Praising GOD during the good, the bad, and the super ugly

          I have another post I am working on… but it is difficult to write during this time of the Riley Road Tri-County Fires.  We owe land off Riley Road, unimproved, thickly wooded, but with a barn, an old house, and farm equipment.  As of today, the word from a reliable source is that there will be nothing left but charred land.
            I wondered about what my response should be and, of course, thought of Job.  The book of Job never answers “why” but reminds us to praise GOD because HE is worthy.  I am in no way like Job.  We are healthy and have an intact home, a fair ways from the fires.  But yet I am still sad.  Trees can grow back.  Equipment can be replaced.  A new home can be built.  But amidst my sorrow, my response should be to praise GOD.  I try to praise HIM but then I think of Cindy Morgan’s song “Praise the King.”  The first line:  “Praise HIM in the morning, for tall and lofty trees.”  I will keep trying.  Maybe one day I’ll get it right.  As the psalmist says, GOD’s mercy endures forever.
          My plan is to study this passage in depth but for now, I hope you enjoy… and remember to praise GOD during the good, the bad, and the super ugly.

Again, there was a day when the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.  And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”  Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth, and walking around on it.”  And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?  For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing GOD and turning away from evil.  And he still holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to ruin him without cause.”  And Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin!  Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.  However, put forth Thy hand, now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse Thee to Thy face.”  So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.  And he took a potsherd to scrape himself among the ashes.  Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity?  Curse GOD and die!”  But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks.  Shall we indeed accept good from GOD and not accept adversity?”  In all this Job did not sin with his lips (Job 2:1-10 NASB).