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Find Your Treasure
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: Luke 12:16-21 (All Scripture is quoted from NIV) Scripture Quote: No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:24) We must be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Our lives are about so much more than self-gratification and an abundance of possessions. Our worldly comfort level should come in a poor last, below a list of other life goals and priorities. If knowing God is the treasure we seek in our hearts, than our desires will be placed on God's promises and a growing relationship with Him. An earthly minded person desires things that satisfy desires of the flesh and offers immediate gratification, but a heavenly minded person knows that the only truly lasting treasure is from God, our Father. The master of our heart may be fitly termed the love that reigns within it. Duality of passion is a rarity that confuses the heart. We are built to exist on one side or the other of a fence - Straddlers tend to self-destruct. As Christ followers, we are destined to place life with Jesus above any other inferior substitute. We are not foolish enough to fall for this world’s lure, when we know that in the end we are heaven bound. There is no possession that exists, no deep seated greed that must be satisfied, absolutely nothing that can replace the love and protection found in our perfect Savior. Today’s meditation: We are destined for eternity with Jesus! Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) Fill Your Heart With God
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-31 Scripture Quote: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20 (NIV) Our salvation, worship of God, study of His Word, and Christian fellowship, could engross our minds and hearts entirely – But, in reality we waste precious time on our own gratifications and our need to compete for first place. We harshly judge other's mistakes, yet we make so many of our own. We are just not thinking of our Lord when we are being competitive or unkind. Also, it’s total foolishness for Christians to spend energy on acquiring more toys that we know must eventually perish, yet we do. Seeking God's kingdom is so much more than following a particular formula or list of restrictive rules and it is literally intended to keep us busy about our Father's business. Hearts designed for God and eternity are those that stay fixed on another's needs above our own. There are sick friends to visit or take a meal, or lonely soldiers who could use an encouraging note, and there are always various chances to speak His truth to people who have never heard about Jesus. When we fill our thoughts with God and His purposes, He continues to show us all kinds of things we can do to use our time for His glory. Today’s meditation: Use your spare time to bless someone else. Memory Verse: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV) Feed Your Soul
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-13 Scripture Quote: Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV) None of us can sustain our soul independent of God who supplies truth suited to its growth and support. Spiritual things cannot support the body because they are not suited to the body's needs - Earthly things cannot support the soul for the same reason. Our soul was awakened to its need and began to hunger and thirst after holiness, which is its proper food. Our souls needed to be purified by God's Holy Spirit and made partakers of Christ, our living bread. Without Jesus, we would be separate from God and doomed to everlasting alienation. God never inspires a need without a design in place to supply the satisfaction of that need. Those who seek salvation, can depend on being satisfied in Jesus. Christians will gradually make an eternal progression into the fullness of God. Since God is infinite, so our discovery of God's character and attributes will be infinite. God will wipe away, in the most affectionate and fatherly way, all tears from our eyes. He will remove all cause of distress and grief. Seek God constantly and He will reward you beyond your grandest imagination. Today’s meditation: Find and follow God’s truth for your soul. Memory Verse: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Fear God and Love Him
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31 Scripture Quote: Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. Jeremiah 10:7 (NIV) Who can question the existence of the Creator and Giver of all that is good? Nonbelievers often think that the fear of God is what religion is all about, never seeing the generosity and tolerance of our Mighty God. There hasn't ever been a wise scholar, who has been schooled from others with great knowledge in science or theology, to surpass God. God is the creator of all truthful knowledge because it comes directly from HIMSELF! Sadly, many of these so-called scholars, in all their wisdom and research, have never been able to find the true and loving God. Their walls are scattered with degrees and titles, but their lives are superficial. Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. We are not scholars and probably would not even be called wise individuals, but Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. Today’s meditation: There is no God but You, Father. How great you are, Sovereign LORD! Memory Verse: No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV) Fear God and Love Him
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31 Scripture Quote: Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. Jeremiah 10:7 (NIV) Who can question the existence of the Creator and Giver of all that is good? Nonbelievers often think that the fear of God is what religion is all about, never seeing the generosity and tolerance of our Mighty God. There hasn't ever been a wise scholar, who has been schooled from others with great knowledge in science or theology, to surpass God. God is the creator of all truthful knowledge because it comes directly from HIMSELF! Sadly, many of these so-called scholars, in all their wisdom and research, have never been able to find the true and loving God. Their walls are scattered with degrees and titles, but their lives are superficial. Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. We are not scholars and probably would not even be called wise individuals, but Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. Today’s meditation: There is no God but You, Father. How great you are, Sovereign LORD! Memory Verse: No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV) Feed Your Soul
