GOD IS GOOD ______

Not because of my circumstances but

because of His love

Bobby D. Brown
 GOD IS GOOD
(Not because of my circumstances
but because of His love)
_______________

Bobby D. Brown
GOD IS GOOD (Not because of my circumstances but
because of His love)

Copyright © 2023 by Bobby D. Brown

All rights reserved.

Printed in USA

All scripture references are to the New American

Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise indicated,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

I have attempted to give credit where others have

provided the inspiration or content included in this book.
Any shortcomings in this area are not intentional and are
mine alone.

ii
 DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to John and Jody.

APPRECIATION

Phil and Tammy

Phil, your insight and wisdom is always appreciated.
Tammy, thank you for providing your insightful
editing skills to this project.

Carolyn
For almost three decades you have stood by me as my
friend, confident, biggest fan, and wife. Through the
darkest nights and brightest days, you have never
given up on me. You make life worth living!

iii
 OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

Christian Lawyers, A Duty to Seek and Ensure Justice

According to Biblical Principles (2013)
A Nation Under Siege (2018)
The End Game (2021)
Stand Your Ground (2021)
Carrying the Cross (2021)
The Index Card (2022)
Hell and Judgment Are Coming (2022)
Forgiven (2022)
Unprepared (2022)

Many of these books are available for free download

in PDF format at www.Acts17301.org.

iv
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT BELONGS

All the glory and credit for the inspiration, writing,

and publishing of GOD IS GOOD belongs to God.

GOD IS GOOD is not intended to be the complete

work on the topics of God’s goodness, His love,
salvation, forgiveness, or Jesus Christ. The Bible is 66
Books, 1,189 Chapters*, 31,103 verses, and 807,361
words, all of which point mankind to Jesus Christ as
Lord, Savior, King, Victor and Judge. The Bible does
a far better job than I can ever do of explaining Jesus
Christ, and in much greater detail.
Test everything against the Word of God.

Bobby D. Brown
Florida, 2023

* Chapter, verse and word count are based on the NASB.

v
 INTRODUCTION

At an early age (about 6 years old) I knew that Jesus

Christ was my Savior. Yet I have not always acted like
a follower of Jesus Christ. To the contrary, there were
times in my life where I hung around the wrong
crowd, drank alcohol to excess, bathed in the excess
of the world and committed other sins. But, through
it all, the Lord kept his hands on my life. Deep down,
I knew God was watching over me, not because of
who I am or what I had done, but rather because of
the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we
are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.1
However, this does not mean that our lives will not
have deep valleys and high mountain tops. Through
it all, God is working.

1
Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
vi
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 – Face to Face with Fear

Chapter 2 – Human Measurement
Chapter 3 – Brushes with Death
Chapter 4 – Thirty Days in December
Chapter 5 – God’s Not Done (with You)
Chapter 6 – Your Circumstances Do Not Determine
God’s Love For You
Chapter 7 – God’s Goodness Requires a Decision
Chapter 8 – Love Others While You are in Your
Circumstances
Epilogue

vii
 Test everything against the Word of
God.

viii
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 1
FACE TO FACE WITH FEAR

S
ince age 50 I have been undergoing colon
cancer screening through a test developed by
the Mayo Clinic. At 50 and 54 the tests results
came up negative. But on December 1st of 2022 I
received a positive test result. Needless to say, I was
numb for three days. But I quickly scheduled a
colonoscopy for the first available date—I needed to
see what was really going on. I was presented with
four possibilities: Cancer; Non-cancerous Polyps;
Something else (the unknown); or Nothing at all.

I underwent the procedure on December 30, 2022.

From all indications the colonoscopy was a success.
One large polyp (11 mm) near the entrance of the
colon. The doctor was able to remove the polyp. The
doctor told me that he has been doing this a while and
the polyp looked clean but to be certain the polyp was
sent to pathology. Otherwise, everything looked
good.

1
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

As this good news sank in and I began to tell my

family the results I wanted to say “God is good.” But
why was God good? Was it because of the results?

Clearly it’s hard to not judge God by our own

circumstances. But would God have not been good if
the results would have been different? The reality is
that God is always good even when circumstances
don’t go the way we want.

God doesn’t change because of our circumstances.

God is good not because of the results but because of
His love.

2
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 2
HUMAN MEASUREMENT

W
estern Christianity (particularly in
America) tends to measure the level of a
person’s Christianity by how successful
we are. We do this based on outward measurements
such as cars, jobs, money, fame, home we live in,
where we vacation and status in the community. The
more successful a person is the more they must be
blessed by God. Yet God does not see as people see.
God has His own measuring rod.

