Start The Day

 Start the Day 

^" The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know what makes them stumble."

(Proverbs 4:18& 19)           

            Those who have known me long know I have always been a morning person. I think there is no better time of day than early morning, even sunrise. There is no prettier sight than the sun coming up out of the sea off of Boston, the early light on the first tee waiting for enough daylight to see the ball's flight, or the sun coming up over a mountain when viewed from a canoe while fishing. I am blessed because the first light is a spiritual event to me. 

Each sunrise starts a new beginning, a new opportunity to do better, and a new opportunity to do God's work. Yesterday is gone and can not be changed, and our future is today and beyond. 

These devotionals started as something to do during the early hours. The newscasts on TV were (and still are) depressing. The newspapers are full of bad news. It seems that bad news sells. Tomorrow you will see a "first light." It may be mid-morning if you are a late sleeper or a sunrise. Either way, it is a new beginning, a new opportunity. It will be the first day of the rest of your life. Spend it with hope and joy. 

Thought for Today: There will be seven days this week. Each is a fresh start. Let us feel the spirit in the first light, the blessing of a new day. Let us live the first day of the rest of our lives with faith and the joy of the Lord. 

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for the sunrise, the new beginning, new opportunity. We pray we may use this opportunity to do your will here on earth.Amen

Our World 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding.”

(Proverbs 3 vs. 5) 

            As an octogenarian, I constantly wonder about the direction society is going. Remember the good old days? It seems that whatever age you are, they exist. Two of my mom's favorite expressions were "Live and Learn." and "The more you know, the more you don't know." By now, we “Octos” know it all. Hah.

 

            In the 50s, TV was going to ruin us. We spent more time watching it than reading, but we still read books. Then years later, we bought an Apple IIE computer, and a new age began. In our ever-evolving society, the only constant in the human race is “change.”

 

            What has not changed? Nature. We still have four seasons; the sun rises and sets; tides ebb and flow. It is September, and here in the northland, the evenings are cool, school has started, and a few leaves are turning.

           

            Man’s technology changes the way we operate. Our constant is our God-given world. We will read on our phones and tablets and send emails through cyberspace. All the while, God’s world will continue to evolve.

Thought for Today: Let's give thanks for the many fall activities; school begins, kids are excited, and the formal learning process starts. To some, the start of the fall sports season is meaningful. To others, the fall means hunting and being outdoors. It would be easy amongst all the activities to forget God. Remember that all this is God's work, and give thanks for it all.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we thank you for your patient love. We hope and pray that we may use that love to understand this complex world and apply it to everyone's benefit.

Amen

 

Trust

Trust 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your understanding."

(Proverbs 3:5). 

            We often try to make things happen in our lives, driving toward human goals while conforming to modern society's standards. It is easy to get diverted from a solid spiritual track functioning our way rather than the Lord's way. 

            Am I ready and willing to do God's will? If so, how do I know God's will? The ten commandments are a good place to start. What the Lord has in mind for you may take you by surprise. Perhaps it is best expressed by Isaiah 55:8-9: 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

 neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

 'As the heavens are higher than the earth,

 so are my ways higher than your ways

 and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."

 

            Knowing God's will cannot be a power struggle; he wants our will to be submissive to him. The more we value control and power, the more significant battle we will have. To be at peace, He needs to be in charge. 

Thought for Today: Today, let's try to do God's will through our daily activities. He can and will resolve our problems. 

Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, we search for clues to help do your will. We pray that we can contribute to making your world a better place.

Amen

 

Somebody

Pray for world peace and all who are living without peace.

 Somebody

“For it was you who formed my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The Lord works in strange ways. When I write these devotions, I do not know what the results will be. Sometimes it is from an outside source placed before me. This is one of those occasions, and it is close to plagiarism.

A pastor, good friend, and retired minister wrote, “Everybody is Somebody-including you and me.” We all know that we are winners because the Lord is with us. Pastor Mike said it in a similar way that reinforces the thought. Below is a crucial paragraph from Mike:

“…My theology and values are centered on the conviction that because we are created in the image of God, each of us is valued and has deep within us the potential to reflect the goodness and beauty of our Creator. Therefore, being of Norwegian or German descent, African or Korean, tall or short, gay or straight, rich or poor is not a determining factor in our worth as human beings. We are valued because we are created in the image of God.”

