LIFE

Being Lay Leader during January, I started the month and told our church they were filled with a great sense of humor and that we should come to church with joy in our hearts.

January 13, I told them they should get up on Sunday and say, “I am so excited.  I get to go to church today.”

January 20, I was going to say something about the congregation being the life of the church, but I was not there.  Why?  Because our grandson was choosing a new life – an eternal life!  He was baptized!

There are a gazillion articles, books and papers written on how our lives change once we accept Christ as our Savior.  Some books point out person after person who continued on with their lives as if nothing had happened and use that as proof that God is not real.  Others tell of miraculous changes where addictions are instantly left behind.  And some tell how the changes are subtle, happening slowly as greed turns into generosity and selfishness into compassion and hate into love. 

As I thought about this, I wondered:  What else changes when someone becomes a true believer?

HEAVEN?  Do the carpenters get busy and add another room to the mansion?  Do the angels look down at Satan and go, “Na, na, na, na.  This one is ours!”  Is another heavenly robe sown? 

Yes, I am being a bit silly, but the question remains:  What changes when someone truly chooses a new life? 

THE PERSON:  Even a person who grew up in the church and has always believed changes when they make a personal commitment.  Maybe, slowly at first, thoughts change.  Attitudes change.  Actions change.  A person changes when they fully accept that the Cross is for them!

THE FAMILY:  When a family has a commitment to a new life in Christ, the family changes.  I am in no way saying the terrible twos will not happen, those dreaded teenage years will be smooth sailing or that life will be a bed or roses.  Life changes because the family is united in their faith.  Their faith directs family situations to be handled with respect and love and wisdom.

(Disclaimer:  Pastor Larry also writes a blog:  https://larry- fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot. com/ but you need to know we never discuss what the other is writing and it is absolutely a coincidence when the blogs are on the same topic.  It is also a coincidence when the ideas swimming in my head are mentioned during the Sunday sermon.)

THE CHURCH:  What exactly happens when the Church makes a commitment to a new life in Christ?  THE CHURCH CHANGES!  The focus and the direction of the church changes.  Eyes open and see.  Hands unclasp and do.  Hearts thaw and feel.  Doors open wide.  And a church works as one, using each talent and gift to the Glory of God.

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January 20, I was going to say something about the congregation being the life of the church, but I was not there.  Why?  Because our grandson was choosing a new life – an eternal life!  He was baptized!

NEW LIFE BEGINS

One person chooses a new life – an eternal life – and thoughts, attitudes and actions change.

One family commits to a new life in Christ and family situations are handled with respect and love and wisdom.

One church makes a commitment to a new life in Christ and begins to work as one, using each talent and gift to the Glory of God

NEW LIFE

One person changes their life, which can change a family, which can change a church, which can change a community, which can change a country, which can change the world.

That means we are ---- come back next week to see.

EXCITED

Are you a morning person?  Do you wake up; eyes wide open and ready to face the day?

Well good for you.

That is not exactly how I wake up.  My day starts when hubby says, “Good morning, it is time to get up.” He is my alarm clock because .... Well .....  My mom always woke us kids up so I never woke up to an alarm clock.  Until I got married.  Believe it or not we received three alarm clocks as wedding gifts.  Personally I think alarm clocks are a strange wedding gift but, as it ended up, we used all three.

Morning one:  The alarm clock was there waiting to welcome me to a new day.  The alarm went off. A very loud alarm that scared me to death and clock one did not survive me trying to silence that absolutely obnoxious sound.

Morning two:  The box said the alarm was a pleasant sound that would not cause permanent damage to the ear.  The box lied. Clock two joined clock one in the trash can.

Morning three:  Bill turned the alarm clock off and from that day forward, the alarm clock resided on his side of the bed.

A perfect morning would be to hear a very soft, “Good morning Mary.  Here is your coffee and the morning paper turned to the cartoons.”  Ah, coffee!  Thank you God for coffee.

Over the years, I have gotten up to go to work, to fix breakfast and get everyone out the door, to take care of sick kids, to take care of a sick hubby, to go on vacation, to deliver calves, to get cows off the road and fix fence at 2:00 AM, and because it is the adult thing to do.  It is not that I want to sleep in.  It is just that I hate waking up!

Except for Sunday. On Sunday I am excited, because I know that, after coffee, I GET TO GO TO CHURCH!  I am:

EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP.

EXCITED TO BE IN GOD’S HOUSE.

EXCITED TO GREET OTHERS.

EXCITED TO JOIN IN SONG.

