Todays Beginning

Proverbs 3:5 (AMP), "Trust and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." Thursday... Yes, let's rely confidently! Yes, there is power in positive thinking. I have made it a challenge in my life to do that. But it really does make a difference on whom we rely. Now Proverbs 3:5 is a great place to go for insight on reliance. It shows both sides. The Amplified Bible says "Trust and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." Of course it can be so easy to rely on ourselves and our experiences and our own insight and understanding, can't it? Now those last two words, insight and understanding are interesting. But can we rely confidently with all our heart on our own insight and understanding? Another good question.  Look at verse 11. It says, "Do not reject or take lightly the discipline of the Lord [learn from your mistakes and the test...

Psalms 2:12b (MSG), "But if you make a run for God - you won't regret it!" Wednesday... We will not regret it! Now Psalms 2:12b in The Message Paraphrase says, "But if you make a run for God - you won't regret it!" The New Living Translation says, "But what joy for all who take refuge in him!" And the Amplified Bible says, "How blessed [fortunate. prosperous, and favored by God] are all those who take refuge in Him." Now there are so many people who do not know this to be true.  In the beginning three verses of this Psalm (NLT) it says, "Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 'Let us break their chains,' they cry, 'and free ourselves from slavery to God.'" That is how so many people who have never had a relationship with God feel. They want to free us from God. ...

Psalms 1:1a (AMP), "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked." Tuesday... So, this is the way it starts. I love reading the book of Psalms which is in the Old Testament of the Bible. I have systematically read it everyday for 40+ years. There are 150 Psalms and they can be read one at a time in five months. I just finished Psalms 150 on March 30 and have on April 1 just read in 6 different translations Psalms 1. Now April 1 is April Fools Day. It is a fun day but Psalm 1 is the truth and this is how it starts in the NIV. Verse 1a says, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked." The Amplified Bible says it this way, "Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example]. And then the whole verse in The Message says, "How well God must like you - you don't walk in the ruts of those blind-as-pats, you don't stand with t...

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT), "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you." Monday... There is so much ahead for us. So much! Look at these words. Moses at 120 years of age wrote them. The children of Israel were just about to go over the Jordan River into their Promised Land so in Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT) Moses writes, "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you."  Yes, Moses knew what he was talking about. He had brought them out of Egypt and through the desert for 40 years. Now if they would have lived by God's commands it would have been shorter but they didn't so their fathers and mothers were not allowed to continue and even Moses wasn't going to go. He had some wavering in there and he suffered the consequences.   Now Solomon over in Proverbs 1 gives some very good advice. Verse 7 (AMP) says, "The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly aweso...

Mark 10:27 (NLT), "Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.'" Friday... There is a great difference between love and fear. It is true that the Old Testament of the Bible is different from the New Testament. Because of Jesus coming into the world, things are different but it still is important for us to see that in our relationship with God through Jesus we still need to love and also to fear God.  Now Deuteronomy 28 is a difficult chapter to read but it is necessary for us to see that God is a God of love but also a God we need to fear. Verses 1-2 (AMP) says, "Now it shall be, if you diligently listen and obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all of His commandments which I will command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you pay attention to the voice of...

Psalm 147:18 (MSG), "Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter - suddenly it's spring!" Thursday... This is another of his wonders. I am sitting here in my morning coffee shop and looking out the window at one of the wonders of God, the trees have leaves all over them. It seems that the last time I had really looked, there were no leaves. The leaves knew when to come out. It was great to see and then I read Psalm 147:18 (MSG), and it said, "Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter - suddenly it's spring!" Oh what a God we serve. He really does know what he is doing. Verse 15 in the Amplified Bible says, "He sends His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly." Verses 3-5 (NLT) says, "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!" And he cove...