God is So Good!

This year has been a hard one, but one thing remains true – GOD IS GOOD!  Every day, God is good to us.  Do you ever stop and think about what God has done for you just recently?  This morning I sat for a few minutes and thought about so many things God has done for me just this morning.  He woke me up this morning - I knew who and where I was.  I wasn’t sick, which is a big deal with everything going on in the world.  I was able to get up without assistance and I had soap and clean, hot water to bath. I had more than enough clothes to choose from – probably some I need to gift to someone else.  I didn’t have to look very far for something to eat – my refrigerator is overfilled and needs a good cleaning out.  Then I had my choice of devices to use as my bible for my small group class.  

Needless to say, God has given me more than enough.  These are just a few things that I thought of from just this morning in a very short time.  There are so many more.  But with only these few things, I realized that if I really focused on who God is and what God has done, I wouldn’t be able to count it all and I wouldn't be discouraged when "bad things" happen.

Have you ever thought in the midst of a crisis, how good God is?  Or have you gotten distracted by it?  I know I have on occasion.  I’ve done exactly what people who don’t have a relationship with Jesus and don’t know God do…..get scared.  But why?  Jesus paid it all.  God has never left me on my own.  He’s always given me everything I need.  Whether it’s a friend or a beautiful day to lift my spirits or a sky painted my favorite colors.  He is always there with me and He always shows up when I need Him.  He reminds me that I don’t have to do anything alone.  If I do something on my own, that’s all me and none of Him.  God is Good to us even though we don’t deserve it and couldn’t do anything to deserve His grace and mercy.  

I challenge you to stop thinking about whatever challenges you face for 10 minutes and think of all the ways God has blessed you….in just the last day or so.  Keep those on your mind so you are reminded of who God is.  That will encourage you as you face the challenges.  If we seek Him, pray, trust and obey, God will fight our battles.  One thing is for sure, He’s already won the victory and if we’re His children, it means we have victory as well.  We aren’t always privy to what victory looks like, but if God said it, it will happen.  Remember, God is Good, all the time; and all the time, God is Good!

Be Strong and Courageous

Have you ever been responsible for something you thought you weren’t ready to handle?  A promotion? An assignment? A life-changing decision? A question from your child?  I don’t have children, but all the others apply.  I do a job every day that I know I’m not ready for on my own….some days are easy ones but most are challenging.  Whenever you lead people, the level of responsibility rises exponentially.  So most days, I ask God what is it He wants me to do for the day and I ask Him to be with me throughout the day so I don’t step off His path.  On those days I forget to ask, I know it.  That’s why in the book of Joshua, God directed him to meditate on His Word day and night so that Joshua would not stray and would do all that God had directed Him and His people.  God explained to Joshua it would make his way prosperous and he would have good success (Joshua 1:8).  

God promised Joshua He would be with him just as He had been with Moses.  He encouraged Joshua to Be Strong and Very Courageous.  God showed Himself strong and mighty to the Israelites as they crossed the Jordan River and when God gave them the Promised Land.    So, that says to me that if we spend time meditating on God’s Word and we are obedient to it, we, too, will be prosperous and have great success.  

What does success look like?  Whatever God chooses for us when we know and are obedient to His Word.  I can’t say what it looks like because God’s ways are so much higher than mine.  What I can say, is when I look at my life, I see God’s hand in it and it looks so different from what I imagined.  In response to my obedience, not perfection, God has given me so much more than I could ever have dreamed or imagined.  And, it has led me to dream bigger dreams.  I know He has more for me to do.  Look at this blog for instance.  Who would have thought at the beginning of the year I’d be writing again?  I hadn’t in years.  My point is when we’re obedient, God shows up.  He will be with us. 

So, what in your life has God called to that scares you?  Don’t allow the fear to face the challenge, to face people, of failure, etc. keep you from doing what God told you to do.  Be Strong and Very Courageous (Joshua 1:9).  Step out on faith that the very God, who parted the Red Sea, the Jordan River and woke you up this morning, will be with you through whatever assignment He has given you.  Be Strong and Very Courageous – push past the fear of rejection and difficulty of the challenge and do what God told you.  Be Strong and Very Courageous!  God will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)!  If God be for you, who or what can stand against you (Romans 8:31)?  Be Strong and Very Courageous!

Give Thanks

I’ve been thinking about all that’s happened this year and it’s so easy to be distracted by all the chaos and calamity.  The virus hit and we’ve been overwhelmed in ways I never imagined – more than 200,000 dead and millions infected over the course of the pandemic - and it still rages against us.  The country partially shut down in response to COVID19 and hasn’t completely recovered.  The stock market dropped significantly when it was clear the virus wasn’t going away or being contained. Racial tensions rose with the killing of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and so many others.  Add to that the division of the country over the elections and voting, plus the increased hurricane (severe weather) activity.  It feels like too much to handle when you just think of all that. 

