Romans 8:18 NASB "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us."If you would have told me that it could be this good, I never would have believed you! Sometimes looking back at what was and seeing what is today can have us at a loss for words. When I think back to those days where my anger and rage was ruling my life, I am ashamed that I ever acted that way. I prayed many times that God would see us through the struggles of our marriage and my daughters would have a loving father! Today's verse speaks about not considering our present sufferings but rather focus on the glory that will be revealed! Now many years later, I find myself walking in the glory of what God can do through prayer, how my wife and daughters remained faithful in their love for me and I am humbled. In life there will be or maybe you are right now, struggling, suffering but remain faithful for God will bring His Glory to your situation. And one day, when He calls us home, we will get to see Him in all His Glory- so stay strong, remain focused on Him and He will see us through - He did for me, and He will for YOU! peace, tom
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1 John 3:11 NASB "For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another;"It coughed, sputtered, then quit! Today's verse shares what we have heard from the beginning, that we are to love one another! Seems so simple a verse and yet we find ourselves struggling with the simple thing of love! All it really needed was some TLC - tender loving care! The motor was old, dirty and parts were falling off, so no wonder it didn't run properly. After a few hours of cleaning it up, replacing broken parts, it started right up. I wonder if some of the people we encounter in life don't need a little TLC. The world has them broken, misused, and unappreciated but we have been called by God from the beginning to love one another and that goes especially for those with a broken spirit, who are elderly, who are in need. Seriously, how much does it take to love on those in need... not as long as you think but the question is... are we willing to love them as Christ loves us?! peace, tom
James 4:7 NASB "Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you"You would have thought I had the plague, the way they all left me! It wasn't long after accepting Christ as my Lord and Savior, that I began to notice my old friends seemed to slip away! Today's verse speaks to us about submitting ourselves to God and resisting the devil and he will flee from us! There came a point in my relationship with my old buddies when I began to share the love of Jesus Christ, sadly some of them didn't like it and I noticed that I was no longer called when they were meeting up. I found myself spending more time in God's Word, enjoying new friendships with those who also knew Christ but I realized that those old friends needed one thing from me, prayer - so I pray for them, that they will submit to God and find His Son as their Lord and Savior. The journey to follow Christ will not be easy, but if it was, everyone would be doing it! Remain strong in Him and follow where He leads us, it's a much better path and by all means resist the temptations of the devil and he will flee from us! What a great thought! peace, tom
Galatians 1:4 NASB "who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,"It was so long ago but I remember it as if it happened yesterday! When we arrived at the site of the burning house, we quickly ran in and helped those inside out! Today's verse speaks to us about how He will rescue us from this present evil age! After the fire was put out, the family gathered together and came and thanked us, with tears in their eyes, they hugged us and couldn't thank us enough! When this life gets to us, when we feel the heat of uncertainty, when the pressure of evil in this present day becomes too much and we need to be rescued, turn to Jesus! It is the will of our God and Father that we will find safety in Him! Let this be the day that Jesus rescues us from the struggle of life and make a memory that will last our whole life! peace, tom
Matthew 7:14 NASB "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."As I followed him, I wasn't sure if we would get there! I was asked to go fishing with a friend but little did I know that the path we took was going to be that hard! Today's verse shares about the gate being narrow and the way hard that leads to life, very few find it! He kept saying that the journey to get to his fishing spot was going to be worth it! The path there was narrow, and the way was hard, just like today's verse but once we got there, the fishing was excellent and we spent hours enjoying catching and releasing many lunkers! No one ever said that life would be easy and most will find that coming to know Christ as Lord and Savior will have its trouble along the way. We will have to give up our old self, maybe lose some friends along the way, give up some of the earthly things we like to do, give up all our idols but the path will lead to life, ever lasting life! What journey are we on, one that is easy and leads no where or the one that leads to life? peace, tom
