A MIGHTY JOB

1Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone– 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? Job 38:1-10

If you haven’t read Job 38 in its entirety, I want to encourage you to do so. This is just the beginning of this great chapter on the awesome power and greatness of our Lord. When I read this chapter, I just get so excited. I think about the world in its infancy and how it was created.

Can you imagine God walking across the earth with his tape measure on His tool belt? How He takes it out and carefully marks each point on the earth. Does he use a pencil or does he just make a mark in the sand with his finger? Can you imagine Him gathering up the water that covered the earth and shutting such an amount of liquid behind closed doors? The might that was needed to move all that water! And I feel frustrated and overwhelmed when my kids overflow the bathtub and I have to clean up an inch of water in a small bathroom. Imagine cleaning a flood over the face of the earth!

Are you in awe? I sure am. Please take today to revel in the mighty power and creativity of our God. I just want to shout His name and praise His glorious works! Won’t you join me in celebration!

I pray today that you would feel God’s awesome power that surrounds you. Just look around and see just how much God loves you!

In His mighty name!

Erin

SUPPORT EACH OTHER

By Guest Blogger – Sandra Brese Rice

Leviticus 25:35 ” If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.”

When my son was little, I found myself needing to return to work as a teacher. My husband’s newly retired father known also as “Papa,” stepped up to the plate and helped us with childcare. It was a tremendous blessing to Jeff and I that he would support us in this way.

Papa and Zachary became quick buddies as they spent three days a week together. For Christmas, Jeff and I bought Papa a grandparent’s pass to the zoo. From then on, Zach and Papa visited the zoo at least once a week! My son was becoming an animal expert and was learning to love the peacefulness of spending time with Papa as well. Needless to say, Zach’s knowledge of animal facts began to precede my own. He often said, “Did you know…?” … followed by some animal fact. This is where I first heard of the Oxpecker bird.

Have you ever heard of the Oxpecker bird? This type of bird spends most of its life on the back of a rhinoceros. The bird eats the bugs off of the rhino protecting him from itching and infection, and the rhino protects the bird from predators. Neither the bird nor the rhino could live the way that God intended them to without each other. There are quite a few animals in the world that have this kind of relationship, it’s pretty cool. I often wonder how people can possibly say that there is no God!

I thought of the Oxpecker bird the other day when I was reading about Aaron and Hur and how they helped protect the Israelites by supporting Moses.

Exodus 17: 8-13 “The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

God intended for us to come along side others and help even when it might look odd, as I’m sure it did as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms for hours. God intended for us to support and be there for each other. It is part of His plan.

When rotten things happen to others, I find myself shying away sometimes… trying to stay out of the way—not add to the craziness—not to be nosey…but I think that sometimes, I need to do better. Maybe I need to ask right out, “Do you want help, or do you want me to stay out of the way?” Maybe I need to ask, “What do you want me to pray for exactly?” Maybe I just need to be silent, but present…kind of like the Oxpecker bird.

Job 4:4 says “Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees”.

Psalm 94: 18 encourages “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” Your love, O LORD, supported me.”

I want to encourage you today to keep an eye out for the people in your life that may need your support and attention as they deal with a difficulty. Look around…they are everywhere! Pray for them, be there for them, encourage them and show them the love of Christ through your actions and your words…His words. It’s easy to shy away and worry about what it would look like and what other’s might think of you if approach them. When thoughts like this begin to enter your mind, remember the Oxpecker bird. At first, it might seem uncomfortable to help someone, but you will soon realize that it feels perfectly natural.

Written by Sandra Brese Rice © 2008
All Scripture is taken from the New International Version

REST IN THE RING

Psalm 55:1-6 “Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught at the voice of the enemy, at the stares of the wicked; for they bring down suffering upon me and revile me in their anger. My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

As you step into the ring without warning, the bell dings. Immediately you feel a sting across your jawbone. You look over to see your to-do lists waiting and are overwhelmed to discover that you’ve only just begun. Ouch! Your arm aches from a second hit. One of your children is walking the fine line of temptation from drugs, sex, or alcohol. Pow! A close family couple recently announced their separation. Slam! You feel a sharp pain in your chest as you learn that a family member just received the news of cancer.

Do you ever feel as though life is one great big boxing match? With each new day, you have to bob and weave endlessly just to barely make it to sun down. I know I struggle with that feeling more days than I’d like to admit. I feel as though the wind is continuously being knocked from my lungs and as I gasp for air, I cry out and suddenly I find relief.