EXCITED TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

EXCITED TO LEARN FROM THE SERMON.

Yup.  On Sunday I wake up with the joy and excitement of knowing I will be going to church...... right after I have my coffee.

JOY

Written Sunday, January 6, 2019

I am doing Lay Leader at church this month.  This morning I started by saying the congregation has a sense of humor.

First, I better tell you that I am neither the tallest nor the shortest person around, but I am always a few inches too short to reach the stuff on the top shelf at any store.  Yesterday I had a day out with friends and my friend – a friend much taller than I am --drove her truck.  A truck with no running boards.  But she is a good friend and brought along a step stool.  So every time I had to get in the truck, out came the stool, I stepped up on it and then into the truck.  This caused more than a few glances and snickers from passersby.  Getting out was so much easier.  I could slide out.  Gravity took care of that! 

I told about this at church and could see a picture forming in everyone’s mind.  I am not sure which picture gave them the greatest joy – my climbing in the truck or my sliding out. 

I told the church what the pastor said in the prayer room as were getting ready to pray before service started.  The pastor had commented, “We are not 27 anymore.”  I told him I was.  I just used the numbers in a different order.  It was my turn for joy because it was funny to see the congregation thinking, “27 in another order would be…oh… 72.”

To top it all off, the pastor suggested I lead the singing.  I informed him that the Bible said a joyful noise and the only one that thought my singing was joyful was God.  I told the congregation I would not be standing anywhere near the microphone during the singing.  The congregation clapped.  Ok.  They did not clap but they were very joyful to learn I would not be leading the singing.

I wish everyone would worship joyfully.  I do not think there is a scripture that tells us to come to church with a scowl on our face.  Believe me, when you are up front you do not want to see row after row of prune faces and I am pretty sure God would agree.  There is so much joy around us

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.

My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

Psalm 28:7

I can guarantee that God has provided me with many, many, many stepstools to reach where I need to be.  My heart leaps with joy when I slide down and find my feet firmly planted on solid ground.  And I praise him.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generations,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I whom you have delivered.

Psalm 71:17-18, 23

Age is a number and hair color is just a color.  But God being beside me when I am old and gray is a fact!  And that fact makes me shout for joy.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth;

make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

Psalm 98:4

I will make a joyful noise unto the LORD.  I will make a loud noise.  I will rejoice and sing praises.  I will do this but I will only do this when I am not standing close to a microphone.

Bottom line:  Come to church with joy in your soul.

WALLS

Tear down that wall.  Build that wall.  We hear a lot about walls so I looked up “wall” in the Bible.  Wow.  The word wall is used over 250 times in the NIV!

Walls of water allowed the children of Israel to stay dry – twice.  Walls that went all the way to the sky caused fear.  Walls were built and other walls came down.  Walls kept people in and people out.  Walls secured cities.  Salvation was called a wall, but so was hostility.  Some walls were covered in gold.  Some walls had holes in them and others could be scaled with the help of God.

Of course the best wall story is Joshua and the walls of Jericho.

Can you imagine the shock when Joshua told the people, “Listen up.  The Ark of the Covenant of the LORD, seven priests with trumpets and the fighting men are going to march around Jericho for the next seven days.  The first six days you will only march around the city one time.  It is not that big of a deal and shouldn’t take too long.  Now, when we march, the priests will be blowing their trumpets but the rest of you are to be perfectly quiet.  Not one peep.  On the seventh day it will go a bit different.  Line up as usual but put on your most comfortable shoes because we are going around seven times and then the priests will sound a blast and you are to shout.  I want you to give it everything you have.  Shout so loud even the walls will fall in fear.” 

Shout they did and the walls came down!

TEAR DOWN THAT WALL

There are walls in our lives that need to come down.  How about that wall that goes up called stubborn?  Brick by brick we build walls of resentment, bitterness and allowing old wounds to keep us from being free.  We build walls so others cannot see we are hurting or lonely.  Sometimes possessions, commitments, work and even people add bricks to the wall that traps us. 

Why don’t we just take a sledge hammer to that wall and whack away? 

Sometimes we are afraid of what would happen if we “let down our guard.”  Sometimes we are not strong enough or courageous enough to change.  Sometimes we do not even know how to begin.  Sometimes it is because life has always been this way and we don’t know any different.  Sometimes it is because we listen to a voice that says we do not deserve any better. 

Set yourself free.  Tear down these walls.

ALLOW GOD TO BUILD A NEW WALL

Tear down a wall.  Build a wall.  Confused yet?

