So You've had a bad day......

Have you ever had a day when everything goes wrong?  I thought I had...until I read Job 1.  My "terrible, horrible, no good very bad days" are usually because a list of essentially unimportant tasks didn't get marked off my list.  You know, like forgot to pay an overdue bill, didn't plug in crockpot or start the dryer, or kids argued all day long.  Sometimes it is just that the last 10 minutes of a beautiful day went badly, and I declare that the whole day was a stink pot.  Isn't that silly?!?  I allow the enemy to steal my joy, kill my motivation and destroy my day way too often.  This morning I read the account of Job's bad day in Job 1.  It begins declaring that Job loved God like no other, he kept his house covered in prayer and sought God in all things.  The enemy said "well of course Job loves and faithfully serves You, look at his life.  He is rich, all that he endeavors to do, is successful, he has a beautiful home and family.... BUT take all that away, and he will no longer be faithful."  So, God gives Satan permission  (don't miss the fact that as God's child nothing touches you without first being filtered through His love) to take away all Job owned but he could not touch Job.  So, that is exactly what he did, and Job's bad day began.  He lost all his possessions, cattle, horses, homes, and even all his children!  The servant that was delivering the devastating news didn't even finish before the next servant shows up to add to the devastating news.  Such unbearable loss.. So much to take in...Too much to comprehended or process!   And yet Job's response to this terrible day is a thousand times more shocking!  "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord .”  In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong."
Job 1:20‭-‬22 ESV. He WORSHIPED!!!!!!  He didn't scream and blame God for these awful things, he worshipped!  He spoke truth over the flood of feeling he had to have been experiencing.  He recognized that every good thing he had was a gift from God, and that he entered the world with nothing and would leave the same way and he worshipped!  This is breath takingly beautiful to me.  It spurs me in my walk to praise God in all things, and to take back what the enemy has stolen!  So day, I am going to make a choice to not let a few bad moments become a bad day and  steal my joy,  to not let the enemy take what isn't his, and I will worship today, because this I KNOW.....God isn't good even when the day isn't!

A caring King

"During the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, so the king said to me, “Why are you sad, when you aren’t sick? This is nothing but depression (sadness of heart).”  I was overwhelmed with fear and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins and its gates have been destroyed by fire? ”
Nehemiah 2:1‭-‬3 HCSB


We all  have moments of sadness.  There are times when our hearts are burdened because of the circumstances we face.  As I read Nehemiah's story a few things plucked at my heart.

First, Nehemiah's heart was sad because his home town was in ruins.  Boy, oh boy!  How many times have my heart become sad because something I loved lay in ruin!  A dream that crumbled, or a job that slipped away, or a friendship that faded.  All ruins we face in this life are hard and make our hearts sad.  We would do well to learn from Nehemiah, on how to handle these times.

Second, Nehemiah went into the kings presence.  Nehemiah heart was sad, but he still went before his king.  He knew that this was the place he would find answers.  So he went before the king...sad heart and all.  I wonder why we think our King doesn't want us in His presence unless everything is all good?  In moments of fear, sadness, uncertainty, hurt, and exhaustion there is NO better place than The King of kings presence.

Third, the king took notice, and engaged Nehemiah in conversation.  He wanted to know what was bothering his servant!  Oh his abundantly true this is of our King!  Christ cares about our every hurt!  I love the way God seeks us, takes notice and listens to our hearts cry.  What a precious and amazing love God has for His people.

If you continue reading Nehemiah 2, you will discover that the king listened to Nehemiah's problem and his proposal and then provided everything Nehemiah would need for his journey.  What a beautiful picture of what our King does for us! He seeks us out, listens to our heart and provides exactly what we need for our journey!

A Long Overdue Thank You

Almost 30 years ago a lonely and fearful 14 year old girl walked into a big-o-church with a secret hope that she would find what her heart had been longing for...home.  On that night so much more happened. In the months to follow her WHOLE life would be completely changed.  Months turned into years and years into decades....and over that time, she found that her hopes and dreams were all held by her Savior who LOVED her fully, and had a good plan for her life.  He had far above anything she could dare to dream planned for her...and she blossomed.  There were so many people at her new home that loved her simply because she needed to be loved and they knew her Savior as well, and He teaches us to love others.  So many people that invested in her growth, who discipled her, and encouraged her to trust God completely.  People who rejoiced in her joy, held her in hurt, cleaned her home, cooked her family meals, gave gifts so graciously that she was often moved to tears at the great love of her Heavenly Father.  Through great joy and deep sorrow she never again traveled alone.  God saw fit to bless her with her husband, Tim....I don't think I could ever put into words how very grateful I am for this man who demonstrates selfless love and faithfulness and who has seeks God's will for our family and when my faith is weak, he stands in the gap.  Oh how thankful I am that God set us apart for each other.  God also saw fit to bless her with four sweet blessing to hold and cherish and teach to trust God fully because He is fully trustable, and that He loves them with a crazy love!  I take that responsibility very seriously.  She isn't perfect, but she is perfectly loved.  It would take her  life time of thank you to thank all who have touched her life.  However, there are moments like today, when she gets to see her son, Josh, lead in worship through song and she is moved to begin to say thank you.  First Baptist Family, thank you!  Thank you for being willing to make sacrifices, to teach, to encourage, and pray with and for a fearful and lonely 14 girl who desperately needed it.  Your investment has had eternal impact.  That 14 year old girl  is now a 42 year old mom who is fully aware of the path her life could have taken had you not loved God enough to love her!    As I listened to Josh today I was moved to tears.  I looked around and saw faces of those who played a role first my life and then his.  THIS is the difference Christ makes!  A church is not a building, it is people...imperfect people!who are willing to do whatever it takes to show Gods perfect love to the broken, discarded, lonely, fearfully people that God loves so much He sent His Son to die for!!!!  My heart longs to shout THANK YOU.  I am forever changed, eternally grateful, and absolutely determined to show His love to whomever God puts in my life.  I love my church!!!  If you are searching for home...you might just find it at FBC💗💞💜