Todays Beginning

Psalm 118:8-9 (GNT), "It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on people. It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on human leaders." Friday... We want the best, don't we? When we are in trouble we want someone that we can really trust, don't we? If we have a job to be done, we want the best.  Psalm 118:8-9 (GNT) says, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on people. It is better to trust in the Lord than to depend on human leaders." Back in the last section of Exodus, Moses got specific instructions from God to build a Tabernacle and how to it. God had brought these people out of Egypt and they were wandering through the desert and they needed and wanted a place to worship God. Down the road it was a permanent Temple they would build but in their wandering they needed a place that they could put up and take down where they could worship and it needed to be the best. God wanted the best.  Now God knew what he wanted and he knew wh...

Psalm 117:1-2 (NLT), "Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever." Thursday... It is amazing what a difference His love makes. This is the shortest chapter in the Bible but it gets right to the point. Psalm 117:2a (NLT) says, "For his unfailing love for us is powerful." Yes, love is powerful.  I was driving out of our neighborhood coming to my morning time at this coffee shop and I saw a coyote wandering through the neighborhood, looking for food and I called my wife and told her to not let our dog, Turner out by himself. Now I love that dog and no way did I want anything to happen to him. My love for him does all it can to keep him safe. Yes, love is powerful. They told us while we were checking in to Sun City to when we walk our dog to have them on a leash to protect them from coyotes.  Now that was just me striving to protect my our dog. Yes, even...

Psalm 116:1 (AMP), "I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear] my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs)." Wednesday... He continues, so I can too! The writer of Psalm 116:1 (AMP) says, "I love the Lord, because He hears [and continues to hear] my voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs)." But the writer doesn't stop there, in verse 2 he continues and says the reason why, "Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live." It is so important that we start our day remembering what God has done and believing what he will continue to do if we through faith believe that he will continue to hear us. We just need to believe. Over in Matthew 16, Jesus was talking about one thing but his twelve followers were thinking he meant something else. Verses 5-6 says, "Later, after they crossed to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had f...

Psalm 115:16 (NLT), "The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity." Tuesday... So whose fault is it, really? Yes, we love to play the blame game. When something happens in our world so many want to blame God. It's his fault. But is it really? The Psalmist writes in Psalm 115:16 (NLT), "The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity." If I am given something then how I use it or abuse it is my fault.  Let's say that our children blame us as parents. Well, we did have a hand in bringing them into the world. They didn't choose to be born but they do have a responsibility as they grow older. We each one are free to make our own choices and we are responsible for those choices. But it is so fun to play the blame game. Yes, we as parents must take some responsibility because we are not perfect but that is not true of God. He had this world all laid out for us but our representatives made a self-centered...

Psalm 114:3 (NLT), "The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of the way! The water of the Jordan turned away." Monday... Such a tremendous perspective. I have read a chapter this morning in Exodus, Psalms and Matthew and it seems that the Psalmist hooks them together. Here is what Psalm 114:3 (NLT) says, "The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of the way! The water of the Jordan turned away." And then verse 5, "What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened Jordan River, that you turned away?"  I love that. Some wish to worship nature but nature serves the one who is in control. Now the tremendous perspective is that God can take care of what gets in our way. The Children of Israel were running from the great army of Egypt and the Red Sea was in their way but "The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of the way!" And then they were heading into their Promised Land and another river, the Jordan River was ...

Psalm 111:10 (AMP), "The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; a good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord ; His praise endures forever." Friday... We really do need to understand what is important! Over in Exodus 33, God had gotten so frustrated with the people he had brought out of Egypt and who he was taking to a promised land. They just did not want to do his will. Verses 1-2 NLT) says, "Get going, you and the people you brought up from Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, 'I will give this land to your descendants.' And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, and Jebusites.'" He would not go back on his promise. And then in verse 3 he says, "Go up to the land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel with you, for you a...

Psalm 110:7 (NLT), "But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way. He will be victorious." Thursday... We need it too, yes we do. David in Psalm 110 ends this Psalm in verse 7 (NLT) by saying, "But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way. He will be victorious." I am also reading in Matthew 12 and of how the Pharisees were having trouble with Jesus and the law of the Sabbath. And of course, Jesus took care of their legalism. They asked Jesus in verse 9, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" Yes God had told us in his 10 commandments to not work on the Sabbath. (Six days you will labor but on the seventh rest." But this was being taken too far. And Jesus said in verse 11b, "Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath." We take our legalism a little too far sometimes and don't see the reason for the law. In the OT God made laws for our benefit and our health. Now over in P...

