Todays Beginning

Saturday... Maybe you've said this, but it wasn't true. Psalm 31:22 (MSG), "Trapped by a siege, I panicked, 'Out of sight, out of mind.'" Have you ever said that or something like that. You are in a crisis and you say, "He doesn't care. I'm nothing. He doesn't know what is happening to me." And we believe those lies. But look at the rest of this verse (NLT), "But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help."  Verses 21 and 22 in the Amplified Bible says, "Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown His marvelous favor and lovingkindness to me [when I was assailed] in a besieged city. As for me, I said in my alarm," That too many times is when we say what we don't mean, isn't it? "As I said in my alarm, 'I am cut off from Your eyes.' Nevertheless," That is a great word. "Nevertheless You heard my supplications (specific requests) when I cried to you [for help]." And then verse ...

Friday... Sometimes we need to just say what we feel. Yes we do. Sometimes we feel that we have blown it and we feel there is no return, no hope and we need to be honest and just say what we feel. David in Psalm 30:10 (NCV) must have felt that way when he said, "Lord, hear me and have mercy on me. Lord help me." Sometimes we just need to say what we feel. There is real power when you say to God what you feel. The MESSAGE says, "So listen and be kind! Help me out of this!" Sometimes we just need to say what we feel. He goes on in verses 11 & 12 (NCV), "You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my clothes of sadness, and clothed me in happiness. I will sing to you and not be silent. Lord, my God, I will praise you forever." The MESSAGE says, "You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my...

Thursday... Yes, He is! Yes, He will! I don't know what you are facing today. It may be bigger than you can handle. But if you have a relationship with God, He is bigger than whatever you are facing. Yes He is. And He will help you. Yes He will! For some of you it is a new school year. Oh, please, you may say, don't let it be like last year. That was such a tough year, wasn't it? And here is another one and the unknowns are greater than it seems you can handle. Maybe it is physical, maybe it is emotional, maybe you are facing major pressure at work and maybe it is at home. But you are not alone.  Look at what David said in Psalm 29:11 (AMP), "The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people with peace." Just soak that in, let those words, let that fact envelope you. Your Lord, your God will give you unyielding, impenetrable strength and He will bless you with peace. Yes He will! Yes He will! You are not alone....

Wednesday... There are so many simple truths that make such a difference. Like these. David in Psalm 28:6 (MSG) says, "Blessed be God - he heard me praying. He proved he's on my side; I've thrown my lot in with him" First of all, God hears me when I pray. I'm not just talking and nobody is listening. He is listening, He hears me. And that is a simple truth that really makes a difference. I mean, the One who created all of this is listening when I pray. That is an awesome simple truth. And then, "He proved he's on my side." He didn't just listen, he did something. He did something. "He proved he's on my side."  And then a third simple truth that makes all of the difference in my life. "I've thrown my lot in with him." I made a very important choice, I chose to follow Him. He may be on my side and I can talk to Him but if I don't reach out to Him, if I don't have a relationship with Him, then those two simple fac...

Tuesday... I would have had I not, can be said of many things. David in Psalm 27:13 (AMP) says, " I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." But some did because they didn't. So many have been and are in despair over what they have gone and are going through. And there is such power in despair. It can ruin your life if you stay there too long, can't it? But for those who choose believing over despair there is also great power that can bring them through instead of pulling them down.  Yes there is power in despair but there is also great power in believing. And it is a choice. Verse 14 says, "Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord." Now that is where real power makes a positive and lasting difference in our life. Would you do that today? Would you "wait for and confidently expect the Lord."...

Monday... I'm not budging! I'm not budging! Here is what David says in Psalm 27:1b (MSG), "I've thrown in my lot with you, God, and I'm not budging." "I'm not budging." Some people just throw out words but don't really mean them. He goes on in verses 2 & 3, "Examine me, God," (See if I really mean it) "from head to foot, order your battery of tests." (Could that be what we have been going through? Are we being tested to see if we really mean what we say? And are we becoming stronger through this testing so we will be able to do what we say we will do?) "Make sure I'm fit inside and out so I never lose site of your love, but keep in step with you, never missing a beat." It is so easy to say stuff in a moment of confidence but waver in a time of despair. But we can mean what we say when we are on top and prove it to be true in times of testing and despair. I'm not budging! I'm not budging. Say that ...

