Thursday... So many do it alone.

Psalm 35:1 (NIV), "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.."

Thursday... So many do it alone.

I have started this month reading Genesis, the first book in the Bible and reading of the consequences of not doing what God has told our representatives, Adam and Eve to do. It was awesome how it all started. They were able to walk through the Garden of Eden and walk with God, have fellowship with God, talk personally with God, but they blew it for them and for us.

Now Genesis 5:1b-2 (AMP) says, "When God created man, He made Him in the likeness of God [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]. He created them male and female, and blessed them and named them Mankind at the time they were created." And then it says in verse 5," So Adam lived nine hundred and thirty years in all, and he died."

Now that was a whole lot of years to live but it wasn't what God had planned. There was a tree in the middle of the garden and they could eat from it and if they did they would have lived forever. Death was not God's plan. But because they ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil which God commanded them not eat, they then were driven from the Garden and an angle stood at the gate so they couldn't go and eat from the other tree, the tree of life and live forever. Death was not God's initial plan and having an uninterrupted relationship and fellowship with God was his plan.

But as soon as it all happened God started a new plan through Jesus, God's Son.

Now through it all God gave humans free choice. That's why he gave them the freedom to choose if they would eat from the the other tree. And in his new plan now we have the choice to have a relationship with God or not and there are great benefits if we do. Such as if we follow and do what God says then after death we will have the privilege again of eating from the tree of life and live forever.

Now King David had a relationship with God and he writes here in Psalm 35 of one of the benefits of having a relationship with God. And so many people do not have this privilege because they are living their life alone but we don't have to go through life alone.

Verses 1-3 (NIV) says, "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and armor; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, 'I am your salvation.'"

In Genesis 3:24 (NLT) it says, "After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." Yes, the living forever was not possible for them but it is for those of us who turn to God for our salvation.

Psalm 35:9-10 (NIV) says, "Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation. My whole being will exclaim, 'Who is like you, Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.'"

God's new plan still has him taking care of us but we must choose to follow him, to have a relationship with him, to be saved by him.

The Message Paraphrase says verses 1-3 this way, "Harass those hecklers, God, punch these bullies in the nose. Grab a weapon, anything at hand; stand up for me! Get ready to throw the spear, aim the javelin at the people who are out to get me." And this is so good, "Reassure me; let me hear you say, 'I'll save you.'"

And that is what he will do if we have a relationship with him. We don't do life alone. We do life with him.. 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

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