Job 7 - 6.23.25

Scripture

‭‭Job‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more. As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return. He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.”

Observation

Job has been put through life’s storms…and this storm hit him hard! He lost his livestock and livelihood. He lost his children and now his health is deteriorating rapidly. He begins to question God on his sufferings. He feels isolated and alone in them. Job is at the end of his rope here and asks for God to just leave him alone so he can die already. 

Application

Hope for the hopeless.

Unfortunately, pain and suffering is a part of life. It is something we are all going to have to go through at one point or another. But, if there is one thing we can learn from Job in this chapter, it’s that even through our struggles in life, we can always seek God and express our pains and complaints to Him.

You see, Job had lost all hope. He felt life’s finale, death, was around the corner waiting for him. Little did he know that God’s eternal purposes and promises were awaiting him beyond his present trials. 

Fortunately, we do. We could read ahead and see how it ends for Job. We could even read ahead to the Gospels of the New Testament and see how it ended for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus. We could read and see for ourselves that Jesus, is the Son of God, and He is God. We could read and see that nothing is impossible with Him. We could have assurance knowing that whatever life throws our way, we could always have hope…because our hope is in Jesus! 😊

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”-John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”-1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for the hope I have in You. Thank You for Your faithfulness. You may not always remove me from the difficult situation I am in, but You are always by my side, giving me the strength and seeing me through it. I pray for those people out there right now who are struggling, losing hope. May You draw their hearts back to You. May You lift their heads and eyes so they may see You. I pray that they may put their faith and trust in You. May they feel the power of Your Holy Spirit guiding them and seeing them through. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

2 Corinthians 9 - 6.20.25

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Observation

This is Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian Church and he is encouraging them to be Generous Givers. God does not need our money, but he does want our obedience to his word. We are stewards of God’s riches and blessings. He blesses us with a good job so we can support our family. He gives us promotions so we can support our family and be a blessing to someone else. He prompts people to sow into our lives, so He can be glorified through it.

Proverbs 22:9 - The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

God calls us to be generous with our time, finances and our love. We are to be a blessing to those who are in need.

Application

My second husband Michael taught me so much about being a Cheerful Giver. He would walk through stores looking for someone to bless. He was asking people all the time how could he help them. If he saw a person sitting on a street corner hungry and cold, he would stop and buy them food, then he would proceed to take off his jacket and/or shoes and give it to them. He would tell me all the time that everything he owned was God’s and he was just taking care of it for him. Michael was on disability because he lost his leg to a spider bite. Michael shared his little bit of money he received from the federal government, but the abundant blessings that were poured out from our Heavenly Father made me a believer. I have seen too much to not totally believe these scripture verses are true. I encourage you to TRY GOD and see what he can do. I encourage you to try and outgive God with Joy in your heart and Praise on your lips.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus, help us to trust you in all things. Help us to be Crazy Generous with the finances and time you have given us. Help us to give to you and others with a song in our heart and praise on our lips. It all belongs to you…we are your hands and feet in the earth. Thank You Lord for allowing us to be Good Stewards of your riches and loving us so much!

- Michelle Craig

2 Corinthians 8 - 6.19.25

2 Corinthians 8:13-15

S – 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

O -  2 Corinthians was written by Paul and Timothy to the churches in Corinth. They had just shared with them about the generosity and the hearts behind the giving from the churches in Macedonia. The example of the Macedonians is practical proof that true generosity is not the prerogative of those who enjoy an adequacy of means. The most genuine liberality is frequently displayed by those who have least to give. Christian giving is estimated in terms not of quantity but of sacrifice.” (Hughes)

Mark 12: 41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

These versus discuss the importance of generosity and equality among Christians. It emphasizes that all Christians depend on each other and should work together to provide for each other’s needs.

Corinthian Christians were not giving so that the Jerusalem Christians would get rich and lazy at their expense. Paul was taking the collection so the Jerusalem Christians could merely survive. The goal was not to burden the Corinthian Christians, nor was it to make it easy for the Jerusalem Christians.

Some like to say, “Give till it hurts. Then keep giving until it feels better again.” But God’s goal for us isn’t to “Give till it hurts.” The goal is not to afflict those who give, it is to display the giving heart and love of Jesus Christ. (Blueletterbible.org)

A - The same generosity and care for one another applies still today in our church families. I know firsthand no one is getting rich behind the scenes at Desert Streams Church, but the generous giving (tithes and offerings) ARE what take care of the needs of the church, the members, the community outreaches, the staff, and missions trips.

No one is saying that you have done nothing unless you strip yourself completely and put everything into a common fund. It is okay to have nice things, to have fun, to take vacations, etc. BUT, are you taking care of the things that matter to God as well? The things that He has asked you to take care of within the “church?”  The church building isn’t free, the AC/Heating isn’t free, the staff gets a salary, things break down, toilet paper and paper towels are expensive, and ministries need supplies. Tithing isn’t something pastors talk about (or should talk about) for personal gain. The ones I know well actually hate to talk about it. The simple truth is, the running of the church and committing to outreaches and helping the community have monetary value.

I challenge each person to ask God where He wants us to be more generous and listen to what He is speaking to you. It may be as simple as giving up Starbucks twice a week so you can give a little more, or it may be that you have never tithed and He is asking you to trust Him and to be obedient in that area. I promise you will see His blessings come back at you10-fold! That’s not why you should do it, but it’s wonderful how that happens : )

P – Lord Jesus, you are the greatest giver there ever was! You have given us our freedom, bought at the biggest price anyone has ever paid or sacrificed! Help us to become more like you in our generosity and open our hearts to give to the things that stir your heart.  I pray against any fear that may hold us back from giving to you what is yours. Whether it’s fear of not having enough, or fear of just trying to survive in a world that keeps taking more and more from us financially. Would you help us to fully trust you in the area of our finances and let you lead the way. And Lord, continue to bless Desert Streams Church in all the areas they need - finances, ministry leaders, staff, and hands to work the fields for harvest! Thank you Lord for your grace and generosity in my own life. I am in awe at the works of Your hands! I love you Lord! Amen

- Crystal Flory