Monday... They are so honest. They really understand.

I have been reading a Psalm everyday for over fifty years and I love the fact that they are honest and understanding.

Look at Psalm 10:1 (NLT). It says, "O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?" Have you ever felt that way? I mean, trouble is all around you and you feel all alone. Have you ever felt that way? Maybe you feel that way today.

Well that is the way this Psalm like many other Psalms start. Yes we are allowed to say what we feel. It seems to get it out in the open.

I'm not sure what David the writer of this Psalm was going through but he starts out being honest about what he felt. But that is not where he stops but too many times that is where we stop.

He continues. In verse 13 he says, "Why do the wicked get away with despising God? They think, 'God will never call us to account.'" And then verse 14 starts with a very important word. It is a word that gets him back on track. It says, "But." In all of this honesty we need to finally get to the but. That is what the Psalms helps us do. Verse 14 says, "But you see the trouble and grief they cause. You take note of it and punish them. The helpless put their trust in you. You defend the orphans."

Yes, David goes on and in verses 17-18 he says, "Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them."

Verse 17 in the NIRV says, "Lord, you hear the desires of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries."

The Amplified Bible says, "O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble and oppressed; You will incline Your ear to hear." We cannot stop at verse 1, "Why do You stand so far away, O Lord? Why do You hide [Yourself, veiling Your eyes] in times of trouble." We must keep going. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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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

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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

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