Author: londavis@hotmail.com

Our text for today is Matthew 6:34

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.”

My kids grew up observing one habit of mine. Whenever we would hear an ambulance coming down the street, I would say, “Kids, you think you are having a hard day? No, but somebody else is.”

Have you ever thought about an ambulance? An ambulance tears around town with its siren blaring. It is always going to a crisis or leaving a crisis. It is built for emergencies.

Too many people live life the same way. They run their lives with a siren going. Every day is desperate, and every moment is a crisis or preparation for one. They manage their time by putting out the latest fire.

Such a frantic existence leaves no room for smelling roses or enjoying sunsets. Even worse, it leaves no time for sharing friendships and building love.

What if some of the things you are racing around to do did not get done? Suppose you substitute a quiet walk around the block or time off to call on a friend or time out to read a book?

Or even better, can you find the time to read the Good Book? Suppose you wrote an encouraging note to someone who really needed it? Would your world fall apart? Perhaps it would help put your life back into perspective. Remember, God will work all things out if you will just lean on him. 

As 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight.” In other words, walk the walk of faith.

Lonnie Davis

Our Bible verse for today is Proverbs 16:3

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

This verse implies the importance of planning our future. We must decide what we want to achieve, then entrust those plans to God’s guidance. Without a clear vision for tomorrow, how can we truly commit it to His will?

Sir Walter Scott, a famous novelist of the 16th century, exemplifies the power of planning. He penned countless novels, a testament to his diligent work ethic. His diary, however, holds a final lesson. The last entry reads, “Tomorrow we shall…” followed by an empty space. Sadly, there was no tomorrow for Scott. He died with unfulfilled plans, plans that remained unwritten and uncommitted.

Many of us have dreams and goals we strive for, plans we meticulously map out, and steps we take towards achieving them. Yet, we sometimes fall short of our aspirations simply because we lack a plan. As the poet stated, “If we fail to plan, we plan to fail.” This underscores the importance of action and prioritizing tasks that require our attention today.

God declared to Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you.” Do you know the plans you have for yourself? God knows his plan, but do you? Take time to reflect, pray deeply, and write down your aspirations. Commit these plans to God’s wisdom and watch as He helps you on your journey.

When you do this you will be able to say with David, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad.”

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Genesis 18:19. In this verse, God is considering whether he ought to tell Abraham what his plans are. God decides yes, because, as the verse says:

“I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just…” 

He said yes for three reasons related to Abraham.

1. God chose Abraham.

2. Abraham will direct his children and all in his house to keep the way of the Lord.

3. He will teach them by setting the right example before them.

There is no goal for a father that is more important or worthy than for a man to spend his life by leading his own family in the way of God. The verse doesn’t say lead by teaching, but rather by “doing what is right.” 

Years ago I knew an old, retired preacher named Bill. Bill told me one of the stories of his ministry. He said that his congregation was trying to sell church bonds years earlier to build their church building. The task fell to Bill to lead the effort. Though Bill did not know him, he decided to go to the richest man in town and ask him to buy some bonds. He cold-called the rich man and talked to him. He made his pitch and the rich man’s response was to tell him about his daughter. He said that his daughter left home and was living a hard life on the street. He then made an offer. He told Bill that if he could help his daughter, he would buy every bond Bill had. Sadly, Bill had to sell his bonds elsewhere.

That rich man knew that unless your own family is okay, then nothing else matters. It is that way for every father. I am sure it is for every mom too, but our text talks about a father’s spiritual goal.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Psalms 118:24.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

That verse doesn’t say, “If things go well today, I will rejoice and be glad.” Any day that God has made for you is a day of rejoicing. That is what the verse says.

I admit, that this is sometimes hard. Some days are a challenge and you only smile when you look back. Sometimes not even then.

I read the story of a preacher who got up on Sunday to preach. His alarm didn’t go off so he was late. He threw clothes on, and grabbed his coffee. Oh no! The coffee didn’t make. He ran to his car and saw that he had a flat. Now he was really going to be late. Speeding to church, he ran a stop sign. The cop pulled him over and he snapped at the cop. The policeman smiled and said, “I know how you feel sir. I used to have days like this before I became a Christian.” Ouch!

