A & M Lazer Gifts.

08/06/2026

Good morning brother,

‭‭Read—Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/rut.1.6-22.NIV

Focal verse: “But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“”You Are A Declaration Of God’s Kingdom—

It was one of the darkest moments in Israel's history. Still in the wilderness, surrounded by God's miraculous provision in the form of manna and water-giving rocks, men gave in to their lusts and were seduced by Moabite women. They then worshiped false gods and allowed their urges to bring them to the depths of debauchery (see Num. 25:1-3
https://bible.com/bible/111/num.25.1-3.NIV).
God's plan was to make a people unlike all the other nations — a people who would worship Him and follow His good ways. But before God could even give them the Promised Land, the people of Israel turned their backs on Him. Israel continued on, an imperfect people stumbling after a perfect God.

Years later, a family from Israel moved to Moab to escape a famine. While there, the two sons of the family married Moabite women. It would appear that history was going to repeat itself. Instead, these two young men died, and so did their father.
A widow named Naomi was left with her two daughters-in-law, and so she decided to return to Israel. But when she set her daughters-in-law free to return home and find new husbands, one of them — Ruth - surprised her. In a reversal of what happened in the wilderness, Ruth had been "seduced" by the goodness of Naomi and her God, and she chose to switch all of her allegiances to Naomi, her people, and the Lord. She walked out of the darkness and into the light. It seems that Naomi and her family had shown Ruth what God is like, and Ruth wanted more. You and I have the same opportunities as we go about our everyday lives. We can show people a glimpse of the kingdom with every interaction, drawing them closer to Jesus. Like Naomi, we can be walking, talking billboards for the kingdom of light if only we will see the opportunities God has given us.

Lord, thank You for placing me where You have. Give me opportunities to share Your goodness with the people around me.””

—Stand Firm, Thursday, August 6.

Sent with the love of Jesus!

08/05/2026

Good morning brother,

“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us — to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“”God’s Power Never Fails—

With the flip of a switch our power was gone. We had just returned home from worship and Bible study on a Sunday afternoon, and my wife and I were talking in our kitchen. I was in the process of heating a cup of coffee in the microwave when suddenly I heard a "pop" and the oven's heating cycle stopped. I quickly checked and saw that the microwave's lights and clock were dark. Have you ever had the experience of taking power for granted and then realizing the disappointment of finding it was gone? It can certainly initiate feelings of loss or even helplessness.

Facing challenges — whether with work, school, family, loved ones, neighbors, or any number of the difficulties we encounter-and learning to rely on the power of God to help us with them is an important part of the Christian life. How can we learn to draw on the never-ceasing power of God? Prayer is one of the greatest gifts God has given to us so that we may call on Him to strengthen us with His power. In today's chapter in the book of Ephesians, the Bible offers us a prayer for spiritual power. Yes, there will be times in our lives when we feel unprepared — even powerless. However, in every situation we can rely on the power of God, "who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us" (Eph. 3:20). Prayer is a key to connect us to the power of God. The apostle Paul wrote to encourage all believers that they were reconciled to God by the blood of Christ, and through Him had access to the Father by one Spirit. As the familiar hymn so beautifully reminds us, the precious blood of the Lamb."

Lord, please bless me through Your power and Spirit to be strengthened by prayer.

—Stand Firm, Wednesday, August 5.

Sent with the love of Jesus!

08/04/2026

Good morning brother,

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! The Lord my Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“”Rejoice Even When Life Hurts—

A few years ago, everything in my life seemed to unravel at once. A major work project collapsed, a close family member was in poor health, and unexpected expenses hit all at once. I remember sitting at our kitchen table, eyes glazed over, staring at numbers on a notepad that didn't add up. Joy was the last thing on my mind. I didn't feel like singing; I felt like quitting. Then I came across Habakkuk 3. The prophet listed one devastation after another: no figs, no grapes, no sheep, no cattle. In an agrarian society, that meant disaster —the loss of income, security, and hope. But at the end of listing all that ruin, Habakkuk wrote something radical: the words of today's focal verse. (“yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭18) That word — yet-was a turning point. It's the difference between despair and trust. Habakkuk wasn't rejoicing because things were going well. He was rejoicing because he trusted that God was still worthy, still faithful, and still present.

