Category: Uncategorized

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Lies create chaos.

Gratefully, I learned young lies only cause trouble. Telling the truth challenges the best of us, but in the long run, it pays off. You don’t have to remember what you said when you tell the truth. But when false tales come from your mouth, you must remember what you said and to whom.

“The truth is always quiet; it’s the lies that are loud.” Chuck Smith, Jesus Revolution

False narratives prevail in our society today. Social media enables lies to spread quickly without fact-checking. Often, people read the headlines without reading the story, believing a few words as truth. A bold type doesn’t equal honesty.

Over time, truth reveals itself. A cheating spouse eventually gets caught. A child with jam on their face will insist they didn’t eat the jelly.   And false narratives always get exposed in due time.

Speak the truth and escape trouble. Don’t let false tales lead you into dark places. Freedom comes with honest answers.

Lord, forgive us for lying and not using our words well. Please help us speak the truth in love, using language to uplift and encourage all we meet. Don’t let us fall into the traps wicked words bring. Instead, let us live fully in Jesus as we pursue truth through Him. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11

Daily Verse: “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.” Prov. 12:11

Diligent work pays.

Satisfaction comes from a hard day’s work. Not only does gainful employment ensure food on the table, but it gives us a sense of accomplishment, building self-esteem and confidence. Our forefathers worked diligently to build a country that thrives on individuals’ ability to support themselves.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Col. 3:23

God provides all our needs, no matter who signs our earthly paycheck. Ultimately, the Lord’s our boss, He sees all we do and the effort we put into it. When we slack in our duties, we disappoint God.

Each day I thank God for the ability to work, physically and mentally. Not using the gifts God gives us for His glory detracts from our purpose. Becoming more like Christ means using our talents wisely, working diligently, and reaping the rewards of our efforts.

God blesses the work of our hands, providing our needs. Lack of effort leads to worthless pursuits and empty plates.

Lord, forgive our laziness. Motivate us to work hard for You in all things. May our efforts please You and fill our tables with Your blessings. In all things, let us honor and glorify You to the world, representing Christ well. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 12:10

Daily Verse: “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” Prov. 12:10

God loves animals.

As a dog mom of two rescues, I love pets. The comfort I gain from snuggling with my pups far outweighs their imperfections. But both dogs started life out with people who didn’t treat them well.

Little Sophia, only 7 pounds, spent the first two years of her life neglected in a cage. Neighbors finally called animal control, who rescued her emancipated body, weighing half of her normal weight. To this day, she shrinks in fright from strangers, even though we’ve adored her for ten years.

Rocco ended up abandoned on the street to fend for himself. When we rescued him, he needed much love and care to bring him back to health.

How people treat animals shows their heart. God created the beasts of the earth and gave us dominion over them. Treating them poorly doesn’t mirror God’s love for His creation.

Animals sense a soft heart and respond accordingly. Mistreating the beasts of the earth doesn’t reflect God’s mercy. But loving them well does.

Lord, thank You for our pets and the love they share with us. Help us care for Your creation well, honoring You with our words and actions. In all things, let us glorify You with our acts of love. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20, Luke 9:7-27, Psalm 72:1-20, Proverbs 12:8-9

Daily Verse: “Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.” Prov. 12:9

Pretense deceives.

Many people spend their time putting on a vain show to impress others. Living beyond your means impacts lifestyle. Stress and anxiety accompany pretense; trying to make people think of you in a certain way doesn’t hurt anyone but you.

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Gal. 1:10

Living for Christ means caring about what God thinks more than man. Freedom comes when we live for Jesus. God doesn’t look at material possessions; He examines our hearts. Walking in tune with Jesus means others will benefit from our actions.

When loving God and others well become our mission, possessions have no hold on us. Competing with the Joneses means nothing, but caring for others does.

Strive to love others well; nothing matters more than sharing Christ with those God places in our life.

Lord, forgive us for getting caught up in the material possessions of this world.  As we move through our day, help us keep Christ at the center of our thoughts and actions.  Let us become better lovers of people as we practice Jesus’ teachings. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23, Luke 8:40-9:6, Psalm 71:1-24, Proverbs 12:5-7

Daily Verse: “The thoughts of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.” Prov. 12:5

Thoughts need controlling.

“I’ll think about it tomorrow,” Scarlett O’Hara says at the end of “Gone with the Wind,” the 1939 movie considered the most successful film ever according to Guinness World Records. Rhett Butler, the love of her life, left her destitute with her thoughts, and Scarlett decides not to focus on the bleakness of the situation.

We have the same opportunity as Scarlett. As Christ-followers, we choose where we center our minds. Memorizing scripture helps us control our thoughts and stay focused on God.

Instead of ruminating and repeatedly thinking about a situation out of our control, we can meditate on God’s promises.

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.” Phil. 4:19 MSG

Paul’s words to the Philippians have helped me often control my thoughts and apply to a myriad of situations. Find scripture to meditate on when dealing with life’s issues. Control your thoughts with the help of God’s word.

Lord, forgive us when we let our thoughts get out of control.  Please help us stay focused on You.  Bring scripture to mind that applies to our lives and allows us to control what we think.  Let us become more like Christ as we take our thoughts captive and focus on You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32, Luke 8:22-39, Psalm 70:1-5, Proverbs 12:4

Daily Verse: “An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.” Prov. 12:4

Partnerships bring life.

