fingerprints of God – Be Still…

Psalm 126 – What Joy!

Read Psalm 126

Nobody can touch the joy I have in the LORD! Do you agree with that statement? Joy is different than happiness. In fact, I have tapped into my “joy” even in times of great distress and turmoil. It’s that joy that keeps me going when I’m feeling sad, lonely, or even stressed. Joy is not dependent upon good circumstances.

The psalmist talks about joy in this passage. His joy comes from what the LORD has done. That’s exactly where our joy comes from. We can’t create joy, it’s a gift from God as he works in our lives and in the world. Continue reading “Psalm 126 – What Joy!”

Job 26:1-14 – What God Does

Read Job 26:1-14

Do you ever feel like you’re at a tennis match as you read the book of Job? We’ve been given a front row seat to watch these friends hash out their thoughts and opinions. When is the last time you did that with a group of friends? It never gets old to just sit around sharing ideas, insights, and experiences with those closest to us.

When friends see things differently, there’s bound to be tension. We’re seeing that between Job and his friends, and we see that in our world today. It seems like everyone has an opinion about something and feels offended when questioned or minimized if not agreed with. I’ve heard of several friendships that have been broken because of differing opinions. Will Job and his friends last as friends? Continue reading “Job 26:1-14 – What God Does”

Ezra 5:6-17 – A Spy’s Report

Read Ezra 5:6-17

The saga of the temple’s construction continues. We met Tattenai, the provincial governor, in our last reading. Apparently, he is so troubled by seeing this temple rebuilt that he started interrogating the workers to find out who was in charge. After all, this is a building project he believes is under his jurisdiction, shouldn’t he be able to question it?

This governor seems to be more like an undercover spy looking for a scoop. He took the intel he received from the construction leaders and sent a letter to King Darius. I wonder what Tattenai is afraid of. Perhaps he’ll lose the favor of King Darius should there be a rebellion. Of course, it will take a while for Jerusalem to be rebuilt to its glory and power of the past.

Tag: fingerprints of God