As men, we typically feel the pressure to fix everything and to hold it all together in the life of our family. Then, when life spins out of control, we question our purpose and sometimes even God's presence. But faith is not pretending everything is fine. It's choosing to rejoice anyway, even in the middle of the mess, because God hasn't changed. That's not denial — that's worship! Rejoicing when life hurts doesn't mean we ignore the pain. It means we anchor our joy in something much deeper than our circumstances. Even if the breakthrough doesn't come and even if the harvest doesn't arrive, we can still declare: "The Lord my Lord is my strength." That kind of worship changes us from the inside out.

God, when my life feels barren and broken, help me to still rejoice in You because of the goodness You never stop showing me.””

—Stand Firm, Tuesday, August 4.

Sent with the life changing love of Jesus!

08/02/2026

Good Sunday morning brother,

“At Rephidim, the Amalekite, came and fought against Israel. Moses said to Joshua, “Select some men for us and go fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with God’s staff in my hand.” Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ‭

Focal verse:
“When Moses’s hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“”Small Acts Make A Big Difference—

As I reconnected with a former co-worker, she recounted the time I loaned her my car for the weekend so she could travel out of town. My response: "I did what?" My wife remembered the occasion, but I did not. This was not a sign of dementia, but it was something easy for me to forget because loaning a car that would've sat in the driveway all weekend was not a big deal. I've been on the other side of this too. In the past, l've thanked individuals who stepped in with an act of kindness or a word of encouragement. When I thanked them, they practically blew it off. But they didn't realize what they had done by their simple act of kindness.

The Israelites had hardly left their slave quarters in Egypt when they were attacked.
The Amalekite army attacked a nation that knew a lot about masonny and building projects, but nothing about warfare. However, the Isralites were God's people, and all they needed was some encouragement — a reminder that God was with them. So Moses stood where the whole army could see him and raised his staff in the air. The staff Moses held had been repeatedly used as God's tool to remind the Israelites of His presence and power. Moses held up the staff to show the people his confidence was in God, but Moses was just a man and his arms got tired. That's when Aaron and Hur stepped up. They did nothing more than hold up Moses's hands. With Moses sitting on rock, it was not a difficult task for Aaron and Hur to support his arms, but what a difference it made! Their support was invaluable. As followers of Christ, we are to support one another. For example, we can help hold up the arms of our pastors and others who lead us week in and week out. Be an Aaron and a Hur to someone. Find a way to come alongside them and simply hold up their arms. You will make a far bigger difference than you think.

God, show me how I can serve You today by serving someone else.””

—Stand Firm, Sunday, August 2.

Sent with the love of Jesus!

08/01/2026

Good morning brother,

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?”
‭‭Job‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭
“As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“”What We Sow Will Show—

The weather can be unpredictable, but one thing is for sure — summers can be hot. When landscaping our backyard a few years back, we meticulously planned what types of plants we thought would sustain the heat and the locations in which they would thrive. After a series of poor choices in plant placement, digging, and replanting, we learned that a plant's life depends on the decisions we make.

Eliphaz spoke to Job and emphasized that when evil is planted, trouble and punishment are harvested. There is a direct link between sin and punishment, and as the saying goes, we "reap what we sow! When we make poor decisions or act upon impulses, seeds are planted that will eventually grow, leading to further destruction. We may not see it im-mediately, but the impact of our actions might be lasting.

The beautiful news that comes with sin and destruction is that our Savior who forgives us will help us dig up our poor choice, and plant a beautiful one in its place. Just as our garden is now thriving from better decisions and daily care, we can do the same with our walk with God, asking for His guidance. Similar to gardening, the decisions we make when we sow will be evident in the plant that shows.

Father, help me to be mindful of the decisions I make. Forgive me for my poor choices and guide my steps.””

—Open Windows, Saturday, August 1.

Sent with the forgiving love of Jesus!

07/31/2026

Good morning brother,

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.””
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭8‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“”Retirement Is A Challenge In Usefulness—

Before I retired, I noticed two general responses of men who had retired. Many grew older more quickly, feling that they had already spent their lives away. But a few jumped even more deeply into the Lord's work. I could see I had the choice before me to go either way. In today's verses, God tells Moses how to deal with priests over the age of 50, the mandatory retirement age for Levites. At first glance it seems that their useful lives in temple work were over. But that was not the case. We may also be tempted to think this passage only applied to Old Testament priests, but there is a New Testament application as well. Peter tells the church that we are "a royal priesthood"
(“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Pet. 2:9). We are to function like Old Testament priests by presenting God to the people and representing the people to God. While today's focal verse may sound as though retired priests had to keep their hands off, other translations give us more insight. One translation says, "They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard" (ESV).

