July 10, 2019 … Battling Unseen Enemies

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 191 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing… Open Our Eyes … poignantly singing of our pursue of faith to be able to follow Jesus so closely that we can almost see and hear Him with eyes and ears of faith.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Kings 6:17 [NLT] … 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 
… God, thru Elisha’s faith, gives the servant’s eyes of faith.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Kings 6:8-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God gives Elisha and his servant eyes of faith to see the Lord’s armies always there to do battle for the faithful.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … 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. 
… Trusting God and avoiding our own perceptions/feelings gives us the Lord’s eyes of faith.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [also translated “tests” or “trials” or “troubles” or “tribulations”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… No matter where we go or what we encounter, our eyes of faith will allow us to find His way in life.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 6:12-13 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …
… We may face unseen powerful enemies; but we do so following the Lord and doing battle with His full armor.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 11:1, 6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s faithful have eyes of faith, knowing that our Lord is always there to give us His watch-care.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, uses an illustration about unseen things like radio waves to help us see that our eyes of faith are necessary to go thru life following God’s way. The ODB author wrote: Stephen Cass, an editor at Discover magazine, was determined to investigate some of the invisible things that are part of his daily life. As he walked toward his office in New York City, he thought: “If I could see radio waves, the top of the Empire State Building [with its host of radio and TV antennas - see photo] would be lit like a kaleidoscopic flare, illuminating the entire city.” He realized he was surrounded by an invisible electromagnetic field of radio and TV signals, Wi-Fi, and more. 

And then the ODB author made reference to the story of Elisha (in the highlight passage) helping his servant to have eyes of faith and see God’s angel armies who were there to do battle against Israel’s enemies. This true OT story and the reference scriptures show us that we must have eyes of faith, … knowing that our God will always be there for us to follow Him into and thru the battles of life.

We may not be able to see the radio waves emanating from the antennae atop the Empire State Building [see photo]; but we can have faith that they are there. And likewise, we may not be able to see the angel armies Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6:12; but we can know that our God will show us the way thru any battle we face in life against our spiritual enemies (see see reference scriptures). 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for always being there to help us do battle in life against our enemies … seen and unseen.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to have faith that God’s angel armies are there for us today, helping us do battle. … 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.

July 9, 2019 … He Hears … ALWAYS

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 190 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Brooke Simpson singing the old hymn … Amazing Grace … powerfully singing that God’s grace is ALWAYS available to those who’re willing to prayer for it … no matter how lost we may feel.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Jonah 2:1-2 [NLT] … 1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. 2 He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead,  and Lord, You heard me! 
… God ALWAYS listens and He ALWAYS answers.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Jonah 2:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jonah, facing death in the belly of a fish, prays.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] … 1  I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. 2  Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! 
… God even bends down to hear us when we have trouble praying.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [also translated “tests” or “trials” or “troubles” or “tribulations”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… God is faithful to show us the way, … His way …, ALWAYS … no matter what faces us.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God always wants us to bring our anxieties to Him first.

Reference Passage : … 1 Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 
… We’ve got to be willing to surrender our cares to Go. My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, uses a story about a wayward soldier who ran away rather than facing his fears and anxieties. The ODB author wrote: On July 18, 1983, a US Air Force captain disappeared from Albuquerque, New Mexico, without a trace. Thirty-five years later, authorities found him in California. [see photo] The New York Times reports that, “depressed about his job,” he’d simply run away. 
Thirty-five years on the run! Half a lifetime spent looking over his shoulder! I have to imagine that anxiety and paranoia were this man’s constant companions. 

Maybe we haven’t run from God, as did the Air Force Captain; or as Jonah did when God called him to go to Nineveh and preach. But I would guess that all reading here have had moments when it was difficult to bring our prayers to God because of guilt or anxiety.

Hopefully we don’t have to be thrown into the belly of a great fish for us to realize what Jonah realized (see highlight passage) … that God hears - and answers our prayers … yes, ALWAYS!! So, if any reading here are wrapped up with fear or anxiety, take it God … NOW! Because our God will even bend down to hear us (Psalm 116:1-2); and He cares enough to give us the way to handle our trials (1Cor 10:13 and 1Pet 5:7).

No running today … except to God in prayer.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for always being there to hear my prayers.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to take our fears and anxieties to God 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.

July 8, 2019 … God Knows Our Needs

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 189 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Laura Story singing her song … Grace Abounds … powerfully singing that God’s grace is enough to give us God’s powering grace to cover our weakness. always there to meet our needs, … even in times of trial or oppression. … AND ON TO THIS LINK  to also hear Laura Story singing about God’s blessings, which often come disguised as life’s challenges.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 2:25 [NLT] … 25 He [God] looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.
… God sees the needs of His people - ALL OF HIS PEOPLE!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 2:24-3:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God sees the oppression of His people and calls Moses to go and set them free. 
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Reference Passage : … 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 of His strength is always there for us, … even when we feel weak or oppressed.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [also translated “tests” or “trials” or “troubles” or “tribulations”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… God is faithful to show us the way, … His way …, ALWAYS … no matter what faces us.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
… As Christians, no matter what happens, … it’s for our good! … But do we KNOW that and really believe it?!

