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Friday August 27th
As we read Job today we see he is still complaining about what he is going through. He’s asking why the rich sinner can get away with what he does while the homeless lay out naked because they have no clothes and they have no shelter. After all the complaining and questions Job has he ends what he is saying that no matter what he goes through it will not change how he feels about God. The devil was certainly wrong when he told God that Job would fold under all the pressure, that he’d curse God. Again there is such a lesson to learn in the book of Job. In the devotional it talks about how God wants to increase us, he’s the God of increase. He wants to increase us in every area of our lives. It says one of the main things we have to do in order to keep ourselves on the right path is watch what comes out of our mouth. It’s so right when it says that our words are seeds that will produce a harvest for our future. If go around speaking words of defeat and negativity then that’s what we will harvest in the future. The good thing is, if words of encouragement and words of being positive that’s what we’ll harvest when our seed gets ripe.
Today’s Reading
Job 23:1-27:23
2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11
Psalm 41:1-13
Proverbs 22:5-6
Daily Devotional
The God of Increase
God wants to increase us in every area of our lives. He wants to give us more wisdom, stronger relationships, more peace and joy, promotion, and health. Sometimes we don’t see it as quickly as we would like. It can be easy to get discouraged when we don’t experience the breaks we hoped for or when it seems that everyone else is rising higher while we are standing still. During these times, it’s especially important to stay focused on God’s Word knowing that He is for us, that He wants to increase us; and when we follow His principles, we get His results.
One of the most important things we can do to keep ourselves moving in the right direction is to carefully guard what we say. Remember, your words are seeds that produce the harvest of your future. If you go around speaking negative words of doubt and defeat, you are uprooting your harvest of blessing. You are literally speaking against what God wants for your life! But if you’ll stay in agreement with the God of increase, if you’ll declare His Word over your future, then you are setting yourself up to receive the victory and blessing He has in store for you.
Here are some of God’s promises to you to help keep your thoughts and words in agreement with Him:
For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep His commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in His ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy (Deuteronomy 30:16, NLT).
There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them (Jeremiah 30:19, NLT).
I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number (Hebrews 6:14, NLT).
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence (Jeremiah 17:7, NLT).
You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what He said (Luke 1:45, NLT).
Be encouraged today because the God of increase is on your side! As you stay in agreement with Him, you’ll see His blessing, honor, and increase in every area of your life!
Saturday August 28th
In chapter 28 of Job, we learn how we can find true wisdom. Men know how to do very many things. But only God can tell us how we can be really wise. We should fear God and we should worship him. And we should never do things that are wrong. That is how Job says we can be wise. In the next couple of chapters Job seems to be remembering how his life was before all this started. He really did have it made, he was rich, had a great family, he had everything he could ever want and need and now its all taken away. As we see though, he still hasn’t cursed God or blamed God for anything. Sometimes we think we have it bad, we just need to read Job from time to time and that’ll make us think for sure. I know its put all the situations I am going through into perspective. It’s also really taught me about the way I talk, about being negative. I’ve heard it said “we are what comes out of our mouth". I really believe that because when negative words keep coming out of our mouth it changes our attitude and things really start going the wrong way. When we stay positive no matter what the situation looks like things really do go better. It also allows God’s blessings to flow our way. Proverbs today is so true, that’s really spoke to me about working towards getting totally debt free and staying that way. Boy the devotional sure hit me again. I talk about God’s timing all the time but I sure do like to try and hurry Him up, thank goodness He’s so patient with us.
Today’s Reading
Job 28:1-30:31
2 Corinthians 2:12-17
Psalm 42:1-11
Proverbs 22:7
Daily Devotional
2 Peter 3:9, NLT
"The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake…"
It doesn't take very long to discover that God's timing is not always our timing. It's easy to question and wonder why you've been waiting for your breakthrough for 15 years and your neighbor got their breakthrough in 15 minutes! In the Bible, Abraham waited 20 years for his promise, and in the upper room they waited about ten days. I don't know how long you'll have to wait, but you've got to understand that God has your best interest at heart. He is being patient for your sake. He's aligning things and waiting for the exact right moment! If you'll just continue waiting with the right attitude, then at the right time, God will bring it to pass.
