How Could a Loving God?

We've all heard the question right? How could a loving God allow all this sickness, pain, heartache, death, and disaster happen daily all over the world? Children are starving, mothers are losing their babies, people are sick with cancer or other horrible diseases. Why does God let this happen??

...and most of us have heard the common answer. God made a perfect world. Man sinned. The penalty for sin is death. Therefore, things decay and eventually we all die.

I believe all of that. But it has never satisfied me.

I questioned why, if God knew we were going to sin, did he even bother to make us? He knew he was going to send His Son to go through extreme agony and then die for us. Why did He go through all that trouble for a people that He knew was going to be sinful, rebellious, and disobedient?

I finally found an answer that encompassed the other answer, but added a little more understanding to it. I was reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis last year for school (I think this is the book where I found this information). He pointed out that God had two options: To make us with the ability of choice and emotions or to make us robots that always behaved perfectly because we were programmed to; not because we chose or wanted to do it. God didn't want this. He wanted relationship. He wanted us to be able to choose to love Him. He loved us enough to make us with the ability to choose. He didn't want to force us to behave perfectly and then sit back and watch us do it. He wanted relationship! The reason He "bothered" to create us is because He wanted someone to glorify Him, to worship Him, and to enjoy Him forever! But He wanted us to do it because we loved Him. Not because He forced us to.

I also like the way Voddie Bachum answers the "How could a loving God?" question.
He reminds us that the penalty for sin is death. Romans 6:23 says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He says our question should not be, "How could God allow all these nasty things to happen to me?" Our question should be, "Why is God not smoking us all in our boots right now?"

We violate God's law every day and He demands justice. Thankfully for us, He is also a patient and merciful God who gives us a chance to choose life everlasting! 

Voddie makes a humorous point to show us all that we sin every day.
(This isn't an exact quote, it's been a while since I've heard this sermon. ;)
"You steal God's air every day! It's like this. God created everything and you breath daily. So you're taking air into your lungs every day and not giving it back. Last time I checked, when you take something that isn't yours and you don't give it back; you're stealing!" ;)    

Thankfully, God (who does require justice and will punish sin) has mercy and grace. He gives us a chance, while on earth, to choose to love Him and accept His free gift of salvation. (2 Peter 3:9b He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.)
Life is fleeting though. We never know when we will take our last breath. (James 4:14 ...you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.) Don't keep putting of salvation until "the perfect time in your life". Confess Jesus as Lord and ask for His forgiveness to wash away your sin! (Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.)

These are just my thoughts on the subject. Please don't hesitate to comment with your thoughts. (Or corrections if I have said something inaccurate!)

   

A&A + HM = Random Post

So I missed awkward and awesome because I was having that kind of a week. ;) 

I also don't have anything for Happy Monday. :(

I thought I'd share the first Jostie flick I ever saw. Someone shared this with me because of the cat part towards the end (I don't like cats if you didn't know that already).
My awesome this week is that I got to meet almost the entire Jost family last night and that was awesome! They are so fun and I hope to continue getting to know them in the future!! :D

Not Cool

LOL :D
Happy Monday!

Awkward & Awesome

Awkward

• Walking through a parking lot a little bit behind the rest of your family and a passing older man is staring at you as he walks by. As soon as he has passed your mom turns around and looks at you like, "What was he looking at and why was he looking at it?" You point to your shirt which reads, "I like cats...I just can't eat a whole one by myself!" She nods with understanding and you walk on with a chuckle. :P 
• Jokes that my friends pull on me. You know who you are! *cough* You're oh-so-very-funny! :P ;)
• Phone calls...

Awesome 

• Getting to spend time with friends at the Family Economics and Mentorship conference!
• THE OCEAN!!!!! :D I love the west coast. :) 
• Finally getting introduced to people you've been trying to personally meet for almost a year. :P 
• Jostie Flicks...Sorry guys, but I think I like them better than Messy Mondays.  
• Football, friends, and fellowship (and maybe food ;)! :P 

The Father's Love

Sorry for doing two posts in one day. :-/
This song just came to my head while doing my morning Bible study and I wanted to share it. It always gives me chills when I sing and play it on the piano. It has such a beautiful melody that fits soo well with the words!

