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Philippians 1"6 NASB "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus." Maybe we fell short! Today's Word is about being confident that God who began a good work among us, will complete it! Well here are, the last day of January 2024 - have we kept our New Year's Resolutions? Did we fall short this month in keeping our eye on Him? Did we start projects only to let them fall by the wayside as the month went on? The good news is that we can start again - yes, a new month is only a day away! An opportunity to start over, make new plans, get better focused on Him and what He has called us to be. A failure isn't a failure if we learn the lesson we were meant to learn! Let's finish this month strong and face the next month with more determination and confidence. peace, tom
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2 Corinthians 5:9 NASB "So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him." Are we the same?! Today we read about aiming to please God whether we are at home or away! Traveling to speak at men's events, I find myself in unfamiliar surroundings. People don't know me there and I have the choice to either to please God or not, no one will know the difference! But I will, and that means that no matter where I am, I need to be the same, honoring God by my actions, words and attitude toward others. We can't be one person when we are with those who know us and then a different person when we are away. Our life, no matter we are at or who we are with, should be the same! If we are different, we need to ask ourselves, why the change?! Be the same for God is the same to us no matter where we are! peace, tom
2 Timothy 2:15 NASB "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."I had this feeling! Today we read about being diligent, accurately handling the word of Truth. I had followed each of the steps of the directions over and over. I walked away thinking that I needed to call the dealer to get the key fob reprogrammed. As the days went by, I had this feeling that something I was doing was wrong, so I went back at it and did all the steps, still the key fob didn't work. A few days later I got the feeling again to try and reprogram the key fobs again. This time I changed the "new" battery for a newer one! It worked, and when I checked my wife's key fob, I found that it was empty and never had a battery in it!! Yes I had to laugh at myself for the hours I had tried to reprogram that one too! Being diligent means keep trying till we get it right and when we are speaking of His Truth, that means repentance and keep trying to be a good worker unto the Lord. Try and try again until the Truth sets us free and don't be afraid to laugh at ourselves along the Way! peace, tom
Ephesians 6:11 NASB "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."I happened to run across my old turnout gear! Today's verse speaks to us about safety, so when the schemes come, we will be safe and able to stand firm. It has been a long time since I put my fire department turn out gear on and when I ran a crossed it, I began to think of the days when I ran into burning buildings. Without putting the full turnout gear on, the mask for breathing, the gloves etc, I would have been open to injury. I can't understand why I would go about this life without the protection God has allowed me to have, the full armor found in the verse for today. There will be schemes out there that are meant for injury, pain, and suffering but if we put the whole armor on, we can even walk through fire! Don't get caught with our pants down, let's put it all on and stand firm against whatever satan throws at us! peace, tom
2 Corinthians 4:8 NASB "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing"Getting older means we will have new challenges! Today we read, that although we are afflicted, we can go on! As I wrapped my wrist, I realized that I wasn't even sure what I had done but the pain was there to let me know I did something to it! As we get older, things happen, we become afflicted in ways we never were before. The key is whether we let those afflictions keep us from moving forward. Even when we sin, we have a choice to either move towards repentance or give up. We can be crushed, perplexed but never despairing when we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He is the doctor we go to when we are afflicted, to be healed, we just have to believe that He will heal us, one way or another. Let's not let the pain keep us from the gain! peace, tom
1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong."What if...! Today we read a verse speaking directly to the men! Having watched the NFL playoff games, I saw them again. Men willing to stand, with no shirts on, in subfreezing temperatures, routing for their home team! They were dedicated that no matter what, they were going to stand strong and support their local team! I wondered to myself, "what if". What if we had men like that willing to stand with their local church and pastor. Men willing to brave the elements for Jesus in such a way that others may just say we are crazy. I am not saying to show up next Sunday at service without a shirt on but show up as today's verse states "on alert, standing firm, acting like men and being strong." What if...no matter what! peace, tom
James 1:3 NASB "knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance."I am not good at it yet, but I keep trying! Today we learn that testing will help us produce endurance! I keep trying to get my welds to be stronger. Being new to welding, I have found that trial and error are the best teachers. After I have welded them together, I try and break them apart. Sometimes the weld holds, and sometimes they break apart like tissue paper! The key to it all is to keep trying, keep testing until I get it right. Life with Christ is a lot like that, testing and trying to make sure we get it right. Let's not look at the testing as wasted time but an opportunity to make sure our walk with Christ will endure the temptations thrown our way. Let's be strong in the Lord by passing the strength test of our faith! peace, tom
Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." What a great opportunity! Today's verse is about help, helping others! With the recent dumping of huge amounts of snow, we have been given some great opportunities to help those in need. The question is... did we just take care of ourselves or did we look for the opportunity to fulfill the law of Christ?! Sick of shoveling, cold and tired, we made sure that our neighbor's walk and porch was cleared of snow and ice. It didn't take us that long and we were back home safe and warm. We didn't do it for any other reason than to share Jesus. What we didn't know was that we were to be blessed. After a few days of keeping his porch cleared, I got a call to stop by and was presented with two beautiful cuts of meat. He said he was grateful and wouldn't take no for an answer when we tried to say that we didn't need anything from him. When we step out and help others, we may just be blessed ourselves. Do the right thing and bear another's burdens, not for the blessing but because it's what Jesus did for us! peace, tom
Mark 1:3 NASB "The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’”"As I shoveled the sidewalk for the third time that day, I thought of today's verse. It simply tells us to prepare the Way of the Lord, make His paths straight! Shoveling the sidewalk for the walkers, and dog walkers that brave the elements is something I enjoy, I used to be one! As I made the path straight and ice free, I thought about the path that I am preparing for my children and grandchildren. I asked myself if I am doing all I can to share Jesus not only with them but with others as well. As I looked back at the sidewalk, I went back for I knew I could do a better job, then I thought, I need to do a better job at preparing the way of the Lord! How about you, are we making His paths straight?! peace, tom
Psalm 126:2a NASB "Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting;"I had to laugh! Today's verse speaks about laughter and joyful shouting! I don't know about you but the first thing I did was to look around to see if anyone seen me fall. It wasn't that I was looking for help, I was looking to see if anyone saw me fall, it must have been pretty funny! I didn't get hurt as I got back up to my feet and had to laugh at myself. I should have known that the pavement would have been icy and gone a little slower. There are times when it's good to laugh at ourselves and give shouts of joy no matter what. I'm not so concerned about what others think of me as I am of what my God thinks of me. Sometimes He simply gives me moments to laugh and realize that it's time to slow down and laugh. When was the last time we had a good laugh at ourselves?! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
September 2024
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