For instance, the Lord asks Job (38:37, 40:9 respectively):  Who tilts the water jars of heaven so that the dust of earth is fused into a mass and its clods made solid? Or, my personal favorite—“Have you an arm like that of God, or can you thunder with a voice like his?”

Uh, no, not really. Neither do I have anything to do with giving the horse his strength or endowing his neck with splendor (39:19)!

Finally, Job replies to the Lord and acknowledges the power of God (42:2-3):  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.  I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.”

Oh that we would take these words to heart!  God can do all things and we do indeed have to face things we do not understand.

In the end, we learn that the Lord restored everything to Job.  He was prosperous and he celebrated with his friends.  His days were blessed and he lived to a ripe old age, enjoying his children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.  The last line of the books says, “Then Job died, old and full of years.”

For all the suffering and ridicule Job experienced in his lifetime, we are lifted up by the good news that he is restored.  It gives the rest of us hope whenever we have days that must simply be endured, people whom we can just barely tolerate, or trials that seem overwhelming.

For some people, the internal battles and worldly battles must be faced every day.  Someone just said to me the other day, “I’m done.  I’ve had my trials.  It’s time for things to get better.”  Sometimes, like Job, we just want to be restored.

And that’s the hope we can glean from the Book of Job.  Hang in there.  No matter how bad it might get, the Lord is with us.  The Lord walks alongside us and never abandons us.  Even in the worst trials of life. He may be silent for awhile and we may have to face things we do not understand, but that does not mean the Lord is absent.

Hold fast to the fact that “God can do all things.”  This is a lifeline from our God who loves us beyond understanding.



Copyright 2010 Janet Cassidy

Reviewed by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
http://spiritualwomanthoughts.blogspot.com

When one mentions love stories, I’d be willing to bet that the first thing that comes to mind is not the Bible. One tends to think of romantic movies or novels. Perhaps one might think of couples one knows whose love stands out in the crowd. Yet, God is the author of love and the Bible, as the word of God, is a wonderful place to look for examples of love and role models for our own relationships. In The Bible’s Best Love Stories, Allan F. Wright examines some of the very human love stories contained in the pages of scripture. These stories do not show an idealistic portrayal of love. Rather they show the full range of deep emotions and all the challenges along the way. Wright does not only study the portrayal of romantic relationships, but also the love of good friends and familial relationships.

Wright begins his examination, as one might expect, with the relationship between Adam and Eve, “the world’s first lovers.” Before the first sin, they had the beauty of the ideal relationship; it was a union of the whole person – body and soul. They loved each other as God loved them. But then, they thought they knew better than God and sin came into the world. Their relationship, which had been so perfect, now was one of shame and blame. Things would never be the same for them, or us, again. We will come up short, yet we are all called to still strive for that original self-giving love that existed before sin.

Wright then turns his attention to other famous pairs of the Old Testament: Abraham and Sarah, Jacob and Rachel, Abigail and David, Tobiah and Sarah, and the unnamed lovers in the “Song of Solomon.” He also explores the familial love of Joseph and his brothers and Ruth and Naomi and the bonds of friendship that existed between David and Jonathan. The New Testament features fewer romantic relationships, but Wright looks at Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, and Priscilla and Aquila. Some of Jesus’ friendships are highlighted, such as those with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, as well as his bond with Peter. His relationship with the “sinful woman’ is also examined. The relationship between Saint Paul and Barnabas, and that which existed among Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John are also looked at. While some of these stories are relatively familiar, Wright looks at them with fresh eyes, pointing out things we may have missed in the relationships and holding up certain aspects for special attention.

The Bible illustrates all the different types of love. It shows that loving anyone will require commitment and sacrifice. There is no such thing as an easy love, although some days will certainly be easier than others. Love will sometimes need to be waited for, but trust in God is paramount. Wright has done a beautiful job portraying these stories with understanding and wisdom. For each story, he offers a prayer, a relevant quote, reflection questions, and an idea for putting love into action in one’s own life. These additions help make this book ideal for a bible study or for private reflection.

