Category: Uncategorized

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalm 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 14:7-8

Daily Verse: “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” Prov. 14:7

Unprofitable associations.

Not every relationship benefits us. People unwilling to learn and grow, not accepting responsibility for their actions, cause harm to those around them. As much as we may love them, we must protect ourselves from their escapades, or we will fall into the pit with them.

Years ago, an unsuspecting friend dragged Ron and me into their scheme. We took their words at face value, thinking them trustworthy. Hindsight tells me I should have known better, having experienced other incidences of foolishness because of them. But I trusted, hoping for a different outcome, sorely disappointed when fooled again.

Finally, we learned our lesson and distanced ourselves from the relationship, knowing that we couldn’t trust their schemes unless this person made different choices. In the years since the poor decisions continue to pile up, but we no longer experience the adverse outcomes, loving and praying for them from a distance. Accepting the truth about people and our lack of control over their choices challenges anyone. But God gives us free will to live our lives however we want. We don’t have to let their decisions affect our lives.

Lord, forgive us for our foolish ways. Help us discern which path we should take and whom we should trust. Lead us on our journey, helping us to make wise decisions and develop healthy relationships. Let us become more like Jesus with each that passes. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 6:1-40, Luke 22:54-23:12, Psalm 95:1-96:13, Proverbs 14:5-6

Daily Verse: “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.” Prov. 14:5

Discover truth.

Point of view varies in life. Depending on how people perceive and interpret the world around them determines what they consider the truth. And for some people, the narratives they tell themselves don’t come near the reality of the situation.

For years, I took responsibility for things that went wrong in relationships. But, when conflict occurs between two people, both share the blame. And every issue has three points of view, theirs, ours, and the truth.

Recently, I miscommunicated with a store associate who didn’t clearly define the terms of the service I received. Walking away from the situation, I felt guilty, owning all the blame. But the associate made assumptions about my knowledge, and I didn’t ask enough questions. Truth showed areas we both needed to learn and grow.

Following Jesus helps us discover the truth about ourselves and others. Understanding God’s unconditional love for us and accepting our sinful nature allows us to take responsibility for our actions and allow others to own theirs; by doing so, we will discover the truth.

Lord, forgive us for believing lies about ourselves and others. Help us see and hear the truth in all situations. Remove the blinders from us and give us clear vision. In all things, let us discover the truth as we follow Jesus wholeheartedly. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 4:1-5:31, Luke 22:35-53, Psalm 94:1-23, Proverbs 14:3-4

Daily Verse: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.” Prov. 14:4

Oxen build wealth.

Farmers used oxen to pull the plows, which tilled the fields and prepared them for planting.  The more ox a farmer possessed, the faster and larger fields he could harvest.

“We need more oxen,” Ron says.  In our first few years of marriage, we attended a financial class that described oxen as investments that made money for you without having to work.  Savings accounts, mutual funds, retirement accounts, and real estate build wealth slowly over time, oxen at work for you.

Adding oxen to your financial plan will give you abundant crops over time.  Farmers know seeds don’t yield crops overnight; it takes months to reap the rewards of their efforts.  Acorn, a financial app that invests your spare change into a savings account, allows you to plant seeds continually without noticing.  Small beginnings lead to significant rewards; from an acorn, you eventually get an oak tree.

Find ways to add oxen to your financial plan.  Let them do the heavy lifting, giving you abundant crops.

Lord, thank You for giving us oxen to work for us.  Please help us find ways to add more oxen to our financial plan, letting them build wealth for us over time.  Bless our efforts as we honor You with our money.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 2:10-3:31, Luke 22:14-34, Psalm 92:1-93:5, Proverbs 14:1-2

Daily Verse: “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” Prov. 14:1

Wise women welcome.

Hindsight lets me see my mother’s wisdom. Mom built her house with love, making it a welcoming place for all and somewhere you wanted to go. Walking through her front door meant you entered a judgment-free zone, embraced with love and a warm meal.

