November 18, 2018 … Rebuilding the Temple

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 321 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Jason Gray singing … I Am New … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, are being remade - rebuilt - into the image of our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezra 5:5 [NKJV] … 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius. 
… In the rebuilding of God’s Temple, His eyes were always on the restoration.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezra 5:1-5 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… The Temple of God, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians, now was being rebuilt for God’s glory.
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Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 [NKJV] … 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 
… Our bodies are God’s “temple,” and we are charged to keep it pure/clean for His glory. And it it is broken, we must allow Him to rebuild it in His image.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 5:17 [NKJV] … 16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
 … Once we are reconciled in our flesh to Christ, His Spirit will rebuild us into His images.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 1:6 [NKJV] …  … 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; … 
… If we don’t get in God’s way, His grace will remake us into the image of Christ …

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Leslie Koh, used a person recollection of a friend who persevered in letting God rebuild his life anew in Christ. The ODB author writes … When an opportunity came to take on a new role at work, Simon believed it was a godsend. After praying over the decision and seeking counsel, he felt that God was giving him this opportunity to take on bigger responsibilities. Everything fell into place, and his boss supported his move. Then things began to go wrong. Some colleagues resented his promotion and refused to cooperate. He began to wonder if he should give up. … 
Similarly, Simon sought God’s wisdom to discern whether he should stay or find a new position. Sensing God calling him to remain, he relied on God’s strength to persevere. Over time, he slowly gained his colleagues’ acceptance. 

And then the ODB author used the biblical story of God rebuilding His temple in the book of Ezra (see highlight passage) to show, as with the story of Simon above, how God will watch over the rebuilding of our personal temple, our bodies/lives (see 1Cor 6 and 2Cor 5 above), and give us the strength of His grace to complete the rebuilding project (see Phil. 1:6).

I’ve been called to disciple men whose lives have been broken by habitual sexual sin (see www.battleplanministries.org ).   And when they realize the reality that they CAN rebuild their lives as promised by our Lord in the reference passages above, they let God do the rebuilding and their lives are transformed … and the temples of their bodies can - and do - become new.

And so, I pray today that we’re all letting God’s Spirit remake us into His image, … letting our Lord restructure His temple to give Him glory.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for the newness I have in/thru my relationship with You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here being clay in The Potter’s hands, surrendering to the rebuilding of Your Temple by Your Spirit. … 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, 2018 … Jesus’ Healing Touch

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 320 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from The Gaither Vocal Band singing the classic Gaither song … He Touched Me … poignantly singing of How we are changed and healed by the touch of our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 1:41-42 [NKJV] … 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him [the lepter], and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 
… Jesus could have healed the leper from a distance; but His compassion led Him to touch the man to heal him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 1:40-45 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus didn’t need to tough the leper to heal him [see Mark 2:1-12]; but He did, showing the compassion our Lord had for anyone with such desperate need and His power to meet that need. 
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Reference Passage : … Leviticus 13:45-46 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Lepers where considered unclean and required by the law of the day to declare their uncleanness in public so that no one would touch them.

Reference Passage : … Mark 2:1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus did not have to touch someone to heal them, as in this story; but as with the story in the highlight passage, He did to show His love and compassion for those who sought healing.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used an athletic word picture to illustrate how Christians are bound together in Christ and become a community of encouragement, … or at least should be. The ODB author writes … Dr. Paul Brand, twentieth-century pioneer medical missionary to India, saw firsthand the stigma associated with leprosy. During an appointment, he touched a patient to reassure him treatment was possible. Tears began to stream down the man’s face. An attendant explained the tears to Dr. Brand, saying, “You touched him and no one has done that for years. They are tears of joy.”

When someone is ailing or in need of assistance, there’s something very powerful and healing about a compassionate one reaching out to touch the one in need. And this was certainly illustrated by Jesus when He reached out to touch a leper, as in the highlight passage. And this must’ve been frightening to those who witnessed this; because it is highly likely that the leper had called out to warn Jesus not to touch his leprous hand (see photo - and read the Lev. 13 passage).

Jesus could’ve healed the man from a distance; but His deep compassion for the man led Him to reach out and touch him to show all that He had divine power over disease with His love and equally divine compassion.

And tho I was not a leper, Jesus came after me years ago in my sinful condition; and He reached out to touch me through His word and heal me, … just as the Gaithers sing in the linked song. And now, as they sing, “I am no longer the same.” And I’m sure that others reading here can speak out with joy, as did the leper in the highlight story, of the healing power of our Savior. And I pray we do!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for touching me with Your compassion and bringing healing to my leprous heart.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all of us who’ve experienced Your compassion and healing will sing out “Hallelujah” as I do 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.

November 16, 2018 … Thank You, Lord!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 319 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Dennis Jernigan leading in worship and singing his tribute in thanks to God … Thank You Lord … poignantly singing of how we should, as children of God, have thankful hearts ALWAYS!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 95:2-3 [NKJV] … 2  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 3  For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. 
… Just singing praises and thanks to God because He is GOD!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 95 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist, singing thanks to God, … just because He is God!
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Reference Passage : … John 3:16-17 [NKJV] … 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 
 … Certainly enough reason to give thanks to our God, isn’t it?

