrast between what is said of Christ, and what is said of us.

"That we might be made the righteousness of God." The thought is, by virtue of what the Lord Jesus has endured on our behalf we are treated as if we had ourselves entirely fulfilled the Law of God, and had never become exposed to its penalty. In this particular phrase there is a reference to the fact that this is his plan of making people people righteous, or justifying them.

On our own power, accord, motivation, good behavior, or whatever else you'd like to call it; we are utterly powerless to be righteous. No matter how many prayers one might pray, how many hours one might pray, or how many times you run around the block backwards holding your Bible in one hand; it still does nothing to make you righteous.

Dear friends, this was God's plan all along. He knew that the only way that we could ever become righteous, that is, to set ourselves straight with Him, was through a redeemer. This is why I love referring to 2 Corinthians  5:21 so much. It plainly lays it all out on the table. It explains that we, in and through Jesus, are made righteous, by a righteousness credited to us by God.

Since there is no way that we could ever approach God the way we are in our flesh, we needed a mediator; someone to serve as our go-to person between us and God. And that's where Jesus came into the picture. He was perfectly innocent in every way, yet voluntarily took on our guilt, pain, sorrow, and ugliness. He became our scapegoat, and our living sacrifice for our sins.

Let me demonstrate a point. If you've ever visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona, or even seen pictures of it, you might be familiar with how wide an area this canyon covers. Believe me, it's a pretty decent sized gap from one end to the other. Think of this as the space between us and God; the space between us being filled with all of our disgraceful and deplorable nature.

No matter how hard we tried, no amount of sacrifices, prayers, or good deeds would ever bridge this chasm between God and us. God knew this all along, Only a perfectly pure person could ever fit the bill to act as that bridge between us. We didn't deserve one, but since God loves us so much he sent his only Son to act as our intermediary (John 3:16).

And unselfishly, Jesus went to the cross for us, taking our sins with him. I don't have to tell you how painful and sorrowful this all was to watch. An innocent died in our place. We all should have been nailed to the cross on that day. But, He sustituted himself so that you and I might have eternal life. He sacrificed himself to reconcile that enormous divide between God and us.

This is how God's wonderful plan for our salvation came together. It didn't cost us a thing. Jesus paid it all. Why do so many fight it? I don't have an answer that question. Everyone has an equal chance at salvation because of what Christ did for us. And, He extends this invitation to anyone who is willing to repent of their sins, and have believe in Him.

Scripture: Psalm 106:3; 1 Peter 3:14; Romans 10:4; 1 Peter 2:24; Proverbs 12:28

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise you. I know and declare that everything in this day will be a blessing to me, and will serve my needs, because you said that all things work to the good of those who love you. Amen

May your day be blessed,

Emmie

Bible Study Snacks, Job 23:1-31:40

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday! Welcome again to Bible Study Snacks. I sincerely hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapters 22:1-31:40. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine the conclusion of the "great debate", and the feeble efforts of Job's friends to convince him that he is deserving of his great suffering.
2) Observe how Job maintains his claim to innocence while stating his complaint that God is not hearing him.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 22:1-31:40

Eliphaz once again takes the initiative, rebuking Job for his claims of innocence. Accusing Job of great wickedness, for the first time he specifies sins of which he believes Job must be guilty to have suffered so greatly. Charging Job of cherishing wicked ways and trusting that God doesn't see it, Eliphaz ends with another appeal for Job to return to God that he might enjoy renewed prosperity (Job 22:1-30).

Job's response is to once again express his longing to find God so he can present his side. While maintaining his claims of integrity and how he has treasured God's words, he admits he is awed by God's dealings. He wonders why the wicked often sin with impunity, but then says what he thinks should and will eventually happen to them. He concludes his response to Eliphaz with a challenge to show him where he has spoken falsely (Job 23:1-24:25).

Bildad's third speech is short, adding little. Speaking briefly of God's greatness, he posits how anyone can be righteous before God (Job 25:1-6). Job replies with questions which imply that he considers
Bildad's counsel to have been of no help. Perhaps to illustrate how they have not been much help, Job demonstrates his own ability to describe God's greatness (Job 26:1-14).

Zophar remains silent in this third cycle of speeches, so Job continues with his discourse. Though he feels that God has taken away his justice and made his soul bitter, he refuses to accept his friends' counsel and maintains his innocence. He accuses them of nonsense and describes what God will do with the wicked (Job 27:1-23).

Job then says where true wisdom is to be found, that it comes from God Who has revealed it to man (Job 28:1-28). As his words draw near to their end, Job recounts how it was in the past when he blessed by God and respected by men (Job 29:1-25). In contrast, the present finds him being mocked by others, suffering in pain, with God not answering his plea to be heard (Job 30:1-31).

He concludes by listing various sins, which if he had committed them, he agrees he would have been guilty of punishment. In this way he again maintains his claim to innocence and not deserving his great suffering (Job 31:1-40). For Job and his three friends, this ends the "Great Debate."

