God's Desires

From Hosea 6:6

God has desires.

His desires are for us to exhibit forgiveness,

mercy,

a heart of thanksgiving

and acknowledgement of what He has done for us.

These are all inward traits.

Our sacrifices for Him...

our offerings to Him...

our outward deeds are nothing

unless there is a change of heart.

Remember

Stuff happens...stuff steals our time and our energy. Lack of money, lack of time, lack of discipline and lack of trust are just a few excuses we use for not doing what God had instructed us to do.

As I write, I am thinking of something God told me to do last week...and I've still not done it. It rained one day, so I couldn't do it. One day, I just didn't want to do it. Somehow, I think I might have passed by this opportunity, but I hope this is not the case.

Too many people live with regrets of not having done what they've felt compelled to do. The years pass, and they feel disappointed at themselves and the circumstances because they are not in the place they want to be. They wonder if perhaps their life would have been different had they grabbed ahold of what God was telling them years before and jumped to it with all their vigor.

But, the Holy Spirit of God has been breathing a word to me, and that word is REMEMBER. If you are like me, there are a lot of events in my life I choose not to remember, but what the Lord is saying is to remember who He is and what dreams and visions He gave you at some point in your life. Perhaps, He is wanting to shake up your life and put you in a new spot. Too young or too old is an invalid excuse. Too much responsibility and work or bored spitless are also invalid excuses. Wherever you are in your life and whatever you are doing are merely "easy to fix" details for the God who made the heavens and the earth.

An example of REMEMBERING comes from the life of David. As a shepard boy, he meets the giant Goliath. Goliath is not just a big overgrown man, but a man whose spear is as thick as a weaver's rod. He's outfitted with armour from head to toe. He's mean and brash. He's full of self conceit and is fearless. This big man has the entire Israeli army shaking in their sandals, but David sees him as beatable with God's help. From this story, here are a few points I want to note about REMEMBERING:

1. Remember, our anointing is not like someone else's anointing. In other words, we shouldn't try to be like someone else. I Samuel 17:38. God has specifically designed each of us for the task He's called us to do.

2. Remember what God has already done in us and for us in the past. It is His strength...not ours. I Samuel 17:34-37. When David stood before Saul, a man known to be a head taller than most, this boy was not relying on his good looks to help him win, he was remembering the lion and the bear he had killed with God's strength. His staff he took before him served as that reminder being marked with slashes representing the events of his life. He kept God's faithfulness and his own ability to win through God everywhere he went.

3. Remember what God can do in the now and now.
I Samuel 17:45-46a. David spoke to Goliath what God was about to do. It looked very impossible, but nevertheless, David believed it was going to be accomplished.

4. Remember He saves for His praise. I Samuel 17:46b-47. David knew God would get the glory for his actions against the giant because the power of the enemy to the natural eye seemed far greater than the power of the Israeli army.

5. Remember to run to the battle. I Samuel 17:48. When you are told to go, then go...not with hesitation or question, but with with the knowledge that God has already gone before you.

David remembered and won.

God has always wanted us to remember not the acts necessarily, but Him when it comes to defeating problems in our lives. In the book of Hosea, God rebukes his people for turning from them, yet in the same book He woes them back so He can bless them. He reminds them in Hosea 13:4, it is He who brought them out of Egypt...who cared for them in the wilderness...and who fed them to the point of being full and satisfied. The problem arose when they became proud. As Hosea pled for repentance, he wrote in chapter 14, "We will never again say 'Our gods 'to what our own hands have made."

This brings me to the final point:

6. Remember to never say it is "I" who brought this about, but "I AM" who brought this about.

TheResurrectionLife

When Peter stood up at Pentecost to declare the resurrected Lord to those who were gathered there in the upper room, and those who had heard the sound of many languages being preached, he was a new person.

Peter was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to be a disciple. He spent three years with Him and when the time came for Peter to be tested, he failed. Three times Peter denied Christ. Peter spent time during the days Jesus walked this earth prior to his assention, to receive direction from the Lord and a mandate to be one of the leaders of the early Church. It was at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on every one there, the resurrected life of Christ was manifested in Peter as he preached a bold, Spirit led sermon where thousands were born again.

So, what is the resurrected life? It is a life focused on kingdom life! Jesus said in Luke 12:31, "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you."

Look at the change in Peter from the rough fisherman to a man filled with the Spirit of the Lord...the resurrected power of Christ. Jesus prepared his disciples for the resurrected life by telling them to "take no thought" for their lives. The phrase "take no thought" literally means to not be distracted.