Reference Passage : … 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NKJV] … 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 
 … Paul knew that our hearts, as Christ’s disciples, should be locked in a mode of thankfulness … ALWAYS!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Banon, used a common greeting card to illustrate what our hearts should express to our Lord … ALWAYS!! The ODB author writes … Among the thousands of sentiments printed on greeting cards, perhaps one of the most touching is this simple statement: “Thanks for being you.” [see photo] 
If you receive that card, you know that someone cares for you, … not because you did something spectacular for that person, … but because you’re appreciated for your essence. 
I wonder if this kind of sentiment might indicate for us one of the best ways to say “thank you” to God. 

Here in the USA, we’re coming up on a special holiday next week, aren’t we? And on Thanksgiving day, we’re to remember, with thankful hearts, all the goodness and blessings in our lives. But what about today? Shouldn’t our hearts, as Christians, be saying to God what is in that greeting card? … “Thanks, God, for just being our God!”


And if you’ve taken in the photo, heard the linked song, and meditated on the Scriptures highlighted by the ODB entry today, I think we all should do a heart inventory and see if we truly carry a thankful attitude for all that God has done, … is doing, … and will do in our lives.

I, for one, am jolted into a genuine proclamation of thanks to my God … for just being God!! 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for just being You!! 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here are saying … or maybe singing along with Dennis Jernigan … our thanks to our God, Who loves us and ALWAYS cares for 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 15, 2018 … So Easily Distracted !!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 318 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of how easy it is to become distracted from Jesus and the Gospel needs of people in our world; … and then ON TO THIS LINK to hear Joy Williams singing - Do They See Jesus In Me with the convicting message for all Christians to live lives that shine the light of Jesus into a very dark and distracted world.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 13:35 [NKJV] … 35 … By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 
… Jesus “Law of Love,” commands us to show His love by loving others in His Name and for His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 10:19-25 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tell His Disciples in the Upper Room what will be their mission of witness after He is resurrected. And in this charge He is commanding us as well today.
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Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [NKJV] … 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 
… Jesus goes on in the Upper Room to command His Disciples (and once again, us) how to make sure others see Himself being manifest in what we do.

Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [NKJV] … 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
 … Jesus commanded all disciples to be His witnesses in this world; and we do that by sharing His love with others.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-4 [NKJV] … 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
 … Paul knew what it took for others to see Jesus as we live our lives, … and that is to care for the needs of others with Jesus’ love.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, used a Victorian Era painting to illustrate how our world can so easily become distracted from what is important … and that is Jesus and His Gospel. The ODB author writes … Artist Sigismund Goetze shocked Victorian-era England with a painting entitled “Despised and Rejected of Men.” [see photo] In it, he portrayed the suffering, condemned Jesus surrounded by people of Goetze’s own generation. They were so consumed by their own interests—business, romance, politics—that they were shockingly oblivious to the Savior’s sacrifice. Indifferent to Christ, the surrounding crowd, like the mob at the foot of Jesus’s cross, had no idea what—or who—they had missed. 

And if you’ve taken in the meaning of the photo and the linked songs, and certainly the power of God’s truth in the Scriptures above, I think all reading with me will be convicted - as I am - to go out and do all we can to share God’s love with others who so desperately need Jesus’s love.

Do I need to write more? … I think not!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for putting Your love in my heart to share with others.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that You give me (us) opportunities to live lives [yes, today!] which reflect You into this dark world and, in doing so, share Your love with others. … Amen

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

November 14, 2018 … Our Community of Encouragement

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 317 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Glen Campbell singing his hit song … Try A Little Kindness … poignantly singing of what should be the life of all Christians, born-again by Christ’s blood into a family of encouragement.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 10:24 [NKJV] … 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, … 
… God brings us together in the family of God to consider others and lift each other up with good works of encouragement …
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 10:19-25 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… As part of the family of God, we are to become a community of encouragement, lifting each other up whenever we can by our words and acts of goodness.
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Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:9-10 [NKJV] … 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. 
… Paul exhorts fellow Christs to keep on, keeping on by reaching out to others, especially fellow Christians, with acts of goodness/kindness.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-4 [NKJV] … 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
 … God, thru Paul, exhorts us, as disciples of Christ, to rise above petty selfishness and look out for the interests of others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used an athletic word picture to illustrate how Christians are bound together in Christ and become a community of encouragement, … or at least should be. The ODB author writes … The Steven Thompson Memorial Centipede is a cross-country meet unlike any other. Each seven-member team runs as a unit, holding a rope for the first two miles of a three-mile course [see photo]. At the two-mile mark, the team drops the rope and finishes the race individually. Each person’s time is, therefore, a combination of the pace the team kept and his or her own speed. 
This year, my daughter’s team opted for a strategy I had not previously seen: They put the fastest runner at the front and the slowest right behind her. She explained that their goal was for the strongest runner to be near enough to speak words of encouragement to the slowest runner. 

