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

Thursday... Maybe we need this word today.

Psalm 57:1b (NIRV), "There I will stay until the danger is gone." Thursday... Maybe we need this word today. There are words in life that give us confidence no matter what we are facing. Now we have to believe them in order for them to have an impact. David wrote Psalm 57 while he was in a cave hiding from Saul who wanted to kill him and he says in the last part of verse 1, "There I will stay." It was a safe place and Saul didn't know that he was there. But he doesn't stop there. With confidence he said, "There I will stay until." And until is definitely a word of faith and confidence. "There I will stay until the danger is gone." Do we need that today? Let me give you the whole verse. In verse 1 David says, "Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me." And that is a great place to start in times of trouble. Maybe that is what we need to pray today, "Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me." It is so great to have someone...

Tuesday... We just have trouble listening.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." Tuesday... We just have trouble listening. Over in Jeremiah 25:4 (NLT) it says, "Again and again the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention." And Jeremiah went on to tell what was going to happen. There will be consequences if we do not listen to what God says through his Word. Now the Apostle Paul over in 1 Corinthians was having a problem with some professed Christ followers who were having trouble at listening. And we too can have problems at listening. We can think that being a Christ follower means we do a lot of finger pointing and we give up on people who don't do what we say. We can even do that in our families. But Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." In verse ...

Friday... It is so exciting but wait a minute.

Proverbs 19:2 (NLT), "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." Friday... It is so exciting but wait a minute. This time of the year is so exciting. We get our paycheck from work and then we head to the store or Amazon and buy and buy and buy all those presents and then our check is gone Proverbs 19:2 (NLT) says, "Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes." But buying gifts can be so much fun and seeing how happy they are when opening those presents makes us feel so good. But then verse 3 says, "People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then they are angry at the Lord." Now for some that is their life. They get money and they spend it on their wants with no thought of what needs to be paid. An important lesson that we have learned is just because you have money in the bank doesn't mean you must spend it. But our enthusiasm takes over. But the problem is when it is gone and there is no money to pay th...

Today's Beginning

Search This Blog