ESTHER & JOB

I'm home and it's Sunday!!  Yeah!!  I cannot wait till I show up at Church and get to see the wonderful people I pastor.  It will be a great day.  Tonight, we have four young men getting ordained into the Gospel Ministry.  They are each on staff and have done a wonderful job of serving our Lord and our church.  Here are some thoughts from God's Word this morning: 1) THE GOOD DEED WAS WRITTEN- In Esther 6:1-3; the king Ahasuerus could not sleep.  So, it just so happens (God was working), he commanded the book of the records of the chronicles (now you know that was God, this is not fun reading).  As the book is read to him, he hears how Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, plot to kill the king.  And you remember what happened after that don't you?  Yes, Haman had to lead Mordecai around the city saying "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour."  Wow!  That upset his apple cart.  BUT.... here is the thought:  The good deed was written down.  AND... God has done the same thing for us!  Yes, God will not let one good deed go unnoticed.  He has had them all recorded in His book and we will one day be rewarded and perhaps the angels will say: "This shall be done to the man that the LORD delighteth to honour."  What a day that will be dear friend. 2) ACCEPT IT- Whatever comes your way.... accept it..  God had to let it happen, now know He has a reason!  Job gave us such an example:  Job 1:21 "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."   (Notice the LORD is mentioned three times... you will never "accept it", unless your eyes are upon the LORD!) ; and then in Job 2:10 he says: "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips."  We need to accept what comes our way, knowing God has a purpose and a plan.  That will bless us greatly!!  3) GOD HAS ORDAINED HOPE- In Job 14: 7-9, Job talks about a tree that is cut down and says that though it be cut down, yet the roots will get the scent of water, and it will bud again and sprout tender branches.  The idea is that even in nature, God has ordained hope!  Cut a tree down, but it can still grow again.  Harvest a field, yet enough seed has fallen that it will grow a crop.  BUT... the application is for our benefit.  Loose all there is to loose in life, and God can still rebuild your life!  Have all wiped out, and yet God can begin a new if you humble yourself and look to Him.  May God bless you today dear friend.  During the Pastor's School, I had several Pastor's let me know that they read my blog from time to time.  I hope it blesses their hearts too and gives them a sermon idea or two.  Each one of these thoughts could be a full blown sermon and need to be some day.  Have a blessed day!   Pastor Mike Mutchler