Category: Uncategorized

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24, Acts 10:1-23, Psalm 133:1-3, Proverbs 17:7-8

Daily Verse: “A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;  wherever he turns he prospers.” Prov. 17:8

Bribery works.

Sohad, the original Hebrew word for a bribe, means gift. In today’s verse, the term refers to something that will open doors. When I yell “treat,” my dogs run to the kitchen, knowing something good awaits them.   Using dog biscuits gets my pups to do what I want.

Moms use Cheerios to reward children when potty training them. The promise of rewards encourages positive behavior. Bribes of this nature cause people to prosper because of proper motives.

In Exodus 23:8, the Law prohibits bribes made in secret that pervert the way of justices (Prov. 17:23). Payoffs to get someone out of trouble or promote illegal actions don’t fall into the same category as Sohad.

As always, God measures the heart and its intentions. He knows the difference between a bribe meant for good versus evil. Positive choices have positive outcomes and evil ways get exposed.

Appropriate gifts given at the proper time prosper.

Lord, forgive us for using bribery for the wrong reasons. As we study this verse, it helps us understand its meaning and use it appropriately. Let us use our resources to open the right doors properly. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 12:20-13:34, Acts 9:26-43, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 17:6

Daily Verse: “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” Prov. 17:6

Family honor.

Today marks 37 years since God called my father home. Out of his six kids, he had only four grandchildren, one adopted. My sister had an accident as a child, which prevented her from having children. The rest of us without children tried unsuccessfully.

As much as I love traveling with my husband, I miss having children. Watching my friends enjoy their grandchildren brings joy to my heart. Working with kids encourages and uplifts my soul. Why God didn’t bless us with children, I don’t know. Having long accepted His will for our lives, I enjoy the children The Lord brings into my life.

Grandchildren bring joy to the aged, as children honor their parents. The circle of life continues through the ages as people come of age and have their own families. Enjoy the moments with youngsters; they grow fast, becoming parents themselves.

Life continues at a rapid pace. Staying in the moment helps to enjoy it. Respecting grandparents and honoring parents allows us to treasure our family heritage.

Lord, thank You for blessing our lives with children, whether our own or others. Please help us cherish our moments with them, honoring our grandparents and parents as we do. Let us value our family heritage each day. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 11:1-12:19, Acts 9:1-25, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 17:4-5

Daily Verse: “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” Prov. 17:5

Unwholesome speech.

Mocking the poor and misfortunate shows contempt for God and His sovereignty. God controls our destiny; material things don’t determine a person’s worth. People’s temporary circumstances don’t indicate their value to the Creator.

In my life, I’ve met people from both ends of the spectrum, incredibly wealthy and extremely poor. The happiest souls and most peaceful hearts didn’t have bank accounts or homes with windows and doors. Singing praise songs in the concrete room in El Salvador, a chicken in the plastic chair beside me, and off-key voices worshipping the Creator ranks as one of the most joyous and educational moments of my life following Christ.

“The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.” Prov. 22:2

Connect with people instead of mocking them. Just because financial circumstances differ doesn’t mean God doesn’t love them. Our Creator made us all for different purposes; only He knows the end game. Don’t mock what the Lord made.

Lord, forgive us for mocking those less fortunate than us. Please help us see people through Your lens. Let us value the lives of those around us, honoring and serving them as You would have us do. In all things, let You receive the glory. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 9:1-10:29, Acts 8:14-40, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 17:2-3

Daily Verse: “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.” Prov. 17:3

Divine purification.

Nitric acid purifies silver by mixing it with the dissolved metal; it exposes the undissolvable contaminants, leaving them behind. Then adding silver precipitant crystals (common salt) to the mixture neutralizes the acid, pours it off, and leaves the pure silver behind.

God purifies our hearts with the circumstances of life as we follow Him.  Putting into practice Biblical principles reveals the “undissolvable contaminants” in our lives. Adding the Holy Spirit strengthens us to neutralize our impurities and leaves behind a pure heart.

When I struggled with hatred towards another person, God purified my heart. First, I had to understand why their actions caused such a violent response in me. God showed me impurities in my own life that needed work. Dealing with those issues purified my heart, replaced hatred with love, and helped me overcome the powerful emotion.

God tests the heart in various ways. Allowing Him to purify us leads to a more Christ-like life filled with the Lord’s blessing and peace.

Lord, thank You for purifying our hearts and removing the contaminated parts. Lead us in Your ways, continually refining and making our hearts pure. Let us become more like Christ as we follow You closely, changing daily. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-66, Acts 7:51-8:13, Psalm 129:1-8, Proverbs 17:1

Daily Verse: “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Prov. 17:1

Value of peace.

Strife comes with the deterioration of moral and ethical standards. Often, the more people have materially or monetarily, the more they can argue and fight over, causing strife. Although I haven’t watched the show “Billions,” the title tells me it’s about people fighting over money and power, strife.

“Poverty with peace is better than prosperity with strife.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

Living a peace-filled life has more value than money. God’s not against prosperity, but He doesn’t want us fighting over it. The things of this world will pass away, but God’s peace never will. Just because you can afford something doesn’t mean you need it.

Living a quiet life makes me happy. No longer do I want strife. Simple living has many advantages. Not a fan of housework, our small house doesn’t require much upkeep. Easy meals keep us healthy. We have all we need and live strife free in our minimalist lifestyle. 

Value peace above all else; don’t let prosperity steal it.

