Monday, August 19, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS
August 16
Psalms 103:17But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children.
Some people can't understand how the raging, harsh God of the Old
Testament can be the same God of love in the New Testament. Has God
really changed? Of course not. God is the same in all times and in all
places. What has changed is men and women's views of God. It is
difficult to make sense of all that God does, and we all must do our
best to understand Him. From the beginning of time until this day, God
is the same. The righteousness He held forth for the children of Israel
is the same righteousness He holds forth for us today. In a world where
all else changes so quickly, we can find great security in knowing that
our Lord never changes.
Prayer: Be the anchor in my life, O Lord, so that I
might not be tossed around by all the winds of change in my world. Make
my faith constant; remaining true to You. Amen.
'That 70s Show' actress Lisa Robin Kelly dies
The actress, 43, died in a rehab facility of unknown causes.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Wisdom from the Psalms
August 15
Psalms 103:15As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
Deanna built a career on her looks. She had been the dream girl of
Hollywood and had loved living the fast life. Now, her looks were fading
and Deanna had nothing to fall back on. She had believed her charmed
life would never end, but the hard reality was that she no longer could
bank on her beauty.
We are given each day as a gift. Once a day is gone, it can never be
recaptured. Too often we live our lives as if they are going to go on
forever just as they are. Lives change, and we need to be ready to
change with them. God helps us to accept where we are and to grow to new
levels of maturity. Before this day passes and is gone, call upon the
Lord to help you make the most of it. Then, when the new day dawns, be
ready for the challenges it brings.
Prayer: Help me to live for what is important this
day, so that I might truly be ready for all the days to come. Your gifts
are so won derful, Lord. Please don't allow me to take them for
granted. Amen.
Excessive Alcohol Use Costs $223.5 Billion Annually, CDC Reports
“It is striking to see most of the costs of excessive drinking in states and D.C. are due to binge drinking, which is reported by about 18 percent of U.S. adults,” report author Dr. Robert Brewer, alcohol program lead at CDC, said in a statement.
CBS News reports the median state cost associated with excessive alcohol use was $2.9 billion; about $2 of every $5 was paid for by the government. Alcohol-related costs totaled almost $32 billion in California, compared with $420 million in North Dakota.
The authors concluded costs due to excessive drinking largely came from losses in workplace productivity, healthcare expenses and costs resulting from criminal justice expenses, motor vehicle crashes and property damage. The report found underage drinking accounted for $24.6 billion, or 11 percent, of the total excessive drinking costs.
The findings are published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
In 2012, the CDC released a report that found 38 million American adults are binge drinkers, and most of them are ages 18 to 34. Binge drinking is defined as men who have five or more drinks in one sitting, and women who have four or more drinks at one time.
The CDC recommends a number of strategies to reduce alcohol-related costs, including increasing alcohol taxes, limiting the number of alcohol retailers in certain areas and holding retailers liable for selling alcohol to obviously intoxicated people or minors who cause death or injury to others.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS
August 14
Psalms 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
A woman asked God for forgiveness for a sin she had committed. He granted her pardon, but she had a tough time forgetting what she had done. She just couldn't let go of her guilt. In desperation she returned to God to ask His forgiveness once more. When she asked Him to remember what she had done, He said, "I can't remember what you're talking about. It never happened. Once sin is forgiven, it is dropped into the sea of forgetfulness, and it is no more. Go your way. No one condemns you; not even I."
It is not that God has a bad memory, but that His love is so complete and boundless that He will not retain the memory of something we ask to be forgiven for. He erases the sins from our slate, and we start fresh. As far as the east is from the west, that is how far God removes our sin from us.
Prayer: Though I don't deserve Your loving care and forgiveness, Lord, I conti nually thank You that You give it to me so freely. Help me to accept it graciously, and to know that You hold nothing against me once I ask Your pardon. Amen.
Own Your Own Copy of this Devotional <Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com>
Psalms 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
A woman asked God for forgiveness for a sin she had committed. He granted her pardon, but she had a tough time forgetting what she had done. She just couldn't let go of her guilt. In desperation she returned to God to ask His forgiveness once more. When she asked Him to remember what she had done, He said, "I can't remember what you're talking about. It never happened. Once sin is forgiven, it is dropped into the sea of forgetfulness, and it is no more. Go your way. No one condemns you; not even I."
It is not that God has a bad memory, but that His love is so complete and boundless that He will not retain the memory of something we ask to be forgiven for. He erases the sins from our slate, and we start fresh. As far as the east is from the west, that is how far God removes our sin from us.
Prayer: Though I don't deserve Your loving care and forgiveness, Lord, I conti nually thank You that You give it to me so freely. Help me to accept it graciously, and to know that You hold nothing against me once I ask Your pardon. Amen.
Own Your Own Copy of this Devotional <Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com>
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