December 7, 2017 … Breathing In Christlikeness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 341 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group 4Him singing … Back To The Basics … poignantly singing of how we must do all we can to maintain the basics of our faith … grounded in Christlikeness. … And ON TO THIS LINK to hear Joy Williams singing of the desire to which we all should aspire to have others see Christlikeness in us.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Timothy 4:16 [NLT] … 16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 
… Paul instructing Timothy (and us) to watch over their (our) salvation, continuing to maintain the disciplines of the faith.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Timothy 4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul as Timothy’s mentor so wanted the young Pastor to succeed that he warned (exhorted) him to watch over and maintain the basics of the faith.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Joshua 1:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Moses passes the torch of leadership to Joshua, giving him God’s encouragement and exhortation to stay tuned to God thru the basics of the faith, primarily thru God’s word.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Chronicles 28:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… The charge from David to his son, Solomon, to stay grounded in the faith passed to them from God thru Moses.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 5:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus exhorts His followers (that’s us!) to shine His own light brightly into a very dark world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, C.P. Hia, teaches about what it takes to stay true to the basics of the faith to maintain our pursuit of Christlikeness. The ODB author wrote: When you travel by air, before the flight takes off an airline employee presents a safety briefing, which explains what to do if there is a loss of cabin pressure. Passengers are told that oxygen masks will drop from the compartment above and they are to put one on themselves before helping others. Why? Because before you can help anyone else, you need to be physically alert yourself. 

Everyone who has flown has heard these instructions; but many may not know the “WHY” behind them. They are primarily for parents so that they will overcome their natural desire to take care of their child first; and to recognize that they will not be able to give life-giving oxygen to their child if they don’t take care of their own needs first. [SEE PHOTO]

And this is an apt word picture of what we, as CHRISTIANS, need to do as well. We need to maintain and stay in the basics of the faith, primarily thru God’s word, to be able to hold onto our Christlikeness and to radiate His light to a very dark world [see Scriptures].

Really, … if any reader with me here today has taken the time to hear the two linked songs above, God will speak to you, as He did to me today, … exhorting us to get back to and stay in the basics of the faith so that others can see Jesus in us.

That’s why you find me here EVERYDAY, doing all I can to glean enough of God’s Spirit from prayer and His word … to be able to exhibit a small amount of Jesus’ light into the ever-darkening world around me.

And I do so, praying that we ALL are doing all we can to stay in His word and glean His life-giving power to share with others.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Dear Lord, … shine thru what I write here that others may get a breath of 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.

December 6, 2017 … Even If ???

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 340 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing their personal song … Even If … poignantly singing of how we can trust in a God Who never changes and will always be there with His grace to cover our weakness of faith.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Daniel 3:17-18 [NLT] … 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. 18 But EVEN IF he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 
… Faith shown by three young boys in the face of life-threatening danger.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Daniel 3:15-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had an “even if” faith in their God …
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… No matter what, … we can trust in God to lead us thru life.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 10  Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
… We can trust our God … no matter what!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… In spite of horrible pain, Paul realized that His Savior would be there for him … ALWAYS!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Hebrews 13:5, 8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… We can trust in God, no matter what; because God never changes.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, teaches about trusting in God with the story of Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego, who trusted their God even at the threat of their life. The ODB author wrote: Due to an injury that occurred in 1992, I suffer from chronic pain in my upper back, shoulders, and neck. During the most excruciating and disheartening moments, it’s not always easy to trust or praise the Lord. But when my situation feels unbearable, God’s constant presence comforts me. He strengthens me and reassures me of His unchanging goodness, limitless power, and sustaining grace. And when I’m tempted to doubt my Lord, I’m encouraged by the determined faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They worshiped God and trusted He was with them, even when their situation seemed hopeless. 

Today, I pray that all who read here have taken the time to hear Mercy Me sing of their hope and trust in God … EVEN IF … He seems far away, … EVEN IF … pain is great in our lives, … and yes, EVEN IF it our Lord doesn’t seem to care.

Jesus never changes (see Heb. 13:5, 8)! But EVEN IF our prayers seem to be bouncing off the ceiling, our Lord is there; and He cares. And as with Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego in Daniel 3, our God will carry us thru the fires of life; … OR … He’ll be there to see us in Heaven if the fires of life consume us.

