Todays Beginning

Saturday... So do I need to receive and give this gift? I really do love to give gifts. I have some problems with getting gifts but I love to give gifts. Christmas is truly a celebration of giving. I know some have trouble with Santa Clause but he truly is a human example of giving.  Now Proverbs 23:6-7b (NLT) gives some wise advice. It says, "Don't eat with people who are stingy; don't desire their delicacies. They are always thinking about how much it costs." Some have major problems with this matter of giving. Now God is such an unbelievable giver. Psalm 143:8 says, "Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you." And that is a gift that we can in turn give to God for all he has given to us. "for I give myself to you." Now Jesus over in Matthew 6 gives some thoughts about giving to people who are in need and he really wants us to do that but for the right reason. He says i...

Friday... We each one are so different. We each one live our lives with different emotions. Some minimize and other maximize. Some get up each day calm and others wake up overwhelmed. And God loves and understands each one of us. He created each one of us to be unique. And King David, the writer of many of the Psalms is so honest about who he is. In his writing Psalm 142 he is in real danger. He is hiding in a cave because his enemy, King Saul is out looking for him and wanting to kill him. And I think any of us would be maximizers in that kind of situation, wouldn't we?  He says in verses 1-2 (NLT), "I cry out to the Lord; I plead for the Lord's mercy. I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles." And that is such a good thing to do. In those times it is so good to really be honest about our situation and our need of God.  Let me ask you. Where do you as minimizers turn when you can't handle what you are facing?  Now I am a minimizer. I wake ...

Thursday... There are so many ways to pray. Meditation is one. We read in the Bible something and we meditate on it. We let it sink into our heart and mind. We see what it says from many sides. We meditate. That is always a great way to connect with God. Then there is desperation. King David writes in Psalm 141:1 (NLT), "O Lord, I am calling to you. Please hurry! Listen when I cry to you for help!" There are exclamation points at the end of each statement. He emphatically cries out to God. He is desperate. Somewhere in his life, David has had some times of meditation. He has stopped to think about his relationship with God. He has spent time thinking about God. What he is like. What he can do. Does he really care? Can he handle any problem that I bring to him? How will he handle it if I come to him in desperation? David had times when he was out tending his father's sheep that he stopped and thought about God.  And he also has had times when he was desperate. There was a ...

Wednesday... I didn't realize I needed it but I really appreciated it. I came into my daily coffee shop this morning and  I was given a gift by one of the lead baristas. She had made it. That really meant a lot to me. I'm not usually good at getting gifts but this was so very meaningful to me. I didn't realize that I needed that today but I sure appreciated it.  Now there are so many different gifts given to us but we don't notice them or appreciate them. Proverbs 20:12 (NLT) says, "Ears to hear and eyes to see - both are gifts from the Lord." I love each morning to go out and sit on my couch and look up at the sky. I am right now looking out the window of my coffee shop and I'm looking at some awesome mountains. A gift from God. Some Christmas music is playing. It helps to set the tone of a good morning. "Ears to hear and eyes to see - both are gifts from the Lord." Proverbs 20:24 (MSG) says, "The very steps we take come from God; otherwise...

Tuesday... There are so many benefits. There really are and David shared one of the important ones in Psalm 139:5-6 (NLT). He says, "You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand." Over in Matthew 2 in the New Testament of the Bible this benefit is shown. Now Jesus when he was born had some visitors and three of them were wise men from the east. Verse 13 says, "After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream." Joseph was Jesus' earthly father and of course he was responsible at protecting this young child and his mother, Mary. "'Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,'" the angel said. "'Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."  The wise men had gone to King Herod to see if he knew where this baby was and King Herod didn't l...

Monday... But I know what the truth is. It is so easy for us to know what the truth is and of course we need to share it. Oh, no, I'm not wrong, I know the truth. Proverbs 18:2 (NIV) says, "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." The Message says, "Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth." Now there are many truths in life that are true but we have to believe them in faith. And no way would a smart person believe them.  Here is a story that is found in Matthew 1 that a smart person in no way would believe. They are too smart to believe it. It starts in verse 18 (NLT). It says, "This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit."   Verse 19, "Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man" Did yo...

