Friday... It can be so hard to understand...

Friday... In this day that we are living in it is so very hard for us to understand what is happening around us, isn't it?

Asaph, the writer of Psalm 73 was also having trouble understanding something that was happening around him. He said in verses 11-14 (MSG), "What's going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody's tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up the riches. I've been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck that's what-a slap in the face every time I walk out the door." And sounds like us too many times doesn't it? Just be honest, maybe that is what you are saying on Facebook today, if not at least you're thinking it.

The NLT says verse 13 and 14 this way, "Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain." Is that what you are thinking this morning?

He then says in verses 15 and 16 (MSG), "If I had given in and talked like this, I would have betrayed your dear children. Still when I tried to figure it out, all I got was a splitting headache... until..."

The NLT in verse 16, says, "So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!" And that is so true when we come at it on our own.

Verse 17 is the key and this is what caught my attention as I was reading this Psalm this morning. It says, "Then I went into your sanctuary, O God." The MESSAGE says, "all I got was a splitting headache..until I entered the sanctuary of God." Until I changed my focus from all that is around me, all the injustices, all the life isn't fair talk, all the self-pity, all the why?, why?, why's?, all the junk that we are letting into our minds and hearts.

Verse 17-20, "Until I entered the sanctuary of God. Then I saw the whole picture: The slippery road you've put them on, with a fatal crash in a ditch of delusions. In the blink of an eye, disaster! A blind curve in the dark, and-nightmare! We wake up and rub our eyes...Nothing. There's nothing to them. And there never was."

He then says in verse 26 (NLT), "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." And verse 28, "But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do."

Make sure you spend time each day in the sanctuary of God's Word and God's presence. If you do it will enhance your understanding, and give you strength and be your shelter. "Then I went into you sanctuary, O God, and finally I understood..." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do

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Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together!

Monday... Three ifs and two thens. They go together! They really do. And this is what caught my attention this morning as I was reading Proverbs 2. Verse 1 (NRSVUE) says, "My child, if you accept my words and treasure my commands within you." Verse 3 (NIV), "Indeed i f you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, Verse 4, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, Verse 5, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." And verses 9-11, " Then you will understand what is right and just and fair - every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." There will always be some effort we must do, some ifs for the thens to be realized in our lives. So many of us want to understand without the ifs. But the thens are so worth, so very worth the effort. Verses 5-6 in the Ampli...

Todays Beginning

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