God is Fair & So is His Favor

I heard a sermon once in which the preacher made the statement that "God is not fair". The words bothered me so much immediately. I have since really struggled with that 'claim'. As it depicts God in a light that I personally feel, is so false.

Since the sermon that I heard, God has shown me continuously, verse after verse, there's a reason that message has bothered me so much. I have read scriptures that say otherwise.

God IS fair.

Some definitions of 'Fair': Free from bias, dishonesty, or injustice: a fair decision; a fair judge. Free from self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism. 

I think about how as a parent I attempt to make things fair for my children. How it's my job as a parent to bring about that "fairness" and do things in  a "just" manner. Because, Life is not fair. People are not fair. Situations are not fair. Hardships are not fair. Circumstances are not fair. There are more things on earth that are NOT fair, than fair. So it's my job to keep things in my home as fair as I can. As a parent I love my children equally. Not one more than the other. They are each so different from one another. Each with her own strengths and weaknesses. Talents & gifts. Each with her own endearing ways. I could never love one more than the other. They are each so precious in their own ways. They each brings something no one else ever could to our little family. And in my raising them, I believe in treating each one fairly, free from bias, prejudice or favoritism.

Through life & all the unfairness it brings I believe we can have peace in the fact that we serve an incredibly fair God. We serve a just God. When life and all it throws at us is unfair, we can rest in knowing our God is righteous and just, good and FAIR. Our God loves His children equally and counts us as precious in our own ways. He sees what we each bring to the table.

Here take a look at the proof I found. (There are many verses that talk about God being fair and how we should be fair like him, these are only a portion.)

Genesis 18:19 I have chosen him so that he would command his children and descendants to live the way the Lord wants them to, to live right and be FAIR. Then, I, the Lord will give Abraham what I promised him.

Leviticus 19:15 Be fair in your judging, you must not show special favor to poor people or great people, but be fair when you judge your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is like a rock; what he does is perfect, and he is always fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong, who is right and fair.

1 Kings 9:4 But you must serve me as your father David did; he was fair and sincere. You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.

Job 34:17 Can anyone govern who hates what is right? How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?

Psalm 9:8 and he will judge the world in fairness; he will decide what is fair for the nations

Psalm 9:16 The Lord has made himself known by his fair decisions

Psalm 33:5 He loves what is right and fair; the Lord's love fills the earth.

Psalm 89:14 Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Love and truth are in all you do.

Psalm 103:6 The Lord does what is right and fair for all who are wronged by others.

Proverbs 21:3 Doing what is right and fair is more important to the Lord than sacrifices.

Isaiah 30:18 The Lord wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is a fair God, and everyone who waits for his help will be happy.

Jeremiah 9:24 But if people want to brag, let them brag that they understand and know me. Let them brag that I am the Lord, and that I am kind and fair, and that I do things that are right on earth. This kind of bragging pleases me," says the Lord.

Ezekiel 18:25 But you say, 'What the Lord does isn't fair.' Listen, people of Israel. I am fair. It is what you do that is not fair!

John 5:30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

2 Thessalonians 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you

Hebrews 6:10 God is fair; he will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for him by helping his people. And he will remember that you are still helping them.

I believe favor comes from God. I believe His Favor is fair because God is fair and favor is available for all of us who love Him. Favor can be bestowed upon all of God's children. Anyone who loves God can pray for favor and should pray for favor. 

God rewards. God gives. God takes away. God is fair. God will be fair.

Life isn't fair. Circumstances are not fair. But God is fair and we can find favor with Him.

Favor = (noun) an attitude of approval or liking (verb) feel or show approval or liking

Fact is God loves us all. When we strive to do what pleases the Lord we can find favor with him. Though we all fall short, God still approves of us. Like when our children fall short, nothing they do or don't do could ever make us love them less. If God didn't love us, He wouldn't have sent His son to die in our place. God created each of us. We are loved even when we fall short.

Favor as a form of favorite would imply that God has favorites, which Romans 2:11 says For God does not show favoritism.  

Therefore, God does NOT have favorites or favor certain children. God does not bestow his favor upon only certain followers like some game of chance or by a lottery system.

If salvation is available for all of us and Jesus died for ALL mankind wouldn't that mean we all have favor available to us? Proverbs 8:35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the LORD. Are you following? Favor IS for all of us who love God.

We shouldn't brag about our blessings or things we receive or have. To speak in a way such as to say "Favor ain't fair" is an 'in someone's face' statement which sounds like 'I am more spiritual than you or God favors me more because of this or that'. 

