August 17, 2015: Bread of Life

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 228  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of a group of anonymous singers singing Bread of LIfe with the eternal message that Jesus is the life giving bread which nourishes and gives life.  

Highlight Passage:  John 6: 27 [NKJV]  …  
27 “…Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” 
… Jesus on partaking of the “bread of life.”
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Highlight Context – John 6: 22-34 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Partake of the food which will last forever - God’s truth.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 4: 1-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus gives His “living water” to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Reference Passage #2 - John 6: 1-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus feeds thousands.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, related a cute personal story to illustrate his devotional blog. He wrote: One morning as Lilia prepared for work, her 4-year-old daughter Jess set to work too. The family had purchased a conveyor toaster, and the concept of cycling bread through the small countertop oven fascinated Jess. Minutes later, Lilia discovered a loaf and a half of toast piled on the counter. “I’m a very good baker!” Jess declared.

No mystery how little Jess could turn all that bread into toast; but then author Gustafson related that to Jesus’ teaching in John, Chapter 6 where Jesus first fed all those thousands with just a few fishes and loaves of bread. And then He blew the minds of those who’d been fed and the local religious leaders by telling them that HE was the bread of life and they should feed on His truth rather than concentrating and relying on the bread they could make from the wheat of the earth.

 You know, … if you’ve come here anytime in the past and read my daily blog, posted here and elsewhere every morning, … some may wonder why I do this. Well, every day I use the ODB devotional and delve deeply as I can into God’s word each day to partake of God’s living waters and His bread of life; and I hope you see that I’m not doing this daily to impress you. No, … I’m much more selfish than that. I want as much as I can get from God’s table and the offerings of His bread of life.

 I recognize and believe that God’s truth is the bread of life and it’s also the inexhaustible source of living water Christ showed to the woman at the well in John, Chapter 4. So I come here every day to get my share - as much as I can glean - of God’s manna… His bread of life and His living waters. So, if you come here and share that with me each day, we’ll be well nourished, … for sure!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Give me more today. Feed me, dear Jesus, from Your bread of life and Your living waters. Give me what I can use for life and the rest to share with 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 16, 2015: Count Your Blessings

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 227  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from the movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby singing Count Your Bessings with that lovely version of the Academy Award winning movie … and then ON TO THIS LINK to see/hear Guy Penrod singing the old hymn by the same title, declaring our need to count our blessings amid any trials/tribulations we face in life.  

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 25: 1, … 4 [NKJV]  …  
7 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. … 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 
… Trusting God for my ways and counting my blessings along the way.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 25: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Trusting God … thanking God … for deliverance and His blessings.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 100 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …    
… David’s song of thankfulness.  

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 will direct your paths. 
… Trusting God is the key to thankfulness and finding our way in life.

Reference Passage #3 - 1 Corinthians 10: 13 [NKJV] … 
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 
… No matter what transpires; God will lead us through it. What a blessing!!

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 4: 6-7 [NIV] …  
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
…  Everything to God - with a THANKFUL heart.

Reference Passage #5 - Romans 8: 28 [NIV] …  
28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purposes. 
…  Yes, … ALL THINGS are really God’s blessings - some we don’t even like.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Julie Ackerman Link, referred to some of the great biological and/or scientific discoveries, as the 20th century unfolded, … discoveries finding white blood cells or the discovery of penicillin …, all of which changed the way we looked at our blessings in life. Even things we couldn’t see were blessings from God which helped us fight enemies of life, like bacterial diseases. And author Link’s pointed out; … if things are going bad in our lives, we should still be thankful for even the things we can’t see which God has given us to deal with life’s troubles.

 Today, in meditating on the ODB devotional, my memory was taken back to the romantic scene from that 1954 classic movie, White Christmas, where Bing Crosby was singing about counting his blessings to Rosemary Clooney. And then I was led to another old classic hymn with the same title as the movie song, Count Your Blessings, linked above for any reader with Guy Penrod singing. I would hope that readers here have taken the time to see/hear and meditate on the meaning of both songs.

 Because these modern psalms convey a truth that we all need to remember … that we need to come to God with a thankful heart - ALWAYS - because there are so many things God has wrought or brought into our lives - even things we can’t see - that allow us to realize that we are ALWAYS a blessed people, … just as King David brought out in the psalms documented above. So, let me pray below with a thankful heart this day.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I am reminded of all the blessings You have brought into my life - even the troubles and things I cannot see - to help me grow closer to You. Thank You, 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 15, 2015: Reaching Out in Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 226 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Steve Green singing People Need The Lord exhorting and encouraging all Christians to reach out and share the love of God … because so many desperately need Christ.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 15: 7 [NKJV]  …
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 
… Receiving others as Christ received us.
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Highlight Context – Romans 15: 1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Bearing the burdens of others.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Loving one another is our way of showing God to the world.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 14: 12-13 [NKJV] … 
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
… We give an account to God for His love when we refrain from judging others.

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 10: 24-25 [NIV] …
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 
…  Christians exhorted to come together and encourage one another.

