Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 21
Passage of the Day: Proverbs 22: 29 [NLT] …
29 Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than ordinary people.
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Reference Passage #1: Exodus 31: 1-5 : [NLT] … {When God sets forth a task – from His will – He provides the workers with the skills they need to complete the task. } …
1 The LORD also said to Moses, 2 “Look, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts. 4 He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze. 5 He is skilled in cutting and setting gemstones and in carving wood. Yes, he is a master at every craft!
Reference Passage #2: Colossians 3: 22-25 : [NLT] … { If we do it, do it for The Lord; and do right! } …
23 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. 25 But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil.
Reference Passage #3: 2nd Peter 1: 3-4 : [NLT] … { He gives us all we need to do His will. } …
3 3 As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! 4 And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.
My Journal for Today: Os Hillman, in today’s workplace ministry devotional, brings out a principle unto which Christians all too often fall short; and that is doing what we’re called to do – for The Lord – with excellence. And today’s key verse, from Proverbs 22: 29, points to a truth which will take in every Christian. We are workers, working for THE KING; and being called to work for HIM and in His Name, we will be given whatever skill we need and all that we need to accomplish His will or purpose for our lives. Perhaps you recall, as I did this morning, the truth espoused by Peter in 2nd Peter 1: 3-4, which is copied for your review above.
And just recently [see my blog at this link – for Jan. 16] I entered a blog about how “God’s calling is His enablement,” where I reviewed the truth that God would never call us to do something within His will without providing the enabling/empowering grace to accomplish that task or purpose. So, whatever I’m doing – as I am studying His word to know Him more deeply at this moment, which I believe is God’s will for me in this personal pursuit – I should be doing all I can to complete the task with excellence and for His glory. Oh, how I pray that this is the case this morning!
Really … I don’t need to say any more, do I? And I will pray that what I’m studying in these few moments this morning is … #1 following His will and … #2 being accomplished with all the excellence I can muster to … #3 give my Lord all the glory I can in completing this task. And I pray for you to go to work today, joining me, to pursue our Lord’s will, doing all we can to let others see Christ shining His light through our work in His Name (see Matt. 5: 16).
My Prayer for Today Lord, as I do what You call me to do, may I do it all for Your glory! … Amen
Monday, January 21, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
January 20, 2013 … You Gotta Want It !!
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 20
Passage of the Day: 2nd Kings 2: 9-20 [NLT] …
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?” And Elisha replied, “Please let me become your rightful successor.” 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
Passage of the Day: 2nd Kings 2: 9-10 [NKJV] …
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
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Contextual Study of today’s passage: 2nd Kings, Chapter 2 [NLT] … Go to this link … ============
Reference Passage #1: Psalm 42: 1 : [NLT] … {Do we thirst after God as if we were dying for Him?} … As the deer pants for the water brooks, … so pants my soul for You, O God.
Reference Passage #2: Jeremiah 29: 13 : [NLT] … {When we seek the Lord He will be found. That’s His promise, now mine!} … If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.
My Journal for Today: If you’ve been following my journal entries for any time, you will know that I often quote Jesus’ definition of discipleship from Luke 9: 23. It was our Lord’s three requirements for anyone who would come after Him; … that they would #1 deny themselves, # 2 to take up whatever circumstances come their way daily, and # 3 follow Him. And when you analyze these discipleship requirements, being a disciple of The Christ (i.e., a totally surrendered follower of Jesus) was [and now IS] really, REALLY tough business. And if we say that we’re “DISCIPLES” of Christ, we’ve got to really want Him to be able to deny self, take up His cross daily, and follow Him.
When you read the target passage for today’s devotional above from 2nd Kings, Chapter 2, it’s obvious that Elisha really wanted to be a disciple of Elijah. In fact, he not only sought the same anointing which he had seen Elijah had received from God, but Elisha wanted a double portion of the same [see the highlighted portion copied above in two versions of Scripture]. But Elijah, who was becoming Elisha’s mentor, warned the younger disciple, who was seeking this anointing and this charge from God, to beware of that trek being a very challenging pursuit. But Elisha was like the deer, panting for the water, in Psalm 42: 1; and he was willing to do whatever God charged through the Prophet in Jeremiah 29: 13, seeking WHOLEHEARTEDLY after God’s anointing.
I often hear those who would call themselves “Christian,” reporting that they would call themselves “disciples” of Christ; but are they just wanting to be identified as “Christian” … or possibly to be members of that cultural group … or maybe a member of a certain “church?” Are they really DISCIPLES as Jesus defined His followers? AND, … are they really wanting the anointing which comes from pursuing Christ and all He is; … or do they just want to be labeled with the moniker, “CHRISTIAN?”
That’s a good self-inventory for the day, isn’t it? As “Christians,” i.e., as “DISCIPLES” of the Living Lord, do we really seek after His anointing as the deer pants for the water? How badly do we really want what God has for us as seekers after Him? My friend, as CHRISTIANS, we gotta really want it!
My Prayer for Today ,,, Lord, You know my heart; and You know how badly I want to Know You … to love You … to obey You … to serve You … and to be blessed by You! Lord, help me to overcome my unbelief. … Amen
Passage of the Day: 2nd Kings 2: 9-20 [NLT] …
9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?” And Elisha replied, “Please let me become your rightful successor.” 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
Passage of the Day: 2nd Kings 2: 9-10 [NKJV] …
9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”
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Contextual Study of today’s passage: 2nd Kings, Chapter 2 [NLT] … Go to this link … ============
Reference Passage #1: Psalm 42: 1 : [NLT] … {Do we thirst after God as if we were dying for Him?} … As the deer pants for the water brooks, … so pants my soul for You, O God.
Reference Passage #2: Jeremiah 29: 13 : [NLT] … {When we seek the Lord He will be found. That’s His promise, now mine!} … If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.
My Journal for Today: If you’ve been following my journal entries for any time, you will know that I often quote Jesus’ definition of discipleship from Luke 9: 23. It was our Lord’s three requirements for anyone who would come after Him; … that they would #1 deny themselves, # 2 to take up whatever circumstances come their way daily, and # 3 follow Him. And when you analyze these discipleship requirements, being a disciple of The Christ (i.e., a totally surrendered follower of Jesus) was [and now IS] really, REALLY tough business. And if we say that we’re “DISCIPLES” of Christ, we’ve got to really want Him to be able to deny self, take up His cross daily, and follow Him.
When you read the target passage for today’s devotional above from 2nd Kings, Chapter 2, it’s obvious that Elisha really wanted to be a disciple of Elijah. In fact, he not only sought the same anointing which he had seen Elijah had received from God, but Elisha wanted a double portion of the same [see the highlighted portion copied above in two versions of Scripture]. But Elijah, who was becoming Elisha’s mentor, warned the younger disciple, who was seeking this anointing and this charge from God, to beware of that trek being a very challenging pursuit. But Elisha was like the deer, panting for the water, in Psalm 42: 1; and he was willing to do whatever God charged through the Prophet in Jeremiah 29: 13, seeking WHOLEHEARTEDLY after God’s anointing.
I often hear those who would call themselves “Christian,” reporting that they would call themselves “disciples” of Christ; but are they just wanting to be identified as “Christian” … or possibly to be members of that cultural group … or maybe a member of a certain “church?” Are they really DISCIPLES as Jesus defined His followers? AND, … are they really wanting the anointing which comes from pursuing Christ and all He is; … or do they just want to be labeled with the moniker, “CHRISTIAN?”
That’s a good self-inventory for the day, isn’t it? As “Christians,” i.e., as “DISCIPLES” of the Living Lord, do we really seek after His anointing as the deer pants for the water? How badly do we really want what God has for us as seekers after Him? My friend, as CHRISTIANS, we gotta really want it!
My Prayer for Today ,,, Lord, You know my heart; and You know how badly I want to Know You … to love You … to obey You … to serve You … and to be blessed by You! Lord, help me to overcome my unbelief. … Amen
Saturday, January 19, 2013
January 19, 2013 … The Refiner’s Fire
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 19
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 22: 30 [in the context of verses 30-31] …
3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
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Reference Passage #1: Malachi 3: 2-3a : [NLT] … {The Lord is our refiner’s fire. } …
2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes. 3 He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away.
My Journal for Today: One of the recurring word pictures used in the Bible to describe and explain the trials and tribulations we encounter in our lives is that of the refiner’s fire. The days in which the early books of the Old Testament were written took place in what archeologists describe as the “Iron Age;” and in those days (and to some degree even now) metal smiths would take rocks filled with iron ore or precious metals and put them into a heated caldron to burn away the metals. And as the metals were refined further and further by the heat, the slag or dross, i.e. the impure metals or elements, would collect at the top of the liquefied and purified metals and could be easily collected by the metal smith. Therefore, when the remaining purified metal was cooled it became purified iron, such as bronze, which could be used for fashioning implements of living or warfare. Also, of course, the more valuable fine metals such as gold/silver needed to be refined and purified to become the very marketable commodities of the ancient middle-east in the times of the Old Testament.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why this became such a common word picture to describe how God, who was pictured as the source of the “refiner’s fire,” in His judgment of the impurities of mankind (i.e., our disobedience and sin) would use heat of the crucible of life to burn away those impurities and reshape us into the image He created us to become, i.e., the image of His Son, … Who was the One He sent to become our ultimate Refiner and Redeemer. When one thinks of the fires of life that Old Testament characters, like Joseph and Moses, and in the New Testament, Jesus’ Disciples, went through, we can see that God used the fires of trial and tribulation to purify them to transform them into the image of God, the Son.
So, we shouldn’t be surprised that God is still using the fires of life (i.e., the trials) to purify and reshape us into the image of our Lord. I would estimate that any Christian reading this can recall a time (maybe you’re in it right now) when we were put through a caldron of pressure or challenge; and when we came out of that fire we were a better, stronger, or purer person. In fact, we almost always look to the most heated times of our lives as those times when we grew the most in our lives.
So, if you’re reading this and reflecting on your life – maybe even what you’re going through now – realize and have faith that God has you in whatever fire you might be in to purify or refine you into His own image.
My Prayer for Today Oh, Lord, burn away the dross and reshape me in Your image. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 22: 30 [in the context of verses 30-31] …
3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
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Reference Passage #1: Malachi 3: 2-3a : [NLT] … {The Lord is our refiner’s fire. } …
2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes. 3 He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away.
My Journal for Today: One of the recurring word pictures used in the Bible to describe and explain the trials and tribulations we encounter in our lives is that of the refiner’s fire. The days in which the early books of the Old Testament were written took place in what archeologists describe as the “Iron Age;” and in those days (and to some degree even now) metal smiths would take rocks filled with iron ore or precious metals and put them into a heated caldron to burn away the metals. And as the metals were refined further and further by the heat, the slag or dross, i.e. the impure metals or elements, would collect at the top of the liquefied and purified metals and could be easily collected by the metal smith. Therefore, when the remaining purified metal was cooled it became purified iron, such as bronze, which could be used for fashioning implements of living or warfare. Also, of course, the more valuable fine metals such as gold/silver needed to be refined and purified to become the very marketable commodities of the ancient middle-east in the times of the Old Testament.
Therefore, it’s easy to see why this became such a common word picture to describe how God, who was pictured as the source of the “refiner’s fire,” in His judgment of the impurities of mankind (i.e., our disobedience and sin) would use heat of the crucible of life to burn away those impurities and reshape us into the image He created us to become, i.e., the image of His Son, … Who was the One He sent to become our ultimate Refiner and Redeemer. When one thinks of the fires of life that Old Testament characters, like Joseph and Moses, and in the New Testament, Jesus’ Disciples, went through, we can see that God used the fires of trial and tribulation to purify them to transform them into the image of God, the Son.
So, we shouldn’t be surprised that God is still using the fires of life (i.e., the trials) to purify and reshape us into the image of our Lord. I would estimate that any Christian reading this can recall a time (maybe you’re in it right now) when we were put through a caldron of pressure or challenge; and when we came out of that fire we were a better, stronger, or purer person. In fact, we almost always look to the most heated times of our lives as those times when we grew the most in our lives.
So, if you’re reading this and reflecting on your life – maybe even what you’re going through now – realize and have faith that God has you in whatever fire you might be in to purify or refine you into His own image.
My Prayer for Today Oh, Lord, burn away the dross and reshape me in Your image. … Amen
Friday, January 18, 2013
January 18, 2013 … Those Who Stand With God
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 18
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 22: 30 [in the context of verses 30-31] …
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them in the fire of my anger. I will heap on them the full penalty for all their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Deuteronomy, Chapter 8 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Psalm 106: 19-23 : [NLT] … {Moses standing in the gap for God! } …
19 The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. 20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating ox! 21 They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt — 22 such wonderful things in that land, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. 23 So He declared He would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the LORD and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them.
Reference Passage #2: Ephesians 6: 10-13 : [NLT] … {Paul calling us to stand for God’s will in our world of evil. } …
10 A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. 13Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
My Journal for Today: As I write this journal entry today, I am on the campus of Wabash College, my alma mater, where I graduated with a A.B. Degree in 1966. Yes, it was a long time ago; but I remember those days all too vividly. They were days when I walked away from God into a self-induced pursuit of sexual idolatry which lasted 22 years of my life and almost resulted in the walls of my marriage, family, and career to come crumbling down around me. And I am here on this campus today – a man transformed by the grace of God, supporting the efforts of two young men who’ve decided to stand in the gap at Wabash College against their spiritual enemies who’re coming against their fellow students in the form of a vast array of sexual temptations in our culture, … temptations which threaten to take Christian men down and wreak havoc on families, churches, and whole communities.
And I’m here on this campus this week to stand in the gap with these two young men and do all I can to support their efforts to form a Christian discipleship organization to do battle against the wiles and wherefores of the enemy, Satan, who opposes all for which they stand in Christ’s Name.
Do you look around you, as did Ezekiel in his day (see my devotional verse for today in Ezekiel 22: 30), seeing the walls of righteousness crumble all around God’s people? Do you hear, as do I, God calling to the hearts of His people to STAND IN THE GAP for righteousness, and to do battle against the well-organized and powerful forces of evil raising havoc in the world? In Psalm 106, copied above, we read of Moses being one who stood in the gap against the unrighteousness exhibited by God’s people when they fell prey to those who would build a calf of gold to worship. In Ephesian 6: 10-13, also copied above, we read of the Apostle Paul calling on God’s people to stand in battle in his times of evil, … wearing God’s full armor and carrying a well-sharpened and practiced sword of the Spirit.
What about it? Are you standing in the gap to support God’s efforts to re-establish His kingdom of righteousness in this world? Jesus certainly stood in the gap for you and me, didn’t He? And so, should we not do the same in our times, … that is, to be willing to even die for His Name’s sake?
Today, on the campus of Wabash College, I’ve come to stand in the gap – as much as I can – asking others to join with me to support two young me who’re willing to do battle for Jesus in a very unpopular, politically incorrect, gap, standing with their Lord against the forces of evil in their lives on the campus of Wabash College.
Whom can you stand with in our times to do battle, … maybe against the evils of abortion, … maybe, like us, against the strong beachhead of internet p0rnography, … maybe against some other form of evil in our world? But wherever God is leading you to stand, let me pray that we will stand in the gap for our Lord … TODAY!!!