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God is ALWAYS going to supply what we need if we trust Him and bring our needs to Him in prayer.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Ruth O’Reilly-Smith, uses a story about the Queen of England reaching out to help one of her subjects who was in need to illustrate how our God knows and meets our needs. The ODB author wrote: Barbara grew up under the care of the British government in the 1960s, but when she turned sixteen, she and her newborn son, Simon, became homeless. The state was no longer obligated to provide for her at that age. Barbara wrote to the Queen of England for help and received a response! The Queen compassionately arranged for Barbara to be given a house of her own. 
The Queen of England had the right resources to help Barbara, and her compassionate assistance can be seen as a small picture of God’s help. 

God always sees and knows the needs of His children; and as Yahweh did for His people being oppressed by the Egyptians, He will bring what we need to save us (see highlight passage).

Oh, … it may not be a Moses from a burning bush (see photo); but when we’re willing to trust God; and we bring our needs to Him, humbly in prayer (see Phil. 4 passages), our God is ALWAYS there with what we need.

As Laura Story sings in the two songs linked above, God’s grace abounds for us … ALWAYS! Yes, even when our life challenges are His blessings in disguise.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for knowing and meeting my (our) needs.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to know that God’s grace is ALWAYS there with our needs … yes, even when He seems so far away. … 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.

July 7, 2019 … God’s Grace Is Enough

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 188 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Matt Maher singing … Your Grace is Enough … powerfully singing that God’s grace is enough to give us God’s powering grace to cover our weakness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1Samuel 17:45 [NLT] …45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  
… David knew His God was bigger than the imposing enemy.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1Samuel 17:41-50 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David against Goliath, declares his confidence in His God to battle the monster enemy. 
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Reference Passage : … 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 of His strength is always there for us when we feel weak.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
… God is faithful to show us the way, … His way …, no matter what faces us.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 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 learned from Jesus that God’s grace was always there to cover his weakness.

Reference Passage : … 1John 4:4 [NLT] … 4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 
… The God in us, as Christians, is ALWAYS greater than the spirit of this world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Winn Collier, uses a story of fearless badgers fighting against lions to illustrate what David showed forth in fighting Goliath and the power of our God against this world. The ODB author wrote: Giles Kelmanson, a South African game ranger, described the incredible scene: two honey badgers battling a pride of six lions. Although outnumbered, the honey badgers refused to back down from ferocious predators ten times their size [see photo]. The lions thought the kill would be simple, but video footage shows the badgers walking away with something like a swagger. 

And the ODB author goes on to use the story of David and Goliath to illustrate how any Christian has the power of God to go up against the Goliaths of this world which will attempt to face us down with fear. The honey badgers in the ODB story didn’t give in to the lions. David didn’t back down to Goliath; and we, as disciples of Christ must ALWAYS realize that His empowering grace will be enough to face down our Goliaths’ in life (see the reference passages above).

The question is … do we believe God’s promises of His strength to cover our weakness? 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving me (us) your empowering grace to cover my weaknesses.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to believe in God’s promise to give us His grace to cover us when we face the Goliaths of this world. … 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.

July 6, 2019 … Sharing God’s Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 187 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Amazing Love … poignantly singing of God’s amazing love for us when we share that love with others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1Peter 4:8 [NLT] … 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 
… Sharing the love of God with others covers our sins.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1Peter 4:7-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter exhorts fellow Christians, especially those oppressed by persecution, to share the love of Christ with one another. .
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Reference Passage : …John 13:34-35, 14:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We show our love for our Savior when we share His love for others.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 13:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can do anything/everything for others but if it’s done without love, it is for nothing.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Anne Cetas, uses a sad personal story to illustrate how we need to do all we can - while we can - to share the love of God with our loved ones. The ODB author wrote: When my oldest sister’s biopsy revealed cancer in late February 2017, I remarked to friends, “I need to spend as much time with Carolyn as possible—starting now.” Some told me my feelings were an overreaction to the news. But she died within ten months. And even though I had spent hours with her, when we love someone there’s never enough time for our hearts to love enough. 

Our Lord has given us His “amazing love,” as Chris Tomlin sings in the linked song; but as Jesus and the Apostles Peter and Paul share in the Scriptures above, …God’s love goes for nothing if we don’t share His love with others.

