Today's Beginning

Psalm 37:1-2 (MSG), "Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants." Friday... But it may be a waste of time. Now there is a lot around us that can grab our focus, get our attention, that is really a waste of time. David says in Psalm 37:1-2 (MSG), "Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants." When we are on the Beltway, who gets our attention? It is the wild driver. Now we need to be careful but our focus must be on our driving, and our confidence that God is with us in the passenger seat and he is there to protect us. But it is so easy for the wild ones to get our total attention and also in life the evil that is around us.  Now the Amplified Bible says in verses 1-5, "Do not worry because of evildoers, nor be envious toward wrongdoers; For they will wither quickly like grass, and fade lik...

Romans 16:17 (MSG), "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teachings you have learned." Thursday... There is so much confusion. There really is. So much of what is believed today comes from places other than God's Word and it can be contrary to the teachings we have learned. But that was also true during the time of Paul and in his writings. In his letter to the church in Rome in the last chapter of Romans, in chapter 16 and verse 17 (MSG) he writes, "Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teachings you have learned." He then says in verse 18, "For such people are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." And it is so easy for us to believe from our wants instead of from God's Word and his wisdom. Now in verse 19b (NLT) Paul s...

Psalm 35:3b, "Let me hear you say, 'I will give you victory!'" Wednesday... Please, please! Sometimes we need to pray prayers of desperation, don't we? Maybe that is the prayer we need to pray today so David in his Psalms is a great place in the Bible for us to go. At least, I've found that so. David writes this prayer in Psalm 35:3b. He says, "Let me hear you say, 'I will give you victory.'" Do we need to pray that prayer today? Do you need to hear God say that to you today? Now too many times our lives seem to be in other people's hands. We are striving to sell our house and a person came through the other day and didn't like it because we have a beltway right behind our house. So they walked away. Now it was great to have a person come and see it on the first day it was on the Internet but we were a little disappointed in their not choosing our house. And there are so many situations that are not under our control, and maybe that i...

Jeremiah 4:1b (NLT), "If you wanted to return to me, you could." Tuesday... Yes, we really do have the power to choose. And our choice does make a difference. The book of Jeremiah tells of the choices Israel and Judah make and of course of the consequences, and there are consequences both in good and bad wants and choices. Jeremiah reminds them in 4:1b (NLT) of what the LORD says, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." There is definite power both in good and bad in our wants. The LORD is faithful to tell us. Have you stopped and analyzed some of the outcomes of your wants that you chose to do? And it is so important for us to realize the power we have in our wants. Yes they could blame God for all that was going to happen to them but Jeremiah reminds them, "If you wanted to return to me, you could." The first part of verse 1 says, "'O Israel' says the LORD, 'If you wanted to return to me, you could.'" Now along with an if co...

Psalm 33:6 (NLT), "The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born." Monday... Let's stop, look and listen. The writer of Psalm 33 in verse 6 (NLT) says, "The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed and all the stars were born." I, know, I know he worked a miracle when he made you and me but, and this is so important, but we don't have what it takes to do it all. No matter what we are facing it is not all up to us. Oh we have great ability and it is amazing what we can do, and yes the LORD created us but stop and look at this. Now it really does help for us to believe that God created the heavens and the earth and that he created you and me. And then to realize that he merely spoke and the heavens were created and to me that really makes a difference in what I am facing today. Yes, we do have such potential but in no way can I merely speak and what I am facing is taken care of but Go...

Romans 12:12 (AMP), " constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength]." Friday... Yes, let's keep at it and see what happens. What a tremendous chapter Paul writes while in prison in Rome. Romans 12 is so filled with encouragement and direction. Here in verse 12 (AMP) he says, "constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength." Yes, Paul was living in a house but he had a Roman guard with him all the time making sure he wouldn't leave Rome. He had court dates on his calendar but in the middle of all he was going through he writes in verse 12 encouragement in what we need to do in our lives. He says what he was doing, He was "constantly rejoicing in hope." No matter what he was going through he constantl...