The Book of Job in the Bible

 

(Picture source: http://www.theseason.org/job/jb.jpg)

Recently i started to read my Bible chronologically again, according to the guide, i need to read the Book of Job after a few chapters of Genesis and some other  Books of the Bible. Actually i quite dread to read this Book because i don’t understand why God need to answer Job in a way that is so profound when HE was the One who allows Job to be tested or went through a very painful trial. Well, its the Word of God, so i can’t just skip it, so i read it again. This time i began to see in another perspective. I find it so amazing was that even though we do not know who was the author of the Book of Job, what amazed me was that every single conservation that Job and his friends had was being pen down!

A lot of times we were being reminded that God hears our conversation, but somehow we know it but it just not so impactful to us that God is really hearing our conversation! Imagine that if the Book of Job have a record of the conversation between Job and his friends, how much more God can compile books of our conversations with others – be it words that were good or bad! Well my point of jotting down this reflection is not to bring fear to anyone who is reading this, but to act as a reminder that we need to think before we speak as words have power. It can lift, encourage someone or hurt and tear the spirit of the receiver.

Truly God’s Word is perfect is teaching us to guard our mouths.

PROVERBS 21:23 “HE WHO GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND HIS TONGUE KEEPS HIMSELF FROM CALAMITY”

EPHESIANS 4:29 “DO NOT LET ANY UNWHOLESOME TALK COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS, BUT ONLY WHAT IS HELPFUL FOR BUILDING OTHERS UP ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS, THAT IT MAY BENEFIT THOSE WHO LISTEN.

JAMES 3:10 “OUT OF THE SAME MOUTH COME PRAISE AND CURSING. MY BROTHERS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE.”

PSALMS 19:14 “MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART BE PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT, O LORD, MY ROCK AND MY REDEEMER.  AMEN.”

May God helps us in our speech and in our actions.

Encouragement cards

The reason i reflect on this topic is because since the day i decided to send my boss an e-card, i began to realise that it has been a long time since i send someone an e-card.

I remembered that more than 10 years ago when the internet was made available to the world, the time when we got so excited when we receive an email as suddenly things got so convenient. Besides receive emails, e-cards was the next hit item on the web. People sending e-cards to wish their friends and loved one having a happy birthday to happy holidays or for some simply disturbing others.

I remembered that i used to print out those e-cards messages and stick it onto my journal book. This is because those words that my mentor or friend wrote to me are so meaningful and uplifting. I find acceptance, hope and love. I thank God for those special memories.

Yesterday, after Sunday Service, one of my cell member talked to me and told me how she was being ‘bullied’ and face some injustice at her attachment. She also shared with me that she found strength and encouragement when she chance upon a card that i wrote to her years ago while she was packing her room to prepare for Chinese New Year. The card that i wrote to her have the title “leave it to God” and through these words she began to resolve in her heart and mind that she will do her best at work and let God do the rest.

Well…i shall make a point to write encouragement cards again to my cell members and my friends.

Note: The birthday card was made by me.

Chinese New Year Spring Cleaning

As usual Chinese New Year (CNY) is a time for my family to spring clean the house with my mom’s help. My brother will take care of his room and i will take care of my room plus the washing of the toilet, bathroom, sweep and mop the floor.

Before i spring my home, i spend some time with God and prayed that HE will helped me to finish the cleaning early and of course, thank God, HE did. He not only helped me to pack and tidy up my room quickly, i believe HE also helped me to realise that i kept too many things and unwilling to give away those that are in good condition.

Usually when it comes to packing my wardrobe, i don’t feel good in giving away some of my clothes. Most of the time i will have the thinking that “humm…this one i like it, but i seldom wear, but let’s wait and see, maybe i need this some day…” With this mentality i end up having a wardrobe full of clothes and took a long time to pack.

This time while i was packing and sorting my clothes, i realised that i have 2 fleece jackets, 4 wind-breaker, a few clothing that are nice but not so fitting (big) for me. I began to think “do i need so many fleece jackets and wind-breakers and since those clothes did not bring out the best of me why should i keep it, it so nice and by donating out, someone who needs it can wear it.” Without second thoughts, i packed those that i think others can own it to a plastic bag which meant for donation.

Not only giving is a “problem” for me, throwing away old stuff also. This is because i have a “i can’t bear to throw away” mentality. But this time i took out those items, i see the condition and find it even if i keep it, i will not use it and even i give it away, it is too old for others to wear…so i made up my mind, i threw it away.

Praise God for breakthroughs.

Not only that i managed to pack my home wear, outing clothes (for work and for leisure), packed my study table (which clutter with lots of CDs and books and notes…) in no time, thus i can helped to clean the bathroom, toilet, sweep and mopped the floor and after dinner, i ironed my clothes. Finished all these including breaks for dinner by 11pm plus (if i don’t remember wrongly).

Hummm… that’s all….