September 24

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

Screenshot
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 

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Tribute to K9 Denny

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.

Created by
MarkWaldrop

What If

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?

Created by
MarkWaldrop