Todays Beginning

Friday... I love this word, I need this word, and He gives me this word. This word comes up, hopefully, each time I put my debit card into a machine at checkout and put the information it asks for in it. I alway wait with a little bit of anxiety until the word shows up on the screen. It is the word, approved. I love that word. It gives such relief. It means success. We constantly want and need approval, don't we? The writer of Psalm 90 in verse 17 (NLT) says, "And may the Lord our God show us approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful." Starting in verse 12 of this same Psalm, the writer says, "Teach us the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom." This year that we have just gone through surely helped us to realize that, didn't it? He goes on, "O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay?" I'm sure we have prayed that many times in this past year. "Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each mor...

Thursday... Oh to be free really free. Is there something in your life that is weighing you down? It has you bound with a weight that will not let you go. Everything you try to free you hasn't worked. And, oh you want to be free, really free. Is that true of you? There was a woman in Mark 5:25 & 26 (NIV), "Who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse." She was doing all she could but it seemed that it wasn't making a difference. Is that true of you? Verse 27, "When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will he healed.'"  Have you heard about Jesus? Have you read about what He has done? Have you been told that He is a difference-maker and that He cares about you, and wants to free you from whatever it is that is hol...

Wednesday... Life has its storms, doesn't it? But they can be handled, can't they? Do you really believe that?  Mark 4:35 - 38 (MSG) says, "Late that day, he said to them, 'Let's go across to the other side." This was Jesus talking and He was talking to His disciples who many of them had been fishermen and they all got in a boat to go to the other side. It looked like a good day to go to the other side so they got in the boat. Now we start each day with a lot of possibilities. One would be to stay home, not get out, not head out to the unknown of life. It is scary out there for some. There is so much that can happen out there.  The story goes on (NLT), "So they took Jesus in the boat and started out." And that is always a good thing to do. You need to take Him with you in your day. Then a problem came up. Remember, He was in the boat. (MS), "A huge storm came along." Something like what we have been going through. "Waves poured into th...

Tuesday... It is important to Him. Psalm 87:1 - 3 (NLT) says, "On the holy mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you." Think of this. Jerusalem was the fulfillment of two of God's promises. He had promised the children of Israel a home when they were slaves in Egypt. And Jerusalem was the main city of that Promise Land but there was also another promise. Jerusalem was where His Son Jesus would die and then be resurrected. He also had promised that. He loved to fulfill and still does love to fulfill His promises. Verse 7b says, "The source of my life springs from Jerusalem." Now that gives me encouragement as I face today. God keeps His promises. Now what if I hadn't read that Psalm today? What if I hadn't meditated on that Psalm today? Now over in John 20:30 - 31 it says, "The disciples saw Jesus do many miraculous signs in addi...

Monday... He really does mean it. He really does. This is what Jesus said. John 14:14 (NLT), "Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" John 15:7, "But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted." Verses 16 & 17, "I appointed you to go and produce fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other." Chapter 16 verse 24, "Ask using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." And then with that reinforced in your mind, look at Psalm 86:1 & 2, "Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protected me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God." Verses 6 & 7, "Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me." And then v...

Sunday... Please God, we really do need this today. The Psalmist in Psalm 85:6 (NIV) prays to God, "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" We know that is what we need, don't we? Look at all the anger, the divisiveness even it seems in us as God's church. Please, God revive us to be the people who bring peace not war. Verse 7 shows what we need, "Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation." Yes, we need God's love so we can show it and give it. Jesus over in John 13:34 says, "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." And here is the reason why we need to do this. Verse 35 says, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples," Not by whether you wear a mask or not by what earthly voice we follow. "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another." So how is our loving one another going?...

