November 23, 2017 … A Grateful Heart

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 327 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Dennis Jernigan leading in worship and singing his song … Thank You Lord … as we Christians gather to celebrate our thankfulness for all the blessings bestowed by God … AND THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Laura Story singing her song Blessings, helping us to keep the concept of “BLESSINGS” in God’s perspective rather than from our selfish desires.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 17:15-16 [NLT] … 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 
… The Samaritan with a grateful heart praises His Lord in faith.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 17:11-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus heals 10 Lepers; but only one comes back in gratefulness to praise the Lord. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Exodus 23:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… In Jewish tradition, after the harvest, the “Festival of the Harvest” or also called “The Festival of Weeks,” or today called “Pentecost” or “Sukkot,” celebrated traditionally 50 days after Passover to give the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple and express thankfulness to Jehovah Jireh, our Provider. And that’s the day when God sent the Holy Spirit after Christ’s resurrection to dwell in the hearts of believers in Christ [see Acts 2:1] - certainly giving all Christians something for which to be grateful … FOREVER!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, used the biblical story of God instituting, thru Moses, the “Festival of the Harvest” described above in Exodus 23:16 described above. The ODB author wrote: Several thousand years ago, God spoke directly to Moses and instituted a new festival for His people. In Exodus 23:16, according to Moses’s record, God said, “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field.” 

But we Christians, on this day we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the U.S., have so much more to celebrate in the context of our gratefulness than God’s people in the OT, because on the Day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection [again see Acts 2:1], God sent His Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, to indwell the hearts of all true, born-again, believers. Wow! Do I sense a sincere “PTL!!!” 

And hopefully we can be like the one in ten who came back to Jesus (see Luke 17:11-17) with a heart of worship and gratefulness, thanking Jesus for what he had done to heal the leprous Samaritan. Because God blesses those with grateful hearts for all He has done to save us.

Therefore, … I for one express my strong HALLELUJAH [!!!] today, feeling so deeply grateful for what my Lord did on the cross, making all His other blessings in my life, which are myriad, pale by comparison.

And so, as we partake of our traditional day of thankfulness, let us take in the meaning of the two linked songs above, especially remembering that many of God’s blessings, as Laura Story sings, come in the challenges of life. And so, as Dennis Jernigan sings, let us truly have grateful hearts, thanking God for all the blessings He has brought into our lives.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, thank 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.

November 22, 2017 … Joyous Praise and Worship

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 326 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing their song … Sing to the Lord … Poignantly singing of how we Christians should sing and pray to God every day our joyous praises for His holiness and glory … AND THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Laurie Klein singing I Love You Lord, expressing what should be our everyday attitude of joy and worship in the way we live for God’s glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 98:4 [NLT] … 4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! 
… This should be our 24/7 attitude of joy and praise.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 98 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David sings of God’s wondrous holiness, His justice, and His providence … calling for our continuous worship and praise.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 30:11-12, 100:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Songs of how we ALL should praise and worship our God … EVERYDAY and in EVERY WAY we live !!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, used a story of her own personal worship in church to illustrate our lives should worship our Lord. The ODB author wrote: Back when I was searching for a church to attend regularly, a friend invited me to a service at her church. The worship leaders led the congregation in a song I particularly loved. So I sang with gusto, remembering my college choir director’s advice to “Project!” 
After the song, my friend’s husband turned to me and said, “You really sang loud.” This remark was not intended as a compliment! After that, I self-consciously monitored my singing, making sure I sang softer than those around me and always wondering if the people around me judged my singing. 
But one Sunday, I noticed the singing of a woman in the pew beside me. She seemed to sing with adoration, without a trace of self-consciousness. 

How often do we let our worship and our praise be influenced by how we perceive others will judge us? And that’s not only singing in church, but also the way we live our lives, which is really our 24/7 worship of our Lord.  ... Too often, I think!

Today’s ODB and the Psalms to which I was led to study and meditate reminded me, as did Psalmists like David, that I need to come into each day [as I am today], praising my God for His holiness, His mercy, and His grace; and then we must live out our days in a way which worships our Lord with what we think, say, and do.

I’ve got the right attitude now as I’m writing this. But I will pray that the rest of my life today - and tomorrow - will worship my God by the way I live.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, how I want to live today with thoughts and deeds which worship you just as much as my prayers and songs do here this morning as I start my day with 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.

November 21, 2017 … Dying to Live

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 325 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the The Gaither Vocal Band singing their song … He Touched Me … Poignantly singing of what Jesus does for all who surrender to His grace … to touch us and allow us to die to self so that we can live eternally with Him.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 12:24 [NLT] … 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 
… Jesus’ word picture of death to life.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 12:23-33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tells what it takes for His disciples to life forever … to die to themselves and be born again to eternal life.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 10:10 [NLT] … 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 
 … Jesus died that we might have abundant life.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Galatians 2:20 [NLT] … 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
… God, our Heavenly Physician, gives His absolutely solid prescription for anxiety.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, used a botanical word picture to teach on how our Lord had to die that we might live. The ODB author wrote: When our children were young, they loved trying to catch the “helicopter seeds” that fell from our neighbor’s silver maple trees. Each seed resembles a wing. In late spring they twirl to the ground like a helicopter’s rotor blades. The seeds’ purpose is not to fly, but to fall to earth and grow into trees. 

