In chapel they start off with pledges, the Pledge of Allegiance, Pledge to the Christian flag and Pledge to the Bible. The principal speaks and welcomes them all in. Older kids read verses, someone leads worship songs and at the end there is always a small bible lesson.
I've wanted to go to this with them since they started school but haven't had a moment... this week's Presidents Day holiday gave me that occasion.
In Arizona we celebrate Rodeo, most kids will be off the latter part of this week; in preparation of all things Rodeo this week Chapel had a Rodeo theme. It was so much fun to hear some of the great worship songs sung with a western feel... it was different for sure.
The lesson struck a small chord with me... I moment where I thought... "I have never thought of it that way before". The story came by way of Job... Job, if you aren't familiar had a tough life, he lost --- everything... he was a good and faithful follower of God, too good by Satan's standards and God knew that Job would be faithful through trial and temptation. So Job lost his family... he lost his health, he lost his animals... he lost it all... and then God restored... I love typing those words... God restored... two powerful words!
But... that is not what grabbed my attention... Job is speaking to his critics... He was blameless in sin and bad things happened to him... and he's talking to all of his friends and they laugh at him and mock him... but Job turns to all the creatures God has made and points to them...
But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky and they will tell you; or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind. Job 12:7-10
Everything in this life has a purpose, has a job to do, was designed to do what God intended them to do... since it's Rodeo, like I mentioned before... they brought the conversation back around to cattle roping. How the Cowboy has to rope the cow but it's the horses job to make sure the line is tight so the cowboy can do his job... the horses eyes are trained on that rope... focused on the job at hand.
All I kept thinking was... am I focused on the job at hand? God has assigned me a task, am I working on it for him, with him in mind? I sure hope so... I believe so.
Today I was able to attend the Rodeo with my kids, I've never been and I've lived in the desert southwest all my life. The kids enjoyed every single bit of it and were sad to leave when the morning was over. I loved it just as much as they did... especially when I consider working on the job at hand.
I continue to pray for you... Enjoy Wednesday my friends!