"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

It's a great verse and many Christians know it by heart, but it's one that tends to be shoved to the side when bad things happen. I think most Christians praise God when good things happen, but forget to praise him even when the bad things happen. Our Lord Jesus praised and glorified the Father even as he was arrested, tried, tortured and crucified. What do we go through that compares to all that? We certainly don't have to be freakishly cheery whenever bad things happen, of course. We can suffer physically, mentally and emotionally and there's nothing cheerful about that - I'm quite sure Christ was not very cheerful on the cross! - but we still must put God's glory first. It's easier to say (or type) than to do, but as long as we strive to do it, I don't think God will hold our failures to do it against us.

No question about it, God is good. I often think about this in the context of Jesus teaching His disciples to ask God for things. If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father (who is not evil, but only good) in heaven give good things unto them that ask him" Matt 7.

Also, all 'things' (things that happen to us) work out for the good to them that love God and who are the called according to His purpose, to be conformed to the image of His son. Rom 8 28-29

Again - the future kingdom and all the glory of it will be given to the saints, that is why God is so good. The glory and joy of that kingdom will be so sweet and so vast - it is virtually impossible to get the message to be understood by a world that is soaked in lies and evil - be that as it may, that is our job.

Think of the joy and rejoicing when the whore of babylon will be destroyed, and that is just the beginning, then there is the endless ages of sweet fellowship and enjoying pleasures forever more with Christ.

God is certaintly good.

Agree and live your comments Brad......(sometimes NOT to the best of my God given ability)
When I really look at my walk with Jesus I come to a sobering reality that Jesus knows me so much better than Stever,, or my mom. Jesus knows me. Jesus knows me when I'm pretending He doesnt, and when I'm pretending that I am doing the best that I can. This of course is more than sobering.
I have come to the realization that most of us are not coming close to the walk we KNOW we can walk.... I have also come to the realization that not a lot of people are even close to that realization. And thats ok, because GOD IS GOOD.

I also get a little steamed at those who absolutely think they know what they know, and not only do they know what they know, but they know what they know is right, and everyone else is wrong... Until of course they are clearly proven wrong,, with of course they may have been right.. CONFUSING ISNT IT>>>>>?

Actually steamed is not the exact word I chose... lets not go there.

As soon as we figure out that church is not a building, or several buildings..... that IT is a group of like minded people with differing theologies... (THAT HAVE TO AT LEAST COME TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT THAT JESUS IS LORD, AND WE AS A WHOLE ARE COMPLETE MORONS)....... and realize that we KNOW NOT ONE PERCENT OF ANYTHING THAT GOD KNOWS, NOT EVEN CLOSE.... THEN!!!,,,, we can start getting each others backs,, and GENTLY correcting one another, instead of pointing out every little tiny stupid annoying flaw that we have found by our PERCEPTION of what we perceive to be truth.. When in reality the only truth is the ONE who set us free.. by that understanding, and accepting, that respecting, that true repentance and acknowledgment.. and only GOD knows if we really got it... WE ARE FREE. IF we would spend just a little more time working on the whole LOVE thing, the rest would come a little bit easier. FREE INDEED
Free to roam about the country, the county, the city, the streets and spread what gospel we do know.. and if you dont know how to talk.. how about you just ask people if you can pray for them..

I get a little tired,, actually very tired of supposed (in their own mind) MATURE christians that know exactley what to say during a message, have beautiful poetic prayers,,,and its all basically lip service.

My small little church should double in size by next week... why doesnt it???????? because nobody invites anyone..
Everybody just sits in the big church building boat waiting for FISH to jump in..... How lame. Hardly anyone feels worthy enough, or saved enough or mature enough to invite more SICK PEOPLE to the Hospital.... Thats all these buildings, these churches, these places of worship are.. Hospitals.. I know this for a fact because I went in as a patient,, and am becoming a doctor... its a win, win..... Brad is absolutely correct.. Will we praise God in the STORMS..... ????



GO!!!,, quit flapping your freakin jaw and GO... move, invite, pray... without ceasing.. MOVE.. shut up and spread the gospel.. Even if you continue to Struggle.. last time I checked we all struggle with something. OR else we would be able to brag of perfection.

My point is this... Nobody knows anything, but what they have been allowed to know by accepting that God is the teacher of ALL that is GOOD.. GOD,, knowing this specifically told us to GENTLY correct... and then immediatley forgive OUR BROTHERS... I actually watched instant forgiveness a couple posts back.. and I loved it.. WHY??? becasue now we're getting somewhere.. someone did what GOD said, and it made things work better..
SO,, again, my point... get my freakin back. I am your brother, communicate with me, gently correct me (IF IM WRONG),, and let us reason together.

The world is watching us,, yeah US,, the believers. They read what we say, they watch what we do, how we talk, respond, work,,,,, and treat our brothers and the lost guy passing by.. They are not only watching.. but thirsting to see something different.. whats different?????? If just a few of us get that concept.. it will not only change the small circle around us,, but its contagious, and will spread like wildfire.. its Love. Be an immatater,, of the ONE whose image you are created.. and if someone isnt.. LOVE THEM, so that they may SEE.

Alright,, I feel better now.. GOD IS GOOD.



jC

Brad said: "I only wish I was more mature in implementing this habit in my life. I fail at it daily and am frustrated at my immaturity , especially when I recognize I'll NEVER completely get this down till I'm no longer on this three dimensional plain.That sucks! But hey! "God is good"."

Me too, Brad! I'm not one of those "sanctified" Christians who is becoming so Christ-like in his daily walk that there will eventually become a time where I won't even need Christ anymore. No, I'm reminded daily of my need for Him. And like you, I've tried to remind myself in the bad times to be thankful for what God is doing in my life. Ya never know how he'll use the bad times to affect the good times (character building).

A pastor friend relayed the story of a guy who planned a hard, two-week, canoe-paddling trip down the Colorado River. Well, he trained for months to get in shape so he could ENJOY the experience with nature without feeling the muscular/vascular pains of being out of shape. The pastor said, "Can you imagine what the "body" was saying to the guy who was training? 'Why are you doing this to me?' 'This hurts!' 'You must HATE me!'

Yes....we do the same thing when events seem to conspire against us, true?

May God use us all, in good and bad times. And may we always rejoice in His goodness and be thankful in all times. --Ziobuck in gratitude to the One who loved us first!

God has taught me many thing in the (what I thought was the BAD times) and I have grown so much more because of them. God is good even in the mist of the hurricane's of our lives. I had broken my foot (twice, same spot) out of work for Six months no paycheck for three of them. God not only spoke to me through his word, but he also taught me patience and endurance through it all. And because of all that, I am able to witness to my co-workers on how awsome and faithful our God is.

And when I start to get down God still reminds me of Job and how faithful he was and my favorite passages, "Where were you when I formed the foundations of the earth" and "I tke care of the flowers of the field and birds of the air what more will I dow for you."

I am also reminded of a passage in the Serenity Prayer: Finding hardship as a pathway to peace.