I’ve had days like that and I am sure you have too. 

When my first child was born, I had one of those days. When my wife and I brought the baby home. Liz was still struggling from the birth and everything was up to me. As we pulled up to our house, Liz said, “Carry Janet into the house.” I had never picked up a baby in my life. I certainly could not start now. I said, “Let me go get the neighbor next door and she will carry her in. Liz said, “No, you can do it.” Resigned to the first time I would carry a baby, I ran into the house and got a pillow. I came back to the car, put the pillow on my arms and had Liz put the baby on the pillow. I then carried the baby on the pillow into the house.

For the rest of the day, every time the baby cried, it was up to me to care for her. At least I knew what to do. Every time Baby Janet cried, I gave her a bottle. Every time!

By ten that night I had a sick baby that I did not know how to help. I did the only thing I knew to do, I called my mother. She lived 600 miles away, but she drove all night.

That was my hard day then, that looks different looking back. I know you have had days like that too. For all of those days, both mine and yours, we all need to say, “This the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad.”

No matter what this day or even tomorrow brings, there is joy in it. Someday we will find the joy. The greater our faith, the sooner we will find it.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Psalms 118:24.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

That verse doesn’t say, “If things go well today, I will rejoice and be glad.” Any day that God has made for you is a day of rejoicing. That is what the verse says.

I admit, that this is sometimes hard. Some days are a challenge and you only smile when you look back. Sometime not even then.

When my first child was born, I had one of those days. When my wife and I brought the baby home, Liz was still struggling from the birth and everything was up to me. As we pulled up to our house, Liz said, “Carry Janet into the house.” I had never picked up a baby in my life. I certainly could not start now. I said, “Let me go get the neighbor next door and she will carry her in. Liz said, “No, you can do it.” Resigned to the first time I would carry a baby, I ran into the house and got a pillow. I came back to the car, put the pillow on my arms and had Liz put the baby on the pillow. I then carried the baby on the pillow into the house.

For the rest of the day, every time the baby cried, it was up to me to care for her. At least I knew what to do. Every time Baby Janet cried, I gave her a bottle. Every time!

By ten that night, I had a sick baby that I did not know how to help. I did the only thing I knew to do: I called my mother. She lived 600 miles away, but she drove all night.

That was a hard day and I did not think, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad.” It took decades before I could. 

No matter what this day or even tomorrow brings, there is joy in it. Someday we will find the joy. The greater our faith, the sooner we will find it.

Lonnie Davis

To listen to kids, they must believe that moms and dads get together and figure out ways to keep their kids from having fun. After all, every kid at some time or another has uttered those words to their parents: “You never want me to have any fun.”

Of course, that is just a young mind that does not understand. Sadly, however, people sometimes feel the same way toward God. They must think that God figured out all the fun things and then decided to make them sins.

Such thoughts are the thoughts of a baby Christian. Any mature Christian would cast such thinking from their mind. God made us, and he made us for joy! As Paul told the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (4:4)

Let’s turn our attention to another verse, 1 John 5:3. It reads, “This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.”

Look at that again: “His commands are not burdensome.” You may have thought so at the time, but when you look back through the wisdom of time, you will understand two things:

1. Why He gave us the commands he did.

2. Why he gave us limits.

Let me illustrate this with a personal story. When I was 6 years old, I saw a movie about the frontiersman Jim Bowie. What a man! He could get out of any dangerous situation with his knife. He could throw it and stop the danger. I went home and wanted to be like him. I didn’t have a throwing knife. The closest thing I could find was my mother’s kitchen knife. I figured I could practice throwing that knife at a tree and get good at it like Jim Bowie.  I went to my mother and asked her if I could borrow the kitchen knife to practice throwing it. I don’t need to tell you her answer. 

I thought her rejection of my plan was mean. If I had known the word, I would have called it burdensome.

Only when I got older and more mature did I understand that she made her decision with an eye toward my best interest.

Someday, you will understand why God gave us the commands that he did. They are not burdensome but for our best interest.

Lonnie Davis

Today’s thoughts should encourage us to get it done right now. As the old saying goes, “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present.” Use it now!

Our Scripture verse for today is Acts 24:25.

