full of days...

..."And Job died, an old man, and full of days."
Job 42:17


An amazing story...Job had everything stripped from him, and still he did not curse God, still believed that God was GOOD. He still proclaimed that His Redeemer lives. After all of his friends had spoken, God told him that the story wasn't over yet, that the final word had not been spoken. And because of his steadfast faith, God not only restored what he lost...but blessed him with MORE than he had before! To be exact: 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 oxen, 1,000 donkeys, seven sons, three daughters...AND he lived 140 years, saw his sons, and his sons' sons to the fourth generation!!! And Job died, an old man, FULL of days.

Wow...I want faith like that! Faith that is unmoveable and unshakeable no matter what! Job's story was not over yet and he never would have thought his life would play out the way it did. He couldn't see the big picture and what God was going to do for him. How he was going to redeem his life, but he stood unwaivering anyway. And so God blessed him beyond imagination.

Our pastor shared about this a few weeks ago...and it has been with me since. I know my story isn't over yet...that there are so many things in the big picture that I cannot see coming or happening...and I am believing, holding tight, standing firm...that MY redeemer lives. And my prayer is that it will be said about me...that I died, old and FULL of days...

Restored

"I can't understand this work of grace, how a perfect God- would come and take my place.
the stars they don't move you, the waves can't undo you, the mountains in their splendor- they cannot steal your heart, this God who is holy, perfect in beauty, awesome in glory... is ravished by my heart though I'm poor you say i am lovely though I'm dark you say I am beautiful..."

"Somehow my weak love, it has stolen away your heart.''

We were designed to love Him. We were created to worship Him. We were made for Him, to walk with Him in the garden, talk with Him. But we lost that because we thought we knew better, we thought we could know the knowledge of good and evil. So we fell. What was intended was broken. We fell short of the glory of God. But the word became flesh, and made its dwelling among us...and now...now we are restored...because Jesus willingly gave his life to bridge the gap between us and our heavenly daddy. He knew all along his purpose for being here, and He WILLINGLY....was beaten and broken beyond recognition...for us...for me...for you. So that we could walk with God in the Garden again.

That is what I want to remember this Christmas. I want to remember that precious, innocent baby that was born in that manger....that little life that came to save the world. As a mother, I cannot imagine watching my child suffer the way God watched Jesus suffer. He watched his son be whipped, disgraced, his flesh torn...

wow..

God so loved the World...God so loved me...and you...that he gave his ONLY Son...that we may not perish but have eternal life.


I gave my heart to the Lord 9 years ago this past September. And he has truly given me life, and saved me from perishing. I was dying 9 years ago...I was depressed and broken and lonely...but then he reached down into the pit and pulled me out. He has without a doubt saved me from the enemys plan of destruction for me. He has blessed me beyond measure with a wonderful husband, who is the father of two amazing, precious children. He has blessed me with more wonderful friends and family members than I can count. He has broken the generational curses, and now is preparing an inheritance for MY children. What an amazing God we serve, and how he loves us.

That He is not moved by the stars, mountains, or waves of the ocean....but he is moved by us, by our hearts for Him.