Surviving

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Surviving Tough Times

Isaiah 33:15-16

"He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."

Tough times come and go, but tough people who survive those times are hard to find. The reason they are hard to find is because tough times cause many to quit. The difference between those who survive the tough times and those who don't is determined by several actions. The verses above show us what actions it takes to survive tough times.

First, living right helps you to survive the tough times. Tough times are not an excuse to stop living right, but they are the times when we need to be sure that what we're doing is right. Righteous living is not just for the times when everything is going well, but is for the tough times as well. You will find that it is easier to survive tough times if you will do what is right all the time.

Second, speaking the truth will help you survive tough times. Telling lies will always make tough times tougher. This is why you need to be a person who tells the truth all the time. When you speak the truth at all times, then you don't have to wonder what you said so that you can cover your tracks. If you will speak the truth at all times, then you will lighten the load that you must carry so that your focus can be upon the tough times.

Third, earning right will help you survive tough times. Learning how to gain in life is very important. Everyone should work for what they get. We should not try to get gain through handouts, but we should strive to get gain by working hard. When you work for what you get, then you will learn to make it through tough times. Those who live by handouts will never make it through tough times.

Fourth, gaining possession in a right way will help you survive tough times. You will notice above that God talks about taking bribes. Christian, if you can't get a possession the right way, then you don't need it. Many people try to cut corners to get their possessions and it always comes back to bite them. Be sure that you don't gain possessions in an illegal manner.

Fifth, listening right will help you survive tough times. Be careful that you don't listen to conversations that would not be glorifying to the LORD. Don't allow gossip to enter your ears. Run from it! It will hurt you in the tough times. Be sure to listen to the right music. The right music can lift your spirit while you are going through tough times. If you listen to the wrong things you can destroy your spirit. Don't let what you listen to make your times tougher because it destroys your spirit. Only listen to what God would want you to listen.

Last, treating people right will help you survive tough times. I have learned in life that you need to treat people right when things are going well so that they will be there for you when you go through tough times. Be careful about being short and mean to people. Always remember that you might need their presence somewhere down the road to encourage you. If you treat people right, then you will find they will help you when going through tough times.

You will have tough times in life. These six things that God shows us in these verses will be your "defence" when you face tough times. Live by these things every day, for you never know when your tough time will come.

Fires

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Glorifying God in the Fires

Isaiah 24:15

"Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea."

God commands us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." In other words, no matter what we face in life we are to be sure to glorify God. Does that mean we are to glorify God in the fires of life? According to the verse above, whenever we face the different fires of life we are to glorify God. What does it mean to glorify the LORD? It means that we are to magnify and honor God. In other words, to glorify the LORD in the fires would mean that we are to be sure that He is magnified because of the fire. In the Scriptures there are three fires that I find where we are to glorify the LORD.

First, we are to glorify the LORD in the fire of persecution. I am reminded of the three Hebrew children who faced Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace. When they were threatened to go through the fire they did not flinch in their stand, but they were willing to face the fire of persecution for the LORD's sake. When they were thrown into the fiery furnace, Nebuchadnezzar saw that there was a fourth "like the Son of God." The three Hebrew children certainly glorified the LORD in the fire of persecution.

Christian whenever you face the fires of persecution, be sure that the LORD is glorified. The best way to glorify God in these fires is to be sure not to compromise what you believe. Persecution will come to the Christian who stands for truth. When you stand for truth on the job and in society, there will be those who hate you and will try to do everything in their power to be sure to get rid of you. It is in these times that you must be sure that the LORD is magnified in your life so that He gets the glory.

Second, we are to glorify the LORD in the fire of refining. Throughout the Scriptures you find that God talks about gold coming from the refiner's fire. God often compares the refiner's fire to the Christian. God says that one of the reasons He sends us through the fire is so that we can come forth as gold. When God decides to send you through the refiner's fire, you need to be sure to glorify the LORD. No, the fire is never pleasant, but God is trying to make something better out of you.

