Thursday... But are we great or a disgrace?

Some would say that we are great if they are in charge. Some would say we are great because of how large we are or how much wealth we have or power or influence.

But Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) says, "Godliness makes a nation great," Now some people can be said to be great because of their Godliness but is our nation great or a disgrace? The whole verse says, "Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people."

The MESSAGE puts it this way, "God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves people weak." Oh if we would devote our lives to God.

We are headed into Easter weekend. It shows a weak nation that turned their back on God and even killed God's Son. Yes there were people who were devoted to God but their nation wasn't. Even their religious leaders turned their back on God and they were a disgrace.

Oh God, may we turn back to You, may we truly be devoted to you. May we be great again.

Over in Matthew 22 the religious leaders met with Jesus three different times. Verse 18 (NLT) says, "But Jesus knew their evil motives. 'You are hypocrites!' he said, 'Why are you trying to trap me?'" And the same is true today.

Proverbs 14:2 says, "Those who follow the right path fear the Lord; those who take the wrong path despise him." Verse 3, "A fool's proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe."

And then verses 6 & 7, "A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding. Stay away from fools, for you won't find knowledge on their lips." And then verse 8, "The prudent understand where they are going but fools deceive themselves." Oh God may we not despise you and not be deceived.

Verses 34 & 35, "Godliness makes a nation great but sin is a disgrace to any people. A king rejoices in wise servants but is angry with those who disgrace him." Oh God, may we be great and not a disgrace to you. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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

Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT), "When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers - the moon and the stars you set in place - what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?" Friday... Yes, we need them. We really do. No, not the fact that I can go out my front door and look out at night at the marvels of the sky. I can do that and it is amazing and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Yes, that is a fact but the reality of who did that and the wisdom and the faith that I have to believe that and to marvel that the one who did that cares about me makes such a difference in how I live my life. Yes, God really does. That is so wonderful for us to believe. And that is why faith and wisdom are so important. Now whatever belief you have at how that marvel happened must also be believed through faith. And the sad thing to me is that more and more people have been taught that there is no God and therefore he did not have a h...

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...

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless.

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless. It really can. I have found that unless I give the correct email of my wife then I can't get what I wanted. I put an extra i in her email and I have been working for 5 days to get it changed. Unless has been useless. The writer of Psalm 94 uses this word and shows how important it is. Verses 17-19 (NLT) says, "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would have soon settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, 'I'm slipping!' but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." "Unless the Lord had helped me." So many people go on and on and on striving to live their life on their own but they keep slipping and doubting and living without hope and cheer. Yes the Lord has such unfailing love for us, he really does but unless we have a relationship with him and we turn to him and ask him for help then the unless turns in to useless because h...

Todays Beginning

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