Scripture teaches that God allows both rain and

sunshine to fall on the just and the unjust.1 Likewise,
He uses both the Godly and the ungodly for His
purposes.2

1
Matthew 5:45.
2
Genesis 50:20 and Exodus 4:21.
3
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

When we live measuring our lives or God Himself

based on our own circumstances we miss God’s
essence; we miss God’s goodness.3

God does not change. He was, He is and He will be

forever and ever.4

In 1 Kings 19 scripture tells the story of Elijah’s run

from Queen Jezebel who vowed to have Elijah killed
because he killed all the priests of Baal. Elijah, who
God used to make it rain when the land had suffered
a drought for three years,5 was now fleeing for his life.
Elijah, who God used to demonstrate the nothingness
of false gods, was in a race for his life.

Elijah fled deep into the wilderness and was at the

end of his ropes. He was finished. Seeing no hope,
Elijah asked God to just die. However, God is not
limited by our circumstances. God provided an angel
to strengthen and feed Elijah. God did not see what

3
A true test of a Christian is a storm; anyone can have faith in
calm seas. Matthew 14:22-33.
4
Revelation 4:8.
5
1 Kings 17-18.
4
 GOD IS GOOD

Elijah saw. God sees with far greater understanding

for He is the creator of everything.

When God looks at our earthly successes and failures

He sees that which is easily destroyed and taken away
by the world.6 For as the preacher says:

“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” A

generation goes and a generation comes,
But the earth remains forever.7

When God looks at each of us, He looks at out heart.

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look

at his appearance or at the height of his
stature, because I have rejected him; for
God sees not as man sees, for man looks at
the outward appearance, but the Lord
looks at the heart.”8

6
Matthew 6:19-21.
7
Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 4. See also 1 John 2:15-17.
8
1 Samuel 16:7.
5
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

6
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 3
BRUSHES WITH DEATH

T
here have been at least 5 times in my life when
I should have died or been seriously injured.
Through God’s grace I am still here.

Appendix Ruptured
When I was a young child I came home early for
elementary school with pain in my stomach. My
mom, not listening to advice to give me a Tums, took
me to the doctor. In the process my appendix
ruptured. My survival was in doubt. However, my
paternal grandmother and the godly ladies of her
Methodist church in Cement, Oklahoma intervened
and held a prayer vigil for my recovery.

64½ Mustang Totaled

In 1981, as a high school sophomore I was involved in
a violent crash in which I was hit head-on by a drunk
driver. I was driving the 64½ Mustang my mother

7
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

bought me.9 Not wearing the seat belt my head

slammed into the car’s windshield with such force
that I left an indention in the windshield the shape of
my head. The steering wheel lacerated my chin clear
through so that my tongue was sticking out through
the hole in my chin. In spite of this, I was released
from the hospital the same night and was able to go
to a beach party the next night with friends.

Motorcycles and Helmets

In 1983, I crashed my motorcycle on the street
without wearing a helmet. I spent three (3) days in
the hospital. By the grace of God, only my right ear
needed to be stitched back together. A small tree limb
struck the bone protecting my only good eye and
ricocheted away from my vital organs. Any further to
the right, and the tree limb would have gone through
my eye leaving me blind or worse.

Bridges Don’t Move

In 1985, while driving on a country road in the hills
outside Oklahoma City, I lost control of my pickup

9
Contrary to popular belief. The first year for the Ford
Mustang was 64½ not 65. I sure wish I had my blue Mustang.
8
 GOD IS GOOD

truck on a very narrow bridge. I crashed into the

guard rail knocking it into the ravine below. My truck
came to a stop on the precipice of the bridge. If I
would have gone any further to the right, I would
have plummeted into the rock-filled ravine and water
50 feet below with the guard rail. Or, if the wreck had
occurred 10 seconds later, I would have hit an on-
coming car full of people on the narrow bridge.

Eighteen-Wheelers are Big

A decade later in 1999, while I was driving to my dad’s
house in Corpus Christi from a job interview in
Victoria, Texas, I started to pull off the highway to
help an elderly couple that looked to be in distress.
However, I ended up being the one in distress. I was
rear-ended by an eighteen-wheeler. The pickup truck
I was driving spun out of control, rolled over several
times crashing through a barbed wire fence before
resting on its side in a cow pasture. I was told by the
paramedics who treated me that most people who are
hit by an eighteen-wheeler on the highway don’t
make it. Because the rescue crew expected the worst
Life-flight was called to the scene. I went to the
hospital by ambulance instead. By the grace of God, I
was released from the hospital the same night after
9
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

having 14 staples placed in my head. I ended up with

a few hidden scars and a story to tell.

