"But God...."

"But God, who is rich in mercy... (Ephesians 2:4)

But God, in His mercy and gracious way, helping to ease my pain through leaving traces always of the good and lovely through the words that Randy spoke to me as he had a strength to always walk forward with the Lord while being thankful "in all things”. He often reminded me that God is not a God of “but what if’s?” but He is a God that does only according to His Word. That our lives are lived according to His promises because His promises alone have the final word. His Word trumps all things. To always remember, it’s not the “but...what if’s....” - it’s the words - “But God.....”

Radiation was complete on November 21, 2017 and Thanksgiving Day was approaching in a few days. Randy began a journal of quotes on Thanksgiving Day morning, penning quotes that spoke to his heart, one each day over the next 6 months. I found this journal as I was unpacking a few weeks ago, surely because of God and His infinite mercy. He once again had gone before us, preparing us for this season and ministering to us in such a personal and specific way beginning Thanksgiving Day with words to give thanks 'always', because this is God's will for you.

From where I stand today, in my present place, and in this season of thanksgiving, how he would want me to give thanks to our Faithful Father. So I am certain that in all pain it is the perfect place for a canvas to be filled with God’s amazing mercy and grace as I allow the Lord to do His perfect work.

The Lord had spoken to my heart much about this thanksgiving season already and the sacrifice of thanksgiving that honors the Lord. That although very difficult, our faith tells us that our faith becomes strengthened as we “go deeper yet” and praise His name in the most difficult of circumstances. It is a refining of our heart, a surrender to Him. A place where we allow Him to enlarge our borders as we accept and receive His will for our life.

The scriptures tell us to be thankful "in all things” and this seems impossible to a world who does not understand the Sovereignty of God and the sufferings of Christ for the redemption of the world. Impossible without knowing the love of the Father who gave His one and only Son for our salvation. Impossible without knowing the One who lost His life so we could find ours. Impossible for me if I did not have faith because faith assures me of Truth. Possible because we can know of His sacrifice, His Sovereignty and love....possible because of the faith that He desires of us to have in Him because He is so faithful to us. This is where my thankfulness begins. It is a beautiful reminder for me because it is in the 'sacrifice of thanksgiving' that we are told honors God (Psalm 50:23).

In these three powerful words "in all things", "in all circumstances", carries the faith to change any wrong attitude of our heart as these words lift our eyes unto the Lord. To the Christian it is trusting in our Father's providence, believing that in every moment of our life is an answer to prayer, for the fulfillment of our Father's will. They are Paul's words inspired by the Holy Spirit that echo a great declaration of faith that can trust God's will and Word in all circumstances because God wills to work all things together for our good. These words confirm to my heart the sovereignty of God in my life; in ‘all things’ He allows, in the truth of His promises, in the life that He has blessed me with, in my salvation, and in His abiding presence. And isn’t He worthy? This reminds me that, yes, He alone is worthy and that in this season of thanks we must often be intentional to look for reasons to be thankful, regardless. We must feed on His faithfulness. I think of the words Randy shared with me often, words that can truly find thankfulness in all things because “in all things” we have a faithful God who keeps His promise, “BUT GOD.....”.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:4-6 RSV)

I am reminded that in Ephesians 2 verses 1-3 as Paul first speaks of the condition of man without Christ, and then he writes, “BUT GOD....”. But God who is rich in mercy. I am so thankful for God’s redemptive work in my life and throughout the world today. That no matter what we face we have the hope found in scriptures and we can say...."But God...”. But God, who gives Hope to the hopeless...who gives His glory, goodness and the many blessings in our lives today. But God...who is working in the lives of all mankind. We can be thankful in all things as we ponder the fact that without the salvation of Christ and His Spirit roaming the earth this day to continue to accomplish His purposes and bring salvation, this world would be filled with nothing but darkness and utter hopelessness....but God.

How faithful His Word is when we are unsure, when our feelings work hard at overwhelming us...when we cannot see clearly but our faith says walk on and believe....when nothing else can satisfy us because His Word says He only sustains our life as His grace is poured out; filling, equipping and enabling us because of His unfailing promises.

Despite circumstances, in all things my soul can be comforted to rest in the many scriptures that remind me, “But God...”. We can be confident that in all things He is right there at work, regardless. I thank God for His unfailing promises, that in all things we can be thankful because no matter what we need or face we can remember the hope we have been given as we remember these words that trump all things, His Words of hope that can be replaced with whatever we may face..... “But God........”

BUT GOD......

.....Remembers us. Genesis 8:1 - But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.

....Sees our hardships and the toil of our hands. Genesis 31:42 - If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.

.....Intends it all for good. Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

....Protects us from strongholds in the desert places. 1 Samuel 23:14 - David stayed in the desert strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands.

.....Gives us rest on every side. 1 Kings 5:4 But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster.

...Forgives us. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.

....Redeems us. Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself.

.....Is our strength and portion forever. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

.....His Word stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.

...Brought our life out of the pit. Jonah 2:6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.

...With Him all things are possible. Matthew 19:26mJesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

.....Has been made known. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

....Raises the dead. Acts 2:24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

....Loves us. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

....Gives eternal life. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

...Gives us His Spirit. Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.

....Chose us, the foolish, to shame the wise. 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

....His Word cannot be chained. 2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.

May we continue to remember ..... “But God...” as the final word in all things we face this day, and in all circumstances...... "But God, who is rich in mercy......”

Forever grateful.

Michelle A. Guerra