JOB: SORE NO MORE

JOB: SORE NO MORE

In the land of Uz lived Job;

Who loved God and hated evil.

Satan decided to test him,

By bringing his life upheaval.

Job had prestige and riches,

Yet he was a family man.

No one or nothing had brought him down,

But the devil thought, "I can."

One day when angels went to God,

Satan tagged along.

"Where'd you come from?" said the Lord.

For Satan didn't belong.

"Have you seen my servant Job?"

God said to the devil that day.

"He is upright and blameless,"

God said in His loving way.

"He serves you only for the gain,"

Sneered Satan without disgrace.

"If he loses those things most precious to him,

He will curse you to your face."

The Lord had faith in Job,

That he could pass this test.

Satan would try to bring him down,

And was eager to begin his quest.

Job's animals were carried off,

His servants were put to the sword.

Others were burned, along with the sheep,

When fire from the raging sky poured.

But the tragedy that followed,

Was the one that would most upset Job.

When he learned his children were killed,

He stood up and tore his robe.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

And naked I will depart.

I know the Lord gives and takes away,"

Job praised God from his heart.

But Job never once blamed God.

As the Lord’s own plan uncoiled.

The depth of Job’s great love was proven,

And the devil’s plan was foiled.

Satan and the angels met with God,

As they did the time before.

The devil and God had the same conversation,

But Satan would ask for more.

"Let me harm Job physically;

He'll curse you because of his strife."

"Very well, he's yours," God said,

“But you must spare his life."

Job was afflicted with sores,

From his soles to the top of his head.

They caused him pain and misery;

He wished that he was dead.

From his wife he heard, "Curse God,"

But Job replied from the rubble,

"Shall we accept the good from God,

And not accept His trouble?"

Three so-called friends came to visit,

But their insults sparked Job’s fury.

They offered no comfort or sympathy;

They became his judge and jury.

They haughtily spoke of his pride,

And often accused him of sin.

They questioned his love and honesty;

Job’s patience was wearing thin.

When he begged his friends for pity,

They reprimanded him.

Job complained most bitterly,

For he was as good as them.

"I know my Saviour lives," he insisted,

"On the earth He again will stand."

Job knew when his skin was completely gone,

He would be at God's right hand.

The friends mocked on 'til God questioned Job;

He told Job to pray for his friends.

Job was sorry he second-guessed God;

God then made amends.

For staying faithful to Him,

God blessed Job with more than before.

He gave him beautiful children,

And Job was sore no more.

Becky Wall

SOWING THE GOSPEL SEED: HARVEST TIME

(Based on Matt. 13:3-7, 18-29)

A sower planted the gospel seed,

In the minds of several men.

When his work was done, he waited,

To see what would happen then.

The seed in the mind of the first man,

Was eaten by a bird.

The buzzard’s name was Satan,

And the seed he ate was God’s Word.

The seed in the mind of the second man,

Sprouted, but soon was dead.

No wonder the gospel seed withered;

For the man had rocks in his head.

The seed in the mind of the third man,

Also began to sprout,

But troubles and trials came on him,

And the seed was choked by doubt.

On that day when the reaper comes,

Will fruit be on my vine?

Or will I be treated like chaff?

Which harvest will be mine?

Becky Overturf Wall

MY DIVORCE: D-DAY

Today is my divorce;

The judge will hear my decree.

The stroke of his pen will amputate,

A long-time part of me.

Divorce became my last resort,

Broken covenants I must bear.

My heart and dreams are shattered, too;

I’ve awakened to a nightmare.

A wall had formed between us,

I can’t remember when.

I feel like Humpty Dumpty;

Who will put me together again?

I’ll meet with my attorney;

He’ll tell me what to say.

Our divorce is on the docket;

It is now D-Day.

Before we start, I’ll be sworn in;

The words I’ll say are few.

The marriage will end just as it started,

With the same two words, “I do.”

I think that I’ll wear black today,

A symbol of the grief in my heart.

I mourn the death of our marriage;

For this death will do us part.

Becky Wall

Note: In answer to my question "Who will put me together again?," I found the answer in Christ.

BALAAM AND THE TALKING DONKEY

(Based on Num 22-24, Deut 23:5-6, Josh 24:9-10,

Neh 13:1-2, 2 Pet 2:15, Jude 11)

BALAAM AND THE TALKING DONKEY

Balak, the son of a king,

Summoned Balaam, a pagan priest,

To put a curse on the Israelites,

Who had settled near him to the east.

The Israelites were conquerors,

So the prince was afraid of their horde.

He wanted a hex put on them,

Balaam would call on the Lord.

Balaam supposedly met with success,

When upon gods he would call,

He was paid to bring curses or blessings,

And he called upon them all.

But now he had met the one true God,

Whom he called to by divination.

He boldly asked God to send a curse,

On the whole Israelite nation.

God told Balaam to refuse,

The prince's ridiculous request,

So Balaam sent the officials back,

Which made the prince greatly distressed.

But the prince was more determined--

He wanted those Israelites cursed.

He sent a greater reward,

And officials more distinguished than the first.

