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1 Corinthians 5:7 NASB "Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed."Clean out the garbage! Today's Word speaks of new verses old, clean verses dirty! I watched as they gave away his belongings, threw out the trash and emptied his house! A few weeks ago, my neighbor passed away. His family came and cleaned out all his belongings, cleaned out his life worth of "stuff"! As I began to think about all the "stuff" in my life, I said to myself that it is time to clean out the stuff. If I was to die today, I didn't want the burden of cleaning out the stuff I accumulated to fall upon my daughters and their families. And then I began to think about the "stuff" I put between me and God. They may be small idols but they are between me and God and must go. Take some time and clean out the "stuff" in our lives, we may just be surprised and how we can get by without it! peace, tom
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Isaiah 26:3 EVS "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."We've all seen them! Today's verse is about peace and perfect peace for those who keep our minds on Him! They run around, not sure what to do or where to go. It's a frantic attempt at best, to do something but they are not sure exactly what to do and they have no peace! Maybe we've been there, not sure exactly what to do or we've seen them running around like chickens with their heads cut off. I had to slow down the rookie on my crew. He was so excited to be fighting his first fire that he forgot all his training. Once I slowed him down, focused him on the task at hand, he did an outstanding job. We need to keep focus on Christ, no matter if the world around us in chaos. It's a peace, the world can not understand but we can if we keep our minds on Him! peace, tom
2 Peter 3:8 NASB "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day." Sometimes if feels like that! Today's Word speaks about time and how God's Days can be one or a thousand! There are some days, when I have a project to do, that it seems to last forever. Wanting to get it done so that I can move on to the next project, I realize that some things take longer than others. The key is having the patience to keep moving forward. Keep trying to accomplish what we set before us. Let's not get discouraged that it isn't going as fast as we want but enjoy the journey! It will be worth it one day when it's accomplished so keep our heads in the game, keep moving forward and do it all for the glory of God! peace, tom
Psalm 34:6 NASB "This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles."If we don't ask, how will they know?! Today's Verse is rather simple, cry out to the Lord and He will save us. My crew took a moment to stop and listen, that's when we heard the cry. A little boy had become lost in the woods near his yard, as we and others began to search, it was when we stopped to listen, that we heard his cries. Many times we try to do things on our own only to find out that we need help. But no one will hear us above the noise of life unless we cry out! Don't be afraid to let it out "I need help" - that's when the help will come! God is always there to hear our cries but so are the godly men we put in our lives. Men who are willing to lend a hand when life gets too heavy to carry on our own. The question for the day is "whose in your group to cry out to!" peace, tom
1 Peter 2:16 ESV "Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God."We must never forget! Today's Word speaks of living in freedom and how we are to do so. All across our land, the United States of America, family members of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice will take time to remember. Remember the fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, sons and daughters, husbands, uncles and all those whose lives were given for our freedom. Sadly, many of us will not give them a second thought until we pass a cemetery, where hundreds of America flags will fly on the graves of those who gave their all. May we never forget and honor the memories of their lives by thanking a veteran who is still with us. Putting our freedom into action will honor those who honored us with their lives! peace, tom
Acts 1:8 NASB "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.'It made it so much easier! Today's Word speaks of power, Holy Spirit power to be His Witnesses! We began to build the house out in the woods but things were going slow. Working with hand tools was taking it's toll on the amount of work being done but when the generator arrived on site, things began to move quickly. The generator brought us the power needed to run things like the saws, nail guns, etc. Having the power increased the amount of work we were doing. In the same way, the Holy Spirit will bring to us the needed power to get things done, like sharing Jesus to those we meet along the way of life. Get the power, plug into the Holy Spirit and watch the results happen! peace, tom
Matthew 19:14 NASB "but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven."It's one of the highlights of the day! Today is an important lesson concerning our children and grandchildren! I stand on the sidewalk and wait... and then the door opens and out he runs. He jumps into my arms and gives me a great big hug. Yes, that's what picking up my grandson is like every time. He is so happy to see me, no matter how his day is going. I too am happy to enjoy his hugs and hear all about his day. God, our Heavenly Father wants that from us as well. He always stands there waiting for us to run to Him and give Him a big hug. We are His Children and He wants nothing but the best for us so let's make sure we don't do anything that would hinder that relationship and bring the kids along! peace, tom
1 Peter 5:3 NASB "nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock."There was a deeper lesson being taught! Today's Word speaks about how we take care of those under our care, whether they are our children or employees. He could have just done it but he took care to explain each step to me. Making sure I understood before moving on. Having someone teach us, take care to make sure we understand what we are being taught is a blessing. At each step, he explained it so that one day, I would be able to pass along the knowledge he was teaching me. It's called the ripple effect, where we look to the long lasting results of how we explain and teach others. Never be one who has that "I'm better than you" attitude but teach with the attitude of being a good example to follow. I am pretty sure that's how Jesus did it! peace, tom
Romans 14:19 NASB "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." It's one thing to want it, but another to pursue it! Today's Word is about pursuing peace and building each other up! Neither side wanted to give in, they were both entrenched in getting what they wanted. So much so that they were willing to fight to get their way. In stepped a negotiator who brought both sides together and began to find common ground that each side could agree on. After a few sessions, both sides agreed to the settlement. Finding the common ground in Jesus Christ can bring peace to any situation, we just need to pursue peace rather than disagreements, find that building each other up is a lot better than tearing each other down. Find some common ground today as we pursue peace and build each other up! Just imagine if we really did it?! peace, tom
Joshua 1:9 NASB "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."I thought to myself "I must be crazy!" Today's verse speaks to us about being strong and courageous for He will be with us. I remember it like it was yesterday, the fire alarm went off, and the next thing I knew I was running into a burning building! I thought to myself, I must be crazy but followed my officer in. Right before we entered, he said to me - stay by my side, I won't leave you, don't leave me! It was a comforting thought, as I faced the raging fire, I had someone with me that wouldn't leave me. That's how it is with God, He will never leave us, in fact He will go before us and lead us - we just need to follow Him and stay by His Side. There is strength in knowing that we are not alone, so don't try to do it alone. Get in the habit of calling out to God and other godly men when the struggles of life seem overwhelming! Don't go it alone, He is right there with us and they will be too! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
February 2026
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