Oct 31, 2020 … Triumph Out of Tragedy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 305 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Laura Story singing her song … Blessings … poignantly singing of how God’s blessings are often camouflaged by the trials or tragedies of life.  

==============

Highlight Passage:  Job 1:20-21  [ESV] ... 

20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 

…   Job declares His faith in His Lord as Job grieves his losses. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Job 1:18-22 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Job holds on to his faith in God in the midst of dire tragedy. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 28:20b [ESV] … 

20b …  And behold, I am with you ALWAYS, to the end of the age.” 

…  Jesus’ promise to all of us, as His disciples.  

Reference Passage: …  John 14:1 [ESV] … 

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;; … believe also in Me. 

…  Jesus’ difficult challenge to His disciples in the midst of their confusion as He was declaring He was about to die.

Reference Passage: …  John 16:33 [ESV] … 

33 I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  

…  Jesus’ uplifting promise in the midst of His disciples’ confusion and doubt.

Reference Passage: …  Romans 8:28 [ESV] … 

28 And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

…  God’s truth from Paul is very hard to hold to when we’re faced with trials or tragedies. 

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [ESV] …  

13 No TEMPTATION has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  

…  Remembering that the Greek word “temptation” in this passage can also be translated “trial, trouble, tragedy, or tribulation,” indicating that God will ALWAYS be there in the midst of our challenges to give us what it takes to endure those circumstances

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK relates a story of a young couple who lost their newly restored home in a tornado tragedy (see photo); … yet, they were able to hold on to their faith that God was going to bring something good from the brokenness.  

And that story of young Christian disciples searching for God’s triumph in the midst of tragedy certainly calls up Job’s faith (see highlight passage) in the midst of his tragic loss, doesn’t it?  And in the midst of all the 2020 trials we’re going thru in the world this year, Jesus’ promises to His disciples just after He had told them in the upper room that He was headed to the cross, came to my mind (see passages from John above); … along with the truths espoused by Paul to fellow Christians in 1Cor. 10:13 and Rom. 8:28. 

The challenge is what Laura Story sings in the linked song … that God’s blessings are often found in the midst of the tears we shed from tragedies or trials, … challenging us to have the faith to endure the trials of life and to retain our belief that our Lord will NEVER leave us or forsake us [see Matt. 28:20] as we face the tragedies of life.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for reminding me this morning from Your truth that You’re here with us in 2020 giving us the strength of Your grace to lift us up.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to be lifted up by God’s promises in these trials we face now, believing the truth that You will give us the grace, King Jesus, to move on in life for Your glory.  … 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.

Oct 30, 2020 … Mentored to Mentor Others

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 304 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Mandisa singing … Overcomer … powerfully singing of the encouragement that stronger Christians should be speaking into the lives of lesser-mature, weaker Christians, … being strong mentors for them to follow.  

==============

Highlight Passage:  Titus 1:4  [ESV] ... 

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: …  

…   Paul considered himself to be the mentor and disciple leader of Titus.  

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Titus 1:4, 2:1-8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians on how to become discipling mentors of lessor mature Christians. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 145:4 [ESV] … 

4  One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.

…  God charges each generation of Christians to teach the next generation about God’s mighty works. 

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 27:17 [ESV] … 

<i>  17  Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.</i> 

…  Solomon shows the value of each believer working together with fellow believers to become stronger in the Lord.

<b><u>Reference Passage</u>: …  1 Corinthians 11:1 [ESV] … </b>

1  Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.   

…  Paul confidently was willing to lead [i.e., mentor] other Christians because he knew he (Paul) was following Christ. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 5:1-5 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter instructs the more mature Christians (i.e., Elders/Overseers) to be examples to the lesser mature believers and for the younger ones to humbly follow their Elders.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK uses a story of a new supervisor who showed his new employees the value of being a caring leader, willing to listen and mentor his new mentees.   

Dr. Howard Hendricks, the former Chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, touted the value of mentor by teaching, … ”Every disciple … needs a ‘Paul’ who can mentor him and challenge him … And he needs a ‘Timothy’ … someone that he can pour his life into.” And of course Hendricks was applying this to ALL disciples of Christ, … female as well as male. 

And Hendricks, as well as the Scriptures above, are challenging us, as Christians, to have had, or currently have, a mentor to follow to become closer to Christ; … and also whether we have others in our lives whom we can help (or “mentor”) into a more abiding relationship with our Lord. … I pray we do because it’s SO, SO important to our growth in Christ and becoming “iron sharpening iron” Christians.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for having a strong brother in Christ to lead me and help me learn to mentor others to a closer relationship with You.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to do all we can to be led my stronger Christians and to become stronger leaders of other Christians.  … 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.

