A day is coming when God Himself will redeem (vindicate) all of our suffering.
“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25-27
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Job’s story is relatable to other believers who have suffered for reasons unknown to them.
Corrie ten Boom is one example. She hid Jews during the Holocaust and saved an estimated 800 people’s lives! The Nazis caught her and imprisoned her (along with her father and sister) in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp.
Corrie ten Boom is known for using the following verse to describe her feelings after she and her family were arrested by the Nazis.
“How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me…” Job 29:2
Did you know that although it is famous in world literature, Job is one of the least-read books of the Bible? To me, studying the book of Job is analogous to climbing Mt. Everest. And writing about it has been just as challenging. However, I have learned a lot while reading and studying Job, and over the next few days I want to share a few of the insights that seemed especially important to me.
The value of God’s wisdom is beyond our ability to comprehend.
“But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth …
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or lapis lazuli. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold… it cannot be bought with pure gold.
Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? … God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. … he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.” Job 28:12-13, 15-17, 20, 24, and 28 (emphasis mine) Read full chapter
More to come!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
After church one Wednesday night, my daughter asked me to stop by her house because she had something to tell me. I knew right then I needed to brace myself. I had no idea what she wanted to tell me, but I had a feeling it was going to be something I wouldn’t like.
She sat me down on the couch and with all seriousness she said, “God has called me to be a missionary. I’m going to Africa. My heart practically stopped.
The witness in my spirit said this was of God, but the mother in me froze in fright. She wasn’t going with an established missionary society. She was just going alone. But first, she would be stopping off in Bangladesh. (I reminded myself to breathe.)
She Face-Timed me along the way. “Hi Mom, I’m at the airport in Istanbul!” (Breathe!)
“Hi Mom, I’m in Kisumu. A man just asked Helen how many cows he would need to pay to marry me! (Breathe!)
Then, COVID-19 hit, and all flights to America from Nairobi were canceled. I didn’t know it then, but it would be six months before I would see her again. I’m sure I needed God’s strength more than she did. You’ll understand if you’re a mother.
She had never lived far from me. I thought I could always protect her and keep her from harm. Now she was on the other side of the world. I was in for the greatest spiritual battle of my life – against fear.
I made a conscious decision to trust God and not cave in to fear. I fiercely fought against fear every day, refusing to let it in for even a minute. I refused to entertain thoughts of what could happen. I knew that if I didn’t trust the Lord to bring her home safe and sound, I would never make it.
God gave me the peace that passes understanding. I know that. It wasn’t by my own strength. It was the grace of God.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Clinging to the Lord and His precious promises, I wrote this poem, now a song. Listen below:
🎶 Your Love, Oh God
The Poem, My Prayer
Your love, O God, Will hold us near. It shields us from our darkest fears.
In times of darkness Where I can't see, Your loving eye Will watch for me.
When I can't see What lies ahead, I'll trust you, Lord, And what You've said.
Your promises Are my delight. They guide my way. They are my light.
With my whole heart I trust in you. Your loving hands Will see us through.
Your faithful love Forever watches My precious child In all Earth's places.
In Africa, playing cards with the boys before bedtime.
“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.‘” Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.” Psalm 56:3-4 NIV
The Lord kept her safe and brought her home again. It was the experience of a lifetime – for both of us!
Maybe you’re wondering, “How? How do I trust and not give in to fear? Here are some practical steps you can take:
Write down the Scripture verses that strengthen your faith.
Read them whenever doubt starts to creep in.
Ask God to give you more faith to believe His promises.
Thank God daily for being with you (and her) every step of the way.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:6-7
Comments: This is one of my favorite Bible verses. It is the key to conquering fear. Don’t focus on controlling fear. Focus, instead, on trusting the Lord. How? One way is to write down all the verses that build your faith and encourage you, like the one above. Do an in-depth study on what happens when we trust God. There are hundreds of verses! Psalms is a good place to start!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
God said, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” Isaiah 46:10
Commentary: God is in control. His Word reveals what is to come, and He intervenes to accomplish His plan. Are you wondering what has happened to our world? Read Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation, and you’ll be off to a great start!
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6 NASB
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“America and the free world stand at a pivotal moment … I could try to offer political and economic solutions, but in the end it is a matter of the heart. Unless people allow God to change their sinful ways by believing in the One who came to pay the price for sin, and unless they are filled with the Spirit of the God of Israel rather than deceived by demonic spirits that masquerade as light, wisdom, and reason, there will be no true change in the direction this world is heading.”
AMIR TSARFATI, BEHOLD ISRAEL
“For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-14
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5
Commentary:
Believer’s Bible Commentary: “Paul is referring to the false teachers who had come into the church at Corinth, denying the resurrection. The Christians should realize that it is impossible to associate with evil people or evil teachings without being corrupted by them. Evil doctrine inevitably has an effect on one’s life. False teachings do not lead to holiness.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Jeremiah Study Bible Notes: “Paul describes a society enamored with love of self, money, and pleasure…. Those who have a form of godliness …profess belief in God, but their real love is the person in the mirror… Without the discernment that comes from knowing the Word, people willingly entertain spiritual fads and false doctrines.”
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (emphasis mine)
Commentary: It is when we are conscious of our own weakness and nothingness that we most depend on the power of God. And it is when we are thus cast on Him in complete dependence that His power is manifested to us, and we are truly strong.
William Wilberforce, who led the fight to abolish slavery in the British Empire, was physically weak and frail, but he had deep faith in God. Boswell said of him, “I saw what seemed to me a shrimp become a whale.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
🎶 New Song: GOD’S GRACE, lyrics by Cindy
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
One morning, as I walked my little dog Henry in the warm sunshine, a large flock of geese flew overhead in a perfect V formation. I watched as the birds took turns flying at the point.
Henry
The lead goose works hardest, so they rotate positions, and the honking from behind encourages the leaders.
This reminded me that we must take turns serving in our churches, not letting the same people carry the load week after week.
In His Love, Cindy
Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.
Real Christian Women 