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!
Thank you, Georgia Police K9 Foundation, For your heart and dedication to our nation. With support from those who care so much, You’ve helped keep Denny in a loving touch.
Brave K9 Denny, your service is true, You’ve protected us all, through and through. Now it’s time for you to rest and play, To enjoy retirement, day by day.
For years you’ve stood by our side, With loyalty and courage, never to hide. Now may your days be calm and free, Happy and healthy as they should be.
Thank you, dear Denny, for all you’ve done, Now go and bask in the warmth of the sun. Your service remembered, your bravery shines bright, Enjoy your retirement, with peace in sight.
It’s funny, they don’t allow Bibles in schools, Where young hearts and minds are shaped by the rules, Where knowledge is treasured, and wisdom should grow, But God’s Holy Word is kept out, though.
Yet behind prison walls, where the broken reside, Where hope feels distant and light hard to find, The Bible is given, its pages unfold, To those seeking redemption, weary and cold.
In a place where darkness has taken its hold, Suddenly, truth is allowed to be told. The same book that’s banned where the young should be taught, Is now offered freely where souls have been caught.
It’s funny, yet tragic, the way things are done— Keeping out truth where learning’s begun, But offering grace to those who’ve been bound, A flicker of hope where sin had them drowned.
Perhaps it’s a sign of the world gone astray, That we wait till they’re lost to show them the way. What if we welcomed His word from the start, And let the Bible shape every heart?
Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best By Mark Waldrop
Scripture: Matthew 11:6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.
Reflection: In this verse, Jesus speaks to the importance of faith and trust in Him, even when His ways or teachings are challenging to understand or accept. Our Father knows best the struggles we face in our faith journey and reassures us that blessings come to those who remain steadfast and do not stumble because of Him.
Sometimes, following Christ can lead us into situations where we might question or doubt. However, Jesus encourages us to hold firm to our faith, trusting that His ways are higher than ours and that He has a perfect plan for our lives. By not stumbling in our faith, we demonstrate our trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remain steadfast in my faith and trust in You, even when I face challenges or uncertainties. May I not stumble on account of Your ways but instead find strength and blessing in trusting Your wisdom and love. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Application: Reflect: Consider any areas in your life where you might struggle to understand or accept God's ways. Reflect on how you can trust Him more deeply in those areas.
Pray: Ask God for the strength to remain firm in your faith, even when it is tested. Pray for clarity, peace, and the ability to trust His plans.
Encourage: Reach out to someone who might be struggling with their faith. Share this verse and offer encouragement and support, reminding them that blessings come to those who trust in Jesus.
Commit: Make a commitment to trust God more fully, actively seeking to understand His ways through prayer, scripture, and fellowship with other believers.
By holding fast to our faith and not stumbling on account of Christ, we honor our Father’s wisdom, showing that He truly knows best how to guide us into a blessed and fulfilling life.
Grace gives us blessings we have never earned, While mercy spares us from what we have learned. Undeserved favor, a gift from above, Unmerited kindness, wrapped in God’s love.
Mercy steps in when we stumble and fall, A tender embrace when we’ve broken the law. It withholds the justice we know should be ours, A shield of compassion in life’s darkest hours.
Both grace and mercy, intertwined as one, Reflecting the light of God’s risen Son. Grace lifts us higher, mercy sets us free, Together, they show His love eternally.
Snow capped Pikes Peak soaring over the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado in a colorful Autumn morning. The photo was taken at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center with my Nikon D800E.
God set Pikes Peak in Colorado for all to see, A towering testament to His majesty. With snow-capped heights that touch the sky, A reminder His glory is forever nigh.
No one could craft such a mountain so grand, Rising so boldly from Colorado’s land. Majestic and mighty, it stands in His name, A symbol of power, unchanging, the same.
Through storms and sunshine, it holds its place, A reflection of God's enduring grace. For in each peak and valley wide, His eternal glory will always abide.
Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best By Mark Waldrop
Scripture: Hebrews 13:3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Reflection: This verse calls us to deep empathy and compassion, urging us to remember and care for those who are imprisoned and mistreated. Our Father knows best how interconnected we are and how our compassion and support can uplift those who are suffering. He desires us to embody His love by sharing in the burdens of others.
When we place ourselves in the shoes of those who are suffering, we reflect the heart of Christ, who bore our burdens and suffered on our behalf. This perspective not only honors God but also strengthens our community and deepens our faith. By remembering those who are imprisoned and mistreated, we practice Christ-like love and fulfill our calling to serve and support one another.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to remember and care for those who are imprisoned and mistreated. Fill my heart with compassion and empathy, and guide me in ways to support and uplift them. May my actions reflect Your love and bring comfort to those in need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Application: Pray: Spend time in prayer today for those who are imprisoned and mistreated. Ask God to bring them comfort, justice, and hope.
Support: Consider ways you can support prisoners and the mistreated. This could be through volunteering, writing letters of encouragement, or supporting organizations that work with these groups.
Empathize: Reflect on what it might feel like to be in their situation. Allow this empathy to shape your actions and attitudes towards those who are suffering.
Share: Share this message with others to raise awareness and encourage collective support for those in need.
By remembering and caring for those who are suffering, we follow our Father’s guidance, showing that He knows best how our love and compassion can make a profound impact on others' lives.
Daily Devotional Theme: Our Father Knows Best By Mark Waldrop
Scripture: Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
Reflection: This verse reminds us of God's perfect knowledge and justice. Our Father sees all our actions, even those hidden from others, and He will bring every deed into judgment. This truth calls us to live with integrity and righteousness, knowing that nothing is hidden from God.
Understanding that God knows best encourages us to align our lives with His will. It motivates us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. By living in awareness of His omniscience and justice, we cultivate a life that honors Him and reflects His holiness.
We can take comfort in knowing that God is fair and just. He sees both the good and the evil, and His judgment is perfect. This assurance helps us to trust Him fully, strive for goodness, and seek forgiveness and transformation where we fall short.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your perfect knowledge and justice. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You, knowing that You see all my deeds. Give me the strength to act with integrity and righteousness. Forgive my shortcomings and guide me to walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Application: Examine: Take time today to examine your actions and attitudes. Are there areas of your life where you need to seek God's forgiveness or make changes to align with His will?
Confess: Bring any hidden sins or struggles before God in prayer. Confess them and ask for His guidance and strength to overcome them.
Act: Commit to an act of goodness or justice today, whether it's helping someone in need, being honest in a challenging situation, or showing kindness to a stranger.
Reflect: Reflect on the assurance that God’s judgment is fair and just. Let this assurance bring peace and motivate you to live a life that honors Him.
By living with the awareness that our Father knows best and will judge every deed, we can strive to live a life of integrity and righteousness, trusting in His perfect justice.
My generation, born in ease, We've only known prosperity's breeze. No world wars darkened our sky, No Great Depression to make us cry.
We didn’t see the dust and toil, Or watch blood spill on foreign soil. No struggle for bread, no ration line, We've lived in times both smooth and fine.
The internet’s always at our hand, Smartphones connecting sea to land. Cars whisk us fast from place to place, Comfort surrounds us, a constant embrace.
But now a different plague takes hold, Not hunger, not hardship, nor the cold. It’s entitlement, a silent creep, Ungratefulness runs vast and deep.
We’ve lost the sense of what we’ve got, Forgotten battles others fought. Prosperity’s gift is ours to bear, Yet often we don’t even care.
Perhaps it’s time we take a stand, Grasp gratitude in every hand. To know that ease was dearly won, By those who faced a setting sun.