My Prayer for Today Yes, LORD, that is my prayer … that Your people with stand with and for You and do battle in Christ’s Name and for Your glory in our times; and this I pray in Your Holy Name; and that is the Name of Jesus! … Amen
Passage of the Day: Ezekiel 22: 30 [in the context of verses 30-31] …
30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them in the fire of my anger. I will heap on them the full penalty for all their sins, says the Sovereign LORD.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Deuteronomy, Chapter 8 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Psalm 106: 19-23 : [NLT] … {Moses standing in the gap for God! } …
19 The people made a calf at Mount Sinai; they bowed before an image made of gold. 20 They traded their glorious God for a statue of a grass-eating ox! 21 They forgot God, their savior, who had done such great things in Egypt — 22 such wonderful things in that land, such awesome deeds at the Red Sea. 23 So He declared He would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stepped between the LORD and the people. He begged him to turn from his anger and not destroy them.
Reference Passage #2: Ephesians 6: 10-13 : [NLT] … {Paul calling us to stand for God’s will in our world of evil. } …
10 A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. 13Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm.
My Journal for Today: As I write this journal entry today, I am on the campus of Wabash College, my alma mater, where I graduated with a A.B. Degree in 1966. Yes, it was a long time ago; but I remember those days all too vividly. They were days when I walked away from God into a self-induced pursuit of sexual idolatry which lasted 22 years of my life and almost resulted in the walls of my marriage, family, and career to come crumbling down around me. And I am here on this campus today – a man transformed by the grace of God, supporting the efforts of two young men who’ve decided to stand in the gap at Wabash College against their spiritual enemies who’re coming against their fellow students in the form of a vast array of sexual temptations in our culture, … temptations which threaten to take Christian men down and wreak havoc on families, churches, and whole communities.
And I’m here on this campus this week to stand in the gap with these two young men and do all I can to support their efforts to form a Christian discipleship organization to do battle against the wiles and wherefores of the enemy, Satan, who opposes all for which they stand in Christ’s Name.
Do you look around you, as did Ezekiel in his day (see my devotional verse for today in Ezekiel 22: 30), seeing the walls of righteousness crumble all around God’s people? Do you hear, as do I, God calling to the hearts of His people to STAND IN THE GAP for righteousness, and to do battle against the well-organized and powerful forces of evil raising havoc in the world? In Psalm 106, copied above, we read of Moses being one who stood in the gap against the unrighteousness exhibited by God’s people when they fell prey to those who would build a calf of gold to worship. In Ephesian 6: 10-13, also copied above, we read of the Apostle Paul calling on God’s people to stand in battle in his times of evil, … wearing God’s full armor and carrying a well-sharpened and practiced sword of the Spirit.
What about it? Are you standing in the gap to support God’s efforts to re-establish His kingdom of righteousness in this world? Jesus certainly stood in the gap for you and me, didn’t He? And so, should we not do the same in our times, … that is, to be willing to even die for His Name’s sake?
Today, on the campus of Wabash College, I’ve come to stand in the gap – as much as I can – asking others to join with me to support two young me who’re willing to do battle for Jesus in a very unpopular, politically incorrect, gap, standing with their Lord against the forces of evil in their lives on the campus of Wabash College.
Whom can you stand with in our times to do battle, … maybe against the evils of abortion, … maybe, like us, against the strong beachhead of internet p0rnography, … maybe against some other form of evil in our world? But wherever God is leading you to stand, let me pray that we will stand in the gap for our Lord … TODAY!!!
My Prayer for Today Yes, LORD, that is my prayer … that Your people with stand with and for You and do battle in Christ’s Name and for Your glory in our times; and this I pray in Your Holy Name; and that is the Name of Jesus! … Amen
Thursday, January 17, 2013
January 17, 2013 … Remembering Whose We Are
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 17
Passage of the Day: Deuteronomy 8: 18a [in the context of verses 15-20] …
15 Do not forget that He [God] led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did it so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy. 18 Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and He does it to fulfill the covenant He made with your ancestors.
19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the LORD has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Deuteronomy, Chapter 8 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: 2nd Corinthians 13: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Pop Quiz: “Whose are we? … Self or Savior?” } …
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. 6 I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
My Journal for Today: ... “Pop quiz!” …
Oh, how I hated it when one of my college profs would come into class and say those dreaded words. It meant we were about to have to write a theme about some book in English, or take a test over some text we had been assigned, … both usually involving a lot of reading.
The Apostle Paul, in 2nd Cor. 13: 5-6 [copied above], said that periodically we Christians needed to give ourselves a self-inventory (a self-induced “pop quiz”) to see if we were staying true to our faith, … i.e., putting God first, avoiding pride, and going deeper-deeper into our relationship with Christ. And Moses wrote much the same thing, with a tough “pop-quiz” of our faith in the Deuteronomy 8, which I have copied above from the Os Hillman devotional for this day.
Those are tough words from God to test His people, aren’t they, telling them (and us) to do all His chosen ones should to remember “Whose they were?” Certainly the Old Testament is replete with stories of how God’s chosen ones lapsed into forgetfulness, either grumbling when things were going badly or taking their own credit when things went well. And actually it’s more of a temptation for the human heart to forget God when things are going well for us, isn’t it?
Oh, how easy it is for us to deceive ourselves (remember the truth of Jeremiah 17:9 - if you don’t know that one – look it up and memorize it!), thinking that we’re the ones who’ve accomplished some good things in life, … when, in point of fact, as Deut. 8: 18a points out, it is always God who goes ahead of us (see also Deut. 31:8) to pave the way for our successes or accomplishments. So, when the latter, i.e., human success, becomes reality, do we remember WHOM is One Who deserves the credit?
Because, if we fail this pop quiz from God’s truth, the outcomes could be disastrous, especially taking in the truth of Deut. 8: 19 above. Being prideful when we have been successful in producing wealth or riches, we could reap a whirlwind our own pride and selfishness if we forget WHOSE WE ARE. So, take God’s pop quiz today and do a self inventory of your faith, … remembering … as I so often say in my morning journal entries … “GOD is God and we are not!!!”
My Prayer for Today And I thank you, Lord, for giving us all we need to do the good stuff in life – Your stuff!! … Amen
Passage of the Day: Deuteronomy 8: 18a [in the context of verses 15-20] …
15 Do not forget that He [God] led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! 16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did it so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy. 18 Always remember that it is the LORD your God who gives you power to become rich, and He does it to fulfill the covenant He made with your ancestors.
19 “But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed. 20 Just as the LORD has destroyed other nations in your path, you also will be destroyed for not obeying the LORD your God.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Deuteronomy, Chapter 8 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: 2nd Corinthians 13: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Pop Quiz: “Whose are we? … Self or Savior?” } …
5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. Test yourselves. If you cannot tell that Jesus Christ is among you, it means you have failed the test. 6 I hope you recognize that we have passed the test and are approved by God.
My Journal for Today: ... “Pop quiz!” …
Oh, how I hated it when one of my college profs would come into class and say those dreaded words. It meant we were about to have to write a theme about some book in English, or take a test over some text we had been assigned, … both usually involving a lot of reading.
The Apostle Paul, in 2nd Cor. 13: 5-6 [copied above], said that periodically we Christians needed to give ourselves a self-inventory (a self-induced “pop quiz”) to see if we were staying true to our faith, … i.e., putting God first, avoiding pride, and going deeper-deeper into our relationship with Christ. And Moses wrote much the same thing, with a tough “pop-quiz” of our faith in the Deuteronomy 8, which I have copied above from the Os Hillman devotional for this day.
Those are tough words from God to test His people, aren’t they, telling them (and us) to do all His chosen ones should to remember “Whose they were?” Certainly the Old Testament is replete with stories of how God’s chosen ones lapsed into forgetfulness, either grumbling when things were going badly or taking their own credit when things went well. And actually it’s more of a temptation for the human heart to forget God when things are going well for us, isn’t it?
Oh, how easy it is for us to deceive ourselves (remember the truth of Jeremiah 17:9 - if you don’t know that one – look it up and memorize it!), thinking that we’re the ones who’ve accomplished some good things in life, … when, in point of fact, as Deut. 8: 18a points out, it is always God who goes ahead of us (see also Deut. 31:8) to pave the way for our successes or accomplishments. So, when the latter, i.e., human success, becomes reality, do we remember WHOM is One Who deserves the credit?
Because, if we fail this pop quiz from God’s truth, the outcomes could be disastrous, especially taking in the truth of Deut. 8: 19 above. Being prideful when we have been successful in producing wealth or riches, we could reap a whirlwind our own pride and selfishness if we forget WHOSE WE ARE. So, take God’s pop quiz today and do a self inventory of your faith, … remembering … as I so often say in my morning journal entries … “GOD is God and we are not!!!”
My Prayer for Today And I thank you, Lord, for giving us all we need to do the good stuff in life – Your stuff!! … Amen
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
January 16, 2013 … God’s Calling IS His Enablement
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 16
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 20: 1 [in the context of verses 1-4] …
1 David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?
2“That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “I’m sure he’s not planning any such thing, for he always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know he wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!” 3 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!”
4“Tell me what I can do!” Jonathan exclaimed.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 1st Samuel, Chapter 20 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Hebrews 5: 7-9 : [NLT] … {If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for all of us. } …
7 While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard His prayers because of His reverence for God. 8 So even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.
My Journal for Today: My mentor taught me – and it’s true – that “God’s calling is His enablement,” … which means that whatever God’s wills and calls us to do (i.e., whatever He anoints us for in HIS purpose), He will prepare and empower us to accomplish that calling. And David, the young shepherd, who was called and anointed by God to be the King of the Israelites, is a great Old Testament example.
David was called out of the fields as a shepherd and anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the future King of Israel during the previously anointed reign of King Saul. But Saul’s heart soured on God’s calling and the first King of Israel let his pride, arrogance, and human jealously dampen the presence and power of God’s Spirit, Who had resided in Saul’s heart as the first king of God’s chosen people. So, God’s calling was passed to young David; and we know the story of the young shepherd’s defeat of Goliath and his early affiliation with Saul, where David’s anointed power became evident to King Saul. But as David rose in prominence, the anointing left Saul and passed to David; but this didn’t mean that David had it easy from then on.
What we then see historically is that God prepared David for his kingship by sending him out into the desert as Saul pursued David, trying to kill him. In today’s vignette in 1st Samuel 20 we read of how God led David into a very close relationship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, whose love for David helped the anointed future king to be protected and to grow into the King David would become.
My fellow Christian, I don’t know where God has you right now; but if we, as Christ’s servants, are headed toward the anointed calling which The Lord has for our future, we can be assured that God is preparing us for that calling. I know that I’m in the midst of doing what God called me to do, … i.e., to lead a ministry to help Christian men walk free from habitual sexual sin strongholds in their life – you can read about it at this link . However, to prepare me for this calling, God sent me through 22 years of a harrowing desert experience; … and then six more years of pursuing my soul before I was first led to Christ and then prepared, through sanctification [seven more years of growth], for the kingdom purpose He has me carrying out for His glory now.
And I’m uplifted by the reality that even Jesus, during His earthly ministry here on earth, was led through testing and trying times so that His Father in Heaven could prepare Him to become the High Priest of all mankind where He now sits in re-throned glory (see the passage in Hebrews 5, verses 7-9 I have copied/pasted above). And I always say, “If any process is good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for all of us!”
So, if you’re going through tough times now, dear one, know that it’s highly possible – even probable – that you’re being tested or tried in some way to prepare you for some anointed purpose God has for you in His future calling on your life. And for sure, His calling will be His enablement.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank you for Your calling; but thank you even more for the anointing and testing which led me to be able to serve You, knowing that You’ll continue to grow me in the power You hold for me, Holy Spirit. … Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 20: 1 [in the context of verses 1-4] …
1 David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?
2“That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “I’m sure he’s not planning any such thing, for he always tells me everything he’s going to do, even the little things. I know he wouldn’t hide something like this from me. It just isn’t so!” 3 Then David took an oath before Jonathan and said, “Your father knows perfectly well about our friendship, so he has said to himself, ‘I won’t tell Jonathan—why should I hurt him?’ But I swear to you that I am only a step away from death! I swear it by the LORD and by your own soul!”
4“Tell me what I can do!” Jonathan exclaimed.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 1st Samuel, Chapter 20 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Hebrews 5: 7-9 : [NLT] … {If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for all of us. } …
7 While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard His prayers because of His reverence for God. 8 So even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.
My Journal for Today: My mentor taught me – and it’s true – that “God’s calling is His enablement,” … which means that whatever God’s wills and calls us to do (i.e., whatever He anoints us for in HIS purpose), He will prepare and empower us to accomplish that calling. And David, the young shepherd, who was called and anointed by God to be the King of the Israelites, is a great Old Testament example.
David was called out of the fields as a shepherd and anointed by the Prophet Samuel to be the future King of Israel during the previously anointed reign of King Saul. But Saul’s heart soured on God’s calling and the first King of Israel let his pride, arrogance, and human jealously dampen the presence and power of God’s Spirit, Who had resided in Saul’s heart as the first king of God’s chosen people. So, God’s calling was passed to young David; and we know the story of the young shepherd’s defeat of Goliath and his early affiliation with Saul, where David’s anointed power became evident to King Saul. But as David rose in prominence, the anointing left Saul and passed to David; but this didn’t mean that David had it easy from then on.
What we then see historically is that God prepared David for his kingship by sending him out into the desert as Saul pursued David, trying to kill him. In today’s vignette in 1st Samuel 20 we read of how God led David into a very close relationship with Saul’s son, Jonathan, whose love for David helped the anointed future king to be protected and to grow into the King David would become.
My fellow Christian, I don’t know where God has you right now; but if we, as Christ’s servants, are headed toward the anointed calling which The Lord has for our future, we can be assured that God is preparing us for that calling. I know that I’m in the midst of doing what God called me to do, … i.e., to lead a ministry to help Christian men walk free from habitual sexual sin strongholds in their life – you can read about it at this link . However, to prepare me for this calling, God sent me through 22 years of a harrowing desert experience; … and then six more years of pursuing my soul before I was first led to Christ and then prepared, through sanctification [seven more years of growth], for the kingdom purpose He has me carrying out for His glory now.
And I’m uplifted by the reality that even Jesus, during His earthly ministry here on earth, was led through testing and trying times so that His Father in Heaven could prepare Him to become the High Priest of all mankind where He now sits in re-throned glory (see the passage in Hebrews 5, verses 7-9 I have copied/pasted above). And I always say, “If any process is good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for all of us!”