We need a wall around us.  We need to be safe and protected.  Our souls are vulnerable and we need a wall that will not fall down when man shouts.

And there is only one who can build such a wall – GOD! 

The amazing thing is that as God builds HIS WALL, our walls start to crumble.  Stubbornness, resentment, bitterness, old wounds and the walls we hide behind are replaced with bricks of grace and mercy and forgiveness.  As God builds HIS WALL, possessions, commitments, work and even people change in value and are replaced with a giving spirit, God’s plan and work and we are influenced by people He places in our lives.

The amazing thing is that as God builds HIS WALL, our walls start to crumble.  As bricks of wisdom go up, fear is replaced by strength and courage and we listen to the voice of truth.

Set yourself free.  Walk away from the wall you have built around yourself and step onto an eternal foundation with a wall so strong it will never fall.

GETTING READY

In a few days, we will take down the 2018 calendar and put up the 2019 one.  I have my 2019 pocket calendar started with birthdays, appointments, scheduled activities and vacations entered.  2019 is full of my plans.  January, February and March have a lot of entries and then things slow down.  I am sure the other months will fill up with doctor appointments, meetings, time with friends and family and days with nothing special to do.

Am I ready for 2019?  Yes! 

“Are you really ready Mary?”

Oh no.  God was listening.

“I like to listen to you, especially when you make funny comments like you are ready for 2019.”

Funny?  I am ready for 2019!  I have calendars with my plans written down and can handle what comes --- with your help, of course.

“I always get a chuckle when my children mention their plans.  I do have a question.  What are you leaving behind and what are you taking with you into this new year?”

Leaving behind?  Taking with me?  Hum…. 2018 was a bit of a challenge so I will leave behind frustration and resentment, but during the challenges I made some new friends, so I will take them with me.  I also learned how to research and dig for the truth, so I will take the ability to learn with me.

“Keep going.”

Well ….. I know.  Impatience.  I am not always the most patient person.  In 2019, I will work on being more understanding when people do not want to do it my way.  But honestly, if they would only listen….

“They should listen like you listen to my plan and, you have to admit, my plan is better than yours.”

So it wasn’t the part about being ready you thought was funny, it was the part about it being my plan?

“Bingo.  Maybe you would like to try and answer my question again.  What are you leaving behind and what are you taking with you into this new year?”

I am leaving behind my plan and taking your plan into 2019.  But how do I do that?  I do not know your plan.

“Look up Proverbs 3:5-6.  And use the King James Version for this one.  Happy New Year my child.”

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

&   &   &   &   &  &   &   &   &   &

I never make resolutions.  I know I will never keep them, but maybe it is time to try.  Maybe this time, I will make the right resolution.  Maybe I can keep this one. 

I will trust in my LORD with all my heart.

I will not do it my way.

I will recognize the authority of my LORD and allow him to lead me.

&   &   &   &   &  &   &   &   &   &

HAPPY NEW YEAR

A CHILD IS BORN

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan –

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Every Warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

Isiah 9:1-5

I want to claim this Scripture!  I do not want to live in gloom or in distress.  I want a great light to shine so I no longer walk in darkness and no longer see the shadow of death.  I want a life of joy.  I want to rejoice.  I want my shoulders to be free of any yoke my sin has placed there.  I never want to see another soldier’s uniform become bloody.

This is what I want!  But how?

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:30-33

“Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isiah 9:6-7

Wonderful Counselor.  Mighty God.  Everlasting Father.  Prince of Peace. 

This is what I want!  But how?  How?  That is easy.  God sent a baby.

A SAVIOR HAS BEEN BORN TO YOU; HE IS CHRIST THE LORD

And that is exactly what I want you to have from now into eternity. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

THEY STUDIED

“I know I read that somewhere,” said Caspar, “but where?”

“Hurry and figure it out because the star is a sign,” Balthazar replied.  “Why did you not write it down?  How many times have we told you to take notes?”

“I take notes,” Melchior chimed in, trying to calm Balthazar down.  “The prophesy said ‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.’”

Looking at the map, they agreed.  The star had risen in the east, traveled west and did seem to stop over that area. 

“The caravan is ready.  Let us follow the star,” shouted Balthazar.

THEY FOLLOWED

The Magi had been following the star for many, many miles.  For many, many months.  They finally arrived in Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

They were so close.  They even secretly talked to the king about the exact time the star had appeared.  The king confirmed they should go to Bethlehem. 

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them

THEY ARRIVED

until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.

