Glory {Art 2016} Scripture Challenge #12, Good

Can you believe this is our last study for 2016? How did you enjoy it? I have prayed about 2017 and through the couple of messages I received, I will be continuing a study for 2017. I will post the reveal before the end of the year. Begin a list of friends you want to invite (new believers, mature believers, and unbelievers); all are welcome and encourage to join us! They do not have to create art. They can just read and study, journal, whatever. Details coming soon.

The Study

So, as we end our study today for 2016, I wanted to look at God's goodness. God is good. How do we know that? How can we say that when we are in the midst of a great struggle or suffering? We can be content regardless of our circumstances because God is the ultimate example of good. First, what does it mean when we say "God is good"? Moms in Prayer states this: 

"Virtuous, excellent; upright; God is essentially, absolutely and consummately good."

His goodness is evident in creation. Have you ever thought about that? When you see snow fall or the leaves change, or look at a newborn baby, don't you see God's goodness? Let's look at Genesis 1 for some examples:

Genesis 1:4 "God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness."

Genesis 1:10 "God called the dry ground 'land,' and the gathered waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:12 "The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:17-18 "God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:21 "So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good."

Genesis 1:25 "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good."

And in Genesis 1:31, we see that all He made was very good:

Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."

When my girls were in BSF, they learned a song called "God is So Good." The lyrics are simple:

"God is so good
God is so good
God is so good
He is good to me."

He is SO good to us even though we don't deserve it. He created us. He provides for us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to live with us, be tempted like us, and yet He died for us and for our sins. I would say that is very good! Now take a moment to listen to Casting Crowns sing "Good Good Father." Close your eyes and meditate on the lyrics.

And here is a snippet of the lyrics:

Good Good Father
by Chris Tomlin

...You're a good good father 
It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are 
And I'm loved by you 
It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am 

Because you are perfect in all of your ways 
You are perfect in all of your ways 
You are perfect in all of your ways to us 
You are…

Absolutely! He is good because it's who He is! He is perfect in all of His ways, and He loves each of us; He created us! So, how can I say that "we can be content regardless of our circumstances because God is the ultimate example of good"? Because even in the tough things, He uses it for our good. I am sure hindsight, you can see that in things you have been through. I know I can.

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Now let's look at more of God's word and what it says about God being good. There are so many scriptures that talk about His goodness. I can't say it any better than His Word. I hope you enjoy these!

Psalm 25:8 "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in His ways."

Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him."

Psalm 86:5 "You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You."

Psalm 119:68 "You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees."

Psalm 136:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever."

Psalm 145:9 "The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made."

Jeremiah 33:11 "The sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord, saying, 'Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; His love endures forever.' For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord."

Nahum 1:7 "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him."

Mark 10:18 "'Why do you call Me good? Jesus answered. 'No one is good—except God alone.'"

John 10:11 "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

1 Timothy 4:4 "For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving."

2 Peter 1:3-4 "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

The Art

For my art today, I chose to do a Bible Journaling page. I also used some of the lyrics from the song. I put it on the Psalm 145:9 page because it talks about Him being good and having compassion on all He has made.

Papers: misc. ledger paper 
Stamps: Technique Tuesday Perfect Picture; Illustrated Faith Names of God, Yes and Amen, and date stamp; Honey Bee Stamps Prayers
Stamp Ink: Archival Ink jet black and magenta hue
Paints: Dylusions cut grass, SEI Tumble Dye hot pink, Kuretake watercolors, Ranger multi medium matte
Tools: Stencil Girl Inky Circles, Pentel colored mechanical pencil, Pigma Micron pens, sewing machine

Please watch for the 2017 announcement. It will be our 10th year of study. Can you believe it? To see all of the information regarding this challenge and the previous studies, please see this post here. And I hope you will go out each day knowing that God our Father is inherently good. He is our perfect role model! Merry Christmas!

Product List (click product tags for more information)

View blog post for supplies