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Of what wickedness does Eliphaz accuse Job? (Job 22:6-9)
2) What does Eliphaz accuse Job of saying? (Job 22:13-14)
3) What does Eliphaz ask Job? (Job 22:15)
4) What does Eliphaz counsel Job to do? (Job 22:21-22)
5) What does Eliphaz promise Job if he will repent? (Job 22:23)
6) What does Job ask for as he begins his response to Eliphaz? (Job 23:3)
7) What is Job's response to Eliphaz' charge of wickedness? (Job 23:11-12)
8) And yet what does Job feel God has done to him? (Job 23:16)
9) In Bildad's final speech, how does he respond to Job's claim of innocence? (Job 25:4-6)
10) In replying to Bildad, what does Job ask him? (Job 26:3)
11) As Job continues his discourse, what does he steadfastly maintain? (Job 27:5-6)
12) What does he then describe to his three friends? (Job 27:13-23)
13) As his discourse describes the difficulty of finding wisdom, to what does Job attribute its true source? (Job 28:20-28)
14) As he described the days gone by when he was respected by all, what things had he done? (Job 29:12-17)
15) In the present, though, who mocks him? (Job 30:1)
16) As he draws near to the end of his discourse, what does Job cry out to God? (Job 30:20-21)
17) In summarizing his plight, what sort of things does he say? (Job 30:26-31)
18) What kind of covenant had Job made with his eyes?  Why? (Job 31:1-4)
19) List the things that Job says would make him deserving of God's punishment (Job 31:1-40)
20) What is Job's final request as he ends his words? (Job 31:35)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Worth the Wait

“What then are we to do about our problems? We must learn to live with them until such time as God delivers us from them…we must pray for grace to endure them without murmuring. Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting. They harm us only when we resist them or endure them unwillingly.”  -A.W. Tozer 

Patience, endurance, long-suffering, restraint, poise, etc., no matter how you say it, or describe it, it still means:  a capacity, or willingness to endure. This can create problems for many in our modern, I-want-it-yesterday, don’t-make-me-wait, taking-my-turn- is -stupid world! Now, this isn’t always the case.

There are some (I’m not naming any names!) who gladly wait in line for hours to get the latest iphone. This leads me to believe that one is willing to wait for whatever is truly important to them. Look, I’m not casting any stones here, I speak from experience. Guilty as charged!

I'm sure you've heard somewhere along the way that God has his reasons for making us wait during certain life situation. After all, the Bible is filled with illustrations of what it means to "wait." God could have easily spoken to Moses in the desert about sending him to help free His people from slavery 40 days after he ran away from Egypt (Exodus 2:11-16). Instead, He made him wait for 40 long years (Numbers 32:13).

Did you know that, on average, a person spends an estimated 45 to 62 minutes waiting everyday? I'll let you do the math on that one. However, God doesn't work on a timetable; and He certainly doesn't follow yours or mine!

God could have given Abraham the son He promised him while he was still a young. Instead, He waited until he was 100 years old; knowing that age and physical reasons would make conceiving more difficult at that age (Genesis 21:2). This was quite a long wait for sure, but God had His reasons.

Let's face it. Most people don't like to wait. Seriously, we often get frustrated waiting on fast food! We're always in a rush to get to the next place or the next thing. Just the same, it's important to learn to wait when it comes to Our Heavenly Father.

God could have answered prayers and met the needs of those men of God (a many more) a lot sooner, but He didn’t. Instead, He made them wait. And He often makes us do the same. God doesn't do this just to make us "cool our heels." He does it to see what you and I are made of. That's right!

Think about it. We'd love for God to satisfy our instant gratification fix. We're in trouble, ask God, and voila! It's fixed. Problems overwhelm us, pray to God, and voila! Problem solved. That would be really nice wouldn't it? But God's a lot smarter than that...a LOT!

You see He knows how we operate, after all He did create us. And many times He sees something inside of us that we don't. Faith, dependence, and trust can be pretty hard to see sometimes. It's there in all of us, but it needs a little coaxing to come out. In many cases, it needs to be dragged out of us kicking and screaming!

Think of God's waiting period as a spiritual "boot camp" of sorts. He makes us wait through pain, sorrow, disappointment, frustration, and self-doubt. But if you're strong enough, if you persevere, if you press through, the reward is so worth it!

Being a Christian is not going to be easy (Matthew 10:22). Waiting on God is not easy, either. But while we wait on God, we are building spiritual muscles that we need to carry on. The muscles of faith, dependence, and trust grow during this time. It's all part of the maturing process. And, it will be a continual, life-long process.

Keep this in mind as we close today's message. He made some of the greatest men of faith wait. So, don’t be discouraged if He makes you wait, too. Be patient. He'll come through for you, just like He came through for them (Psalm 27:14).

Scripture: Hosea 12:6; Psalm 37:7; Psalm 25:5; Titus 2:13; Galatians 5:5

Prayer: Help me Lord to be still in Your presence and to wait quietly and patiently for You. Amen

God bless you!

Andrea

Video - Beth Moore: Drive-Thru Religion

In this video message, Bible teacher Beth Moore explains the role of fellowship in recognizing the presence of God in our lives. Worth a listen!  ~Eve

Apart From Me, There Is No God

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm."  -William Cowper

Who hasn't asked themselves, at one time or another, this eternal question: "Who is God?"  People from different cultures, levels of education and income, social classes, political and ethnic persuasions have wrestled with this query since the beginning of time. I must admit, if you're going to ask a good question this one will do! 

Many, are a lot more knowledgeable than I, have researched, presented, and argued this particular topic. So, I won't try to shake up the world here today. But, what I can do, is examine some basic fundamentals which may help stimulate your curiosity enough to pursue this interesting matter even more, if you wish to do so.

Respectfully, let me say this at the outset. I am keenly aware of other ideologies, beliefs, customs, etc., but presently, our focus will be on who God is from the Christian perspective. With that being said, let's begin. The very fact of God’s existence is in plain view to all, both through creation and through man’s conscience.