Remember, God is always working behind the scenes for your good. Just because you don't see any changes taking place doesn't mean they aren't happening. Keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping because you're breakthrough is coming for your sake!
A Prayer for Today:
"Father in heaven, today I choose to surrender all my questions, all my fears, and all my doubts. I know that You have only my best interest at heart. I trust You and believe that You are working behind the scenes for my sake. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
I Corinthians 15:57 - But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Good afternoon OH,
Have been trying to get things ready for the counselor Monday, will probably have to show that I am not making any money at what I do now, so have been making a record of my pay sheets and gas reciepts. I knew that the cost of gas was really hurting me, but when I put it down on paper it's almost unbelievable. Guess that's the main reason I want to go back to driving over the road, I won't have to pay for fuel and mainentance on the vehicle I drive, but will still be able to do what I love.
Jan~Sorry I missed you yesterday too, but I am planning on coming down to see you on a day you don't have to work. Will call and try to get together. I think I'll plant the seeds next spring, my youngest son lives in Seymour and he can make sure they are watered when they don't get rain. Then when I come to this area, I'll stop and check on them.
Debbie~Thank-you for the encouragement. I sure hope your Mom isn't as bad as DH was. I think I have disposed of about 1,000 little plastic pill bottles, and tons of old batteries that were all rusty and corroded, not to mention the 100's of crossword puzzle books he had worked and were not good for any other use. LOL. I can't believe I didn't get rid of all the junk before this.
It's good you'll be able to go to your son's fb games. It means so much to the kids when parents are there.
Susie~Sounds like you are doing really great. Maybe it is just nerves waking up, hope it goes away soon. Maybe the padd panties would help. Went to watch a softball game in Ava for a few minutes, the school is doing like a gameathon in honor of one of the coaches or something that passed recently, couldn't sit on the bleachers because the padding is going away on my rearend. Didn't think I would ever be able to say that, and still have a lot of weight to lose. Guess I better take my camp chair with me from now on.
Well I still have some things to get done so better close for now and get this posted. Love you all and have a good weekend.
HUGS
I have to stop and go pick up one of my prescriptions....starting next month im going to use the mail order thing. that way i wont have to run all over getting them and wont have to remember to do it.
and it is a little cheaper.
Hope you all are continuing to pray for my daughter, Michele. she is still acting out like she is 16 instead of 43....so sad that she is wasting her life like she had. She was beautiful and so smart and of course she looks lots older than 43 and she is still smart but nothing like she was....i just want to cry every time i look at her. so so sad. Dont know why she cant straighten up but either she just doesnt want to or cant dont really know which. I wont bore you with her latest escapade but it just the same ole thing different day.
Im off work today and then work Sunday and Monday.
Jeanie so so sorry i was at work when you called yesterday afternoon. i sure wish i had been at home. would have loved to have see you.
Have you found out anything else about your schooling? and Yes i will save you some seeds
Susie i will save you some too. So i would imagine that the feeling is just beginning to come back in your bottom and also you dont have much back there anymore. maybe you need to get you some of those padded panties and if nothing else would be something soft to sit on lol
Debbie Do. you sound like you are staying busy. are you still working some? Sounds like you and hubby are surely enjoying your sons football games. they are exciting i know. When our grandson was living with us a few years ago and he played basketball and we would go to his games i would get all excited and have a ball ...lol
Well guys i got to get have a lot planned for today and the day is half over. love you all.
http://community.webshots.com/user/mimicook?vhost=community
GOD BLESS YOU TODAY
JAN COOK
Been busy the last couple of days. I've been trying to get our finances in order. I spent a couple hours on-line and set up direct bill pay thru our bank. Should make my life a lot easier having them already set up and simply clicking on them when they need to be paid. I hope it's all the work I put into it!
Spent the afternoon doing some grocery shopping and then to my son's Gatorade Scrimmage tonight. What a beautiful evening it was! Enjoyed watching all the kids play football. Jake's first game of the season is next Thursday. I guess I'd better get prepared to go to all his games...like I did last year. Most of the Sophomore Teams games are on Thursday's at 4:30. Last year I went by myself most of the time because dh was working. This year he's going to go in a little early so he can leave in time for Jake's games. Technically, he's still a 1099 contractor so he can really come and go as he pleases.