We believe and serve a God Who never changes; and He can be trusted yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … You’re there for me today … and tomorrow … and forever!! … 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.

December 5, 2017 … Real-Deal Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 339 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Scott Underwood singing … This Is Love … poignantly singing of how God showed us the essence of His love for us when He sent His Son to die for our sins.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1 John 4:9-10 [NLT] … 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. 10 This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 
… God showed the heart of real love in His Son Jesus and how he lived and died to save us. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1 John 4:7-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Apostle so loved by Jesus teaches on the essence of “real-deal” love, … as modeled for us by our Lord.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… And this, dear ones, is REAL-DEAL love!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 3:23, 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… God, thru Paul, shows us that none of us deserve Christ’s redemption; but He gave His love to us anyway … by saving us with His Son.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:6-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… And this is how much God loved us … that He would set aside His glory to become a man and die for us on the cross. That, my friends, is love!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, uses a personal story  to illustrate just how much God loves His children (that's us!!). The ODB author wrote: When my sister Maysel was little, she would sing a familiar song in her own way: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells Maysel.” This irritated me to no end! As one of her older, “wiser” sisters, I knew the words were “me so,” not “Maysel.” Yet she persisted in singing it her way. 
Now I think my sister had it right all along. The Bible does indeed tell Maysel, and all of us, that Jesus loves us. 

Today, as I do every morning I came here to my special quiet-place and I prayed that God would be here with me, … as, of course, I know He is. And as I do each morning I begin my quiet time with prayer, … beginning by asking my Lord to give me something special from His word, … something that I could share with others in my daily journaling. And as He does, … unfailingly, … EVERY day, … He touched me and gave me a word of love, an eternal hug, if you will, … a hug which I share with you now, just as the Apostles shared with us in God’s NT truth [see those love notes above]. 

And as Scott Underwood so touchingly sings in the linked song today, This IS Love, … the real-deal love of a Father Who loved us enough, even tho we were rebellious sinners, like myself, … to die for us and save us from our sins. And I know that if you take in the song and meditate on the Scriptures above, you’ll get a real-deal hug from our Savior as well.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Thank You, Lord, … I felt Your hug 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.

December 4, 2017 … They All Need Him

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 338 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, are the ones God has chosen to spread the word of His coming to save all who will believe on Him as Lord and Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 1:68 [NLT] … 68 “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. …” 
… Zechariah’s prophesy about King Jesus coming in fulfillment of God’s promise to His people. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 1:68-75 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Father of the baby who would become John, The Baptizer, prophesies about the coming of The Messiah.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… God sent us a Savior and He is Jesus! And we all need His saving grace.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 3:23, 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… God, thru Paul, shows us that none deserve Christ’s redemption but all have been given His saving grace.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:9-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… One day all will declare that King Jesus is The Christ, our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, uses a personal story of where he grew up to illustrate that everyone needs Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The ODB author wrote: About 230 families and individuals live at MacPherson Gardens, Block 72 in my neighborhood. [See photo] Each person has his or her own life story. On the tenth floor resides an elderly woman whose children have grown up, gotten married, and moved out. She lives by herself now. Just a few doors away from her is a young couple with two kids—a boy and a girl. And a few floors below lives a young man serving in the army. He has been to church before; maybe he will visit again on Christmas Day. I met these people last Christmas when our church went caroling in the neighborhood to spread Christmas cheer. 

This morning, reading today’s ODB entry, and thinking back on my vacation trip last week, I’m under a bit of conviction. On our flight back home from the week of family time, my wife and I had to sit in separate rows; and I was in the middle seat of three for our two hour flight. And sitting between two people for all that time, I never once interacted with these two, either who could’ve been on their way to hell. UGH! … and I didn’t care enough to share my story of our Savior with them. 

During this Christmas season, as Steve Green sings in the song linked above, we’re going to be walking by many, many people who need the Lord. Some will be happy and know Him as their Savior. Others will be hurting and will not. But I pray that we all will take any opportunity to open up to those who might listen and share our testimony of salvation.

