Today's Beginning

Psalm 90:14 (NIRV), "Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning. Then we can sing for joy and be glad all our days." Thursday... Maybe we need to pray this, today. And when we realize it to be true and answered, it will make such a difference. Yes it will! Moses writes in Psalm 90:14 (NIRV), "Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning. Then we can sing for joy and be glad all our days." Yes, yes! I'm not sure when he wrote this Psalm but think of all his days in the wilderness with all those people who were suppose to be headed to the Promised Land from Egypt but who kept getting off track. Those were very tough days even for this leader. So where are you? What kind of world are you waking up to? Verses 13-16 says, "LORD, please stop punishing us! How long will you keep it up? Be kind to us. Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning. Then we can sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffe...

Luke 18:1 (AMP), "Now Jesus was telling his disciples a parable to make a point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." Wednesday... There is real power in annoyances. I call sickness annoyances. They come into my life to get my attention, to get me to do something. Now many would call them troubles. To me they are annoyances. I go to see one doctor on a regular basis. I go because I have a problem in one area of my body. As a kid I had problems with sunburns and now I have problems with skin cancer and I found out this week that I need to have a small part of my face that needs to be taken off because it is cancerous. And this is not my first so I call it an annoyance but it does keep me going and seeing a skin doctor. Without these annoyances I probably wouldn't see a doctor. Luke 18:1 (AMP) says, "Now Jesus was telling his disciples a parable to make a point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart." Th...

Luke 17:10 (MSG), "When you've done everything expected of you, be matter-of-fact and say, 'The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.'" Tuesday... Yes, we have done what was expected, so... In this day in which we live we want to be rewarded for what we have done. In fact we expect it. Jesus in Luke 17 tells a story about this servant. Verses 7-9 (MSG) says, "Suppose one of you has a servant who comes in from plowing the field or tending their sheep. Would you take his coat, set the table, and say, 'Sit down and eat?' Wouldn't you be more likely to say, 'Prepare dinner; change your clothes and wait table for me until I've finished my coffee, then go to the kitchen and have your supper'? Does the servant get special thanks for doing what's expected of him?." In the day in which we live we would say, "Yes we do." We need to be appreciated for what we do. We need praise. But here is what Jesus said in verse 10,...

Luke 16:10a (NLT), "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones."  Monday... Being faithful has its reward. Luke 16:10a (NLT) says, "If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones." This is Jesus talking and He knows what he is saying. Verse 11 says, "And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?" Now Solomon over in his book of Proverbs also knows what he is saying. In Proverbs 27:23 he says, "Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, for riches don't last forever, and the crown might not pass to the next generation." In other words, be faithful in the tasks, the opportunities, the resources that God has provided us. Verses 25-27 says, "After the hay is harvested and the new crops appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, your sheep will provided wool for clothing, and your goats will...

Psalm 84:12 (AMP), "O LORD of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations]." Friday... Maybe you need this today. I strive through God's Spirit prodding me to share from God's Word a positive, encouraging thought for someone who needs it each day. Yes God's starts with what I need and then I share it with you. Look at Psalm 84:12. Do you need this today? God says through the Psalmist, "O LORD of hosts, how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations]." Now another way to say man is human. That covers us all, doesn't it? But he narrows it some when he writes, "how blessed and greatly favored is the man who trusts in You [believing in You, and committing himself to You with confident hope and expectations." Yes, that defines who is bless...

Luke 14:11 (AMP), "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled [before others], and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." Thursday: This is such a good habit. Over in Proverbs 23 it tells of habits that have some problems with them. Verses 20-23 (AMP) says, "Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eater of meat. For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and the drowsiness [of overindulgence] will clothe one with rags." There are habits in there that do not turn out for our best. They are not good habits. But in Luke 14:11 Jesus tells of a good habit. He says, "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled [before others], and he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." Again, "he who habitually humbles himself (keeps a realistic self-view) will be exalted." I'm sorry the habits of drinking and eating the wrong thi...

Proverbs 22:4 (AMP), "The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one's importance] and the [reverent, wonderful] fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life." Wednesday... They are so needed! It is so important for us to have a realistic view of our importance and then we will be reward. Proverbs 22:4 (AMP) says, "The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one's importance] and the [reverent, wonderful] fear of the Lord is riches, honor, and life." Did you realize there is a reward for being humble and for fear? Now we do really think there is a reward for pride, for having an high opinion of yourself, that is how you get to the top but Solomon the wisest and one of the richest men who ever lived said that having a realist view of one's importance and having a reverent, wonderful fear of the Lord is where the reward of riches, honor, and life comes from. I still get in trouble when I think that what I think is so importa...

