Today's Beginning

Friday... It ends with a description of someone very special. Proverbs 31 in verses 10 through 31 gives a description of a very worthy woman. It starts off by calling her an excellent woman. We are in a time that we are putting down women and also men instead of lifting each one of us up. There is so much here but look at verses 25-27 and what they say. The Amplified Bible says, "Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure." No, they are not the weaker sex. The writer goes on, "And she smiles at the future [knowing that she and her family are prepared]." We need not be afraid of the future, we just need to be prepared. Verse 26 continues, "She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction]." Now there is a word that we don't see and experience enough and we really do need a lot more of it especially in this world we live in. It is the word, k...

  Thursday... And this is a great way to take care of it. Here is what Psalm 150:2 (NLT) says, "Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness." Praise him for "his unequaled greatness." "Unequaled greatness." "Unequaled." The Amplified Bible says, "Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness." Deuteronomy 3:24 says, "O Lord God, You have only begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth that can do such works and mighty acts (miracles) as Yours?" Good question! Psalm 145:3-4, "Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised, and His greatness is [so vast and profound as to be] unsearchable [incomprehensible to man]. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and declare Your mighty acts." Ok, now look at the problem that is greater than you. In no way can you handle it. You just can't....

Wednesday... It really can be a trap. Proverbs 29:25 (NLT) says, "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety." That is an interesting proverb.  It is so easy for us to live our life in fear but it really can be a trap. Yes there are people who are dangerous but in no way is that true of every one and putting our trust in the Lord can take care of that fear, The Good News Translation says it this way, "It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe." Now somewhere in my past I grabbed on to this thought. The thought is, I am not who I think I am, I am not who you think I am, I am who I think you think I am. Now this is just the way I live, I think everyone likes me. And that takes away the control of what I think other people think of me. But the key is that I have put my trust in the Lord. That is where I am safe. I know and believe that he loves me and he forgives me, and he takes c...

Tuesday... We do not always understand the whys. Over in Acts 16:6 (NLT) it tells of an experience of Paul and Silas. Here is what it says, "Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time."  Margaret and I went this last week from our home in Las Vegas to Denver, Colorado to see our oldest granddaughter graduate from high school. Now we had some snow on Vail Pass with no trouble but as we were headed into Denver our Waze took us another way instead of straight through into Denver. It took a little longer and we didn't know why but there was a three vehicle crash on Interstate 70. And that is the way that the Holy Spirit works in our lives. We didn't know the why until later why we were on highway 6 instead of 70. Did we gripe? No, we accepted the fact that Waze knew something that we didn't know. It could see what we couldn't see.  Loo...

Monday... You matter to Him no matter your age. It is so easy for us to look down on others because of their age. But Proverbs 20:29 (NLT) says, "The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old." God in no way wastes his time putting people down because of their age. We each one have great worth to God. We really do matter to God. Margaret and I are heading out today to Colorado to be apart of our oldest granddaughter's graduation from high school. We are so excited. and she is so happy that we will be there. You see, each one of us in our family matter to each other. Now our middle granddaughter is going with us and their cousins and uncle and aunt are so excited that she is coming. That is what family is all about. We really do love each other no matter our age. I love spending time with all four of my granddaughters and also each of my kids and their mates. I love my family and I pray for each one of them by name every d...

Friday... It is so practical. It really is. When reading through the Bible on a daily basis we can come across so much practical wisdom. God's Word is really alive and so livable. It makes such a difference. Here is what Proverbs 17:14 (NLT) says, "Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out." Did you know that what is happening in the middle east started way back when a man made a wrong decision and it still is being carried out today? It never was resolved. How many divorces were started over a quarrel that was never resolved? Or best friends had a disagreement and it has continued to today and nobody even remembers how it started. Verse 14 in the Amplified Bible says, "The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes]; Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode."   Verse 1 (NLT) says, "Better a dry crust eaten in peac...

Thursday... We have freedom and abilities. Now Psalm 136:1 (AMP) says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness, (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever." Who we are and what abilities we have starts with the fact that God is good. Each day starts with a thankful heart. Okay? Yes, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good." Yes, He is! Yes, He is! But it goes on. Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's mind plans his ways [as he journeys through life]," Yes, God is good and He gives us freedom and abilities but it is not all on us. Verse 9 continues. It says, "But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them." The Messages says, "We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it." Then verse 20 (AMP) says, "He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good." Remember, God is good. "And blessed (happy, prosperous. to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the...