Who knows, one of them might respond and surrender to receive the greatest Christmas gift of all.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Forgive me, Lord, for not being enough of a trumpet 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.

December 3, 2017 … Waiting for Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 337 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Sara Groves singing her song … I’ll Wait … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, so often have to work to overcome our impatient nature, waiting on our Savior to come and usher in His kingdom forever.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Micah 5:4 [NLT] … 4 And He [Messiah] will stand to lead His flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then His people will live there undisturbed, for He will be highly honored around the world. 
… That time when all knees will bow and He will reign in peace forever.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Micah 5:2-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophecy for which we Christians await … that Jesus will come again to rule/reign over His Kingdom forever …
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Mark 13:34-37 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus’ teaching His disciples, thru parable, to be willing to wait and watch for Him as their Lord and Messiah.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Acts 1:6-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… When Jesus ascended into heaven, the angels promised that He would return; but He left the Holy Spirit to give them (us) the power to wait for His return.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Paul’s exhortation for Christians to avoid living as the world lives … but to live as Christ lived.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Titus 2:11-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Another of Paul’s exhortations to live for Christ as Christ taught and lived.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses an illustration about children waiting on Christmas to illustrate our difficulty waiting for our Savior to come again. The ODB author wrote: “How much longer until it’s Christmas?” When my children were little, they asked this question repeatedly. Although we used a daily Advent calendar to count down the days to Christmas [see photo], they still found the waiting excruciating. 
We can easily recognize a child’s struggle with waiting, but we might underestimate the challenge it can involve for all of God’s people. 

Well, I think we understand how it’s difficult for kiddies to wait for Christmas day as they see the tree decorated with presents waiting to be opened on that magical day. It’s just part of the job description of “a kid” to be impatient, isn’t it?

Then why are so many ADULT Christians so impatient in the way we live, not being willing to live as Jesus and the post-resurrection Apostles taught (see NT Scriptures above)? Yes, … it’s just in our sin-nature to be impatient, isn’t it? It goes way back to The Garden when Adam and Eve were unwilling to trust God at His word, and they set us up to be impatient just as they were.

But as we come down to Christmas day, let us choose to do all we can to patiently wait on our Lord to come again and usher in His kingdom of peace/joy forever. Let’s do all we can to live as He has taught us, and modeled for us, in His word.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, I wait on 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.

December 2, 2017 … Surrendered for His Strength 

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 336 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song/lyrics from Cece Winans singing… His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, can fly free and above the winds of this world, … lifted and carried by His strength to empower us in our weakness

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 Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 9:35 [NLT] … 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
… By the world’s standards this makes little sense. By Jesus’ standards it is TRUTH! 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 9:33-37, 10:41-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches strongly about His “upside-down” kingdom where the first will be last, … where the slave will be king.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5a [NLT] … 5 Trust in the Lord with ALL Your Heart … 
… Not half-heartedly … but in TOTAL surrender.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
… God’s promise is to be there to lift us up when we are weak … but do we believe it?

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… Paul learns that he can only glean God’s strength to cover His weakness when he is in surrender to receive God’s empowering grace.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, uses the punchline from an old fable to illustrate how our commitment has to be in total surrender to receive God’s grace. The ODB author wrote: In the fable of the chicken and the pig, the two animals discuss opening a restaurant together. As they plan their menu, the chicken suggests they serve ham and eggs. The pig swiftly objects saying, “No thanks. I’d be committed, but you would only be involved.” Although the pig didn’t care to put himself on the platter [see photo], his understanding of commitment is instructive to me as I learn to better follow God with my whole heart. 

In the fable of the pig and the chicken, we see the commitment necessary to be able to glean God’s empowering grace to overcome our weaknesses. The chicken was only involved partially in the menu; but the pig had to be TOTALLY committed to produce what you see in the photo.

And that’s what was illustrated by God’s word in the highlight story of how God’s people tried to overcome their weakness by bargaining with human leverage, … rather than being surrendered to God to use His strength against their enemies. It’s also illustrated in what Paul leaned when he was in dire pain [see 2Cor. 12:9], recognizing that he needed the painful thorn which God had allowed into his life in order to keep him humble enough to receive God’s grace to overcome his weakness.