The star stopped!  The journey was finally over.  The child… The child. 

THEY STUDIED, THEY FOLLOWED, THEY ARRIVED

There is very little known about the Magi.  The Bible leaves out all the details that are not important but I am going to use my imagination and picture it.

Think about the subject that caused you the most trouble.  Think how hard you had to study.  Think how one question led to another and another and another.  Now picture the Magi reading Micah 5:2-5 which led them to Numbers 24:17 which led to Genesis 49:10 which led to … Get the picture?  They studied!  They researched! 

The Magi went on a long trip.  They did not have GPS or suitcases on wheels.  These were Wise Men but I bet they did not know how to set up a tent and were clueless on the care of camels.  The Hallmark card might show three guys on camels but there would have been a tremendous support system.  Did the Magi know how much food to take along?  Did they know where there were watering holes for the camels?  Did they know good water from bad?  Did they know …?  The Magi knew where they were going but the picture on the Christmas card is far from accurate. 

They finally arrived at their destination but how did they know exactly?  Was there a straight line from the star to the house?  Did Mary hear all the noise as the Magi and their entourage coming down their street?  Did she take Jesus outside to watch?  They knew!  They saw the child and his mother and they knew! 

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  study, follow and arrive.

Study the verses about the Magi – the Wise Men – and picture them in your mind.  Are they in a big room with books piled high?  Are they looking in one book and then another?  Are they watching the sky?  How do they act when they find the direction they need?

Follow in the steps of the Wise Men.  They were seeking.  They were willing to follow a star.  Follow in the steps of the Wise Men as you seek to follow where God leads you.

Most importantly, you are to arrive.  You are to find the child.  A Savior, Christ the Lord.

There is very little known about the Magi.  What we can learn from them is that we are to study, to follow, and to arrive.

So go forth and be wise.  Find Christ.  But also know how to take care of your camel.

(Scriptures used Matthew 2:1-12 and Micah 5:2-5)

(Assumptions:  There were three Magi because there were three gifts and it is tradition they were named Casper, Melchior and Balthazar.)

THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

THE ANGELS PRACTICE

The choir director said, “No.  No.  No.  How many times do we have to go over this?  It must be perfect.  It must be exactly as written!”

“It is not ‘Listen up.  I have something to tell you.’  The time is getting closer and you have a very important job,” she continued.  “Do I need to go talk with Archangel Michael?”

One angel replied, “Do not disturb him.  Besides he is a bit upset with me anyway.  Seems he did not appreciate the drum solo in the middle of prayers……May I try again?”

Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

The choir director turned to the choir, “Then you will join in.  And remember, in unison, – you only have one chance to get it right.  This is our last practice.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

THE ANGELS INFORM

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

Please remember this was a long before the countryside was covered with dusk-dawn lights.  The shepherds might have had a fire going and a couple of lamps but it would have been dark.  They would have been able to see the stars.  They might have been talking quietly or maybe the only sound was the sheep. 

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

“What?  The light is so bright I cannot see where it is coming from.  The sheep….” shouted the frightened shepherds.

The choir director smiled when she heard, “Fear not:…...“  All that practice paid off.  The Angels nailed it!  The shepherds were no longer afraid and their job was completed.

THE SHEPHERDS OBEY

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven,

Dark, light, dark.  I bet their eyes were having trouble adjusting back to the darkness.  I would have loved to hear the conversation after the angels left. 

• Was I dreaming?
• Well, if you were dreaming, we all had the same dream.
• I have never seen a light like that.
• Well, duh!  It was the Glory of the Lord.  Nothing else can be that bright!
• What did you hear?

the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

THEY PRACTICE, THEY INFORM, THEY OBEY

Yes, I have a vivid imagination and, yes, I picture the angels practicing.  This night was important.  Everything was in place and the angels were ready.

The angels had a message to deliver.  A very specific message.  Not your usual birth announcement.  This baby was our SAVIOUR.  This baby was CHRIST THE LORD.  The pressure to make every word heard and understood was a big responsibility.

I often feel sorry for the shepherds.  There they were, doing their job, watching the sheep, eyes adjusted to the dark, when WHAM – well, no wonder they were scared.  They probably thought they were going to die.  How would an angel’s voice sound?  Could they comprehend what they heard?   

fear not.. good tidings…great joy…to all people

And that is exactly what I want you to do this week:  comprehend those words.

