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Ezra 10:4 NASB "Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.”It was my responsibility but the words of encouragement helped me get it done! Today's Word shares how we need to be courageous and act but it helps with godly men to cheer us on! Who doesn't need a little encouragement from time to time?! When we are called to get it done, getting help from those around us can make the difference between getting it done and not getting it done. As I stood at the base of the 100' aerial ladder for the first time, I didn't think I could climb it and step off to the roof but with the encouragement of my training officer and others around, I began the climb to the top and stepped off! Little words of comfort, big cheers of those who have our best interest in mind can make the difference in getting things done. Let's cheer each other on to take care of our responsibilities as men of God not slaves of satan! peace, tom
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Exodus 14:14 NASB "The Lord will fight for you, while you keep silent.”The more I spoke, the worse it got! Today's verse has the key to letting our Lord fight for us, can you find it? Letting my anger get the best of me and the discussion I was having, made things worse. No matter what I said, I was hurting the person I was talking with by letting my voice get louder, my words get nastier and it wasn't going to end well until I learned to keep my mouth shut. Maybe you struggle with anger, and letting it run our life, and it get's you no where but more frustration. When we remain silent and let God do His Thing, we can find peace that He is in control and He is so much better at it cause He's been around forever! LOL - silence is golden at times and can bring about a better ending than if we keep on speaking. Let's let God do our talking and we will find that His Word is so much better than ours! peace, tom
Luke 14:18 NASB "And yet they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I purchased a field and I need to go out to look at it; please consider me excused.’"It used to be me! Today's Word is part of the parable where a man was having a dinner and began to invite his friends when they all began to make excuses as to why they couldn't come! I used to be like that, thinking more about myself and what I wanted than those around me. If I got the call to help or an invite to a church event, I made up and excuse so I wouldn't have to go. When Jesus entered my life, I found that the excuses didn't hold water any more. The "what's best for me" became "what would Jesus do" and I found that going to those events blessed me more than I thought! Don't let the excuses keep us from the blessings and blessings other! Stop finding excuses and find the reason in Jesus Christ! peace, tom
Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."I had to make a decision as to what was more important! Today's verse states the Law of Christ pretty simple for all of us to understand! When the call came, I looked at the time and realized that if I took it, there wouldn't be enough time to get to the store I wanted to go to. I took the call, noting who was calling and that he was a man who was struggling. Can we meet right now, he asked? We agreed on a place and off I went. I didn't get to the store before it closed but I did meet and pray with a man who was struggling and we left each other better than when we started. Sometimes life will have those twists and turns where it becomes all about others, rather than about ourselves and isn't that exactly how Christ lived?! Let's be there for each other, no matter what! peace, tom
Luke 15:23 NASB "and bring the fattened calf, slaughter it, and let’s eat and celebrate;"It was wonderful to sit back and celebrate! Today's Word speaks of celebration, having a blessed time with others and enjoying time together! With all the sadness and tragedy in the world, it was nice to celebrate life. As people came to the church for our "community fun day" you could see smiles on their faces, conversations with old friends, and children having a wonderful time. We can get through the pain, by coming together and giving hope that Jesus is still on the Throne regardless of what is taking place here on earth. I am sure each of us can find one thing to celebrate. Whether it's the birthday of a child, an anniversary of a marriage that has stood the test of time, the friendship of others in our life but most importantly that God loves us, that is something to celebrate. We may not kill the fattened calf but we can enjoy a good barbecue and enjoy each other and celebrate the good things in life! peace, tom
Deuteronomy 4:29 NASB "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul."I knew it was in there but where?! Today we read about searching for God with all our hearts and souls! I was 100 % sure it had put it back the last time I used it, so began the search. I was looking for that special tool I needed to get the job done but couldn't seem to find it. I remember putting it back but now, I couldn't find it. I kept searching and searching and finally found it right where I thought it would be. I must have looked over it a few times before searching hard enough to find it. When we search for God in situations that arise, we may have to search with all that we are in order to find Him right where He always is but we seem to look past Him in the quick moments. Taking time to seek Him above all the chaos of the world, means letting go of all the things we hold on to and searching with all our hearts and souls. When was the last time we did that?! peace, tom
Ephesians 4:24 NASB "and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."What was I getting into? Today we read about putting on a new self, made in the likeness of God! I still remember walking into the fire house for the very first time. Starting out as a rookie, on a crew with men I didn't know, but willing to lay down my life with them made me ask, what was I getting into?! Starting a new job, or a new adventure, or a new life in Christ may find us asking what am I getting into, but if we walk by the Spirit and not the flesh, we will find the strength to get it done! Sure there will be questions, but we can find all the answers in His Word. We just need to open it up, read it, mediate upon it and follow where He leads us. Putting on a new self means letting go of the things of our past that kept us from where God is calling - so let's let them go and grab hold of a new life in Christ! peace, tom
James 4:14 NASB "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away."We can say it's half over or we can say we half to go! Today's Word shares that we are just a vapor, and appear for a little while! As I turned the calendar page, I realized that half the year is over. Where did the time go?! I have heard others say that the older you get, the faster time goes by! I wonder what did we accomplish in the last 6 months? Did we say we would diet more, read His Word every day, share Jesus when and where the Spirit leads us to? Do we have things left undone? The key is that we still have time but only today because His Word says that tomorrow is promised to no one! Let's make today the day when we do get those things accomplished and not worry about tomorrow! peace, tom
Isaiah 1:17 NASB "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case."I stood back and looked at it and said "I can do better!" Today's Word speaks about how we can do better in different areas of life! I could have walked away from the project, for it was done but it was not my best. In my rush to get it done, I had not given my best. I could have done better and needed to go back and make it right! In life, there will be times when we need to step back and ask ourselves, is this our best?! Whether it be at home with our families, at work with our job, or in our community, we need to ask the hard question of "can I do better?". Jesus didn't just go to the Cross, He went and gave His Best, His Life for us and we need to do the same, giving our best in every situation, for those we encounter in life. Say it with me " I can do better, now lets go and do better! peace, tom
1 Thessalonians 1:2 NASB "We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;"The flags will wave, the little ones will ask why and those who have lost will remember! Today's verse speaks of giving thanks and making mention of them in our prayers! Memorial Day, a day to remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice, their life! Cemeteries will be covered in the flag of the United States, children will wonder why as they are driven by and our country will remember those who gave their life. We remember the men and woman who gave of themselves for freedom. I can't help but think how Jesus Christ set the example of giving His Life for our freedom from sin and death! May this day be a day to remember those who have fallen and a day when we remember that we can find new life in Christ! Join me in praying for all those who lost loved ones in the service of our country! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
June 2022
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