Today's Beginning

Romans 11:33 (NLT), "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Thursday... Now this is so important to see. Yes, it is important for us to really see how great God is in his mercy and his grace. We really don't deserve what he has done and is doing for us and others. Paul in his writing to the gentiles in Rome says in Romans 11:33 (NLT), "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Yes, God has given us his Word and he has given us his Holy Spirit to show us his riches and wisdom and teach each of us his knowledge and show us his decisions and his ways but we are still humans with ideas of our own. Now there is a lot of discussion about the Jews of our day. Paul in his writing in verses 28-32 says, "Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you...

Romans 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ."  Wednesday... We are always looking for good news. And in this world of TV and the Internet it is really hard to find good news. It really is. But Paul writes in his letter to the Romans in 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ." But even so much of what is being shared is not Good News. Now Pauls says in verse 11 (AMP), "For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations.]" Yes that is Good News but so many have not heard that. In verse 2 (NLT) Paul says about the children of Israel and probably a lot of us, "I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal." So many have not heard the Good News. Verse 3 says, "For they don't understand God's way of making people right with hi...

Proverbs 28:25b (AMP), "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Tuesday... There are different ways to live. But not all of them work at least in the long haul. Proverbs 28:25b (AMP) says, "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Now verse 26 says, "He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, but he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued." The NIV says, "Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe." And too many times we take the path of foolishness instead of the path of safety. David writes in Psalm 28:7 (AMP), "The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrabile] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Hi...

Psalm 27:13 (NLV), "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living." Monday... So where do we get confidence? How is this day, this week looking? Are you confident that you can handle whatever comes your way? Yes, there can be so many things that come into our lives and blow away our confidence. David says in Psalm 27:3a, "Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid." Can we say that today? There is a lot of unrest in our world. Verse 10a says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me." A lot of that is going around too. But David says in verse 13a, "Yet I am confident." Verse 3 says, "Though a mighty army surround me, my heart will not be afraid, Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident." Verse 10 says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close." And verse 13 says, "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness w...

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT), "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Friday... Our home is such an important place. It really is. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT) says, "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Now the Amplified Bible amplifies it. It says, "Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge its rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches." Yes, good families, lives and homes do not just happen. They are built by skillful and godly wisdom, by understanding and they are established on a sound and good foundation and by knowledge. Yes, they do not just happen. Now verse 1 gives us some problems that destroy ...

Proverbs 23:4 (NLT), "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit." Thursday... Yes, there are choices. In so many ways our desires, our wants controls us. Even at this age that I am living my desire strives to control me. Do you want to get rich? Oh if I had all that money I know I would be happy, I would be at peace. Even in our older age we need need need or it is better to say we want want want. But I am finding there is another choice that makes all the difference and that is wisdom. Now a big portion of the Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible was written by the wisest man who ever lived and he also was the wealthiest. Chapter 1:1-4 says, "These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline. to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. The...