Well It's February 1st. Where I live we are having a blizzard! Not the kind served at Dairy Queen either. It iced last night and we've had a lot of snow and a strong north wind all day today.
I have been so fortunate in my journey through the bible. I have really enjoyed it thus far and hope I continue with my resolution to read the bible chronologically this year. One month down and 11 more to go!
Yesterday I worked all day. It was the usual day in the Emergency Room. I did get to see our hospital chaplain. She is a lovely lady. I'm sure I've mentioned her before. She is just one of those people that brings peace and calm when she enters a room. I always appreciate seeing her even though it is often during challenging times. I told her of my journey this year and occasionally I ask her questions about my readings. I have a group of trusty advisors that I ask about different questions as my journey continues. They are all wonderful in their own right. Our chaplain has brought me a few articles about different questions I've had but yesterday she brought me a book. This wasn't just any book. It was a book from when she was in school. It's called "People of the Covenant. An Introduction to the Old Testament." by Flanders, Crapps and Smith. It's great! It has all the wonderful details of a loved book - her name on the inside, highlights, underlined parts and notes. I love it! There is something about books that people reference, write in and live through. Not textbooks but books that they read for pleasure and guidance. I love it.
Anyway, I'm very excited about this book and I've been looking at it already. On the first page it says "The old testament centers upon the action of God in the affairs of men as they react to him and seek to interpret the meaning of his action for life and faith."
I have completed reading Job. It was long, dark and ultimately beautiful. At times I felt as a child would say "why is it so unfair" but only God understands. I read in my Intro to the Old Testament book a line that said "Job is every man, reminding us that a deep and personal faith oftem comes by way of the long and sometimes dark corridor of sincere questions about the relavance of God for human existence. The book ultimately asserts that he who throws himself upon God, even though perplexed about life's evil, shall find him."
In another side reading somewhere it said that God is presented during chaos and troubling times. He does not present during only the sunny days and bliss. This is so true of what I have read thus far. Maybe it is because instead of losing faith and questioning if there is a God when times are hard we should be more like those in the Old Testament and recognize that God has reasons that we are not meant to understand and while there is chaos and sadness He is present with us most during these times.
Showing posts with label Job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Job. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Job up to 30
FINALLY Job's tolerance is becoming less and less with his 3 friends. Their accusations of him being deserving of this wrath of God has finally met the end of Job's amazing patience. He says in 16:2 "Misearble comforters are you all! Shall words of wind have an end?" I love it! I'd love to tell that to some people! "Shall words of wind have an end." Sounds so great! So polite yet so direct. OK I know this was in the reading from a few days ago but I still like it!
I also enjoyed Job 28:23 "God understands its way,And He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth"
This is just a nice reminder that despite all the horrible things that have happened to Job he knows he is not meant to understand everything God does. It is hard at times for me to be ok with not understanding why things happen. A quest for knowledge and being in school for way to long in my life has caused me to feel that there should be reason and explainations for everything. According to Job and well the entire bible probably, this is not the case. You will not understand why things happen. That is for God to know and understand. This will be and has been a hard concept for me to grasp and accept.
This is a good one to end on I think.
Job 29:2 "As in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone upon my head, And when by His light I walked through darkness"
I also enjoyed Job 28:23 "God understands its way,And He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth"
This is just a nice reminder that despite all the horrible things that have happened to Job he knows he is not meant to understand everything God does. It is hard at times for me to be ok with not understanding why things happen. A quest for knowledge and being in school for way to long in my life has caused me to feel that there should be reason and explainations for everything. According to Job and well the entire bible probably, this is not the case. You will not understand why things happen. That is for God to know and understand. This will be and has been a hard concept for me to grasp and accept.
This is a good one to end on I think.
Job 29:2 "As in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone upon my head, And when by His light I walked through darkness"
Monday, January 24, 2011
Job 19:1-21:34
A part in Job struck me today. Job 21:7 says "Why do the wicked still live,Continue on, also become very powerful?" I wonder this often. I feel often times that life is "unfair" That those that drive drunk kill innocent people yet they go unharmed. Some are even unphased by their actions. I am amazed by the behavior of some and it seems they are so successful. Will they eventually be punished? Will they endure hard times and will they ever be remorseful? The story of Job addresses so many things. It seems that when I read Job I think the following things.
