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Friday, October 13, 2006
 
Photo of Ash tree in autumn
Ash tree across from our home
(Click on photo to enlarge)

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"Rejoicing In God's Goodness"

"May your saints rejoice in your goodness" (2 Chronicles 6:41). "The goodness of God endures continually" (Psalm 52:1).

It's an absolutely beautiful morning here in rural Pennsylvania.  The fall colors are beginning to move into our area and several of the large Ash trees across the road are at their peak as seen in the photo I took this morning. Last night I ceremonially started up our coal stove as colder weather has set in and this morning we had our very first frost of the season.  Periodically we even get that wonderful scent of burning wood from our neighbor's wood stove!  It's another day to rejoice in God's goodness.

I believe rejoicing in God's goodness is a fundamental way in which we express our faith.  I have met some believers who compartmentalize their lives.  They earnestly praise God at the appropriate times, but frankly their overall attitude is negative and whining comes all too easily.  They may stand in church on Sunday morning, lift their voices and praise God, but Monday their focus returns to the negative circumstances in their lives.  In our fallen world we all deal with difficulty in one way or another and sometimes intensely so.  But nevertheless God is good all the time!

Today's first Scripture is a portion of the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple; "May your saints rejoice in your goodness." This was a high point in Biblical history as the people of God rejoiced in this particular manifestation of God's goodness.

Theologian Thomas Manton writes concerning the goodness of God, "He is originally good, good of Himself, which nothing else is; for all creatures are good only by participation and communication from God. He is essentially good; not only good, but goodness itself: the creature’s good is a superadded quality, in God it is His essence. He is infinitely good; the creature’s good is but a drop, but in God there is an infinite ocean or gathering together of good. He is eternally and immutably good, for He cannot be less good than He is; as there can be no addition made to Him, so no subtraction from Him."

God's goodness is an immutable attribute. "The goodness of God endures continually." It's part of His divine nature. A popular phrase that reinforces this Scriptural truth is "God is good all the time." And the people of God respond, "And all the time God is good!"   Yes, indeed, He is!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Daily prayer: Father, from Your mercy seat You dispense goodness that endures to all generations.  As with previous generations, ours is undeserving of Your abundant goodness that supply our needs and enriches our lives. The paintbrush of Your handiwork brings vibrant color into view whether we are looking up, down or from the North to the South.  We rejoice in Your enduring goodness that is evidence of Your incomparable love to all of Your creation.  You are good all the time, and Lord, all the time You are good!  Amen.



As I studied for today's message I came across a quote by C.H. Spurgeon pertinent to today's topic. "When others behave badly to us, it should only stir us up the more heartily to give thanks unto the Lord, because He is good; and when we ourselves are conscious that we are far from being good, we should only the more reverently bless Him that He is good. We must never tolerate an instant’s unbelief as to the goodness of the Lord; whatever else may be questioned, this is absolutely certain, that Jehovah is good; His dispensations may vary, but His nature is always the same."



Here's an audio version of the song that prompted the popularity of the phrase, "God is good all the time, all the time God is good." Please note: I find these audio songs on the web and they work for some users but not others.



Amish barn
We'll be gathering in the barn to the left in the photo.
(Click to enlarge)
Final Call:
Barn Sing-along - everyone welcome! Daily Encouragement Net readers are invited to a Praise and Worship service on this Saturday, October 14, at 6 PM at our Amish neighbor's barn. Before the worship service, from 4:30-5:45, another neighbor will be hauling children and adults on hayrides with his tractor and wagon. Refreshments will follow the Worship Service. If you would like to come the directions to our home are here. The farm is located at 690 Kraybill Church Road around the corner from Kraybill Mennonite School and just up the road from our house. The hayrides prior to the service will be with a large John Deere tractor and wagon. It would be great to have it horse powered, but we're grateful for the John Deere as well!



Photo of gold leavesBrooksyne took this photo in northern Pennsylvania this last weekend.









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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."

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