JUST DROP THE MATTER                                  Monday - April 20, 2026

“Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” – Proverbs 17:14

In their book “Winsome Conviction” authors Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer write: “What is the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ today? There are so many threats to choose from. Some Christians would identify hazards like postmodern relativism working to unravel notions of truth and the rise of the LGBTQ agenda, intending to turn traditional sexual norms on their head. For others, the great threats to the church look different.

Other Christians feel our most existential threat is the inability to achieve racial justice, or our refusal to confront sexual predators within the clergy, or sexism within our culture. At a global level, relentless persecution and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism threaten the lives of individual Christians and the very existence of the church. But without denying the significance of any of these threats, we believe the greatest threat to the church today is the same as it has been in every generation since the New Testament was written: quarreling. Persecution strengthens the church. Intellectual and cultural challenges deepen our faith and stimulate our theological thinking. Ethical commitments that conflict with the culture make us stand out as salt and light—or at times may provoke us to purify our own lives to become better salt and light.

Quarreling, on the other hand, is insidiously dangerous because it kills from within. The existential threat of quarreling leaps from the text of almost every New Testament epistle. Whether the letter is long or short (1 Corinthians or Philemon), quarreling is addressed.

Whether the church is doing well or doing poorly (Philippians or Galatians), quarreling is addressed. Whether the tenor of the epistle is doctrinal (Romans) or personal (2 Timothy), quarreling is addressed. Clearly, the New Testament views this type of discord as a life-threatening virus, a metastasizing cancer set on destroying its host.”

The best way to get over a quarrel is to never start one. Today in prayer, confess any sins of anger to Jesus. Ask Him to give you the wisdom when to drop a matter before it becomes a quarrel. 

“You should either avoid quarrels altogether or else put an end to them as quickly as possible; otherwise, anger may grow into hatred, making a plank out of a splinter, and turn the soul into a murderer.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” – Proverbs 20:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” – Proverbs 16:3

Bradley Long wrote: “An instructor for the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course shared with a class the major hang-up he had to get over before asking his wife to marry him. She had always felt a call to be a missionary. She had been clear with him since they’d begun dating that her passion for mission had not changed. So, he had reached a real sticking point – did he love her enough to uproot his life and move halfway across the world?

He was a believer and was an active member of his church. As he considered and prayed about this dilemma he had a realization. He put it this way, “I had made Jesus my Savior, but I had not yet made him my Lord.”

They did get married and went on to serve as missionaries in a Middle Eastern country for many years.

Following Jesus is more than just intellectual agreement with certain propositions about God. It is a commitment to let your life be defined by the Lord, King Jesus.”

The Lord asks us to commit to the Lord whatever we do. Today in prayer, commit all that you do to the Lord and seek to faithfully seek Him.

"Give me 100 men who hate nothing but sin and love God with all their hearts and I will shake the world for Christ!" - John Wesley

God’s Word: “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” – Psalm 37:5-6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.” – Proverbs 15:18

In his devotional “My Utmost for His Highest” author Oswald Chambers writes the following: “Patience is more than endurance. A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says--'I cannot stand anymore.' God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God's hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”

One of the toughest lessons in life is learning to be patient. Today in prayer, confess any sin of impatience to the Lord and seek to be a patient person.

“There are three indispensable requirements for a missionary: 1. Patience 2. Patience 3. Patience.” - Hudson Taylor

God’s Word: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” – Psalm 27:14

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” – Proverbs 13:4

In his book “Just Do Something” Kevin DeYoung wrote: “Don’t over-spiritualize. You can serve the Lord in a thousand different jobs. We need missionaries and we need pastors. But we also need entrepreneurs who create jobs so people can make money so they can support missionaries and pastors. And we need entrepreneurs because work is good. Please don’t ever think you are a second-class citizen in the kingdom of God if you aren’t in full-time ministry. You can honor the Lord as a teacher, mother, doctor, lawyer, loan officer, or social worker; you can work in retail, fast food, politics, or big business; you can be a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker. You can be just about anything you want as long as you aren’t lazy (Proverb 6:6–11; 26:13–16), and whatever you do you perform to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).”

The Lord does have a plan for our lives. We need to discover that plan to diligently at it. Today in prayer, confess any sin of laziness and seek to be a diligent worker.

“Laziness grows on people; it begins in cobwebs and ends in iron chains.” – Thomas Buxton

God’s Word: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” – Proverbs 6:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” – Proverbs 12:22

Arnold “Red” Auerbach was one of the winningest coaches in NBA history. He won 9 championships as coach of the Boston Celtics and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1965 and NBA Executive Coach of the Year in 1980. One night while on the road with the Celtics, Auerbach ran into 3 of his players, each traveling with a beautiful woman in tow.

This was against team rules, and so one of the players, trying to get out of trouble, introduced one of the women as his “cousin.” Not wanting to cause a stir, Auerbach nodded without raising a fuss. But then the player decided to double-down on his deceit saying, “We were just on our way to church.” Sharing the story on a later occasion, Auerbach commented, “I couldn’t take that. I fined him twenty-five dollars for insulting my intelligence.”