In this text, Paul was on trial before a Roman governor named Felix. Felix heard what Paul said, knew what he needed to do, and uttered the sad words, 

“Go away for now, when I have a convenient time I will call for you.”

So far as we know, he never called for him. He never found that convent time.

I have looked at clocks for years and have seen everything from 1 to 12 o’clock, both  AM and PM. None of my clocks have ever been marked “convent time.” I’ll bet your clock doesn’t have that time either.

Whatever the case, I have found many things I needed to do that I have put off until that more convenient time. Not finding it, they were left undone.

I guess with some things that is okay.

If you don’t find the time to watch television.
If you don’t find time to read the latest best-selling book.
If you don’t find the time to update your phone.
If you don’t find the time to check FaceBook.

Well, you can do it tomorrow. However, there are some things that cannot be put off until a more convenient time.

Do it today!
Call your friend
Listen to your spouse
Play with your kids
Read your Bible
Pray

These are things that cannot be put off till a more convenient time. 

Don’t wait for that more convenient time.

Lonnie Davis

Sometimes I Act Like A Child

Our text for today is Matthew 18:3

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Of course this text doesn’t mean we should throw a fit when we don’t get our way, or run to mommy when we have a tummy ache. Jesus is really talking about things like having a good heart and learning to forgive and trust.

I read a story that reminded me of this verse.

One little four-year-old boy loved his dog, but sometimes unwittingly tormented him. He didn’t mean to, but he loved to hug his dog. Usually the dog would put up with the hugging, but when the dog had enough, he would turn around and nip at the little boy to make him let go.

One day, the dad walked up to his son while he had the dog in a big hug. As the dad got closer he could see that the little boy had his eyes closed and was praying, “Dear God, please don’t let him bite me.”

As the dad walked by his son, he told him, “God would be more apt to answer your prayer, if you would let go of the dog.”

Unfortunately, we are like that little boy too often. We do things that we know we ought not to do and then pray that God will shield us from the consequences of our behavior.

We pray for a happy marriage and then neglect one another. We pray for a closer walk with God but do not read His Word. We pray for peace in our lives, and drive in aggressive, rude ways or snip at people.

Each of us could make our own custom list. We should examine the things we pray for and then decide what we can do to help make the prayers come true. 

Keep on praying, but do your part too.

Lonnie Davis

Our Scripture for today is Proverbs 15:2.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

The discipline of practicing this passage will make you wise in the eyes of your peers. 

When you start getting along in years, you will find that others remember your stories differently than you do.  I recently shared the story of my disagreement with my friend and his answer to me was “Do you feel better now.”  

When he and I talked about it 55 years later, we both remembered it. He said I can’t believe I was wise enough to respond that way.”  He then said, I answered like that because I didn’t know what else to say.”  

He thought about how unusual it was for him to respond with such wisdom. What I found amazing was that he said this because he had nothing else to say. You see, too many times I have said something even even when I really didn’t really have something good to say. Ugh! I tried to clarify this statement, but I am sure you know what I mean.

There is great wisdom to be found in Proverbs 15:1

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

May God give us the wisdom to give a soft answer.

Lonnie Davis

I begin by saying that this story has a happy ending. First, let me share a great Bible verse on friends.

Proverbs 18:24

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

The other day I said some grouchy things to my best friend of nearly 60 years. He shot back at me and then I said, “I gotta go,” and we hung up.

It took me one minute to grieve it and then I texted him, “You are still my best friend.”

He immediately answered me, “It will take more than anything you can say to destroy my friendship with you so please overlook anything I might say that is out of line.”

I knew then that we would be okay. He is that friend “who sticks closer than a brother.”

Some people in your life are friends, and some are acquaintances. You can tell the difference because a friend can go through hard spots with you, or even because of you.

I remember a time some 40 years earlier when I told him some hard things. He listened as I criticized him and told him what he had to do. He listened and then said, “Davis, do you feel better now?”

That is a friend! There are three reasons I knew our friendship would survive this too.

1. He’s my best friend, and he sticks closer than a brother.

2. He’s a Christian, and that is what Christians must do.

3. He and I are too old to make new lifetime friends. 60 years is a long time!

If you have such a friend, reach out to him or her today. Don’t put it off. Be that friend who stick closer than a brother (or sister).

Lonnie Davis