Order The Bible’s Best Love Stories and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase



Copyright 2010 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

On this week’s Deacon Moment, Deacon Tom tells of preaching a RED, WHITE and BLUE homily. It was the blue that caused a little bit of problem. Or was Tom preaching truth?

Avery has some words of wisdom on the topic of prayer and Lisa Mladnich recommends implementing the Bible into your classroom or home.

This week, during our Mary Moment, Sarah Reinhard takes us beyond being fed up with snow to a reflection on Our Lady of the Snows (taken in part from a column at Today’s Catholic Woman last year).

This episode of Catholic Moments is sponsored by CatholicMatch.com, the Leading Catholic Singles Community.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

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The process of forming an opinion or evaluation by discerning and comparing; an opinion or estimate so formed; the capacity for judging; DISCERNMENT; the exercise of this capacity; a proposition stating something believed or asserted.

That pretty much says it, doesn’t it? The truth is, everybody uses judgment every day. It just gets more complicated when other people evaluate the “judgment”. Whether it was good or bad depends on who you ask.

So how do you know who to listen to? Who gets to decide if you’re showing good judgment?

The answer comes when you look to God for answers. Believing and relying on God’s word sheds incredible light on the issue. Because God has an amazing plan for you and your life, He does all He can to help you find and attain it. That means when you work with God, He gives you the grace to make right decisions and show good judgment.

Of course, I’m not so sure that extends to that ugly, green shirt you just bought because it was on sale. And it might not cover your decision to shave your head because you lost a bet. I think the consequences of those decisions will ultimately be yours and yours alone!

There is a real danger, though. Just because you’re working with God to move forward in your own life, doesn’t mean you have the right or responsibility to judge what someone else is doing. It’s so easy to “have an opinion” about others because you have no direct responsibility for what other people do or say. But God isn’t going to ask about other people when you stand before Him someday, He is going to be concerned about what you said and did.

So how do you get started working with God so you can start making right decisions and showing good judgment?

Make the decision to let God be God. You’ll never make progress in this area as long as you refuse to give up control. It certainly isn’t easy, and it certainly doesn’t happen overnight, especially if you’re a control freak as I once was. It almost drove me completely nuts when I gave up control of things. But it helped immensely when I realized there was somebody more qualified than me in charge of my life.

*  Study the Word. The only way you’re going to get to know God and His character is to study His word. It won’t take long before you’re able to judge situations and circumstances with a new view. Decisions are easier because you already know in advance the direction you want your life to go.

*  Surround yourself with people who are further along in the journey. There is no reason to learn every lesson yourself when you have a perfectly good example right in front of you. Learn from the mistakes of others so your own learning curve is less. You’ll be very glad you don’t have to go through every mistake, but trust me, you’ll still make plenty on your own.

*  Never give up. Be glad about your progress. Let yourself off the hook. You didn’t start showing poor judgment overnight and you won’t always show good judgment now, just because you want to. Just be happy you’re making progress and you’re seeing things in your life improve.

*  Showing good judgment takes time, but once you make the commitment to move forward in this area, you’re halfway there. Working with God is continuous, but so worth the effort.
For more help on this topic, go to How Sound is Your Christian Judgment?



Copyright 2010 Karen Wolff

The point of this parable is pretty obvious. Even a child would tell you that it means we are supposed to use the gifts that God gives us. He will hold us accountable for what we do with them. It seems rather straightforward. Use our gifts well and they will multiply. Ignore them and they will stagnate. What happens when this doesn’t go according to plan, however?

As one of my friends pointed out, the story needs a fourth servant. The fourth servant is given his talents and he (or in our case, she) goes out and tries to do all she can with her talents. And she fails, repeatedly. Nothing multiplies. Every effort comes up short. In an economic comparison, she invests all she has in the stock market and the stock market has crashed. When the master returns, she has little to show for her efforts, except a bucketload of tears of frustration. As my friend said this. I nodded enthusiastically. Yes, this is where I fall in this parable. I imagine many other people feel this way as well.

