Devotional

Are Your Teachable?

Am I teachable?  Admittedly, this is one of my personal weaknesses.  I use excuses like ‘I'm a perfectionist’, to justify why I know what is best and don't need advice.   But, the more I follow Jesus the more I realize I need to be teachable, or else face dire results.

In Isaiah 48:17, God tells us that He will teach us what is best for us.

Here are a few key ways God teaches us:

Through His Word - the Bible

One of my favorite verses on God’s Word is Psalm 119:105, which says “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Reflect on the two elements in this verse that provide visibility. The lamp is what you use to see right around you or what is in the present. The light, as I think of a flashlight, is what we use to see what is ahead or in front of us.  From this, we can rest in God’s Word being an aid for both our present and our future.

Through Holy Spirit

Jesus promised us in John 14:26: “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” This is such a powerful reminder for us as Christ followers. The Holy Spirit is our 24/7 Teacher.  We can ask Him to instruct us on anything we need to know in life.  We don't have to rely on the latest generative AI model to teach us.  Seek guidance from your personal divine Teacher.

Through Others

Ok, let's not be rushed to skip over this one.  Yes indeed God will often use Spirit led believers to speak words of wisdom into our lives.  Usually, it will be from those close to us, such as your spouse or a close friend.  There are also those that have the spiritual gift of teaching as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28.  The Holy Spirit enables those with the gift of teaching to provide tremendous insight and understanding into matters of faith and life.

When it comes to being taught by others, we need to exercise caution that we aren’t sitting around just waiting for a ‘word’ all the time.  We need to be grounded in God’s Word, the Bible, to validate human words we receive.

The Promise

Finally, I love how Isaiah 48:17 ends with God promising to “direct us in the way you should go”.  What an amazing assurance and reminder that we don't need to stumble through life guessing what we should do or where we should go.  

Ask God to help you learn to become teachable, as I am learning:-)

Health Nuggets

Important Nutrients For Fall

As the seasons change, so do our dietary needs in order to stay healthy. With fall's arrival, it's crucial to adjust our eating habits to fortify our body against the changing weather, seasonal colds/flu and allergies (see last Health Nugget for more on this topic).

Here are three important nutrients your body needs during fall season and the foods that can help you stay healthy.

Vitamin D

As the days grow shorter, sunlight, our primary source of Vitamin D, becomes less available. This nutrient is essential for our immune system and bone health.  Foods rich in Vitamin D include: salmon, cheese, egg yolks, milk, and cereal.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that boosts our immune system, helping us fight seasonal colds and flu.  Citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits have an abundance of Vitamin C. Other sources of Vitamin C include bell peppers, dark leafy greens and kiwi.

Iron

Iron helps to produce red blood cells and transports oxygen throughout the body, this is vital year round but especially as colder weather approaches.  Lean meats, seafood, beans and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach are excellent sources of iron.

As Christ followers, don’t forget to spend time with God each day and thank Him for the bountiful provisions He provides for the seasons of your life.

Note: Health Nuggets are opinions and not medical advice.

Financial Update

Trump Wins The Tug Of War Game With Powell?

^{A few issues ago, we spoke about the game of tug of war that was occurring between President Trump and the Federal Chairman Powell over the reduction of interest rates.} 

Ever since entering office, Trump has been calling for a lowering of rates and has openly shared his frustration against Powell, primarily for keeping borrowing costs “too high for too long.”

Trump’s criticisms—sometimes sharp, sometimes theatrical—have raised questions about the independence of the central bank, an institution long shielded from partisan politics.

Until recently, Powell appeared unmoved. The Fed’s benchmark rate has held steady at 4.25%–4.50% throughout 2025, even as global markets speculated on when the first cut might come. Powell consistently emphasized the risks of moving too quickly, warning that premature easing could reignite inflation and erode investor confidence. 

But the political noise around the Fed has been growing louder, especially as Trump has floated reshaping the Fed’s leadership and even openly speculated about legal challenges to sitting governors.

Now, Powell appears to be preparing for a shift. At the Jackson Hole symposium in late August, he acknowledged that the balance of risks is changing. Inflation, though still above the Fed’s long-term target, has moderated. At the same time, signs of labor market cooling—slower job creation and softening wage growth—are flashing yellow for policymakers. 

These developments, combined with the relentless pressure from the White House, suggest that Powell may finally be ready to authorize the Fed’s first rate cut under Trump’s presidency at the September meeting.

If that happens, the move would mark a significant turning point in the Trump–Powell standoff. On one hand, a rate cut could deliver immediate relief to households and businesses facing high borrowing costs. Mortgage rates, credit card APRs, and business loans could see some modest easing, potentially breathing life into consumer spending and investment. Financial markets, long primed for a dovish pivot, would likely rally on confirmation that the Fed is willing to bend.

Powell’s likely pivot is more than just a technical adjustment of the federal funds rate. It is a moment that reflects the fraught intersection of politics and monetary policy. Whether it restores economic momentum or undermines trust in the Fed’s autonomy will depend on how carefully Powell navigates the weeks ahead.

While writing this article, Ecclesiastes 3:1 stood out, specifically the word “time.”

Regardless of whether it’s dealing with economics, our business, or our personal life, there’s power in surrendering to certain things we cannot change and letting them unfold in God’s timing.

Sometimes the anticipation of “something that should happen” robs us of our daily joy and affects the ones we love the most.

Tech Update

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Panic Experience

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my deck and I heard a distinct beeping from inside my house. Thinking one of our many smoke/fire detectors had a low battery, I went around to investigate only to find a Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector was the culprit.   Then within minutes, the same sound started on the third level of the house.  At this point, I became convinced I had a CO breach in our house.  What are the chances that two alarms would go off simultaneously.  In a slight panic, I ran around the house opening windows, checking all gas appliances then eventually finding and shutting the main house gas valve off.  

After careful inspection of the alarms, I noticed they were both flashing ‘END’.  What a dire statement I thought, is this a warning my life is about to end!  I later learned the CO detectors had a 10 year lifespan that had ended.  What are the chances that both went ‘end of life’ minutes apart. False alarm on my part.  Needless to say, this prompted this article on this important topic to share.

What is CO

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless gas produced by the incomplete burning of fuel, like gas and propane, from internal combustion engines, like those in vehicles.  In addition, natural gas stoves, furnaces and hot water tanks in homes are another possible source of CO.  When released in homes, it can lead to CO poisoning, resulting in nausea, dizziness and even death.

What You Can Do 

Good news in terms of safety is that 27 states now have some form of requirement for CO monitors in dwellings, but not all of them are for single family homes.  Here is a good site to check your state specific requirements.

If you don’t have CO monitors in your home today, I highly recommend that you install monitors on multiple levels of your home.  Maintain and replace batteries as needed and do take note of their expiration dates to avoid my panic episode.

It’s also good to occasionally check to make sure gas appliances are operating well and repair/replace them if needed.  Also, never use generators indoors or run your car in the garage with the garage door closed, which can be a bad habit in the winter for those with automatic car starters.  Take caution also when using portable heaters, which have been noted to be a source of CO.

I hope this aids your awareness and hopefully prevents both false and real alarms related to CO.  Be comforted that our God watches over us day and night and is our 24x7 life monitor.

Trivia Corner

Test your wisdom and knowledge of the Bible.

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