When I was a kid, in the fall of the year, as the maple tree leaves turned from green to amazing colors of red and yellow, we use to run down our street and catch those “helicopter seeds” [see photo] as they fluttered to earth. But we certainly didn’t see the picture that the ODB author was conveying above or the message that Jesus gave His disciples in the highlight passage from John 12.

He was trying to get across to them that He, the Messiah, would have to die so that they could live the abundant life which anyone in Christ can find when we die to self and are born-again into the abundant life He died to give us (see John 10:10 and Gal. 2:20).

So, I pray that all reading here have done just that; … that we have died to our selves and are now living the life that He died for us to have in Him. If not, I pray that we all die to self today and live for Him.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, how I want to live the abundant life which You died for me to have. … 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.

November 20, 2017 … Stressed Out?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 324 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing truth from our Savior … My Peace I Give Unto You … Poignantly singing Jesus’ promise to give us His peace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 14;27 [NLT] … 27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. …” 
… A red letter promise of peace to all who would trust and believe in Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 14:15-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promises His disciples - and US TOO - His peace, … a peace that the world will never understand!!
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, challenges us to TRUST HIM for the way we are to go in life and to avoid leaning on our own feelings.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 3 You (LORD) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 
… God, thru the Prophet, show us how to avoid stress … by focusing on HIM!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
… God, our Heavenly Physician, gives His absolutely solid prescription for anxiety.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul teaches us how focusing on God’s truth - from His word - gives us all we need to handle the stresses of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, teaches on something we all experience - STRESS - and Jesus’ prescription for our dealing with anxiety. The ODB author wrote: We have an ancient cherry tree in our backyard that had seen better days and looked like it was dying, so I called in an arborist. He checked it out and declared that it was “unduly stressed” and needed immediate attention. “Take a number,” my wife, Carolyn, muttered to the tree as she walked away. It had been one of those weeks. 
Indeed, we all have anxious weeks—filled with worries over the direction our culture is drifting or concerns for our children, our marriages, our businesses, our finances, our personal health and well-being. 

Do I sense an “AMEN” to this last paragraph? ... Yeah, … if we all put a “stress meter” (see photo) on our lives, many of us would measure high on the scale, wouldn’t we? So, today, thru my focus on God’s truth - from this ODB entry and His word - I was reminded of God’s prescriptions for our handling the stresses of life. Four points [i.e., prescriptions] to take away from God’s promises and His truth today …
—>  Self focus … OR … Savior focus ?? (see Isaiah 26:3)
Do we find ourselves focusing on self a lot? If so, we’re taking our eyes off of the One we should be following. He said to follow Him (hope you have Luke 9:23 internalized!); and so, should we be surprised that trying to go it on our own leads to stress? I think not!!
—>  Question God … OR … Trust God ?? (see Prov. 3:5-6)
Again, … are we trying to lean too heavily on doing things or controlling things on our own? That’s a danger zone of selfishness!! … But if we can trust in God’s will and follow Him thru His word, He will lead us in His ways; and that’s the safest place we can be!
—>  Self disciplines … OR … Faith disciplines ?? (see Phil. 4:6-7)
All too often we try to develop our own “TO DO” list, with self directed habits, rather than becoming and being disciplined in such things as finding purpose through prayer and meditation on God’s word. What are our primary disciplines in life; … yoga or prayer? The former can be helpful, … the latter can be life-saving!
—>  Worldly influenced … OR … Godly influenced ?? (see 2Tim. 3:16-17)
Does taking in talk radio … or the daily news … or the lunch room gossip really help to reduce the stress in our lives? … DUH!! … I’m here every morning, starting my day, focusing on God truth to jump start my day in a way that ALWAYS gives me peace, joy, and His love. Pretty good prescription for stress reduction, wouldn’t you say?

Well, fellow Christian, you decide which focus you’d rather have … on stress or the Savior?! Personally I think it’s a no brainer!!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help any of us here, Lord, to take Your prescriptions for producing the peace that only You can give us. … 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.

November 19, 2017 … His Masterpiece ??

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 323 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Matt Redman singing … Fearfully and Wonderfully Made … Poignantly singing of the reality of how God made us as His wondrous workmanship to His purposes and for His glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 139:13-14 [NLT] … 13  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my bod and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous— how well I know it. 
… Seeing ourselves as God’s masterpiece, … uniquely created for His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 139:11-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David declares himself to be a masterpiece of God’s creation.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 
… He made us in such a special way for Himself.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
... And because I have surrendered myself to my Savior as my Lord, He is remaking me into a new man in His image.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
...  God, thru Paul, promises that He will complete us in His image when we are with Him in glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, used a personal word picture to show how we should cherish the reality of how we were created for God’s glory and for His workmanship. The ODB author wrote: My father creates custom quivers designed for archers to carry their arrows. [See photo] He carves elaborate pictures into pieces of genuine leather, before stitching the material together. 
During a visit, I watched him construct one of his works of art. His careful hands applied just the right pressure as he pressed a sharp blade into the supple leather, creating various textures. Then he dipped a rag into crimson dye and covered the leather with even strokes, magnifying the beauty of his creation. 
As I admired my dad’s confident craftsmanship, I realized how often I fail to acknowledge and appreciate my heavenly Father’s creativity manifested in others and even in myself. 