Saturday... They go together. David writes in Psalm 24:5 (NLT), "They will receive he Lord's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior." Blessing and relationship go together. You know that, don't you? Blessing and relationship go together. And when you don't cultivate, you ignore, you don't spend time with, the blessings in a relationship slowly slip away. Amos 6:1 (NIV) says, "Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria." It is so easy to get so secure and complacent to the point that we lose the benefits that go along with our relationships. That is what happened with Israel. Because they slowly turned away from their relationship with God, He turned away from them and Amos writes in verse 14, "For the Lord God Almighty declares, 'I will stir up a nation against you, Israel.' "  Now it is so easy to became secure and complacent in our relationship with God and there is so ...

Friday... I just need to stop for a moment and catch my breath. Is that what you need to do? Sometimes we get up in the morning running, don't we? So much to do, so many battles to fight. I just need to catch my breath. Is that a picture of your life. You're running, you're not sure where but you are running. David starts Psalm 23:1-3 (MSG) this way. He says, "God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction."  So how do you start your day? I know, I know you have so much to do but what about a little bit of quiet time to just catch your breath and let God send you in the right direction. Now that is a great way to start our day, isn't it? God wants us to stop for a moment, take a deep breath, catch our breath, so He can send us in the right direction. We really do need Him, don't we? So, just stop, cat...

Thursday... He had a great discovery and we can too! David in Psalm 22:25 (MSG) says, "Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life." And that was a great discovery. Now if you go back to the beginning of this Psalm, David sounds a lot like many today. In verses 1 & 2 (NLT) He says, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief." And we don't either when all our focus in on ourselves. In these two verses there is one me and four I's and David wonders why he is so defeated. It is in his focus. But as you continue to read you see a change in focus. Verses 22 - 24, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people. Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you de...

Wednesday... A smile can make such a difference. When we smile it makes a difference, doesn't it? But when your boss, your wife, your husband, your kids, your parents, your friend, when they smile it really does make a difference deep inside, doesn't it? David in Psalm 21:6 (MSG) writes, "You pile blessings on him; you make him glad when you smile." Oh we want that, we need that, don't we? So many people think of God as one who is always angry. He does hate sin but He does love you. He really does. Maybe that is what you need today. Why not stop and meditate on that thought, just think about God looking at you and smiling. He loves you, He cares for you, He wants to bless you. David goes on to say, "Is it any wonder the king loves God? that he's sticking with the Best?" Maybe that is what those around you need from you. Yes, you may be going through tough times but what would happen in the midst of all of this you put a smile on your face. Just think...

Tuesday... Now this we can know. There is so much about what is happening all around us that we don't understand and we don't really know. But David writes in Psalm 20:6 (NIV), "But this I know." And we can know it too. Yes we can. He says, "But this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary." We know that. "But this I know." Verses 7 & 8 says, "Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm." Yes we will. "But this I know." And back to verse 1, "In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm." And then verses 4 & 5, "May he grant your heart's desires and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of ...

Monday... So, let's start this day fresh. David writes in Psalm 19:12 (MSG), "Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!" And this is a good prayer. He goes on, "Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; then I can start this day sun-washed, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin."  As we start out on a new week, a new day, we need to realize that our work is God's work. He wants to use what we do. He has a purpose and a plan through what we do. We are doing His work. It is so easy to think that we are living each day for ourself and in that we are taking over His work, His plan, His purpose. And getting that in place helps us to start the day fresh, doesn't it? So, God, what is your plan for this day? What do you want to do through my work? Please cleanse me from the grime of self-focus, for living this day for me and my wants instead of for You and Your plan and purpose.  So, verse 14 (NLT), "May the words of my mout...

Saturday... Can we say this, really say this? David says in Psalm 17:4-5 (MSG), "I'm not trying to get my way in the worlds way." Can we say this? Can we?  He goes on, "I'm trying to get your way, your Word's way." Now that is what we need to say. That will make all the difference. He says, "I'm staying on your trail; I'm putting one foot in front of the other. I'm not giving up" I know it has been difficult. I know but we're not giving up. Can we say this? And then verses 6-8 (NLT), "I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies, Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadows of you wings." Now that is what we get if we go God's way, His Word's way. That is what we need to say and do. It makes all the difference. Yes, yes! #toda...

