Friday, June 10, 2016

I Corinthians 11:3 - "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ..." Submission to one's head is not just an issue for wives. Husbands have to do it, too. We have Christ as our authority, and our obedience to Him should be an example of the cheerful submission we desire from our wives. I gladly obey Him because I know He loves me. - Daniel Holser 

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Ephesians 5:25 & Colossians 3:19 - "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it"; "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." When on earth, how much did Christ focus on how his followers were tending to His needs? My point exactly. As husbands, our concern is how are we loving our wives. Many a man is bitter against his wife. Why? Because he thinks on what she isn't doing for him, when he should be focusing on his role, his part to play in God's living picture of Christ's love for the church. - Daniel Holser

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Joshua 7:25b-26a:  "And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire ... So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger." Achan's sin resulted in his death and the death of his children. From Genesis to Revelation, we see God's paradigm of sin and punishment. Cain, David, Eli & his sons, Ananias & Sapphira; example after example. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten," Jesus warns. All this is written so that we will not sin because we fear God. It's terrible that so often Christians gloss over this truth, even to the point of redefining words (we've all heard or read that "fear" of God just means "respect"). When I consider how God punishes and scourges his disobedient children, I don't merely respect or reverence Him. I am afraid of the pain of punishment; in other words, I fear Him. So should you. - Daniel Holser

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

In Mark 16:6, an angel tells the women, "Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth..." I stopped there and thought, "I do, too." It is Jesus that I have sought all my life.  He is the One that I have needed. Let's not waste any more time looking for life and love in something or someone else, but turn our hearts to Him. Jesus, lover of my soul. - Daniel Holser

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Ephesians 5:11 - "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." This verse comes to mind when I consider watching TV or movies, or listening to secular music. These are unfruitful works of people lost in darkness. We shouldn't fellowship with worldly entertainment, but frankly condemn it. - Daniel Holser

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Jeremiah 31:3b - "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Years ago, a buddy of mine was struggling in his marriage.  He couldn't compel his wife to be and do what he wanted through the force of his strong personality.  Frustrated, he asked me what I thought he should do.  I passed along to him a very important insight from this verse:  Christ draws us to Him, compels his bride, not by force but with lovingkindness. - Daniel Holser

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Philippians 2:4 - "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." This is the Bible's antidote to depression. If I focus on my own hurts and woes, I'll easily slip into spiritual lethargy and self-pity. But if I shift my thoughts to care for others, I'll find myself energized and excited about how God is using me in the lives of others. - Daniel Holser

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

John 16:20 - "...ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." In this passage, Christ tells his friends that they will be heartbroken, but the Spirit will comfort them. As men, we balk at expressing sorrow. Typically, we display anger when really we are hurting and sad. But, Jesus wept, right? He cried so for Lazarus's death that those who were there exclaimed, "Behold how he loved him!" When sorrow comes, we should allow ourselves to experience it, express it, and then welcome the Spirit to comfort us. - Daniel Holser

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Isaiah 51:3 ends with "...joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody." Joy. Gladness. Thankfulness. So happy that you're singing. Is that you? Me? Too often I am grouchy, annoyed, bothered by the nuisances and inconveniences of life. Not good. Correct my focus, Lord Jesus, so I am exhibiting the joy and gladness that your great love gives me! - Daniel Holser

Friday, January 15, 2016

John 10:27 - "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them . . ." Think on that. Jesus knows you. The real you, all that you are. And, he loves you. It doesn't get better than that. - Daniel Holser

Monday, December 21, 2015

Psalm 31:6a - "I have hated them that regard lying vanities."  If we listed the titles in our movie collections or went through our internet history together, would we find evidence that we hate the world's lying vanities, or rather that we relish them? -Daniel Holser

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Philippians 2:3 - "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves." The Bible also tells us that "only by pride cometh contention." We need to check our hearts for pride and take upon ourselves, as Christ did, the form of a servant. - Daniel Holser

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

1 Corinthians 10:13 - "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man..."  Hebrews 4:15, "...but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."  One of the devil's attacks is to accuse you for being tempted. Remember, all temptations are shared by your fellows, and what's more, were presented to Christ during His life on earth. Just as He said no to every temptation, there is no wicked thought or deed that we can't refuse. - Daniel Holser

Thursday, November 12, 2015

2 Samuel 7:14a - "I will be his father, and he shall be my son." Psalm 27:10 - "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." The failures of earthly fathers can be healed, and all our needs for fathering met by our true Father, God. His love and strength can altogether fill that void. It's an amazing offer to the deepest needs of our hearts. - Daniel Holser

Friday, October 30, 2015

Eph. 6:12 - "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  This is a familiar verse, but a truth we often forget. - Daniel Holser

Saturday, October 17, 2015

 Philippians 4:19 - "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." I don't find this so much to be about money but rather about the rich amount of glory that Jesus offers. We need glory, and salvation brings us into a union with His greatness that meets that need. - Daniel Holser

Saturday, October 10, 2015

John 7:37 tells us, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink."  The world offers many things to satisfy our thirst for love, purpose, and passion.  But all of it is like saltwater; it only makes the thirst worse.  We must take our desire for life to Him.  He is the only One, the living water from which we can drink and be filled. - Daniel Holser

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God..." I wake up many mornings with a load of bricks hitting my chest - a dozen things to get done, worries at work, cares of this life. What to do? STOP, force youself to stop, be still, think only on Him and His attributes. He is the all-powerful Creator of the universe; He loves me deeply; He is in control. Then, peace and confidence chase away anxious thoughts. - Daniel Holser

Saturday, September 19, 2015

James 5:16a - "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed..." Secret sins will destroy our effectiveness as Christian men. If you're struggling, don't be too proud to confide in a brother and ask for prayer.  - Daniel Holser

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Proverbs 29:25 - "The fear of man bringeth a snare..." Fear keeps us from risking the vulnerability that comes with love. The result: shallow, unfulfilling relationships. Want to be fearless? Try looking your wife in the eyes and, with no distractions around, ask "How can I do a better job showing you that I love you?" That's bravery! - Daniel Holser