Author: Beth Morrison

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21, Romans 11:13-36, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 20:7

Daily Verse: “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!” Prov. 20:7

Heritage of Integrity

Parents who set an example of honest living pass on their legacy to their children. My siblings and I have reputations for honesty. In our local newspaper, my brothers, self-employed businessmen, have had customer reviews attesting to their truthfulness.

My oldest brother, a retired mechanic, received accolades for telling the truth and not doing unnecessary work to make money. My other brothers’ business partners had reviews for their honest pricing and superb masonry work. 

As for myself, the first year my partner and I established our tennis business, we received the Dr. Herman N. Nielson award from the Peninsula Tennis Patrons Association for our work with children, the first women to receive the reward.

All because our parents, people of integrity, modeled integrity to their children. My coal miner dad lived his life for the Lord and taught us to do the same. Praise God.

Live a life of integrity, modeling it for your children and others. Leave them a heritage of integrity.

Lord, thank You for the gift of honest parents dedicated to You.  Help us model them well for our children and others, leaving behind a legacy of integrity. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37, Romans 10:14-11:12, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 20:4-6

Daily Verse: “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Prov. 20:5

Discerning motives.

Good counseling draws out the motives of the heart. Discerning what motivates someone’s actions takes work. Diving deep beneath the surface of a person’s inner world requires insightful questions that draw them out of their shell.

Individuals become masters at living on the surface, diverting attention away from themselves and the inner workings of their minds. Self-defense mechanisms cause us to build walls around emotional injuries, protecting us from further harm. But healing only comes when we learn to work through the pain instead of trying to avoid it.

Like an abused puppy, only with time will they begin to trust. Our dog Sophia suffered unspeakable abuse for the first two years. When we first adopted her, she hid from us. But now, after a decade of love, she follows us everywhere.

Patience, love, and kindness will draw out an individual’s hurt and help them heal. Shower people with love, show them you genuinely care, and give them time to learn to trust you, asking insightful questions to help them heal.

Lord, help us love others well, creating safe environments for them to freely talk about what lies deep in their hearts. Give us insight and wisdom to ask the right questions, helping them heal from past pains. May You receive all the honor and glory. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34, Romans 9:25-10:13, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 20:2-3

Daily Verse: “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” Prov. 20:2

Avoiding Strife.

Not engaging in “in-house debates” helps me avoid strife. I define these arguments as theological arguments that don’t have conclusive scriptural answers.

For instance, eschatology, end times debates have four distinctive perspectives: Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, and Dispensationalism. People spend a lot of time arguing over these different viewpoints, but I don’t because of Matthew 24:36:

“But no one knows the day or the hour. No! Not even the angels in heaven know. The Son does not know. Only the Father knows.”

Only God knows the answer to the end times debate. The Great Commandment calls us to love God and others, not argue over when Jesus will return. And so, I choose to avoid strife by focusing on obeying the Lord’s commandment and not engaging in debates that have no answers.

Obeying the Great Commandment focuses our attention on God, helps us honor Him, and avoid strife by putting love first.

Lord, thank You for giving us clear direction on what we should do with our lives. Help us love You and others well, avoiding strife and fulfilling our life mission. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14, Romans 9:1-24, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 20:1

Daily Verse: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Prov. 20:1

Effects of Alcohol.

Drinking alcohol in moderation doesn’t cause the problems excessive drinking does. Jesus’ first miracle turned water into wine. But the problem begins when we lose control of the amount of alcohol consumed, which happens way too quickly.

Moderating alcohol in my life started in high school after my dad died. Senior year, while on crutches, I got drunk for the first time. My college years included many drunken nights and lost memories. Thankfully, when I became a Flight Attendant, random drug and alcohol tests curbed my use. But I still managed to overindulge on occasion.

At this point in life, I only drink occasionally, preferring the sober lifestyle because it comes with no regrets, nasty hangover headaches, or forgotten words and actions.

Alcohol’s deceitful nature makes it easy for anyone to overindulge. Having one more drink doesn’t seem like a problem, but it has significant repercussions.

Only you and God know the effects of alcohol in your life. Talk to Him about your relationship with alcohol and how it affects your life.

Lord, thank You for giving us guidelines on how to live. Help us evaluate the effects of alcohol in our life and take the necessary steps to honor You with our actions. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 11:1-13:22, Romans 8:26-39, Psalm 18:37-50. Proverbs 19:27-29

Daily Verse: “Condemnation is ready for scoffers and beating for the backs of fools.” Prov. 19:29

Certainty of retribution.

“What goes around comes around,” Mom said whenever I came home with a relational hurt. Unfortunately, we don’t always see the “come around” part of that saying. Often, the offender seems to get off without any penalty. But according to Solomon, scoffers get what they deserve.

In sixth grade, Mr. Morgan paddled my behind for tilting my chair back on two legs and acting like a clown. My lack of respect for his authority caused judgment to fall upon me, one I deserved.

People who turn their back on God, not respecting His authority, and scoff at Him will receive judgment. As Mr. Morgan punished me for my poor behavior, fools will receive their just dues. How, when, where, and what I don’t know; the Lord handles those details.

As followers of Christ, Jesus took the beating for us. He received the punishment we deserve. Living a life of submission to the Lord starts with gratitude for what He did for us. Sharing God’s grace and mercy with people helps others find the same gift we’ve received.   

