February 29, 2024 … Yes! It’s ALL True!!

February 29, 2024 … Yes!  It’s ALL True!! 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Word of God Speak …  Poignantly singing of how a Christian looks to God’s word to speak to their (our) lives about how we live for/with The Lord. 

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Highlight Passage: … Leviticus 13:3  [NLT] … 

3 The priest will examine the affected area of the skin. If the hair in the affected area has turned white and the problem appears to be more than skin-deep, it is a serious skin disease, and the priest who examines it must pronounce the person ceremonially unclean.            

… Instructions from God’s word on how to handle skin diseases among God’s people.       

Highlight Passage (in context): … Leviticus 13:1-8 … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Moses teaches God’s truth on how His Priests diagnose the deal with skin diseases.    

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 33:4, 119:160 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David sings of following God’s word as truth - ALWAYS!             

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 30:5 [NLT] …  

5 Every word of God proves true.  He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.  

… Solomon writes of God’s word always proving true and a shield of protection for all who follow it in faith.   

Reference Passage: … John 8:31-32  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares to His faithful followers that His teachings (i.e., His word) and will see believers free from their sins by following His truth.                  

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy the power of believing in and following God’s word.    

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 1:20-21 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter teaches fellow Christians about the power of God’s truth found in His Holy word coming from God’s Spirit.                        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Tim Gustafson -  AT THIS LINK -   shares about rebelling to having to read and study about God’s instructions, thru Moses, abut handling skin conditions in Leviticus 13.  But another in the group, a friend, Dave, told about his non-believing dermatologist reading that passage and being astonished that Moses would know about the correct steps in the diagnosis of infectious skin conditions.  That ultimately led Dave to read God’s word with an open mind and ultimately coming to faith in Jesus as Lord. 

So, what’s our mindset when it comes to studying and believing in God’s word?  Personally, I’m here today, studying and journaling, as I do every morning, reading and believing in God’s word to guide my life; … and having faith in and following God’s word as my “GPS” (ie., God’s Positioning System) for life (see Scriptures above).  I believe what God’s word says about the truth of Scripture and its power to lead us in life; … DO YOU?           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your word to guide me in life.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to believe in the truth of Your word, Lord, to guide us all the way to Your glory.      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.

February 28, 2024 … Overcoming Our Doubts

February 28, 2024 … Overcoming Our Doubts 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Bill Gaither singing … I Believe; Help Thou My Unbelief …  Poignantly singing of how a Christian prays for God to help  them (us) over come their (our) doubts.  

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Highlight Passage: … Mark 9:24  [NLT] …

24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”            

… The father of his boy pleads with Jesus to help the father overcome any unbelief he might have.       

Highlight Passage (in context) … Mark 9:14-29 … USE THIS LINK … 

… John Mark relates Jesus healing a demon possessed boy, showing His disciples that sometimes only prayer - in surrendered faith - is what it takes to overcome our doubts and seek God’s empowering grace.    

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon calls on believers to overcome our circumstances and fears by trusting in God and avoiding taking on the world by our own devices.           

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:8-9 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Sometimes God’s thoughts and His ways are simply beyond our ability to understand which tests our faith to seek His grace.   

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:23-24  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus declares that his followers and disciples musts exercise their (our) surrendered faith to overcome our doubts.    

Reference Passage: … Romans 10:17 [NLT] …  

17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians that their faith comes from hearing and applying God’s word to their (our) lives.             

Reference Passage: … James 1:6-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… James reaches fellow Christians that we must be “sold out” in our faith with NO selfish/divided loyalties.   

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7  [NLT] …  

7  Give ALL your worries and cares to God, for HE cares about you.   

… Peter assures fellow Christians that we can give ALL our cares to God, Who cares deeply about them (us).                          

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Adam Holz-  AT THIS LINK -   shares a surprising quote from Mother Theresa, who said, “Where is my Faith?—even deep down right in there is nothing but emptiness & darkness. . . . If there be God—please forgive me.”.   

And those words are confessions of times of doubt that all of us Christians can have, … yes, even stalwarts of faith like Mother Theresa.  Perhaps some - maybe even ALL - of my readers today have feelings of doubt as we seek to follow our Lord to glory.  But if you’ve take in the linked song from Bill Gaither (PLEASE DO!) and meditated on the Scriptures above (PLEASE DO!), we can all be bolstered in faith by God’s truth, calling us to surrender our feelings and yield to God’s promises to provide us with His enabling/empowering grace.  And that’s enough for me; … how about you?             

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your grace-driven promises to rely upon.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to surrender our faith to follow You, Lord, today … and 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.

February 27, 2024 … God Always Cares

February 27, 2024 … God Always Cares  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Rosemary Siemens singing … God Will Take Care Of You …  Poignantly singing of how God will take care of the needs of those whose faith rests in our Lord. 

Abandoned cat in a box ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 18:40a  [NLT] … 

40 When Jesus heard him [a blind beggar crying for help], He stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him.            

… God ALWAYS hears our cries for help.      

Highlight Passage (in context) … Luke 18:35-43 … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus stops to heal a blind beggar.    

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 37:3-4, 61:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David sings of crying out to God, trusting that He hears his (our) cries for help.         

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT] …  

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  

… God promises His chosen that His plans are ALWAYS for their (our) good.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:7-8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches that His followers pray to God, trusting that He knows their (our) needs before they (we) even ask Him.   

