September 6, 2014 … PTL in song!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 249

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of a choir and orchestra playing/singing Handel’s great … Hallelujah Chorus, reminding us that God’s creation sings and shouts out … HALLELUJAH!!! … with praises to the Creator … FOREVER AND EVER … HALLELUJAH!!!

Highlight Passage: Psalms 150: 3-6 [NKJV} … The Psalmist sings “HALLELUJAH!!” to our Lord …
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;

Praise Him with the lute and harp! 
4  Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 
5  Praise Him with loud cymbals;

Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 
6  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 
Praise the Lord! 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Psalms 146-150 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … These are God’s Hallelujah Chorus …  
============

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 59: 16-17 … [NKJV] … David sang of God’s praises even when he was being oppressed …
16 But I will sing of Your power;

Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;

For You have been my defense

And refuge in the day of my trouble. 
17  To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;

For God is my defense,

My God of mercy. 

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 146: 1-2 … [NKJV] … The Psalmist recognized his need to sing “HALLELUJAH!” to His God continually …
1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! 
2  While I live I will praise the Lord;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, reminded the OBD readers of our need to sing our praises to God as His word so often exemplifies. And if you come here to read my daily journaling into God’s truth and His word, you know that EVERY MORNING in my quiet time, I have developed the discipline of finding some song, which I believe praises God by worshipping the Lord in song to amplify or exemplify my blogging.

 Today it was a no-brainer to find a song to illustrate what the OBD author was trying to convey. McCasland was using the last five Psalms as his highlight Bible passages today. In this section of the Psalms, often call “God’s song book,” this particular collection of songs is often referred to as “God’s Hallelujah Chorus.” And if you use the link above and go back to study and meditate on these Psalms, you’ll see the psalmist[s] saying over and over and over again, the refrain of “Praise the Lord!”

 And that phrase in the original Hebrew is the term ’HALLELUJAH!” And hence my use of Handel’s classic “Hallelujah Chorus” as my song reference today. And as I indicated, songs and music are very, very important in my daily devotionals. Having taught in the Dept. of Neurology at a major medical school for over 35 years, I know how the right kind of music activates the entire brain and creates neurochemistry which either pacifies or excites our mind. So, I try to find music each day which helps me (and prayerfully my fellow Christians) to worship God more personally or powerfully or peacefully. And how could one not PRAISE THE LORD when he/she listens to the classic Hallelujah Chorus, especially when the video shows scenes of God’s creation.

 Oh, how I pray that we are all releasing our minds/hearts to sing ”Hallelujah!!” to our LORD today … and every day.

My Prayer for Today … Oh Lord, hallelujah, … Hallelujah! … HALLELUJAH!!! … PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME!! … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 5, 2014 … What A Deal !!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 248

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing… Your Grace Still Amazes Me, reminding us just how far God’s grace extends - to FOREVER!!

Highlight Passage: James 4: 13-14 [NKJV} … God’s grace is a forever deal!! …
  13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: James 4: 11-17 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1: John 3: 16 … [NKJV] … I”m sure you know this FOREVER AND EVER passage … And the truth of Jesus’ declaration here is so simple … but yet so amazing … that it is almost incomprehensible to the human mind.

Reference Passage #2: Romans 10: 9-13 … [NKJV] ...   GO TO THIS LINK … God’s promise of His forever deal of salvation ; and what a deal it is!! …  

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Bill Crowder, reminds his readers (that’s me!) of an old phrase most of us have probably used - ”This too shall pass!” - often used when we’re confronting some very unpleasant circumstances in life.

 That passage could likely have come from the ODB highlight passage for today, written by the very practical brother of Jesus, … James, … which, in his letter, James, Chapter 4, Verse 14, is copied/linked above. This life truly is, as James writes, like a vapor, … here and gone; but then we Christians have the wondrous forever plan and promise of our Lord; … and we read of that promise in the reference passages above, which I hope all readers know - BY HEART - and believe to receive God’s deal of His amazing saving grace!!

 John Newton wrote about it in His poem which became the more sung and copied song in history, … Amazing grace, … how sweet the sound, which saved a wretch like me. And that is certainly me, through and through.

 I hope you know these promises; because they are the FOREVER & ALWAYS (see photo) promises from God of salvation. And if you believe - truly believe - in your heart of these promises, you already have God’s AMAZING GRACE … the deal of a life time. It’s a deal I could not pass up! I pray you have grabbed on to it too!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thanks for the AMAZING GRACE of your forever deal … Your life for my eternity. … WHAT A DEAL!!! … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 4, 2014 … A Lion Barking

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 247

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of Chris Rice singing… Go Light Your Wolrld, reminding us of our responsibility to GO out and be what others perceive as CHRIST to a very un-Christlike world.

Click on photo to more easily read text - then on "X" upper right to return to blog

Highlight Passage: Proverbs 22: 1 [NKJV} … Many times we are what others think we are …
1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Proverbs 22: 1-5 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … 
============

Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 16 (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO) … [NKJV] … How can we shine Christ’s light when others see us as the personification of the devil? We are what others believe us to be! …
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 … [NKJV] … The power of our witness is so often in the perception of those who see it …
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

Reference Passage #2: Ephesian 4: 1 … [NKJV] … We must be perceived by others as walking worthy of our calling as “CHRISTIAN” …
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, … 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Poh Fang Chia, tells an interesting story to illustrate the ODB teaching today. Chia writes of a well-known zoo which had lost its lion as one of its main attractions. So, the zoo disguised a large bull mastiff dog as a lion and kept it at a distance from the patrons. But when the crowd heard the “lion” barking, they knew it was a sham; and the zoo had to close because it lost its reputation.

 Chia quoted Shakespeare in the ODB devotional, who wrote, ” The purest treasure mortal times afford is a spotless reputation.“ And in today’s social media conscious world, many times someone’s reputation can be totally devastated or destroyed by some post on Facebook or Twitter. And all too often we’ve seen how the careers of giants in the world of conservative Christianity have been reduced to dust when it came out in the media that they were into sexual sin.