We simply MUST NOT waste the time God has given us; and … we SIMPLY MUST use our time to go out [YES, TODAY!!] and share the love of God with others, … especially those whom we love in the family of God.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving me (us) time today to reach out share Your love with others.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to do all we can to share Your love with as many loved ones as we can. … 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.

July 5, 2019 … Walking In The Light

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 186 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Jason Gray singing his song … Glow In the Dark … no matter how dark the world can seem, as Christians we can seek and follow the Light of Christ and even radiate His light into the darkness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1John 2:8-9 [NLT] … 8 Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. … 9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness 
 … As born-again Christians we can choose to walk in the light of Christlikeness and out of the darkness of our past sinfulness and the current ways of the world.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1John 2:7-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… John exhorting fellow Christians (that’s you and me!) to walk out from the darkness of our past and the current world and into the light of Christlikeness.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … 105  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 
… God’s word shines a light on our path so that we can walk in God’s light of Christlikeness.

Reference Passage : … Ecclesiastes 2:13 [NLT] … 13 I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. 
… Solomon learned - and taught - that walking the light of God’s wisdom is always better than walking in the darkness of the world.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 
… Jesus commands His disciples to become the light of the world, letting our good deeds shine Christ’s Light into a very darkened world.

Reference Passage : … John 8:12 [NLT] … 12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 
… When we follow Jesus, we will ALWAYS walk in His light.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, John Blase, quotes Eugene Peterson who writes about another Christian author walking in the light of God’s truth. And the ODB author wrote: Pastor and writer Eugene Peterson had the opportunity to hear a lecture by Swiss physician and highly respected pastoral counselor Paul Tournier. Peterson had read the doctor’s works, and admired his approach to healing. The lecture left a deep impression on Peterson. As he listened, he had the feeling that Tournier lived what he spoke and spoke what he lived. Peterson chose this word to describe his experience: “Congruence. It is the best word I can come up with.” 
Congruence—it’s what some refer to as “practicing what you preach” or “walking your talk.” 

To Eugene Peterson, the Swiss author, Paul Tournier, was a Christian who followed Jesus’ command [in Matt. 5:16] … to walk in the light provided by God’s truth (see Ps 119:105), and follow what the Apostle John exhorted Christians to do (see highlight passage) and that is to walk-the-walk of our faith, … walking as Christ would walk.

And so today, all reading here need to ask ourselves if there is “CONGRUENCE” (see definition above) between the way we talk as Christians and the way we walk as disciples of Christ.

And again, that’s why I’m here today, letting God’s light of truth, from His word, shine as brightly on my path as possible so that I can see clearly where I need to walk.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us the light of Your truth to shine brightly and show us were to walk in the darkness of this word.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to seek out the light of God’s truth and follow it out of darkness into His Light. … 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.

July 4, 2019 … His Word Speaks Truth

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 185 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Kristyn Getty singing the song written by her Husband, Keith and Stuart Townsend … Speak O Lord … poignantly singing of how every word of the Bible speaks of our Savior and Lord, … King Jesus.

The Jesus Storybook Bible:

Every Story Whispers His Name

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 24:27 [NLT] … 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 
… Jesus is revealed thru His word.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 24:17-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus reveals Himself to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus by explaining His word. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We get know our God by living and rejoicing in His word.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 55:11 [NLT] … 11  … so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 
… God’s word is His “GPS” for our lives.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 21 Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” 
… God opens Himself to us thru His word and we show Him that we love Him by obedience to His word.

Reference Passage : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
… God’s word has God’s Spirit-Breathed power to shape our lives for His glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, shares a personal story about his grandson whose confession illustrates how we can come to God seeking His mercy. And the ODB author wrote: I opened the whimsically illustrated children’s Bible and began to read to my grandson [see photo]. Immediately we were enthralled as the story of God’s love and provision unfurled in prose. Marking our place, I turned the book over and read the title once again: The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. … 
 To be honest, sometimes the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is hard to understand. Why do those who don’t know God seem to triumph over God’s own? How can God permit such cruelty when we know that His character is pure and that His purposes are for our good? 

Good questions; … but they’re answered by God, Himself, in His word. And every word in the Bible speaks truth and reveals who King Jesus is to us and leads us to follow and serve Him more effectively (see reference passages above). That’s why, when the confused disciples were walking to Emmaus after the crucifixion [see highlight passage], Jesus appeared to them, using His word from the Old Testament to explain and reveal Himself.

And the more we dig deeply into God’s word, … i.e., His truth, … the more we get to know Jesus and love Him more deeply and serve Him more effectively. Hence, … you find me here - EVERY day - doing all I can to get to know my Lord more intimately thru His word. I pray all reading here have discovered what the children’s Bible (in the photo) reveals … that every story in God’s word reveals the name of Jesus; and as the Getty’s sing (in the linked song), God speaks to us thru His word.

