PRAYERS

Welcome to this site. My prayer is that you take a look at the site and as you do, let the Holy Spirit speak to your heart and reveal what God wants you to discover. (in Jesus' name)

God tells us that if we see a brother (or sister) in need we should do that which is within our means to help. Prayer is always within our means but we never know what doors Father may open through them. Should you desire prayer for anything (healing, direction, etc.) or if you want supportive prayer along with your own please feel free to e-mail that request to sharbu3@gmail.com and be assured that there are others who will be praying with or for you.


In this blog, I share what the Lord shares with me. I reference scripture a lot in support of what is being said. I realize that what is in each entry is NOT a complete 'word' (discussion) on what is being said, but is rather enough information to stimulate our spirits to dig deeper (remember the Bereans Acts 17:10-11) thereby gaining a fuller understanding for ourselves.

At the end of each post are the options to share, forward or make a comment. Click 'comment' to respond. Let us know if you like, don't like or are helped by what you read. Comments can be made or read by anyone. All you have to do is select the "comment" at he end of the entry.

Saturday, November 30, 2024

11-30-2024         Are we truly thankful for what Father has done for us?                                

Most of us in the U.S. have just celebrated thanksgiving with our families.

As a child, and frankly into my early adult life, at dinner time I sat at the table and devoured what was set before me (even if I cooked it myself).  No thought as to where the food really came from.  When something good happened to me I assumed that it was because of something I had done or just ‘pure luck’. 

Mom provided a place for me to live, food and clothing until my buddy and I got an apartment together.  Not a care in the world or even considering what mom had to go through to provide for me.  She provided for my older sister and me from when I was still in single digits (age-wise).  Sadly, I have to admit that, even into my early adult life, I never really understood what mom had done for my sister and me.  And, even sadder to have to admit, even after I had gave my life to Jesus, it was still a while before I truly realized all that mom had done for us. 

How often has any of us just taken our parents for granted?  Even sadder yet.  It wasn’t until I started ‘walking’ with the Lord, not ‘just’ knowing Him, but making efforts to abide in His love, that I realized all that He had been doing for me - all my life!

When I first truly gave my life to Jesus (I was in my mid-twenties), I knew He had come into my life.  As I sat and invited Jesus in, I felt a huge weight being lifted up off of my body.  Literally!  I could literally feel that weight being lifted up off of me!  Yet, I had not yet truly started walking with the Lord.  I was signed but not yet ‘sealed’ (fully) nor delivered at that time.  Though I was now attending church on a regular basis again (I attended as a youth) I was just ‘crawling along’.  Six years later I invited the Holy Ghost to become a part of my life and that’s when Father gave me my ‘Spiritual’ language so I could start communicating with Him at a higher level.  Sealed, but not yet ‘delivered’.  Over time, I have come to realize that ‘delivered’ means actually being in the presence of our Creator, so I’m looking forward to finally ‘being delivered’!  (just not yet)

Jesus says that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5) and even through the tough times, I’ve seen this to be true for He has comforted me and guided me through this life’s walk – as long as I listen to Him and do what He says.  Yes, I’m hard-headed and it has taken time and I’m still growing, but Father has hung in there with me through it all!

When I’ve fallen down, He has picked me up.  When I’ve stumbled, it is Jesus who grabbed my arm and helped me get my act together again.  He has blessed me on the job with many promotions – once I gave it to Him.  Even though I haven’t always been a tither, Father has always met my needs through the years – and when I started tithing, things got a whole lot better.  No, I don’t live like a rich guy, but Father continues to meet my needs.  Am I thankful for what He has done for me over the years?  You better believe it!  And I’m learning in recent years, that Father loves me so much, He’s giving me a much deeper understanding of His Word than I ever dreamed.

Father says to thank Him in all things (1 Thess. 5:18) for He is the one orchestrating the events in our life (Lam. 3:37, Matt. 10:30) and through our obedience, He’s the one who brings our positive results (1 Corinth. 10:13). 

Consider Nebuchadnezzar, though blessed by God, rejoiced in his own strength.  God took Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and throne from him for a season. But when Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses, God returned his throne and his sanity (Dan. 4:30-37)

How many of us woke up this morning?  AND thanked God for being able to see the sunlight peek through the blinds or walked to the kitchen because we smelled breakfast cooking?

