I served as pastor of Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana for almost 30 years before taking a medical leave from the pastorate in February 2013 due to dysautonomia (POTS) and moving to Norman, Oklahoma. Blessed with renewed health, I was called as Senior Pastor of Pleasant Ridge Baptist in Morganton, NC in February 2015.
In this blog I share daily devotions from my own personal Bible readings, as well as sermons, book reviews, illustrations -- and occasional humorous "peeks" at life inside this pastor's home!
Tag Archives: daily devotions
“Every Day With Jesus” in 2018 (Ezra 7:10 sermon)
A few weeks ago they came out with an interesting list of the books that people lie about reading, in order appear well-read: among them are George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, (42%), Tolstoy’s War and Peace (31%), James Joyce’s Ulysses (25%) … Continue reading
Posted in Discipleship, Sermons
Tagged application, Bible, Bible Reading, Bible study, commitment, commitments, daily devotions, discipleship, Ezra 7:10, family Bible reading, Hudson Taylor, MasterLife, New Year commitment, quiet time, read through the Bible, scripture, social media, study, teach
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Perfected In The Flesh?
“Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3) Writing to the legalistic Galatians, Paul was reminding them that they were not saved by works of “the flesh” — good … Continue reading
“The Discipline of the Word” (I Peter 2:1-3 sermon)
(Preached 4-26-15, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, Morganton, NC) For years before his death in 2013, Pat Summerall broadcast NFL games and other sporting events on television. Many of you would recognize his voice to this day. Some of you also … Continue reading
Are You Willing To Watch & Wait?
Proverbs 8:34 promises a great blessing, but it is also very specific regarding the conditions for that blessing: “Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.” God promises blessing for the … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged blessing, conditional promise, daily devotions, promise, Proverb 8:34, seeking God, wisdom
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Seeking God: A Different Direction
II Samuel 5:23 says: “When David inquired of the Lord, He said, ‘You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.” This is in the context of war. :22 … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged daily devotions, God's will, II Samuel 5:23, seeking God
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You Yourself Have Taught Me
In :102 of Psalm 119, the writer recalls: “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, for You Yourself have taught me.” We observe in this verse the intimate connection between God and His word. To the Psalmist, “Your ordinances” … Continue reading
Posted in Devotions/Bible Studies
Tagged Bible, daily devotions, daily walk with God, privilege, Psalm 119:102, quiet time, teaching
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Your First Word of the Day
I suppose a Monday morning “start of the week” blog is as good a time as any to publish some thoughts I have harbored for some time. Several years ago I began writing daily devotionals at shawnethomas.com, in the hopes … Continue reading →