Third, we are to glorify the LORD when we go through the fire that tries our faith. In 1 Peter 1:7, God talks about trying our faith with fire. In other words, there will be times when the LORD will test your faith in the fire so that it can grow. Your faith will never grow without being tried in the fire. You can want to be a better Christian, but you will never become one without the fire.

The key to glorifying the LORD in these three fires is found in the last part of the verse above when God says, "...glorify ye the LORD in the fires,..." You will notice that we cannot glorify the LORD outside of the fire, but we glorify Him in the fire. If you run from every hardship of life, then you will fail to bring glory to the LORD. Christian, though you may not enjoy the fires that God sends you through, you must endure those fires, for it is while you are in them that the LORD receives the glory. The LORD received the glory while the three Hebrew children were in the fiery furnace. If they had avoided the fire, then God would have never received the glory. Don't run or avoid the fires that God sends you through, for it is while you go through them that the LORD receives the glory He deserves. No, we don't have to enjoy the fires, but we can thank the LORD that He counts us worthy of receiving glory through our lives.

Peace?

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Peace is Not So Peaceful

Isaiah 11:6

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

One of the main desires of the world is world peace. One of the mantras of the politician is to bring peace. Preachers desire that there is peace among each other. Pastors desire to have peace in their church. Parents desire to have peace in the home. The desire for peace is certainly a great desire; however, peace is not an object that you just give away. Peace is the byproduct of following certain actions.

In the verse above, we see the epitome of peace. Imagine the wolf and the lamb living together in peace. Imagine the leopard and the young goat lying down with each other. Imagine a lion and a young calf playing together. To top it all off, imagine a child leading all of these animals. That is what God said will happen one day. However, you will find in verses 4-5, that peace is not obtained in a peaceful way. In order to have peace, there are some things that must be present for peace to be discovered.

First, justice must be present to have peace. God teaches that if you want peace then you must be fair in your judgment. You can't let the poor be punished more, or less, because of their condition. Everyone must be treated fairly. It does not matter what the place is, if people are not treated in a fair manner, then you will not have peace. A nation that gives to the poor and takes from the rich will not obtain peace. A home where one child is treated differently than another will not have peace. A church where one class of people are treated differently than another class will not have peace. Justice must be present to have peace.

Second, punishment must be present to have peace. This sounds strange, but God said the "rod" must be used. The "rod" is a symbol of punishment. So, to have peace people must be punished for doing wrong. If people never get punished when they do wrong, then peace will not be present. Though administering punishment is never easy, if you want peace then you must punish the wrong doer.

Third, rebuke must be present if you want peace. God says that we must "reprove" fairly to have peace. This is simply rebuking someone when they do wrong. This is actually a step before punishment. If a parent never rebukes their child, then that child will bring unrest to the home. Reproving someone is rebuking them and instructing them in the rebuke. In other words, it is telling people why they are wrong. If someone never knows why they do wrong, then they will do wrong again.

Fourth, wickedness must be removed. This is not popular, but this is why capital punishment must be administered to those who kill people. This may seem inhumane to some, but this is what brings peace. If wickedness is not removed, then it will only breed more wickedness. You cannot allow wickedness in a society and have peace.

Fifth, righteousness must be present. Right living always brings peace. Yes, you must tell people not to do things, but you must also tell people what they must do. Righteousness is doing right acts. You can say that you don't do certain things, but what do you do that is right? Righteousness is more than removing the vices of sin. It is doing acts of right to others. Peace will not be present until people get busy doing right acts.

Last, it takes God's Word to have peace. Throughout these verses you see God's Word is present. That means if God's Word is present, then He is present. A home, church, society or nation can only have peace when they make God's Word a part of their daily lives. Peace is a wonderful thing to desire, but you will never obtain peace without God's Word.

Making God Your Opponent

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Making God Your Opponent

Isaiah 5:24

"Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel."

