What Do I See?

Jesus,

I realize that you have so much waiting for us, but often times we are so consumed with the little things that we do not open our hearts to the grander of what you have waiting for us. Help me to let go today and accept what you have for me. Like Job, I am in awe of you and trust you. Help me to be brave like the 72 in which you sent out. Not for my glory, but for yours and that your love and way may spread across this great land. I love you Jesus. You are the best.

In Jesus Christ's name I pray, amen.

Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17

Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his earlier ones. For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses. And he had seven sons and three daughters, of whom he called the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch. In all the land no other women were as beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; and he saw his children, his grandchildren, and even his great-grandchildren. Then Job died, old and full of years.

I have felt like Job a few times in my life, but it took a long time to slow down so that I could see God. I had to slow down and reflect so that I could understand that I don't always understand his ways. Life moves so fast and that is in part, because we let it. Tragedy strikes and we often focus on the here and now and ourselves. The times when tragedy strikes and I move out of myself and look with the eyes of a loving God I can get glimpses of what may be actually going on. I have to trust God. I have to open my heart. I have to loosen my neck and look around. There is so much available to each and every one of us. Rarely do we tap fully into our potential, in fact, I would say we never do. But God is the greatest coach/father ever and he is waiting to wow us and take us to the next level, but we have to start with opening our hearts and believing in him.

Luke 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,

"Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name." Jesus said, "I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power 'to tread upon serpents' and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." Turning to the disciples in private he said, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it."

There is a lot for me to unpack here. First if someone came to me and said, "Hey I'm Jesus and I want you to go out with this other person, preach, teach, heal the sick and cast out demons..." I don't know if I could take all that in. I am a small man. I am a bit of talent but nothing like that, but that's it. It's not me, it's not my talent, it's God's talent and abilities that he bestows on me that allows me to do ANYTHING. It seems to me that the biggest thing holding me back, is me and not opening my faith and heart fully to God. Secondly I could not imagine what it must have been like for God to kick satan and those that followed him out of Heaven like a lightening bolt. I mean God made them with the same love that he made you and me. The betrayal he must have felt must have been immense. I guess that's why now when I have to repent that I do so, so hard. I know how my heart breaks when my children break my rules, rules often designed to help the stay safe and to grow happy. I work now daily to keep from sinning. I am not perfect. I have a long way to go, and I beg for God's grace daily. Finally it's interesting to read here that Jesus speaks to the fact that often we let our own big brains get in the way. My heart swells when I realize that I don't have to be the strongest, bravest or smartest to receive wisdom and blessings from God. He merely wishes to join with me in love. He wants my heart for I already have his. He loves each and everyone of us individually and personally. He waits to speak with each of us every day. He longs to hold us in his arms and take care of us. We but only need to turn around and speak his name and open our hearts.

And that's all I got to say about that.

#Job #ScriptureReadings #God #Jesus #Love #Wisdom #Happiness