Todays Beginning

Wednesday... Just some good old common sense makes sense. And where do we get it? Psalm 119:73 (NLT) says, "You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands." The MESSAGE Paraphrase says,  "Train me in good common sense." Now think of this. It really does makes sense to go to the One who made us, who created us, doesn't it? And by the way, He's given us a manuel. I just bought another car and I want to know all about it, all the little gadgets that will make driving so much safer and easier but it didn't have a manuel.  I did find that I can go online and it will be there but the thought goes through our mind that we really don't need it and it is annoying to have to go online. But that doesn't make sense, does it? But we live that way. Now, just before this verse there are a couple of verses, verses 70 - 72 (NLT) that says this, "Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions. My suffering was

Tuesday... Do you feel this way? The writer of Psalm 120 ends his Psalm in verses 6 & 7 (NLT) with this, "I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace they want war." Someone has said that what we are going through is the younger generations World War 3. Our world is truly at war with each other. Instead of banding together to find a solution to this epidemic that we are going through we have been at war. Family against family, spouse against spouse. "I am tired of living among people who hate peace. I search for peace; but when I speak of peace they want war." As Proverbs 30:33 says, "As the beating of cream yields butter and the striking the nose causes bleeding, so stirring up anger causes quarrels." And there is so much anger. Why don't we just get along? Over in 1 Corinthians 6:1-2 Paul writes to a divided church. He says, "When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you

Monday... There are so many blessings if we do. God has set before us a path, a standard, that He will bless. Psalm 119:1-2 (NIV) says, "Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart." And we want so much His blessings on our life, don't we? The writer of this Psalm goes on in verses 5-8 (NLT), "Oh that my actions would consistently reflect your degrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your degrees," And then here is the statement that jumped out at me this morning. "Please don't give up on me!" The Amplified Bible says, "Do not utterly abandon me [when I fail]." The MESSAGE says, "don't ever walk off and leave me."  Verses 5-8 in The MESSAGE Paraphrase says, "Oh, that my steps mi

Saturday... Small can still have great power. Here is what Psalm 117 (NLT), the smallest chapter in the Bible says. It gets to the point. "Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord." Now if that is all I have ever read about the Lord, I would still really be interested.  His unfailing love is powerful. I mean, love is powerful. When I know that I am loved then I can take anyone on. And it is unfailing. It will never fail. It will always be there no matter what I do or others around me do.  The Amplified Bible says, "For His lovingkindness prevails over us [and we triumph and overcome through Him]" Now that is really important to know. Hold on to that. He loves you and He always will and if we really believe that and reach out and grab onto that love then we can triumph and overcome whatever it is that we are going through. His unfailing love makes all the differenc

Friday... There's encouragement in talking to yourself. There really is. Psalm 116:7-8 (MSG) says, "I said to myself, 'Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings." Sometimes we just need to stop and remind ourselves of what God has done for us. He goes on, "Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from stumbling." A change of focus can make such a difference. He goes on in verse 9, "I'm stridding in the presence of God." I like that, "I'm striding in the presence of God." The Amplified Bible says, "I will walk [in submissive wonder] before the Lord." And the NIRV says, "So now I can enjoy life here with you." A change of focus can make such a difference. It really can. Then verses 10-11 (MSG), "I stayed faithful, though overwhelmed, and despite a ton of bad luck, despite giving up on the human race, saying, ' 'They're a

Thursday... What is yours like?  The writer of Psalm 115:4-8 (NLT) says, "There idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as  all who trust in them." Is your god like that, is he alive?  Over in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (MSG) Paul writes, "The unspiritual self, just as by nature, can't receive the gifts of God's Spirit. There's no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit - God's Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God's Spirit is doing and can't be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah's question, 'Is there anyone around who knows God's Spirit, anyone who kno

Wednesday... Is it wider, bigger, heavier than you can handle? Is it? The Children of Israel were leaving the land of Egypt but they were being chased by a great army and they were headed to the Red Sea. Are you feeling what they were feeling? Is what is behind you and before you greater than you can handle?  I love the picture that the Psalmist paints in Psalm 114:3 (NLT). It says, "The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away." That was truly a God moment. The army to their back, the Red Sea to the front. They were trapped but God parted the Red Sea and they walked across but then as the army tried to go across the water came together and they drowned. And also along the way to where God was leading them they had another river that they had to cross and it was parted too. Now that is another time, another place and another people but it is the same God that we serve, that we follow and He still can do it and we need to

