Monday... I'm proud of you.

I had a teacher in High School who really made a difference in my life. Outside of my dad Mr. Gilbert had a tremendous influence on my life. He was my choir director and my voice teacher and he was tough.

I remember my first private voice lesson, he asked me to sing a song. Now you need to understand that I had had the privilege of singing in front of people starting at the age of five. I thought I was something. Well, I sang a few lines and he stopped me and said, start again and after one word he stopped me and started tearing my voice apart so he could rebuild it. He made a major difference in me.

At one point in my high school life I was selected in a voice competition as the outstanding soloist and as I was walking to my ride, Mr Gilbert came up beside me and said, Bill, I'm proud of you. I worked hard for that compliment and I still get emotional thinking about it even as an old man.

That life occurrence came to my mind this morning when I read this verse in Psalm 67:1 (NLT) in the Bible. Yes, what Mr. Gilbert and my dad thought of me has had such a difference in my life but this verse says, "May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us." Now that is what really makes a difference in our lives.

1 Peter 3:16-18 (NLT) says, "Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer doing wrong! Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he dies for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit."

And then verse 22 (MSB), "Jesus has the last word on everything and everyone, from angels to armies. He's standing right alongside God, and what he says goes." Now that is the One I want to smile with favor on me. His favor will make not only a difference in this life but for all eternity.

Psalm 67:1-2 (NIRV), "God have mercy on us and bless us. May you be pleased with us. Then your ways will be known on earth. All nations will see that you have the power to save." That's what we really want, isn't it? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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

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Todays Beginning

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