Six Words...

There are moments in our journey that threaten to sap our creativity, our joy, and the skip-in-our-step attitudes. One day we may be dancing to life’s music and the very next, we want to hide out in a dark storm cellar…alone.  

(Silo entrance in Forest Hill)

In these moments of uncertainty we often feel we need something new to return us back and get us moving again. But most of the things we need to know – the things needed to keep our endurance up - is more about memory than it is about fresh knowledge.

Six words. So simple and seemingly childish. They will be spoken by most young children by the time they hit pre-school age. 

     C’mon, say it with me…

     Clasp your two hands together.

     Hold them under your chin.

     Close your eyes and repeat after me: 

          “God is Great. God is Good.”

Growing up, I had a school friend named Robb.  He became involved in a situation with a fellow classmate (who was a scary dude in the 5^th grade). This guy had been in the 5^th grade for at least 6 years (or so it seemed) and was quite larger than any of us. In the heat of the battle at that moment, Robb was waiting for any of his ‘friends’ to step in and assist in his crisis but like any good buddies (who valued their lives) would do…Robb was on his own. I wanted to help Robb (I really did).  I had the best of intentions.  But I was powerless to do so because this 23 year-old 5^th grader had all the power in this situation and he did not have good intentions.

Think about this a moment: If God, having all the power, also had bad intentions to go along with it - every one of us had better be the greatest hide-and-go-seek player(s) ever.
            

For if God is great but not good….you’d better run for your life!

On the flip side, my buddy had good intentions…but no power. I remember the coach, with the arms of an oak tree, who walked onto the scene with authority and good intentions…ladies and gentlemen, the fight was ova’!

(Skywalk....Inner Harbor)

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) says, “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

He is great. You need to remember that. But He is also good!

As the shepherd boy David was gathering stones to put in his slingshot for the giant Goliath, he pushed the playback button in his mind to remember what God had already done in his life. As he began walking toward the impossible looking situation, David saw and remembered, ‘He was with me with the lion and the bear…this giant will be nothing.’
           

In Psalm 62:11-12 (NIV) David said, “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, And that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.”

God doesn’t want us to forget…

’two things have I heard’ . . . 

God is great and God is good.

(Storm rolling in - Forest Hill)