Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:44:40 -0700WeeblyWed, 22 Apr 2026 09:38:27 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-22-20261 Thessalonians 4:18 ESV "Therefore encourage one another with these words.""You can do it!" Today's verse, while rather simple, speaks volumes in how we are to speak to each other! No sooner did I get half way up the aerial ladder, when I heard my officer yell to me to keep going, that I could do it! At the fire department rookie school, looking up at the 100' aerial ladder was one thing but beginning to climb it was quite another. About half way, I began to go slower, not sure if I could make it to the top.That's when the words of encouragement came and helped me reach the top! At times, each of us may question ourselves and wonder if we can achieve what we set out to do. There will be struggles along the way, but that's when we may hear an encouraging word to help us finish strong. The Holy Spirit can be that voice of encouragement if we are listening for Him. Keeping our hearts open to Him can make the difference between giving up and gearing up. It all comes down to choice! Remember, the world will say we can't, but the Holy Spirit will say we can! peace, tom ]]>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 09:57:33 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-21-2026Matthew 5:9 NASB "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."Sometimes things get heated! Today's Word is about being a son of God by being a peacemaker! The disagreement arose around the kitchen table at the firehouse. Each man was entrenched in his ideas and thoughts that they were right. As the discussion continued, it became an argument, with each man getting louder and more aggressive. Just when it looked like it was going to go to blows, our officer stepped in. He calmed the situation down and began to listen to each man's idea. He shared that there was good points in each, and that the end result was that we were going to institute each man's idea into how we did things. Sometimes we need that third person, to bring perspective to what could lead to an all out fight. The Holy Spirit can be that third person if we just allow ourselves the opportunity to seek Him before things get out of hand. Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to lead us as we talk to one another! peace, tom ]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 09:04:25 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-20-2026Lamentations 5:21 NASB "Restore us to You, Lord, so that we may be restored; Renew our days as of old,"At one time, it looked beautiful! Today's Verse is about being renewed, restored, made new again! Years ago, we had planted some beautiful ground cover around a bench that sits in our yard. For years, it looked beautiful but over the years, the weeds began to grow, grass began to take over and it no longer looked beautiful. It was time to pull out all the weeds, grass and even the plants and start over. We will plant new seeds of wild flowers and wait for them to grow. In life, we may have to take a serious look at what needs to be pulled out of our life, to restore us back to the old days where we were eager for the things of the Lord. Maybe we've let things creep in that need to be removed so that we can be restored. It may be a difficult journey but one that will end with a renewed life. Let's start weeding our life of those things that have been neglected for years and be renewed by Christ! peace, tom ]]>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:28:16 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-17-2026Proverbs 13:4 NASB "The soul of the lazy one craves and gets nothing, But the soul of the diligent is made prosperous."I had to keep searching! Today's verse is about the difference between laziness and being diligent! As the mowing season is about to begin, I wanted to make sure the lawn tractor was all set. I took a quick check of things and everything seemed ok. I did a short test ride and cut when the engine stopped, the tractor came to a halt! Having to push it back to a place where I could work on it took me asking for help. I began to go over the machine to see what could have gone wrong. At first everything looked good but when I check the spark plug wired, it seemed loose. Sure enough, it wasn't making a full contact to where the machine would run. Once fixed, it started right up. Sometimes in life, we need to check to see if all things are in order. Are we putting God first, or is our life a little less than our best?! Maybe it's time to check our spark plug wire, the Holy Spirit and see if we are fully engaged! peace, tom ]]>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:44:44 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-16-2026Matthew 15:31 NASB "So the crowd was astonished as they saw those who were unable to speak talking, those with impaired limbs restored, those who were limping walking around, and those who were blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel."It all depends on how we look at things! Today's verse, while a little longer than most, speaks of what God can do in our life. Each morning I put them in, and each evening I take them out -  they are my hearing aids - without them, I can't hear a thing. Recently, my wife and I began to laugh because what I heard her say was nothing even close to what she actually said. When