Category Archives: Spill the Beans

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When You’ve Had Enough, He is Enough

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Welcome to Spill the Beans! In this post, I’m answering a question submitted by a reader, and… spilling my beans! If you’d like to submit a question, you can email me by clicking here.

This question struck me because it was so poignant and honest. And, it helped me too… it reminded me once again that you can accept something God allows and still experience weariness. All I could really give my blind, tired sister was empathy. And, that is what Jesus gives each of us every day. Read her words, you may see your own.

“Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”
by Jennifer Rothschild, Author of God Is Just Not Fair

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Just a Minute: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
April 1, 2014

Not Fair Book Stack

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Do You Deserve Hell?

 

Spill The Beans

Dear Jennifer,

So from the second chapter in Missing Pieces: Are you saying that even after we are God’s redeemed-from-the-curse children, that He still deals with us as if we deserve hell? Are we warranted and to be grateful if we experience anything that is less than hell because it is not hell itself?

Thank you for taking the time to address this because I cannot find an answer, and no other Christians I have asked can show me verses that say we still deserve hell.

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Why Does God Allow Pain?

Spill The Beans

 

Dear Jennifer,

 

I am leading your Missing Pieces Bible study at my church. We need some clarification on the conclusion of Day 1 of Week 1.

 

One lady on the first night shared that one of the questions she has of God is, “Why do I suffer with all this pain? I’m not old enough to hurt so bad.”

 

The next night we read that you wrote, “We often assume God’s apparent inactivity in our situation is evidence of His neglect [so far, so good, but . . .] when it really may be His way of showing compassion to protect you, provide for you, or preserve you.”

 

Help us understand how your quote relates to that lady’s question. Thanks a bunch. We had 23 show up for our first session. Praise His holy name!

 

Michelle

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How Can We Be Both Persistent and Specific in Prayer?

Dear Jennifer,

I just listened to your beautiful video on Session Six in Missing Pieces about yielding to God’s will, which I love because it lets us stop micro-managing and relax into God’s will. Yet, on page 122, you cite Matthew 7:7, which shows how we must be specific and persistent. How can we be persistent and specific in prayer, when we are just submitting? If you are not being specific every day in asking God to heal your blindness, are you being disobedient? Help me to see the difference or the similarity between these two passages.

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Reader Question: Are You Using Scripture Out of Context?

Dear Jennifer,

I am one of the women’s ministry leaders at our church and am now facilitating the Missing Pieces Bible study. God has totally met us in this study! Every week people come up to me and share (and they are sharing in the study as well) how God has been revealing Himself to them. It’s so awesome to see people changed before your eyes and truths being revealed. God is incredible! Thank you so much for letting God use you in this way. The way God has gifted you to teach his word—it’s gentle and kind, yet firm in His absolute truths. (I hope that makes sense.) It’s like we are sitting at a table together every week, drinking our coffee and talking, and like a true friend does, you gently challenge us on some things in God’s Word. Love it!

I have a question about the Matthew 18:20 verse that you referenced on Week 3, Day 5 (pg.74). I am taking an Edwards class right now with my pastor and we are learning to be careful not to take things out of context in the Bible. [We are taught to] read the verses before the one verse we are looking at, and if appropriate, after, also, so we can understand the context of what is being said. In the Matthew 18:20 verse, isn’t this in the context of church discipline? God is omnipresent, so He is with me all the time and also when I’m with my fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. Am I misunderstanding this? I guess I’m not sure what you mean by using this verse.  Could you help me to understand?

Thank you again for being such a faithful servant of God!

Blessings and Grace,

Cathy

Jennifer’s Answer: