Why Do Bad Things Happen?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  This is what Paul wrote to the church in Rome. (Romans 8:28)  Do we know this?  I mean, really know it?

One time we got some "bad gas" (fuel for our van, not the other kind!) that messed up our fuel gauge.  Hubby and I were on the interstate, about a mile and a half from our exit, when the needle suddenly dropped and the van stalled.  We started praying that God would please get us as close as possible to the exit.  We knew that even if we coasted that far, it was still at least another mile to the closest gas station and we were not dressed for a walk.  Well, we kept praying and Hubby kept steering and the van kept coasting.  I couldn't believe it when we made it around the bend to the exit ramp! Instead of pulling over, Hubby decided to see how far up the ramp we could coast... we kept going!  The light at the top of the ramp is always red and is a couple minutes long.  We didn't want to get stuck in the lane at the light, so we prayed that we could pull over, but just then the light turned GREEN!  So we coasted through, somehow making the turn without any power steering and thought, "Uh oh, we're going to get stuck on the bridge that crosses the interstate."  Just then, the light on the other side of the bridge turned green, so we slid through that one, too!  At this point, Hubby knew we couldn't get much further and we were going pretty slow, so he was driving on the shoulder to stay out of everyone's way.  Around another bend in the road and another red light.  Once again, just as we approached, it turned green!  The gas station was just up ahead, albeit with a steep entrance that we couldn't possibly get up at the speed we were crawling by now.  Do you believe that we not only made it up that incline, but to within mere feet of the pump?  I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been there myself!  This was definitely an example of answered prayer!

Why did God choose to provide what we asked for in this silly case, when so often we pray for someone's life, health, comfort, or other "legitimate" request, and he chooses to say no?  This is the question that probably keeps most people from accepting God's existence.  Why does he let the bad things happen?  When I fell down a flight of stairs, breaking several bones and ending up in a wheelchair, I prayed for a quick recovery.  I asked God to amaze my doctors with my "miraculous" healing so that I could get back to my life as soon as possible.  I felt confident the day the surgeon who put my ankle back together came in to check on me.  I was sure he was going to say I was healing fast and should be able to go home and get back to work in a few days.  I was devastated.  Three more weeks in the hospital!  Two entire months confined to a wheelchair!  This wasn't happening... I had prayed fervently!  Why did God refuse to grant my request?  It's not fair!

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  This was for my good?  It all is.  We have to know that, even when we don't like it.  I was a new Christian when this happened.  I was taught countless valuable lessons through this trial.  I saw my brothers' and sisters' selflessness as they attended to my and my daughter's needs.  Transportation, food, laundry, everything was taken care of.  Without that experience, would I perhaps be a more selfish Christian who doesn't step forward when someone is in need?  Would I not have learned the peace that comes from ceaseless prayer? What about being humble?  It's hard to not be humble when other people are laundering your underwear.  Is it the way I would have done it?  No.  But God knows what's best for me when I don't.  He takes the most miserable experiences in our life and works them out for GOOD!  Know that.  Even when you don't feel it at the time. It all takes place in HIS time, not ours, and his plan is perfect.  Thank you, Lord, for knowing what's best for me and working good out of even the worst situations!

Workin' for the Weekend

I have errands to run.  I haven't done my workout yet today.  And that means I haven't showered yet. (Why would you shower before you work out?  Duh)  There is also plenty of housework going by the wayside.  Yes, I am PROCRASTINATING.  Man, I'm good at it.  I go to bed at night with a wonderful idea of how the next day is going to work, only to wake up and think, "Meh, maybe later."

I live for my Saturdays.  They are like a beacon shining in the distance that gets me through the work-week.  Last night, Hubby said that while he hates to wish a day away, he was anxious for the Steelers game Sunday night.  I understand that, but c'mon, of all the days you could wish away, not my Saturday!  Now, don't get me wrong... Fridays are great (except for the part where I have to spend the bulk of it at the office).  Yesterday I took an impulse nap when I got home from work, then we ordered Chinese and just relaxed, watching our own little Bones marathon on Netflix (my latest addiction.  Read this post to see what I mean).  But Saturday... sleeping in, puttering around the house, doing whatever needs done or I want to do (or not do, as is the case today), but most importantly, not having to go to the office.  I really like my job, I just don't like the inflexibility of it.  I've dreamed of telecommuting, but too many of my responsibilities require me to be at the office.  Then again, I've dreamed of being a housewife, but I can't get anyone to pay me for it.

What is your favorite day of the week?  Why?  Do you struggle with procrastination on Saturdays like I do?  Or am I just lazy?

And what is your dream job?  Tell us about it! 

An Honest Day’s Pay for An Honest Day’s Work

An often-quoted Bible verse: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

What are wages? The money we earn for doing our job. We get paid our wages when we actively choose to perform the tasks that we were told would result in us getting paid, right? So if the wages are payment for work done, then sin is the work. It is something we actively choose to do, not something that "happens to us" or that we can't avoid. And just like the boss tells us when we start a job what our wages will be, the Bible tells us what we will earn for sin: death.

