Romans 12:8 NASB "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people."There are two sides! Today's verse is about finding peace with others! There are always two sides of any argument, any disagreement but the key is always trying to find the middle ground. Carolyn and I have had our share of disagreements but we have also had our share of finding the middle ground. It all depends on what we are trying to accomplish. If its about me being right all the time, then we will never find the peace that comes when we can both agree. That doesn't mean that we have to give in but that in giving in we find the peace that will bring a calm resolution to the disagreements. Finding the peace is always more important than being right! Let's let that sink in as we find ourselves in a disagreement with someone. Finding peace, is better than waging war just because we think we are right. BTW, did you catch the part of the verse that says "... so far as it depends on us"! peace, tom
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Proverbs 11:14 NASB "Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in an abundance of counselors there is victory."I wanted to make sure I did it right! Today's verse is about asking for help and having a group of godly people to go to for advice! When planning the next steps on the addition for our house, I wanted to make sure I didn't forget anything so I began to seek out the advice from some good carpenters, electricians and plumbers! Seeking help doesn't mean that we are weak, in fact it shows wisdom to admit that we don't have all the answers. Going into God's Word and spending time in prayer is a great place to go when we seek the advice of our God. Decisions have to be made and making sure we seek the best advice is key to making a good decision. Having a group of godly men in our lives will help make the day to day journey easier. Who's in your group?! peace, tom
Deuteronomy 31:6 NASB "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or in dread of them, for the Lord your God is the One who is going with you. He will not desert you or abandon you."There is strength in numbers! Many hands make light work! Today's Word is about being strong and courageous! All those sayings, about how if we work together, things get done is actually true. We had a lot of work to do on the job site. At first, only a few men came together but when the foreman told everyone to get involved, the work was accomplished in a short amount of time. Just imagine if we followed today's verse and were not afraid to tackle the hard things of life knowing that the Lord our God is going with us... the fact is that He is with us and will never desert us! What a thought. Now we just need to believe it and live it!! Just imagine if we were part of God's Team, what could be accomplished! peace, tom
Titus 2:7 ESV "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,"It's not really that hard! Today's verse is about respect, integrity and dignity! The words from today's verse may seem foreign to many these days as the world moves further away from caring for others and more about self. Many years ago, I was to work with my dad on a job. He told me to be there by 8AM but I showed up a bit later. When I got on the job, he simply said "by showing up late to an appointment shows disrespect!" and we went to work. I never forgot that life lesson and always try to be on time if not a little early for any and all appointments! Little things like showing up on time can show respect, integrity of our word and give dignity to others. Let's not just say we will but actually do what we say! It simply shows respect! peace, tom
1 Thessalonians 4:13 NASB "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope."It's not a wish but a hope! Today's verse shares about having the hope of seeing our loved ones again! I can not pass October 11th without thinking of my dad. Although I think of him almost every day in some way, I know that one day I will see him again. Today would have been his earthly birthday but he is now in heaven and what a better place to enjoy the day! Without the knowledge of Jesus Christ, I would grieve as if not having the hope of seeing him again but for now, I hold on to the life lessons he taught me, how he lived Jesus Christ and I do my best to follow his example. Missing a loved one can be difficult but when we know Jesus, we can rest in the knowledge that we will see them again. Happy Birthday Dad, miss ya! peace, tom
1 Peter 5:8 NASB "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." It could have been much worse! Today's verse simply states to be on alert, to pay attention, to keep focus! While driving about 60 MPH trailering my boat, I didn't have time to think but just to react! The vehicle next to me had a tire blow out and came right into my lane of traffic. He hit the driver side of my vehicle causing me to begin to swerve and the trailer begin to fish tale back and forth. If I wasn't alert, things could have ended much worse. In life, there will be things that will cause us to lose control, get off course but if we are alert and keep focus on Christ, He will see us through! When both vehicles pulled over, I found out that the other driver and I knew each other from a church I attended years before. We both thanked God it wasn't worse! peace, tom
James 5:13 NASB "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises."The looks we got didn't surprise us! Today's Word says to pray when someone is hurting and to rejoice when things are going well! Right in the middle of the hardware store, we prayed. I had run into an old friend and when I asked him how he was doing, he began to say that he was struggling with some health concerns. I asked him if I could pray with him and for him, his answer was yes. So, right between the screws and nails, we prayed. It didn't take long but long enough for others to take notice. The looks we got didn't surprise us but when another man came over and asked for prayer, we were surprised. There we were, three men praying in the middle of the store! We don't have to wait till we get to church to pray for each other! Don't let fear keep us from praying in the marketplace! peace, tom
1 Thessalonians 5:11 NASB "Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."It doesn't come easy! Today's Word is about building each other up and encouraging each other! Watching my grandsons play, I began to notice that they would rather knock down the blocks than build them up. I took a few times of teaching them how to build the blocks up and the joy found in creating new things with the blocks. There is no joy in knocking each other down except for the selfish gain. When we learn that building others up is better than knocking them down, we will find true friendship. God never knocks us down unless we need it to get rid of the idols of ourselves. Let's learn how to build each other up and encourage each other and rejoice in the accomplishments of others. Give someone a nice pat on the back today rather than trying to knock them down! peace, tom
2 Timothy 3:16 NASB "All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;"It's never easy to accept! Today's verse has many parts of what God's Word is about and used for! No one really likes to be told that we aren't doing it right or living according to God's Word. But today's verse does say that His Word is used for rebuke, for correction and for training. While finishing up a job, the customer came said that I had done it wrong, it wasn't what they wanted. In my youth, I did it my way instead of listening to what the customer wanted. I had to go back and change it all. Many times in life, we do it our way instead of His Way and when we are rebuked, and or corrected, we fight the idea that we didn't do it right. Let's not become so arrogant in life that we can't accept the Truth of where we are in life. Let's be open to the training from God's Word! 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."It happened again! Today's verse is about teachers and students or we could say parents and children! I found myself saying the same words my dad had used with me while he taught me about life! Funny how as soon as the words came out of my mouth, I thought about the times my dad had said them to me. I was with a grandson and we were enjoying an afternoon together when a life lesson came into play. Here I was only a few years after being a student, now being the teacher. We, who have been blessed to be taught must now pass on what we have learned to those in need of teaching. One of the best places to get wisdom if from Gods' Word and other godly mentors in our life so we can pass it on to others. While we can always be learning, we can also be teaching. Don't miss an opportunity to pass along what we have learned! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
May 2024
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