Matthew 11:28 NASB "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."I had to take a day! Today's Word is about finding rest in Him! I wasn't even aware of just how tired I was. Going from one day to the next, burning the candle at both ends, it finally caught up to me. I needed a day of rest but with my schedule full, I didn't see how I could take a day off. Then God allowed the sickness to take hold of me to where I had no choice but to take the day and rest. When we think that we can't take a day of rest, we make ourselves too important, too much about us rather than following where God leads us and sometimes He leads us to bed. Resting and refreshing are good things in our life so let's make sure we take the time to rest in the Lord. Trust me, that the things on our calendar, will get taken care of because He's in control, not us! peace, tom
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Psalm 32:8 NASB "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will advise you with My eye upon you." Without their advice, I wouldn't have known which way to go! Today's verse is about God leading us, teaching us which way to go! My crew and I were doing a "pre-plan" of a building in our area. We were checking the building out to make sure if there ever was a fire, we would know which way to go to get in and get out. The two gentlemen, who led us around, showed us the best routes to take in case of an emergency. Sometimes in life, we need to get the advice of those who know, and God knows all, so He would be a great place to go and get the advice we need. Admitting that we need help is never a bad thing, it actually shows wisdom to know we need advice! Hearing it is one thing and doing it another. Let's make sure we don't only listen but take the advice His Word shares! peace, tom
Proverbs 11:12 NASB "One who despises his neighbor lacks sense, But a person of understanding keeps silent." Sometimes it best just to keep quiet! Today's verse is about keeping silent, rather than causing trouble! I kept repeating to myself "just listen, be quiet!" In dealing with a troubled neighbor, I knew the best solution to the problem was to be silent, and listen. He was bent on causing an argument, trying to get me to engage in a foolish conversation that would have led no where. There was a part of me that wanted to lash out, match insult to insult but I thought to myself, how was that going to witness Jesus Christ?! As I listened to him, I knew my only answers were to pray for him at that moment but I did it silently, to myself and I prayed for my myself as well to remain silent. It wasn't that I was being a doormat but I let the wisdom of today's verse control me rather than what he was saying. Sometimes it best to just keep quiet! peace, tom
Romans 12:15 NASB "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." It was one of those crazy days! Today's Word says to be there for each other! No sooner did I finish one call with a friend who shared a wonderful blessing he received, did I take another call and had to console a friend who had faced a difficult journey. Life can be like that where one minute we are rejoicing and another minute we are weeping. The key is keeping focus on Christ no matter which situation we are in. Finding strength, through the Holy Spirit, will guide us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and weeping with those who weep. We all will have those days when we need someone to share the joys and struggles of life. Let's be there for each other, the good, the bad and the ugly cause sometimes life gets like that! peace, tom
Luke 11:28 NASB "But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it."I can still hear his voice telling me this and that! Today's Word is about being doers and not just hearers of His Word! I don't hear an audible voice but deep within me, I hear his words. Even though my dad passed away, his teachings and lessons on life still ring in my ear. The next step is whether or not I live those words. Far too many times I didn't when he was alive, but now I put them into practice for they were words of wisdom. We can read all the books of the Bible, study the wisdom that fill the pages but until we put them into practice, we will just be hearers and not doers. Let's be those who not only hear His Word but put it into practice, that's if we are listening! peace, tom
Romans 12:10 NASB "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."Most guys love a good challenge! Today we are challenged to outdo one another! I can run faster than you, I can climb higher than you, I can... challenges of our youth when we would try to outdo each other. When we didn't win the challenge, some would just give up, not me. I would try harder and harder, even when it looked hopeless. In life, we will face challenges, some that will cause us to give up while others will challenge us to get stronger, braver and even do things we never thought possible. With today's challenge at "outdoing each other in showing honor", we will need the strength and the courage found in Christ alone to complete the challenge! Never give up the fight for sharing Jesus Christ by honoring those around us! peace, tom
Hebrews 12:1 NASB "Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us,"I was in awe of who they were and what they did! Today we read about being surrounded by those who witness Jesus Christ. I remember standing there, rookie school, and listening to the stories of the men who had fought the fires, did the rescues, and went on first aid calls. I had grown up with a dad who was one of them and I felt a a responsibility to keep up the tradition of being those not afraid to risk their lives for others. Surrounding ourselves with those who will support us, challenge us, and watch our backs is key to keeping focus on the important things of life. The question is... who are you surrounded by?! The answer should be men of His Word, just saying! peace, tom
Hebrews 10:35 NASB "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward."I doubted that it would ever get done! Today we read about our confidence! I had a plan but it seemed that every time I went to work on it, something else came up. I began to doubt that I would ever get it done. I began to lose faith in the project but also in myself for having the confidence, that it would get done. In life, we may struggle with confidence, listening more to what the world says about us. We need to believe in Jesus Christ for He believes in us. That's where our confidence will begin to grow to where we will see the reward. I finally set the time aside and got it done! Confidence in Christ will give us the strength to not only believe it will happen but the courage to get it done! Don't listen to the world who says "we can't" but listen to His Word that says "with Him all things are possible! " peace, tom
Psalm 130:5 NASB "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And I wait for His Word."I was't sure how it was going to end, but I had hope that it would turn out alright! Today's Word is hope! After performing CPR with my crew, we waited back at the fire house for any news on how the young boy was doing. Eventually word came that he was breathing on his own and over the next few days, he became stronger and stronger. If we didn't have the hope that CPR would work, we wouldn't have any hope that he would would recover. Having hope in Jesus Christ gives us the courage to face each day no matter what. Hope in Christ gives us the reason to keep pushing through the trials and struggles of life. As we head to the celebration of His Birth, may we put our hope in Him that we will recover from anything the world will throw at us. Hope, it's believing when we can't see it! peace, tom John 1:9 ESV "The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." I could see them in the distance! Today we read about the True Light coming to the world! I had broken down along a dark road and had called my dad for help. As I waited in the darkness, I finally saw the head lights of his car coming to help me. What a joy it was when he arrived and we got my car running again! As we head towards the celebration of Jesus' Birth, where the Light of the World came to rescue us from sin and death, may we look in anticipation of His Coming to rescue us. But it didn't end there, any time I would call my dad for help, he was there. Just as our Heavenly Father is always there if and when we call out to Him. May we look with eager anticipation of, not only the celebration of His Birth, but His Second coming as well! peace tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
May 2024
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