God is good!

Anthony Washington started it for me...God is good...all the time. All the time...God is good. Those words take on special meaning for me as I struggle with several aspects of life and ministry. They aren't just words to be repeated by a congregation or a trite saying to make us feel better. They are words that help me to remember, particularly when life isn't so grand, the fact that God continues to take care of me, to carry me, to give me unconditional love and accept me because I am His child.
The reminder of God's goodness has come to me in several ways over the past couple of weeks. It came in a ministry couples retreat Sue and I got to be part of in the Texas Hill Country. There we connected with others engaged in ministry and shared our heart for the most amazing work on earth. But we also shared our sorrows and struggles in that same work. We made connections that sometimes are never made. We were guided by 4 amazing couples who love God more than anything else and at least acted like they loved us almost as much.
It came in the form of service to my 91 year old father who is now anticipating his eternal reward. Even though he is obviously dying, he is still gracious enough to give God thanks every day for the life he's been given, the family he has and the "good health" to enjoy it all.
It came in the eyes of a dear friend who said "I do" to the man of her dreams and danced all the way down the aisle after the ceremony. And it came in the hugs and conversation with dear friends who have never judged us by our mistakes but have loved us because we are family.
Yes...GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!!! It's a saying worth repeating often.