Dear Partner,

One thing I know for sure … God is GOOD … All the time! Notice how Jesus responded when the rich, young ruler approached him;

Mar 10:17-18   And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

At age 65 now I think I am qualified to add my testimony … God has never been anything but good to me. Does that mean I have not seen tragedy in my life? Of course I have. But God was not the author of any of it. In fact, God was the one who took all that was intended for evil and turned it for good. I like to say it this way, "God has a way of taking our lemons and turning them into lemonade … if we let Him." Some of the "lemons" in my life were of my own making. Mistakes and downright disobedience to the will of God. How does God deal with people like that? Jesus said,

Mat 5:44-45   But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The reason we are commanded to "love our enemies" is because … God already loves them! God is good, and kind, even making his sun to rise on the evil and sending his rain on the unjust. God is holding out salvation to the whole world, including the most evil of mankind. We are to love them, do good to them, and be faithful to share the gospel with them no matter how badly they treat us for doing so. We are the children of our Father. We are the offspring of God and we have His very love in our spiritual DNA.

Not all the "lemons" in my life were of my own making. For example I had polio when I was only five years old. The question could be asked, as a five year old child, what wicked thing had I done to "deserve" polio? Nothing. Those kinds of things are the result of living in a fallen world that is still groaning for the day when there will be a new heaven and a new earth wherein righteousness dwells. There was no sickness or disease before the fall of man and, thank God, there will be none in the new earth either!

The point I am trying to make is that throughout all of the years of my life, no matter what tragedies occurred, God was always the One whom I could trust to show me His goodness. Even when it was my own fault through rebellion, He was always there to forgive me, receive me, and help me as soon as I repented and asked for His help. That's why this is one of my favorite verses in all the bible:

Heb 4:16   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Notice that we obtain mercy first. That means that even if it was my fault, He will have mercy on me. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that is forever on the mercy seat in the presence of the Father. Thank God there is always mercy for us to not only forgive us, but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:9   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Mercy alone would be wonderful, but God is even "gooder" than that. (Bad grammar but good theology). He doesn't just have mercy on us and leave us in the midst of our problem. He also gives us His "grace to help" in our time of need. Grace is when He adds His power to help us with our problems. I always expect His "grace to help" me no matter how dark the storm clouds or how dire the circumstances may be. No problem is bigger than my Father's power to help. No circumstance is stronger than His love for me. No evil is greater than His goodness. God is GOOD … All the time!

You may be experiencing a season of great blessing in your circumstances right now. Or you may be going through a time of testing and trials. In either case, turn your face toward heaven and tell your heavenly Father how grateful you are for His mercy, His grace, and His goodness.

Sue and I love you and appreciate you.   We thank God for your generous and giving heart.   God bless you!

Your friend and co-laborer,

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