A year ago we were working to unload a big trailer load of branches at our local landfill (which, by the way, has one of the most beautiful views of our majestic Cabinet Mountains of any place in the area) when a charcoal gray pickup drove up beside us with a big St. Bernard dog hanging out the window. A tall (6’5″) man got out and said, “My dog told me I should stop and help you folks!” He proceeded to help us unload our trailer. As we visited we discovered that he and his wife are followers of Jesus and had moved to Libby just a couple years before.  We had a great time of fellowship in the Lord.  We also found out that he was a punter in the National Football League for a number of years and then spent time in the military as well as the police force. His wife spent some 26 years as an ER nurse.  And, the handsome St. Bernard’s name is “Bandit”!

     This past Friday afternoon we had a severe wind storm followed by a hard rain (and we had just taken down our rain gutters to work on our facia!).  Our neighbor to the west has a row of big cottonwood trees (part of the curse, we are quite sure!) and the wind, as it usually does, blew from west to east, so our field and driveway were covered with branches. We spent all morning loading our trailer with the branches, some of which were big enough that I had to cut them up with a chainsaw. It was about 1 p.m. by the time we got our heaping load of branches to the landfill. As we worked hard to unload (it would be nice to have a dump trailer!), Kathy commented: “Where is our football friend when we need him?”  Well, just as we were about done, guess what happened?  A charcoal pickup drove up beside us with a big St. Bernard hanging out the window. Our football punter friend got out and I said, “We’re just about finished. You are late!”  What are the chances?  God is Good!  Again we had a great visit and got to help him unload his pine needles and love up Bandit. He shared about some of the difficult times they have been through in their lives, but how God always provided the grace to make it through. God is good, all the time!

     Goodness is a core quality or attribute of who God is. By nature, God loves to bring joy and blessings to all His creatures. Jesus said, “If you then, being evil (sinners), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him” (Mt. 7:11).  He, as our loving Father, also loves to surprise us with things for which we didn’t even ask.  James writes: “Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow” (Jas. 1:17).  

     Life is hard because we live in a world under the curse of sin and among people with sinful natures (each of us included).  We have storms that leave destruction (just look at the devastation in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas caused by hurricane Helene, with hurricane Milton on its way to the coast). God never promised that life would be easy. In fact, after sin in the Garden, God told Adam and Eve that life would be difficult. But, God is there in the midst of the storms as our refuge. So, even then, God is good. He also uses adversity to mature us, to conform us to His image (Ro. 8:28,29). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and though the mountains slip into the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride” (Psa. 46:1-3). God is good–all the time!

     So, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, and His faithfulness to all generations” (Psa. 100:4,5).  “Oh the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. And men shall speak of the power of Your awesome acts; and I will tell of Your greatness. They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness, and shall shout joyfully of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness. The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works” (Psa. 145:5-9). “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (I Chr. 16:34).  “O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.”

     Life is hard, but God is good–all the time!

Forever His, 

Pastor Dave N

P.S  (From  The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis”  

     “Aslan is a lion–the Lion–the great Lion.” 

    “Is he quite safe?”   

    “Safe? Who said anything about safe?  Course he isn’t safe.  But He’s good.  He’s the King.”