Oct 29, 2020 … Gifted for Glory

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 303 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     …   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … I Lift My Hands … the video poignantly showing how we, as Christians, must pursue using our Spirit-imparted gifts for God’s glory. 

What Spiritual gifts can we use for God's glory today? 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Romans 12:6a [ESV] ... 

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: …  

…   We are exhorted by God’s word to use our Spiritual gifts for God’s glory to help others. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Romans 12:3-8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to use our Spirit-given gifts for God’s glory. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Luke 10:25-37 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus used the parable of the “good” Samaritan to illustrate how on with the gift of mercy must reach out and use that gift to help others for God’s glory. 

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 12:1-11 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Paul, reveals how many varied gifts in the body of Christ can - and must - be used to build up the Body. 

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 4:7-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s Spirit imparts differing gifts to each and every Christian to equip the Saints to use them for God’s glory in His kingdom. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK uses a story of a retired truck driver with God’s gift of mercy who used that gift regularly and effectively to help others in his church who needed the help he could provide.  

And this ODB entry and the linked song raise the obvious questions … 

1. What Spirit-imparted gifts do we have in the Body of Christ? 
2. Are we using our gifts effectively to serve God and His kingdom?   

 And I pray that we all know (or learn) what primary Spiritual gifts we have [see photo]; … and that we look to become one like the “Good Samaritan,” as Jesus told about [see Luke 10:25-37], to illustrate being one who would reach out to help others by using what God has given us to serve Him and His kingdom. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for the gifts of encouragement and teaching that You have given me to serve You today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to use Your Spirit-given gifts for Your glory. … 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.

Oct 28, 2020 … Godly Choices

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 302 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians can rely on the strength of our Lord to do mighty things for God in the face of our human weakness. 

King David honors his 3 mighty men ... 

 

==============

Highlight Passage:  2Samuel 23:16 [ESV] ... 

16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord. 

…   David honored his men for honoring God with their choice to risk their lives for their King. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Samuel 23:13-17 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… David honors his three mighty men for their God-honoring deeds to risk their lives for their King. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] … 

10 …fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

…  When we set aside our fears to honor God with our choices, He will give us His strength when we feel too weak to serve our Lord. 

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 12:9-10 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Paul, shows us that King Jesus will give us the empowering grace to serve the Lord when we feel too weak to give of our selves. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 5:6-10 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Peter, honors those who honor God by our willingness to humble ourselves and serve Him by risking our lives for the Lord.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK uses a cute story to illustrate how we sometimes make choices which try to hijack the honor and glory received by others for their deeds rather than be willing to overcome our fears and risk serving our God. 

And then the ODB author shows, in the highlight passage, how King David honored his mighty warriors (see photo) of whom three had risked their lives to bring water to their King.  And we should realize that our God will always honor those who are willing to risk our very lives for our King’s glory.

The question becomes … are we willing to set aside our fears and weaknesses and use God’s strength, as Steven Curtis Chapman sings, to serve and honor our King Jesus with our choices and service?  … I pray we make choices today which honor our King.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for honoring all warriors who serve you today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to make choices which bring honor and glory to You, … our glorious King.  … 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.

Oct 27, 2020 … Light from the Son

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 301 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from David Crowder, along with Tauren Wells, singing … All My Hope … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, put all our hope in Him, … no matter what we face. 

Spring flowers bring hope ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Micah 7:7 [ESV] ... 

 7  But as for me, I will look to the Lord I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

…   Even tho the Prophet saw despair all around, he chose to hope in his relationship with God. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Micah 7:1-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Micah chooses to hope in his God in the face of dire circumstances of disobedience and sin all around him. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Psalm 39:6-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Even tho others around him look to the world for their hope, King David CHOSE to hop in his God. 

Reference Passage: …  Habakkuk 3:17-18 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Another Prophet, discouraged by sin all around, who held on to his trust in God and ultimately chose joy rather than despair.

Reference Passage: …  Romans 5:3-5 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul had learned, and exhorted others, to even rejoice in sufferings because God’s love had been poured into his heart to produce joy and hope.  

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 5:6-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter, the one who had denied Jesus thrice, had come, after the resurrection, to encourage fellow oppressed Christians to put their hope in a God who ALWAYS truly loved them and would give them (us) His enabling grace. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK writes of finding joy from suffering thru her seasonal affective disorder in the long, dark winter. … But when the spring flowers burst thru (see photo) the ODB author was uplifted with hope that the sun and warmth were on the way.  

And similarly, in these dark and dreary - viral - days with so much social darkness all around, it’s pretty easy to feel like the Prophets Micah and Habakkuk did when they saw sin abounding and hopelessness prevailing all around them.  But both of these prophets, along with King David in the OT, and the Apostles Paul and Peter in the NT, had many reasons to be down-and-out with discouragement and despair.  But as one reads in the Scriptures above, they all chose to trust in their God and find joy and hope in the midst of life’s dreary circumstances.

