Category: Uncategorized

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

Daily Verse: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” Prov. 11:2

Humility brings wisdom.

“Pride is the center of all sin,” said our pastor in a recent message. Ever since he uttered the words, I’ve meditated on their truth. At the heart of sin lies our selfish desires, also known as pride.

“Don’t write a book on pride; no one will buy it,” Joyce Meyers said at her conference. Chuckling at the time, she also speaks the truth. No one wants to look at the pride within themselves nor take responsibility for it.

Addressing our pride issues unveils dark corners in our hearts. Selfishness remains the bedrock of sin; we put our needs before God’s desires and others. Pride makes me angry when someone cuts me off in traffic; humility keeps my heart soft and reminds me that God loves them too.

Ask God to keep your heart soft towards others, alerting you to prideful ways. Admitting our problem leads to fixing it. Pride fuels sin, but humility fuels wisdom. 

God helps us keep a soft heart when we submit our ways to Him.

Lord, forgive us for our pride. Humble us gently and keep our hearts soft towards You and others. Pull the thorns of pride from our hearts and replace them with Your love and grace. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 10:1-11:23, Mark 14:1-21, Psalm 51:1-19, Proverbs 10:31-32

Daily Verse: “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.” Prov. 10:31

Righteous speech pleases God.

“But ask God if your speech is honoring Him,” said my therapist.  During my last session, the topic of cursing came up.  Full confession, in heated moments, I’ve spewed unpleasant words.  Hence the conversation on cursing.

And now I hear my therapist’s words echo when the urge to say something adverse tempts me. Most times, I don’t need to ask God; I already know the answer, and my mouth remains closed.

Words contain the power of life and death, having the ability to build up or destroy.  Using fewer words and choosing them well benefits others and ourselves.

And if in doubt, ask God, “Does your speech honor Him?” Adding a filter to your language will change the words you use. With God’s help, we become encouragers, one sentence at a time.

Honor God and others with your speech.  Mom’s advice stands the test of time:  “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”

Lord, forgive us for our unpleasant words.  Nudge us through Your Spirit when our language doesn’t honor You.  In all we do, let us represent You well, not only in word but deed.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 8:1-9:23, Mark 13:14-37, Psalm 50:1-23, Proverbs 10:29-30

Daily Verse: “The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers.” Prov. 10:29

Divine justice prevails.

Corrie Ten Boom, author and Holocaust survivor, did needlework while speaking publicly. She would hold up the back, revealing the tangled threads of her tedious work. Then Corrie would turn the cloth over, revealing a beautiful, hand-stitched crown. She concluded her message with these words:

“Although the threads of my life have often seemed knotted, I know, by faith, that on the other side of the embroidery, there is a crown.”

Placing our faith in Jesus makes us blameless in God’s eyes. Those who turn their back on Christ follow the path of destruction. But we never know when someone will decide to follow Jesus.

God doesn’t ask us to judge people’s hearts; He calls us to love them. Each stitch we make draws us closer to our crowns. Sharing Christ’s love with others helps build the kingdom, making the path to destruction less traveled.

Lord, forgive us for thinking our standards better than Yours. Help us persevere today, loving others, letting You do the judging. Allow us to see others as You see them. Give us grace and mercy to love them well. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 6:1-7:89, Mark 12:38-13:13, Psalm 49:1-20, Proverbs 10:27-28

Daily Verse: “The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.” Prov. 10:28

Obedience blesses.

Fearing God and deeply respecting His authority make you want to obey the Lord’s commands. Obedience brings blessings; disobedience has consequences.

According to Psychology Today, the average person makes 35,000 choices daily. As Christ-followers, we have 35,000 opportunities a day to choose Godly wisdom or worldly.

Knowing what the scriptures teach helps us apply the Lord’s wisdom to life. If we don’t know what God’s word says, we can’t apply it to our choices.

“I could say I didn’t see the email, but then I would be lying.”  Receiving an early morning request for help, my human nature wanted to unsee the words. God wants us to develop integrity, not deceit. Once known, we can’t unknow something. 

Living for God means choosing Him repeatedly, not only in the big but also in the small ones. God blesses our efforts and numbers our days.

Lord, forgive us when we make poor decisions. Thank You for giving us life to the fullest as we follow and obey You.  Help us make life-giving decisions today based on Your word. In all things, let us honor and serve You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Verse: Numbers 4:1-5:31, Mark 12:18-37, Psalm 48:1-14, Proverbs 10:26

Daily Verse: “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.” Prov. 10:26

Hindrance to progress.

Sending someone incapable of doing the job tastes like vinegar in the mouth to the receiver. When you hire someone to do a job, you expect them to do it.

One experience I will never forget happened over fifteen years ago. A friend hired roofers that never did the work and, unfortunately, paid them first. Driving to their office together and finding the vacant space broke my heart.

Sluggards do the least amount of work for the most significant reward; they prove themselves untrustworthy. 

