Today's Beginning

Proverbs 18:13 (NLT), "Sprouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." Wednesday... It can be so easy to react before we think. I just read Proverbs 18 and there is so much here that deals with this. Verse 13 (NLT) says "Sprouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish." It really is. We come into a situation and someone says something and we lay into them without thinking. There is so much of that in this day in which we live. Verse 13 in The Amplified Bible says, "He who answers before he hears [the facts] - it is folly and shame to him." It really is. Verse 15 says, "The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge." Always, always. Back to verse 2, "A [close-minded] fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity]." It is amazing how ...

Mark 1:8 (AMP), "As for me, I baptized you [who came to me] with water [only]; but he will baptize you [who truly repent] with the Holy Spirit." Tuesday... It is so important for us to know who we are. It really is. I've just finished the Gospel of Matthew and started the Gospel of Mark this morning. Now in the first chapter we are introduced to John the Baptist and he had a specific task to do. And it was a very important task. Now Isaiah who was a prophet in the Old Testament had prophesied that God would be sending a messenger who would prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Here in Mark 1:4 (NLT) it says, "This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven." In verse 5a it says, "All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John." He was definitely a success. And succes...

Proverbs 16:20-21 (NLT), "Those who listen will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful. The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." Monday... How we say it has an impact. Yes, how we say the truth has such an impact. So many seem to want to be in control of every situation. Yes, there are times when we need to be forceful, we need to be in control. I mean, when we see our kid crossing a road and a car is coming then we need to do whatever we can to get their attention and for them to stop or get out of the way. There are times when we need to be imfactic but not all of the time. Now Proverbs 16:20-21 (NLT) says, "Those who listen will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful. The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive." And all of that is so true but how we say it can make such a difference on whether someone listens. Yes, "pleasant words are persuasive." The truth doe...

Psalm 43:5 (NLT), "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Savior and my God." The whys of our world can control us? The writer of Psalm 43 in verse 2 starts out with the right focus, "You are my God, my place of safety" but from that the writer goes into asking why. He says, "Why have you turned your back on me? Why must I go around in sorrow." Now, over in Matthew 26:36-46, it seems that the humanness of Jesus had some whys about what was going to happen to him but he went to the right source, he went to his Father with deep emotion. I love the honesty of the Bible. Yes, we may have some whys in our life. Psalm 43:5 says, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad?" Now we so many times asks the same whys, don't we? Well, if we would go to Matthew 27 we can see that Jesus got his answer and he handled the most difficult day that anyone has ever gone through and he was handled it ...

Proverbs 12:16 (NIRV), "Foolish people are easily upset. But wise people pay no attention to hurtful words." Thursday... But it is so easy to do. Look at this, Proverbs 12:16 (NIRV) says, "Foolish people are easily upset. But wise people pay no attention to hurtful words." The New International Version says, "Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult." And even at 78 when I should be wise I can get upset. This verse hit me right between my eyes. The Amplified Bible says, "The [arrogant] fool's anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense], but a prudent man ignores an insult." I also read in Matthew 26 how Jesus handled a very difficult situation. Now in this chapter Jesus was in an olive grove called Gethsemane and he was praying. He knew what was about to happen. He knew that he was about to be arrested and then crucified and he was asking his Father if their was another way to handle w...

Matthew 25:15 (NIV), "To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on a journey." Wednesday... We each have been given an ability. Somehow we need to realize that God have given each one of us at least one ability. Yes, he has created us with a purpose. Matthew 25:15 (NIV) says, "To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on a journey." But we step into life and look around and say, "But I don't have what he has" and that is so true but we each one do have something. The problem is we let fear or possibly laziness, and maybe excuses keep us from our potential. But the reward is worth the effort. Jesus tells the story of this guy who goes on a long trip and he puts his three servants in charge of all he owned and he knew what each servant could do, he knew their potential. And God is the same with ...