 And as the co-founder, leader, and Director of a ministry which promotes the healing and restoration anyone can find from the chains of habitual sexual sin, such as an addiction to pornography, I’ve often said that the truth and power of God using Battle Plan Ministry [BPM] rests in the reputation our ministry has from our online social perception. Would men, broken by their addiction to porn, come to a ministry for healing where the leader, after decades of a pure walk in Christ, were perceived to be back into the sinful pits of sexual sin.?

 I think not!!

 So, today’s highlight passage, from Proverbs 22: 1, rings very, VERY true for this one Christian; and most certainly, any Christian who desires to carry forth the banner of Christ as the Apostle Paul wrote in Eph. 4: 1. As Christians, we must be perceived as CHRISTLIKE in our witness and personal walk in the world. Hence, our “REP,” as the kids would say, is important! And so often that reputation is created by the way we carry ourselves for others to see. Like it or not, if we are going to do what Jesus commanded His disciples to do - and shine his light in witness to Him in this world (see Matt. 5: 16 and Acts 1: 8) - we must let others see CHRIST shining in our works so God will be glorified.

 So, I pray that others - even today - will see my Lord shining through me in all I do and say … yes, even on Facebook or in the words I write in this blog.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, let others see Your light shining in this witness and in all I do in the world today. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 3, 2014 … Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 246


Devotional Song: Go to this link … Please take the time to see a video of Fernando Ortega singing a rather new, but poignant arrangement of the old, classic hymn… Great Is Thy Faithfulness, his listeners, me included, being reminded that with each new day we see the faithfulness of God when the “Son” rises in our lives.  ... And THEN ON TO THIS LINK ... to hear the character "Annie" singing her favorite song for the Broadway play ...

[See text copied below in devotional journal entry]

Highlight Passage: Lamentations 3: 22-23 [NKJV} … In the face of the storms of life, the Son rises in the morning - every morning for the believer …
  22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23  They are new every morning; … great is Your faithfulness.
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Lamentations 3: 19-33 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … In the midst of the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem, the weeping Prophet proclaims the truth of God’s faithfulness …
============
 Highlight Context #2 - NKJV: Lamentations 3 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … The entire lament of Jeremiah over God allowing the Babylonian plunder of Jerusalem…
============

Reference Passage #1: Deuteronomy 31: 6 … 8 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK ... See also Joshua 1: 5 and Hebrews 13: 5 …

Reference Passage #2: Psalm 30:5 (SEE PHOTO) … [NKJV] … With each new morning we must know that God’s mercies are new for us …
5  For His anger is but for a moment, … His favor is for life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. 

Reference Passage #3: Psalm 36:5 (SEE PHOTO) … [NKJV] … Sometimes the trials of life seem worse in the night time … then there is always the dawn …
5  Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; … Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Anne Cetas, took me back to one of my favorite memory passages - that of Lamentations 3: 22-23 … the hopeful lament of Jeremiah, who was charged to prophesy and bring God’s truth to His people as The Lord allowed the Babylonians to plunder Jerusalem.

 Things seemed so dark to God’s people in these times, just as times may get dark for any of us in life; but God’s promise is with the sun (i.e., the “Son”) rising at dawn to shine God’s light brightly again, … when the night has been so dark [see the highlight passage as well as the two reference Psalms). That’s why I love the song to which I’ve linked any reader today, … Great Is Thy Faithfulness. It speaks the truth of God’s love and mercy into life’s toughest trials.

 If any of us is going through the darkness of challenge right now, let’s all remember that God will ALWAYS rally to be there for the remnant of the faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us (see Deut. 31: 6,8 and Joshua 1: 5 and Hebrews 13: 5). And all of these reinforce what God was saying through Jeremiah to His people of that day; … the same message He sends to us every morning as the sun (i.e., “The Son”) rises in our lives.

 GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS!! 

My Prayer for Today … Thanks, Lord, … I needed that! … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 2, 2014 … Only One Shines Forth

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 245

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of The Gaither Vocal Band singing a classic song written by Bill and Gloria Gather… He Touched Me, which gloriously declares what happens when we witness God’s cleansing and saving grace to others.

Highlight Passage: Luke 17: 17-19 [NKJV} … Only one in ten …
  17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Luke 17: 11-19 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Jesus heals 10 lepers; but only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks and glorify God for the healing …
============

Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 16 … [NKJV] … Focusing on what we must do in response to our being made whole in Christ …
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 … [NKJV] … Are we His grateful witnesses, glorifying our Lord with our testimony of salvation …
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Randy Kilgore, reminded the author’s ODB readers about Luke’s telling of a story about Jesus healing 10 lepers of their disease, making them all completely clean of the disease; but only one, a dreaded Samaritan, came back to glorify God with his thankfulness.

And Kilgore used a story of how a driver in traffic was kind enough to let a car in ahead of him but when the driver of that vehicle didn’t show any thankfulness, the first driver, the one who had been graceful, became enraged and tried to pursue the other vehicle, rudely trying to ride his rear bumper; and Kilgore asks, who was more wrong? … The first driver for not even giving a gesture of thanks or the second who, though letting the first car in ahead of him, reacted in anger.

In the episode related by Luke [linked for study above], Jesus cleansed ten lepers (see Luke 17: 17) but only one was thankful enough to come back and glorify God with his thankfulness; and he was a dreaded Samaritan. And whom did Jesus offer the ultimate cleansing - i.e., salvation in a complete healing, spiritual as well as physical? Yes, … of course it was the Samaritan … the one in ten who went out, with a thankful heart from his cleansing and gave glory to God.

Jesus’ act of redemption, as the Lamb of God, offers cleansing to all; but whom are the ones who received the Lord’s complete healing from sin? It’s the ones who have repented and go out, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5: 16 and shine their light of thankfulness, showing any/all who will see, that Jesus saves!