One of the sins that caused God to judge Israel was their ill treatment of His Word. According to the verse above, Israel "cast away" God's Word. In other words, they set God's Word aside even though they knew It to be right. Most likely God's Word did not fit their lifestyle or agenda, so they set It aside as if It wasn't important. Furthermore, they also "despised" God's Word. God was saying that His Word became something that they hated being around. God's Word became something that they loathed. In other words, God's Word became like the phone call that you don't want to answer because you know who is calling. God's Word became to these people just like preparing and paying your taxes is to you. What a tragedy that these people perceived God's Word this way.

The repercussions of their attitude towards God's Word led to God becoming their opponent. Verse 25 says, "Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them:..." Because they mistreated God's Word, they pitted God against them. Their treatment of God's Word brought heartache to Israel, for He considers His Word of extreme value.

Your treatment of God's Word will determine whether God becomes your opponent or ally. When we attack the validity of God's Word, we make God our opponent. When God speaks to us through the preaching of His Word and we don't respond to what He says, then we make God our opponent. When God speaks to our heart through the voice of the Holy Spirit of God and we quench that voice, we then make God our opponent. It is very important that we don't treat God's Word in an adverse manner if we want God to be on our side.

Christian, don't be guilty of making God your opponent by not making His Word important to you. Don't set God's Word aside because you don't like what It says. Don't be guilty of giving the world's education a greater value than you do God's Word. When the world's philosophies and ideas differ from God's Word, always stand on the side of God's Word.

Every preacher needs to be careful about attacking the Word of God. Preacher, if you don't want God to be against your ministry, then don't ever stand against His Word. Don't ever defend those who attack the inspiration and inerrancy of God's Word. They may be a friend, but your friend cannot defend you when God is your opponent. I have watched many good men of God stand on the wrong side of God's Word only to see God make their ministry of no importance. Whatever you do as a preacher, always stand on the side of defending God's Word. This will guarantee that God will be your ally in the ministry.

Finally, any nation that wants God's blessings upon it needs to stand in defense of His Word. The nation that kicks the Word of God out of their school rooms, court houses, government buildings and society is a nation that will find God fighting against it. Every political leader needs to do what they can to keep God's Word in society.

Your treatment of God's Word will determine whether He becomes your opponent or ally. If you want God to fight for you, then you need to fight for His Word. Life is hard enough without making God your opponent. Make big of God's Word and God will be on your side.

Makings

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Makings of a Godly Child

Judges 13:8

"Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born."

There is a lot that goes into rearing a godly child. Most Christian parents want their children to turn out to serve God. However, what it takes to rear a godly child is often made too complex for parents to follow. The parents of Samson seemed to have the desire of rearing a godly child. Manoah, Samson's father, asked God to "...teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born." He was like most parents who desire to rear their children for God, but he didn't know how to do it. I find in this story what it takes to rear a godly child.

First, it takes spiritual parents. Manoah and his wife knew how to walk with God. It wasn't just one parent who served God, but it was both parents serving God together. You will rarely rear godly children when both parents are not spiritual. Far too often you have one parent who is serious about serving the LORD, and the other parent fights against it. This only creates confusion in the child. It is necessary for both parents to be spiritual if you want your children to be godly. Both parents need to have a daily walk with God. Both parents need to have a desire to serve God. When both parents are on the same page spiritually, then you have a better chance of rearing godly children.

Second, it takes teachable parents. You will notice that Manoah asked God how to rear the child. First, they had the right mindset of wanting to rear the child how God wanted that child to be reared. They realized that the child was not theirs, but God's. As a parent you should want to rear your child how God wants you to rear them. Secondly, you must have a heart that is willing to learn how to rear godly children. Let me ask you, have you ever read any good books on child rearing? No parent has all the answers, but there are some good books written by Christian authors who have reared godly children. You ought to read their books to learn how to be a better parent for your child. Probably the best book I have read on child rearing is Parenting Skills written by Dr. Bob Gray Sr. I think it is important that you read books that are written from authors who are independent, fundamental Baptists.

