"Good News"

What is it with some people,

Who have an axe to grind,

Argue with the sinners,

And think they’ll change a mind.

They can get downright fussy,

And boisterous and mean,

It plumb defeats the purpose,

If you follow what I mean.

For them the gospel good news,

Is not so good at all,

In fact it sounds like bad news,

When they stand up and call.

I’m thinking of the picture,

I got while in my youth,

Of a God so mad and angry,

I thought it was the truth.

And I knew I couldn’t please Him,

No matter how I tried,

Though I accepted Jesus,

And the reason that He died.

I had no real assurance,

That I was really saved,

No doubt Jesus was living,

And God so loved He gave.

But I just didn’t realize,

How much the Lord loved me,

Took some time to feel it,

And believe it, don’t you see.

And the good news really is good,

And wonderful and true,

And God wants us to know it,

And celebrate and do.

With His help love the people,

Who haven’t come back home,

Who are still out there running,

And lonely and alone.

They don’t need our judgment,

Nor argument or fuss,

They need someone who loves them,

And they need that love from us.

So next time you are tempted,

To argue or make threats,

Remember who we’re representing,

What’s forgiven He forgets.

And all the messes we have made,

He changes and redeems,

Just show and say He’s done it,

No matter how it seems.

If they don’t soon receive it,

In God we put our trust,

And keep on loving people,

And that is God’s own must.

“He has showered His kindness on us…” (Eph. 1:8, NLT)

Being showered with God’s kindness is a beautiful picture. I see waves of kindness washing over us, and those waves bringing forgiveness and healing. And the more I see it, the more it seems to happen, both to me and others. How wonderful it is to experience His kindness. It will melt your heart and drive out bitterness. It will spill out onto others, and they will feel His kindness flowing through us. Its exactly what the world needs, and the wonder of it all is God freely and generously and unconditionally gives it to everyone. Not everyone knows or acknowledges or receives it, but they could at any moment. The best place to be is where the kindness is happening.

Lord, shower us with kindness and help us to shower others, in Jesus’ name.

Photo by Kirstie Lambert, used by permission. Thanks, Kirstie, and God bless you.