And this isn't how God works. Favor IS fair. We all can be blessed. Anyone who loves and serves God can receive God's favor. Being blessed with this or that, while the person next to us has something less at the moment doesn't mean they are less than us as a person or christian. It doesn't mean you have done something that warrants a bigger amount of favor. Someone having more money or less, a higher social standing or less, a job or a loss, a family or striving to have a family, etc. doesn't mean more or less "favor."

We can ALL count our blessings and should NEVER compare our blessings or favor to anyone else's.

Sure, favor can come in different forms. We don't all receive the same rewards and blessings in life. Because we're all different. We all have different talents, strengths, weaknesses, struggles, needs, wants, desires, etc. 

God is fair. So I believe His favor lines up with His fairness.

And that favor is absolutely available to all of us.

Psalm 5:12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Psalm 30:5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Proverbs 11:27 Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it.

I know I sound like a broken record, but I really believe this!  God truly is fair and anyone can find favor with Him! 

Count your blessings. Don't compare your life to anyone else's. We have all been created as equal and are loved equally by God. Embrace your salvation. Strive to follow the example set before us and live a life of righteousness by being fair in your day to day interactions with others. Find peace in God's ability to be fair when all else isn't.

Redeemed

Definition of "Redeemed"

to buy or pay off; clear by payment: to redeem a mortgage.

to buy back, as after a tax sale or a mortgage foreclosure.

to recover (something pledged or mortgaged) by paymentor other satisfaction: to redeem a pawned watch.

to exchange (bonds, trading stamps, etc.) for money or goods.

to convert (paper money) into specie.

to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.).

to make up for; make amends for; offset (some fault, shortcoming, etc.): His            bravery redeemed his youthful idleness.

to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom.

Theology . to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.

Exodus 15:13

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Isaiah 43:1

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Stations of the Cross

We took our kids to Holy Hill to view the Stages of the Cross. It's a GORGEOUS place to go and walk around. We had never done this before, (I actually never knew about it) but after going the kids now want to do it every year. It's definitely a neat little tradition not just for Catholics, which we are not.

You can view more images here of Holy Hill. I wish I took more pictures of the grounds and beautiful scenery. It's just absolutely gorgeous.

I found some printable coloring pages where you can Walk With Jesus on the Way of the Cross if there isn't a place you can go to view the stations.

I stumbled upon this blog post and tailored the ideas a bit. This was a great little way to remind our kids the stages we just walked through. We found a little area and sat down once we were done to go through these. The kids had a lot of fun with it.

Station 1 Jesus is Condemned to Death – a piece of yarn to represent the rope used to tie Jesus’ hands
Station 2 Jesus Carries His Cross — a small cross
Station 3 Jesus Falls the First Time — three band-aids to represent Jesus’ three falls.
Station 4 Jesus Meets His Mother Mary – Picture of Mary
Station 5 Simon Helps Jesus — We traced & cut out a hand to visualize hands are made to help
Station 6 Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus —piece of cloth
Station 7 Jesus Falls the Second Time – bandaid 2
Station 8 Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem — a tissue for their tears
Station 9 Jesus Falls the Third Time – bandaid 3
Station 10 Jesus is Stripped of His Garments — a cloak cut out from a piece of paper
Station 11 Jesus is Nailed to the Cross — 3 nails (2 in each hand & one in his legs)
Station 12 Jesus Dies on the Cross — a picture of Jesus
1 John 3:16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
Station 13 Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross — spices & strips of linen John 19:40
Station 14 Jesus is Buried – a stone/rock to represent the stone rolled in front of the tomb

I would recommend reading Matthew 26 & 27 as well.

Our God's Alive

Come on everyone
See what He has done
He has lifted us,
He has overcome,
The power of the grave
And the sin that once enslaved
Couldn't hold Him in the ground
Couldn't keep Him down

Rise with a shout,
Cry out our God's alive
Rise holy fire, burn bright, burn bright
Rise with a shout,
Cry out for freedom
Rise church, arise
Our God's alive

Reigning on His throne
Drawing ever close
Giving us this hope
He'll never let us go
Oh, death has been defeated
Jesus Christ, Redeemer
Conquered hell and freed us
Forever we are saved

Rise with a shout,
Cry out our God's alive
Rise holy fire, burn bright, burn bright
Rise with a shout,
Cry out for freedom
Rise church, arise
Our God's alive

He alone can save us
He will not forsake us
He remains forever,
Our savior

See Him reign in power
Stronger than our failures
Always and forever,
Our savior

More Like Falling in Love

Every now and then there comes a song I have heard over & over, maybe even sang along to, but one day I actually listen to it and truly hear it's meaning. Like reading scripture, you can read it over & over again, but one day there is that certain passage that just rings loud for you & your current season or circumstance.

