The river path...

Walk along the river.....

There is a wonderful walkway along the Deshutes....

I took my dog there the other day, as I was down that way and the weather hadn't changed for the promised cold yet. Lots of dog walkers, families out for a stroll or jog...

Along the paved pathway are pillars about three feet tall. Some have plaques on them and others are , not.   I had never really paid any attention to them be fore, so stopped to see what they said...each was dedicated a person or family either in memorial or in name for who they were or what they had accomplished...either in the past or present....

There were construction workers, business builders, foresters, city founders, conservationists, family names, loggers,  .....some with a motto, some not....legacies.....

It just reminded me of the tombstones at the cemetery.   I have read lots of those in the past few years...historic older ones in Alaska, Canada, the Titanic, California, family ones.....even designed one and finished one....remembrances......messages to those who come later....

In starting to reread the book of Job, what would his epitaph be?   Or Paul's,Timothy's, David's, ......persevered., a man after God's heart....young...long life....

What do I want?  What will my family remember me by?  Scared....angry....loving ...antagonist....peace desirer...care taker....observer.......can't walk the talk.....I don't know...

Thank YOU for the  reminders that You are the blessed controller of all things. help me to observe, live a life worthy of Your calling...

Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths.
—Psalm 25:4 nkjv

Divine Limitation
Daily Devotion for December 2
From the Writings of Ray Stedman

Read the Scripture: Job 2:1-8

But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face. The LORD said to Satan, Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life (Job 2:5-6).

Once again there is a divine limitation to Satan's power, but this time God moves the boundaries closer. He says, You can touch him. In fact, when Satan uses the phrase, strike his flesh and bones, he asks for access to the total humanity of Job. We still use that phrase today to speak of the totality of our humanity—not only our physical body but also our emotional life, our conscious and subconscious thinking and reacting, and our soul and spirit. Satan is asking for access to Job to touch him in body, soul, and spirit—and he proceeds in that order. He thinks that if he can get at Job in every part of his being, he can shake Job's faith and cause him to turn from his trust and confidence in God and curse Him to His face.

Once when I finished preaching a message on the first chapter of Job, two young men came up and challenged me. They would not accept the story of Job as an historical event, and they could not believe there ever was a man named Job who endured so many trials. I asked them why not. Their reply was, If that story is true, then God is unconcerned about human life. It pictures God as ruthless. Job's whole family was taken from him. We can't accept this as historical record. In talking with them, I realized that they were struggling with the same feelings that many people struggle with today. They see God as nothing more than a being who thinks and acts and has no more rights than a man. They thought that if a man dealt with another person as God dealt with Job, he would be justifiably charged with murder and cruelty. It did not occur to them that God could not be charged with these things, because in His hand is all of life. He determines the length of life for everyone.

That is why we have the book of Job, to show us that there are reasons for and purposes in these trials and sufferings that we do not see. Job could not see what was going on behind the scenes, and neither can we. And yet God knows. He has a purpose, and it is a proper and right purpose that will end up manifesting more fully the love and compassion of His heart. The test of every trial is always to this end.

Father, I see something of the pain and tears with which life can confront me, yet I will still be in Your will and Your hand, guarded and guided by Your love.

Life Application: Sometimes the pressures of life threaten to crush us. Are we willing to let God be God? Are we learning to trust in His perfect will and timeless wisdom?

Related Message: This daily devotion was inspired by one of Ray's messages. Please read "The Pressure of Pain" or listen to Ray for more on this portion of scripture.