And I also pray that we all will become more effective disciples of Christ by following His word. 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us Your word to show us YOUR WAY to live.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to live and abide in Christ as He shows us, thru His word, His way to live for His 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.

July 3, 2019 … Mercy Me!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 184 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of Gordon Mote singing … Mercy Walked In … poignantly singing of how, when we are humbly repentant of our sin, God’s mercy and grace walk in to save and cleanse us.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 12:18 [NLT] … 18  “Come now, let’s settle this,”says the Lord. … “Though your sins are like scarlet I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. 
… God declares the essence of His faithful grace and willingness to exercise His mercy to save us sinners.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 1:12-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Isaiah, shows His willingness to exercise His mercy and cleanse the sins of repentant sinners.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [NLT] … 6  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. 
 … God’s plan was (and is) to show mercy on us sinners by His Son, our Messiah, taking the sins on Himself.

Reference Passage : … Lamentation 3:22-23 [NLT] … 22  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease. 23  Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
… God’s promise of His faithful mercy being available to all who’re willing to confess and repent of our sins.

Reference Passage : … 1 John 1:9 [NLT] … 9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 
 … One of God’s most merciful and wonderful promises for all of us who’re always in need of His mercy and grace.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, shares a personal story about his grandson whose confession illustrates how we can come to God seeking His mercy. And the ODB author wrote: My three-year-old grandson’s day was off to a rotten start. He couldn’t find his favorite shirt. The shoes he wanted to wear were too hot. He fussed and fumed at his grandmother and then sat down to cry [see photo]. 
“Why are you so upset?” I asked. We talked for a while and after he calmed down, I gently inquired, “Have you been good for Grandma?” He looked thoughtfully at his shoes and responded, “No, I was bad. I’m sorry.” 
My heart went out to him. Instead of denying what he had done, he was honest. In the following moments we asked Jesus to forgive us when we do wrong and to help us do better. 

Do you share a hearty “PTL” with me today that we serve/follow a loving, forgiving, merciful God who is willing - and ALWAYS able - to extend His mercy on genuinely humble and contrite sinners {… just as Gordon Mote sings in the linked song}?

The Prophet Isaiah (in the highlight and reference passages) was called to tell God’s people (and you and me) that He would always be there to extend His mercy and forgiving grace to cleanse those who come to Him in genuine repentance for our sins (see Lam. 3:22-23 and 1John 1:9).

So, I pray that all of us come clean today, by the mercy of God, and confess our sins today to receive His forgiving and cleansing grace.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your ever available mercy/grace.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to receive Your cleansing mercy and grace 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.

July 2, 2019 … Pursuing God’s Peace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 183 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Peace, Peace … Wonderful Peace! … poignantly singing the wonderful peace offered by God to any/all who surrender to His love/grace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Colossians 3:15 [NLT] … 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 
 … Paul so wanted fellow Christians to find the peace he had found in Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Colossians 3:12-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, helping his fellow Christians to find peace in the midst of a confusing and stressful world.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 3  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 
 … God, thru Isaiah, shows how we can find God’s peace … by choosing and continuing to focus on Him in the midst of the trials and stress of the world.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21, … 27 [NLT] … 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 
… 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. 
… Jesus teaching to help his very anxious Disciples to find the peace that He offers by obeying, trusting and abiding in Him no matter what happens.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, gives Christians the antidote to anxiety … thankful prayer.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… We, as disciples of Christ, have to be willing to surrender our cares to a caring God as Peter exhorted fellow Christians (and as Jesus commanded in Luke 9:23).

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, shares a story about a Christian convicted to help the hungry in India to illustrate to illustrate how we are all are commanded to show our love of God by sharing His love with others. And the ODB author wrote: “What do you think about peace?” my friend asked as we ate lunch together. “Peace?” I said, puzzled. “I’m not sure—why do you ask?” He answered, “Well, as you jiggled your foot during the church service I wondered if you’re agitated about something. Have you considered the peace God gives to those who love Him?” 
That day some years ago, I was a bit hurt by my friend’s question, but it started me on a journey. I began exploring the Bible to see how God’s people embraced this gift of well-being, of peace, even in the midst of hardship. [See photo] 


I think all readers here would agree that we’re in a culture (i.e., world) which is characterized by stress, anxiety, fear, worry, … all of which battle against the peach which God offers to anyone who would follow Him (see Scriptures above). So, how do we find - and capture - the peace of God?

Well, those same Scriptures give us the answer to that questions.
 … First … we have to believe that God can - and will - provide us with His peace. [see highlight passage and John 14:27].
… Then … we must be willing to diligently follow, pursue, and obey THE ONE offering us His peace [see Isaiah 26:3 and John 14:21].
 … And finally … we must surrender our cares to God in prayer [see Phil. 4:6-7 and 1Peter 5:7]. 