That’s what Cece Winans sings about in the linked song, … that God’s grace is ALWAYS sufficient for our needs if we’re humble enough to receive it and use if in our weakness and for His glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, I come in surrender … TOTALLY; … because I need Your grace to overcome my ever-present weaknesses. … 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.

December 1, 2017 … Upside Down Kingdom

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 335 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song/lyrics from John Waller singing… As for Me and My House … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, must serve our Lord in His upside-down kingdom for His glory … not our own!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 9:35 [NLT] … 35 He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to Him, and said, “Whoever wants to be first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”
… By the world’s standards this makes little sense. By Jesus’ standards it is TRUTH! 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 9:33-37, 10:41-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches strongly about His “upside-down” kingdom where the first will be last, … where the slave will be king.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. 
… What Jesus demands of His disciples (that’s you and me too!).

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ... 
… Paul teaches that, as disciples of Christ, we must have the same humble servant’s attitude as Christ and serve others before self.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, tells a personal story to illustrate the UPSIDE-DOWN kingdom philosophy taught and demanded by Jesus of His disciples The ODB author wrote: Recently I was among the last in line to board a large passenger jet with unassigned seating. I located a middle seat beside the wing; but the only spot for my bag was the overhead compartment by the very last row. This meant I had to wait for everyone to leave before I could go back and retrieve it. 
 I laughed as I settled into my seat and a thought occurred to me that seemed to be from the Lord: “It really won’t hurt you to wait. It will actually do you good.” So I resolved to enjoy the extra time, helping other passengers lower their luggage after we landed. By the time I was able to retrieve my bag, I laughed again when someone thought I actually worked for the airline. 
And that day’s experience made me ponder Jesus’ words to His disciples: Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) 

Wow! … CONVICTION!!! … All too often when we’re in church at a potluck supper, where we’re asked to get in line to be served, I find myself angling to get in line early. It’s almost like I think I’m not going to get fed when usually there’s way too much food for the group being served.

UGH! … Here I am in church; and that’s certainly not what Jesus was teaching and demanding of His disciples, is it? So, the next time I’m given the opportunity to forge ahead on my own or wait and make sure others are being served, especially those who need help, I’m praying I’ll live up to God’s upside-down kingdom way of doing things.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, forgive my impatience and selfishness, Lord; and help me look to be a servant-leader in Your upside-down kingdom. … 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 30, 2017 … Brokenness to Wholeness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 334 

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 how our God will do whatever it takes to bring our brokenness into the wholeness of His image.

"Wakeari" Cookies in Japan 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 7:47-48 [NLT] … 47 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.” 
… And aren’t we who’ve been forgiven, like this woman, grateful for Jesus’ mercy and grace on sinners such as we?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 7:36-50 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we’re willing to surrender our brokenness to Jesus, He can forgive us and make us whole again in His image.
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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. 
… Christ came to save the broken and remake them into His own 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. 
… And we can be assured that our Lord is going to do whatever it takes to make us over in His image in glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Albert Lee, paints a word picture of our brokenness and how our Lord can - and will - redeem us from our sin, making us over into His image of wholeness. The ODB author wrote: In Japan, food products are immaculately prepared and packaged. Not only must they taste good but they must look good too. Often I wonder if I am purchasing the food or the packaging! Because of the Japanese emphasis on good quality, products with slight defects are often discarded. However, in recent years wakeari products have gained popularity. Wakeari means “there is a reason” in Japanese. These products are not thrown away but are sold at a cheap price “for a reason”—for example, a crack in a rice cracker. 

Sometimes, as I read and meditate on these ODB entries each morning to start my day, some of them will really strike a chord of reality within me; and this one most certainly does. You see, like the “wakeari” products in Japan, (e.g., the broken cookies in the photo), I was once a broken man, lost in my own sinfulness. But Jesus, just as He did with the broken/sinner woman in Luke 7, was willing to come after me and save me from my own brokenness, … forgiving my sinfulness and beginning the process of remaking me into the wholeness and perfection of His own image.

