The book of Job

Recently I have concluded the book of Job in my devotional readings.

Through the reading of this Old Testament book I was reminded of Job's 

unwavering faithfulness and continual dependence in God.

He truly is to serve as a Biblical example to pattern Christians' lives after.

As I did with the book of Ecclesiastes,

 I thought I would share a few of the passages which spoke to my heart.

{Somehow whenever I take pictures of nature 

I am pointed to and reminded of  the wonderful Creator I serve; 

hence the "need" to picturize these highlighted passages...}

Hast thou considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feared God, and escheweth evil?

1:8

Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither:  the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

1:21-22

and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him with out cause.

2:3

 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

Which doeth great things and unsearchable: marvelous things without number:

Who giveth rain upon the earth and sendeth waters upon the fields:

5:8-10

Behold happy is the man whom God correcteth:

5:17a

Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!

6:8

How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove/

6:25

Behold he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again:  he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.

12:14

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

19:25-26

But he knoweth the way that I take:  when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

23:10

I have esteemed with words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

23:12

For God maketh my heart soft...

23:16

seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty?

24:1a

For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth:

37:6a

By the breath of God frost is given:

37:10a

I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.

42:2

I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

42:3b

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends:  also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.

42:10

So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning:

So Job died, being old and full of days.

42:12a, 17

{Linking  up a photo over here}

Ecclesiastes

{Some of my favorite verses from my favorite book,

compiled with some random pics

that I took on my lunch break...}

What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;...

3:1-

He hath made everything beautiful in his time:

3:11

I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it that men should fear before him.

3:14

All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

3:20

Two men are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

4:9-10

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God;...let thy words be few...and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

5:2-3

For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

6:12

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

7: 1&3

Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?

7:13

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might:

9: 10

the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,

9:11b

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

9: 18

Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

11:1

As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

11:5

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,

12:1a

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.

12:13

Dead Flies

A good name is better than precious ointment;

(Ecclesiastes 7:1)

Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savor:

so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honor.

(Ecclesiastes 10:1)

Your name... What do people think when they hear your name?

Nicole...

OR

Innermost Aspirations (for those who only know me by blog)

I read quite a few different blogs and I enjoy them all for different reasons. Beneath my Heart, is one I encourage you to read. My favorite posts are on Wednesdays when she writes about her mother who has went on to be with the Lord. I find myself laughing and crying with her when she writes; her posts show her love for her mother and thankfulness that she was raised in a Christian home.

When you say, Pioneer Woman, I immediately think bizarre city girl who married a cowboy and has amazing cooking posts.

Brookes Insights, may not get all the hits that Pioneer Woman gets but I enjoy reading it not only because the author is my sweet little sister, but also because through her writings I see her passions: her concern for our country, love for her family and children, and utmost desire to find God's will and do it. She is true to her writing and I love her for her sincerity.

The Lettered Cottage, is a blog which I enjoy browsing through the remodeling projects that the energetic couple do together.

Then there are blogs like, Playing Sublimely, Chatting at the Sky, and Stories from a Restless Heart, that some days I read and wish I could write with so much passion and melancholy spirit.

And of course there are those blogs that I read once a week or so... that blogger seems self-centered; their writing is shallow and lacks depth; they have way too much time on their hands type blogs...

I am judging these bloggers just by their style of writing and it made me stop and think. What impression does my blogging give others? And, more personal...what do people think when they hear my name...Nicole?

I once heard a pastor say, "Take care of your character and your reputation will take care of itself." Such a wise statement.

So, what does your blogging tell others about you? What initial thought crosses the minds of others when your name is mentioned?

The Consoler

Psalms...it has got to be one of my favorite books of the Bible;

right up there with Ecclesiastes and Lamentations.

I wanted to share this passage as well as a poem

that goes along with it...

He healeth the broken in heart,

and bindeth up their wounds.

He telleth the number of the stars;

he calleth them all by their names.

(Ps. 147:3-4)

With His healing hand on a broken heart,

And the other on a star,

Our wonderful God views the miles apart,

And they seem not very far.

O it makes us cry - then laugh - then sing,

Tho' tis all beyond our ken;

He bindeth up wounds on that poor crushed thing,

And He makes it whole again.

Was there something shone from that healed new heart

Made the Psalmist think of stars --

That bright as the sun or the lightnings' dart,

Sped away past earthly bars?

In a low place sobbing by death's lone cart,

Then a flight on whirlwind's cars;

One verse is about a poor broken heart,

And the next among the stars.

There is hope and help for our sighs and tears,

For the wound that stings and smarts;

Our God is at home with the rolling spheres,

And at home with broken hearts.

(M.P. Ferguson)

This poem is from Springs in the Valley. I first read

it 3 years ago during a very trying time in my life.

It meant alot to me then...and I never want to

forget it.