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2 Corinthians 12:10 NASB "Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." I never thought that admitting I needed help would make me stronger! Today's verse speaks of honesty with where we are when we are weak. I knew I was over my head. I had taken on a job that needed more expertise than I had. I remember thinking to myself, what am I going to do. I reached out to those who had the experience and knowledge and learned a thing or two. Asking for help is never a bad thing. The world will call us all kinds of things, insult us and put us down but admitting we need help, is the strongest thing we can do. When we think we know it all, there will come a time when we fall flat on our face, so let's be honest with where we are in life and when we need help, ASK! peace, tom
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Galatians 6:9 NASB "Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary."It didn't end the way we planned! Today, we read about not giving up, no matter what! The body of the small child was found and each of us were deeply saddened.We had searched the fire building as the report came in of a missing young child. We searched with all our strength but sadly the fire had taken his life. I remember sitting back in the fire house as we talked about it, what we could have done differently, what we could have done better but the reality was that we did all we could - no sooner did the "go" bell go off and we were responding to another fire. No matter what life throws at us, we need to not become discouraged. We need to learn that sometimes it's out of our control but we need to be ready when the call comes and keep pressing forward! peace, tom
Ecclesiastes 4:12 NASB "And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."I should have put one more in! Today's Word is about support, having a team around us! While repairing a broken beam, I supported it with only one other beam. When we let the jack down, the original beam began to sag. One support beam wasn't enough, so we jacked it back up and put two more in. In life, we may feel as if our main beam in life is beginning to rot away, or beginning to bend and eventually may break. Having a support team around us will help hold us in place. Our first support should be the Holy Spirit, then other godly men to help us remain strong. Those blessed with a godly wife, already have one good support so seek out some godly men to help us hold up against the weight of the world! peace, tom
2 Timothy 2:2 EVS "and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." He invited me to join him for coffee! Today's verse is filled with some important info regarding how we are to live! As we sat at a local coffee shop, the conversation turned from a friendly one to a serious discussion on how to live Jesus. He was a mature christian, a pastor, bible scholar and I was in awe of his knowledge of God's Word. We continued to meet each week and I always came away blessed with new knowledge of God's Word. One day he asked me if I had ever thought about teaching for him when he couldn't make it, my reply was yes although I wasn't sure I had the knowledge to do it. His reply to me was rather simple, the Holy Spirit will lead you. We will never know if we can, if we don't try - let's be sure to get a godly man or two in our lives to learn from and to urge us to teach others! peace, tom
1 Corinthians 4:2 NASB "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy."Eventually he was found out! Today's Word speaks of being trustworthy, a term we seemed to have forgotten! It was a few weeks after he had received the promotion when the company let him go. He was a man who worked his way up in the company rather fast, getting promotion after promotion but what the owners didn't know what that he was stealing from the company with each promotion. Eventually the books were audited and his stealing was found out. He was let go and had to pay back all he took. Let's make sure that the way we live can stand up against the audit of our Lord. If He was to look at our books, would He find that we are trustworthy in all things?! Let's live life worthy of His Trust as well as those we share life with! peace, tom
Hebrews 10:25 NASB "not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."I thought about walking away! Today's verse is about meeting together, to encourage each other. It was the first time I thought about going to the men's gathering at our church. I was new to the church and wasn't quite sure I wanted to go. I had been to men's events before and sadly was disappointed but I decided to give it a go. Many times we think of going but for one reason or another, we step away. Going to a men's event, bible study or just joining the men for a cup of coffee at a local cafe can be intimidating but then again it can be the start of something that will bring encouragement to our walk in this life. Don't let fear keep us away, but find strength in the Lord to go, where He calls us! peace, tom
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven"Sometimes it seem to take forever to get here! Today's Word is about seasons, seasons of change. After a long winter of dealing with snow, cold and ice, Spring seems to take forever to get here. There are days when the weather turns back to wintery mix, and there are days when it seems as if Spring has sprung - the key is that each season of our life has a purpose. There will be days when we fall back to our old self, the sin we thought we got past, the key is not to give up, to start a new and fresh season of our life by admitting we need help. Getting together with some godly men, to learn from them, share life with them can make the seasons of cold and ice go by faster. Don't go it alone, God is always there to help and so are the godly men we surround ourselves with! peace, tom
John 3:16 NASB "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." I believed it would happen and it did! Today's verse is one of the most popular verses shared, told, put on signs and passed around - it speaks of being born again! For years, I heard the saying "I am born again" but never really understood what they meant by it. I wanted a closer relationship with Jesus and began to believe it would happen and then one day, while attending a church service, were the preacher was talking right to me amid the crowed of hundreds, I felt God call me to the altar. As I prayed, I felt the Holy Spirit fall upon me and I gave my heart to Jesus. I said the sinner's prayer and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior. It is open to anyone willing to believe, to step forward and admit we are sinners and that Jesus went to the Cross to forgive our sins. Burt it doesn't end there for now it's time to live Jesus - if you want to know more, contact me! I'd love to share my Friend with you! peace, tom
Luke 23:24 NASB "But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves."True forgiveness comes from the heart, no matter the pain! Today we read about the love of our Lord as He hung on the Cross and utter the words of forgiveness. Have we ever been hurt, or have we done the hurting? Sadly we all can say yes to both, but what happens next is the key - can we then "forgive them" ?! I remember the disappointment in their eyes - their dad had once again let anger ruin the day. It was time to apologize but also to take the necessary steps to never let it happen again. When we forgive or are forgiven, it's an opportunity for change. Change our attitude, change our lifestyle, change that makes the forgiveness real. Who do we need to forgive and begin the change of a new life?! Remember, through the pain and suffering, HE asked that we be forgiven! peace, tom
Matthew 26:26 NASB "Now while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”"If I had known, I would have ordered dessert! Today's Word is only one part of what took place at the dinner we call the Last Supper. It was a few days later that I found out one of my good friends went to be with Jesus. We had shared a dinner together only a few days before and if I had known, I would have ordered dessert, so that our time together would have lasted a little longer. We never know when God will call us or our loved ones home, so let's make every moment count. Hug them, love on them, and make sure they know Jesus, for then, we will see them again! Don't take tomorrow for granted, make today special in someone's life for it could be the last supper with them, and order dessert! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
May 2025
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