Are we the one in ten who is thankful enough, to show how Jesus saves, by shining our light of salvation for others to see Christ in us? I certainly pray that we are that Samaritan who will go forth and glorify God in thankfulness with our testimony of thankfulness and healing. Let’s return thanks to the Savior, Who cleansed us, with our willingness to be His witnesses today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me witness, whenever You give me the opportunity, to shine Your cleansing light of salvation for all to see Your healing grace. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 1, 2014 … WAITING … and waiting and waiting!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 244

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of Steve Green singing a song I very often use to illustrate the thoughts I have in my quiet times with God … the song is Find Us Faithful, which, as my thoughts go this morning, can be so very difficult at times when the circumstances of our lives oppress us and when God seems far away in our prayers for His mercy and grace. … But onward, in faith, we go!!

Highlight Passage: Psalm 13: 1 [NKJV} … Sometimes God seems so far away …
1 How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me? 
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 
============ 
Highlight Context - NKJV: Psalms 13 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … A personal and poignant plea from young David, likely when he was trying to escape the wrath of Saul … 
============

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 33: 20-22 … [NKJV] … Waiting can be the toughest at times … 
20  Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield. 
21  For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name. 
22  Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You. 

Reference Passage #2: Proverbs 3: 5-6 … [NKJV] … Holding on to the trust is where the battle in life often centers…
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understudying. 
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Marion Stroud, wrote about a reality which sometimes shouts at us in the oppression of evil or the doubts of life when God seems far away in our prayers. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Maybe you’re there now, … praying and praying for God’s mercies to lift some shroud of trial or tribulation from your life. But He doesn’t seem to answer; and Satan pours gas on our flames of doubt.

Yes, we want to be a faithful waiters on God, don’t we? We want to be the Christian, which Steve Green sings about in the song which I so often link readers here. We want to be found faithful, trusting in God to lead us - as is expressed in Proverbs 3: 5-6. … However, sometimes under lift’s oppression, … as days turn to weeks; and weeks turn to months; and months to years in our prayers for God to hear us in times of trouble, our faith is sorely tested, isn’t it? … Yes, we’ve all likely been there, felt that, and have a T-shirt we’d rather not wear, which reads ...

“Sorrowful … Waiting on God !!” 

The young, anointed King to be, David, was like that at times in his life. Certainly when he penned the highlight passage from ODB today- PSALM 13, Davod was like that. Dr. Jack Hyles, in his piece, The Story Behind The Psalms ...  [GO TO THIS LINK], writes of the origin of of this song, which was sung later by God’s people in times of trial. In Hyles description, David was being chased and his life threatened by King Saul. At the outset of the Psalm, David expresses exasperation at his plight [see verse 1]; but later, at the end of the song [see verses 5-6], we read of David choosing to trust God and to rejoice in His salvation.

Yes, there are going to be times when our faith is challenged by the oppressive of stress-filled circumstances in life; but it’s in those times when we must hold on and - in faith - CHOOSE to know that God’s timing is ALWAYS the best timing. I pray that we all can be found, as Steve Green sings, FAITHFUL in waiting on God’s mercy and grace to express itself in our lives.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me (us) hold on and be faithful in the fires of life. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 31, 2014 … Testimony of Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 243

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  … Please take the time to see a video of Scott Underwood singing his poignant tribute to sacrificial love, This Is Love, reminding all Christians of the ultimate witness of life, Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and why this is the reason our lives should be witnesses of living sacrifice; … and THEN ON THIS LINK -  - where we hear Avalon singing Testify To Love, proclaiming how our lives, lived for Christ, should be a testimony to God’s love.
==========

Highlight Passage: 1st John 3: 16 … [NKJV] … Interesting how in John’s first letter - chapter 3, verse 16 … he writes essentially the same message as in John 3: 16 …
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: 1st John 3: 16-23 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …   
============

Reference Passage #1: John 3: 16 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Of course, what other verse would point to God’s love any better …

Reference Passage #2: John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Others know we really have the love of God in our hearts when we’re willing to share our lives with others - sacrificially !!

Reference Passage #3: Acts 1: 8 … [NKJV] … Our way of witnessing to God’s love is to share it with others …
 8 " ... But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

Reference Passage #4: Romans 12: 1-2 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Read of God’s declaration of God’s love being our witness of becoming a “living sacrifice” …

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Jennifer Benson Schuldt, wrote about God’s love being on display in this world so very dramatically when someone is willing to give their lives in total self-sacrifice for someone else, perhaps jumping into a raging river, saving someone, but drowning in the process. Or we read if the incredible stories of Medal of Honor winners who died by jumping on a grenade to save their compatriots in battle.

And all of these can certainly be incredible witnesses to God’s love being shared by someone dying to save another. God’s witness to us - His ultimate witness of sacrificial love - was certainly that of dying on the cross that we would have life eternal; and that was the message of both of the Apostle John’s “3: 16” messages (see John 3: 16 and 1st John 3: 16). And in both of these passages, God’s love is witnessed to all believers in His ultimate act of sacrifice on the cross of His death as the Lamb of God to give us access to eternal life.

But in today’s ODB devotional, I couldn’t help but be reminded that we don’t have to die to be a witness to God’s love. … NO, … we can live and, as Paul, proclaims in Romans 12: 1-2 [linked above], we can be - and should be - a witness of “living sacrifice” to others. That’s what Jesus was teaching about … our witness of love in John 13: 34-35, where He proclaimed that the world would only know His love if Christians were willing to share His love by our love being extended - first to other Christians - and then to any and all who need it.

And that’s why I’m sharing a photo of how I see God’s love, being witnessed to me, sacrificially, EVERY DAY, by the one in this photo who doesn’t look like me. I’m the recipient of God’s “living sacrifice,” His witness of love, every day. I see the love of God on display as my “Elly B” so willingly shares it with me; and I pray that. in some way - every day - I share His love with her. 