My thanks to Pastor Mike Miller.

Thought for Today: Today, we will have battles we do not expect. Let us be winners with God’s help, no matter how the battle turns out. Plus: We have the parts and the image to be of value. Enjoy your week.

Prayer for Today: Dear Lord, we give thanks for who and what we are; your image here on earth. Amen

Birthday Special

 

 Birthday Special 

“Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens,

always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Jesus Christ.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

 Each year on my birthday, I give thanks for something learned as a YMCA brat in my youth. The symbol for the Y is a triangle, and each side has a meaning, “spirit, mind, and body.” Each year I give thanks for my role as a father, son, and place in society. But let’s talk a bit about what it takes to be in a good place with ourselves. It is being selfish, yes, being selfish in pursuit of a healthy self: mentally, physically, and spiritually. In each of our lives, we must fit into niches in society; a family, a workplace, and a social setting. We do best when the three sides of our triangle are in a healthy balance. 

In all areas of our lives, it is essential to demonstrate the forgiveness and love that comes from spirituality. We need to be physically fit enough to deal with the long days without being fatigued and run down. Also, we need to be mentally sharp when making life decisions. That is a lot to ask of mortals and not an easy task. So be a bit selfish. Take care of yourself so that you may be all that

 God wants you to be and be capable of doing His work when the opportunity presents itself to you. Take care of yourself to be all that your family needs you to be. Remember the logo of the YMCA, spirit, mind, and body. Keep fit and enjoy life.  

Birthday Thought: Today is the day the Lord has made, a day for me to enjoy. Friends will recognizeit, the family will celebrate it, and I will enjoy it. It is a blessing that we all have and a great day to givethanks to the Lord for all of our many blessings. 

Birthday Prayer: Heavenly Father, today is a special day, the day that you brought me into your service. Throughout this day, I thank you for all the opportunities you have provided me and the chance to have a healthy relationship with family and friends. Today I will often hear the words “happy birthday.”

To those words, I say, “Thanks be to God.”

Amen

Our Body our Temple

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit,

who is in you, whom you have received from God?”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV

            Yes, we own our temple, and it needs constant maintenance. Those who know me are expecting a dialog regarding diet and exercise. As an octogenarian, those are important. But being a happy elder is all about the Spirit.

            Many octogenarians are angry, and I do not mean unhappy. Life is not perfect, and how we deal with negativity makes the difference. Yes, in aging, we lose capabilities and hopefully taper into our “end of life experience.” As Christians, I plead with you to be elderly and happy. Let your family remember your smile and your laugh.

            Thought for Today: Let’s do what we need to be happy.

            Prayer For Today: We Pray that as we approach our end on earth, people will remember us as grateful and happy stewards of our Christian faith.

 

Winning

Winning

 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so

that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we have

received from God."

 (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). 

            Who in our lives are the winners? Some say the one with the most toys wins. That is a materialistic one-liner that gives me goosebumps. However, in our society today, we pursue "things" instead of happiness and peace. So, who are the real winners, and how do they win? 

God placed us here to be his stewards, with our priority to be sharing the gifts we received from Him with others. That seems to be a very tall order. However, we always feel great when we have reached out and helped a friend or stranger. 

God gives us resources in many different forms. We have money that we earn and the knowledge that we have learned. We graciously share these things with our families and children, making us feel good. Many people also reach out beyond their family units and share. There are ways to share and sow the seeds God has given us to plant, and we are real winners when we share our gifts. 

Thought for Today: Let us look for an opportunity to help someone, perhaps someone who is sick, hurting, or lonely. If we fail in finding someone, let's share some extra with our Church. Sharing a bit will make us feel better. 

Prayer for Today:  Heavenly Father, we live in a troubled world. Civil unrest, road rage, families in strife, and other tragic incidences. Today we pray for an opportunity to help and share with someone and demonstrate your Grace through our actions.

Amen.