Again, I say that most of us have just celebrated Thanksgiving with our families.  How many of us remembered to thank Father for all that wonderful food set before us?  How many of us remembered to be thankful for our families?  How many of us remembered to thank God for all the blessings He has given us this past year – up to date?  Or all the blessings in all the years before?

When I get dressed, I always slip into a pair of jeans but when I look at my shirts?  Father often helps me with the selection, especially on Sundays.  Yes, Father can help even with the simple things – if we let Him

How many of us reflect on the love, blessings and just plain goodness Father bestows upon us each and every day?

At church, we have ‘testimony time’ an opportunity to share what Father has been doing for us over the past week – or even longer.  We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).  By sharing the victories God has given us, we help others to overcome the trials they face!  Has Father done anything for us since we last gathered with other believers?  Do we share what Father has done for us even with those outside the body of Christ?  Do we thank God every day for His goodness, graces and mercies which He bestows upon us?

Father (Yaweh) is a good God and as we continue to be faithful in His love, seeking His direction and following it, He will continue to bless us through the years to come.  

He loves us that much!

Amen

 

Saturday, November 16, 2024

11-16-2024      Puddle, pond, lake, ocean

 

How deep is our faith in Jesus?

In 1054, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches split and the protestant reformation began in 1517.  According to the National Congregational Study Survey, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 200 Christian denominations.  All declaring allegiance to Jesus Christ, our Lord.  These splits all came from ‘theological differences.  Everybody didn’t believe exactly the same.  Many claiming that if one didn’t believe exactly as they declared, that soul was not saved.  We are one body and that body has many parts (1 Corinth. 12:14-27).

So!

What did Paul tell the Romans?  When we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved (Rom. 10:9). Then he clarified that those stronger in the Lord should bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom.15:1).  Our job is not to tear down but edify the church, the body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12).  We all may not sit as one of the 5-fold offices, but we all do have a part in the 5-fold ‘ministry’.  Everything that we do stems from the 5-fold ministry – Evangelist, Apostle, Pastor, Teacher and yes, even the Prophet.  We are God’s tabernacle!  In his eyes, the devil has done well in dividing the body of Christ.

Note that Romans 10:9 says ‘shall’, not ‘are’.  Paul cautions the Romans that “it is impossible for those who once enlightened, have tastes heavenly gifts or are partakers of the Holy Ghost (associated with, partnered with, allowed into our lives) and tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come, that they should fall away, then renew repentance seeing that they (then) crucify the lord Jesus again putting Him to shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).  What this passage tells is that when we truly love the Lord, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, we will not turn from Him. 

However, there is a flip-side to this coin.  Should we turn away from Jesus, after we have confessed and were baptized, our original confession is in jeopardy because it implies that we may truly have not given our hearts to Jesus.  Note the commitment to depth of faith in this passage, it is secured in ‘as we believe’.  If we profess Jesus, then turn back to the old ways, how sincere was our original commitment?

(1) Just knowing about Jesus (being enlightened) is not a guarantee for our salvation.  Satan and his devils believe and know that God exists (James 2:19).  In fact, the first two chapters of “Job”, God issues a challenge to Satan concerning Job (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-6).  Satan believes, what about us?  Ananias and his wife Sapphira showed their true hearts when they lied to the Holy Spirit by holding back part of what they promised (God-Acts 5:1-11).  Man can believe in and be baptized in Jesus but that is just the beginning.  Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  His commandment is to LOVE (Matt. 22:36-38) and as we love Him, we will do so with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).  That means with everything that we are!  That lack of true commitment was displayed when many of the people decided to no longer follow Jesus because they felt His teachings were too hard (John 6:59-66).

Paul tells the Corinthians that even though only one crosses the finish line first, all run the race expecting to win.  A man strives to master all things he encounters (resist the devil’s attacks) to receive an incorruptible crown.  Know what our goal is and don’t be like a boxer who shadow boxes, punching the air,  but bring our bodies under subjection (of our heart) so we will not have not run the race in vain (1 Corinth. 9:24-27).

Have we confessed Jesus, been baptized in water then come to a screeching halt in our relationship?  Have we become content with where we are at?  Are we still living in the puddle?