Let me cut right to the questions raised by this author and by the poignant song linked above [at least for me!]:    #1 Do we see ourselves as masterpieces, planned by God before we were in our mother’s womb, and created for His purposes and glory? … #2 Do we know that, in Christ, our God is making us over into His own image? … #3 Are we using His sanctifying grace for His glory … EVERY DAY?!

I, for one, struggle at times to see myself as God’s “masterpiece;” … but you find me here daily, diligently seeking to use His word and my prayers to become more of how my Lord desires to use me for His glory. And I would hope (and pray) that you’re here for the same purpose.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help any of us here, Lord, to become more of the “masterpiece” You created in us for Your glory. … Amen

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

November 18, 2017 … You Can’t See Me!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 322 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Jason Gray singing his song … Glow In The Dark …Joyfully singing of how we can come out of the darkness of self and into the light of our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezekiel 8:12 [NLT] … 12 Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; he has deserted our land!’” 
… God reveals how His people were thinking that they could hide their dark sins from an all-knowing, all-seeing God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezekiel, Chapter 8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God shows the Prophet just how much the people were sinning against our Holy God and thinking that He would not see their sins.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … 22  The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 
 … God’s mercy is new and available to anyone willing to receive it from God’s Spirit.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ezekiel 36:26 [NLT] … 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 
… God’s mercy and grace have led Him to put a new heart into any of the remnant of believers who repent and come to receive that heart from The Messiah.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 8  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
… God, our Heavenly Father, in His great mercy, sent His Son, to die for our sinfulness and to save us from our selves.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
... And because I have surrendered my self to my Savior as my Lord, He is making me into a new man in His image.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a word picture of children playing hide-n-seek to illustrate how we often think God doesn’t see our sin, which, of course, is absolute foolishness. The ODB author wrote: “You can’t see me!” 
When small children play “hide and seek,” they sometimes believe they’re hiding just by covering their eyes. If they can’t see you, they assume you can’t see them. 
Naïve as that may seem to adults, we sometimes do something similar with God. When we find ourselves desiring to do something we know is wrong, our tendency may be to shut God out as we willfully go our own way. 

Aw common! … Admit it, … along with me. We’ve all tried to play hide-n-seek with God, haven’t we, … trying to hide some kind of sin and somehow thinking that an all-knowing and all-seeing God doesn’t see our transgression? And is that not about as foolish as one can be?

Well, God’s people in the times of the Prophet Ezekiel were trying to keep their sin hidden in the darkness from God (see link to highlight passage); and most certainly God’s wrath would uncover their sin, just as our sin will ultimately ALWAYS show itself if we try to hide it.

But God, in His mercy [see Lam. 3:22-23] was willing to give mankind a “do-over!” And He has done so in the ultimate way by sending His Son to die on a cross and, with His blood, give us a chance to come out of the darkness. We no longer need try to hide our sins. No, … we can be touched with His saving grace [see Rom. 5:8 ], giving us a new heart and a new lease on life (see Ezek. 36:26 and 2Cor. 5:17).

The question becomes … are we willing to come out of hiding into THE LIGHT!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light on me Lord that I cannot withhold any darkness from You, and so that You can let me walk in Your light always. … 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.

November 17, 2017 … Served To Serve

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 321 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Dennis Jernigan leading in worship and singing his song … Thank You Lord … poignantly worshipping God in song for all that our Lord has done for us … so that we, prayerfully, can thank others in Christlikeness by serving them.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 4:10-11 [NLT] … 10 How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. 11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 
… Paul was content for all God had done for him; but still expressed deep thankfulness for the help of other Christians.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 4:10-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul’s thankfulness to the Christians who supported him in ministry.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Mark 10:42-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches 12 Disciples (and us) on having the attitude of a slave in service to others just as He came to serve us by giving His all for us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows how we should humbly serve others as Jesus has humbly served us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Peter 5:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter teaches that Christlike humility is the key to being able to serve one another.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kaskper, made reference to a friend who discovered the humility to allow others to have God’s blessing as they served her needs The ODB author wrote: Marilyn had been ill for many weeks, and many people had encouraged her through this difficult time. How will I ever repay all their kindnesses? she worried. Then one day she read the words of a written prayer: “Pray that [others] will develop humility, allowing them not only to serve, but also to be served.” Marilyn suddenly realized there was no need to balance any scale, but just to be thankful and allow others to experience the joy of serving. 

When we’re in need of caring assistance, are you, like me, resistant and even embarrassed to have others do things for you? We can be so prideful in these moments, can’t we, … when we need others to serve us? And it even feels more uncomfortable when people serve our needs and we are fully capable of serving ourselves.

That’s what the Apostle Paul was addressing from a prison to fellow Christians in his letter to the generous help he received from his beloved friends in Philippi. As you read in the highlight passage above, Paul was content with where God had led him, even tho it was a prison. Yet he knew that his Christian friends would get a blessing for helping him; and he was humbled and thankful for their loving concern and especially for their sacrificial gifts.