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] … 
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
… How many different ways does God’s word have to say it … before we choose to welcome and love one another? My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, illustrated his teaching by showing a famous 19th century statue, created to commemorate a lovely New England lady.

 Crowder wrote: In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight greeted ships as they pulled into the port of Savannah, Georgia. That sight was Florence Martus, “The Waving Girl.” For 44 years, Florence greeted the great ships from around the world, waving a handkerchief by day or a lantern by night. Today, a statue of Florence and her faithful dog stands in Savannah’s Morrell Park, permanently welcoming incoming vessels. … There is something in a warm welcome that speaks of acceptance. 

The picture here was the same one which the Apostle Paul was trying to get across to new Christians in his day; … that Christians were at their best when they refrained from judging or superimposing man-made rules on others. No, .. Christ was reflected best into the world when Christians received, accepted, and loved one another (see the Romans and Philippians passages above). And the Apostle John echoed this teaching when we exhorted Christians to readily reach out and show love to one another just as God had loved us enough to sacrifice His Son for us [see John 13: 34-35].

 So, let’s go out and be a “Waving Girl” (or guy) today by receiving others in love, … by encouraging others (see Hebrews 10: 24-25) as the body of Christ, … and by sharing the love of God with as many as we see today. …

 … Because as Steve Green sings in the linked song above … so many people so DESPERATELY need the Lord.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Let me be God’s ambassador of love for others today.    … Amen

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

August 14, 2015: Light of the World

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 225

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Chris Rice singing the his song Go Light Your World exhorting and encouraging those of us in Christ to take His Light into this very darkened world.

Highlight Passage:   John 9: 5 [NKJV]  …
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 
… And one day in glory He will be the light of ALL the world … not just the blind of this world.
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Highlight Context – John 9: 1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Jesus opens the eyes of even the blind.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 1: 79 [NKJV] … 
12 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, … to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 
… The prophesy of Zacharias, after the birth of John the Baptizer, of the coming of Messiah to bring those out of darkness into the Light.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 4: 18-19 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61: 1-2, announcing His mission, which had been prophesied by The Prophet; … and part of that was to give sight to the blind and free the oppressed.

Reference Passage #3 - John 8: 12 [NKJV] … 
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 
… After having saved the adulteress and showed up the Pharisees … Jesus begins to declare His deity before men.

Reference Passage #4 - John 12: 42-46 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …     …  Jesus rebukes the Pharisees as walking in darkness and rejecting the Light of God.

  My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, used a reference to how Einstein caused science and mankind to see the universe in a new light. Doha wrote: We remember Albert Einstein for more than his disheveled hair, big eyes, and witty charm. We know him as the genius and physicist who changed the way we see the world. His famous formula of E=mc2 revolutionized scientific thought and brought us into the nuclear age. Through his “Special Theory of Relativity” he reasoned that since everything in the universe is in motion, all knowledge is a matter of perspective. He believed that the speed of light is the only constant by which we can measure space, time, or physical mass.

 But as DeHaan teaches, … long before the so-called genius of Albert Einstein there was a simple Carpenter from Nazareth who had come into the world to give light and absolute perspective on the destiny of mankind. And this man - the God-Man, Jesus - was no “simple” carpenter. He was the prophesied One, Who had come to be, as He, Himself declared, the “Light of the World.”

 But the leaders of the world at that time, rejected His Light and held on to the darkness even trying to extinguish His light on a cross. But all that did was pass the light on to those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior, setting a blaze all who truly believe in Him a fire to shine our lights into the darkness of this world. And now it is our charge to take His light and reflect it forward, dispelling the darkness wherever we go.

 So, … today, … as Chris Rice sings in the song, linked above, let us go and shine His Light into the darkness.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … make me a torch for You today.    … Amen

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

August 13, 2015: Count To Ten! …

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 224  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Sara Groves singing the her song I’ll Wait with the singer’s proclamation that we, who know Christ, need to wait on Him so often when we find ourselves going inward to deal with our self.  

Highlight Passage:   2nd Thessalonians 2: 13 [NKJV]  …  
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, … 
… And recall that Paul was run out of Thessalonica by an angry mob [see Acts 27: 1-15]. He had every right to hold anger for the Thessalonians; but from prison, he shows God’s love for the Christians in this region.
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Highlight Context – 2nd Thessalonians 2: 13-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Paul’s love for those who had chased him out of Thessalonica can only be explained by God’s Spirit dwelling in the Apostle.
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Reference Passages #1 - 2 - Ephesians 4: 26, 29 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  … From prison, Paul writes to his beloved Christians in Ephesus, exhorting them to avoid the reaction to anger and to speak nothing by grace in sharing Christ with one another.

Reference Passage #3 - Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] …  
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
…  Holding on to Christlike humility when we live, and move, and share with others.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, used a very personal, here-and-now, story to illustrate his teaching for today. The author wrote: As I was reading the text message on my mobile phone, my temperature started to rise and my blood began to boil. I was on the verge of shooting back a nasty message when an inner voice told me to cool down and reply tomorrow. The next morning after a good night’s sleep, the issue that had upset me so greatly seemed so trivial. I had blown it out of proportion because I didn’t want to put another person’s interest before my own. I was unwilling to inconvenience myself so I could help someone. 