(2) Even though we have received blessings from Father, that does not guarantee our eternal life.  Later in life, I realized how Father has been watching over me.  Blessing me even when I didn’t acknowledge Him.  My dad worked for the department of Interior and would occasionally go to audit various national parks.  When I was going into the third grade (@ 7 years old), that summer, he brought the family to come be with him in Boulder City, Nevada.  There was a rock formation protruding into Lake Mead called Black Rock which, as a family, we walked up the path.  Dad had gone a little farther ahead and I was with mom and my sister when I decided to go catch up with my dad.  But as I went up the path I found a split in the path so I stretched my seven year old legs across the gap to the other side.  U oh!  I spanned the gap but I could neither pull myself forward nor could I back up.  I don’t know how high we were up on Black Rock, I just knew I was higher than I cared for being in my predicament.  Mom yelled for dad and honestly, the last thing I remember is seeing my dad running back to get me.  I know I didn’t fall because I’m here writing about this today.  Thinking back, that was a huge blessing for me – I’m still here (Psalm 121:5-8)!  Father knew me and He was watching over me.

Father will bless us to get our attention, even when we don’t acknowledge Him (personal life experiences), yet He does tell us that as we obey Him, blessings will come our way (Deut. 28:11-14).  Jesus tells us those who hear the Word of God and do it shall be blessed (Luke 11:28).  As we keep God’s law and keep His commandments Father will bless us with long life and peace (Prov. 3:1-2) and more.

Father keeps bringing Job to mind.  A man who endured much hardship without denying God and though he lost all that he had, in the end, Father blessed Him many times over because of his dedication and obedience (Job 42:10-17).  Father can and does bless us for our obedience.

But bear in mind, Father does bless us according to His will but those blessings don’t bring us a guarantee salvation nor are they a guaranteed product of professions of faith, but Father uses them as encouragement for our continuing obedience to our Lord Jesus!  Blessings are great but How long will we stay wading in the pond?

(3) Even if we’ve memorized passages from (or even) the whole bible, it is not a guarantee for a blessed life ‘ever after’. 

Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham was considered the ‘founding’ patriarch of Judaism and Christianity sprang from Judaism.  In the natural, Jesus was born into this world a ‘Jew’ via his mother Mary.  He was obedient to His Father (God).  As we confess and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become His brothers, therefore we fall into that Spiritual lineage in our rebirth into the New Covenant (in Jesus).  In his old age, Isaac’s eyesight dimmed which enabled Jacob (his son) to trick him into receiving the blessing of the eldest son (Gen. 27:15-30).  In short, we age and often natural, physical attributes slow down or fail.  We may assume that it is by Father’s design, for whatever His reason, our life flows as it does.

In our youth (in church) we are encouraged to read and memorize bible verses and this continues into our adulthood.   This is good!  The more Word we have in our heart and mind, the better for us.  Paul encourages us, in his letter to the Romans, to present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord by renewing our minds as an expression of our faithfulness (Rom. 1:1-2).  Father also tells us to receive His Words, know His commandments, desire understanding and seek knowledge with all our heart, so we will come to understand who God is and we will gain His wisdom (Prov. 2:1-5).  Father has given us the written Word for our learning that through our patience in so doing, we find comfort and our hope is reinforced (Rom. 15:4)

A parrot can resound the words which we teach it.  The bird knows the words, but he has no understanding of what they mean, it is just imitating sounds.  We go to school to, among other things, learn words and basically, their meaning so we can properly use them in life. 

Most biblical speakers cite ‘book, chapter and verse’ but how many actually help us understand what God is truly saying?  Knowing the words and being able to use them correctly in a sentence is good, but if someone asks us “what do you mean?’, do we just give them a blank stare?  Or are we able to help them get a deeper understanding of what is being said?  Do we have that deeper meaning of what Father is saying in our heart?

It is great to have read the whole bible (Genesis to Revelation) once, twice ten times or more.  What I am asking is ‘what are we retaining’?  For myself, I have learned that reading a verse, a passage, a chapter, a book, etc. I learn.  PTL!  But I have found that each time I’ve read that verse, passage, chapter or book, Father takes me to a deeper understanding of what that portion of the bible which  I’ve read means.  He shows me something more, something deeper than what I have seen in all the times before.  AND, even though I made no deliberate attempt to memorize many of these passages, I find Father brings them back to my memory when needed!  The Holy Ghost will give us what to say (Mark 13:11).