Friday... I've got a good thing going. Yes, I have. That is what the Psalmist said in Psalm 16:8 (MSG), "I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go." That is so true for me too! In verse 5, he says, "My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I'm your choice." Again, "I've got a good thing going." Verses 7 - 8, "The wise counsel God gives when I'm awake is confirmed by my sleeping heart. Day and night I'll stick with God; I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go." He goes on, verses 9 & 10, "I'm happy from the inside out, and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed. You canceled my ticket to hell - that's not my destination" Again, "I've got a good thing going." He then ends by saying, verses 11, "Now you've got my feet on the life path, all radiant from the shining of your face, Ever since you took my hand, I'm on the right way....

Thursday... Who? Who? The Psalmist in Psalm 15:1 (NLT) starts with a couple of who questions that might interest us. He asks, "Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?" Good questions. He says in verse 2, "Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right." The Message says, "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth." For some this tell the truth may be a problem but that is what He wants. Then verse 3, "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor." The NLT says, "Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends." That too can be difficult. It can be so easy to gossip when we are with other people. Gossip can hurt the reputation of other people and it can really hurt them when they find out what you said. And then blaming is not a good thing. It's their fault. They are the reason we aren't friends. They started the argument. Don't...

Wednesday... Is all of this messing with your dreams? Is it? Psalm 14:6 (MSG) says, "Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can't, for God makes their dreams come true." I love this verse and I claim it for those of you whose dreams through all that we have been going through have been messed up.  Look at Jeremiah 33:2 & 3 (AMP), "Thus says the Lord who made the earth , the Lord who formed it to establish - the Lord is His name, 'Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.'" Don't let others mess with your dreams, turn to God, call upon Him, He is the one who gives us dreams and makes them come true. Again, "Do you think you can mess with the dreams of the poor? You can't, for God makes their dreams come true." Now that is a good word from God's Word for yo...

Tuesday... How can He answer if we don't ask? Good question! Psalm 120:1 (NLT) says, "I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayers." The Message Paraphrase says, "I'm in trouble. I cry to God" He can't answer if we don't ask.  Psalm 13:5 (NLT) says, "But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me" And verse 6 (MSG), "I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers." Can you say that? Do you trust in His unfailing love? Has He rescued you? Do you take your troubles to Him or do you strive to handle them on your own? How is that going? Are you filled with answered prayers? Or are you not asking? Verse 5 (AMP), "But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness" and then verse 6, "I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me." Again the Message says, "I...

Monday... I know, I know. It seems like we have had a double dose of trouble. For some more than others. Isaiah 61:7 (MSG) says, "Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever." He knows what you are going through, He knows what we have gone through and He knows what is ahead. Yes He does. Verse 7 in the NLT says, "Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy" (yes, everlasting joy) "will be yours." And to reinforce what it says, the Amplified Bible translates it this way, "Instead of your [former] shame you will have a double portion ; And instead of humiliation your people will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore in their land they will possess double [what they had fortified]; Everlasting joy will be theirs." And then Psalm 1...

Saturday... But You do see. Yes You do. And we need to believe that. Yes, we do. It is so easy to live in troubles and difficulties and think that no one cares, no one sees what we are going through, we're all alone. Is that what you are feeling today? What you are going through is about to get you down. You need someone to care. You need someone to notice. Psalm 10:10 (NRSV) says, "They stoop, they crouch, and the helpless fall by their might. They think in their heart, 'God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.'" And that is such a horrible, lonely place to be.  But the Psalmist doesn't stop there. Verse 14 says, "But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan." There is One who does see, who does know what you're going through. He does see the trouble and grief you are going through and He wants to take ...

Friday... You'll never be sorry. You never will be! All we can do is keep sharing, keep telling, keep encouraging, and keep thanking Him. Even God won't force people. Psalm 9:9-10 (MSG) says, "God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked." And that is the truth. But how do we convince people this is true? I mean how can you convince someone how good a hot donut tastes unless they eat one? You really can't, they must eat one.  So, how do we convince people during bad times that God is a safe-house, that the moment they arrive they will relax and they will never be sorry they knocked? We can't but we keep trying, but God keeps holding out His hand to welcome them in. All we can do is to (vs.1) "keep thanking you, God, from a full heart." And to share that (vs. 4b) "when I needed you, you were there, taking charge." And that is the truth.  All we can...