Ever been there? … I have. … All too often. …

 Today’s highly connective, rapid communications, via texting and email, can often rile up our anger; and we’re tempted to shoot back a reactive message in the heat of our emotions. But the strategy (I call it a “battle plan”) illustrated by author, Chia, in his story above is a good one; and it certainly is manifest in how the Apostle Paul communicated with Christians who had shown animosity and anger toward him in his past. If you know Paul’s history in Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica (see the book of Acts), we know that in all of those places he had been treated very harshly, either being imprisoned or driving out of those areas, by angry mobs. Yet, in all of the passages above, written from prison to these Christians, Paul only writes about his love - Christlike love - for those peoples. 

I’m afraid that I identify all too much with the ODB writing of today’s author, Poh Fang Chia. As I touched on above, all too often, I’ve felt the temptation to respond rapidly to a text or email with a quick comeback in anger. But I’ve learned to do the old “count-to-ten” strategy (or sometimes, more often, to wait 24 hours, as did Chia). And then I can do what the Apostle Paul was trying to teach to Christians in his Epistle teachings documented above.

 I think we all need to develop a “battle plan” to avoid what is depicted in the attached photo and do what Sara Groves sings about in today’s song, and what the Apostle Paul wrote about in His wise words above. And that is, … to give our anger time to simmer and boil over as we seek the Holy Spirit’s enlightening and enabling grace to deal with our anger.

 So, … let’s cool it … and count to ten … and communicate as Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Eph. 4: 29. In fact let’s all go mediate on that one today. And I don’t know about you; but I needed this reminder today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I wait on You to help me communicate when I feel anger brewing. Help me to stay cool, like You, dear Savior.    … Amen

Blogger PS: From today’s ODB, they provide a book resource for those who are dealing with anger issues. GO TO THIS LINK to read about the book by Tim Jackson, Christian counselor, on this subject,  

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

August 12, 2015: Portrait of a Savior

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 223

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of Fernando Ortega singing the his song Just Give Me Jesus with the singer’s proclamation that all he needs in this life - and all that we should need as well - is a deep and abiding relationship with our Savior, Jesus.

Highlight Passage:   Isaiah 53: 6 [NKJV]  …
6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
… The Prophet depicts a Savior.
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Highlight Context – Isaiah 53: 4-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Isaiah, 700+ years before Jesus came, paints a word picture of our Messiah.
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Reference Passages #1 - 2 - Isaiah 42: 1-9, 49: 1-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK 
… Isaiah painting the portrait of God’s Servant and our Messiah.

Reference Passage #3 - Luke 4: 16-22 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK 
…  Jesus declares, by quoting Isaiah, the Prophet (from Is. 61: 1-2), that He has come to fulfill all of the Prophets portraits of Him; … but many - most - could not see Him from His portrait.  

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, writes of many artists and authors trying to depict a portrait of The Savior, Jesus. He quotes from another author, Robert Henkes, as to what a portrait entails, writing, "A portrait is not a photograph, nor is it a mirror image.” A portrait goes beyond the outer appearance to probe the emotional depth of the human soul. In a portrait, a true artist tries “to capture what the person is really about."

 Taking this definition to heart, I guess that’s why I like “portraits” of Jesus which depict our Lord laughing or expressing joy in what He’s doing, … much like the one in the attached drawing. However, well over 700 years before Jesus became a babe in a manger, grew into a man, walked the earth, ministered to mankind, died on a cross, was resurrected, and was reunited with His Father in Heaven, the Prophet Isaiah, in the ODB highlight passage (see Isaiah 53: 4-12) pretty clearly painted a word portrait of the coming Messiah; and the Prophet fleshed out the portrait of the suffering Servant of God in other prophetic passages (such as the two linked above from Isaiah, chapters 42 & 49).

 And when Jesus was the incarnate God-Man, walking the earth, He even went into the Synagog in His hometown and told the people about His mission on earth by quoting from one of the portraits Isaiah had written of over 7 centuries before He spoke God’s portrait in Isaiah 61. And we read of this confrontation with reality with Jesus quoting from His own portrait in Isaiah Luke 4: 16-21.

 So, how do we see Jesus? How is our Savior portrayed in our lives? Personally, … what I see in Him is what I need in Him: … a Savior … my Lord … my God! And so, I love what Fernando Ortega has written and sung in the attached song above, which very poignantly portrays how I see my Jesus.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I see You every morning when I come here to seek Your face.    … Amen

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

August 11, 2015: Confusion and Confidence

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 222  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of the group Third Day singing the song Blessed Assurance with lyrics, proclaiming the reality that we can be at rest and feel blessed even with all the confusions of this world and the author of confusion, Satan, because we follow the Sovereign God of the universe, … King Jesus.  