Third, it takes yielded parents. Manoah and his wife were yielded to God's plan. Likewise, you must be yielded to God's will and lifestyle for your child if you want them to be godly. If you fight God's will for their life, then you will push your child towards the world. If you follow the world's lifestyle in dress and philosophy, then you will not turn out godly children. Parents who are yielded to what God wants for their child and will live according to His lifestyle have a better chance of turning out godly children.

Fourth, it takes yielded children. Please don't miss this! Samson had godly parents who did right, but he wasn't yielded to God's plan. Parents, you can do everything right, but it ultimately comes down to your child having a yielded heart. You can't force this upon them for this is something they must do themselves. Yes, rearing godly children rests a lot upon the parents, but one of the important keys for your child to be godly is for them to have a yielded heart. Every parent should earnestly pray that their child's heart will stay tender towards God. However, every child should not fight their parents and God by thinking they know better, but they should yield their heart and life to do whatever God wants them to do.

Honesty

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Honesty is the Best Policy

Proverbs 21:6

"The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death."

Have you ever bought something used and walked away hoping that what you bought was a good product? The reason you felt that way was because you either heard about someone who bought something from someone who was dishonest, or you purchased something in the past from someone who didn't tell you the truth about what you purchased. This is what the verse above is talking about when it says, "The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro..." God is teaching us in this verse that we need to be honest in our business dealings. Let me give you several principles that you need to follow when you are conducting business.

First, remember that you will see that person again. Whenever you perform business with someone, you need to be sure that you would not be ashamed to see that person again if they purchased something from you. Most likely you will see them again, and you don't want to become a person who has to avoid them because of your shady business dealings. If you are honest with them about everything you know, then you won't have any problem with seeing them in the future.

Second, remember they will tell others about how you do business. The one thing I like about the internet is that you can find reviews about a company or product. Others who have done business with a company or have purchased a product in the past will place a review to help others know what they are getting. Be sure to do business with others in such a way that they would write a great review about you.

Third, don't withhold important information about the product you are trying to sell. I would rather not sell something that has problems than to sell it and have someone find out that I didn't tell them everything that was wrong. Christian, you have your testimony on the line, and it is not worth ruining it just to make a few extra bucks. If there is something wrong with a product that you are selling, then be sure to disclose that to the person trying to purchase it. You may not be able to make as much money as you want on that product, but you will find that your honesty will help you to sell more in the future.

Fourth, be sure to fulfill your side of the deal. If you promised that you would do something, then be sure to do it. Don't promise something and then come short. There is nothing worse than having an almost finished product. You will hurt your name greatly by not fulfilling what you promised. Don't just fulfill what you promised, but go beyond what you promised. This will help others to want to do business with you again.

Fifth, always have paperwork. Whenever you do business, you would be wise to have everything written down. This will keep both sides honest. Just because they are a Christian does not mean they are honest. Some of the worst people I have done business with are Christians. Write down everything you expect so that there are no misunderstandings.

Last, make it a win-win situation. When both sides come out of the deal feeling like they won, then you have done good business. There should be something in every deal that both sides feel like they won. If you conduct your business with this policy, then you will be able to conduct business for a long time. Be careful about how you do business. Always remember that honesty in business is the best policy. This keeps your name good, and will cause people to want to do business with you again in the future.

More

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I Want More

Joshua 17:16

"And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel."

The children of Joseph had one of the same problems that many people have today and that is they wanted something for nothing. They wanted Joshua to have everyone else go and conquer their territory, and then give it to them without them having to do anything. They wanted to enjoy pleasures without the responsibilities it took to acquire those pleasures. However, Joshua was wise in telling these people that if they wanted more than what they had, then they needed to find a way to get it and not to depend on the rest of Israel to help them.

There are many in our society who seem to want something for nothing. One of the ways many presidential candidates win people's vote is to promise them that when they become president they will have the government pay for certain luxuries. As good as this may sound, this is wrong. If a person wants to have something, then they need to work for it. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 says, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat."

