Wisdom from the psalms

             August 19Psalms 104:24Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.Timmy did not want to go on the science field trip. Science was so boring. They were going to climb around on rocks and look for fossils of animals dead a half a million years. Big deal! Nothing could interest Timmy less. Then, an amazing thing happened. Timmy was one of the first to find fossilized remains. He held the rock in his hands and traced the fragile trilobite fossil with his finger. He was enthralled by the sight, and a new love was born in Tim's heart. Timmy saw the earth as a treasure house of wonders too magnificent to understand. We ought to take time to study this wonderful world of ours. There is so much to behold. God has done so many wonderful things, and He has given them over to us to enjoy. Search out the riches of God's world, and you will never be poor. Prayer: Have I lost the capacity to believe in miracles, O Lord? Show me the wonders of Your creation. Let me take nothing for granted. Indeed, Lord, make all things new in my eyes. Amen.Own Your Own Copy of this Devotional        

WISDOM FROM THE PSALMS

August 16

Psalms 103:17
But 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.

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'That 70s Show' actress Lisa Robin Kelly dies

USA TODAY staff 4:26 p.m. EDT August 15, 2013

The actress, 43, died in a rehab facility of unknown causes.

(Photo: Kevin Winter Getty Images)

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That 70s Show actress Lisa Robin Kelly has died, according to reports.

The actress, 43, died in a rehab facility of unknown causes.

Kelly's agent, Craig Wyckoff released the following statement to People:

"Unfortunately Lisa Robin Kelly passed away last evening. Lisa had voluntarily checked herself into a treatment facility early this week where she was battling the addiction problems that have plagued her these past few years.

"I spoke to her on Monday and she was hopeful and confident, looking forward to putting this part of her life behind her. Last night she lost the battle. Cause of death has not been issued yet and no death certificate has been issued either."

Kelly played Laurie Forman, the older sister of the Topher Grace character, Eric Forman, on the hit Fox show, which aired from 1998-2006.

Kelly had a troubled past. She was arrested June 23 on suspicion of drunken driving. Kelly and her husband, Robert Joseph Gilliam, were arrested last November in connection with a disturbance at their home in Mooresville, N.C., a suburb of Charlotte.

Wisdom from the Psalms

August 15

Psalms 103:15
As 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.

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Excessive Alcohol Use Costs $223.5 Billion Annually, CDC Reports

By Join Together Staff | August 14, 2013 | Leave a comment | Filed in Alcohol

Excessive alcohol use costs the United States $223.5 billion annually, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Binge drinking accounts for more than 70 percent of these costs.
“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.