 
Highlight Passage:   John 16: 33 [NKJV]  …  
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 
… Listening and following Jesus leads us down the path of righteousness with confidence in Christ, Who has overcome the confusion of the world.
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Highlight Context – John, Chapter 16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Jesus is the Author of confidence … Satan the author of confusion.
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  ...
… You know this one, don’t you? … If not get it into your mind/heart; and live in its reality.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ,,,  
…  I hope we have this one memorized and then live in the confidence of its truth!  

Reference Passage #3 – Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] …  
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  
…  Know it; … believer it; … and live it!!

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Cor. 10: 13 [NKJV] …  
13 No temptation [or also “trial, trouble, tribulation, or testing”] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted [or tried] beyond what you are able, but with the temptation [or trial] will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 
…  Nothing comes into our lives unless our God allows it for our good and His glory.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Julie Ackerman Link, with her own personal illustration of being confused over finances, reminded me of how my eyes glaze over whenever someone puts a financial spreadsheet in front of me. I can almost panic when my wife and I get into discussions about personal financial issues in our home. Fortunately, I have immense personal confidence in my wife’s ability to deal with financial challenges. She is my rock when such issues present themselves.

 Today, our ODB author, Link, took her readers back to the time when Jesus had assembled His inner 12 Disciples in the Upper Room for a Passover supper and to quell their confusion and fears over what He was telling them about leaving them to return to heaven and to provide them with the Holy Spirit [see John, Chapter 16 linked above]. Jesus knew they were confused and fearful; and He didn’t want them to fall prey to any confusion which the world or circumstances or Satan might put before them, especially with their Master about to be crucified. No, He wanted to assure them that, no matter what the world may present to confuse them, He, their Messiah, had overcome the world (see John 16: 33).

 And the ODB author, Link, using the word picture of confusing debits and credits, helps her readers [i.e., me] to understand that we often can get confused, when the author of confusion, Satan, tries to create fear and doubt in our lives. But really, we too often give the Prince of deception too much credit, when often it is our own misunderstanding or confusion which leads to our doubts and fears. Satan is ALWAYS limited with regard to anything he can/will do. He cannot do anything without God’s permission! Therefore, be assured … ALWAYS … that our God is in control; and He will not allow any trial to come our way unless He is using it for our good (see Romans 8: 28 and 1st Cor. 10: 13); because God is not going to allow anything into our lives which cannot or will not be for our benefit … and His ultimate glory.

 So, I don’t let debit/credit sheets get me down anymore; because I’m learning to put my ultimate assurance in my Lord and Savior, Who has overcome the world and is always there to guide me when I put my trust in Him (see Prov. 3: 5-6).

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … blessed assurance, You are mine and always in control!    … Amen  

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

August 10, 2015: Just Do It !! …

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 221  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a video of the group 4HIM singing the song The Basics of Life proclaiming the reality that we must walk the walk of faith and get back to the basics of the Bible … “a heart that is pure and a love that is blind …”  

Highlight Passage:   James 1: 22 [NKJV]  …  
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 
… Walking the walk of faith …
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Highlight Context – James 1: 19-27 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Not just hearers of the word … but doers!
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 5: 13-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...    
…  Living as SALT and LIGHT as Christians.  

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...  
…  I hope we have this one memorized and then live it!       

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.” 
…  Back to the basics - living the love of Christ.    


Reference Passage #4 – Philippians 2: 3-5 [NKJV] …  
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. … 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, …  
…  Thinking and living as Christ thought and lived.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Randy Kilgore, wrote about reaching out to help others and to walk the walk of faith, … becoming first hearers of the word, … but then being DOERS of truth as instructed by Jesus’ brother, James, in the highlight passage, linked above in James 1: 22.

 I’m not going to write much today; because if any reader here with me takes in the attached photo, which smacks of the famous Nike logo, “Just Do It !!” … and then you take in the the group 4Him singing, Back to the Basics, … and finally, if one meditates on the reference scriptures above, I’m sure you will be convicted, as was I, that all of us - as Christians - need to be doing ALL we can to “Just Do it,” … and that is to walk the walk of faith, … doing and living what we know to be the truth.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, …  help me today … and tomorrow … to walk the path which I know to Your way and THE life, … Your 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 9, 2015: God, Our Provider

  Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 220  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of Don Moen leading in worship with the song Jehovah Jireh which is a song of things to our God, Whose Name is “Jehovah Jireh,” … God, Our Provider.  

Highlight Passage:   Ruth 2: 7, 16 [NKJV]  … USE THIS LINK  ...
… Boaz - a picture of God as our Provider
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Highlight Context – Rutlh 2: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  God is Jehovah Jireh, … our Provider …
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Reference Passage #1 - Genesis 22: 13-14 [NKJV] …USE THIS LINK ...  
…  Just as God provided a ram for Abraham to sacrifice, our Jehovah Jireh, will provide for our dire needs.  

Reference Passage #2 - Psalm 9: 9-10 [NKJV] …USE THIS LINK  ...
…  God is our refuge in times of trouble; and He will not forsake us in our need.       