Christian, be careful about becoming someone who always has their hand out. It is nothing more than murmuring about God not meeting your needs when you whine about what you don't have. God says in Philippians 2:14, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:" A Christian is to live their life without begging people to help them. If you want to beg someone, then beg God and not man. God tells us in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" God is the only One Who is capable of meeting your needs. If God wants you to have something, then He will be sure to impress upon someone's heart to give it to you.

Moreover, if you want something, then have the initiative to go find a way to get it. Learn to be creative and find ways to get what you need. One of the greatest assets you have is your mind. So, become creative by using your mind to think of ways to get what you need. Don't expect anyone to give you something, but find ways to get it yourself. If you live with the mentality that you will get what you need, then you will not be disappointed if someone doesn't give it to you.

Furthermore, parents need to teach their children to work for what they get. Just because your children want a new pair of shoes doesn't mean you should go directly to the store and purchase it for them. If their shoes are in good condition and they want better shoes, then tell them to find a way to earn the money to purchase the shoes themselves. Teaching your children at a young age to work for what they get will help them to appreciate what they have. If you give everything to them as a child, then they will expect society to give everything to them as an adult.

Be careful about not becoming like the children of Joseph who wanted others to give them what they could get themselves. If you want something, then find a way to get it, but don't become a Christian who whines and begs for everything. God promises to supply your need, but He didn't say that your need would always come from others, most of the time He will supply your need by having you working to get that need met.

Confidence

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Building Others Confidence in You

Joshua 1:5

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

There is no doubt that Joshua needed a confidence booster that God would use him. Moses was a great man of God, and Joshua was the one chosen to fill his position. That was a very big position to fill, but Joshua still had the same God of Moses. Because Joshua had a big position that he had just filled, he needed his confidence built that God would use him. Twice God said, "Be strong and of a good courage:..." God said this because Joshua needed confidence that God would use him. The verse above shows three things that are needed to build someone's confidence in you.

First, get involved with what they are doing. God told Joshua, "...so I will be with thee:..." The word "with" means, "to be beside." In other words, if you were to paraphrase what God said to Joshua you would say, "So, I will be beside thee." What a great confidence booster! Knowing that God would be right beside him had to help build his confidence.

If you need to build someone's confidence in you, then you need to prove to them that you will be right beside them in all that they do. The greatest way a parent can build their child's confidence in them is to be there for them when they need you. Many children lack confidence in their parents because their parents are too busy to be there for them when they need them. Likewise, a spouse needs to be with their spouse in times of need. You will build your spouse's confidence in you when you are right beside them as they go through tough times. Furthermore, if you need to build someone's confidence in you in the ministry, then you need to be sure that you will be with them when they go through tough times in their life. If they are in the hospital, then visit them. If they are in suffering the death of a loved one, then be there for them. You will never build someone's confidence in you if you are absent in their time of need.

Second, being dependable will build someone's confidence in you. God told Joshua, "I will not fail thee,..." In other words, God was telling Joshua that he could always count on Him doing what He said He would do. If you want to build someone's confidence in you, then follow through with everything that you told them you will do. Dependability is a great confidence booster. If a person learns that they can depend on you more than they can anyone else, then they will certainly have great confidence in you.

Last, don't forsake them. God told Joshua, "...I will not...forsake thee." It didn't matter what Joshua was going through, God promised him that He would always be there. If you want to build someone's confidence in you, then be there for them in the good and bad times. When they disappoint you, be there for them. When everyone else leaves them, be there for them. When they fall into sin, be there for them. When everyone else is gone, then you be the one who is still standing by their side.

Is someone in your life with whom you need to build their confidence in you? The three things that God does to build our confidence in Him will also build other's confidence in you. However, once you have built someone's confidence in you, be careful that you don't break that confidence. You worked hard to get it, so work just as hard to keep it.

Position

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The Path to Position

Deuteronomy 28:10

"And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee."