My mother loved with food. The minute anyone entered her door, she started cooking something good. Mom’s love of Jesus came through in her welcoming spirit.

“Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. “Romans 15:7

What I learned from my mother’s example and what wise women know, creating a place people want to gather will fill your home. Warm, welcoming environments draw people to them. Like our back deck, small and intimate, with flowers adorning the fence and a fire pit in the middle, friends love to gather around it, sharing life.

Building a loving home takes wisdom; folly tears it down, but caring environments keep the house full.

Lord, forgive us our folly. Fill our Spirits with Your loving grace and kindness. Help us build our homes with wisdom, welcoming all as Jesus welcomes us. Day by day, let us continue to build a legacy of unconditional love for all. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Judges 1:1-2:9, Luke 21:29-22:13, Psalm 90:1-91:16, Proverbs 13:24-25

Daily Verse: “Whoever spares the rod hates his son,but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” Prov. 13:24

Discipline with love.

Raised in the 70s, I remember the first day of school when the teacher showed us the paddle they would use—wooden planks with holes drilled in them to heighten the impact. Twice I felt the rod of discipline on my behind, once in third grade (although I can’t remember the crime) and once in sixth grade for clowning around and disrupting the class.

My mother’s preferred rod of discipline came from our hot wheels set. The orange racetrack with raised edges worked wonders to keep us in line. Thankfully, I rarely felt the power of the plastic wand, the threat of it enough to keep me in check.

In the fifty years since my childhood, paddles in school no longer exist, nor do I think they should. But I believe in the necessity of discipline, and so does God.

Throughout life, we learn many lessons. God disciplines us through circumstances, people, and His word. Recognizing the controversial aspects of disciplining children, I pray for parents and teachers dealing with this issue.

God disciplines His children from a position of love, with our best interests at heart. Prayerfully and with love, let God guide you in this issue.

Lord, help us understand how to discipline with love and affection. Guide and direct us in this sensitive issue, allowing us to develop fully devoted followers of Christ, spreading His love, grace, and mercy. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 24:1-33, Luke 21:1-28, Psalm 89:38-52, Proverbs 13:20-23

Daily Verse: “Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.” Prov. 13:21

Disaster pursues sinners.

Christ’s followers contribute sin to salvation, nothing else. Jesus does the heavy lifting, saving us from our errant ways. When we follow the selfish desires of our human hearts, we will find disaster.

Driving home from Florida after Christmas vacation, I followed the selfish desires of my heart. Working on a blog post, I didn’t take time to do the right thing, get out of the car and stretch my legs. After overeating and indulging in rich foods for a week, I gained weight. As a result, an artery in my abdomen pressed into the vein leading into my leg. My gluttonous vacation and lack of exercise caused me to develop a life-threatening blood clot.

God walked with me through the health crisis valley, teaching me valuable lessons and reminding me of the fragility of life on earth. As a result of that experience, I’ve made life changes, ones I needed to make. 

Each day the Lord allows us to choose which path we will take. Following the righteous path will reward us with the goodness of Christ. In Him, we find life to the fullest.

Lord, forgive us our sinful ways. Thank You for protecting us from ourselves and guiding us on the path of righteousness. Help us today to make wise choices, following Jesus closely, and become more like Him. In all things, let You receive the glory and honor. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 22:21-23:16, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 89:14-37, Proverbs 13:17-19

Daily Verse: “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” Prov. 13:18

Feedback helps.

“If you’re going to do something, do it right the first time,” Dad said. A man of diligence and discipline, he worked hard to provide for his family. I never saw him walk with a typical gate, losing his toes to gangrene during my first year of life, eventually losing his entire leg due to poor circulation. Yet, “hard worker” comes to mind when I think of my father.

Dad’s words still spur me onward. When facing a new task, I learn all I can to do it right the first time. As a result of Dad’s example, I learned to receive reproof and feedback to help me learn and grow, allowing me to do my best.

