Life Is Not Fair, But God Is Just

It was once shared "Life is not fair, but God is just" and I have thought a lot about it. Job 14:1 "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble". In another Bible it reads, "His life is short and he gets his fill of unsavory experiences." I have been thinking of three persons whose life was unfair for but proved God ' s justice to the maximum.

Genesis 28 It was a Godless intention of Esau ' s that made Jacob leave home but it was not a Godless experience. Jacob was the victim of Esau's Godless intention but in the most distressing experience he got the greatest comfort and the most beautiful dream. Godlessness put him there but it was not a Godless experience. Jacob chose Rachel and labored for her seven years. When the time came, Laban deceived him and gave him Leah. It was a Godless intention of Laban but it was not a Godless experience for Jacob.. Even though Jacob was the victim of deception he had the blessing of God. It was a Godless intention but not a Godless experience for Jacob. Jacob hated Leah in the beginning but by the time she was buried, he saw God's hand and said bury me by Leah.

Jacob worked for Laban twenty years. He worked 7 years for Rachel and was deceived so had to work another 7 years for her. Laban changed Jacob ' s wages 20 times. If an animal died Jacob had to replace it. Life was not fair for Jacob but inspite of it God was with him and blessed him. Then Laban ' s countenance changed toward him. Jacob left Laban's house and feared to say goodbye. Laban pursued him with the intent of harm. Life is not fair but God is just, even in the most Godless attitudes and spirits and decisions it need not be a Godless experience. God spoke to Laban in a dream and he didn't harm Jacob. Hosea 12: 4, 5 "Yea he had power over the angel and prevailed: he wept and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel and there he spoke with us; Even the Lord God of hosts, the Lord is his memorial." When Jacob had to meet Esau coming with armed men, the Lord was his memorial. We have a just God on our side at all times. When Jacob died he said that God had appeared unto him and blessed him. Nothing that had disturbed Jacob in life was disturbing him in death.

1 Chronicles 5:1 "Now the sons of Reuben the first born of Israel , (for he was the firstborn; but for as much as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel : and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright". It was Jacob that chose to give Joseph the birthright and Joseph's brothers hated him.

God didn't do anything about their hatred. It was their Godless decision that sent Joseph into Egypt but it was not a Godless experience. Joseph could say, "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good". Psalm 105: v, 17-22 "He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the rules of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of his substance: to bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. Joseph suffered morally and physically and came out as a councilor to senators. Whether he was highly praised or cruelly criticized it didn't matter as long as he sought the help of God. Joseph remembered his dream about the sheaf standing upright. Sheaves stand upright when they get set down hard. If any sheaf was set down hard, it was Joseph. Jesus himself spoke about Jacob coming from the east, west, north and south..inspite of Joseph's experiences, the end will be fair and sweet.

David was God ' s anointed king but he was despised of Saul. Saul was treacherous and had envy and jealousy in his heart. When God couldn't hinder the treachery and hatred of Saul, he provided Johnathan to comfort David and cry with him. David could pray, "I thank thee for my loyal friend, Johnathan". Johnathan could pray, "God preserve my persecuted friend, David". Life is not fair but God is just. Saul died and David the anointed king sat on the throne..

Pleasure doesn't make a man. If David had destroyed Saul, he would have destroyed the school that made him the man that he was. After pruning his vines a husbandman was going through them putting wax on the cuts. When he was asked why he said, "Vines must weep but they must not weep too much. We have a pain free, fear free, sorrow free destination because God is just.”

Lorie Brown

Moses Journey Out Of Egypt

This is almost overwhelming when you think about it. You MUST read to the end

Moses and the people were in the desert, but what was he going to do with them.

They had to be fed, and feeding 2 or 3 million people requires a lot of food.

According to the Quartermaster General in the Army, it is reported that Moses would have to have had

1500 tons of food each day. Do you know that to bring that much food each day, two freight trains, each

at least a mile long, would be required! !

Besides you must remember, they were out in the desert, so they would have to have firewood to use in

cooking the food. This would take 4000 tons of wood and a few more freight trains, each a mile long,

just for one day. And just think, they were forty years in transit.

And Oh yes! They would have to have water. If they only had enough to drink and wash a few dishes, it would take 11,000,000 gallons each day and a freight train with tank cars, 1800 miles long, just to bring water!

And then another thing! They had to get across the ! Red Sea at night. Now, if they went on a narrow

path, double file, the line would be 800 miles long and would require 35 days and nights to get through.

So there had to be a space in the Red Sea , 3 miles wide so that they could walk 5000 abreast to get over in one night.

But then, there is another problem...............each time they camped at the end of the day, a

campground two-thirds the size of the state of Rhode Island was required, or a total of 750 square miles

long......think of it! This much space for camping.

Do you think Moses figured all this out before he left Egypt I think not!

You see, Moses believed in God. God took care of these things for him.

The Folded Napkin

Why would Jesus fold the linen napkin?
 
The Gospel of John (20: 7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes.

