Tag Archives: Today IS Today!

Living Today, Today??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #269

06 Sunday Oct 2024

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Living Today, Today???   A Word from THE WORD!!! #269

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

“Boast not thyself

of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

Jesus has much to say about our living by faith and that means living this day—today!  It is totally evident as He taught His disciples to pray.

“After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day

our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power,

and the glory,

for ever. Amen.”  Matthew 6:9-13

As we learn to pray, we see that Jesus sets our eyes and our hearts on God, His Kingdom, and His will—today, and Matthew records even more that makes it clear.

“Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow

shall take thought for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

Oh, that we (me as much as anyone) can learn to live in the today—not always looking for what’s coming tomorrow.  James talks about this principle, and we need to heed it in our day as much as any time in history; yet it is not anything new, as James addresses the same issue to the believers of his day.

“Go to now, ye that say,

To day

or to morrow

we will go into such a city,

and continue there a year,

and buy and sell,

and get gain:

14 Whereas ye know not

what shall be on the morrow.

For what is your life?

It is even a vapour,

that appeareth for a little time,

and then vanisheth away.

15 For that ye ought to say,

If the Lord will,

we shall live,

and do this,

or that.

16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings:

all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,

and doeth it not,

to him it is sin.”  James 4:13-17

This leaves the question, are we going God’s way, in God’s time and for God’s glory are we going our own way, in our own time and usually for our own glory?  Ouch!  And as we think about living in the day, living in submission to God, and pursuing the things of the Spirit, trusting in our God and not our undisciplined flesh, what are we choosing to do and be?  Jesus gives us great insight as we go back to Matthew.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures

upon earth,

 where moth and rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves break through and steal:

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures

in heaven,

where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieves do not break through

nor steal:

21 For where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye:

if therefore thine eye be single,

thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil,

thy whole body shall be full of darkness.

If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness,

how great is that darkness!

24 No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other;

or else he will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you,

Take no thought for your life,

what ye shall eat,

or what ye shall drink;

nor yet for your body,

what ye shall put on.

Is not the life more than meat,

and the body than raiment?”  Matthew 6:19-25

As we think about these things, Jesus isn’t saying don’t work and provide for your own needs, but He is saying that we are to seek Him and His ways first, even as we mentioned above.

“33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow

shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof…”

Jesus teaches us about one who focused on self and tomorrow, rather than seeking God to direct his steps today.  May we take heed to His warning.

“And he said unto them,

Take heed, and beware of covetousness:

 for a man’s life consisteth not

in the abundance of the things

which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying,

The ground of a certain rich man

brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying,

What shall I do,

because I have no room

where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said,

This will I do:

I will pull down my barns,

and build greater;

and there will I

bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul,

Soul, thou hast much goods laid up

for many years;

take thine ease,

eat,

drink,

and be merry.

20 But God said unto him,

Thou fool,

this night thy soul shall be required of thee:

then whose shall those things be,

which thou hast provided?

21 So is he

that layeth up treasure for himself,

       and is not rich

toward God.”  Luke 12:15-21

May you hear the voice of The Lord?

Amen and Amen!!!

Today Is Important??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

18 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, The Word, TODAY, Today And Tomorrow, Today is the day of Salvation, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, Too Late To Call?

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Today Is Important???    A Word from THE WORD!!! #251

“Now therefore

fear the LORD,

and serve him

in sincerity and in truth:

and put away the gods which your fathers served

on the other side of the flood,

and in Egypt;

and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD,

choose you this day whom ye will serve;

whether the gods which your fathers served

that were on the other side of the flood,

or the gods of the Amorites,

in whose land ye dwell:

but as for me and my house,

we will serve the LORD.”  Joshua 24:14-15

We all fall into the habit of thinking and saying, “I can do that tomorrow! Right?” Well, maybe we can and maybe we can’t; as Joshua told the people of Israel, we are to “choose you this day” what we will do, whom we will follow, whom we will serve—God or ourselves (and remember whatever you put before God is your choice!)!  We can only live in the todays; for only God knows what tomorrow holds—and you can trust Him!

