Thursday... We live for our rewards.

Thursday... We live for our rewards. And we want them now.

But that's not always how it works. We get up everyday and work hard and want and expect someone to reward us with a compliment, a well done, or even a raise. And we feel hurt when we didn't get it. But if we were rewarded all the time then we would expect it as normal. But that may not be the way it happens. There may be a greater reward in the waiting, not in the expecting.

Jesus in Luke 14:12 (NLT) says, "When you put on a luncheon or a banquet... don't invite your friends, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back and that will be your only reward." And you might say but that would be a good thing. I like to be appreciated and get something in return. We want instant gratification. And we'll do anything to get it.

But He goes on. In verses 13-14 He says, "Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you."

We have wanted our reward, right now for living in the midst of this pandemic and now through these economic troubling times. We want to be rewarded right now. We don't like living through the hard stuff.

We really are so spoiled. We want our rewards right now. But maybe God has something greater for us if we do what He wants us to do and we are patient about getting our reward.

Jesus came to this earth and lived a very difficult life and He was patient because He knew there was a great reward for what He was going through. He would heal someone and then say, "Don't tell anyone." He knew there was a greater reward than the accolaids of the crowd. He put His total trust in His Father. He lived His life for His Father.

The writer of Psalm 26 says in verse 7 (NIRV), "I shout my praise to you. I tell all about the wonderful things you have done." And verse 12, "My feet stand on level ground, In the whole community I will praise the Lord." That is why we are here. We are to praise Him, to give Him glory and to make Him look good even in the hard times. And we will in due time be rewarded. 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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