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 then verse 4, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name." Why? Verse 5 says, "For the Lord is good." Life is not always good but He is good. "His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation." And it is not stopping today. No it's not.

Now, go back and make it all personal. Put yourself by name into each part of this Psalm. And that is a great way to change your direction. We do it by our focus. So acknowledge that the Lord is your God and his unfailing love continues forever even in what you are going through right now and He is so faithful. He really is. As The MESSAGE puts it, "God is all-generous in love, loyal always and ever."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

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...

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