July 31, 2024 … Oh, So Beautiful! …

July 31, 2024 … Oh, So Beautiful! …    

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Cece Winans with music and lyrics …   poignantly singing Jesus You’re Beautiful  

Jesus is our beautiful Lord and Savior ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 53:5 [NLT] … 

5 But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed by our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.   

… Isaiah, the Prophet’s description of The coming Messiah.                    

    

Highlight Passage (in context): …Isaiah 53:1-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s picture of the coming Messiah thru Isaiah…                                                                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 23:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David’s song abut the wondrous beauty of the coming Good Shepherd. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 9:6  [NLT] …  

6 For unto us a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us.  ;The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.    

… Isaiah describes the picture of the coming Messiah                   

Reference Passage: … John 10:30  [NLT] …  

30 I and the Father are one.”  

… Jesus openly declares that He and God, the Father, are one.  

Reference Passage: …Hebrews 1:1-3  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, describes the wonder and beauty of Jesus, The Christ. 

Reference Passage: …1Peter 2:21-24  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, describes the wonder and beauty of Jesus, The Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Dave Branson -  AT THIS LINK  -  describes how The Eiffel Tower had been revered for it’s beauty and grandeur in Paris for over 130 years.  However, …  when it was built, … many in France felt it was an eye-sore.  .    

Sort of like the beauty of Jesus, Who was certainly not recognized for the beauty and grandeur of Whom He really was when He was born or when He walked on this earth as our Savior and Lord.  But now, … those who can see and believe Who He is, … as our Lord and Savior, … are saved by Whom we see now as our beautiful Savior (see photo). 

Jesus is our wondrous and beautiful Lord and Savior.  At least that’s how I see Him.   What about you?.                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being willing to pursue me and save me, … as my beautiful Savior.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will stop and praise You, Lord, … seeing You as our beautiful Savior.   … 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.

July 30, 2024b… A Fruitful Hyphen …

July 30, 2024b… A Fruitful Hyphen …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   …Tom Mottershead, with music and lyrics …   powerfully singing from Psalms 51, singing of our desire that God wash away our sins and make us fruitful for His glory.  

Growing in fruitfulness thru God's word ... 

       

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Highlight Passage: …Colossians 1:9-10 [NLT] … 

9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.   

… Paul’s prayer that fellow Christians would live fruitful lives.   .                    

    

Highlight Passage (in context): …Colossians 1:3-12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul prays that fellow Christians live fruitful lives to honor their (our) Lord and Savior.              

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Reference Passage: … Genesis 1:28  [NLT] …  

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”    

… God blesses Adam and Eve (i.e., all mankind)  and commands them (us) to be fruitful stewards of all God has created.    

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

… God’s song of blessing on those who follow the ways of God and are fruitful for God’s glory.            

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 17:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God blesses those who trust God and faithfully follow the Lord’s will and His ways.    

Reference Passage: … John 15:16  [NLT] …  

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

… Jesus commands His disciples (and all faithful believers to be fruitful in His Name and for His glory. 

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul reveals the fruit of the Sprit which comes from living faithfully and following God’s will and His ways. 

Reference Passage:</u> … Ephesians 4:1  [NLT] …  

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.  

… Paul testifies that He is a slave of Christ and begs fellow Christians to live fruitful lives, worthy of our calling as “Christians.’ .

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Xochitl Dixon -  AT THIS LINK  -    writes about preparing to speak at her funeral and reflecting on how she and her mother had changed to live far more fruitful - Christian - lives after they had surrendered to follow Christ in their lives.    

if you’ve taken in the linked song and meditated on God’s truth, shared above, I’m praying that we’re all striving to live out the “hyphen” between or birth date and the date when we go to be with Jesus , …fruitfully and faithfully to honor God’s glory and His calling on our lives.  That’s my goal; … how about you?                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me to live the “hyphen” of my days for Your glory.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me today, Lord, to strife to live fruitful for 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. 