How Deep the Father's Love For Us 
Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that left Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Chrsit
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Ocean Shores Vacation/Conference

My family went to Ocean Shores, WA last weekend. We were there for a Family Economics and Mentorship Conference. We did get to spend Thursday night enjoying a *little* "vacation". ;) 

When we first got there and while my dad was checking us in to our room my sister, Grace, and I decided to "run" down to the beach and Blake decided to come along. As we were walking down I noticed deer prints in the sand. Coming back I took a different direction than everyone else and stumbled upon other sundry items that deer have left behind. *ahem* When we all got back on the same path Blake informed us that he had actually spooked the deer and made it run off. We continued to see these deer over the next couple of days in the back and front yards of the hotel. (A man even told my dad and Blake that there had been a cougar sighting on the beach.) Lots of wildlife! :P

Here's the view from our room. As usual the picture doesn't quite capture it. :-/ (and yes, that's me on the left in the awesome rain boots that I didn't need because it never rained. :P)

Once we got all our stuff into our room we all went down to the beach and got a bit wet.
The sunset/clouds/waves were so pretty!

On our way to the beach...

The Asa kids are strangely drawn to the ocean. :P

Thinking deep thoughts. ;)

Freezing!!!!!!!!! That wave right past me had just splashed up to my knees and got my pants wet. :(

My dear mother washing my feet so I didn't fall in the sink. This corner stunk SO bad! It was where people washed off their clams or mussels or whatever they had and put the shells in the garbage there on the right. Yeah...!

That night was rather rough. Grace's cold got worse (no thanks to her swim in the ocean). :( She wasn't able to attend the conference and had to stay in the hotel room all day on Friday.

Sam and I goofing off with my Dad's phone and the hotel mirror. ;)

And now we're really goofing off! :P

Me and my bro :D

I think my Dad and I are the only members of my family who went to *every* session. :P It was a LONG two days, but it's always encouraging to meet with so many like-minded Christians.

Here's a pic of the pizza party after the conference. Find Waldo! Or Danny Craig..or whoever else you might recognize. :P

I got to spend some time with friends who I haven't seen for six months! That was super awesome!!! Now we're counting down another six months till the next homeschool conference!
Super stoked for that one!!!! :D Click here for some info on who's speaking at it.

Grace and I were scheming something up. :P

I love how everyone jumped into this one! It was taking us a long time to get the picture taken so we kept asking people to join us. Who knows how big it would have got had we kept going. ;)

(btw...Thanks to everyone who contributed to these pics!) 

I'll end the post with my favorite quote of the conference. (There might have been better ones, but this is the only one I can remember. ;) It was given by R.C. Sproul Jr. while he was talking about the new and perfect bodies we'll have in heaven.  

*said in a genuinely concerned and caring tone of voice*

"All you people who struggle with tallness...will be healed!" 

"Simply" Amazing! + Funny Saying

Bach's Orchestral Suite #3 in D is amazingly beautiful! :D 

Just had to share that with somebody. ;) Some people *ahem* (who will remain anonymous...you know who you are) drink coffee when struggling to keep their brain alive during college studies. I prefer to listen to Bach! So amazing for awakening my brain and because it is so complicating-ly intricate and mostly polyphonic I can *usually* concentrate on what I'm studying. (I usually can't listen to music while studying because I get too into the music. The price you pay for being a musician I suppose. ;)

I saw a saying once that went something like this: "College...the leading cause of spontaneous napping."

So true! :P 

Happy Monday! (and Columbo day! :P)

More than Conquerors

Romans 8:28-39

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. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 

"For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Future Glory

Romans 8:18-27

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

WOW! So amazing to think that someone could care for me and love me that much even though I make so many mistakes! He intercedes for me with groans that words cannot express? Amazing and Wonderful! 

Life Through the Spirit

I've been enjoying Romans 8 lately for a while now. It's so rich that I decided to share it in three sections as it's broken down in my Bible. (And because my poor arms can't take much typing. :(    )
Revel in its richness!!  

Romans 8:1-17 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit. 

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through this Spirit, who lives in you. 

Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation - but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So beautiful! :D

Happy Monday!

So funny! I love the genuine laughter at the end. :P

No A&A

Public Notice: There will be no awkward and awesome posts for the next two weeks (at least). Seeing as how nothing awkward or awesome has happened to me in the last week (probably joking) and I didn't want to bore you with a post just to keep up with tradition (my favorite thing, right? ;) I decided not to do one. Oh, and I'll be away from my computer next week *sniff* so even though I'm sure many awkward things will be happening to me...I won't be able to post about them. I'll try to save them up on the bulletin board in the back of my mind though so I can post them the following week! :D Don't ask why I'm acting weird...I'm tired of answering that question. :P

So as not to make any peoples cry because of the lack of awkward and awesome posts (since I know y'all LOVE reading about my life) I've included this funny little saying that I found a couple days ago! It's soo me! :P

"I have CDO. It's like OCD, but with the letters in alphabetical order as they should be!" 

This World is Not My Home

"This world is not my home I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore
Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore!"


I've never really liked this song, *sheepish grin* but with everything going on the world nowadays, it's awfully comforting! :D Hope it blesses someone today!!