“nor charged God foolishly”

As Job had grace, God has been flooding me with grace and it seems a very special peace, and carrying about our futures.

Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job 1:21
Naked came I out of my mother’s womb – I had no earthly possessions when I came into the world; I cannot have less going out of it. What I have the Lord gave: as it was his free gift, he has a right to resume it when he pleases; and I owe him gratitude for the time he has permitted me to enjoy this gift.
Naked shall I return thither – Whither? Not to his mother’s womb surely; nor does he call the earth his mother in this place. In the first clause of the verse he speaks without a metaphor, and in the latter he speaks in reference to the ground on which he was about to fall. As I came out of my mother’s womb destitute of the earthly possessions, so shall I return. There; i.e., to the earth on which he was now falling. That mother earth was a common expression in different nations, I allow; but I believe no such metaphor was now in the mind of Job.
The Lord gave – The Chaldee has, “The Word of the Lord, gave; and the Word of the Lord and the house of his judgment, have taken away!” Word is used here personally, as in many other places of all the Targums.
Blessed be the name of the Lord – The following is a fine paraphrase on the sentiment in this verse: –

“Good when he gives, supremely good;
Nor less when he denies;
Afflictions from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.”

Seeing I have lost my temporal goods, and all my domestic comforts, may God alone be all my portion! The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Coverdale, add, The Lord hath done as he pleased.

Job 1:22
In all this Job sinned not – He did not give way to any action, passion, or expression, offensive to his Maker. He did not charge God with acting unkindly towards him, but felt as perfectly satisfied with the privation which the hand of God had occasioned, as he was with the affluence and health which that hand had bestowed. This is the transaction that gave the strong and vivid colouring to the character of Job; in this, and in this alone, he was a pattern of patience and resignation. In this Satan was utterly disappointed; he found a man who loved his God more than his earthly portion. This was a rare case, even in the experience of the devil. He had seen multitudes who bartered their God for money, and their hopes of blessedness in the world to come for secular possessions in the present. He had been so often successful in this kind of temptation, that he made no doubt he should succeed again. He saw many who, when riches increased, set their hearts on them, and forgot God. He saw many also who, when deprived of earthly comforts, blasphemed their Maker. He therefore inferred that Job, in similar circumstances, would act like the others; he was disappointed. Reader, has he, by riches or poverty, succeeded with thee? Art thou pious when affluent, and patient and contented when in poverty? Clark’sCommentary edited

Words, Manners, Actions and Habits = ?

Our words reveal our thoughts;
Our manners mirror our self-esteem;
Our actions reflect our character;
Our habits predict the future. W.A. Ward

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luk 6:43-45

Published in: on February 26, 2010 at 10:18 am  Leave a Comment  
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Simplicity is More Than Less

I like Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach:

Simplicity does not mean making do with less,  but appreciating the important things more.  It means making deliberte decisions to surround yourself only with objects that inspire, comfort, soothe and serve you. Paring down to those essentials is more than just cleaning, organizing, or rearranging. Clearing away the clutter is a spiritual endeavor made up of choices, not chores, and the process itself can be as satisfying and empowering as the results: With every decision, you are creating a calm, clear space for your self. You are making room for wonderful new gifts to come into your life, such as order, serenity, and creativety.

Published in: on February 4, 2010 at 7:52 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Velma’s 97th Birthday

Saturday, January 16, Velma Crain’s family met with her in Redding for lunch to celebrate her 97th birthday. Elmer, Mary, Emily, Melanie and I arrived at Velma’s (Elmer’s mother) about 12:00pm. Mary and Emily hadn’t been at Velma’s for some years, so I was able to give a tour of the home, the yard with about a half acre of planted gardens. Showing them the shed with our inheritance safe inside, different flower areas (bulbs, cut flowers, propagation pots), vegetable garden plot with fencing (deer out or veggies in), the potting shed and how the watering was done. Aaron and his family arrived about 12:30. So we did a repeat tour. Alyce found use for a shed in their yard after seeing Grandma’s. We then left to meet the rest of the family at the Redding Airport for a Chinese lunch. There were about 40 attending. Velma’s brother, Leonard, 4 of her children and their spouses, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, a nephew with spouse and their grandchild, Sam, Barbara and several Garden Club friends. We had plenty of food, a delicious cake, much laughter and merriment. A very typical Crain get-together. We arrived home about 5:30pm, thankful for family and a safe trip.

Published in: Uncategorized on January 20, 2010 at 3:29 pm  Comments (2)  
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What is added…counts

I am trying to remember that when I add gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy into my daily round a sense of lack diminishes and a sense of abundance increases.

Published in: Uncategorized on December 21, 2009 at 11:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Thanksgiving food for thought:

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown.~~

Published in: Uncategorized on November 23, 2009 at 1:56 am  Leave a Comment  
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Count Your Blessings

As Thanksgiving draws near, my mind has gone often to the things for which I am thankful. If you know anything about me, you know that being thankful is a theme of mine. I think a thankful heart is to be nurtured and exercised.

Today let’s count our blessings. Can we write a list of 100 things we are thankful for? I’ll start mine today and post it later.

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself.

Published in: Uncategorized on November 21, 2009 at 1:57 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Loaded with Blessings

Gratitude

For sunlit hours and visions clear,
For all remembered faces dear,
For comrades of a single day,
Who sent us stronger on our way,
For friends who shared the year’s long road,
And bore with us the common load,
For hours that levied heavy tolls,
But brought us nearer to our goals,
For insights won through toil and tears,
We thank the Keeper of our years.

List three things you are thankful for:

Published in: Uncategorized on November 8, 2009 at 4:45 pm  Comments (4)  
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Calling = an answer Speaking = Hearing

Isaiah 65:21-24

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

List three things you are thankful for:

Published in: Uncategorized on November 1, 2009 at 9:50 pm  Comments (2)  
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Joy and Rejoice

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Psalms 35:9  And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

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Published in: Uncategorized on October 26, 2009 at 5:49 pm  Comments (3)  
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Numberless Thoughts

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Psalms 40:5  Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

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Published in: Uncategorized on October 25, 2009 at 8:41 pm  Comments (2)  
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Precious Thoughts

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Psalms 139:17-18

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

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Published in: Uncategorized on October 23, 2009 at 6:25 pm  Comments (2)  
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The Lord is bountiful.

Psalms 13:6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.

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Published in: Uncategorized on October 19, 2009 at 9:09 pm  Comments (2)  
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The LORD Sustains Me

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Psalms 3:2-5
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me

List three things you are thankful for:

Published in: Uncategorized on October 17, 2009 at 9:56 pm  Comments (2)  
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Being Home

“If a hungry friend came and knocked at your door on a cold night, you would graciously welcome her in, sit her by the fire, help her shed her wet, clumsy clothes. You’d give her a blanket to wrap herself in and a cup of hot soup to warm and nourish herself. Then, when she was well fed and comfortable, her story might emerge. Your hospitality, your love and acceptance would soothe your friend, and the soft warm light of your hearth would pull her out of her dark night. This is what our soul asks us to do for ourselves every night when we cross threshold to the hearth of our homes.”  Elizabeth Murray

I’m thankful to have a home that offers warmth and shelter and if on a good day, delicious food. The Lord has blessed me abundantly.

Published in: Uncategorized on October 16, 2009 at 9:34 pm  Leave a Comment  
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