When trouble enters our lives, worry is knocking at the door and asking for entrance. Worry is a distraction which can strip our lives of productivity, time with our family and time devoted on pursuing what God has told us to pursue which is the Kingdom of God.

In Matthew and again in Luke, Jesus tells his disciples to not be:
1. Distracted by what we are going to eat.
2. Distracted by what we are going to drink.
3. Distracted by what we are going to wear.
4. Distracted by what you are going to do tomorrow.
5. Distracted by what you are going to say when you are under pressure.

In essence, these are the activities which make up our lives...food and drink, clothing, work, activities, and pressure.

The best example I know which describes the resurrected, Spirit filled life comes from the transformation of a cucumber to a pickle. I do not like to eat pickles, but this is the best example I have ever heard. From what I understand, in making pickles, you first are to dip the fresh cucumber quickly into boiling water. The cucumber is still a cucumber at this stage. The next process, involves placing the cucumber in a bowl or vat of vinegary mixture. The cucumber at this point is transformed totally from the inside to outside. It is no longer a cucumber, but a pickle. Other than the look on the outside, there is no similarity between the two in any way either in taste or texture...

That is what happens in us when the resurrected life of Christ permeates our lives. So if the resurrected Christ lives in us, then what need do we have to worry about our daily lives? I Peter 5:7 says to cast (throw) our cares (distractions) on Him because He cares for us. There is nothing going on in our lives which surprises God or catches Him off guard. He knows your stuff and your need. Every distraction can be brought to Him and He will give you direction as to what to do...or maybe direction as to what NOT to do.

It is called trusting HE who lives in you.

Scriptures: Luke 12:11-12, Luke 12: 22-32, Psalms 55:22, I Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:28-34 and 10:19

FishingForBusinessPartTwo

Reminders from the Holy Spirit come to me sometimes in the most unlikely ways. I was totally exhausted last night when our young son glared at me and said he needed a Bible story before he dozed off. His eyes were getting droopy and I was searching the files of my mind to find a VERY SHORT Bible story. This was not the time for Noah and the Ark because he liked that one told in the mini novel format and I too was quickly slipping away.

I tucked him in under his comforter and leaned down to tell him the story of the coin in the fish's mouth.

Upon arriving in Capernaum, the tax collectors came up to Peter and asked "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?" (This was a tax required to be paid to support the temple. Every Jew 20 years of age and older was required to pay the "didrachma".) Peter responded in the affirmative.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke up before Peter could inform him of the tax which was due. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes - from their own sons or from others?"

"From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours." (NIV)

Jesus was not talking about tithing. He was talking about a tax imposed to support the temple. Jesus made it very clear, they were not required by God's law to pay the tax. However, in the next statement, He says it needs to be paid. Not required...but needs to be paid!

Jesus' reason was very interesting especially since many of the religious leaders were constantly offended by whatever He did. The Greek word translated "offend" means...to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey.

The first lesson he taught Peter was to look at the big picture when making decisions. Even though the tax was not required by God, He said to pay it because He did not want to put a stumbling block in anyone's way. He saw the big picture...the kingdom of God!

Secondly, Peter had already told the tax collector, Yes...Jesus pays his taxes. At this point, it became a credibility issue more than a money issue. With Peter's acknowledgement to the tax collector, it became necessary for him to also pay the tax. Perhaps Peter should have let Jesus do the answering.

Jesus backed up Peter's response instead of embarrassing him in front of his disciples and the tax collector. In a business setting, this can happen when a well meaning employee or co-worker commits the boss's money or time without their knowledge. The question is, how important is your credibility out there in the market place?

I justlove the way Jesus handles this whole situation. Instead of griping out Peter, He tells him how to get money to pay both His tax and Peter's tax. Who was doing the fishing? Peter. In other words, Peter worked to pay Jesus's portion of the tax as well as his own portion! Here's another principle. If you commit someone elses time and money, then you must be willing to do part of the work or pay part of the cost.

Jesus told him to go fishing...something Peter already knew how to do. He didn't take him outside his expertise, but used what was already in Peter's hand...his fishing business. Specifics came next as to how to get the money to pay the taxes. Peter already knew fish meant money because that was his livelihood, so this wasn't as crazy of a request as you might think! Here's what Jesus instructed him to do...

Go to the sea.

Cast a hook.

Take up the first fish caught.

Open his mouth.

There will be a piece of money in the mouth.

Take it out of the fish's mouth and go pay the taxes for me and you!

Very specific. God can give you very specific directions, even in a situation involving money where you "oopsed" by committing before checking it out with Jesus. Everything got paid. Notice, there was not an overage in this situation, just the exact amount needed to pay the taxes!