One of the mistakes I see in our society is giving position to someone who has never earned it. I like the phrase our military uses, "Earned, never given." Often I see pastors who give their children a position on their staff when their children have not earned the right to be on staff. You see company owners give their children a position when their children have done nothing to deserve a position. Government officials often grant position to people who have not earned the right to a position. Position is something that should be earned.

God shows us the path to position in Deuteronomy 28. He was talking to the nation of Israel in this passage when He showed them four things that were necessary for them to have position. These four steps on this path to position should not be ignored, but it should be something that is required for anyone to get a position.

The first step on the path to position is a command. In verse 8 it says, "The LORD shall command..." If someone wants position, then they first need to learn to listen to the commands of authority. If a person won't listen to the commands of those above them before they have a position, then they will ignore the commands of their superiors once they get a position. A person who will listen to a command is one whose heart is eager to learn.

The second step on the path to position is obedience. Verse 8 says, "...and in all that thou settest thine hand unto:..." Once a person hears the command, then obedience is required. Obedience is immediately doing what you have been told. When a person delays doing what they are being told, then they are being disobedient. When you are considering whether someone should be promoted to a position, then watch to see if they immediately obey what they are told to do. If there is any delay, don't give them a position because they have not earned it.

The third step on the path to position is the proving ground. Verse 9 says, "The LORD shall establish thee..." This was a time of testing to see if they would continue obeying without position. Here is where many people make a mistake in giving position. Too many people don't let a person prove that they are going to do right whether or not they get a position. Wait a period of time to see if someone will continue doing right before you grant them a position.

The final step on the path to position is the granting of a position. Verse 10 says, "And all people of the earth shall see..." Let me make this very clear, when a person is ready to be promoted to a position, then it will be clear to everyone. You won't have to persuade people they are ready, for their previous actions will have already proven to everyone that they deserve it.

If you are one who has the authority to grant position in some area, use these four steps to determine whether someone deserves it. If you are one who has no position, simply follow these four steps without a concern for position, and you will find that others will notice you and give you position.

Truly

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Truly, God is Good

Psalm 73:1

Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart."

I was recently taking a trip to a speaking engagement with my father-in-law, Dr. Steve Heidenreich, when we were discussing how good God has been to us. We discussed how many people seem to not see the goodness of God. As we drove, it was good to talk about the goodness of God.

The verse above reminds us of God's goodness. When the Psalmist said, "Truly God is good to Israel,..." he was not saying it in a time when everything was going good. When you read the psalm, you will see that he was declaring God's goodness in bad times. He declared the goodness of God emphatically by using the word, "Truly." The definition of this word shows us how good God really is.

First, "Truly" means, "In fact." In other words, factually God is good. When you read the facts of the Word of God, you will find that God is truly good. It doesn't matter what the world says about God's goodness, the facts show otherwise. God's goodness is never ending. The fact that God is good all the time is declared in Psalm 52:1 when it says, "Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually." God is continually good to you, even when you don't think He is being good. Truly, when you look at the facts of God's Word, you will see that God is good.

Second, "Truly" means, "In deed."When you look at the deeds that God has done, you will have to declare that God is good. God is good because He is righteous. A righteous God cannot and will not do evil to His people. Christian, when you research God's works throughout history, you will find that His works declare His goodness. In fact, when you look at His deeds, you will say that truly God is good.

Finally, "Truly" means, "In reality." In other words, when you make a comparison of God's works by looking at the whole picture of your life, you will find that God is good. Sure, there may be times when you did not think that God was good, but when you look at the whole picture you will say, truly God is good. You cannot look at one portion of your life, but you must look at your whole life to see that God is good.

Just like my father-in-law and I were discussing God's goodness to us, you will also find that God is good when you consider the facts, deeds and reality of life. The message of the song, Count Your Blessings should be our message every day. The chorus says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your many blessings, see what God hath done." When you count your blessings, you will truly be surprised at how God is good.

Today, take some time to sit down and write the blessings of God on your life. Don't be general when you write down His blessings, but be very specific. I believe if you will do this that you will say with the psalmist, truly God is good.