Todays Beginning

Wednesday... What if this was said of you and me?  I love the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible. Today is the 31st day of this month and I just read Proverbs 31 and this chapter gives a description of a worthy woman. Now there are so many things here that no matter who we are we need to strive to be said of us. Look at what verse 25 (NLT) says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." I love that, "She laughs without fear of the future."  So many of us are afraid of our future. We wake up each morning in fear. Now there are many reasons why that is true. We can it seems be looking at our past and feeling like a failure or our future without hope. We wake up in tears instead of a smile.  Yes, there is so much mental unrest in the days in which we live. Especially if we are striving to go through life alone with no plan or purpose. The Amplified Bible says, "And she smiles at the future [knowing that ...

Tuesday... It does bring about change, unbelievable change. Over in Mark 2 it says that Jesus went back home and the news spread quickly that he was back home and verse 2 (NLT) says, "Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door." One side thought that came to me was, whose house was it? Was it a relative, was it his moms, or one of his siblings? Or maybe it was a friend that he grew up with or maybe it was one of his followers? But anyway his staying there changed the house. All of those people but also the roof got torn up. Yes it did. There were these four guys who had a friend who was paralyzed and they brought him to Jesus on a mat. They really cared. But the crowd didn't stop them. They took him up on the roof and they dug a hole through the roof above Jesus head and they then lowered the man on his mat, right in front of Jesus. And verse 5 says, "Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyz...

Monday... It can be so easy to do. It really can be. Something happens and we can be so quick to speak up and get angry. I have my rights. And we have our pride too! But the writer of Proverbs 29:11 (NLT) puts us in our place. It says, "Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back." And that is a such an important "but". There are so many situations in life that we are so quick to speak up and to get angry. But what if we would quietly hold it back. Yes, there may be an injustice in there but we really do need to stop and think and evaluate the whole situation.  I had something happen at the coffee shop I come to each morning and I felt like speaking up. I wanted to but I didn't. And I'm so glad I didn't because I came upon this Proverb and I'm glad I didn't act like a fool.  Yes, we do have our rights but in our relationship with our Lord we give them up to him and he gives them back as privileges. We tend to react as if we are lord...

Saturday... They had a plan laid out. They knew what they were going to do no matter what happened. We do that don't we? We know what we want and we make plans and we're going to do it even if it isn't the right thing. The last chapter of Matthew tells of Jesus' resurrection. He had said that he was going to die and then in three days he would be raised from the dead and he did. Now the Jewish religious leaders must have had a idea that what Jesus taught was true because they had a plan if it happened.  They put guards at the tomb to keep the disciples from coming and stealing Jesus' body and then trying to prove that he did what he said he was going to do. And then when it happened, when Jesus was raised from the dead and the guards came and told the leaders it had happened, it says in Matthew 28:13 (NLT), That they told the soldiers, "You must say, 'Jesus disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole the body.'"  And then...

Friday... We can choose our response. We can be a defeatist, always discouraged, ready to throw in the towel or we can be confident. King David writes in Psalm 26:1 (AMP), "Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity; I have [relied on and] trusted [confidently] in the Lord without wavering and I shall not slip." Now he did slip in a weaker moment but he confessed and came back. There were consequences but he came back. Yes, we may be determined to not slip in a time when our humane takes over but if we do we then have a choice. Judas when he betrayed Jesus saw that he had fallen, he had really slipped but he didn't repent, he killed himself. In Matthew 27:5, "He went away and hanged himself." Now Peter when he denied Jesus it says in Matthew 26:75, "He went outside and wept bitterly [in repentance]." Now the rest of Jesus' disciples ran away when Jesus was arrested but they also came back and God used them in an unbelievable way to spr...

Thursday... So what are we expecting today? Psalm 25:3 (AMP) says, "Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed." So we don't need to be ashamed if we expectantly wait on You. So who is You? Verse 2 says, "O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence]."  I will have unwavering trust and I will rely with steadfast confidence and I will not be ashamed if I wait expectantly on You. Okay, I can expect to not be ashamed. Verse 5 says, "Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long." We wake up too many times expecting bad to happen in our day. We just can't go through a whole day without something bad happening to us. But David says, "For You [and only You] I wait expectantly] all day long." Let's give that a try. Let's wait expectantly all day long for You, God.  Verses 20-21 says...