What tremendous grace was offered to Peter by Jesus. Peter was very good at speaking before his brain was in gear. He was a take charge kind of guy. Even though the denied Christ and was up one minute and down the next minute, it was this man whom Jesus picked to to one of the leader of the early church.

Never let your past dictate your future.

FishingForBusiness

Our 5th and 6th grade kids were just about to finish the Book of John. I began to study the last chapter. You know how it is...you think you already know and understand what you are about to read...especially if you've been a Christian as long as I have. But once again, I was totally refreshed and astonished at what I discovered. Here are links to read the 21st Chapter of John, and the 5th Chapter of Luke. In this study, we will be comparing the two events to discover some hidden treasure.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=21&version=31

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%205&version=31

Peter was a fisherman by trade. He wasn't just a fisherman, he was a business owner...or at least he was part-owner of a family business. Peter comes on the scene in Luke 5 where Jesus borrowed a spot in Peter's boat to use as a podium from which to preach to the crowds. This place was called the Sea of Gennesaret which is also known as the Sea of Galilee or the Sea of Tiberias.

After Jesus finished preaching, he told Peter to take the boat to deep waters and fish. Peter listened even though the crew had fished all night without results. You have to remember...Peter had just heard Jesus teach and I'm guessing he was impressed, because you have a weathered fisherman who knows his business, being told by a carpenter where to fish><> Interesting isn't it.

When they let down the nets, they caught so many fish, the nets began to tear. They called for another boat and filled up two boats with their catch. The boats were so full, they began to sink. It was right then and there that this fishing mogul left everything to follow Jesus.

Now, let's look at the story in John 21 which takes place after the Lord has been resurrected. The scene is the same except the disciples are on board, fishing in the middle of the lake. Jesus is standing on shore shouting out to them..."Have you caught anything?"..."No" they reply.

They didn't recognize him...probably because of the distance of the boat from the shore. "Throw your net on the right side and you will catch some" was Jesus' reply. When they did, the net was filled with very large fish...so many, they could not get them into the boat. At this point, John recognized Jesus. Peter jumped into the sea and swam to shore to see the Master. The catch was pulled to the shore. The nets were not broken.

Jesus had prepared a fire before the catch on which the fish were to be cooked. No one asked who this man was because they all knew it was the Master! As they were cooking and eating, Jesus turned to Peter and three times (three times Peter denied Jesus...now three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus) asked him if he loved Him. Jesus' response each time to Peter was " feed My sheep" or "feed my lambs".

This is what I found very interesting:

*The Sea of Galilee was the scene in both stories...this was the place where Peter worked his trade...his profession. JESUS COMES TO THE PLACE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

*The first time, Jesus came to him and basically rented Peter's boat. The price of the catch. The "money" he paid to Peter was enough to cover a full day's profits plus some. The second time Jesus came to Peter, he gave him more specific instructions on how to be blessed...cast on the right side. The right side is a place of blessing! WITHOUT JESUS...SELF WILL...THERE IS BARRENNESS, WITH JESUS THERE IS ABUNDANCE.

*The first meeting Jesus had to tell Peter to go to deep waters...where the fish lived. He was a fisherman, but Jesus knew and pointed him to the place where he would prosper. The second time, Peter was already in deep waters...he was in the middle of the lake. This was the place of abudance and miracles before, and the disciples did what they knew to do...still without results until Jesus showed up on the scene. DO WHAT YOU KNOW TO DO BUT DON'T RELY ON THE FORMULA...THE FORMULA ONLY WORKS WHEN JESUS SHOWS UP!

JESUS WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU TO CAST YOUR NETS INTO A PLACE OF BLESSING!

NO MATTER HOW EXPERIENCED YOU ARE IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELD, JESUS KNOWS MORE...HE CAN SEND YOU TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE. THEY MAY NOT EVEN LOOK "CATCHABLE" BUT HE KNOWS THE WATERS.

*The first meeting, Peter was just being introduced to the message of the Kingdom of God and was filled with faith. The second meeting he had believed, denyed and had weathered some very tough times with his faith still in place. He had experience. SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE WILL HELP YOU WEATHER THE STORMS AND KEEP YOU IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE BLESSED. (I.E. - DON'T QUIT, YOU ARE ON THE EDGE OF CHANGE AND BLESSING)

*The first meeting the nets tore from the catch. The second meeting the nets held. There were two different kind of nets used for fishing. The drag net and the casting net. The drag net was set out at night... and pulled in at dawn. The casting net was just that, cast out and pulled in. THE NET WAS THE TOOL OF THEIR BUSINESS. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR YOUR BUSINESS, BUT IT STILL TAKES JESUS IN THE PICTURE TO KNOW THE RIGHT TIME AND PLACE TO USE THOSE TOOLS.