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

28 And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.  

… The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians that all things in the life of born-again Christians are for their (our) good and His glory.            

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:18-19 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also assures fellow Christians (and us) that our God will supply all their (and our) needs. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7  [NLT] …  

7  Give ALL your worries and cares to God, for HE cares about you.   

… Peter assures fellow Christians that we can give ALL our cares to God, Who cares deeply about them (us).                          

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Karen Huang -  AT THIS LINK -  tells of a street sweeper, seeing a stray cat in a cardboard box (see photo) and stopping to pick up the cat, taking it home to join his two rescue dogs, saying, “I care for them because they’re the creatures no one notices, … I see myself in them. No one notices a street sweeper, after all.”

And the ODB author went on to describe the act of the street sweeper being Christlike, making reference to how Jesus, on His trek to the cross, often stopped to heal those whom nobody noticed, like He did with the blind beggar in the ODB highlight passage today.  I pray all my readers know and trust the Scriptures shared above, showing that our God knows our needs today; and will ALWAYS hear our prayer when we cry out for Him to help.     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for knowing my needs and providing Your mercy and grace again today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to cry out for Your help, dear Lord, knowing that You hear us.     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. 

February 26, 2024 … Resting in Christ

February 26, 2024 … Resting in Christ 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … Be Still My Soul …  Poignantly singing of how we, who believe in Christ, can find our rest in Him. 

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 3:5 [NLT] … 

5 I lay down and slept, … yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me. </i>         

… King David sings of finding his rest in his faith in The Lord.    

Highlight Passage (in context) … Psalms 3 … USE THIS LINK … 

King David when he was fleeing for his life, being pursued by his son, Absalom, yet could find rest in His faith in Yahweh.    

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Solomon projects that those who trust in The Lord with ALL their (our) hearts will find our way by following Him.        

Reference Passage … Isaiah 26:3, 41:10, 57:2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s Prophet, Isaiah, repeatedly shows where believers can find their (our) peace.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:27  [NLT] …  

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 

… Jesus promises His peace to His disciples, … a peace which is ours too if we have faith in our Lord.          

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

… The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians (and us) of God’s peace if they (we) faithfully follow Him.    

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7  [NLT] …  

7  Give ALL your worries and cares to God, for HE cares about you. 

… Peter assures fellow Christians that we can give ALL our cares to God, Who cares deeply about them (us).                          

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Tom Felton -  AT THIS LINK -  wrote of a friend, Sal, who had trouble sleeping the night before he was to be baptized and give his testimony of being saved by Christ’s blood.  But Sal’s wife took his hand and prayed for him and God gave Sal a peace to sleep soundly that night.      

And I exhort any, who are reading with me here, to take time to take in the linked song by Kari Jobe and to meditate on the Scriptures above and then join me to surrender our all to trust in God’s invitation to rest in His love, mercy, and grace; and let us sleep tonight protected by His enabling and protective grace.  

           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise of Your merciful peace today and always.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to rest and sleep tonight, covered by Your love and protective grace, dear Lord.     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.

February 25, 2024 … No Such Luck!

February 25, 2024 … No Such Luck!  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls …  Poignantly, and yet powerfully, singing of how God’s creation calls all believers to recognize that God created all we see in and for us and for His glory. 

It's all in His hands ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Colossians 1:17 [NLT] … 

17 He [Yahweh, The Lord] existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.       

… Our Lord, Jesus created all we see for our good and His glory.  

Highlight Passage (in context) … Colossians 1:15-20 … USE THIS LINK … 

The Apostle Paul teaches truth about the creation of the world being created by Christ for His glory.   

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 19:1, 33:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s psalmists sing of God speaking the word and creating all things we see for His glory.       

Reference Passage: … John 1:3 [NLT] …  

3 God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him.  

… The Apostle John teaches truth of creation.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:20  [NLT] …  

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  

… The Apostle Paul declares truth for fellow Christians about all seeing His creation to realize that God exists and created everything.         

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 11:3 [NLT] …  

3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.   

… The Author of Hebrews declares that all we see in Creation did not occur by accident, but by the hand and word of God.   

Reference Passage: … Revelation 4:11  [NLT] …  

11  “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power.   For You created all things, and they exist because You created what You pleased.” 

… The 24 Elders in heaven fall before Christ to worship Him, declaring that our Lord, Jesus, created all we see for His glory.                          

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Marvin Williams -  AT THIS LINK -  tells of Astrophysicist Erik Zackrisson, in Discover Magazine, writing that, of all the 700 quintillion planets in the universe, Earth is unique in having all the forces and qualities necessary to sustain life.   Earth was no accident!!  And according to God’s word (see Scriptures above), He, … our Lord, Jesus, … was the Creator of all we see; and we should humbly and thankfully worship and praise our God for what He has created for our good and His glory.     

Join me and look around, my fellow Christian, and let us be reminded, by all we see, that our God created all of it FOR US and FOR HIS GLORY.  Personally, I’m overwhelmed by the reality of creation being fashioned by Jesus … FOR ME and YOU … for us to see His glory and glory in all that He created. Yes, my friend, … all that we see, our Lord created for us to see and glory in our Creator… and His creation.  

So, taking in all that we see around us, will you join me with a resounding  and thankful Hallelujah!  

           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for all You have created for my good and for Your glory.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to share what You have created for us to see You, Lord, and follow You to Your glory.     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.