Enough said … at least from me …

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to share Your love with my dear one first and then to anyone You show me who needs my living sacrifice of love and witness today. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 30, 2014 … “Just Do It!!”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 242

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of the group 4Him singing The Basics of Life, repeated from yesterday’s blog entry and once again reminding us that when we know what’s right, … i.e., God’s will for our lives, … our only response must be to “JUST DO IT!” … And then GO TO THIS LINK to hear what what we should avoid in hearing Frank Sinatra’s classic anthem of selfish living, My Way!
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: 2nd Chronicles 15: 8a … [NKJV] …
8a ... King Asa heard God’s will from the Prophet and he took action immediately … 8 And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin … 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: 2nd Chronicles 15: 1-15 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … King Asa knew what was right; and he just did it! …
============

Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … …You probably know this one “by heart;” … well, if so, why don’t we JUST DO IT!!…

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 28: 19-20 … [NKJV] … Jesus’ last TOS with His disciples - His Great Commission …
 19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

Reference Passage #3: Luke 9: 23 … [NKJV] … Jesus summarizing His “TOS” - on discipleship …
  23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ,,, "

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dave Branon, called my attention to the wildly successful marketing slogan adopted by the Nike corporation in 1988, which, according to Wikipedia, resulted in Nike moving from 18% of the sports shoe market [i.e., 877 Million] to 43% [i.e., 9.2 Billion]. And the slogan, along with Nike’s “swoosh” logo are still being used today because of their corporate message to many of the “couch potatoes” of our day. … We know that we need to be exercising to promote good health; … but what we need to do is to JUST DO IT!

This was the message of today’s OBD highlight message from the historical book of 2nd Chronicle, Chapter 15 [linked above], relating the story of King Asa, who got God’s message from God’s Prophet to reform all the pagan practices of God’s people and to take them back to God’s way of life; … and Asa did just that!!

Today I’ve linked and repeated the song which I used in my blog from yesterday, ”Back To The Basics,” as well as a few of the reference verses I posted yesterday as well; because they hammer home the truth of God’s desire that we simply JUST DO IT!! when it comes to living in the center of God’s will. So often we, as Christians, know what is right, don’t we? But what is necessary? Well, one thing to avoid is what is proclaimed by Frank Sinatra in his classic song, that we do life “MY WAY!”

No, what is necessary is that we, know God’s way, … that we JUST DO IT!!

 My Prayer for Today … Lord, today help me to resist doing life MY WAY and stay with the basics … YOUR WAY! … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 29, 2014 … Jesus’ TOS

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 241

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  … Please take the time to see a video of the group 4Him singing The Basics of Life, reminding Christians that we need to get back to the terms of Jesus’ New Covenant agreement with mankind
=============​​​

Click on graphic to read text - then click on "X" or return arrow 

Highlight Passage: Luke 6: 37-38 … [NKJV] … Jesus teaching some of His basics - or his “terms of service” about kingdom values …
  37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Luke 6: 17-49 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Jesus’ second great sermon where he spells out His “terms of service” - i.e., His New Covenant values …
============

Reference Passage #1: Matthew, Chapter 5-7 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Jesus lays out His covenant values in the Sermon on the Mount…

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 28: 19-20 … [NKJV] … … Jesus’ last TOS with His disciples - His Great Commission …
  19 " ... Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Reference Passage #3: Luke 9: 23 … [NKJV] … … Jesus summarizing His “TOS” - on discipleship …
  23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ... "

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Julie Ackerman Link, used an interesting, modern-day, word picture to describe how Jesus was trying, with His New Covenant values, to get across God’s “terms of service” to His disciples.

Check out the attached photo; and any of you computer geeks reading here will immediately recognize a “terms of service” [TOS] agreement, which we have to establish online when we’re installing new software or buying something via computer. And sometimes these TOS agreements can be pages long with a lot of small-print legalese, which we don’t want to read. So, we rapidly scroll down to the “[ ] I agree” box and click on it to proceed with our installment or purchase. But we bypassed all the important details which establishes our agreement with the entity we’re dealing with about the transaction.

Jesus had quite a few “TOS” agreements which He tried to get across to His disciples; and I’ve laid out a few in the highlight and reference scripture texts above. The longest of these was in our Lord’s famous “Sermon on the Mount,” where Jesus laid out His “TOS” on God’s Kingdom values to those who were following Him. But unfortunately those folks, like us with a computer TOS, just didn’t get it from all the details in His long teachings [i.e., Jesus’ TOS].

The highlight Bible passage today was another sermon, which Luke recorded in His gospel, …very much like the Sermon on the Mount (some think it was Luke’s account of the latter); but in this account of Jesus’ teaching - I believe in another setting - He also laid out His terms of service, which the people very likely had trouble either believing or applying to their lives.

And then, of course, there was our Lord’s last major “TOS” on this earth as He was taken back into heaven after the resurrection, … when He laid out His “Great Commission,” charging His disciples to go out a make more disciples. And that is the charge of the song I chose to link readers toward today, which spells out the charge that we “get back to the basics” of life, which, for Christians, are those “TOS” agreements which Jesus tried to lay out in the passages to which I’ve linked or copied for you readers here today.

So, take in Jesus’ TOS agreement; … and then, if you can check the “[ ] I agree” box, on what Jesus taught, … well, we’ll see you in heaven per Christ’s agreement.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to get back to Your basics, .. i.e., Your TOS with me; and let me honor those values in my living today. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 28, 2014 … Washing Some Feet Today

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 240

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a clip of Bill Gaither’s chorus in the Holy Land, singing the classic old hymn, My Faith Looks Up To Thee, which points us toward the humility we must capture to be wholly God’s disciples. … And THEN TO THIS LINK to see a brief depiction of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, modeling the humility we need to live out in our lives as He instructed His disciples in the upper room.
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Philippians 2: 5, … 8 … [NKJV] … Being like Jesus!!  …
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus … 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
============

Highlight Context - NKJV: Philippians 2: 5-11 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1: John 13: 1-16 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … … Jesus humbles Himself to wash the feet of His disciples …  

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 11: 29 … [NKJV] …  Jesus describes Himself as “gentle” (i.e., meek) and “lowly in heart” (i.e., humble), which is the only self description of character in the NT where Jesus describes Himself …
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Reference Passage #3: 1st Peter 5: 5-7 … [NKJV] … … Peter preaches what he learned from Jesus about humility …
5 Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” [Quoting Prov. 3: 34] … 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Bill Crowder, took me back to on of the most poignant lessons that Jesus ever taught His disciples; and that was the powerful foot washing scene in the upper room just before Jesus was to humble Himself completely, going to the Cross for mankind.

