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Colossians 3:17 NASB "Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." No one likes them! Today we are challenged to do all in the name of the Lord! Whether you are the customer or the proprietor, no one likes a call back. A call back is when the job wasn't done right the first time so the customer has to "call back" the company to do it right! Too often, call backs are done because there either was a miscommunication between what was needed or requested and what was actually performed. For a customer to have to call the company back, to get it done right, it can be very frustrating and for the company to have to send the men back without getting paid is never a good thing. If we do things right the first time, there won't be any call backs. When we do things in the name of the Lord, there shouldn't be any call backs either, for we should give our best! The question is... are we?! peace, tom
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1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing." As I drove around the corner, I was surprised at what I saw! Today's Word is about encouraging each other! There he stood, maybe 3 feet tall, and as I drove by, he waved! He had the biggest smile you ever saw, I had to wave back. No, I do not know who he was, or why he was standing there but that simple wave brought a smile to my face and a warmness to my heart. The world isn't all bad, I thought to myself. Here was a small child, giving encouraging waves to all those who drove by and a smile to say "hang in there". No matter what we are facing, we can be encouragers to others around us. A simple wave, a smile that says we care, a helping hand not looking for anything in return. Small gestures to let others know that we care. peace, tom
1 Peter 5:7 NASB "having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you."What if?! Today we read about putting all our worries upon Him, cause He really cares about us! What if this, and what if that... there was a time when the "what if's" ran my life. The worries of getting it all done and then getting some more done was driving me crazy and getting me exhausted in the process. Not until I turned it all over to Jesus did I begin to find that inner peace that only He can give. We won't find it in any of those "self-help" books, or in that worldly counselor that will tell you to do this or that, but only in Jesus. The reason is simple, He cares about us. Now, the self help books and counselors are not a bad thing as long as the self help book is the Bible and the counselor knows Jesus. Try it for one day, give all our worries, the "what if's" over to Him and see how you feel at the end of the day. I bet you sleep like a baby, knowing He's got it all cover! peace, tom
Psalm 138:3 NASB "On the day I called, You answered me; You made me bold with strength in my soul."How could I not answer it! Today's verse speaks to us about how God answers our call and will strengthen us! When my daughters or son in laws call for help, I answer to the best of my ability and you may ask why. The reason is simple, because when I call out to God, He answers me! His Answers may not be what I want to hear but it is always what I need to hear. Big difference between want and need. Sometimes the answer to my children is "no" even though I know that's not what they want to hear. Just like God saying no to us when our request isn't what we need. Sure, saying no to someone may not be well received but it may be the right answer for the right time. Having the boldness in Christ to speak the Truth can be found only in Him. He will make us bold with strength in our soul to speak the Truth, so if our answer is no, speak it with love, that's what HE does. peace, tom
Ephesians 5:16 NASB "making the most of your time, because the days are evil."Wow, April is almost over! Today's Word speaks of our time and how we must make the most of it! My wife and I had a conversation at how fast this year is going by. It's almost the end of April and it seems like we just were getting ready for the New Year. How fast time flies and before we know it, the year will be over! I spent the last two days enjoying two of my daughters. I realized how they had grown into strong woman caring for their families and I took a moment and thanked God that each of them are making the most of their time. I had called my third daughter, needing some computer work, and she too is making the best use of her time. Our children will only be little for a short time, and the world will pull them in different directions so we must be ever vigilant in making sure we share Jesus with them. People may not agree but the days are evil, just watch the news! We must be the voices of reason, of Jesus, as our children grow up. Do it, for we may not have tomorrow! peace, tom
James 1:5 NASB "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." I just didn't know! Today's verse is about wisdom and where best to get it! I am sure most of us have had those moments when we just sit back and ask how. How did I get into this mess, how do I get out of it. Some decisions we make, will get us into trouble, some will have us in situations where we find ourselves asking why and we just can't find the answer. Turning to God for wisdom is the place to go, to sit quietly before Him in prayer, to hear His voice can bring wisdom. Wisdom that will get us out of trouble, get us into His Peace but we need to seek it from Him. Not our wisdom but His will help us out of any situation we have put ourselves into so let's get on our knees and seek His Wisdom! peace, tom
Proverbs 13:24 NASB "He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."I heard it too many times to admit, "This is going to hurt me more than you! " Today's Word is one that has been forgotten in our world but desperately needs to be remembered! Time after time, when I chose a path of disobedience, my dad would take me to my bedroom and discipline me, but he alway said that it was going to hurt him more than me! Not sure I understood at the time but years later, I got it! The spanking I received didn't hurt him physically but grieved his heart that I didn't learn the lessons. His tough love saved me from going down a path that would have led me to possibly death itself. Today's youth have no one to love them like my dad did to me by disciplining me. The fatherless rate of young people is astounding, which is allowing them to run rampant with no end in sight. We need to bring back the fathers who are willing to discipline with love and not withhold the rod! Let's help our youth and be the fathers God has called us to be! peace, tom
Ephesians 4:24 NASB "and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." It looked great! Today's Word says to put on the new self! The fence had to be replaced for it had fallen on hard times. The weather had taken it's toll, the wood had lost its usefulness. After the new fence was in place, I stepped back and was amazed how good the new fence looked. There will be times when we need to step back and look at our lives. To see that there are things in our life that have become worn out, or just not working as they should. We need to replace that old self with the new self which is available to us by the blood of Jesus. Our new self needs to be based upon righteousness and truth, which means we need to stop lying to ourselves about where our walk is as followers of Christ! Maybe it's time we stepped back, removed the old self, and put on the new self of Jesus Christ! peace, tom
James 1:22 NASB "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves."The list was made! Today's verse speaks of doers and hearers, which are we?! Every married man has that "honey do" list. You know, the list of things that need to be done around the house. After hearing my wife share what needed to be done, I had the choice between just hearing that list and/or doing that list. I had to make the choice of whether I was going to get them done or just let them sit there on the list, I chose the first and got right to work on it! When we read God's Word, and we hear what needs to be done in our life, we have choice. We can just let the Words sit there and read them again later or we can put them into action, being doers of God's Word. The choice seems simple enough - be doers or hearers! What do we choose today?! peace, tom
1 Timothy 1:19 NASB "keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith." Trust me, it will work! Today's verse speaks of keeping the faith when others have left theirs and have become shipwrecked! The waves were crashing into the shore and over the dock as the storm began to get worse. We needed to get the boat out of the dock and safely on the trailer. The problem was that in order to get the boat to safety, I needed to get to the marina and drive through the storm. As we began to untie the boat, my dad asked if I would make it? He was going to meet me at the marina. I put my trust in my ability to drive the boat through the storm and told him "trust me, it will work! " I had all the faith I needed in the boat motor, that it would get me to the shore and out of the storm! In life, storms will come! The question is when they come, where will we put our faith?! The answer is Jesus Christ! But some have rejected Him and will suffer a shipwreck of their faith. Let it not be us! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
September 2024
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