April 16, 2020 … Consuming God’s Word

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 107 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song and lyrics from The Gettys singing, Speak O Lord … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to hunger after the truth of God’s word to give us direction and power in life.

Consuming the Bible in Braille

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Highlight Verse[s]: Jeremiah 15:16 [NLT] ...  16  When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. 
… Jeremiah expresses the joy he experienced when consuming the word of God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Jeremiah 15:15-21 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Jeremiah, with great joy, expresses the power he gets from consuming God’s word. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:1-2 [NLT] … 1  Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. 2  Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. 
… God shows us, thru the psalmist, the joy we receive when we consume and follow God’s word.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 55:11 [NLT] … 11  It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 
… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, of the power of His word in the lives of believers who consume it.

Reference Passage : … Luke 11:28 [NLT] … 28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” 
… God, thru His Son, blesses those who take in God’s word and apply it in their (our) lives.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The power of God’s word in our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, uses a story of young believer who was driven to consume God’s word though blind and handicapped. … The ODB author wrote: A new believer in Jesus was desperate to read the Bible. However, he’d lost his eyesight and both hands in an explosion. When he heard about a woman who read Braille with her lips, he tried to do the same—only to discover that the nerve endings of his lips had also been destroyed. Later, he was filled with joy when he discovered that he could feel the Braille characters with his tongue! [see photo] He had found a way to read and enjoy the Scriptures. 

OK, readers … I assume you’ve taken in the powerful song by the Irish group, The Gettys; and may I assume that you’ve meditated on the scriptures God led me study and share today? And then. … there was the ODB entry which showed us the blessing one can receive when we are REALLY motivated to consume God’s word.

And I think God was saying to me, “Bill, are you really getting all I have for you from My word?” And most certainly, I can give witness to the joy and peace that I receive each morning when I come here, … digging deeply into God’s word and praying that God’s Spirit will give me something from His word that either brings me or others His joy and clear direction in life. But perhaps we all need to assess whether we are getting as much as The LORD has for us to live with power and direction when we consume God’s truth from His word.

I pray that for us all.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your truth as Your “GPS” to guide my life.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will consume Your truth from Your word and use it as our perfect “GPS” for 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.</ span>

April 15, 2020 … Through It All

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 106 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Andrae Crouch singing his song, Through It All … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, have to learn to trust in God no matter what comes our way.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Timothy 4:17 [ESV] ...  7 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And He rescued me from certain death. 
… Even thru the coldness of prison and the threat of death, Paul maintained His faith in His Lord. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Timothy 4:9-18 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Paul from a dark/cold Roman prison, sentenced to die, show his need of human warmth but above all his faith in His Lord.
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Reference Passage : … Job 13:15 [ESV] … 15  Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. 
… Thru all that God allowed Satan to put him through, even to the point of death, Job maintained His trust in God.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, challenges believers to trust in Him with ALL of our hearts, not relying on our own feelings and perceptions.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28, 38 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Paul learned that everything he (we) encountered was for our good and NOTHING in this life could separate us from the love of God.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 12:9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had to learn thru pain and trial that Jesus would - as He will for us - provide the empowering grace and strength to live on thru the pain and suffering.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Patricia Raybon, uses a story of young people blessed by donated coats, giving them the warmth to withstand the cold of winter. … The ODB author wrote: At a coat drive for children, excited kids searched gratefully for their favorite colors and proper sizes. They also gained self-esteem, an organizer said, with new coats boosting their acceptance by peers and school attendance on winter days. 

It’s a cold, cruel, word at times, isn’t it? And we all can use the warmth of encouragement and affirmation from others to give us some human warmth in these cold times, don’t we? Of course we do!!

That’s what Paul was writing about from a cold, damp prison cell just before he was to die at the hands of the Romans. And in the highlight passage we read of his desire for the warmth of fellow Christians, … Luke being the only one who was there to provide him with companionship. But “THROUGH IT ALL,” Paul wrote that he felt the strength and warmth and trust that came from His relationship with Christ [also earlier to other Christians in Romans 8:28/38 and 2Cor. 12:9-10].

And right now we’re all going through some really tough times, aren’t we? So, today’s ODB entry, and the great song by Andrae Crouch, asks us if we have the faith of a Paul, or maybe of a Job (see Job 13:15)? And tomorrow, as we learn that more have died from the corona virus, will we be able to sing that our faith in God will sustain us … “Through It ALL!!”

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being there with me … through it all.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to rest in the truth that our Lord allows us to go through it all for our good and 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.</ span>

April 14, 2020 … Encouraging Words

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 105 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Toby Mac singing the encouraging song Speak Life … powerfully singing of we, as Christians, should use our words to speak life (and encouragement) into the lives of others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Proverbs 16:24 [ESV] ...  24  Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. 
… Encouraging words are a healing balm for a troubled or ailing soul. [see photo]
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Highlight Passage [context]: Proverbs 16:20-24 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God’s word, thru Solomon, shows us the healing outcome of using encouraging words.
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 31:23-24[ESV] … 23 And the Lord commissioned Joshua the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to give them. I will be with you.” 
… When God, thru Moses, commissioned Joshua to take the people into the Promised Land, we see an example of how we all should use the power of our words to encourage other believers.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:29 [ESV] … 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 
… God, thru the Apostle Paul, shows us how we should use our words to uplift and gracefully encourage one another.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 10:24-25 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God charges us Christians to get together so that we can encourage one another, especially as the day of the Lord approaches … and that is certainly here-and-now, isn’t it?