And Jesus in that foot washing scenario, if you go to the link above with a brief video reenactment of that scene, Jesus told His disciples [found in John 13: 1-16] that one day eleven of these twelve would understand His example and they would live out that model of humility as they served others and witnessed their Savior’s love to the world. And in this brief lesson, we see the essence of what our attitude, as Christ’s disciples, should be in fulfillment of that which Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi [see Phil. 2: 5-11 linked above].

My friends, as it says in Phil. 2: 5, we are to have the same attitude and character traits as that of our Lord. And what were these? Well, the best place to find the character description of the attitude we should emulate in Christ is to look to His own self-description; and that can be found in only way verse in the NT, … that of Matthew 11: 29, copied above. And Jesus called Himself, in the Greek, “praos” or gentle/meek … and “tapienos” or humble. And if that’s the way Jesus described Himself, if we’re to become like Him, then trying to live out the character traits of gentleness and humility is a good place to start.

So, as Jesus taught His disciples with the object lesson of washing their feet, … are we being like Jesus in our lives? Out there in the world, are we doing all we can to be like Jesus, and humbly serving others in some way? … Are we being humble and meek just as Jesus described Himself?

I don’t know about you; but I could do better in my life, trying to be more like Jesus describe Himself. So, my friends, … today I need to go out and wash some feet?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, let me wash some feet today just as You have washed mine every day of my life since I came to know You as Lord. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 27, 2014 … Life’s Darkest Moments

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 239

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a short clip of Billy Crystal’s tribute to Robin Williams … and then GO TO THIS VIDEO -  of Crystal Lewis and Ron Kenoly singing the poignant song Beauty For Ashes, which reminds us how God can take life’s darkest moments and turn them into beauty for His glory
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: 1st Kings 19: 4-5… [NKJV] … About Elijah’s lowest moment …
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 
============
Highlight Context #1 - NKJV: 1st Kings 19: 1-8 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 23 … [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK ...  The Lord is our GOOD SHEPHERD, even in moments of deep despair …  

Reference Passage #2: Proverbs 3: 5-6… [NKJV] …
5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 
6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall make your paths straight. 

Reference Passage #3: Matthew 11: 28-30 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Randy Kilgore, took me back to the lowest moment in the life of Israel’s greatest prophet, Elijah. Remember, … he was the one who prayed down rain and fire and defeated the sorcerers under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who then came after Elijah. And in today’s highlight passage, we read of God’s great and mighty Prophet, Elijah, reduced, in despair, to praying for God to take his life [see 1st Kings 19: 4]. 

Recently, in moment of despair and apparent depression, one of the world’s great funny men, Robin Williams (see photo and link to a brief segment from a tribute to him at the Emmy Awards) took his own life. And many were left to wonder how a man, who could create so much happiness, could/would feel so down that he would take his own life. So, why didn’t Elijah, in his lowest moment do the same, and that is, to end his own life? And the answer to that is also found in today’s highlight verse, where’ll you’ll note that Elijah didn’t take it upon himself to end his own life. No, Elijah, as opposed to Williams, put his life, as low as it was, into the hands of His Lord.

Elijah had a strong enough faith relationship with His God to believe in the truth of Psalm 23 and Proverbs 3: 5-6 - referenced above. He was as low as one could get; but Elijah knew to put his lower-than-low life into the hands of God, trusting that God would do the right thing for/with him; and we know from the rest of today’s highlight passage, … God did just that!

But apparently Robin Williams didn’t have the ability to trust in a God Who restores and renews in the face of our lowest moments. We don’t know if Robin Williams was a believer in Christ. Only God can know that; but his faith was certainly not strong enough to give His life over to His God, as did Elijah.

You know, fellow Christian, reading here. We’re going to have those WAY LOW moments in our life; … moments like others in the Bible had … men like Jonah, Moses, Job, and others had; … moments so low that, like these men and Elijah, we might pray for God to take our lives. But as Christians, we need to remember the promises from our Lord to be our Good Shepherd (see Psalm 23) … or from our Savior, Jesus, Who promises to always be there in those oppressive moments and to let us use His yoke to help us in our times of troubles (see Matthew 11: 28-30).

The question becomes, if/when we face moments like the one Robin Williams or Elijah faced, do we believe God’s promises; and are we willing to put our lives TOTALLY in God’s hands. Because if we are, He will ultimately lift us up and Shepherd us from “the valley or the shadow of death” into His garden of peace and joy. I will pray that we will trust our Lord to be our Good Shepherd.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, take any reading here from the low valleys of despair to Your high place of peace and refuge. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 26, 2014 … God’s “GPS”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 238

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a lyrical video of Amy Grant and her friend and former tour pianist and now Contemporary Christian song-writer and star, Michael W Smith singing … Thy Word Is A Lamp Unto My Feet, which is the declaration of the Psalm 119, the Psalmist who knew that God’s Word was our God-given “GPS” in life.
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Psalm 119: 105 … [NKJV] …
105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
============  
Highlight Context #1 - NKJV: Psalm 119: 97-106 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK…
============

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 1… [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK ... Blessed is the man who meditates in God’s word day and night …  

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 … [NKJV] …
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … “ 

