Verses from Mama

Hearing God speak one Bible verse at a time.

God’s Goodness in the Rain

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Psalm 106:1 “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” 

Photo taken by Ashtyn Bush
http://www.ashtynbrookephoto.com

God is good all the time! We hear this phrase glibly spoken from many a Christian’s lips. How we like to dwell on the thought, and it is especially easy when life is in order and our plans are falling into place. “God is so good,” we exclaim when all is going well. But how do we explain God’s goodness when our world begins to crumble?

It is important to understand what goodness is, and to realize it cannot be defined apart from God Himself. For God is the author of all that is good. He is its source and everything He does meets the standard.

When difficulties intrude on our life God does not change. He loves us and promises to meet our needs in every circumstance. His goodness is manifested through His abundant mercy and grace. When we sin and experience the repercussions, He offers forgiveness. In grace He showers us with blessings we don’t deserve. He provides strength when we are weak, discipline to make us strong, and guidance to light our way. No matter the path we are walking, we can be assured that God is always good! He is able to take all things and work them together for the benefit of those who love Him and are His children.

We do not always understand God’s ways. They are much higher than our own. But when we are assured that God is always good we can trust Him no matter our plight.

Last week we enjoyed Luke and Brianna’s wedding. The temperature was in the 70s. A cooling breeze wafted through the yard creating a natural air conditioning. Fluffy clouds filled the blue sky, and everything was as good as we had hoped it would be. But the days before were nail-biters. Strong winds whipped across the fields, and heavily laden clouds spilled their contents over the earth. We wondered how the special day would pan out.

As we sat enjoying the wedding celebration a good friend mentioned that the gorgeous weather we were experiencing could not have happened without the rain the day before. The perfect conditions were created by the weather patterns of the previous week. I had never thought about that. In the midst of the wind and rain that caused us such angst, God was showering us with His goodness. He used the storms to create the environment for a perfect day!

When life is easy and all is going well let your heart rejoice. Praise and give thanks to the Lord because He is good!” And when things are not going as planned, grasp the truth of God’s goodness even more firmly. Remember, even when the storms of life blow, His lovingkindness is everlasting. God is good all the time . . . even in the rain! 

Love,

Mama

The Ministry of the Birds

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Psalm 148:7a &10 “Praise the Lord from the earth . . . wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds…”

IMG_0109The recent gorgeous Spring days have motivated me to start walking again. The early morning light peeking in my bedroom window taps me on the shoulder and beckons me to slip out from under the covers and greet the morning.

As I quietly tiptoe out into the cool air, one of my favorite parts of the walk is the bird chorus belting out a daybreak melody. All the earth is silent as if listening to their glorious anthem. They are so cheerful and full of joy.

I walk along, listening to the wordless message, entranced by the different warbles, trills, and whistles. Even without words I hear and understand that these feathered ministers sitting in their leafy pulpits are praising the One who created them. They are not trying to impress any human being, but their sweet song of devotion does not go unnoticed. Unknowingly they are speaking to my heart.

In a world that is focused on perfection, working hard, getting things right, and making a name for oneself, I find myself trying so hard to accomplish big goals. I worry, I hurry, and often my striving seems to produce more frustration than joy. Listening to the calming ministry of these little creatures who never think about producing a harvest of good deeds but effortlessly sing praises to their King, I am encouraged. They live a simple, trusting life expecting their Creator to take care of them. They do not try to please others, but just do what they do best. No wonder they are so joyful!

Little do they know the example of faith and peace they set! Just by being who they were created to be – and without even trying – they have a natural ministry that points me to my heavenly Father. Their message reminds me that I do not need to please anyone else on earth. His name alone is exalted; His glory is above earth and heaven.

Oh, that we could all learn this lesson! Stop the worrying. Stop the hurrying. Stop the striving for perfection. Be who God made you to be and your life will sing with peace and joy.

Get up a little earlier tomorrow morning. Venture out before the world has awakened and experience the ministry of the birds. Take a lesson from these joyful feathered friends. Stop your striving. Be who God made you to be. Praise the name of the Lord!

Love,

Mama

Resetting Your Thankful Meter

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Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.”
 
Norman Rockwell’s Freedom from Want

This is the time of year that should cause us to reset our thankful meter. Thankfulness is a mindset we should have all year round, but often in the business of life we forget to stop and think about all the blessings that we enjoy on a regular basis. Every day, not just Thanksgiving, we should enter God’s presence with gratefulness praising Him for all He has done. So if your thankful meter has become sluggish consider what Psalm 100 has to say.

How should we give thanks? 
Often we tend to think of anything to do with God as very solemn and quiet – like a monastery where you are afraid to make noise or disturb the silence. Though quietness is often helpful in bringing grateful thoughts to our minds when we discover them, it is OK to shout with joy. God loves to hear our voices and wants us to share loudly what He has done with others.

Another way to show our thanks is to serve Him with gladness. Don’t you just want to do things for someone whom you love? After considering all that God has given, it is natural to want to give back by way of service. This kind of motivation is not done begrudgingly or out of duty. It is a sheer joy!

Why should we give thanks?

Among the many reasons to give thanks, Psalm 100 gives three important ones. First, we should remember that our Lord is God. He is the powerful creator of all the universe. He has complete charge of all the workings of nature as well as being sovereign over everything that takes place in all the earth below and the heavens above.

Second, we must remember that this great God has made us. We are not self-made as our culture would like to boast. All the abilities and faculties that are ours to enjoy have been given to us as gifts of our Creator.

Thirdly, because He is our Creator, we belong to Him. He has the right to do with us what He wants. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

What should we be thankful for?
He is good. Acknowledging that we belong to a powerful God could be a scary thought. But with our God there is nothing to fear because He is good. He showers us with good food, homes, families, friends, and material blessings that are beyond what we deserve. Even in times of difficulty, when friends disappoint, health declines, or bank accounts dwindle, our good God promises to provide all that we need. He will work ALL things together for the good of those who belong to Him.

Our God is characterized by lovingkindness. His love and loyalty to His children are everlasting and do not depend on how lovable we are. As a good Father He works to mature us and patiently corrects and teaches. We never need to fear that He will abandon us. His mercy and kindness follow us wherever we go.

 
God is consistently faithful. He is completely reliable and will always come through for us. We do not need to fear that He will change His mind because what He says He will do. He has always kept His promises in the past and will continue to do so throughout all generations.

Think about these things this week as you get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. You belong to a great God who is good, loving, and faithful. Reset your thankful meter today and loudly SHOUT praise to the Lord, not only on Thursday, but all year round.

Love,
Mama