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Luke 15:2 "And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.”"Each year the discussion grows! Today's verse tells us that Jesus shared time with sinners, so shouldn't we?! It comes every year, the question of "should christians be involved with Halloween?". Every one has an opinion, a teaching that it's evil, but for me, I look to Jesus - He was not afraid to spend time with sinners, like me! If children and their parents willingly come to my house, I will share with them a few pieces of candy and I'll share the Gospel as well. Call me evil, tell me I am wrong but in my heart I know that this is an opportunity to share Jesus - how can that be wrong?! The decision is yours but if one child comes to know Jesus, isn't that worth it! We are to love the sinner and hate the sin - just like Jesus loves us! peace, tom
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1 Corinthians 15:57 NASB "but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I was tired of trying to do it myself! Today's verse tells us where the victory really comes from and how we need to be grateful! Over and over, I tried to control my anger, but each time I failed. I had given into my anger so many times that I thought it was hopeless to even try to stop it. BUT GOD - when I finally gave my anger over to God, and cried out to Him, I found the victory in Him! No matter what our battle is, we can find the victory over it in Christ. We just have to be willing to give Him control over our lives, our emotions, our very beings. Sure, easy to say but hard to do - all because we think we can do better ourselves - that's simply not true - give the battle to the Lord and watch Him win the victory for us! Jesus said "It is finished", so let the victory lap begin! peace, tom
Hebrews 13:5 NASB "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,"I wish... Today's verse teaches us not to love money but to be content! I remember as a young boy, the toy catalogues would come out and I would circle all the things I wanted for Christmas. As an adult, I look through tool catalogues and do the same thing - but I've learned that I don't need all those things - I need to find contentment in Christ. When we have a love of anything over our love of Christ, we are making them god (small "g") - We need to make sure we find the blessing of the second half of today's verse - that He will never leave us, never - it's is we who go looking through catalogues to find what will make us happy when He will make us glad, when we learn that He is always there for us! peace, tom
2 Timothy 2:23 NASB "But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels." In the end, it didn't really matter! Today's verse is about foolish and ignorant speech! It started out with a friendly conversation but slowly grew to a disagreement and then into a full fledged fight! As I stood and listened to two guys discuss our home football team, each had a different idea about the current lose. As the conversation went on, they both began to speculate some foolish ideas, and disagreeing with each other, the conversation turned ugly fast! In the end, what they discussed would never had come to pass, they weren't part of the coaching staff, but what did happen was that their friendship took a hit. Weeks later, I ran into one of them and asked how things were between them - his simple reply was he didn't consider the other guy a friend any more - what a shame - over nothing, friendship was lost! Let's not let foolish speech cause such division but find common ground in Christ! peace, Tom
Ephesians 5:11 "Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;"Tattletale! Today's verse shares that we should not be part of the deeds of darkness buy expose them! I'm sure, we have either been called a "tattletale" or called someone else it. I knew what they were doing was wrong but I didn't want to wear the title of "tattletale". I was afraid of what the group of friends were going to call me if I let my parents know what was planned. The group had decided to go out late at night and do something to someone that would have hurt them bad and as I weighed my decision to either tell my parents or go along with the group, I decided to tell. That meant I was labeled, no longer welcome in the group but I felt ok with it when the Truth came out. The person that was the target didn't get hurt, the house was left intact and that was worth wearing the title of "tattletale" - we must not be part of the problem but be part of the solution, no matter what! peace, tom
Romans 12:14 NASB "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse."Just imagine if we really did?! Today's verse speaks volumes in how we are to handle those who persecute us, make fun of us, and try to harm us! God always does the unnatural and asks us to do the same. Who would ever think about blessing someone who has harmed us in some way?! As I took a break from working "The Pile" during 911, I sat and had to let go of the anger and hatred I had for those who had caused so much death and injury. I began to pray that God would soften my heart for those who I was hating and I began to pray for them, praying so I would be willing to forgive them and not hold my anger against them. It's never easy to do the unnatural but with God all things are possible! Bless those who have hurt us in some way and let God do His Part! peace, tom
Romans 15:1 NASB "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves." It was a small thing to me but meant so much to them! Today's Word is about helping others and not that we receive the glory! I couldn't pass by without helping them. I could see them struggling so I pulled my vehicle over and jumped in to help. I did it because I had seen my dad do it many times, many places and never seek the glory. When we realize that it's not about us, but about helping others, we bring God glory. I am sure He smiles a little wider that we aren't just saying the words but actually living His Word. Let's look for opportunities to help someone today and not just please ourselves. We have been given the blessings, now it's time to pass them along! peace, tom
Jeremiah 29:13 NASB "And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."We never went in, not expecting to find them! Today's Word speaks of finding Jesus when we look with all our hearts! Every time the call goes out, that there is someone trapped in a building, each crew enters expecting to find them. Firefighters risk their lives in search of that one missing person each time that call goes out. I have been there, done that and even though we may not find them in time, we search with all that we have, even to the point of exhaustion. When it comes to finding Jesus, we need to have that same attitude. Searching with all we have - letting go of what holds us back. The reward of finding Jesus is like finding some one trapped in a fire building, and that means saving a life! The life we could be saving is ours, when we seek Him with all that we have! Find Him today! peace, Tom
Acts 27:36 NASB "All of them were encouraged and they themselves also took food."There's just something about sharing a meal! Today's Word speaks of being encouraged and sharing a meal together. If we were to read the whole story in Acts 27, we would find that they hadn't eaten for 13 days and then were encouraged to eat. It wasn't a fancy meal, just a quick lunch with a friend but I came away blessed by our time together. When families share a meal, and put down our phones, we can be encouraged by the simple conversation. Talking seems to be a lost art these days, being replaced by texting, emails, etc. Why not make it appoint to share a meal together with family or call a friend and invite them for lunch - we will come away encouraged and blessed! peace, tom
Romans 5:8 NASB "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." The first step was to admit I had a problem! Today's Word is about God's Love for us while we are sinners. I never thought of myself as a sinner until I began to read God's Word. I thought of myself as a half way decent guy but the more I read about His Love for me, the more I understood what Christ did for me in my sin, the more I wanted to get my life cleaned up. Whether we are struggling with anger, alcohol, drugs, pride, or any of the other things that take us away from God, He is still there willing to love us. Our responsibility is to admit we failed, we sin, and repent and accept. Accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior but that means we first have to admit we have a problem. Don't struggle another day but seek the help that comes from God who loves us! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
December 2025
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