When we’re born again into the family of God, our Lord desires that we become a community of encouragement; and as in the centipede race picture, we are to do all we can to help others who’re perhaps needing assistance to run the race of life.

And so, as in the highlight and reference passages directs us, our Lord, thru Scripture authors like Paul, exhorts us to come together as God’s team to lift up others with words or acts of kindness just as Glen Campbell sung in his 1970s hit song (linked above).

So, how about it [?], fellow member of God’s family; … let’s all pray that God gives us opportunities today to encourage someone who needs our help and strength. And if we’re the one needing that lift from fellow Christians, let’s not let pride get in the way of asking for the help we need from the family of God.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for bringing me into Your family of encouragement.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that You gives me (us) opportunities to help others by encouraging them and being an agent of Your enabling 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 13, 2018 … Following My Shepherd

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 316 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images from Marty Goetz singing … Psalm 23 … poignantly singing his rendition of the Psalm of David about our Good Shepherd.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezekiel 34:11-12 [NKJV] … 11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.
…  God is our Good Shepherd, leading us as His sheep. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezekiel 34:7-16 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru the Prophet, shows His people that they, like sheep, will be led by a Good Shepherd to green Pastures.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We do have a Good Shepherd and He is so willing to lead us from the valley of the shadow of death into green pastures; … if we but follow Him.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [NKJV] … 6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
… We are ALL like sheep, in need of a Good Shepherd.

Reference Passage : … John 10:7-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We have a Good Shepherd … all we must do is hear Him and follow Him to safe pastures.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Peterson, used a biblical word picture often used in the Bible to describe our need for a Good Shepherd. The ODB author writes … My friend Chad spent a year as a shepherd in Wyoming. “Sheep are so dumb that they’ll only eat what is right in front of them,” he told me. “Even if they’ve eaten all the grass in front of them, they won’t turn to look for a fresh patch—they’ll just start eating dirt!” 
We laughed, and I couldn’t help but think about how often the Bible compares humans to sheep. No wonder we need a shepherd [see photo]! But since sheep are so dumb, not just any shepherd will do. Sheep need a shepherd who cares about them. 

I think the oft repeated word picture (see Scriptures above) of us being sheep is an apt one, don’t you think? How many times, especially in my earlier years did I wander away from the leading of the Good Shepherd? And how many times did He come after me to rescue me (as in the photo)? And the truth of me as one of the Lord’s wayward lambs, really strikes home when I hear Marty Goetz singing his rendition of our Psalm 23, written by David, who had been a shepherd. I hope all readers take the few moments to hear and meditate on the truths of that song (linked above).

And then I pray we all do all we can today to let our Good Shepherd lead us, staying as close to Him as we can, as He leads us thru the valleys of death’s shadows into His eternal green pastures. 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for being my Good Shepherd. 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, we listen for Your voice to lead us away from the dangers of the prowling enemy. … 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, 2018 … Who’s At The Wheel?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 315 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Brian Littrell singing … I Surrender All … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, must surrender ALL of our being to follow our Lord in life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 6:13-14 [NKJV] … 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 
… We must surrender our flesh to the Holy Spirit to allow Him to reign and rule in our lives. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 6:1-14 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Paul so looked forward to being with Christ in Heaven; but knew that his remaining time on earth was fruitfulness in his calling to share the Gospel.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Trusting in God to take control and lead us forward in life is the only strategy to defeat our sin nature, which will always want to misdirect us.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah26:3 [NKJV] … 3  You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 
… The only way we can find God’s peace for our lives to to focus on and follow the Lord’s lead in life.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 5:18-25 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… As Christians we can choose the route we take in life … in surrender to the flesh or partaking of the fruit of the Spirit by totally surrendering and following Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Randy Kilgore, used an historical story to illustrate the confidence and hope we have in Christ while still serving Him in life and awaiting our eternal home with Him in heaven. The ODB author writes … My neighbor Tim has a figurine on his dashboard of a “wild thing” based on Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where the Wild Things Are [see photo]. 
Not long ago Tim was following me through traffic and made some abrupt moves to keep up. When we arrived, I asked, “Was that the ‘wild thing’ driving?” 
The following Sunday I forgot my sermon notes at home. I “flew” out of the church to retrieve them, passing Tim along the way. When we met later, he joked, “Was that the wild thing driving?” We laughed, but his point hit home—I should have paid attention to the speed limit. 

This morning’s ODB entry reminded me of a truth from God’s word (see Scriptures above) … that the only way we can find God’s way, in following His will, is to surrender to and trust in God’s Spirit to lead us in life. It’s the only way that we can receive God’s enabling/empowering grace to defeat the “wild thing,” … our sin nature, … which will always try to lead us in the wrong directions in life.

So, if we desire to experience the outcome of walking in the Spirit, I pray that we’re all in surrender mode today to focus on His way in life, trusting completely and being in total surrender to His way by following His word.

