Look for the Good

Getting up this morning did you give thanks to the Lord? Or did you complain about what your day has in store?

Do you have a vehicle that runs – maybe even more than one? Praise the Lord! Do you have a job to go to? Praise the Lord.

Do you have people in your life that are abrasive and aggravating? Or folks who are loving, kind and fun to be around? Then Praise the Lord! The aggravating help you appreciate the loving.

Were you able to have a hot cup of coffee and even some breakfast? Praise the Lord.

Ok, so do you see where I’m going with this? There is always something to Praise the Lord for.

“I will tell of your greatness, my God and King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
I will praise you every day. I will praise your name forever and ever. The Lord is great and deserves all our praise! No one can fully understand his greatness!…Everything the Lord does is good. Everything he does shows how loyal he is. 18 The Lord is near to everyone who sincerely calls to him for help.” Psalm 145:1-3, 17-18

“Thank the LORD for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 9 He satisfies those who are thirsty. He fills those who are hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:7-8

What is it in your life that you consider good?

Health, friends, family, career, cash in your pocket, a nice car, your boat, a new horse, an old well-trained horse, a shot gun, the right to bear arms – what? If it’s good, it’s a gift from God so make sure you thank Him today and that you look at all you have to be thankful for instead of wasting precious time being resentful for something “more” you think you should have.

Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. 18 God decided to give us life through the true message he sent to us. He wanted us to be the most important of all that he created.” James 1:17-18

Let praise be the start and the end of your conversations today.

Hold On to Joy

The joy I feel each morning is almost inexpressible! God is SO faithful, SO good, SO precious!

Life’s experiences do not diminish the goodness of my Father God but do serve to illuminate it. Since God is unchangeable, He is always loving, always gracious, always giving, always faithful, always just and always merciful, our devotion and love toward Him should never be based on our circumstances but on who He is.

He doesn’t bring adversary to test us but when adversary comes if we remember who He is we will come through it victorious because of our faithful God!

Don’t let the enemy steal your joy with distracting cares and anxious moments. Wake up each morning praising the God and Father who has led you in the past, is walking ahead of you in your present and preparing a glorious future for you!

” I will praise you, LORD! You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death. 2 I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, 3 saving me from death and the grave.

4 Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name. 5 Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.

6 I was carefree and thought, ‘I’ll never be shaken!’ 7 You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was crushed.

8 I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, 9 ‘What good will it do you if I am in the grave? Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are? 10 Have pity, LORD! Help!’

11 You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. 12 I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.” Psalm 30 ERV

Our joy is found in the faithfulness of the Lord. We trust Him, we depend on Him. He is trustworthy. Never will He abandon us or desert us in our dark moments. He brings light to illuminate the path that we should walk.

Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.” Philippians 4:4 ERV

Hold on to your joy because the joy of the Lord gives you strength.

Oh My Goodness

When I was a girl I got to watch Shirley Temple movies on television. They were such fun and the story lines were always wholesome. I remember hearing her voice her surprise or excitement with the phrase “Oh my goodness”. This was followed by the cutest expression on her face and twinkle in her eyes.

I think God would like to hear us use that expression a little more often.

Oh my – goodness!

We need to be more mindful of the goodness of God in our lives.

The beauty of the sunset, the coolness of the breeze, flowers in bloom, the majesty of a waterfall. Nature points to the eternal goodness of God. His goodness can also be seen in the touch of a friend’s hand, reassuring us that things will be ok, a miraculous recovery or divine intervention in a dangerous situation.

Oh my – The goodness of God.

 Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. 17 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. 18 He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.” James 1:16-18 CEV

Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father. We are His children, and He provides for us. Long before these words were written by James, Moses gave this instruction to the Israelites while they were still in the desert.

“He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey! 10 And now, O Lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the Lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him. 11 Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.” Deuteronomy 26:9-11a NLT

God is a giver of good things. Jesus told us this about the Father’s heart.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:9-11 NLT

Then Jesus said this about himself.

“I am the gate. All who come in through me will be saved. Through me they will come and go and find pasture.10 A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so everyone would have life, and have it fully. 11  I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.” John 10:9-11 CEV

God, the Father, wants to be involved in every facet of our lives – spirit, soul and body. He wants us to receive His gift of eternal life. He gives us peace and He provides for us as His children.

Oh my! The goodness of God!!

Holiday Travel

“Over the river and through the woods” in a one horse open sleigh isn’t something you see much of in Southern Arizona but it can be a fun way to travel, for a short distance anyway. But the more efficient way, of course, is to reach your destination by car or by plane.

Many of you are travelling to family’s homes for a Christmas celebration or are having family travel to yours. Some are wishing that you could be with family, but it won’t happen this year. Whatever your Christmas Day has in store know this, Jesus came from heaven to earth, He left his home and came to ours to bring us an abundance of gifts.

“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven! Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.” Ephesians 1:3-6 CEV

God the Father sent his Son to bring the gift of eternal life to all of us. By accepting this gift, so freely given, we are adopted into God’s family and He lavishes the same love and care that He has for Jesus on us. Marvelous grace!

This morning, I’ll be doing the last of my baking which we will take on Christmas morning to our youngest daughter and family. As I make some family favorites, my thoughts will be focused on each family member and how dearly they are loved.

Tonight we’ll go to candlelight service and have some new friends over to celebrate Christmas.

I want my Father, my heavenly Father, to know how much I love Him and how grateful I am for every good and perfect gift He has given me. I will make Him the center focus of all I do. He will be the honored guest!

 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17 CEV

He has adopted me and given me the right to call Him “Abba Father” as Paul says in Romans. Abba Father is an endearing term like “daddy” or “papa”, a term of great love and affection spoken by a child who has a wonderful relationship with their father. What more could a Father ask for but the love of His child.

I’m so grateful that there is no distance to travel to spend time with my Father. He is always here. Merry Christmas Papa Father – I love you!