Reference Passage #3 - Psalm 91: 11 [NKJV] … 
11  For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 
…  God will keep us in all of our ways     

Reference Passage #4 – Philippians 4: 19 [NKJV] …  
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  
…  God provides our needs from His abundance; … ALWAYS.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a personal illustration to illustrate how God provided for Ruth and Naomi, … and for us, … as the author wrote about her daughter loving to lick the left-over brownie batter from the bowl as she and her daughter would make chocolate brownies, their favorite dessert [use the ODB link below to read the story]. 

And the author’s story, as well as the highlight passage for today’s ODB entry (see Ruth 2: 1-16, linked above) show us how God is ALWAYS the Provider of what we need, even to the point of being generous in His mercy and kindness, … just as Boaz was for Ruth.

 I hope all who read here today would take in the devotional song, linked above, with Don Moen and worshippers singing of their thankfulness and worship of our God, …. Jehovah Jireh … God’s name as “our Provider;” and I pray that we all realize and thank our Lord for providing for our needs just as He did, through Boaz, for the needs of Ruth and Naomi … or for Abraham when needed the provision of a lamb to sacrifice in lieu of his son, Isaac [see Genesis 22 above]; … or when God supplied His only Son, Jesus, to be our sacrificial Lamb in remission for our sins. God is our Provider … let us pray thanks to Him today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, …  You are our Jehovah Jireh … ALWAYS; and we worship You with our thanks and praise today for providing all our needs from the abundance of Your glory.    … Amen  

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

August 8, 2015: In Christ – All Is Well – ALWAYS !!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 219

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song All Is Well declaring God’s truth … that no matter what happens in this unpredictable world, all is truly well in Christ, Who never changes.

Highlight Passage: Psalm 46: 10a [NKJV] … 
10a Be still and KNOW that I am God … 
… Thankful that God is not done fixing my prideful attitude of superiority
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Highlight Context – Psalm 46 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God is God … ALWAYS !!! …
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Reference Passage #1 - 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 will make your paths straight. 
… The unpredictability of life requires our trust in God when things don’t go the way we’d like.

Reference Passage #2 - Malachi 3: 6 [NKJV] …
  6 For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. 
 … And since I’m grafted in as a “son of Jacob,” I can always rely on my God.

Reference Passage #3 – Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] … 28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purposes. 
… One of the toughest truths in all of the NT to live out when things don’t go “our way.”

Reference Passage #4 – Hebrews 13: 8 [NKJV] … 
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. 
… And this truth tells us that we can trust God’s immutability … FOREVER … no matter what happens.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, tells the story of the unpredictable win in the 2003 Women’s Open Golf tournament by golf pro Hilary Lunke, who had never won a tournament before her historic win that year; … and she never won a tourney after that. Crowder’s point is that life can be – and many times is – very unpredictable.

But life’s unpredictability often is not always so exciting or positive, is it? “Life sucks at times,” as the kids would say these days. Things are going along, seemingly well, and WHAMO!!! To use the golf analogy, we hit a ball in the water and it seems to ruin what could have been a really good score. 

But fortunately, no matter what goes awry in life, with its unpredictable nature, God never changes; and we can trust His word and His promises … ALWAYS!!! I hope anyone, reading here with me today, takes in all of God’s truths, copied and linked above, and truly believes in the reality that we can trust God and His immutability [i.e., His unchanging nature] no matter what comes our way in this very unpredictable world or life. That is my prayer for me … and for you … today.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … my Jesus, help me to live by the reality that you never change and that we can ALWAYS trust You. … Amen

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

August 7, 2015: “Fault-finder” … Who me?!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 218

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please once again take the time to take in a video of Queen Latifah, from the Movie, Joyful Noise, singing the song Fix Me, Jesus lamenting the reality of our brokenness and the need for us to surrender to God’s Spirit to reshape us into Christ’s image.

Highlight Passage: Philippians 1: 6, 9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...
… Thankful that God is not done fixing my prideful attitude of superiority
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Highlight Context – Philippians 1: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul teaches our need for God’s reshaping hand to reform us into His own image rather than trying to fix things in others …
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 3: 34 [NKJV] …
  34 Surely God scorns the scornful; but gives grace to the humble. 
… So often I forget this truth in my haughtiness and pridefulness.

Reference Passage #2 – Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] … 
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
… Me, selfish? … Nah!! … Well, maybe sometimes. … Okay, all too many times!!

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, uses a personal comparison to highlight the point of his ODB entry today. He writes: Like many people, when I read a newspaper or magazine I notice the misteaks in grammar and spelling. (You saw that one, didn’t you!) I’m not trying to find errors; they leap off the page at me! My usual reaction is to criticize the publication and the people who produce it. “Why don’t they use ‘spell check’ or hire a proofreader?” 

 Well, I guess I need to find a ”FA” [“Faultfinder’s Anonymous”] group somewhere; because, all too often I find myself faultfinding when others make “misteaks” … OR, … at least when I think they do. Or … at the very least I find myself feeling smug and superior when I think I’m better than someone who’s been uncovered in an error or some form of sin. My attitude is too often, “Well, I may be a sinner; but at least I’m not as bad as this fool.” 

