Saturday Thoughts on the Goodness of God

Woke up at 4:30 a.m. - wish I could say I did this on my own.

I had the help of a few furry loves - one laying on my chest demanding snuggles (Hazel, of course).

Another fluffing around, scavenging for his first breakfast - Leo, the Fluffy Lion, of course!

One little tuxedo boy hoping I would wake up and play - none other than Freddy Fitzpatrick!

Then, once I showed signs of life, they all hovered around wanting one thing or another - pets, snugs, cuddles, love, playtime, food ... such demanding little loves for a Saturday morning.

I figured I might as well get up ... so I did.

Prayer ... dishes ... reflection ... research ... planning ... thinking about what piece of art would look good on a blank wall in my living room ...

A little bit of grant reading and research ... business planning .... a few DMs to a previous youth about his potential life and business ventures ... idea dreaming ... online window shopping ... business ideas for youth and families ... and thinking about all the stuff in my house that still needs to be cleaned, organized, and decorated.

Oh, and of course, coffee time!

Sometimes I wonder what people who don't have a zillion thoughts and ideas think about ... the weather? Hmmmm....

It took me a few years, but now I know why I may have gotten in trouble a lot in 1st grade ...

Daydreaming ...

Telling the teacher different ways to do things ...

Fiddling with stuff ...

I really was listening ... honestly ... I really was.

Thankfully most of my other teachers had an appreciation for my ideas and energy.

I also now have an appreciation for youth who are a little squirrel - I feel like they are somehow potential proteges.

Anyhoo, in this early morning frenzy of thoughts and ideas ... I've also been thinking about my Jesus and how good He is to me.

As I write this, I'm typing on a laptop my husband purchased me to help me in my business writing ventures.

I'm sitting on a couch generously given to us by Jennifer Leek Khan and Aleem Khan.

My feet are resting on a coffee table I found on marketplace several years ago - when I was trying to furnish my home on a very tight budget.

I'm listening to my dishwasher ... can we all just stop and praise God for the invention of the dishwasher?

I'm watching little Leo prance around (now scavenging for his second breakfast).

We could have lost him in January, but God touched his little body and sent the FIP Warriors our way to give him hope ... as well as several generous friends to help support the extreme cost of his treatments.

I'm sitting in our home ... our home.

It's a humble little home ... but it's ours.

God opened the right doors at the right time for us to own it.

It felt like forever, but it was really only 2 1/2 months from the time we filled out the initial paperwork until the time we signed the official documents as homeowners ...

With so many odds stacked against us ...

This home of ours has some special features I truly desired in a home too.

A dishwasher ... yes ... God is good!

A laundry room.

A porch - which is actually a Catio now.

Floors I love!

A real front door - I have a thing for doors ...

A front and back yard with a good amount of privacy.

Nice, new windows.

Real walls ... I also have an appreciation for real walls ...

A kitchen with cabinet space and counter space.

A kitchen that has a great view of the living room, dining room, and back yard.

A special room that is now my office.

Palm trees in the yard.

Beautiful greenery surrounding our home.

When I think of some of these details that may mean nothing to anyone else ... I can't help but think about times I wished I'd had some of these things and times I actually prayed for some of these things.

Crazy as it sounds ... a real front door was something I prayed for.

God is a God of small things.

He cares about what we care about.

He is in the details - even when we don't see it.

It's easier to see when we push aside all the noise of life that can get in the way.

It's also easier to see when we intentionally try to shift our thinking from the things we don't have or the things that are going wrong to the things we do have and the things that are going right.

No - this isn't easy.

I spent at least three hours yesterday telling myself ...

"Hope ... God is good. You're going to thank Him. You're going to trust Him. He has never let you down and He won't start now. You need to stop it with this thinking and get your mind right. Right now - Get it right!"

Yes - I talked to myself like that.

I needed to.

Because ... God is good.

Situations aren't always good.

Our feelings aren't always good.

Our emotions aren't always good.

Outcomes aren't always good.

Not as we perceive good.

But God ... God is always good!

So this morning, I am intentionally shifting my mind and thoughts to all of the ways God has been, is, and will continue to be the good and perfect God He is.