Tuesday... What picture is in your mind as you face today? I think in pictures. Sometimes that is good and sometimes not so good. A picture of something bad happening is not a great way to start your day but a good picture is a great way to start. Psalm 113:5-6 (NLT) gives a very good picture to start our day at least for some of us. It says, "Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high. Who stoops to look down on heaven and earth." Now if we would go up Pikes Peak outside of Colorado Springs and look down the view would be beautiful. There would be so much to see but way up there we wouldn't be able to see individual people but who can compare with the Lord our God? We can't. No way can we. You see when He stoops down He sees it all but He also sees you and me and He sees what is happening and is about to happen. He not only sees but He can do something about it. He is not only a seer but He is a doer. And that to me is a great picture for me

Monday... It is so good to see, really see. For some they have eyes to see but they are always looking in their past. Oh they want to go back to the good old days. But God wants us to see what is happening in the here and now and He gives us His wisdom to give us those eyes to really see what is happening and what is coming. In that we can be prepared. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) says, "A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences." I love the Proverbs. Proverbs 1:1-4 says, "These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young." The Lord gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us but He also gi

Saturday... So here is a good thing to agree on. There are so many things that we all disagree on. Even in the church, especially in the church. But God through Paul sets us straight. In Romans 14:19-21 (MSG) he writes, "So let's agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other." But they are a Republican, a Democrat. They love Trump, Biden. They think you should wear, not wear masks. He goes on, "Help others with encouraging words; don't drag them down by finding fault. You're not going to permit an argument over what is served at supper or not served at supper to wreck God's work among you, are you? I said it before and I'll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the other's who are eating. Don&#

Friday... But this isn't fair. There are three men in the Bible who could have said this many times. One was Jesus who was crucified, another was the Apostle Paul who wrote a big portion of the New Testament but who died in prison and King David, the writer of the Psalms. Now in Psalm 109:4 (NLT) David says, "I love them, but they try to destroy me with accusations even as I am praying for them!"  Now over in Acts 13:22 it says, "But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man whom God said, 'I have found David son of Jessie, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.'" In other words, he will do things that seem unfair because it is what I want him to do. And that means praying for people whom he loves but who are trying to destroy him even as he was praying for them. Being a follower of Christ doesn't mean that our life will be fair. There will be things that we will do because it's what God wants that will have u

Thursday... Words, words have such power, they really do. We see it all over social media. Proverbs 18:21 (MSG) says, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose." Now we can choose what we say but we can also choose how we respond to what is said to us. But our words have so much power. I have a granddaughter who had a teacher last year that constantly said words to her that put her down to the point that it has been so hard for her to go back to school this year. Our words can be poison or fruit.  Social media is full of poison and fruit. I choose not to read the poison and I choose to be fruit. How about you? If I were you, I would unfriend all the poison. That is also a choice. I love verse 6, It says, "The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him." Paul over in Romans 12:2 (NLT) says, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you

Wednesday... But will it protect us, will it keep us safe? We have a very high wall in the back of our backyard and we have walls on the sides but there is a gate that is not so tall at the front of our yard. Now we can look out on those tall walls and really feel safe, but are we? Let's says you are a great arguer and you feel you can argue yourself out of any situation even arguing with God about that sin that you are holding on to. But are you that smart? Or let's say you are headed to Alaska and you want to be safe so you take a big ship and you feel safe. Proverbs 17:19 (NLT) knocks down two of those. It says, "Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster." And then Psalm 107:23 (MSG) says, "Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports." They felt safe but were they? What we put our faith in that isn't God will not really protect us. Now God can put an angel at the gate,

Tuesday... Do you have a decision to make? Well, YouTube can be a good place to start. They give so much different opinions but they also seem to contradict themselves so how do you know who is right? Good question. However it is a good to have many different opinions but it is also best and wise to start with prayer, to start with God. Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT) says, "I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" And The MESSAGE says, "He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him." He really is interested. Proverbs also gives some pointed thoughts. Proverbs 16:1 (NLT) says, "We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer." Verse 3, "Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed." Verse 9, says "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Verse 17, "The path of the virtuous leads away from

