Where is God?

Job 23:3  Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! 4  I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. 5  I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. 6  Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7  There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8  Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9  On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Can we blame Job for feeling as he did? What, with everything gone, his health as bad as it can be and now fighting with his "friends."

He asked what is asked every time a great tragedy occurs, where is God in all this?

Yes, where was God when the Boston bomb stopped us dead in our tracks?

It seems to me that God wants us to seek Him out. He allows suffering so we can look for Him. When we look to the left, He hides on the right so we can learn how to track Him. When we look up, we find that underneath are His everlasting arms. When we look down, we learn that we have to look to the hills from whence cometh our help. When we search inside, we find Him compassing us round about. When we search externally, we discover that He abides faithful within.

God is always where He always is, on the throne, sovereign, loving, forgiving, observing and transcendent. He will be found of them that diligently seek Him.

What do you know?

Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. - William Shakespeare

Knowledge must be tempered by charity and wisdom. I confess, I don’t know very much, but what I do know is more than I need! It is a huge blessing to know the following:

I know that God is alive and I will see him! Job 19:25-26

I know that Jesus is the truth! Matt 22:16, Lk 20:21, John 3:2, John 21:24 

I know that I am a sinner! Rom 7:14, 18 

I know that God is in control of every situation! Rom 8:28 

I know I will have a new body, made by God! 2Cor 5:1 

I know that I know Him! 1Jn 2:3, I Jn 3:2

I know we are in the last days! 1Jn 2:18 

I know that I am saved! 1Jn 3:14 

I know that my belief system is true! 1Jn 3:19 

I know that He is with me always! 1Jn 3:24 

I know that I love God's people! 1Jn 5:2 

I know He hears and answers my prayers! 1Jn 5:15

 I know that I have the power to say no to sin! 1Jn 5:18 

I know that I am sanctified from the world! 1Jn 5:19 

To know that we know what we know, and to know that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge. - Nicolaus Copernicus

I guess I do know a few things worth knowing! What do you know?

Boston Massacre II

Job 14:1  Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

The primrose paths we are blessed to travel are often interrupted by trouble. Our agendas are disrupted, our desires are disappointed and our worlds are rocked by suffering.

I can only imagine how a huge highlight in the lives of many, the end of the Boston Marathon, was suddenly turned into a nightmare and a national tragedy. An eight year old boy had just hugged his dad, congratulating him on the success of finishing the 26.2 mile race. He returned to the curb and then was killed by a terrorist bomb. Consider the thoughts of that poor dad who had just completed a milestone in his life one moment and then had his son brutally murdered in the next.

Truly, our days are few and full of trouble.

It pays to invest in an eternity in which there is no heartache, no sickness, no goodbyes and no dying. I hope those who lost their lives in the Boston bombing had put their trust in Christ.

Behold the Man

John 19:5  Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

Crown of thorns, purple robe, beaten and standing alone

Accused, mocked and victimized by men with hearts of stone

Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, Judged by kingly powers

Condemned to death on a cross, where God would hang six hours.

Eyes full of compassion, now swollen by pugilist fists

Throat which proclaimed the blessed good news, parched, proclaiming, "I thirst!"

Hands of merciful healing, but since nailed to a tree

Feet which carried the gospel fixed to the cross of Calvary

Yet forgiveness flowed freely from a heart beating with love

Mercy, grace and cleansing offered from heaven above

"Father, forgive them" was heard by those around

As God's own blood dripped heavily to Golgotha's ground

2000 years ago, sin's price was fully paid

When on those holy shoulders all our guilt was laid

Jesus, Son of God, Who gave Himself to set us free

Now waits on Mercy's throne to hear the honest sinner's plea.

"Be merciful to me, O God! I am but a wicked soul

Not one thing have I ever done to get my name on heaven's roll

But if you will show your grace to me, that which I don't deserve

From this very day, my Lord, You I'll gladly serve"