This is so much so, that the Bible considers the atheist a “fool” (Psalm 14:1). As such, the Bible never tries to prove the existence of God; instead, it infers His existence from the very beginning (Genesis 1:1). However, if you read carefully the Bible does divulge the nature, character, and work of God.

It's always important that we think correctly about God. This is a must because any false idea about God is idolatry (Psalm 50:21), With this in mind, a concise definition of God could be: “the Supreme Being; the Creator and Ruler of all that is; the Self-existent One who is perfect in power, goodness, and wisdom.”

Regarding His nature, we know specific truths about God. In His mercy He has consented to reveal some of His precious qualities to us. In the Bible, we are shown that God is spirit (John 4:24). This next qualilty can be tricky to understand: God is One, but He exists as three Persons—God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17). Put simply, there are three persons but only one God.

I strongly recommend additional study to really get a good handle on the last concept. Don't worry if it all sounds confusing at the moment. You're not alone! Moving along with our truths we find that God is infinite (1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable (2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging (Malachi 3:6). He exists everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything (Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28), and has all power and authority (Ephesians 1; Revelation 19:6). 

If case you've never noticed, God has some pretty impressive characteristics, too. He is just (Acts 17:31), loving (Ephesians 2:4-5), truthful (John 14:6), and holy (1 John 1:5). God also shows compassion (2 Corinthians 1:3), mercy (Romans 9:15), and grace (Romans 5:17). God judges sin (Psalm 5:5) but also offers forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). 

Finally, no dialogue about God is acceptable without including our relationship with Him. In the Person of the Son, God became incarnate (John 1:14). The Son of God became the Son of Man and so is the “bridge” between God and us (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). It's only by the Son that we can obtain forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation with God (John 15:15; Romans 5:10), and eternal salvation (2 Timothy 2:10).

Again, what we have been discussing today is not a sweeping dissertation about God. One could say that we've only been scratching the surface, if even that. Personally, Truthfully, I have no doubt that there is a God—a personal, eternal Creator of all that exists.

And that He has laid bare to all of us the essential things we need to know about Him—His character, His purpose for our lives, what He expects of us, and what He has determined about our future. "I am the Lord, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God," (Isaiah 45:5).

Scripture: Titus 1:2; Psalm 11:7; 1 Timothy 1:17; Colossians 2:9; Malachi 3:6  

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may everything I do begin with You, continue with Your help, and be done under Your guidance. May I grow in Your Love and Your service, and become a pleasing offering to You; and with You to Your Father. Amen  

In His name,

Kylee

Spiritual Check-up

Question: “Where am I spiritually?”

This is a really good question to ask yourself periodically. Every so often, we need to do a little maintenance check on our spirituality, too. Similarly, this is what we should (but not always) do with our vehicles. And, like a car or other piece of machinery it will not only operate better, but last longer with fewer breakdowns. (My husband would be so proud of me!)

The same thing applies to us in the spiritual sense. We usually plug along, sometimes for years, without ever performing a little self-check to see if all is well (2 Corinthians 13:5). Not until apathy, frustration, or maybe even anger brings us to a grinding stop do we realize that something is broken. Sadly, this is an all too common tale. I know, because it’s happened to me before.

Webster's Dictionary defines spirituality as: the quality or state of being spiritual. Pertaining to our discussion today, let’s call this our relationship with God. There are only two ways we can go with this. We are either growing with Him, or growing away from Him. That’s it. And, this is precisely why we need to do a spirituality check-up from time to time.

At the beginning of our journey with God, we plant the seed of spirituality (Mark 4:26). It’s an exciting, soul-stirring time for sure. We are careful to nuture it as it grows. But, if for whatever reason, we fail to do so, it withers and dies. I think about the Jews in the Old Testament. Remember how they were up and down in their relationship with God? Their spirituality would ebb and flow; it was without any true consistency.

God’s prophets would often attempt to get the people to perform a spirituality check-up (Deuteronomy 5:1). Some would, but most would not; and not surprisingly, it usually didn’t end well for them. The trouble is that we in modern times, as those in biblical times, start feeling a little cocky when things are going well. Maybe even to the point of thinking we can do just fine, or better, without God's guidance.

I promise you that this isn't what Our Heavenly Father wants for us. A fairweather believer is not a true believer. Becoming a strong, faithful Christian is not a walk in the park. You will encounter hills and valleys, peaks and pits along the way. It takes time to grow from a baby to a mature adult; as does growing into a mature Christian (Philippians 1:6). There are no short-cuts here.

Thus, the importance of doing a little spiritual maintenance every now and then is necessary. Problems are best attended to when they are small. Minor adjustments are easier made than major repairs. It's not that difficult to do.

Here a few questions to help you get started: Do I know God better today than I did last month or last year? Am I asking God about his plan for my life—or just blindly charging ahead, doing my own thing? Am I too busy for God? Am I persisting in some behavior that I know is displeasing to him?

Make reading the Word part of your daily regimen, along with prayer. Growing spiritually takes time and effort. It's not a sprint, but a marathon (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Be consistent, and don't be afraid to seek support from other members of your church community if you find yourself struggling.