Monday... This can make such a difference in their day and yours too! Is there someone in your family or your work that always has a ready smile when you need it? Is it you? Proverbs 15:30 (NLT) says, "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health." Do you want people to like you, to look forward to seeing you? A smile goes a long way to doing that.  I have spent a long time starting my day at Starbucks. I usually sit close to where people pick up their coffee and I strive to give everyone a smile. Not a fake one, a real one. And after a few day I'll say something that produces a smile from them. It really does make a difference in their day and mine. It really does. I love the Bible. It speaks to us in so many ways. I have spent many years in the Psalms. The writers many times starts their Psalm with a lament, a worry, a concern and then they would turn their focus toward God and it totally changed their perspective and it does the same for me.

Saturday... No matter what, may we never forget. There is so much in people's lives that they would love to forget. So much pain, so much trouble, so much rejection but with God there is so much to remember. Psalm 103:2 (NLT) says, "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does."  Verses 8 & 9 says, "The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever." Now there is more but that is a great start. Life has a way of affecting our memory of the good things in our life but praise has a way of helping us to remember. Praise gets us off track of focusing on the bad and to focusing on the good.  Think of your mate or a close friend. Think of five ways they hurt or disappointed you yesterday and then five ways they were good to you yesterday and then notice how you feel after each of those memories. Now Satan is good at helping you rememb

Friday... Could there be something more for me? Could there be? The writer of Psalm 102 is going through some tough times but he does the right thing. He turns to God. God is the source of so much in our lives. Have you found that true?  Well the writer says in verses 1 & 2 (MSG), "God, listen! Listen to my prayer, listen to the pain in my cries. Don't turn your back on me just when I need you so desperately. Pay attention! This is a cry for help!" And then this phrase that we say too many times, "And hurry - this can't wait!" Now we think we know what needs to happen and when but God is the One who really knows the when and has the power to do something, the power to do what really needs to happen. I remember a time in our life that we knew what needed to be done and when but as we look back on it, God knew better and He was using that difficult time to get us where He wanted us. There was something more for us than we could ever imagine. And yes, we sa

Thursday... But are we really free? Are we? In the midst of this that we have been going through we have been fighting to be free. But are we really fighting to be free? Oh we fight to be free to choose whether we wear a mask or take a vaccine or have an abortion or not but are we really to be free? Paul over in Romans 6:20-21 (NLT) says, "When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right." Is that the kind of freedom we want? He goes on, "You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom." So do you want to  be free from the obligation to do right?  We don't want to be slaves, we want to be free but look at this verse. Verse 22 says, "But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life." Earlier in verses 16-18 Paul says, "Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to o

Wednesday... Here is what we need when we need a change in direction. There are so many different complications and problems that really have a way of putting us in deep despair and in those times we need a change, a major change in direction. Maybe that is true of you today. Psalm 100 is what we need. And here is how it starts. Verses 1 & 2 (NLT) says, "Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy."So how can I do that in the frame of mind that I am in? Good question. Well verse 3 says, "Acknowledge that the Lord is God!" Not what you are going though, not the pain that you are feeling, not the circumstances that you are in. No, stop and acknowledge that the Lord is God! "He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture." You are not in this alone. He is with you and He made you and you are His sheep, His people. Acknowledge that, reinforce that, believe that. And t

Tuesday… As our faith grows stronger we make God look good. Now one of the great examples of this was Abraham and Sarah. Paul writes of this in his letter to the Romans. Romans 4:18 (NLT) says, "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping." So many are living an hopeless life. All of their dreams are at the point of being snuffed out. Maybe you have gotten some news that has made you waver in your faith, as we did yesterday. Life doesn't always give us hope. And this is where faith comes in. Back to Romans 4:18-19, "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping - believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, 'That's how many descendants you will have!' And Abraham's faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead - and so was Sarah's womb." They had no reason for hope. Let's read on. Verses 20-21 says, "Abraham ne