Luke 12:25-26 (NLT), "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" Tuesday... We need to do each day what will make a positive difference. I strive to bring each day a positive thought of encouragement from God's Word. Now some negative verses do have a positive thought behind them. Like Luke 12:25-26 (NLT) which asks, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?" Verse 21 says, "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." And from there verses 22-23 says, "Then turning to his disciples, Jesus said, 'That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life - whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and you...

Luke 11:10 (AMP), "For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds, and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened." Monday... So just keep at it! The disciples here in Luke 11 came to Jesus while he was in a certain place praying and it says in verse 1 (NLT), "As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, 'LORD teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'" Now the disciples saw that Jesus found praying to be very important. Yes he spent time on a regular basis praying to his Father. Right up to the night before Jesus was put on a cross we find him praying. So, if it was important to him then it must be important for us. In this matter of trusting in God there also must be a time of connecting with God through prayer. Jesus says in verses 2-4, "This is how you should pray: Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us ea...

Psalm 77:11-12 (MSG), "Once again, I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts." Friday... So let's face today with focus. There are at some times in our life so many things that keep us awake and we may go to our friends for help. And the Proverbs says there is help in many counselors but sometimes it just makes us more confused. Now the Psalmist in 77:11-12 (MSG) gives such good advice. He says "Once again, I'll go over what God has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts." It really could be a focus thing. The Egypt Red Sea He starts this Psalm by saying in verse 1 (NLT), "I cry out to God; yes, I shout. Oh that God would listen to me! When I am in deep trouble I searched for the Lord." Now each time it seems is...

Psalm 76:4 (NLT), "You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains."  Thursday... They are glorious and majestic and it seems everlasting. We live in a town where the buildings are unbelievable but every once in a while they want them torn down so they explosed them. It is quite a sight. But I live right across the freeway from a very beautiful hill that has been there for a long, long time. Now the city of Las Vegas is surrounded by hills and mountains that are unbelievable but in no way do they compare to God. The writer of Psalm 76:4 (NLT) says, "You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains." Now the You is God who created those glorious, majestic and everlasting mountains. And man has no chance in building anything that compares to them. I love sitting out on our back patio and looking at the hill across the freeway especially when the sun is shining on it. It is breathtaking. Now it isn't the largest but each one behin...

Psalm 75:1 (NLT), "We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." Wednesday... Yes, yes, this is so, so important to know. When I was young we as a family lived in a small travel trailer. My father was a traveling evangelist so we all lived in a one bedroom trailer. We also lived in the car. We would be in a church holding services where my dad preached for 10 days and my sister and I would sing with our dad who also played the piano. And after the second Sunday night service, dad would hook the car up to the trailer and we would head out to the next church where we did it all again starting Wednesday through two Sundays. We as a family were always together. Our mom was also our teacher. We were together all of the time. One time my mom was sick and in the hospital and my sister and I were staying with our uncle and aunt and I had trouble at night with mom and dad not close and my aunt came in and helped to comfort m...

Psalm 74:12 (NLT), "You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth." Tuesday... Whys are difficult but who and what can make such a difference. Yes, our life has so many whys. Right now there are whys around us that we may not understand. Look at Psalm 74. Asaph in verse 1 (NLT) says, "O God, why have you rejected us so long." Verse 11a says, "Why do you hold back your strong right hand?" And that is in the Bible. Yes, our whys can be honest feelings. Maybe you are having some right now and they are bringing you down to despair and doubt. Yes, God allows them but who and what are so important and we need to hold on to them especially during our whys. Now the rest of verse 11 says, "Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them." and that tells us that Asaph has seen God work in other times. The who he was talking to has what it takes to take care of their problems and that is so important for us to dwell on to strengthen ou...

Proverbs 13:4 (NLT), "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." Monday... Yes, there is a definite difference. There are some things in life that we do that have control and that really do make a definite difference. Solomon writes in Proverbs 13:4 (NLT), "Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper." I know, I know, after a busy weekend we're not too sure about this working hard and if it is worth it but it is. Now the source is important. Psalm 73:23-26 says, "Yet, I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom in heaven have I but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." So why in the world would I be lazy when God is my source and my strength? Back to Proverbs 13. Verse 11 says, "Wealth from get-ri...

Psalm 70:4 (NLT), "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is so great!'" Friday... So, what do we do when we have a choice? That is a good question here on this Friday morning. Throughout our lives we will have choices. We will. Now if we have the attitude that David has, it makes such a difference. He writes in Psalm 70:4, NLT), "But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, 'God is so great!' David's son, Solomon also has some good thoughts in Ecclesiastes 10. In verse 2 he says, "A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one." Verse 10 says, "Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed." And then verses 12-14, "Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their ...