Yeah, ... perhaps “Faultfinder’s Anonymous” is for me. Really, what I need is what Queen Latifah sings in the song linked above. I need to surrender my superiority to the reshaping ministry of God’s Spirit; and let my Lord do His total reforming ministry in my heart [see Phil. 1: 6]. Perhaps then I might be able to be more humble and let His grace enlighten an enable me to be more discerning and forgiving of the brokenness of others. Do you know a good Christ-centered ”FA” group around where I live and move and have my being? I need some reshaping to let Jesus fix my superiority attitude (see attached photo).

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … Please do a reshaping of my pridefulness and help me to be more humble, discerning, and forgiving. … Amen

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

August 6, 2015: My Family Forever

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 217

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please once again take the time to take in a video of the group, Avalon, singing the song No Orphans of God proclaiming the truth once we accept the Son of God, Jesus, as our Lord, we become part of God’s family – FOREVER – with al the rights and privileges He awards to all in His family.

Highlight Passage: John 1: 12-13 [NKJV] …
  12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 
… Becoming a child of God in the family of God … with all the privileges thereunto. 
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Highlight Context – John 1: 6-14 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… John the Baptist witness to the Light of the Lord … The Living Word
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Reference Passage #1 - Romans 8: 16 [NKJV] …
  16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, … 
… God’s Spirit is in me – giving witness to the reality that I’m a child of God.

Reference Passage #2 – 1stJohn 5: 11-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… As a born again Christian I have been given full privilege in His family … FOREVER.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, tells personal story of living with a generous, caring family while a student in Africa while away from his parents, who were missionaries in Ghana. He felt loved and cared for by the family; however, when the family needed to make an important decision, he was not included in the family discussion. In other words, he was not given the privileges of “family.”

 Then author, Darmani, used the illustration to contrast with the Gospel of John, which was written by the Apostle John to give Christians confidence that when anyone surrenders to the Lordship of Christ, he becomes a member of God’s family with all the rights and privileges accorded thereunto [see John 1: 11-12]. And this passage and the others linked or copied above make it clear that, as the group Avalon sings (linked above) … there are NO ORPHANS in the family of God!!

 I hope anyone reading with me here today truly is born again into God’s family and fully realizes all the privileges God’s Son has given us along with our surrender to the Lordship of Christ. Wow! … I’m a child of God; and my Lord will never let me leave His family and He will be there for me and with me forever as part of His family.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … You are my Lord and I am in YOUR family … forever. HALLELUJAH! … Amen

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

August 5, 2015 - God As Our Chess Master

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 217

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please once again take the time to take in a video Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing the song He’ll Do Whatever It Takes proclaiming the truth that God, in his Master plan, will do whatever it takes to restore us and reshape us into the image of His Son, Jesus.

Highlight Passage: Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] …
  28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are the called according to HIS purposes. 
… We so often cannot see God’s plan unfolding in our life; but we know that HE DOES and ALL THINGS do work together for our good.
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Highlight Context – Romans 8: 18-28 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can only hope that all our efforts are not in vain; but we can KNOW that God’s efforts are always right/pure.
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Reference Passage #1 – Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… I hope we all have this truth buried deeply in your heart and live by it, especially when we can’t explain what it happening in our lives.

Reference Passage #2 – Isaiah 55: 8-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s ways and His plans are very often way beyond what we can see.

Reference Passage #3 - 2nd Peter 3: 13 [NKJV] …
  13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 
… We must allow God to let His plans for our chess game of life unfold until it fulfills His promises; and so often we have trouble seeing where He is going.

  My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Philip Yancey, clearly stated his main point in this ODB entry, writing, … “When we can’t see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.” And the analogy he used to illustrate the lesson was that of playing a chess game in high school with a master chess player, who could see way ahead of Yancey and had total control of the game. The master player knew exactly what moves he wanted to make and Yancey, though he tried his best was no match for the master player.

 And that’s the way it is with God in this chess game of life, isn’t it? We often try our hardest to make the moves of life as Christians the way we think is right and strategic; but often we can’t see what God, the Master “chessman,” is doing to fulfill his master game plan.

 It’s a hard game, the chess game of life, isn’t it? … But we must trust that God knows the game, as our Chess Master, and we know that He will lead us in ways that are good for our well being and His glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … You are my Master; and I trust in You to transform me and lead me where I need to go. … Amen

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

August 4, 2015 … “Web Wisdom?”

Blogger Note:  This entry is being published on 8/3 due to my travel schedule. ... wrb

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 216

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chlrftb3e_E       … Please once again take the time to take in a video of  the lyrics and the song I Choose To Believe, performed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, proclaiming the truth of seeking our God’s ways, even when it’s difficult, … then to believe His ways and His will … IN FAITH.  

Blogger Vision ... Image a view of an internet microscope being able to visualize all the information flow in the world. 

Highlight Passage   Proverbs 26: 4-5   [NKJV]  …  

 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

5  Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.  

… Don’t mess with fools or you will become one.  

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Highlight Context - Proverbs 26: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+26%3A+1-12&version=NKJV  

…  Don’t play the fool or play with one.    

