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2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV "As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good."Right to the end! Today's verse reminds us to keep doing good, no matter how tired we maybe! It was getting close to quitting time, and we only had a few more to do. We could have taken some steps to cut some corners in getting them all done but we decided to do them right even if it meant staying a little later. So often, we try to find reasons to cut short, get done quicker, and leave a few steps missing. What happens when we do that is that our work will not be complete, done in order or pass the test. We had to put five screws into the side of the cabinet, for other fixtures, but as the day was quickly coming to an end, some suggested we only put three in - so we could leave on time. It was decided against as when the fixtures would be hung, they would obviously fall off! We did the right thing, even though tired and ready to go, we wanted to leave behind a good product!! The question is, what are we leaving behind?! peace, tom
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Matthew 16:27 NASB "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every person according to his deeds." The soreness reminded me that I should have been doing it all along! Today's verse is about Christ's return and how He will judge us according to our deeds. It had been a while since I was back on my ice skates and the day after I was sore in places I never knew I had. I was talking to a good friend who recently went through the same thing. I guess the key is that I and he should have been skating all along so that our muscles didn't forget how to work and not be so sore! I wonder if we are keeping up with what God has called us to do, love others, serve others etc or will we be sore when the judgment day comes?! Let's not find ourselves wishing we had kept it up all along, but start today and do it every day! No pain, no gain is no way to live!! peace, tom
Psalm 41:3 NASB "The Lord will sustain him upon his sickbed; In his illness, You restore him to health."No one really likes it at all! Today's Word gives us some encouragement when we are not feeling our best! Recently hit with the stomach bug, I found a little more time to sit and read God's Word. I did a word study on sickness and found many great verses like todays. No one ever wants to be sick but we can find strength in verses like todays. That the Lord will sustain us! Notice it doesn't say that He will take it right away but will sustain us on our sick bed - and then He will restore us to health. Recent'y losing a close friend, I began to meditate upon God's Word - did God really restore him to health... He did if we believe that the greatest cure of any sickness is going home to be with our Lord. The Word says no more tears, no more pain, and that's total healing! Next time your sick in bed, grab His Word, it's the best medicine around! peace, Tom
Proverbs 19:20 ESV "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."I found myself doing it again!! Today's Word gives us some wisdom for the future! It's never a bad thing when I find myself repeating the words of my mother and/or Father, or even uncles or aunts, or those who have taught me a thing or two. Here I was repeating some wisdom I had received, to one of my grandsons. At first, he didn't understand but as I took the time to explain it to him, I saw the lightbulb go on! We should never be afraid to ask for guidance, from others, from His Word and/or from the Holy Spirit. We may never know when we will pass that on to others, so they too can have a better understanding! peace, tom
Matthew 16:26 NASB "For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?"At what cost? Today's verse is about winners and losers - which group are we in? Across our country, four cities played for the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl. There will be two winners and two losers but the real question is, how many names will be added to the Book of Life. We all want to be winners but at what cost? As long as we try our best, and be gracious winners or losers, we can always be winners at the game of eternal life. I am sure each player practiced as hard as they could, working on the little things, to be sure to put their best foot forward! We, who call Christ our Lord and Savior, should be doing the same - working on the little things of life that share Jesus. Whether our team won or lost, we can always be winners in His Book of Life! peace, tom
Isaiah 40:31 NASB "Yet those who wait for the Lord
Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary."The key was to allow enough time so that I wouldn't be impatient! Today's Word speaks about waiting, and how it will be if we don't get impatient! No one really likes to take their vehicle to the shop but when it has to be done, we must learn to be patient as they do their job. As I waited for the oil change, I began to look around for someone to talk to. I prayed that God would lead me to someone who needed to hear the Truth. And there he was! An elderly man, sitting by himself, looking very impatient. As I walked by, I simple said "good afternoon", and the we began to talk. If I was impatient, waiting for my appointment to be over, I never would have had the opportunity to talk to this guy about Jesus! Let's be patient and look for ways to run and not get tired, walk and not become weary for His Name sake! peace, tom John 1:5 NASB "And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it." He had to explain it to me as if I was a four year old! Today's Word is about the Light (capital L) and how it shines in the darkness. I had never seen one or even had any idea of how to work on one, so when the foreman asked me to fix the part that was broken, I was totally at a loss. I first had to admit that I didn't know anything about it and secondly I had to admit that I had no idea how to fix it! He began to explain it to me but the parts and the procedure to fix them was like speaking a foreign language to me. I had to ask him to repeat it many times over before I began to understand. When we share Jesus (notice I didn't say if we share Jesus, but when!) we need to be sure to use words and actions that speak of His Love in an understanding way. Let's shine the Light but make sure the darkness can understand it! peace, tom
Hebrews 13:18 NASB "Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things."When he sat down, he couldn't look at any of us eye to eye! Today's verse is a simple prayer we may ask of each other! As the men's group gathered, he came and sat down quietly in the back. We could tell right away that something was off, he didn't seem himself. One of the leaders went over to him and began to ask him how he was. The truth came pouring out, he had sinned, fallen short and the guilt was eating him alive. We prayed for him, talked about him seek forgiveness and made sure we followed up with him throughout the week. Conducting ourselves honorably sometimes means being honest with our sin! peace, Tom
1 John 5:5 NASB "Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"Challenges are never easy! Today's verse is both a question and an answer! I wasn't sure if I could get it done alone so I made some calls to get some help. The men showed up and we got it done. We walked away with a sense of accomplishment that we met the challenge head on. Life will bring many challenges our way but how we respond will depend greatly on who we have in our circle of friends. Overcoming life's obstacles will take courage, integrity and help, and our greatest help is relying on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Let's make sure we have Jesus, the Holy Spirit and some great men of faith in our circle of friends. Don't go it alone, be willing to ask for help! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
July 2025
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