September 25

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Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture:
Ephesians 5:18-19 (NIV)  
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.

Reflection:
In our journey through life, we often seek solace and comfort in various forms. Some may turn to temporary pleasures that the world offers, like indulgence in wine or other distractions, hoping to find joy and peace. However, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:18-19 that true fulfillment and joy come not from earthly pleasures but from being filled with the Holy Spirit.

God, our loving Father, knows what is best for us. He desires us to be filled with His Spirit, which brings lasting joy, peace, and contentment. When we are filled with the Spirit, our hearts overflow with gratitude and worship, leading us to speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. This divine infilling transforms our hearts and minds, enabling us to make beautiful music to the Lord from the depths of our souls.

Instead of seeking temporary highs, let us seek the eternal joy that comes from a close relationship with God. Being filled with the Spirit not only enriches our lives but also impacts those around us, as our joy and worship become a testimony to the greatness of our God.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing what is best for us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so that we may find true joy and contentment in You. Help us to turn away from temporary pleasures and seek the eternal fulfillment that comes from Your presence. May our lives be filled with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, and may our hearts always make music to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application:
Today, take a moment to reflect on what fills your heart and mind. Are there things you rely on for temporary comfort that may not align with God's best for you? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you anew, and let your heart overflow with songs of praise. Share a psalm, hymn, or spiritual song with someone today, encouraging them with the joy that comes from the Lord.

Know Where You Are Going

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You should have a plan for where you are going,  
Or you’ll wind up in a place without knowing.  
The road ahead can twist and turn,  
Without a map, you might not return.  

Each step you take should have a goal,  
A path to guide your heart and soul.  
For if you wander without aim,  
You’ll find your dreams are just a game.  

Plant your feet, but don’t stand still,  
Move with purpose, climb the hill.  
For those who drift without a trace,  
Will surely end in the wrong place.  

So set your sights, chart your way,  
And walk with wisdom every day.  
For life’s a journey, not a race,  
But without a plan, you’ll lose your place.  

Created by
MarkWaldrop

Quote: by Yogi Berra
"If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else."

September 24

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Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: Psalm 119:1  
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Reflection:
This verse emphasizes the blessings that come from living a life in alignment with God's law. Our Father knows best the path to true happiness and fulfillment, and He has provided His law as a guide for us to follow. Walking blamelessly according to His law means striving for a life of integrity, obedience, and faithfulness.

God's law is not merely a set of rules but a loving direction towards a life that pleases Him and brings us joy. When we align our actions, thoughts, and decisions with His Word, we find peace, purpose, and blessing. Our Father’s wisdom leads us to live in a way that reflects His character and brings honor to His name.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for providing Your law as a guide for my life. Help me to walk blamelessly and follow Your ways with integrity and faithfulness. May my life reflect Your goodness and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application:
Study: Spend time today reading and meditating on Psalm 119. Reflect on the importance of God’s law and how it applies to your life.

Reflect: Consider areas in your life where you might struggle to walk blamelessly. Ask God for strength and wisdom to align these areas with His Word.

Act: Choose one specific aspect of God’s law that you can focus on today. Make a conscious effort to live it out in your daily actions and decisions.

Encourage: Share the message of this verse with someone else. Encourage them to walk according to God’s law and share how it has blessed your life.

By walking blamelessly according to the law of the LORD, we embrace our Father’s wisdom, trusting that He knows best how to lead us into a blessed and fulfilling life.

The Doll at Target

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Nick and I made a promise clear:  
One whole month on the potty, my dear,  
And you could choose a prize to celebrate,  
Something special, something great.

Sophia chose her favorite doll,  
A doctor, smart and kind and tall.  
Her love for dolls, an endless stream,  
This one, a part of her big dream.

At the checkout, the cashier’s eyes  
Grew curious about the prize.  
"Is this for a birthday?" she asked with cheer,  
Sophia stared, not quite sure.

The doll was her prize, I said with pride,  
For potty training, her growing stride.  
But then the woman’s puzzled face  
Turned the moment into a different space.

“Are you sure this is the doll you want,  
There’s many others you could flaunt.  
She doesn’t look like you,” she said,  
But Sophia’s words rang out instead.

"Yes, she does—she’s a doctor like me,  
A pretty girl, just wait and see.  
See her stethoscope and her shining hair?  
She’s smart and strong, and I know she cares."

The cashier paused, her words now few,  
And let Sophia’s wisdom shine through.  
Because in her heart, pure and bright,  
There’s no wrong color, no wrong light.

We’re not born thinking that color’s a wall,  
We’re taught to see beauty in us all.  
Like hair and eyes, skin’s just a hue,  
Every shade is beautiful, too.  

