Wednesday... They can change.

They really can. Paul in writing a letter to his friend, Philemon tells of a change that happened to Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon's servant and he had stolen some money from him and ran. And Paul is writing this letter to tell him that Onesimus had changed. In verse 11 (NIV) Paul writes, "Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and me."

Somehow Onesimus had found his way to Rome where Paul was in prison and found Paul and had found a relationship with Christ and it changed him from useless to useful. And that is what a relationship with Christ can do and will do in each one of us.

Paul then in verses 15-16 says, "Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever - no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother in the Lord." Onesimus' relationship with Christ also changed his relationship with Philemon, his owner. He became a dear brother in the Lord.

Now it was not God's will for Onesimus to steal from Philemon but He used it to make changes in their lives. Maybe some of the wrong choices we make God can use to change us. He uses bad choices to bring about great changes if we let Him.

So keep praying for that one who has wandered off to find a Paul that will lead him to Christ. And maybe that one is you. As Paul puts it in verses 10-11 (MSG), "While here in jail, I've fathered a child, so to speak. And here he is, hand-carrying this letter - Onesimus! He was useless to you before; now he's useful to both of us."

Maybe that is what God wants to do in your life, to change you from useless to useful. Just reach out to Him and ask Him to come into your life and change you. No matter what you have been or what you have done He wants to change you from useless to useful. And He can! 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...

Todays Beginning

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