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Revelation 20:15 NASB "And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."What do you mean we don't have reservations? Today's verse is profound when speaking of all eternity and it states a simple Truth about where our name is written! As we stood at the hostess's table, I felt foolish and began to wonder if I had done it. As the hostess checked the names and reservations, she came back to us and said "I'm sorry, we don't have a reservation in your name!" Walking away, I began to rethink whether or not I had called and made the reservation, not remembering if I had or not, and obviously I hadn't! Don't wait till we get to the Pearly Gates to see if we have a reservation, call now by asking Jesus to come into your life and your name will be written in His Book of Life! God doesn't turn anyone away from heaven, we do if we haven't made a reservation- so call today, He's always open and wants us to enjoy His Home forever! peace, tom
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Matthew 5:28 NASB "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."It was wonderful to be on vacation, spending time with my wife as we enjoyed the beach but I knew there would be trouble if I didn't keep focus! Today's verse is pretty straight forward and one we most often don't like to talk about or even admit. Sitting on the beach with my wife, today's verse kept coming back to me so I kept my eyes upon her! It's easy to get our lives out of wack by allowing our eyes to travel where they shouldn't go. No guy will ever admit that we struggle with the beach or most areas of life due to the temptation to look but if we are to be faithful to God and our wives, we need to keep our eyes upon Him! Trust me when I say that keeping our eyes upon God and our wives can make a good vacation even better, don't believe me, just ask our wives! Stay focused my friends and don't let our eyes wander where they shouldn't be! peace, tom
Psalm 25:4 NASB "Make me know Your ways, Lord;
Teach me Your paths."I wasn't exactly sure which way to go so I asked for help! Today's verse is a simple prayer that many of us, if not all of us, need to pray from time to time! How many of us have heard that men don't ask for directions?! For many of us, it may be true but the smart ones will not be afraid to ask for direction! As we put the boat in the water, I happened to see two men returning to the dock, with a boat load of fish. Asking politely, where did they "hit them", the one man began to give me the directions! No problem for us men to ask where the fish are biting or where the big deer are in the fields, or even where we can get the best deals, so why can't we just be honest and say sometimes in life we are lost and need His Direction?! Let's let machoism mean that we are strong enough to cry out to God for His Way and His Path for our life! peace, tom 2 Thessalonians 3:10 NASB "For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either."I passed another one! Today's verse may seem kind of harsh but there is a reality to it, kind of makes sense! They are at almost every corner, in front of every place, they simple read "We are hiring!" It's almost as if we can't go anywhere today without seeing the sign that this company or that is looking to hire workers. Some business' have gone out of business because that couldn't find enough men and woman to work. Most places are offering "signing bonuses" or a higher rate of pay than normal and yet, no one is applying for the jobs. If we applied today's verse to the current unemployment situation, there would be many who would go hungry. If we are blessed to work, let us work and let that work reflect the goodness of the Lord! Simply said "lets go to work!" peace, tom
Malachi 2:10 NIV "Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?"What a great example of our Heavenly Father! Today's verse speaks to us that God is our Father, all of us are His Children, so why aren't we faithful to each other? There was a time when I never thought our relationship would be this good. Years of disobedience seemed to drive us apart but he never gave up on me, he kept loving me. I am blessed to still have my earthly father with me, and I celebrate his birth this day and how he has been a great example of God's Love and Forgiveness. God our heavenly father wants nothing more that to love us, to forgive us of our past and to have a wonderful relationship with us, and then we should do the same to each other. My dad always loves me no matter what and because of his love for me, I know the Father's Love, whether or not we had or have a godly earthly father, we can and do all have a Heavenly Father who loves us! Let's be an example of that love to others! peace, tom P.S. Happy Birthday Dad, I love you!
James 1:2 NASB "Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials,"You could hear the cries..."Bring it on!" Today we read a rather hard verse to live, to consider it joy as we face trials! As the guys began to set up the course and others began to get ready to run it, you could hear some of the guys yelling "bring it on!" They wanted the course builders to make it as hard as possible so when they finished the course, they could relish in the accomplishment of finishing well. Life can bring those kind of challenges, trials and that will either make us stronger or try harder until we accomplish the task. With Christ in our corner, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can say to satan, bring it on, knowing that Christ as already won the victory for us. The joy that comes from facing our struggles with Christ, is in knowing that HE will see us through, so what do you say, want to say to the world "bring it on"? peace, tom
Romans 14:19 NASB "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."We knew we couldn't leave them alone, they needed support! Today's verse speaks of peace and building each other up, good advice in these trying times! After the outer walls of the house were put in place, we knew we needed to support them or they would have fallen down. Adding more support gave the walls the strength they needed to stand against the wind till we finished building the house! Many of us struggle, facing difficult times and could use a little help, that's where those of us blessed to help, need to step in and support each other. There is so much strength in numbers but if we don't reach out for help or offer support to those who do, we will fall like walls without support. Our greatest help comes from the Lord but He has also blessed us with brothers and sisters who can come alongside us! Don't be afraid to ask for help and for some of us, don't be afraid to answer the call to help! peace, tom
1 Peter 4:9 ESV "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."Oh no, not him again! Today's verse while simple, speaks wisdom in how to treat one another! It was the fifth time that week that we were called to respond to a gentleman's home. Each previous time we found nothing wrong! As the address was given to my crew, some of us complained, oh no not again, we've been there so often, he's crying wolf again! Sadly, as we complained our way there, this time would be different. when we arrived, it was different. We found him, laying on the floor not breathing and began CPR as we waited for the ambulance to arrive. We sat in silence going back to the fire house, each man thinking of our complaints against going to him again. That was the last time we ever had to go for he never made it. Helping others out without complaint should be our motto for we never know when they will be called home. Funny how no where in scripture do we find Jesus ever complaining about helping us out! peace, tom
Matthew 24:44 NASB "For this reason you must be ready as well; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will."It's not a question of if but of when! Today's verse should shock us into making sure we are ready, ready for His Return at a moments notice! Living in the northeast, we know that it's only a matter of time when we will get snowed upon. Every fall, every year, those of us living in this area, realize that it's time to prepare for the snow, cold and icy conditions that will hit. Those of us who are prepared will do better than those who are not, so it's best to be ready! It may seem a shock to some but Jesus Christ will return, He is coming, in His Timing but He is coming, and the question is are we ready? No one gets a free pass, all men and woman will stand before Him when He comes, so let's be prepared! Like I said, it's not if but when and He could come today, are we ready?! peace, tom
Ephesians 4:32 NASB "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."I understood cause I had done it myself! Today we have some great advice in how to treat each other and learning to forgive cause we have been forgiven! Buying a used automobile means putting up with what the previous owner had done to it, and while I went to change the oil for the first time, I found that they had rounded off the bolts leading to the oil filter- ugh!!! I wanted to get mad at them but I remembered that the first time I did an oil change on a similar vehicle, I did the same thing to the bolts - that God for five star sockets! (that's for the car guys out there! ) God's Word tells us to be kind, compassionate, forgiving because we have been forgiven! I'm sure that somewhere along the line, we've done things that others didn't appreciate, so let's not be so quick to get back at them, just think Jesus from the Cross said "Father forgive them for they no not what they do!" Maybe we should have the same attitude toward others! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
October 2021
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