Monday... Maybe we need today to be reminded of this fact.

Life can be so complicated. I mean, think of what has happened this past weekend. Our ex-president was shot. It seems that he is going to be ok. But there could be other areas in your life that are very complicated.

The writer of Psalm 44:1 (NLT) says, "O God, we have heard it from our own ears - our ancestors have told us of all you did in their day, in days long ago." Yes we can think of other days and be reminded of what God has done even in our own life but then we can say, "But today is different" and that is true but there is one fact that is the same and we need to be reminded of it no matter what we are going through. Maybe we need to be reminded of this fact today.

I need help!

Verse 3 says, "They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory." And yes, we do need to be reminded of that fact. We may think we can do anything. Your mom and dad told you that you could do anything you want to do but. And we may be living in one of those but-times where we are just not getting it done.

The writer continues and he is talking about God, "It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them," and here is the fact that we need to over and over be reminded of, "for you loved them." And you love us.

And then verse 9 says, "But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead our armies to battle." But even in these times we must be reminded that God loves us. And verse 26 reminds us that we can pray, "Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love."

There is this picture of someone being pushed off a cliff but they have this rope wrapped around them and we can see that at just the right time before they hit the bottom the rope keeps them from being crushed. That rope in the lives of those who have put their trust in God is God's love. But those times of free fall can be rough, can't they? Yes, that is where trusting in God's unfailing love comes in.

Here is another way to put it. Everything that happens to those of us who have put our daily and lifetime trust in God must go through God's love. Now whatever is happening may be happening to us to destroy us. That is its purpose. The devil and his followers hate God and those who are followers of God and hurting us is his way of getting back at God. Now whenever that is happening to us it's purpose is to hurt us, to destroy us but when it goes through God's love the purpose is changed to something that is good for us, that will bring glory to God. It may be the same thing but its purpose is changed when it goes through God's love.

Satan hates God and he killed his only Son but God changed the purpose from hatred to love and to saving the world by bringing his Son back to life.

Maybe we need to be reminded of the fact that no matter what we are going through, God loves us and we can pray to him, "Rise up! Help us! Ransom us because of your unfailing love." And remember that in his time he will answer it because he does love us with unfailing love. And also remember, "It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them." And he love us too! Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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