As I look out the window, in our neck of the woods, I see a few high clouds and I know the temperature is still in the mid-40’s, but the sun is shining, birds are singing and things are peaceful right now.

The mountains are still getting some much-needed snow and the water sheds are doing better.  Trees are starting to bud out (hopefully we don’t have a serious frost in the next few weeks, there really is still danger of that happening.)

I read an article the other day where people were questioning whether the birds actually ‘sing.’  It was pointed out by the writer that some of our classic composers actually used the notes of some of the birds singing in their compositions – if I recall right it was Beethoven and Mozart that were noted but others also copied the birds’ songs.

No wonder they connect with us.

Job 42:1-2  KJV  “Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

² I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.”

Reading Job can be very discouraging, at first.

Job loses everything, family, possessions and even friends’ admiration and support. 

Then when he still doesn’t curse God he ends up with personal health problems.

Yet, while he struggled at times, He never lost faith in God.

After proving Job’s devotion to Him, God made Job’s last days to be more prosperous than he was before he was tested by satan.

Verses 12 and 16-17  KJV  “So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.

¹⁷ So Job died, being old and full of days.”

Does it work like this for everyone?  Of course not, but, as with Job, we can be used no matter what our situation is, to glorify God and let others know that He really is in charge no matter how hopeless we may feel. 

AND no matter how others may try and discourage us.

No matter how old we may be, no matter how physically challenged we may find ourseleves, God can still can use us.

Joshua 13:!  KJV  “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.

Joshua had led the people of Israel out of the wilderness into the Promised Land.  By now he was tired, his body was old and it showed – at my age I can now appreciate “stricken in years” a lot better than I could 20, or even 10 years ago.  It can be a struggle sometimes when your mind says ‘do,’ and your body says ‘are you kidding me?’

Job endured and continued to serve God for 140 years after his testing. 

Joshua didn’t say, use someone else, Lord, I am just too tired and besides look at all I have done for you already, give me a rest.

He did as God instructed Him.

We can always be of service to God, no matter our age or infirmities, we just have to listen, trust God and follow the Holy Spirit.

Later, Art (-: