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Sometimes we are so lost in our circumstances or our emotions we feel as if God is not good. But He is. Let us start with the basics. When He designed you He included your senses. Have you ever loved the smell of a flower or of baking food? Have you ever heard the birds sing or were transfixed by musicians and singers? Have you ever been grateful for sight while enjoying a sunset or a gaze at a starry sky? Have you ever enjoyed a loving touch? Have you ever given thanks for delicious food? Just part of the design, you say. Yes God’s design because He wanted you to experience all these things.

Sometimes we get so theologically minded we don’t appreciate God’s goodness to us in our design. Think about it. Be thankful because He is good and did good.

More GOOD to come.

So many times I’ve heard Christians say, “I wasn’t ready for this.” (Note one of our pastors taught a two part message on Get Ready. You can find them on YouTube. Just type in Faith Christian Outreach Church. This post is an expansion of that theme.)

We need to be ready what does that mean? Some think they can’t be ready if they don’t know everything that will happen and when. I want to challenge that. Though it is good to know what to expect, that is not as important as having our mind and heart right. Our faith must already be settled before troubles come if we are to overcome, walking through troubles in peace.

For instance when the covid pandemic hit there was a lot of fear. But I have put my faith in God for health and protection for decades. Since that was already settled I experienced NO FEAR about my health.

Just a note. If you want health and strength as you get older, settle that faith issue while you are younger. Then when you are sixty and feel a twinge of pain you will not automatically accept the typical negative explanation. We all are different and we have all been through different stuff physically. But if we trust God for our health and strength, if that is settled in our hearts we will deal with life challenges more successfully.

But how do you get ready for end times? God’s Word tells us what to expect. It also tells us not to be troubled in our minds and emotions. How can we do that…by settling our faith issues before the crisis. If we don’t do that the troubles will affect our minds, our emotions, and even our health. We must decide what will decide our peace and faith, God’s Word or circumstances.

Whether we are preparing for end times or just hard times trust in God’s love and keeping power is key in BEING READY.

(Note: You can find the messages mentioned earlier at http://www.fcoc.net)

Have a great week.

We are encouraged in scripture to remember and meditate on the goodness of God to us. The phrase “God is good” is not just a cute saying it is an affirmation of God’s unfailing goodness to His people. He is good. He does good. His gifts are good.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday we need to appreciate the goodness of a Holy God who gave His only begotten Son to save us. How good is he? He paid for our sins. He gave us new life. He gave us His Spirit. He leads us and guides us. He heals us. He delivers us. He fellowships with us. How good is God!

I love Psalm 136. It is a song of remembrance and thanksgiving and encouragement to the Children of Israel. It chronicles The faithfulness of God’s faithful love and goodness. Perhaps we should list God’s blessings in our lives and encourage ourselves in His goodness to us.

Psalm 34:8

O Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

Think. Remind yourself how GOOD God is to you.

“and ye are a choice race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…” 1 Peter 2:9a

“who were once not a people, and are now the people of God…” 1 Peter 2:10a

Read all of verses nine and ten. The above portions are from the Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible. See what your favorite version says.

We have been made a special people…a (spiritually based) ethnic group; a group blessed and separated by God; a group received of His mercy.

We know the ethnic groups, races, and nations of man. They all have a mix of good and evil…good because of God’s gifts in creation, evil due the the fall of humankind and the attending sin.

God wants us to embrace our new, special status and walk in newness of life. Our colors, natural ethnicity, or nation have not changed. But this new nation, this new ethnic group is to supersede the sins attendant to all human groups. We are to be a HOLY NATION.

Our identity comes from God and manifests from the new life within us. Our new identity comes from that new nature within us not from outside sources.

We have been made a people who were not a people before. We are God’s special people and He wants to demonstrate His glory through us.

Read verses 9-10 in there entirety and meditate, seek God for a revelation of what it means to be a new nation, God’s nation.

