Sept 14, 2025 … Jesus - My Good Shepherd …

Sept 14, 2025  …  Jesus - My Good Shepherd   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Don Moen singing… Psalm 23,  … Covering King David’s song about Christ as our Good Shepherd.  

Jesus is our Good Shepher ... 

Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 40:11 … [NLT] … 

11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd.  He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to his heart. …  

… God, thru Isiah, promises to be The Good Shepherd, treating His chosen people as His sheep.

Highlight Passage (in context)  …  Isaiah 40: 10-11, 29-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  God, thru Isaiah, promises to treat His chosen ones like a Good Shepherd, feeding and protecting His sheep.

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

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

… King David sings of his God being his Good Shepherd, watching over and protecting David like a shepherd would his flock.  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 100:3  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalmist, likely King David, sings of God’s people being like the sheep of His pasture, protecting them (us) like as a Good Shepherd would His flock.

Reference Passage: …Matthew 9:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew writes of Jesus having compassion on those he encountered, comparing Him to a shepherd caring for his sheep. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 15:4-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Luke reports that Jesus used a parable of a shepherd being will to leave his flock to find one lost lamb, being like Jesus willing to seek out any who are lost from His flock.  .

Reference Passage: …  John 10:11, 14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus says He IS our “Good Shepherd.”   

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews writes of Jesus being the Good Shepherd Who cares for His sheep.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Unpublished online - Lisa M Samra  … AT THIS LINK   … wrote of being in a neonatal ICU unit, surrounded by all of the advanced equipment used to keep distressed new-borns alive, and the ODB author being impressed by a mother whom the doctors felt needed to caress her baby close to the mother’s heart as the best medicine to give her child the best chance to thrive.   

And Lisa M Samra, the ODB author, went on to say that this was a profound and powerful human picture illustrating how Jesus was - and IS - our compassionate Good Shepherd, described in the Scriptures shared above, holding His sheep close to His heart (see photo); and caring for all those Who were - and are -  chosen to be in His flock.   I’m one of those sheep in my Lord’s flock   Are you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for being my Good Shepherd, … holding me close to Your heart.      

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, Lord. … for ALWAYS being our Good Shepherd.   … 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.

Sept 13, 2025 … He Provides Our Needs …

Sept 13, 2025 …  He Provides Our Needs   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Don Moen singing… God Will Make A Way,  … Assuring us that God will show us a way - HIS WAY - when we, many times, can’t see where to go in life.

Highlight Passage: … Exodus 16:12 … [NLT] … 

12 “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

… God, thru Moses, promises His chosen people His provision of manna to feed them.

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Exodus 16:11-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  God, thru Moses to HIs grumbling and complaining people wandering in the wilderness and seeking to find God’s promised land, give His promise of His mercy and grace by feeding them in the wilderness.

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

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

...  Jeremiah relays God’s promise to HIs people of God’s mercy and enabling grace which is new everyday for His chosen people.

Reference Passage: …  Mark 6:33-44  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John Mark documents God’s mercy in the miracle Jesus performed  being able to feed several thousand people with just a few loaves of bread and two fishes, … God multiplying the food to feed the many who had gathered to hear Jesus’ words. 

Reference Passage: …Romans 8:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth about God providing all true Christians need … for their (our) good and God’s glory. 

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

…  The Apostle Paul also assures fellow Christians that God, Who supplies Paul’s needs will provide for them (us).  .

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:9  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter shows oppressed Christians how they (we) have been granted by God’s grace to be able to walk out from the darkness of sin into God’s glorious light. 

Reference Passage: …  1Revelation 7:15-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals thru John God’s promise of eternal provision and protection when we join Him in glory.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Unpublished online - John Blase  … AT THIS LINK      … wrote about a singer-songwriter, Jane Kristen Marczewski, who was known as “Nightbride” by her fans.  The singer wrote about her up-and- down life after being diagnosed with breast cancer and God’s provision of support from many as she dealt with the return of the cancer after months of remission.  

Many of us may have experienced God’s mercy and HIs provision of enabling grace as did the song-writer in the ODB story.  God certainly showed His people his mercy and provision as they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years prior to entering the Promised Land (see Highlight passage - and meditate on the Reference Scriptures shared above).  Right now, …  I’m going thru some ups-and-downs in my life, both physically and spiritually; … but I see God’s mercy sustaining me along the way.   I pray that you’re seeking - and finding - God’s grace as you deal with your life today.  Seek it, my friend, … it’s there … ALWAYS!  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for showing off Your mercy and grace again today; … praying for it to be there tomorrow; .. and I know it will be.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, Lord. … for uplifting us with Your mercy and grace again today.   … 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

Sept 12, 2025 … Guarding My Heart …

Sept 12, 2025  …  Guarding My Heart   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Steve Green singing… Guard Your Heart,  … Warning Christians to be careful to guard their (our) hearts.

Highlight Passage: … Philippians 4:8 … [NLT] … 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to think on ONLY those things  which honor and glorify God. 

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Philippians 4:4-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul challenges fellow Christians to think on things which honor our Lord.    

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

Reference Passage: … Psalms 19:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings a prayer for him to bring only thoughts to God which are acceptable to the Lord.

Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 4:23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches truth … that believers should guard their (our) hearts from which our life depends. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Isaiah, provides His prescription to prevent unGodly thoughts or actions.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches that good words and actions flow from a heart which is good like good fruit comes from a tree well protected and cared for.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:1-5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow Christians how they (we) must think on only those things when honor and glorify God, avoiding dwelling on things of this world. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 1:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter charges fellow Christians to prepare their (our) hearts to exercise self control.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Unpublished online - Nancy Gavilanes  … AT THIS LINK   … tells of the thoughts revealed by Katie Ladecky which the great Olympic swimmer was thinking as she swam to one of her many gold medals in the 1500 meter freestyle competition.  Ledecky revealed that all she thought about, as she was many lengths ahead of her competitors, was about all those who had helped her train for her Olympic swim.  

And that’s the heart of a champion Christian as well.   We must ask ourselves as surrendered Christians; .. what kind of thoughts are in our hearts as we live out our lives as Christians?  Because if we, as Christians, believe what is taught and revealed in the linked song and the Scriptures shared in today’s journaling, we MUSt guard our thoughts by praying and thinking ONLY on thoughts which honor and glorify our Lord.   And once again, meditating on God’s word, which I’ve shared here today, we MUST guard our thoughts to produce good fruit in our lives.  And I - for one - will be doing my best to do just that today. How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for giving me the enabling grace to guard my heart today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, Lord. … for helping us to guard our hearts by thinking thoughts which only honor You! … Amen

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

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “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. 

Sept 11, 2025 … Lamenting Today …

Sept 11, 2025 …  Lamenting Today   … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    … Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Tim Hughes singing… When The Tears Fall,  … Lamenting when tears of anguish or grief fall.  

Lamentng tears today ... 

Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 20:12  … [NLT] …

20  “Lord, see my anguish! My heart is broken and my soul despairs, for I have rebelled against you.In the streets the sword kills, and at home there is only death. 

…Jeremiah  laments over his own sin as well as the sins of God’s people. 

Highlight Passage (in context)  …  Lamentations 1:20-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jeremiah laments - in anguish - before God.   

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

Reference Passage: … Psalms 23:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of being uplifted and protected by his Good Shepherd..

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

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to have confidence in moving forward in life. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we lament over our weakness.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus invites any/all who believe in Him to find rest in yoking our weakness to His strength.  

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

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to take their worries and laments to God in prayer.

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 112:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul recognizes and remembers Jesus words when he was in pain and anguish over the “thorn in his flesh” to accept God’s enabling grace.     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, AMY BOUCHER PYE  … AT THIS LINK  … tells of visiting the memorial site in NYC of the 9-11 tragedy - with graphic pictures of the carnage, which brought the ODB author to tears of lamentation for what happened that fateful day.  And here I sit, lamenting to God what happened yesterday … where a prominent political figure was gunned down tragically as he addressed an audience of onlookers and followers who witnessed the tragic shooting.  

On reflecting - and lamenting - what happened yesterday and the events of 9/11/01, … I really think God is causing many of us to genuinely lament and  seek what God’s word brings out in my quiet time today - see the Scriptures shared above.   And I pray all my readers take the time to hear the linked song and lament with me - with thankful praise - that we serve a God who will always be there to hear our prayers and reach out to guide and protect the lives of those who really love and follow our Lord.  That’s my path today - and tomorrow; …how about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for being there for me when I come to You in tears (see photo). 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for being there when Your children come to You in tears.… 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.

Sept 10, 2025 … Never Prayerless …

Sept 10, 2025  … Never Prayerless   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Matthew West singing… Don’t Stop Praying,  … Calls on Christians to rely on prayer in times of powerlessness.

Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 20:12  … [NLT] … 

12 O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

…King Jehoshaphat of Judah calls God’s people to pray as they were being besieged by powerful armies. 

Highlight Passage (in context): …  2Chronicles 20:1-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s word relates the history of King Jehoshaphat and God’s people being under siege by armies from three nations and calling on God’s people in Judah to fast and pray to God for deliverance. 

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

Reference Passage: … Psalms 145:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God being close to those who call on Him.

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

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to know which way to go in life.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we, as believers in The Lord, feel weak.

Reference Passage: … Luke 22:39-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  When confronted by HIs imminent death, Jesus went to the Mount of Olives and prayed.

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

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to take their worries  to God in prayer.

Reference Passage: …  1Thessalonians 5:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul again stresses the need of prayer in all situations.     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, ARTHUR JACKSON  … AT THIS LINK     … tells about a friend, named Anita, who had prayed for he son, Jalen, for years as he went thru drug problems and prison, … finally learning thru social media that a friend has spotted Jalen at her church with his young family, looking healthy and happy.

And this up-to-date personal story of God answering prayer meshes  with the Highlight passage today  in God’s word,  cited by 2Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat bringing God’s   people in Judah together when they were powerless against several mighty armies to fast and pray to God for His power and deliverance.

Personally, …  it’s gratifying to KNOW - and I do KNOW  from God’s word shared above -  that the power of prayer is available to me, just like it was for Jehoshaphat in those OT days; or for King David,  or for The ApostlePaul, or even for Jesus up on the Mount of Olives when He was about to go the cross.   And we learn from God’s word that all of these Bible luminaries used the power of prayer when they felt powerless.  And that’s good enough for me!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for being there for me when I pray to Youu. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for being there to hear our prayers when we feel powerless. … 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.