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The Lord is GOOD!
I wonder if you heard someone say, “God is Good”, would you respond with “All the Time”?
Maybe you have heard this at church, in the community, on TV, or in a song? This is a phrase I have heard around the world. It starts with someone saying, “God is Good”. The response is “All the time.” Then the reciprocal would happen. The person would say “All the time”, and the response would be “God is Good.”
I love this interaction. When we say this, we are reminding each other that God is good all the time. Sometimes we need to be reminded of things that are true, even if we struggle to believe them.
At Attack Poverty, we have seen the goodness of God in many situations and in the lives of people in the communities we serve. Remembering moments where we have seen, and experienced, God’s goodness has provided so much HOPE.
As you may know (some of you know because you have served with us), that parts of our (and your) community, and world, live on very little. We often encounter situations where we must remind ourselves, our families, our team, and our communities that the Lord is Good. Some of the situations we encounter in our communities are so challenging that this is hard to remember. Yet, it is in the declaration of the truth that God is good, that we experience hope that provides the agency in our lives to take steps forward, putting our faith into action as we walk alongside our friends and neighbors.
Over ten years ago, God started something. Through a vision into one man, ignited by a small group of people, and a faithful church to answer the call to address poverty in all of its complexities for the blessing of our world and the glory of God. Attack Poverty was born thanks to a God given vision, obedience, and a community of faith.
As a result, hundreds of thousands of people have been impacted through the work of Attack poverty, mobilizing thousands of volunteers serving in multiple communities in four countries across three different continents. Wow! What a mighty God we serve!!
Over the years the vision of Attack Poverty has remined to empower people to attack poverty in their life and community by strengthening under-resourced communities through spiritual growth, education, revitalization, and basic needs. Many of us have had a front row seat to individuals empowered, dignity restored, communities transformed, and God doing the miraculous for the sake of the poor. All the while, so many have supported this effort with such sacrifice, generosity and grace as we grew to new communities and places as God would lead. This has been such a journey of faith and labor of love for us all. We continue to be grateful for the partnership of Lake Avenue as we steward this mission together.
The Scriptures say that Lord is good. This is His nature, whether we believe it or not. One way we can be reminded of God’s goodness is remembrance. Do you remember a time when you experienced God’s goodness (even if for a brief moment)? A significant moment, when you look back, you see the God was good. Let’s start this process with remembering God’s goodness. Take some time over the next few days to recall a time when God was good to you. Then Give thanks! Our gratitude for God’s goodness in the past will position us to see and experience God’s goodness in the future no matter the circumstances.
Let us be people that say, “God is GOOD, all the time. All the time, God is good”.
Brandon Baca
CEO
Attack Poverty
Attackpoverty.org
Family Prayer
Lord you are good. This is your nature! I give thanks for all the ways you have been good in my life and in the lives of others. In the most joyous of moments, and the most challenging of moments, you are good. Help me to continue to see that you are good and declare your goodness. Lord I want to be a catalyst of hope today and may your goodness towards me be the strength I need to have hope and offer hope to others.
We ask that you remain close to our sisters and brothers in our neighborhood and around the world who lack access to basic needs or are marginalized. Many of our communities are in turmoil and lack hope. We pray for the God of hope to remain close. We pray for your eyes to see as you see, and your heart to love as you love.
May you provide resources necessary, open doors for reconciliation and restoration, and mend the broken places, so that your kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven. May individuals be empowered and redeemed, and we all be people who pursue your Shalom in the name of Jesus.
You are good, all the time. All the time, you are good.
Amen.
Psalm 100:5, Psalm 136:1, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 145:9, Nahum 1:7
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