Oh, … He’s not done with me yet, … for sure! But as the linked song proclaims, my Lord will do “whatever it takes” to complete the process of my redemption (see also Phil. 1:6). And when He’s done with me in glory, I’m going to be completely whole and have a beauty and usefulness akin to His. And I hope you share a robust HALLELUJAH!!! with me as He remakes you in His images as well.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, Lord, praise your willingness to take me as I was and give me a “redo” to be with You in eternity. … 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 29, 2017 … Empathy Power

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 333 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Elvis Presley singing a Joe South song … Walk A Mile In My Shoes … powerfully singing about the power of true empathy to overcome our selfishness and to reach out to feel the pain of others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 13:3 [NLT] … 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. 
… He gave his own body so that we could identify with His sacrifice and give ours for others as He did.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 2:14-18, 13:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God becoming flesh so that he could die in perfect empathy to save mankind from our own flesh. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 12:25-26 [NLT] … 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 
… Christ’s Body - the Church - has been created in His image that we can fully empathize with all the members of the body to serve each other for His glory.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… His divine empathy so that we can empathize as He did with us and reach out help others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, uses a scientific invention, the “R70i Aging Suit” [see photo] to show how younger people can fully empathize with the conditions of the aged. The ODB author wrote: Put on the R70i Age Suit and you immediately feel forty years older as you experience impaired vision, hearing loss, and reduced mobility. The Age Suit was designed to help caregivers better understand their patients. Wall Street Journal correspondent Geoffrey Fowler wore one and wrote, “The unforgettable, and at times distressing, experience shed light not just on aging, but also how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions of the world around us.” Empathy is the power to understand and share the feelings of another. 

This is a fascinating scientific word picture of what Jesus did in becoming fully human and walking among His created humans like a slave to show His Body (the Church) how to empathize with one another in order to live for each other.

That’s why, as we read in the NT (see Scriptures above), when one member of Christ’s body hurts, the other members should hurt as well. And that’s why we can - and should - be able to serve other Christians - with Spirit-empowered empathy - instead of holding on to our own selfish desires.

The questions arise from this study … “Are we?” … AND … “Will we?”

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to discern the needs of others and to be able to walk a mile in their shoes, reaching out to help them when I see them 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 28, 2017 … Fill our Sails, Lord!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 332 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Josh Groban singing … You Raise Me Up … poignantly singing about how our God raises us up with the power of His grace to overcome the weaknesses in our humanity.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Amos 4:13a [NLT] … 13 For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains, stirs up the winds, and reveals His thoughts to mankind. 
… It is God’s empowering grace which sustains us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Amos 4:12-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s Prophet reminds His people of God’s creative and sustaining power.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 3:8 [NLT] … 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 
… Jesus teaches Nicodemus, and reminds us, that God’s Spirit is the power which saves and sustains us.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 15:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches His disciples that He is our sustainer and our power; and apart from Him, we can do NOTHING!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… Jesus reminds Paul and us of His power to give us strength in our weakness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a personal reflection of how windsurfing (see photo) is a picture of God’s empowering grace working to give us God’s power when we are weak in our humanity. The ODB author wrote: One day by the seaside, I delighted in watching some kite surfers as they bounced along the water, moved by the force of the wind. When one came to shore, I asked him if the experience was as difficult as it looked. “No,” he said, “It’s actually easier than regular surfing because you harness the power of the wind.” 
Afterward as I walked by the sea, thinking about the wind’s ability not only to propel the surfers but also to whip my hair into my face, I paused to wonder at our God the Creator. 

A powerful wind filling the sails of a windsurfer, or allowing golfers to hit the ball much farther than they are capable, are good pictures of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers doing what Josh Groban sings in the linked song; … i.e., to lift us up and give us the power the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2Cor. 12:9 … to give us strength when we are naturally weak.

I will pray this morning that all reading here are experiencing the energizing wind of God’s Spirit, empowering us to move way beyond our natural selves and to blow with Spirit-power to show others the power of God in our lives.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Fill our sails, Lord, and blow us strongly where You want us 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.