*The first meeting they had two boats and lots of help. These were good fishermen with experience. The second meeting they had a boat full of faith filled, Jesus infused believers. The Bible is not clear if all of these in the boat were fishermen. What is evident, is that most of the disciples were on board. This time when they fished, their nets (i.e. - tools of the trade) worked perfectly! The boat did not sink and there was less effort put forth than the first time, but with the same abundant results. THERE IS POWER IN NUMBERS, HOWEVER NUMBERS DO NOT EQUAL SUCCESS UNLESS THOSE NUMBERS ARE IN UNITY, FOLLOWING THE SAME MASTER! MANY BELIEVERS WORKING TOGETHER WILL PRODUCE MORE THAN ONE BELIEVER WORKING ALONE.

IT TAKES A TEAM EFFORT TO BRING IN THE BIG FISH!

*The first meeting Peter left everything to follow Jesus. The second meeting he was given his destiny to preach the Gospel which began at Pentecost...where thousands were born again. The questions Jesus asked Peter on the beach while they were dining on bread and fish, exposed the very heart of Peter. Before, he was willing to die for Jesus but then followed up his words with denial. This time, he more or less eradicated the three times he denyed Christ by affirming his love for him...three times. Jesus gave him a mission at this point, set him up as a leader and commissioned him to shephard the church which was about to be born. FROM FISHERMAN TO FISHER OF MEN. PUT GOD FIRST IN ALL YOUR BUSINESS DEALINGS. HE IS THE ONE WHO WILL EXAULT YOU. DON'T TRY TO EXAULT YOURSELF.

At first, it may seem the tools you have aren't enough, but through experience and listening, what you have is more than enough when you work together under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

CondemnToJustify

Job 40:8 "Would you discredit my justice?

Would you condemn me to justify yourself?"

When Job said "I'm finished", his friends began to slander his character and God's ways. They really didn't have much of a clue what they were talking about, but in an attempt to validate themselves, they tried to destroy their friend.

It is amazing to me in the last chapter of Job, God asks Job to pray for his friends. Apparently, they remained friends after everything that had happened! Unbelievable. This in itself gives you an insight into Job...he had the ability to forgive what most people would call the unforgiveable.

To back up just a bit, beginning in chapter 38, the Lord replies to Job. God never discredits him as his friends did, rather He begins a line of questioning which makes it clear to Job, he has spoken without knowledge. Here is a summary of the questions:

Where were you when I formed the heavens and the earth and do you know how everything was made?

Who orders the heavens and the earth?

Who gives wisdom and understanding to man?

Who looks after and cares for ALL the animals of the earth?

Who endowed each living creature with it's own special characteristics?

Are you saying I am unjust?

WOULD YOU CONDEMN ME TO JUSTIFY YOURSELF?

If you are not able to stand up against the largest and strongest creatures I have made, what makes you think you can stand against Me?

Who owns everything under heaven?

Job realizes he has spoken without understanding, and receives the correction of the Lord. He concluded, God can do what He wants and His plans cannot be thwarted! He says..."I heard of you, but now I see you". Revelation!

I want to go back to this statement God made to Job...would you condemn me to justify yourself? Basically this is exactly what Job's friends were doing. In order for them to feel superior to Job, they condemned him. He was reacting to God in the same way his friends were reacting to him.

If you recall in the account of the flood in Genesis, Noah condemns an entire generation because he is God's man. He was the standard upon which every other human being was being judged. Noah did not knowingly condemn them. It was just who HE WAS...a righteous man.

When Job's friends came to condemn him, they elevated themselves by condemning Job. Everyone knew he was righteous. They knew he followed God and that God had blessed him. Perhaps they too wanted to be looked upon with esteem and honor by their fellow man.

Probably you have heard the example of the crabs in the bucket. If you put one crab in a bucket, it can crawl out without much effort. However, if you put more than one crab in a bucket, they will pull each other down, and not one will make it over the top. I've seen that before with friendships and have probably done it myself.

Do we think there is only room for one at the "top"? Job's friends wanted to make sure they were elevated above their friend. Condemn someone else to justify yourself.

What about what God said to Job? Job was trying to justify his suffering by condemning God's ability to judge righteously. Since Job was blameless, God must have goofed. OOOh! It is interesting, God never addresses the cause of Job's suffering, however, Job gets the picture loud and clear...He is not God.

God remains just in the face of injustice. He remains faithful in the face of unfaithfulness. He remains able and willing in the face of obstacles.