Lord, forgive us for arguing over temporary things.  Please help us value peace over prosperity.  Thank You for providing all our needs for us.  Let us focus on what we do have instead of what we don’t have. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 7:1-50, Acts 7:30-50, Psalm 128:1-6, Proverbs 16:31-33

Daily Verse: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.” Prov. 16:31

Crown of glory.

In a world full of people trying to hide their gray hair, Solomon describes it as a crown of glory. Living a righteous life gets rewarded with longevity, which comes with gray locks.

Today’s verse makes me think of my mom, who didn’t have time to color her hair, raising three kids, and taking care of a disabled husband—a righteous woman who enjoyed a long life.

Now, I’m “going gray.”  Letting my natural hair color shine also helps me transition into the later part of life, letting go of the mistakes of my youth, forgiving myself of my transgressions, and trusting God more than ever. Realizing I have fewer years ahead of me than behind helps me appreciate each moment more.

Life moves quickly as you begin to talk about decades instead of years. Gray hair signifies the victories and defeats that come with a long life, each day a gift from above.

Wear the crown of glory, gray hair, signifying a long walk with God and anticipation of what will come someday.

Lord, thank You for a long life lived with You.  Forgive us for trying to hide the crown of glory. As we transition into the second part of life, help us accept what comes with aging. Let us see ourselves as You see us. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 5:1-6:38, Acts 7:1-29, Psalm 127:1-5, Proverbs 16:28-30

Daily Verse: “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” Prov. 16:28

Divisive speech.

Lies cause problems. When trust doesn’t exist, having a relationship proves troublesome. I still haven’t solved the mystery of how to interact with a person who constantly tells false tales. Knowing they won’t tell the truth makes it difficult and feels like a waste of time.

What I have learned about liars, they lie to themselves more than anyone else. Because of their inability to honestly assess their own lives, they can’t tell the truth to others. Understanding this fact helps me keep a soft heart and tells me how to pray for them.

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.” Prov. 20:12

When dealing with dishonest people, pray for God to open their eyes and ears. Often, they see their need for Jesus first and foremost. Truth comes through the Savior; giving our lives to Him allows the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the truth.

Pray for those who spread lies, and ask the Lord to give them the gifts of eyes to see and ears to hear.

Lord, forgive us for telling false tells. Please helps us see and hear the truth always. As we deal with untrustworthy people, soften our hearts and guide us on how to pray for them. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 3:3-4:34, Acts 6:1-15, Psalm 126:1-6, Proverbs 16:26-27

Daily Verse: “A worker’s appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.” Prov” 6:26

Hunger motivates work.

Paying bills requires money, and to make income, we must work.  In high school, clothes motivated me to get a job.  Mom wouldn’t buy me the frilly luxuries I wanted, but she drove me to my job so I could make the money to buy them.

Appetite for things, whether food or possessions, causes us to find ways to make the money to buy them.  Few of us have the luxury of wealthy families, as seen on shows like Dynasty.  Most of us must work for the things we want to have.

Ron and I have clear financial goals set for today, five years from now, and further.  Each day, the money we earn goes into its designated place in our budget, providing food, clothing, bills, savings, etc.

Desiring things motivates us to work to get them.  Satisfaction comes when we can buy the things we want because of the money we earn.  Biblical financial strategies lead to prosperity as you practice what God teaches.

Lord, forgive our laziness.  Thank You for providing jobs we can work and make income to buy the things we need.  Please help us make wise decisions with our money; let us work smarter, not harder. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 2:1-3:2, Acts 5:1-42, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 16:25

Daily Verse: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Prov. 16:25

Consequences of conduct.

Everyone made a decision at some time in their life that did not end well. Because we don’t have all the facts or rush to a conclusion, we can head down a path we shouldn’t.

As a golfer, I make poor club choices, the number one mistake amateur players make. As a result, errant balls land in the wrong places, making the game even harder.

In the same way, when we make poor choices in life, it makes our journey harder. What seems right leads us to wrong places we never intended to go.

Consulting God before deciding helps us make wiser choices that lead us on the right path. Often, the way seems more challenging at first, but in the long run, it brings life. Praying for our enemies challenges us but has a more beneficial outcome than trying to get revenge and will lead to a soft heart and a better result.

Before rushing to a conclusion, take time to pray and ask God for direction. Let Him guide you on the right path.

Lord, forgive us for making rash decisions that make life more complicated. Please help us take the time to consult You before deciding which path to take. Assist us in living life to the fullest as we follow You closely, staying on the narrow road. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 1:1-53, Acts 4:1-37, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 16:24

Daily Verse: “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Prov. 16:14

Pleasant words.

Using positive language brings life to the receiver. Watching someone’s face light up like a Christmas tree from hearing gracious words encourages them and us.

“I want to be like you when I grow up,” I told a friend. Playing a charity golf tournament together, her shots amazed me. The look on her face when she turned around surprised me.

“She’s such an encourager,” she told the other ladies in our group.

At the time, I didn’t think of it as encouragement but instead stated the facts. I do hope to hit the ball as well as her and admire her ability. For my friend, the words brought sweetness to her soul and health to her body.

Speak kind, true, and necessary words only. If your thoughts don’t meet all three of those guidelines, don’t say them. Life’s hard enough without saying mean and hurtful things to make it more difficult.

Bring life to people with the words you use.

Lord, forgive us for the times we’ve said hurtful things. Please help us develop a reputation for saying gracious things that bring life to the receiver. Guard our mouths and keep us from saying harmful things. Let us give life with our words. IJNIP. Amen