tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post5576609403393232569..comments2015-05-03T15:29:01.946-04:00Comments on Mary Schieferstein - Stories of Rain and Rivers: My WorldMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-36217914318512454722012-10-04T17:29:32.193-04:002012-10-04T17:29:32.193-04:00Oh, thank you so much, Christina! I wasn't su...Oh, thank you so much, Christina! I wasn't sure how accurate I would be, given how little I actually know. And thank you so much for stopping by! Hopefully I'll make it over to your blog again soon!Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-39743279288143412172012-09-29T20:28:42.399-04:002012-09-29T20:28:42.399-04:00This is amazing...moving and realistic. It's ...This is amazing...moving and realistic. It's a sad reality but you are a bright light of hope. Thanks for sharing these words.Christinahttp://www.toshowthemjesus.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-45725410727477241532012-09-29T18:06:11.785-04:002012-09-29T18:06:11.785-04:00Thank you, Cynthia! I don't know how accurate...Thank you, Cynthia! I don't know how accurate it is, but I'm glad you liked it.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing about Job and holding me accountable. I really appreciate it. I did look up the text you were talking about, and what God said was that Job's friends hadn't spoken rightly about Him. Since it wasn't more specific, I flipped back a bit and looked at what Job's friends are saying. I think (and I could definitely be very wrong here) that the main issue is their narrow view of God. They think they understand all of God's purposes, but they don't. They're putting Him in a box, and it's the boundaries they're trying to place on Him that are wrong. I do not think that the main issue is that Job's friends said God punished the wicked here on earth, because I do believe that there is a sense in which that is true. There are many, many examples of God's punishment of the wicked while they are living here on earth throughout the Bible, and John Piper argues that this continues today (http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-wrath-of-god-against-ungodliness-and-unrighteousness). Obviously, He still withholds some of His wrath, but there is a sense in which His wrath truly is being revealed. Job's friends, however, think this punishment is the only reason for suffering, which is definitely not true! God uses our trials to test us, refine us, and draw us closer to Him! Job's friends missed that point. On the other hand, just because God's wrath isn't the only reason for suffering doesn't mean it isn't a reason for suffering, so I don't think I want to change my list without more evidence that it needs changing.<br /><br />Yes, it is interesting. Bet God planned it that way.<br /><br />Love & prayers for you, too, friend.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982915577379777268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52882048944895389.post-77123345445462477002012-09-27T22:08:40.759-04:002012-09-27T22:08:40.759-04:00I love your Compassion child story! I just had a c...I love your Compassion child story! I just had a couple random thoughts a bit ago as I heard Job being read on my local Christian radio station. God says at the end of Job, that Job's friends did not speak correctly about God.One of their main incorrect thoughts was that God punished the wicked here on earth so in their eyes, Job was receiving what He deserved.In my general opinion of the Bible, I think the righteous here on earth tend to suffer like Jesus did & God is saving His wrath until the end for the wicked :(Lazarus & the rich man). Of course, as Christians we must alleviate as much suffering as possible. Job's suffering helped him know God. Interesting how your compassion blogs coincide with Job! Love & prayers, in Jesus, CynthiaCynthiaJSwensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02677435502134218703noreply@blogger.com