July 29, 2024 … The Coming King …

July 29, 2024 … The Coming King …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   The Gaither Vocal Band with music and lyrics …   powerfully singing of how our King is coming for all who believe in Him.  

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Highlight Passage: …Daniel 10:12 [NLT] … 

12 Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.   

…  Daniel hears from God, thru His angel, that God has heard Daniel’s prayers  and given him power.  .                    

    

Highlight Passage (in context): … Daniel 10:10-19  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … =

… Daniel hears from God’s angel, who restores Daniel from weakness to power.                          

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Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 23:5  [NLT] …  

5 “For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.   

… Jeremiah prophesies of the coming King and Messiah.

Reference Passage: … Micah 5:2  [NLT] … 

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, Whose origins are in the distant past, will come from You on my behalf.    

… Micah prophesies that the King of the Jews, The Messiah, will come from Bethlehem.  

Reference Passage: … John 19:19  [NLT] … <

19 And Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, “Jesus of Nazareth, … the King of the Jews.”  

… Pilate, tho mocking Jesus, correctly labeled Him “THE KING OF THE JEWS.”            

Reference Passage: … 1Timothy 6:15  [NLT] …  

15 For, … At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

… Paul teaches Timothy (and all Christians) that God will reveal Jesus as the King of kings and Lord of lords.  

Reference Passage: … Revelation 6:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John reveals the day when the wrath of God comes comes in the Person of Jesus, the Son of God.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Karen Pimpo -  AT THIS LINK  - writes about the musical <b><i>Pilgrim</b></i> which was a musical adaptation of the book <b><i>Pilgrim’s Progress</b></i> where the character of God, dressed in white as being unseen by the other characters in the musical, but who declares that His is coming to save all who believe in Him as The King.  

It’s a simple, but eternally powerful, truth, isn’t it?  And it’s a truth upon which depends our very souls.  God is coming for those who believe in Jesus as (our) Messiah . Our king! …  I believe it !!  Do you?                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … come soon, Lord!  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me today, Lord, to testify that You are our King, Lord Jesus!!  … 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. 

July 28, 2024 … Life Is Worship …

July 28, 2024 … Life Is Worship  …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with Cece Winans singing Goodness of God … Powerfully singing of how, as Christians, we must forever sing of God’s goodness and praise His Name in song.  

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 30:4 [NLT] … 

4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones!  Praise His Holy name.  

…  David calls on all who love the Lord to sing His praises … ALWAYS.                    

    

Highlight Passage (in context): … Psalms 30  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David sings of praising God ALWAYS.                                                                                

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

… In spite of all God allowed Satan to do to Job, he worshipped God with praises.    

Reference Passage: … Psalm 150:6  [NLT] …  

 6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to eat Lord.  PRAISE THE LORD!    

… King David sings of EVERYONE praising God AWWAYS.      

Reference Passage: … John 4:23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus proclaims to try Samaritan woman at the well that the time had come for all to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.    

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

1  And so, dear brothers and sisters,  I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.

… Paul pleads with fellow Christians that they (we) become living sacrifices of praise to/for the Lord.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 12:28 [NLT] …  

28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. 

… No matter what happens in life, God will transform our lives to be with Him.  Therefore, we should make our lives to be worship to/for Him. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Tom Felton -  AT THIS LINK  -  tells of a friend, Susy, who was emotionally paralyzed by fear as her two month old baby was in ICU with fluid on the baby’s lungs.  But she felt the Holy Spirit calling her to worship God in spite of the circumstances.  And in doing so, she learned and witnessed that …  “worship doesn’t change God, but it definitely changes you.” 

I don’t know what each of you, who are reading with me today, are facing,  But as we take in the powerful linked song by Cece Winans and meditate on the Scriptures shared above, I’m praying we all can praise God and dedicate our day ,,, TODAY … as worship to/for our Lord.  And then dedicate our tomorrows to praise and worship our Lord, … NO MATTER what we might face.      

My THANKFULNESS:... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me, Lord, to live a life of sacrifice and praise to You.          

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me today, Lord, to dedicate our lives to the worship of You, 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.