Most importantly, remember that God is always there for you. He wants to help you grow and succeed in your spiritual maturity.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:18; Galatians 5:22-23; Psalm 1:1-3; Philippians 4:13; Hosea 4:6

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I want you in the center of my life and I commit, through your power, to serve and obey you anytime, anywhere, at any cost, to do anything. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Heidi

Bible Study Snacks, Job 15:1-21:34

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday! Welcome again to Bible Study Snacks. I sincerely hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapters 15:1-21:34. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Observe the progress of the "great debate", in which Job's friends are unable to convince Job that he is some great sinner who deserves his suffering.
2) Note how Job continues to vent his complaint, and while losing hope for anything in this life, he does reveal his faith in a Redeemer and in seeing God after death.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 15:1-21:34

The second cycle of speeches continue in the same format, with the three friends speaking and Job responding to each one in turn. The speeches are shorter, and it appears that their tempers are becoming short, as well. Eliphaz begins this round with an attack on Job, ridiculing his wisdom. Like Bildad, he too appeals to the wisdom of others as he repeats his main thesis: suffering comes to the wicked, therefore Job must be wicked (15:1-35).

Job's response to Eliphaz commences with a strong criticism of his friends as "miserable comforters." Job continues to view his suffering as an attack by God for reasons unknown to him. Wishing there was someone who could plead for him, he cries out for relief as he resumes his complaint. With no wisdom from his friends, he is losing hope for anything in this life but death (16:1-17:16).

Bildad angrily wonders "how long" will Job keep speaking this way, and why does he regard his friends as beasts and stupid? In what appears as an attempt to get Job to confess he is a sinner, Bildad provides a lengthy description of the suffering of the wicked (18:1-21). Job responds by asking "how long" would they continue to torment him? While they accuse him of being a great sinner, they have yet to point out his errors.

As Job resumes directing his complaint to God, he mourns his loneliness and abandonment by friends and family. And yet, while Job feels God is treating him as an enemy, he affirms his faith in a Redeemer who would one day stand on the earth and in seeing God after his death (19:1-29).

Zophar speaks in what will be his last contribution to this "great debate." While he offers very little that is really new to the discussion, he does describe the short-lived triumph of the wicked, to whom the sweetness of sin becomes a bitter curse and whom God will sweep away into darkness. There's only one problem. Like his friends, he assumes that such is always the case in this life (20:1-29).

Job's rebuttal provides examples in which some wicked do prosper in this life, and die an easy death. Therefore his friends' words have proven to be empty and without comfort (21:1-34).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) How does Eliphaz view Job's attempts to justify himself? (Job 15:2-3)
2) In rebuking Job, what does Eliphaz ask of him? (Job 15:9)
3) In responding to Job's claim of innocence, how does Eliphaz describe man? (Job 15:16)
4) In his description of how the wicked suffer, what point is Eliphaz making? (Job 15:17-35)
5) As Job responds to Eliphaz, how does he describe his three friends? (Job 16:2)
6) What does Job say he would do if they were in his place? (Job 16:4-5)
7) How does Job feel God has treated him? (Job 16:7-14)
8) For what does Job cry out? (Job 16:21)
9) What does Job say God has made him? (Job 17:6)
10) While Job has not lost his faith, what has he lost? (Job 17:11,15)
11) When Bildad responds, how does he feel Job has regarded them? (Job 18:3)
12) In his second speech, what does Bildad provide? (Job 18:5-21)
13) In response to Bildad's second speech, what does Job ask him? (Job 19:2)
14) As Job resumes his complaint to God, what does he say God has done? (Job 19:7-11)
15) Who else does he feel has now forsaken him? (Job 19:13-19)
16) What does Job ask of his friends?  Why? (Job 19:21)
17) While suffering, in what three things does Job affirm his faith? (Job 19:25-29)
18) As Zophar begins his second speech, what troubles him? (Job 20:2-3)
19) What does Zophar then describe? (Job 20:1-11)
20) What does Zophar believe concerning the wicked? (Job 20:12-29)
21) In response to Zophar, what does Job say about the wicked? (Job 21:7-26)
22) While they may prosper in this life, what does Job know concerning the wicked? (Job 21:30)
23) As the second cycle of speeches ends, what does he say concerning his friends? (Job 21:34)
 
After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Integrity Personified

"The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."  -Bob Marley

According to Wikipedia, the definition of integrity is: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. It is generally a personal choice to uphold oneself to consistently moral and ethical standards.  Simply put, it's a term used to describe a person's level of honesty, moral commitments, and willingness to do what's right.

There are different kinds of integrity, such as: academic integrity, political integrity, workplace integrity, and legal integrity, to name just a few. Most of us look at integrity as not only admirable, but also a valuable attribute to have. People usually want to emulate someone of good integrity. Unfortunately, it's getting more difficult to find good role models all the time.

To paraphrase Socrates, you can't teach integrity. You can only help another person to discover the level of integrity they already have. As I mentioned above, good examples are not that easy to find today. Jesus Christ is an awesome example of integrity. You could say that He is a perfect example.

Thankfully, we don't have to look very far to find Him. as a matter of fact, He is what you could call a "perfect example of a man with integrity. "For example, He was both man and God at the same time. Even so, He was subjected to temptation by Satan in every way, shape, and form just like you and me. Yet, he never gave in to sin (Hebrews 4:15).

We're quite a different story, though. Our integrity is definitely flawed. Jesus, on the other hand, is the only one who was ever flawless, perfect, completely truthful, and always demonstrating good works. I guess you could say that He set the bar pretty high for the rest of us to follow! Does this mean that we are out of luck? Ahhhh...now, here's the really cool part!

