Today's Beginning

Romans 12:12 (AMP), " constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength]." Friday... Yes, let's keep at it and see what happens. What a tremendous chapter Paul writes while in prison in Rome. Romans 12 is so filled with encouragement and direction. Here in verse 12 (AMP) he says, "constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength." Yes, Paul was living in a house but he had a Roman guard with him all the time making sure he wouldn't leave Rome. He had court dates on his calendar but in the middle of all he was going through he writes in verse 12 encouragement in what we need to do in our lives. He says what he was doing, He was "constantly rejoicing in hope." No matter what he was going through he constantl...

Romans 11:33 (NLT), "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Thursday... Now this is so important to see. Yes, it is important for us to really see how great God is in his mercy and his grace. We really don't deserve what he has done and is doing for us and others. Paul in his writing to the gentiles in Rome says in Romans 11:33 (NLT), "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" Yes, God has given us his Word and he has given us his Holy Spirit to show us his riches and wisdom and teach each of us his knowledge and show us his decisions and his ways but we are still humans with ideas of our own. Now there is a lot of discussion about the Jews of our day. Paul in his writing in verses 28-32 says, "Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you...

Romans 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ."  Wednesday... We are always looking for good news. And in this world of TV and the Internet it is really hard to find good news. It really is. But Paul writes in his letter to the Romans in 10:17 (NLT), "So faith comes from hearing, that is hearing the Good News about Christ." But even so much of what is being shared is not Good News. Now Pauls says in verse 11 (AMP), "For the Scripture says, 'WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations.]" Yes that is Good News but so many have not heard that. In verse 2 (NLT) Paul says about the children of Israel and probably a lot of us, "I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal." So many have not heard the Good News. Verse 3 says, "For they don't understand God's way of making people right with hi...

Proverbs 28:25b (AMP), "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Tuesday... There are different ways to live. But not all of them work at least in the long haul. Proverbs 28:25b (AMP) says, "But he who trusts in the LORD will be blessed and prosper." Yes, trusting in the LORD is the way to live. Now verse 26 says, "He who trusts confidently in his own heart is a [dull, thickheaded] fool, but he who walks in [skillful and godly] wisdom will be rescued." The NIV says, "Those who trust in their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe." And too many times we take the path of foolishness instead of the path of safety. David writes in Psalm 28:7 (AMP), "The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrabile] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Hi...

Psalm 27:13 (NLV), "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living." Monday... So where do we get confidence? How is this day, this week looking? Are you confident that you can handle whatever comes your way? Yes, there can be so many things that come into our lives and blow away our confidence. David says in Psalm 27:3a, "Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid." Can we say that today? There is a lot of unrest in our world. Verse 10a says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me." A lot of that is going around too. But David says in verse 13a, "Yet I am confident." Verse 3 says, "Though a mighty army surround me, my heart will not be afraid, Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident." Verse 10 says, "Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close." And verse 13 says, "Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness w...

Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT), "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Friday... Our home is such an important place. It really is. Proverbs 24:3-4 (NLT) says, "A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables." Now the Amplified Bible amplifies it. It says, "Through [skillful and godly] wisdom a house [a life, a home, a family] is built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], and by knowledge its rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches." Yes, good families, lives and homes do not just happen. They are built by skillful and godly wisdom, by understanding and they are established on a sound and good foundation and by knowledge. Yes, they do not just happen. Now verse 1 gives us some problems that destroy ...

Proverbs 23:4 (NLT), "Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit." Thursday... Yes, there are choices. In so many ways our desires, our wants controls us. Even at this age that I am living my desire strives to control me. Do you want to get rich? Oh if I had all that money I know I would be happy, I would be at peace. Even in our older age we need need need or it is better to say we want want want. But I am finding there is another choice that makes all the difference and that is wisdom. Now a big portion of the Proverbs in the Old Testament of the Bible was written by the wisest man who ever lived and he also was the wealthiest. Chapter 1:1-4 says, "These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel. Their purpose is to teach wisdom and discipline. to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. The...

  Romans 5:5a (NLT), "And this hope will not lead to disappointment." Wednesday... Now this hope doesn't disappoint. There can be so much out there that we hope for. What is your major hope for today? What is the major hope for your life? Did you wake up today with a hope? I had a guy at my coffee shop say they liked my Los Angeles Dodgers hat. I got two new ones for my birthday. That is all I ever hope for so I am always rewarded. Now that of course is not a major hope. What if my kids bought me something else? I would be glad for whatever it is because my kids got it for me. But I am glad to get a new Dodgers hat. Sometimes we are very disappointed when we don't get what we hope for. A lot of people were really disappointed when their soccer team didn't win the World Cup. Only one nation got what they hoped for. There were a lot of tears at the end of that last match. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans says something that is really encouraging. In Roma...

