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Hebrews 10:36 NASB "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." It almost seemed like the harder we worked, the more it got worse! Today's Word is about endurance and when done, we will receive what is promised! As the grass fire kept burning out of control, our crew was exhausted but we knew we had to keep going, to have the endurance to get the fire out. We even called for help in order to get the fire and the flames put out and eventually, as we remained faithful to the job, we got it done! In life, we will face those times when exhausted, we need to keep going, to keep pushing forward, to keep fighting the fight for His Truth. We can call upon the Holy Spirit to help us out and call some godly brothers to pray for us. Admitting we need endurance isn't a sign of weakness but of wisdom, so don't give up the fight and ask for help! peace, tom
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1 Peter 1:22 NASB "Since you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brothers and sisters, fervently love one another from the heart"Sounds a little "preachy"! Today's Word shares about obedience to the Truth and a fervent love for one another! The response I received said that my devotions sound a little "preachy", meaning that I guess I sound like a preacher! I share what I share because after reading God's Word and how those who do not know Jesus will spend an eternity in hell, I wanted to make sure that I give people the opportunity to meet Jesus, to accept Him as Lord and Savior so if my words come out a little "preachy", it's because I care about all those who read them. If we are not willing to stand up and share the Truth then what are we doing calling ourselves followers of Him?! To know Him is to live Him and I wonder how we are doing in living Christ?! peace, tom
Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." I could have just drove by! Today's Word is a great verse to keep in mind as we do this thing called life! No sooner did I pass him that I felt the need to go back and help him out! Like so many others times in life, I come across those in need, I can see them struggling and it's hard for me to pass them by without stopping to help! Whether it be helping someone carry groceries out of the store, or stopping to see if someone needs help changing a flat tire, or even offering a shoulder to lean on, or staying up late to listen as someone shares their struggling situation, it's fulfilling the law of Christ. To love others as He has loved us. We never know but we can be sharing Christ in those moments of offering help to a total stranger. Let's keep our eyes open for the moments to offer help in His Name! peace, tom
Galatians 6:10 NASB "So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."Wow, where did it go?! Today's verse speaks to us about doing good to all people while we have the opportunity! I mentioned to my wife that as of yesterday, there is five months left before Christmas! Time seems to fly by these days, maybe due to busy schedules but it seems to go faster each day. Each of our grandchildren are getting older and older right before our eyes! We need to take every opportunity to enjoy the moments because they go by fast. Doing good to all people, especially those in the house of the Lord is one way to enjoy each day, each moment rather than looking too far ahead, let's make sure we make the moment, the opportunity to do good. The question for today is... what are we doing to and for those we interact with? One thing is to share with them the love of Christ! peace, tom
Ephesians 5:11 NASB "Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them"No one likes a leak! Today's Word teaches us to not be part of useless deeds and takes us a step further for we are to expose them! It was dripping from somewhere and we needed to find out where. The customer had called us because there was water dripping on her floor and she couldn't find the leak. We began to search for the drip, the leak, the thing causing the damage. We finally found it up in the dark attic. Some one had run a water line up through her attic and back down to where it needed to be. If it wasn't for the shine of the flashlight on the water line dripping, we never would have found it. It's one thing to know what is wrong, and another to expose it. We should never be part of the problem but always be willing to shine the Light of Christ on them! peace, tom
Titus 2:12 NASB "instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age"I had shared them with my daughters and now I was sharing them with my grandchildren! Today's Word should be how we are living the example of Christ and what we are teaching the little ones! No sooner did the words come out of my mouth with one of my grandsons, did it reminded me of what I had heard from my parents and had taught them to my children. Enjoying the time with my grandchildren is always an opportunity to speak God's Truth into their life. They may be small and not fully understand but so was I when my parents spoke it to me. But years later, I remember and my daughters remember and I pray these little ones will too. Never miss an opportunity to share the Truth for the world is full of lies and they will remember! peace, tom
Ephesians 5:15 NASB "So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise"It began long before we even entered the fire building! Today's Word is about wisdom and how we should walk as wise people! There were things we did before we ever got the report that the building was on fire! We would "pre-plan", that meant going into a building and learning all about the exits, the staircases, the elevators etc. It was about having a plan of attack, a knowledge of the building before we were called to put the fire out! We can do that in our life as well. We can have a "pre-plan" about what we will do when temptations come, and they will come. We can have the wisdom of God's Word to use against satan as he tries to attack us to trip and fall as we walk the walk. Don't be unwise but be prepared for what will come, cause it will come! What's your preplan for when satan attacks?! peace, tom
2 Timothy 2:7 NASB "Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." I had to ask them to explain it to me a second time! Today's verse is a great prayer, if you will, of asking the Lord for understanding in everything! Trying to navigate some paperwork, I needed to call and ask those who sent it to me to explain it for I was lost in what exactly they were looking for. I had heard an old adage and wanted to use it.."explain it to me like I was a four year old! " - Sometimes in life, we may not fully understand and it's during those times, we need to seek help, a better understanding of what is needed. Going to God's Word everyday will help us understand just what the Lord requires of us in all things. Simply saying we don't understand shouldn't be an option, it's the lazy way out. Let's find the strength to admit we don't understand and go to His Word for clarification, we may just be surprise at what we learn! peace, tom
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."It almost sounds crazy but it's true! Today's verse almost seems like it's written wrong but when we understand that it's in our weakness, Christ makes us stronger, then it makes perfect sense! Being exhausted, I stepped back and allowed others to do their part. I could have just kept going but the job would have suffered for in my exhaustion, I wasn't doing my best. When we can admit that we need help, that things are overwhelming, we can find strength in others to help get the job done and done right. When we learn that in our weakness, in the insults, in the distresses of life, we can go to Jesus and He will make us strong enough to ask for help, then we have grown. Let's not be so stubborn to think that we can do it all but rely on Christ and others to help us through the rough times of life! peace, tom
Romans 8:5 NASB "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit."It was only for a second but the results will last! Today's Word is about focus and where we need to keep our focus! As I pulled the boat around to go to the dock, I took my eyes off the dock and lost focus. No sooner did I look back when it was too late and I ran into the dock causing a nice scratch along the side of the boat. Each time I go to the boat, I can see where I lost my focus for the scratch sticks out like a sore thumb! Keeping our eyes and minds set on the things of God will keep us from making mistakes that can last a life time. I do thank God that through Jesus Christ, we can repent of our sin, our mistakes and never have to focus on them again. Let's keep focus on Christ in the first place so we don't have to remember our mistakes! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
December 2024
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