Saturday... We usually miss it. I have a routine that I follow for five days a week. Now Saturday is a little different and today it was for sure different. I got up a little earlier and went a different way to a different coffee shop and I saw something that showed God's love that I don't usually see. I saw the beauty of a sunrise. It took my breath away. I then came to where I was headed and starting reading Psalm 136. Verse 3 (NLT) says, "Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever." Yes he is so faithful and in so many ways we don't even notice but he still is faithful.  And then verse 5 says, "Give thanks to him who made the heaven so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever." That sunrise was only for a moment. It didn't last long but it was so beautiful. Only a few people saw it and many just kept driving and didn't see it. If I had been doing my routine I wouldn't have seen it but it was still there. But G...

Friday... Just a glimpse, just a glimpse. I love to look out at the beauty of the mountains. I really do. But look at what is ahead of those of us who have given our lives to God. We cannot image what heaven is going to be like. Revelation 21:18-21 (NLT) gives us a glimpse. It says, "The wall was made of jasper and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh crystalite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were made of pearls - each gate a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass." And then back to verses 3 & 4, "I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them. He will wipe ever...

Thursday... What is our purpose? There are things in our life that we wish weren't there but they are so necessary. Now each morning that we need to get up to go to work, we think how good it would be to just turn over and not have to go to work. But work is necessary. We were built to work. Work is not a curse because of Adam and Eve's fall, no Adam had a job before their fall. There is a verse in Proverbs 14 that catches my attention each month that I read it. It is verse 4 (NLT) and it says, "Without oxen a stable stays clean, but you need a strong ox for a large harvest."  What do you want? A clean stable or food to eat? The Message says, "No cattle, no crops; a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow." The Amplified Bible says, "Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox." The ox has a purpose. Now each one of God's creation was created for a purpose. Just b...

Wednesday... What do you really need today? The writer of Proverbs 13:12 (MSG) may know exactly what you need. He writes, "Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around." Is that what you need? In my prayer time this morning, as I was praying for each member of my family I had a deep burden to how to pray for each one of them. I really don't know what they are facing today and what they really, really need and I really do want to be able to pray exactly for them and what they really need but I don't know but God does and my praying for them can still make a major difference for them even if I don't know exactly what they need. Prayer makes a difference. The same is true as I sit down to write an encouraging word for you personally today. I don't really know what you need to hear today but God does and as I have been drawn to Proverb 13:12 I know that this is what you might need to hear today because God's Spi...

Tuesday... Now that is the way to start this day. Thank you Father for all the blessings you pour out on me and Margaret each and everyday. You are definitely so faithful to us. You really are. Your love comes through to us in so many ways. Thank you so much for the opportunity of this new day. Now a relationship with God and working hard is the pathway to blessings. Proverbs 12:12 (NLT) says, "A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense." Verse 14, "Wise words bring many benefits and hard work brings rewards." Verse 21, "No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble." Verse 22 says, "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth." I love the Proverbs. I really do. They give so much insight and wisdom to live by. Verse, 25, "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." 26, "The godly give good advice to their friends; the...

Monday... This is a tremendous time to show we love them. I'm running a little late this morning. I was at an assembly at two of my granddaughter's elementary school. Thank you so much God for my family. Each one of them is such a tremendous gift by you to me. Thank you, thank you so much. May I continually show how much I love you by how much I love them. Proverbs 11:29 (MSG) gives some great wisdom about family. It says, "Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air; common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live." It really is. Christmas is such a tremendous time of giving. We celebrate the greatest of all gifts, the birth of Jesus by giving gifts out to our family. It is not the cost of the gift that is important but the love behind the gift. I really do love my son and daughter and then the ones they met and through love married and then the four granddaughters that Papa and Gigi love to spoil. I love my family. But the abuse that is done ...

Saturday... Oh to really have it. Thank you so much God for your wisdom that you give through your word, the Bible and through your Spirit who you have given to those who follow you. And following you is the wisest thing that we will ever do in our life. Thank you so much God for the gift of wisdom. I love the book of Proverbs. A big portion of the book was written by King Solomon who was the wisest of all of God's creation. God gave him the choice of many different gifts and he chose wisdom. That was a very wise thing to do. I was reading this morning in Proverbs 9 and in verses 7-9 (NLT) he gives some great advice, some great wisdom. He says, "Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will even be wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more."  That is such go...