Thursday... Why, oh why does He care, really care? And that's a very good question. As I am reading through the Bible I am reading in 2 Kings and all of their evil. Oh every once in a while there would be a good king, one who followed God but a big portion of them were evil. Why oh why does He care, really care? When we look out on all that is happening around us, the division in the world and even in the church you really wonder why He cares. But here is the reality of it all, He does. He really does care. David writes in Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT),  "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Such a good question. He goes on, verse 5, "Yes, you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor." Yes He did. Yes He did. Verses 6-8, "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority -...

Wednesday... Yes, we can, yes, we can! What are you facing today? Whatever it is we can face it fearless, yes, we can! The Psalmist in Psalm 46:2 & 3 (MSG) says, "We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains." So can we do that? Yes, we can! Verse 1 tells us why we can, "God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him." The New Living Translation says it this way, "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!"  Let it happen. Let it happen. Let pandemic happen. Let job problems happen. Let relationships waver and fall. Let it happen. Let poor health happen. Let it happen. Let whatever you are facing happen. Let it happen. We can handle whatever comes...

Tuesday... There are some things that we want to say to God. David is a great one to help us. In Psalm 6:2 (AMP) he says, "Have mercy on me and be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am weak (faint, frail)." Maybe that is what you want to say to God today. Maybe you have blown it. You just don't seem to have what it takes to handle whatever you are facing and you just want to be honest and say to God, please show me mercy and grace because I am weak. Is that what you want to say? Or verse 4, "Return, O Lord, rescue my soul; save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy." There it is again, the word mercy. Do you need mercy? Well, David then says in verse 9, "The Lord has heard my supplication [my plea for grace]; the Lord receives my prayer." Even though I am weak, even though I feel like everything is bringing me down, but  because of His grace and mercy, He rescues me, He saves me, and He hears me. It's all because of His unfailing, stea...

Monday... And I watch. It is one thing to pray and then to watch. Psalm 5:1 & 2 (NRSV) says, "Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray." And that is such a good thing to do. You release so much when you do that and it makes you feel good. But there is more. Verse 3 says, "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;" and that is such a good thing, but then it says, "in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch." And that is where the anticipation, the faith comes in. And I watch. Do you just pray and feel the emotional lift when you do or do you also watch?  The NLT says, "Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." It is one thing to pray and another to wait expectantly for the answer. Now that is where the real power comes in, doesn't it? The Amplified Bible translates it this way, "In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sa...

Saturday... Do you believe what others say? Do you? It all depends upon who they are, doesn't it? We believe so much what others say and it leads us down wrong paths. We really do need to be careful. It is so interesting what comes through the media as truth, doesn't it? It can keep us awake at night. David in Psalm 3:1 & 2 (NIV) says, "Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!" Here is the phrase, "Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.'" Did he believe what they said? Do you believe everything that you hear, that you read?  He goes on, verse 3, "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from the holy mountain." And then verse 7, "Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God!" He didn't listen to what others said. He did the complete opposite. He knew what He knew. He believed in what He believed. He believed in God. Here is what...

Friday... You won't regret it. There are many things that we have tried or food we have eaten or friendships we have made that we looked with great anticipation but when we have tried, when we have eaten, when we have made them, we were greatly disappointed, and we maybe even have deep regrets. We thought it was going to be fun, we thought it would satisfy us, and we thought they were a good person but it wasn't fun, and it made us sick and they were not the kind of person we should hang around with and we had deep regrets.  Now the last phrase in Psalm 2:12 (MES) says, "But if you make a run for God - you won't regret it!" The Amplified Bible says, "How blessed [fortunate, prosperous and favored by God] are all those" not just a few but all those, "who take refuge in Him." Maybe you have heard from someone that this God thing is so confining, it's no fun, you can't do what you want to do so you haven't tried it.  Now when you find ...

Thursday... Do you like where you are planted, do you? Psalm 1:1 (CEB) says, "The truly happy person doesn't follow wicked advice, doesn't stand on the road of sinners, and doesn't sit with the disrespectful." That's where too many people are planted and they do not like their life. You can be replanted. You do have a choice. Verse 2, "Instead of doing those things." That word instead is a good word. It is a word of choice. "Instead of doing those things." You have a choice in where you are planted. "Instead of doing those things, these persons" the happy person, the blessed person "these persons love the Lord's Instruction, and they recite God's Instruction day and night." And then verse 3, "They are like a tree replanted by streams of water, which bears fruit at just the right time and whose leaves don't fade. Whatever they do succeeds." You can be replanted. You do have a choice. You really do. S...