James 1:19 NASB "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;"There wasn't any time for us to be speaking or getting angry - we simply needed to hear what the chief said and do it! Today's verse tells us something we should know but have a hard time doing as men, to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger! While fighting a large fire, some men from another crew got trapped and we needed to get to them and get them out! No time for anything but listening to the chief's plan of attack! Many times in life, whether with our wives, children, boss, and especially our God, we need to be quick to hear and slow to speak! When we listen to God, our wives, children, co-workers, we can find a new and different perspective that can just get us out of trouble. Getting angry usually comes from not listening and can do more harm than good! Remember, God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason!! peace, tom
0 Comments
Matthew 9:26 NASB "And this news spread throughout that land." I am always amazed at how fast a rumor can travel! The "gossip" grapevine can take a single bit of news and have it travel faster than we could ever imagine or think possible! Today's verse shares that very same idea, that the news will travel throughout the land! The key is what news are we sharing?! While working in the fire house, my crew came and asked me if it was true. There was a rumor that I was leaving my post to go to another fire house, something which wasn't true! Sometimes we may never find out how it got started but we can put an end to falsehoods that come our way. Speaking the Truth with love is the best news to put into the gossip grapevine rather than keeping a falsehood going! Spread the news today that Jesus Christ is still on the throne, let's see how fast that travels! peace, tom
1 Thessalonians 5:19 NASB "Do not quench the Spirit,"I should have followed where He was leading, then I wouldn't have gotten into the mess I was in! Today's verse, although short, is very, very important to remember and live by! I felt this sense in my inner being not to go down the road I was on, not a real road but a choice put before me, a decision I made concerning life. As I began to pray about what choice to make, I felt as if the Holy Spirit was guiding me in a certain direction but I decided not to go that way - what a mistake - I ended up regretting my decision! I should have followed where the Holy Spirit led me - not quenching the Spirit of God in our lives is key to making the right decisions, going down the right path, bringing God the glory for the blessings that come - to quench the Spirit is like putting water on a fire, it smokes and goes out and we lose the light and heat from it! Don't walk in the darkness, start and keep the fire of the Holy Spirit growing! peace, tom
John 15:3 NASB "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."It didn't happen all at once, it slowly began to grow unto the point where I could no longer walk! I am not speaking of an illness, or a disease, I am speaking of "muck"! If you've ever walked or worked in the rain, the mud begins to get to the point where it becomes "muck" - heavy, clingy and hard to move in! While working in the rain, the "muck" was so deep and heavy on my boots, that I couldn't take one more step without cleaning off the "muck"! Today's verse speaks to us about being clean and how we are already clean because of the Word spoken to us! Our work, our very life can become so bogged down in the "muck" of the world that we are no longer able to live as Christ has called us to live, it's time we cleaned off the "muck" of the world and walk in the cleanliness of His Word- so the question is... do we need to take a bath in the Word of God?! peace, tom
John 16:33 NASB "These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”"I didn't think it would end that way but it did! Sometimes we have this idea in our heads that things will turn out differently, and when it doesn't, we struggle with how it does! I had all the wood cut, and it was time to assemble the project together, but it seemed that with each piece I put together something was off! Today's verse shares about having peace amid the tribulation of life but to take courage because Christ has overcome the world! The more pieces I tried to put together, the worse things got! I went back and remeasured the wood I had cut, and it seemed that somewhere along the way, my measurements were off! Starting over meant measuring twice and cutting once!! In life, we will face those things that can cause us trouble, maybe it's unanswered prayer, or voting for someone who didn't win, or trying to put your life back together but we've missed a few measurements along the way. In either case or all cases, we should turn to the One who has overcome the world and find peace in knowing Him! peace, tom
Ephesians 4:31 "All bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice."It took a while but when it was done, all those things that I kept, needed to be removed! Year after year, I kept putting more and more tools in my tool box, until it got to where I couldn't close the lid or carry the weight any longer, I needed to get rid of those things that I didn't use or need any longer! Today's verse gives us a great list of things that we must remove from our life! I could have just continued to carry all that extra weight around but there were things that I needed to get rid of. Many of the tools I kept were either broken or no longer needed. I took the time and got rid of them! In life, each of us carry things that we need to get rid of - take a look at the list from today's verse and see if we are carrying any of them and if so, let's get rid of them so that we may walk in unity with our brothers and sisters! peace, tom
John 1:1 NASB "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."Before we even attempted to go into the "smoke house", we needed to learn about what we would encounter and how best to fight the fire! Today we see that in the beginning was the Word and that Word was with God and was God! In rookie school for the fire department, we had to learn about fire, how it acts before we could begin to think of running into a burning building, that meant we needed to spend time learning from books and teachers. Before we go off on our day, maybe we need to spend time in His Word, to learn His Ways so that we can know and act in a manner that brings glory to God. In the beginning was the Word... maybe it's time we start our day in His Word?! Just sayin' - peace, tom
Luke 15:10 NASB "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”"It felt so good to lay it down, the weight was getting too hard to carry and it was consuming my days! Today's verse shares about the angels of God rejoicing over one sinner who repents! (that could be us today!) I had carried the weight of my past long enough and it was finally time to lay it down before the Lord. Repenting to God and those I had hurt along the way with my anger released me to experience the joy of the Lord! I am not sure how the angels rejoiced over my being honest about my sins, but I am sure they felt as good as I did when I came clean! Many times in life, we sin, we fall short, we make decisions that are contrary to God's Word, that's the time we need to repent, to simply say "I am sorry!". When we let go of our sin, and turn away from them and turn to God, amazing things happen, angels rejoice, our hearts are able to enjoy life, and our backs are less burdened with carrying the weight!! What are you holding on too that needs to be let go of? Let the angels rejoice over you today! peace, tom
John 14:16 NAXB "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;"Sometimes I need a third hand! While doing many of the small repair projects, or working in my workshop or even doing some tasks around the house, I need one more hand to help make the job goes easier and smoother! Today's verse speaks to us about Jesus, asking His Father for help for us as we do life! The help comes from the Lord in the form and person of the Holy Spirit! In life, we will find that we need help, someone to come alongside us, to guide us, help us, to listen to the cries of our heart, to give us the strength and power to step out in faith, and that person is the Holy Spirit! The key of course is whether or not we are asking for Him to be our helper, our counsel?! And whether we are admitting that we need help and accepting the Holy Spirit's counsel. I think back to raising our daughters and how my wife took on the role of helpmate when I had no idea what I was doing! If we find ourselves not sure of what steps to take, get a third hand in life, call out to the Holy Spirit for His anointing and help! peace, tom
Deuteronomy 1:13 NASB "Obtain for yourselves men who are wise, discerning, and informed from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.’"I usually stay away from political posts due to the agitation it will cause in some to argue that 'their" man/woman" is the best candidate! Today's verse speaks about choosing those who are wise, discerning and informed and how God will appoint them! No matter who we vote for, we should always be asking God to let His Will be done. That those we chose for political office will be guided by the Spirit. The key is whether or not the person we voted for gets elected, we should stand behind whoever gets in the position! When our differences cause us to act violently and destroy other peoples property and life, we just show that it's all about us and not about God. I know that this devotion will not sit well with some and I will get many texts, emails and calls about who is best for the position but I will respond, that in my world Jesus is on the throne! Who's on the throne of your life? Vote wisely my friends! peace, tom
|
Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
April 2024
Categories |