Thursday... It is so familiar, but life can make it new.

What is around you that you don't see anymore? I live in the desert and I can get to the place that I don't see the Sun until a cloudy winter comes to stay and then I appreciate it again and see it with new appreciation and anticipation.

Life is like that. We don't really appreciate the good things in our life until trouble strikes.

Here is a portion of Scripture that if you have been a Christian for long you have read it with a, I really love it. But with changes in our life it can have new meaning.

Look at this, Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT) says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths." We read it and read it and read it and then life changes and it takes on new meaning, new importance, new significance.

Maybe that is where you are today. You were going along and then the snow came, the river is overflowing, the job has become greater than you can bear, the COVID is still here and you and your family have it. Where did the peaceful stream go and the green meadows? This chapter takes on new meaning.

Let me share it again but from the Amplified Bible. "The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name sake."

Now read it again in light of the difficulties you are going through. It takes on new meaning, doesn't it? And sometimes we need to go through new and difficult situations to see God and His love in a new light. It is in the times of clouds that the Sun takes on new meaning. It is in times of distress that God takes on new significance and new meaning and we have a new appreciation. and a new need for Him and dependence on Him. The Lord is my Shepherd takes on new meaning, new significance and new appreciation and need.

Look at verse 6 in light of what you are going through. It says, "Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life." Not just what we would call good days but also the difficult days. "and I will live in the house of the Lord."

So go find your Bible and read Psalm 23 in light of what you are going through. It will take on new meaning. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

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

Search This Blog