And as in the photo, that’s why one finds me here each (and every) morning. pursuing God’s peace, by getting to know and follow my Lord more abidingly thru His word and in prayer. I pray others are finding islands of peace in the midst of our stressful world in the same way.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for leading me to Your peace thru Your word and in prayer.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to share the peace of God by pursuing it every day in prayer in in His 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.

July 1, 2019 … Feeding the Hungry

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 182 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and song from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, should desire to have others see and find the love of God emanating from our faith and God’s love being shared with others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: James 2:14 [NLT] … 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 
… Our faith only becomes meaningful to others when we reach out and share the love of God with others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 2:14-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Our faith in Christ is only seen when we turn faith into Christlikeness.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:15-16 [NLT] … 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 
… Jesus commands His disciples to shine His light forth for others to see Him in this dark world.

Reference Passage : … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” 
… Jesus commands others to show God’s love for others by sharing that love with others.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 
 … We’ll only manifest the love of God when we’re sharing it with others.

Reference Passage : … 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. 
… We were created for the purpose of sharing God’s enabling grace/love with others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, shares a story about a Christian convicted to help the hungry in India to illustrate to illustrate how we are all are commanded to show our love of God by sharing His love with others. And the ODB author wrote: Thomas knew what he needed to do. Having been born to a poor family in India and adopted by Americans, upon a return trip to India he witnessed the dire needs of the children in his hometown [see photo]. So he knew he had to help. He began making plans to return to the US, finish his education, save a lot of money, and come back in the future. … 
Today the orphanage he began houses fifty well-fed and cared-for children who are learning about Jesus and getting an education—all because one man didn’t put off what he knew God was asking him to do. 

Today’s ODB entry, the linked song, as well as God’s word above have convicted me to pray for God to use me TODAY … in some way … to show the love of God by encouraging or helping others, … showing that I truly love God by sharing His love in the way I love and help others.

How about you joining me in that desire and our actions today?

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving me the grace and ability to share Your love with those in need.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to share the love of God with someone - perhaps someone in need - 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.

June 30, 2019 … Seeing More Clearly

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 181 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Jimmy Cliff singing his hit song… I Can See Clearly Now … poignantly singing of how life is so much better when we can see clearly to travel forward.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 25:40 [NLT] … 40 “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain. 
… God wants us to pay attention to every detail in His word so that He we can see Him clearly in dealing with life.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 25:31-40 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God gives Solomon clear and precise detail on how to build the lamp stand to be placed in the Tabernacle.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:4-7, 105 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we view life thru God’s word, things are made so much clearer for us to follow Him down the path of life.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we completely trust [i.e., have faith] in God’s truth and follow His ways thru His word, we can see His path so much more clearly to follow Him.

Reference Passage : … 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 … 
… Trying to see life thru our own eyes, is like visually impaired drivers trying to drive thru life without corrective lenses (see photo).

Reference Passage : … Romans 1:20 [NLT] … 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 
… Really, all we have to do is look around us in creation to see God. … BUT … it is so much easier to see Him more clearly when we use the corrective lenses of God’s truth (i.e., His word).

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Julie Schwab, uses a personal story to illustrate doing all we can to see things more clearly in life. And the ODB author wrote: “It must be amazing to look at a tree and see the individual leaves instead of just a blur of green!” my dad said. I couldn’t have said it better. I was eighteen at the time and not a fan of my new need to wear glasses, but they changed the way I saw everything, making the blurry beautiful! [see photo] 
When reading Scripture, I view certain books like I do when I look at trees without my glasses. There doesn’t seem to be much to see. But noticing details can reveal the beauty in what might seem to be a boring passage. 

Then the ODB author used the story of the incredible detail God called Solomon to follow in building the lamp-stand for the Tabernacle (see highlight passage). And this OT example illustrated for Ms. Schwab how God wants his faithful (that’s us!) to follow His commands (i.e., His word) with great detail. And hence the image of trying to see things more clearly with corrective lenses if we have natural visual impairment (which we all do in our sin nature).

Naturally, I see life much as the photo shows one seeing without glasses. However, when I put my glasses on, I have 20/20 vision (see photo). So, … when I come here each morning and put on the lenses of God’s truth, by viewing life thru God’s word, things become so much clearer. I feel like the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119 (see reference passages), who was able to see his path thru life so much clearer by follow God’s commands.

And I pray we all feel as Jimmy Cliff sings in the linked song, … seeing life so more clearly by using God’s corrective truth as our lenses to follow the Lord thru life.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us the corrective lens of Your truth to help us see Your path the way You want us to see it.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to put on the corrective lens of God’s truth daily to travel the road of life more safely. … 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.

