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John 10:10 NASB "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly."Is it half empty or half full?! Today's Word speaks of life and abundant life! Half of 2025 is over and we head into the second half of the year and I wonder if we look at it as if the year is half empty or have full? We can look back and see those things we thought we would have done by now but haven't or we can look forward to the rest of the year to get them done. While finishing up a home project, it was almost complete but then I got called away. I didn't get back to it for a few weeks. I knew in my mind that I had to get back to it but I kept finding others things to do - when it comes to knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can "think" about it or we can do it. The choice is ours but don't delay too long for we never know when He will call us home! Get it done today! peace, tom
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1 Thessalonians 5:16 NASB "Rejoice always," I thought to myself, really?! Today's verse is so simple yet so hard to do! It was in the middle of a struggle that today's verse came to mind. I thought to myself, there's no way but I gave it a shot. I put on some praise and worship music and made up my mind that despite the struggle, I would praise God. I found myself beginning to sing, (off key, but it says make a joyful noise to the Lord! LOL) and before I knew it, my perspective was changed and I began to fight through the struggle and got the job done. We may not always feel like rejoicing but it says "always" - that means always. Let's not give satan or our problems the power to rob us of our joy - so, sing off key, sing loud, then sing a little louder and before we know it, we may even be dancing a jig or two! Find joy today no matter what and rejoice! peace, tom
James 1:12 NASB "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial..."Oh, they will come! Today we read that when we persevere through the trials, we are blessed! It was one of "those" days - you know the ones, where it seemed like everything I tried to do was filled with difficulties. I could have just called it quits, but I like to finish what I start and finish well ( read that some where!) It wasn't till the end of the day that I could look back, not at the trials and struggles but at the blessings that were right there beside the struggles. I just had to change my perspective and look for the blessings - and they were there! Let's not focus on the trials but focus on the blessings - change of perspective makes all the difference in the world! peace, tom
Galatians 6:5 NASB "For each one will bear his own load."We had to go back and recheck our work! Today's verse, while rather short, can offer us an abundance of wisdom! While helping my son-in-law put in a new GFIC outlet, we didn't pay attention to where we put the wires. On the back of each unit, there are two words "line and load" - if you don't put the wires in the right spot, the outlet will not work properly! At first, we didn't pay attention to where we put the wires, so when it was time to turn the power on, it didn't work! We did make the adjustments and then all worked well. All of us have been called to have a purpose, a purpose in this world and a purpose in the Kingdom of God - if we don't carry our load, something will not work right. Others can't do what we are called to do, that's our job - so let's make sure we are bearing our own load! 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."But I don't have a thousand years to wait! Today's verse speaks about time, and waiting! Have you ever prayed, prayed day and night for something, and it seemed as if God wasn't listening or not interested in answering our prayer? Did we give up on our prayer request, did we give up on God? God cares for each and everyone of our prayer requests, but we must never forget that it's His Timing that matters. I have seen that God's timing is so much better than mine! Praying for a 100 year old friend to know Jesus and then one day my friend asks me about Jesus, or waiting for a personal heart request for years only to have it answered when God knew the time was right. Let's not give up on praying or on God but recognize that He and His Timing is so much better! Keep praying, God is listening and cares! peace, tom
Romans 1:12 NASB "that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine." Just to sit and share! Today's Word speaks about being encouraged while being together with others - and we both come away encouraged by our faith. Nothing quite like sitting with a friend and just sharing. I miss some of the older men I used to meet with - we would sit and talk life, faith, and His Word. Now it's my time to do what was done for me - encourage the next generation. Listen to their stories of faith, their struggles, their dreams and goals and be encouraged that God is a part of their life. Take the time to sit with a friend, talk life, be encouraged and give God the glory for friendship! peace, tom
Job 8:21 NASB "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
And your lips with joyful shouting." My sides were killing me! Today's verse, while simple, offers to us that we can laugh! Have you ever had a good laugh, I mean a really good laugh to where your cheeks hurt, your side hurt and tears came down your face?! Recently, there was a misunderstanding between me and a friend - that misunderstanding what due to my hearing loss - I thought he said something else and when the truth came out, about what he really said, we laugh so hard we began to cry. It was contagious, the more we laughed, the louder we got, the more we cried tears of laughter. Let's not take life so serious that we forget to laugh, to enjoy a funny moment! peace, tom Hebrews 11:25 NASB "choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin,"I'd rather be ... Today's verse speaks of choice! I recently got a hat that says "I'd rather be fishing" and while true, the reality is that the choice to go fishing or not is up to me! Many times I have made the choice not to go fishing for this reason or not but it's still my choice. That's the third greatest gift we receive from God our Father. One is His Son, two is the Holy Spirit and three is choice. The key is making the right choices at the right time. The choice we make can and will make a difference. I can complain all I want that I didn't go fishing but the Truth is that it was and is my choice. Let's not complain about the choices we make, but make sure they bring glory to God and not ourselves! Choose wisely my friends! peace, tom
Habakkuk 3:19 NASB "The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like deer’s feet, And has me walk on my high places."At first glance, we may think that today's verse is about climbing mountains but it could be about going to a place that brings us much joy! I really wanted to lay back and enjoy a nice quiet day but I had responsibilities like watching one of my grandsons. So, I asked God for the strength to enjoy my grandson and the day. And God gave me feet like a deer to chase him around and let me enjoy a moment as my grandson caught a fish! That's what today's Word means about walking on my high places, I was on cloud nine as he reeled the fish in! Finding strength in the our God means just exactly that, letting God supply our strength for each new day. Oh, by the way, our strength may fail but His never will! Walk in His Strength today! peace, tom Nahum 1:7 NASAB "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him."We could see it on the horizon! Today's Word shares where to go on those days of trouble! It was moving faster that we thought, by the time it got here, we were not where we should have been. While fishing with my dad, we could see the storm approaching. The fishing was great so we decided to stay a little longer before running for cover - boy, were we wrong. When the storm hit, the waves crashed over the side of the boat, everything go soaked including us. As we sat back at the room, we talked about how we should have left sooner. In life, storms will come and come fast - where is our refuge, where do we take comfort - I pray it's in the Lord and we don't wait till it's too late! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
November 2025
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