Looking back at each of these events in my life, I

played a part in some and others not so much.

Appendix Rupture. Not much influence a child has

over their appendix rupturing.

Totaling my Mustang in high school (Go

Tigers). I was headed to a party where I would have
likely been drinking. However, I did not consume any
beer or alcohol (or other substance) when the
accident occurred. Maybe I should have just stayed
home that night? In reality I had no influence over
the other driver and seat belts were not a thing we did
in 1981.

The motorcycle crash in 1983 was influenced by

my actions. I made a choice and I chose poorly.
Clearly I should have been wearing my helmet. I
significantly contributed to my circumstances.

10
 GOD IS GOOD

The 1985 encounter with the bridge was my

fault. I executed a “California stop” (rolled through
the stop sign) about 100 feet from the entrance to the
bridge. Then, having cleared the stop sign, I gunned
it (hit the gas pedal hard). The events and
circumstances which unfolded were my fault.

Clearly, I was not paying attention during the decade

of the 80’s. But the Lord did not stop pursuing me.

I have looked back at the 1999 incident many

times. This is where God and I got reacquainted.
This is where God got my attention. I was not
speeding or driving recklessly. I noticed a couple I
thought needed help parked on the right shoulder of
the highway. I was in the right lane. I looked behind
me to see if other vehicles were close to me. I used my
turn signal to indicate I was pulling off to the side of
the road. I slowed down and started to make a
controlled lane change. Yet I did not see the eighteen-
wheeler that was coming from the overpass that I had
driven over minutes before. The truck driver did not
see me. I am grateful to be alive but more important

11
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

than being alive I am eternally grateful that the Lord

did not stop trying to get my attention.

Was God good because I did not die or because I was

not more seriously injured as a result of these brushes
with death? Should I blame God because He did not
do more to protect me?

As a very young child (baby) I was rushed to the

hospital on numerous occasions with a very high
fever. The solution, hold me down in a tub of ice
water. My mom had to repeat this at home on other
occasions as well.10 How many times is God
supposed to intervene in our lives?

Who am I to tell the Creator of everything that has

ever been created what is good or bad.11 He’s God!
The point is that God is ultimately in control not you
or me.

10
I was born at Camp Lejeune, N.C. at the Navy Hospital. Did
the water there play a role in my childhood illnesses? Perhaps.
But my father was a proud Marine and I am proud to be the
son of a Marine.
11
Genesis 1:1-31; Job 21:22; Job 38-42:6; and John 1:1-3.
12
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 4
THIRTY DAYS IN DECEMBER

F
or 30 days I lived with a cancer
diagnosis hanging over my head. But
what is kind of amusing is that once the
IV was in my arm and I was in the bed waiting
my turn to go into the operating room (before
drugs were started) I finally had peace from
God and knew everything was going to be okay.

During these 30 days I never tried to bargain

or cut a deal with God. I never begged for my
life. From day one I knew whatever happened
God was in control.

However, I am not ashamed to admit that

during this time I lived in a kind of fog, walking
through life somewhat absent minded unless
concentrating on the task at hand.

During this time, I visited with my mom, my

daughters, son-in-laws, and grandsons. I

13
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

wanted to see them all before I went in for the

colonoscopy.

I did not realize until midway through the

month of December that I was scared. Early in
the morning on December 20th, alone in my
pickup truck on my way to the airport, I cried
out to God “I don’t want to die”. I was scared.
What would my family would do without me?
What would be my legacy? (I know, kind of silly
worrying about a legacy when most of us are
only one or two generations away from being
forgotten after we die). I was scared about what
I had not yet done in life.

Knowing everything is in my Creator’s hands

did not stop me from being human. I wanted to
live; to spend time, as much time as I can with
Carolyn; enjoy family; see my great
grandchildren who are not even born yet
graduate from high school. I want to make a
difference.

On January 13, 2023, I learned that the polyp

was benign (non-cancerous).

14
 GOD IS GOOD

My prayer which started in December and

continues today is: “God, whatever You want
me to learn from this experience please don’t
let me forget it afterwards.”

15
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

16
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 5
GOD’S NOT DONE (WITH YOU)

W
aking up Saturday morning December 31,
2022, I was ready to get out of the house
and take care of some Saturday morning
errands before I settled in for a whole day of college
football bowl games.

