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Businessman thinking at office

Titanic-Sized Bad Decisions

I mentioned in my Wednesday devotional that the Titanic sank 108 years ago this past week (April 15, 1912). For a ship that was heralded as “unsinkable” and the greatest ship ever made, it proves the old adage, “pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction” (Prov. 16:18).  Some decisions using human wisdom are not able to be weighed accurately in terms of long-term consequences because man just doesn’t have the earthly wisdom to be able to…
Bible and praying hands

Proverbs for When You’re Sheltered-in-Place

Solomon has given us all much to chew on for over two millennia. Even now when we are in isolation, quarantine, shelter-in-place, or whatever you want to call it, his by-inspiration inspirational quotes still are speaking truth in the book of Proverbs.  Here are some lessons to think deeply about for those who are feeling the effects of 4+ weeks at home:  “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression”…
Medieval monk sitting at table and write, top view

  God and You 

Your attitude and behavior in any and all circumstances ought to be governed by your relationship to God.  Paul had been in a ferocious storm on the sea for nearly two weeks (Acts 27:27).  His relationship to God, however, enabled him not only to endure the stress, but to comfort and encourage the others on board: “And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For…
Serious businessman thinking

Meditation

Psalm 1 shows the blessed (happy) man is one who, among other things, meditates on God’s law (2). Later, the ungodly are shown to be the opposite of the godly (4). One of the differences would be their failure to ponder over God’s great truths.  Is meditation really important? Are thoughts? Remember that the material things that surround us, our houses, cars, clothes, etc., were first a thought before they became a reality.  God has blessed humans with a great…
Scared woman covering eyes with hands, see no evil

A Great Persecution Arose

Things were going great at first. In the first chapters of Acts, the church was growing by leaps and bounds, there were great open-doors for the people of God, and the future was bright in sharing the message about Jesus. However, beginning in Acts 4, the problems started for the church in Jerusalem.  By the end of chapter 7, there is the death of Stephen and by chapter 8:1, the church scatters. Note this, up until the church scattered, there…
People with worried emotion

On COVID-19, Toilet Paper, and Worry

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to people’s concerns and worries in a way that we would do well to heed. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus had just affirmed the fact that we cannot be about serving God, and also serving the things of this life because “no man can serve two masters.” As He then draws His conclusion for His audience, the refrain becomes clear, “do not worry” (Matthew 6:25, 27, 31, 34). What things does Jesus tell…
Happy diverse friends

Good Advice for Choosing Friends

Friends are a wonderful blessing from God – a gift given to help us become better people (Prov. 27:17). Yet they are only a blessing when we have chosen the right ones. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed” (Prov. 13:20). “Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33). Therefore, we should try to surround ourselves with companions who are wise enough “to turn [you] away from the snares of…
Opened holy bible book banner

Who May Abide

 David asked two questions in Psalm 15:1. “Lord, who may abide in your tabernacle? Who may dwell in your holy hill?” Important questions, to be sure. And, the way they are answered says a lot about those who are answering.  You could think about them in their original setting, David’s day, but they ought to be considered in a broader way in order to get the full benefit of them. The words “abide” and “dwell” suggest an atmosphere of fellowship…
Solo Rock in the Ocean

Fortress of Solitude or Fortress of Folly

We like to believe we’ve got everything under control. “I’ve got this.” “I don’t need anyone’s help at all.” “When I need your help, I’ll ask for your help.” It is a form of pride to say that when it comes to needs of togetherness and reliance on others, we need nothing. What a mistake was made that spring day of so long ago! What began as one king staying home alone in his own “fortress of solitude” ended with…
snake

Snake Biting

“Khandai Tripura, 35, of Chinchharipara village in Ramgararh district, Bangladesh, caught a cobra on 20 July and started playing with it. The snake bit him on the hand, and in his anger, he bit the snake’s head. He died in the hospital the next day. The snake also died. No word on whether they were buried together.” – Independant [sic] 22 July 1998  Why do people make the choices that they do? There are people we will invariably run across…
Heart in the hand

Keep Your Heart

The word “heart” appears more than 800 times in the Bible. A few of the references actually relate to the physical heart. I Sam. 25:37 tells us Nabal’s “…heart died within him…” But, the majority of references in the Bible deal with the spiritual heart. Prov. 4:23 admonishes us, “Keep your heart with all diligence.” The spiritual heart is what motivates us to do what we do.  Think for a few moments about keeping your heart. It has to be…
Red alarm clock

One of the Sweetest Sounds I Know . . .

 …is the sound of an alarm clock. I never thought I’d say it, but on the regular, I love the sound of this alarm. It makes my heart happy every time I hear it because I understand what it represents. Please know that I’m not talking about my own alarm clock. That is still an instrument of torture (in many cases), but this alarm to which I am referring is different.  You see, my oldest daughter has committed herself to…