We live today in a world of comfort.  You may disagree…perhaps you will tell me of the number of people suffering from hunger, poverty, and the like.  And you are correct, a portion of the world suffers, but overall we are an ungrateful glutton bunch.  Look around, note the number of things people own…the amount of wasted food at any restaurant or house…the amount of apathy among men. 

Last night while in Adoration I read this:

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”  - Job 1:8-11

While Job had everything he praised the Lord who is worthy to be praised.  Satan argued that Job is of course an upright servant of the Lord, for God has allowed him to have many possessions and a wonderful family.  The Lord hath looked with favor on Job.

So the Lord, knowing the strength of Job’s faith allowed Satan to test him.  In the first trial all of Job’s livestock is stolen and all of his seven children are killed on the same day at the same time.  Job, being the upright and fitting servant of the Lord responds by saying this…

Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. – Job 1:20-22

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!  Are you kidding me!  Job praises God on the very day when his livelihood is taken from him!  And on the same day in which his children are killed!  Are you kidding me!!

See if you can follow me on this.  The U.S. is the richest country in the history of the world, we all have houses, cars, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Guitar Center, Lehboner Children’s Hospital, St. Jude, and on and on and on.  People born in the U.S. are the luckiest people on the planet because no matter your race, in the U.S. you have more opportunity to survive then anywhere else. 

We have all of this, and yet we are not upright and worthy servants of the Lord.  You tell me how many people here truly, honestly, when attacked by Satin say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”  Rather people respond “God why have you forsaken me!” 

America…you are weak.  We call ourselves a Christian nation and then we live and act like pagans. 

Christ tells us in the Gospel of Matthew (7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

I wish to be like Job.  I wish to honor the Lord with all of my being every day, despite the weather, or my house, my car, my groceries, my friends, my family.  I wish to be like Job more today than ever before in my life.  Bring it on Satan…you haven’t met a man more focused on Praising the Lord.  I will not be stopped because I do not walk under my own power but only by the Grace of God go I. 

Please don’t mistake this as a woe to us post.  I am writing this more as a join me, let’s change the world, let’s make Christians Christian again.  We know that Christ has the victory!  This time will pass and He shall reign again in the hearts of all men.  Let us answer God’s call to carry our crosses, not count the cost of our labor, accept a fair daily wage, and Love unceasingly.  That maybe we could answer the Lord as Job does…

Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:1-6

 I wish not to understand what God calls me to, but to have the Grace to say Yes and do it.  I pray that we all have this Grace and that, like Mary, we respond “Let it be done to me according to THY word.”

God bless you today and deliver you from all evil…because Satan isn’t done working, so neither should we be.

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“Faith in the Family” http://www.thecatholiccafe.com/podcasts/audio/TCC053.mp3

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 Consider this, Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and it is split into eight verses. Each verse contains a different Hebrew word for “instruction”. Perhaps the Psalmist is attempting to get us to pay attention to something.

Here are some excepts from Psalm 119.

12 Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your laws.

13 With my lips I recite all the edicts you have spoken.

14 I find joy in the way of your decrees more than in all riches.

15 I will ponder your precepts and consider your paths.

16 In your laws I take delight; I will never forget your word.

17 Be kind to your servant that I may live, that I may keep your word.

18 Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of your teachings.

19 I am a sojourner in the land; do not hide your commands from me.

35 Lead me in the path of your commands, for that is my delight.

36 Direct my heart toward your decrees and away from unjust gain.

37 Avert my eyes from what is worthless; by your way give me life.

38 For your servant fulfill your promise made to those who fear you.

39 Turn away from me the taunts I dread, for your edicts bring good.

40 See how I long for your precepts; in your justice give me life.

41 Let your love come to me, LORD, salvation in accord with your promise.

47 I delight in your commands, which I dearly love.

167 I observe your decrees; I love them very much.

168 I observe your precepts and decrees; all my ways are before you.

169 Let my cry come before you, LORD; in keeping with your word give me discernment.

170 Let my prayer come before you; rescue me according to your promise.

171 May my lips pour forth your praise, because you teach me your laws.

172 May my tongue sing of your promise, for all your commands are just.

173 Keep your hand ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

174 I long for your salvation, LORD; your teaching is my delight.

175 Let me live to praise you; may your edicts give me help.

176 I have wandered like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commands.

Note that the Psalmist resounds the ideal that he loves his masters commands…

When was the last time we embraced commands? Do we not balk at those who would command us? Do we not argue with authority? Do we not believe that “we” lead and not the Church?

All too often the lie we fail to acknowledge as sin, is the lie of “I can”. The lie is that we are capable of good without God. Even now we look to elect a mortal man to “save the world”. We worship our financial systems and prophecy of the “pain” to come in our wallets. What is ironic is that man got us here in the first place. Since the time of Adam we have been saying “I can” and all too often we find out the truth the hard way; that we can’t.

Today I urge you, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Do not believe the lie that you can…without Christ. It is only through and in Christ that this world can be saved and only by the Grace of God that we can understand Truth. Start today by seeking a deeper conversion in the Spirit of God and be renewed by His Grace.

Pray Psalm 119 all the way through.

Say in your prayers today, “I delight in your commands.”