morning sermon

HF always does a great job when he gets to preach. But H. is there crying in the pulpit? (joking) I don't cry. But I'm OK with those who do. I just hope they don't expect me to cry. H. is such a manly man. Yet he cries in the pulpit. It seem incongruous to me. Yet that is who he is before God.

I have misplaced my notes. But I remember. The part that I identified with the most was when he spoke of God bragging on us. I think it's so true. I have had God give me a glimpse of that. I don't deserve it as much as he does it. It makes me feel humble really. God loves to find the good in us often that we do not even see ourselves.

HF mentioned Job. And yeah Job was not perfect. Yet at the beginning of Job we find God bragging on him. God brags on us too. He knows we are flawed and limited. Yet he gives us credit for trying. He sees our efforts to serve him and live for him and he is appreciative.

Now this morning it hit me. We are to treat others just like that. We are to brag on our friends and our family. Oh. That is so sneaky of God. That's where I fall short every day. Lord help me to do better in this area. I so fail in this area.

As for bragging to Satan about us (as God does about Job). I wish he would not. Then Satan is going to test us. Arrgghhh. But that's life. I guess you gotta take the bad with the good.

That means though that when we do get tested God is sort of in control. So he knows we can handle it. Satan only tests us in areas that God allows. We can handle it. We can trust God is in control. When we pass he will have something more to brag about. (chuckle)