God Is Good!

Recipe: Lemon Drop Cake)
This past Sunday in Sunday School we had a lesson on “God’s Goodness”. Too often we miss out what God is trying to show us, or perhaps give to us. From the book, “God As He Longs For You To See Him” by Chip Ingram, Chip says, “The word goodness often refers to that quality in God that causes him to bless people, deliver them, and store up future gifts for them. It implies a sense of delight in the one giving and the gift given. God’s goodness is pleasant, desirable, fair, and generous.” Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Has God been good to you today?

Ever hear of those Good and Plenty candies? Of all the candies I enjoy, Good & Plenty is near the top of the list. Life is good when I have a handful of those luscious, sugar-coated licorice pieces! I Love licorice. I am the first to dig out all the licorice jelly beans! I’m so glad no one else in my family loves them like I do. Leaves them all for ME.

There are a lot of good things in life. But like a feast of Good & Plenty, the goodness is soon over. Even the best of the good things can afterward leave us feeling empty and even regretful. So when the psalmist declares, “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, apart from You I have no good thing’” (Ps. 16:2 NIV), I am intrigued. We all know that God is good. But when was the last time we embraced Him as the ultimate good in our life?

The psalmist in Psalm 16 explains just how good God really is: He is our preserver (v.1), our total goodness-giver (v.2), our counsel and instructor (v.7), and the One who makes known “the path of life” and fills us with “joy in His presence” (v.11). Now that’s what I call good!

Unfortunately, too often we let lesser “goods” eclipse our acceptance of the everlasting goodness of God in our lives. The fleeting nature of lesser goods will ultimately disappoint us—you can count on it. Only God is truly good! And there is plenty of Him for all we need. Indeed, God is Good... and Plenty enough!! (excerpts by Joel Stowell).
God alone is good. Don’t settle for second best.

Lemon Drop Cake

1 box Betty Crocker SuperMoist lemon cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
1 C. powdered sugar
¼ C. fresh squeezed lemon juice (1 large lemon)
1 Betty Crocker Rich & Creamy lemon frosting

Heat oven to 350. Line two 8” square pans with foil, letting foil hang 2” over 2 opposite sides of pans. Grease or spray bottoms and sides of foil

Make cake batter as directed on box. Pour into pans. Bake 25-32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes

In small bowl mix powdered sugar and lemon juice. Poke top of warm cake every ½ “ with a long-tined fork, wiping fork occasionally to reduce sticking. Drizzle and spread lemon mixture over top of cake. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled. Remove cakes from pans by lifting with foil; peel foil away.

In small microwave-safe bowl, microwave frosting, uncovered, on high 15 seconds. On serving plate place 1 cake, rounded side down. spread with half of frosting. Top with second cake, rounded side up. Frost top of cake. Garnish with lemon drop candies. Store loosely, covered.

BE SILENT!

(Recipe: Apple Ice)

Oh how silent it is! Usually when I sit at my kitchen table having my devotions, there is much noise around me. Wind blowing. Birds singing. Phone ringing. But what speaks to me loud and clear this morning is how silent it is.

The air is absolutely still. The sun shining only adds to the beauty of the quiet. No birds are singing, which they usually are as I have a nest of birds right outside my kitchen door and they love to welcome the morning with their cheerful song.

This morning all is quiet. I sense God is saying to me, “I have given you this silence so we can have time together. Come, enjoy this quiet. Sit in my presence and be silent before me.”

Those words intrigue me – ‘be silent’. I wondered what the Bible had to say about them, so I used my study time to meditate on this. Let me share with you what God says about his desire for us to ‘be silent’ before him.

In my concordance I discovered 59 times God uses these words. Apparently there is something God wants to teach us, if we would only remain silent before him long enough for him to teach!

Zephaniah 1:7 – “Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near...”
The Message says we should “Stand in silence in the presence of the Lord....”

When was the last time you came before our Sovereign Lord and just stood (or rested) in silence before him? Something amazing happens when we stand in his presence, in silence, allowing him to minister to us. A few years ago our Pastor challenged us to take 10 minutes and just sit in silence before God. Thinking nothing. Saying nothing. Doing nothing. Those were the best 10 minutes ever for in those minutes I heard God speaking to me!

Acts 18:9 – “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent!”

We are studying the book of Acts in Bible study at church. A primary principle taught in this book is God’s desire for us to spread the Good News to others. The Apostle Paul is an example of a man who persevered in order that he might spread the Gospel to others. He was not silent, and neither should we be. There are times when it is wise to be quiet, be silent; sharing the Good News is not one of those times. Friend – speak out. Don’t remain silent about God’s message of salvation.

Psalm 30:10-12 – “Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.”

There are people in pain all around us. I spoke with someone this week who is going through heartache. What trial are you facing today? What pain are you enduring? How many tears have you shed? What do you do? Where do you turn?

When we turn to our merciful God and cry out for his help, and allow his peace and joy to pour over us, our heart no longer focuses on what we are facing. Rather, even in the midst of our pain, we can’t help but rejoice in what God has done. It is impossible to be silent about his goodness. As I talked with my friend, she was able to do this – find joy in the midst of her heartache. Is this true in your life today?

Come to Him. Be silent before Him. Allow His goodness, mercy and love to pour over you today.

Apple Ice

5 cups sliced tart apples
1 cup water
¾ cup sugar
½ tsp. finely grated lemon peel

In pan, combine apples, water and sugar. Heat to boil, simmer 6-8 minutes or until tender. Puree apple mixture in blender; stir in lemon peel. Pour mixture into 8 or 9 inch pan and freeze until almost hard. Return to blender and puree until chunks break up and mixture is fluffy. Pack in freezer-proof container and store in freezer until ready to serve.