We’re coming up on our THANKSGIVING and CHRISTMAS celebration time here in the USA; and I hope that we’ll have the attitude of Christ during this holiday season (see the reference scriptures) and be humbly thankful for all that others do for us. And prayerfully, I hope we’ll be able to turn that thankfulness into service for others in the future, receiving the blessing God pours out when we humble ourselves to serve others.

And may I say that I’m thankful for any who read my journaling here and sense the blessing I get for writing what God shares with me from His word and I’m able to share it here with you. I am SO BLESSED to be here daily, trying my best to reflect God’s truth which He gives to me to grow closer to Him and to reflect that blessing forward.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for being here with me this morning … and for sharing Your truth with me so that I can reflect it for 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.

November 16, 2017 … Always There!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 320 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images from Don Moen leading in worship and singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of how we can always know that God will always be there for us … no matter how tough the circumstances.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 89-15 [NLT] … 15 Happy [i.e., joy filled] are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presence, Lord. 
… In every moment - no matter what - we seek God’s presence, we will find joy.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 89:1-17[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist reflects on the eternal presence of the Messiah in our lives.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Habakkuk 3:17-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet learned to choose joy even when things went bad.

Reference Passage [NLT] : …1st Corinthians 10:31 [NLT] … 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 
… No matter where we are or what we’re doing, if we do it for God’s glory, we’ll find His joy.

Reference Passage [NLT] : …Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
… Yes … ALL THINGS!!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:11-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul learned to be content and to choose joy in all circumstances because he knew that his strength came from His relationship with Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Harold Myra, made reference to Brother Lawrence, who, as a monk in the 1600s, wrote about finding the presence of God at all times … in all circumstances. The ODB author wrote: The seventeenth-century monk Brother Lawrence, before a day’s work as cook in his community, would pray, “O my God . . . grant me your grace to stay in your presence. Help me in my labors. Possess all my affections.” As he worked, he kept talking to God, listening for His leading and dedicating his work to Him. Even when he was busiest, he would use intervals of relative calm to ask for His grace. No matter what was happening, he sought for and found a sense of his Maker’s love. 

I’m no brother Lawrence. And I’m certainly no Apostle Paul with his insights about God, …having contentment and confidence in God’s presence in all things (see reference scriptures). No, but I’m probably more like the Prophet Habakkuk who came to God confused and feeling distant from his God, … but pursued his God and found that he could find joy and God’s presence no matter how bad things got (see Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Yes, my fellow Christian, we need not despair anywhere/anytime; … because God has promised to ALWAYS be there with us and for us. And that’s what the Psalmist wrote about [see nightlight passages above] in seeking the Messiah even in the toughest times of life.

He’s there, my friends, … alway there; and God WILL make a way where there seems to be no way (see linked song).

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for being here with me this morning … and every day. … 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.

November 15, 2017 … Digging for God’s Treasures

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 319 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Kristyn Getty singing the song written by Keith Getty … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing of how we who are in Christ can glean perfect truth as God speaks to us thru His word.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 11:13 [NLT] … 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
… Jesus assures His disciples that God, the Father, will ALWAYS have the best in mind for His children when they pray.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 11:1-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches His disciples more about the essence of prayer.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Job 28:1-2, 12-13, 23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Job compares digging for wisdom (i.e., the mind of God) is like mining for precious jewels and fine gold.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We’re assured by God thru this song just how God ALWAYS hears our prayers.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:26-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul assures his fellow Christians (us too) that God’s Spirit will help us pray and that ALL THINGS work together for our good, … no matter what!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows Timothy and us just how powerful is God’s word (now our Bible) to provide us with all we need to live out our lives for His glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, related a story about the great Bible teacher, Oswald Chambers and how he taught about prayer. The ODB author wrote: In October 1915, during World War I, Oswald Chambers arrived at Zeitoun Camp, a military training center near Cairo, Egypt, to serve as a YMCA chaplain to British Commonwealth soldiers. When he announced a weeknight religious service, 400 men packed the large YMCA hut to hear Chambers’s talk titled, “What Is the Good of Prayer?” Later, when he spoke individually with men who were trying to find God in the midst of war, Oswald often quoted Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” … 
 On November 15, 1917, Oswald Chambers died unexpectedly from a ruptured appendix. To honor him, a soldier led to faith in Christ by Oswald purchased a marble carving of a Bible with the message of Luke 11:13 on its open page and placed it beside his grave: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” This amazing gift from God is available to each of us today. 

My discipline of a daily quiet-time with God began with Oswald Chambers’ famous devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest. And I have vivid memories of digging through God’s word and Chambers’ powerful imagery in showing his reader’s [me] just how God’s word was a love letter of truth for His children. And as the Apostle Paul described [see 2Tim. 3:16-17], giving all who dig for God’s truth in His word all we need to live our lives.

And that daily digging process in God’s word, with the help of Chambers’ devotional, was, for me, much like Job described mining for the mind of God (see Job 28 passages linked above). But that digging process, which continues daily, as evidenced by this daily journal (blog), has been a key to the treasure chest of God’s wisdom for me.

I pray God's word is as profitable and as good for you as Jesus described in Luke 11:13; and it is opening up the mind of God for you every day.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me every day thru 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, 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.

