April 30 2026 … Following God’s Way’s …

Apr 30 2026 … Following God’s Way’s  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing I Will Follow Christ … calling on Christians to ALWAYS pursue and follow where Christ leads us.

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

Highlight Passage: … Haggai 1:5 … [NLT] 

…  5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!  

… God’s “wake up” call to His people thru the Prophet Haggai. 

Highlight Passage in Context:</u>  Haggai 1:1, 5-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …         

… God, thru the Prophet Haggai, calls on God’s people to return and follow God’s commands and His ways.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 28:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise, thru Moses, for God’s blessings when His people obey and follow His ways. 

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

… Solomon professes God’s wisdom to trust and follow the Lord’s ways … ALWAYS. 

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises His people His plans for their (our) future. … giving them hope and direction.

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:46 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples that if they call Him, “LORD,” they (we) must follow Him.

Reference Passage: … John 14:15, 21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus calls on His disciples to faithfully follow His ways and His commands in order to be blessed by God.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 11:1  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul confidently calls others to follow his ways because Paul knew he was following Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Huang …  USE THIS LINK      … writes about a man, named Ken, who avoided the migrant workers where he lived because their habits annoyed him.  But being a Christian, one day, while praying,  Ken was stopped by a realization that he had never shared his faith in Christ with his neighbors … as God’s word was calling Ken from Christ’s “great commission” (go check out Matthew 28:19-20).   

And this ODB story likely calls many of us to ask if we’re really following God’s call and direction in our lives.  And so, if you take in the linked song and meditate on the Scriptures shared above, are my readers as convicted, as much as I am, to do more to follow Christ more faithfully?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me the the privilege, Lord, to follow You all the way to glory.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for loving us, and calling us, …  and leading us … in spite of our sinfulness.  … 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.

April 29 2026 … Pray - Even In Anger …

Apr 29 2026 … Pray - Even In Anger  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Matthew West singing Don’t Stop Praying … calling on Christians to keep praying … no matter what their (our) feelings.

Angry?!  ... Pray anyway !!  

 

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

Highlight Passage: … Job 19:6 … [NLT] 

…  6 But it is God who has wronged me, capturing me in His net.  

… Job prays to God when he was confused and angry in his circumstances. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Job 19:5-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Job prayed to God even when he was confused and angry.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 37:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David, in song, warns against believers holding on to their (our) anger.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 15:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon compares speaking with softness as opposed to using loud, angry voices. 

Reference Passage: … Ecclesiastes 7:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon also calls on believers to control their (our) anger. 

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples that they will find their peace only from/with Him.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:26-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul warns fellow Christians that their (our) anger gives a foothold for Satan in their (our) lives.  

Reference Passage: … James 1:19-20  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, Jesus’ human brother teaches Christians that human anger does not yield righteous living.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Sheridan Voysey …  USE THIS LINK     … wrote about Jewish philosopher, Elie Wiesel, who endured the horrors of Auschwitz in WW2, declared, after the war and being in the concentration camps, he had lost his faith in God.  But later, after much consideration and reflection, Wiesel told a journalist, “It is because I believed in God that I was angry at God, … and still am; …  you don’t get angry at someone you don’t believe exists.”

And this ODB entry reminded me that God will never lose or waver in His love for His chosen ones, even if we’re mad at Him because of our trials or troubles.  Yes, we can be angry and still bring our prayers to The Lord; … and as Matthew West sings, we should NEVER stop praying; … yes, even if/when we’re angry at God.  And so, again today, even with my anguish over my physical problems, I come to my God with my prayers.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being there to hear me even when I’m confused and hurting … as I am right now.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for loving us and being there with Your grace, even when we don’t understand or are angry. … 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.

April 28 2026 … God Sees ALL …

Apr 28 2026 …  God Sees ALL  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Rachel Barrentine and Josh Wright singing The God Who Sees … showing that our God sees ALL … ALWAYS.

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

Highlight Passage: … Psalms 121:8 … [NLT] 

…  8 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.  

… Showing our faith that God watches over His people ALWAYS. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 121 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist, likely David, sings a song of Accent for God’s people to sing as they travel upward to worship God in His Holy Temple..

================ 

Reference Passage: … Genesis 16:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Hagar calls The Lord, “El Roi,” “the God Who sees” her in her time of need.

Reference Passage: … Job 34:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Job, in all his trials/troubles, recognizes and confesses that his God watches over all. 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David sings a prayer for God to open his eyes to God’s truth through His instructions (i.e., God’s word).

