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Romans 12:21 NASB "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." It's having a positive attitude! Today's Word tells us plainly how we are to overcome evil! I used to be the kind of guy who fired back when someone hurt me or said something I disagreed with, then I met him. He was the type of guy who could turn any situation into a positive thing. He never let things get him down, he just kept moving forward and saw the good in all people and every situation. I asked him one time, how he did it - his reply was rather simple but so profound - I have Jesus with me and if He could say "Father forgive them", I could too! The next time we run into an evil situation, let's find the good and be over comers in His Name! peace, tom
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1 Chronicles 16:34 NASB "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His faithfulness is everlasting." Thank you, thank you, thank you! Today's verse is about giving thanks to God. Happy Thanksgiving! Yes it's that day when we should take a moment and give thanks, to show gratitude, to simply be thankful for what we have. She has passed on to glory but I remember her words like it was yesterday. She was an elderly neighbor who I helped from time to time and each time I left her, she would simply say "thank you, thank you, thank you"! I asked why she said it three times, her reply was that once is never enough! Maybe we should have that same attitude to God and those who help us in life and say it three times cause once is never enough! May your day of Thanksgiving be blessed! peace, Tom
Ephesians 4:29 EVS "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."I have been guilt of not doing this, how about you?! Today's verse reminds us how our words can hurt and how we should be sure that what we say, and how we say it brings grace to those who hear it! The sad reality is that many family gatherings are ruined over words spoken in anger, or spoken to hurt, or spoken to cause pain - with Thanksgiving tomorrow, many of us will gather with family and as we talk to each other, maybe it would be a good idea to remember today's verse. We can lift each other up or tear each other apart based solely upon our words. Like the old "can't put toothpaste back in the tube" saying, once we say it, we can't take it back - let's either speak words of kindness and love or fill our mouths with turkey to keep it shut! peace, tom
Matthew 5:4 NASB "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."I wish I had had one more day! Today's verse speaks of loss and of being comforted! After officiating a recent celebration of life, I began to think about my dad. He went on to glory years ago and I am so grateful for the life lessons he taught me. I began to think...if I had one more day with him, I would thank him for all he did for me - even the discipling for it made me stronger. This week, as we head toward Thanksgiving, let's not miss an opportunity to thank those in our life - the ones that pray for us daily, the ones who teach us new life lessons, and yes, even the ones who challenge us in our lifestyle. We may not get another opportunity to simply say "thank you"! And let's make sure we thank God everyday for the many blessings we take for granted! peace, Tom
Psalm 136:1 NASB "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, For His faithfulness is everlasting."She came back to the fire house everyday for a week! Today's verse is about giving thanks to our God! It was just a small thing to us but to her, it was so much more. The guys on my crew decided to help out a neighbor. We gathered on our off duty day and began to take care of her overgrown yard. We cut grass, trimmed bushes and trees and made the place look a lot better. For the next week, she stopped by to thank us. Sometimes bringing cookies, sometimes a desert of come kind. We didn't do it for the goodies, we did it out of compassion for her and her family. As we head to Thanksgiving Day, let us realize that it doesn't have to be for just one day but it should be everyday! Take a moment and thank God each day for a blessing in our life! peace, tom
Luke 5:16 NASB "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray."Are you going fishing again?! Today's Word shares that Jesus would often go be alone and pray! It wasn't so much about fishing as it was to be alone with God. Yes, I can multi-task - have a line in the water and talk to God. It may seem funny but I learned it from my dad. Often times in the boat, he would say "let's just sit quietly!" - I knew he was talking to God - most likely praying for me and maybe you too! There are times we need to get away from the world, away from the noise and confusion, away from the phone calls, the texting, the emails, the news etc. Take some time to go be alone with God - thank Him for the many blessings we take for granted, cry out to Him about what's been bothering us, the struggles we have - just simply spend time with Him alone! We will come away blessed and strengthened for the day! peace, tom
Ecclesiastes 7:10 The Message "Don’t always be asking, “Where are the good old days?”
Wise folks don’t ask questions like that."It's not "it is what it is!". Today's verse, from the Message translation, speaks about not asking where are the good old days?! Too often I hear, it is what it is and I have to disagree - it is what we make it! Sure, many of us loved things in the past, maybe life was better but we are only remembering the good things and not the struggles, the temptations, the trials of yesteryear. We long for the good times but the question is... are we willing to do the work to make it a good memory?! "It is what it is " is accepting that things can't change - but the reality is that things can change. We can make the difference by keeping focus on Christ, on the power of the Holy Spirit to make the changes needed. Let's not just accept things but challenge ourselves to do better, to be better and to make it what will bring God glory! peace, tom Matthew 11:28 NASB "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."It took a while but he finally set it down! Today's Word is a great comfort in knowing that when we come to Christ, we can find rest. It took a while for him to finally admit what was troubling him. He had carried a burden for too long, the burden was what he had done when he was a young man. The guilt, the pain kept him from getting past it. He had cheated on his wife during the first years of their marriage. He never told anyone but kept it deep inside and it consumed him day after day, year after year. Finally, after admitting it and repenting before God and his wife, did he feel the rest of letting go of a past sin. Don't let satan rob us of the rest from our Lord, repent, and let it go. It took courage to admit what he carried for so long. Find the courage in Christ to admit our sin and find rest in Him as we set it down! peace, tom
Matthew 25:39 NASB "And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’"It happens ever year about this time! Today's verse is simply a question of when?! Each year, around the holidays, the calls on the Fire Dept. would go up, of people looking for someone to come talk with them.They were people living alone, family had passed or they had been forgotten and as they sat alone, they would call out. Many times, when our crew arrived, we found them with nothing wrong but just lonely and wanted someone to talk with. As the holiday season approaches, we have been given the opportunity to answer today's scripture question - "when did we see you sick, in prison or alone?" - The reality is that when we do this for others, we are doing it for Christ. Make someone feel special this holiday season - it doesn't cost a thing! peace, tom
Psalm 27:10 ESV "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in."He couldn't understand! Today's verse is a wonderful verse to remember when we feel as if our parents have left us down. As we talked about God being our Heavenly Father, he just couldn't understand - his father had left the family when he was young. The damage done to this young man wouldn't allow him to grasp the love of our Heavenly Father. It took some time, as we prayed together, talked it out and read verse after verse, he slowly began to understand God's Love for him. One night, it sank in and he was overjoyed to feel the love of God our Father. No matter how our parents were to us, never let go of understanding the love of our Heavenly Father - He will never forsake us or leave us - call to Him and He will answer! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
December 2025
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