Todays Beginning

Acts 14:1a (NLT), "The same thing happened in Iconium." Friday... Just another day. Now I am a routine kind of guy. At my age that is the way I remember. I find that to be a very affective way to live. So as my alarm goes off at the same time then I get up and can say, "Just another day." I'm excited and I'm ready. Now there is variety in there but also monotony. But I don't mind that. I'm excited for another day of opportunity to live. But for some there are major difficulties. That was true of Paul and Barnabas over in the book of Acts. At the end of chapter 13 they were in Antioch of Pisidia, sharing the Good News of Christ and many were coming to accept what they were sharing but others incited a mob against them and ran then out of town. Verse 51 says, "So they shook off the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconiam and chapter 15:1a says, "The same thing happened in Iconium." So what did they do?...

Psalm 86:15 )NLT), "But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." Thursday... But this is a different story. Too many have the idea that the God of the Old Testament is different than the God of the New. But is that true? Yes, there is so much correction but the Old Testament also is long. Now it seems that the Old Testament is about a God who is always angry and we don't like anger even when it is needed and it is the correct response. David in writing Psalm 86:15 (NLT) says, "But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness." Yes, David did know the God of correction. And he deserved it. But he also knew the God of compassion and mercy. And he knew that God was slow to get angry even when he deserved it. And he knew that he was a God who was filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Anger happened when all else faile...

Acts 12:5 (NLT), "But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him." Wednesday... But do we really believe? That is a very important question. When we pray it may just be what we have been told to do. Yes, the important question is, do we really believe? Now Herod the evil king began to persecute some believers in the church. He even killed the apostle James and he found that it pleased the Jewish people so he also arrested Peter. And Acts 12:5 says, "But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him." That is what we Christians do but do we really believe? Now in prison Peter was fastened with two chains between two soldiers and verse 7 says, "Suddenly, there was a bright light, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, 'Quick! Get up!' And the chains fell off his wrists." He then got dressed and Peter left the cell, following the angel. Verse ...

Psalm 84:12 (AMP), "O Lord of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation.]" Tuesday... Who is You? So how is your day going? I woke up a little down this morning until I got into God's Word and read Psalm 84:12 (AMP). Here is what it says, "O Lord of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, relying on You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectation.]" Look at these words: blessed, greatly favored, confident hope and expectation. Wow! Maybe you need what verse 12 says from our Lord of hosts.  Yes, all around us there are so many discouraging words that are there to bring us down, to do away with our hope and our confidence. Our expectations are not up lifting. But Psalm 84:12 says what we are to trust in to be blessed and greatly favored. We need to listen to the right vo...

Acts 10:9b (NLT), "Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon." Monday... Now this does make a difference. It really does. There are some habits that have a negative affect but there is one that does make a major difference in our life. It really does. Acts 10:9b (NLT) says, "Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon." And verse 30a says, "Cornelius replied, 'Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon.'" These two men at different times but everyday did the same thing and it was used by God to bring them together. They prayed, they connected with God and it made such a difference in their lives and those around them. Prayer is not just a time for us to tell God what we want and need but it is a time for God to speak to us and tell us what he wants and needs. Prayer is not only a time to speak but to listen. It is important to see that Cornelius was a Roman army off...

Psalm 80:19b (NLT), "Only then will we be saved." Friday... Yes, we will, yes we will! I know, I know. We have so much ability, so much confidence but there is so much in our life where we need help and there is someone who really wants to help, in reality he wants to save us. Yes, we travel along believing we can handle anything but we find we can't. The Psalmist writes in 80:19 (NLT), "Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies." It seems that God allows things into our lives that we just can't handle and we need to pray that prayer. "Turn us again to yourself, O God." It seems that too many times when we are in control we are headed away from God with this great level of confidence but then something happens and we feel all alone. We just don't know where we are and we for sure don't know where God is and we need help. We may even realize that we are headed in the wrong direction away from God. And that is not a good pl...

Psalm 79:9 (NLT), "Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name." Thursday... It is so good to be right. Psalm 79:10 (MSG) says, "Don't let the heathen get by with their sneers: 'Where's your God? Is he out to lunch?'" Yes, some people love to put other people down. They think they are so smart. Yes, too many don't believe in God. They put their total trust in themselves. But I have found that it is so good to be right. Have you found that to be true? Oh, we go through difficult times and in those times we can waver in our beliefs. But we have a God who we believe in and it is not us. And we can know by faith that we are right in our belief in God and it is so good to know that we are right no matter what we are going through. Now the writer of this Psalm was going through some difficult times and he may have been wavering but he says in verse 8 (MSG), "Don't...

