And ALL the time GOD IS GOOD!!

We say that so often, that many times, when we hear someone else start to quote it, we finish it for them. We say it, but do we truly believe it? Do we truly believe that our God is good ALL the time? What about when...

• We are hurting?
  
• We see a friend hurting, or losing a job, or going through a divorce?
• We lose a friend, due to moving away, or a disagreement of some kind?
• Our spouse is under persecution at work?
• Our children are hurting or struggling and we can't 'fix' it?
  
• When someone we love dies and we ache to see them just once more?

Is God TRULY good during those times? I say YES, not just a tiny, little yes, but a gigantic, huge, resounding YES! Now, I wouldn't have said 'Yes!' 9 years ago, or 5 years ago, or 4 years ago when I was going through some very, very tough things in my life at each of those times. But God is so good to keep loving and guiding us even when we are so foolish and even when we are so angry at HIM for messes we created or for situations that simply hurt us. He amazes me, that God of ours,... His patience, love, grace, mercy, and sovereignty over us and for us! It is quite UNREAL! No, really it is!!

This week, He has shown me that He works ALL things together for GOOD for those who are called according to His purpose and His will. Even though we see things as hard or heart breaking or down right terrible, He is working all around us to bring those events, heart aches, moments of anger, tears, even death to GOOD for those who love HIM!! I saw that today and this week in more ways than one...

• I saw an answer to a prayer that Joe and I have been praying for almost 3 years now. He answered it TODAY right before my very eyes!
• I saw a broken friendship beginning to be reconciled and healed in a way no one would have seen coming! And, this too, happened right before my very eyes!
  
• I saw words spoken, put on a human heart by a powerful God, bring down walls that had been built so high that I wasn't sure they could come down!
  
• I saw a co-worker blessed beyond words at a ministry that I take for granted in my work place.
  
• I saw a friend's heart open up to hear the gospel and listen for the first time ever, right before my very eyes!!
  

You see, I saw Him, our BIG, HUGE GOD, that we try to put in a small, teeny, tiny box work things together for GOOD!!!! Do you hear me my sweet friends? Now, I am not saying, that over the coming years ahead, I won't falter, and I won't question, and I won't cry and ask why! I am SURE I will do all of those things. BUT, you see He showed me today, on November 14, 2008 that there is a reason we call Him....

• El Shaddai - "God all sufficient" or "God Almighty"
  
• Adonai - "Master"
• Elohim - "Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty & Strong"
• Jehovah- "I am who I am"
• Jehovah-Ropha- "The Lord who heals"
• Jehova-Jireh- "The Lord will provide"

Those are fitting, amazing names for our Almighty Heavenly Father, but the one He most likes to hear, I believe, is 'Daddy'. We are like little children in His eyes. And, today, my Daddy, your Daddy, showed me how BIG He is and how much He loves me and how He has been attending to all of these circumstances all of this time and I didn't even know it!

So, the next time you hear someone start out saying 'God is good....' finish it for them, with them, with much joy and excitement in your voice and then remember this, that's your Daddy they're talking about!!

God is good ALL THE TIME and all the time, GOD IS GOOD!!!