THE HOME DEVO

    When we look at leadership in the Bible, what strengths do we see? Moses was very humble, to the point of not even believing he was the man for the job God planned for him to do. Joshua was strong and brave. He also drove his people to be strong and brave. Caleb stayed ready all his life. He was ready when he was 40 as a spy and at 80 as a man taking the land God promised. David had a heart for God. His relationship with God seems so close, even though he made many mistakes. Noah had amazing obedience. All of these heard what God said and eventually obeyed. Everyone has strengths that are different from other people. Even great leaders have different strengths. You have them also. Use them for God!   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________    

  I had knee surgery a few years ago. On the way home, I was really hungry. The problem was, I had taken a lot of medicine and it was hard to stay awake. I asked my wife to stop on the way home and get me a hamburger from my favorite place. When she went in to order, there was a knock on the window of the car. I remember rolling the window down and talking to someone. I cannot remember to this day who it was. I know that I did not make any sense. I was babbling about this and that, slurring my words and just making an idiot of myself. The problem is, I still do not know who it was. There is no one I can apologize to. I feel embarrassed for my actions but who do I tell? There have been many times also, that I have sinned against others that I will never be able to find. How do I make that right? I have to pray that God will forgive me and give me opportunity to ask them for forgiveness. If I never see them again, I have turned it over to God. He knows our hearts. I Samuel 16.7 P...

  In recent years there seems to have been an outbreak of public shootings against the innocent. Whether it be at a government building, a movie theater, or a school, the question has been raised is, are we safe? The thought behind the question is had there been protocols, legislations, or other things in place ahead of time would that protect us or even prevent these things from happening to us where we live? I may not be able to thwart a terrorist attack, nor am I able to accurately predict the mindset of a lunatic, but I can offer you safety. At least sixteen times in the book of Psalms, David says that in the LORD we can find refuge and almost every time the word used for “refuge” means “a cliff or another lofty site that offers safety.” However, there is at least one time in the Psalms that it is translated as “to flee for protection” and that is found in Psalms 57.1; “…in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” This psalm was wr...

  By the age of 5, Beethoven was playing the violin under the tutelage of his father—also an accomplished musician. By the time he was 13, he was a concert organist. During his lifetime, he wrote nine majestic symphonies and five concertos for piano, not to mention numerous pieces of chamber music. Beethoven was not, however, a stranger to difficulties. During his twenties, he began to lose his hearing. His fingers “became thick,” he said on one occasion. He couldn’t feel the music as he once had. His hearing problem haunted him in the middle years of his life, but he kept it a well-guarded secret. When he reached his fifties, Beethoven was deaf. All of us make excuses at some point in our lives. We are too busy, too young, too old, not equipped, not trained or even worse not motivated. Beethoven is a wonderful example of someone who would not let his circumstances dictate his success. We all have weaknesses, limitations, legitimate reasons to not do some of the things that w...

    Another lesson we can learn from duct tape is that although we can use it to fix things, it will never be in and of itself a permanent solution. As Christians, we can be the duct tape in peoples’ lives by sticking to them when they are having some struggles, but we alone cannot be their solution. We cannot be everything to everyone; it is just our job to point people to Jesus. Although we know we are to be imitators of others as they are of Jesus, there should still be that moment when we follow in the footsteps of John. Remember what John the Baptist said: “He must increase, and I must decrease” (John 3.30). Although we can be there for some people some of the time, we will never be able to be there for all of the people all of the time. Make sure you are pointing others to Jesus and not just to yourself.   Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________    

  If you were allowed to have only one tool, one piece of equipment in your toolbox, what would it be? I know…that is a no brainer…duct tape! Yes, it is called duct tape, but it originally was called “Duck Tape” when it was created for the military during WW2 (look it up..cool stuff.) You can use duct tape to fix just about anything. In fact, the astronauts used duct tape to help them get home on the Apollo 13 mission. So, why are we discussing duct tape? There are some lessons that duct tape can teach us concerning our faith. Duct tape is a great tool. It is designed to be strong, yet flexible. As Christians we are taught to have a strength about us; “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1Corinthinas 16. 13) We typically think of acting like men as being strong, but we also need a softer side about us to be understanding with those that are weak. There is something to be said for a quiet strength. Paul tells the church at Ephesus “Fathers, do not pro...

  I grew up in a house where it was common to hear “can’t never could.” That simply means if you think you cannot do something, you will not be able to do it. Moses told God over and over that he couldn’t. He gave excuse after excuse. God did not let him off the hook that easy. God had a plan and Moses was a part of that plan. Moses becomes a leader we read about doing amazing things. What amazing things are you telling God you cannot do? Do not say no to God. Let Him work through you!     Prayer Requests: ____________________________________________________________