June 29, 2019 … Filled Up With Christlikeness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 180 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Hillsong United singing … Jesus, You’re All I Need … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, fill ourselves with Christ to avoid being vulnerable to our selfish desires.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Proverbs 27:7 [NLT] … 7  A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry. 
 … Conclusion: Keep ourselves filled with Jesus and He will satisfy our selfish desires. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Proverbs 27:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon lays out many truths to help us avoid our sin nature.        
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we fill our hearts with Godliness, from His word, being full of Christlikeness, our selfish nature will be satisfied and we will desire selfish/worldly things less.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we trust only God’s truth and follow His ways, He will always lead us in the path of righteousness.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:8, 19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we fill our hearts and minds with Godly thoughts, especially from His truth, we will realize His promise to provide us with all we need in Christ.

Reference Passage : … 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 … 
… All Jesus wants us to do is follow Him; and He will show us THE way … HIS way.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a personal story to illustrate God’s prescription for avoiding selfishness and sin in our lives. And the ODB author wrote: My children were thrilled, but I felt uneasy. During a vacation, we visited an aquarium where people could pet small sharks kept in a special tank. [See photo] When I asked the attendant if the creatures ever snapped at fingers, she explained that the sharks had recently been fed and then given extra food. They wouldn’t bite because they weren’t hungry. 
… Hunger—that sense of inner emptiness—can weaken our discernment as we make decisions. It convinces us that it’s okay to settle for anything that fills us up, even if it causes us to take a bite out of someone. 

That ODB story well illustrates what God’s word has given us to help us selfish/hungry sinners [and that’s all of us, isn’t it?) avoid being vulnerable to our fleshly desires. And those prescriptive truths are found in the Scriptures above. And the group Hillsong sings about them in the linked song as well.

The baby sharks in the aquarium (see photo) were not hungry and therefore would not try to eat the juicy fingers of the kids petting them because the sharks were well fed. And God’s word tells us that we selfish sinners will be far less desiring to feed our selfish desires if we fill our hearts/minds with the Godliness and Christlikeness found in God’s word. And that’s why you find me here, beginning each day by feeding myself on God’s truth from His word; because I know I’ll be far less likely to desire filling my sin nature if I’m filled up with God’s truth.

It’s God’s prescription to help me avoid my sinful nature; and I plan on taking in as much of my Lord as I can each morning from His word so that I will avoid desiring what Satan and the world want to feed me.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your filling me up with Your truth so that I can avoid the tempting things which cry out to fill my desires.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to fill our hearts and minds with our Lord’s truth so that we can avoid the temptations of this world and our flesh. … 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.

June 28, 2019 … Divine Detours

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 179 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and song from tClay Crosse, BeBe Winans, and Bob Carlisle singing … I Will Follow Christ … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must do all we can to deny our way and follow God’s way … no matter what it takes or where it leads.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Acts 16:7 [NLT] … 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 
… Paul and Silas were doing their best to follow the Spirit’s lead on their Gospel mission.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 17:6-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul and his travel companions are led on a divine detour in their mission to spread the gospel. 
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Reference Passage : … Joshua 1:8 [NLT] … 8 Study this Book of Instruction [i.e., God’s word] continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 
… God decrees that Joshua follow His word, no matter where he goes or what he does. God’s word should be our “GPS” in life … “God’s Positioning System” And that is our charge as well in life as we seek to follow Christ as Lord.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… No matter where we’re headed in life as disciples of Christ we need to take care to beware of following our feelings and perceptions and do all we can to trust in the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Reference Passage : … 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 … 
… Our task, as Christ’s disciples, is to deny ourselves and do all we can to follow Him. My 

Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Arthur Jackson, uses a personal testimony of following God’s lead in life.    And the ODB author wrote: It can be difficult when we’re told “no” or “not now,” especially when we sense God has opened a door for us to serve others. Early in my ministry, two opportunities came my way where I thought my gifts and skills matched the churches’ needs, but both doors eventually closed. After these two disappointments, another position came along, and I was selected. With that ministry call came thirteen years of life-touching pastoral labors. 

Our trek thru life as disciples of Christ can be challenging, if not confusing, at times, … especially as we do all we can to follow the lead and direction of God’s Spirit. Yes, as Jesus commanded all disciples (see Luke 9:23), He wants us to follow Him; and God tells us - as He did Joshua in Joshua 1:8 - that we should use His word as our divine “GPS.”

But even doing that faithfully, as Paul discovered in trying to seek the Lord’s way and His will in sharing the Gospel in Asia (see highlight passage), he encountered divine detours along the way [see photo]; and Paul and his companions had to reroute themselves several times on their journeys, doing all they could to follow Christ.

And as we do what is sung in the linked song, … doing all we can to follow Christ, … we, too, will encounter divine detours on the road of life. And we need to simply be committed to do all we can to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading … wherever that might lead us.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your Word as our “GPS” and Your Spirit as our guide.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to do all we can to seek out and follow the Spirit’s leading in our quest to be disciples 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.

