Tuesday... Being invited can make all the difference.

The writer of Psalm 15 asks a great question. In verse 1 (MSG) he asks, "God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?" And the answer heads us in the right direction. The NIV gives another perspective. It says, "Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?"

David, the writer of this Psalm puts the answer in a very interesting list. In verse 2 (MSG) he says, "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth." Right to the point.

He goes on in verse 3, "Don't hurt your friend." Now that would make a big difference if we would strive to do that, wouldn't it? Loyalty in our world has gone by the wayside. He then says, "don't blame your neighbor." There's a whole lot of blaming going on.

And then verse 4 (NLT) says, "Those who despise flagrant sinners," there's a whole lot of flagrant sinning going on "and honor the faithful followers of the Lord". It can be easy for us in the day in which we live to get these two mixed up. We honor the flagrant sinner and despise the faithful followers of the Lord. That's what the Evil One wants us to do.

Verse 4 continues, "and keeps their promises even when it hurts." Now that is what Christ did and so should we who are followers of Him. Then verse 5 (NIV), "who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken."

Now Paul over in Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT) says, "For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another."

And then verses 25-26, "Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every path of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another."

And we want to be invited, don't we? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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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...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but...

Tuesday... Each one of us see and describe what we are going through differently but... We each one have our own way of explaining what we are going through, don't we? Some of us are maximisers, other are minimizers and neither one is better. We each one are different and we see what we are facing differently but no matter what it is and how you see it and describe it, God can handle it! Now the writer of Psalm 46 shows the extremes. In verse 1 he states the basic reality and then he moves on into our fears and he maximizes them to make sure we really understand. Here is what Psalm 46:1-3 (NLT) says, "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!" So what do you fear? The Amplified Bible says verse 1 this way, "God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very presen...

Wednesday... It didn't just happen.

Psalm 16;10 (NLT), "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave." Wednesday... It didn't just happen. We are headed into a weekend of deep emotion. One that we really really love was killed and it didn't just happen. David in Psalm 16:10 (NLT) writes of this happening. He says about God, "For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave." We read over in the Gospels at the beginning of the New Testament in the Bible of the life of God's Son who came to earth to be our sacrifice so that our soul would not be left among the dead. Jesus came so that we wouldn't have to be buried at death and just left there. But he also shares that Jesus who was going to be killed as a sacrifice for our sins would not have to rot in a grave. David many generations before foretold this and that is what happened. Now that had to be a God thing. We can guess a lot about our future and we d...

Todays Beginning

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