^“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” Colossians 3:23

Following Jesus means doing our best, working for the Lord, not man. Sluggards produce a sour taste. Hearts in tune with Christ produce sweet fruit.

Lord, forgive us for ever producing a sour taste because of our actions. Help us tune our hearts to Yours, producing sweet fruit for the world around us. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 10:24-25

Daily Verse: “When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.” Prov. 10:25

Strong foundations endure.

On vacation in Florida over Christmas, we witnessed the damage Hurricane Ian caused three months prior. Wooden stairs, the only thing remaining from a crosswalk, and empty lots where houses once stood. But one place stood alone, the entry stairs and deck gone, the firm foundation withstood the hurricane winds, the home still intact.

We will encounter hurricanes in life, storms that sweep us off our feet, causing us to fall to our knees and cry out to God. In our darkest moments, the Lord answers, our firm foundation in times of trouble.

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:1-3

When the storm hits, lift your eyes to the hills and receive strength from the Lord.  God never sleeps, always watching. The winds may blow, but with Christ, you can sustain them.

Lord, thank You for watching over us, never sleeping, constantly vigilant. Plant our feet firmly on the rock when the storm winds blow; hold us steady until they pass. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 27:14-Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalm 46:1-11Proverbs 10:23

Daily Verse: “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” Prov. 10:23

Activity reveals character.

Watching a fictional show about car racing, one driver nudged the opponent’s car, causing him to spin out and lose the race. 

“Is that legal?” I asked Ron.

“No, but people do it.”

Causing another person to crash to win a race says a lot about the driver’s character. For the fool in today’s verse, they consider evil conduct sport. Winning a race by cheating doesn’t constitute victory.

Understanding comes with wisdom, which knows how you play the game matters more than who wins or loses. 

Character develops one good decision at a time. Consistently doing the right thing repeatedly develops strong character and helps us become more Christ-like.

Seek wisdom and understanding. Let God’s guidance and directions develop a Christ-like character in you.

Lord, forgive us for our poor choices. Help us develop Christ-like character as we consistently choose You.  Give us the tools to make good decisions that honor and serve You always. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22

Daily Verse: “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” Prov. 10:22

Wealth has many forms.

God blesses His faithful children with riches, good health, jobs, families and friends, and much more. Wealth comes in many forms. And with it comes no sorrow, just pure joy.

Debt-free living brings no sorrow with it. Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University taught me how to manage money and live debt free. No more anxiety over which bill I would pay this month, no more eating peanuts for dinner to pay my credit card bill.

Each morning, I praise God for another day and our good health. At my age, the fragility of life seems more fragile. Every moment becomes a God moment the more we pursue Him.

Our hope lies in Jesus; the best days yet to come. Each of us has a different journey, but eventually, we’ll all get called home to heaven.

Until then, God gives us riches, no sorrows attached.

Lord, forgive us for not recognizing the riches in our life. As we pursue You, let us find You in new and exciting ways. Let Your originality dazzle us. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21

Daily Verse: “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.” Prov. 10:21

Words give life.

We control what comes out of; our mouths; though I often fail, I try to say uplifting and always encouraging words. As a coach, I learned that students remember 80% of what I say, but I only remember 20% of my words. And so, uplifting and encouraging became a rule I try to follow in my life.

“I just want you to know; you look beautiful. Your glasses, your hair, they look great,” I said to the owner of the Mexican restaurant. Immediately, her demeanor changed, her shoulders lifted, and a smile illuminated her face as she thanked me for the compliment.

Having worked my way through college in restaurants, I knew the telltale face of a tired owner. And I spoke the truth in love to her, giving her renewed energy. All the full tables around us benefited from her beaming smile.

Help people blossom by encouraging them on the journey. Start a revolution of kindness, one uplifting word at a time. Give life with your words.

Lord, forgive us for our unkind words. Help us speak uplifting and always encouraging words. Let Christ’s love for people come through in our language, giving them life, as Jesus did us. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Daily Verse: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” Prov. 10:19

Closed lips avoid trouble.

Loose lips open the door to sin and gossip. Wagging tongues can’t listen to the other person. And excessive talking often leads to prideful boasting, flattery, and idle talk, causing destruction. 

Over the years, I continue to learn ways to keep my mouth shut when it desperately wants to talk by placing my hand over my mouth. Physically covering my lips helps me not say words that will tear down and destroy relationships.

Broken relationships because of ill-spoken words can take a lifetime to repair, if ever. Not speaking in tense moments saves friendships and helps us to listen to the other person’s needs.

With prayer and supplication, choose words carefully. Let the words that flow from you uplift and encourage all that hear them.   Speak with intention, saying only those things that will build relationships, not tear them down.

Lord, forgive us for loose lips. Help us choose our words wisely today, speaking life into others with what comes from our mouths. In all things, let us honor and glorify You. IJNIP. Amen