Psalm 3:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
There are times we may be tempted to ask, "Where's the goodness and mercy?"
The problem is that we often fail to recognize it. We are so trained to think that we must chase after what we call "good things", like a big screen television.
It is foreign for us to think about good things chasing after us. God has a conspiracy of beauty and love nipping at our heels, but our eyes aren't trained to see it in our lives. So often we miss it.
Where is the love, beauty, kindness, grace, and forgiveness that you are overlooking? Is it in a smile on a child's face or a hug? Is it a bright sunny day? Is it a memory of a wonderful moment in your life? Someone has said, "We traffic every day in overlooked blessings."
It is amazing how much better life gets when you start actively and purposefully looking for God's goodness and mercy in every experience. It will change your life.
The Father and the Son have always been in loving fellowship with one another. They never came into being at a point in time.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
So Jesus existed before He was born in Bethlehem. "The Word was with God" proves that God is the Son, distinct from God the Father, and God the Holy Spirit.
When God said, "Let there be . . . " He created all things through Jesus Christ, the "Word".
John 1:4-6 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.
Believers should share this great biblical truth with the unbeliever so they can overcome the darkness of their sinful condition and come to the enlightment of spiritual understanding found only in Jesus Christ.
John 1:14 And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Growing up in Daddy's house, we had no books or magazines, few toys, and no Internet. When i was a teenager we got inside plumbing and a television.
I often got bored and looked for things to do. When the neighbor kids were outside, we put our "ball chasing dog" in the cellar and conjured up a ball game in the driveway. I played field position in the road.
We had necessities, but it was the upright piano in the living room that made me happy. Half the ivories were missing and it was out of tune, but it consumed hours and hours of my time. Along the way Daddy changed the dark wood to a streaky-like-beige finish.
All of us kids played chop sticks and most of us played more. My parents could only afford piano lessons for my oldest sister, Doris. Since I was child number ten, I taught myself to play and have been church pianist for many years.. Daddy played the piano and many stringed instruments by ear.
Thank you, Daddy for the piano. Thanks for taking us to church. Thanks for being a good father. Oh yes, thanks for giving us your music.
God never has to revise His Word or renege on a promise. His faithfulness is demonstrated repeatedly throughout the pages of scripture, such as: His promise to Abraham for a son, providing a substitute sacrifice for Isaac, providing the promised land, and providing a redeemer for all mankind.
Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for The Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
We don't have to be afraid or lose courage. God has proven Himself to be all-powerful, all wise, and ever faithful.
No one knows ahead of time the Father's plan, but we walk by faith and can be certain that God knows best.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou has been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Ronnie C. Freeman, Jr.