So, if you’re going through tough times now, dear one, know that it’s highly possible – even probable – that you’re being tested or tried in some way to prepare you for some anointed purpose God has for you in His future calling on your life. And for sure, His calling will be His enablement.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank you for Your calling; but thank you even more for the anointing and testing which led me to be able to serve You, knowing that You’ll continue to grow me in the power You hold for me, Holy Spirit. … Amen
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
January 15, 2013 … Obedience vs Ability in Battle
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 15
Passage of the Day: 1st Chronicles 14: 14a; 15 …
13 But after a while, the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind them and attack them near the balsam trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistines.” 16 So David did what God commanded, and he struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 1st Chronicles, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Again, I say … I hope you know this one by now; but if not, please find, read, and meditate again on the deeper meaning of this passage for our lives, especially for our decision-making abilities.} …
My Journal for Today: We’re in a spiritual war every-day! Can I get an AMEN to that statement? …
Well, if that’s reality, isn’t also true that we need to be vigilant and make prudent decisions in the throws of daily battles with our spiritual enemies – Satan, the world, and our own flesh? So, where do we get our marching orders? Well, King David gives us the answer to that one as a living example of an experienced warrior doing battles with his enemies in those days. David was a talented and war-proven leader in battle; and when confronted with the specific task of coming against his ever-present enemies, the Philistines, David could have depended upon his experience and his own talents/abilities as a leader in battle. BUT (big “but”), as we can see in the passage from 1st Chron. 14, copied above (especially the underlined text), David went FIRST to God for his marching orders, not relying on his own talents and abilities to carry the day in battle.
How often do we confront a worldly or fleshly battle in life and we default to our own abilities or past experiences to lead us in our decision-making? Well, TOO OFTEN, at least for this old soldier, I default to try things MY WAY first. Well, David had learned the essence and internalized truth of what his own son would later pen into God’s truth, which we find in Proverbs 3: 5-6, which, as I wrote yesterday in my blog and today again, I really hope you know by heart – and then do all we can to live it!
And to summarize the comparison of doing battle MY WAY or GOD’s WAY, let me link you to two wonderful songs, sung by two great singers; and when you hear them, I think you’ll get the truth of what today’s passage is teaching us …
First – the signature song for Frank Sinatra … link to MY WAY -
Compared to – link to TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS … sung by Michael W Smith
I think the choice is clear, don’t you?
My Prayer for Today Lord, help me – lead me – pursue me … to keep my eyes on YOUR WAY and avoid doing battle MY WAY. … Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Chronicles 14: 14a; 15 …
13 But after a while, the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind them and attack them near the balsam trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistines.” 16 So David did what God commanded, and he struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 1st Chronicles, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Again, I say … I hope you know this one by now; but if not, please find, read, and meditate again on the deeper meaning of this passage for our lives, especially for our decision-making abilities.} …
My Journal for Today: We’re in a spiritual war every-day! Can I get an AMEN to that statement? …
Well, if that’s reality, isn’t also true that we need to be vigilant and make prudent decisions in the throws of daily battles with our spiritual enemies – Satan, the world, and our own flesh? So, where do we get our marching orders? Well, King David gives us the answer to that one as a living example of an experienced warrior doing battles with his enemies in those days. David was a talented and war-proven leader in battle; and when confronted with the specific task of coming against his ever-present enemies, the Philistines, David could have depended upon his experience and his own talents/abilities as a leader in battle. BUT (big “but”), as we can see in the passage from 1st Chron. 14, copied above (especially the underlined text), David went FIRST to God for his marching orders, not relying on his own talents and abilities to carry the day in battle.
How often do we confront a worldly or fleshly battle in life and we default to our own abilities or past experiences to lead us in our decision-making? Well, TOO OFTEN, at least for this old soldier, I default to try things MY WAY first. Well, David had learned the essence and internalized truth of what his own son would later pen into God’s truth, which we find in Proverbs 3: 5-6, which, as I wrote yesterday in my blog and today again, I really hope you know by heart – and then do all we can to live it!
And to summarize the comparison of doing battle MY WAY or GOD’s WAY, let me link you to two wonderful songs, sung by two great singers; and when you hear them, I think you’ll get the truth of what today’s passage is teaching us …
First – the signature song for Frank Sinatra … link to MY WAY -
Compared to – link to TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS … sung by Michael W Smith
I think the choice is clear, don’t you?
My Prayer for Today Lord, help me – lead me – pursue me … to keep my eyes on YOUR WAY and avoid doing battle MY WAY. … Amen
Monday, January 14, 2013
January 14, 2013 … Move On!
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 14
Passage of the Day: Exodus 14: 15 …
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Exodus, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {I hope you know this one by now; but if not, please find, read, and meditate again on the deeper meaning of this passage for our lives, especially for our decision making abilities. } …
Reference Passage #2: Hebrews 11: 1, 6 : [NLT] … {Faith? Do we have enough to “move on?” } …
1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. … 6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
My Journal for Today: I’ll bet you know the story in Exodus 14. God had led Moses and the Israelites to the Red Sea, which was a curious move since they could have gone around the sea. But in the meantime, Pharaoh had done a 180 and came after the Israelites whom he had freed after all those plagues. He wanted to kill them all at the Red Sea; and the people, getting wind of Pharaoh’s pursuit, buckled in fear; but Moses, having faith in their deliverance, heard the message of God to “MOVE ON;” and we know the outcome. The sea parted and they walked across on dry ground.
Ever had a “Red Sea” experience in your life, … a place where your faith was severely tested by circumstances which seemed – by sight and logic – to be overwhelmingly oppressive or almost – if not – impossible? I sure have; and my faith was severely tested, especially since I seemed to be getting the same message from God that Moses got at the Red Sea … “MOVE ON!”
Take a look at (and meditate on) the verses from that great “hall of faith” chapter - Hebrews 11, especially verses 1 and 6 - in the New Testament [copied above]. And then put those in the context of God’s wisdom from Proverbs 3: 5-6, which, as I indicate above, I hope you have memorized and internalized. And those passages cry out to believers to seek God’s way, and as you may remember from the old Nike slogan, “just do it!”, but doing it God’s way!
But sometimes, God’s way (and His will) can lead us into Red Sea places in our lives, … places where things just cry out to our flesh to wrap it up, go home, and quit. But that’s where our proactive disciplines and our faith drive us to “move on” in spite of what we see or feel.
Besides, our feelings will often appeal to our Jeremiah 17: 9 hearts, which are deceitful; and Satan knows it. So, he just loves it when we get backed up to a “Red Sea” experience; and he’ll pour gas on the flames of our discontent or discouragement, making what seems difficult to seem impossible. He’ll make us want to just crawl in a hole of our self-pity and quit on going God’s way.
So, when, as Christians, we’re up against the Red Sea; and God’s Spirit is calling, nudging, or just flat out yelling at us, to “MOVE ON,” … that is what we must do … MOVE ON … in faith, trusting that God Spirit will show us the way to walk on dry ground to the other side of our Read Sea circumstances.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank You for taking me – often – through my Red Sea places and delivering me to the other side for Your glory. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Exodus 14: 15 …
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Exodus, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {I hope you know this one by now; but if not, please find, read, and meditate again on the deeper meaning of this passage for our lives, especially for our decision making abilities. } …
Reference Passage #2: Hebrews 11: 1, 6 : [NLT] … {Faith? Do we have enough to “move on?” } …
1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see. … 6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
My Journal for Today: I’ll bet you know the story in Exodus 14. God had led Moses and the Israelites to the Red Sea, which was a curious move since they could have gone around the sea. But in the meantime, Pharaoh had done a 180 and came after the Israelites whom he had freed after all those plagues. He wanted to kill them all at the Red Sea; and the people, getting wind of Pharaoh’s pursuit, buckled in fear; but Moses, having faith in their deliverance, heard the message of God to “MOVE ON;” and we know the outcome. The sea parted and they walked across on dry ground.
Ever had a “Red Sea” experience in your life, … a place where your faith was severely tested by circumstances which seemed – by sight and logic – to be overwhelmingly oppressive or almost – if not – impossible? I sure have; and my faith was severely tested, especially since I seemed to be getting the same message from God that Moses got at the Red Sea … “MOVE ON!”
Take a look at (and meditate on) the verses from that great “hall of faith” chapter - Hebrews 11, especially verses 1 and 6 - in the New Testament [copied above]. And then put those in the context of God’s wisdom from Proverbs 3: 5-6, which, as I indicate above, I hope you have memorized and internalized. And those passages cry out to believers to seek God’s way, and as you may remember from the old Nike slogan, “just do it!”, but doing it God’s way!
But sometimes, God’s way (and His will) can lead us into Red Sea places in our lives, … places where things just cry out to our flesh to wrap it up, go home, and quit. But that’s where our proactive disciplines and our faith drive us to “move on” in spite of what we see or feel.
Besides, our feelings will often appeal to our Jeremiah 17: 9 hearts, which are deceitful; and Satan knows it. So, he just loves it when we get backed up to a “Red Sea” experience; and he’ll pour gas on the flames of our discontent or discouragement, making what seems difficult to seem impossible. He’ll make us want to just crawl in a hole of our self-pity and quit on going God’s way.
So, when, as Christians, we’re up against the Red Sea; and God’s Spirit is calling, nudging, or just flat out yelling at us, to “MOVE ON,” … that is what we must do … MOVE ON … in faith, trusting that God Spirit will show us the way to walk on dry ground to the other side of our Read Sea circumstances.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank You for taking me – often – through my Red Sea places and delivering me to the other side for Your glory. … Amen
Sunday, January 13, 2013
January 13, 2013 … Streams of Living Obedience
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 13
Passage of the Day: Psalm 40: 8 [bold/underlined] in the context of verses 6 - 8 [NLT] …
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. And this has been written about me in your scroll: 8 I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your law is written on my heart.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Psalm 40 – a Psalm of David … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Hebrews 10: 1-10 : [NLT] … {Note that the passage above from Psalm 40: 8 was quoted – from Jesus – by the Author of Hebrews in Heb. 10: 7b } To study this passage in the context of Heb. 10, … go to this link -
Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 1-2 : [NLT] … { How much do we really desire to worship God by doing His will, … by becoming living sacrifices, worshiping Him by the way we live, move, and have our being – IN HIM? } … To study this passage, … go to this link -
My Journal for Today: I once reported to my mentor, “I seem to have a lot of trouble finding God’s will for my life.” And in answer to my dilemma, my mentor asked me, “How much do you really KNOW God?”
Perplexed by this question, I asked my mentor what knowing God had to do with finding and doing God’s will, to which he responded, “To know God is to love God; … to love God is to obey God; … to obey God is to serve God; … and to serve God is to be blessed by God.”
He went on to tell me that if I desired to be blessed by God in my life, I first had to get to know Him deeply, intimately, and abidingly. And my mentor asked me, as I’m asking any who read with me here, “How do we best get to know our God?” And I think you know the answer to that, … especially if you’ve taken in today’s Bible passages above.
Today Os Hillman, the editor of my devotional study, used the word picture of our lives flowing downstream in a river, directed by the river banks, changing course, seeking out the direction pre-established by the banks of the stream, and sometimes taking radical changes in direction because they are re-directed by the river banks. But we cannot flow down that stream of life unless we’re in that river and surrendering to the direction of its banks, … can we?
David, in Psalm 40, especially the highlight verse for today, Verse 8, showed that he was in total surrender – as Paul would put it in Romans 12: 1, “a living sacrifice,” to the directions of the God David was growing to know more and more through living in the stream of God’s will. David desperately wanted to know and live within God’s will for his life; and he knew that he could only do that if he knew God will and His way from His word.
How can we seek and know God’s will for our lives? Well, we do that by getting to know – REALLY KNOW – everything we can about our LORD. And how do we do that? And I think you know – as I do – the answer to that question. We get to know our God (primarily) by getting to know Him through His word. His word establishes the riverbanks which direct the flow of our lives downstream … i.e., when we surrender to God’s predetermined path for our lives. But we will not be able to flow with God’s will for our lives if we don’t know and surrender to God’s direction, … which is found in His word.
Have you ever taken the time to not only read, but to study and meditate in depth, on the longest Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119? We don’t know the human author of that Psalm; but whoever it was, he had a deep love and desperate desire to know, love, and serve God by knowing His will through His “Book of the Law.” And so should we. If you haven’t done so, I’d charge you to take the time and really dive in and let God’s love take you downstream in your life by meditating deeply in Psalm 119.
If we really want to find and follow God’s will, I think we know that we’re not going to be able to do that unless we really know and desire to serve our God; and we’re not going to be able to do that unless we REALLY know and follow His will from knowing and following His word. So, it is the desperate desire of at least this seeker to be here EVERY DAY, digging into God’s word, seeking to know Him, love Him, and serve Him more abidingly. Because the deeper I know my God through His word, the more He will bless me by taking me down the stream of my life to that place at the end of life’s river where I’ll spend eternity with my Lord.
So, I’ll be here tomorrow too. How about you?
My Prayer for Today Lord, I desire to know You and follow Your will for my life by seeking and surrendering to You through Your word. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Psalm 40: 8 [bold/underlined] in the context of verses 6 - 8 [NLT] …
6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “Look, I have come. And this has been written about me in your scroll: 8 I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your law is written on my heart.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Psalm 40 – a Psalm of David … by using this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Hebrews 10: 1-10 : [NLT] … {Note that the passage above from Psalm 40: 8 was quoted – from Jesus – by the Author of Hebrews in Heb. 10: 7b } To study this passage in the context of Heb. 10, … go to this link -
Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 1-2 : [NLT] … { How much do we really desire to worship God by doing His will, … by becoming living sacrifices, worshiping Him by the way we live, move, and have our being – IN HIM? } … To study this passage, … go to this link -
My Journal for Today: I once reported to my mentor, “I seem to have a lot of trouble finding God’s will for my life.” And in answer to my dilemma, my mentor asked me, “How much do you really KNOW God?”
Perplexed by this question, I asked my mentor what knowing God had to do with finding and doing God’s will, to which he responded, “To know God is to love God; … to love God is to obey God; … to obey God is to serve God; … and to serve God is to be blessed by God.”
He went on to tell me that if I desired to be blessed by God in my life, I first had to get to know Him deeply, intimately, and abidingly. And my mentor asked me, as I’m asking any who read with me here, “How do we best get to know our God?” And I think you know the answer to that, … especially if you’ve taken in today’s Bible passages above.
Today Os Hillman, the editor of my devotional study, used the word picture of our lives flowing downstream in a river, directed by the river banks, changing course, seeking out the direction pre-established by the banks of the stream, and sometimes taking radical changes in direction because they are re-directed by the river banks. But we cannot flow down that stream of life unless we’re in that river and surrendering to the direction of its banks, … can we?
David, in Psalm 40, especially the highlight verse for today, Verse 8, showed that he was in total surrender – as Paul would put it in Romans 12: 1, “a living sacrifice,” to the directions of the God David was growing to know more and more through living in the stream of God’s will. David desperately wanted to know and live within God’s will for his life; and he knew that he could only do that if he knew God will and His way from His word.
How can we seek and know God’s will for our lives? Well, we do that by getting to know – REALLY KNOW – everything we can about our LORD. And how do we do that? And I think you know – as I do – the answer to that question. We get to know our God (primarily) by getting to know Him through His word. His word establishes the riverbanks which direct the flow of our lives downstream … i.e., when we surrender to God’s predetermined path for our lives. But we will not be able to flow with God’s will for our lives if we don’t know and surrender to God’s direction, … which is found in His word.
Have you ever taken the time to not only read, but to study and meditate in depth, on the longest Psalm in the Bible, Psalm 119? We don’t know the human author of that Psalm; but whoever it was, he had a deep love and desperate desire to know, love, and serve God by knowing His will through His “Book of the Law.” And so should we. If you haven’t done so, I’d charge you to take the time and really dive in and let God’s love take you downstream in your life by meditating deeply in Psalm 119.
