Wednesday... He really is what we need. He really is.

The truth is, we really do need something to help us face what we are facing today, don't we? I mean, war is a horrible thing to wake up to. It really is. And we now have it in two places in the world. And then, all that is being said in this election is so discouraging. Not a whole lot of encouragement there.

But then, I head out to my couch in my backyard with my dog, Turner by my side, and I start reading in Psalm 71, the Psalm for today and the writer says in verse 3 (NLT) what we need to pray today. It says, "Be my rock of safety where I can always hide. Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress."

Listen, God is really what we need in times like this. How do I know? Because it says so in his word, the Bible, and he has been what I have needed before and He will be today.

Look at this. This may not be true of you but it has been for me so I can say this to encourage you. Verse 5 says, "O Lord, you alone are my hope. I've trusted you, O Lord, from childhood. Yes, you have been with me from birth." Now that is also true for you but you just didn't realize it or reap the benefits of it. He has been with you from birth. He even had a hand in your birth. Verse 6 says, "Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother's womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you."

He goes on. Verses 7-8 says, "My life is an example to many because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long." And verse 9 is so very true of me. It says, "And now in my old age." Some of you are still young but I am getting up there in years so this is my prayer but it also can be your's. "And now in my old age, don't set me aside. Don't abandon me when my strength is failing." I have given my life over to God, so I can pray that prayer. If you have given your life over to God and if you haven't yet but will do it now, then you can pray that prayer in this time that in which we are living.

And then verses 17-18, "O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your miracles to all who come after me." Do you now see why at 76 years of age I am still doing what I can to encourage you at least six days a week? "Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your miracles to all who come after me."

Listen, listen, listen. He really is what we need. He really is. Especially in these times that we are living. If you have ever read the last book of the Bible you will realize that any war over in Israel needs to have our attention. Some day, Jesus is coming back to take those who follow him, who have a relationship with him, he will come to take us to be with him. And we are always looking for signs for when that will happen.

But even if this is not the time, we really do need to be encouraged to reach out to him. He really is what we need. He really is. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Friday... We have this hope of expectancy.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT), "Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Friday... We have this hope of expectancy. Now David found a great way to start his day. He says in Psalm 5:1-3 (NLT), "O LORD, hear me as I pray." And that is a great place to start. It really is. Morning sunrise He goes on, "Listen to my cry for help, my King, my God, for I pray to no one but you." And that is so important. We don't try to pump ourselves up by ourself. No, we pray to no one but you, God, my LORD, my King. Now this relationship with God is so, so very important. And then David says, "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you" And that is so great. And then he says, "and wait expectantly." Yes, we have this hope of expectancy. We are experienced. That is what a relationship with God and a moment by moment connection does. It makes a difference in our daily wa...

Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true.

Psalm 12:6 (NLT), "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true. Maybe this is what you want to say in this day in which we live. Psalm 12:1-2 (MSG) says, "Quick, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, all the friends I depend on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues." Do you ever feel that way?" Have you found that to be true? Well David the writer of this Psalm continues and says in verse 6 something to encourage us, to lift us up, to give us hope. Psalm 12:6 (NLT) says, "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." The Message Paraphrase says verses 6-8 this way, "God's words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, pure on earth as well as in heaven, God, keep ...

Friday... So what is it that you really fear?

1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT), "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." Friday... So what is it that you really fear? Yes, fear holds us back. It seems to take hold of us so that we can't even really enjoy living. Now I have found that one of the best ways to handle fear is to solve the problem of what we fear. Let's say that death is what we really fear. Everyday we wake up afraid to get up because we are afraid to do anything because we are afraid to die. And that is so understandable. Now I have found the solution to fearing death. I have through faith taken care of my fear to die. 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT) says, "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." Verse 22 (CEV) says, "Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us." Death was not God's plan. Adam was created for an eternal life but he and his partner, Eve blew it and sin a...

Today's Beginning

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