With his disability, Dad could have stopped working. But he didn’t. Instead, he found jobs he could do, despite his limitations. My father worked until he physically couldn’t work any longer, an honorable man who earned the respect of all who knew him.

Learn from those God places in your life. Work hard and accept feedback to do the best you can. Receive honor as God blesses your efforts.

Lord, forgive our laziness. Place people in our lives to help us grow and become the best version of ourselves. Help us receive feedback and change our ways, allowing us to serve You and others well. In all things, let You receive the glory and honor. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 21:1-22:20l, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

Daily Verse: “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.” Prov. 13:15

Discernment brings favor.

Sekel, the Hebrew word for sense in today’s verse, means understanding, wisdom, and discretion.  Discernment means the ability to judge well.  Using good sense helps us summarize a situation or person and reach a realistic conclusion, which then helps us know what to do.

Discerning well requires time.  Not judging the surface immediately allows us to wait for what lies beneath. Seeing the tip of an iceberg doesn’t show the massive layer hiding below the water.

Jumping to conclusions leads to ruin.  Only God knows everything; we have a limited perspective.  Good sense means knowing we don’t know and waiting for the truth to reveal itself, which favors us.

Take time to investigate all sides of a situation.  Stories have three sides: theirs, ours, and the truth.  Patience helps us arrive at the correct decision.  But when we rush to a conclusion, we’ll find ourselves in the company of fools.

Good sense leads to favor; without it, we find ourselves in trouble.

Lord, forgive us for jumping to conclusions.  Please bless us with Your wisdom and discernment as we face the day ahead.  Help us seek truth always, knowing appearance only tells part of the story.  In all things, let us Honor and glorify You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 19:1-20:9 ,Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 13:12-14

Daily Verse: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Prov. 13:12

Fulfilled desires give life.

Nothing saddens the heart like a disappointment. Hoping for an outcome that doesn’t happen discourages anyone. But when a long-awaited desire becomes a reality, it spurs people on to more incredible things.

Only some of our desires will become a reality. Aligning our hearts with Jesus will teach us to let go of earthly wants and set our minds on things not of this world. Drawing closer to Christ will change our longings.

When I ran into a person from my past who caused me deep pain, I initially felt anger. But God’s Spirit within me changed my desire for revenge. Aligning my heart with Jesus softened it as I remembered Christ’s grace and mercy for me. Extending grace and mercy to others becomes easier when I remember the gift God gave me.

Experience the joy of desires fulfilled with Jesus. Align your heart with Christ’s, wanting the things He wanted. Extend grace and mercy to others, just as Jesus did to you. Find encouragement as your hope becomes a reality.

Lord, forgive us for not wanting the same things as You.  As we move through our day, help us align our hearts with Yours. Let us share the gifts we receive from above with all we meet, becoming more like Jesus daily. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Joshua 16:1-18:28, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 13:11

Daily Verse: “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” Prov. 13:11

Steady investments last.

“Money doesn’t grow on trees,” Mom said. She tried valiantly to teach me positive financial practices. Don’t use credit cards, save as much as possible, and don’t spend money frivolously.

Unfortunately, I learned the lessons slowly, spending money as fast as I earned it and then some. However, after digging myself into a pit of debt and then slowly climbing out of it, I began to follow Mom’s wise teachings based on Biblical principles.

10% tithe + 10%savings + 80% living expenses = prioritized finances

Scripture talks more about money management than salvation. Unfortunately, worshipping the mighty dollar takes the place of God for many people. And the Lord knows the idols we prioritize over Him.

Tithing helps us keep our eyes focused on God and not money. Saving helps us prepare for the unexpected events life brings. Learning to live within our means, not spending every dime we make, lessens stress and invites the Lord’s peace to reign in our finances.

Money disappears quickly, but God’s provision never fails.

Lord, forgive us for prioritizing money over You. Please help us become good stewards of Your provision. Help us set our hearts on You in all areas, including finances. Bless our efforts as we honor You with our money. IJNIP. Amen