  Proverbs 21:31 (NLT) says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory belong to the LORD." Tuesday... Do we really believe? Oh, we may really believe in our self and our abilities and we know that we will be victorious but is that really the truth? We may have real faith in us but is that really enough? Now Proverbs 21:31 (NLT) gives another thought. It says, "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory belong to the LORD." Wait a minute, we are prepared, we have what it takes so we will be victorious. And so many really believe that? Now the proverb right before this, verse 30 says, "There is no [human]wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the LORD." None! Yes the answer to, do we really believe in ourselves may be true but is that really enough? The NLT says verse 30 this way, "No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the LORD." And that is ...

  Psalm 20:7 (NIV), "Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." Monday... Yes, this we can know! It can be so easy for us to start our days, our week with some desires that just might happen. David in Psalm 20 in the New International Version in verses 1-5 uses the word word, "may" 6 times. Now the word "may" can mean "might" or "expressing a possibility". And verse 6b says, "May the LORD grant all your requests" and that is definitely a great desire and it could be a very real possibility. Now 6 of the "mays" that David writes are about God and one of them is about us. Verse 1 says, "May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the God of Jacob protect you." and verse 5 says, "May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God." And then verse 6 says, "Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anoi...

Romans 2:3 (NLT), "Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?" Friday... Isn't it what we are supposed to do or not? Now we may think that we have a right to judge others. But in reality, we can be wrong. Now I know that it is so easy to have such a high opinion of ourselves and our actions, but we need to be really careful here. Paul in his letter to the Romans in 2:3 (NLT) writes something that should get our attention. He says, "Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things?" Yes, it is so easy to see the imperfections of them and not see us but God does? Now verse 4 is so important for us to see. It says, "Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" ...

Proverbs 16:3 (NLT), "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." Thursday... Yes, we will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) says this, "Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed." And we really want success, don't we? So the writer tells us that we must first commit our actions to the LORD. So it seems like we have a part in this matter of success. There are actions involved. Success doesn't come from just giving our desires and our plans to God and then saying, "OK, it's up to you." Verse 9 says, "We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps." And that is so true. I just finished reading the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament of the Bible. And Paul throughout the book kept saying that he was going to Rome. Now this morning I started reading Paul's letter to the Romans. He wrote this letter on one of his trips. Here in Romans 1:10 Paul writes, "One of the things I always pr...

Acts 28:31 (NIV),  "He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance." Wednesday... It is so easy to think of the end instead of the opportunity. I keep thinking about the end. Now I don't know when that will be but the older I get it seems that I become more focused on it. But is it really what I should be doing? Oh we need to be ready to die. We need to know and take care of our relationship with God. That takes care of the negativity of death. But here is how Luke the writer of the book of Acts finishes the book. A big part of this book is about the Apostle Paul but here is how Luke ends the book. Verses 30 and 31 says, "For two whole years Paul stayed in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance." Luke doesn't tell us how Paul died. He wrote about what he did. A...

  Proverbs 14:3 (NLT), "Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him." Tuesday... There is a way that seems right. Yes we feel we are so smart and we believe we know what the right way looks like. Proverbs 14:12 (AMP) says, "There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but it's end is the way of death." Yes, we feel we are so smart and we know what the right way is, don't we? Now verse 3 (NLT) also says, "Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him." So we need to make sure which is the right path. We need to do what God says. Now over in the book of Acts, Paul was put on a ship as a prisoner to go to Rome. Yes, as we read here in the book of Acts in the Bible it was God's plan for him to go to Rome but there were difficulties. With difficulties we too many times think that this must not be the right path but as we read, God ma...

Psalm 13:5 (AMP), "But I have trusted and relied in and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in your salvation." Monday... So how do I handle a new day? I love the writings of King David in the Old Testament of the Bible. He is so honest and experienced and that is why I have turned to his writings for over 50 years. Now a big portion of the 150 Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible were written by him. And Psalm 13 is a great example in how to handle a new day. In his honesty he starts this Psalm with some questions that I'm sure we sometimes have. In verses 1-2 he speaks from his heart. He asks four questions. He asks, "How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart day after day?" Now that is honesty. Do we ever ask God questions like that? Or do we use those feelings as a reason to not believe in...

Proverbs 10:3 (NLT), "The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked." Friday... Two very interesting words Proverbs 10:3 (NLT) says, "The LORD will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked." The first word that caught my attention was craving. This proverb says "but he refuses the craving of the wicked." Now the problem here is that carvings are never satisfied and the wicked live off of unsatisfied cravings. They keep craving for more. But "The LORD will not let the godly go hungry." The key is they live off of wisdom. Look at these proverbs. Verse 4 says, "Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich." Verse 5, "A wise youth harvests in summer, but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace." Verse 6, "The godly are showered with blessings; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions." "The LORD will not let th...