Psalm 109:27 (AMP), "And let them know that this is Your hand; You, Lord have done it." Wednesday... Yes, he can do it. One of our needs it is said is self-actualization. We want to feel good about what we are doing. Now we will say, "I need to do this because it gives me worth." But in reality we cannot handle everything that comes our way and our worth so many times goes out the window. And I'm sure we all have felt that. Now King David had a lot of those moments and he came to an important conclusion. Yes, he was a king, yes he won battles, yes he was very talented. But he found that he couldn't handle it all no matter how much talent and opportunities he had. So he lamented all over the place in the Psalms he wrote. But that was good because it brought him to the conclusion that he needed help and he knew where to turn. He knew, he can do it. Now he writes in Psalm 109:26-27 (AMP), "Help me, O Lord my God; Save me according to Your lovingkindness - ...

Matthew 10:28b (MSG), "Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life - body and soul - in his hands." Tuesday... So let's save our fear. I hate to be afraid. I really do but it is important to save our fear. It really is. Matthew 10:28b (MSG) says, "Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life - body and soul - in his hands." The whole verse says, "Don't be bluffed into silence by the threat of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life - body and soul - in his hands." Now verse 29 (AMP) says, "Are not two little sparrows sold for a copper coin? And yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's will." The NLT says, "But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it?" Do you need that today? Jesus goes on. Verse 30 (AMP) says, "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered [for...

Matthew 9:1 (NLT), "Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town." Monday... So what kind of faith do we need today? Matthew 9:1 (NLT) says, "Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town." And that takes faith, doesn't it? For some they just need faith to get up, get ready, get in their vehicle and go off to work. For some just the ride needs faith and then the job. God is right there with you. Just reach out to him and ask him for protection.  Now today is a holiday here in the USA but on a normal Monday, sending your kids off to school takes faith. Every morning after I read the Bible, I lift by faith and by name every member of my family up to God in prayer. I do that by faith.  Verse 2 says, "Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, 'Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven." Yes, bringing our sins to God takes faith. I ...

Matthew 8:2 (AMP), "And a leper came to Him and bowed down to Him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).'" Friday... What we give to God does make a difference. Now there was this big crowd and Jesus had given to them a very important sermon and he had finished but there was a man who had leprosy who believe that Jesus could heal him but he wasn't sure that he would want to. I mean, the man was a leper. Matthew 8:2 (AMP) says, "And a leper came to Him and bowed down to Him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, You are able to make me clean (well).'" Yes, we may believe that God has the ability but we're not always sure that he has the desire. And a leper could feel that way and we also in our situation could feel that way. Our belief in God's ability sometimes doesn't go far enough. Yes, we know that he can do it but does he want to. We give ourselves that inch so we don't look bad if it doesn'...

Psalm 103:2 (NLT), "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me." Thursday... This is such a great reminder. It really is! It is so easy for us to remember the bad things, it really is but what about the good things? Psalm 103:2 (NLT) says, "Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me." Yes, it is so easy for us to wake up each morning dwelling on the bad things but what about the good? And no matter what our relationship is to God there are still good things in our lives. Now remembering them and praising and thanking the one who did them can help in starting the day off right.  Here is another reminder. Over in Matthew 7, Jesus reminds us of the importance of asking. In verses 7-8 he says, "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who kn...

Matthew 6:34 (NLT), "So don't worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Wednesday... Yes, there is a way to handle tomorrow, today! Matthew 6:34 (NLT) gives the answer. It says, "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries." And that is so true. But this is also very true, "Today's trouble is enough for today." It really is. Now The Message says it this way, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." That is so good. So, is there something that you are worrying about tomorrow? Our worries for tomorrow can make today miserable, can't it?  Now this is so important for us to see. Jesus in verses 30-33 says, "If God gives such attention to the appearance of wild flowers - most ...

