Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." I saw them walk out of the grocery store, I had to help! Today's Word, while rather simple, speaks volumes to how we should live! A mother was walking out of the grocery store with three small children, and a large amount of bags. I could see her struggling as I walked by and had to turn around and offered to help carry her bags to her car. It didn't take me but a few minutes of my time but the appreciation she shared was worth every second. Sometimes in life, we need to keep our eyes open for opportunities to help. Help anyone, help someone, is bearing one another's burdens. We all struggle from time to time and when someone comes along and gives us a helping hand, life gets better.. Let's be that helping hand today - help someone! peace, tom
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Galatians 5:22-23 NASB "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." I made the list! Today's verse is a list of the fruit of the Spirit, things we need to add to our life! I was getting ready for the event, so I made a list. A list of things that needed to be done, a list of things that I needed to get, a list of how things would go. I don't know about you but when I have to do something, I make a list. Things that are important that I don't want to forget. Today's list is a great list to hold on to, to make part of our life so that we don't forget them. Be sure to go through them and make sure they are part of our life so our "life event" goes well! peace, tom
1 Thessalonians 5:15 NASB "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.""Just let me get even!" Today's verse shares with us about always seeking what is good! When he came into my office, I could tell he was upset. Someone had hurt him and all he wanted was to get even. He spoke that he wanted to hurt them as they had hurt him but he realized that the attitude of getting even wasn't good. We talked awhile, we prayed awhile and slowly his revengeful thinking went away. Many times in life, we want nothing more than to get even with those who hurt us, those who take advantage of us, those who seek evil and not good. But we need to be the ones to "seek what is good for one another"! It sounds so simple but when the anger builds, the rage takes over, we want to get even. Let's let go of the need to get even, and seek the better Way! peace, tom
Isaiah 40:29 NASB "He gives strength to the weary,
And to the one who lacks might He increases power." The key was that I had to ask! Today's verse is about strength and power but also about the weary and tired! It was the end of the day of work but here was still work to be done. Exhausted and weary I reached out to a friend for help. He replied that he would be there right away. With his help, I was able to finish the rest of the work that needed to be done. I would not have been able to finish the work if not for the help of my friend! In life, we try to do things ourselves. Getting overworked and tired, we try to keep pushing on but not getting any progress. We need to ask for help and the best help comes from the Lord. As today's verse states, He will give us strength and increase our power. So, why not ask for His Help?! Don't let our pride keep us from asking! peace, tom James 2:17 NASB "In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."It's one thing to have it, and another to put it into action! Today's verse is about having faith and putting it to work! I wasn't sure if it could be done! I had the faith to believe it could be done but if I just stood on my faith and didn't get busy doing it, it would just sit there. Having the faith to see something done and getting busy doing it are two totally different things but tied together. Faith and action are like peanut butter and jelly - both taste good but when we put them together, they taste better! Let's not let our faith stand alone but get busy putting our faith into action! I had the faith in Christ to believe it could be done but not until I got up and began to do the work, did my faith become my action! Let's get busy putting our faith in Christ into action so that others will see the goodness of our God! peace, tom
Hebrews 4:4 NASB "For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”"It was on the calendar! Today's verse reminds of taking a day of rest, even God did it! As I looked at my calendar, and the many appointments, I realized that I had forgotten to schedule my day off. Going from one thing to another, day after day, can leave us exhausted, tired and less effective. Remembering to take a day off to rest, and relax and refresh for the days ahead is part of God's Week so why wouldn't it be good for us to do the same. The key of course, is making sure we schedule the day of rest, if not, we will just keep going. Bringing our best before the Lord means being refreshed enough to do exactly that, so take a day, go fishing, hiking, bike riding or whatever you find that brings you rest and peace. Don't just say "yeah I've go to do that" but actually do it! We will be better tomorrow for resting today! 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 should have put it all on! Today's Word is about the armor of God, to find out all the parts, be sure to read the whole chapter! Getting ready to do some yard work, I quickly fired up my weedwacker! The only problem was that at the end of the last season, the guard to protect my feet had fallen off. When I started it up and began to trim, the grass and debris flew at my ankles! Putting on the whole armor of God means exactly that, the whole armor. Leaving a part off can be dangerous for it gives the devil an opening in our protection. Taking the time to make sure we have it all and it's on properly can make all the difference between living and sinning! peace, tom
Luke 6:40 NASB "A student is not above the teacher; but everyone, when he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher."I went through some pictures! Today's Word is about students and teachers and one day the student will be the teacher! I took the time to look through some pictures of my dad and I, yes I still miss him very much but as I looked at the pictures, I realized that most of them were pictures of where he was teaching me some life lesson. Towards the end of the pictures, I found pictures of myself and my grandsons. I had now become the teacher. I pray that we learn the life lessons from teachers who know Jesus and become the teachers of God's Word to others. We may not realize it at the time but as we learn, we become trained to be the teachers of others. The question is what are we learning and what are we teaching others?! Let us always be learning from our Teacher, Jesus Christ! peace, tom
Genesis 3:12 NASB "The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me some of the fruit of the tree, and I ate.”"Excuses! Today's verse shares about the excuse Adam used when God asked him why he sinned! It's easy to find the excuses of why we aren't doing what we should. I am amazed at myself, at how easy it is to find an excuse when I don't want to do something. They seem to come rather easily rather than finding a reason to do the right thing. Sometimes the excuses we used are based upon other people, like Adam blaming Eve, Eve blamed satan. I wonder who we blame when we sin... "the devil made me do it" isn't a true excuse because he can't make us do anything, we chose the path we take. Let's be strong out there and find the reason in Christ rather than an excuse, in not doing the right thing! Excuses, what are they good for, absolutely nothin' peace, tom
1 Corinthians 14:10 NASB "But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way." I know I should have learned the lesson! Today's verse, while short, speaks to us about order and doing things in a proper way! I stood back and looked at my workbench. Tools, extra parts, scrap etc, were laying all over! I had learned years ago to keep a clean work surface, it makes it easier to do a new project. With my laziness, I allowed my workbench to get cluttered up again so when I needed to lay the new project down, there was no room! Our life can get so clutter up with this and that, that when the Holy Spirit leads us, calls us, we don't hear Him and miss the opportunity. Getting our lives "cleaned up" takes effort, strength and wisdom to find the areas where we need the most cleaning. Let's not miss an opportunity and get our lives, and our workbenches cleaned up, I know I will! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
April 2024
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