That’s why I’m here today, as I am everyday, seeking His peace and His purpose by seeing my life more clearly by filtering my choices thru His word. And I pray the same for you, dear one! 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for helping me to defeat the “wild thing,” which is my nature, by focusing on and following only You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, we are in total surrender to You, Holy Spirit, so that Your light of truth will show us Your way in life. … Amen

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

November 11, 2018 … Hope Defeats Fear

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 314 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing … Fear Is A Liar … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, must overcome any fears we have by the hope we have in Christ.

Isaiah 41:10: Fear Defeated!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 1:21 [NKJV] … 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
… Paul’s confident hope in Christ meant absolutely no fear of death.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 1:19-26 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Paul so looked forward to being with Christ in Heaven; but knew that his remaining time on earth was fruitfulness in his calling to share the Gospel.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 41:10 [NKJV] … 10  Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; … yes, I will help you, … I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ [See photo] 
… God, thru His Prophet, Isaiah, promises to overcome any fears we have and lift us up when we’re feeling weak.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [NKJV] … 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 
 … Jesus’ GREAT COMMISSION is my charge in life; and I know that my service to that commission will honor my Lord while I live so that He will be glorified when I see Him in heaven.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:38-39 [NKJV] … 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
… Since nothing can separate us from God’s love - not even death - our hope in Him should eliminate all fears.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] … 5 … For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 
… God’s promise of His presence/power to all of us when we feel anxious about His will or purpose for us, knowing that even death will not separate us from His love/grace.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Randy Kilgore, used an historical story to illustrate the confidence and hope we have in Christ while still serving Him in life and awaiting our eternal home with Him in heaven. The ODB author writes … Dr. William Wallace was serving as a missionary surgeon in Wuzhou, China, in the 1940s when Japan attacked China. Wallace, who was in charge of Stout Memorial Hospital at the time, ordered the hospital to load his equipment on barges and continue to function as a hospital while floating up and down rivers to avoid infantry attacks.  
During dangerous times, Philippians 1:21—one of Wallace’s favorite verses—reminded him that if he lived, he had work to do for the Savior; but if he died, he had the promise of eternity with Christ. The verse took on special meaning when he died while falsely imprisoned in 1951. 

The Apostle Paul knew that his life purpose meant fulfilling Christ’s call on his life (see Matt. 28:19-20 and the highlight passage). However, … he also knew that NOTHING - not even death - could separate him from God’s love/grace [see Romans 8:38-39]. Therefore, Paul - and really all Christians - need not be deterred in this life by fear (see linked song), because one day we’ll share God’s eternal love in heaven.

So, let us realize, as the song declares, that “fear is a liar,” and go forth boldly to serve our Lord in this life to prepare us for the eternal joy of joining King Jesus to serve Him in heaven. 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for ALWAYS being there for and with us as we serve You in the life You’ve given us.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, we have no fear to serve You today - and even more boldly tomorrow! … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” 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, 2018 … Always With Us

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 313 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and song from three friends, Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, must surrender our will to God’s with His promise to be with us “… no matter what the sacrifice.”

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Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 3:11-12 [NKJV] … 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” 12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” 
… Moses need not worry, because of God’s promise to be with him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 3:7-12 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God promises Moses to be with him as Moses was so anxious about being chosen as God’s deliverer.
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Reference Passage : … Joshua 1:5-6 [NKJV] … 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 
 … As the Lord was with Moses, God promises Joshua of His presence/power as Joshua is charged by God to take the people into the promised land.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [NKJV] … 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 
 … Jesus’ GREAT COMMISSION, … along with His promise to be with us in carrying out His charge of discipleship.
Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] … 5 … For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 
… God’s promise of His presence/power to all of us when we feel anxious about His will or purpose for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Lawrence Darmani, uses a personal story of learning of God’s promise of His presence/power in our lives. The ODB author writes … The anxious father and his teenage son sat before the psychic. “How far is your son traveling?” the psychic asked. “To the big city,” the man replied, “and he will be gone for a long time.” Handing the father a talisman (a kind of good-luck charm), he said, “This will protect him wherever he goes.” 
I was that boy. However, that psychic and that talisman could do nothing for me. While in that city, I put my faith in Jesus. I threw away the talisman and clung to Christ. Having Jesus in my life guaranteed God’s presence. 

Many times in life, as with Moses and Joshua, we will be called to move ahead in life where the circumstances are filled with anxiety and where we feel inadequate to the charge we face in life. But when we take in today’s song and Scriptures, we can move ahead to follow Christ because of God’s promise to ALWAYS be with us!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for ALWAYS being there for us.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here realize the power of Your promised presence and we will follow You no matter what lies ahead. … 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, 2018 … Doing What We Can