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 15:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon declares that our God watches over EVERYTHING … ALWAYS! 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20b [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises Christians to ALWAYS be with them as they (we) carry out His “great commission.” 

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews declares that NOTHING is hidden from the eyes of our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Xochitl Dixon …  USE THIS LINK     … wrote about a friend, named Trina, who was searching for her lost bible where she had put tickets to a concert she desperately wanted to attend.  And Trina’s son accused her of suffering from FOMO, “fear of missing out.”  Finally, her husband came in with the bible, showing that Trina had left it in the car.

And sometimes we Christians, can show our lack of faith that God watches over our lives, seeing all and ALWAYS knowing our needs.  And our “FOMO” can, … and often does, … show up in times like that.  I personally identify with that and give witness to my lack of faith when I fail to recognize that our God watches over me - and all Christians - seeing everything … ALWAYS … and knowing our needs … ALWAYS!  How about you?   Are you with me as we know our God is watching over us?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for watching over me … ALWAYS.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for ALWAYS watching over Your chosen ones. … 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.

April 27 2026 … Our Potter, His Clay …

Apr 27 2026 …  Our Potter, His Clay  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Jim Reeves singing Have Thine Own Way, Lord … hymn declaring that God is the Potter and we Christians are His clay..

Shaped again today on The Potter's wheel ... 

 

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

Highlight Passage: … Jeremiah 18:4… [NLT] 

…  6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.  

… God, thru Jeremiah, illustrates His work to shape His people as He, The Lord, desires.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Jeremiah 18:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah describes God’s people as clay in The Potter’s (i.e., God’s ) hands.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 138:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David declares in song that God is carefully and faithfully shaping his life.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6, 19:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, showing God’s way will prevail for those who trust in Him. 

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about how God causes ALL things in their (our) lives to be for their (our) good and His (God’s) glory.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also calls on fellow Christians that they (we) are His masterpiece, created by Him for HIS purposes.

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

… The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians that they (we) are being reshaped by God’s Spirit into God’s image.

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

… Paul teaches Timothy, and all Christians, that it is His purpose to show God’s grace thru Timothy (or any Christian). .

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kenneth Petersen …  USE THIS LINK    … wrote about Adelaide Pollard, a humble missionary to Africa, whom we know little about, except that she wrote a hymn entitled “Have Thine Own Way, Lord,” which is still sung my singers like Jim Reeves; and is linked for my readers above, declaring that we Christians are the clay in the hands of God, … our Potter, … Who shapes us for His work and His glory.

And that’s how I see myself, ever since I turned my life over to be shaped by The Lord over 40 years ago as the clay in His hands (see photo) as the Scriptures above describe and declare.  How about you?  Is that how you see yourself?  

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for shaping my life as the clay on Your Potter’s wheel.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for shaping us 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.

April 26 2026 … Rebuilt and Restored …

Apr 26 2026 …  Rebuilt and Restored  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Leeland and Stephen McWhirter singing God of My Restoration … giving witness in song to the restoration brought about in the life of a broken sinner by the God of all grace.

Restoring Notre Dame Cathedral ... 

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

Highlight Passage: … Ezra 3:7… [NLT] 

…  7 Then the people hired masons and carpenters and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa, for King Cyrus had given permission for this. 

… Ezra tells of God’s people working together to restore God’s temple in Jerusalem after their return from Exile in Babylon.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Ezra 2:68, 3:1,7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Ezra documents the restoration of God’s Temple when God’s people returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 51:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David prays in song for God to restore him to a repentant and restored follower of Christ.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 30:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises His broken people, thru Jeremiah, to heal their wounds.

Reference Passage: … Joel 2:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God also promises His people, thru the Prophet Joel, to restore His broken people.

Reference Passage: … Acts 3:19-21[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to repent and receive God’s restoring grace.

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to encourage and edify one another.     

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Peter also encourages fellow Christians to share in God’s grace/glory by building each other up through faith in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kristen Holmberg …  USE THIS LINK    … told about recent efforts by Christians, working together to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral, which had almost been destroyed in a recent mammoth fire.  The restoration - <b>(see photo)</b> - and the Scriptures shared above illustrate and describe God’s promises to rebuild and restore His church which has been devastated by the sin of God’s people. 

And I am one who has been restored and rebuilt from an atheist to a surrendered and repentant believer in Christ by God’s grace.  And I pray the same for you.  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for rebuilding me as Your temple.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for rebuilding and restoring Your church through Your grace.   … 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.