If we really want to find and follow God’s will, I think we know that we’re not going to be able to do that unless we really know and desire to serve our God; and we’re not going to be able to do that unless we REALLY know and follow His will from knowing and following His word. So, it is the desperate desire of at least this seeker to be here EVERY DAY, digging into God’s word, seeking to know Him, love Him, and serve Him more abidingly. Because the deeper I know my God through His word, the more He will bless me by taking me down the stream of my life to that place at the end of life’s river where I’ll spend eternity with my Lord.
So, I’ll be here tomorrow too. How about you?
My Prayer for Today Lord, I desire to know You and follow Your will for my life by seeking and surrendering to You through Your word. … Amen
Saturday, January 12, 2013
January 12, 2013 … Who’s In Control?
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 12
Passage of the Day: Genesis 32: 31 [bold/underlined] in the context of verses 28-32 [NLT] … 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel [Hebrew = “one who struggles with God”], because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.” 29 “What is your name?” Jacob asked him. “Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel —“face of God” — for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 That is why even today the people of Israel don’t eat meat from near the hip, in memory of what happened that night.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Genesis, Chapter 32 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: 2nd Corinthians 12: 7-10 : [NLT] … {Sometimes God has to give us “a thorn” to keep us humble enough to receive His saving/sanctifying grace.} … To study this passage, go to this link …
My Journal for Today: This morning in my Os Hillman devotional, he closes with a quote from a Christian colleague, stating, “Beware of the Christian leader who does not walk with a limp.” And this quote is in reference to the highlight passage today from Genesis, Chapter 32 where the story of Jacob’s wrestling match with God was related.
All of us, Christians or non-believers, have a very human default to try to control our circumstances, and some, like Jacob, a bit more strongly – even obsessively – more than others. In today’s vernacular we might have diagnosed Jacob as a “control freak,” or someone with “OCD” – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. And Jacob came into the world that way, conniving and conning the family blessing away from his brother, Esau. But it took a major and cataclysmic encounter with God, a wrestling match for God’s blessing, for God to humble him to the place where God could truly bless Him, … even by giving Jacob a new family name, “Israel,” which would become the name of all of Jacob’s descendants and the nation of Israel.
So, back to the quote above, which may be taking on a more personal understanding now. Sometimes, after a long life of trying to “wrestle” control away from God, He has to break us in some way, like He did with Jacob’s hip to be able to humble that person to the place where the Lord can pour His grace into that one. And another story, in the New Testament, of such an instance is that, cited above, from 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10, where God had to wrestle the pride away from the Apostle Paul by giving him “a thorn,” which was some physical or emotional malady which Paul, through the pain of “the thorn,” recognized was necessary to keep the Apostle humble enough to receive God’s enabling/empowering grace.
What about you, fellow Christian, are you, like me often, in a wrestling match with God for control in our lives? On several occasions in my life, I had to “wrestle with God;” and he had to slam me with “His thorn” to show me that, as Jesus said to Paul in 2nd Cor. 12: 9, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” Hence the quote above that we need to beware of anyone who doesn’t “walk with a limp” in life, feeling or declaring that they have “things under control.”
I’ve learned that one of my biggest “red-flags” of personal warning is when I’m beginning to feel like I’ve got things under MY own control. DANGER … DANGER … DANGER!! And if you ever compliment me on something I’ve done and I don’t give all the credit to God, please tap me on the hip and ask me where my limp has gone. That will help me to realize that my pride has taken me to a place where I need thank God for giving me His grace to accomplish whatever you’ve seen in me that you think is admirable.
And I will now pray that God ALWAYS helps me to realize – without needing a thorn or a broken hip – that His grace is sufficient for me in the face of my weaknesses; … no, … IN ALL THINGS!!!
My Prayer for Today Lord, I know the riskiness in this prayer; but please keep me humbled before Your throne of grace so that I will realize and be thankful that You give me Your mercy, in spite of my Jacob-like nature. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Genesis 32: 31 [bold/underlined] in the context of verses 28-32 [NLT] … 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel [Hebrew = “one who struggles with God”], because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.” 29 “What is your name?” Jacob asked him. “Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. 30 Jacob named the place Peniel —“face of God” — for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun rose as he left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 That is why even today the people of Israel don’t eat meat from near the hip, in memory of what happened that night.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Genesis, Chapter 32 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: 2nd Corinthians 12: 7-10 : [NLT] … {Sometimes God has to give us “a thorn” to keep us humble enough to receive His saving/sanctifying grace.} … To study this passage, go to this link …
My Journal for Today: This morning in my Os Hillman devotional, he closes with a quote from a Christian colleague, stating, “Beware of the Christian leader who does not walk with a limp.” And this quote is in reference to the highlight passage today from Genesis, Chapter 32 where the story of Jacob’s wrestling match with God was related.
All of us, Christians or non-believers, have a very human default to try to control our circumstances, and some, like Jacob, a bit more strongly – even obsessively – more than others. In today’s vernacular we might have diagnosed Jacob as a “control freak,” or someone with “OCD” – Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. And Jacob came into the world that way, conniving and conning the family blessing away from his brother, Esau. But it took a major and cataclysmic encounter with God, a wrestling match for God’s blessing, for God to humble him to the place where God could truly bless Him, … even by giving Jacob a new family name, “Israel,” which would become the name of all of Jacob’s descendants and the nation of Israel.
So, back to the quote above, which may be taking on a more personal understanding now. Sometimes, after a long life of trying to “wrestle” control away from God, He has to break us in some way, like He did with Jacob’s hip to be able to humble that person to the place where the Lord can pour His grace into that one. And another story, in the New Testament, of such an instance is that, cited above, from 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10, where God had to wrestle the pride away from the Apostle Paul by giving him “a thorn,” which was some physical or emotional malady which Paul, through the pain of “the thorn,” recognized was necessary to keep the Apostle humble enough to receive God’s enabling/empowering grace.
What about you, fellow Christian, are you, like me often, in a wrestling match with God for control in our lives? On several occasions in my life, I had to “wrestle with God;” and he had to slam me with “His thorn” to show me that, as Jesus said to Paul in 2nd Cor. 12: 9, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” Hence the quote above that we need to beware of anyone who doesn’t “walk with a limp” in life, feeling or declaring that they have “things under control.”
I’ve learned that one of my biggest “red-flags” of personal warning is when I’m beginning to feel like I’ve got things under MY own control. DANGER … DANGER … DANGER!! And if you ever compliment me on something I’ve done and I don’t give all the credit to God, please tap me on the hip and ask me where my limp has gone. That will help me to realize that my pride has taken me to a place where I need thank God for giving me His grace to accomplish whatever you’ve seen in me that you think is admirable.
And I will now pray that God ALWAYS helps me to realize – without needing a thorn or a broken hip – that His grace is sufficient for me in the face of my weaknesses; … no, … IN ALL THINGS!!!
My Prayer for Today Lord, I know the riskiness in this prayer; but please keep me humbled before Your throne of grace so that I will realize and be thankful that You give me Your mercy, in spite of my Jacob-like nature. … Amen
Friday, January 11, 2013
January 11, 2013 … Faith Under Fire – Or Not!
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 11
Passage of the Day: Exodus 5: 23 in the context of verses 19-23 [NLT] …
19 Since Pharaoh would not let up on his demands, the Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble. 20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge you for getting us into this terrible situation with Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us!” 22 So Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you mistreated your own people like this, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Since I gave Pharaoh your message, he has been even more brutal to your people. You have not even begun to rescue them!”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Exodus, Chapter 5 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Faith can wane in the midst of privation or trials; but God smiles when it holds up.} …
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
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Reference Passage #2: Hebrews 11: 6 : [NLT] … {Obedience is real faith under fire.} …
6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
My Journal for Today: How many times in Scripture do we read of scenarios where God has to put His children through a life-fire to test their faith and to help them see that faith under fire – i.e., obedience in the face of tribulation – is necessary for God to really show off Whom He is and to receive the glory He deserves? Well, today’s text is one of those many biblical scenarios which we can read to show that God’s promises are ALWAYS true, but His timing and methods of revealing those promises very seldom fit into our time tables or our ways of doing life.
In today’s passage God gave Moses and His children His promise of freedom from Egypt. He just didn’t tell them how long it would take and what would have to transpire involving the Pharaoh to make God’s promise a reality. And when it took plague after plague after plague coming upon the Egyptians to break down the Pharaoh, God’s chosen ones found it harder and harder to extend their faith in their God and His deliverer, Moses.
Have you had any faith-building scenarios in your life where God just didn’t cooperate with your timing when you just knew God’s promise, … where God’s will just seemed WAY TOO LONG in coming? We know that God says to TRUST HIM no matter what comes our way and to avoid leaning on our own understanding (i.e., Prov. 3: 5-6 copied above). We know that’s impossible to please God without faith and He will only reward those who diligently seek after Him (i.e., Heb. 11: 6 also above). But when it comes to remaining obedient in the face of the trials of fire in our lives, our faith so often grows cold, doesn’t it?
CONVICTED!! … GUILTY!! …And I eed to take Oz Hillman’s devotional message to heart today. How often do I read, hear, and study the message in my daily Bible studies that God is God and I am not?! How often do I need to grasp the truth that I should focus my obedience on God’s promises and not on His timing or His method of showing me His way of receiving glory? How often does my faith in the truth of Romans 8: 28 [that’s one you should have memorized, if not internalized, by now] have to be tested in the fires of life?
I’ll not go on with this; because my conviction level is white hot right now; and it hurts!
My Prayer for Today Lord, I need Your faith; but I admit my weakness in being willing or able to go through the trials of life to be obedient and hold onto Your truths – in faith. Help me in my unbelief, Lord! … Amen
Passage of the Day: Exodus 5: 23 in the context of verses 19-23 [NLT] …
19 Since Pharaoh would not let up on his demands, the Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble. 20 As they left Pharaoh’s court, they met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them. 21 The foremen said to them, “May the LORD judge you for getting us into this terrible situation with Pharaoh and his officials. You have given them an excuse to kill us!” 22 So Moses went back to the LORD and protested, “Why have you mistreated your own people like this, Lord? Why did you send me? 23 Since I gave Pharaoh your message, he has been even more brutal to your people. You have not even begun to rescue them!”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Exodus, Chapter 5 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {Faith can wane in the midst of privation or trials; but God smiles when it holds up.} …
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
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Reference Passage #2: Hebrews 11: 6 : [NLT] … {Obedience is real faith under fire.} …
6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
My Journal for Today: How many times in Scripture do we read of scenarios where God has to put His children through a life-fire to test their faith and to help them see that faith under fire – i.e., obedience in the face of tribulation – is necessary for God to really show off Whom He is and to receive the glory He deserves? Well, today’s text is one of those many biblical scenarios which we can read to show that God’s promises are ALWAYS true, but His timing and methods of revealing those promises very seldom fit into our time tables or our ways of doing life.
In today’s passage God gave Moses and His children His promise of freedom from Egypt. He just didn’t tell them how long it would take and what would have to transpire involving the Pharaoh to make God’s promise a reality. And when it took plague after plague after plague coming upon the Egyptians to break down the Pharaoh, God’s chosen ones found it harder and harder to extend their faith in their God and His deliverer, Moses.
Have you had any faith-building scenarios in your life where God just didn’t cooperate with your timing when you just knew God’s promise, … where God’s will just seemed WAY TOO LONG in coming? We know that God says to TRUST HIM no matter what comes our way and to avoid leaning on our own understanding (i.e., Prov. 3: 5-6 copied above). We know that’s impossible to please God without faith and He will only reward those who diligently seek after Him (i.e., Heb. 11: 6 also above). But when it comes to remaining obedient in the face of the trials of fire in our lives, our faith so often grows cold, doesn’t it?
CONVICTED!! … GUILTY!! …And I eed to take Oz Hillman’s devotional message to heart today. How often do I read, hear, and study the message in my daily Bible studies that God is God and I am not?! How often do I need to grasp the truth that I should focus my obedience on God’s promises and not on His timing or His method of showing me His way of receiving glory? How often does my faith in the truth of Romans 8: 28 [that’s one you should have memorized, if not internalized, by now] have to be tested in the fires of life?
I’ll not go on with this; because my conviction level is white hot right now; and it hurts!
My Prayer for Today Lord, I need Your faith; but I admit my weakness in being willing or able to go through the trials of life to be obedient and hold onto Your truths – in faith. Help me in my unbelief, Lord! … Amen
Thursday, January 10, 2013
January 10, 2013 … Ghosts Revealing Glory
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 10
Passage of the Day: Matthew 14: 26 in the context of verses 25-27 [NLT] …
25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw Him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” He said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” 29 “All right, … come,” Jesus said.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Matthew, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: Isaiah 41: 10 : [NLT] … [It's like Jesus is shouting this to us in the midst of our storms.} ...
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
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Reference Passage #2: Romans 8: 28 : [NLT] … {It’s true; but do we believe it; or is it just a Bible ghost to us? } …
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.
My Journal for Today: Seen any ghosts lately? The “ghosts” in life are those circumstances which seem overwhelming and produce emotional “knee-jerk” reactions of fear in us. The circumstances are real; and the fear is, most definitely real; but when we gain the perspective of time, we often learn that there was no reason for us to have panicked because, in reflection and our 20/20 hindsight, we can see later that the circumstances were engineered, or allowed, by God Himself to teach us or train us to have more faith and to cling to the reality that God was in the circumstances for our good and His glory.
And that’s the essence of today’s highlight passage of Scripture, one of my favorite teaching passages, in this case from Matthew 14; but also found in Mark 6 and John 6. I guess I’m drawn to this story of Jesus sending His Disciples out in a boat and He coming to them in the midst of a deathly storm … because once I had a storm in my life and Jesus came to me in my storm. But you know the story as pictured above, … when Jesus came to the Disciples, walking on the water, the men, deathly afraid in the storm, reasoned that He was a ghost. But later, they discerned that He was the One they believed was the Messiah (well, at least some of them did). And Peter even was willing, at Jesus’ calling, to jump out of the boat in faith and go to Jesus; but when he did and realized what was happening, fear gripped him; and Jesus had to rescue him as he sunk in fear. Great story … with a lot of application for our lives; don’t you think?
And I think the story means so much to me because I had a time, a storm in my life, when my marriage and even my career was sinking because of a self-induced storm we were in because a lot of very bad choices on my part. And knowing that this storm of my own weakness would sink my family, I began looking for a “savior;” and I looked for redemption in far-eastern religions and self-help gurus; but I kept sinking. Finally, through an almost perfect storm of circumstances, Jesus came to me; but He seemed like a “ghost” to me; but then, … in a moment of truth, … He showed Himself to me through His word – by exposing me to Philippians 4: 13 (it’s too long of a story to relate here). But through that storm, which occurred on April 13th, 1983 (and I hope you see that this date translates to 4/13), my eyes were opened to the reality that Jesus was calling me to step out of my boat of selfishness and come to Him in surrender. And I did; and though my faith has been just about as incomplete as Peter’s was in that picture above, Jesus has been there for me; and the reality of the other passage I’ve quoted above (i.e., from Isaiah 41: 10) has become very real for me as well.
Yes, there are times – stormy times – when it’s difficult to believe the truth of another reality passage which I often quote in my daily devotionals - Romans 8: 28; but ALL of the storms of life are God’s way of showing us that He’s ALWAYS there in the midst of our storms, even if He might seem like a “ghost” to us … or maybe we can’t even discern that He’s there.