November 14, 2017 … Walking Faithfully

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 318 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Steve Green singing … Find Us Faithful … poignantly singing of how we who are in Christ walk the walk of faith, worthy of our calling in Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1John 3:1 [NLT] … 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 
…Only those who are truly children of the living God will walk a walk worthy of our calling in Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1John 3:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s faithful walk the walk of purity and righteousness.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 4:1 [NLT] … 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 
… God, thru Paul, calls us to walk the walk of worthiness to our calling in Christ.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:27a [NLT] … 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. … 
… Again … God, thru Paul, calling Christians to sustain our walk of faith in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, related a personal story to illustrate how, as children of God, we are drawn to His love and follow Him. The ODB author wrote: Recently, we took our twenty-two-month-old granddaughter, Moriah, overnight for the first time without her older brothers. We lavished lots of loving, undivided attention on her, and had fun doing the things she likes to do. The next day after dropping her off, we said our goodbyes and headed out the door. As we did, without a word Moriah grabbed her overnight bag (still sitting by the door) and began following us. 
The picture is etched in my memory: Moriah in her diaper and mismatched sandals ready to depart with Grandma and Grandpa again. Every time I think of it, I smile. She was eager to go with us, ready for more individualized time. 

And that kind of love we are drawn to by the love lavished on us by our Lord. And it is what draws the faithful to walk-a-walk worthy of our calling in Christ (see Eph. 4:1 and Phil. 1:27a). So, after one takes in the linked song and God’s word above, I don’t think I need to write much to emphasize where our walk needs to go!

No, it’s the walk of faith … down the road of purity and righteousness we are called by Jesus to walk, … following Him (see Luke 9:23 which I hope my readers know by heart by now!). That’s why I’m here every morning - to begin my walk of faithfulness - by setting my path in the right direction in God’s word. Come along - faithful reader - and follow me; … because I follow Him.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You for shining Your light on my path that I may follow You today - and tomorrow. And help those reading here to stay faithfully on Your path … 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.

November 13, 2017 … Giving Out His Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 317 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from the group Unspoken singing their song … Call It Grace … poignantly singing of how we need to be giving out what God gives to us … “Call it grace!”

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 8:7 [NLT] … 7 Since you excel in so many ways — in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us — I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving. 
…Since God has given us so much from His grace, we should be sharing that grace with others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 8:1-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Apostle relates how Christians should share God’s grace cheerfully and sacrificially. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 6:38 [NLT] … 38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 
… Jesus presents God’s promise as to His return for our giving freely to help others.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2Corinthians 9:6-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul quotes from Prov. 22:8 and Ps. 112:9 as to God’s principles and promises with regard to giving … that primarily we reap what we sow when we give cheerfully and generously.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Sheridan Voysey, related a true story to illustrate how God’s people can share His grace in giving to others in need The ODB author wrote: Cheryl was in for a surprise as she pulled up to deliver her next pizza. Expecting to arrive at a home, she instead found herself outside a church. Cheryl confusedly carried the pepperoni pizza inside, where she was met by the pastor. 
“Is it fair to say life hasn’t been easy for you?” the pastor asked her. Cheryl agreed it hadn’t. With that, he brought out two offering plates that church members had filled with money. The pastor then poured over $750 into Cheryl’s delivery bag as a tip! [See photo] Unbeknownst to Cheryl, the pastor had asked the pizza shop to send their most financially strapped driver over. Cheryl was stunned. She could now pay some bills. 

And really that story relates so much about how God uses the cheerful and sacrificial giving of His people to share His grace with those who are in need. It is the same message the Apostle Paul shared with Christians in Corinth who were in the midst of a famine [see highlight passage]. But Paul pointed out how the Macedonian Christians, who were also in need, were willing to share as much as they could so generously with others. But are we getting God’s message … to overcome our natural selfishness and share His providence with others?

When Jesus was teaching His disciples (see Luke 6:38), He shared about how we can not out give God and how He will return to us His grace in the measure of what we’re willing to cheerfully and sacrificially give (see also 2Cor. 9:6-9).

So today - and prayerfully tomorrow - I’m going to be looking for opportunities to help others by giving my time, talent, and treasure in a way that reflects my Lord’s unlimited grace as He has given to us. Let’s pray we can overcome our selfish nature and give our first fruits to others in His Name and for His glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Show me clearly where I can give from what You’ve given me to help others in need. … 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.

November 12, 2017 … Remembering His Gift

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 316 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video from Cheri Keaggy singing … In Remembrance of Me … poignantly singing of how we should come to celebrate the New Covenant and how we live our lives in remembrance of the sacrifice of our Lord so that He could live in our hearts forever.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Chronicles 2:5-6 [NLT] … 5 “This must be a magnificent Temple because our God is greater than all other gods. 6 But who can really build him a worthy home? Not even the highest heavens can contain him! So who am I to consider building a Temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices to him? 
…God’s Temple should be built to be worthy of our great God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Chronicles 2:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon wanted God’s Temple to be great enough to honor a great God.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 
… Jesus commands all His disciple to show our love for Him as our way of honoring His love for us; and when we do that He will reside in His temple.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 6:19-20 [NLT] … 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
… Our bodies are God’s Holy Temple; and we should do all we can to keep the Temple of His Holy Spirit pure and undefiled.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1Corinthians 11:27-29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we come fo Christ’s Table to remember His gift to us, we should do so having cleansed His Temple to receive the elements in remembrance of His sacrifice for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, related a personal story illustrating how we go out of our way to honor special people in our lives with special gifts (see photo). The ODB author wrote: My husband recently celebrated a milestone birthday, the kind that ends in a zero. I thought hard about the best way to honor him on this important occasion. I discussed my many ideas with our children to help me home in on the best one. I wanted our celebration to reflect the significance of a new decade and how precious he is to our family. I wanted our gift to be in keeping with the importance of this milestone in his life. 