Wednesday... We have so many. Yes we do.  We wake up each morning it seems with so many needs. Yes we do and they are so heavy. What is your greatest need today? What has you weighed down?  I was reading in Psalm 24 this morning. I started with three different translations and then read this in the Amplified Version. Verse 6 says, "This is the generation (description) of those who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need, who seek Your face, even [as did] Jacob." And the phrase "who diligently seek Him and require Him as their greatest need" got my attention. Now what a difference in our day would it be if our greatest need was God? Now we don't usually realize it but that is so true. He supersedes all of our needs. Yes he does. If and when I realize that then all of the other needs fall into place. Do you see that? Now take one of your needs that is weighing heavily on you. If that was taken care of would all of the other needs also be taken c...

Tuesday... Two major needs he takes care of. First of all, David the writer of Psalm 23 says in verse 1 (AMP), "The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want." I shall not want. Now that is really something. David says that if I follow God, he will take care of my wants.  Do you get the picture? Here I am a sheep and he is my shepherd. And he feeds me, he guides me and he shields me. That takes care of of my wants.  Now the writer of Proverbs 23 in verse 4a (AMP) says, "Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth." Verses 4-5 in the NLT says, "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away." It is so important for us to know where to go for our wants. Money or the Lord? Yes, we have that overwhelming desire to gain wealth. That is what is going to take care of my wants. But does it? P...

Monday... Be sure and strive to be safe. I'm not sure where you may live but it seems that today there is danger ahead in many parts of the country. Have you ever been driving and looking ahead and not seeing any danger but there is, it is called ice? Driving on ice is so dangerous. It looks like there is going to be ice in many parts of the country today so we really need to be aware of the danger. Now there are some who would say, that they can handle it, that is until their car is spinning out of control. They think they are so smart. Proverbs 22:3 (NLT) says, "A prudent person foresees danger and take precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and sufferers the consequences." I do not want to be riding on ice with a simpleton driver. But that is the way that so many handle life. They don't see the danger ahead and they don't take precautions and they wake up in deep trouble. The Amplified Bible says it this way, "A prudent and far-sighted person sees the ...

Saturday... If they only knew, if we really knew. There is so much that we don't know that if we knew could really, really make a difference in our lives. Arguments can really be frustrating. Someone says something that they believe to be true but you know it isn't but they just won't listen. Jesus in Matthew 22 was having an argument with some religious leaders. They were asking him questions trying to trick him so they could arrest him but they didn't know what they were talking about. We think we know what we are talking about but do we really? Well, it says in verse 29 (NLT), "Jesus replied, 'Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.'" Here is something that I read this morning in Psalm 20:1, "In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm." We live under so much pressure and we feel so alone. We just don't know what...

Friday... He speaks in so many ways! He speaks to us, to you, to me in so many ways. Yes he does. Look at this. Psalm 19:1 says that he doesn't just speak, he proclaims. Now proclaims means to declare something one considers important with due emphasis. Verses 1-2 (NLT) says, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known."  Some would say that he doesn't speak to me. Yes he does, day after day. I am right now looking out at God's creation and through it he is speaking to me. Yes he is. Just stop, look and listen. That's what Brother Lawrence in his book, The Practice of the Presence of God , says for us to do. Just stop, look and listen. The Psalmist goes on. Verses 3-4 says, "They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yes their message has gone through out the earth, and their words to all the earth." The Amplified Bible sa...

Thursday... There may be another side. We usually only see one side to a situation and of course we are right. It is the only way to see it. But my dad had a saying that really makes sense. He would say, "No paper is so thin that it doesn't have two sides to it." I have used that over and over in my life. Proverbs 18:17 (NLT) says, "The first to speak in court sounds right - until the cross-examination." So many arguments could be resolved if we would just listen, listen, listen and then strive to understand. Verse 19 says, "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars." Arguments stop by one side starting to listen to the other side. Verse 21 says, "The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." And we so much love to talk, and talk and talk. Have you ever stopped and listened to what your husband, your wife, your son,, your da...