Reference Passage #3: John 14: 21 … [NKJV] …
21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 

Reference Passage #4: 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17… [NKJV] … … Paul’s exhortation of truth about the power of God’s word to mark our path through life …
  16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, who used the following illustration to make a point about Bible meditation …

"Dave Sobel’s award-winning book Longitude describes a dilemma faced by early sailors. They could readily determine their latitude north or south of the equator by the length of the day or height of the sun. Calculating east/west longitude, however, remained complex and unreliable until English clockmaker John Harrison invented the marine chronometer. This was “a clock that would carry the true time from the home port . . . to any remote corner of the world,” thus enabling sailors to determine longitude. " 

McCasland’s point is that we humans, trying to navigate this voyage through life, need a mechanism to help us reliably find our way. In today’s world, we’re a lot better off in navigation than were the ancient mariners; … we have “GPS” devices which can help us find our way down the highways of life quite accurately. But we Christians have THE BEST life navigation system, The Bible, which the author of Psalm 119 in the highlight passage above called, and today’s song with Amy Grant singing about, God’s word’s being … “ a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”

The question becomes, … Do we believe the Psalmists in Psalm 1 and Psalm 119, who were directing God’s people to MEDITATE on God’s word “day and night” so as to navigate through the murky and difficult pathways of life?”

These writers had discovered, and were sharing the same truth that Jesus was later trying to get across to His disciples, … that we must follow HIM and His commandments (see Luke 9: 23 and John 14: 21 above) to make it in life. And God has given us His word as His best “GPS” to navigate our way through the morass of fog we call life. That’s what the Apostle Paul was trying to get across to his protégé, Timothy (and to us as well), in 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17, copied above.

The Hebrew word, used by the Psalmists, to describe “meditating” is “habah.” which according to today’s ODB devotional means “to reflect deeply” … or even better … “to be preoccupied with.” And that is what the Psalmist who so loved God’s word [see Psalm 119 linked above] was trying to convey; … that we who desire to make our way through life, which can be so directionally challenging, are to stay focused on God’s truth, His way, and His will, through His word. That’s how God wants to be our direction finder.

I’ll leave it to you to decide whether God’s word is your “GPS” in life. I think you know, by my presence here EVERY MORNING, diving deeply into God’s truth, that I do.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, show me Your way clearly from Your word. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 25, 2014 … Waiting and Witnessing

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 237

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  take the time to see a lyrical video of a group leading in worship and singing … I Have Decided To Follow Jesus, helping any who sing along to make a commitment to be a true disciple of Christ
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Acts 1: 7-8 … [NKJV] …
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me[a] in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
============
Highlight Context #1 - NKJV: Acts 1: 1-11 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1: Matthew 29: 18-20… [NKJV] …  GO TO THIS LINK … It’s the “Great Commission,” where Jesus has charged all of His followers to “GO” and make disciples of any/all who would choose to follow Him  …

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 … [NKJV] …
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … “ 

Reference Passage #3: John 16: 16 … [NKJV] …
16 “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.” 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Anne Cetas, helped me remember what Jesus has commanded of me as His disciple. When our Lord left this earth to return to His Father in Heaven and to sit with Him and for Him on the Great Throne of Grace and Judgement again, He commanded His disciples to WAIT and to WITNESS.

Perhaps you have the highlight and references passages committed to memory, the ones above which I have cited in this blog entry. In the highlight passage, Jesus was called up to Heaven; but before He did, He charged His disciples then (and by extension, to all Christians) to wait for His promised return; and, in the meantime, to be His witnesses in this world. We especially read of that challenge from the Lord in Acts 1: 8 and Matthew 28: 19-20. And those who were there to witness Christ’s ascension to Heaven and to hear His charge for them to wait and witness, had the choice to do as the Lord said, being a faithful follower and disciple of Christ, or to become, as the attached photo indicts, muffled or muted witnesses for Jesus.

I’ll not go on with this today; because Jesus said it all about what we are to be as His disciples, didn’t He? He charged any/all who would follow Him to wait for His return; and in the meantime, to go and shine His light as a witness in His Name … to make disciples of any/all who would choose to deny themselves and to follow Him.

All I must do here (for myself and for you) is to ask … “Are we waiting for Him faithfully; and are we being His faithful witnesses … day by day by day … EVERY DAY?”   Or am I, as is pictured in the photo, a muted follower in these dark and evil days.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help any who read here, as well as this humbled servant, to be faithful in waiting and loud as witnesses for Your Name. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 24, 2014 … Our Altar of Remembrance

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 236

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  take the time to see a lyrical video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing the poignant song of remembrance … Great Great God, which helps us remember the Lord, and our Savior, who has save us from our selves.
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Psalm 118: 1 and the last verse - 29 … [NKJV] …
1 and 29 … Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever. 
============
Highlight Context #1 - NKJV: Psalms 113-114 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============
Highlight Context #2 - NKJV: Psalms 115-118 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … ============

Reference Passage #1: Joshua 22: 28-29… [NKJV] …  GO TO THIS LINK… Over 350 times in the Old Testament, as in this passage in the book of Joshua, God’s people built altars to honor and remember what God had done for them …

Reference Passage #2: 1st Corinthians: 11: 17-33 … [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … The Apostle Paul helping the Church establish The Lord’s Supper - The Eucharist - as the New Testament’s Church altar of Remembrance

Reference Passage #3: Romans 12: 1-2 … [NKJV] …
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dennis Fisher, helped me remember what I try to remember EVERY DAY by coming to a quiet place and worshipping my Lord and Savior with a special “altar” of time which helps me start each day by some remembrance of what My Savior has done for me by pursuing me and saving me from my sinfulness and giving me the grace to handle every day. In my own selfishness, I’m afraid I’d have the tendency to forget what He has done to transform my life, especially if I didn’t have my own “altar of remembrance.” 

