Trivia:
Yes, the country that has no taxes is the Bahama Islands. These islands impose no taxes on its residents. Therefore many wealthy Americans have set up residence on them. This has also made banking industry the number one business.
Do you know what the name of the holes in a shoe where the laces pass through? Grommet; Agelet; Eyelet; Medallion. Make your guess.
Psalm 86:1-4 Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. 2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. YUou are my God. 3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. 4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help."
Do you know the requirements of true, deep down, constant joy? (or as David speaks of it here happiness) The answer to this question is found in the next part of verse 4 "I give myself to you."
In this section of verses David lays out for us the necessary ingredients of a joy filled life.
Vs. 2 the desire to serve & totally place our trust in God Almighty
Vs. 3 to pray constantly to our Heavenly Father for forgiveness, guidance, and wisdom in every part of our daily journey
I was talking casually yesterday to a grandparent as we were both caring for each of our younger grand child. They were busily, joyously, playing on the play structure before us. The discussion of wisdom came up and they asked me what I meant by the statement on my hat. "God is good, all the time." I told them that the reason I looked to God for wisdom was due to that very fact. I could know that His guidance in my life could always be known to bring benefit, (wisdom) because I also knew that every instruction He passed on in my life was to the intent of good for me.
The question then moved to how could I know that God guided me in this way? I told them by listening to Him in the Bible. Then the next question was, How could I be assured the Bible wasn't just some book written by men. I then ask them; How do they know that the scientist, doctor, teacher is worthy of our trust? They quickly responded by the outcome that came to our life as a result of following their guidance.
I then recounted to them that in my life as I read and studied the historical writings of the Bible, it without fail brought benefit and blessing to those who followed its teachings. (Israel, early believers, even His warnings of harmful activities) They ask a few additional questions about various circumstances and people and I laughed and then guided them to consider the ultimate benefit that was brought through these long term circumstances in the Bible.
We parted our ways and they promised to begin to read the Bible with this outlook, as a Wisdom Book, rather than only as a Prayer Book.
We then parted with our grandchildren, to feed them lunch and a nap.
We need to GO WITH GOD each day seeking to uncover a new bit of truth each time we read from Him. Oh my dear one, it is vital that we learn this one lesson. "Give yourself to our Father." Trust the wisdom that He desires to teach us in This Divine Book, for it is bound in the ribbon of unfailing love, and enriched in His desire to bring goodness, and helpful guidance to our lives. (WISDOM)
Eyelet