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Recently, a pastor friend asked me what comes to mind when I think of God’s goodness. My first thought was God’s goodness to me personally, the countless reasons I have for gratitude, all the blessings of God that have flowed into my life.

Not even a minute passed before the words and melody of the worship song “Goodness of God” were in my heart. It’s a song I’ve come to love. A couple years ago, my brother sang that song as he walked through every room of the house he’d just moved into, a quiet expression of gratitude for God’s provision of a new home for him and his family. It’s a song I sang last year at the funeral of a children’s minister I had the honor of serving alongside for several years. “I have lived in the goodness of God.” It’s no surprise we think first of God’s blessings or that our gratitude wells up into song.

Goodness to the Undeserving
The longer I reflected, the larger the circle of God’s goodness grew. It’s good to exist. It’s good to be. Every breath we take testifies to the goodness of creation and the goodness of a Creator. And this fatherly benevolence flows to undeserving, often ungrateful creatures.

Jesus remarked on the Father’s goodness when he spoke of both righteous and unrighteous people enjoying sunshine and rain. Everyone on earth is a beneficiary of God’s goodness, whether they acknowledge him as the source of their blessings or not. God is so good that he sustains the breath of even the person who defies him. He grants life to men and women who deny his existence. He’s the fountain of all that’s good, the source of all life and love.

Compared to God’s magnificence, we’re mere ants, and yet God is good to us, small and weightless though we might be. It’s only because of his goodness that we have value and worth. We’re dust. We came from the ground and will return there. And yet, wonder of wonders, God is a dust-lover.

Goodness of Jesus
The Christian cannot long ponder God’s goodness before being drawn toward Galilee and to a hill outside Jerusalem. There we see Jesus, the eternal Word, who not only announces but embodies this goodness.

Many in our world find a measure of comfort or spiritual benefit in offering generic thanksgiving to a generic God. But it’s only when we look to Jesus that God’s goodness becomes like the sun: we can’t take in the brilliance, but it’s what gives light to everything else. The goodness we see in Jesus chases away the shadows of our sin.

When we read the Gospels, we see Jesus’s goodness on full display. There we see him tussling with the Pharisees, calling out the self-righteous, embracing those on the outside, showing compassion and love while making radical claims about his identity. Like Aslan, “he is not a tame lion, but he is good.”

The goodness of Jesus isn’t safe. He’s revolutionary in his words and deeds, a firebrand in his passion, a preacher of the kingdom coming, a prophet who warns us away from the path of destruction, a healer who restores people to wholeness, a storyteller whose tales delight and disturb, an agitator and annoyance to those most committed to the status quo, an exorcist whose presence causes demons to shriek and evil to flee, a wonder-worker whose miracles gives us a glimpse of the world the way God always intended it to be, a king whose crown is made of thorns and whose first throne is a cross. Everywhere we turn, we’re confounded and overcome by the undeniably fierce and ferocious goodness of Jesus Christ.

His is a goodness that startles us, a perfection we long for and shrink from. The more we gaze on Jesus, the more we see where we fall short, whatever in our lives requires repentance and restoration. And yet the more we gaze on him, the more we also see what God wants to make of us, the greater our hope in God’s promise to renew us and all the world.

Goodness Stored Up
The second-century bishop Melito of Sardis sought to capture the glory and goodness of Jesus:
Born as a Son,
led forth as a lamb,
sacrificed as a sheep,
buried as a man,
he rose from the dead as God,
for he was by nature God and man.
He is all things:
he judges, and so he is law;
he teaches, and so he is wisdom;
he saves, and so he is grace;
he is begotten, and so he is Son;
he suffers, and so he is sacrifice;
he is buried, and so he is man;
he rises again, and so he is God.
This is Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs glory for all ages.

“How great is your goodness,” the psalmist exclaims, “which you have stored up for those who fear you!” (Ps. 31:19). God is the fountain, the storehouse, the depository of all goodness; the cross is the key that unlocks the inexhaustible, boundless riches of his grace. His goodness is pursuing us, running after us like the father hot on the tracks of the prodigal son. And so, “With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”

The Gospel Coalition. Let's Talk About How Good God Is. April 2, 2024. Trevin Wax

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/talk-about-god-good/

We are continuing our series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Angela Davis, who serves as our church accountant.

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in California, but moved back to NM (my parents are originally from NM) before elementary school. Home is the East Mountains for sure.  

