Monday... These words quickened my mind this morning.

I love reading the Bible every day. I really do. Now I usually read a Psalm, a chapter in the Proverbs and a chapter in the New Testament. But I decided this month to read instead of Proverbs the other book that King Solomon wrote, the book of Ecclesiastes and these words in chapter 11 quickened my mind this morning. I wonder if they will speak to you.

Verse 2 (NLT) says, "But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead." In our getting ready for retirement this is very good advice. And verse 4 kind of goes with it. It says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest." That make sense in so many ways. Perfectionism keeps us from venturing out and keeps us from taking so many potential steps, investments and risks in our life.

By the way, what is perfect weather to you, or a perfect job, or perfect friends, or perfect church? What is it you are waiting for?

Here is another one. Verse 6 says, "Plant your seed and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another - or maybe both." But that seed I planted this morning was the perfect seed so I don't need to do anything else. But are you sure, really sure? The Message says, "Go to work in the morning and stick to it until evening without watching the clock. You never know from moment to moment how your work will turn out in the end."

And then verse 8 (NLT) says, "When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless." And then verses 9 & 10 says, "Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless." The Message says, "You won't be young forever. Youth lasts as long as smoke." So true.

But the Message also says, "But also know that not anything goes; You have to answer to God." And that puts it all into perspective. 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

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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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