Wednesday... So what really bothers us? There is a word that I found in Matthew 19. It seemed in verse 13 (NLT) that some parents came with their children to see Jesus. They wanted Jesus to lay his hands on them and pray. "But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him." And there is the word, bothering. Now this is what Jesus said in verse 14, "But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like children.' And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left." The disciples had not arrived yet in their patience, their understanding. They thought they were taking care of Jesus by scolding those parents to not bother him. Now we would stop and think that he may have been bothered by the disciples, by us in our times that we act like children. But if he had been bothered by them he wouldn't have taken the time to explain what was important just like His Spirit...

Tuesday... There is that time in the early morning. There is that time in the morning when whatever we are facing can wake us up. Even before the alarm goes off the cares and concerns and problems of the new day wake us up. Does that happen to you? Now, I'm not sure when David prayed Psalm 16:1 (NLT) but it is a great prayer to pray during that early morning wake up time that the cares of a new day wake us up. Here is what verse 1 says, "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge." The Amplified Bible says, "Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have placed my trust and found refuge." In that time in the early morning we can place our trust in God.  In those times I want to make sure that the Evil One knows what is going to happen when he wakes me up with a heavy load that I have to carry. He finds that I am going to place that load on God. I want the Evil One to see that he made a mistake. Now if I don't stop and pray and put my trust in God ...

Saturday... We don't always really understand. There are times in our life that things happen and we hurt, we hurt because we don't always see the potential good in it. We only see the pain, the bad, but as we live through it and look back on it and see where God had a different plan that we did not understand but we then see that it was good, very good. There is an occurrence over in Matthew 17:22-23 (NLT). Jesus was with his twelve disciples, It says, "After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, 'The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.' And the disciples were filled with grief." And I'm sure that we would too if we had spent three years of our lives following this man and listening to everything he said and watching everything he did. No way was his being killed good news but that wasn't the end of what he said.  I remember the time that ...

Friday... Where do they come from? Psalm 12:1-2 & 4 (MSG) says, "Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, all the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; lies slide off their oily lips. They double talk with forked tongues. I'm tired of hearing, 'We can talk anyone into anything! Our lips manage the world.'" Proverbs 12:5 (NLT) says, "The plans of the wise are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous." And verse 19, "Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed." Back to Psalm 12. Verses 6-8 (MSG) says, "God's words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fire of his word-kiln, pure on earth as well as heaven. God, keep us safe from their lies, from the wicked who stalks us with lies, from the wicked who collect honors for their wonderful lies." And then Proverbs 12:3, "You can't find firm footing in a swamp, but life...

Thursday... They make so much sense. I love some mornings to just share some individual proverbs from a chapter of Proverbs in the OT of the Bible. They make so much sense. So here we go. Proverbs 11:2 (NLT) says, "Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." The Message says it this way, "The stuck-up fall flat on their faces, but down-to-earth people stand firm." So true. Verse 4 (NLT), "Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people." And there is so much dishonesty in the world and they seem to be so successful but their lives are not over yet. Verse 8 (MSG), "A good person is saved from much trouble, a bad person runs straight into it." This is good and practical. Verse 12 (NLT) says, "It is foolish to belittle one's neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet." We had a problem with one of our neighbors, a real problem. We moved. Verse 14 (MSG), "Without good direction, people lose their way; ...

Wednesday... But I really need my alone time. Over in Matthew 14, Jesus had just been told of his cousin, John being killed and he wanted to go to a place where he could be alone and strive to handle this bad news. He really cared for his cousin. We have had those times, haven't we? We heard some bad news and we just want to be alone. We say to those around around us, we really need this time. Verse 13 said, "As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone." We understand that. We have been to that place. But it goes on, "But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns." And we understand that. Someone needs us. So how do we handle this?  We usually get really frustrated. We let them know that we needed this time alone. Didn't you hear me say that I needed to be alone? I do so much for you, why can't you do this for me.  Now we each one have a need for our quiet time, we need out time alone. I...

Tuesday... There are so many annoyances in life but...   Yes there really are. It seems that some days they are endless but, and the but is so important. The but heads us in the right direction and makes it possible to handle the latest annoyance. Psalm 9:7-8 (NLT) says, "But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness." Again, "and rule the nations with fairness." The Psalmist goes on. In verses 9-10 (MSG) he says, "God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked." And that is what we need to dwell on as the annoyances and the troubles and problems mount.  "you're never sorry you knocked." Yes, "God is a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times." And we do have them, don't we? But "The moment you arrive, you relax; you're ne...