But He is; and He wants us to come to Him and let Him be our Savior. In fact, there’s another passage, which I haven’t quoted above, but which is Jesus calling to us as He bride in the midst of our storms. You may remember the verse from Revelation 3: 20. I hope you know it; because EVERYDAY, in every storm of life, that truth is Jesus calling to us saying … “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear Me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”
Any ghosts today? Look closely, Jesus is there!
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank You for always being there when the storms rage in my life. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Matthew 14: 26 in the context of verses 25-27 [NLT] …
25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw Him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” He said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you by walking on water.” 29 “All right, … come,” Jesus said.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Matthew, Chapter 14 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: Isaiah 41: 10 : [NLT] … [It's like Jesus is shouting this to us in the midst of our storms.} ...
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
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Reference Passage #2: Romans 8: 28 : [NLT] … {It’s true; but do we believe it; or is it just a Bible ghost to us? } …
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.
My Journal for Today: Seen any ghosts lately? The “ghosts” in life are those circumstances which seem overwhelming and produce emotional “knee-jerk” reactions of fear in us. The circumstances are real; and the fear is, most definitely real; but when we gain the perspective of time, we often learn that there was no reason for us to have panicked because, in reflection and our 20/20 hindsight, we can see later that the circumstances were engineered, or allowed, by God Himself to teach us or train us to have more faith and to cling to the reality that God was in the circumstances for our good and His glory.
And that’s the essence of today’s highlight passage of Scripture, one of my favorite teaching passages, in this case from Matthew 14; but also found in Mark 6 and John 6. I guess I’m drawn to this story of Jesus sending His Disciples out in a boat and He coming to them in the midst of a deathly storm … because once I had a storm in my life and Jesus came to me in my storm. But you know the story as pictured above, … when Jesus came to the Disciples, walking on the water, the men, deathly afraid in the storm, reasoned that He was a ghost. But later, they discerned that He was the One they believed was the Messiah (well, at least some of them did). And Peter even was willing, at Jesus’ calling, to jump out of the boat in faith and go to Jesus; but when he did and realized what was happening, fear gripped him; and Jesus had to rescue him as he sunk in fear. Great story … with a lot of application for our lives; don’t you think?
And I think the story means so much to me because I had a time, a storm in my life, when my marriage and even my career was sinking because of a self-induced storm we were in because a lot of very bad choices on my part. And knowing that this storm of my own weakness would sink my family, I began looking for a “savior;” and I looked for redemption in far-eastern religions and self-help gurus; but I kept sinking. Finally, through an almost perfect storm of circumstances, Jesus came to me; but He seemed like a “ghost” to me; but then, … in a moment of truth, … He showed Himself to me through His word – by exposing me to Philippians 4: 13 (it’s too long of a story to relate here). But through that storm, which occurred on April 13th, 1983 (and I hope you see that this date translates to 4/13), my eyes were opened to the reality that Jesus was calling me to step out of my boat of selfishness and come to Him in surrender. And I did; and though my faith has been just about as incomplete as Peter’s was in that picture above, Jesus has been there for me; and the reality of the other passage I’ve quoted above (i.e., from Isaiah 41: 10) has become very real for me as well.
Yes, there are times – stormy times – when it’s difficult to believe the truth of another reality passage which I often quote in my daily devotionals - Romans 8: 28; but ALL of the storms of life are God’s way of showing us that He’s ALWAYS there in the midst of our storms, even if He might seem like a “ghost” to us … or maybe we can’t even discern that He’s there.
But He is; and He wants us to come to Him and let Him be our Savior. In fact, there’s another passage, which I haven’t quoted above, but which is Jesus calling to us as He bride in the midst of our storms. You may remember the verse from Revelation 3: 20. I hope you know it; because EVERYDAY, in every storm of life, that truth is Jesus calling to us saying … “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear Me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.”
Any ghosts today? Look closely, Jesus is there!
My Prayer for Today Lord, thank You for always being there when the storms rage in my life. … Amen
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
January 9, 2013 … So, Lord, … Why So Long?
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 9
Passage of the Day: John 11: 6 in the context of verses 5-7 [NLT] …
5 Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 He stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. 7 Finally after two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to John, Chapter 11 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: John 12: 17-19 : [NLT] … {In this chapter/verse, we see the main impact of Jesus taking two days and allowing Lazarus to die. It was all part of God’s master plan to send His Son to the cross as the Lamb of God, … to save all of us from our sins. } …
17 Those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life were telling others all about it. 18 That was the main reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this mighty miracle. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “We’ve lost. Look, the whole world has gone after him!”
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Reference Passage #2: Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 : [NLT] … {Sometimes God’s delays don’t come with a built in explanation as with John, Chapters 11-12. Sometimes, we simply have to realize that Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 are true and simply trust God. } … Isaiah 55: 8-9 linked here: ... Romans 8: 28 linked here:...
My Journal for Today: As a Christian, … have you ever wondered about God’s timing when it comes to answering your prayers? With most all of us we’d have to be honest and say that “we’ve been there – felt that – and have that T-shirt of experience!!”
Common … be honest!!
Sometimes our trust in God, maybe our faith in the truth of Romans 8:28 [linked above in case you don’t know it by heart] has been tested by God’s delays or His timing in certain instances, … maybe when we’ve prayed for something to transpire. It’s hard to hold on to our faith, isn’t it [?], … especially when we’re praying for something that would seem so like God, and it just doesn’t happen in the time period which we think is reasonable?
How many, like the sisters Mary and Martha in John, Chapter 11 have prayed for healing of a loved one – or ourselves; … and the healing just wasn’t forthcoming? How many have prayed for employment or relief from financial stresses; and no matter how hard we pray and how hard we work to make things happen, no relief seems in sight? … What’s with these delays, God?
Well, if you’ve read through and studied the passages above, I’d wager that you have your answer to those questions. Yes, as Isaiah 55: 8-9 tells us, … sometimes God’s ways – i.e., God’s timing – is simply WAY BEYOND our ability to reason about them. And His timing – i.e., His delays – are often set in motion so that His ways will get much more glory through the delay than if things were to happen in our estimation of what time span is REASONABLE?
Was it REASONABLE for Jesus to delay two days so that He had to take another two days of journey time (four days in all) for Him to come to Lazarus’ family? Not according to Martha, who actually rebuked Jesus for the delay. But now that we know the final result of the scenario, was it “reasonable?” Of course, it was; because now we can see from John 12: 17-19, copied above, that this historical scenario was part of God’s Master planning to bring about Jesus’ following as well as to engineer the tension with the Sanhedrin which led to them hating Jesus and plotting His death on the cross.
Oh how hard it is for us to remember … God is GOD; and we are not!! But so often, we think God is unfair or unreasonable in not doing things the way WE think is fair or reasonable. … Yeah, I’ll bet you’ve got that T-shirt of experience. … I certainly do.
God sent me through a sin-wilderness desert experience for 22 years of my life; and even after I confessed all my bad stuff and searched diligently for spiritual strength to cover my fleshly weaknesses, He sent me through another six years of searching before I was broken enough and surrendered enough to be able to see that I needed Christ as my Redeemer, … finally understanding that I was not going to be able to find the strength I needed through far-eastern mysticism or in new age self-help gurus. And from all of those 28 years of delays, God was glorified; … and I became justified by coming to Him in faith and receiving His saving grace. Yes, for Bill Berry – though it seemed unfair – God’s timing was perfect!
Could all of this have happened quickly by having me saved at the age of 12, instead at the age of 40? Maybe; but apparently not, according to Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 it happened exactly the way it should … in the time it should … Because it happened the way it happened … in God’s timing … and for His glory. And whatever delays you’ve experienced in your life which seemed unreasonable or unfair, … perhaps it’s time to see them in the light of God being in control and desiring for us to trust Him and follow Him … no matter how long it is taking for Him to intervene.
My Prayer for Today Lord, it’s Your timing; … and I await Your glory! … Amen
Passage of the Day: John 11: 6 in the context of verses 5-7 [NLT] …
5 Although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 He stayed where he was for the next two days and did not go to them. 7 Finally after two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to John, Chapter 11 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: John 12: 17-19 : [NLT] … {In this chapter/verse, we see the main impact of Jesus taking two days and allowing Lazarus to die. It was all part of God’s master plan to send His Son to the cross as the Lamb of God, … to save all of us from our sins. } …
17 Those in the crowd who had seen Jesus call Lazarus back to life were telling others all about it. 18 That was the main reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this mighty miracle. 19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “We’ve lost. Look, the whole world has gone after him!”
===============
Reference Passage #2: Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 : [NLT] … {Sometimes God’s delays don’t come with a built in explanation as with John, Chapters 11-12. Sometimes, we simply have to realize that Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 are true and simply trust God. } … Isaiah 55: 8-9 linked here: ... Romans 8: 28 linked here:...
My Journal for Today: As a Christian, … have you ever wondered about God’s timing when it comes to answering your prayers? With most all of us we’d have to be honest and say that “we’ve been there – felt that – and have that T-shirt of experience!!”
Common … be honest!!
Sometimes our trust in God, maybe our faith in the truth of Romans 8:28 [linked above in case you don’t know it by heart] has been tested by God’s delays or His timing in certain instances, … maybe when we’ve prayed for something to transpire. It’s hard to hold on to our faith, isn’t it [?], … especially when we’re praying for something that would seem so like God, and it just doesn’t happen in the time period which we think is reasonable?
How many, like the sisters Mary and Martha in John, Chapter 11 have prayed for healing of a loved one – or ourselves; … and the healing just wasn’t forthcoming? How many have prayed for employment or relief from financial stresses; and no matter how hard we pray and how hard we work to make things happen, no relief seems in sight? … What’s with these delays, God?
Well, if you’ve read through and studied the passages above, I’d wager that you have your answer to those questions. Yes, as Isaiah 55: 8-9 tells us, … sometimes God’s ways – i.e., God’s timing – is simply WAY BEYOND our ability to reason about them. And His timing – i.e., His delays – are often set in motion so that His ways will get much more glory through the delay than if things were to happen in our estimation of what time span is REASONABLE?
Was it REASONABLE for Jesus to delay two days so that He had to take another two days of journey time (four days in all) for Him to come to Lazarus’ family? Not according to Martha, who actually rebuked Jesus for the delay. But now that we know the final result of the scenario, was it “reasonable?” Of course, it was; because now we can see from John 12: 17-19, copied above, that this historical scenario was part of God’s Master planning to bring about Jesus’ following as well as to engineer the tension with the Sanhedrin which led to them hating Jesus and plotting His death on the cross.
Oh how hard it is for us to remember … God is GOD; and we are not!! But so often, we think God is unfair or unreasonable in not doing things the way WE think is fair or reasonable. … Yeah, I’ll bet you’ve got that T-shirt of experience. … I certainly do.
God sent me through a sin-wilderness desert experience for 22 years of my life; and even after I confessed all my bad stuff and searched diligently for spiritual strength to cover my fleshly weaknesses, He sent me through another six years of searching before I was broken enough and surrendered enough to be able to see that I needed Christ as my Redeemer, … finally understanding that I was not going to be able to find the strength I needed through far-eastern mysticism or in new age self-help gurus. And from all of those 28 years of delays, God was glorified; … and I became justified by coming to Him in faith and receiving His saving grace. Yes, for Bill Berry – though it seemed unfair – God’s timing was perfect!
Could all of this have happened quickly by having me saved at the age of 12, instead at the age of 40? Maybe; but apparently not, according to Isaiah 55: 8-9 and Romans 8: 28 it happened exactly the way it should … in the time it should … Because it happened the way it happened … in God’s timing … and for His glory. And whatever delays you’ve experienced in your life which seemed unreasonable or unfair, … perhaps it’s time to see them in the light of God being in control and desiring for us to trust Him and follow Him … no matter how long it is taking for Him to intervene.
My Prayer for Today Lord, it’s Your timing; … and I await Your glory! … Amen
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
January 8, 2013 … Letting God Take It
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 8
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 16: 11-12 [NLT] …
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it 12 And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 2nd Samuel 16 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: 1st Peter 5: 7 : [NLT] … {Choosing to let the horizontal cares of the world be dealt with by our vertical relationship with God. } …
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.
My Journal for Today: Got any footholds of anger or anguish or revenge in your life that you’re holding onto tightly and you know is separating you from a deeper relationship with God?
Today, Oz Hillman, the editor of my daily devotional reading, points in Scripture to an incident where King David, who had a lot on his mind with his son, Absalom, trying to kill him and assume the throne, was confronted by someone from Saul’s family who hated him enough to throw rocks at the king. If you’ve read 2nd Samuel 16 for the context of this story, you’ll see that David could have had this man, Shimei, killed; … but he didn’t. He let it go, having faith that God would deal this issue; and David even reasoned that if he turned it over to God, perhaps the Lord would bless him in some way.
So, we need to ask ourselves, and I repeat my question from above. Are we holding on to any issues in our horizontal dealings in life which need to be turned over vertically to God? Maybe we have someone where selfish anger or bitterness is holding us back from forgiving that person. Perhaps there’s some lingering sin stronghold, maybe a substance abuse issue or an obsession with pornography, which blunts our relationship with Christ. Whatever it is, we need to follow the exhortation of the Apostle Peter in the reference passage which I’ve quoted above from 1st Peter 5: 7.
We need to take this horizontal issue in our here-and-now life and turn it over to our vertical relationship with God, Who cared enough to deal with our most plaguing issue in life, our sin, by sending His Son to take that burden on Himself … vertically and eternally. Whatever it is that is getting in the way of our vertical fellowship with God, we need to cast that horizontal issue aside and let God deal with it.
I’ve got my own horizontal sin strongholds that I need to pray that God will take over today. You’ll have to pray for God to take yours and release you to have a more abiding relationship with our Lord.
As the old Nike slogan says, … ”Just do it!
My Prayer for Today Lord, you know my horizontally-based issues in life, … those which stand between us. Take them, Lord, … especially the gluttony; and give me more of Your grace in the vertical to deal with life more effectively and for Your glory. … Amen
Passage of the Day: 2nd Samuel 16: 11-12 [NLT] …
11 Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “My own son is trying to kill me. Doesn’t this relative of Saul have even more reason to do so? Leave him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to do it 12 And perhaps the Lord will see that I am being wronged and will bless me because of these curses today.”
============
Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to 2nd Samuel 16 … by using this link …
============
Reference Passage: 1st Peter 5: 7 : [NLT] … {Choosing to let the horizontal cares of the world be dealt with by our vertical relationship with God. } …
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.
My Journal for Today: Got any footholds of anger or anguish or revenge in your life that you’re holding onto tightly and you know is separating you from a deeper relationship with God?
Today, Oz Hillman, the editor of my daily devotional reading, points in Scripture to an incident where King David, who had a lot on his mind with his son, Absalom, trying to kill him and assume the throne, was confronted by someone from Saul’s family who hated him enough to throw rocks at the king. If you’ve read 2nd Samuel 16 for the context of this story, you’ll see that David could have had this man, Shimei, killed; … but he didn’t. He let it go, having faith that God would deal this issue; and David even reasoned that if he turned it over to God, perhaps the Lord would bless him in some way.