When Job realizes he had spoken without understanding, he readily admited his error to God. He shows himself humble before the Creator of the Universe. Do you ever see Job's friends humbling themselves before God and admitting their error? I do not know if God's reply was where Job's friends could here, but given He later asks them to sacrifice, and they obey...I'm thinking they could hear what God said to Job. Were they sitting smuggly pointing fingers at Job saying "GOD'S GONNA GET YA"?

Do you remember in the first part of Acts, when the disciples questioned Jesus as to when He was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?...He basically ignored the question and told them they would receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses! Why didn't He answer their question? It wasn't important. What was important was that they were about to be endued with power to witness.

For Job, the question of suffering was really never answered. But the answer was given to Job by God. The Lord God said it was He who had the wisdom Job needed. It was the Lord God who knew HOW the universe was formed...He knew HOW to restore Job...He knew HOW to get him through this transitional time...He knew HOW to take care of Job.......and on and on.

The answer for all of us is not in the WHY'S, but in the knowledge of the One who holds all things in place. It is in the knowledge He will never leave us or forsake us. It is in the knowledge He is working all things out so the end result will be multiple times better than the suffering.

God is bigger than the battle.

When we see God, as Job testified at the end of his suffering, then we know He has a plan just as He had a plan when He created all things. We don't have to condemn to justify anything in our lives. God justified us in Christ. If He went to all the trouble to justify us, then He has our best in mind. The suffering? Paul said it is nothing compared to the Glory which will be revealed!

I'mFinished

In Job 31, Job gets out his last little bit of venting and is done talking with his friends. He is ready to hear from God and to be judged righteously by the one who made him.

Job defends himself one last time from the onslaught of unfair, untrue remarks his friends have hurled at him. Untrue remarks about how God operates and untrue remarks about what Job has done to deserve this punishment!

This is a summary of what Job says:

*I haven't lusted after another woman or another man's wife.
*I haven't committed adultery.
*I have helped the poor and the widow.
*I have been a father to the orphan.
*I've provided clothing to those in need
*I've used my influence to help the orphan (i.e. - I've been just)
*I fear God too much to act unjustly toward anyone!
*I haven't put my trust in Gold, nor have I worshiped the sun or the moon or any other god.
*I've not rejoiced when misfortune comes to my enemy, nor have I cursed him.
*I've opened my home to the traveler.
*I've not hidden my guilt in order to look good in front of men.
*I've dealt fairly with my tenants.

Job still declares he is blameless. He is blameless in his business dealings, blameless in his judgments, blameless in his trust of God, and blameless in his treatment of those less fortunate.
As I was reading Job's declarations of his good deeds, I cringed just a little thinking how I would size up next to Job. He was a pretty good fellow! Thank goodness for the grace of God!

Job was blameless, yet he vented. At the end of Job, we see what God had to say about the words Job uttered. Another Old Testament character was very good at venting...King David. This is what he wrote in Psalm 22:

1My God, my God,
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.

3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.

4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.

5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:

8 "He trusts in the LORD;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."

9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.

10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.

11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.

12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.

20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.

21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him
those who cannot keep themselves alive.

30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.

31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn
for he has done it. (NIV)

Though he vented and wondered where God was in his life, he always came back to a place of proclamation and praise. I guess what I am saying is that it is okay to vent, but perhaps how and to whom we vent might be in question. My future son-in-law and I were talking about this last night, the need for venting, and I told him I had come to the conclusion it was okay. David and Job both let it all hang out before God. They didn't pull any punches about how they felt, but they both dumped on God instead of a friend who might not know how to deal with the venting. What I have seen in my own life, or shall I say, what I have observed in the lives of young people, is a tremendous need to have someone to whom they can talk. Unfortunately, some of those friends are about as worthless as Job's friends were to him in his time of trouble.

Finally, Job finished. That's redundant! Job got it all out, and waited for God to respond. He was emptied of all his questions, his misery and his anger. I get the same way, but at the age of 53 I'm just now understanding HOW to vent. God is good and knows what is in our hearts, it is not a surprise to Him when we spill everything out to him. God doesn't go "Oh wow, did you hear what she said?" Thank goodness we have a God who will listen, correct and restore us. That is exactly what He did to and for Job.

There is a process called bridement. It is a procedure of scraping out the infection in a wound before it heals over. If the wound begins to heal over before the infection is cleaned out, it will spread and create other more serious health issues for the patient. Job debrided himself, letting all of the stuff which was already in his heart ooze (sorry) out to God who could bring about perfect healing in his life! Yet, he declared what truth he had about who God was.