There are many things in the Bible that are counter intuitive.

Proverbs 20:28 is an example of wisdom that sound quite contrary to what a simple world view might believe. “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”

Intimidation and dominance will keep people following a leader when they are required to, but a leader who truly cares about, loves, his or her people will receive the same in return, and receive the allegiance and commitment from his or her team. There is no greater example of this than Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, There is so much wisdom available to us in the Bible; Useful for us in our walk of faith, but also in how we live our lives in work, school, and family. Help us read and meditate on your word out of our love for You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

Here are two verses of wisdom from David for my dad on his birthday.

Proverbs 16:31, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.”

Proverbs 17:6, “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.”

How true these words are!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Dear Lord, we thank you today for what that gray hair means for my dad, and also for the crowning glory of those grand children, especially Grace who we know you hold safely in your care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

It is interesting to look at different Bible translations of verses, to help bring out the meaning of the text.

I found that the God’s Word translation of Proverbs 14:14 brings relevance to what is a somewhat “matter of fact” verse in other translations. It says:

“A heart that turns from God becomes bored with its own ways, but a good person is satisfied with God’s ways.”

Isn’t it common to see someone searching for their way in life and rather than turning toward God, they turn away looking for life satisfaction in many things, only to be left feeling incomplete. In contrast, when we turn toward God looking for his will and ways and following, we find peace.

Dear Lord, as you said, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life, help us turn toward you for fulfillment in life, and you will guide our steps. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

For those of you with children, I imagine you have had this conversation when they were toddlers, “I love you this much” and spread your arms way out in each direction, then your toddler says, well “I love you this much” and spreads his or her arms out….and so on. The memories are wonderful.

In Ephesians Paul describes how God feels the same way about us. Ephesians 2:17-19, he writes “And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.” TLB

What comfort it is for us to know that we can confront everything in life knowing we are the loved children of the Father and creator of everything.

Dear Lord, no matter how much we love others and love you, it doesn’t compare to the magnitude of your love for us. Help us have peace in this knowledge. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box

We all know that God created us with a free will to choose. There is a constant battle going on inside each of us; a battle between our desire to choose to obey God and do what is right, and our desire to choose to follow the “self-centered” desires that the world would have us follow.

Think of all the modern day social issues that revolve around the “right” and “freedom” to do things that are clearly wrong according to God.

Paul writes to the church in Galatians 5:13 “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.”

Dear Lord, please help us use the freedom you gave us to live lives that glorify you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Click Here – to Receive These Messages Every Morning In Your Email Box