Is It Okay?

"My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, the grave is ready for me....My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow....My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart."  (Job 17)

Some may not agree, but I have often wondered: If Jesus, Word of the Father, said that Job spoke what was right, could broken spirits find a sort of consolation in knowing that it might be okay to feel some of the things Job felt?

But of course, it is not "right" to wallow in a brokenness which defeats, leads to, "....denying the Lord Who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction."  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ, and you, forgive me if I ever seem to minimize any, "My spirit is broken...," but I'm sure you know as well as I that it is not the intent of Jesus for us to have a, "....spirit is broken," which leads to perpetual, "....my days are extinguished....My eye has also grown dim because of sorrow....My...purposes are broken off...."

There is a "brokenness" of which David speaks in Psalm 51, "A broken and a contrite heart...."  This is "right" brokeness; this is necessary for repentance; this is necessary for walking in Jesus Christ, akin to, "Blessed are the poor in spirit."  But a brokenness which leads to, "I quit," is from the pit of Hell.  You know that I know about this.  In June of 1970, I felt as Jonah, "The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.  To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever." 

As Job, I also was in, "My spirit is broken," and those "Jonah scenes" still pop up at times.  But I cannot thank our Lord Jesus Christ enough for His constant, continual, "ever-present ('muchness, abundance, well proved') help in trouble."  And, my friend, for me this is not a "yesterday experience."  It is day to day, moment by moment.  Today, anew, I celebrate the Healer of broken spirits, "He will not allow your foot to slip; He Who keeps you will not slumber.  Behold, He...shall neither slumber nor sleep", even when you and I do.

Father, in Jesus' Name, O Thou Healer of, "My spirit is broken," be the Healer to any who read this.  Amen. 

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Read: "South Florida Dining With Hamas And The Taliban" at:   jhs58.blogspot.com  

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"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?...For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."  (Jesus)

This is classic "lost and found."  But notice:  The shepherd went looking for the lost sheep, and in the case of the son, "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him...."  You don't see someone, "a long way off," unless you are looking for him.

The first can be classic evangelism, looking for those who have never surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.  The second is "one of our own," a fellow Follower of Jesus who went astray.  The question which looms large in me today is, What am I doing about both?  The danger in us is to accept what is, not what should be.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be a, "fisher of men," and a, "while he was afar off," actively-looking-for brother.  Amen.

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Article on Germany and illegal immigrants at:  jhs58.blogspot.com

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

The Banquet Hall WILL Be Full

"Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.'"  (Luke 14:23)

You will remember that the first invitees had an excuse for not accepting the invitation.  Remember when you did?

There was the business/work/pay-the-bills excuse.  Then there was the family excuse.  What they valued as priority is what kept them from the greatest "value" in life and, I might say, in death, a life of feasting with/in Jesus Christ.  I have had similar excuses; so have you.  My only hope and prayer now is that we have no more.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much for Your invitation to Your, "Great Supper."  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

What Name Do They Hear Most From Us?

"We proclaim to you the One Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard and seen.  We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands.  He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life."  (1 John 1:1, NLT, 1996 edition, again, from today's reading)

I come back to Mother Teresa's last words to then Senator Brownback, "Remember, Senator, It's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus; it's all about Jesus."  Yes, three times she emphasized the Foundation of the Bible message. 

Now, because of the New Birth, eyes beholding and hands touching has gone beyond to, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him."  Some may be in large Church gatherings at this moment.  Jesus is there.  I am in this room.  Jesus is here, "....Our abode with him."

Recently I read that passage in 1 Peter where the Apostle says that, "....by Him we believe in God."  No one can believe in God apart from Jesus.  If one attempts to, they only have a god of their own creation.  This is why historically Jesus has been the "problem," both with Jews and Gentiles.  Jesus dispels myths and conjectures about God.  Jesus, "....became flesh and dwelt among us."  And the Living Triune God said when He appeared among men, what He declares in the Prophet Isaiah, "Here am I."  As 2 Corinthians tells us, "For God, who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Quite frankly, neither I nor any one else has anything to say of any significance if it is not, "in the face of Christ."  Theologians and philosophers, whether "professional" or at the water cooler, who talk of God as some different person other than Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, are literally making up stories.  It makes them feel important and superior, but it also makes them stupid.  Pointing people to Jesus is humbling.  It takes the attention from our speculation and pseudo-intellectualism to, "He is Jesus Christ, the Word of Life."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You so much that You "cleared up" speculation when You appeared in Jesus.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2