Lies are in direct conflict with the Truth. Today in prayer, confess any lies to the Lord and seek to be a person of integrity who walks in the truth.

“White lies are non-existent, for a lie is wholly a lie; falsehood is the personification of evil; Satan has two names; he is called Satan, and he is called the Father of Lies.” – Victor Hugo

“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” – Proverbs 6:16-19

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3

In his book “Hope in the Dark” Craig Groeschel wrote: “I spent a considerable amount of time with a guy I’ll call Martin. As a brand-new follower of Christ, Martin felt guilty for having previously embezzled a lot of money from his employer. After discussing the situation with trusted advisors, Martin decided that the right thing to do was to confess his crime and hope for the best. Unfortunately, the outcome fell closer to the worst. Martin’s company pressed charges.

Even though he admitted to the crime and agreed to repay the money, Martin was sentenced to seven years in prison. Seven years. For confessing and doing what was right. Some people might have gotten mad at God. But Martin told me he’d never been closer to God than when he was in prison. During that time, his spiritual roots grew deep. And his spiritual fruit multiplied. Every time I received a letter from Martin during his prison stay, it was always signed, “His grace is enough, Martin.””

Guard your good name and maintain integrity in all that you do. As a Christian, you carry Christ’s name with you and often your conduct is your witness. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for His Holiness and integrity and seek to follow Him in all that you do.

“There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity.” – Tom Peters

God’s Word: “Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.” – Proverbs 13:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS. †

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” – Proverbs 10:12

Dave Peterson writes: “ Once, while on vacation, on our way to church, Terri and I got into a disagreement over something. When I felt I was losing, to make my point, I stopped the car and got out. We were on a country road. It was drizzling. Unfortunately, I had no idea what I was going to do next. She and our kids looked at me wondering, "What's he doing out there?" Lacking an alternative, I got back in. We put the kids in the nursery and sat down in the sanctuary. The pastor began to read, 'Our text this morning is from 1 Corinthains 13, "Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful or arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in the wrong but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."' And just then, I felt Terri's hand reach over and lay itself gently on my hand. In that moment, whatever had been wrong between us was healed. Her willingness to die to herself, breathed new life into our marriage. This is one of the Bible's most powerful and profound truths--"Love does not insist on its own way."”

In all that we do, we need to love others. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He loves you. Show your appreciation by loving others for Jesus.

“He alone loves the Creator perfectly who manifests a pure love for his neighbor.” – Bede

God’s Word: “He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” – Proverbs 9:8

Leo Tolstoy was a Russian writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors of all time. His War and Peace (1869), Anna Karenina (1878), and Resurrection (1899), which is based on his "youthful sins," are often cited as pinnacles of realist fiction and three of the greatest novels ever written.

 Leo Tolstoy famously renounced his inherited wealth and chose to live as an ascetic and hermit in his later years. One of his disciples, a writer named Chertkov, was a wealthy aristocrat. At one point, Tolstoy learned that Chertkov had traveled first class on a recent journey. He rebuked him, urging him to travel second class like ordinary people. On his next trip, the obedient Chertkov complied—by hiring an entire second-class coach for himself.

A gentle, loving rebuke can shake us to great things. Today in prayer, ask the Lord to give you a ready ear and heart and to apply any rebuke to become more like Jesus Christ.

"Often times God asks us to take risks in order to be obedient to Him. This is especially true when He speaks to us about our need to confront others when they are unmistakably caught in the cycle of unrepentant sin." - Ritch Grimes

God’s Word: “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” – Titus 2:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

 “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” – Proverbs 8:13

In his book “Family Discipleship that Works” author Brian Dembowczyk wrote: “One of the cardinal rules of improvisational theater is that actors must never steal scenes. In her book Improvisation for the Theater, Viola Spolin bluntly puts it this way: “Any player who ‘steals’ a scene is a thief.” On the stage, not stealing scenes is necessary to keep the performance going.

In God’s drama, the same rule applies for a different reason. When we try to steal a scene—when we fail to live in humility—we are stealing the attention Jesus deserves as the star. When all eyes should be on Jesus, we get determined to change that. We want those eyes to be on us, so we try to steal the scene from him. It’s the fruit of sinful pride, plain and simple.”

The sin of arrogance is odious to both God and other people. Today in prayer, confess to the Lord any pride or arrogance in your life. Seek to walk humbly with Jesus in all that you do. 

“The source of sin is pride.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” – Proverbs 11:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.” – Proverbs 5:3-4

In his book “Life for Leaders” Mark D. Roberts wrote: “Some years ago I had a pastoral relationship with a couple of people who were deeply in love with each other. They believed that God wanted them to get married so they could consummate their love. There was a problem with this plan, however, since they were each married to someone else. Their relationship was an adulterous one, something clearly forbidden in Scripture.

