Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105

 Before the turn of the century, toothpaste tubes were made of a pliable metal, often aluminum, which allowed the user to roll up the end of the toothpaste, forcing the last of the toothpaste to come out the small hole, leaving an empty tube and no waste. Today’s toothpaste tubes are made of a form of plastic that doesn’t roll up and you have to work at getting the last ounce of toothpaste out. Many people discard that tube with probably a few more ounces of toothpaste left in the tube, that could be used several more times. But we’ve become lazy and want to discard it when we have had enough of its supply. I’m guilty!

 You are probably thinking, what does a toothpaste tube have to do with today’s blog and scripture. Let me share a thought God placed on my mind yesterday.

 As a child of God, you probably have a bible in your possession and take it with you to church on Sundays, maybe even read in on occasion during the week. You read just enough of it to get a spiritual high and shelve it till your next prompting to read it again. Today’s scripture tells us that God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. How we use it will determine the outcome of our spiritual growth. Sporadic use of God’s word limits your growth to what you think you need or gratification of your wants and needs. In reality, you are discarding something very useful for everyday life.

 Don’t treat your bible like that tube of toothpaste….only getting what you think you need. Squeeze out every ounce of God’s word in every area of your life so you’ll be equipped to make decisions that are pleasing to God, which yield blessings upon your life and your family. Grab your bible today, hold it and know that it’s truly the inspired word of God and will give you everything you need as you journey on your pathway to Heaven! God bless!

 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

 This morning, I read in one of my devotionals about a married couple who participated in a walking event. At one point they sat down to rest, when another couple joined them. Through their conversation both couples shared a horrific event where they lost a young child, and were able to explain how they got through the loss by what God did to strengthen their faith. For two strangers to get that deep into conversation, they had to be transparent, peeling back the layers of their life, to share one of the darkest moments they’ve ever experienced.

 In today’s world, people frequently “build walls” around themselves. They feel this protects them from emotional damage, and getting involved with others, when all they want to do is live their life. This behavior isolates self from the outside world and misses opportunities to share insight into the wonderful and not so wonderful things experienced.

 If you know me, I am one who loves to meet people and peel back their layers of information to know them better. I find it challenging for me to see how deep into their life I can explore in my attempts to connect through life’s experiences. And what I’ve found is some pretty amazing people and their stories have encouraged me in my personal and spiritual life.

 Wrapping this blog up with today’s verses. If you are a child of God, He’s given you something special, the gift of eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and a love that comes with NO conditions. Those unique characteristics should be shared with those in your circle of influence. Lighting up your world with the Gospel message of salvation brings hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved, and the removal of guilty burdens often found deep within their soul. Don’t hide your faith, don’t put your light under a bowl, let it shine brightly through your daily interactions with others. You’ll be amazed at how your interactions turn positive, no matter what environment you find yourself. Let your light shine for the glory of God!

 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

During my time in college, I briefly dated this girl from the state of Ohio. We had met on campus and became good friends. On occasion we’d travel to Ohio to visit her parents. Her father was a preacher with the Apostolic church. The Apostolic believers live a simple life without much worldly influence and have a strong desire to be obedient with the bible’s guidance.   I recall her father was very peaceful and holy in every aspect of his character. You could tell he was a man of God and certainly had a positive influence on my life at the time.

 Every now and then I reflect on this verse and wonder, do people see Christ in me? Do they consider me a man of God? I might not stand behind a pulpit and preach God’s word, but my everyday life should, hopefully, influence people in a positive manner, just as my friend’s father did for me. I know my human frailties, and they are many, and God is working in my life to shape me into the character of Jesus Christ. It’s a lifetime process and every day He removes part of the world and replaces it with a spirit of holiness. I still have a long way to go to perfection.

 How about you? Are you a child of God? Do people within your influence recognize Christ in your life? Do you even desire to be shaped into the image of Jesus Christ? If you’ve truly chosen Christ, then your life should be a reflection of His life to the outside world. God calls all of us to be missionaries to the lost, whether its locally or across the globe. Without peace with our fellow man and holiness, how will the lost find their way to the light of Christ? Let your light bring others to Christ! God bless!

 I Peter 1:24-25 NKJV

[24] because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, [25] But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Don't you just love it when you are using an app on your phone and after a few minutes the phone times out, shutting off access to your app? A few weeks ago I discovered the Bible app on my phone never closes or times out my phone; it stays open and available until I decide to close it. 

Today's verse reminds us how fragile life can be, especially the things we rely on daily. But there is one thing that withstands the test of time, God's word. It never fails to provide wisdom for all of life's circumstances, struggles, even victories. But it's only useful if you use it daily. 