We’ve grown in knowledge and, at least, a basic understanding but are we still just neck deep in the lake of our understanding?

(4) Even as we have learned about future heavenly existence, it is not an indication that we are signed, sealed or delivered.  Understand that ‘delivered’ implies that we would then be in the literal presence of Father.

No one knows when the lord is coming back (Matt.24:44).  For this reason, we should always be ready and watching (Matt. 25:13).  However, Jesus does give us some things that might give us a hint.  False prophets, wars and rumors of wars, nations, kingdoms and even families divided, disease, famines, earthquakes in unusual places, and Jesus says the end is not yet (Matt. 24:4-8).  Look at history, these things have been happening ever since Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9), even since the beginning of the world (2 Peter 3:4).  How many people have tried to predict when the tribulation period will be (it signals Jesus’ return) - ?  Even today, how many of us look at the world situation and say “the end times are near?  Even before, but certainly since Jesus’s time, there have been false prophets, wars, famines, etc. and still we are waiting.  When Jerusalem is surrounded by the armies (Luke 21:20-28) the Lord will come with the shout of the archangel and the trump of God (1 Thess. 416-18),

In the meantime, are we yet totally immersed in Jesus’ ocean of love?  totally committed in living for Him?

Getting our feet wet is just the beginning.  Waist deep, we are learning.  Neck deep shows our commitment.  Totally immersed?  Knowing and living in God’s Word and sharing it with those whom we encounter, is this total immersion?  Absolutely land completely Are we totally immersed – in God’s eyes? 

Enoch pleased God, so God took him form the earthly realm (Gen. 5:21-24).  Neither did Elijah see an earthly death (2 Kings2:11-12).  The testimony of both men is that they pleased God, yet God took Enoch but Elijah had to wait until his mission was complete.  Have we actually given our complete heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) over to the Lord?

When we willfully sin and turn our backs on Jesus, the odds of our repentance becomes less and less a possibility.  The farther we stray, the harder it will be to come back.  For when we turn from Father, we put Jesus to shame because we have called Him a liar – He didn’t really save us!

Jesus says “Abide in Me (John 15:4).  As we grow in Christ Jesus, we venture farther and farther out into the water.  Endeavoring to become totally immersed in His love.

Peter walked on the water (Matt. 14:22-33), but Father promised Isaiah to be with him through the waters and fire and he would not be harmed (Isaiah 43:2-3a).  This promise is also ours.

So, just how deep is our water?  Do we get our feet damp by walking in a puddle?  How about waist deep in the pond as we grow?  Is the knowledge of God up to our neck in the waters of the lake?  Or are we totally immersed as walking into and being overcome by the ocean of Father’s love? 

Father brings to my mind the song “Rush” by the group Voux.  I first heard this song at church and I was so-so with it.  Later, I looked up the lyrics and then I understood.

Amen

attach Rush

Saturday, November 2, 2024

11-2-2024 Faith and Works 

         

           Faith with works

James 2:14-26

I’ve discovered that faith and works work hand in hand in building a thankful heart.

Who and/or what is profited if a man says he has faith but stays to himself?  What good does it do a man if he does all kinds of wonderful works but does them just so others might give you a pat on the back and say “Good job!”? 

The apostle Paul tells us that whatsoever we do, we should do to edify others (Eph. 4:29).  He also tells us that whatsoever we do, do with all our heart for we serve God and as we do, we do to please Him and not man.  However, man might just benefit from what we do (Col.3:23).

This passage gives us some examples of how we can serve God by serving our fellow man (Matt. 14:15-20):  feed one who is hungry.  Years ago, when my wife and I were yet ‘newly-weds’, I was waiting for her in the parking lot of a shopping center in Ocean City, Md.  A man approached me and asked for money to buy some food.  I am aware that many drug or alcohol addicts approach for money to bolster their habit.  So I said to the man “I won’t give you any money, but I will take you to get something to eat.”  There was a shop right near where we were standing.  The man agreed.  I bought him something to eat, he thanked me, he left and I went back to waiting for my wife.  A simple act of kindness.  PS: as I am writing this down, more than fifty years later, after the incident.  Father asked me ‘do you know who that man was?’  I said no.  Father then Father said “You never know when you might be entertaining angels” (Heb. 13:2).  This knowledge makes more thankful that I was obedient because I felt pretty good about it.