Friday... It can be our friend. Thank you so much for the variety of each day and for the opportunity to use it for your glory. Life can be so monotonous and then something changes and I thank you for the privilege of using it for growth. Thanks God for the ability to roll with the flow. Thanks God for wisdom to use chaos for your glory, to create new ways. Proverbs 8:1 (NLT) says, "Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice!" God, you speak through wisdom in all ways even change and you want us to stop and listen.  Verses 4-9 says, "I call to you, to all you!" But this isn't the way we do it. Again, "I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgement. You foolish people, show some understanding." But I don't like change, I don't like chaos. He goes on, "Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest ...

Thursday... It is readily available to us. Thank you, thank you, God. Your word, the Bible is readily available to us. That is not true in some places of the world but it is in Las Vegas, Nevada where I live. Now not everyone reads it on a daily basis but it is readily available.  Now I have read this morning in Psalm 127, Proverbs 7 and Revelation 14. I read the Bible systematically everyday. Now these three chapters that I read this morning were very interesting.  In Proverbs 7 I found these words. In verses 1-2a (NLT) it says this, "Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. Obey my commands and live!" God Word lays out his plan for us and how we were created to live. That is what the Bible is all about. That's why we need to be in it on a daily basis.  He continues in 2b-5. It says, "Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. Tie them as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of y...

Wednesday... After planting there is rest and rejoicing. In my starting each morning with my thanksgiving I usually start with thanking God for a good night of rest and for the opportunity of a new day. The night cleanses us and shuts the door on yesterday and the morning sun comes up with a new chance, a new privilege and a new opportunity. Tomorrow is over and today has begun. But there are situations that do come from yesterday but we can look at them in a new perspective, in a new way, as a new challenge. Thanks God for the good night of rest and thanks for a new day of opportunity. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 126:4-6 (NLT), "Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest." It is so good for us before we go to sleep to stop and give to God the concerns and the difficulties and the challenges that we faced in our day. ...

Tuesday... Such a great example and encouragement. Thank you so much, God for the sky. I love to each morning sit out in my backyard with my dog, Turner at my side and my Bible on my lap and look up at the majesty and magnitude of the sky. I really love it. Thank you so much. I'm right now sitting in a coffee shop and looking out at a beautiful view. Yes, there are some houses but they don't get in the way of the beauty of God's creation.  Isaiah 25:1 (NLT) says, "O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them." That's where being thankful and honor and praise comes in. We see the wonderful things that God has done for us. But so many don't see them as examples of what you have done and what you want to do. Isaiah 65:1-2 says, "The Lord says, 'I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking ...

Monday... We are not alone. Thank you so much, God for being at my side. No matter what I am facing today, you are there. Now the writer of Psalm 124 asks a good question. He says in verses 1 & 2 (NLT), "What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when the people attack us?" We sometimes act like he isn't with us. We go into deep despair. We have such a pity party.   Now the Psalmist then answers and we need to stop and realize what a difference it makes to have God in our lives. He says in verses 2-5 (MSG), "If God hadn't been with us when everyone went against us, we would have been swallowed alive by their violent anger, swept away by the flood of rage, drowned in the torrent: We would have lost our lives in the wild, raging water." Now it can be so easy for us to focus on the bad and not on the what if. Yes, it rains on the good and the bad. Yes, life has its moments but what if God is n...

Saturday... You know and I can and I want to know. Thank you, God for the sun by day and the moon by night. You really know what you are doing. And I can start this new day with confidence because you are a part of my life. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."  So here I am, in God's word as I start my day. Again, you, God know what you are doing. You know what we need, you know why things happen in our life. You have a plan, you have a path for us to follow. And we have your word as a lamp to guide our feet and to light our path. Verses 129-132 says, "Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them! The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. I pant with expectation longing for your commands. Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name."  I read each day In the Psalms but I'm also reading right now in Isaiah and the Book of Revelation. A lot of different perspe...

Friday... It is all in our focus.  Thank you, God so much for a new day and a new month and for being in my life and the life of my family. And you for sure have been actively involved in our lives. Thank you so much! May we continually keep our focus on you! I love Psalm 121:1-2 (NLT). They are definitely two of my life verses. Here is what they say. "I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." He is the one who made those mountains. Look at these two other verses. Verse 5 says, "The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade." And then verse 8 says, "The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever." He has his focus on us. He is always watching over us as we come and go, "both now and forever." As we as a family look back on last month we can see many things that could affect our attitude in what we will face in...