Even though we are flawed, or imperfect, there's good news! We can take part in His divine nature. How? When we are "in Christ" we have accepted His sacrifice as payment for our own sin. So, by being in Christ we, in essence,  are given new natures in Christ. And guess what? This includes one of integrity because it's His nature (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

Does that mean that we become "perfect?" Unfortunately, no. Remember, Christ was the only person who ever met the criteria for perfection. What it does mean for us though, is that through our faith in Him, and repentance, we are given an opportunity to change our lives around. We now have access to all of the good attributes of Jesus Christ, of which one just happens to be integrity!

How is this possible, you ask? You see, once we come to Christ in faith and repentance, He provides us with the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps us develop our indestructible integrity. Hence, it's impossible to have real integrity without Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Scripture: Proverbs 20:7; Luke 16:10; Hebrews 13:18; Ephesians 6:6; Proverbs 11:5

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I confess my lack and come to You in humility of spirit, knowing that in Your loving-kindness You forgive those that are of a contrite heart. I want to be a person of integrity and live a life that is godly and full of grace – and I can only do so as I abide in You and rest in Your love. Amen

God bless you!

Kendall

Video - Beth Moore: And So What?

Bible teacher Beth Moore shares a funny story to demonstrate how we can easily takes God's grace for granted. Nicely done!  ~Eve

Forgiveness: An Act of Love, Mercy, and Grace.

"Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life." -George MacDonald

Did you know that more than a third of Jesus' teachings are parables? It's true! Parables make up 19 percent of the gospel of Mark, 43 percent of Matthew, and 52 percent of Luke. Having a good grasp of them is crucial to understanding the kind of person you and I should be.

Our Lord's parables confront real life problems head-on. That's why we can relate to them so well. For example, the first parable recorded by Luke tackles that difficult problem of forgiveness. Interestingly, the word forgiveness is used sixty-two times in the Bible! If we break this down, that's twenty-two times in reference to forgiving one another, and the other forty times toward God's forgiveness. 

Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Karl Menninger, the famed psychiatrist, once said that if he could convince the patients in psychiatric hospitals that their sins were forgiven, 75 percent of them could walk out the next day! For the purpose of today's discussion, let's explore the two types of forgiveness mentioned above, beginning with forgiving one another.

The familiar phrase “forgive and forget” isn't found in the Bible. But, there are plenty of verses commanding us to “forgive one another” (Matthew 6:14; Ephesians 4:32). A Christian who's not willing to forgive others greatly inhibits his fellowship with God (Matthew 6:15) and can gain bitterness and even the loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).

Here's the deal with this: forgiveness is a decision of the will. Since God instructs us to forgive, we need to make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive. It's quite possible that the offender might not want forgiveness nor ever change, but that doesn’t cancel out God’s desire that we possess a forgiving spirit (Matthew 5:44). If everything happens as it should, the transgressor will seek reconciliation, if not, the person who was wronged can still make a decision to forgive.

We know that it's impossible to truly forget sins that have been committed against us. We can't selectively “delete” events from our memory. Yet, the Bible says that God doesn't “remember” our wickedness (Hebrews 8:12). Being all-knowing, God remembers that we've “sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Notwithstanding, having been forgiven, we are positionally (or judicially) justified. Heaven is ours, just as if our sin had never happened. If we belong to Him through faith in Christ, God doesn't blame us for our sins (Romans 8:1). And even though you (personally) might not be so forgiving, God “forgives and forgets.”

This brings us to the second type of forgiveness mentioned earlier, God's forgiveness. The Bible tells us that we're all in need of forgiveness from God. We've all committed sin (Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 1:8; Psalm 51:4). Therefore, we desperately need God’s forgiveness. If our sins aren't forgiven, we'll spend eternity paying for our sins (Matthew 25:46; John 3:36).

How do we obtain His forgiveness? We're in luck because God is loving and merciful – eager  and desirous to forgive us of our sins (2 Peter 3:9). In fact, so much so that He provided for our forgiveness.

To put it bluntly, the only just penalty for our sins is death (Romans 6:23). Fortunately for us,  God, in His perfect plan, became a human being – Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14). He died on the cross, taking the penalty that we deserve – death (2 Corinthians 5:21). As God, Jesus' death provided forgiveness for the sins of the entire world: that's you and me!

Forgiveness of your sins is available if you'll put your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus paid our debt for us, so we could be forgiven. All you have to do is ask God to forgive you through Jesus, believing that Jesus died to pay for your forgiveness – and He will forgive you (John 3:16-17)!

There's so much more to this, but the important thing to undersand today is that we can’t earn forgiveness from God. We can’t pay for our forgiveness from God. One can only receive it, by faith, through the grace and mercy of God.

Scripture: Psalm 25:18; Zechariah 7:9; Isaiah 1:18; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 2:1

Prayer: Dear God, I know that I have sinned against You and deserve punishment. But, Jesus Christ accepted the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I put my trust in You for salvation. Thank you for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Lani

Once You Make a Decision...

"We are deluged with information. We have to process now three times as much data as we would have done 50 years ago. We're bombarded with tweets, with emails - a state of continuous disruption - and that's bad for our decision making and bad for our thinking."   -Noreena Hertz

It's the beginning of a brand new week. But, along with new possibilities and scenarios there will be situations that will require decision-making on your part. How will you handle this, and how do you decide? There's an old saying that says, "It may be true that there are two sides to every question, but it is also true that there are two sides to a sheet of flypaper, and it makes a big difference to the fly which side he chooses." Which side of the flypaper will you choose?