Lord, thank You for taking on our sins and giving us freedom with Your death and resurrection. Help us not take offense but instead share the grace and mercy You’ve given us with others. May our actions help Your Kingdom grow. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19, Romans 8:9-25, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 19:26

Daily Verse: “He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.” Prov. 19:26

Shame and reproach.

Reading today’s verse made me think of Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who brutally murdered their parents in 1989. Housed together in RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, they received life sentences for their crimes. Netflix’s “Monster,” tells their story.

“Honor thy father and mother” (Deut.20:12) has a promise attached to it. The fifth commandment in the Big Ten promises long life to those who obey it. Our parents gave us life; God wants their sacrifice honored.

Having children does come with sacrifice. I don’t have children, yet I know this truth. Having coffee with a young mom of five, I saw the exhaustion on her face, the energy she used to address each of her child’s demands patiently, and the unconditional love she poured into each of them.

Honor parents. We don’t have to agree with them to respect their authority in our life. Without them and the good Lord, we wouldn’t have a life to live.

Lord, forgive us for not honoring our parents. Thank You for giving us life through them. Show us how You want us to serve them today. Let us honor them well. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12-8:10, Romans 7:14-8:8, Psalm 18:1-15. Proverbs 19:24-25

Daily Verse: “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.” Prov. 19:24

Nature of laziness.

According to Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Solomon refers to people who start projects but don’t have the energy to finish them. As a writer and crafter, I have multiple projects happening at once.   When I worked for a corporation, management gave me the projects and the due dates to complete them. But now, I set the pace for my work, and some days, I don’t feel like doing it.

Setting deadlines helps me finish projects. If I don’t give myself a timeline, I become a sluggard who doesn’t have the energy to finish. Something else always pops up.

“I have to say no to fun things,” I told the associate at Trader Joe’s. When she asked me about my day, we talked about the challenges of self-employment. No one’s holding me accountable for getting my work done but me. And sometimes, I’m a more demanding boss than others.

Finishing well and completing projects takes energy. Sluggards don’t pass the finish line because of their laziness. Don’t give up; keep going. One day at a time, you can finish any project you start.

Lord, thank You for giving us work to do. Help us complete the tasks You assign us well. Don’t let laziness stop us from doing the divine tasks at hand. Let our work glorify and honor You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 4:1-6:11, Romans 7:1-13, Psalm 17:1-15, Proverbs 19:22-23

Daily Verse: “The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.” Prov. 19:23

Safety and contentment.

Resting in God’s will means trusting whatever comes our way; the Lord has a plan. Instead of trying to figure out all the answers, we trust the Maker’s ways.

“If we knew everything that God knows, we would answer our prayers exactly like God does.” Dr. Kim Kimberling

The quote from Ron and I’s marriage devotional fills my screen as a constant reminder of God’s sovereignty. We don’t have all the answers to our situations, but from God’s view, it all makes sense.

Accepting that trouble happens, we will have dark and light days, and that in the end, God calls us home and helps us find contentment in today. The struggles of this world will one day pass away, and we will live in the King’s presence forever.

God’s in control. Rest in His sovereignty, and trust the Lord’s plan. Safety and contentment come when we center our lives on Jesus, following Him and living in His shadow.

Lord, thank You for guiding and directing our days. Help us submit to Your will, despite our circumstances, trusting the plan You have for us. Fill our hearts with safety and contentment as we lean into You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17, Romans 6:1-23, Psalm 16:1-11, Proverbs 19:20-21

Daily Verse: “Listen to advice and accept instruction that you may gain wisdom in the future.” Prov. 19:20

Accept instruction.

Ask for help. Small pieces of advice make huge differences. Frustrated with my golf swing, I booked a lesson with the pro.

“I’m hitting behind the ball and not getting it up in the air,” I said at the beginning of the lesson.

After watching me hit a few balls, Owen slightly adjusted my swing.

 “Move the club to the center of your stance, now drop your hands. You will begin to hit the ball more right as you adjust, but you won’t hit behind it.”

Worth every penny I paid for the lesson. In the learning curve, adjusting to the new technique, I’m hitting the ball more consistently, not hitting behind, and slowly beginning to straighten out my shot.

One hour of listening to advice from a pro, accepting his tips, and incorporating them into my game gave me wisdom for the future.

Seek wise advice. Apply it to your life and change your future. God’s word holds the best advice you will find anywhere.

Lord, thank You for giving us instructions on how to live. Help us listen well to Your guidance and apply it to our lives. Let us gain wisdom from You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30, Romans 5:6-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 19:18-19

Daily Reading: “A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.” Prov. 19:19

Hot temper.

“Pay the penalty” implies legal trouble. Hot-tempered people find themselves dealing with the law and need bailing out. The Proverb warns if you help anger-controlled individuals out of their woes, you will have to do it repeatedly.

Explosive tempers seem to have short fuses, but a lot of times, the ticking time bomb smoldered before going off. Learning to deal with the smoldering embers and not allow them to gather into a flame helps control the powerful emotion.

On the other hand, some people do have short fuses and explode quickly. Either way, the damage caused by the explosion can cause extensive damage to them and anyone in their range.

Start with prayer, tread lightly, and don’t enable the behavior. We can’t control someone else’s temper; only they can. And hot-tempered people must want to own it and desire to change, seeking the necessary help.

Anger destroys, but God can do miracles with a heart turned to Him.

Lord, help us deal with anger, whether ours or another’s. Soften our hearts and give us the tools to confront the powerful emotion and not let it control us. Give us victory over the fear behind the sentiment. IJNIP. Amen