As Christians we constantly hear "God is good" sometimes to the point of it becoming just a phrase. His goodness is so beyond our tiny comprehension. I wanted to share today exactly HOW He has been good in my life...

1. I am accepted - in my faults, my arrogance, my pride, my foolishness - He has accepted me and called me daughter. It is so good to be 'daughter', because of my messed up relationship with my earthly father, I was well into my twenties before I could welcome being someones 'daughter'. I have the greatest Father and I love Him dearly.

2. God ordered my steps even before I served Him. He caused my husband and I to cross paths as young people and I am so thankful that I have 'grown up' with Andre' - he is a great husband, caring father and faithful friend.

3. God planted us in a thriving church family where we are loved and challenged. We have such amazing friends - we really DO LIFE together. The church we came to Christ in was not proactive about members getting together between services. Sad really. We NEED others to walk along side us and encourage us and lift us up and also for us to encourage and lift them up. My friends, you know who you are, and I praise God for allowing our journeys to join one another.

4. God blessed us with five amazing, beautiful, talented, creative, rambunctious children. It has been a joy to be their mom. Of course we have our days - sometimes whole weeks- where I long for the yellow bus and noone seems to really like anyone else. But on the whole, we have wonderful children. I delight in spending my days with them, I miss them like crazy when we are apart and I still am allowed to kiss all of them on the face!

5. God has always met our needs. We have a lovely home that fits our family and our budget , which according to all I am hearing in the media, is not the case with lots of families across our nation. We have never gone without our basic needs being met. And most of the time life has been exceedingly, abundantly above all that we could ask.

6. God has allowed pain in my life and used that pain as a point of ministry to others who are broken and hurting. I never understood the pain as I was experiencing it - we never do. But each time my heart has been broken - He has been faithful to mend it - and I have become softer and more tender towards those suffering a similar wound.

7. God has provided mentors to me. As I have grown up in Christ, He has faithfully placed Godly women in my life to sharpen me. Some of these women know me well, and some of them have simply been obedient in writing a book or preaching a women's event, both have touched my life in a profound way and I am a more mature Christ follower, more honoring wife, more patient mother and more loving friend because of them.

8. God has allowed me to witness miracles. My dear friend was in a terrible accident with a drunk driver last week. Her family of four were all injured to various degrees. She is also expecting their third child. For a couple of days we were ever present in the Throne Room because the report was not good, but Praise God - the doctors were wrong, there is no danger and the baby and mom will be fine. When I was delivering my daughter I was suffering from preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, they did not know if I would make it. I was told that if I had any more children I would be blind and on kidney dialisys - if I lived. We refused to recieve that report and God blessed our family with three healthy pregnancies giving us three more children. We have experienced miraculous financial blessings too numerous to recount. A 14 yo local girl went missing recently, the body of Christ mobolized in prayer and she was brought home safe, she had been with an 18 yo boy she met online. God is good, He is faithful and He is just.

How have you experienced the goodness of God in your life? (now for the shameless plea!) Please post a comment with your praises of God's goodness. If you are not a Homeschool Blogger Member - you can still leave me a comment. Simply press 'leave a comment' below and post as anonymous - just be sure to sign your name too!

Thanks - I look forward to hearing from you!