A Job year?

If you believe everything that the press tells you, you probably find yourself in one of two camps. The first is that 2009 is going to be bad, very BAD. If you are a little more optimistic or perhaps a Democrat, you may believe that Mr. Obama is the savior and that he is going to come in and FIX everything.

As for me, I believe neither. My good friend Arlin has been in the book of Job for nearly three weeks now. As I read his devotional this morning, it occurred to me that we (WE is a group that is expanding by the moment) may be in for a Job experience.

I'll digress for a moment and proclaim that I am currently being blessed by circumstances that can only be attributed to answered prayer. My business, Quality Systems Solutions, Inc. is on track to have our best single month in the 12 year history of the company. For a year now I have been praying my version of The Prayer of Jabez, and it would seem like God IS expanding my territory. I remind myself daily that "The Lord giveth…and the Lord taketh away", so for now I am extremely grateful for what He has given.

Back to the big picture. 2008 saw a reversal of fortune for many... MANY people. We all know someone who was "riding high." Life was good and everything seemed to be going their way. BOOM! Out of nowhere, they were knocked off their horse. For some, it was a minor setback and they may have already "gotten back in the saddle", perhaps riding a bit slower, but riding none the less. For others, their horse may have run off, leaving them to walk. Yet others still suffered injury in the fall... in some cases, significant injury. Some may never fully recover.

So, what does this all mean? I guess that it depends. If you are a Christian, I'd suggest that you go back and Read the book of Job. How does your life align with Job's? What can you learn from Job? Job aside, what do we know about God? God is GOOD! He is good in the best of times. He is good in the worst of times. The only thing that ever really changes is US. God is always the same.

If your not a Christian, I'd suggest that you go back and Read the book of Job. How does your life align with Job's? What can you learn from Job? Seriously, whether you believe in God or not, there is some real wisdom contained in the book of Job. Otherwise, what option do you have? Think that you can work it all out on your own? Think that Obama with "fix" everything? Let me know how that works for you! Let's meet back here in a year and compare notes. ;-)

I've fallen, will I get up?

We are rapidly approaching the end of 2008. For most of us, we will be happy to see it go. To be honest, it is about this time every year, that I just want it to be DONE. Its not so much that I am looking forward to the coming year, in this case, I'm not sure that 2009 is going to be any better. By most accounts it is likely to be much worse. I just get to the end of the year, throw my hands up and say, "It's Finished..."

Does that sound a little depressing? Perhaps, but the reality is, I have been blessed and I have a great deal to be thankful for. I know that. But like everyone else, I sometimes forget. Remember Job? He had it ALL! He was a righteous man before God and was blessed richly. Then what? At what appeared to be the "top of his game", he lost it all. I mean everything. I'm sure that some who read this can identify with that feeling. Its not too long ago that many if not most Americans were feeling "pretty good." I believe that the term was "irrational exuberance." The "tech bubble" burst. We survived. The air wasn't fully out of that balloon before we started inflating the "housing bubble." Won't we ever learn? POP!

I'm going to avoid the temptation to go too "deep" on this, but let's just say that the "Lord givith and the Lord taketh way." Are you feeling even a little bit despondent? Do you really think that your life is that bad? Well tell me this, how would your life be if you were born with no arms and no legs? Meet Nick Vujicic and let him teach you about the importance of "getting back up."

Nick did it. Job did it. What about you? Can you get back up?