Saturday... We think we've got it all figured out.

We really do. But Solomon in his book of Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible has a different perspective.

Look at what Proverbs 16:1 (MSG) says, "Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word." We make all these plans. We have it all figured out. But it is so important to have God in our life. It really is.

Verse 2, "Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; God provides for what is good."

Now this is important. Verse 3 says, "Put God in charge of your work, then what you've planned will take place." The Amplified Bible says, "Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him] and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance]." We think we have it all figured out but do we really?

This is a good one. Verse 7 (MSG) says, "When God approves of your life, even your enemies will end up shaking your hand." Now we need to understand that all of this is from the perspective that there is more to life than just the here and now. When your enemies get to the judgment they will see that you were right. We need to live with the fact that there is more to life as a Christ follower than the here and now. There is more to come.

Look at this in verse 9, "We plan the way we want to live but only God makes us able to live it." We need to see that we need God in our life. Yes we do.

And then the last two verses of this chapter say something that will help us now. We are in the middle of an election year. And we seem to be all upset. But verses 32 & 33 in The Message say, "Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power. Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say."

We think we have it all figured out and we do if we have God at the center of our life. Yes, yes! #newbeginnings

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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...

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...

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless.

Wednesday... Our unless can turn into useless. It really can. I have found that unless I give the correct email of my wife then I can't get what I wanted. I put an extra i in her email and I have been working for 5 days to get it changed. Unless has been useless. The writer of Psalm 94 uses this word and shows how important it is. Verses 17-19 (NLT) says, "Unless the Lord had helped me, I would have soon settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, 'I'm slipping!' but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer." "Unless the Lord had helped me." So many people go on and on and on striving to live their life on their own but they keep slipping and doubting and living without hope and cheer. Yes the Lord has such unfailing love for us, he really does but unless we have a relationship with him and we turn to him and ask him for help then the unless turns in to useless because h...

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