Author: Beth Morrison

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

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18

Daily Verse: “The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.” Prov. 10:18

Hatred steals joy.

Writing “Three Word Prayers for Everyday Living” (TWP), I investigated hatred. “You can’t hate anyone,” my mom told us anytime we said we did. As a result, I developed shame anytime I felt the intense emotion. Feelings of hatred have validity. 

What I learned from writing TWP, with the help of a psychologist, we will all have feelings of hatred. Learning how to handle and healthily deal with emotion helps us not sin due to it. Acting on emotions causes sin; feeling them doesn’t.

Don’t condemn yourself for strong negative emotions; learn from them. Lay the feelings at the foot of the cross and ask God to replace them with His love. Our perspective changes when we ask God to let us see people through His eyes.

Becoming more like Jesus means changing our view, investigating negative emotions, and learning what Christ would do with them.

Lord, thank You for Your mercy. Help us embrace the gift and share it with others. Give us a new perspective as we look at others through Your eyes. In all things, let us love well. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11,Proverbs 10:17

Daily Verse: “Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” Prov. 10:17

Feedback causes growth.

On the life path, we need much instruction. Maintaining a humble heart will help us receive Godly direction from scripture and others. However, if we refuse wise advice, we’ll find ourselves straying into unwanted places.

Currently obsessed with golf, Ron bought me a package of lessons for Valentine’s Day. After battling my ego for a decade, admitting I needed help required humility. Hitting a stationary ball takes more effort than this tennis coach thought. To grow, I need feedback from a professional who knows the game better than I do.

Through scripture, we have access to the pros of our faith, people who walked before us, fulfilling their destinies. Learning to seek and apply the wisdom God offers through His people will help us live life to the fullest.

Living life fully requires a teachable spirit willing to take instruction, admitting we need help and don’t know everything. Humble hearts lead to Jesus, and all things become possible with Him.

Lord, thank You for giving us written instructions from the heroes of the faith we can apply to our lives. Keep our hearts soft, and spirit’s teachable so we can live life to the fullest with You.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16

Daily Verse: “The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.” Prov. 10:16

Good living pays off.

Following God’s commands will help you live well. The Lord covers every topic imaginable in scripture. But perhaps the one I find most applicable comes from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians:

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” 1 Cor. 6:12 ESV

Righteous living means understanding that we can do everything but shouldn’t. Learning what helps us live fully in Christ happens one day at a time as we discover what works and what doesn’t.

Journeying with Jesus means constantly growing and becoming more like Him. We don’t “arrive” at our destination until we reach heaven. Until then, “Work in Progress” defines us all.

Moderate and moldable living in Christ leads to life-giving wages.

Lord, thank You for showing us how to live. As we pursue You, help us live moderately yet fully. Bless our efforts to follow Jesus, growing more like Him each day. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14

Daily Verse: “On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.” Prov. 10:13

Fools don’t learn.

Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome defines insanity. Eating chocolate every night before bed won’t cause me to lose weight. Nor will snacking all evening. However, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly will.

People who lack sense don’t learn from their mistakes, instead repeating them. To learn, we must take responsibility for our actions, adjust and change what we do. We can’t grow any other way.

“Sometimes you need a pat on the back; sometimes you need a kick in the rear. You need the latter.”  My professor’s words to me over 30 years ago still ring true. Foolish in my ways, not studying, skipping class, he gave me wise words I’ve not forgotten.

For fools to learn, they need a nudge in the right direction. And even then, they may not change their ways. Thank God I did.

Lord, thank You for nudging us in the right direction. Forgive us when we get stuck in a rut, refusing to learn the lesson. Help us grow as we live life pursuing You, becoming wiser as we do. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12

Daily Verse: “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.” Prov. 10:12

Love covers offense.

Pesa, the original Hebrew word for offenses, means rebellion, revolt, sin, or transgression (against human or divine authority).

Something struck me when I read “divine authority” in the definition; I always forget about sinning against God.

When I think of the offenses in my life, my mind goes to the hurts people caused. Getting stuck in those moments has hindered relationships in my life. But I don’t typically think of my sin against God and others.

Jesus covered our offenses with His arms stretched wide on the cross. Not only past sins but those we have yet to commit. None of us achieves perfection until God calls us home.

On my best days, I sin. On my worst days, I sin. On all days, God loves me, warts and all.

Learning to lead with grace requires Jesus. Only then can we truly allow love to cover offenses. Without Christ’s example, we wouldn’t know what to do.

Lord, Your mercies overwhelm us.  Thank You for forgiving our offenses towards You and others.  Give us hearts like Yours; let us leave a wake of unconditional love behind us as we journey home to You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read

Daily Reading: Leviticus 13:1-59, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 39:1-13, Proverbs 10:10

Daily Verse: “Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.” Prov. 10:10

Winks tell tales.

A wink often comes before a prank. The quick eye-blink communicates a mischievous plan, sometimes in fun, sometimes not. Either way, some mayhem typically unfolds with a wink.

Usually translated as a sarcastic gesture, no matter the intent, winks give away the person’s thoughts. Mischief on the mind comes through in the blink of an eye.

And those who look for trouble will find it. 

Researcher Albert Mehrabian discovered three parts to communication with others: 55% body language, 38% vocal, and 7% words only.

Understanding body language will help us become better communicators and avoid trouble. Life comes with enough struggles without creating more.

Learn body language, and you will find the truth of someone’s motives.

Lord, forgive us for looking for trouble. Help us become better interpreters of body language and the message it communicates. Guide and direct us in all our ways as we strive to honor and serve you. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9

Daily Verse: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.” Prov. 10:9

Integrity takes intention.

Ron and I play a fun golfing game: the first one on the green, closest to the pin, and first one in the cup, three points per hole up for grabs. If your approach shot lands on the green and rolls off, you immediately lose 2 points.

Playing a couple of weeks ago, my approach shot landed on the green, rolling into the water on the other side, costing two points. Ron gave me a point I didn’t deserve when he said the score.

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” Luke 16:10

My internal struggle to tell the truth, lasted the entire walk to the next hole. Not until then did I correct the score, so badly wanting the undeserved point. But then I remembered Jesus’ words and followed His commands.

Small moments determine integrity. Paths become crooked one decision at a time.

Lord, forgive us the times we haven’t acted with integrity. Please help us make better decisions today. Give us the courage to speak the truth always and with love. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7

Daily Verse: “Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” Prov. 10:6

Silky words hide deception.

Church hurt, emotional or physical pain felt by someone; infected by the words, actions, or inactions of a person of leadership in a church, happens far too often. 

As followers of Christ, our words should uplift and encourage, not tear down and destroy.  But far too often, instead of submitting to Jesus, people submit to peer pressure and a longing to fit in with others, saying anything to accomplish their goals, something I learned when on staff at a local church.

Fewer people attend church now than at any other time in history; the number continuing to decline.  During Jesus’ time on earth, people flocked to Him.  A meme a friend sent me says it all, “If Paul could see the church in America today, we’d be getting a letter.”

Strive for integrity.  Don’t use silky words that mislead and hurt people.  Becoming more like Jesus means speaking life-giving words to all we meet.  And as my mother taught us, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Lord, forgive us for hurting others with our words.  Help us do better today than yesterday as we strive to become more like Jesus.  Let us uplift and encourage all we meet today.  IJNIP. Amen