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I wanted to be a doctor or a veterinarian. I was majoring in Bio/Chem and was accepted into vet school. I changed my major at the very end to Accounting, with a minor in math and music. I'm not sure if it's still the dream but I love medicine and still have a science thinking mind. Maybe one day I can suture someone! 

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

My mother has always been a believer and led us as kids to prayer and faithfully attending church. I was raised Catholic but attended non-denominational Christian youth groups in high school with one of my best friends. I would say that during those high school years I started learning more about Christ and accepting him into my life. 

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

This was in high school attending youth groups weekly with one of my best friends. I learned that there was more to being a believer than just attending church. I accepted Christ during one of the youth group camps. Later on as an adult, Matt and I were baptized at Mountain Christian Church prior to having our first child. 

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through him who gives me strength.  Living with hip issues and struggling with surgeries and healing, I lean on this verse all the time.

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

Being a mother has been my special answer to prayer. We prayed for over three years before having Tori and then were also blessed by our two boys, Jack and Samuel.  

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving as the church’s accountant?

I get to see so many blessings being the church’s accountant. I get to witness God’s provision through our membership and see the outcome to the ministries it provides for. The challenges are minimal but are normally based on me turning accounting into a language that can be easily followed by our highly mission-driven leaders and in a graceful manner. I have learned a lot about myself and that grace does not come easy when I have my professional hat on. I am a work in progress on my grace walk.  

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I love skiing! My parents taught me how to ski when I was 5 and I have been skiing ever since. The air is crisp and speeding down the hill is so refreshing. I would love to say I taught my husband, but taking him to the top of the mountain and hoping for the best is not really teaching. But I loved teaching my kids, who now out-ski me.  

What is your favorite family tradition?

Vacationing together is by far a tradition I love. We have been taking our family out since the kids were born, teaching them to live one adventure at a time. I would say that Christmas Eve service followed by seeing Christmas lights and visiting Old Town is a close second.  

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

Going to Durango. I love the mountains there and enjoy having coffee on the deck, looking at how majestic the peaks are.  

What is the perfect meal?

Anything Matt smokes in the smoker plus BBQ sauce. So delish!

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

Matt makes me laugh all the time. He has great Dad jokes and just sometimes purposely says something to make me smile.  

We asked Matt: 

What is your favorite trait of Angela's?

Angela's integrity is my favorite trait. She does not compromise when it comes to doing the right thing. 

What does Angela do that can always make you smile? 

It always makes me smile when she gets excited about an upcoming adventure.

The familiar Acacia trees greet us as we drive in from the remote Hawassa airport. Such a welcome friend! I cannot hold back a smile.

Beyond the native dome huts and cacti-fenced yards that scatter along the roadside, the fields of corn are now as tall as a man. I suspect that the harvest is not far away. Passing through the villages, before many homes stand piles of wide, flat stones. Each is crowned with sacks of potatoes. The markets are open.

The land of Ethiopia is a nation of great beauty, and also great turmoil. On a teaching trip there last year, I had the privilege to meet with some of our missionary church planters. The nation has recently seen a northern tribe rise up against the government, and Islamist guerrilla groups are also active in some areas. Prolonged drought in the horn of Africa has left millions of people acutely in need. Please continue to pray for our gospel workers, and for the people of this dear land.

Ask for the Lord’s grace and power for Alebachew. He works his trade and builds relationships with people among the Afar tribes. He loves to share his testimony. Pray for Medina to grow in her new faith, and for God to lead Alebachew to more open hearts.

Pray for God’s continued provision for Epheson. He is in a very impoverished area, and the needs are large even for him and his family. Believers in this animistic region are sometimes threatened and even beaten from the time of their faith in Christ. But the Lord has brought many to Christ, and there have been many baptisms. Pray for the growing church there to have a safe place to worship, and for Epheson to grow in shepherding them well.

Tesfaye’s church was scattered by war. Pray for the Lord’s great wisdom for them, and for stable and rich relationships among the weary believers. Also that the Christian witness of Tesfaye, a security guard, a barber, and several women selling bread, would be fruitful and see many come to Christ. 

Ask for God’s power amid spiritual battle for Henoke. He has been persecuted many times - losing his place of rent; being beaten and hospitalized; being driven out of town. He shares the gospel in the markets, and has seen miracles that have brought others to salvation. For safety, he also does discipleship out in the bush, and meets with friends interested in the gospel in this way.