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 312 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing a contemporary arrangement of the old hymn … Take My Life … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must surrender all we are and what we can do to honor our Lord.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 2:5-7 [NKJV] … 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 
… As disciples of Christ, we are to do all we can to our minds reflect the mind of Christ. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 2:1-11 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, charges all Christians do all we can to emulate the humility of Christ. 
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Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-3 [NKJV] … 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
… Paul charges fellow Christians to live humble, forgiving lives, defined by Christlikeness.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 3:12-13 [NKJV] … 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 
… The new (born-again) man (or woman) is characterized by putting on the newness of Christ’s character.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, uses a personal story of regret that he didn’t take the opportunity to interact with his earthly father more closely while his dad was alive. The ODB author writes … Even though confined to his bed, 92-year-old Morrie Boogaart knit hats for the homeless in Michigan [see photo]. He had reportedly made more than 8,000 hats in fifteen years. Instead of focusing on his health or limitations, Mr. Boogaart looked beyond himself and did what he could to place the needs of others above his own. He declared that his work made him feel good and gave him a purpose. He said, “I’m going to do this until I go home to the Lord”—which happened in February 2018. Though most recipients of his hats won’t know his story or how much he sacrificed to create each cap, Morrie’s simple act of persevering love is now inspiring people across the world. 

I don’t know about other readers with me here today, but when I read this ODB entry and was led to attach the Chris Tomlin song, I was convicted that I could do so much more with what God has given me, as the 92 year old hat maker did, to glorify my Lord.

Perhaps my readers will have the same commitment to do more with who we are and what we can do to humbly imitate what Jesus did for us and to follow Him more closely, … doing more with what we have to do more to serve Him. That’s my prayer today.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for coming and being all You are to lead us to become all we can be for You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here will do all we can to glorify You with what you’ve given us to serve 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 8, 2018 … Just Like You, Lord

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 311 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing … I Want To Be Just Like You … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to do all we can to live like Christ as parents so that our kids will walk toward Christlikeness in their lives.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ephesians 4:31-32 [NKJV] … 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 
… The new (born-again) man (or woman) is characterized by Christlikeness.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 4:17-32 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, charges all Christians to put off the old sin nature and put on the character Christ. 
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Reference Passage : … Malachi 4:6 [NKJV] … 6 And He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” 
… For all true believers, God will bring fathers and sons together one day in Christ.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-3 [NKJV] … 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
… Paul begs fellow Christians to live humble, forgiving lives defined by Christlikeness.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 3:12-13 [NKJV] … 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 
… The new (born-again) man (or woman) is characterized by putting on the newness of Christ’s character.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 21:3-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… One day in the New Jerusalem, we all will be reconciled COMPLETELY with our Lord to be like Him and live like Him forever.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, uses a personal story of regret that he didn’t take the opportunity to interact with his earthly father more closely while his dad was alive. The ODB author writes … My father was a good father, and, in most respects, I was a dutiful son. But I allowed my father to starve for the one thing I could have given him: myself. 
He was a quiet man; I was equally silent. We often worked for hours side-by-side with scarcely a word passing between us. He never asked; I never told him my deepest desires and dreams, my hopes and fears.  
In time I woke up to my reticence. Perhaps the perception came when my first son was born, or when, one by one, my sons went out into the world. Now I wish I had been more of a son to my father. 
I think of all the things I could have told him. And all the things he could have told me. At his funeral I stood beside his casket, struggling to understand my emotions. “It’s too late, isn’t it?” my wife said quietly. “Exactly.” 

We only have one life, don’t we? And, as born-again Christians, we need to do all we can to imitate the charge of our Heavenly Father [see Scriptures above] and come together, in the Spirit, to live and love as Jesus lived and loved us. We need to put on the newness of Christlikeness and put off the old sin nature, doing all we can to surrender to the Holy Spirit’s parenting to bring us into the newness of Christlikeness, together in the family of God.

My brothers/sisters in Christ, … that is my prayer for all of us today.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for being our loving Abba Father, and bringing us into the Family of God, … Your family!
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that we will all put off the old nature and live in the newness of Christ. … 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, 2018 … More Like Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 310 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group 4Him singing … The Basics of Life … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to return to living out the basics of Christ’s character in what we think, say, and do.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Colossians 3:12-13 [NKJV] … 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 
… The new (born-again) man (or woman) is characterized by Christlikeness.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Colossians 3:12-17 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, defines the essence of character in the born-again Christian, which is defined by humility and forgiveness, which is a true reflection of Christlikeness.

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  Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-3 [NKJV] … 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
… Paul begs fellow Christians to live humble, forgiving lives defined by Christlikeness.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 5:15-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… According to Paul’s charge, we, as disciples of Christ, should live lives characterized by Christlike wisdom.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, uses a personal story of dealing with his young son’s pain to illustrate how our Heavenly Father must’ve grieved over the pain of His Son. The ODB author writes … In 2005, Collins falsified a report that resulted in McGee being thrown in prison for four years, and McGee vowed to find Collins when he got out and “hurt him.” McGee was eventually exonerated, but not before he lost everything. Meanwhile, Collins’s many falsified reports were uncovered, he lost his job, and he too spent time behind bars. But both men came to faith in Christ while in prison. 
In 2015, the two discovered they were working together in the same faith-based company. … Now the two are great friends. “We have this joint mission . . . of letting the world know that if you owe an apology to somebody, put your pride down and go apologize,” said Collins. “And if you’re holding something against somebody, let go of the bitterness because it’s like drinking poison and hoping it’s hurting them.” 