It’s that attitude of giving back to God in remembrance of His greatness which motivated Solomon to build a magnificent Temple for his God which reflected how great is our God (see highlight passages above). And it is that attitude which we should have when we live our lives, realizing and recognizing that we are God’s “temple,” and His Spirit lives in our hearts (see 1Cor 6:19).

So, inspired by my meditation from this ODB devotional time today, I’m asking myself if I am building His “temple” in such a way to reflect His glory and to keep it pure to honor His sacrifice for me. I’m asking myself, as Cheri Keaggy sings and the Apostle Paul reflects (in 1Cor. 11:27-29), if I could come to His table today with a life which honors His willingness to live in my heart?

And as I reflect on these questions, I realize that I need to do more to build His temple and keep it pure, as our Lord deserves such a gift of my sacrifice to honor His.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to keep Your “temple” pure and to live my life to honor Your sacrifice for me. … 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.

November 11, 2017 … He Did Good!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 315 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video from Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls … poignantly singing of the glory of God seen thru His wondrous creation. … And then ON TO THIS LINK  to hear Gordon Mote, who is blind, singing of not wanting to miss God’s glory, … which speaks loudly to us who can see His glory in His creation.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 1:9-10 [NLT] … 9 Then God said, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.” And that is what happened. 10 God called the dry ground “land” and the waters “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 
…God looked around at what He had created and He said, “It it good!”
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Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 1:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God created all and declared it “GOOD.”
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 19:1 [NLT] … 1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. 
… We see God’s glory clearly in His creation.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm Psalm 147:4 [NLT] … 4 He counts the stars and calls them all by name. 
… He did it all for His glory and for us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm John 1:3 [NLT] … 3 He (God the Father) created everything through Him (Christ) and nothing was created except through Him. 
… God created all we see and experience through our Lord, The Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Philip Yancey, related how the Apollo 8 astronauts viewing earth from near the moon (see photo) saw how wondrous was God’s creation. The ODB author wrote: While orbiting the moon in 1968, Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders described the crew’s close-up view of the moonscape. He called it “a foreboding horizon . . . a stark and unappetizing-looking place.” Then the crew took turns reading to a watching world from Genesis 1:1–10. After Commander Frank Borman finished verse 10, “And God saw that it was good,” he signed off with, “God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.” … 
 The Apollo 8 astronauts saw Earth as a brightly colored ball hanging alone in space. It looked at once awesomely beautiful and fragile. It looked like the view from Genesis 1.

It’s no wonder that looking at the moon up close with earth hanging on the horizon [see photo], these astronauts would see the glory of God and be inspired to quote from His word in Genesis 1 about God’s own creation. And Gordon Mote sings it so beautifully as linked above about us realizing just how great God saw His own glory when He looked around and saw what He, had created for Himself … and for the crowning glory of His creation (and that is mankind). He said it, and “IT IS GOOD,” isn’t it?

And I hope we take time today to revel in what our God has created for us.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, for what You have created for me and all who read here. … 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.

November 10, 2017 … Our Comforter

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 314 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video from the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean, singing their song … He’ll Do Whatever It Takes … poignantly singing of care and comfort we need to overcome the worst our world or our flesh can bring in the way of pain or anguish in our lives.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 1:3-4[NLT] … 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 
…We need to be comforted knowing that God is our comforter.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 1:3-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God give us His comfort in our times of trial.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Job 2:11-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… In Job’s time of anguish and pain, he had three friends who came to grieve with him with the touch of comfort. And all was good until they started opening their mouths.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 14:15-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promised His disciples (and us) His “Comforter” (i.e., Advocate or Paraclete) to be with us and in us when we’re confronted by our Spiritual enemies.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… When we’re worried, we can give them to our God … Who cares for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Randy Kilgore, related a story of a caring nurse’s assistant who provided a touch of comfort in a patient’s time of trial. The ODB author wrote: “Patient is combative,” the nurse’s notes read. 
What she didn’t realize until later was that I was having an allergic reaction as I awakened after a complicated open-heart surgery. I was a mess, with a tube down my throat. My body began shaking violently, straining against the straps on my arms, which were there to keep me from suddenly pulling out my breathing tube. It was a frightening and painful episode. At one point, a nurse’s assistant to the right side of my bed reached down and simply held my hand. It was an unexpected move, and it struck me as especially gentle. I began to relax, which caused my body to stop shaking so badly. 
Having experienced this with other patients, the nurse’s assistant knew that a hand of comfort could minister to me as well. It was a vivid example of how God uses comfort when His children suffer. 

There are times of trial and anguish in our lives when we need a touch of comfort to help us grieve or deal with pain. Job certainly had such a time, didn’t he? And at least for a time after he lost everything and was in dire pain, three friends came to just be with him, giving Job God’s mercy/grace of comfort (see Job 2:11-13).

