Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Being a 'baby boomer' I naturally expect to do well at all times. Today however I was reading a book called Job, written many eons ago. A very informative book about a blessed man who came under a major test.One of three old friends of Job's was commenting on how the wicked are always punished, so Job must have done some very wicked things for all these horrible things to have happened to him, all at once.Job replied out of his misery that he was innocent, and all this wretchedness was from God, anyways. But that he also believed his redeemer lives! Job, chapters 18 and 19.I also believe that, for our Jesus, God's son, is proclaimed as our redeemer , now and for all time.
 Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people. That, my friend is life on this earth.The outcome is in the hands of the Lord. Our attitude must be that the will of the Lord be done, good or bad. I have experienced both along with our clan of over a hundred folk.Like the untimely death, of our father who always said 'it is better to wear out than to rust out' and 'I want to die in the bush with my boots on'. He did both wear out and die in the bush with his boots on, while getting his winters wood to keep warm.

Three years later, one of our dear brother-in-laws was struck by a flying branch off of a tree that he felled. In his casket he made us smile because he had said that 'he would never be caught dead with a totally bald head' which he had as a result of an operation that was performed on his head after the blow he suffered. His reference to the bald head was because our brother was completely bald at a young age, in his twenties and refused to wear a wig.

Three years after that a young husband of our neice was suddenly killed in a car accident leaving her with a young child and a baby on the way. Bad things do happen to good people.

A sister of 5 years of age was also taken from us, as a result of a drunken driver coming off the road on her side while she was walking to be with her sister 1947.I too was struck by a truck with an elderly gentleman driving, while walking home from Sunday school.1958. Thankfully, my injury was minimal.
Other bad things have happened in our large family, but they are far outweighed by good things like 3 sets of twins, many healthy newborns, all 11 marriages lasting, many graduations, many home owners and a mom that is 90 years young. They are among our blessings.
Now I am truly blessed to be able to say that of late the Lord is showing me great favour in fields I never would have dreamed possible. This article is a dream come true where I can express and vent my feelings of love, joy and peace that are overflowing from my heart.We can truly say that you can trust God and expect Him to get you through all things that happen in your life too. Never despair when you can utter a prayer. He is there for all of us !
Recently in July,06 we had a great family reunion in French River, On, Canada at Deer Bay Park. Here our two sisters and brother-in-laws run a small family campground on the French River. They graciously give us all free campsites for an entire weekend and allow us space to play games, have tournaments and enjoy a fishing derby. We also have a potluck supper together as we celebrate a birthday or wedding anniversary or a new baby in the clan.This year was Mom's 90th and the first 5th generation baby was present. Thank God for the invention of the digital camera. Many, many photos give us lasting pleasure as we compare the changes in the children and grand/great grand children.
See the hand of the Lord in bringing us all safely to and from the reunion year after year. His love enables us to get along really well. His watch over the weather supplies us with wonderful sunny days filled with laughter and merriment.
As God was with Job, so He has been with us continually enabling us to thank Him in good times and in bad. Nothing takes God our Father by surprise and He prepares us for things unseen .We Bless the Name of Jesus each day in all things. Why do bad things happen to good people? They happen to us all from time to time and it is part of the plan to show us what we are made of and just how much trust we do have in God and His Word.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Because life happens to the best of us and leaves us bewildered and questioning, I felt moved to share my own experiences with others of like kind.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About the Author (text)Dona Hatherley creates roads to wellness in all areas of life by pointing out ways and means as well as the expectations you can have from God's viewpoint.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How to Please the Lord God Almighty

How To Please The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, MAKER AND CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, THE GREAT GOD JEHOVAH.
As King of kings and Lord of lords and God of gods, His Worship is also His Majesty and appears in all of His splendour to the saints of Glory.What is there left to do that could possibly get His attention enough to smile on us with the pleasure only a Father of His calibre could know?
HE OWNS EVERYTHING seen and unseen. He as God knows everything.Nothing is hidden from the Lord past, present or future. His awareness of us is total and complete. There is little we can do, say or be that is pleasing to our Father in Heaven unless it is done with a fully surrendered heart.
This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.Matthew 3:17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.Matthew 3:16-17 (in Context) Matthew 3 (Whole Chapter) Matthew 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.Matthew 17:4-6 (in Context) Matthew 17 (Whole Chapter) 2 Peter 1:17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.2 Peter 1:16-18 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)
What pleases the best of fathers is to have a son follow in his footsteps of integrity. Doing what he sees his daddy doing, saying what he hears his daddy saying and being what he knows his father is in every good area of dads life.
David was a man after God's own heart. How did king David of Israel know what God's heart was like?1 Samuel 13:14 God spoke to king Saul after he had displeased the Lord.But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.1 Samuel 13:13-15 (in Context) 1 Samuel 13 (Whole Chapter) Acts 13:22And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.Acts 13:21-23 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
The first man that our Lord God created out of the dust only pleased Him for a short span of time. The bliss that Adam knew with the heavenly Father was short lived and changed to great fear after the fall from the highest regard a man has ever had.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
14And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.
21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
How indeed can you and I enjoy such a privilege as hearing a well done or a thankyou from the judge of all the earth and Heaven? Peter, James and John were given a clue on the mount of transfiguration. They were told to hear Jesus which also meant obey Him.Matthew 17 1And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
2 Peter 1:17 (King James Version)King James Version (KJV)Public Domain 17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus said , John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.John 14:14-16 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter) John 14:21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.John 14:20-22 (in Context) John 14 (Whole Chapter
To know Him is to love Him and therefore obey His every command as you would a mighty general in your country's military. For He is greater than any man that has ever or will ever live. There is no comparing the Son of God to anyone or anything. He truly outshines and excels in all and above all.
Are you feeling it is useless to even try to be in a position of honor where His Majesty glances your way with pleasure in His eyes? Does it seem to you an impossible dream that the Lord of Glory, the Great I Am would utter one word of praise to you? How would you feel knowing that that smile, that chuckle you just glimpsed and heard in your spirit was from Daddy God for your heart only?
Pleasing our Almighty God is not the monumental (emphasis on mental) task you might expect. For you see He is always ready, willing and even anxious to express His Love of all Loves to you. He already gave us His most prized person Jesus Christ and will send Him again to the world to recapture the earth forever.
To please the One who loves us the most entails our believing how absolutely true the Bible is when it states John 3:16 (King James Version)King James Version (KJV)Public Domain 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
Please Him by believing Him and receiving the rewards of that. John 6:29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.John 6:28-30 (in Context) John 6 (Whole Chapter)
Doing what is right in His sight and like David repenting immediately and making restitution when you fail to move in the direction He has chosen for you. I am writing this article because it is His choice for me. I fought it long and hard reasoning that there are too many voices calling man to repentance already.
Flowers bloom where they are planted among many other plants and so must you and I be what He has decided, where He has picked out for us.That is pleasing to the Great God Jehovah, our Lord God Almighty and Savior of mankind.Wonder no more how you can please Him. JUST DO IT! Passionately, fully given over to His will to love on His Son by loving all those who need His love in word, action and truth.
John 15:12 Jesus said,This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.John 15:11-13 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.