Today for me that song is "More Like Falling in Love" by Jason Gray.

The lyrics are
Give me rules, I will break them
Show me lines, I will cross them
I need more than a truth to believe
I need a truth that lives, moves, and breathes
To sweep me off my feet

Its gotta be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
Its like I'm falling, Ohhhh
Its like I'm falling in love

Give me words, I'll misuse them
Obligations, I'll missplace them
Cuz all religion ever made of me
Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet
It never set me free

Its gotta be
More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance
Caught up, called out
Come take a look at me now
Its like I'm falling 
Its like I'm falling in love

Love, Love
Deeper and deeper
It was love that made me a believer
In more than a name, a faith, a creed
Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me




This song is stinking amazing!

If we can all serve Jesus instead of our religion we could be on to something. Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you not do certain things? And why do you do other things?

It's Jesus voice we need to adhere to. I'm sure many of your leaders voices and hearts DO line up with Jesus. But the only way we can know for sure that what we are being taught & hearing is by digging in the word ourselves & hearing from God ourselves. Studying the bible ourselves. Jesus is NOT about religion. He's not about rules.

A "christian" life should be a life of freedom & peace, but far too often we make it one of rules & regulations to adhere to.

All religion ever made of me
Was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet
It never set me free

It all starts with a relationship. A personal relationship. Don't rely on another's relationship with God to determine how you live your life. Seek Him for yourself.

Rules get broken.

Constantly hearing don't do this, don't do that is exhausting and only leads to rebellion. But a true love for God is SO much different!


More like falling in love
Than something to believe in
More like losing my heart
Than giving my allegiance

I Choose Jesus

I choose Jesus

The One who first chose me

for now & eternity

He loves the unlovable

Reaches the Unreachable

I Look To You

This song causes such emotion to rise up in my heart. The lyrics are beyond beautiful! A song we should all have on the forefront of our lips.

"I look to You
After all my strength is gone
In You I can be strong"



Try as we may, try as we might
To face this world alone

Hurts, Trials, and Battles unending
So much of life unknown

I'd rather have Jesus
When my strength shall waiver

For it's only in Him
I can be all the braver

A life time of peace
Continuous Joy

Confidence and Grace
My Savior to enjoy

I Look To You

As I lay me down
Heaven hear me now
I’m lost without a cause
After giving it my all

Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I’ve been through
Who on earth can I turn to?

I look to you,
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong
I look to you,
I look to you
And when melodies are gone In you I hear a song
I look to you

'bout to lose my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door

And every road that I've taken
Led to my regret
And I don't know if I'm go'n make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

My levees are broken
My walls are coming down on me
My rain is falling
Defeat is calling
I need you to set me free
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me!

Jesus, NOT religion

Grace all the way!


If you hear anything from this, hear grace! I don't think he is saying "keep sinning, God loves you anyway". He is talking to a group of christian kids. If you hear his heart at all, take the fact that just because we sin and we fall sometimes doesn't mean God doesn't love us anymore. We will fail, and when we do, God is right there. God loves us beyond all comprehension. There is nothing we can do or not do to negate that love or to earn that love, its already there. When we sin, if we confess our sin and ask for forgiveness God is faithful to forgive because Jesus paid the price and God is a man of His word. He is faithful & just. He is full of grace & mercy. Condemnation and guilt is not from God. Jesus brings LIFE. There is no expiration date on God's forgiveness or love for us. God's mercies are new EVERY day. And every day we can strive & strive to be more like him, but we will fall short. So when we do fall short God is there to pick us back up again & help us. Then we get back up and strive again! God sees our hearts & the whole picture. He knows our deepest intention & desire. It's important to keep a pure heart & strive to be more like Jesus. But to remember God's merciful and full of amazing grace when we do mess up. 


There IS a heaven & a hell, so just being a "good person" isn't enough. It's all about a relationship with Jesus Christ. Its walking through life with God. Love is what Jesus is all about, but don't let God's grace give you an excuse to live your way instead of His.


We need to measure our lives according to God's standards and see that we all fall short, we cannot compare or measure ourselves to or against other humans.


Religion? -NO
Works? - NO
Relationship with Jesus? -YES


When you have a relationship with someone and truly love that person you want to be the best you can be and you want to strive to please them. It's all about a relationship with Jesus. Then let Him take it from there as you seek Him. :)  

"Fights"

Proverbs 20:3 -"Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling" 

This morning my husband shared this verse on his facebook from Proverbs that caused others to pose good questions...

