Monthly Archives: January 2006

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I remember a time when my husband was sick that I referred to myself as "Mrs. Job". Life was just overwhelming.

My husband was sick, my son wasn't doing well in school, my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law passed away, my dad had heart surgery. Then, there was the "other" diagnosis my husband had. Primary sclerosing cholangitis. At one point, I had told a counselor I was seeing that maybe the hardest thing was knowing that he could live for 15 more years and never be any healthier than he was at that point. (2 weeks later we were told that 6 months would be a stretch - talk about feeling guilty)

Anyway - reading Job - these 18 months for me were really nothing like Job's life. And he didn't know why.

I was never told that all this was a result of my sin. Job was.

What I have learned is that there is always a purpose. It might not always be obvious - other times it's obvious but we might not like it. But there is always a purpose.

God has "pruned" me - but has never left me hanging.

Where I am in Job - he feels like he's been left hanging - but we know the rest of the story. Right now, we may feel like we've been left hanging - try to remember that God knows the rest of the story.

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I'm reading in Genesis (so far, so good on the Bible reading).

Sunday's sermon in church was on the recounting in Luke of the sinful woman with the alabaster box of perfume. There are those who reside in the "I've lived a better life than you" club. And there are those who have been forgiven much.

Every time I read Genesis verse by verse I'm reminded of the sinful humanity that God used in the Old Testament. It was this really human line that brought Christ into the world. God could have used really good people - there are a few of them in the Bible.

But even these really good people - lots of times their kids didn't turn out so hot.

All in all, God used people that would contrast His goodness, holiness and holiness with our sin.

I'm glad. Perfection is a goal I don't meet.

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The first hymn we sang today, written in 1719 by Isaac Watts. (we didn't sing the whole thing)

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Thy Word commands our flesh to dust,
“Return, ye sons of men:”
All nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

Like flowery fields the nations stand
Pleased with the morning light;
The flowers beneath the mower’s hand
Lie withering ere ‘tis night.

Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last,
And our eternal home.