“Boast not thyself of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

We must remember that the choices we make today, will affect tomorrow, and sometimes many tomorrows; that is why it is important to choose wisely today. I want to share a few things that may help us make wise choices.  The Psalmist shares great principles of living godly, it’s one of my favorites.

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the LORD;

and in his law

doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly

shall perish.”  Psalm 1:1-6

Consider the contrast that the Psalmist makes between the one who chooses to delight in God and His ways, and the ungodly who go their own way—and don’t forget that God keeps accurate accounts, and there is a consequence to every choice.  You and I are free to choose our actions but not the consequences.  And remember we will always reap what we sow, later than we sowed it, and more than we sowed!

Notice the principle here, the blessed man, chooses to cling to godly things and avoid the harmful things that will draw us away from God; yet when we choose the things of God, we will be able to stand like a tree “planted by the rivers of water”; fruitful, unwithered, and successful in following God’s path.

The ungodly “are not so”!  Remember that!  Make wise choices.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together

with unbelievers:

for what fellowship hath righteousness

with unrighteousness?

and what communion hath light

with darkness?”  2 Corinthians 6:14

Be wise in your choice of companions and activities.

“Be not deceived:

evil communications   (or companions)

corrupt good manners.”  1 Corinthians 15:33

The go-to reminder of scripture is from Paul’s letter to the Galatian believers.

“Be not deceived;

God is not mocked:

for whatsoever a man soweth,

that shall he also reap.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh

shall of the flesh reap corruption;

but he that soweth to the Spirit

shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap,

 if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity,

let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them

who are of the household of faith.”   Galatians 6:7-10

Remember that tomorrow will bring and reveal the consequences of what we choose today.  Choose wisely, there is a test.

Amen and Amen!!!

Another Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #92

18 Thursday May 2023

Posted by in A Father's Love, Living TODAY!, This IS The Day, This is the Way

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Another Day??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #92

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

God is the creator of each and every day–HE started them, and He keeps them going–and His blessing is there for us if we will but look up and rely upon HIS care, love and direction.  The problem comes when we go off on our own, believing the lies and schemes of the enemy, Satan!  We have an ever-present God, who cares, loves, and provides when we will but look up, press on and wait upon HIS direction!  What will you do with this day?  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

“He giveth power

to the faint;

and to them that have no might

he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths

shall faint and be weary,

and the young men

shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD

shall renew

their strength;

they shall mount up

with wings as eagles;

they shall run,

and not be weary;

and they shall walk,

and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:29-31

Jesus calls us to follow HIM today, without fretting, fear, or frustration over tomorrow before it gets here.  We are to live in the “today”–the “today” that God gives us each morning, rejoicing in HIM and the task that HE sets before “me” “today”!  I don’t have to worry about your work, or anyone else’s (other than as I am called upon to help others) but I can rejoice in the privilege of serving my KING TODAY!  How about you?  Whose kingdom are you seeking?  Men’s or God’s?

“But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:33-34

So, it’s “today”, what will you do with it?  As I said, it’s your choice, but choose wisely there is a test; and I choose to “rejoice” that:

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”

 Amen and Amen!!!

Is Almost/Tomorrow Too Late??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 06

12 Sunday Apr 2020

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Glory To God, One Day Too Late?, The Resurrection Life!, You can overcome

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 06    Is Almost/Tomorrow Too Late???

 

I have a simple message to share on this Resurrection Sunday—what are you doing with the resurrected Lord Jesus?  Are you waiting for ‘a better time’?  Are you waiting for the ‘perfect’ life?  It will never arrive!  If you keep putting things off—you may find yourself calling on God one day too late!  And if you are His, what are you doing with the power HE has imparted to You?

“For the king knoweth of these things,

before whom also I speak freely:

for I am persuaded that none of these things

are hidden from him;

for this thing was not done in a corner.

27 King Agrippa,

believest thou the prophets?

I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me

to be a Christian.

