Are you a 7 day friend?

In the book of Job, Job was a man who was "blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil" (Job 1:1).  Because of Job's walk with the Lord, Satan asked God's permission to strike everything Job had that God might see Job curse him without God's hedge of protection around him.  So, in one fell swoop, Satan took his oxen and donkeys (working through the Sabeans), his sheep (through a fire from the sky), his camels (working through the Chaldeans), and his 10 children (while at the oldest son's house)...all in one day!  [see vs. 2 to get an idea of how much of a loss that was]  Then, while Job was grieving his losses, Satan asked permission from God to affect his body. So, he afflicted him with sores from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.


But, this post is not about how through all of that Job never blamed God (which by the way, 1:22 tells us is a sin...interesting), his "patience", or even the advice from his friends.  This blog is about friendship. "Huh?" You say? Yes, friendship.

Perfection Through Pain

I had a Homer Simpson moment the other day.  You know, the one where you go, "D'OH!!!"  While washing the dishes, I reached across the stove to pick up a pot to wash while the tea kettle was whistling.  Now, I knew the tea kettle was on.  I saw it, and I heard it, but my mind was somewhere else.  As soon as I realized what I was doing, the steam from the tea kettle got me!  And, boy did it ever! 
After screaming, I noticed the burn.  It was a perfect circle.  I was amazed that although I did not touch the mouth of the spout, the steam burn was in the exact shape of the mouth of the spout...a perfect circle! 

I then thought about the purpose of pain.  I thought about how we as Christians believe we should not experience pain because we are followers of Christ or that somehow God has forsaken us because of our suffering.  Where does that belief originate, I wonder?

Keep your "saltiness"...

Was cooking squash the other day, and as I was seasoning it with salt, my love affair over the years with understanding the many attributes of salt came to mind.  As I sprinkled the salt, I noticed the randomness of how the sprinkles fell upon the squash.  Immediately, Matthew 5:13 came to mind. Jesus states, "You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

I then saw the salt as Christians sprinkled here and there, and the squash as the "great big world" we're placed in. 

New Format!

I'm changing my blog format.  I'll keep what it once was in the archives, but God is leading me on a different direction.  I want to use my blog to specifically encourage believers.  Now, I'll still have journalings of the amazing things my kiddos do, but only as it relates to encouraging believers.  Life is tough, and if you don't get any encouragement from anyone else, you can get it from me.  Right here as we journey this Christian walk together!

Hope you enjoy the new direction!  Be encouraged saints!