Choose

We had a great study yesterday.  Lots of sharing, encouraging and prayer.  I am truly thankful for my wonderful friends that make up this little group.

We talked a bit about our church.  About the struggle that can go on, on Sunday Mornings.  How the devil loves to keep us from attending Church or even distracted enough that though we were there we leave feeling disconnected and empty.  The latter has been me lately.  I shared my struggles with the group yesterday.  I love teaching the k-1 Sunday school class...and truly feel that it is my place.  But I miss being part of a adult Sunday School class as well....yet am not sure where I fit anymore.

But as we studied yesterday it all come down to choices.  We need to be in the Word, and seeking God's guidance in every aspect of our lives...not just the big ones.  He longs to be apart of every moment of our days.

In our study we talked about Job.  He was definitely a man with struggles, I can not even fathom the pain he must have endured.  And yet he remained faithful to God...even though all others seemingly abandoned him.

Chapter 9 Nothing to Protect, Nothing to Lose

"Choice is something God gives us, and sometimes we do choose our own way, thinking it will keep us from suffering.  But usually it means we miss out on a blessing God has for us.

Think about a time you willfully chose to go your own way and later saw the missed blessing.  How did this impact your relationship with God?"

Read through the scriptures below that ask us to make a choice toward God's ways.  Which one are you choosing to do today, though it maybe hard?

•  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Galatians 6:9
• Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
•  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:16
• Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:23
• Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.  Hebrews 13:15

"To state the purpose of the book of Job in one statement is difficult, as it is multifaceted.  We see a look at reality that is much like our world; broken people responding to suffering; an honest man trying to submit to the will of God; the reality of Satan trying to discourage us and keep us from God's plan; and how humanity can clash with God's divine purposes.  Job also illustrates that though we are often sinful, weak and ignorant, we can be upright and purely devoted to God in the midst of adversity."

Read Job 1 

1. What do we learn about Job's life in verses 1-5?
2. How do we know from verse 6 that God rules over all of evel?
3. How does God describe Job to Satan (v. 8)?
4. What losses does Job experience through the hand of Satan?
5. How does Job respond to his troubles, according to verse 20?
6. When we experience profound suffering, our natural tendency is to find someone to blame.  Do you tend to blame yourself, others or God?

"My prayer is that you are finding it easier to embrace the reality of the brokenness in your own life.  We don't have to fear it because God is using it all to draw us near to Him."

How is God using your brokenness to set you free?

God uses broken things.  It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength.  It is the broken alabaster box that gives froth perfume.  It is Peter weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever. 

Streams in the Desert-- p 113 

Next WED we will be at Magda's. :)