Job

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I hope everyone is having a better year than mine.  I emailed a friend earlier today that faith and fear are warring inside me; I feel like that much put-upon Bible figure, Job.  No, I haven't lost everything, thank God, but several major calamities have struck since last week, and I've felt completely overloaded.  The least of the issues is that my computer croaked.  I'm typing this at my parents' house. 

Thanks so much to everyone who has read my posts, indulging me in my flights of fancy, my delusions of being in possession of something that may be of use to someone.  I hope someone besides me has gotten something from my blogging experience.

I may not post for a couple weeks, but God willing, I will be back.

Until then, be blessed, dear readers.

Watching and Waiting

Never give up; you never know until you try.

I know several people who are seeking God's guidance in how to handle some serious issues.  We've all been there at one time or another (if we try to follow God, that is.)  We've all heard the advice as to what to do during the waiting period, and we've all given the advice to others.

The truth is that the only thing we mere mortals can do is try to be open to what we believe God says and trust that He will answer if we ask.  Then we have to muster the faith to do it, no matter how strange it may sound or how it may not match up with our ideas of the "best" way to handle a situation.  It's easier said than done, but with God's help, it's possible.  We watch, we wait, and we (hopefully) praise.  Just like one of my favorite hymns, "Blessed Assurance," by Frances J. Crosby:

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
   
   • Refrain:
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long;
     This is my story, this is my song,
     Praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels, descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest,
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.