Month: November 2024

Counsel on Love

John 13:35  

“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

You might think people can tell you follow Jesus by the cross around your neck, your church attendance, or the good works you do. That’s not what Jesus said. He declared that the defining mark of His disciples would be the love they show to one another.

But what does it mean to love? 

The greatest act of love was when Jesus gave His life for us. 
The greatest definition of love is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Here’s what it says:

Love is patient and kind. It does not envy or boast. It is humble, not proud. Love is not rude, self-seeking, or easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love forgives. It does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails.

This list might feel overwhelming to remember, but here’s the key principle: love is not just a feeling; it’s how you treat someone. True love shows itself through action. When you love someone, you treat them with patience, kindness, and all the qualities this passage describes.

In short: love isn’t about words—it’s about walking the talk. Without action, it’s not truly love.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Joshua 1:7.

“Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.”

Joshua is reminded to follow God’s instructions wholeheartedly. This passage speaks to a deeper truth—life has many rules. The most miserable people are usually those who resist the boundaries that give life order and meaning.

Once, I spoke with someone whose life was spiraling out of control. To help her see clearly, I asked, “Have you seen a car on a hot Texas day with the windows down?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Why are the windows down?”

“The air conditioning is broken.”

“Why don’t they fix it?”

“They don’t have the money.”

“Why don’t they have the money?”

If the answer is always “bad luck,”  then we see see as selves as victims.  If we always see ourselves as victims, we remain powerless. The real answer is that life runs on rules. If you don’t plan ahead, you will face the consequences. This example is not about money—it’s about learning and respecting life’s principles.

If you are wise, you will remember the rules of life, write them down, and live by them. Success and failure depend on learning and following the rules.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Our Scripture for today is Luke 6:23:

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”

Notice that Jesus does not say to “be happy.” That is because there is a difference between happiness and joy.

Many people say, especially in times of struggle, “God wants me to be happy.” But the Bible never says that. God does want us to have joy, but joy is much deeper than happiness.

Happiness is often the good feeling that comes when life goes our way—when we get a promotion, have a wonderful meal, or spend time with friends. But happiness is fleeting. It shifts with our circumstances, coming and going like the weather.

Joy, on the other hand, is something deeper, something internal that stays with us regardless of what happens. Joy is rooted in faith, and the assurance that God is with us. It’s an enduring sense of peace that remains even in the toughest moments of life.

Think of happiness as a burst of sunshine—it’s light and warm, but temporary. Joy, however, is like an inner fire that keeps burning, giving warmth and light, even on the darkest days.

You may not always feel “happy,” especially during hard days. But through faith, gratitude, and the assurance of God’s promises, joy remains, sustaining you when happiness fades. 

Happiness comes and goes. Joy remains with you during life’s storms, even while happiness fades with each drop of rain.

I’m Lonnie Davis and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Let’s Talk About Gratitude

For today’s reflection, let’s focus on Ephesians 5:20.

“Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Did Paul really mean everything? What if I lose my job? What if my spouse doesn’t appreciate me? What if my health fails? How can we possibly give thanks in those situations?

The reality is that we can always find a “what if” that makes gratitude seem impossible. But true thankfulness goes beyond our circumstances, whether they are good or bad. Gratitude is not about how life is going; it’s about knowing that God is ultimately in control.

When Paul wrote today’s verse, he was in prison, waiting to defend himself before Nero—a man known for his cruelty. Nero was ruthless, even killing his own mother, his first wife, and his second wife. One historian put it starkly: “It is better to be Nero’s dog than his relative.” Despite all this, Paul still found a way to be thankful.

So, how can Paul—and how can we—have gratitude in all circumstances?

It comes down to what we choose to focus on. When we focus on what we have, rather than what we lack, our perspective changes. One writer said, “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.”

Even during difficult times, there are blessings to count. Gratitude is what turns complaints about thorny rose bushes into the joy of discovering roses among the thorns.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

In today’s lesson we will look at a Bible verse that gives us great insight on sadness and depression.

That verse is Philippians 4:8.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

The feelings of sadness and depression come from what we think about. If you think of sad things and dwell on negative events in life, you will become sad. If you are sad long enough, you may become depressed.

Philippians 4:8 offers a powerful reminder of the importance of our thoughts. Our thoughts shape how we see the world, respond to challenges, and even how we feel about ourselves and others. 

It is a clear call to take control of our thoughts and intentionally dwell on what is good, noble, and worthy of praise.

It’s easy to fall into negative thought patterns. The stresses of work, strained relationships, or unexpected setbacks can send our minds spiraling into worry and despair. But when we allow negativity to control our thoughts, we risk falling into a cycle of discouragement and even depression. Paul is urging us to break that cycle by choosing to focus on the positive—the truth, purity, beauty, and goodness that exist all around us.

This isn’t simply about ignoring difficulties or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about choosing to see the blessings amid the struggles and recognizing the good that God places in our lives. By making a conscious effort to dwell on the good, we protect our minds from the darkness that unchecked thoughts can bring.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Our text for today is Exodus 3:4:

When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

You may recognize this as the moment Moses encountered the burning bush. He drew near, and God called out to him. Moses responded simply, “Here I am.”