As anyone reads this little story, as I did this morning, meditating on the exhortations from Paul in the New Testament [see Scriptures above], I hope we’re all predisposed to do a life inventory and see if there’s anyone whom we need to forgive so that we can live out Paul’s strong instructions to live and love more like Christ lived (lives) and loved (loves).

And in doing so, we can cast aside any past strife, anger, and (especially) any bitterness to live lives characterized by humble Christlikeness rather than that of selfish fools … the way we (well, at least “I”) lived before we (i) came to know Christ as Lord and Savior.

And I also pray that we’re doing what is sung about in the linked song and “get back to the basics” of Christlikeness, forgiving others and living in the peace and unity Christ modeled (models) for us. 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us the opportunity to live lives which reflect You in this world.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that we will all take these truths to heart and live more like You today. … Amen

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

November 6, 2018 … Painful Moments

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 309 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … You Are For Me … poignantly singing of how our loving/caring Heavenly Father is ALWAYS there for us … not matter what!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 26:39 [NKJV] … 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 
 … Jesus in dire human pain, but knowing that His Abba Father loves Him … no matter what. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 26:36-39 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus in agony prays in the garden for His Heavenly Father to take the cross away and find another way …
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:20 [NKJV] … 20  … and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” … Jesus’ promise to His Disciples (and to us) …

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] … 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
… God’s assurance that He will never forsake us in our times of pain/trial.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:6-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter assures fellow Christians of God’s undying, faithful, caring, eternal love.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, uses a personal story of dealing with his young son’s pain to illustrate how our Heavenly Father must’ve grieved over the pain of His Son. The ODB author writes … I didn’t expect a profound lesson about the Father’s heart at the dentist’s office—but I got one. I was there with my ten-year-old son. He had an adult tooth coming in under a baby tooth that hadn’t fallen out yet. It had to come out. There was no other way. 
My son, in tears, pleaded with me: “Dad, isn’t there another way? Can’t we just wait and see? Please, Dad, I don’t want to have this tooth pulled!” It just about broke my heart, but I told him, “Son, it’s got to come out. I’m sorry. There’s no other way.” And I held his hand as he wriggled and writhed while the dentist removed that stubborn molar, tears in my eyes too. I couldn’t take his pain away; the best I could offer was to be present with him in it [see photo]. 

That story of the dad in agony over his chid’s pain is one with which I can empathize, having been there with a daughter, writhing in pain, in my arms; and all I could do it be there and hug her and assure her that I’m there for her. And Christian parents who’ve been in situations like that have just an infinitely small reflection of what it must’ve been like for Jesus’ Abba Father, His Heavenly Dad, to hear His divinely perfect Son praying for the pain to pass, but knowing that all He could do, as God, the Father, was be there for His Son and hear His pain.

Today, we may experience a trial that we’d rather not face, … one which may be painful; … but it may be a trial we know is necessary. So, … we, who know we have an Abba Father Who cares, … a Heavenly Father Who has promised always to be there for us; … we must go to Him, just as Jesus did in Gethsemane, and be loved by an Abba Who loves us dearly and eternally.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for being there for me - ALWAYS - in my pain.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that I will always know Your faithfulness in my moments of pain; and experience Your eternal love. … 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 5, 2018 … Wise Decisions

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 308 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Jeremy Camp singing … The Answer … poignantly singing of how, in this perplexing and confusing world, we must seek our direction and wisdom Jesus, … Who provides the answers to our questions from His word.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1 Kings 3:9, 28 [NKJV] … Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” … 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice. 
 … God grants Solomon his prayer for wisdom; and all of God’s people see God’s enlightenment thru His decisions following God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1 Kings 3 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon chooses wisdom; and God grants his prayer.
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Reference Passage : … Psalms 119:105 [NKJV] … 105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
 … God’s word is the source of all wisdom and the light for my path.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 1:1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon to his son, shows us where the source of all wisdom lies … in our pursuit of knowing God and revering His ways.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 
 … We seek for the wisdom of God not in our own understanding of our circumstances but by following God’s will and His way … thru His word, which is the source of all truth.

Reference Passage : … James 1:5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru James, commands us to seek for God’s wisdom in faith, knowing that He is the source of all wisdom.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a story of a wise judge who was able to settle a dispute over ownership of a dog by letting the dog choose its owner. The ODB author writes … A man filed a lawsuit against a woman, claiming she had his dog. In court, the woman said her dog couldn’t be his and told the judge where she had purchased it. The real owner’s identity was revealed when the judge released the animal in the courtroom. Tail wagging, it immediately ran to the man! 

My dear readers, … it’s a confusing/perplexing world out there, isn’t it? … And mankind seeks for the wisdom to get by and follow the right roads in life thru sources like education, science, politics, and our own selfish understanding of our circumstances. But none of those will provide the answers which Jeremy Camp sings about in the linked song, will they?

