I'd rather not live a laughable life. It is enough to be like a green olive tree in the house of God. In fact it is plenty.

Psalm 52:6-8

The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,

"Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm52:6-8&version=NKJV

To what do you aspire? Conquering your world? Feeling soul-less? Here is the red letter answer to your woes.

Luke 9:25
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
Bible Gateway link: Luke 9:25 (NKJV)

So, do you have the highly paid job god, or the ivy league school god, or the right social circle god, how about the pretty house god or the expensive car god? When we lose touch with God over such things, we chance losing everything.

Judges 10:13-14
Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more.
“Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.”
Bible Gateway link: Judges 10:13-14

If my brother did this to me, I'd want to slap him but I would forgive him. If he did it 7 times I'd give up, deciding he was hopeless. It is a long journey to Christian maturity, thank God I have red letters to guide me.

Luke 17:3-4

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Bible Gateway link: Luke 17:3-4 (NKJV)

Amazing! I once was lost but now am found. You? If you are still lost, you can be that 1 in 99.

Luke 15:7

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Bible Gateway link: Luke 15:7 (NKJV)

I am so discouraged by the way things are going in the world. Then I read again today that God is faithful. It is such a basic theme of the Bible. Who do I think I am to judge such things?

Joshua 21:43-45
Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.
And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands.
Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
Bible Gateway lnk: Joshua 21:43-45 (ESV)

Healing! We think we all want it, but do we? After years of being bent over by our sins, do we really want to start all over learning to stand up straight? Yes! Use your God-given courage. Stand up. Live. Let's give Him a chance to free us.

Luke 13:11-13
And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself.
When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”
And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.
Bible Gateway link: Luke 13:11-13

Climate change? Really? When people start thinking they know better than God, we're in trouble.

Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
Bible Gateway link: Psalm 46:1-3

He knows what I need. Why am I anxious? This red letter advice seems directed right to me. You?

Luke 12:29-31
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Bible Gateway link: Luke 12:29-31

When the demons are roaming the earth looking for me, these are the red letter words that always save me.

Luke 11:1-4
Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
Bible Gateway link: Luke 11:1-4 (NKJV)

Feeling sophisticated, rational, superior even? Here's a red letter observation about that.

Luke 10:21
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Bible Gateway link: Luke 10:21 (NKJV)

Why can't we just take this to heart? Think how our attitudes would change if we believed this.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Bible Gateway Link: Joshua 1:9 (NKJV)

Choose life.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
Bible Gateway link: Deuteronomy 30:19

Have you ever experienced that magical release of all kinds of endorphins at once. In red letters, it is: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. It happens when you help God on earth. You've got to try it!

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Bible Gateway Link: Luke 6:38