Saturday... Oh that everyone would know this to be true. Psalm 84:12 (NIRV), "Lord who rules over all, blessed is the person who trusts in you." That is so true. Over in John 10:10 (NIRV) Jesus said, "I have come so they may have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way." Oh, how I wish you really knew that! God will bless everyone who trusts in Him and He sent Jesus to give us life in the fullest possible way. Now I can say that and I can personally know it to be true but you must put your trust in Him to really experience it. But you can. Oh I wish you really knew that to be true. Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord is like the sun that gives us light. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. The Lord blesses us with favor and honor. He doesn't hold anything good from those whose lives are without blame." Now that is living life to the fullest, isn't it?  I have experience that personally this week. He was my shield. I mean it. He was and ...

Friday... Could He already know what He is going to do for us? Could He?  There is a tremendous story over in John 6 starting in verses 5-6 (MSG), "When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd has arrived, he said to Philip, 'Where can we buy bread to feed these people?'" Very good question? What would be our answer? "He said this to stretch Philip's faith." Could that be what He is doing with what we have been and are going through?  "He already knew what he was going to do." And in whatever we are facing today, He already knows what He is going to do. Just trust Him, just give it to Him. The story goes on, verse 7, "Philip answered." What is our answer? What is our answer in solving the problem we are facing? Do we even have an answer? "Philip answered, 'Two hundred silver pieces wouldn't be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.'" And that too many times that is our answer too. We have no idea...

Thursday... Look at what would happen if. . . That thought came to me this morning as I was reading from the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible. Look at John 2. Jesus, His mother, His brothers and His disciples where at a wedding and it seemed that (vs.3 NIRV), 'They have no more wine." Verse 5, "His mother said to the servants, 'Do what he tells you.'''  Look at what happened. Verses 8-10 (NIVR), "Six stone water jars stood nearby. . . Each jar could hold 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water.' So they filled them to the top. Then he told them, 'Now dip some out. Take it to the person in charge of the dinner.' they did what he said. The person in charge tasted the water that had been turned into wine. . . Then the person in charge called the groom to one side, He said to him, 'Everyone brings out the best wine first. . . But you have saved the best until now.'" That's wh...

Wednesday... As we start this new day, do we have any regrets, do we? It seems that God does too. Psalms 81:13-14 (NLT) says, "Oh that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes!" Now we could look back at what we have gone through or even what we are going through with regrets because we haven't listened to God, we haven't followed Him, but our life is not over. Look at this. There is real hope. Over in the NT of the Bible, John 1:4 & 5 says, "The Word [Jesus] gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."  We can look at some families during this dark past year and see how they have handled it all and regret that we are not a part of that family. Well you don't have to live with regret. You can be a part of Go...

Tuesday... Is this what we need today? Is it? Could this be us? The minor prophet Zechariah says in chapter 10 verses 10-11 (NIV) of his book, "'They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away." And then he writes in verse 12, "I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will live securely.' Declares the Lord." I love that. "I will strengthen them in the Lord." He is the One, He will strengthen us. As we put our trust in Him, as we live for Him, and we follow His teachings, His word, as we live out His purpose, He will strengthen us. The New Living Translation says it this way, "By my power I will make my people strong, and by my authority they will go wherever they wish. I, the Lord have spoken." Is that what you needed to hear today? Then may it be so. Yes, yes! #todays beginn...

Monday... But what I do is so small, so insignificant. Is that how you feel starting out this new week? Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) says, "Do not despise these small things, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." Now that to me is an encouraging word to start this new day, this new week. Comparing is not really a good thing to do. If we compare ourself to something that is small we can puff up with pride or if we compare ourself to something that is greater then we can be discouraged. Comparing is not really a good thing but we do it, don't we? Please let me encourage you to not compare and don't despise these small things, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Now that is one of the great benefits of reading the Bible everyday. It gives us a fresh and needed perspective in how God views each new day, how He views our life.  This scripture here is dealing with the beginning of the building of the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem through the leadership of Zerubbabe...

Sunday... Yes, there is so much we have learned.  And there is so much for us to share. It doesn't just stop with learning, does it? Psalm 78:1-3 (NLT), "O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - stories we have heard and known. stories our ancestors handed down to us." There is so much to learn, isn't there? We never stop learning. The Psalmist here in Psalm 78 goes on to tell the stories of the Children of Israel up through David and strives to teach the lessons of their past. And there are lessons to learn.  Have you learned from your past or do you just keep making the same mistakes over and over. Yes, we must learn and grow from our experience but also the experiences of others, especially from the stories of the Bible. God has written the Bible for a purpose but if we don't read it and learn from it then we have wasted a great opportunity a...