Psalm 78:7 (NLT) says, "So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." Wednesday... God has a plan. And we want to know right now what it is in our life, don't we? But that isn't the way it works. No matter what is happening, God is at work with his plan. I've just read Psalm 78. It is quite a story. Verse 7 (NLT) says, "So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands." Now we see here that it is better if we seek it out and following it but no matter what, his plan is still at work. Now this Psalm take us through a whole lot of happenings and in verses 1- 2 the Psalmist writes, "O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, for I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us."Yes not all that happens is good b...

Psalm 77:11 (NLT), "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." Tuesday... These two words can have such an impact. They really can, both negative and positive. Psalm 77 starts the way many of our days start. The first verse (NLT) says, "I cry out to God, I shout." And that is a good thing but he goes on. "Oh that God would listen to me!" Verse 3 says, "I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help." Now the writer, Asaph is allowed by God to tell his feelings and so are we. And so many start our day that way. And God allows him to keep writing. In verse 10 though he writes, "And I said, 'This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.'" And I'm sure that we all have been tempted to believe that, to say that. Let's continue. He's not done. Verse 11 changes direction. He starts with the two words that can have such an impact on us. Here ...

Psalm 76:11a (MSG), "Do for God what you said you'd do - he is after all, your God." Monday... This needs to be reinforced. I as a Pastor have been a part of a lot of weddings. As a church planter who didn't have a church building, I performed weddings in a lot of different locations. Some of them were spectacular.  Now in each wedding there is a place where each one who is getting married shares their vows to each other and those vows help in keeping each other in line but situations happen that can bring changes to relationships and even separation and divorce. Humans bring complications into living by those vows and in there relationship with the other person.  But in our relationship with God this needs to be reinforced. The Psalmist writes in 76:11a (MSG), "Do for God what you said you'd do - he is after all, your God." And then verse 12 says, "Nobody gets by with anything, no one plays fast and loose with him." Now I believe that each one...

  Psalm 73:2-3 (NLT), "But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness." Friday... Yes, we have it so good. At my age I have some problems with stumbling. It is so important for me to keep my focus on the path I am on. Experience has taught me the importance of focus and that stumbling and falling can be dangerous for me. Now Asaph the writer of Psalm 73 also had some problems with stumbling. In verses 2-3 (NLT) he writes, "But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness." I'm sure that you have found that the Evil One uses the, life isn't fair, a lot in getting us off track. We see it all around us if we are searching for excuses in being down and discouraged. Yes, there are a lot of people who are wicked but successful. Life isn't fa...

  Acts 3:3 (NLT), "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked for money." Thursday... We think we know what to ask. We think we are so smart. We think we know what we need so that is what we ask for. Now, we as Christ followers have this tremendous privilege to connect with God and in that time of connection we can ask of God. Now it is good for us to give thanks. Giving thanks is always a reminder that God is so good to us and that he is a great giver. And then we need to praise him. This is focusing on who he is and what he can do. Both of these help us in our faith so we can ask with confidence. Now over in Acts 3 it says that Peter and John were going to the Temple to take part in the three o'clock prayer service. This was a part of the tradition before Jesus came to earth to die for our sins and then be resurrected. Now prayer is more than a tradition. It is a personal connection with God. It is such a privilege. And we think we know what to ask God for. We ...

Psalm 71:5 (AMP), "For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth." Wednesday... So, what are you hoping for today? There could be a list here. What are you hoping for today? Now, when you make this list of what you hope for what are you basing the reality of any of them happening: your smarts, your positive attitude, your parents, where you were born, how much money you have in the bank, what job you have? The Psalmist writes in 71:5 (AMP), "For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth." And that is the key. "For You are my hope; O Lord God." There is nothing that comes close. When I wake up with a problem, a discouraging thought and my hope goes out the window what do I do? I don't list off all my hopes, I turn to the one who is my hope. Why does that make such a difference? It's because "You are my trust and the source of my confidence from m...