So let’s learn from Sophia, so young and wise,  
To see the soul behind the eyes.  
For kindness, strength, and love will show  
That beauty's in the hearts we grow.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

United We Stand 

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United we stand, divided we fall,  
Those with great faith hear God's call.  
Through trials and storms, we walk side by side,  
With His love as our guide, in Him we abide.  

No matter the distance, no matter the place,  
We all trod together, held in His grace.  
On life's winding path, He's never far,  
A beacon of hope, our guiding star.  

United we stand, divided we fall,  
Let’s keep our eyes on His great call.  
With hearts full of faith, we will stand tall,  
In His strength, we rise above it all.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

The Sweet Smell of Love

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Love has an aroma, a fragrance so sweet,  
In every embrace, in every heartbeat.  
My Dear Savior, with a spirit like spring rain,  
Washes away sorrow, eases all pain.  

No room for hate, no malice can stay,  
In the presence of The Great I Am each day.  
Only Joy and Peace in His light will grow,  
A love everlasting, a grace we know.  

In His arms, we are safe, sheltered, and warm,  
Through every trial, through every storm.  
For love, divine and pure, shall forever remain,  
A fragrance of heaven, eternal and unchained.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

An Ounce of Prevention

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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it is said,  
To this purpose, we should be carefully led.  

In every aspect of life, this truth does shine,  
Whether physical or spiritual, in all paths we align.  

A small step today, a mindful choice made,  
Can keep future troubles from growing or stayed.  

For health of the body, the mind, and the soul,  
Prevention’s the key to keeping us whole.  

So let us take heed, be watchful and pure,  
For an ounce of prevention is the truest cure.  

Created by
MarkWaldrop

What is Right

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You can't go wrong in asking for what is right,  
For truth will guide you through the darkest night.  
What is right? It shines in heaven’s sight,  
Found in God’s will and His eternal light.  

In seeking His grace, your heart will be still,  
For righteousness dwells where He bends His will.  
His delight is the compass, steady and true,  
Leading you forward in all that you do.  

So ask with faith, and seek what is pure,  
In God’s delight, your path is secure.  
For what is right flows from His hand,  
A promise eternal, a love that will stand.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

September 23

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Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best
By Mark Waldrop

Scripture: Matthew 11:28  
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.=

Reflection:
In this comforting verse, Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest. Our Father knows best the weight of our struggles, anxieties, and weariness. He understands our need for rest and offers a place of refuge and peace in Him.

Life's demands can often leave us feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Jesus’ invitation is a reminder that we don't have to carry our burdens alone. By coming to Him, we find true rest for our souls, a rest that rejuvenates and strengthens us to continue our journey. Trust in His promise, knowing that He is ready to provide the rest and peace that only He can give.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the invitation to come to You with my weariness and burdens. Help me to trust in Your promise of rest and to seek Your presence daily. Grant me the peace and strength that come from resting in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Application:
Reflect: Take a moment to reflect on the burdens you are carrying. Acknowledge them and recognize your need for rest.

Pray: Bring your burdens to Jesus in prayer. Ask Him to give you rest and to help you trust in His care and provision

Rest: Set aside time each day to rest in God's presence. This could be through prayer, reading scripture, or simply being still and quiet before Him.
Encourage: Share this promise with someone you know who is feeling weary or burdened. Offer to pray with them and remind them of Jesus' invitation to find rest in Him.

By accepting Jesus’ invitation to rest, we acknowledge that our Father knows best how to renew and restore us, providing the peace and strength we need to face each day.

A Strange Old Lady

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A strange old lady has moved in with me,  
I can't quite place who she could be.  
I never invited her, that's for sure,  
One day she appeared, a sly saboteur.  

She hides in shadows, she’s stealthy and keen,  
But in the mirror, she’s always seen.  
When I check my reflection, there she stands,  
Obliterating my face with her wrinkled hands!  

I've shouted at her, screamed in despair,  
But she just yells back with a devilish glare.  
She won't pay the bills or share the rent,  
Yet my cash is mysteriously spent.  

She raids my fridge, my sweet stash is gone,  
And somehow she’s making the scale turn wrong!  
I swear she fiddles with all my attire,  
My clothes shrink up as she conspires.  

She messes with papers, my files a mess,  
And blurs all my reading, I 
must confess.  
The TV mumbles, the phone whispers low,  
She’s twisted the volume as part of her show.  

The stairs are steeper, the bed's too high,  
She glued down the jars, oh how hard I try!  
Shopping for clothes? Forget the fun,  
She hogs the mirror and spoils the run.  

But worst of all, when the camera flashed,  
She jumped in front—my photo trashed.  
This old lady’s crafty, clever, and sly,  
I just hope she never stops by *your* eye!

Created by
MarkWaldrop