And I would hope that we all have brothers/sisters in Christ who would bring the comfort of the One Jesus promised He would send to comfort us (see John 14:15-21). Yes, dear one, … our God cares for us and desires to be our “Comforter” when we’re in anguish (see 1Peter 5:7).

Oh, even when He seems so far away, my friend, … He’s there … ALWAYS there! But the question for us from these thoughts is … do we believe He’s there to comfort us. Because if we do, His comfort will be ours, even in our worst times of trial and pain.

And PS … Many today are trying to extract our “Comforter” from our world or trying to explain Him away with New Age mysticism. But, as Priscilla Shirer, the star of the Movie War Room proclaims, “Even Oprah cannot explain away our God!” [SEE THIS LINK] He is our Abba Father, our King Jesus, and our Comforter and He’s always there for us.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I feel Your presence and Your power today. Thank You for Your comforting touch. … 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.

November 9, 2017 … Our Glorious Rescue

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 313 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from the group Third Day singing a contemporary version of the old hymn … Blessed Assurance … poignantly singing of the assurance and hope we have in Christ that our story will end in glory with our Lord. … And THEN TO THIS LINK  to hear another version of the same hymn song sung by “Elevation Worship” … and sing along with the hope that we have in Christ … “Oh what a Savior, … wonderful Jesus!!”

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Highlight Verse[s]: Revelation 22:3-4 [NLT] … 3 No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. 4 And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. 
… It’s the perfect ending for mankind after our fall in the garden.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Revelation 22:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God gives John (and us) His vision of what is to come in glory … the best of all endings to HisStory.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
… When anyone comes to know Christ as Lord/Savior, he/she becomes a new person, being made-over, by sanctification into Christlikeness.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
… God’s Spirit is doing a remake of all who are in Christ … making us over into His image.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Revelation 21:1, 5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… John wrote down the vision God gave him (and us) of the New Jerusalem … the new earth, redeemed and renewed for God’s glory and our eternal home.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, related a story of a friend’s confusion about the ending of the movie, Apollo 13 [see photo]. The ODB author wrote: As the lights dimmed and we prepared to watch Apollo 13, my friend said under his breath, “Shame they all died.” I watched the movie about the 1970 spaceflight with apprehension, waiting for tragedy to strike, and only near the closing credits did I realize I’d been duped. I hadn’t known or remembered the end of the true story—that although the astronauts faced many hardships, they made it home alive. 

Apparently the ODB author’s friend, in viewing the movie about the Apollo 13 mission in 1970, which had a glorious ending, got confused with the horrible ending to the Challenger space shuttle diaster in 1986. And her confusion illustrates how one would view our eternal future if we had the viewpoint of someone who doesn’t KNOW, beyond doubt, what awaits mankind when God unfolds His Story (i.e., HISTORY). And God has done this for all who would believe in His rescue from death into eternal life in the vision the Apostle John documented in God’s “Revelation” story.

When we read that book, especially the final two chapters, and if one believes them, as do I (and hopefully any reader here with me), it has to give us hope. Yes, as when Apollo 13 reported, “Houston, we have a problem,” we humans have a definite “problem,” which started in the Garden of Eden and has gotten us to where we are now. But like the ending to the Apollo 13 mission, our life has been and will be saved; and we will live forever with our Lord (as we read in the highlight passages).

If we believe that, we can live with a very different hope and perspective than that of an atheist, who cannot see anything beyond this “Challenger”-like mission in life. To that person, our earthly mission is all there is; and yes, “Houston, we [definitely] have a problem!” But to me, in Christ, I am being repaired (see 2Cor. 5:17 and Phil 1:6) and I see nothing but a glorious reunion with my Savior in glory. How about you, dear one?!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I am so thankful for having been rescued from death and brought to an eternal hope of glory with You, dear 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.

November 8, 2017 … “T.H.I.N.K.”

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 312 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Barry Gibb of the BeeGees singing a popular love song … Words … poignantly singing of how one who loves someone should speak … only in words of love. And as one hears this song, imagine it is Jesus speaking those words of love to you.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ruth 4:17 [NLT] … 3  Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips. 
… Good advice for us all as we try to honor God with what we say.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 141 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David in praying for God to destroy his enemies and deliver him from danger still pleaded for God to guard what he said and wrote in songs like this one.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 16:24 [NLT] … 24 Kind words are like honey - sweet tot he soul and healthy for the body. 
… But the opposite is the case when words become sour, producing nothing by enmity and death.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 4:29-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches on how/what to say to cast out the wrongs in our relationships.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:13 [NLT] … 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. 
… Jesus wants to speak His love to others thru what we say to them.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … James 3:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ brother pleads for believers to be very careful in using our tongues to strike out or to control others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, related a story of a husband not guarding his words and the result in his marriage relationship. The ODB author wrote: Cheung was upset with his wife for failing to check the directions to the famous restaurant where they hoped to dine. The family had planned to round out their holiday in Japan with a scrumptious meal before catching the flight home. Now they were running late and would have to miss that meal. Frustrated, Cheung criticized his wife for her poor planning. Later Cheung regretted his words. He had been too harsh, plus he realized that he could have checked the directions himself and he had failed to thank his wife for the other seven days of great planning. 

