Sunday, October 29, 2017

October 29, 2017 … NO MATTER WHAT!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 302 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video from three friends, Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and BeBe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ … triumphantly singing of the faith commitment to follow Christ … NO MATTER WHAT!!!


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Highlight Verse[s]: Deuteronomy 1:21 [NLT] … 21 Look! He [our God] has placed the land in front of you. Go and occupy it as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you. Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged!’ 
… God’s promise is enough for us to move ahead in faith, … fearing nothing.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Deuteronomy 1:21-33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… Moses tells God’s chosen that they should have no fear as they go into the promised land because of God’s covenant with His people.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 
 … God’s way is fashioned by the trust we have in Him to lead us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
… No fear … just faith!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Hebrews 13:8 [NLT] … 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 
… Our Lord never changes. So, he can be trusted the same as Moses trusted Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, told of a very personal story to illustrate how our trust in built in God as we abide more intimately in him. The ODB author wrote: Before my husband and I surrendered our lives to Christ, we seriously considered divorce. But after committing to love and obey God, we recommitted to each other. We sought wise counsel and invited the Holy Spirit to transform us individually and as a couple. Our heavenly Father continues to help us develop healthy communication skills. He’s teaching us how to love and trust Him—and one another—no matter what happens. 
Yet, even as we head toward celebrating our twenty-fifth anniversary, I occasionally forget everything God has done in and through our trials. Sometimes, I struggle with a deep-seated fear of the unknown—experiencing unnecessary anxiety instead of relying on God’s track record. 

That story by the ODB author reminded me that just a couple of years ago my wife and I celebrated our 50th anniversary by recommitting our marriage to God in a renewal of our vows (SEE PHOTO - yeah, that’s us!). And like the ODB author, we had a time in our 13th year of marriage when it could’ve been “splitsville.” But God led us to Himself; and we grew into a strong faith and abiding relationship with Christ. And He healed our marriage and even led me from a health-car career into the ministry.

And that’s the kind of strength which comes from a Prov. 3:5-6 trust in God, … and a Phil. 4:6-7 faith in a God Who never changes (see Heb. 13:8). Yes, our God is the same God who delivered His people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea. He’s the same God who led God’s people into the Promised Land (see highlight passage). And, … He’s the same God Who sent His Son to save us from our sins.

So, … we can trust our Lord to heal marriages, to lead us thru the dark places in life, and to bring us home to join Him in heaven. The question is: Do we trust Him today and tomorrow to do just that?!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I’m Yours, Lord!! … Amen

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.

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