Monday... It is so easy to take credit. It really is. I was just reminded of a conversation I had yesterday in which I was taking credit for something that God did in and through me. It is so easy for us to raise our hand and say look what I did, look at the good sense that I have, look at the wisdom I live by but we really need to be careful. We really do. Proverbs 8:14 (NLT), "Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine." It can be easy for us to take credit but it is wisdom that is doing the talking here but even wisdom is not the source. Verse 22 says, "The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else." And that is wisdom talking. So instead of taking credit we need to do what wisdom says in verses 32-36, "And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiti

Saturday... So what is the reaction of people around you when you sing? Do they clap or put their hands over their ears? Psalm 96:1-2a (MSG) says, "Sing to God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God - worship God!" That verse kind of blows up people wanting to sing the old songs but that of course isn't what the Psalmist is talking about. He's talking about singing a personal song, a song that comes from our relationship with God. I love to worship God no matter the age of the song because I am singing out of my heart and what I am going through. Verses 2 & 3 (NLT) says, "Sing to the Lord, praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nation. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does." Yes we can sing about what He has done but we also need to sing about what He is doing. He wants both. Our song shows what God is doing in our lives. So let's sing a new song and we will

Friday... Does this realization really matter today? Does it? Psalm 95:7 (NLT) says, "...the Lord our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care." Does that matter you? Look at this, verses 2-5, says "For the Lord is a great God, a great king above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountain. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too." And then, "for he is our God. We are his people he watches over, the flock under his care." Now that is a really personal God. This is not just some ordinary god. This is the God who who made all of this. Again, "He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountain. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too " And the NIRV says, "We are the people he takes good care of."  Now that really matters. We really matter to God. And that realization can make such a diff

Thursday... Ok, this we need to remember. Each day brings so many different situations. Some would call them problems or trouble or injustice. They happen, don't they? Look at this, we need to remember this. Psalm 94:12-13 (NLT) says, "Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions." Now that is a different way to look at our troubles, isn't it? He goes on, "You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked." What we are going through may also come from the evil that is around us but God is working it all out. Yes, He is.  Now Verse 14 is what we need, really need to remember if we are going through correction or going through evil situations. It says, "The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession." Two things to remember. First of all, "The Lord will not reject his people." The MESSAGE says, "God will never walk away from his people.&qu

Wednesday... We want to stay healthy and live a long life. I even bypassed this morning a blueberry scone at my coffee shop and I'll go walking in a couple of hours. Being healthy is important to us. We want to live a long life. A very special person in my life, Vin Scully died last night at 94. That's how long I want to live. So here are some Proverbs. Chapter 3:1-3 (MSG) says, "Good friend, don't forget all I've taught you, take to heart my commands. They help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well." Remember, all He's taught us, all of His commands are not to hurt us but to help us live a long life that is full and well. Here is another good one. Verses 7 & 8 (NLT) says, "Don't  be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body, and strength for your bones." The MESSAGE says, "Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from ev

Tuesday... Being transplanted makse such a difference, I live in a desert. Right now I am looking out a window at trees that have been transplanted and they make such a different. They are not natural to the desert. We moved into our new house this past year and the backyard was not beautiful but we changed all of that. I was sitting out earlier this morning looking at the green plants and the trees we had planted and how beautiful it was. The transplants have make such a difference. The writer of Psalm 92 in verses 10-11 (NLT) says, "But you have made me strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents." He goes on. Verses 12-14 says, "But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord's own house." Now that is a great transplant, isn't it? "They flourish in the court

Monday... I am an example of this Proverb.   Every month I start over in reading the Proverbs. This is the first day of August so I read Proverbs 1. It is a systematic way I read the Proverbs. I also read the Psalms by the date of each day. I'm starting my 4th month in a row in the Psalms so I read Psalm 91.   Now back to the Proverbs. I read the book of Proverbs 12 times in a year but each day and each month the Spirit highlights different words and different Proverbs for me to focus on. Today it was verses 8 and 9 (NLT). And I read them as a son of my parents. Now I am a 75 year old son of two parents who are in heaven and I am an example of this Proverb.   Verses 8 and 9 says, "My Child, listen when your father corrects you. Don't neglect your mother's instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck." I got emotional as I just wrote that. It is true. It really is. I have been crowned with grace and honor