No, … following our God, in the Person of His Son, King Jesus, is the only way, isn’t it? And that’s what Solomon discovered and prayed for, didn’t he (see highlight passages and the photo)? And it’s what all of Jesus’ disciples discovered, especially after His resurrection. And, for sure, it’s what we discover the more we know our God thru His word.

And so, … if you meditate on the Scriptures above, especially the Reference verses, we have to see that our only way to making wise and discerning decisions in these confusing times is to seek - in faith - God’s will and His ways from His word. And that’s why you’ll find me here - every morning - beginning my day by clearing my selfish mind and diligently seeking to know my God by studying His truth.

How about you?

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your the light on my path which I see and follow in Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all of us follow the clear light You shine on our paths by 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 4, 2018 … Still Our King!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 307 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Crowder and Tauren Wells singing in duo … All My Hope … poignantly singing of how, in this cruel world, we must put ALL OUR HOPE in Jesus, … Who is, and will always be KING JESUS!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 74:22 [NKJV] … 22  Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; … remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
 … The Psalmist calls on God to arise and take charge of the desperate times of the day. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 74:4-8, 12-23 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist, Asaph, mourns the destruction of God’s temple by the enemies of God in 586 BC; but his mourning includes a tribute to the greatness of his God and how He is always in control - no matter what!!
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 
 … So often we must bypass our perceptions and understanding and simply trust in God’s sovereign plan and His Kingship.

Reference Passage : … John 2:18-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… After Jesus had cleansed the Temple of the money-changers, the Jews demanded a sign of His sovereignty; and He pointed them to His own death on the cross, which the Disciples later remembered after He had been risen from the dead.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:37-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Nothing … NOTHING!!! … will ever be able to separate those who are surrendered to King Jesus from His love, mercy, and grace!!

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:8 [NKJV] … 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 
 … King Jesus is KING JESUS … ALWAYS!!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, uses an incident of a church shooting, one of several in recent times, to illustrate how our God’s sovereignty seems to be under attack. The ODB author writes … One news report called it “the single deadliest day for Christians in decades.” The pair of attacks on Sunday worshipers in April 2017 defies our understanding. We simply don’t have a category to describe bloodshed in a house of worship. But we can find some help from others who know this kind of pain well.

Wouldn’t you agree that the scene in the photo, to which the ODB author refers, has become a pattern, confirming that Satan and the world are into a full-out attack on the sovereignty of King Jesus? But this warfare has been going on for centuries, hasn’t it?

 In the highlight Psalm, Asaph sings of the destruction of God’s Temple by God’s enemies in 586 BC; and the Psalmist’s faith in God’s control rings out in his song, just as our faith should sing forth as Crowder sings of our faith in King Jesus in the linked song.

And because our faith is in KING JESUS, Who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow [see Heb 13:8]; and in all of God’s book, especially in The Revelation, we read … and know … of His victory over death and His enemies.

No matter what happens, then and now, my friend, King Jesus is KING JESUS; and He will be victorious!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your promise of victory over Your enemies.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all of us, who are surrendered to You hold on to our faith in You today and tomorrow. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” 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 3, 2018 … Unified in Blessing God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 306 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images with Ray Stevens singing his song … Everything is Beautiful … poignantly singing of how we ALL are beautiful in God’s eyes and unified in our diversity, we can glorify Him so much more powerfully if we can come together.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 12:3 [NKJV] … 3  I [the LORD} will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 
… God’s plan was to bless all people who bless Him thru HIs people.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 12:1-4 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God calls Abram to GO and that He, the Lord, would bless Abram’s family and ALL PEOPLES of the world who bless Abram’s people.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 
 … God’s plan is to bless all those who follow Him and His ways.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16-17 [NKJV] … 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 
… Jesus makes it clear that it is God’s plan to save ANYONE/EVERYONE.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Abiding in Christ is the ONLY WAY we can be fruitful, allowing all our differences to become a unified worship of the ONE AND ONLY true God.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Following Jesus - TOGETHER - is the way that anyone/everyone can bless God.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, uses someone’s observation of the diversity in a city to illustrate God’s plan to save everyone thru His Son, Jesus. The ODB author writes … “See our city the way we do.” A Detroit, Michigan, urban development group used that slogan to launch its vision for the city’s future. But the project came to a sudden stop when members of the community noticed something missing in the campaign. African Americans make up a large majority of the city’s population and workforce. Yet people of color were absent from the crowd of white faces that showed up on signs, banners, and billboards urging all to see the city as they did. 

We need to see everyone in our city … in our church … in the family of God ... as the LORD sees us, don’t we? Looking at the photo, and hearing Ray Stevens sing his old hit song, I think most of us - at least yours truly - have to be convicted that we seek to associate and work with those like ourselves, don’t we?

But from the beginning of God’s plan to save His people (the Jews), it was the Lord’s plan to bring unity out of the diversity of all peoples thru the blood of His Son, Jesus, and save any/all who would surrender to the Lord and follow Him.