Some had asked "what about equality or the fight to free slaves & such"? Good questions for sure. I had to share my husband's take:   

My take on this would be, that it's about knowing what "fights" are worth engaging in. What fights has Jesus himself already shown worth fighting? Stuff like freedom, equality, forgiveness and ultimately salvation. I think it boils down to the ability to discern what and when (and in that order) issues are worth fighting for. I try to ask myself when faced with confrontation, "Is this a hill worth dying on?" and realize most quarrels simply aren't worth it and are possibly even a distraction from the issues worth fighting for. Jesus stood his ground on number of occasions by not necessarily fighting but by asking the right questions to help others come to better understanding or at least self evaluate whether the issue at hand was a hill worth dying on for them. Even causing accusers to reflect on if they even had a leg to stand on in making whatever accusation they were making. One of my most favorite Jesus statements is "Who ever is blameless among you throw the first stone." Jesus thought the only hill worth dying on was a hill called Golgotha and with it he purchased my salvation, my healing, my forgiveness, my everything...He choose to fight the "good" fights and avoid the meaningless ones...which, in my mind, is a rather admirable characteristic and something I'd like to improve on myself. And I'm willing to bet, God, if you ask Him, will speak to you about what "fights" you should be personally engaging in. That's my take on what the scripture/God is communicating here...and that's all the time and energy I'm going to give to this "fight." Make it a great day and fight the "good" fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12)!

Perseverance & Integrity

In my last post which hinged from my 2011 year in review, I combined Staying true to God, family, & yourself with priorities...because I think the main way we can stay true to those important beings is by having our priorities straight.


In this post I am combining 'perseverance is painfully necessary' with 'doing what is right even when you don't feel like it'. The two are highly relatable!


I like to think of persevering as patience in practice or persisting with patience. Persevering is persisting in anything undertaken. Maintaining a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continuing steadfastly, having a good & positive attitude while waiting; Enduring when the going gets tough; Continuing on, lasting, keeping on, carrying on through the hard times; Bearing difficulties bravely; Trying again and again.; Perseverance is a day by day decision not to give up.


"Victory belongs to the most persevering". -Napoleon Bonaparte


"To persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage to a man". -Euripides                                       


"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try". -Beverly Sills              


Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.


Ecclesiastes 9:11 ". . . The race is not [always] to the swift, nor the battle to the strong"


"Having chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts." -Abraham Lincoln 


"Defeat is simply a signal to press onward." -Helen Keller 


Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".


We have no reason NOT to endure! God goes with us! Perseverance begins or ends in the mind of the one who struggles. You hold the power and will to keep going! When you can try no more...try again! 


Matthew 10:22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Romans 5:3-4 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Revelation 2:2 I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Battles are fought in our minds every day. When we begin to feel the battle is just too difficult and want to give up, we must choose to resist negative thoughts and be determined to rise above our problems. We must decide that we’re not going to quit. When we’re bombarded with doubts and fears, we must take a stand and say: “I’ll never give up! God’s on my side. He loves me, and He’s helping me! I’m going to make it! - Joyce Meyer

God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them. -C.S. Lewis

We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive. -C.S. Lewis

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. -C.S. Lewis

Be DETERMINED to practice patience and endure the painful waiting process. Be determined to carry on in times of trouble.

Put a smile on your face and keep on keeping on.

"When you reach the end of your rope, tie a not in it and hang on" -Thomas Jefferson

...

That old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing. -Martin Luther King, Jr

Doing what's right is to act honestly and with integrity. If you are a man or woman of integrity you adhere to moral principles and your actions are wholesome. 

In times of trouble and frustration, seek to do what's right. In every given situation, wherever you are, whatever you are facing, ask yourself what the right thing to do is. Then do it. Choose what's right even if you don't feel like it. Eventually your inner attitude will match the outer one.

Don't act out of anger or pride. Don't act out of insecurity or jealousy. If we have integrity we're not corrupt and strive to not be hypocritical. 

A person of integrity is not impulsive, nor do they justify their behavior.


The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin -Proverbs 11:3

A person of integrity is a person of their word and is trustworthy.


A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret, but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence - Proverbs 11:13


The reason integrity/doing what's right & perseverance go hand in hand so well is that many times our efforts are in vain, or seem in vain. But we must keep going. Persevere in what's right! Be persistent in doing the things that are good and noble! Even when you feel like it doesn't matter, continue on the straight & narrow path...