Studies have suggested that 87 percent of American homes have at least one bible in their possession. I just wonder of that percentage how many are collecting dust and never read.

We are so blessed in this country to have the freedom to possess a Bible, as other countries like North Korea or China would throw you in jail for even reading a Bible. 

A good indicator of Bible usage is the worn edges, the marked up pages with notes and highlights. If your Bible still looks new after several years, you are missing out on a wealth of information and wisdom.

Trust me, your time spent reading God's word will change your heart for the better. Everything else around you will wither and fade away, but the words on the pages will never shut you out of God's abundant love, grace, mercy, and give you hope for each day. Pick it up today! 

 I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

I was horrible at math, as a matter of fact I was able to navigate through college without taking one single math class. If I did, I'd probably still be trying to pass that class. But one thing I know, to work out a calculation, you need to insert numbers into the formula, otherwise you'll still have nothing to the right of the equal sign.   

Well Dave, what does math have to do with sin you ask? Sin is like a mathematical formula, it requires the temptation, the contemplation, and the actual act itself. When all three are calculated, it will equal sin. So what am I saying? 

If you read today's verse you'll understand several things. No sin is uncommon to man; man has been sinning forever and your same sins are played out by millions of other people (so don't think you are the only one battling it). Secondly, God gives you enough freedom (or free will) to choose to do it or not do it. Third, He always provides a way to escape from it. At some point in the 3 part equation there's an exit door to stop computing sin. 

Here's where the rubber meets the road…..in order for sin to complete itself, you have to insert yourself in the equation. At any moment you can stop opening that bottle of liquor, close your computer when tempted to look at unclean images, cut a phone call short when the juicy gossip starts, say no to a conversation with the opposite sex you know won't be good for your marriage, or exchange your shopping trip you can't afford with a Saturday of house cleaning. God gives you opportunities to not sin, you just have to make the decision to not do it. Simple, not hardly, but with God's help you can overcome anything that you believe has you held captive to Satans bindings.

I John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16

 My wife is really good about choosing what she eats. She watches her calorie intake and has said on numerous occasions…”I’m not going to waste my calories on something I don’t truly enjoy”. Me on the other hand, doesn’t always stick to a rigid diet and oftentimes I take in more daily calories than I can burn over the course of a week. And, my weight is a good indicator that I’m not doing a good job restricting my diet to the healthy things. More on that later!

 This morning God put a thought into my mind, “what’s the substance of my prayers”. Do I spend more time asking for forgiveness than praising God? That thought hit me hard this morning, as it should, making me think about my relationship with the Father. My actions, my thoughts, and the words that proceed out of my mouth are under constant attacks from the dark forces of evil. God knows I need help on the battle field, so I can spend more time giving praise than asking for His forgiveness.

 You might be thinking, Geez Dave, what’s your problem? Romans 3:10 says: “There is none righteous, no, not one” and Isaiah 64:6 says: “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags”. No matter how well we try to live the Christian life, we always fall short in our daily lives, including me. And, as  you grow in your faith, you begin to see your shortcomings more and more. God help us, God help me!

 God always welcomes your prayers, no matter their content. If seeking forgiveness is important, then pray for it. At the same time, commit yourself to living on a strict spiritual diet of words, actions, and thoughts (just like my wife’s dietary plan), so you don’t waste your life on fruitless things that require more time praying for healing and forgiveness. When you do, your prayers will be full of positive content, brining God all the glory and praise He rightly deserves! God bless!  

 Psalms 46:10 NKJV

[10] Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Have you ever been in a place where there was no sound? No sirens, no birds singing, no sound of the wind, no air-conditioning running, no one speaking? If you are like me, it's hard to remember a time of total silence. Even as I sit here early this morning outside there is a bug making his sound as loud as a Harley Davidson motorcycle. 

Our ears operate 24/7. That's a good thing and sometimes a bad thing, depending on where you are. As a child of God, God wants you to hear Him speak to you through His Holy Spirit. The challenge is filtering out everything that is competing with Him to be heard. His voice doesn't come in the form of sound, but through the spirit, speaking wisdom, warning, encouragement, and love. How can you hear Him?

You have to be intentional about blocking out the world's sounds to hear Him. That might mean closing the apps on your phone, even silencing it, getting in a place without distractions (your closet is good…if there is room), anywhere you can block out other distractions. Difficult yes, but not impossible. 

I love today's verse. Anytime I read it, I'm reminded to slow down, take in His beautiful creation, and make time to listen to Him. God has a lot to say to all of us, we just have to posture ourselves to hear His sweet voice. What is God trying to say to you today?