The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Is that important? 

You'd better believe it! Is that significant? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!
 
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about the Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition.

When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table until the master was finished.
 
Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table, for in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm done". But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, "I'm not finished yet."
 
The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
 
He is Coming Back!
 

When You're Down To Nothing, God Is Up To Something."

This is beautiful! Try not to cry.

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room.

She said: "How is my little boy ? Is he going to be all right ? When can I see him ?"

The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it."

Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer ? Doesn't God care any more ?

Where were you, God, when my son needed you ?"

The surgeon asked, "Would you like some time alone with your son ? One of

the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the

university."

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran

her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. "Would you like a lock of

his hair ?" the nurse asked.

Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag

and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, "It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. "I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom." She went on, "My Jimmy had a heart

of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could."

Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room. 

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always
kept them. She laid down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said

"Dear Mom,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause
I'm not around to say "I Love You".. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday

we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be solonely, that's okay
with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably
wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know. Don't be
sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place.

Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time
to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look
like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD !

And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's
when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew

that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to
write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said
for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'Where was He when I needed him ?'
"God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as
He always is with all His children. Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you.

To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool ?

I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I
get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. I'm glad because I couldn't stand
that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of
Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery ! How about that ?

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

Religion vs Gospel

Friend, I am not interested in religion, but I am deeply interested in the Gospel. I wouldn’t walk across the street for religion, but I am willing to go around the world for the sake of the Gospel. There is a great difference between the two.

· Religion is man-made; the Gospel is God-given.

· Religion is what man does for God; the Gospel is what God does for man.

· Religion is man’s search for God; the Gospel is God’s search for man.

· Religion is man trying to climb the ladder of his own self-righteousness, with the hope of meeting God at the topmost rung. The Gospel is God coming down the ladder of the incarnation of Jesus Christ and meeting us as sinners on the lowest rung.

· Religion is good views; the Gospel is good news.

· Religion is good advice; the Gospel is a glorious announcement.

· Religion takes a man and leaves him as he is; the Gospel takes man as he is and makes him what he ought to be.

· Religion ends in an outer reformation.

· Religion whitewashes; the Gospel washes white.

· Religion often becomes a farce; the Gospel is always a force, the power of God unto Salvation, to everyone who believes.

· There are many religions, but only ONE GOSPEL.

-unknown

Spirit Of God

Mary had a little Lamb
Loving Spirit of God to show
Some have the privilege of
This Spirit wherever they go.

At twelve years of tender age
Instead, with friends would rather
Be found communing in the Temple
Be about the business of His Father.

As He walked along the shore
Found fishermen by the sea
Called them saying Follow Me
Making fishers of men of thee.

Choosing men to disciples be
Laying down the only qualification
Leave all to preach the Gospel
Bringing men the gift of salvation.

A ruler sought to speak to the Lamb
Fearing the Jews came at night
Being taught Ye must be born again
Questioning, things that are right

Must journey through Samaria
By a well asked for water to drink
Then expounding to a woman
Testing her past to the brink.

-unknown

Forgiveness

The devil said Be proud!
The devil said Be cruel
The devil said Take care lest you should appear a fool!
The devil said Forgive, but don't forget - not quite!
And the devil said Be sure you prove that you were in the right!

The Spirit said Be wise!
The Spirit said Be kind!
The Spirit said Be neighbourly and think kindly in your mind!
The Spirit said Forgive, and lest there be a doubt -
Call Loving-kindness with her sponge and wipe the matter out!

-W J Hughes

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving between my Lord and me. I may not choose the colors; He knows what they should be. For He can view the pattern upon the upper side.While I can see it only on this, the under side. Sometimes He weaveth sorrow, which seemeth strange to me, But I trust His judgment, and work on faithfully. 'Tis He who fills the shuttle;He knows just what is best. So I shall weave in earnest and leave with Him the rest. Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles ceases to fly
Shall God unroll the canvas, and explain the reason why. The darker threads are as needful in the weaver's skillful hand. As the threads of gold and silver for the pattern He has planned.

 -Author Unknown'

 

A Broken Will

I thought I had a broken will
Because I did not speak my mind.
But deep inside I murmured still
When my ideas were left behind.

I do not care, whatever you say,
I’ll get onto your plans today.
But deep inside my heart still said,
Why can’t I ever have my way?

And you call this a broken will?
Why it’s nothing but some self restraint.
If deep inside the heart says still
Why must I go without complaint?

A broken will, will gladly go,
thankful another plans the way.
Because the heart loves Jesus so,
It matters not the path today.

I’m thankful for a broken will,
It’s bringing me treasure life cannot dim.
His hand outstretched in mercy still
Will bring me safely home to Him.

-Bill Walker

The Touch Of The Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time
on the old violin, but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!"

"Only two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.

A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin, A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on.

"He is going" once, and "going twice, He's going and almost gone." But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd never can quite understand the worth of a soul and the change that's wrought by the touch of the Master's hand.

~Myra 'Brooks' Welch