Category: Goodness

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Good is Best

Dear Sisters,
As I considered this month’s topic, I originally thought the word “good” was a bit insipid, bland. I mean “great” or “awesome” just pops off the page. Something tremendous must be happening when those adjectives are applied. However, looking through the Word, I was surprised to see how often “good” appeared in some of my favorite passages—even referring to creation, our Savior, and the Gospel.

“God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” Isaiah 52:7

“’Well done, good and faithful slave. ‘” Matthew 25:23a

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” I Timothy 6:12

Quickly finding “good” in the dictionary in the back of my Bible, I read: “complete, right, commendable.” This added with the insight from the verses above, instead of a lukewarm description, now “good” conjured a picture of deliberate precision, tranquil unity, and comforting assurance. The term doesn’t need to render energy proving itself—it just is. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11

Today instead of frenetically chasing today’s worries, sit for a while, taste and see God is good (Psalm 34:8), and be glad. “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25
Running with you,
Rebecca

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Él es Bueno

Dearest sister,

As I read Colleen’s letter, I realized how I often forget that God is good. I know He is holy, merciful, and omnipotent (and many other things) but I seldom think about God’s goodness. As I stop to reflect on the reason for this neglect, I quickly am displeased with myself. I find that it’s because I often do not take adequate time to dwell on the person of God and all that He is. So let us dwell on it together.

Goodness is an attribute of God. Psalm 107:1 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (see also Ps. 106:1; 136:1; 118:1). Now for some reason when I read the ‘is’ in this sentence I was reminded of when I learned the difference between the verbs ser (rhymes with hair) and estar in Spanish class. Both verbs mean “to be” but which verb you use depends on the permanence of what is being described. (This is something we don’t see in English.) I learned the jingle: For how you feel and where you are always use the verb estar. Feelings and your current location are temporary. However, where you are from, what you do, and what you are like is permanent. For these descriptions you use ser.

The psalms exhort us to “give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.” In Spanish, “Alabad a Jehová, porque él es bueno.” (Psalm 107:1) Es is a conjugation of the verb ser, the form used to describe permanent characteristics! This means that God is inherently good; it is part of His unchanging character. It’s permanent. God is good and His works are good.

Sister, are you struggling to find God’s goodness in your life? Do you question how God is going to work something out for your good? I promise that you are not alone in your fears. During these difficult times, remember that the character of the Lord never changes, “for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) His goodness will never fail, even if you can’t see it.

Keep pressing on,

Kayla

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Glory Unto Glory

My dear sister,

I hope that this letter finds you well, and that the grace of God has overflowed into the hearts of others in your life. I know that at times when life is overwhelming it is difficult to see the hand of God working in our lives and hearts. Much less, His goodness and mercy towards us. Even though we can’t see, and we can’t feel His goodness it does not diminish the Truth that it does exist and it is real.

Two of my favorite Psalms are the Twenty third and the Twenty seventh. In each of them the Psalmist begins with the facts regarding our God: the “Shepard”, “Light”, “Strength”, “Salvation” and who we are in light of what He has done for us: “confident”, “restored”. But in rides the gruesomeness of life in this world “the valley of the shadow of death” and the “day of trouble” where the “wicked advance” against us. It is true that this world can be very ugly at times even downright wicked. We cause pain for others and in turn others cause us pain too. This truth reminds me of the saying “it is difficult to see the forest for the trees”. I become so focused on tree after tree after tree, that I miss the beauty of the whole forest. I miss the the completeness or totality of all the trees together.

The joy that I receive from the Psalms is that they never leave you in your miserableness. They inevitably round the bend where God’s shining glory causes the fear and angst of our hearts to arise out of the ashes to Praise Him! And what do we praise Him for? His goodness!

“I remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord be strong and take heart, wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6

I know that it is hard to imagine at times but God’s goodness always (let me say that again) always prevails! Sweet friend, it is usually my own limited thoughts and experiences that get in the way of embracing this Truth. I see hurt, I see pain, I see destruction and I see plain ole offenses and wonder “How in the world is there goodness in that?” And yet, in the heart of flesh that God has graciously gifted me with I hear the whisper of His love say “Trust Me, it is good!”

I will be frank with you sister. There are times in my own arrogance I dare to debate with God and I say to Him, “This suffering, pain, selfishness or ugliness displayed is senseless! There is no reasonableness in those words or behavior! Show me Lord where Your goodness is resident! Because I cannot see it!” Then I am gently reminded that God’s goodness being “out of this world” cannot be seen in this world in which I live. Sometimes the good God has planned is for beyond this world and my own imaginings. It is what I call my reality (Oh, yeah I am but a vapor or dust moment) check!

I can trust His word and His word tells me that He is working (Romans 8:28) and that He does have my eternal good in mind in all things that affect me (His child). That eternal good is my transformation into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29), to which the final product is meant for His glory(Romans 8:30). So when I doubt or am feeling like debating over the lack of visible goodness in this world The Holy Spirit helps me to recall; 2 Corinthians 3:18 ” But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of The Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of The Lord!” Now that’s what I call goodness!

I hope this small letter encourages you today as you look about to see God’s goodness and are struggling to actually see it! May He make you aware of His glory and of your future glory which is to behold Him in heaven. Trust Him, He is good! Take a moment to enjoy this video and May your heart be blessed!

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tPkX0MG0

Your Sister in Christ,

Susan

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Red Hair and Roses

Dear Sister,

I have red hair.  I don’t think about having red hair as I’ve had it since I was born.  Every once in awhile someone will comment on it making me appreciate the gift the Lord has given me.  I am sure that you have something similar in your own life that you may take for granted because of its constant nature.  In fact, how often do I walk past a bed of flowers and take a minute to take in the wonder of the delicate details?  How often do I ponder what to eat for dinner forgetting to be thankful that I am blessed to eat dinner?  Not only do I eat dinner, but I can have Indian, Mexican, Thai, American, Italian, or McDonald’s!  The Lord has given us variety in His creation from plants, to animals, to landscapes, to faces!  We don’t eat just manna, we don’t only sit on rocks, there is more than one color, there is more than one climate!  We can taste, feel, see, hear, and touch our environment!  WOW!  Psalm 33:5 declares that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”.

Why is this?  Genesis chapter 1 tells us that the Lord created all of the heavens and the earth and declared them GOOD.  He is the author of goodness.  He is the definition of goodness.  And yet, since we experience His goodness on a daily basis…since it is so constant and abundant…we esteem it lightly.  Sister, this should not be.

Our Lord is good in another way that I often take for granted: Genesis 3 reports to us the beginning of the curse of the earth.  Sin entered when Adam did not trust that the Lord was good when the Lord told him not to eat of that one tree.  He believed the serpent was right and God was withholding a good thing.  From that point on the earth has been cursed and death cannot be avoided.  Yet even in this, God is good.  The first time we ever commit sin, we deserve death.  Yet the Lord in His goodness delays this punishment.  We live and breathe another day.  We receive another chance for repentance.  Sister, that is because of the goodness of the Lord.

Lastly, and most shockingly, the Lord’s ultimate goodness was seen not only by not having our sin punished immediately, but putting our punishment on His own perfect son.  Jesus took our punishment for sin and gave us His righteousness.  We are now adopted sons with full inheritance of God’s family!  We have eternal life because our sins have been forgiven!  How often do we dwell on this?  How often does the goodness of the Lord compel you to thank Him and treat others out of this thankfulness?  Do you despise the Lord by forgetting His goodness?

Oh may we not forget His constant and abundant goodness or think it as mundane.  May I thank Him for my red hair while I am also stopping to smell the roses.

Your Sister in Christ,

Colleen