Jan 28 2026 … “CARE” Packages …

Jan 28 2026 … “CARE” Packages … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Matt Boswell and Matt Papa singing The Everlasting Love of God … showing Christians that they (we) are to share God’s love with others FOREVER.

Sharing God's love with loved ones ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Timothy 4:13 … [NKJV] …  

13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.

… Paul, in prison in Rome, writes to Timothy requesting that Timothy come to him and bring items he longed for and needed in ministry.

Highlight Passage in Context:  2Timothy 4:9-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul writes to Timothy, requesting certain items to quell his loneliness and help him in ministry.

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Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus commands His followers to show love to/for one another, showing that they (we) are truly His disciples.

Reference Passage: … John 15:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, after washing the feet of His disciples, commands that they (we) love one another as He had loved them (us).

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:10; 13:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to show God’s love to one another ALWAYS. 

Reference Passage: … !Corinthians 13:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches truth that fellow Christians must share God’s love with one another which is the greatest of God’s values of faith, hope, and love.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches that in anticipation of the end of the world, Christian disciples are to show and share love for one another.

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John also calls for Christians to share God’s love with one another … ALWAYS.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra …  USE THIS LINK   … learned of a group sending “CARE” packages with personal items to soldiers during WW2 to show that loved ones “back home” cared for the soldiers.   And it was much the same for the ODB author, sending packages to her kids in college to remind them of her love by sending personal items which her kids longed for deeply (see photo).

And the ODB author showed that the tradition of receiving items which reminded the recipient of loved ones is found in the Apostle Paul requesting that Timothy send certain items while Paul was imprisoned in Rome (see Highlight passage).  And further, we read in God’s word (see Scriptures shared above) that we Christians are to show our love with fellow Christians as often as we can.  And that will be my goal today.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for sharing Your love for me thru fellow Christians almost every day.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for extending Your love for us thru the love of fellow Christians.   … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Jan 27 2026 … Our Hope In Christ …

Jan 27 2026 … Our Hope In Christ … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Adrienne Liesching singing In Christ Alone … showing Christians that their (our) hope is ONLY FOUND in a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ.

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 31:24 … [NKJV] …  

24 So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! 

… God hears David's desperate prayer, offering him hope eternal.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 31:13-18, 23-24 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David puts all his hope in His Lord, even in the darkest times.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 39:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David declares, in song, of his only hope being in the Lord.

Reference Passage:… Isaiah 40:31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promise His strength in times of the weakness of His chosen ones.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises to give believers hope thru His strength. 

Reference Passage: … Micah 7:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Prophet Micah declares his hope and strength come from The Lord.

Reference Passage: … Romans 15:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul prays for fellow Christians that they be filled with the hope that only God can bring them (us).

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows that his (and our) contentment and hope only comes from his (and our) relationship with Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Leslie Koh …  USE THIS LINK   … related a story about a mother, named Kristin, who lost two children to unknown illnesses.   And some non-believing “friends” challenged Kristin’s faith in Christ, to which she responded, “I don’t understand why this is happening, … but I know God will help us through this. Only God can give me hope to keep going.”

Tho I’m not a betting man, … I would guess that most of my Christian readers, - if not all - would say that when we (and we will!) encounter inexplainable events in life, like the mother Kristin in the ODB story faced, your (our) only hope is really found in a deep and abiding faith in Christ. Personally, that’s what I’m holding onto these days as I face many things which “80+ers” face.  Yes, our only - eternal - hope is in Christ, … don’t you agree?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your hope AGAIN today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for providing all of us Your love and grace again today … and knowing that will be there tomorrow.   … Amen

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Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Jan 26 2026 … Mercy In Our Mess …

Jan 26 2026 … Mercy In Our Mess … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group Shane and Shane singing His Mercy Is More … showing Christians that God’s mercy is even greater than our sin.

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Highlight Passage: … Jonah 2:7 … [NKJV] … 

7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to You in Your holy Temple.

… God hears Jonah’s desperate prayer and provides His mercy to the reluctant Prophet.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Jonah 2:1-2, 7-10, 3:1-5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, after rejecting God’s commands, Jonah prayed to God and the Lord extended His merciful direction.

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 4:31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, promises His eternal love and mercy to His chosen people.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 86:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of God’s never failing love and mercy.

Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah declares truth that God’s mercies NEVER cease! 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 9:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus quotes from Hosea 6:6 that God desires mercy over sacrifice.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that God’s mercy and love extend even to sinners.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews shows that God offers His mercy to ANY who come boldly to God’s throne of grace (in prayer) to plead for His mercy.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Pimpo …  USE THIS LINK   … related a story about a 3 YO boy, Peter, who, in Sunday School, tried the patience of the ODB author, teaching the class, with his disobedience, … even receiving all kinds of bribes with favored toys and activities.  The ODB author realized how her love and grace had limits … unlike God’s mercies which ALWAYS extend to even the most resistant sinners. 

And the ODB author uses the saga of Jonah, who resisted God’s commands to go to Nineveh to bring God’s mercy and love to those sinful people.  But ultimately we know that God heard the pleading prayers of Jonah in the belly of a big fish and saved Jonah to do God’s merciful will.

Are there any selfish ways in our lives where God is calling us out to do His will and receive God’s love and grace?   Personally, I’m using God’s word to shine His light on my path (on your own - seek out Psalms 119:105) and see that God wishes us to follow the light of His truth to find His mercy and love.   Will you go with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for offering me Your eternal love and grace in spite of my reluctance.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, being so insistent with Your merciful love and grace, in spite of our reluctance to follow You.   … Amen

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Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Jan 25 2026 … More LIke Him …

Jan 25 2026 … More LIke Him … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group Passion, featuring Kristians Stanfill singing More Like Jesus … calling Christians to do all we can to live like Jesus.

"WWJD" bracelets in the 1990s ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 2John 3:2 … [NKJV] … 

2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.

… John assures fellow Christians that we will be like Him when we see Jesus in glory.

Highlight Passage in Context: 1John 3:1-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches truth that we, who know Christ as Lord, will be like Him when we see Him in glory.

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Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to becoming living sacrifices to The Lord, avoiding living like those in the world.

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 3:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that Christ is making them (us) over into His image.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 2:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul testifies to the change in him when he died to self to live for Christ. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also teaches that God is making Christians over into His image, living to be like Him.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that they (we) are being made over into the images of our Lord.

Reference Passage: … 1John 2:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle John calls on those who call themselves “Christian” to live as Jesus , The Christ, lived.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Elisa Morgan … USE THIS LINK   … tells of encountering a man in an airport carrying a book entitled, “Be Like Jesus,” who selfishly pushed others aside to get his luggage.   And it bothered the ODB author that one who seemed to advertise seeking to be like Jesus would be so UNChristlike in public 

And the ODB entry today reminded me of the trend in the 1990s for Christians to wear “WWJD” bracelets (see photo), trying to help them to be more “Christlike” as they (me too!) lived out in the public arena. And here I am, over two decades later, still doing my best to live like Jesus lived.   But as the scriptures shared above attest, …there will be a day, in Heaven, when I will be just like Him … FOREVER.   And it is that day I long for!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for Your promise of making me over into Your images.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, helping us with Your Spirit to become more like You.   … Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.