June 27, 2019 … Untying the Knot Berry

Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 178 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Point of Grace singing … Heal the Wounds … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must humbly allow God’s grace to heal wounds, such as unforgiveness or bitterness, leaving the scars to remind us of God’s healing mercies.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 33:11 [NLT] … 11 Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift. 
… Esau relents to accept Jacob’s humble gift to untie the knot of 20 years of unforgiveness between the two brothers.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 33:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jacob, humbly comes to Esau, asking forgiveness for having stolen Esau’s birthright; and Esau grants forgiveness.
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Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s mercies are forever available to those who’re humbly willing to accept them by surrendering our sin to Him.

Reference Passage : … Luke 14:11 [NLT] … 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 
 … Jesus teaching on the power of humility to be exalted before God’s throne of grace.

Reference Passage : … John 8:34-35 [NLT] … 34 … “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. 
… Jesus teaching on how we untie the bonds of sin and walk free in our relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage : … 1John 1:9 [NLT] …  9 But if we confess our sins to him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 
… We have to be willing to humbly confess our sins before a faithful/forgiving God will untie the knots of unforgiveness which have had our lives bound to our past sin.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a theatrical illustration of how one must humbly surrender to God’s healing grace to untie the knots of unforgiveness in our lives. And the ODB author wrote: One Christian organization’s mission is to promote the healing nature of forgiveness. One of their activities involves a skit in which a person who has been wronged is strapped back to back with a rope to the wrongdoer. Only the one sinned against can untie the rope. [see photo] No matter what she does, she’s got someone on her back. Without forgiveness—without untying the rope—she cannot escape. 
Offering forgiveness to someone who comes to us in sorrow for their wrongdoing begins the process of releasing us and them from the bitterness and pain that can cling to us over wrongs we’ve suffered. 

When Jacob wronged his brother, Esau, by stealing his birthright, 20+ years passed with them separated from one another. Finally (see highlight passage), Jacob came to his brother and humbly brought gifts of great value to seek forgiveness from Esau, … who finally was willing to forgive to mend their relationship.

Of course, we sinners must humbly come before God’s throne of grace and mercy and ask for forgiveness, in repentance for our sins, so that we can be released from the curse of death on our souls. However, when we do, God unties the knot of our sin [see photo], which has been forgiven by Christ’s death on the cross, and completely forgives us and exalts us to become children of God [see reference Scriptures].

I pray all reading here have come before our God, as did Jacob to Esau, and humbly untied the knot that had us bound to our past sins and have been elevated from sinner to sainthood by our loving/forgiving Lord.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for providing us with the way to untie the knot of death which had us bound to our past shame and sin.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to live free and forever with our Lord because the knot which had us bound to our sins has been untied by our humble surrender to God’s 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.

June 26, 2019 … Living Our Eulogy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 177 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing … Field of Souls … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must do all we can to work together to live as Christ and work the field of souls for Christ’s glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 5:29 … [NLT] … 2  Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies — so the living should take this to heart.
 … God’s “teacher,” Solomon, reflects that we learn more about the way to live at funerals than we do at parties.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon reflecting on the way he had lived his life and lamenting that it could have been lived more for the Lord.
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Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul, from prison, contemplating his possible death, reflects for fellow Christians the way we should live our lives.

Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 11:1 [NLT] …  1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 
… The Apostle Paul, reflecting on the way he had lived, confidently exhorted fellow Christians to follow His lead and live to follow Christ’s example.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 4:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul, knowing he’s about to die, reflects on his own life to encourage Timothy (and us) to live our lives for the Gospel and God’s glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mike Wittmer, uses a personal reflection of a friend’s life well lived for Christ. And the ODB author wrote: My heart is full from attending the funeral of a faithful woman. Her life wasn’t spectacular. She wasn’t known widely outside her church, neighbors, and friends. But she loved Jesus, her seven children, and her twenty-five grandchildren. She laughed easily, served generously, and could hit a softball a long way. … 
 The woman in the casket didn’t have a résumé, but her children testified that “she rocked Proverbs 31” and its description of a godly woman. She inspired them to love Jesus and care for others. 

When our family and friends are laying flowers at our grave site [see photo], what will be our eulogy? During the Apostle Paul’s life, he was near death several times; and he wrote to fellow Christians that they (we) should live their (our) lives as our eulogy to the Lord (see reference Scriptures above).

And really we should answer Mike Wittmer’s questions at the closing of today’s ODB entry, as he writes … “What will be said at your funeral? What do you want said?” 

Because the way we live our lives, prayerfully as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1, should be our eulogies when we’re laid to rest and then live with Christ forever.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us lives which can become eulogies for Your glory.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to live our lives as ongoing legacies to our 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.