Sometimes, life is so hard. We pray to do God’s will and try to do it, and yet we seem to come up empty. The conventional wisdom is that if you are failing, you aren’t doing what God wants you to do – that if you are doing God’s will, you will meet with success. But what if you believe you actually are doing what God wants you to do? Where do we fall in the parable? We are not the servant who buried his gifts. We tried all we could. Did the servants who doubled their talents actually struggle in the process? Did they fall down repeatedly before achieving success? Does the parable just not tell that side of the story? That thought gives me some hope.

Our parable isn’t done being written yet. Maybe God has some plan we just can’t see. Maybe our work, our talents, is bearing some fruit we are unaware of. Maybe we are right where we are supposed to be. All we can do is keep trying. If we are truly doing God’s will, then we are where we belong. I am reminded of Mother Teresa’s statement: “We are not called to be successful, only faithful.” We are the fourth servant. I have to believe the Master will reward us in the end.

Copyright 2010 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

Read More:  Christmas Potluck Dinner with our Bible Study Friends

Everyone has something that gets their inner fires burning, and thankfully, these things generally coincide with gifts that have been bestowed upon them from God. The combination of our talents and our passions is the fuel which keeps us going in life. It is the impetus for civilization and relationships and contributions to society. The women whom I am lucky to call friends are all passionate people, yet when we got to the question “Describe a passion you have, for example, a desire to achieve some goal or work on a particular project which gives you lots of energy. What can you do to develop this passion?” the room became eerily silent. We are all mothers, and homeschooling mothers at that. There are so many things we would like to do, some desires admittedly more noble than others, yet they are squashed by a lack of time. There is only so much “emotional energy” that one can muster after a full day of parenting. Even when the energy is there, the time and opportunity are not.

It is true – we mothers do have ample opportunity to practice things like love, patience, kindness, generosity, and self-control. Motherhood is a noble pursuit. I know some women who were truly made to be mothers. I, however, am not one of them. I love my children with all my heart and do all I can for them. They were given to me by God and I treasure the gift and acknowledge the responsibility. I was called to homeschool, despite my initial reluctance. It was definitely the right decision for our family. I’m trying to be the very best mom I can be. I know that I am lucky to have this opportunity. Yet, I am more than that. I am more than the person who takes care of the kids and cleans the house (and I admit, I don’t do that chore particularly well). God gave me other gifts. I was also blessed with the opportunity to obtain an advanced education.

Like my friends, I do try to make use of my passions and talents to contribute to the world at large. It is always in small doses, however. I’ve had older mothers assure me that the day will come when I will get the opportunity to make more use of my gifts. That may be true, or it may not. There is no guarantee that I will live to see that day. Even if I do, there may very well be other people who will need my time and attention – sick parents or caring for grandchildren, for example. The future is a great unknown. All I have is today and the circumstances I find myself in. The unfulfilled desires are frustrating. I sometimes wonder why God made me, what my purpose is in the big scheme of things. I have to trust that he knows better than I do my reason for being here. All I can do is keep going, praying and trying to do the best I can with the time I have. Another wise woman at Bible Study (I told you I was lucky to be among these women!) reminded us all of the importance of acceptance. I need to work on that. I need to be happy where I am and let God take care of the restlessness in my heart.

Copyright 2009 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur

How’s this for being bold? Deacon Tom says he’s doing a Plug for Jesus. What do you think? By the way, have you been to Adoration lately?

This week, Sarah Reinhard has a prayer from Our Lady of Akita.  You can learn more about Our Lady of Akita at the summary page at EWTN, or you can read about the miracles and drama in the more in-depth coverage at Mary Pages and Catholic Tradition.

Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email lisa@catholicmom.com.

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Please be sure to take note of Laurie Manhardt’s generous offer near the conclusion of this article to learn about how you can obtain a free “Acts and Letters” promotional DVD to help you get started with your bible study.

I’m pleased to share my recent interview with series co-author Laurie Watson Manhardt, Ph.D. and to give Acts and Letters my highest recommendation!

Please share with us about the latest resource in the Come and See Catholic Bible Study Series.

“Acts and Letters,” the seventh book in the Come and See ~ Catholic Bible Study series covers the Acts of the Apostles and ten epistles attributed to Saint Paul: 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, Galatians, Colossians and Philemon.

Why did you feel compelled to create and share this new study?