Monday... He knew what to do. There are so many practical examples in the Bible. Proverbs 8:1a (NLT) says, "Listen as wisdom calls out!" But we don't always listen, do we? But it would be so practical if we would. Look at this practical example of this by Jesus over in Matthew 12:15. It says, "But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left the area, and many people followed him." He knew at this time that leaving instead of responding was the wise thing to do. He had just taken a stand but he knew that he didn't need to at this time. He was wise. He just moved on. Now that is something that we need to learn how to do.  Over in the OT book of Isaiah the prophet in chapter 12 prophesied concerning Jesus and Matthew shared that prophesy here in verse 19. He says, "He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public." Such a wise thing to do. What would happen in our homes, in our lives if we would not fight or shout or raise our voice and if w...

Saturday... It really can make a difference. Over in Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT) I found this word that really can make a difference in our lives, in what we are going through and will go through in 2024. These verses start by saying, "Then Jesus said" and that is a great place to start. This whole chapter is in red and that shows what Jesus personally said. "Then Jesus said." Does that matter to you? Who is it that when they speak you listen, really listen to? That tells alot about what direction our life is headed. It really does. "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you.'" And teach is the word. "Let me teach you." That's what Jesus wants to do and it will make such a difference in our life. We seem to think we know it all until and the untils in our lives are so important.  I have in my life moved a lot and as I have gotten older I...

Friday... Another opportunity. I am reading in the gospel of Matthew and I came across this verse this morning. In chapter 10 the latter part of verse 18 (NLT) it says this, "But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and unbelievers about me." And that is always a great thing to be able to do. It really is. But we too many times think that this opportunity comes after something great has happened to us. He has brought us through something unbelievable.   But look at what it says in verses 17-18, "But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts ands will be flogged with whips in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and unbelievers about me." Maybe the difficulties we are going through are great opportunities for God through us to show what a difference he makes in our lives. Look at this. Verses 19-20 says, "When you are arrested, don...

Thursday... Here it is again. What do we do? There is a verse in Matthew 9 that caught my attention this morning. It is verse 1 (NLT) and this is what it says, "Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town." And then I thought back to a couple of verses that I read yesterday in chapter 8. Verses 23-24 says, "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping." And here he is getting into another boat. Now these four books that tell the story of Jesus here on earth are not biographies. Each one of them has a different audience they are written to and they each have their own purpose so these two chapters may not be telling his story in order but let's say it is. Jesus had gotten into a boat and there was a fierce storm but that experience didn't keep him from getting into another boat.  2023 may have been a fi...

Wednesday... Yes, both can be so true. Now I could as an individual who is writing tell you how to face your day but just because I face it one way doesn't mean that that is the way for you to face it. And the unique way that God made us is shown here is Psalm 3.  King David is writing this Psalm as he is fleeing from his son, Absalom. And that in so many different ways would not be a time to be happy, to be positive and to have a smile on our face. I mean, it is his son that is wanting to kill him. David in verses 1-2 (NLT) says, "O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, 'God will never rescue him!" And in what you are facing at the beginning of this new year that may be what you are saying. And it's ok. Now as I set down to write this morning I had a deep feeling of gratitude for what kind of life I am facing. I was emotional about God's goodness in my life but I don't have a son that is trying to kill me. I am not faci...

Tuesday... It really begins today. Oh I know the new year started yesterday but the routine starts today. Many are headed back to work, some are going back to school, the routine of the new year it would seem begins today, doesn't it? I really do love routine. I love getting up at the same time each morning and starting with the tasks that I do each day.  Now some of you are not looking forward to what you are facing today. You have really enjoyed the break but now it is back to situations and problems that are way greater than you can face. And you need a word of encouragement.  I really did enjoy the break of Christmas and New Years and the time with our family but I also enjoy this time that I spend six days a week seeking out some word of encouragement from God's Word and then sharing it. I have been in God's Word on a daily basis but haven't been sharing it and I love getting back to this time, this routine. Now this morning I found this in Proverbs 2:1-2 (NLT). It...