If you do a little study of the Old Testament, as I did this morning, you’ll find that God’s people, though they could be so forgetful and selfish at times, built altars to remember their God over 350 times … from Abraham and Moses and onward in the trek of the Israelites to the Promised Land. And really the whole establishment of the various feasts and even the ceremony of the weekly Shabbat (the Sabbath) are “altars of remembrance” so that God’s people will never forget what God has done for them.

Unfortunately, over time, many of God’s people, including those of us in the remnant of New Testament believers, have a tendency, in our human selfishness, to forget God’s faithfulness. And much of our world today even wants to eradicate any thoughtfulness of our Lord and Savior from our culture, trying to tear down any/all remembrances of GOD from our world.

The Apostle Paul in helping the Church in Corinth (and for all of the New Testament Church), specifically wrote (see 1st Cor. 11: 17-33 linked above) about how Christians should have a time of coming to “the table” which Jesus established in that Upper Room time with His disciples. And Jesus established what Christians now celebrate as the Eucharist or Communion celebration as a time when we should commemorate what He, our Lord, did on the Cross, giving His body and blood as the Lamb of God, for the remission of our sins.

The question becomes, “Do we have personal, even daily, altars of remembrance in our lives, where we can focus clearly and with purpose on becoming the “living sacrifice” which Paul also wrote about in Romans 12: 1-2. “ Because, and this is my strong belief, … if we don’t have such daily altars of remembrance, I’m afraid we, like God’s people in the Old Testament, will wander away from God’s purpose for our lives; and most certainly there is a lot of evidence of that wandering away from God in our world today.

Now, please don’t take what I’m about to write as a way of bragging as to my own discipline or devotion; but long ago I discovered that I, personally, needed my own way of having a personal “altar of remembrance” in my life. And a dear mentor in my life helped me establish a daily discipline of devotion, where I delved deeply into God’s word and used that time, in solitude and prayer with God, as a spring board to #1 remember what my Lord has done in transforming my life, and #2 to make daily commitments of purpose to be a “living sacrifice” as Rom. 12: 1-2 exhorts. And One can see from this very blog [see listings of past blogs in the column to the right] where this has led this one humble servant with my daily journaling of these “altars of remembrance” since 2008.

I do this study and journaling … EVERY DAY … because I don’t want to forget what my Lord has done for me with His transforming grace. I don’t want to let my own deceitful heart [see Jer. 17: 9] lead me astray into forgetfulness and sinfulness. And I don’t want to stray from the witness of faith which my Lord calls me toward (see Luke 9: 23 and Acts 1: 8 and Matthew 28: 19-20).

I don’t know where and how you have established and maintained an “altar of remembrance and purpose” for your life. But I do pray that you have some way of DAILY remembering what our Lord has done to save us from our selves and to give us a remembrance of His Spirit working in our lives - through His grace - to be able to walk with Him and serve Him.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help any who read here, as well as this forgetful servant, to have some purposeful and personal altar of remembrance in our lives so that we’ll never forget what You have done for us, … saving us, and sanctifying us unto Your purposes for the way we live. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 23, 2014 … Being Salt & Light

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 235

Devotional Song: Go to this link - PLEASE take the time to see a lyrical video of Chris Rice singing the poignant song … Go Light Your Wolrd, which encourages all Christians to live out the heavenly reality of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount … to shine the Light of Christ into this very dark world.
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Matthew 5: 16… [NKJV] …
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Matthew 5: 11-16 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1: Luke 9: 23… [NKJV] …
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me. .. “ 

Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 19 … [NKJV] …
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [Deut. 32:35] says the Lord. 

Reference Passage #3: 1st Peter 2: 11-12… [NKJV] …
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Joe Stowell, related an incident from a popular book which has become a blockbuster film. He wrote …

  "In J. R. R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit, the wizard Gandalf explains why he has selected a small hobbit like Bilbo to accompany the dwarves to fight the enemy. He says, ‘Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.’ " 

What Stowell is trying to emphasize by Tolkien’s Wizard is the same sentiment which Jesus was teaching in His Sermon on the Mount, trying to get His followers to see that we should be living now as all true believers will live in heaven. And Jesus used the word pictures of Christians becoming salt and light [see attached photo] in a very unsalted and very darkened world (even more so now). And if you read the entire context of Matthew 5: 11-16, Jesus was commanding that His followers, now only do what he had commanded in Luke 9: 23 (referenced above); but also to do what is almost humanly impossible when we’re confronted by a world which wants to kill us. Jesus was teaching that we should love our enemies; and pray for them.

Just this past week, a group of Islamic terrorists, who’ve declared war against America and Judeo-Christian values, committed a public beheading of an American photojournalist, James Foley; and then they posted the beheading online. How does a Christian deal with that incident and reality in light of Jesus’ teaching and commands from the Sermon on the Mount as well as the teachings of Paul and Peter, referenced above?

Personally, in in my humanness, I wanted those "SOBs" who killed James Foley to be crushed by the airstrikes which had been ordered by our President in response to the terror being led by the ISIS group of terrorists in the MidEast recently. I wanted for America to take revenge for the senseless beheading of James Foley; … BUT … that’s not what Jesus wants from me in response to such acts of persecution. He wants me to go out in the world and repay such senseless acts of darkness by shining His light of kindness and love.

Jesus wants me to refrain from desiring vengeance; and, as Paul taught in Romans 12: 19, which was a replay of God’s commands in Deut. 32: 35, my Lord desires that I leave all vengeance to Him. And Jesus commanded His followers [yeah, that’s ME] to go out and shine His light of love into this dark world by my works of righteousness or kindness, … especially in the context of any persecution I experience from the world.