1. Life is unfair.
2. God has a plan that we do not understand.
3. True faith continues when everything is going wrong.
4. You should remain thankful for everything you have. It can be gone in an instant.
5. Bad things happen to good people.
I'm hoping some of my pessamism will be reconciled as I continue my readings.
1. Life is unfair.
2. God has a plan that we do not understand.
3. True faith continues when everything is going wrong.
4. You should remain thankful for everything you have. It can be gone in an instant.
5. Bad things happen to good people.
I'm hoping some of my pessamism will be reconciled as I continue my readings.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
More Job and More suffering....when will this end.
Job 12:1-14:22
In today's reading Job pleads with God to let him die and stop his suffering. His friends are still no help and since he is a better person that I could ever imagine being...he didn't kick his friends out like I would have. Yet one more reason he's in the bible and I'm not....aside from the 2000+ year difference.
It is always fun to me when people find out about my quest to read the bible chronologically in one year. After their initial surprise there is usually two different reactions.
1. Here's my take on the bible, my church and my opinion on how you are going about this in the wrong manner.
2. Why are you doing this and while I'm supportive...I'm confused and I'm a little doubtful you would finish it.
I have others that have great feedback and tell me their take on challenging (to me) parts. I am also typically very surprised as well at the people that are knowledgeable about parts of the bible. Its fun to see what people bring up and what they think of it.
In my discussions today I had a co-worker recommend a book to me. This happens all the time as they know I love to read. But this recommendation has me so excited I can hardly wait to get off work. A Year of Living Biblically by A.J Jacobs. Check out his website at So I initially reserved my copy at Borders but then was quickly reminded that it might be available at Signs of Life. Signs of Life being the wonderful little bookstore downtown that has a lot of religious items. I think that's where I'm headed so I can get some different Chapter markers as well for my bible. I'm sure I won't just walk out of there with just one book.
In today's reading Job pleads with God to let him die and stop his suffering. His friends are still no help and since he is a better person that I could ever imagine being...he didn't kick his friends out like I would have. Yet one more reason he's in the bible and I'm not....aside from the 2000+ year difference.
It is always fun to me when people find out about my quest to read the bible chronologically in one year. After their initial surprise there is usually two different reactions.
1. Here's my take on the bible, my church and my opinion on how you are going about this in the wrong manner.
2. Why are you doing this and while I'm supportive...I'm confused and I'm a little doubtful you would finish it.
I have others that have great feedback and tell me their take on challenging (to me) parts. I am also typically very surprised as well at the people that are knowledgeable about parts of the bible. Its fun to see what people bring up and what they think of it.
In my discussions today I had a co-worker recommend a book to me. This happens all the time as they know I love to read. But this recommendation has me so excited I can hardly wait to get off work. A Year of Living Biblically by A.J Jacobs. Check out his website at So I initially reserved my copy at Borders but then was quickly reminded that it might be available at Signs of Life. Signs of Life being the wonderful little bookstore downtown that has a lot of religious items. I think that's where I'm headed so I can get some different Chapter markers as well for my bible. I'm sure I won't just walk out of there with just one book.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Job's suffering
Job 5:1-7:21
Job 8:1-11:20
Yesterday and Today's readings were the suffering of Job and his speeches with his 3 friends. I recently purchased some nice bible friendly highlighters which are more like a mixture between crayons and colored pencils. They are nice because they do not bleed through the pages. I've been highlighting in my Chronological Study Bible. Here is what I highlighted. Job 6:1 "Then Job answered and said: Oh that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea-" I believe that anyone that has suffered or lost a loved one can relate to this and feels their grief would weigh more than the sands of the seas.
I also highlighted Job 6:14 "To him who is afflicted, kidness should be shown by his friends"
I like this...I guess because it seems so human. That those that are suffering should always have the kindness and support of their friends. I think this is interesting because I have a close friend that said when her husband was battling brain cancer that their friends basically deserted them. I think people have a fear of how to support and be around those that are suffering. A guilt almost for being healthy. I hope that I am not that way and that I and others would face those fears and show the support and love that those suffering need so badly.