Paul reminds us to treat everyone the same, remembering that no matter how they look or act, we are all ’human beings’.  We all have feelings, emotions, doubts or fears or even opinions.  No matter how deep we may hide them, we ALL have them.  By the grace of God, I’ve never had an issue with a person’s race.  When I was (probably) between ten to twelve, my mother had a coworker’s husband came repair our kitchen ceiling.  You may ask why didn’t my dad do it?  He left the home when I was about nine.  Anyway, he was a black man (Africa American).  Oh, when I was a kid growing up here were only three races – black, white and yellow (Asiatic). 

It was summer so I was a home and as the day progressed he decided to take a lunch break.  He looked at me as asked if I wanted to join him for lunch?  McDonalds had just recently opened up in our suburban neighborhood and I had never been there so this was a no-brainer for me.  I don’t remember if we ate in the car or went inside but it was my first ‘sandwich, drink and fries and was only $1.00!  Later, after he had finished the job and left and my mom had come home from her government job in DC (she rode the Greyhound bus), I told her how I enjoyed my first McD’s burger.  She looked at me and said “Son, it always good to be friendly with all people and be nice, but it isn’t good to ‘hang around’ with everybody.”  “????”  I was surprised to hear my mom say that, I knew what she meant.  She was always polite and friendly – no matter whom she encountered.  Didn’t change my mind.  I still thought he was a pretty neat guy AND I was thankful that I got a burger fries and a drink out of the deal to boot!  I didn’t really know God back then, but He was I am lthankful tht He was already teaching me to take a person for who they are – not what they looked like

However, later in life after I had received Jesus into my life, Father brought this lesson home to me again.  Not as a ‘race’ issue but with an ‘image’ issue.  I owned two motorcycles in my young adult life, a 250cc Triumph dirt bike (a quick little bugger) and a 650 BSA road bike.  I knew about the Hell’s Angels (1% bikers), but it seemed as though they were far to the west of our east coast location.  But a group called the Pagans (also 1% bikers) had risen up on the eastern seaboard and that was a bit closer to home.  Never had a personal encounter with either but I decided that I could witness to anyone – except a 1% biker.  These are the guys who had the reputation of being involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities, were reported to be mean sons of a gun and to be downright anti society.  So I decided to stay clear of them.  As I said, knowingly, I have never encountered a 1%er  (though I have seen many who appeared to be so on the road at times), So, Father had me address my frame of mind in this area.  This is when Father showed me about truly accepting a person for who they are and not what they looked or acted like.  Father helped me understand that no matter how hard a person looked or how tough they may act they are still people underneath that harsh exterior.  Father shared with me that the ‘tough’ exterior most likely was hiding hurts, disappointment or even the person’s own fears, whatever they may be.  Father showed me to accept a person simply because he/she is a human being, just like me, not matter how deep they may hide who they truly are.  I was thankful Father shared this lesson for it helped me put a lot of other things into proper perspective.

Father asks us to put our faith to the test (Mal. 3:10).  Two blind men came to Jesus.  They asked Jesus to heal their blindness and Jesus asked if they believed that He could.  They replied “yes”, then Jesus said “according to our faith, be it unto you.”  They received their sight and praised God (Math 9:29).  Peter and John encountered a lame at the ‘Beautiful Gate’ at the temple.  The man looked at them expecting to receive money but Peter said “I don’t have silver nor gold, but what I do have I will give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”  Peter then reached down with his right hand and lifted the man up.  The man’s feet and ankles immediately received strength and he leaped up and walked around praising God (Acts 3:1-8).  Do you think this man might have been just a tad thankful for his healing?

Our faith does require an action on our part and if another person is involved, their faith also matters. They must receive what Father is giving them.  We receive as we believe Father will do it for us (Mark:11:24).

