Today's Verse: Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. ~Hebrews 4:14   A few years ago, I took members of my family out of town for a family trip. On the first day of our arrival, I took my granddaughter to see the ocean waves. As I knelt down holding her to touch the water on the shoreline, we both were surprised by a rogue wave about two feet high that got both of us wet. She was v

Today's Verse: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. ~Psalm 31:15   Have you ever been involved in a life-or-death situation where your ultimate fate was in someone else’s hands, and you said, “I’m putting my life into your hands”? This is absolute trust. It is when your input, ideas, and know-how are useless and only the person who is stronger and more knowledgeable can get you through your situation. David was a

Today's Verse: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ~2 Peter 2:8   Have you ever played tug of war? In this exercise, two groups of people hold opposite ends of a rope. The side that pulls the hardest is the one that wins. The side that loses is generally the side that yields. In our devotion this morning, we see a tug of war that involved a man named Lot.    We see Lot and his

Today's Verse: And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. ~Exodus 30:1     And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. ~Revelation 8:3   The burning of incense was an integral part of worship after the building of the altar of incense. Incense was composed of

Today's Verse: Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. ~Isaiah 35:6   Death Valley is said to be the largest national park outside of Alaska, covering 3.3 million acres of land. It is primarily a desert location with extreme conditions and weather. Death Valley is the hottest and driest place in America, with summer temperatures peaking above 120 °F and average rainfall

Today's Verse: To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. ~Isaiah 61:3   Several years ago, an area three hours north of us was completely ravaged by a wildfire. This fire devastated over 151,000 acres, decimated an entire city, displaced thousands of survivors,

Today's Verse: But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby. ~Isaiah 33:21   The Bible is abundant with its many descriptions of our Lord. Each description gives us insight to His attributes, His actions, and His attention. No wonder the psalmist wrote "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable" (Psalm 145:3). Judah had fall

Today's Verse: I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? ~Job 31:1   A covenant is an unbreakable contract between two parties. It is meant to stay in place and be honored by both parties. The only action that could break a covenant was death. The parties of a covenant would “cut the covenant” as their way of pledging their honor and commitment to their respective responsibilities. We see an example of this in Genesis 15:9-18. Job made a consecrat

Today's Verse: The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~Psalm 28:7   Psalm 28 was written either during David’s flight from Saul or Absalom. There were moments when the closeness of his adversaries made him think life was over. He was overcome with incredible fears. Yet, as this psalm progresses, there is a major shift in his tone and outlook. As we meditate on t

Today's Verse: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;  ~John 2:15 “Turning the tables” is an idiom that means a correction, reversal, or change in plans has occurred. It refers to a situation where the opposite of what was expected to happen occurs. This morning, we see an incident where Jesus literally turned the tables on those who were usi

Today's Verse: And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. ~Matthew 28:9   How would you have responded to seeing Jesus three days after He was declared physically dead and laid in a tomb? Would you have been afraid and run away? Would you have been excited and embraced Him? Would you have gone to tell everyone in town what you saw? This morning, let us pay particular attention t

Today's Verse: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ~2 Timothy 4:17   Would you put your head in the mouth of a lion? Lion experts say that a lion’s mouth is 28 centimeters or almost one foot in size when fully extended: that is big! Paul uses the term “the mouth of the lion” to describe the trial or affliction he had w

Today's Verse: And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. ~John 19:19   In our modern-day society, signage is a very important communication tool. In order to get a driver’s license, an applicant must be knowledgeable of traffic signs. We rely on signage to find our entrances and exits. Signage is also a means of advertising a product or service. People who are hearing impaired rely on “signing” as a way of

Today's Verse: For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. ~1 Peter 2:19   As we approach the Thanksgiving season, the Lord led me to reflect on the word “thankworthy” that is used by Peter in 1 Peter 2. This word is so important that it is also used in v. 20. It is a word that is used 8 other times in 1 Peter and at least 165 times in the New Testament. Let us consider thanksgiving according to Peter and reflect on some imp

Today's Verse: I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: ~Psalm 26:6   There was a time many years ago when doctors were concerned about the high mortality rate of babies who died shortly after birth due to infections. They learned that these deaths could have been avoided by simply washing their hands before touching a patient. Today, it is a standard practice for doctors and medical professionals to wash their hands with bacterial soap unde

Today's Verse: God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. ~Job 27:5   Integrity refers to the honesty, uprightness, purity, and sincerity of a man. We have confidence in a man of integrity. We have faith in following the leadership of a man who has integrity.   Integrity must be honed and developed through conviction, good example, and decisions. Job said,  “Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.”  Job was saying, 

Today's Verse: And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. ~Matthew 26:40-41   What time of the day do you consider your energy and strength levels to be your best? For me, it is the early morning hours after I have had a good night’s rest. I try to do my most vigorous physical exercises during

Today's Verse: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. ~Isaiah 42:1   In tennis, a serve is when a player hits the tennis ball towards his opponent. It is a term that indicates that it is your opportunity to show your opponent what you are capable of doing. The player serving the tennis ball wants to put as much power and spin on it as possible to force his opponent

Today's Verse: Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? ~Luke 14:34   If you are like me, you like to eat food that is well seasoned. One of my preacher friends tends to pour a considerable amount of salt on his food. The food could be very balanced, in my opinion, in salt and flavor content, but he will still add more salt to enhance the flavor. His motto at every meal is, “More salt, please.” This morning, there is a cry for “more

Today's Verse: Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. ~Matthew 26:13   Have you thought about what kind of legacy you will leave behind? What do you suppose will be the greatest achievement of your life that will continue to be an inspiration and a blessing to people long after you leave this life? This morning, we are considering the legacy of a love