Luke 4:14 (NLT), "Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit's power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region." Thursday... How do you  feel after this happens? Luke writes in 4:1-2 {NLT), "Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry." And that was the devil's first temptation. Verses 3-4 says, "Then the devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'No! The scriptures says, '"People do not live by bread alone"'" Each of us will be tempted. It happened to Jesus 3 times at this particular time but he handled it and we also will be tempted and we too can handle it with God ion our lives. No and scripture makes a big difference in how we handle it. Ye...

Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NLT), "How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening harshness." Wednesday... It is one of the great gifts from God. It really is! Solomon who was one of the wisest men ever says in Ecclesiastes 8:1 (NLT), "How wonderful to be wise, to analyze and interpret things. Wisdom lights up a person's face, softening harshness." Now being smart is also a good thing but wisdom goes beyond smart. Yes, it is fun to get A's on our tests but it is so great to be able to analyze and interpret things. To have that person and even yourself say, "Now that makes sense." and to see your's and their face light up because you have the answer to whatever you and they are facing. Verses 5-6 says, "Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right, for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble....

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NLT), "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." Tuesday... Have you ever changed your mind? Have you ever started something? You believed it was a very good thing to do. You felt clear and then started it but at some point you started thinking that maybe it wasn't the right thing to do. It was too hard so you decided to not finish it. In other words, you changed your mind. Now in my reading Ecclesiastes 7 this morning I came across verse 8 (NLT), "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." Sometimes in the middle of something that we think we are to do we start thinking that maybe I should quit. It doesn't seem like it is falling into place the way I think it should. Our pride can get in the way of our wisdom, our patience.. Again Solomon says here, "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride." At some point in this past year Margaret and I thought we were doi...

Psalm 66:5 (NLT), "Come and see what God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people." Monday... Let's come and see! There is so much to see in God's Word. Here the writer of Psalm 66:5 (NLT) says , "Come and see what God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people." And being in God's Word is a great place to be as we start a new day and a new week. Now the Psalmist then takes us through some past miracles from God. It is always good even on a Monday to remember what God has done and of course we are just coming out of our celebration of Jesus being resurrected from the dead. Yes, the greatest of all of God's miracles I finished yesterday reading in the Gospel of Mark and of his view of Jesus' life and death and in Mark 16 of His resurrection but today I started looking at the beginning of Jesus life in Luke's Gospel. Now in chapter 1 it starts differently of the three other gospels. In starts with an angel coming to a...

Mark 14:38 (NKJV), "Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Friday... He was definitely an example. Jesus on this Good Friday definitely was an example for us. He knew where our battles are won. Now on the day before, Jesus had brought his disciples together to encourage them. They had heard all that He had said but they still didn't really understand what was about to happen. And that is true of us in so many situations. Yes, what we call the Last Supper was a very special time but after it the real battle began. We in our humanness have so many temptations and Jesus had a human side. He knew what needed to be done by them and by Him to face what was about to happen. His Spiritual side knew there was a battle in His human side that needed to be won. So they all headed to a Garden. I just read Ecclesiastes 3 and in verse 8b (MSG) Solomon says, "A right time to wage war and another to make peace." and Jesus knew wh...

Psalm 63:1 (NLT), "I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him." Thursday... So, let's wait quietly. Now waiting quietly is so difficult and it is dependent upon who we believe is in control. Now if we think it is us then we are not so quiet are we? Now King David writes in Psalm 63:1 (NLT), "I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him." I am also reading a chapter a day in the book of Ecclesiastes and it is a very honest book. Solomon is the writer and he is known as the wisest man who has ever lived. He also wrote the book of Proverbs and I spend a lot of time in that book.  Now in the first verse of chapter 2 (NLT) of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes, "I said to myself, 'Come on, let's try pleasure. Let's look for the '"good things"' in life.' But I found that this too, was meaningless." And he goes on and comes to the conclusion that all in life that we really give ourselves totally to do are ...

Psalm 31:1 (AMP), "In You, O LORD, I have placed my trust and taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness rescue me." We are living in a difficult time. It seems that the way of a Christ-follower may not be a popular way especially in some circles. Now, David also saw the potential in his day. In Psalm 31:1 (AMP) he says, "In You, O LORD, I have placed my trust and taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; In Your righteousness rescue me." Yes, he implies that if he puts his trust in God then there is a potential to be ashamed and he asks God, "Let me never be ashamed." You would think that if we put our trust in God and all that comes from that we wouldn't have problems with being ashamed but in verse 4 (NLT) he asks God to "Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me." And that is so true today. Yes, there are so many traps out there but David continues in this verse to say something that we really, really need to remember, t...