I also made a menu for the next two weeks and finish my grocery shopping list. Will get the rest of the groceries tomorrow. I'm hoping to get up early before the store gets busy. I usually go during the week, however, with David working 10 hours a day and Jake having fb practice right after school...I'm doing it tomorrow so Jake can carry all of them into the house. DH has to work tomorrow.
Also need to try and do some laundry. I hate grocery shopping and laundry!! It's really bad if I have to do them both in the same day! So the laundry may have to wait....
Mama Jan - sounds like you're keeping busy with your gardens and your nursing. Glad to hear Michelle got a job...it's a start. Guess she decided not to move in with her new friend? I'm still praying for her. Hope she's doing well. Love you Mama Jan!
Suzy - Glad to hear you're feeling better. Sorry about your achy butt. I'm guessing part of it is that there's no cushion on it anymore?
MO Peeps - hope all of you have a great weekend.
Debbie D.
Congrats on going make to school! I'm so excited for you. What an inspiration!! Glad to hear you got your bedroom cleaned up. Sounds like my Mom is a lot like your late husband was - wants to keep everything! I keep reminding her that I'm her only child and once she and Dad are gone that I'm the one going to have to go thru everything! My Dad tells me just to bull dose the house and start over...lol! It's really not that bad but she just refuses to let go of anything even things she hasn't used in 20+ years!!
Anyways, glad to see you posting and that you're doing well! Please let us know the next time your in the KC Area....I would love to meet you and I know there are others who live around here that would too!
Have a good weekend,
Debbie D.
Jan save me some seeds. I have lots of hillside I can plant them on and let them go wild. I will be sure DH knows they are flowers and doesn't pull them up this time.
My bottom has been hurting the last few days. Not sure what is up with that, maybe just the feeling is coming back. I go back next week for my six week check and will find out if I am where I should be healing wise. I feel great just have a sore rear. Scars are looking good and healing great.
Here comes the heat again I heard. I will stay inside. Fall is not far away and one of my favorie times of the year. Have a great day everyone.
Jeanie will save you a big package of Zinnia seeds so you can plant them for DH. Im really excited for you too about your schooling. I have to work Sunday and Monday ....rone of these days will get to meet you down at my place. ....or you can come on up thru Forsyth and i get off at 10 we could go have some water together lol ....
Sorry im not getting these post done really early , i have been taking advantage of this great weather while it is here to do a lot of outdoor stuff. It is such great weather to work outside, just barely work up a sweat.
Well Michele finally found a little part time job in Forsyth....but it is something anyway....something is better than nothing or me paying for things lol .....
Got to get ready for work here in a little wihile im working today and then off tomorrow and work Sunday and Monday....then off tuesday and dont know what will be for Sept lol hopefully she has gotten me more days without grouping them all together.
talk to you all later. love you
http://community.webshots.com/user/mimicook?vhost=community
GOD BLESS YOU TODAY
JAN COOK
Thanks,
Suzy
Have been super busy this week. Trying to get my house in order and figure out what to do with all the junk DH kept. Finally got my bedroom cleaned up. Was to cluttered with all the stuff he refused to throw away.
Am getting so excited, Monday I go talk to Vo-Rehab counselor and should know if they are going to pay for my schooling. Have trouble sleeping, but that's typical of me when I start something new.
Jan~I'm sorry I didn't get back with you on the route to Theodosia. The church members are meeting at Life Church in Ava at 5pm, we are going to caravan down to the lake, then have a pic-nic there after the baptism. I would love to stop by on my way back through if you will be up, should be done by 8:00 though. Will call you later to see if we can hook up.
I would love to have some of your zinnia seeds, that was DH's favorite flower and I want to plant some by our Headstone.
Need to post this and get ready for work. Love you all. Please send up your prayers for Susan.
Susan~I haven't been on here much lately either. Just read your post. After DH passed my life has been crazy and a lot of things have piled up that have made me feel like I was going to lose it. I don't know what is going on in your life right now, but I do know that the people on this board care so much for all of us, and the power of prayer is miraculous. I have sent a prayer up for you this morning and have confidence that God will give you the strength you need.
Some times we have to slow down and take a deep breath, take one step at a time.
