WEDNESDAY April 21, 2010

YOU HAVE BEEN GOOD (Twila Paris)

Oh Lord, You have been good

You have been faithful to all generations

Oh Lord, Your steadfast love and tender mercy

Have been our salvation

For by Your hand, we have been fed

And by Your Spirit, we have been led

O Lord.

For by Your hand, we have been fed

And by Your Spirit, we have been led

O Lord, Almighty God

Father unchanging, upright and holy.

O Lord, You have been good

You have been faithful, You have been good.

You have been good, You have been  faithful,

You have been good

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

Your loving kindness is everlasting

You have been good.

Father, I don’t “feel” like writing this, I stayed up way too late last night.  But…as I hear this song, I am reminded You have been good.  You are like talking to a really close, familiar friend.  Even as I write these words, my heart is moved with compassion as I think of the years that I have had with You.  I think of all the many, many times that it’s been just You and me.  I am reminded of Your faithfulness and kindness.  You have never changed, You have never, not one time, been too busy for me.  When I need You, You are always there.  I know You watch over me constantly.  I know that You are steadfast and perfect.  You have been good, You have been faithful.  I know that Your love for me is wider than the ocean, stronger than any force I have ever seen or heard of on this earth.  I know that all I have to do is whisper Your name and You hear me.  I know that when I am weak and frail, You hold me.  I know that when I am strong and running, You run beside me.  I know there isn’t anywhere here on this decaying earth I can go that You aren’t there.  Your Holy Spirit is hovering over this planet that You have made.  You have been good.

Has God been good only when things are looking good for us?  Has He been good when our prayers aren’t answered as we think they should be?  Has He been good on a Wednesday when we get up really wanting to go back to bed?  Has He been good when everyone around us is doing exactly what we think they should be doing?  I am trying to buy a new house and out of the clear blue sky yesterday, we ran into a problem with our lender.  Everything looked fine and then…..a new regulation made the underwriter question our integrity.  She was wrong, things are exactly as we told her.  But now, the only way she will change her mind is a change of heart from God.  Knowing the real estate business and working with things like this, I immediately went into “fix” it mode.  The other solutions didn’t seem to work, I felt checked, I have to stop “fixing” it and wait on the Lord.  That is humbling to me, but necessary.  Oh Lord, You have and are good to us and I know that You work out all things for our good.

I am a child and You are my Father.  I trust You, You have been good.  You have never, ever failed the Seman Family.  I love You, Father.  I am secure that our lives are in Your hand.  I am steady because You hold me.  Faith is not understanding, but accepting anyways.  Nothing is impossible for You.  My plans are in Your hands.  A woman makes a plan in her heart, but the Lord directs her path.  Prayer is the connection that I have.  It is the power source between You and I.  I plug into You today, Lord.  My batteries will only carry me so far, the real lasting, persevering ability comes from the electricity that I acquire from You.  You are larger than all the power generated from the Hoover Dam.  You shake the nations, Your voice is heard through all generations and You have been good, You have been faithful to Your “little” girl down here in St Marys, Ga.  I trust You.  You turn the heart of a king, so I know You can turn the heart of a “little” lady in an underwriting office.  By Your Hand, I trust You.  You direct our path.  I know whatever You have for us is good and perfect.  Thank You, Lord.

This warrior is a child,

Mary Ann