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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 3: 5-6  [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+3%3A+5-6&version=NKJV 

…  As often as I cite this passage, I would hope that any readers here know it and live by it. 

Reference Passage #2 - 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.”   

…  God’s wisdom is always manifest in the obedient servant of God … but totally absent in the disobedient fool who avoids God’s word or rejects its wisdom.  

Reference Passage #3 - James 1: 5-8 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A+5-8&version=NKJV 

…  if we Christians need God’s wisdom, all we have to do is ask for it, believe it, and then live it.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread 

author, Tim Gustfson, points in his teaching today to the plethora of information which is available today on the web.  Any time I desire, I can whip out my “smart” phone and ask the “wise” Google genie, whomever she is, what I need to know; and she quite often will verbally answer my question or give me a number of links to the web to let me search for my desired information.

The question today is not whether we have enough information, which, of course we do in abundance.  No, … the question is whether we use this information, especially that from worldly sources, in a wise manner.  And that’s what today’s OBD entry is trying to teach its readers.  

The Book of Proverbs, written by wise agents of God, like Solomon, was given to God’s people, to help us, with our freedom to search for God’s way and to find the wisdom of God… or rather to be satisfied with the wisdom of our fellow man.  God didn’t make us as automatons, who always have His wisdom and His will programmed into our minds.  No, from the Garden to Glory, God has given us the ability to search out the mind of God or to go with our own way with worldly wisdom.  if this were not the case, the concept of “faith” would have no meaning.  

And now, in this post-modern age, we have so much knowledge and “wisdom” available to us, especially with the advent and development of the internet.  And so, the question is always going to be … do we want God’s will and His way and HIS wisdom; or are we going to be content to find our answers online and let the world give us our answers?  Because if we are content to let Google give us our wisdom, we will be “the fool” written about above in Proverbs 26.As Jesus’ brother, James ,wrote (see James 1: 5-8), we can search for God’s way and His will from His word and then live by it in faith; or we can be satisfied to be a fool and let our minds be filled with man’s information from the web.

Well, my friends, as for me, I know where I’m going to seek out wisdom; and that’s why I’m here today to seek out the mind of God from His word.   And I’ll be back here tomorrow to do the same thing.   

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, …  I will continue to seek for my wisdom first from Your word … desiring always, in faith, to seek out Your will and 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK -  http://www.odb.org  - on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

August 3, 2015 … At The Edge

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 215

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please once again take the time to take in a video of Nichole Nordeman singing her uplifting song Finally Free proclaiming the reality we find as those who are no longer slaves of sin … those who’ve become slaves to Christ, Who has set us free from the bondage of our sin.

Highlight Passage Romans 6: 19 [NKJV] … 
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. 
… Sin used to have us in its grip; … but no longer! In Christ we now have the power of God’s grace to resist the pull of sin.
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Highlight Context - Romans 6: 16-23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… No longer slaves of sin … now slaves of righteousness.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 8: 31-36 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ... 
… Knowing and abiding in God’s word sets us free from the bondage of sin.

Reference Passage #2 - 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.” 
… Christlikeness is manifest in those who keep His word (i.e, His commands).

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. 
… Now we’re free to walk away from our sin nature and become free, living sacrifices in Christ

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Corinthians 10: 13 [NKJV] … 
13  No temptation (or trial, trouble, or tribulation) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, … Who will not allow you to be tempted (or tried) beyond what you are able. But with the temptation (or tribulation) will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it. 
… We can deal with any temptation when we surrender our will to His and be a slave to the Savior rather than being a slave to self.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David Roper, illustrates his blog today with a personal story of a frightening incident. He writes of being very close to the entry hole into the Kuna lava tube in Kuna, Idaho. Looking down into the darkness of that cave, Roper reports feeling drawn to get closer to the opening; and he almost slipped and fell into the cave. He said, "I felt a moment of heart-pounding terror and stepped away from the opening."

 And Roper’s story does illustrates how curiosity can draw us toward the darkness of temptation and sin. Have you ever felt drawn to some very tempting image online or felt the lure of lust drawing you closer to the dark opening to the cave of sin? … I sure have; but as I’ve grown closer and closer in a more abiding relationship with Christ, those instances are fewer and fewer; and I find myself more able to resist, using God’s empowering grace, to give me the ability to draw away from the entry to darkness, … staying in the Light of Christ.

 Some four decades ago, I was a slave to sin and living in the darkness of my own self-imposed bondage to habitual sexual sin; but when I surrendered my will to Christ’s, as long as I maintain my bond-slave closeness with Christ, He gives me the strength to resist temptation and to avoid getting too close the edge of the darkness of that sin hole in my soul.

 Please take the time to hear and meditate on today’s devotional song and those scripture passage above; and realize that in Christ we are free to be living sacrifices to our Master and Savior, Jesus. I pray that today for all of us.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … I pray that all who come here today will be able to stay away from the edge of any dark hole of temptation and walk in freedom from our own selfishness and sinfulness. … Amen

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

August 2, 2015 … Defeating Discouragement

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 214

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please once again take the time to take in a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their uplifting song All Is Well proclaiming the truth that Christ has broken the chains of discouragement and doubt with his shed blood on the cross.

