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Matthew 10:28 NASB "And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."Let's be honest! Today's verse is kind of a warning about those who will try to attack us! When we say that we are followers of Christ, we must be ready for the attacks, for they will come. The sad reality is that the attacks will come from friends and family first as we begin new lives in Christ. We need to hold strong as the attacks come from not understanding what coming to Christ brings. The key will be how we handle these attacks, the doubt, the fear of what we have found in Christ that changes us from our old past to new beginnings. Make sure we are ready for them, for they will come but with each attack, gives us the opportunity to live Christ. Somewhere I read that we are to pray for our enemies, that's how we overcome! peace, tom
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Psalm 119:9 NASB "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word."I can still remember the conversation! Today's verse may bring back some memory from our past, when we were young men! Sitting down with dad, as we waited for the fish to bite, we talked. As a young boy, with questions, desires, and urges, I asked him how can I keep my head above water. Dad, being a Bible Guy, would often share a verse or two and help explain it and teach me how to put it into action in my life. Grown up now, I find myself using the same verses as I speak to young men. If we don't pass it forward, how will they learn. Get a group of young men, and find the courage in Christ to speak the Truth, ask the hard questions, and show them the answers in His Word, they'll remember it years down the line! peace, tom
James 2:18 NASB "But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”"Some will say it and never do it, while others will do it without saying it! Today's Word is a challenge to us all to do what we say where having faith is one thing but doing it is another! My dad taught me the lesson from the Bible to let my "yes be yes and my no be no"! I was asked to do this project and the date was set when it needed to be done by. As the date got closer, I realized I had not done the work required to have it accomplished by the final date. I had said yes but my actions were saying no. I needed to let my faith show by my works. I buckled down and got 'er done! Let's not put off the works that come through our faith but let our works show our faith! Maybe we need to increase our faith so we can increase our works and get it done on time! peace, tom
1 Peter 2:21 NASB "For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps,"It 's right around the corner! Today's Verse shares that Christ suffered for us and that He was our example of how to handle trouble! Right around the corner sits trouble! You know it's going to happen and no matter how we prepare for it, it's going to happen. How we handle it, is the key. We can throw our hands up, surrendering to trouble or we can hold on tight, turn to Christ as our example of how to get through it. Walking into work, I had this feeling that something just wasn't right. No sooner did my shift begin when it happened. The machine I was supposed to work with went down. The workload that I was supposed to get done wasn't going to happen. I could have given up for the day or I could, with the help of the shop guys, work to get it fixed. It always comes down to choice but thank God we have the example of His Son in getting through the trials and tribulations! peace, tom
Galatians 6:2 NASB "Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."They always seem to be there at the right time! Today's Word is about bearing each others burdens! It always seems that when I need a third hand, the Lord sends someone to help. Whether it's my wife praying for me, or a buddy that stops by at the right time or an uncle who offers some great advice, I always come away blessed. I don't know about you but it always seems that the right person comes into my life at the right time to offer help, to encourage me, to sometimes just sit and listen. Being blessed like that, time and again, just gives me the encouragement to do the same! It doesn't really take a lot of time to be there for someone else rather than always thinking of ourselves, does it?! peace, tom
Romans 15:1 NASB "Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves."I had to step in! Today's Word teaches us to help those in need and not just for ourselves but to give God the glory. It was almost like a flash back to when I started the job. Here I was watching one of the new guys try and work with the machine. I could see the struggle upon his face as he wasn't sure what to do next. It brought back the memory of when I started the job there, how I struggled with that same machine and one of the older guys on the job came to my rescue. I walked over to the new guy and began to share what was shared with me. He began to understand and got the machine working properly. Those of us who have been blessed by others need to step up and help those who are are struggle, to encourage them, to simply help. That's not too much to ask is it?! peace, tom
Matthew 14:29 NASB "And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus."What if He called us to do that? Today's verse is about Jesus calling Peter to do something that most would not! As I sat and ate, I kept getting this feeling that I needed to go over and talk to a man sitting alone. I was out of town for a men's conference, and eating alone at a restaurant when I got this feeling to go. I wasn't sure why but I got up and walked over and asked if I could join him for we both were sitting alone. He looked at me as if I was a little crazy but agreed to let me join him. We talked and I found out that he had recently lost his wife and that dinners just weren't the same. He didn't like eating alone and enjoyed the company. I invited him to the men's conference where he gave his heart to the Lord. We must be ready to get out of the boat when Jesus calls us to go where He calls us to go! Let's be ready to get out of the boat! peace, tom
1 Peter 1:7 NASB "so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ"So, how did we do? Today we read about testing and how once passed, it can result in praise to our King! The first full week of the new year has come to an end and I wonder, how did we do with our resolutions, the newness of the year?! Progress can be slow as we try to change some things in our life. Testing will be part of the plan to see if we are who and where we want to be in Christ. Having walked through buildings on fire, it ain't easy but if we keep focus, we can get through the testing, we can find victory in Christ so, hang in there for there's a new week coming! New opportunities to pass the tests and give God the glory! Know you are prayed for! peace,tom
Luke 1:24 NASB "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! Today's Word speaks of how narrow the door is to get to Him! Life is a challenge, a struggle at best, to keep our eyes upon Jesus but if it was easy, then where would the victory be?! Even though I have walked with the Lord for a few years now, there are those moments when my flesh wants to run my life. A simple disagreement with my wife, or the driver who cuts me off, or the store clerk spending more time on their cell phone than helping me check out, can cause me to allow that old "anger" self to rise within me but I know that His Way is so much better than mine. I seek Him in prayer for the strength to get past the old self and keep my focus on Him and the new creature I am in Him. With the New Year still fresh, we can keep our eyes upon the narrow gate and get through things, sadly many will not! Let's not be one of them but one of Him! peace, tom
Proverbs 16:9 NASB "The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps." How are we doing with them? Today's Word is about our plans verses our steps! We are not even out of the first week of the new year, and I wonder how are we doing with the resolutions we made just a few days ago?! I had the plans all drawn up and was ready to get started when I sat back to go over them one more time. As I went over them, I realized that I had left out a key part of the plans. If I had moved forward in what I had planned, I would have had to start all over again for a missed a key part! In life, we may make plans that we think are going to work out but if we don't take the time to check with Him first, yes that's check with God, we may just end up having to go back and start over. Checking with God is really simple, it's called prayer. Time to ask Him for His Guidance, His Protection, His Way for it is so much better than ours! Check with the Big Guy first! peace, tom
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Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
February 2023
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