Psalm 101:2 (NLT), "I will live a blameless life - when will you come to help me?" Tuesday... It is all up to me. Do you feel that way? The writer of Psalm 101 in verse 2 (NLT) says, "I will live a blameless life - when will you come to help me?" And that is a great response. We really do need God in all ways. Now over in Matthew 5, Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount and he begins with this thought. In verse 3 he says, "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." Now the Amplified Bible says it this way, "Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as insignificant], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever]." Do you have problems with people who are arrogant? Some think it is all on them, that they don't need anybody else. Some arrogant people look down on those who are...

Psalm 100:3 (MSG), "Know this: God is God, and God God. He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep." Monday, Yes, we can know this and believe it. There is an important beginning fact that we must know, really know and believe if we are to have a relationship with God.  Psalm 100:3 (MSG) says, "Know this: God is God, and God God. He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep." The NLT says, "Acknowledge that the Lord is God!" And the Amplified Bible says, "Know and fully recognize that the Lord Himself is God." We must fully know this fact. Yes we must. I mean, how can we fully trust and believe in a liar, someone who stretches the truth?  Over in Matthew 4:1 (NLT) it says, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." The Message says, "Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test."  Now there were thre...

Matthew 3:16 (NLT), "After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him." We now have such a privilege and opportunity. Now over in Matthew 3 we are introduced to Jesus by John the Baptist. It was an personal introduction of God. Before this God could not be seen. Psalm 97:1-2a (AMP) says, "The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands and coastlands be glad. Clouds and thick darkness surround Him [as at Sinai]." Back to Exodus 19:9, "the Lord said to Moses, 'Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe and trust in you forever,'" And then over to the New Testament in Matthew 3:16 (NLT) and it says, "After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him."  Three statement...

Exodus 18:19a, "Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you." Thursday... Yes, we just need to listen. God uses different means to teach us, to direct us, to lead us. Here in Exodus 18, God used Moses' father-in-law, Jethro. In verses 17-19a (NLT) it says, "'This is not good!' Moses father -in-law exclaimed. 'You're going to wear yourself out - and the people too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you.'" And he gave the advice and Moses listened. Verse 24 says, "Moses listened to his father-in-law's advice and followed his suggestions." Listening can be a very good and profitable thing to do. Here is another way that God leads. Matthew 2:9b-10 (MSG) says, "Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It lead them on until it hovered over the place ...

Psalm 95:7b (NLT), "If only you would listen to his voice today!"  Wednesday... There is so much for us if only. We really don't realize the real possibilities in our relationship with God. We really don't comprehend what he wants to do in our lives. Psalm 95:7b (NLT) says, "If only you would listen to his voice today."  I am also reading in the book of Exodus and I have just read of the happening at the Red Sea and today it was about them getting water out of a rock. They were in the desert and they were thirsty and they started griping. In Exodus 17:2 I read, "So once more the people complained against Moses. 'Give us water to drink!' they demanded. 'Quiet!' Moses replied. 'Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?'" And we do that so many times don't we? We complain and we don't realize that we too are testing. Now what happened next was that God told Moses to take his staff, his miracl...

  Psalm 94:19 (MSG), "When I am upset and beside myself, you calm me down and cheer me up." Tuesday... Ok, let's just calm down! But that is easier said than done, isn't it? Now Psalm 94:19 (MSG) says, "When I am upset and beside myself, you calm me down and cheer me up." Have you ever sensed in those times when you are upset there is a still small voice that is there striving to calm you down?  Probably not. The problem is to stop and sense that it is there and to listen to what it is saying. Now God also uses people. But most of the time we are so focused on ourselves that we don't sense anything but the anxiety.   Now our pride and our self focus many times believes we can handle it. But can we? Too many times we just let the anxiety pile upon us.  The New Living Translation says, "When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gives me renewed hope and cheer." I love that. What are we filling our minds with? Look at these verses. Verses 16-19 say...

Exodus 15:2 (NLT), "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him - my father's God, and I will exalt him!" Monday... Then they sang this song. Yes, Exodus 15:1 (NLT) says, "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord." Something unbelievable had just happened and they wanted to sing. Oh how we want to take credit, don't we? But in the unbelievables that God does in our lives it can be difficult.   Now the last verses of Exodus 14 tells what happened and why they wanted to sing. Verses 29-30 says, "But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hands of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed upon the seashore." The Egyptian Army had tried to make it across but those walls of water came down upon them and they...