I would pray that all reading here believe in the truths espoused by God’s word in the reference passages above; and that we all are striving to bring unity out of the diversity of this world so that we - TOGETHER - can bless God by using our diversity for God’s glory.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for mercy/grace to come and save all who would follow You into glory.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all of us, no matter our differences, can come together to bless Your Name 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.

November 2, 2018 … Avoiding the Foxes

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 305 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics of the group 4Him singing … The Basics of Life … poignantly singing of how we, who claim to follow Jesus’ way, should stick to Christ’s basics of life instead of letting the world and Satan (and our flesh) pollute our relationship of Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Song of Solomon 2:15 [NKJV] … 15  Catch us the foxes, … the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes. 
… Foxes were known to invade the vineyard and destroy the growing grapes, which were being grown by the wife to provide for her husband in her love for him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Song of Solomon 2:14-17 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God’s charge, thru Solomon, for us to protect our love relationship with our Lord. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 
 … If we use our own instincts to get in the way of following God’s way, we will be led astray.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can only be fruit-bearers as Christians if we remain connected to Christ and don’t allow outside influences to block that relationship.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus calls all of us to follow His lead and we cannot do this if we end up following non-productive and competing rabbit trails in life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a comparison of avoiding foxes in life to the same warning made by Solomon in his most famous song (i.e, Song of Solomon) The ODB author writes … While talking on the phone with a friend who lives by the seaside, I expressed delight at hearing seagulls squawking. “Vile creatures,” she responded, for to her they’re a daily menace. As a Londoner, I feel the same way about foxes. I find them not cute animals but roaming creatures that leave smelly messes in their wake. 
Foxes appear in the love poetry of the Song of Solomon, an Old Testament book that reveals the love between a husband and wife and, some commentators believe, between God and His people. The bride warns about little foxes, asking her bridegroom to catch them (2:15). For foxes, hungry for the vineyard’s grapes, could tear the tender plants apart. 

It’s an apt word picture of our lives, isn’t it? How often do we let those little, destructive “foxes” into our lives, impeding or impairing our ability to follow our Lord diligently and directly?

Too often for yours truly, I’m afraid. Sometimes, I have trouble saying “NO” to lesser important demands, which, when pursued, dilute my abilities to do what God is really calling me to do. That’s letting the foxes into the vineyard to steal away my fruitfulness for Christ (see photo and the reference Scriptures above).

And as the linked song calls us, let’s get “back to the basics” of Christ’s calling on our lives and following His will and His ways … thru His word. And in doing so, let’s avoid letting the foxes in to dampen and deflect our fruitfulness for Christ.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your Spirit’s help in keeping me close and connected to You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that we are able to keep the main thing (Your thing!) as our main thing today and all days. … 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 1, 2018 … Reaching Out to Help

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 304 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of Glen Campbell singing his hit song … Try A Little Kindness … poignantly singing of how we, who claim to follow Jesus’ way, should shine His light of compassion in this world which needs it so desperately.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 9:36 [NKJV] … 36 But when He [JESUS] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 
… If we are to become like Jesus, we must reach out and help others when we see the need … as Jesus did!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 9:35-38 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… When Jesus saw a need, His compassion led Him to follow the Spirit’s lead and take action. 
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [NKJV] … 6  All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord [a]has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
 … We are all in need of the compassion/mercy shown by King Jesus to others when He walked this earth.

Reference Passage : … Luke 4:18-19 [NKJV] … 18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, … to set at liberty those who are oppressed; … 19  To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” 
 … Quoting from Isaiah (61:1-2), Jesus proclaims His incarnate mission, one of compassion, as our Good Shepherd.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus calls all of us to follow His lead and to show CHRISTLIKE love, compassion, and mercy to others … whenever we can.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:1-2 [NKJV] … Brethren, if a man is [a]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 
… When we see someone overtaken by some sin or circumstances, we, who follow the ways of Christ, MUST reach out as He would to help those in need.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, used an historical figure, Anne Frank in WW2, to show the kind of Christlike compassion we all should show others as we do all we can to emulate our Lord. The ODB author writes … Anne Frank is well known for her diary describing her family’s years of hiding during World War II. When she was later imprisoned in a Nazi death camp, those with her said “her tears [for them] never ran dry,” making her “a blessed presence for all who knew her.” Because of this, scholar Kenneth Bailey concluded that Anne never displayed “compassion fatigue.” 
Compassion fatigue can be one of the results of living in a badly broken world. The sheer volume of human suffering can numb even the best intentioned among us. 

We may not have the degree of empathy and strength to do what Anne Frank did in WW2; but we are called by Jesus to deny our basic, selfish, nature and reach out, when we can, to emulate the compassion which Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, showed to others when He lived and ministered to others during His time on earth (see Scriptures above).

 So, why don’t we just do what Glen Campbell sings; and today, let’s just “Try a Little Kindness!” and share the love of Christ with someone when we see the need.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for being my model of compassion.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that we are willing to reach out and be like You when we see someone needing Your love/mercy 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.