In my years of counseling, I’ve come to realize that this is the kind of moment most people long for. When life becomes overwhelming and we don’t know what to do, we often wish for a burning bush—a clear sign, a direct conversation with God to tell us what steps to take.

Though God may not speak to us through a literal burning bush today, He does still speak. He speaks through His Word, the Bible.

If you haven’t spent time as a counselor, you might think that every life problem is unique. The truth is, most struggles are not. Just as a successful person learns from those who have succeeded before them, those facing challenges often follow similar patterns of others who have struggled before.

Through our own “burning bush”—the Bible—God provides us with wisdom and guidance for what to do. In the coming days, I will discuss specific issues that many of us struggle with, and I will share verses from the Bible that offer insight and comfort for each one.

We will explore topics like love, loneliness, self-esteem, and more. Tomorrow, we will begin with the subject of depression, focusing on a powerful verse that brings comfort in tough times.

I’m Lonnie Davis. I look forward to continuing this journey with you tomorrow.

Mark 3:5

“Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ So he stretched it out, and it was restored.”

This verse might seem an unusual choice for an essay on anger. However, this is the only instance in Scripture where Jesus is described as being angry. Many would point to the story in Matthew 21, where Jesus drove the moneylenders out of the temple. Yet, nowhere in that passage does it say He was angry. In fact, the Bible emphasizes that He paused, made a whip of cords, and then drove the moneylenders out. Jesus was deliberate and purposeful in His actions. He did what was necessary to cleanse the temple. Think of it like driving a stray dog out of your yard—it doesn’t mean you’re angry, just determined.

Mark 3 this is the only time the Bible explicitly links Jesus with anger. Even here, He doesn’t “lose it” or lash out. Instead, He collects Himself and proceeds to do what must be done. His anger is directed at the hardness of the people’s hearts, but He channels it calmly and purposefully.

Anger itself is not a sin. In Ephesians 4:26, we are told, “Be angry, and do not sin.” The sin lies not in the feeling of anger but in how we respond to it. Jesus gives us the example: when anger arises, remain calm and choose to do what is right.

That’s what the Bible teaches about anger. It’s not about losing control or a whip of cords. It’s about handling our emotions in a righteous way.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 7:3.

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?”

It’s easy for us to see what is wrong with others. We notice their mistakes, their bad habits, and their flaws. But we often overlook our own faults. Why? Because we judge others by what they do, but we judge ourselves by what we mean to do. 

This is what Stephen Covey meant when he wrote, “We judge ourselves by our intentions and others by their actions.” This creates a blind spot in our understanding. We think we are better because we know our hearts, while we only see the outside of others.

This verse reminds us to take a closer look at ourselves before we criticize someone else. We should deal with our own shortcomings first. Only then can we help others in a loving way. Jesus knew how harmful it could be when we ignore our own faults but quickly point out someone else’s fault. It’s a form of hypocrisy that hurts relationships and keeps us from growing spiritually.

Instead of focusing on the flaws of others, let’s look inward, correct our own mistakes, and then we will be ready to help others.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.

Our text for today is Matthew 6:33.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.”

If you listen to some preachers, it may seem like all you have to do to get more money is send them a contribution, which they often refer to as a “seed.” Interestingly, when it’s time to plant this so-called seed, they always seem to provide you with their own address.

That said, the Bible does provide us with wisdom about how to handle money. Scholars estimate that there are over 2,000 verses about earthly possessions and wealth. Recently, we have explored a few of these biblical principles. For your review, here are the passages and the principles we studied:

Number 1 – Grow Your Wealth Little by Little  
“Go to the ant… consider its ways and be wise.” (Proverbs 6:6)

Number 2 – Be Generous  
“A generous soul will prosper…” (Proverbs 11:24)

Number 3 – Live Within a Budget  
“Sit down and estimate the cost…” (Luke 14:28)

Number 4 – Diversify  
“Divide your portion among seven…” (Ecclesiastes 11:2)

Number 5 – Work Hard  
“Six days you shall labor…” (Exodus 20:8-10)

Number 6 – Borrowing is Slavery  
“The borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)

Number 7 – Save Money  
“A foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20)

Number 8 – Leave an Inheritance  

“A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children.” (Proverbs 13:22)

Number 9 – Include God  
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

Live by these principles, and your finances will improve. Even in financial matters, Your Father knows best.

I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.

Money Rule 9.

Always Include God

Psalm 24:1.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

It is not possible to have a complete understanding of Christian finances without remembering to include God. In today’s verse we see that everything we have belongs to God. We are not owners but stewards. 

Jesus illustrated this truth in Luke 12 and the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns for his wealth, only to lose it all in a moment. God calls him a fool, saying, “This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” 

The message is clear: earthly possessions are fleeting, and clinging to them is ultimately futile.

We are called to recognize that everything we have is on loan from God, and we should use it for His glory. Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us, “But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” When we remember this, our approach to finances shifts from ownership to stewardship, and from giving to gratitude. 

I leave you with the quote from Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

I’m Lonnie Davis, and this is a thought worth thinking.