There are lots of ways we retired men can practice these words today:
• Make room for younger men to step up in God's service. We can assist, but they can learn to serve.
• Help our pastors and other ministerial leaders by guarding their time.
• Facilitate a group of younger men, but allow the men to take turns leading.
• Inquire about your church's security team to help keep people safe.
• Start praying for your church in more specific ways. Don't just say a blanket prayer of "God bless our church."
• Be an encourager at your church; build up people.
• Make visits to prospects, church visitors, and those confined to their homes.

God, help me guard and assist my church in every way I can.

—Stand Firm, Friday, July 31.

Sent with the ultimate love of Christ Jesus!

07/30/2026

Good morning brother,

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“”Spiritual Maturity Is Standing Firm In
God’s Will—

I have a friend who recently chose to transition jobs to take care of his teenage son whose severe autism required one parent to be with him constantly. Since his career was one that kept him on the road, he had to find something that would allow him to stay close to home. The Lord gave him an idea to create a business that would meet their needs, but it would take a significant amount of up-front money.

At the same time, I had just sold a truck to provide funds for a project on a piece of property I had purchased. As I sat before the Lord, aware of my friend's need, I wondered if the Spirit would have me donate the truck earnings to his business. As prayed and read Scripture that morning, God made it crystal clear that it was His will. But I struggled with the decision. If I gave the funds away, what would I use for my project? After a few moments of spiritual wrestling, I committed to obey. it was a joy to help my friend, but the unexpected joy came when God showed up in my finances. He more than replaced the funds I had given, and through the experience caused me to have a deeper assurance that He could reveal His will to me.

Today, I am standing more firmly in God's will. That is what Paul defined as maturity in today's passage. Paul shared that Epaphras continually prayed that the Colossians would increase in maturity by discovering a strong assurance that they could know and obey the will of God. Earlier, in chapter 1, Paul shared that he also prayed for the church at Colossae the same way. The example of Paul and Epaphras is one that we as men can follow today. We need to pray for our brothers to become mature by gaining assurance of God's will as they obey what is revealed and, as a result, experience His activity in their lives.

Lord, strengthen me — and my brothers — as we seek to know and obey Your will.””

—Stand Firm, Thursday, July 30.

Sent with the love of Jesus!

07/29/2026

Good morning brother,

“But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. Likewise urge the young men to be sensible;”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭

Focal verses:
In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB

“”Worth Following—

Paul stressed the importance of sound doctrine. Titus was to approach different demographic groups in the church related to the content of his teaching: older men, older wom-en, younger women, and younger men. Then Paul outlined the subjects to cover with each group.

Instructions included being clear-headed, leading a life worthy of respect, finishing well by being faithful, and demonstrating personal and spiritual maturity. Avoid the temptation to sit around and enjoy too much wine (which can lead to gossiping). Instead, cultivate virtue in preparation for modeling family love and self-discipline.

Titus was challenged to set an example through a life of integrity. Doing so would disarm his enemies. Of course, it's impossible to lead in a direction that one is not heading.

Is your example worth following? Think about the spiritual influence you are having or could have. The world has never needed it more.

Father, thank You for those who have served as spiritual examples in my life. May I do the same for others.””

—Open Windows, Wednesday, July 29.

Sent with the sound love of Jesus!

07/28/2026

Good morning brother,

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“”Walking With Christ—

The pathway of faith has divine purpose, and we're to obey the Lord, no matter what. But even when God's direction is perplexing, we can count on the fact that He is good.

Walking obediently with Jesus Christ doesn't guarantee an easy life, which is obvious when we consider the apostle John.
In his later years, he was exiled to the island of Patmos—a Roman penal colony—sim-ply for preaching the gospel (“I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬).
Isolated from the churches he loved and served, John could have questioned God's plan. But it was during this exile that he received the revelation that became the
final book of the New Testament.

Remember, though, that God is sovereign and works through every circumstance we face. He can bring strength and growth even from difficult seasons, using for His larger purposes whatever things we endure.

Choosing obedience and trust is the only way to true peace. Even in exile, John experienced God's presence and purpose in ways that would encourage believers for centuries to come. The Lord never lets go of His children, whom He will continue to protect and guide throughout life. This is the pathway of faith: believing in Almighty God and following wherever He leads.””

Father, thank You for always being there for me in times of hardship and times of joy.

—In Touch, Tuesday, July 28.

Sent with the unchanging love of Jesus!

07/28/2026