Perhaps you'd rather have someone else make decisions for you. A husband and wife, before marriage, decided that he'd make all the major decisions and she the minor ones. After 20 years of marriage, he was asked how this arrangement had worked. "Great! in all these years I've never had to make a major decision." You have to admit, it sounds great to be able to let someone else handle it. But is this really what you want?

You see, we don't have to fear or hide from making decisions that affect our lives. Nor do we have to let someone else make them for us. And, when it comes to making decisions it's good that they not only serve our purpose, but that they serve God, too. Fortunately, the Bible offers many ideas to help us make decisions that honor God. Here some helpful examples below...

a) Begin with prayer. When wrestling with a decision, prayerfully open the channel of communication with God. Ask for guidance and wisdom (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 1:5).

b) Define the issue. Remember, wise decisions are informed decisions. It's important to understand what options are available to you. Once the facts are laid out, options can be further considered and evaluated.

c) Look for biblical wisdom. Some decisions become easy if there's one clear choice that's consistent with God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). When we follow the teachings of God’s Word, He leads the way and provides the knowledge to make wise choices.

d) Appeal for godly advice. Sometimes, consulting with a friend, or family member is good enough. Other times, discussing your issue with a pastor, or another trusted voice can make the difference between a good or bad decision. (Proverbs 15:22)

e) Trust the Lord with your decision. That is, if you’ve make your decision with prayer, sound wisdom, and biblical advisement, trust God for the outcome (Proverbs 3:5-6).

f) Be willing to admit you're wrong and make any necessary corrections. Most of the time, there's it's unwise to continue down a wrong path after you've discovered it's not right. Be willing to admit mistakes or failures, and ask God for the grace to help your change it around.

g) This is always important! Give praise to God for your success. When your decisions end in personal success, there's a strong temptation to believe it's all due to your own power, talent, or genius. However, it's God who blesses our efforts and gives strength (John 3:27).

Please keep in mind that this isn't an exhaustive list of biblical helps. I just wanted to demonstrate that there is a wealth of information in the Bible to help in the decision-making whenever you need it.

Remember, solid decision-making starts with understanding the will of God. God happily reveals His will to those who are eager to follow His precepts (Psalm 33:18; Psalm 35:27; Psalm 147:11). Our attitude towards decision-making should be just like that of Jesus Himself who declared, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42; Matthew 6:10).

In summary, when making a decision, seek God’s Word for direction. Take comfort in the peace which only He can provide (Philippians 4:7). Ask Him for wisdom, trust His promises, and He will guide your path (Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 58:11; John 8:12).

Scripture: John 5:19; Joshua 1:9; Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:13; Psalm 25:12

Prayer: All-powerful Father, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to bring the new light of salvation to the world. May he enlighten us with his radiance, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

God bless you!

Chrissie

Bible Study Snacks, Job 4:1-14-22

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday! Let me welcome you again to Bible Study Snacks. I sincerely hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapters 4:1-14:22. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Examine the counsel of Job's friends, what their observations were, and upon what they based their conclusions regarding Job's suffering.
2) Consider Job's response to his friends, how he took their "advice", and how he continued to vent his complaint over his suffering.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 4:1- 14-22...

Following Job's outburst in which he cursed the day of his birth and wondered why those who long for death continue to live, his three friends begin offering their counsel. Eliphaz the Temanite starts with expressing his view that the innocent don't suffer, the wicked do. As support for his position, he refers to a vision that he had. Admonishing Job, Eliphaz then directs Job to seek God's forgiveness, reminding him of the blessings that would come if Job repented (Job 4:1-5:22).

Job defends his rash words as being prompted by his grief, and again expresses his desire for death. Reprimanding his friends as being a "deceitful brook", he challenges them to show him where he has sinned. He then resumes his complaint, asking God a multitude of  questions (Job 6:1-7:21).

Bildad the Shuhite steps in and rebukes Job for his strong words. Maintaining that God is just, he implies that Job's sons died because of their own transgressions, and if Job were only pure and upright he would be blessed by God. Appealing to wisdom of the ancients, he contends the wicked are without support, and that God will not cast away the blameless. If Job would only repent, God would fill him once again with laughter and rejoicing (Job 8:1-22). Job basically agrees, but wonders who can really be righteous in God's sight in view of His wisdom and strength.

He then complains of God's inaccessibility, and maintains his own integrity while concluding that God destroys the blameless along with the wicked. Feeling hopeless, Job laments about the lack of a mediator between him and God. Once again, he gives free course to his complaint as he lashes out with more questions directed toward God (Job 9:1-10:22).

Finally, Zophar the Naamathite jumps into the dialogue with his own rebuke of Job for his rash words. Indicating that Job has actually received less suffering than he deserves, he reproaches Job trying to search out the deep things of God.  Instead, Job should be putting away iniquity  and wickedness, for then he would abide in brightness, security and hope (Job 11:1-20). In response, Job criticizes his friends for their trying to convey wisdom but succeeding only in mocking him.