So, we need to ask ourselves, and I repeat my question from above. Are we holding on to any issues in our horizontal dealings in life which need to be turned over vertically to God? Maybe we have someone where selfish anger or bitterness is holding us back from forgiving that person. Perhaps there’s some lingering sin stronghold, maybe a substance abuse issue or an obsession with pornography, which blunts our relationship with Christ. Whatever it is, we need to follow the exhortation of the Apostle Peter in the reference passage which I’ve quoted above from 1st Peter 5: 7.
We need to take this horizontal issue in our here-and-now life and turn it over to our vertical relationship with God, Who cared enough to deal with our most plaguing issue in life, our sin, by sending His Son to take that burden on Himself … vertically and eternally. Whatever it is that is getting in the way of our vertical fellowship with God, we need to cast that horizontal issue aside and let God deal with it.
I’ve got my own horizontal sin strongholds that I need to pray that God will take over today. You’ll have to pray for God to take yours and release you to have a more abiding relationship with our Lord.
As the old Nike slogan says, … ”Just do it!
My Prayer for Today Lord, you know my horizontally-based issues in life, … those which stand between us. Take them, Lord, … especially the gluttony; and give me more of Your grace in the vertical to deal with life more effectively and for Your glory. … Amen
Monday, January 07, 2013
January 7, 2013 … Our Time In the Desert
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 7
Passage of the Day: Hosea 2: 14 [NLT] … 14 “But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her out into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Hosea, Chapter 2 … by using this link …
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Reference Passage: 2nd Samuel 22: 20 : [NLT] … {Upon being rescued from all those years running from Saul out in the desert wilderness, David wrote a song which can be found in 2nd Sam. 22, … one of the lines reads thusly … } …
He led me to a place of safety; … He rescued me because he delights in me.
My Journal for Today: Have you ever noticed in scripture how many times God leads His children into and out of a desert experience to get their attention and to season them for some work He has for them to do? … There was Moses in the desert for over 40 years before he was led into Egypt to free God’s people; … and previously God had led Joseph into a desert of Egypt for 13 years, before God used Him for His glory there. For King David there were all those years running from cave to cave in the Negev, trying to stay alive as Saul tried to chase him down and kill him. And in the New Testament after God got the attention of Saul of Tarsus, the Lord led His Apostle Paul into the deserts of Arabia for three years of seasoning before God used him mightily as His evangelist to the Gentiles. And in today’s verse we read of God wooing His children out of the desert to be able to “speak tenderly to her” as a husband might speak to his bride. …
So, … what’s with the desert experience which prepares one for God’s will?
Maybe you’ve had a time of wandering “in the desert” of your life before you were seasoned and ready to be used by God for His purposes. I sure had my time, … wandering the wilderness of habitual sexual selfishness, disobedience, and degradation; … for 22 years of thirsty wandering, … which God used to show me just how much I needed His water of life and His redeeming grace. Twenty-two years of my life where God seasoned me to surrender in humility to Him so that He could use me for HIS glory now as His vessel of ministry.
Unfortunately some of God’s children need more seasoning in the deserts of life than others. Oz Hillman, in His “God Is First” devotional for today, quotes an anonymous author, who apparently wrote, "God uses enlarged trials to produce enlarged saints so He can put them in enlarged places!" And I think that captures the essence of what we need to glean from this quiet-time with God as you might be reading this. Maybe you’re in the midst of your “desert experience” right now, where God is allowing you to ruminate in your own selfishness and the outcomes of your sin choices. Or maybe, and I would pray this for you, … that you’re now experiencing that lovely oasis with God after your trek through the valley of the shadow of death where you once wandered, thirsting after God’s living waters, but now being refreshed by Him as you drink from His love.
Drink, my friend, from that well of righteousness, … like the one Jesus offered to the woman at the well in the desert of her sin in John 4. Be strengthened by God’s righteous right hand after you’ve been so weak from your own desert experience (see Isaiah 41: 10). God is waiting to dined with us and restore us after we’ve been so famished by the desert of our own disobedience (see Revelation 3: 20). But we’ve got to CHOOSE to open that door and dine WITH Him, coming out of the desert of our selfishness and into the oasis of our Savior’s love, where He can feed us with His truth, revive us with His living waters, and restore us with the strength we need to serve Him in glory.
But God’s question from His Spirit today is … “Are we willing to come out of the desert and receive all we need to do our Lord’s will?” And for this, always famished warrior, my prayer today is addressed …
My Prayer for Today … Every day, Lord … every day … I come here to avoid going back into the desert of my own desires and to lavish in the fruit of Your Spirit and to drink from Your living waters. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Hosea 2: 14 [NLT] … 14 “But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her out into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.”
============
Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to Hosea, Chapter 2 … by using this link …
============
Reference Passage: 2nd Samuel 22: 20 : [NLT] … {Upon being rescued from all those years running from Saul out in the desert wilderness, David wrote a song which can be found in 2nd Sam. 22, … one of the lines reads thusly … } …
He led me to a place of safety; … He rescued me because he delights in me.
My Journal for Today: Have you ever noticed in scripture how many times God leads His children into and out of a desert experience to get their attention and to season them for some work He has for them to do? … There was Moses in the desert for over 40 years before he was led into Egypt to free God’s people; … and previously God had led Joseph into a desert of Egypt for 13 years, before God used Him for His glory there. For King David there were all those years running from cave to cave in the Negev, trying to stay alive as Saul tried to chase him down and kill him. And in the New Testament after God got the attention of Saul of Tarsus, the Lord led His Apostle Paul into the deserts of Arabia for three years of seasoning before God used him mightily as His evangelist to the Gentiles. And in today’s verse we read of God wooing His children out of the desert to be able to “speak tenderly to her” as a husband might speak to his bride. …
So, … what’s with the desert experience which prepares one for God’s will?
Maybe you’ve had a time of wandering “in the desert” of your life before you were seasoned and ready to be used by God for His purposes. I sure had my time, … wandering the wilderness of habitual sexual selfishness, disobedience, and degradation; … for 22 years of thirsty wandering, … which God used to show me just how much I needed His water of life and His redeeming grace. Twenty-two years of my life where God seasoned me to surrender in humility to Him so that He could use me for HIS glory now as His vessel of ministry.
Unfortunately some of God’s children need more seasoning in the deserts of life than others. Oz Hillman, in His “God Is First” devotional for today, quotes an anonymous author, who apparently wrote, "God uses enlarged trials to produce enlarged saints so He can put them in enlarged places!" And I think that captures the essence of what we need to glean from this quiet-time with God as you might be reading this. Maybe you’re in the midst of your “desert experience” right now, where God is allowing you to ruminate in your own selfishness and the outcomes of your sin choices. Or maybe, and I would pray this for you, … that you’re now experiencing that lovely oasis with God after your trek through the valley of the shadow of death where you once wandered, thirsting after God’s living waters, but now being refreshed by Him as you drink from His love.
Drink, my friend, from that well of righteousness, … like the one Jesus offered to the woman at the well in the desert of her sin in John 4. Be strengthened by God’s righteous right hand after you’ve been so weak from your own desert experience (see Isaiah 41: 10). God is waiting to dined with us and restore us after we’ve been so famished by the desert of our own disobedience (see Revelation 3: 20). But we’ve got to CHOOSE to open that door and dine WITH Him, coming out of the desert of our selfishness and into the oasis of our Savior’s love, where He can feed us with His truth, revive us with His living waters, and restore us with the strength we need to serve Him in glory.
But God’s question from His Spirit today is … “Are we willing to come out of the desert and receive all we need to do our Lord’s will?” And for this, always famished warrior, my prayer today is addressed …
My Prayer for Today … Every day, Lord … every day … I come here to avoid going back into the desert of my own desires and to lavish in the fruit of Your Spirit and to drink from Your living waters. … Amen
Sunday, January 06, 2013
January 6, 2013 … Gettng Ahead of God’s Will
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 6
Passage of the Day: John 3: 27 [NLT] … 27 John [the Baptist] replied, “God in heaven appoints each person’s work….”
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to John 3: 22-36 by using this link …
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Reference Passage: 1st Chronicles 29: 13-14 : [NLT] … Using this link to study this passage ... {King David prayed to God, dedicating the materials God had given His children to build the Temple, … the Temple which David was anointed to plan and Solomon to build; and David recognized the truth that in this live we can only build what God gives us to build under His will.}
My Journal for Today: Have you ever watched some project or plan which you put together “go up in smoke” as all your work fell apart all around you? And maybe your remembrance is saying, “Yep; … been there and I have the memory T-shirt to prove it!” … Well, perhaps that project or those plans didn’t pan out because you jumped into the project under YOUR WILL and YOUR PLANNING and God couldn’t bless the project with His providence because it wasn’t HIS WILL and HIS PLANS for your life.
That’s the principle Oz Hillman, my devotional editor, has laid out in a couple of passages from God’s word for today. The first one is a passage describing John the Baptist. laying out the reality of Jesus as THE MESSIAH to those who had been disciples of John. He explained to them that Jesus was THE ONE; and in today’s highlight passage from John 3, he was pointing out that it is God, in the Person of Jesus, who must be the One Who lays out the plans for our lives. And this principle was also recognized by King David when he dedicated the plans for God’s Temple in 1st Chronicles 29, by praising God for the providence THE LORD HAD PROVIDED to build the Temple that HE, THE LORD, would lead them to build for God’s glory.
And if you’re reading along with me today, I’ll bet you know that it’s a human default, especially for us men, to want to “do it FOR God” … rather than to “do it WITH God.” I’ve always been one who had a tendency to run out ahead and do it MY WAY rather than patiently waiting for God to show me how to carry out HIS plans and do life HIS way. Am I sensing someone out there saying … “Ugh … me too?”
Well, let’s take some absolutely true and very pertinent advice from King David and John the Baptist, and wait on God’s plans to show us His way and then patiently wait on God’s providence to give us what HE DESIRES and what HE HAS PLANNED for us to complete HIS WORK. And when we do it HIS WAY, it will be for HIS GLORY.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thanks for the reminder to move out with YOUR plans in YOUR timing … and to do life …YOUR way. … Amen
Passage of the Day: John 3: 27 [NLT] … 27 John [the Baptist] replied, “God in heaven appoints each person’s work….”
============
Contextual Reference Passage: … To study today’s highlight passage in context, go to John 3: 22-36 by using this link …
============
Reference Passage: 1st Chronicles 29: 13-14 : [NLT] … Using this link to study this passage ... {King David prayed to God, dedicating the materials God had given His children to build the Temple, … the Temple which David was anointed to plan and Solomon to build; and David recognized the truth that in this live we can only build what God gives us to build under His will.}
My Journal for Today: Have you ever watched some project or plan which you put together “go up in smoke” as all your work fell apart all around you? And maybe your remembrance is saying, “Yep; … been there and I have the memory T-shirt to prove it!” … Well, perhaps that project or those plans didn’t pan out because you jumped into the project under YOUR WILL and YOUR PLANNING and God couldn’t bless the project with His providence because it wasn’t HIS WILL and HIS PLANS for your life.
That’s the principle Oz Hillman, my devotional editor, has laid out in a couple of passages from God’s word for today. The first one is a passage describing John the Baptist. laying out the reality of Jesus as THE MESSIAH to those who had been disciples of John. He explained to them that Jesus was THE ONE; and in today’s highlight passage from John 3, he was pointing out that it is God, in the Person of Jesus, who must be the One Who lays out the plans for our lives. And this principle was also recognized by King David when he dedicated the plans for God’s Temple in 1st Chronicles 29, by praising God for the providence THE LORD HAD PROVIDED to build the Temple that HE, THE LORD, would lead them to build for God’s glory.
And if you’re reading along with me today, I’ll bet you know that it’s a human default, especially for us men, to want to “do it FOR God” … rather than to “do it WITH God.” I’ve always been one who had a tendency to run out ahead and do it MY WAY rather than patiently waiting for God to show me how to carry out HIS plans and do life HIS way. Am I sensing someone out there saying … “Ugh … me too?”
Well, let’s take some absolutely true and very pertinent advice from King David and John the Baptist, and wait on God’s plans to show us His way and then patiently wait on God’s providence to give us what HE DESIRES and what HE HAS PLANNED for us to complete HIS WORK. And when we do it HIS WAY, it will be for HIS GLORY.
My Prayer for Today Lord, thanks for the reminder to move out with YOUR plans in YOUR timing … and to do life …YOUR way. … Amen
Saturday, January 05, 2013
January 5, 2013 … Leaders Leading - Followers Following
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 5
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 22: 2 [NLT] …
1 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and other relatives joined him there. 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the leader of about four hundred men. .
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study 1st Samuel 22, use this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {We so often look at externals, at things like worldly success, to judge someone as worthy or unworthy as a Christian. But all God wants from us is surrender and a willing heart to use what HE gives us to serve Him.} … The passage linked here ...
My Journal for Today: Oz Hillman’s editing from the Ministry To Men daily devotional I’m using this year has me back in 1st Samuel 22 again this morning, … this time into Verse 2 where David, on the run from King Saul, is hold up in a cave and the dregs of the Hebrew kingdom begin coming to him, looking for advice, protection, and leadership.
I’ve heard it said, by whom I don’t know, “Leaders lead!” And the young king-to-be, David, whether he wanted to or not, became the leader of a small, rag-tag bunch of misfits and what the world would have labeled as “failures.” But these men were willing to follow a man, David, whose fame was spreading as the man their God had anointed to be THE KING; and they were willing to do whatever David led them to do.
General Douglas MacArthur was quoted to have said, “A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him.” Well, if that’s the case, David should have a failure, leading this crew of worldly failures against King Saul; but we know, from history, that David’s little army of rejects, off hiding in this cave in our text for today, would later be called “David’s mighty men” (see 1st Chron. 11: 10). So, we need to realize that what may seem improbable to the world is completely possible when a leader is following God’s will and there are others willing to follow him.
The Apostle Paul wrote to a misguided and failing church in Corinth (see 1st Cor. 11: 1 - paraphrased), “You can follow me, because I follow Christ;” … and Paul was able to express this confidence because he knew the truth of the reference passage I’ve repeated above from yesterday’s devotional (i.e., Prov. 3: 5-6). Paul knew that if he was fully willing to do what Jesus commanded of His disciples in Luke 9: 23 (which I hope you know by now since I quote it so often), that anyone else who followed him [Paul] would be on the right path because Paul was faithfully following Christ.
That’s what David relied upon as well. And that’s what begs the question today, “Whom are WE following?” Are we faithfully following a leader or leaders who are surrendered and following Christ obediently? Because if we follow Godly leaders, leaders who faithfully adhere to God’s word and seek His will, we just might go from being worldly failures to Godly successes. We may not be much – by worldly standards now – but if we deny our selves and follow Christ, by following the leadership of those who are obedient to God’s will, showing the way for us to follow, we can become “mighty men (or women) of God” as David’s rat-tag cave dwellers later became.
My Prayer for Today Lord, help me to follow Your leaders, who follow Your will from Your word, and lead me to serve You for Your glory.… Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 22: 2 [NLT] …
1 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and other relatives joined him there. 2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the leader of about four hundred men. .
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study 1st Samuel 22, use this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {We so often look at externals, at things like worldly success, to judge someone as worthy or unworthy as a Christian. But all God wants from us is surrender and a willing heart to use what HE gives us to serve Him.} … The passage linked here ...
