i finally finished the book of Job last night!! and went to bed around 9. it was pretty sweet!!! so towards the end of the book, Job's friend (forgot his name) puts Job in his place. Job has been complaining about why God has given him destruction when he is telling God and everyone around that he has not "deserved" these punishments for he has not "sinned."

so Job's friend AND God Himself speak out to Job. the two of them explain to Job just how lucky he is that he himself has not been put to death because that is what he deserves. Job's friend makes a good point that if God really were as evil and unfair as Job puts it, God would have simply just let him die when He allowed Satan to take everything he owned. it is this amazing Grace, Love, and Mercy that God spares Job and and every one of us.

how awesome is that?!? just think about it. the Creator who created the light, darkness, all creatures, waters, EARTH!, the universe in its entirety...how could He NOT put us in our place when it is death and Hell we deserve? who are we to speak out against God? we are merely imperfect beings who had no purpose in life until God gave us meaning. by the end of the day sometimes we realize what we've done throughout our lives has been meaningless and it gives us empty pleasures...but if we live for God and Him alone, He will reward us abundantly, more than we could ever imagine in this lifetime.

God spares us by giving His one and only Son as sacrifice on the Cross. reading this last night just made me realize how BIG and POWERFUL God really is. He's HUGE! and i can never fathom how awesome He is for as long as i live. neither can Job or any of his friends. but it is because of what Job's friend has said that has comforted me with my decision to put all my life and anxieties in God's Hands. He is the one and only to trust and hold onto, for better or worse.

"submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. accept instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart."-Job 22:21-22

"but it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. it is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right"-Job 32:8-9

"the Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."-Job 33:4

"i am just like you before God; i too have been taken from clay."Job 33:6

"for God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.".."to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword."-Job 33:14, 17-18

"He (God) repays a man for what he has done; He brings upon him what his conduct deserves. it is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. who appointed Him over the earth? who put Him in charge of the whole world? if it were His intention and He withdrew His spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust."-Job 34:11-15