Highlight Passage Romans 5: 1-2 [NKJV] … 
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
… Being justified by the blood of Christ gives us access to His grace to overcome the discouraging trials of life.
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Highlight Context - Romans 5: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s true heart for all of us.
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] … 
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 
… Our peace of mind and the defeat of discouragement and doubt can only come through our focus on our Lord.

Reference Passage #2 - John 16: 33 [NKJV] … 
33 “ …These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 
… Jesus promises His peace to overcome the anxieties of His followers and any discouragement the enemy might use to bring us down.

Reference Passage #3 - Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] … 
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 
… One of the most difficult truths in the NT to believe for Christians; but if believed and internalized gives purpose to make sense of any trial.

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Corinthians 10: 13 [NKJV] … 
13  No temptation (or trial, trouble, or tribulation) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, … Who will not allow you to be tempted (or tried) beyond what you are able. But with the temptation (or tribulation) will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it.
… But the question always is … do we believe it so that we can live it and defeat discouragement.

Reference Passage #5 - Philippians 4: 6-7 [NKJV] … 
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace OF God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
… The peace OF God can only come in a close, abiding relationship and communion with Christ.

Reference Passage #6 - 2nd Timothy 1: 7 [NKJV] … 
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 
… Really? … yes, really!!

Reference Passage #7 - James 1: 2-4 [NKJV] … 
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 
… A truth, when applied, will give us a reason for any trial and will produce the patience to deal with the discouraging trials of life.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, in discussing defeating discouragement, used a story of a friend who had gone through a series of discouraging physical and emotional setbacks, producing a real downer in his life. He confessed to having spiritual doubts and feeling deeply discouraged.

 Doubts and discouragement are often the accompanying emotions resulting from downer circumstances in our lives; and Satan and his minions will pour gas on those flames any time he senses that we are choosing to let our emotions fall prey to any challenge which comes our way, … especially those which linger or intensify over time.

 But in Christ we must realize that we can only defeat the discouragement and doubt posed by the trials of life by choosing to trust in God’s mercy and to humbly receive His grace to give us the strength to let us overcome those discouraging events or doubt-producing trials in life.

 Today I’ve posted more scriptures that usual in my blog because all of them apply to defeating discouragement and doubt; and I contend that if any Christian gets these passages into his/her heart, AND BELIEVES THEM, doubt will be dispelled and discouragement defeated.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … You are the way to overcome any doubts in my life; and discouragement is defeated as I focus on and trust in You. … Amen

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

August 1, 2015 … Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 213

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please once again take the time to take in a video of an anonymous chorus singing the old hymn Wonderful Peace proclaiming our pursuit for the peace of God which can only come down to us from our Heavenly Father.

Highlight Passage Colossians 1: 19-20 [NKJV] … 
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 
… All things are reconciled unto Him by His blood.
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Highlight Context - Colossians 1: 15-23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… All things were created by Him for Him and to have peace in Him.
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] … 
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 
… Our peace of mind can only come through our focus on our Lord.

Reference Passage #2 - John 16: 33 [NKJV] … 
33 “ …These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 
… Jesus promises His peace to overcome the anxieties of His followers.

Reference Passage #3 - Romans 5: 1-2 [NKJV] … 
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace WITH God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
 … We have peace WITH God only through the atonement for our sinfulness which came from His shed blood and our repentance in faith.

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 4: 6-7 [NKJV] … 
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace OF God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
… The peace OF God can only come in a close, abiding relationship and communion with Christ.

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, in discussing our need for peace in this hectic, noisy world, used the Kamppi Chapel of Silence as an illustration. Constructed in 2010 in the busiest area of downtown Helsinki, Finland, the chapel is so constructed to shield any who are inside the chapel from all the noises of Helsinki. You can GO TO THIS LINK  to read about the chapel online from Wikipedia. 

Author Schuldt, in today’s ODB entry, points out that many, if not most, people these days seek peace from the onslaught of information, noisiness, and the clashes of violence all over the world. Jesus’ Disciples were in a place of discord and tribulation, learning that Jesus was going to “leave them;” and in John 16: 33, Jesus, though telling His dear inner followers that they would continue to have trials and troubles from this world, promised them (and us) that they could overcome the world and have peace by trusting in Him.

 Isaiah, hundreds of years before Christ came to give us peace WITH God, declared (in Isaiah 26: 3) that we, as believers in God, could find peace by focusing our minds and hearts on our Lord; and the Apostle Paul centuries later declared clearly that we could also find the peace OF God, if we used prayer/communion with our Lord as the vehicle to achieve that peace which surpasses all human understanding [see Phil. 4: 6-7].

 I think we all could use some more peace in our lives; … don’t you think so?!! … Well, let’s just trust our Lord and seek that peace from a deeper, more abiding relationship with Him. Go to Him today and beg Him to help lift the anxieties of this world. Focus on HIM during the day today; and pray that He’ll lead you to a place of peace.

My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … You are my hiding place; and I come to You for peace. … Amen

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