|
Psalm 90:12 NASB "So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom."
It's time! Today's verse reminds us that we number our days and hopefully learn from yesterday! It's the end of August and time to turn the calendar to September - but before we do, I wonder if we ever have taken a moment and looked at what we learned in the last month. I took some time to go over each day of August and see what lessons I learned. I had to ask myself, did I learn the lessons or just quickly turn the page and move on. There were moments last month when I didn't take enough time in God's Word, when I was too busy to pray for His Direction before making a decision. There were times when I was going to fast in life and let the people I love get lost in the process. I also took time to spend some time with my grandchildren as I realize they are growing up way too fast. Before we flip that calendar page, let's take a moment and see what we missed from last month and what blessings we received from God - and learn the lessons He tried to teach us! Speaking of teaching, let's keep the children in prayer as they head back to school this coming month! peace, tom
0 Comments
Proverbs 10:2 ESV "Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death."If it seems to good to be true, it just may be! Today's Word speaks to us about gaining treasures from wickedness! The call came in - it was going to be the deal of a life time. All I needed to do was send them $10,000.00 and the return would have been over a hundred thousand dollars! When I began to ask a few questions, the caller didn't have the answers. He dodged each question and tried to change the subject. The more questions I asked, the more he became distant in his offer. I asked to see some type of paperwork, send me an email with all the details, but his answer was that there was nothing to send, I needed to take him at his word. Obviously, I didn't agree - but there is one Word that we can take to the Bank! That's God's Word, and you can read it in the Bible for His word is Truth - let's not fall for the treasures gained by wickedness or a scheme of man but hold firm to the Truth - He will set us free! peace, tom
2 Timothy 3:16 NASB "All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;"
It was a simple question! Today's Word tells us what the Word is all about! As he sat by my side, he asked a simple question - "What was I reading?" - it was my 8 year old grandson and as I was doing my morning Bible reading, he came and sat with me. He looked at the Book, with all the pages colored and notes written in the margins and asked that simple question. I shared with him that it was the Bible, God's Word, God's love letter to me. He asked what were all the colors and verses underlined, and I told him, those were lessons that God spoke to me concerning different times in my life. As we talked, I thought about how I had asked my dad the same simple questions many years ago. How I saw his Bible with different verses underlined and notes along the margins. Let's have the courage to carry His Written Word with us, for we may never know who will ask a simple question! peace, tom 1 Peter 5:8 NASB "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
It only takes a second! Today's verse tells us to be of sober spirit, to be on alert! Driving over 800 miles was a long trip - the key was trying to keep myself from either falling asleep at the wheel or getting into an accident for not paying attention. All along the way, I watched not only the road before me, but the drivers around me. Some speeding out of control, others make some pretty foolish decisions when making lane changes and for the most part, you might as well take down the speed limit signs. Despite all that going on, I needed to be vigilant in how I was driving. I didn't want to be a road side statistic where I ended up crashing and getting hurt or hurting someone else! Being sober in spirit and staying that way means paying attention to details and realizing trouble is right around the corner. Let's be careful and keep our attention on where it should be! peace, tom Matthew 11:28 NASB "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
It was well needed! Today's verse speaks to us of where we can find true rest! I didn't realize how much I needed it until we took the time to take a vacation. Spending time with family on our vacation and stepping away from all the responsibilities I had, gave me a refreshment that I didn't even know I needed. Sometimes we can get so "busy" that we don't even realize we need to take time to recharge, get some rest, and be renewed. Someone once told me that the word "busy" stands for Being Under Satans Yoke!" - going from one thing to another, without the proper rest, can leave us just going through the motions. When we step back, take a break and recharge, we can come back to our responsibilities with a new found passion and energy. Let's not get so run down that we don't even know we need to rest. Take time to let God give us the rest we need to continue on stronger than before and enjoy the love of family! peace, tom Ephesians 6:11 NASB "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil."
The only way to avoid them was to stay out of the water! Today's verse reads that we are to put on the full protection of God's Armor, to be able to stand against the devil! While vacationing with our family, we enjoyed the beach and surf, but deep within the waters there was a danger no one saw coming! It got one of us first, then another, then another and soon we realized that we needed to be more aware of the attacks. The attacks came from jelly fish. Silent and almost not noticeable little creatures that were only trying to protect themselves but left a powerful sting. Thank God, none of the little ones got stung but it was time for the adults to make sure to keep them safe! God wants to protect us from those unforeseen things that come across our life. He gave us His Protection in the form of a full armor - Be sure to check out the entire armor in the rest of Ephesians 6 and put them on, it could save us from a terrible sting! peace, tom 1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB "We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone."
I was there once! Today's verse lists a great way to live! I remember in school, the teacher saying to me that I needed self-control! (unruly), a good pastor friend of mine encouraged me when I was depressed! (fainthearted) , and my wife helps me each day when I am week and does it patiently! Many of us can find a time in our life when someone reached out to help us. Think back to those who have come alongside us and helped, encouraged and was there for us and say a prayer of thanksgiving for them - then send a text, make a call or even stop by for a visit and tell them how much their encouragement meant to us! And then we need to be the ones who live today's verse for we were there once! peace, tom Romans 2::1 ESV "Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things."
I needed to step back! Today's verse is going to hurt a bit, it will cause us to look at ourselves! As I walked away from the job site, I was looking for someone to blame for the mistake. After criticizing the crew, I found that it was I who made the mistake. It was so easy to blame someone else, rather than look to myself as the one who did the wrong. Early in the Bible, when Adam and Eve sinned,Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed satan. Neither one took responsibility for their actions. We may find it easy to judge someone else but have we stopped to look at ourselves first?! Let's be careful how we judge and make sure we are judging ourselves the same way! peace, tom James 4:17 NASB "So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin."
Pretty rough Truth! Today's verse seems pretty rough - if we know the Truth and don't do it, we sin! I was struggling that day when the call came to help. I knew I should have gone but I made up an excuse and didn't go - the Truth be told, I lied! There was no good reason that I didn't go and help except for my own laziness, and it was wrong. At the end of the day, I felt guilty, that was the Holy Spirit convicting me that I had done wrong, I had sinned. I repented and with repentance comes not a period but a comma, I need to do better. I can either beat myself up for not living the Truth (which satan does a pretty good job at doing) or I can pick myself up, brush myself off and start anew! It always comes down to choice! Let's choose wisely my friends! peace, tom Romans 12:6a NASB "However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: "
We would never! Today's verse states that each of us have been given a gift that differs from each other and we are to use them properly! If we needed a plumber, we would never call an electrician, if we needed a roofer, we would never call a masonry guy, so why would we go to the world for answers of life when the Bible is filled with the lessons we need. I got the call from a customer that needed some work done. When I got there, I realized that I didn't have the skill set to do the job. I told the customer that I would have to call a fellow tradesman to finish the job correctly. Rather than "fake" it, let's make sure we are honest with our gifting and let the people with the gifts do their thing while we do ours! Not everyone can do everything, but each of us can do our part! The question is, what's your gifting and are we using it to bring Him glory?! peace, tom |
Tom SEmberAuthor of Daily Devotions Archives
September 2026
Categories |
RSS Feed