We are continuing our series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Marcy Bryant, who serves as our communications coordinator and on the Deacon Council. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in Chattanooga, Tn. but have been in the East Mountains for 28 years. The MCC community is what I consider home. 

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I wanted to be an architect, but my favorite job to date has been mom. 

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home and receive a Christian education. If the church doors were open, we were there. My grandparents, Mama and Daddy Wilson, were a great spiritual influence because they loved and served the Lord more faithfully than anyone else I’ve known. 

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

I remember “asking Jesus into my heart” when I was seven years old at a missions conference at our church. I really began to dedicate my life to the Lord in my early 20s. 

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

Hebrews 12:1-2: Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

I will forever be grateful for the way the Lord carried us through Shannon’s cancer treatment and healing.  

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving at the church?

I wear a few hats at Mountain Christian and I honestly love it all. I enjoy being able to see how God is working in so many ministries, and to be a part of it so I don’t miss out on anything! The challenge is knowing there is always more I could be doing.

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I love to hike - especially with family and friends. We really got serious about it during COVID when we couldn’t go to many other places. I also love to travel, read, play pickleball and go out to dinner (is that a hobby?).

What is your favorite family tradition?

During the Christmas season we do something deliberately, just the four of us in our immediate family. Sometimes it’s the River of Lights and sometimes it’s going to dinner and a movie - but I love how we slow down and make time to enjoy being together in a very busy season. 

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

It usually includes hiking or pickleball and going out to eat with friends. 

What is the perfect meal?

Pizza or BBQ. I love both. 

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

Shannon - he’s very witty and always knows how to lift my spirits. 

We asked Shannon: 

There’s something stirring in my home that I’m sure is common to most during this time of year. Though we are in the middle of spring and winter seems to be unwilling to let go, summer is really at the top of mind for my kids. 

They are so ready for school to end. 

It’s almost as if they have been anticipating it from the start of last year, their yearlong school sentence will end and they will be FREE! Free to do as they want, no going to class, no homework or tests, no teachers or moms nagging them.   

However, if your household is anything like mine, it won’t be long, maybe the middle of June, before my younger ones will say, “I’m bored!” And so, the challenge becomes how we can guide them to spend their time wisely instead of allowing them to go the way of least resistance and turn to media and video games. I trust the Lord gives us all the foresight to both plan and prepare them for the use of their expendable time. 

As a family, we have always relied on VBSes (is this even pronounceable?) to give their mama a well-deserved break (oh, wait, did I say that out loud?). It was always a glorious time for her to be able to sit uninterrupted for a few hours, enjoying a cup of tea and simple breakfast, while our kiddos were at vacation bible school.

Of course, this outcome really is an additional benefit for what already has so many primary benefits.  Let me share a few.

First, though it is a parents’ primary calling to “train up their child in the way he should go”, the church is here to come alongside and help with this very endeavor - to assist the family in discipling their little ones in the life of Christ. I believe that VBS within the larger context of children’s ministry can play a part in aiding this discipling.

Second, through VBS, “we want to reflect our creative, inspiring, joy-giving God who made laughter and fun!” We want to create an environment where children develop lasting memories that help to connect them with biblical truths. Every activity in vacation bible school is planned so as to engage the kids using all of their senses. There’s singing, dancing, creating, playing and eating. It really is a five-day party where the central theme is God’s Word and specifically His plan for redemption. 

And finally, VBS is an intentional evangelistic opportunity. As described directly from this year’s curriculum: “Our primary goal has always been to bring glory to God by boldly and unashamedly proclaiming him to a strategic group - young people! From both a biblical and statistical point of view, young people are a big deal. They’re not only awesome - we love ‘em - but they’re also dearly cherished by our Lord and tend to be soft-hearted towards spiritual things. Researchers generally agree most people become Christians when they’re children, so it’s apparent this age group is a huge mission field!”

Will you help us this year again by inviting any and all elementary-aged kids that you know to this year’s VBS, The Great Jungle Journey? 

They will be forever grateful to you one day in the same way that I am grateful now to the white-haired lady who not only invited my siblings, cousins and I to VBS some 40 plus years ago, but picked us up every day in her station wagon to take us. Be that beloved “white-haired” lady to someone in our East Mountain community.