Affirming the wisdom of God, Job says the advice of his friends has been of little help. He calls them "forgers of lies" and "worthless physicians" who have only given him "proverbs of ashes" and "defenses of clay." Confident of his own integrity, Job again expresses his desire to speak with God to ask Him what he has done to deserve such suffering. Once again feeling hopeless, he longs for death (Job 12:1-14:22).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) Which of his three friends first responded to Job? (Job 4:1)
2) What was his main argument? (Job 4:7-8)
3) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (Job 4:12-13)
4) What does he encourage Job to do? (Job 5:8)
5) What does he encourage Job not to do? (Job 5:17)
6) How does Job justify his rash words? (Job 6:2-3)
7) For what does Job long? (Job 6:8-9)
8) How does Job describe his friends? (Job 6:14-15)
9) What challenge does Job give his friends? (Job 6:24)
10) As Job resumes his complaint, what does he say has been given to him? (Job 7:3,5)
11) How does he describe his days? (Job 7:6)
12) In such anguish, what does Job say he will do? (Job 7:11)
13) What does he ask of God? (Job 7:20-21)
14) Who is the second person to respond to Job? (Job 8:1)
15) For what does he rebuke Job? (Job 8:2)
16) What does he counsel Job to do? (Job 8:5-7)
17) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (Job 8:8-10)
18) What does Bildad conclude concerning God? (Job 8:20)
19) How does Job initially respond to Bildad? (Job 9:2)
20) What does Job bemoan? (Job 9:32-33)
21) As Job gives continues his complaint, what does he ask of God? (Job 10:1-2,18,20)
22) Who is the third person to respond to Job? (Job 11:1)
23) What does he affirm concerning Job? (Job 11:6)
24) For what does he reproach Job? (Job 11:7)
25) What does Zophar say would be true of Job if he repented?  (Job 11:13-16)
26) How does Job mock his friends? (Job 12:2)
27) How did Job feel he was being treated by his friends? (Job 12:4)
28) How does Job describe his friends? (Job 13:4)
29) How does Job describe their speeches? (Job 13:12)
30) What two things does Job request if God should grant him an audience? (Job 13:20-21)
31) What does Job wish God would reveal to him? (Job 13:23-24)
32) How does Job view the life of man? (Job 14:1-2)
33) From his earthly perspective, how does Job compare himself with a tree? (Job 14:7-12)
34) What request does Job make again? (Job 14:13)

After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Trials Teach Us What We Are

"Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of."  -Charles Spurgeon

The testing or trials we go through present themselves in different ways. For Christians, it will often require us to step out of our comfort zones and into uncertain territory.

In the Bible, James wrote, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2). He was trying to stress that only by pressing through such tests brings us to spiritual maturity and completeness. After all, what normal person would look forward to going through life's adversities!

"Tests of faith" can arrive in the small economy size, or the extra-large, super-size. They vary in length of duration, as well. Some come in the form of affliction as mentioned in Isaiah 48:10, or attacks from Satan as in Job 2:7. No matter the origin of the trials, it is beneficial to us to experience whatever God allows.

Believe it, or not, there are "positive" results that occur because of our trials. It's true! The Psalmist compares our testing to being refined like silver (Psalm 66:10). Even Peter talks about our faith as "of greater worth than gold," and that's the reason we "suffer grief in all kinds of trials" (1 Peter 1:6-7).

You see, in testing our faith God causes us to grow into strong disciples who truly live by faith and not by what is seen (2 Corinthians 5:7). Undergoing the storms of life causes us to put down deeper roots into God's word. This in turn enables us to cling tightly to His promises so that we are able to weather any "storms of life" that may come our way.

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:10; Romans 12:12; John 16:33; Exodus 14:14; Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer: O Lord, we call upon You in our time of sorrow, That You give us the strength and will to bear our heavy burdens, until we can again feel the warmth and love of Your divine compassion. Be mindful of us and have mercy on us while we struggle to comprehend life's hardships. Keep us ever in Your watch, til we can walk again with light hearts and renewed spirits. Amen

God bless you!

Tamara

Video - Beth Moore: Lincoln's Teacup

In this video message, Bible teacher Beth Moore explains how God’s blessings are on the lives of believers and the power we receive when we acknowledge them. Enjoy!   ~Eve

Speaking of Salvation...

“Is it not arrogance or narrow-mindedness to claim that there is only one way of salvation or that the way we follow is the right way? I think not. After all, do we fault a pilot for being narrow-minded when he follows the instrument panel [while] landing in a rainstorm? No, we want him to remain narrowly focused!”  -Billy Graham

The concept of salvation seems to make many people stop and scratch their heads in bewilderment. Honestly, churches, and even other Christians, sometimes tend to make salvation more difficult to understand than it really is. Part of this uncertainty might be due to the use of unfamiliar words. especially to those outside the church, when referring to salvation.

Maybe you've heard some of these: "saved," "blood bought," "blood washed," "born again," "redeemed," and so on, and so forth. Don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with these terms/phrases, but for those who don't know what they mean they can be a little overwhelming. Surprisingly, there truly isn't anything confusing, mysterious, or difficult to understand about salvation. God has set it up so that anyone can comprehend it!

Let's begin by looking at what "salvation" means. It means "the act of saving from harm." As you know, this could apply to a variety of things we might encounter during the course of our daily lives. We might be saved physically, financially, emotionally, mentally, and, well, you get the idea. But for our purpose today, let's apply "salvation" as it pertains to our spiritual needs.

As mentioned above, there are many types of salvation, but these are not permanent. When a person experiences the salvation of his, or her soul they have experienced something eternal that never fades or can be snatched away. Now, while you sit and let this all soak in just a bit, I'd like to share a few features of God's salvation with you.

Salvation, as we have been talking about, doesn't come through the church, the denomination, or any family associations. It cannot be acquired by doing good deeds or clean living. Salvation is obtained by way of God's plan of salvation.

What plan are we talking about? Good question! God's plan is an exclusive one (John 14:6). This verse hammers home the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way we can take that will bring us to Him. Look at it this way. If a person must have a million dollars to be called a millionaire; then by the same token he must have Christ to be called a Christian (1 John 5:12).

