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Today’s Scripture is Psalms 100:3.

“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

Back in the 1800s, a man named Samuel was a rancher in Texas, but he had a peculiar way of doing things. While all the other ranchers carefully branded their cattle to show ownership, Samuel refused. Maybe he thought it was too much trouble, or maybe he just liked being different. Either way, it created some confusion. Eventually, whenever a cowboy found an unbranded cow wandering the prairie, they figured it must belong to Samuel Maverick.  

Before long, Samuel’s last name became more than just a name—it became a word. A “maverick” came to describe anyone who refused to follow the rules, someone who did things their own way.

Now, we might admire that independent streak, and even as Christians, some folks like to think of ourselves as “mavericks”—doing faith on our own terms, walking our own path, and expecting others to adjust. But here’s the thing: as believers, we don’t get to go through life unbranded. We belong to God.  

Following Christ isn’t about independence or doing things our own way—it’s about surrender. It means recognizing that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. It’s not about expecting others to adapt to us, but about aligning ourselves with Christ and letting His love shape how we live.  

The next time you feel the urge to go your own way and do things on your terms, remember: we’re already branded. We are His, and that makes all the difference.  

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

Our Scripture today is Jeremiah 31:3:  

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”  

Have you ever felt inferior? If so, this verse is for you.  

Let me start by mentioning Alfred Adler, a renowned psychologist and founder of a well-known branch of psychology. He had countless achievements, too many to list here. But what’s more interesting is something profound he once said: *”To be human means to feel inferior.”*  

If someone as accomplished as Adler admitted to feeling inferior, it’s no wonder that you and I might feel the same at times. There will always be people who seem smarter, wealthier, or better looking.  

But here’s the thing—so what?  

Two thousand years ago, The Son of God Himself carried a cross to a hill and chose to die there. He did it for you. He saw you as worth dying for. Who are you to argue with that?  

Whatever today brings, hold onto this truth: you are deeply loved by a God who has never stopped being faithful to you. Your humanity may make you feel small, but with God on your side, you are never insignificant.  

As He promised, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”  

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

Our verse today is Genesis 9:24-25:  

“When Noah awoke from his drunkenness and learned what his youngest son had done to him, he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan! A servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.’”  

Why did Noah call down a curse on Canaan? Here is the story.  

One of Noah’s sons, Ham, saw his father drunk and lying inside his tent. Instead of quietly helping, he went and told his brothers. In response, his brothers took a blanket, walked in backward, and covered their father so they wouldn’t see him naked. When Noah woke from his drunken state, he called down a curse on Canaan.  

Canaan was cursed because he was Ham’s son. It saddens me to hear people say, “It’s my life.” No, your actions affect others—often your children or loved ones suffer the consequences of shameful behavior. A drunkard father leaves a poor example for his children. Life already brings enough challenges without having to overcome a bad example.  

There is another lesson we can learn here. When Ham saw his father’s nakedness, he had the opportunity to cover him and stay silent. But instead, he exposed the situation by telling his brothers.  

This story teaches us how to respond when we see someone sin. If you can help, do so. But avoid spreading unnecessary information. If Ham had responded righteously, his brothers would never have known.  

So remember, do what you can—and don’t gossip about it.  

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

Our Scripture for today is 2 Kings 5:11:  

Naaman went away angry and said, “‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.’”

Naaman was a great general, wealthy, and admired. He had everything, but he also had leprosy—a disease with no cure and a painful death. Upon hearing about a prophet who might heal him, Naaman went to see him. However, when God’s servant told him what to do, “Naaman went away angry.”  

He needed God’s help, and God offered it, but Naaman stormed off because the help wasn’t what he expected. People still do that today!  

We ask God for help and then get upset when the help isn’t what we had in mind. Naaman was happy for God to handle his problem but had already decided how God should do it. He wanted a dramatic display—the waving of hands and calling on God’s name—not a simple act like dunking in the Jordan River. He thought he knew better than God how things should be done.

There’s a bit of Naaman in each of us. Sometimes we pray for God’s help, but then we tell Him what needs to be done and how to do it. Even when we don’t say it out loud, we have an idea in our minds of how He should act.

Real trust simply says, “Help,” and leaves the rest to God.

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

Today’s Scripture is Luke 12:19.  

“And I will say to myself, ‘You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and be merry.’”

In this verse, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who thought his wealth would secure his future. He believed that his full barns and stored-up goods meant he could relax and enjoy life without any worries. But the problem is, he was focused only on this life and forgot about eternity. He made the mistake of thinking that his possessions could bring lasting security.