Can I do that? … I pray I (we) can!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to leave all vengeance to You … and for me, today, to go out and shine Your light of love in some way today. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 22, 2014 … Living God’s Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 234

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  Please take the time to see a lyrical video of Fernando Ortega singing the classic hymn… More Love To Thee, which is a prayer and plea to God for Him to impart more of His love through us as His followers in the way HE would want us to live.
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Psalm 112: 4-5 … [NKJV] …
4  Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness. He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5  A good man deals graciously and lends. He will guide his affairs with discretion. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Psalms 111 and 112 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1 - NKJV: Galatians 5: 22-23 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul witnesses to the fruit of the Spirit, planted in all born-again believers, giving us the enabling grace to witness God’s love to others …

Reference Passage #2 - NKJV: Galatians 6: 9-10 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul pleads with Christians to be steadfast in their faith, doing good in spite of the trials of this world …

Reference Passage #3: Hebrews 12: 3… [NKJV] … 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 

Reference Passage #4 - NKJV: Revelation 2: 1-4 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus, speaking to His church (in Ephesus - but to all believers - recognized their diligence in doing good; but warned them not to lose their first love …

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dave Branon, hit me right in the heart with conviction as he wrote about God’s desire that we hold dearly to the love that our Lord has given to all believers so that we, as His body, the Church, in this world, can witness that love, through the fruit of the Spirit to others. Branon actually used two of the Psalms (see Psalms 111-112 linked above) to show how God is a God of love (Ps. 111) and a God who imparts His power to allow His believers (Ps. 112) to witness that love in the world.

And we, who declare Christ as our Lord and Savior, must know the truth … that God has imparted to all of us His fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5: 22-23) so that we can have the grace, should we surrender to it, to reach out and share these fruit with others, especially those of faith.

Paul expressed this to the Church repetitively and forcefully, doing all he could, inspired by God’s Spirit, to not exhort believers to refuse to grow weary in doing good, in spite of the challenges from the world (see Gal. 6: 9-10). And he was reinforced by the author of Hebrews (see Hebrews 12: 3) and no less than Jesus, Himself, as they exhorted the Church, for example in Revelation 2: 1-4, to continue on in their diligence to witness to God’s love but to avoid losing their ties to our “first love,” Who, of course, is Jesus.

And the latter warning is what we should take away from this ODB devotional today; … that we not allow our (Jeremiah 17: 9) hearts to wane in weariness from the trials of the world or the temptations of Satan, refraining from sharing the love of God with others.

No! … We Christians simply must not pull back from diligently witnessing the love of God to the world. So much of the New Testament, from Jesus through His Disciples, especially post-resurrection, after they were left with the love of God imparted to them through God’s Spirit, is God, through His word, exhorting Christians onward and upward to do good and to shine the Love of God into an ever darkening world.

I don't know about you; but I need to take this to heart; and not grow weary in doing good … today … and tomorrow.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me, as I witnessed yesterday in this place to “keep on keeping on” in my faith and to go deeper with your love in me so that I can supernaturally witness Your love in my life to others. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 21, 2014 … “<‘KOKO><“

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 233

Devotional Song: Go to this link - Please take the time to see a lyrical video of Curtis Mayfield singing his soulful song from 1972 … Keep On Keepin On, which was Mayfield’s plea for mankind to keep seeking love to supplant the times of war which was being experienced in those days. … And then YOU CAN GO TO THIS LINK  and hear a song I often have linked for my journaling, with Steve Green singing Find Us Faithful, where there is another plea for Christians to overcome discouragement by living out their faith in Christ
=============​​​

Highlight Passage: Hebrews 10: 35-36 … [NKJV] …
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: … 
============
Highlight [Context] - NKJV: Hebrews 10: 19-39 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …
============

Reference Passage #1 - NKJV: Hebrews 10: 32-34 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  The Author reminds his Jewish Christian readers of their faithfulness in the face of many trials …

Reference Passage #2 - NKJV: Hebrews, Chapter 11 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  And here we have the great “Hall of Faith” chapter, where the author reminds Christians of those of faith who have gone before …

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland took me back to the Letter in the Book of Hebrews, written by an unnamed author, who was writing to a group of persecuted Jewish Christians in Jerusalem, likely about 60-65 AD. These converted Christian Jews were being pulled into false teachings by many different faith groups; and the author of Hebrews was writing to help these Christians to remain true to Christ in their faith - the authentic faith of the true Gospel message.

In today’s world, it’s all too easy to get tugged and pulled away from Christ with so many false versions of “the gospel” being taught, where Satan is trying to confuse and discourage Christians from the true walk of faith which is espoused and taught in the Bible - both Old and New Testaments.

There are Mormons who teach a type of revised and so-claimed “christian’ belief, brought about by their “latter-day” prophet, Joseph Smith. There is the centuries-old false religion of Islam, especially with it’s radical element, which has captivated much of the world and is doing all it can to irradiate Judeo-Christian believers. There are many, modern gurus of faith, like Oprah Winfrey, who teach multi-faith approaches to dealing with life, but cannot abide Orthodox Christianity, which teaches that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. And finally there are many, modern-day, so-called “prophets” or teachers, calling themselves “christian,” who espouse heretical “word of faith” teachings which draw attention away from THE TRUTH of orthodox Gospel reality.

It can be so difficult to seek and find THE TRUTH in this milieu of untruth and confusing, man-made doctrines of faith. That’s why I came up with a signature encouragement when I write to real Christians who might be confused about their faith. As the Author of the Book of Hebrews was trying to do, my signature is " <'KOKO>< " … which means “Keep On Keeping On in Christ!” 

It’s my way of encouraging my fellow believers in Christ to continue to pursue a deeper, more abiding relationship with our Savior and Lord, Jesus. And in this signature, I’m also trying to exhort fellow believers to stay true to the REAL Christian faith, which is found by a clear and Spirit-led interpretation of God’s word.

So, as you read this today, ask yourself: … “Am I faithfully doing all it takes to know our Lord more through His word EVERYDAY … and am I going deeper in my relationship with Christ … EVERYDAY? … And if we can truly say “YES” to these questions, … I say …

" <'KOKO>< "  

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to stay true and go deeper to know You today … and even more so tomorrow. … Amen

Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.