Wednesday... It doesn't need to be the end of the story.

Being weak comes through in the story of our life but it doesn't need to be the end of the story. There can be more to the story.

Paul in writing his secord letter to the Corinthian church in chapter 13 verse 4a (MSG) says, "He [Jesus] was sheer weakness and humiliation when he was killed on the cross, but oh, he's alive now - in the mighty power of God!"

You see in the time when he was hanging on the cross Jesus had taken all of our sins onto himself so he could be the sacrifice for those sins. And because of that God turned away from him. He was sheer weakness and was humiliated but that wasn't the end of the story. On Sunday he was resurrected and that was a different story.

The whole verse says in the Amplified Bible, "For even though he was crucified in weakness [yielding Himself], yet He lives [resurrected] by the power of God [His Father]. For we too are weak in Him [as He was humanly weak] yet we are alive and well [in fellowship] with Him because of the power of God directed to you."

Now Paul goes on in verses 5 & 6 (MSG), "Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need first hand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it."

I spend a daily quiet time with God as a type of checkup and strengthening. If I see a weakness in my day I confess it to God. I am weak without God in my life. But with Him, all things are possible.

David says in Psalm 9:9-10 (NLT), "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you."

Proverbs 9:6 (NIV) says, "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight."

Verse 9 says, "Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." And then verses 10-11, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy Spirit is understanding. For through wisdom your days are many, and years will be added to your life."

Now I found all of these verses this morning in my quiet time. Weakness doesn't need to be the end of the story but we really need God to make the difference. We really do. 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...

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Todays Beginning

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