Can there be any better way to start a Monday than a reminder like this:

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV 

There are times in our lives when things just don’t come our way quick enough. Periods of restlessness, or frustration or apparent indecision or failure.  It’s during these times that verses like this remind us who is in control and who’s time-table we follow.

These verses are especially captivating for me now.

40 I waited patiently for the Lord;

Today, I wanted to share a few words from the Christ that I have found extremely difficult to keep in the forefront of my mind over the last several days.  However, it’s something that when we obey, it makes the world such a better place.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 (NASB)

As I thought about this verse and it’s positive impacts on the day to day of our lives, I was reminded of this post from the archives.

It’s seems everyone is getting in the act on this July 11 to give away free or greatly reduced food.  7-11, claiming this date as their own is giving away free Slurpees all day! Chick-fil-a is giving away free food to anyone dressed to look like a cow on Cow Appreciation Day.   Not to be outdone,  Krispy Kreme is celebrating 77 years of glazed goodness by selling a dozen donuts for only 77 cents.

Yeah!

And as always, salvation is always free.

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

I was listening to Andy Stanley’s “Your Move” podcast on my run this morning.  By the way, if you are looking for something  easy to listen to, yet full of common sense and practical ways to live out your Christian walk, I really recommend that you listen to the podcast or watch the series online, or on TV ( it’s on after SNL).

Anyway, I was listening to the podcast during my run this morning, catching up on a few weeks of episodes in the Guardrails series.  During one of the talks, Andy mentioned a Proverb about how the prudent see danger and take action, while the fool just keeps on going.

I had heard this Proverb before, but I did not realize that the same Proverb is in the book of Proverbs two times.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 22:3 (NIV)

Not once but twice

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12 (NIV)

It would seem that this is something that maybe we should consider as we walk each and every day if the writer of Proverbs thought is was worth including twice?
What do you think?