Yet, they were truly convinced that God was bringing them together, so they acted on this conviction. Later, after they were married, they confided in me that the pain they had brought upon themselves and their loved ones was so great that, knowing what they knew then, they would not have pursued the course they chose.

Had they taken seriously God’s prohibition of adultery in the first place, they might have spared themselves and their loved ones much hurt. Of course, God’s grace is wide and God’s redemptive ability is immense. Yet, it is wrong to disregard God’s prohibitions of sin because God’s grace is abundant (Romans 6:1-2). If we wish to live our lives as worship to God, and if we desire to live abundantly, then we will receive God’s prohibitions as gracious guidance that point us toward the positives of kingdom living.”

Adultery hurts those involved and those who love them. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and flee from any temptation of adultery.

“Do not commit adultery. Adultery destroys a marriage and is a sin against God and against your mate.” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” – 1 Corinthians 6:18

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

“Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.” – John 20:8

In his book “God’s Homecoming”, N.T. Wright wrote: “Most people today imagine that the point of Christianity is “to go to heaven when you die.” That’s what most believers believe. It’s what most unbelievers unbelieve. It’s certainly what journalists, broadcasters, and popular commentators think Christianity is supposed to be all about. They are all wrong. The point of Christianity is not that we should go to heaven. The point of Christianity is that heaven should come to us. “To earth,” in Jesus’s words. 

The story the early Christians told was not about how humans (or their souls) could, as it were, go upstairs into the presence of God. It was about how God had come downstairs to live with them—and would one day complete that operation, eventually suffusing all creation with his glorious presence. 

Thus, though people sometimes speak of those who have died as having “gone home” to be with God, from the early Christian point of view that is the wrong way around. The great hope is God’s own homecoming. That project, long promised in Israel’s scriptures, was launched with Jesus and with the holy spirit. Grasping this enables us to glimpse the true Christian hope and allow it to shape our mission and life. In much contemporary Christianity, this story has been all but forgotten. It is time to refresh our memories.”

The resurrection of Jesus is the center of our faith. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that after His death on the cross, He arose.

“The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.” – Carl Knudsen

God’s Word: “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”” – John 20:25

Devotion for Easter

Devotional Email

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” – Proverbs 3:9-10

In his book “Money, Possessions, and Eternity”, Randy Alcorn wrote: “The word stewardship has recently fallen on hard times. To many it’s no longer relevant to the day in which we live. To some it’s a religious cliché used to make fund-raising sound spiritual. It conjures up images of large red thermometers on church platforms, measuring how far we are from paying off the mortgage.

Because of these bland associations, I was tempted not to use the word in this book. But it’s such a good word, both biblically and historically, that it deserves resuscitation rather than burial. “A steward is someone entrusted with another’s wealth or property and charged with the responsibility of managing it in the owner’s best interest.” A steward is entrusted with sufficient resources and the authority to carry out his designated responsibilities.”

The Lord asks us to be a good steward of the money and goods He has entrusted to you. Today in prayer, thank the Lord for all that He has given you and seek to bless others with what you have been given.

“Feel for others - in your pocket.” - Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.” – Malachi 3:8

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS. †

“For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6

Andy Cook writes: “A life-threatening crisis came to my home when I was only 25. My wife suffered a near-fatal stroke and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors scrambled to keep her alive. Within hours, we were making decisions that face families countless times, every day. Our options included surgery, medical treatment and prayer. To make matters worse, two doctors adamantly called for two radically different courses of action. One proposed immediate surgery, while the other warned that immediate surgery would be the worst of all options.

Both said my wife might die if their course of advice wasn’t taken. A third doctor solved our dilemma by arranging a course of treatment acceptable to both of our first two doctors, and within a few months, that course of action proved to be the right one. Looking back on that time, the comparison is almost too much to comprehend. On Wednesday, my most difficult decision was what to choose for lunch. On Thursday, I needed to make a life-saving decision for my wife! Needless to say, crisis intensified our search for wisdom.”

We find wisdom when we seek the Lord. And seeking the Lord begins with searching His Word. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He gives wisdom in the Bible and seek Him with all of your heart.

“The wiser man shapes into God’s plan as water shapes into a vessel.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox

God’s Word: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †

"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them." - Proverbs 1:10

In his excellent book, An Unhurried Life, Alan Fadling describes one of our greatest temptations in the modern age—hurry:

“Hurry is a great temptation. Hurry looks like impulsive, knee-jerk reactions: “I’ll act now because I may never have another chance!” The temptation to hurry is fueled by the lie that the only good to be had must be grabbed now or never.

Jesus’ encounter with the devil in the wilderness right after his baptism at the Jordan illustrates the hurried nature of temptation and a holy response to it. Jesus is a master of the unhurried response to tempting suggestions.”

Everyday and in many ways we are tempted to sin. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that in Him we can overcome temptation to sin.

"Few speed records are broken when people run from temptation." - E.C. McKenzie

God's Word: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." - Matthew 6:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2026, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PROVERBS †