Women of Faith - Discovering Gods Goodness

Copyright 2006 Thomas Nelson.

Previously Published as Receiving Gods Goodness.

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Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from The Holy Bible, The New King James Version (NKJV). Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson. Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, The New Living Translation (NLT). Copyright 1986 by the Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 60189. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ncv are taken from The Holy Bible, New Century Version. Copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a Division of Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Holy Bible, The Message (MSG). Copyright 1993. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

ISBN 978-0-310-68257-8

ISBN 978-0-310-68258-5 (eBook)

First Printing May 2016

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CONTENTS

My mother was a great cook. Ill never forget her best mealmade with much love and carefried chicken, macaroni and cheese, hot rolls, lettuce and tomato salad, and corn on the cob. Every bite was delicious, and the minute grace was uttered, my dad and us three hungry kids plowed into that food like hired hands.

Oh, I almost forgotshe would also make Osgood pie. Ever heard of Osgood pie? Oh my! Its fabulousmade with sugar, raisins, chopped pecans, cinnamon, eggs, etc.all mixed together, baked, and served with ice cream. At this very moment, Im reading the recipe in Mothers tattered old cookbook from the 1940s, and if I listen carefully, I can still hear her voice as shes serving up the pieces: Now, for goodness sake, dont eat the whole thing!

I used to wonder what for goodness sake meant, but after all these years I think Ive figured it out. It means, that which is to our advantage or enhancement. In other words, Mother knew our inclination to eat too much dessert in one sitting, so she was warning us against a sugar overload. She was saying that it was to our advantage to eat some things in small amounts! But when we think of receiving the goodness of God, its just the opposite. He serves up truth, mercy, grace, peace, and freedom in abundance. And He invites us to enjoy all of it in abundance! As the psalmist says in Psalms 25:7: according to Your mercy remember me, for Your goodness sake, O LORD (NKJV).

This study guide is designed to help all of us enjoy the banquet God gives us every minute of the day according to His goodness. There are chapters, questions, suggestions, definitions, verses, and quizzes, beautifully written and offered to help you understand whats available to you as you become more and more intimately acquainted with the Lord through His Word. I encourage you to sit down at His table of love and dish up a full plate of spiritual food. It will feed your soul and equip you to receive Gods incredible goodness. His bounty overflows, so you are about to experience a wonderful feast. And for goodness sake, you dont ever have to stop eating!

Surely your goodness and unfailing love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6 NLT

Luci Swindoll

Imagine this. Youre in a dungeon. Your cell is dark and dank. The floor is scattered with musty straw. Chains anchor you to the wall. There is no windowno glimpse of sky, no breath of fresh air. The only sounds you hear are the drip of condensation off bare stone and the rustle of rats. You crouch in the cornerlistless, hopeless, defeated. Then you hear something unexpected. The crash of a distant door, the clamor of running feet. A key scrapes in the door to your cell, and the door swings open. There stands a rescuer, a knight in shining armor. He bends down and removes your chains and lifts you to your feet. Come, lets get you out of here. But you pull away and back against the wall. There must be some mistake. You must be looking for some other prisoner. With a tilt of the head, He asks, And why do you think that? Shrugging, you reply, Well, because I committed a crime. Im guilty. I deserve to be here. You should be looking for someone who is innocent and doesnt belong here at all. With a nod of understanding, He takes your hand, I know all that, but its you Ive come for. Dont you want to be free? I have come to set you free.

Unexpected mercy. God, in His goodness, sent Jesus to set the captives free. We were guilty, deserving of death, and living without hope when the door swung open. Unmerited favor. Jesus made it possible for our crimes to be forgiven, for our guilty verdict to be overturned, for our record to be wiped clean. Grace. The happy ending we didnt deserve.

In this study, well go from the prison of sin to the freedom and hope that is ours through the amazing grace of God. We never deserved Gods goodness, and yet He extended it to us. All we had to do was receive it!

But by the grace of God I am what I am.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

THE LAW IS HOLY, AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY AND JUST AND GOOD.

Romans 7:12 NKJV

CLEARING THE COBWEBS

Have you ever tried to do something that you wanted to come out absolutely perfect, but no matter how hard you tried, it was never quite right?

H es makin a list, checkin it twice. Gonna find out whos naughty and nice! Sure, we all know this popular song that refers to Santa Claus. But how many of us have the very same view of God? We know God loves us and all, but we cant help but picture Him with a checklist on a clipboard. Hes making His lists. Good deeds in one column, bad deeds in the other, like some kind of divine scorekeeper. When were good, that counts in our favor. When we sin, theres a deduction from our score. Or perhaps we see Him as a referee, jogging along the sidelines of our life and watching our every move. If we put one toe over the line, He blows the whistle. Every time we step out of bounds, commit a foul, or break a rule, He jumps on it, bringing condemnation, shame, and guilt.