The day was going great until about 2:00 p.m. when
my stomach began to hurt. Fighting through the
night, I resisted the need to go to the hospital.
However, by 6:30 a.m. the following morning
(Sunday January 1), I was in the emergency room.

About nine hours later after several tests, morphine,

and other pain medications a decision was made to
admit me to the hospital and prepare for surgery.

After complications and delays I successfully

underwent surgery at about 1:00 p.m. the next day
(Monday January 2, 2023), for a blocked gallbladder.
The surgical team also checked to be sure that I did

17
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

not suffer any complications from the colonoscopy.

My liver was also tested for cancer (it was negative).

What’s the lesson from my start of 2023? At this stage

of my life, I am not sure that I understand the totality
of the lesson(s) I am to take away from this
experience. I do believe God is answering my prayer
to not forget what I learned over the previous 30 days.

Through these experiences I am reminded that when

we walk surrendered to God He keeps His hands on
our lives even when we don’t understand what is
happening.12

12
Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28.
18
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 6
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT
DETERMINE GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU

I
don’t know your circumstances -- good/bad,
joy/sadness or somewhere in between.
Regardless of what you are facing today or have
been through in the past, God is good. His love does
not change.

Every one of us at some point in our lives has rejected

God, disregarded His law, turned our backs on His
instructions or denied even knowing Him. That’s ok,
Moses did it13; David did it14; Peter did it15; and so
have you and I.16 Yet God loves the world so much
that He sacrificed His Son on a wooden cross to
reconcile the world back to Himself.

13
Numbers 20:8-12.
14
2 Samuel 12:1-15.
15
Mark 14.
16
All have fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:22-24.
19
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

For God so loved the world, that He gave

His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have
eternal life.17

While the world is ruled and tormented by Satan and

his minions, Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan.
Through Christ’s resurrection we too can have eternal
life with Him today and in heaven. Yet believing that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God is not enough, demons
believe and are not saved. We must believe in (trust,
surrender to, be certain of) Jesus Christ as our Lord
and Savior. Turning to Him and away from our sins.

Far too many in the Church are living in fear not faith.
Faith says whatever happens today, God is in control.
Fear worries about controlling the events and
outcomes of the day. Fear worries about maintaining
our life, wealth, status, and comfort.

Faith walks out of the house each day surrendered of

self, surrendered to Christ’s calling for that very day,

17
John 3:16.
20
 GOD IS GOOD

hour, and minute. Christian faith focuses on Jesus

Christ. Fear focuses on earthly wants, needs, and
desires. Faith comes from Christ. Fear comes from
Satan.

Millions of people in America and around the world

are so afraid of dying that they have stopped living.
They want you and me to live in that same fear.

Each of us must ask: “Am I surrendered to Christ or

fear?” Fear asks “what if?” Faith says “even if.”18

Fear = What if
Faith = Even if

18
Vance, thank you for the illustration.
21
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

22
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 7
GOD’S GOODNESS
REQUIRES A DECSION

G
od’s goodness requires a decision.19 I urge
you to not regard this book as implying that
a person can walk through this life without
Jesus and then walk into eternity with Him. We
cannot. Jesus Christ is a two-for-one package.
Surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior brings us
into a personal relationship with the Creator of the
world in both this life and for eternity.

Because God is good He must judge each of us on the

totality of our lives. As a result of this judgement, we
are all doomed to eternity in hell unless Someone else
has paid the price for our sins.20

Because of this God does not hide the path to a

relationship with Him. He wants a relationship with

19
Acts 17:30-31.
20
Isiah 53:5; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; and John 1:12.
23
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

you and me. The key is Jesus Christ.21 Christ came to

earth to free mankind from Satan.

Jesus Christ is the only acceptable payment for our

sins against God.22 He paid the price on a wooden
cross so that we could be free from death.23

When we believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and

Savior He covers our failings with His blood.24 He
cleanses us and God remembers our sins no more. 25

Belief does not guarantee or promise an easy life.

Instead, God promises to take the walk with us if we
are His.26 Do not trust on your own understanding
but in all things trust on the Lord.27

21
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes
to God but through the Son, Jesus Christ. John 14:6.
22
Romans 5; Hebrews 9:13-14; John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21.
1 Peter 2:24; John 3:16; Hebrews 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-
23

58; 2 Timothy 1:10; and Galatians 3:13-14.