This week enjoy the preparation of Christmas but take time to be a shepherd.  Go to a dark room, sit there, think about your sheep (those you care about), listen for their voices, and allow your eyes to adjust to the dark.  Then turn the lights on.  WHAM!  Your eyes – your whole being – will be out of whack.  Your brain has to regroup. 

Multiply that feeling by a lot because there were angels involved.  Then hear the words fear not.  Take a deep breath.  Let it out.  Ready?

Place yourself in that field, surrounded by a light like you have never seen before.  Brighter than the lights at the Super Bowl. 

Here is the exciting part.  It is time to open the door and realize what just happened. 

The good tidings are for YOU!

The great joy is for YOU!

The Saviour born that day in the city of David, which is Christ the Lord, was born for YOU!

This birth was for you.  And me.  And them.  And her.  And him.  And all people. 

Now be a good shepherd and go tell someone.

(Scriptures taken from Luke 2:8-18)

THE LOOKS, THE STARES, THE GOSSIP

MARY

Poor Mary.  Here was a young woman, a virgin, and pledged to be married to Joseph, but suddenly an angel appeared and her life changed as she listened to the angel.

The angel spoke, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, Son of the Most High.”

Mary replied, “May it be to be as you have said.”

I can imagine the thoughts that were flying in and out of her mind.  How?  Why me?  Joseph.  My parents.  I will go see Elizabeth and figure this out.

It took much courage for Mary to return home.  What would her parents say?  What would Joseph do?  He had every right to divorce her.  How would her friends and neighbors act when they realized she was pregnant?  I imagine Mary was unsure about Joseph, but she would know what was ahead.  The looks.  The stares.  The gossip. 

JOSEPH

Poor Joseph.  Here was a righteous man, a carpenter, and ready to take Mary as his wife, but when Mary returned from seeing Elizabeth, he knew she was pregnant.  One look and he could see the changes in her body. 

What would happen when others saw her?  They would look.  Then they would stare.  They would think …….  No, they would not notice as easily as he had. 

Joseph thought, “I do not want to expose her to public disgrace.  I will divorce her quietly.”

Having figured out a way to make the best of this situation, Joseph rested.  Joseph dreamed.

An angel appeared in Joseph’s dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph did as the Lord commanded, but I imagine he also dreaded the looks, the stares, and the gossip that were sure to follow.

Joseph, a righteous man, took Mary home as his wife.

Scriptures used:  Luke 1:26-45 and 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-25

THE LOOKS, THE STARES, THE GOSSIP

It is not hard to imagine what Mary and Joseph were thinking.  Times have changed, but, honestly, people never seem to change.  We look.  We stare.  We gossip. 

And that is exactly what I would like you to do this Christmas.

I want you to look at the scriptures which tell of the birth of Jesus.  Really, really look.  Not just skim over, but look at them.  Read slowly, looking at every word.

I want you to stare at the Christmas Story until you can picture each part.  Stare until you see Mary leaving town and coming home.  Stare until you see Joseph struggle with a decision.  Stare until you can picture an angel appearing to Mary and Joseph.  Stare until you can imagine Joseph and Mary walking toward their future.

I want you to gossip about Mary and Joseph.  When you are setting up the tree, say, “Did you hear Mary left town?”  Tell your in-laws, “Mary came home and I think she is pregnant.”  At coffee, whisper, “Joseph was visited by an angel.”  Gossip and spread the story because this story is the beginning of our eternal life.

HAVE AN AMAZING CHRISTMAS!!

FREE WILL

The other day, I was asked the question:  How could a loving God allow three children to die as they walked to the bus?  (This happened and devastated the community.)

Disclaimer:  I, for sure, do not have the theological background to answer this question.  But my heart breaks for this person because this question is standing between them and fully believing in God.

Free will:

• the ability to act at one's own discretion
• makes you automatically responsible for what is happening to you
• ethical choice implies free will; for how can we choose between right and wrong unless we are free to make that choice

God wants us to LOVE him, not because we have to but because we want to.  Without the ability to make choices, we would be like puppets, with God controlling our every move.  We would not feel emotion.  We would not know true love, only demanded love. 

Free will gives us the ability to think.  We have the ability to look around and realize there is a Creator.  We have the ability to seek and, when we find God, we have the ability to LOVE – a honest love, freely given – because we know all he has done for us.

But there is another side to free will and that is the side we question.

The driver did not set out to cause such loss but did freely get in the truck and head down the road.  For whatever reason, the children were not seen until it was too late.  And the voices ask God, “Why did you allow this to happen?”

A loved one dies and the voices ask God, “Why did you allow this to happen?”