November 27, 2017 … Our “Make-over” in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 331 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Chris McClarney singing … Beauty for Ashes … poignantly singing about how our God is willing to make us over from the ashes of death into the beauty of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 6:4 [NLT] … 11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. … [Ordering the Priests] … 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.” 
… Josiah recognized that repentance and renewal were needed to follow God’s ways. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Kings 22:1-4, 8-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Josiah, the young King of God’s people, recognizes that the Israelites needed a “do-over” to follow God’s will and His ways from His word.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.” 
… Jesus commands His disciples to change from selfishness to “Saviorness”

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:15- 17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Christians must realize that we are new in Christ, made-over by our repentance and surrender to the One Who made the do-over possible by His death on the cross.

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. 
… The truth about God doing a complete make-over of our character into that of Christlikeness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, writes about an adoption where doing things over changed everything for their new son (see photo). The ODB author wrote: When we brought our adoptive son home from overseas, I was eager to shower him with love and provide what he had lacked over the preceding months, especially quality food, since he had a nutritional deficit. But despite our best efforts, including consulting specialists, he grew very little. After nearly three years, we learned he had some severe food intolerances. After removing those items from his diet, he grew five inches in just a few months. While I grieved at how long I’d unwittingly fed him foods that impaired his growth, I rejoiced at this surge in his health! 

When I became a Christian over 3 decades ago, I came to recognize that I needed some serious repentance and a “do-over” from the way I had lived, sinfully and selfishly, to the way commanded by Jesus in Luke 9:23. And the remainder of my life has been a fulfillment of God’s promise (from 2Cor. 5:17 and Phil. 1:6), a “make-over” from my former selfishness into a character much more like my Savior Jesus.

And I pray we all know that this is a life-long process which will only be completed when we’re with Jesus in glory. So, PTL for His willingness to give us this “do-over” and to become more like our Lord today than yesterday and even more tomorrow than today.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me, Lord, to surrender to You today for Your complete make-over into Your image. … 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 26, 2017 … God Sees!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 330 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of Jim Rice of the group Brush Arbor singing … Hello God … poignantly singing about the best gift we can give to God … our surrender to Him … and … THEN TO THIS LINK  another song of surrender, sung by Brian Littrell … about the greatest gift we can give to God … our all!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 6:4 [NLT] … 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 
… Our Heavenly Father always know what we give … and WHY!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 6:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus saw the Jewish leaders making a show of their giving; … so, in His sermon on the mount He preached on making our giving between us and God … and only for HIS glory.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Malachi 3:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God instructs and challenges His people on obedient and faithful giving, with His promise to give back to the faithful more than they can imagine.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, instructs His faithful to give the best part of our increase to Him; and in response he pour out more than we need.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God always knows why we give to/for Him … and He loves a cheerful, sacrificial giver.

 My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Leslie Koh, writes about a church member who felt unappreciated for the time/service she was providing to a member. The ODB author wrote: When Denise met a hurting young woman in her church, her heart went out to her and she decided to see if she could help. Every week she spent time counseling her and praying with her. Denise became her mentor. However, some church leaders didn’t notice Denise’s efforts and decided to assign a church staff member to mentor the woman. No one, they commented, seemed to be taking care of her. 
While she was not expecting any credit, Denise couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. “It’s as if I wasn’t doing anything at all,” she told me. 
One day, however, the young woman told Denise how grateful she was for her comfort. Denise felt encouraged. It was as if God was telling her, “I know you’re there for her.” Denise still meets with the woman regularly. 

Perhaps someone reading here has felt like no one noticed the time or services that you were providing to others, maybe in the church as in the ODB example. But if you’ve given God your best gift - and that is yourself - you can be sure, from the promises from God about giving above, that our Heavenly Father, not only sees what we’re giving but He knows that heart behind the gift.

And that’s the only recognition we need, isn’t it?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Please take all of me, 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 25, 2017 … Being Like Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 329 

Devotional Song: …  GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from some anonymous children singing … I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus … Joyfully singing a challenge for all Christians to be like and live like Jesus in a world that needs His love desperately.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 3:8 [NLT] … 8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. 
… How Christians are exhorted to live together and love one another.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Peter 2:11-17, 3:8-9, 5:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Peter, exhorts fellow Christians to live humbly and serve others as Christ served (and serves) His Bride, the Church, … as a humble slave.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus said He was humble and meek. So, if we’re to be like Him, those are qualities we should strive to become.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 13:1-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus modeled how He expected His disciples to live in humility by washing their feet just before He went to the cross for them [and us].