After reading through chapter 11 I think of the saying "with friends like that who needs enemies" It seems Job's friends each believe he deserves the suffering he is enduring or they don't understand why he remains with faith to God. I am amazed by Job's strength to not only endure his physical and mental torture from Satan but also his mental/emotional torture from his friends.
Job 8:1-11:20
Yesterday and Today's readings were the suffering of Job and his speeches with his 3 friends. I recently purchased some nice bible friendly highlighters which are more like a mixture between crayons and colored pencils. They are nice because they do not bleed through the pages. I've been highlighting in my Chronological Study Bible. Here is what I highlighted. Job 6:1 "Then Job answered and said: Oh that my grief were fully weighed, And my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea-" I believe that anyone that has suffered or lost a loved one can relate to this and feels their grief would weigh more than the sands of the seas.
I also highlighted Job 6:14 "To him who is afflicted, kidness should be shown by his friends"
I like this...I guess because it seems so human. That those that are suffering should always have the kindness and support of their friends. I think this is interesting because I have a close friend that said when her husband was battling brain cancer that their friends basically deserted them. I think people have a fear of how to support and be around those that are suffering. A guilt almost for being healthy. I hope that I am not that way and that I and others would face those fears and show the support and love that those suffering need so badly.
After reading through chapter 11 I think of the saying "with friends like that who needs enemies" It seems Job's friends each believe he deserves the suffering he is enduring or they don't understand why he remains with faith to God. I am amazed by Job's strength to not only endure his physical and mental torture from Satan but also his mental/emotional torture from his friends.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
starting Job
OK...well this is confusing. According to the website www.oneyearbibleonline.com I start Job today. The Daily Bible, The One Year Chronological Bible and the Chronological Study Bible start with Exodus after Genesis.
I am thankful I have my Chronological Study Bible. I looked up Job in the back and found it on page 901....much later in the chronological order according to this book...but there was an explanation. It tells that the Book of Job is powerful and has a unique place in world literature as well as scripture. The Book of Job starts with a once upon a time style and has no reference to time. It is believed that the land of Uz where Job is from is in Edom rather than Israel. It is also likely that he is from Edom due to the references to Edom's descendents with wisdom. The Book of Job rejects the view that the world is orderly and just. It proves that bad things happen to good people. This Book speaks to so many people in its rawness and the suffering endured and the faith that remained. I believe that even after I have completed my chronological readings I will likely refer back to this part of the scriptures. I will be getting my bible highlighters out and I'm sure there will be underlined phrases everywhere. In my profession as an ER nurse and Paramedic sometimes you feel like bad things only happen to good people. I know personally I have struggled with this and said out loud many times..."Of course it's something bad...they are great people." My own frustrations with this have tested my faith...well I have blatantly thought...if there was really a God why he would do this to these people. Why does he punish those that are good and not those that are bad? I often wonder how Job had the faith he did. I have not had near the trials that Job has and I question.
Maybe my journey through the bible will either help me to understand or it will allow me to be ok with not understanding.
I am thankful I have my Chronological Study Bible. I looked up Job in the back and found it on page 901....much later in the chronological order according to this book...but there was an explanation. It tells that the Book of Job is powerful and has a unique place in world literature as well as scripture. The Book of Job starts with a once upon a time style and has no reference to time. It is believed that the land of Uz where Job is from is in Edom rather than Israel. It is also likely that he is from Edom due to the references to Edom's descendents with wisdom. The Book of Job rejects the view that the world is orderly and just. It proves that bad things happen to good people. This Book speaks to so many people in its rawness and the suffering endured and the faith that remained. I believe that even after I have completed my chronological readings I will likely refer back to this part of the scriptures. I will be getting my bible highlighters out and I'm sure there will be underlined phrases everywhere. In my profession as an ER nurse and Paramedic sometimes you feel like bad things only happen to good people. I know personally I have struggled with this and said out loud many times..."Of course it's something bad...they are great people." My own frustrations with this have tested my faith...well I have blatantly thought...if there was really a God why he would do this to these people. Why does he punish those that are good and not those that are bad? I often wonder how Job had the faith he did. I have not had near the trials that Job has and I question.
Maybe my journey through the bible will either help me to understand or it will allow me to be ok with not understanding.
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