“Good God Almighty!” The words were as emphatic as they were profane; those three words seemed to be the natural and uninhibited expression in the moment. I looked to the entrance of Dad’s barbershop to see a soldier in his dress greens framed by the doorway. He was grinning ear to ear. I think he was home on leave or perhaps getting ready to ship out to Viet Nam . . . or perhaps not. Why I remember that heartfelt exclamation I do not know, but it was joyous and offered with a knee slap and tobacco stained grin. The old man in blue Oshkosh overalls couldn’t help himself, he was surprised and pleased. It brings me to a couple of thoughts about cursing, profanity, and the pseudo-therapy we find in using expletives to express our passion.

I would be better served to stay away from the profundity of cursing. But given the week I have just endured, it just seems like a way to unclog my writers block and pen a few words for the Simple Sabbath here at the RDC.

We all know folks who are reasonably comfortable in dropping a “G D” or as I remember my Granddad saying, “God Almighty, you should have seen the size of that thing!” Of course there are those tender moments on Home Makeover when the astounded recipients of a new abode walk room to room saying, “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my…” I confess that it is uncomfortable and a bit distasteful for me personally, even so I defer to the earnest attempts are articulate the overwhelming blessing they are experiencing.

Please allow me to step away from a discussion of profanity and focus our attention God Almighty. The greatness of God is worth pondering and worth pondering every day. His glory is His greatness. SO . . .  here are some thoughts for your rumination

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,

“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”   Revelation 1:8

 “I am” says God.

We can say, “am what?”

To which God answers, “EXACTLY!”  I am what.  I am what is. I am power. I am first, last, and infinity. God ALMIGHTY is the reality that transcends the expletive, He is the greater reality.

I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness,

I make well-being (peace) and create calamity,

I am the LORD, who does all these things.  Isaiah 45:6-7 ESV

“I am the Lord,” says God. What is His dominion? Look around. He speaks, and there is light; He says tree and we don’t hear a word, we see a tall green and brown thing. He makes peace and creates tumult. God has no problem in assuming full and absolute authority. Who does He think He is? 

For I am God, and there is no other;  I am God, and there is no one like Me,
¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,  And from ancient times things which have not been done,  Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish My good pleasure.’  Isaiah 46:9-10

“I am God.”  There is no way to soften or assuage this declarative. God is almighty… is absolute power. Get that? He IS power. He is able and active. God is not disconnected or afar. No one can stop God’s will. Yes, He may allow the created being a choice, but God will not be countermanded. His domain has no boundaries.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20

Almighty God is our benevolent Father, and immeasurably more. He doesn’t settle for our view of life; He doesn’t settle for our whims, materialistic longing or emotional fragility. He is Almighty, able to do much better. The eternal perspective of the Almighty takes in the long-view. We have limited vision, therefore trusting God is hope and assurance about what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). He is answering the prayers we ought to have prayed.

God said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty…”  So I can reflect this day, Good God Almighty! Yes indeed.

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