Saturday... Do you ever have those times when you just can't sleep? Something wakes you up and then all those thoughts, all those discouraging thoughts take over and you just can't get back to sleep?  The writer of Psalm 77:4 (NLT) says, "You don't let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!" I'm sure you have felt that way, haven't you?  He goes on, verses 5-10, "I think of the good old days, long since ended. when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now. Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never be kind to me? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion. And I said, 'This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me'" Have you ever said that? Have you ever felt that? Now that is not going to lift our spirits. That is only going to take us deeper into our despair. ...

Friday... Oh to be used by You, God. The writer of Psalm 79 in verse 9 (NIRV) say, "God our Savior, help us. Then glory will come to you. Save us and forgive us our sins. Then people will honor your name. Why should the nations say, 'Where is their God?' " Oh God, please use us in this time to show that You are God and You will and do make difference. Verses 12 & 13 (NLT) say, "O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at you. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generations to generation." I was in an accident yesterday. I was not hurt but my car was a mess and it wasn't my fault. Now the guy who hit me was so very sorry. Over and over he said it was his fault. Now this was an opportunity to show that God makes a difference and He helped me to keep calm and to handle it the way He would want me to handle it. God used me to show how He makes a dif...

Thursday... Our power will increase.  Psalm 75:10 (GNT) says, "He will break the power of the wicked, but the power of the righteous will be increased." Now that is a good thing, isn't it? But what does that mean? Jonah 1:1 - 3 says "The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 'Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgement against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.' But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord." Now why would he do that? Why do we do that? Because He knew what God would do and he didn't like it. In chapter 4 verses 2 & 3 Jonah said, "I knew that you were a compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people." And that is God's power over the wicked. It is His compassion and His unfailing love. It is through us living out this kind of love that the power of the righteous will ...

Wednesday... There are things that we really need to understand. There really are. Hosea 14:9 (NLT) says, "Let those who are wise," Remember, James 1:5 says, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you"  Back to Hosea, "Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully." The MESSAGE says, "If you want to live well, make sure you understand all of this. If you know what is good for you, you'll learn this inside and out." We really do need to understand this. Here it is (NLT),  "The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall." The MESSAGE, "God's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling." Verse 8 says, "O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and care...

Tuesday... What do you want, really want? I know it is so easy to look around and see so many things to want.  Psalm 73:1-5 (MSG) says, "No doubt about it! God is good - good to good people, good to the good hearted. But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to people at the top, envying who have it made. who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole world." That is so easy to do, isn't it? But there is a problem in dwelling here. In verses 21-24, the Psalmist writes, "When I was beleaguered with envy" that's one of the problems of looking the other way. He goes on, "I was totally ignorant, a dumb fox in your presence. I'm still in your presence, but you've taken my hand. You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me." Yes we can get off track with our wants but He is still there, He is still with us. And here it is, verses 25-28, "You're all I want in heaven, Yo...

Monday... Oh that we would know Him or even want to know Him. The prophet Hosea in the Old Testament of the Bible says, in Hosea 6:3 (NLT), "Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him." Oh that we had that desire in this day that we are living in. Over in Hosea 7:9-10 he speaks of it seems the age in which we live in. He says, "Worshiping foreign gods has sapped our strength, but they don't even know it. There hair is gray, but they don't realize they're old and weak. Yet their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don't return to the Lord their God or we even try to find him." That can be said of us today but it doesn't have to be true. Again Hosea 6:3, "Oh that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him." And here is what will happen when we do, "He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of the dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." What a difference would be had in our lives if we ...