When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, God "paid them their wages". Genesis 3:22 says: And the Lord God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So when Adam was 930 years old, he died. God paid him his wages. When we choose to commit sin, we earn our own death. Eternal death, or what is also called the second death. (Revelation 2:11 & 20:14)

But what about the second half of that verse? "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What is a gift? Something given to us out of love, without us doing anything to earn it. So even though we EARNED death, God gives us the GIFT of life! But hold on, it doesn't just say he gives us eternal life, it says he gives us eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So what does that mean?

To be "in Christ Jesus" means when God looks at us, he's looking at us through his son, like a filter that makes us appear clean and worthy of eternal life. Without that filter, he sees us as we really are: sinful and deserving of death. We can only receive the gift of eternal life if we are in Christ Jesus, who himself said, "No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) So only those who are in Christ Jesus will get the gift of eternal life. Does that sound narrow-minded and unfair to all the billions of good people in the world who don't happen to be Christians? Maybe, but "...wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14)

So how does one get to be in Christ Jesus? The people asked Peter this in the Book of Acts, chapter 2 and he replied "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39)

Have you repented of your sins? Have you chosen to then be baptized? A baby cannot repent his or her sins, so baptizing a baby doesn't make sense. And what is baptism anyway? The greek word, baptisma, literally means "immerse". It is immersion into the water, exactly as it was performed in the Bible. Water was not poured or sprinkled on the person... the person was immersed into it. It represents the burial and resurrection of Jesus (going into the water and then coming out). Again, pouring or sprinkling water on a person would not imitate a burial or a resurrection.

So, to sum it all up: For the wages (what we earn) of sin is death (eternity away from God, in hell), but the gift (undeserved and freely given) of God is eternal life (eternity with God in heaven) in Christ Jesus our Lord (having repented and been baptized). In other words, we deserve to spend eternity in hell, but God will let us spend it with him in heaven, as long as we are faithful Christians.

Like Thor Ramsey Once Said, "It's Barely Freezing!"

Reason #36 why I question my sanity:  I live in Northwestern Pennsylvania where the weatherman sounded like he was giving us good news when he said, "Tomorrow, we'll have highs near 25!"  Oh, how can I possibly contain my excitement.

Going to the mail box... brb.

At least, I think it's Reason #36... or is #36 the one where I thought adopting a friend's cat as a favor would actually work out and our cats would become friends?  Hmmm... I know numbers 1 through 35 are particular dreams that I've had that make me question my sanity.  I know that when I share these dreams with others, they also question my sanity, so I've learned to keep them to myself.  Anyway...

We've got about a kabillion inches of snow and it won't quit.  Seriously.  Even when you think it quit, if you look closely you can see it's still snowing a little tiny bit, as if the sky was a leaky faucet you can't shut off completely.  I have one of those in our shower, so I know what I'm talking about.  Yeah, I'm like a leaky faucet expert.  Oops, lost my train of thought again.  Snow, cold, winter, miserable, yeah that's what we were talking about.

I've lived in this area all but two years of my life and every winter I wish I lived somewhere warmer.  Those two years I didn't live here?  Yeah, I lived in ROCHESTER NEW YORK.  Guess I wasn't satisfied with the lake effect snow we get here, so I moved to Rochester.  Duh.  I read recently that some scientists compiled a bunch of data over a lot of years (real technical stuff) and came up with a list of the snowiest (on average) cities in the U.S.  Erie, PA was number 6.  Rochester was number 3.  Good choice there, Jules.  Of course, the numbers this season show that Erie is actually having a pretty light year so far with only 29 inches, compared to Rochester's 52.5.  Okay, Northwestern PA is starting to look pretty good.  And for anyone that cares, based on this season's numbers alone, Rochester is still holding firm to their #3 spot but Erie has dropped down to #11!  But that still leaves about a million other cities I could move to that have less snow!  (Zero inches works for me)

I'll probably grow old and die here.  Of hypothermia.  In the meantime, if you'd like to read more of my Adventures in Winter Wonderland, go here.

Eight Days a Week, That Might Be Enough

The other day, I posted my Facebook status as: "Sometimes I wonder if I expect too much of myself or I'm just not pushing myself hard enough... tonight I didn't do 70% of what I set out to do & I'm exhausted!"  It was just the way I was feeling at the time (and many times before and after that moment), but I've been thinking about it ever since.  Which is it?

See, I'm out of shape, so I really want to exercise and lose some weight.  I also really enjoy writing this little blog and would like to spend more time on it.  Those two things don't sound like too much to take on, maybe an hour a day for each?  But here's the thing: I have a full-time job that enables us to do things like eat and pay the mortgage and other slightly important stuff.  So that takes up my time (including time for showering, dressing, commuting, etc) from 7 in the morning until 5 at night.  My lunch hour is actually only half an hour and half the time I don't take one anyway.  I'm married and have three step-kids, although they're only with us a few days a week.  The kids, I mean.  Hubby has agreed to live with me full-time.  Anyway, I still have to prepare meals (and yes, he helps) and clean house and do laundry and go to the grocery store and get the oil changed and... you get the idea.  So trying to find an hour a day to exercise and an hour a day to blog doesn't sound so simple anymore.  I should also mention that I require at least seven hours of sleep, my body and brain do not function with less.

What's the answer?  How do you handle this problem in your own life?  I'm looking for advice!