  Proverbs 9:11-12 (NLT), "Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Thursday... It just is so easy. There are so many voices within us that want to be heard and followed but the voice of wisdom makes all the difference. Yes it does. But it is so easy to follow those other voices, it really is but wisdom is so important. Proverbs 9:11 (NLT) says, "Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life." But those other voices are so loud. They are hard to ignore. Now I have found the book of Proverbs to be a place I need to go on a regular basis and I believe it has added years to my life. Yes, verse 12 is so true, "If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit." And the next part is also true, "If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer." Verse 10 is so important. It says, "Fear of the LORD is the foundat...

Psalm 8:6 (NLT), "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority." Wednesday... He gave us another chance. Here is what David writes in Psalm 8:6 (NLT), "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority." Now if we go back and read those first chapters in the Bible, God did the same thing. He gave authority over everything He had made to Adam and Eve with one stipulation but they blew it for themselves and for all of us. But that wasn't the end. He didn't check us all off of His pad. Yes, He did change some things but He also put into motion giving us another opportunity, another chance. Again David writes in Psalm 8:6 (NLT), "You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority." But do we do the same thing with others and with ourselves? Some haven't forgiven themselves and given themselves another chance to not blow it. What happens w...

Psalm 7:9 (NIV), "Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure - you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts." Tuesday... Being honest is so important. David writes in Psalm 7:9 (NIV), "Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure - you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts." Now God is a righteous God and he probes our minds and heart. Yes, we need to realize that fact and be honest with ourselves and with God. In verse 1, David writes, "LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me." Now he goes on to say in verse 3, "LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands" and verse 5, "then let my enemies pursue and overtake me; let them trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust." The NLT says, "Let them trample me ...

Isaiah 66:2 (NIRV), "'Didn't I make everything by my power? That is how all things were created,' announces the LORD, 'The people I value are not proud. They are sorry for the wrong things they have done. They have great respect for what I say." Monday... Dependency is so important. Now if I am going to depend on someone then who they are and what they have done makes all the difference. Look at what the prophet Isaiah says in 66:2 (NIRV), "'Didn't I make everything by my power? That is how all things were created,' announces the LORD, 'The people I value are not proud. They are sorry for the wrong things they have done. They have great respect for what I say." Yes, the LORD created it all by his power. The Amplified Bible says, "'For all these things My hand has made, so all these things came into being [by and for Me]' declares the LORD." That is where we start. We must believe and that to be the truth. We must dep...

Psalm 3:3 (NLT), "But you O LORD, are a shield around me; you are the glory, the one that holds my head high." Friday... I love its honesty. David writes in Psalm 3:3 (NLT), "But you O LORD, are a shield around me; you are the glory, the one that holds my head high." But that is not where he starts. Verses 1 & 2 says, "O LORD, I have so many enemies; So many are saying, 'God will not rescue him.'" Now, so many end there, they won't go on and they agree with what others say, "'God will not rescue him." Maybe that is where you are today. But not David and not Paul in the New Testament of the Bible. Yes, they understand that life can and will be tough but they are not alone. Paul in Acts 20:23 (NIRV) says, "Now I am going to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit compels me. I don't know what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Spirit warns me. He tells me that I will face prison and suffering." There is...

Acts 19:21 (NLT), "Afterwards Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. 'And after that,' he said, 'I must go to Rome!'" Thursday... But I must go to Rome. Have you ever felt that you needed to do something? You were driven to do it! Acts 19:21 (NLT) says, "Afterwards Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. 'And after that,' he said, 'I must go to Rome!'" There are so many benefits with having a relationship with God. He has a plan and purpose for our life and we can and must be opened to it. Somewhere in all of Paul's journeys he felt that he needed to go to Rome. At some point in his life he felt that he was going there. And it made so much sence. He had gone to Athens and it made sense that if he was going to reach the Gentiles then he needed to go to Rome but not just yet. Now he had spent some time in the town of Ephe...

Psalm 1:1a (NIRV), "Blessed is the person who obeys the law of the LORD." Wednesday... Yes, there are blessings. And yes, there are dos and don'ts that brings about those blessings. Now the Amplified Bible amplifies what blessed means. It says, "Blessed [fortunate, prosperous and favored by God]" and that is a tremendous reward if we follow the dos and don'ts. The New International Version says verse 1 this way. It says, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but." And that word is so important. It shows the other side, it shows where the blessings come from, the dos. Verse 2 says, "but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." Yes, they delight and meditate and they are blessed. Now, we can get so involved in and focused on the dos and don'ts that we miss the blessing. The New Living Translation s...