Today's Verse: There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up. ~Proverbs 30:29-31 What do your traits say about you? A trait is an attribute or characteristic. It is something about you that defines and identifies you. Solomon uses some familiar animal analogies to describe people who are champions. These trait

Today's Verse: Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. ~Exodus 32:26   Sometimes, we find ourselves facing tough questions and issues regarding belief, morality, philosophy of ministry, and methodology. We face pressures from sources that clearly conflict with the precept of God’s Word. We realize we must decide whose side we on on.    We see the disgru

Today's Verse: Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. ~Nehemiah 2:18   “All hands on deck” is a way of saying everyone needs to be involved and work together with the aim of getting an important task completed. It originated in the British Navy and has been a standard term used by our naval forces as well. I

Today's Verse: Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High . ~Psalm 56:2   David was way over his head in problems. Psalm 56 was written during the Absalom Rebellion. Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel and took over the nation. David and his most loyal men escaped to avoid a conflict. David was in fear and was hurt that Ahithophel, his counselor, joined ranks with Absalom. He was hurt when Shimei came forth to cu

Today's Verse: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ~Matthew 5:39  The Apostle Paul describes the age we live in as “perilous times.” This description conveys the idea of dangers and perils along the way. Most men I know try to be cautious and aware of their circumstances because of unexpected dangers. However, what do you do when you have been offended by another person? Most people I know

Today's Verse: The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing . ~Zephaniah 3:17  Zephaniah 3:14-20 is prophetic. It speaks of the glory that Israel would have when she returned to the land after years of captivity. It is also prophetic concerning God’s blessing on Israel during the millennium. Prophecies were given to foretell the future and to be a message of hope

Today's Verse: And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him. ~2 Chronicles 23:1   When it comes to sharing information, it’s important to be “in the know.” This means you are privy to insider information about something that is beneficial to you. Jehoiada

Today's Verse: And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in. ~2 Chronicles 23:19   Back in the 1990s, healthcare costs were spiraling out of control. It was not unusual for employers to see their costs for health insurance increase by 30% or more for several years. The insurance industry developed health maintenance organization products that would curb the increase in costs by requiring primary care ph

Today's Verse: And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. ~Judges 15:15   When I was a kid, I remember a new candy that came out called a “jawbreaker.” It was a super hard candy that was meant to be sucked on and not chewed or broken with your teeth. The idea was that if you tried to break it down with your teeth, you would wind up breaking your teeth or jaw instead. It was a candy that was meant to last the u

Today's Verse: Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. ~2 Timothy 4:11   Who is the best Christian you know? Who do you look up to who lives out his life as a hands-down supreme model of a Christian? This morning, we are examining the testimony of a man named Luke. He wrote a gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts. Little is said about him, but what we are given about him inspires us to follow his shining

Today's Verse: But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing. ~Deuteronomy 24:18   Several years ago, after a Wednesday evening service, I had the privilege of helping a young, career-age man and woman receive assurance of their salvation. They were both so happy about how wonderful it is to know they are saved and eternally secure. I told them it is important that they start the

Today's Verse: Let all things be done decently and in order. ~1 Corinthians 14:40   A few years ago, I had a service repairman come to my house three or four times to repair my refrigerator-freezer. It was a great relief when the appliance was back in working order. Most people want things to be in working order. We don’t want things to break down. In addition, we all desire that the events we are involved in and the things that we do be in order. Order implies excellence, or

Today's Verse: The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. ~Isaiah 50:4   Do the people in your life consider you an encourager? Solomon said that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” So much speech today is put-downs of another person. What we say, when we say it, and how we say it can either build up or cau

Today's Verse: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ~2 Timothy 3:14   What’s the secret to finishing the Christian life victoriously? The Apostle Paul was in the Mamertine prison and counting down the days before he would be executed for being a preacher of the gospel. He was concerned for the spiritual welfare of a young pastor named Timothy. As Paul closed out his final letter to Timothy, H

Today's Verse: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20   As we begin a New Year, I am thankful to be alive. I am thankful for my salvation, the prospect of Heaven, good health, a good appetite, the blessing of being married, my children, my granddaughters, my church, and the privilege to serve the

Today's Verse: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, ~Hebrews 6:1   Happy New Year! Believe it or not, today marks the beginning of a new year. It is at the start of a new year when all of us think about and make plans for an improved and more successful year than the one we just completed. Let us see some key principles that are essentia

Today's Verse: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. ~Luke 9:62   A little boy heard a Sunday school lesson about Lot’s wife and how she looked back as she was following Lot out of Sodom and, as a result, was turned into a pillar of salt. The teacher asked if anyone had any questions, and the little boy raised his hand. He said, “My mother once looked back when she was driving and turned into a lig

Today's Verse: And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. ~Ruth 2:19   One of the favorite questions that family members and close friends ask each other at the end of a day is, “What did you do today?” In the agricultural business, harvest time is a busy tim

Today's Verse: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. ~Luke 2:7   Have you ever arrived at a special event only to find out that there was no space for you to sit at the table? I can remember many times being invited as a guest to a dinner event or speaking at a conference, but somehow the host did not have a spot for me to sit! Once they figured this out, the host

Today's Verse: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.  ~1 Corinthians 3:9 A partnership is when two or more people affiliate together for a common cause or venture. It is a collaboration of assets, efforts, and skills for the purpose of making a profit or completing an important accomplishment. In business, many partnerships are not successful after a few years due to the lack of pre-established agreement on rules of operation.