Acts 1:8a (NLT), "But you will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you."  Tuesday... Yes, it can happen. There is something that is true throughout the whole Bible and even up to this day in which we live. David in Psalm 70 in verse 1 (NLT) says, "Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me!" And then verse 5 says, "But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O Lord, do not delay," Have you been tempted lately to pray theses prayers? "Come quickly, Lord," "Please hurry to my aid" and "O Lord do not delay." And then over in Acts 1, right before Jesus was going to be taken in a cloud up to heaven they asked and asked and asked him in verse 6b, "Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?" Now God loves us, he really does and he understands our impatience but he also knows what he is doing. He has a plan and it is ...

John 21:5-6 (NLT), "He called out, 'Fellows, have you caught any fish?' 'No,' they replied. Then he said, 'Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some!' So they did and they couldn't haul in the net because there were so many fish in it." Monday... He really is interested in us and what we are doing. Now here is the setting of John 21, the back story. Jesus had been crucified but he then had been raised from the dead and he was now connecting back with his disciples. Their whole world it seemed to them had been destroyed so they went back to doing what they had been doing when Jesus called them to follow him. Verse 3 says, "Simon Peter said, 'I'm going fishing'" and the others went with him. In their distress and confusion they did what they knew to do. And that is where Jesus found them and he didn't put them down, he didn't lambast them. He understood. Again, Jesus really is interes...

  Psalm 66:3 (NLT),  "Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people." Friday... There are awesome miracles for us to see. So many times we are in such a hurry. On my way to this coffee shop I was going the speed limit but some guy was on my tail. He finally got around me and was able to get to where he wanted faster. I think he was headed to playing a round of golf and some guys may have been waiting on him. I'm sure they had a good reason just like we do when it seems that God is going too slow in what we want him to do for us. Now God always has a reason for what he does and it is amazing what he can do. David writes in Psalm 66:3 (NLT), "Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people." Now he also writes in verses 16-19, "Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke." And we've been there...

Psalm 65:5a (NLT), "You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds." Thursday... Have you found this to be true? As I sat out this morning looking at the mountain across the freeway from where we live, I was emotional at what God has done in our life. David said in Psalm 65:5a "You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds." And I have found that to be so true, over and over again. Now I do have a relationship with God. I do follow him on a daily bases and obey him. I am into his word and I strive to live what I read. And I connect with God through prayer and he answers my prayers with awesome deeds. It is amazing what he has done in Margaret and my life. It is so awesome. It really is. Now if it is true for us it can be true with you. David continues, "You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas." Now if I am out sailing and all I see is water then I do need some hope. I hope the captain knows where he's goi...

John 18:4a (NLT), "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them." Wednesday... He knew what was coming and didn't run. There are so many ways that God's Word shows us what to do. And having God's Spirit reinforcing what it says and his being with us means we can face anything. No matter what we are going through His Word with His Spirit will carry us through.  Look at John 18:4a (NLT). It says, "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them." He didn't run. And running so many times can be the option we choose but for Jesus that wasn't the case. Now if you read all that was happening, you will see 9 of the disciples ran. Jesus had given them the opportunity to do what he did with what was going to happen. As you read all of the accounts of what had happened you will see that one of his disciples had slipped out to betray Jesus but he had given the other...

  John 16:24 (NLT), "You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." Tuesday... It is so good to know that we can ask.  Yes it is! I have all my family before Christmas give me a list for what they want and Margaret and I enjoy going through the lists and giving some thought and giving to them some of the things on their lists. I've had them tell me how much fun it is to make the list. In John 16:24 (NLT) Jesus says, "You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy." Now there is a part of love that allows us to ask. There is so much joy in the privilege of and the possibility in asking. Now the difference in being a human and Jesus, God's son is that he has the ability to give whatever we ask but we parents do have some of that ability but not like God. And he also sees how that which we ask for will be used. A ten year old may ask for a c...

Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT), "I wait patiently before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." Monday... So, how do we face a Monday morning? Now it can be hard to face a new day, a new week, and even today, a new month. I love how our life has been organized the way it is, 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 30 or 31 days except for February in a month, 12 months in a year and then centuries and they all end up as an organized life with beginnings and beginnings. Only God in his wisdom could put this all together. And that is why I have named this blog, Todays Beginnings. No matter what has happened we still will have a new beginning. Now King David was a pro at handling difficulties in life. I have read a Psalm at the beginning of my day for over 40 years. I have needed a word from God through David to start my day and I found this new start to this new day. Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT) s...