A child is abducted and the voices ask God, “Why did you allow this to happen?”

A drink is taken and another and another – addiction begins – and the voices ask God, “Why did you allow this to happen?”

A hurricane, fire, or tornado wipes out a town and the voices ask God, “Why did you allow this to happen?”

“Why God?  Why?”  This is the question we all want answered.

Google why does God allow bad things to happen and you will have to search through 11,300,000 answers.  Bad things happen to teach us a lesson.  Bad things happen because of our actions.  Bad things happen because God is not a loving God.  11,300,000 answers to pick from.

This is a quote from an article, by Lee Strobel, found at https://www.equip.org/article/why-does-god-allow-suffering/

Human suffering came about because people abused their free will, not because God wanted to hurt us.  God decided to give free will to men and women because this is the only way we can enjoy the highest value in the universe, which is love.  Jesus said, “The first and greatest commandment” is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and the second is “Love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matt. 22:37–39). Without free will, we could never love, because in order to love we must have the choice not to love.

If God had forced us to love, this would be akin to programming a robot to say, “I love you.”  It could utter the words, but they would be meaningless because it has no choice but to say them.

I do know one thing about asking God why.  If you are going to ask, “Why did God allow this to happen?” you also need to ask the same question of your blessings.

“Why did God allow me to see?”

“Why did God allow me to hear?”

“Why did God allow me to blessed with children?”

“Why did God allow me to be cancer free?”

“Why did God forgive me?”

“Why did God allow me to ………?”

God decided to give free will to men and women because this is the only way we can enjoy the highest value in the universe, which is love.  

Why?  I have no idea.  BUT I believe in a God who loves me enough to give me options.  Sometimes the option I pick causes others pain.  Sometimes the option I pick causes joy.  And sometimes the option I pick leads me to eternal life.  It is that option God rejoices over.

THANKSGIVING - A CONVERSATION WITH GOD

“Mary what are you thankful for this year?” God asked.

“I hate it when you ask me questions.  No matter what I answer you will find something I missed and it will turn into you making a point,” I answered.

“Not this time. I was just wondering.”

(My mind went into overdrive!  If I say indoor plumbing, God will think I am being flippant.  If I say the universe YOU created, he will think I am trying to make brownie points.  I wonder if I could get away with putting my hand on my chin, look like I am really thinking and wait him out.  Oh my gosh!  Wait God out.  Come on Mary.  Give an answer!)

“I am thankful for ... popcorn.”

(Popcorn?  Where did that come from?  God asks what I am thankful for and I blurt out popcorn.)

“Popcorn.  Oh I wish you could have seen the face of the first person to pop corn.  They burnt the first batch.  Then they tried it with oil.  That worked but what a mess.  Gabriel and I laughed and laughed.  The next time they put a lid on the pan.”

“I didn’t mean to say popcorn.  I meant to say ... toothpicks.”

(Toothpicks.  That is even worse than popcorn.  Where did that come from?  I did go to the dentist this week but why didn’t dentist come out of my mouth instead of toothpick?)

“So those little pieces of food stuck between your teeth are annoying?”

“You have no idea.”

“Anything else you are thankful for?”

“Talking with you!”

(Finally my mind and my mouth worked together.)

“Aren’t you afraid people will think you are crazy when you tell them you talk to me?”

“NO!  Well, there are some who question how my mind works but everyone can talk to you.  We can just ..... talk to you.  Tell you what is on our hearts.  Tell you when we are scared or happy or sometimes sit quietly and know you are there.  That is my final answer:  I am thankful I can talk to you.”

“One more thing.”

“I knew it.  Here comes the point of our conversation.”

“Oh, Mary.  No point to be made by me this time, but I have one more question.  What will people think about us having a back and forth conversation?”

“This is my blog and if I want to write it in conversation form it is perfectly fine.  Besides, I have a point to make.”

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Thanksgiving —- Giving Thanks

The point?  When you are filled to the brim with turkey, ham, dressing/stuffing, mashed potatoes, and pie and someone asks, “What are you thankful for?”, blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind.  Have fun with the question and celebrate the answer.  Yes be thankful for family and friends and home and .... But what about popcorn?  Of course!  The sound of it popping.  The smell.  The crunch.  The popcorn hull stuck between your teeth.  Now you are thankful for a toothpick.

Yes be thankful for health and sunsets and faith and ..... But be thankful for jokes that make us laugh and hugs and games and books and funky socks and...... conversations with God.

Happy Thanksgiving.