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Romans 14:19 NASB "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." It's one thing to want it, but another to pursue it! Today's Word is about pursuing peace and building each other up! Neither side wanted to give in, they were both entrenched in getting what they wanted. So much so that they were willing to fight to get their way. In stepped a negotiator who brought both sides together and began to find common ground that each side could agree on. After a few sessions, both sides agreed to the settlement. Finding the common ground in Jesus Christ can bring peace to any situation, we just need to pursue peace rather than disagreements, find that building each other up is a lot better than tearing each other down. Find some common ground today as we pursue peace and build each other up! Just imagine if we really did it?! peace, tom
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Joshua 1:9 NASB "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."I thought to myself "I must be crazy!" Today's verse speaks to us about being strong and courageous for He will be with us. I remember it like it was yesterday, the fire alarm went off, and the next thing I knew I was running into a burning building! I thought to myself, I must be crazy but followed my officer in. Right before we entered, he said to me - stay by my side, I won't leave you, don't leave me! It was a comforting thought, as I faced the raging fire, I had someone with me that wouldn't leave me. That's how it is with God, He will never leave us, in fact He will go before us and lead us - we just need to follow Him and stay by His Side. There is strength in knowing that we are not alone, so don't try to do it alone. Get in the habit of calling out to God and other godly men when the struggles of life seem overwhelming! Don't go it alone, He is right there with us and they will be too! peace, tom
1 Samuel 18:1 ESV "As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."We are brothers from another mother! Today's Word speaks of friendship! I had heard about him, spoke with him on the phone and when we met face to face, there is just something that drew us together. Within minutes, we had begun a friendship that has lasted the test of time. Although we live miles apart, and we don't see each other every day, there is a kinship that has grown because of our love for God. We have grown to be good friends where it doesn't matter how long it's been, we start off right where we left off. I encourage you to find a godly friend! Not a mentor but a friend, a peer, a buddy, who will share your love of God, who will challenge us to go deeper in His Word and who will watch our back when the enemy attacks! Thanks bro for being there! peace, tom
1 Timothy 5:1-2 NASB "Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, and to the younger men as brothers, 2 to the older women as mothers, and to the younger women as sisters, in all purity."It seems so simple! Today's 2 verses simply tell us how to treat others, older men, younger men, mature woman and younger ones too! I watched as he walked him into the restaurant, sat him down, and then pushed his wheel chair into the corner. And then he left him... I thought that they were together but the young man was just helping the older man into the restaurant. The care that the young man took was heartwarming. It was a blessing to watch and I thought, I hope others saw it too. Our example of living and treating others can be seen by so many so let's becareful to treat everyone with respect, family and others! peace, tom
Acts 24:16 NASB "In view of this I also do my best to maintain a blameless conscience both before God and before other people, always."I take a moment, at the end of each day, to simply ask, have I?! Today's Word is about maintaining a way of life where we are blameless before God and man. Let's be honest, sometimes we don't treat our relationship with God and/or man with the respect that's due them. We may have made choices that has tarnished our relationship with them. That's why at the end of the day, I take a moment and ask myself "have I", treated my relationship with God or man in a way that has not brought God glory. If I have, I make sure to repent, and if it's needed, to go and apologize to the one I may have hurt by my choices. Trying to live a blameless life is possible, if we keep our eyes upon Jesus! If I have offended you, I am sorry! peace, Tom
1 Corinthians 15:58 NASB "Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."She came back to show her gratitude and simply say "thank you"! Today's verse tells us to keep moving forward, keep pushing on for we are not working in vain! There was a knock on the firehouse door. There stood the young lady that we had helped get out of the fire building a few weeks before. She brought us a pizza and wanted to thank us for getting her out safely. The men on my crew never gave it a second thought about going into a burning building to rescue her, we did our job but the job is so much more than just going through the motions. Our labor was not in vain and a life was saved, how far are we willing to go, to safe a life by sharing Jesus?! One day we may just hear "thank you" when we meet them in heaven! peace, tom
Acts 8:31 NASB "And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." Being open to instructions is one of the best things we can do! Today's Word speaks about having someone guide us! I had the opportunity to go over a few notes I had taken during a men's conference. As the speak shared, I wrote some of the important things he said. Re-reading them, I began to think of all those who guided me in my life. My dad, uncles, godly mentors, and I took a moment to thank God for them. Now in a position to share with others, I recall how they guided me by their words of wisdom. Let's not forget those who spoke into our life, the words of wisdom, the lessons they taught us and use that wisdom to guide others. And we should never get to a place in life where we can't learn from others. Be sure we have godly men to guide us in this thing called life! peace, tom
Proverbs 31:26 NASB "She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."Sunday is going to be her day! Today's verse is about mothers and how they have wisdom, and teach kindness. All across the country, Sunday will have our minds on our Mothers (or they should be!) It's Mother's day and whether they are still with us, or have passed on, remember them, honor them, cherish them. Someone once said that more prayers are prayed by mothers for their children than any one else. They may not have been the best one or maybe they were like mine, but we need to remember the good times, the loving hugs and kisses, the endless love that we received. And there are woman in our life who are the example of Jesus Love - our wives, sisters, aunts, etc - honor the woman who raise up children and don't forget - we all have or had a mother! Happy Mother's Day Ladies! peace, tom
1 Corinthians 14:40 NASB"But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way." Some guys like to trim first, then cut, other's like to cut then trim! Today's Word speaks to us that all things must be done in an orderly fashion. I, personally, like to trim then cut my lawn so the mower can pick up the trimmings, but my neighbor likes to cut then trim. In either case, as long as it's done in an orderly way, our lawns look good. Many times in life, we get things mixed up. We should be doing this first and then that, like starting our day in His Word. Waiting till later means that sometimes we will forget to get into the Word and we run the risk of losing the knowledge we may have gained that day. Don't let life confuse us as to what's important to do and when to do it. Keep things in order so we don't miss opportunities along the way. Peace, Tom
1 Corinthians 9:24 NASB "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win."It's more about how we are running than actually winning the race! Today's verse shares about living in such a way that the opportunity to win is available. As we sat and talked, he said that he didn't see the point. Why try when others seemed to do better than he did at work, at play and even in life. It seems that many men have lost the hope of doing their best. Here was another man, willing to be honest with where he was in life but with no drive, no hope, no reason to run the race in order to win. When we don't have Jesus, the reason to live may seem cloudy at best but He will bring the newness to our lives, the "Sonshine" sort of speak, to get us up and moving. Make sure we challenge each other to run in such a way as to win - we may not win, but we should be trying to! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
May 2025
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