I’m Jemima L. Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

B.B. wasn’t with me, nor her husband, Joseph.  Dr. Kildare was with them on the storm chase.  But we had the Caseys, all four of them in the classroom: Ben, Ellie, Michael, and tiny little Joan.

And we had the entire Flintheart softball infield: Josie, Margie, Carla, Menzie, Brooke, and Sophie.  All with their boyfriends except Josie, the catcher, who explained that her one-year-old son, Daniel, was all she needed for now.

Arabella and Menzie were playing with the storm chaser babies: Stormie, Misty, and Joan.

I was thinking with Arabella distracted, I might be able to start the class without an interruption.

I looked at the large crowd, and said, “Good morning, everyone.”

Arabella then said, “Oh!  I didn’t see you come in, and you didn’t have me help you with your hair.  Oh, dear, do you have a brush?  It looks like a rat’s nest in the back.”

Menzie said, “Belle, that is more of a hummingbird nest.  Too small for a rat or even a mouse.  One quick swipe with a brush.”  Menzie produced a brush, and they went to work.

Arabella giggled, “Aunt Jemima, you can start the class now.  Master Splinter no longer has a home.”

Menzie laughed, “Oh, I get it!  The turtles and Master Splinter.  That’s a good one, Belle.”

I huffed, “Can we get started?”  I was upset that I missed a spot.  I was upset that they had now made a connection between the turtle team and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  But I was really upset that I was unable to get started before Arabella ‘got started.’

I took in a deep breath.  I said a little prayer, and then I led everyone in prayer.

I looked at Emmett.

Emmett asked, “Can I take over the class for a little bit?  I need to set up our opening song.”  I nodded.

Samuel (Amos 5:24): “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Dr. Ben followed, while Emmett played the first few chords of the song, “And let me quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a couple of quotes mashed together.  ‘Justice is indivisible.  … Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ “

The Emmett led his choir that seemed to be growing and getting a lot stronger.  The lead was sung by Carla and Arabella.  At alto, there was Menzie and Mercedes Lothrop.  At tenor, Samuel, Michael, and Emmett.  And baritone, Dr. Ben.  The song was one that I had never heard before, The Justice Song, commissioned by the International Justice Mission (IJM).

Then Menzie said, “The IJM is fighting injustice to poor people, and they also fight human trafficking and slavery.  I want to thank Emmett for finding this song.  And I want to thank my bestie, Sophie.  If it was not for her investigation skills, I would not be here now.  I would be a slave of someone on the far side of the world.”

Her Mom, Missy, was crying.

Samuel said, “Aunt Jemima, I guess I don’t have to ask you what attribute of God that we are studying this time, but this concludes our introduction to the topic.”

I wiped away a tear of my own. “Yes, we are studying God’s Justice.  But while we wish for balanced scales and blind justice in this world, I am reminded of what Pastor Joseph said in a previous class.  When we come before the Lord on Judgment Day, we will not want justice for ourselves.  We will want God’s Mercy.  But to understand God’s Mercy, we need to know God’s Justice.”

Easy, a.k.a. Mr. Dictionary, said, “And before Arabella asks, Justice, according to Oxford Language, means ‘Just behavior or treatment’.  And since the definition includes ‘just’, here are some similar words for justice: fairness, equity, egalitarianism, neutrality, nonpartisanship, integrity, probity, honesty, and righteousness.”

Arabella asked, “Is that how the bald eagle became our national bird?  You know, that eagle tarrying thing?”

Mr. Dictionary rolled his eyes, “Egalitarianism is the ‘doctrine that all people are equal and deserve to have equal rights and opportunities.’  Any more definitions?”

Arabella shook her head, “Nope.  Thank you Mr. Dictionary.”

I said, “I have no idea how to follow that introduction.  That was a lot more than an opening song.  That was practically a sermon in itself.”

Blaise asked, “So, are we dismissed?”

Margie squeezed his arm.  “Blaise, not hardly, Sweetheart.  You need to explain how my last name has affected your life.”

Blaise sighed, “Okay, heavy confession time, but I am going to mention when you helped me, Sweetheart.”  Margie stuck her tongue out.  “I am about two years and a few months younger than Sophie.  Sophie is a quiet person, and I wanted her to notice me, but she was upset that I came along and ruined her being the youngest.  In a way, I know how that feels now that GiGi is in the picture.  But I would do something that started out as a basic science experiment and then add something that might irritate.”

There were groans from several people in the class and a growl from Sophie.

Blaise continued, “The bad ingredients in the shampoos led to a few strange haircuts over the years, but then I got Margie to deliver a facial cream that I had added some hot spices to the cream.  Margie knew about it.  Since it came from her best friend, until Menzie came along, Sophie did not suspect at first.  But then, she thought twice and rubbed some on the back of her hand and it led to skin redness and a burning sensation.  My Dad found out and he had me arrested and sent directly to the prison.  It was all a setup, but I didn’t know.  I was put in a cell with Big Red MacIntosh Apple.  We were in a solitary confinement cell and the cell next door had Red Delicious.  Red Delicious talked about me becoming an employee of the Rotten Apples.  They could use someone with my skills, but Big Red Mac talked about what I was guilty of doing.  Everything to that moment in my life was revolving around me.  I had to be the center of attention.  And I could have caused my sister to go blind if she used that stuff on her face.  Justice had to be served, and I was never going to get out of that cell.  But I finally broke down, I confessed everything, and Big Red Mac said that the only way out was to accept Jesus.  I wasn’t thinking of getting out of that cell at that moment.  I wanted out of the death sentence for not loving my sister and loving me more than anyone else.  Big Red Mac gave the signal, and I was taken home.  It was similar to the program called ‘scared straight.’  Sis, I have asked for forgiveness before.  I deserve a lot of pain in return, but God has washed away my sins.  In His perfect Justice, He no longer sees my sins.  But for those who do not believe and trust in Jesus, the lake of fire awaits them.  I tell you, being locked in a cell with someone who was guilty of murder, that would scare anyone, unless they were delusional and thought they could be tougher.  But I know of no one who has come back from Hell.  There are no second chances there.  Maybe a near death experience, but God’s justice is just.”