Balaam opened his mouth to accept,

But here’s what the people heard:

“Offer a palace with silver and gold,

But I must obey God’s word.”

God then commanded Balaam,

"Go on, since they summoned you.

But I instruct you to do,

Only what I tell you to do."

God sent an angel to block the way,

So Balaam would learn his lesson.

For he had lived a reckless life;

With the true God he was now messin’.

His donkey’s way was blocked,

By an angel sent by the Lord.

The donkey turned into a field,

For the angel carried a sword.

Balaam beat his donkey and then,

Started down a narrow, walled path.

Balaam’s foot was crushed on the wall;

He again showed the donkey his wrath.

Then the angel moved on ahead,

And completely blocked their way.

The donkey laid down with Balaam on top.

For that, he was made to pay.

The Lord then opened the donkey’s mouth,

To Balaam he began talking.

He asked his master why the beatings,

For he had good reason for balking.

Balaam now saw the angel,

Who was ready to settle the score.

If it hadn’t been for his donkey,

He would be living no more.

Balaam still desired to please Balak,

So he kept on pursuing his quest.

But every time he opened his mouth,

The Israelites were blessed.

Becky Wall

ELIJAH: 450 VS. 1

ELIJAH: 450 VS. 1

(Based on I Kings 18:16-40)

The Israelites turned away from God,

In the days of Jezebel.

So Elijah, the prophet, said to them,

“Follow God, or follow Baal.”

But his words were met with silence,

For the people couldn’t decide.

God sent Elijah to prove to them,

That in God they should abide.

Elijah challenged Baal’s prophets,

To see whose god was a liar.

Each god would be offered a sacrifice;

The real one would answer by fire.

Four hundred fifty prophets of Baal,

Were pitted against only one.

But when that one was sent from God,

The contest was already won.

The idol’s prophets went first;

Their god they began to hound.

They begged from morning ‘til noon,

But they never heard a sound.

Thinking it would help to dance,

They danced themselves into a tizzy.

But still they got no answer;

All they got was dizzy.

Elijah began to heckle them,

“Shout louder,” he repeatedly said.

“Baal may be busy or deep in thought,

On a trip, or even in bed.”

Baal’s prophets shouted louder;

They slashed themselves with swords.

Midday passed and they prophesied on,

Just waiting for Baal’s rewards.

Then Elijah called to God's people,

Once the altar had been repaired.

He may have preached a sermon, too,

While the sacrifice was prepared.

One stone was placed for each tribe,

On the spot where the old altar stood.

A trench was dug, the bull cut up,

Then the pieces were laid on the wood.

Four large jars of water,

Were poured on the wood and bull.

They did this three times over;

Even the trench was full.

Then came the time of sacrifice,

So, Elijah stepped forward to pray.

“God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,

Make yourself known today!!”

When fire came down from heaven,

The wood, bull, and stones all burned.

It licked up the water in the trench,

And the hearts of the people turned.

The false prophets lost their lives;

They had listened to Baal’s silent voice.

Since Baal couldn’t make a puff of smoke,

God became the people’s choice.

Becky Overturf Wall

JOSHUA AND RAHAB: TWO SPIES AND A HARLOT

(Joshua 2-6)

Jacob is also called Israel.

Twelve tribes made up his nation.

Ten were tribes of Jacob’s sons,

And two were sons by adoption.

After the death of Moses,

They camped on the river sand.

On the far side of the Jordan lay Canaan,

The long-awaited Promised Land.

Joshua was the son of Nun,

And also Moses’ aide.

Through him God kept a promise,

That had long ago been made.

God told Joshua to cross the Jordan,

Into the Promised Land.

And if anyone tried to harm him,

He would lend a hand.

God first encouraged Joshua,

To be courageous and strong,

To study the law day and night,

And be careful to do no wrong.

Joshua ordered his officers,

To go through the camp far and near,

And tell the people to gather their needs;

Their day would soon be here.

In three days they would cross the river,

Which all of the men would be fordin’

The women and children of 2 1/2 tribes,

Would stay east of the river Jordan.

The people pledged allegiance to Joshua,

To obey him until their last breath.

Because anyone who did not,

God would put to death.

Joshua sent two spies to the land,

Where he’d spied 40 years before.

Back then the people were short of faith;

This time they were ready for war.

The spies were to scout out Jericho.

They would stay at the house of a dame.

She had a poor reputation;

Rahab was her name.

Someone snitched to the king,

That the spies were there that night.

The king sent a message to Rahab,

To bring the men into sight.

She told the pursuers the men left at dusk.

Who they were, she did not know.

But if they wanted to catch the spies,

They should hurriedly go.

Meanwhile the spies were on the roof,

Under plants spread out to dry.

Their foes were on a wild goose chase,

So the spies had no fear they would die.

Rahab told of her people’s great fear;

When they heard God dried the Red Sea,

And that nations had been destroyed;

They hoped He would leave them be.

Rahab expressed her faith and belief,

In the one true God they served.

She asked for kindness to her family,

Since she helped their lives be preserved.

“Our lives for your lives,” the spies’ replied.

”Though not one in your nation survives,

As long as you don’t tell on us,

We’ll spare your family’s lives.”

Becky Wall