Today's Beginning

Luke 16:10a (NLT), "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones."  Monday... Being faithful has its reward. Luke 16:10a (NLT) says, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." This is Jesus talking and He knows what he is saying. Verse 11 says, "And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" Now Solomon over in his book of Proverbs also knows what he is saying. In Proverbs 27:23 he says, "Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don't last forever, and the crown might not pass to the next generation." In other words, be faithful in the tasks, the opportunities, the resources that God has provided us. Verses 25-27 says, "After the hay is harvested and the new crops appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provided wool for clothing, and your goats will...

Psalm 84:12 (AMP), "O LORD of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations]." Friday... Maybe you need this today. I strive through God's Spirit prodding me to share from God's Word a positive, encouraging thought for someone who needs it each day. Yes God's starts with what I need and then I share it with you. Look at Psalm 84:12. Do you need this today? God says through the Psalmist, "O LORD of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations]." Now another way to say man is human. That covers us all, doesn't it? But he narrows it some when he writes, "how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations." Yes, that defines who is bless...

Luke 14:11 (AMP), "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled [before others], and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." Thursday: This is such a good habit. Over in Proverbs 23 it tells of habits that have some problems with them. Verses 20-23 (AMP) says, "Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eater of meat. For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags." There are habits in there that do not turn out for our best. They are not good habits. But in Luke 14:11 Jesus tells of a good habit. He says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled [before others], and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." Again, "he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." I'm sorry the habits of drinking and eating the wrong thi...

Proverbs 22:4 (AMP), "The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one's importance] and the [reverent, wonderful] fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life." Wednesday... They are so needed! It is so important for us to have a realistic view of our importance and then we will be reward. Proverbs 22:4 (AMP) says, "The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one's importance] and the [reverent, wonderful] fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life." Did you realize there is a reward for being humble and for fear? Now we do really think there is a reward for pride, for having an high opinion of yourself, that is how you get to the top but Solomon the wisest and one of the richest men who ever lived said that having a realist view of one's importance and having a reverent, wonderful fear of the Lord is where the reward of riches, honor, and life comes from. I still get in trouble when I think that what I think is so importa...

Luke 12:25-26 (NLT), "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" Tuesday... We need to do each day what will make a positive difference. I strive to bring each day a positive thought of encouragement from God's Word. Now some negative verses do have a positive thought behind them. Like Luke 12:25-26 (NLT) which asks, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" Verse 21 says, "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." And from there verses 22-23 says, "Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 'That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and you...

Luke 11:10 (AMP), "For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds, and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened." Monday... So just keep at it! The disciples here in Luke 11 came to Jesus while he was in a certain place praying and it says in verse 1 (NLT), "As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, 'LORD teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'" Now the disciples saw that Jesus found praying to be very important. Yes he spent time on a regular basis praying to his Father. Right up to the night before Jesus was put on a cross we find him praying. So, if it was important to him then it must be important for us. In this matter of trusting in God there also must be a time of connecting with God through prayer. Jesus says in verses 2-4, "This is how you should pray: Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us ea...