Thursday... It's a way to keep safer.

Do you remember the day when we had front porches? We now push a button in our car and our garage door opens and we drive in and then closed the door behind us.

I was reading this week of a study that showed where there is less crime in neighborhoods where there is interaction and involvement between neighbors. Friendly neighborhoods are safer.

Do you know your neighbors? In one of our neighborhoods our neighbor went through a divorce and she needed her house painted, so I painted it.

I said all of that to say this. Proverbs 14:21 (NIRV) says, "It is sin to hate your neighbor. But blessed is the person who is kind to those in need."

We live in a brand new neighborhood and we have done all we can to reach out to each other. When Margaret and I had Covid our neighbors brought food and left it at our door. When we were gone one of our neighbors picked up my newspapers and when they were gone we went down and check on their home every night. We are a very friendly neighborhood. And we feel safe.

God wants to bless us and He wants to use us. The Amplified Bible says, "He who despises his neighbor sins [against God and his fellow man]. But happy [blessed and favored by God] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor."

May dad used to say that people will give their money to send missionaries to go across the world but won't walk across the street to reach out to their neighbor. God wants to use us where we live. He wants us to build lasting relationships with those he has put into our lives.

Peter over in Acts 10:28 & 29 (NLT) said while meeting with some gentiles, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for." And then verse 34, "Then Peter replied, 'I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.'"

Back to Proverbs 14:21 (MSG), "It is criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing."

Being good neighbors can make such a great difference in our lives and in their lives and we will be blessed for it. 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...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but... We each one have our own way of explaining what we are going through, don't we? Some of us are maximisers, other are minimizers and neither one is better. We each one are different and we see what we are facing differently but no matter what it is and how you see it and describe it, God can handle it! Now the writer of Psalm 46 shows the extremes. In verse 1 he states the basic reality and then he moves on into our fears and he maximizes them to make sure we really understand. Here is what Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) says, "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!" So what do you fear? The Amplified Bible says verse 1 this way, "God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very presen...

Wednesday... It didn't just happen.

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Todays Beginning

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