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-13 Scripture Quote: Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV) None of us can sustain our soul independent of God who supplies truth suited to its growth and support. Spiritual things cannot support the body because they are not suited to the body's needs - Earthly things cannot support the soul for the same reason. Our soul was awakened to its need and began to hunger and thirst after holiness, which is its proper food. Our souls needed to be purified by God's Holy Spirit and made partakers of Christ, our living bread. Without Jesus, we would be separate from God and doomed to everlasting alienation. God never inspires a need without a design in place to supply the satisfaction of that need. Those who seek salvation, can depend on being satisfied in Jesus. Christians will gradually make an eternal progression into the fullness of God. Since God is infinite, so our discovery of God's character and attributes will be infinite. God will wipe away, in the most affectionate and fatherly way, all tears from our eyes. He will remove all cause of distress and grief. Seek God constantly and He will reward you beyond your grandest imagination. Today’s meditation: Find and follow God’s truth for your soul. Memory Verse: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Fear God and Love Him
By Toni Smothers Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:19-31 Scripture Quote: Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you. Jeremiah 10:7 (NIV) Who can question the existence of the Creator and Giver of all that is good? Nonbelievers often think that the fear of God is what religion is all about, never seeing the generosity and tolerance of our Mighty God. There hasn't ever been a wise scholar, who has been schooled from others with great knowledge in science or theology, to surpass God. God is the creator of all truthful knowledge because it comes directly from HIMSELF! Sadly, many of these so-called scholars, in all their wisdom and research, have never been able to find the true and loving God. Their walls are scattered with degrees and titles, but their lives are superficial. Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. We are not scholars and probably would not even be called wise individuals, but Christians are so privileged to possess knowledge about the truths in God's Word, the invisible world of faith and the true end of each believer, which the Gospel teaches us. Today’s meditation: There is no God but You, Father. How great you are, Sovereign LORD! Memory Verse: No one is like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Jeremiah 10:6 (NIV) By Toni Smothers
Scripture Reading: Daniel 2:16-24 Scripture Quote: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand.” Daniel 3:17 (NIV) Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a disturbing dream that caused him to seek council. His magicians, sorcerers and the like, could not give the king adequate answers. This led the king to order the execution of all the wise men in Babylon. However, there were a few truly wise men, especially one named, Daniel, who were followers of God. God was merciful to Daniel and his friends who prayed with him by revealing the king's dream and it's interpretation. Daniel confessed to the king that he had no such wonderous powers by himself, but the highest praise was due his God for revealing these things to Daniel. So, as a result, the king spared the lives of Daniel and his praying friends. The king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. Further into the story we learn that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up an image of gold for all the people to fall down before and worship. Daniel’s three friends were not rebels, but they could only give their worship to their God. When faced with their disobedience, the king ordered them thrown into a blazing furnice. However, even the threat of death by fire did not move their steadfast faith in God. They were miraculously spared by God because of their faithfulness. Today’s meditation: God rewards faith that is resolute. Memory Verse: “Open the gates that the righteous nation may enter, the nation that keeps faith.” Isaiah 26:2 (NIV) |
Bio: Toni Smothers has written articles for “Total Health”, “Let’s Live”, “People In Action” and “The North American Mentor” magazines. She is a member of the Faithwriters.com writing community and was previously the editor for the teen section of their on-line magazine. She has written many programs, sermons, and skits and has edited several websites. Additionally, she has answered hundreds of questions for GotQuestions.org, a biblical resource site. Here is just one of their many testimonials: "Thank you for this insightful website! I was able to look up many questions I have asked over the years since becoming saved. The site is easy to navigate and gave me so much biblical background for answers that I feel my armor has been strengthened. You and your staff be encouraged to continue to speak the truth for God's glory." When Toni is not writing, she can usually be found cuddling with her 5 pound, furry, Chihuahua muse, “Princess Sweet Pea.” Toni Smothers studied homeopathy extensively and became a proficient layman. She wrote about homeopathy for “Total Health” and “Let’s Live” magazines. Smothers describes her experience befriending a refugee family from Laos in her article published in the travel magazine, “People in Action.” Additionally, “American Mentor” magazine has published some of her poetry. Smothers drew upon her fun experiences as a youth pastor to provide the needed insight to function as the editor of the teen section of “Faithwriters” magazine and she is a member of the Faithwriters.com writer’s community. Archives
August 2021
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