God designed marriage; scripture gives us guidelines for a healthy and fulfilling partnership with our mate. Living together harmoniously takes work and intention, but the rewards far outweigh the effort.

Since I spent most of my life single, applying Biblical principles to all my relationships helped prepare me for marriage. Having and maintaining healthy relationships matured me. But I learned quickly marriage relationships differ from any other.

“If I do everything you want, this becomes the Beth show. That show ended; it’s now the Ron and Beth show.”  Ron’s words changed me. Journaling in bed, I complained when Ron “jostled” the bed while climbing into sleep. Year one of marriage teaches a lot of lessons.

Becoming a wife who helps her husband excel continues to grow and mature me. Centering our lives around Jesus, becoming active members in our church, building a network of believers who support us, and studying and applying Biblical principles to our lives, help our marriage thrive.

Become an excellent crown to your spouse by following Jesus; nothing will make you a better partner to the one you love.

Lord, forgive us for putting our needs before our spouses.  Please help us become partners who give life to our mates.  Grow and mature us through marriage to become more like Jesus.  Let the ones who know us best respect us most.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22, Luke 8:4-21, Psalm 69:19-36, Proverbs 12:2-3

Daily Verse: “A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns.” Prov. 12:2

Virtue obtains favor.

God looks favorably upon virtuous acts. Knowing our hearts, the Lord understands the motives for our actions. Intent matters more than results.

“I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:10

Allowing God to cleanse our hearts helps us have pure motives. A friend published his latest book, hitting number one on Amazon for pre-order in his category.   Immediately I felt jealous of his success. 

But then, a nudge from the Holy Spirit helped me identify the negative emotion. As an author, I know the work involved with completing a project. Instead of envy, I rejoiced because God blessed my friend’s efforts, supporting him and his work.

God favors the virtuous heart; He knows our intent. Evil intentions receive the Lord’s condemnation. But pure hearts enjoy God’s blessings.

Lord, forgive us for evil intentions. Please cleanse our hearts and make them pure. Let everything we do honor and glorify You as we strive for virtue. Please help us do better today than yesterday. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20, Luke 7:36-8:3, Psalm 69:1-18, Proverbs 12:1

Daily Verse: “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” Prov. 12:1

Accept correction.

“Who in your life calls out blind spots?” My small group leader asked as we studied Exodus 18 and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.  Within the 27 verses of the chapter, Jethro calls out Moses’ blind spot and his need for help.

“Ron,” came my quick reply.  Nothing like marriage to help you see the blind spots in your life.  The most life-changing thing happened when Ron helped me see the bitter root I carried with me for decades because of my father’s death.  Feeling sorry for myself, I carried the pain like a badge of honor, using it to justify unkind actions.

Accepting feedback about our lives helps us grow and become more mature.  Becoming Christlike requires correction as we identify our imperfections, submitting them to Jesus and allowing His Spirit to change us.

Become comfortable accepting feedback from those who love and want the best for you.  Understand that we all have blind spots we can’t see.  But with soft hearts and a willingness to learn, we can identify and work to overcome them.

Lord, forgive us for not accepting correction.  Please help us seek and accept feedback to help us grow and become more like Christ.  Soften our hearts, help us remain teachable, and let us become fully devoted followers of Jesus.  IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25, Luke 7:11-35, Psalm 68:19-35, Proverbs 11:29-31

Daily Verse: “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.” Prov. 11:29

Actions matter.

Mismanaging our time and energy impacts not only our lives but also our families. Whatever trouble we bring ourselves also affects those who love us. Eventually, we will become servants to those wise of heart if we don’t mature and grow.

“I’m only hurting myself,” justified my poor decisions in college. Until I realized the trouble my actions brought not only caused me pain but my mother as well. By God’s grace and her prayers, I saw the truth and began to change my ways.

What we do does affect other people. Whether we overindulge in drink, allow laziness to keep us from contributing to society, or let our selfish desires rule our actions, what we do impacts those we love.

Living a Christ-centered life puts our desires on the back burner as we put God and others before ourselves. We will become wise of heart when we stop believing our actions don’t matter. 

Don’t believe the lies; what you do matters to God and those who love you.

Lord, forgive us for thinking our actions don’t matter. Please help us make better decisions for ourselves and our loved ones today. Give us wisdom and discernment as we face life’s challenges, knowing all things work for the good of those who trust and believe in You. IJNIP. Amen

One minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-49, Luke 6:39-7:10, Psalm 68:1-18, Proverbs 11:28

Daily Verse: “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.” Prov. 11:28

Faith determines security.

“Green leaf” signifies prosperity and fertility. Placing trust in Jesus causes people to flourish because their faith lies in things eternal, not in things of this world.

“Our financial advisor saw something was wrong and moved us out of Enron.”  Uncle Earl told us they almost lost their savings because of the Enron scandal. Investors lost $74 billion because leadership fooled regulators with fake holdings and off-the-books accounting, life savings disappeared overnight, leaving people destitute.

Security doesn’t come in material things. Money can disappear in a heartbeat. Understanding God provides for our needs, not Wall Street, helps us live life to the fullest.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

Stock markets fluctuate, but God doesn’t. In an ever-changing world, we can depend on the Creator, who remains the same. Faith reminds us provision comes from the Lord.

Lord, forgive us for depending on things of this world. Help us today; remember Your provision. Grow our faith as we trust You to provide for all our needs. Let us experience life to the fullest as we trust entirely in You.  IJNIP. Amen