we look at our disabilities and can find joy in them, life can be better but it all depends on how we look at things. I thank God for my hearing aids so I can hear my grandchildren, the soft lovely voice of my wife, and even the birds singing but I don't need them to hear from God - that simply takes a moment to listen. Take time today and listen for His Voice among the chaos of the world! We may just have a good laugh at ourselves! peace, tom ]]>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:47:49 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-15-2026Psalm 127:3 NASB "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward."They don't have to be our own! Today's Verse is about children and how they are a gift from the Lord. As my wife sat with our three grandchildren, I took a moment to remember. It was only a few years ago I was changing their diapers and now they are growing up fast. With another one on the way, I thanked God for our daughters and the children they have brought into the world. On Sunday, I sat with some of the children of other parents and rejoiced that they were at service. Seeing children as a blessing, whether they are ours or others, can bring such joy to your heart. Sure, they can be messy, challenge us, ask the hard questions but we have the choice to love on them. Rejoice in the children that are around us each day and thank God for the blessing! Pray for the children! peace, tom ]]>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:42:03 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-14-2026Isaiah 1:16 NASB "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil,"It was time! Today's Word speaks pretty straight forward, the key is actually doing it! After a long winter season, it was time to clean things up. The yards were filled with debri that had blown around all winter long. There were still leaves and sticks from last fall. I began the task of cleaning it up - doing jobs that I had put off for one reason or another - even laziness was one excuse I used, but now it was time to clean things up! In life, we will need to take a serious look at our lives - is there or has there been garbage piling up in our life - well it's time to wash, make clean, remove the evil deeds and stop doing evil - pretty straight forward but again, it always come down to choice! Choose wisely my friends! peace, tom ]]>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:03:51 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-13-2026Philippians 1:3 NASB "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you," I had a choice, you do also! Today's Word speaks of giving thanks when we remember others! Recently, pictures of my father have come across my FB feed. I could have sat in sadness at his passing on to glory or I could give thanks to God for the life we had together. I chose the later! When we remember those who have gone on before us or we have lost track of them, we have a choice to be sad or thankful. Thankful for the memories, the lessons, the joy they brought our life. Yes , it will be difficult at times to remember just the good things but if we choose that path, we will have fond memories and a little joy in our hearts. When we see the Empty Cross, let us give thanks to God for His Son and the blessings He brings to our life through forgiveness of our sin. It always comes down to choice! peace, tom ]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:33:57 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-10-20261 Corinthians 16:13 NASB "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."I stood and watched for a moment or two and came away stronger! Today's verse, one of my personal favorites, speaks to us to be on alert, awake, standing firm in our faith like strong men! I had stopped by my dad's fire house to say hello, but they were out on a call so I got the address and drove over there. I watched as these men put their lives in danger, entering a burning building to save lives and put out the fire. They cared more about someone else than they did for themselves.  I was grateful that a few years later, I would join their ranks. We are called to be like Jesus who gave His Life for us on that Cross and asks us to be men who will do the same. We may not have to go to a Cross or enter a burning building, we may be asked to put someone else's needs ahead of our own -- that's being firm in the faith and acting like strong men of the Lord! peace, tom ]]>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 10:12:30 GMThttp://www.maletime.org/blog/today-4-9-2026James 1:22 ESV "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."I can do that! Today's Word shares that we are to be doing it, not just hearing it! When the crew got together, one of us said "I can do that!" but when it came time to actually do it, he couldn't! Saying one thing and actually doing it are two totally different things. We can read all about doing things, and even watch videos on how to do it but when it's time for the rubber to meet the road, that's when our actions will speak louder than words. Let's not kid ourselves and think more highly of ourselves but be honest that if our words don't match our actions, it's time to start over. Other men came alongside him and began to teach him how to do the work and from then on when he said he could do it, he did! Let our actions speak louder than what we hear and say! peace, tom ]]>