When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

James 1:13-18

One of our former preachers made the phrase, "God is good.all the time, All the time...God is good," a regular part of his time behind the pulpit.  He would say the first half of the phrase and then have the congregation repeat the second half.

I can remember many Sundays when we were in the midst of Nick's journey through cancer that saying this phrase was very difficult for me.  Sometimes it even upset me that he was having us repeat words that seemed so empty as our family's personal life was anything but good.

This same preacher faced many tough times in his own life as a missionary, though, and his smile never faded.  He has now gone Home to be with the Lord, and one night not long after he had been called Home, I remember reading the words "God is good..all the time" on his wife's Facebook status.  She was living out the words her husband had taught us all...even in her pain.

It's good for me to read verses like James 1:13-18 because I remember when I read them that God is not responsible for the bad stuff in my life, the temptations in my life, the dark parts of my life..

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift.

He is good..

ALL THE TIME.

Even when my world is upside down.

Even when I am so weak I can barely stand.

Even when I feel defeated.

Even when I am confused.

Even when I am distraught.

Even when I feel alone.

He is good.......

ALL THE TIME.

I'm so thankful that Bob Pemberton helped me sink these words deep into my soul at a time when I did not feel God's goodness.

I am thankful that he drove me to Columbus several times for Nick's surgeries and sat with us for hours in the waiting room.

I am thankful that he is now with Nick.

I am sure they are laughing and loving every second in Heaven.

If they could come back and say ONE THING to us, I believe it would be this:

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

I love you, Nancy, and I think of you often!!  Praying for you as you continue to serve in Africa!