Sunday... This can be a real concern for some, even a reality. Psalm 71:7-9 (NLT) speaks to this. It says, "My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long." And that is so true. But here is the concern, "And now in my old age, don't set me aside. Don't abandon me when my strength is failing."  Now we can dwell on that concern or we can give it to God.  He still has a purpose, He still has a plan. Verses 17-18 say, "O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me." Just because one is old and gray doesn't mean God is done with them. Now some of you may feel worthless or even abandoned. You may be old and gray or you may...

Saturday... Let's go, let's get with it. I'm in a hurry. David when writing Psalm 70 must have been in a hurry. If we were writing a Psalm today, I'm sure we would be in a hurry. Here is the way David started this Psalm in verse 1 (MSG), "God! Please hurry to my rescue! God, come quickly to my side!" Now that phrase shows where the problem was. It wasn't with God. God is everywhere. He is right beside Him. He is right beside us. The problem is with David, it is with us. We are in too much of a I'm in trouble, I don't know what to do, I need help right now kind of hurry that we don't acknowledge that God is near, that He is close and by the way, He is working on whatever it is that we are in such a hurry to get taken care of. Could it be that the hurry is a part of the problem? We want whatever it is that we are facing to be solved right now when the Problem-solver is at work in whatever it is we need solved. But He is solving it in His time and...

Friday... Is this you? Is this me? This that we have been a part of this last year seems to be coming to an end but still life has its valleys and we can feel overwhelmed. David in Psalm 60:1-3 (NLT) says what so many could be saying, "Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck. Deeper and deeper I sink in the mire; I can't find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me. I am exhausted from crying for help." Is that what you are feeling? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Well you are not alone. David, one of the heroes of the Bible felt the same way. He goes on, verses 13-14, "But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mud; don't let me sink any deeper." It is so easy to feel guilt from our deep despair. God knows us, He sees what we are going through. He knows that we have deep feelings and He knows that we need...

Thursday... Yes He does, yes He can! I don't know what you are facing today. For some it is an unsurmountable mountain. It is greater than you can handle and you can't do it alone. But if you have a relationship with God then you are not alone. The Psalmist writes, Psalm 68:19 (NLT), "Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms." Even today as you face your mountain you are not alone, He will carry you in His arms and you are not too heavy for Him and your mountain is not too big for Him. So praise Him, acknowledge how great He is. Verse 34 (NIV) says, "Proclaim the power of God." That's what praise does. You proclaim who He is and what He is. Praise focuses on His might, His power. He really is strong enough to carry you up and over that mountain you are facing. Verses 34 & 35 (AMP), His majesty is over Israel and His strength is in the skies. Oh God, You are awesome and profoundly majestic from Your sanctuary; the...

Wednesday... He will do the same for you. Have you ever felt contempt by others? Oh some of it could have been your fault but it still wasn't fun and you didn't like it. Psalm 67:1 & 2 (NLT) says, "May God be merciful and bless us. May His face smile with favor on us. May your ways be known through out the earth, your saving power among people everywhere." Ezekiel 28:25 says, "This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel will again live in their own land, the land I gave my servant Jacob. For I will gather them from the distant lands where I have scattered them. I will reveal to the nations of the world my holiness among my people." As it says, God had been so good to the people of Israel. He had been merciful, had blessed them and had shown them favor. But they over and over turned their back to Him, disobeyed Him so He eventually scattered them to distant lands. And here He is telling them that He will eventually gather them back.  Yes, G...

Tuesday... Could this be true of us? Could it? Psalm 66:9 (NIRV), "He has kept us alive. He has kept our feet from slipping" There were times when we weren't sure if we were going to make it, but here we are.   Verse 10, "God, you have tested us." Now that is true. You have done that. "You have put us through fire to make us like silver." Yes, we are different. Verse 11, "You put us in prison." It seemed like our homes had become like prisons, didn't they? "You placed heavy loads on our backs." For some wearing masks was a heavy load.  Verse 12 (NIV), "You let people ride over our heads;" Now that has been tough hasn't it? The demands, the requirements, the restrictions have really been difficult. "We went through fire and water." It has been rough. Yes it has. But this is also true and we need to thank Him and praise Him (NIRV), "But you have brought us to a place where we have everything we need....

