Thursday... I had a choice.

I am starting a new month and I have a choice of what books in the Bible to read. For sure I will read in the Psalms. I am on the second cycle so I read Psalm 31. I also read in the NT and I am in the Gospel of Mark. And then I came to whether I would read this month the book of Proverbs or another book. I started in chapter 1 and thought about maybe another book but as I read the first few verses in Proverbs 1, I knew I needed to reinforce my seeking wisdom.

Here is the way chapter 1 starts. Verses 1 (NLT) says, "These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel." That is the intro. Then verses 2-4 says, "Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline, to help then understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help then do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young." I love the Proverbs, I feed on the Proverbs.

It goes on, verses 5-7 says, "Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." And I don't want to be a fool.

And then verse 22 says, "How long, you simpletons, will you insist on being simpleminded? How long will you mockers relish your mocking? How long will you fools hate knowledge?" And then verse 23, " Come and listen to my counsel. I'll share my heart with you and make you wise." Now that is a great thing. It really is.

And then verses 24-27 says, "I called to you so often, but you wouldn't come. I reached out to you, but your paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered. So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you - when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you."

Now there are 30 days in some months and 31 in other ones and there are 31 chapters so I read the chapter that goes along with the date. Today I read, 1 and tomorrow I will read 2. I check the date to see what chapter to read.

Now here is the key. Verse 33 says, "But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear or harm." So why not give it a try? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

Comments

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is!

Tuesday... It is so worth it. It really is! Look at this, Proverbs 5:21-23 (CEV) says, "The Lord sees everything, and he watches us closely. Sinners are trapped and caught by their own evil deeds. They get lost and die because of their foolishness and lack of self-control." That is true of so many. Now look at this, Luke 15:1-7 says, "Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, 'This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.' Then Jesus told them this story: If any of you has 100 sheep, and one of them gets lost, what will you do? Won't you leave the 99 in the field and go look for the lost sheep until you find it? And when you find it, you will put it on your shoulder and carry it home. Then you will call in your friends and neighbors and say, 'Let's celebrate! I've found my lost sheep.' Jesus said, 'In the same way there is mo...

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...

Todays Beginning

Search This Blog