So, … we may see a lot of reasons to be discouraged today; but let’s all make the decision to do what Crowder and Wells sing about in the linked song and put all our hope in King Jesus.  Because the “Son” ALWAYS rises in the morning to give us hope out of the darkness of the night.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being The Son Who ALWAYS give us Your light to rise above the darkness our our discouragement. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to choose the hope that the light of the Son gives us to overcome the darkness of our times.   … 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.

Oct 26, 2020 … Even Now Praising God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 300 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     …   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Gateway Worship singing … New Doxology … powerfully singing of how we must praise God no matter what our circumstances.

Easy to praise God here ... but what about now?!! 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 148:13 [ESV] ... 

13  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.

…   God is worthy of our praise … 

=============  

<b><u>Highlight Passage [Context] </u>: …  Psalm 148 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … </b>

… The Psalmist praises the Name of the Lord … 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Psalm 150:1-6 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  (v 6) … “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” 

Reference Passage: …   John 16:33 [ESV] … 

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

…  Jesus, on His way to the cross, told His Disciples that no matter what they [we] encounter in the world, … He (Jesus) had overcome the world; … which is way worthy of our praise!! 

Reference Passage: …  Hebrews 13:8, 15 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Because Jesus is unchangeable, He is worthy of our praise … ALWAYS.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK relates a story of a couple encountering a vendor on a quiet beach who led the couple to share in prayer and praise God out there on the beach together.  

And I don’t know about you, … fellow Christian …, but my wife and I find it very easy to praise God when we’re sharing a sunset together on almost any beach [see photo].  But in these viral days where so much fear and terror engulf the world, it is much more difficult to feel and express our praises to God.  

But that’s why Jesus died for us, isn’t it?  It’s why God, the Father and His Spirit raised our Lord from the grave!  … And it’s why Jesus dispatched His Spirit to remind all Christians that our Lord is worthy of praise … ALWAYS … (see Scriptures above).  

So, in these serious times, … even as I write this …, I imagine I’m out on one of those beaches with my wife, as in the photo, praising my Lord Who has overcome the world. 

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for defeating death and the world so that we, who love You, can praise You ALWAYS.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to share a robust “HALLELUJAH”, in praising our Lord in the midst of all these fearful times.  … 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.

Oct 25, 2020 … Fear or Faith?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 299 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     …   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing … Fear Is A Liar … powerfully singing of how we need not fear life’s trials because fear is always a liar. 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Jeremiah 17:8 [ESV] ... 

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 

…   We need not fear the circumstances of life because of God’s promise to never forsake us. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Joshua 1:1-9 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise to Joshua applies to us as well when we believe them to overcome our fears. 

==============    

Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] …  

10  … fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;  I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

…  God, thru charges us to set aside our fears because He will give us the strength to be overcomers. 

Reference Passage: …   Matthew 28:20b [ESV] … 

20 … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

…  Jesus promises that He will never leave us, no matter what!!! 

Reference Passage: …  2 Timothy 1:7 [ESV] …  

7 … for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  

…  Any feelings of fear Never come from God! 

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God promises to give us His peace to guard our hearts against fear.  

Reference Passage</u>: …  1 Peter 5:7 [ESV] …  

7 … casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 

…  Any feelings of fear Never come from God!

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, AT THIS LINK  writes of a young boy who had a fear of the dark at night, whose father helped him believe in God’s promise never to always be with the boy by putting a verse from Joshua 1:5 by the boy’s bedside.  

It’s all too easy to let our feelings of fear hold us captive, especially in these trying times, isn’t it?  Can I get a witness?  

Today’s ODB entry takes our fears on today as the liars they are.  Joshua was fearful when he was charged to take God’s people into the Promised Land; but God promised him never to leave him (see highlight passage). …  God promised His people, thru Isaiah (see Isaiah 41:10), to give us His strength when we’re feeling fearful or weak. … Jesus promised His disciples (that’s us!) that He would never forsake us (see Matt. 28:20b).  … Paul told Timothy (in 2Tim 1:7) that a spirit of fear never comes from God.  … And Peter charged fellow Christians (in 1Peter 5:7) to take our fears to a God Who truly cares for us. 

The question for anyone reading here is … do we believe God’s word from all these God-inspired sources, … or not?  Because if we do, we can take Paul’s battle strategy from Phil 4:6-7 and let the power of God’s promises break the chains of fear in our lives and set us free (see photo).  

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for breaking the shackles of fear in my life with the power of Your word.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to break free from the shackles of fear today by believing and following God’s word. … 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.