I encountered a man in the neighborhood in which I lived.  He explained the he and his wife had no food.  I took them to the grocery store bought some food for them.  We continually encountered each other over time and I helped him as I could, but after a while, I realized that he was not doing much to help himself.  Lesson learned?  Was I thankful for this lesson?  Of course!  Don’t cast your pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6).  We’re to help people but not let them attempt to bleed us dry.

Abraham demonstrated his faith in God as he took his only son Isaac to be sacrificed on an altar.  Yes, Father did provide a lamb for sacrifice instead of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-13).  Father was testing Abraham’s faith, yet He was not allowing Abraham to make an unnecessary sacrifice.  Do any of us think that Abraham was thankful that God spared his son?  Yet, Father was showing Abraham how much He loved us and what He would to for man through Jesus. Abraham was taking an action, showing his faith in God.  We must believe and receive Jesus, otherwise we are no better than the seaweed that washes up onto the shore.  How can we receive from one in whom we don’t believe?

The Lord said to share this as well.  Even before I had given my heart to Jesus, I owned that Triumph 250 cc dirt bike.  Coming home from my sister’s house via the Baltimore/Washington Parkway, I rounded a sharp curve not far from my exit.  This was a ‘blind curve’ so you couldn’t see much until you passed around the arc of the curve and were coming out of it.  And then I saw the traffic at a standstill, about thirty yards ahead (almost a third of an NFL football field).  I was travelling at the posted speed of 65 mph so I had to choose my action quickly.  Do I slam into the last car in line or lay the bike down and slide under the rear bumper taking my chances and hoping for the best, in either case.  I couldn’t fly like superman, for I’d have to land someplace nor did I cherish having the skin of my leg possibly peeled like a potato. Suddenly, I heard a voice “Get off the gas, do not hit the brake and steer over onto the gravel shoulder and let the bike slow down on its own until you can safely stop.”  I knew I wasn’t me telling myself this, so I obeyed the instructions, steered over onto the shoulder and slowed down until I could safely stop.  I was obedient to ‘the Voice’ and was spared from what could have been a very disastrous accident.  How thankful do you think I was?  Yet, it was still about three years before I gave my heart to the Lord.  In retrospect, I discovered that He was watching over me, even then.  Thank you Jesus!

Our passage, in James, goes on to mention Rahab the harlot.   Two Israeli men had come to ‘spy out’ Jericho.  She helped the two me escape danger then she, herself, was spared when Israel took the city (Josh. 6:22-23).  Rahab took a positive action believing that she would remain safe.  And she did!  Do we suspect that she might have been thankful that her life and those in her house were spared?

Jesus healed the woman with the issue of blood saying “Daughter, be comforted, your faith has made you whole”.  For twelve years the doctors couldn’t help this woman but she believed Jesus could and would heal her so she touched His garment and was healed (Luke 8:43-48).  Jesus’ reaction?  Who touched Me?  Do we really think He didn’t know?  The woman believed and took an action of her faith and Jesus obliged her.  I wonder if she was thankful that Jesus healed her?  lol

I could go on with other examples from the bible or even my own life, but consider this: it is good that we believe in God, but the devils believe and tremble (v19 in our passage).  The devils know that God exists, but they refuse to yield to Him and do His works.  We have that option - to believe, as the devils do or that Father can and will do what He says.  Then act on that faith.  Thanking God for all that He does for us (Eph. 5:19-20).

God called Job a perfect and upright man (Job 1:8, 2:3).   I love Job (Job 42:5) where Job comes to understand his relationship with the Lord.  Job was a faithful Jew so He knew ‘all about’ God, but he says, “I have seen you with my own eye” (face to face).  Through his experiences, loss of all that he had, his buddies trying to convince him that he must have sinned and not repented Job had come to know God – personally.  Job never lost his perspective on God and in the end,  though things got pretty rough, Job never doubted God and God blessed him many times over (Job 42:12-13).    Hmmm.  I wonder, in the end, if Job was thankful?

Faith without works is dead (v17).  We can tell people all about our faith in God, but if we don’t back it up with our actions, why should they believe us?  So, we show our faith through our works.  I don’t know about anyone else, but in the end, I’m so thankful that when I exercise my faith, things work out in my favor.

This personal relationship is what enables us to effectively put our faith into action and those actions bring positive rewards – and glory to God!  Praise His holy name!

Amen