Psalm 62:5-8 encourages “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah”

Rest. It’s not an unattainable commodity. It’s not a luxury only for the rich and famous. It is available to all if we only seek it in the one place that truly refreshes, in God alone. David tells us to pour out our hearts to God. He tells us to put our hope in Him, to trust Him, and to find refuge from life’s battles. He tells us to find rest.

Jesus declares in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

We need to rest. Even in championship boxing after every three minute round a minute of rest is required. Sometimes I think we feel like we need to push forward in our battles without taking a moment to stop and breathe. Imagine going 12 rounds in the ring without time to rest and recoup.

We can draw a breath from 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

How true! Each day we will be tested in the boxing ring of life. We will face opponent upon opponent, but if we seek refuge and rest from the One who restores us, we will gain a foothold, and be able to land the final punch to win the match.

Evander Holyfield once said, “A champion shows who he is by what he does when he’s tested. When a person gets up and says ‘I can still do it’, he’s a champion.”

As champions in Christ, we can take a moment to stop and rest; for the battle rages on and will continue until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then our momentary troubles will fade away, and we will be rewarded with our victory medals from each battle fought in the ring.

Today I want to encourage you. As you face life’s battles listen for the bell that brings relief. God will give you rest. He will equip you to fight the good fight until the day of completion. Rest assured as Romans 8:37 proclaims “No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Written By: Erin Coss
www.k2ebooks.com

All scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973,1978, 1984 by International bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Knitted in the Womb

Psalms 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Thank the Lord for Psalm 139! I am overwhelmed by the thought that the Lord would knit me in my mother’s womb. I just love David’s poetry! When I think of knitting, I think of a tedious process that takes time, patience and care. This may be why I don’t know how to knit. In a world full of drive-thru everything it’s hard to think that many knit anymore. So to think that the Lord didn’t just snap His fingers to make me but took time, patience and care to make me special; well you can see why I am overwhelmed.

I have many of what I call “ugly days”. These are the days that I wake up and no matter what I do I just don’t feel comfortable with how I look. Can you relate? Our world dictates to us how a woman should look and women are dying to meet those requirements. But when I remember Psalm 139, I remember that I was fearfully and wonderfully made. As the popular saying goes “God don’t make junk.”

Revelation 4:11 reveals “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Have you ever created something that didn’t please you? What did you do with your creation? Did you stick it in a closet? Did you throw it in the garbage? What about what you’ve made that has caused you joy? Did you hang it on a wall or display it for all to see? That’s what the Lord has done when He created you! He created you for His pleasure and He has placed you on this earth, His creation for all to see! What an amazing thought!

I want to remind you today that you are beautiful in His sight. You were created for His pleasure! No more “ugly days” for you or me, because He didn’t stick us in a closet or throw us out. Take a good look in the mirror today and give glory and honor to the One who has created you, perfect in His sight. Praise the Lord for you are fearfully and wonderfully made!

Praise be to the God who created us for His pleasure!

Blessings,
Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2007 www.k2ebooks.com

You Can Do It!

Exodus 4:10-15 Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” 13 But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” 14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.

Have you ever felt completely inadequate? Maybe you were thrown into a situation and panic sunk in because you thought to yourself, “I can’t do this!” Maybe you were asked by an employer to accomplish a task that you’ve never tried before and you think “I’m not trained to do this. What if I fail?” Has a family member or friend ever approached you for help and you turned them away because you felt if you didn’t meet their needs they might become angry with you?

I sympathize with Moses. I can tell you, I struggle with the feeling of inadequacy almost daily. Satan knows my weak spots and he knows he can get to me if I just feel like I’m not good enough.

Moses displays this same type of feeling found here in Exodus. I note three other times before Exodus 4:10 where Moses questions his abilities. The thing is God wasn’t asking Moses if he was good enough, He was telling Moses “Go and Do. “

The truth is you or I will never be good enough. There will always be someone out there that can do it better. But why isn’t our best enough? The Lord clearly told Moses that He would help him speak and teach him what to say. Will the good Lord not do the same for you? Don’t let the Lord burn in anger against you because you question your abilities. He calls YOU and He call ME to be servants of His holy word. He stands next to us as He gives us the tools and abilities to accomplish His will. He says to us “You can do it!”