This is a warning to all of us who might be tempted to live only for today and forget about what’s really important. As one writer said, “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”

What we do with our time, resources, and lives matters for eternity. Our lives are more than just the years we spend on earth. Let’s remember that there is more beyond this life and live in a way that reflects eternal values.

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

Our Scripture today is 1 Peter 4:8.

“Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

One of the curses of being the oldest child is having kids before your siblings and listening to them tell you how to raise your child. You hear famous words like, “When I have kids, they will not…” One of the joys of being the oldest child is watching your younger siblings have children and seeing those children do exactly what their parents said they would never do. It is easier to discipline and control other people’s children better than you can your own.

The story is told of one man who was called to bail his son out of jail. As he left for the jail, a nosey neighbor said, “If he were my kid, I’d leave him in jail.” The father answered, “If he were your kid, I’d leave him in jail too.”

To understand the principle behind this, one needs to read 1 Peter 4:8, “Love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” The reason my kid’s sins are not as bad as your kid’s sins is because I love my kids and “love covers a multitude of sins.” It is the way of love to look past faults and imperfections.

All relationships grow or die because of the truth in this verse. We love our kids, our spouse, our parents, or our friends so that we can “cover” their sins, that is, not stare at them too long. 

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

Our Scripture for today is Revelation 19: verses 6 and 7. 

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready.”

Can you imagine that incredible wedding? We, the Church, are the bride, and we spend our lives getting ready for that wedding. It will be the most glorious celebration ever, beyond anything we can dream of. And that’s saying a lot because humans have quite the imagination!

Think about some of the most extravagant weddings in history. The royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981 was iconic and lavish. In today’s money, it would have cost about $110 million. The Mittal-Bhatia wedding in 2004 cost $60 million, and in 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton had a wedding priced at $34 million. These are extravagant, but imagine the wedding described in Revelation 19 – the marriage of the Lamb and His bride.

Those were surely amazing, but we all have a grand wedding to look forward to, the one God prepares for us. When the end comes, and this old world fades away, “the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready!” That bride is you and me!

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

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 25:39-40.

“When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

In this passage, Jesus teaches us the value of even the smallest acts of kindness. He tells us that when we care for others, especially those in need, it is as if we are caring for Him. Often, we think that serving God means doing something big or heroic, but Jesus reminds us that our everyday acts of compassion matter immensely in God’s eyes. Whether giving something to eat, something to drink, something to wear, or visiting someone who is sick—these actions are meaningful to God.

As one poet said, “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.” This is the heart of what Jesus is saying here. It’s not about waiting for the perfect chance to do something grand; it’s about recognizing the value in the small, simple acts we can do every day.

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

Today’s Scripture is Matthew 25:27. 

“Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest.”

Does God care whether we turn dimes into dollars or dollars into dimes? Absolutely. Today’s verse makes that very clear.

As God’s children, we have a responsibility to take the blessings He has given us and help them grow. When God gives you a dime, nurture it until it becomes a dollar. When He gives you people, cultivate those relationships. When He gives you time, turn it into something meaningful.

In this passage, Jesus speaks about “talents,” and for years, I mistakenly read this as a reference to special abilities. But a “talent” was a unit of currency—a measure of wealth. Jesus is speaking directly about those blessed with resources. His message is that we must use and multiply the gifts God entrusts to us.

The important point isn’t the exact return, but our willingness to use what we have. The parable isn’t about burying our resources in fear or complacency but about stepping out in faith to foster growth, however that looks. God isn’t demanding financial multiplication—He’s asking for active stewardship.

In other words, use what God has given you today to make tomorrow better.

I love this quote: “What God has given you is His gift to you. What you do with it is your gift to God.”

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

Today’s Scripture is James 3:13.  

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

Wisdom is not just about knowing things. True wisdom is shown through actions. It’s easy to say we are wise, but what really matters is whether we do what a wise person would do. Are our actions showing the wisdom we claim to have? James tells us that wisdom is seen in our good conduct and humility. The way we treat others, the decisions we make, and the way we handle challenges all reflect whether we are truly wise.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” This reminds us that actions speak louder than words. We can talk about wisdom all day, but if our actions don’t line up with our words, people will notice. It’s not enough to claim wisdom; we must live it out every day.

In a world full of words, let your actions speak for you. Show the wisdom God has given you through humility and good deeds. Let your life be a testimony to the wisdom that comes from Him.

___  

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