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 10:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul showed how he desired desperately to have the attitude of Christ in dealing with his fellow Christians - to remain humble and kind.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches on how we, as disciples of Christ, must have the same attitude as our Lord … and that is one of humility.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Elisa Morgan, writes about a humble law enforcement officer to illustrate the humility we must have in dealing with one another, … just as Christ modeled for us. The ODB author wrote: When asked to define his role in a community that was sometimes uncooperative with law enforcement, a sheriff didn’t flash his badge or respond with the rank of his office. Rather he offered, “We are human beings who work with human beings in crisis.” His humility—his stated equality with his fellow human beings—reminds me of Peter’s words [in 1Peter 3:8 - today’s highlight passage].

[See the highlight passages from 1st Peter 2, 3, and 5 linked above] ...
The Apostle Peter knew how much the Christians in Asia Minor were being oppressed and persecuted in his day; and in response he tried to write to them and help them treat each other - and even their oppressors - as Jesus had modeled and taught when He walked this earth (see Matt. 11:28 and John 13 linked above).

That story of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in John 13 [see photo] is one of my favorites to illustrate a quality Jesus modeled for His inner 12 disciples and later ones like Paul. He called Himself “humble and meek” (see Matt. 11:29). And most certainly, … Peter and Paul, in their letters, exhorted all Christians to do all we can to take on Christlike humility (Phil. 2:5 and the highlight passages), and treat each other with a servant’s attitude and actions.

Oh, dear one, … how I desire to be like Jesus - as the linked song so pointedly sings; and perhaps today God will give me an opportunity to show off my best Jesus impression of honest humility, serving and helping others just as He would.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me wash some feet today 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 24, 2017 … The Love Hole

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 328 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Everything To Me … poignantly singing of the only way we can fill the hole planted in our hearts which only the love of God can fill.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 3:11 [NLT] … 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 
… Solomon discovered that God has planted a void in the heart of everyone that only He will be able to fill with His love.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes 3:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King Solomon relates what God revealed to him over years trying to fill the King’s heart with the world’s pleasures and power, which he found to be nothing but vanity.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 4:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 3  You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him. 
… King David knew that only God could satisfy the longings of His heart.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 
… God planted the desire in all of us to give ALL our hearts to/for Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, used a story about the inbred drive his dog had, illustrating how God has placed in all of us an inbred desire to seek after a deep and abiding relationship with our Lord. The ODB author wrote: We had a West Highland Terrier for a number of years. “Westies” are tough little dogs, bred to tunnel into badger holes and engage the “enemy” in its lair. Our Westie was many generations removed from her origins, but she still retained that instinct, put into her through years of breeding. On one occasion she became obsessed by some “critter” under a rock in our backyard. Nothing could dissuade her. She dug and dug until she tunneled several feet under the rock. 
Now consider this question: Why do we as humans pursue, pursue, pursue? Why must we climb unclimbed mountains, ski near-vertical slopes? Run the most difficult and dangerous rapids, challenge the forces of nature? Part of it is a desire for adventure and enjoyment, but it’s much more. It’s an instinct for God that has been implanted in us. We cannot not want to find God. 

I call it ”the love hole.”

God has put it in the hearts for all of us; and only the pursuit of and the filling of His love can fill that hole in our hearts. C.S. Lewis put it like this: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” But because of the fall of mankind and our inherited sinfulness, we sinful creatures are driven to try to fill God’s love hole with so many false and empty pursuits.

For many years, I, for one, tried to fill my love hole with various illicit lust-driven pursuits or with gluttonous eating habits. Others try to fill the emptiness in their hearts with chemical substances, gambling, or the pursuit of power or pleasure. But as Kings David and Solomon discovered (see Scriptures above), only our God can satisfy the longings of our souls and fill up that hole in our hearts with His love.

I pray that all here have discovered that pursing a deep and abiding love relationship with our Lord is the only way to fill up that love-hole in our hearts.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Oh, I come here to fill up my love hole with my pursuit of Your love daily. And You do so fill me with Yourself to overflowing. … 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 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.