Monday... Oh the wonder, the joy of a new day! Psalm 65:8 (NIV) says, "The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call for songs of joy." The MESSAGE Paraphrase says, "Dawn and dusk take turns calling, 'Come and worship.'" We live where we can see the Sun come up over the Sunrise Mountains on the east side of our valley and then see it go down over the Spring Mountains on the west. It happens every day of every week of every month of every year. The Sun is faithful, it is consistent, it comes up and goes down. You can trust it to do what it was meant to do.  Now it could be easy to worship the Sun, to worship Mother Earth but there is One greater that created it all and who set it into motion. His creation just reminds us each and every day of His consistency, of His faithfulness and of His love. That's why, "Dawn and dusk take turns calling, 'Come and worship.'" Verse 2 (NLT) says,...

Sunday... Let's think about what He has done. David in Psalm 64:9 (NIRV) writes, "All the people respect God. They will think about what He has done." The NIV says, "they will proclaim the words of God and ponder what he has done." So let's do some pondering then do some proclaiming. Today is Easter. Many as they think about the story leading up to this day as they ponder would be ready to head to the streets to fight for the injustice that happened on Friday. An innocent man was crucified. That fact grips their heart and they want to do something about it. And that would be a good thing. We even today want to do all we can to fight the injustices that we see happening. We will go to the streets to let people know how wrong that is but as we ponder that isn't the end of the story. Fighting for injustice is not the end of the story. There is more to it than that! Over in Ezekiel 18:30 (AMP) he writes, "'Therefore I will judge you, O house of Isra...

Saturday... Oh the great possibilities living in a desert. There really are. We live in a desert. It is a desert because we have very little water. But oh the great possibilities if we have water. But without water it is a different story. Have you thought of how this Saturday in the life of the disciples was a desert? Their leader had been killed and they were left alone and it was like being out in the middle of a desert without water. But oh, the possibilities. Sunday was coming. Do you feel like you are in the middle of a desert with no water?  We live on the edge of town. On one side we see what water can do, we see the great possibilities with water but on the other is what happens with no water. It is a desert and it is dangerous.  In Psalm 63 (NIRV) David writes in verse 1, "God you are my God. I seek you with all my heart. With all my strength I thirst for you in this dry desert where there isn't any water."  But here are the possibilities. Verses 2-4 (MSG), ...

Friday... But it is so hard to do, it really is. And we don't like to do hard stuff, do we? Have you ever noticed how much we like noise. But you might say, no I like quiet. Ok, if that is true, why do you turn the radio on the moment you get in a car, or you walk in the house and you turn on music or the tv or your computer or pick up your phone? When we ride on an elevator, there is music. Now noise does seem to have a calming effect. It seems to keep us from dwelling on whatever it is that we are going through, whatever it is that we are facing, and whatever it is we need to do. Now David has an interesting thought. In Psalm 62:1 (NLT), he says, "I wait quietly before God" and then verse 5, "Let all that I am wait quietly before God." But being quiet is such a difficult thing for us to do but it is also such an empowering thing to do. Verse 1 says, "I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him." Verse 2, "He alone is my rock and my ...

Thursday... We love the view, we have a great view and we feel safe. Our home is on the 3rd floor of building 12 and that means we have a great view of the Las Vegas Valley. It gives us a great perspective. We can see the cars headed to wherever. We can see the Spring Mountains and they are beautiful. We can see so much more than if we were on the 1st floor. Now just south of us we see this small mountain and it is off by itself. It is called Lone Mountain. My son-in-law, Andrew and our granddaughter, Harper have climbed that mountain and they say it is a great place to view the valley. And I'm sure they have a sense of empowerment looking out over the city. Now it takes some work to climb up there but they say it is worth it. They are not overwhelmed and they feel safe up there. David was going through a difficult situation and he felt overwhelmed. He said in Psalm 61:1-3 (NLT), "O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when m...