June 25, 2019 … Burning for Christlikeness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 1756 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Steve Green singing … Find Us Faithful … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must do all we can to walk the faithful Christlikeness, doing all we can to avoid the unGodly vanities of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 5:29 … [NLT] … 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 
… Jesus uses hyperbole to teach on ridding our lives of any part of us that detracts from our relationship with Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 5:21-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, preaching on Godly, … Kingdom, … values.
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Reference Passage : … Psalms 51:10, 139:23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David’s desire to rid his life of any sinful selfishness and sinful pursuits, following only the ways of the Lord.

Reference Passage : … Ecclesiastes 1:14 [NLT] … 14 I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless [also translated “vanity” in NKJV] — like chasing the wind. 
… Solomon, as God’s “Teacher,” observed that all of life can be vanity or meaningless if we focus on self rather than the Lord.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shows disciples how we must focus on our relationship with Him above all else in life so as to live fruitful lives to God’s glory.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 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 promises Paul (and us) that His empowering grace will always be there to give us His strength to overcome our human weaknesses in our attempts to live for God’s glory and avoid selfish gain.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Remi Oyedele, uses an historical reference to illustrate how we must throw away all elements of life which vainly try to satisfy self rather than living for our Savior. And the ODB author wrote: In February 1497, a Monk named Girolamo Savonarola started a fire. Leading up to this, he and his followers spent several months collecting items that they thought might entice people to sin or neglect their religious duties—including artwork, cosmetics, instruments, and dresses. On the appointed day, thousands of vanity items were gathered at a public square in Florence, Italy, and set on fire. The event has come to be known as the Bonfire of the Vanities. 

The Monk, Savonarola, may have had Godly motives for his bonfire [see photo], … motives which were inspired by biblical values found in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (see highlight passages) or by King David following his sinful episode with Bathsheba (see Psalms 51 and 139); or maybe even by Solomon’s repentant journaling in Ecclesiastes. However, we need to have more than a bonfire to rid ourselves of the selfish vanities of life, don’t we?

We, as born-again Christians, are called by Christ to do all we can to live as Steve Green sings in the linked song, … living lives which faithfully pursue Christlikeness (see John 15:1-8); and to do all we can to use our Lord’s strength and grace (see 2Cor. 12:9) to overcome our selfish desires and human weaknesses.

For when we do that, we will be glorifying King Jesus in all we think, say, and do.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving us the grace to overcome self and live for You, … our Savior.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to throw our selfishness into the bonfires of our relationship with 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.

June 24, 2019 … Yes, EVEN IF …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 175 

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 … Even If … poignantly singing of how we can find God’s fruit of joy … yes, EVEN IF we’re faced life’s trials and tribulations.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Galatians 5:22a … [NLT] … 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, JOY, peace, … 
… Even in the midst of trials we can choose to express the fruit of the Spirit, … which includes joy. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Galatians 5:22-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul reveals the fruit of the Spirit which we as surrendered Christians can choose to share in the character of Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… No matter what the circumstances of life, we must trust that God will lead us thru.

Reference Passage : … Habakkuk 3:16-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s prophet, even in the midst of fear and horrible circumstances learned that he could choose to share the joy of his relationship with God.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shows disciples how we can experience the fruit of His Spirit; … and that is by abiding in Him.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 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 promises Paul (and us) that His empowering grace will always be there to give us His strength in our times of weakness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, uses a personal experience involving his family to show that we can CHOOSE to pursue the joy of victory EVEN IF life is challenging. And the ODB author wrote: One of our sons, Brian, is a high school basketball coach. One year, as his team was dribbling its way through the Washington State Basketball Tournament, well-meaning folks around town asked, “Are you going to win it all this year?” Both players and coaches felt the pressure, so Brian adopted a motto: “Play with joy!” 

It’s easy to be joyful when the ball is going thru the nets (see photo); but when defeats come our way, can we find the joy found our relationship with Christ?

In the Old Testament, I’ve always loved the story of Habakkuk, who came to God with confusion and doubt as God’s people were rebelling against God’s ways (see Chapter 1 of Habakkuk’s journal). But God helped His Prophet see that he could find joy in the midst of trials by simply trusting God (see Habakkuk 3:16-19) … yes, as the group Mercy Me sings, … we can choose joy … “EVEN IF” things are going bad.

I’m stopping to pray that all reading here have learned to lean on and look to our relationship with Christ, … trusting Him only, … yes, EVEN IF things are going wrong. Because our Lord, even in the midst of pain will supply us His empowering grace to be fruitful (see all the reference passages above). And I pray we all believe and live in that truth.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your grace to endure the challenges of life and be fruitful as You have promised we will be when we choose Your way in life. 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me to choose to share in the fruitfulness of Christlikeness. … 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.