29 And Paul said,

I would to God,

that not only thou,

but also all that hear me this day,

were both almost,

and altogether such as I am,

except these bonds.”   Acts 26:26-29

Like Paul, my prayer is that you will respond to the Gospel of Jesus; coming to Him in repentance and faith in the risen Lord who gave His life for You and me! It’s why we believers honor this day—for The Lamb slain for our sin, that we might have life.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved

the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever

believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds

should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds

may be made manifest,

that they are wrought

in God.”  John 3:14-21

And when we choose Jesus in response to His call to our hearts, He empowers us to walk in victory, but we must yield ourselves to walk in HIS power not our own; abiding in the vine not our flesh!

“I am the true vine,

and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me

that beareth not fruit

he taketh away:

and every branch

that beareth fruit,

he purgeth it,

that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean

through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit

of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide

in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth much fruit:

 for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:1-5

Won’t you look up to Him and walk forward in HIS power?  My prayer is that you will hear His voice and answer His call!  He IS the answer—are willing to receive it?

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access

by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

 which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

 yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love

toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved from wrath

through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

 we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”  Romans 5:1-11

And with that I’ll simply say, “May God lead you in the way HE has for you”; and I am praying that you hear HIS voice today and learn to walk in HIS overcoming power!!!  Because:

“Ye are of God, little children,

and have overcome them:

because greater is he that is in you,

than he that is in the world.”  1 John 4:4

“For whatsoever is born of God

overcometh the world:

and this is the victory

that overcometh the world,

even our faith.

5 Who is he that overcometh the world,

but he that believeth

that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:4-5

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living Faithfully TODAY??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #587

13 Friday Sep 2019

Posted by in A Father's Love, Broken Hearts, Comfort, Compassion, Faith, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, Follow Jesus, For Such A Time As This, God of all comfort!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Kindness, Knowing God's Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #587   Living Faithfully TODAY???

 

“Boast not thyself

of to morrow;

for thou knowest not

what a day may bring forth.”  Proverbs 27:1

Sometimes we get so focused on ‘tomorrow’ that we forget that we are called to live today!  Not one of us knows what tomorrow may bring, and this is heavy on my heart this morning because we had a tragic accident this week in our community, and it took the life of a fine young man; one who God sent into my life many years ago—and he will be missed sorely.  Yet the thing I hope that we will receive in this time of sorrow, is the urgency of the “hour”; that is to say, it is so important to live today!  Smell the flowers, pass along that kindness, share something with those close to you that only YOU can share, make a difference at every opportunity God gives to you and me!

While we live in a culture that says, ‘spend today—pay tomorrow’, Jesus calls us to walk by faith and trust in HIM today and leave the “tomorrow” to HIM!  I really don’t have much to share other than the power of God’s Word!

“Therefore take no thought, saying,

What shall we eat?

or, What shall we drink?

or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things

do the Gentiles seek:)

for your heavenly Father knoweth

that ye have need

of all these things.

33 But seek ye first

the kingdom of God,

and his righteousness;

and all these things

shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought

for the morrow:

for the morrow shall take thought

for the things of itself.

Sufficient unto the day

is the evil thereof.”  Matthew 6:31-34

Jesus isn’t saying to be unprepared, but to trust Him in every thing that we do!  While it seems a simplistic way to live, it is the life that God calls us to live (and I’m not saying that I always do it well, but we are to pursue God’s ways, even when we don’t understand what’s going on around us—and in our world that’s pretty often!) and I pray that we will humble ourselves before Him, pursuing Him in all we do!  It is a pursuit that will bring hope, confidence, and joy to our own hearts as well as to those we are given the opportunity to encourage and help!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin;

and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding

in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour

is not in vain

in the Lord.”   1 Corinthians 15:54-58

And one of my favorite passages (which those of you who follow my writings have seen before—because it is ever true, and we need to be reminded!):

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5-6

I pray that God will comfort the hurting and grieving, that He will use those of us around them to encourage, help and minister God’s comfort and hope at every opportunity that He places before us.  And if you are grieving, please know that we on the perimeter are praying for you, and God is the greatest ‘heart healer’!

“Blessed be God,

 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies,

and the God of all comfort;

4 Who comforteth us

in all our tribulation,

that we may be able to comfort them

which are in any trouble,

by the comfort wherewith we ourselves

are comforted of God.

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,

so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”    2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Amen and Amen!