Today if you are feeling like the Lord is asking you to do something and you feel completely inadequate, send Satan away! Do not let him come between you and what the Lord is asking you to do. Repent of any hesitation and go forth in power for the Lord gives you the ability to accomplish anything. For it says in Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Friends, I say to you today “You can do it!”

Praise be to the Lord who gives us the strength to accomplish anything!

Blessings,
Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2007 www.k2ebooks.com

Out of the Desert

Matthew 3:4-6 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Now there’s a picture for you. A man from the desert wearing camel’s hair, who eats locusts and wild honey! I don’t know that I would be so eager to approach this man, yet it says people (meaning many) not only from Jerusalem but also Judea and the whole region of Jordan went to see him. This was a popular guy!

John the Baptist was called from birth to prepare the way for the Lord. Some calling! John could at any time have rejected this calling and said “Hey, I’m not especially fond of the desert and locusts. I think I’ll head into the big city and see if I can’t find another line of work.”

Let’s put into today’s perspective what it would be like for one of us to be in John’s shoes. Imagine yourself standing in the Mississippi river. You haven’t had a decent meal in weeks; Steak? Forget it! All you have to wear is a burlap sac that scratches you from the inside out. You wear a bandanna around your waist so that the sac doesn’t hike up as you dunk people in and out of the water. To top it off every Jane, Suzy and Claire decides to come talk to you and tell you all of their sins. Sounds like a dream job, right?

But it was for John the Baptist! I truly believe that he was doing something he was passionate about. John was so blessed that he was the only one who was given the privilege of baptizing our Savior. His story is also mentioned in all four gospels and he is included in a couple of other books of the bible as well. I think that’s definitely a great reward for answering the call.

Is God calling you to do something? Is it something that others might think unusual or unbecoming? Are you worried about what others might think or being put in an uncomfortable spot? Have you weighed these questions verses the blessings?

2 Thessalonians1:11 encourages us “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.”

If you feel God’s calling in your life, I would ask you to pray about it and consider accepting the call. Ask for Him to take away any fear, discomfort or barriers that might be stopping you. Thank God for that calling and go forth in faith and prayer. He will guide your steps and He will “fulfill every good purpose of yours.”

Praise be to our Lord and Savior who calls us from the desert into the life giving waters!

Blessings,
Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2008 www.k2ebooks.com

A Walk With God

Genesis 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

This is one of those pieces of scripture that if you read over it too quickly you would miss a pure gem. Even as I examined it I didn’t realize its full potential at first, but the Holy Spirit is an awesome power when He is at work!

I find it interesting that verse 21 points out that Enoch lives 65 years and then becomes a father. He didn’t begin walking with God until after the birth of his son. Have you ever had a major life event such as the birth of a child that awakened you to the Spirit of God? How clearly do you remember the event? I know the birth of our first born is what led my husband to decide that there is a God and that He is good! Talk about a life changing experience. I thank God for my husband’s transformation through that event. Our family has never been the same since.

When Enoch decided to walk with God he did so for 300 years. Scripture does not lead us to believe that he faltered in his walk but that he planted each step firmly next to the Lord’s. Mind blowing isn’t it? I would just love to walk side by side with my precious Father. And praise the Lord that one day I will!

It doesn’t matter whether we’ve walked with the Lord since childhood or if it took a major life event when we were older to bring us to him, it just matters that we are steadfast in our walk. Enoch was loved so by the Lord that “God took him away”.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 we find “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.” Do you think Enoch at age 65 would have thought that the Lord would take him away at the age of 365? I have a hard time believing he would be privy to that information. How overwhelmed do you think he was by God’s gracious gesture? I can’t even imagine!

Oh, my dear friends. If there is anything that I can impart to you it would be this – Love the Lord with all your heart and soul; Walk steadfast with our Heavenly Father each day. In time you won’t be able to comprehend all the blessings that He will bestow upon you for your faithfulness. I’m excited to see what each of your “taken away” experiences will be!

Praise our Father who lets us walk side by side with Him!

Blessings,
Erin
Written by Erin Coss © 2007 www.k2ebooks.com

A Garden of Punishment

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24 NIV

At first glance it seems like God is being awfully harsh here for eating just a piece of fruit. But when you look closer you can see the depth of His love for us, His children.