We can't get to Heaven just because we belong to a particular denomination. Nor do we get to go because we are exceptionally good people, or have done incredibly good things. It doesn't work like that. The only sure way to Heaven is by having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ, and Jesus alone (Acts 4:12).

Scripture: Matthew 7:21; Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27; Mark 16:15-16

Prayer: Holy Father, may today be a day blessed by your presence, and all of the goodness and grace that you so lovingly share. Amen  

God bless you!

Amber

Don't Let Depression Defeat You!

"Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns."  - Anne Lamott

Depression is a condition that affects 1 in 10 Americans. It's most prevelant in people ages 45-64. Overall, women have higher rates of depression than men. An estimated 120 million people around the world currently suffer from some form of depression  - courtesy of Healthline.com.

According to the National Institue of Mental Health (NIMH), "biological, life cycle, hormonal, and psychosocial factors that women experience may be linked to women's higher depression rate. Women also face the additional stresses of work and home responsibilities, caring for children and aging parents, abuse, poverty, and relationship strains."

"Men often experience depression, albeit differently than women. While women with depression are more likely to have feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and excessive guilt, men are more likely to be very tired, irritable, lose interest in once-pleasurable activities, and have difficulty sleeping."

Interstingly, "men may be more likely than women to turn to alcohol or drugs when they are depressed. They also may become frustrated, discouraged, irritable, angry, and sometimes abusive. Some men throw themselves into their work to avoid talking about their depression with family or friends, or behave recklessly. And although more women attempt suicide, many more men die by suicide in the United States."

That's some pretty eye-opening information about depression, isn't it? But, depression just isn't a modern-day problem. There's mention of depression in the Bible, as well. One can find many biblical references to depression. It's quite possible that the first humans to experience depression were Adam and Eve, after they sinned against God!

For example, Abraham (Genesis 15); Jonah (Jonah 4); Job (Book of Job); Elijah (1 Kings 19); King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23); Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah); David ( (Psalms 6, 13, 18, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37-40...) all showed signs of struggling with depression at one time or another.

We all can relate to depression either having experienced directly, or indirectly. So, how one can combat depression? Especially since there are so many different levels and types of depression. Obviously, there are medical and psychological treatments available, of which are best determined by a trained and licensed medical professional.

For Christians, there are a few things that those who suffer from depression can do to lessen their anxiety. And, the beautiful part about it is that it doesn't cost a thing! First and foremost, make sure that you are staying in the Word, even when you don't feel like it.

Emotions can throw us out of whack, but God's Word stands firm and unchanging. Stay strong in faith and in God. Hold on to Him as tight as you can when trials and temptations come your way. The Bible tells us that God will never allow temptations into our lives that are too much for us to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Although depression itself is not a sin, we are still accountable for how we respond to the affliction, including getting the professional help that is needed. “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Depression is not exclusive to this person or that; Christian or non-Christian. Certainly pray for God's help, guidance, and wisdom (James 1:5). Keep in mind that doctors can be seen as God’s gift to us; a means through which God brings healing and recovery. Stay strong in your faith in God; and seek professional medical help if you need it.

Scripture: Matthew 11:28; 1 Peter 5:7; 2 Timothy 1:7; Psalm 34:18; Romans 15:13

Prayer:

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.   -Saint Ignatius of Loyola

May God bless you!

Shayla

Bible Study Snacks, Job 3:1-26

Hi, everyone!

Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! I hope everyone had a nice week! As always, I thank you so much for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. I pray that today finds you in good health and strong in faith!

This week, we will continue with our study on the Book of Job, specifically Chapter 3:1-26. I've designed these studies to be brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters, as well!

As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let's pray together...

"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"

If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are the objectives for this week's lesson...

OBJECTIVES: This week, the reader will...

1) Consider Job's soliloquy (monologue), which starts the "great controversy" between Job and his friends.
2) Appreciate the depth of Job's complaint, why he wished that he had never been born.
3) Note the questions he raised as he sought to understand the problem of suffering.

For your convenience, here is a summary of Job 3:1-26...

Now after sitting in silence for seven days in front of his friends who had come by to comfort him, Job finally speaks. In the form of a soliloquy (monologue), he begins by cursing the day of his birth and the night of his conception for failing to prevent his sorrow (Job 3:1-10).

He grieves over why he didn't die at birth or be stillborn, because then at least he would be at rest, just like those who were great in their lifetime, or like those who had been oppressed (Job 3:11-19).  Job also wonders why the suffering, who wish for death, are allowed to linger. He finishes by saying that what he feared the most has now happened: trouble, from which there seems to be no rest (Job 3:20-26).

REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1) What are the three main points of this section? (Job 3:1-10; 3:11-19; 3:20-26)
2) As Job begins his soliloquy (monologue), what two things does he curse? (Job 3:1-3)
3) Why did he did he curse the day of his birth? (Job 3:10)
4) Why did he wish he had died at birth? (Job 3:11-15)
5) Why did he wish he had been stillborn? (Job 3:16-19)
6) As Job ponders the problem of suffering. What does he ask? (Job 3:20-21)
7) What had come upon Job? (Job 3:25)
 
After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!

As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until next time, I wish everyone a blessed week!

God bless you!

Sheri

Video - Beth Moore: Unearthing Our Treasure

In this video message, Bible teacher Beth Moore explains how our heart's treasure is revealed by our emotional attachments. Good message to listen to!  ~Eve