Thursday... We use so many different methods at this time of the year.

We use the method of you better watch out a whole lot. They even sell the Elf on the Wall to get our attention. I mean having someone sitting on a shelf and watching us and sending messages to Santa can really help on motivating us to being good. But the rest of the year we don't have the Santa Claus is coming as a mode of motivation but at this time of the year we use it a whole lot.

Being rewarded for being good or bad and the Santa Claus is coming to town is a tremendous motivation. But the reality is that God is always here. Proverbs 15:3 (NLT) says, "The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good." And I love that fact.

Psalm 75:1 says, "We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." I love the fact that is is near and that He is watching out for me and what I am doing and what is happening all around me. That is such an awesome thing.

I love the fact that He is near my kids and my grandkids and that He cares for them and He is there not to scold them unless they need it but to encourage them, to give them guidance and to protect them. That is a tremendous thing to a father and a grandfather. Every morning I connect with God and pray for each one of them by name because I know He is near them. No matter what is happening He can handle it. He is near and He does wonderful deeds.

Now the positive aspect of the fact that He is near comes from my having an up-to-date relationship with Him. Adam and Eve after they disobeyed God tried to hide from Him. They couldn't but they tried because they felt guilty.

Now we can't hide but we can turn to Him and confess whatever it is that causes us to want to hide. He is always there ready to forgive. And Him being near is a tremendous motivator at keeping me on track. So the Elf on the Wall can be a tremendous motivator to be good. But I like the fact that I really love Him and He really loves me and I really want to please Him and live for Him and to do what He says. And He is near to help me and to reward me and to show me what to do.

So, "We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Todays Beginning

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