My Journal for Today: Oz Hillman’s editing from the Ministry To Men daily devotional I’m using this year has me back in 1st Samuel 22 again this morning, … this time into Verse 2 where David, on the run from King Saul, is hold up in a cave and the dregs of the Hebrew kingdom begin coming to him, looking for advice, protection, and leadership.
I’ve heard it said, by whom I don’t know, “Leaders lead!” And the young king-to-be, David, whether he wanted to or not, became the leader of a small, rag-tag bunch of misfits and what the world would have labeled as “failures.” But these men were willing to follow a man, David, whose fame was spreading as the man their God had anointed to be THE KING; and they were willing to do whatever David led them to do.
General Douglas MacArthur was quoted to have said, “A general is just as good or just as bad as the troops under his command make him.” Well, if that’s the case, David should have a failure, leading this crew of worldly failures against King Saul; but we know, from history, that David’s little army of rejects, off hiding in this cave in our text for today, would later be called “David’s mighty men” (see 1st Chron. 11: 10). So, we need to realize that what may seem improbable to the world is completely possible when a leader is following God’s will and there are others willing to follow him.
The Apostle Paul wrote to a misguided and failing church in Corinth (see 1st Cor. 11: 1 - paraphrased), “You can follow me, because I follow Christ;” … and Paul was able to express this confidence because he knew the truth of the reference passage I’ve repeated above from yesterday’s devotional (i.e., Prov. 3: 5-6). Paul knew that if he was fully willing to do what Jesus commanded of His disciples in Luke 9: 23 (which I hope you know by now since I quote it so often), that anyone else who followed him [Paul] would be on the right path because Paul was faithfully following Christ.
That’s what David relied upon as well. And that’s what begs the question today, “Whom are WE following?” Are we faithfully following a leader or leaders who are surrendered and following Christ obediently? Because if we follow Godly leaders, leaders who faithfully adhere to God’s word and seek His will, we just might go from being worldly failures to Godly successes. We may not be much – by worldly standards now – but if we deny our selves and follow Christ, by following the leadership of those who are obedient to God’s will, showing the way for us to follow, we can become “mighty men (or women) of God” as David’s rat-tag cave dwellers later became.
My Prayer for Today Lord, help me to follow Your leaders, who follow Your will from Your word, and lead me to serve You for Your glory.… Amen
Friday, January 04, 2013
January 4, 2013 … Moving Out In Faith
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 4
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 22: 5 [NLT] …
One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.!
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study 1st Samuel 22 use this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {When we’re discouraged, we often need a fresh perspective from Godly prophets who can help us trust in the Lord’s leading. I’m hoping any reader here already knows this passage from Solomon’s (i.e., God’s) writing. But if you don’t go seek it out from God’s word or someone discerning to help you find God's way; and then, if you don't follow it from any cave of discouragement you may be in, onward to the land of praise and peace where God will lead you; I guess that's your choice. ... Here’s the link to the Proverb in the NLT.} …
My Journal for Today: In today’s devotional passage, we find David in a tough place. His King has gone totally paranoid on him and has marked David as a turncoat. And Saul has begun purging anybody allied with David, even including the Priests of God. And many of the down-and-outers of the kingdom are coming to David for shelter. And young David, the anointed one, is off in a cave, protecting as many of God’s people as he can, … probably very discouraged at what has transpired, … and probably praying or thinking, “Lord, where do I go from here?!”
Ever been in a place like that in your life, a place of discouragement, where God seemed to be distant or unhearing? It’s so easy to crawl deeper and deeper into that hole of discouragement and let the world go on without you. I’ve been there. I have that t-shirt. Maybe you’re there right now.
Well, David was wise to listen to one with prophetic gifts; and the prophet of Gad told David to leave that stronghold of discouragement and head to the land of “Judah.” Oz Hillman, in his devotional piece I was led to read for today, taught me that the Hebrew translation of “Judah” is our concept of “peace.” So, in essence, the prophet was telling David, “You must leave this cave of protected discouragement and move out to God’s place of peace!” And that’s what my reference passage of Prov. 3: 5-6 often helps us to do, … to move from our cave of self-pity, … onward and outward, … and to seek out God’s place of peace.
But as David would discover, leaving one’s cave of self-pity, seeking God’s peace, will often lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. But we must move out of our cave of self and move toward the land of peace to which our Savior is leading us. Again, as I so often do – I’m led to Luke 9: 23, where Jesus Himself calls His disciples ( and that’s you and me, friend) to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses in life daily, and to follow the Lord’s lead. And many times that might mean seeking out someone, possibly with God’s gift of discernment, to help exhort us onward and outward and to move in God’s direction, using His truth and Godly discerning leaders to help us see God’s way out of our cave of self-pity.
As you read this today, I don’t where you are; but I’ve certainly been in my share of self-pity caves in my life; and quite often I was led outward and onward to seek God’s peace by discerning mentors or Godly leaders who knew that where I was would only lead me inward into self, and also knowing that only moving outward to seek God’s way would I ultimately find the land of peace (i.e,. that “Judah”).
If you’re in that cave of self-pity today, my friend, I will pray that you find someone to help you move outward and onward to find the land of Judah to which God will lead you.
My Prayer for Today ... Holy Father, if any are reading this and caught in a cave of discouragement, help them to see that they must move outward to seek after Your land of Judah in their lives. … Amen
Passage of the Day: 1st Samuel 22: 5 [NLT] …
One day the prophet Gad told David, “Leave the stronghold and return to the land of Judah.” So David went to the forest of Hereth.!
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Contextual Reference Passage: … To study 1st Samuel 22 use this link …
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Reference Passage: Proverbs 3: 5-6 : [NLT] … {When we’re discouraged, we often need a fresh perspective from Godly prophets who can help us trust in the Lord’s leading. I’m hoping any reader here already knows this passage from Solomon’s (i.e., God’s) writing. But if you don’t go seek it out from God’s word or someone discerning to help you find God's way; and then, if you don't follow it from any cave of discouragement you may be in, onward to the land of praise and peace where God will lead you; I guess that's your choice. ... Here’s the link to the Proverb in the NLT.} …
My Journal for Today: In today’s devotional passage, we find David in a tough place. His King has gone totally paranoid on him and has marked David as a turncoat. And Saul has begun purging anybody allied with David, even including the Priests of God. And many of the down-and-outers of the kingdom are coming to David for shelter. And young David, the anointed one, is off in a cave, protecting as many of God’s people as he can, … probably very discouraged at what has transpired, … and probably praying or thinking, “Lord, where do I go from here?!”
Ever been in a place like that in your life, a place of discouragement, where God seemed to be distant or unhearing? It’s so easy to crawl deeper and deeper into that hole of discouragement and let the world go on without you. I’ve been there. I have that t-shirt. Maybe you’re there right now.
Well, David was wise to listen to one with prophetic gifts; and the prophet of Gad told David to leave that stronghold of discouragement and head to the land of “Judah.” Oz Hillman, in his devotional piece I was led to read for today, taught me that the Hebrew translation of “Judah” is our concept of “peace.” So, in essence, the prophet was telling David, “You must leave this cave of protected discouragement and move out to God’s place of peace!” And that’s what my reference passage of Prov. 3: 5-6 often helps us to do, … to move from our cave of self-pity, … onward and outward, … and to seek out God’s place of peace.
But as David would discover, leaving one’s cave of self-pity, seeking God’s peace, will often lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. But we must move out of our cave of self and move toward the land of peace to which our Savior is leading us. Again, as I so often do – I’m led to Luke 9: 23, where Jesus Himself calls His disciples ( and that’s you and me, friend) to deny ourselves, to take up our crosses in life daily, and to follow the Lord’s lead. And many times that might mean seeking out someone, possibly with God’s gift of discernment, to help exhort us onward and outward and to move in God’s direction, using His truth and Godly discerning leaders to help us see God’s way out of our cave of self-pity.
As you read this today, I don’t where you are; but I’ve certainly been in my share of self-pity caves in my life; and quite often I was led outward and onward to seek God’s peace by discerning mentors or Godly leaders who knew that where I was would only lead me inward into self, and also knowing that only moving outward to seek God’s way would I ultimately find the land of peace (i.e,. that “Judah”).
If you’re in that cave of self-pity today, my friend, I will pray that you find someone to help you move outward and onward to find the land of Judah to which God will lead you.
My Prayer for Today ... Holy Father, if any are reading this and caught in a cave of discouragement, help them to see that they must move outward to seek after Your land of Judah in their lives. … Amen
Thursday, January 03, 2013
January 3, 2013 … Our Positioning In Life
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 3
Passage of the Day: Proverbs 27: 2 [NLT] …
2 Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!
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Comparative Reference Passage: … 2nd Chronicles 14: 2, 17 [NLT] …
2 And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom very great for the sake of his people Israel. … 17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David.
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2nd Comparative Reference Passage: 2nd Corinthians 10: 17 – 18 : [NLT] … {Note Paul’s warning about having an exalted position of one’s self. And where Paul also quoted Jeremiah in verse 17, indicating the our position in this world should only come from our relationship with the Lord.} … 17 As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” [Jer. 9: 24] ... 18 When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different!
My Journal for Today: If you were to stand before some class where you were the instructor and you gave them the opportunity to write on a 3X5 card one ANONYMOUS descriptor (a word or phrase) which would describe their feelings about you, …what do you think they would write? Because, … what that group would write on those cards would – in some measure – describe their opinion about your POSITION in life (i.e., in their perception … at that moment in time).
Oz Hillman, the author of the devotions I’m using this year, was an advertising executive for many years; and he writes: “For years, I spent time and money seeking to position our company in the minds of our prospective clients. Although it would seem that is a natural and logical marketing function, I later discovered there is a dangerous flaw when we attempt to position ourselves by promoting our own attributes. I discovered that positioning is a by-product of who we are and what we do, not an end in itself."
It’s interesting to look at how one’s POSITION in life can somehow be skewed from the reality of who someone really is. King David’s position in the eyes of Israel rose to great heights (see the passages quoted above as contextual references from 2nd Chronicles 14). He recognized that God had allowed his POSITION in life to be elevated for God’s purposes. But we know from Scripture that David was not a flawless man. Historically, he was an adulterer and a murderer during the time he was king of Israel; and yet, in the eyes of God, and in the eyes of many of God’s people, he was “a man after God’s own heart.”
Today’s highlight passage, written by David’s son, Solomon, tells us to beware of trying to use our own self-advertising to promote our own image in the eyes of others; and in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul picked up on that when he exhorted Christians, by quoting the Prophet Jeremiah (see the quote above), to boast only about what God has done in and through our lives, making sure that our POSITION in life is in the context of our relationship with God.
In reality, is it not true that our POSITION in life is only important when God is using our stewardship of His providential time, talents, and treasures … for HIS glory … now our own? Yes, … others may perceive us to be a good, and even Godly, person; but that perception is only important if/when those people know that our position is what it is – in their perception – because of what God has wrought, … not because of what we’ve done to promote or position ourselves as Godly in their minds.
So, what is this saying to us, especially as we’re entering into a new year? Well, it’s really quite simple. If we’re seen in the eyes of others as a GOD-following, Godly person, we should do all we can to make sure they’re seeing our POSITION in that way because of what GOD is doing in and through our lives! And we should be doing NOTHING to make our own selves important in the eyes of others. In other words, our POSITION in life should only come from us doing exactly what Jesus said we should be doing as His disciples, … which I would hope you’d know from Luke 9: 23; and just in case you don’t have that one memorized, let me link you to it here.
And when we live out that command from our Lord, we’ll be exactly in the POSITION God wants us to be … i.e., following Him; … and prayerfully leading others to Him in the process. That is certainly my committed goal for 2013; and I hope you join me on this path.
My Prayer for Today Lord, may others see me only where I am because of my following You. … Amen
Passage of the Day: Proverbs 27: 2 [NLT] …
2 Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!
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Comparative Reference Passage: … 2nd Chronicles 14: 2, 17 [NLT] …
2 And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom very great for the sake of his people Israel. … 17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David.
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2nd Comparative Reference Passage: 2nd Corinthians 10: 17 – 18 : [NLT] … {Note Paul’s warning about having an exalted position of one’s self. And where Paul also quoted Jeremiah in verse 17, indicating the our position in this world should only come from our relationship with the Lord.} … 17 As the Scriptures say, “The person who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.” [Jer. 9: 24] ... 18 When people boast about themselves, it doesn’t count for much. But when the Lord commends someone, that’s different!
My Journal for Today: If you were to stand before some class where you were the instructor and you gave them the opportunity to write on a 3X5 card one ANONYMOUS descriptor (a word or phrase) which would describe their feelings about you, …what do you think they would write? Because, … what that group would write on those cards would – in some measure – describe their opinion about your POSITION in life (i.e., in their perception … at that moment in time).
Oz Hillman, the author of the devotions I’m using this year, was an advertising executive for many years; and he writes: “For years, I spent time and money seeking to position our company in the minds of our prospective clients. Although it would seem that is a natural and logical marketing function, I later discovered there is a dangerous flaw when we attempt to position ourselves by promoting our own attributes. I discovered that positioning is a by-product of who we are and what we do, not an end in itself."
It’s interesting to look at how one’s POSITION in life can somehow be skewed from the reality of who someone really is. King David’s position in the eyes of Israel rose to great heights (see the passages quoted above as contextual references from 2nd Chronicles 14). He recognized that God had allowed his POSITION in life to be elevated for God’s purposes. But we know from Scripture that David was not a flawless man. Historically, he was an adulterer and a murderer during the time he was king of Israel; and yet, in the eyes of God, and in the eyes of many of God’s people, he was “a man after God’s own heart.”
Today’s highlight passage, written by David’s son, Solomon, tells us to beware of trying to use our own self-advertising to promote our own image in the eyes of others; and in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul picked up on that when he exhorted Christians, by quoting the Prophet Jeremiah (see the quote above), to boast only about what God has done in and through our lives, making sure that our POSITION in life is in the context of our relationship with God.
In reality, is it not true that our POSITION in life is only important when God is using our stewardship of His providential time, talents, and treasures … for HIS glory … now our own? Yes, … others may perceive us to be a good, and even Godly, person; but that perception is only important if/when those people know that our position is what it is – in their perception – because of what God has wrought, … not because of what we’ve done to promote or position ourselves as Godly in their minds.
So, what is this saying to us, especially as we’re entering into a new year? Well, it’s really quite simple. If we’re seen in the eyes of others as a GOD-following, Godly person, we should do all we can to make sure they’re seeing our POSITION in that way because of what GOD is doing in and through our lives! And we should be doing NOTHING to make our own selves important in the eyes of others. In other words, our POSITION in life should only come from us doing exactly what Jesus said we should be doing as His disciples, … which I would hope you’d know from Luke 9: 23; and just in case you don’t have that one memorized, let me link you to it here.
And when we live out that command from our Lord, we’ll be exactly in the POSITION God wants us to be … i.e., following Him; … and prayerfully leading others to Him in the process. That is certainly my committed goal for 2013; and I hope you join me on this path.
My Prayer for Today Lord, may others see me only where I am because of my following You. … Amen
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
January 2, 2013 … The Unseen Lord
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 2
Passage of the Day: Genesis 42: 36 [NLT] … 36 Jacob exclaimed, “You have deprived me of my children! Joseph has disappeared, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin, too. … Everything is going against me!”