Often when we think of love we think of feelings. That’s not all there is to it. That is especially true if we are talking about God’s love. I love the feelings when in God’s manifest presence. I love that feeling of love and peace and joy just like others do. But God’s love goes a long way beyond those feelings.

For one thing God’s love is active. When He loves He does. We have all known people who professed love but did nothing to act it out. God is not like that. His love is so powerful that He acts upon it.

John 3:16 says He loved and gave His Son. Ps. 136 lists generations of good works by God because of His love for His people. All through scripture we see that because He loved He Healed, provided, protected, and on and on.

God’s love for you is a dynamic thing. He wants to express that love to you in your day to day life. Just believe in Him and His love and accept it as He pours His goodness into your life.

The second half of Ps. 33:5 says “the earth is full of His goodness.” It does not say the news is filled with His goodness or politics are filled with His goodness. The earth is filled with His goodness. And you do not have to look too far to see it.

God’s goodness is not only shown in nature but in people. There are millions of givers who go out of their way to help others. These seldom make the news but have been influenced by the goodness of God. When love and kindness are shared it is because of the goodness of God.

How good He is to give us the greatest gift JESUS so we can have LIFE. He is the God who comforts and heals. He is the God whose mercy and loving kindness endures. Ps. 136. He is the God of freedom and deliverance. He is the giver of joy and the Prince of Peace. He is the God who will never leave you or forsake you. He is the God who wants to share Hid goodness with you. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Ps. 34:8.

In spite of hard times this remains true. God is good! To you. Today.

Just a short but needed post today. As Christians we can obey or disobey God. He has made us free and given us the ability to walk in His Spirit. As sinners our freedom was severely limited because of bondage and no Godly new life in us. Now we are free. But sometimes we enter back into the bondage of rage or of hatred or unforgiveness. When we do that we have entered into sin. Who do we serve in those moments?

Sometimes we feel justified in our sin if it has to do with politics. Some even think they get a pass on wrong actions and attitudes if their sports team loses. We cannot minister life while embracing death. We cannot be a light if we live in darkness.

I have had to repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness and help in these things. The more I walk in the light as He is the Light, I walk in peace no matter the difficulties or disappointments. Serve the Prince of Peace.

During times in which we see so much corruption and evil we Christians get involved socially and politically. That is important. But the antidote to evil is not political or social at its base. There must be spiritual interventin. The arm of humans will fail us. We must depend on God.

So many see evil and pray for a revival in our nation. And that is good. But the Biblical model and the historical evidence is that we as God’s people must seek His face and give up our pet sins. Repentence, judgement, and revival all start with God’s people’

It does no good for me to pray that the evil I see in others be dealt with if I am not willing to search my heart and lay aside the things I am doing wrong. Revival starts in a search for God’s will and ways in our hearts. From there the power of His HOLY Spirit moving in the earth will expand.

God must be our King…not Trump, not Biden, not ourselves. Jesus as Lord will transform a people, a society.

2020 was a year of many challenges. In my other blog I dealt with some natural changes I will be making in 2021. http://www.timspositiveplace.com As Christians we are responsible to do natural things to make our world better.

But if we have learned anything in 2020 we have learned that the arm of flesh often fails us. We need God’s intervention. We need to seek God for a revival across America. We need to repent and seek His face. We need to quit asking Him to support our political tribe and depend on Him as the answer, not a man, nor a political party. As important as those are, only God’s intervention and Lordship will bring the positive changes we need.

2021 will be a happier year if we depend on the One who can truly transform hearts and minds and nations.

Happy New Year!

As Christians we of all people should be able to set aside our troubles long enough to focus on God’s greatest gift, JESUS. At the incarnation everything started to change. God will ultimately demonstrate His victory over evil. With the coming of Jesus there began a change that will continue until that day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Rejoice. We are not losing. We are in the family of God. And He is the ultimate winner.

Have a great Christmas.