In the middle of the Garden of Eden stood two trees, the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:9). Adam and Eve sinned when they ate from the tree. They disobeyed God. If they were then allowed to eat from the tree of life they would live forever in a state of sin. I can’t even bear the thought. Can you picture life as we know it today, forever? But God’s mercy for us is great. He cast Adam and Eve from the garden so that they would not have an opportunity to eat from the other tree. I can picture Adam and Eve crying, begging, possibly on their knees as the Lord walked behind them saying “move along”. I can’t even think about what their state of mind was at the time, I’m sure total despair.

Are there times in your life when it just seems unbearable? Does it seem like you’re being punished to the full? I know there are times when it just seems like it can’t get any worse, but if we only could remember that He is there watching out for us.

Jeremiah 9:11 is a great verse! “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I would like to encourage you today. If you are facing difficult times, remember there is hope! God has a future for us! He knows the sins and wrong decisions that we are going to make and thankfully He does something about it. If we seek Him and ask Him for direction He will lead us down the right path. It may not always be the most comfortable, but it will be the best for us in the end. Because of His love for us we will live forever with Him in paradise!

I pray that each of you will rely on His word today. It is good and true! He is watching out for you and you have hope and a future with Him!

Praise the Lord through the toughest of times!

Blessings,
Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2007 www.k2ebooks.com

A Gentle Whisper

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. -1 Kings 19:11-13a NIV

I just love the word of God! I just love to let it soak in. It’s so easy to let precious words like these blend in with a bigger story, but here we can experience the fullness of God’s word.

Here we find Elijah fleeing from King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He had just gone head to head with the prophets of Baal and by the Lord’s hand, won the battle. Let’s just say King Ahab and Jezebel were not pleased to hear that all of their prophets had been slaughtered. And that’s where we find this treasure of scripture.

There are times in my life when I plead with the Lord to give me answers. I beg Him to speak to me and to provide me with what I want to hear. I get confused and have trouble discerning what He is trying to say to me. Sometimes we look for Him in all the wrong places. It says that first “There was a powerful wind…, but the Lord was not in the wind”. Next “There was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake”. There was also a fire but the Lord was not there either. Surely with such powerful forces we would think that that is where we would find God. But that is not His way.

How many times do you go searching for answers in places where you think God should be? Are you seeking Him where you would like to find Him or where He truly is? When God finally appeared, He came in a gentle whisper. I can feel that whisper traveling down my spine, do you feel it too?

Psalm 46:10 exalts “Be still, and know that I am God.” This week when you are looking for God in the hustle and bustle of this over stimulated world, I would ask that you would take a moment, be still and listen. In time you will hear the gentle whisper of our mighty Father.

All glory be given to God!

Blessings,
Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2007 www.k2ebooks.com

An Ear Piece from God

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

I have a picture stuck in my mind that I can’t get out. I was watching a TV show the other day, it was an action adventure show. The main character was on a mission. He was focused, dedicated, driven. He knew his task and he knew that he had to complete the mission whatever the cost. As he continued he would often stick his finger in his ear and take pause.

Of course, at the time, I understood what he was doing. As a military character, he was receiving orders from his commander. He would not follow through on a task unless given a direct order to do so. He sought his direction from this source. If his superior told him to turn right, he would go right. If this same superior told him to turn left, he would go left. If one of his men would encourage a different direction, he would dig in and wait on orders from the man who was linked directly into his ear through the ear piece he was wearing.

At the end of the show, the character was able to successfully complete his mission, head home, and relax.

While I watched the show for pure entertainment, the next day the Lord allowed for spiritual application from a worldly situation.

Proverbs 4:10-12 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

We have our own ear piece, a direct link to God, we only need to stop and listen. The Lord speaks to us and gives us step-by-step instructions in order to complete the mission He has set before us.

I don’t know about you, but I often mumble to myself “If only I knew what to do! If only I knew which way to go!” I find myself frustrated and distraught when all I had to do was stop, pause, and check my ear for the whisper from the One who has my ear. The military man may not have made it out of his situation alive if he didn’t listen to his commander who had more information than he had. I too, have someone guiding me. My someone definitely knows more than I do. I can either stumble looking for direction or I can stop and listen to the One who not allow my steps to be hampered and who will keep me from stumbling.

Proverbs 4:25-27 directs us, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

I want to encourage you today. If you are looking for direction, seek wisdom from the One who was wise before the beginning of time. Stop, check your ear piece, and seek direction. A solid whisper will send you on the straight path, one in which your steps will not be hampered.

All praise be given to the One who has our ear!

Blessings,

Erin

Written by Erin Coss © 2008 www.todaystidbit.com