Contextual Reference Passage: … Genesis, Chapter 42 To study this chapter, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Deuteronomy 31: 8 : [NLT] … {Every been in a place in your life when God just doesn’t seem to be anywhere to be seen, felt, or sensed in any way. Well, not only is He there; but He’s even going on ahead to prepare the way for us.} …
8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”
My Journal for Today: Ever been in a place where the world seemed to be caving in all around you. I have; and in times like that, God seems to be NOWHERE in the midst of the circumstances. That’s what old Jacob was feeling in the context of the passage from Genesis 42, which, this morning, helped me to realize a truth that was once taught by the famous Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis, who wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." [C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1962), p 93.]
Today’s devotional blog I’m using this year, by Oz Hillman, helped me to remember and re-claim a truth, which I’ve copied above from Deut. 31: 8, which is the reality that God is not only in the midst of trials or tough circumstances, He has actually gone ahead of us to use these circumstances for our good. And I’d almost bet that some of you who have a treasure trove of God’s word hidden deeply in your heart have been poked by other New Testament Passages … like Romans 8: 28, 1st Cor. 10: 13, or 2nd Cor. 12: 9. If you don’t know those passages by heart, I’d exhort you to look them up; and ask yourself, as I have this morning, “Do we really believe these biblical truths; and do we live as if they are true?”
I’m afraid I fall short of complete belief and the realization that God is in ALL of my circumstances … yes, even the worst of them. I may not be able to see Him or sense Him in those times; but He’s there nonetheless. And those are the times when, according to C.S. Lewis, God is shouting at me to have faith in His ways of getting me to trust Him and let Him show me the way … HIS WAY. And I’ll also bet a few of you are also thinking of passages like Prov. 3: 5-6 or Isaiah 41: 10, or the one I quoted yesterday in my blog, Phil. 4: 13.
If you’re going through a really tough time right now, God is trying to get us to quit asking, “Why, Lord?” … and to move on by asking “How, Lord?” He wants us to be seeking HOW we can use this tough time, whatever it is, to grow closer to Him and to be able to love Him more deeply than ever. Yes, friend, God is there and He’s even out there, going ahead of us, to pave the way for us to follow Him and grow closer to Him than we’ve ever been before.
My Prayer for Today Lord, … thank You for today’s circumstances. Show me the way … YOUR WAY! … Amen
Passage of the Day: Genesis 42: 36 [NLT] … 36 Jacob exclaimed, “You have deprived me of my children! Joseph has disappeared, Simeon is gone, and now you want to take Benjamin, too. … Everything is going against me!”
Contextual Reference Passage: … Genesis, Chapter 42 To study this chapter, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Deuteronomy 31: 8 : [NLT] … {Every been in a place in your life when God just doesn’t seem to be anywhere to be seen, felt, or sensed in any way. Well, not only is He there; but He’s even going on ahead to prepare the way for us.} …
8 “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor forsake you.”
My Journal for Today: Ever been in a place where the world seemed to be caving in all around you. I have; and in times like that, God seems to be NOWHERE in the midst of the circumstances. That’s what old Jacob was feeling in the context of the passage from Genesis 42, which, this morning, helped me to realize a truth that was once taught by the famous Christian apologist, C.S. Lewis, who wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." [C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1962), p 93.]
Today’s devotional blog I’m using this year, by Oz Hillman, helped me to remember and re-claim a truth, which I’ve copied above from Deut. 31: 8, which is the reality that God is not only in the midst of trials or tough circumstances, He has actually gone ahead of us to use these circumstances for our good. And I’d almost bet that some of you who have a treasure trove of God’s word hidden deeply in your heart have been poked by other New Testament Passages … like Romans 8: 28, 1st Cor. 10: 13, or 2nd Cor. 12: 9. If you don’t know those passages by heart, I’d exhort you to look them up; and ask yourself, as I have this morning, “Do we really believe these biblical truths; and do we live as if they are true?”
I’m afraid I fall short of complete belief and the realization that God is in ALL of my circumstances … yes, even the worst of them. I may not be able to see Him or sense Him in those times; but He’s there nonetheless. And those are the times when, according to C.S. Lewis, God is shouting at me to have faith in His ways of getting me to trust Him and let Him show me the way … HIS WAY. And I’ll also bet a few of you are also thinking of passages like Prov. 3: 5-6 or Isaiah 41: 10, or the one I quoted yesterday in my blog, Phil. 4: 13.
If you’re going through a really tough time right now, God is trying to get us to quit asking, “Why, Lord?” … and to move on by asking “How, Lord?” He wants us to be seeking HOW we can use this tough time, whatever it is, to grow closer to Him and to be able to love Him more deeply than ever. Yes, friend, God is there and He’s even out there, going ahead of us, to pave the way for us to follow Him and grow closer to Him than we’ve ever been before.
My Prayer for Today Lord, … thank You for today’s circumstances. Show me the way … YOUR WAY! … Amen
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
January 1, 2013 … God is First
Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 1
Passage of the Day: Genesis 13: 18 [NLT] … 18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … Genesis, Chapter 13 To study this passage, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Philippians 4: 13 : [NLT] … {This devotional entry caused me to think of the passage which God used – long story – to bring me to salvation. It’s a passage which you may have memorized; and it’s interesting that when Abraham made his choice to settle in the new land to which God had led him, he settled in “Mamre,” which in Hebrew means, “the place of strength.” When I mad my choice for Christ, I was seeking strength to cover my spiritual brokenness and weakness; and in Christ I found that strength.} …
I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me the strength.
My Journal for Today: January One … Day 1 of 2013; and I’m excited to be in 2013 because anyone who knows me well, knows that “13” is a big number in the Berry Patch. ... Just a few highlights: … my wife and I had our first date on the 13th of a month and were married on the 13th of a month. Our first daughter was born on the 13th of a month; and I was awarded my doctorate on the 13th of a month. And when I started my first job after becoming “Dr. Bill Berry,” I opened that first clinic on the 13th of a month. But the biggest one for me was the day I was broken and became a Christian, … you guessed it, … on the 13th of a month. It was on April 13th, 1983 (that’s on 4/13); and on that day God led me to be exposed to Phil. 4: 13, which I’ve copied above as my highlight reference verse for today.
And isn’t it curious that we begin the year, January 1, 2013 from the devotional source I’ve chosen to use this year with a reference from Chapter 13 of the first book in the Bible – Genesis on. Somehow, given the personal context of the number 13 in my life, I don’t think this is a coincidence, do you?
Well, let me get to my thoughts for this blog entry today.
In the Highlight passage for today, Abram was called by the one true God to uproot his family (see Chapter 12 of Genesis) and go to a land where God would lead him. And – in faith – that’s exactly what Abram did; and as this wealthy, extended family moved out, following Abram’s lead, they confronted a challenge. Abram’s nephew, Lot, and his family were with Abram; and they discovered that the land to which God was leading them would have to be divided; and so, Abram, being the leader of his family tribe, deferred to Lot to make the first choice as to which portion Lot would choose of the designated land where God had led them. We know that Lot looked out and chose the most fertile portion of the lands; and Abram was left with the more hostile looking portion of the Negev, which was a vast desert land.
And note from the highlight passage of the day (Verse 18 of Genesis 13), having faith that God would provide and continue to lead his family, Abram landed and settled in a place called “Mamre;” and the first thing he did – CHOICE # 1 – was to build an altar to God. With Abram, his life had come to revolve around a “GOD IS FIRST” mentality. When God called Abram, he went. When God gave Abram the choice of territories to live, Abram let God lead the family when he gave Lot the first choice. When Abram arrived in the place where God had led him, his first choice was to build an altar to the God in Whom he was placing all his faith.
I think it fascinating that Abram chose to settle in “Mamre,” … the name in Hebrew meaning, as I stated above, “the place of strength.” That has a personal fascination to me because it was spiritual strength which I was seeking in my life on 4/13/83, when God, through a rather bizarre set of circumstance revealed Phil. 4: 13 to me; and it broke me to the core that day; and I gave my life to Christ … desiring to make Him Lord of my life and to find the strength I was lacking by following Him.
And here we are in Genesis, Chapter 13, on January 1st, 2013, studying the life of one who learned to have faith and put GOD FIRST in his life. There’s a powerful message in the first act that Abram undertook upon arriving in Mamre. He built an altar to God, confirming that he had surrendered his life to his one and only LORD. And in this act of surrender in that place named “strength” (i.e., Mamre), Abram was saying to God, “You are always going to be first in my life.”
A big question God has raised for me, as He has led me to this one devotional on JANUARY ONE in 2013. And that question from God’s Spirit (I firmly believe) is … “Bill, am I really your LORD?” And again, quite curiously, when my granddaughters created a birthday card for Jesus on Christmas and asked the family to write down something we’d give to Jesus during the year, I wrote that I would use my devotional blogging this year to make Christ more THE LORD of my life than ever before. And here I am, led by God on Jan 1, 2013, to reinforce that commitment.
And I do. I truly desire to make God #1 in my life this year. And I will pursue that goal heartily in 2013 with my devotional entries here each day!
How about you?
My Prayer for Today LORD, if there is anything in my heart or thinking that is keeping You from being FIRST in my life, strip it from me; and lead me to follow You COMPLETELY in 2013 … Amen
Blogger’s Note: After some consideration and prayer, during 2013 I have chosen to read and use a daily devotional blog authored by Oz Hillman, Director of Marketplace Ministries [see this link] . The devotional is published online daily by a group in Memphis, TN – Ministry To Men [see this link ]. The latter group has produced a conference annually for well over 15 years - the Maximum Man Conferences, which strive to help men of God to become more Godly men. I have been a speaker at these conferences for the last five years; and I look forward to sharing – through the mind/heart of one man after God’s heart – my thoughts on the passages of Scripture chosen by Oz Hillman daily to help any Christian who seeks to grow closer to their Lord in 2013. This year is going to be my “Christ is LORD” year; and I invite any Christian to come along with me as I blog daily at this site to go deeper than ever into a more abiding relationship with Christ.
Passage of the Day: Genesis 13: 18 [NLT] … 18 So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. There he built another altar to the Lord.
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Contextual Reference Passage: … Genesis, Chapter 13 To study this passage, go to this link -
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Reference Passage: Philippians 4: 13 : [NLT] … {This devotional entry caused me to think of the passage which God used – long story – to bring me to salvation. It’s a passage which you may have memorized; and it’s interesting that when Abraham made his choice to settle in the new land to which God had led him, he settled in “Mamre,” which in Hebrew means, “the place of strength.” When I mad my choice for Christ, I was seeking strength to cover my spiritual brokenness and weakness; and in Christ I found that strength.} …
I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me the strength.
My Journal for Today: January One … Day 1 of 2013; and I’m excited to be in 2013 because anyone who knows me well, knows that “13” is a big number in the Berry Patch. ... Just a few highlights: … my wife and I had our first date on the 13th of a month and were married on the 13th of a month. Our first daughter was born on the 13th of a month; and I was awarded my doctorate on the 13th of a month. And when I started my first job after becoming “Dr. Bill Berry,” I opened that first clinic on the 13th of a month. But the biggest one for me was the day I was broken and became a Christian, … you guessed it, … on the 13th of a month. It was on April 13th, 1983 (that’s on 4/13); and on that day God led me to be exposed to Phil. 4: 13, which I’ve copied above as my highlight reference verse for today.
And isn’t it curious that we begin the year, January 1, 2013 from the devotional source I’ve chosen to use this year with a reference from Chapter 13 of the first book in the Bible – Genesis on. Somehow, given the personal context of the number 13 in my life, I don’t think this is a coincidence, do you?
Well, let me get to my thoughts for this blog entry today.
In the Highlight passage for today, Abram was called by the one true God to uproot his family (see Chapter 12 of Genesis) and go to a land where God would lead him. And – in faith – that’s exactly what Abram did; and as this wealthy, extended family moved out, following Abram’s lead, they confronted a challenge. Abram’s nephew, Lot, and his family were with Abram; and they discovered that the land to which God was leading them would have to be divided; and so, Abram, being the leader of his family tribe, deferred to Lot to make the first choice as to which portion Lot would choose of the designated land where God had led them. We know that Lot looked out and chose the most fertile portion of the lands; and Abram was left with the more hostile looking portion of the Negev, which was a vast desert land.
And note from the highlight passage of the day (Verse 18 of Genesis 13), having faith that God would provide and continue to lead his family, Abram landed and settled in a place called “Mamre;” and the first thing he did – CHOICE # 1 – was to build an altar to God. With Abram, his life had come to revolve around a “GOD IS FIRST” mentality. When God called Abram, he went. When God gave Abram the choice of territories to live, Abram let God lead the family when he gave Lot the first choice. When Abram arrived in the place where God had led him, his first choice was to build an altar to the God in Whom he was placing all his faith.
I think it fascinating that Abram chose to settle in “Mamre,” … the name in Hebrew meaning, as I stated above, “the place of strength.” That has a personal fascination to me because it was spiritual strength which I was seeking in my life on 4/13/83, when God, through a rather bizarre set of circumstance revealed Phil. 4: 13 to me; and it broke me to the core that day; and I gave my life to Christ … desiring to make Him Lord of my life and to find the strength I was lacking by following Him.
And here we are in Genesis, Chapter 13, on January 1st, 2013, studying the life of one who learned to have faith and put GOD FIRST in his life. There’s a powerful message in the first act that Abram undertook upon arriving in Mamre. He built an altar to God, confirming that he had surrendered his life to his one and only LORD. And in this act of surrender in that place named “strength” (i.e., Mamre), Abram was saying to God, “You are always going to be first in my life.”
A big question God has raised for me, as He has led me to this one devotional on JANUARY ONE in 2013. And that question from God’s Spirit (I firmly believe) is … “Bill, am I really your LORD?” And again, quite curiously, when my granddaughters created a birthday card for Jesus on Christmas and asked the family to write down something we’d give to Jesus during the year, I wrote that I would use my devotional blogging this year to make Christ more THE LORD of my life than ever before. And here I am, led by God on Jan 1, 2013, to reinforce that commitment.
And I do. I truly desire to make God #1 in my life this year. And I will pursue that goal heartily in 2013 with my devotional entries here each day!
How about you?
My Prayer for Today LORD, if there is anything in my heart or thinking that is keeping You from being FIRST in my life, strip it from me; and lead me to follow You COMPLETELY in 2013 … Amen
Blogger’s Note: After some consideration and prayer, during 2013 I have chosen to read and use a daily devotional blog authored by Oz Hillman, Director of Marketplace Ministries [see this link] . The devotional is published online daily by a group in Memphis, TN – Ministry To Men [see this link ]. The latter group has produced a conference annually for well over 15 years - the Maximum Man Conferences, which strive to help men of God to become more Godly men. I have been a speaker at these conferences for the last five years; and I look forward to sharing – through the mind/heart of one man after God’s heart – my thoughts on the passages of Scripture chosen by Oz Hillman daily to help any Christian who seeks to grow closer to their Lord in 2013. This year is going to be my “Christ is LORD” year; and I invite any Christian to come along with me as I blog daily at this site to go deeper than ever into a more abiding relationship with Christ.
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