THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

November 20, 2024

LIFE IN THE FOLD

Yesterday morning I was at the home of my nephew and his family, getting the two 6-year olds on the school bus, as well as their 7-year old cousin. They started playing a game, that they are basing off from a video game. The two oldest have both played the game, but the youngest little girl has not; so she really didn't know the rules or what she was supposed to be doing. Plus, I think the older ones may have been making up the rules as they went along.

The trouble started when the two teamed up against the one who had never played the game. She was getting frustrated and upset. I finally told the three kids that they needed to stop playing the game and play something different. Of course, the two, who had teamed up, had no idea why I would want them to not play the game, because they were having a good time. I tried to explain to them that they weren't playing fair and she wasn't having fun.

Finally, I told the little boy that he could be on a team by himself and the two girls could team up together. His immediate response was, "No! Then I would be by myself and I don't want to be on a team alone!" I told him that was how his sister felt, and it wasn't fair for them to do that to her. So I suggested that the two siblings could play on a team together and the cousin be on a team by herself. Again, he didn't like that idea and said that he didn't want to be on a team with his sister because she was too slow and he'd lose. My solution was for them to stop playing the game. The choice that I gave them was to either play something that all three could play, without there being teams; or they could all come downstairs and sit on the couch until time for the bus to come. They chose to play something different!

I found it interesting that my little nephew had no problem teaming up against his sister, leaving her out, running away and hiding from her, when he was the one having fun with their cousin. But when I suggested that he be on a team by himself, he recognized the fact that he would be alone and that it wouldn't be any fun. When I suggested that he and his sister be on a team together, he recognized the fact that they might not win against their cousin (whom I think was the one making up the rules as they played!), so he accused his sister of being too slow. He wanted to be on a winning team! Yet he failed to acknowledge that his sister was feeling left out and alone. She has had some physical issues when she was younger that prevents her from being as fast or agile as they are.

Sometimes we as adults can have that same mindset. We fail to recognize when situations are unfair to others; even when we are in the position to do something about it. We don't want to inconvenience ourself, especially when things are going great for us, in order to make things easier for someone else. We like being on the winning team! Much like my 6-year old nephew felt. Could it be that we never fully outgrow that feeling; we just change from childish issues to more adult ones?

I think perhaps that attitude of "not fair" began in the Garden of Eden. God created all this splendor and beauty and everything that Adam and Eve could possibly want. He only really gave them one rule: don't eat the fruit of one specific tree. They could eat from any of the others, yet the serpent came and made it sound as if it wasn't fair that God would prevent them from eating from the one forbidden one. Temptation won out, Adam and Eve both ate from that one tree that God had told them not to eat from, and they suffered the consequences.

Sometimes when we get into trouble and suffer consequences from a choice we make, it's easy to try to put the blame on others. "The serpent made me do it;" "This woman you gave me:" yet neither of them were forced to disobey God. They did it out of their own free will.

When the prophet Samuel came and anointed David to be the next king of Israel, upon Saul's death, he spent a whole lot of years in the interim dealing with very unfair situations. He was chased by Saul who was trying to kill him, had to hide out in caves, fought enemies, and probably didn't feel very special or anointed during those years. Even after becoming king, his own son, Absalom, wanted to usurp David's kingship and take over the throne. Absalom raised up an army and even wanted David's death. How fair was that? During David's years of being king, he led the armies of Israel to many battles and fought like a mighty warrior. He didn't get to relax and enjoy being served in the palace, living a life of ease.

Perhaps the greatest example we have is the life of Jesus. He preached and taught, performed miracles of healing, delivered people from bondage, offered love and forgiveness, was kind and patient.... yet His years of ministry was fraught with being followed by those who were trying to find fault with Him. He had people contradicting Him, plotting His death, and shown disrespect. Even during His last hours before the crucifixion, the people called for the release of Barabbas who was a known criminal, and were yelling, "Crucify Him!" How fair was that?!

We all go through life situations that seem unfair. It may be the death of a loved one, suffering through trauma, losing material possessions or the loss of a career, struggling financially while it seems as if those around you are being blessed, dealing with physical pain and ailments.......

Not everyone has the same ending to their story as Job did, where his latter life was much more blessed then the former. Yet in the midst of his blessing, I think perhaps we forget Job grieved the loss of all his children. Homes and cattle and things can be replaced, but even if he had fathered more children later, he still lost sons and daughters. But he did get to enjoy the provision and blessing of God, after his time of suffering and testing had finished.

Not everyone's story has the same ending. Some suffered, then received a miraculous healing. Some sin and do bad things, before fully surrendering their lives to Jesus; yet the consequences for those actions aren't always fair or equal. Someone may receive full pardon and forgiveness, while someone else in a similar situation may have to deal with severe consequences and punishment. Some are in accidents and their lives are miraculously spared, while others lose their lives. Some lose their home and everything they own and fully recovered with more than they had to begin with, while others never recoup their losses and struggle.

Life doesn't always seem fair! Sometimes, God's answers doesn't always feel fair. But if we can cling to our faith in God and never lose hope, we can know with complete assurance that He will never leave or forsake us. We can grow in our relationship with the Father and hold fast to the truth that when this life is over, we have something beyond our wildest expectations to look forward to. This life is fleeting, but eternity is forever!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

Fair isn't always good. Romans 6:23 says that "The wages of sin is death..." So, for all of us who have ever sinned, 'fair' means death.

Fortunately, the last half of the verse give an alternative to fair: "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord."

So, I agree that it really stinks when life doesn't feel fair. But compared to death for a single sin, almost anything else is better.

ON THE MENEWE:

Pumpkin Roll

Filling:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients and set aside. Beat eggs and sugar on high speed for 5 minutes. Add pumpkin and lemon juice; fold in dry ingredients. Pour into jelly roll 10x15 inch pan that has been lined with wax paper and greased and floured. Bake for 15 minutes. As soon as taken from oven, put damp cheesecloth on top and roll up. Put in refrigerator to cool about 15 minutes. Mix all filling ingredients together and beat until smooth. Unroll pumpkin roll and spread filling on top. Re-roll and refrigerate. Slice and serve.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

When one of my great-nieces was a little girl, she was eating ice cream and told her parents, "I'm putting it [the ice cream] in my heart so Jesus can eat it."

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

Faith doesn't always take you out of the problem. Faith takes you through the problem.

Faith doesn't always take away the pain. Faith give you the ability to handle the pain.

Faith doesn't always take you out of the storm. Faith calms you in the midst of the storm. - TobyMac

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org