John 8:32 NASB "and you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” The answer was simply "yes" but having the courage to speak it can be difficult! The verse of today speaks about the Truth and how knowing the Truth will set us free! The answer "yes" was to the question that married men will face..."do I look fat in this dress?". For many, it has become a joke of sorts about telling our wives the truth about how they look in a certain outfit but if we care about them, we will speak the truth! Seriously, who would want their wife to go out in public not looking her best?! Coming to answering the question truthfully meant that I had asked my wife ahead of time, when the time came to answer that question, how did she want me to respond. Being honest with herself, she said "please tell me the truth!". Another great verse to keep in mind as we speak the truth states "speak the Truth with love!" When we speak to each other in love, the Truth will set us free!! What Truth is God speaking to us today that will set us free?! peace, tom
Nahum 1:7 NASB "The Lord is good,
A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him."Although we don't see each other as often as I like, I am grateful for being born into a family that cares for one another! Today's verse speaks about where we can go in the day of trouble, who we can call on, it's the Lord and He knows us who take refuge in Him! I pray that my children and grandsons feel as if I am a stronghold for them when they are in trouble! I have learned that way of life by being born into a family that has been and is always there for me! Whether it was a father who came out in the middle of the night to rescue me from trouble, or uncles willing to drop whatever they were doing to help me with a project, or a wonderful wife who holds my hand through a difficult health issue, I am blessed! But when things become so difficult, there is always one place I turn and that is to the Lord. He's always available to listen to my cries in the night! You too can be part of His Family, all it takes is asking Jesus into your heart, why not be born into His Family this Christmas, it's the best family around! peace, tom Mark 10:45 NASB "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”We donned aprons and grab our trays and headed out into the crowd that had gathered! Today's Word shares about being a servant, that even the Son of Man came to serve and even to the point of giving His very life as a ransom! We had volunteered to help, serve those who had come to enjoy a hot meal. To see their faces, the smiles, the greetings of "thank you" as we went about serving those who came was truly a blessing. It didn't take a lot of effort to serve them, it just took a commitment on our part to serve rather than to be served. As we go through this time of uncertainty with the Covid virus, I wonder how we can serve our fellowman rather than sit back and wait to be served?! All it takes is a commitment on our part to put others first, just like Jesus did for us! Serve well my friends! peace, tom
Ezekiel 38:7 NASB “Be ready, and be prepared, you and all your contingents that are assembled around you, and be a guard for them."My sister in law would always say that if there was ever an emergency, she would want to be in my father's van! Today's Word shares about being ready, being prepared, and being a guard for others! My father had everything needed in case of an emergency of some kind, stored in his van. No matter what came up, whether we were out enjoying the day, or working, and needed something, we knew we could rely on him to have it! I wonder if we are ready, ready for whatever the world throws at us?! I know one thing for sure, that if Christ is with us, we are ready! He has prepared things for us, we just need to walk in them. When things of the world enter chaos, are we the ones who can be relied upon, ready and prepared for others, to be a guard for them by sharing Christ?! As we inch closer to the celebration of His Birth, I wonder, are we ready to receive Him if He was to return today? Something to think about as we prepare for a "new normal" type of Christmas! peace, tom
1 Corinthians 11:2 NASB "Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I handed them down to you."For a moment, I was thrown back into my former life! Down the street from where we live, a garage was on fire. Going down to see if I could help out brought back memories from my years on the Fire Dept. The sound and smells took me back as I remembered how it used to be! Today's Word is Paul sharing how he praised the people of Corinth because they had remembered him and the traditions he shared with them about Jesus Christ! I wonder if we ever are sparked by memories of our past, how God was there in our life to protect us, guide us and lead us to a new life in Him?! Maybe we don't have those kind of memories but we can begin today to start them. Turning to Christ, letting go of our former life, will begin to create new memories of His Hand upon us. Let's build a wonderful memory today by spending time with Him in thought and prayer! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
April 2024
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