24
1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:7-0; and Ephesians 1:7.
25
1 John 1:19; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8:12; and Psalm 103:12.
He will never leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8;
26

Matthew 28:20.
27
Proverbs 3.
24
 GOD IS GOOD

If you want to surrender your life to Jesus Christ do

it. “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to
shame.”28

Here is a prayer you can follow. You don’t have to use

these exact words, what matters is what is in the
depth of your soul (heart):

Dear God, I am a sinner. Please forgive me

of my sins. I reject the sinful path I am on
and I surrender to Jesus Christ, the
resurrected living Son of God, as the Lord
and Savior of my life. Amen.29

If you prayed this prayer or something similar,

welcome to the family. I encourage you to:
• Tell Someone
• Get Baptized
• Study the Bible
• Join a Christ Centered Church

28
Romans 10:11.
29
How do we know we are saved? We take God at His word
and we act upon it. Luke 6:46-49; John 14:15; and 1 John
2:15-17.
25
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

26
 GOD IS GOOD

CHAPTER 8
LOVE OTHERS WHILE YOU
ARE IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

E
very interaction you have with another
person is helping lead that person to one
place or the other.30 Live today like someone
else’s eternity depends on it.

What are you going through? Maybe the person

working in the cubicle or office next to you or riding
in the bus seat next to you is going through the same
thing or perhaps even something worse. You never
know what someone else is going through. Maybe you
have already faced what a friend, neighbor or the
person next to you is going through now.

When I received the notice of a positive colon cancer

screening test I reached out to my Saturday morning

30
In watching The Life and Faith of CS Lewis, I was struck to
the core to think that every interaction I have with someone
could be leading them to heaven or hell. I realized instantly
that these are words of truth.
27
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

prayer group. More than one member of our small

Saturday morning group has been where I was. My
opening up to these Christian brothers allowed them
to minister to me with love, compassion and humor.

There is a man I know, a man I admire and who

inspires me to focus on others instead of my
circumstances. I will not tell his story because it is his
to tell or not tell. What I will pass along to you is that
though this man of faith faces his own mortality on a
reoccurring basis he never complains. Instead, he
focuses on others. This man quietly spends his time
and resources seeking to help others who are hurting,
particularly veterans.

I was reminded of the power of helping others while

watching an interview of a legendary rodeo cowboy
on the Cowboy Channel in early 2023. The cowboy
was asked about dealing with tragedy. The tragedy he
faced many years before has destroyed many a man
(and woman). His response was something to this
effect, he could take the easy way out with drugs or

28
 GOD IS GOOD

alcohol or he could choose every day to be happy.31

He chooses to be happy every day helping others.

This cowboy’s remarks really pulled me up short.

How many times have I been put-out because I was
cut off in traffic; the line was too slow at the grocery
store; or some other trivial matter? How many days
of my life have I lived consumed by melancholy
because life was not going like I thought it should?

I have found time and time again that when my back

is against the wall, when life is more than I believe I
can handle that if I will spend more time praying for
other people than myself my spirit is lifted, my hope
renewed and my faith strengthened.32 Being a light
for someone else has the overwhelming tendency to
brighten my own life.

31
“Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is
neither blossom left nor fruit; though the olive crops all fail,
and the fields lie barren; even if the flocks die in the fields
and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will be happy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-
18, The Living Bible (TLB) copyright © 1971 by Tyndale
Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers
Inc., Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved.
32
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for
one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer
of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16.
29
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

Be the light that someone else needs.33

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord,

when did we see you hungry and feed you,
or thirsty and give you something to
drink? When did we see you a stranger
and invite you in, or needing clothes and
clothe you? When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will
reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers and
sisters of mine, you did for me.’”34

Don't be so wrapped up in your troubles that you

miss an opportunity to be a light in the darkness for
someone else. Sometimes it's as simple as a smile, a
hello, holding a door open, being kind . . . .

33
Matthew 25:31-46; and Luke 10:25-37.
34
Matthew 25:37-40.
30
 GOD IS GOOD

EPILOGUE

Do not allow your past to define your now or your

tomorrow. God loves you.35

Do not call to mind the former things, Or

ponder things of the past.

Behold, I will do something new, Now it

will spring forth; Will you not be aware
of it? I will even make a roadway in the
wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

The beasts of the field will glorify Me,

The jackals and the ostriches, Because I
have given waters in the wilderness And
rivers in the desert, To give drink to My
chosen people.

The people whom I formed for Myself

Will declare My praise.

Isiah 43:18-21

35
Thank you Rick for the inspiration to use this Bible verse.
31
Not Because of My Circumstances Reckoning to Come

32
For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not
perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

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