Blake said, “My use of drugs was forgiven a long time before Penny got pregnant.  When we do things that change our bodies, we can get side effects of our sin that last well beyond the point when God forgives us.”

Emmett said, “And it does not have to be drugs or alcohol.  My folks were too busy making money to send us kids off to college to worry about flood insurance.  And we knew that we lived in a flood plain.  We lost everything, and if it were not for Mommie Pinkie, we would still have nothing.  Now, Belle has llamas, goats, cows, and a couple of donkeys to chase the coyotes away.  We have land where Belle and Sarah can build houses.  God is good, but my folks could have less than nothing right now.  God’s Justice is something that is perfect.  And because we are not perfect, sometimes it doesn’t make much sense.”

Zuzka said, “I work for Baldwyn Apple.  I not have choice, but I do what he say do.  Yet, I sin against God.  If I not find Jesus, I go to that lake that Blaise talk about.  There are so many who work here who do the same.  But Mommie Pinkie shares Gospel of love and we saved.”

I smiled, “I want to thank each of you.  God is a loving God.  His desire is that no one is lost.”

Dr. Ben (2 Peter 3:8-9) “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Brooke asked, “So, what is all this talk about people going to Hell if God wants everyone to go to Heaven?”

I sighed, “God loves us.  He would not want any of us to be lost, but He leaves it up to us.  We surrender to Him or we do not.  That becomes that great deciding factor in the Justice before God at the Great White Throne.”

Dr. Ben said, “God is holy.  Anyone who is not washed of their sins would be unable to be in His presence and survive.  Thus, we must accept Jesus into our hearts.  But I had a friend tell me recently that God gives us what we want.  Those who reject God, do not want God telling them what to do.  The only place where they can get what they want is the lake of fire.  But in the process, they lose the chance for a place without pain and without suffering.”

Mary Jo said, “I was a stripper.  I had holy rollers tell me that I was going to Hell.  I didn’t care.  I was having too much fun.  But then I got pregnant.  My lover threw me out.  A hurricane was brewing and my friends, the Drivers, tried to take me to the hospital, but the road was blocked off.  We didn’t think we had a choice until we saw a light in a window.  Frank came into the world and then B.B., who is out chasing storms today, she introduced me to the man who would marry her, and he led us to Jesus.  Sometimes, you have to get to that place where Jesus is the only way out.  If you don’t, you might just think that you’re having too much fun at the moment.”

Otto said, “I have been studying in Numbers 35 about refuge cities.  I pulled a prank.  A man died.  But I did not mean for that to happen.  I was in prison due to manslaughter, but if we had those cities of refuge, I might have shown that it was an accident.  But I still did what I did.  I paid for that.  And I doubt if I would have ever cleaned up my act if it were not for Zuzka showing me that I was loved and showing me how to love.  So, from someone who has seen the bad side of the criminal justice system, I would take God’s Justice any day.  What God’s Justice is to me, as that He loves us and shows us Mercy enough that if we had a lick of sense, we would see that His plan for our lives is better.  I did my time, and my life is better now than I could ever have imagined.”

Lauren came from behind Menzie and patted her on the knee, “Mommie!  The buses!”

I smiled, “As we have been doing, let’s end with the Mizpah benediction.  Everyone, bow your heads in prayer.  “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.’” (Genesis 31:49b)

Then Easy said, “And before everyone leaves, Happy Mother’s Day. You either are one or you have had one at one point or another. And remember that we call my Aunt Pink, Mommie Pinkie. She gives to us from the heart.”

Arabella walked up to Easy and said, “Thank you, Mr. Dictionary.”

Easy shrugged, “You are quite welcome, Belle.”

Arabella asked, “And next week is Mercy.  I can’t wait!”

But then the door to the restrooms, Pink’s office, and the access to the elevator opened. Aunt Pink emerged. “To all the mothers here, we are having a special Mother’s Day Party in the Conference Center. All mothers and expectant mothers are invited, courtesy of the Mommie’s Club. You should already have an invitation, but this is a reminder.

Credits

I am now starting to use the David E. Fessenden study guides for The Attributes of God, A Journey into the Father’s Heart by A.W. Tozer, in two volumes. Again, no quotations, just some Scriptures that keep the flow going.

But the first Scripture this week comes from the song.

And here is The Justice Song sung by 90 vocalists from 33 countries.  It was written by Selorm Tamakloe and Kaign Christy.  It was produced by IJM Ghana.  The International Justice Mission is a global mission, partnering with local authorities in 33 countries, offices in 19 countries, combatting injustice of poor people and fighting human trafficking and slavery.

Happy Mother’s Day

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.