Why Bad things happen to God's people

Have you ever had something happen in your life, since you have become a Christian, that has caused you to say, "Lord, why is this happening to me?". We have all heard the saying, "Bad things happen to good people". We think that because we are Christians, we don't have to go through stuff like we did when we were in the world, but God uses situations in our life to build our faith, to learn to trust and lean on Him, and teach us to be steadfast in our faith. To praise Him at all times.

Do you think Job ever thought that he would go thru what he did? lets take a look at Job; Did you know that it was God who told Satan about Job? 7 And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come?" So Satan answered the Lord and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." 8 Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" 9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing" 10 Have you not made a hedge around him, around his household, around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 "But now, stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You and Your face!" 12 And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Job 1: 7-12

The Lord said do what you want to his possessions but don't kill him; Job was considered rich in his day, he had a lot, he had seven sons and three daughters, he had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, he was well known in the east.

He feared God, he kept away from evil, Job was an upright man. Then one day a messenger came to him and said that his oxen were all taken and his servants were killed, and while that person was still talking another came and said to Job, all the sheep were burned up and your servants were killed, and another came and said your camels were taken away and all your servants were killed and still another came and said your sons and daughter were eating and the house fell on the and all are dead, one after another with bad news, all his possessions were gone and his children were killed; you or I would be devastated we would be Mad, start to hate, look for revenge, but notice what Job did in verse 1:20 - 22 : Then Job arose, tore his robe and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.The Lord gave , and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." 22 In all this Job did not sin nor charge God wrong.

That's not even all that happened to Job, Satan attacks his health and the worst part is even Jobs wife gets in the act and says to Job in verse 2:9 Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!" But Job held up under all of this, there is even more to the story, read it some time. The point I am trying to make with this is, we need to hold fast in the storms and praise God during the bad times, God will allow things to come into our lives to test us, and we need to remain steadfast though it all, not get mad at God and turn from him, He is still God and the Good times and the Bad.

It's easy to praise God in the good times, everything is going along just fine, the car isn't breaking down, our check books are still in the black, there is food in the house, sure that's easy, but let the rains come, and the roof starts leaking, the "Check engine light" comes on, during rush hour on the expressway, you reach for the milk and it's 4 days past the spoil date, that's when we have to remember He is still God, He still sits on the throne, we maybe the one pacing the floor ringing our hand saying what am I going to do?, but God isn't doing that, He has the whole in His hands. Put you trust in God, His ways are not our ways, Thank you Jesus, I so glad of that, cause my ways don't always work out. Bless you all I pray that this has touched your heart and God Bless you. (Scripture ref. taken from NKJV) Ron

Never Give up

During this time of raising fund's for Jamaica, I have had a very hard time and it was really easy for me to feel as if I was never going to make it, the feeling of defeat was heavy on my mind, but because of the word's of my Pastor and the people of my church, their encouragement helped change my attitude and it's made me realize that I wasn't going to get there when I want to, but when God wants me to get there.

Even Moses felt defeat before he went to Pharaoh, in Exodus 3: 11-12 "But Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Children out of Egypt"? So He (God) said, "I shall certainly be with you and this shall be a sign to you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this Mountain." God Knows us better than we do, He made us.

We cannot allow our lives to be dictated by our feelings. Our feeling are fickle and deceptive. God will never do His deepest work in the shallowest part of our being. People who live by there feeling often live defeated lives. We cannot wait until we feel like trusting and obeying God, and we can't wait until a crisis hits to work up a strong belief system. Feeling and circumstances will change constantly, but God's word is SURE and He will never Change.

When we think of the hero's of the Bible, we think of people who were called by God to make a major impact in their day. That wasn't always the case, however;
In the Old Testament, for example, many of the prophets preached for years with little or no response. The nation of Israel ignored, and even mocked their warning. These prophets often saw little change in attitudes and actions, yet they continued to preach in obedience to the Lord. They didn't let their feeling stop them, can you imagine if they had? Wow, where this world would be now, if they had stopped.
I have learned a lot in the past few years, I have also spent more time in God's Word, I'll end today's Blog with this scripture:

1Cor. 15:58 So, my dear brother and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.