Oh, wow! Been there; … done that; … and hopefully have buried that T-shirt by learning what God teaches from the many words He has warning us to be very careful what and how we speak to others. In fact, thru the Apostel Paul, in Ephesians 4:29, God gives us the rules for doing what King David wrote in the highlight passage (from Ps. 141:3).

As with Jesus’ brother, James, in James 3:1-12, God warns us of the power of our words to hurt and even kill, when He says, thru Paul in the Ephesians passage to only speak those words which either build up or bring grace to the hearer.

So, at least today, I’m going to do all I can to do what the acronym speaks of in the attached photo … and to “T.H.I.N.K.” before I say something; and prayerfully in doing that we all can continue to do that tomorrow as well … and for the tomorrows after that.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to bridle my tongue, Lord, and to speak only those words which bring Your love and grace to those who hear me. … 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.

November 7, 2017 … God of 2nd Chances

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 311 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Natalie Grant singing her song of deliverance and cleansing … Clean … poignantly singing of how we are given a second chance by our merciful, loving, and grace-giving God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ruth 4:17 [NLT] … 17 The neighbor women said, “Now at last Naomi has a son again!” And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David.
… Naomi’s second chance at life and motherhood, which gave birth to a son who would be King David’s grandfather.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ruth 4:13-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Naomi experiences God’s redeeming grace and a second chance at motherhood, which led to the lineage of our Savior.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 86:15 [NLT] … 15 But You, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 
… Yes, our God is a forgiving God of mercy and grace and love.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Nehemiah, declares His faithful, forgiving and merciful nature.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Micah 7:18 [NLT] … 18 Where is another God like You, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of His special people? You will not stay angry with Your people forever, because You delight in showing unfailing love. 
… And that’s our God of 2nd Chances!!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : …John 15:5 [NLT] … 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 
… Jesus promises we can be fruitful … IF … we remain (i.e., abide) in Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Keila Ochoa, related a story of a “Linda,” who was given a second chance from a prison cell to make a life which honored God. The ODB author wrote: By making some wrong decisions, Linda had ended up in jail in a country not her own. For six years she remained in prison, and when she was set free she didn’t have anywhere to go. She thought her life was over! While her family gathered money to buy her ticket home, a kind couple offered her lodging, food, and a helping hand. Linda was so touched by their kindness that she willingly listened as they told her the good news of a God who loves her and wants to give her a second chance. 

Linda’s second chance from God reminded the ODB author of Naomi in the Bible whom God gave a 2nd chance to care for a son … Ruth’s son … named Obed, who became the grandfather of King David in the birth line of our Savior. 

And today, yours truly is remembering how my God gave me a second chance at life ... after years lived in bondage to sin, which included a deep addiction to pornography. God’s saving and sanctify grace allowed me to walk with my Lord everyday in freedom from myself. ... Can you sense my ”HALLELUJAH?!” as I share scriptures above which proclaim that I (and hopefully we) have surrendered to a God of second chances.

PLEASE take the time to listen and meditate on the linked song; and you’ll sense my gratitude for the second chances given to me by our Lord. Perhaps our God of second chances has set you free as well. I pray so!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I’m praying for those reading here to recognize, as have I, as we praise You for Your saving and redeeming grace. … Amen

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

November 6, 2017 … Trust and Obey!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 310 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Harvey Yao singing more modern version of the old hymn … Trust and Obey … poignantly singing of how we must trust and obey our God … yes, even when it’s tough to do so.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 1:12-13 [NLT] … 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. 
… God’s timing is always perfect!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 1:5-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God answers Zechariah’s prayer for a son with the foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth to his wife.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Trusting God when the trust doesn’t seem logical or fair can be really tough… but TRUST WE MUST!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
… One of the toughest truths to understand, believe, and live at times.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 3:19-20 [NLT] … 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. … 20 Now all glory to God, Who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 
… Paul encourages Christians to trust God, who is fully able to provide us with WAY MORE that we ask, or most certainly deserve.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a NT biblical example to illustrate how trusting God’s timing can be challenging for us. The ODB author wrote: Sometimes God takes His time in answering our prayers, and that isn’t always easy for us to understand. 
That was the situation for Zechariah, a priest whom the angel Gabriel appeared to one day near an altar in the temple in Jerusalem. Gabriel told him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). But Zechariah had probably asked God for a child years before, and he struggled with Gabriel’s message because Elizabeth was now well beyond the expected age for childbirth. Still, God answered his prayer. 

Perhaps, as in the photo, you have, at some time, felt called by God to take a leap of faith; but it was fearful, … or maybe even it wasn’t logical. That’s what John the Baptist’s father-to-be was confronted with when God sent the Angel Gabriel to him with the promise that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son [see the highlight passage].

Sometimes we pray for something at a time of need; but God’s timing is not what we would think is logical or right. And there is a delay … or even a denial … of what we would like to see occur, even if our prayer would seem to honor God. … UGH!! … God’s timing can be a tough pill to swallow sometimes, can’t it?

But as the song so strongly exhorts us … our only choice in such times is to “trust and obey.” So, perhaps some reader here is going thru such a challenge to his or her faith. But, all we can do … dear one … is to trust our God and wait on His timing and His good will.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I’m praying for some relief to my pain, Lord; but I know You have good for me in spite of the pain. … 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.