Father Ponessa and I hope to cover all of the books in the Catholic Bible in a 14 volume series, God willing. We didn’t know when we were writing this book that Pope Benedict XVI would declare this the Year of Saint Paul, but we’re very happy that he did. Perhaps it was Divine Providence or a prompting of the Holy Spirit to look at the life and letters of Saint Paul at this particular time.

How will individuals and families grow in their faith by undertaking this particular study during the Year of St. Paul?

The Acts of the Apostles is so exciting. Jesus ascends into heaven right in front of his apostles. The Holy Spirit comes in power while Our Blessed Mother and the disciples are waiting and praying in the upper room. The Church is born and there is an evangelism explosion. Then Saint Peter is imprisoned, Saint James is martyred, Saint Paul is beaten and shipwrecked and run out of town. It is an exciting adventure for any family to study the beginnings of our Catholic Church and the lives of Saints Peter and Paul.

How can undertaking a Catholic bible study help to enhance one’s prayer life?

The more we study God’s Word, the more we learn about God, the more we are drawn to praise Him and worship Him. God’s magnificence is revealed to us more and more as we study God’s Word. Bible Study serves to enhance one’s prayer life and make prayer deeper and richer.

For those who may not have done bible study in the past, do you have any hints or suggestions for getting started?

The best way to start is to JUST DO IT!  Find a good Catholic bible study that is manageable. There are many excellent Catholic bible studies available today. Some are more challenging than others. Some require a certain level of academic preparedness and home study. Go to a Catholic book store and look over some offerings. Or look on the Internet at several Catholic bible studies, and then choose one. You might want to talk to friends or family members who have done Catholic bible studies and see which ones they would recommend. Always make sure the materials you choose have the imprimatur of a bishop, to ensure that they are free from doctrinal or moral error. Then determine who will be in your study. Do you want to have a Family Night Bible Study around the kitchen table? Do you want to meet with a few young mothers in the parish? Would you and your husband like to invite some couples over for a Couples’ Bible Study? There are many possibilities. But, the bottom line is JUST DO IT! God will bless your efforts.

Please share with us about the generous giveaway offer you’ve extended to our Catholic Mom readers for this new study? How should people contact you if they are interested in participating?

Father and I would like to offer a free promotional DVD for “Acts and Letters” to anyone who is interested in starting a Catholic bible study. Just please send me your name and street mailing address with zip code by Email to CatholicBibleStd@aol.com and I will send one out to you. If anyone is interested in looking at a sample of our materials to see if they might meet your needs or suit your purposes, you are most welcome to go to our web site www.CatholicBibleStudy.net and go to the “Books” page. In the upper left hand corner, you are welcome to download the Introduction and first chapter of our book on “Genesis.” You are also welcome to print it out to look at the commentary and home study questions.

What types of responses have you received from people who have undertaken this new study?

The response has been amazing. I was thinking of writing specifically for mothers with pre-school children. But surprisingly our studies are also being used by teens, prisoners, men’s groups, couples’ group, religious sisters in a convent, small neighborhood home groups and large parish groups.

How can people get in touch with you if they would like additional information on your studies?

Please contact me through our web site www.CatholicBibleStudy.net. You can also Email me directly at CatholicBibleStd@aol.com or telephone me at (772) 321-4034 and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. All of our Catholic Bible Study materials can be purchased through Emmaus Road Publishing in Steubenville, Ohio. Call 1 (800) 398-5470 during business hours or purchase bible study books and DVDs any time on the Internet at www.emmausroad.org.  Emmaus Road can also help you to purchase a good Catholic Bible and they have many other topical Bible Studies and excellent catechetical materials for children that you might want to look at. Their “Faith and Life” series is the finest catechetical series for children I have ever seen.

Are there any additional thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?

The family or individual who studies the life and letters of Saint Paul in this Year of Saint Paul should expect to receive many special graces and blessings from Our Lord through the intercession of Saint Paul. May each of share in the fervor and evangelistic zeal of Saint Paul. As Jesus revealed Himself to Saul on the road to Damascus, may Christ reveal more of Himself to each of us, and transform each of us powerfully as He transformed the life of Saint Paul, for the greater honor and glory of Almighty God.

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