When we take a step back though, we have to take a breath and think about what’s really going on.  Remember, we live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  No matter what it looks like, God is still in control.  He can do anything (Luke 1:37).  Why would God allow this to happen, some ask?  Why wouldn’t He, I answer.  

We’ve expelled Him from every worldly place – no prayer in schools, separation of church and state, no mentioning His name at work, etc.  We don’t follow His Word or guidance, but we want Him to fix our problems.  How arrogant of us?  He is not a genie, where we can pull Him out when we want something and then put Him back on the shelf when we’re done or we’ve gotten what we want.  Why would our creator keep coming to our rescue when we are so disobedient to His Will and His Way?  Because He loves us.  Could you imagine what would happen if he didn’t?  I don’t even want to try.  

But this all brings me to the point today….how much we have to really be grateful for.  God continues to love us in spite of who we are and the disobedient things we do.  I mean, I know I don’t always do what’s right and God still loves me and keeps me.  What about you?  

Now is a time more than ever to remember that He is waiting for us to choose to serve Him.  Salvation is a choice not a feeling and if we want it we can have it – Believe and Confess (Roman 10:9-10).  It’s not about going to church, although we should.  It’s not about some title, it’s about a change of the heart (which is naturally wicked) and following Christ, living as He did – serving others.  

While I strive to do God’s Will each day, I know that I fall short each day – whether in thought or deed. But still, God wakes me each day and allows me in His presence when I surely don’t deserve it.  He provides food and shelter for me, even when I’m not the best steward of His resources.  He is mindful of the things that I care about and He moves when I ask Him according to His will.  

Even now in the middle of hurricane season, God has kept us safe and sound.  He protected or healed many of us from COVID19.  He is so especially good.  We have to remember that……even in the midst of chaos and nonsense, God deserves our gratitude. He is still GOD – the One and Only Wise GOD!  No matter what is going on or what we see, God is good to us.  The situation may not be, but God is still good.  Paul said it best in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  

Integrity! Do you have it?

So today, I led the class for our Middle School ministry and the subject was Integrity.  As we all know, Integrity is the quality of being honest and living by strong moral principles.  It is the foundation of a trusting relationship.  How many friends do you have who don’t have integrity?  If they don't, do you trust them?  

Integrity is also evidence that we know Jesus, because He is the Truth (John 14:6).  He is all about Integrity. So, as I was studying the lesson to prepare for the students, I had to reflect over my own life and where I've had areas of integrity that didn't measure up.  I remembered (and I’m sure some of you might as well) when I was a little girl and after I did something that would get me in trouble, the first thing I’d say was that I didn’t do it.  I mean who wants to get in trouble.  What I didn’t realize at the time was that I was sowing additional consequences for myself.  My mom knew who did it, so I just compounded the punishment for myself.  Not only did I have to pay the consequences for the actions, but also for the lie.  I didn’t understand it then.  I get it now.  We reap what we sow.  

We forget that integrity is a choice and it’s either who we are or who we aren’t.  It’s a matter of our character.  What do we do when no one else is looking?  Who are we trying to impress?  What trouble do we think a dishonest answer or a cheat will get us out of?  The fact remains that God knows us better than we know ourselves and He knows when we lie or cheat or steal, even if we think it’s harmless.  He’s watching all the time.  He knows exactly what we do.  

His expectation of us is that we will live a live that is honest and sincere.  He expects us to be real – what you see is what you get – all the time no matter what.  He expects us to do what’s right because it’s the right thing to do!  Can you imagine in today’s climate, if everyone was just real and not putting on a show for other people?  How much would being real and honest help people overcome fear and hatred?  How might honesty allow people to see the need for Jesus in their lives?  How might honesty show some that saying they are Christian, but not living a life representative of Christ is hypocrisy?  How might people be changed if they chose to do what is right because it is right to do?  How might it change the world?  

We might not be able to change the entire world, but we can change our little piece of it.  I gave the kids a challenge this week and I’m going to take it myself.  I challenge you to do the same.  Take a look at your life and evaluate where you have not been trustworthy or operating in integrity.  Choose to operate differently.  Integrity is a choice and if it is doing what’s right not matter what happens or who’s involved or what the consequences might be – it’s also about obedience.  Obedience to God is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22).  Let’s take this opportunity to be the people God calls us to be – People of Integrity.