Reference Passage : … James 3:7-12 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru James, shows His people the power of our words to hurt or to heal.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, uses a healthcare study on the healing value of encouraging words to illustrate the power and importance of using our words wisely to help or heal others. … The ODB author wrote: A recent study has shown that encouraging words from a health-care provider can help patients recuperate faster from their ailments. A simple experiment exposed volunteer study participants to a skin allergen to make them itch and then compared the reactions between those who received assurance from their physician and those who didn’t. Patients who received encouragement from their doctors had less discomfort and itching than their counterparts. 

My readers can probably remember the old adage - “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?” But we know just how false that one was and is, don’t we? Words can - and OFTEN DO - hurt others, don’t they? And we’ve seen that in our time with the impact social media has had on our world, … where words are used to tear down others and even to lure young people into sexual exploitation - and even death.

But I’d rather remember the advice my parents used to give me (perhaps yours did too) when they would say, “If you can’t something nice, don’t say anything at all!” Because that advice is wisdom right out of God’s word when you read the Scriptures provided above. So many of God’s authors, like Moses and Solomon and Paul and James ALL taught and brought God’s truth about the power of our words to ether hurt or heal.

And so, who - besides myself - is convicted - or directed - today to do what Toby Mac sings in the linked song and “SPEAK LIFE” into someone who needs our uplifting, edifying, encouraging words today?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me the power of Your healing words to speak life into those who need your grace today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to use our words wisely to provide Your healing grace thru what we say 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.</ span>

April 13, 2020 … Seeking My God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 104 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song, and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing their song Even If … poignantly singing their commitment to seek after the Lord … no matter what transpires in life.

A Heart Seeking After God Today 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 63:1 [ESV] ...   1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 
… David wanted to show God just how much his heart and mind sought after the protection and closeness of His God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 63 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… King David wrote this song to show how he sought after God’s grace even when he was being pursued by Saul unto death in the wilderness.
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 4:29 [ESV] … 29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 
… God commands His people, thru Moses, to seek after Him with all their heart and strength.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 8:17 [ESV] … 17  I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find me. 
 … God’s promise, thru Solomon, that those who seek diligently after God will find Him.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 6:33, 7:7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Jesus, promises to provide for those who seek after His provision on a priority basis.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 3:20 [ESV] … 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 
… Jesus’ promise to His Church that EVERYDAY. when we open the door of our heart as He seeks after our hearts, He will be there for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, illustrates how we need to have a seeking posture in our relationship with God even more than our worldly or fleshly passions seek after satisfaction. … The ODB author wrote: It’s inspiring to watch people’s passion and dedication in pursuing their dreams. A young woman I know recently graduated from college in just three years—a task that took total commitment. A friend wanted a particular car, so he worked diligently baking and selling cakes until he reached his goal. Another person who’s in sales seeks to meet one hundred new people every week. 
While it can be good to earnestly seek something of earthly value, there’s a more important kind of seeking that we must consider. 

And that kind of seeking posture is seen in the song King David wrote while he was desperately seeking to remain alive from King Saul trying to kill him in the wilderness. Psalm 63 is that song; and it shows David’s heart to be close to God at all times, seeking after the Lord’s protection and guidance.

I closely identify with this Psalm because years ago a mentor helped me learn to start each day from a seeking posture. And so, EVERY MORNING for years, I have been praying, from the depth of commitment and my memory, Psalm 63:1-4, … before my feet hit the floor to begin each day. And I truly mean every word of that prayer, desiring to meditate on God’s word, using the Our Daily Bread daily devotionals, to seek after God as I know He invites me EACH DAY to come into my heart (see reference passages, especially Rev. 3:20). And I have found that when I diligently seek after God’s Spirit, Who is seeking to come in with/for me, I find Him … just as He promises I will. And my devotional journal entries each day show how God shows up for me when I seek after Him to start my day.

So, I pray today that all reading here will develop ways to listen for God, Who is knocking on the doors of our hearts - yes, as He is everyday - and then to open that door with a seeking heart, knowing that He will come in and provide for our needs.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being there this morning, as You are every morning when I pray from Psalm 63.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to seek after God by opening the doors of our hearts to Him 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.</ span>

April 12, 2020 … He’s Alive !!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 103 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song, and lyrics from Dolly Parton singing her song He’s Alive … Joyfully singing of how Jesus broke thru the grief of those who saw Him die on the cross, coming to them bodily and showing Himself alive into that upper room so that they would know HE’S ALIVE … forevermore!! 

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 20:18 [ESV] ...   18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” … 
… Breaking thru her grief, having seen the living Christ after His resurrection, Mary was the first to know the joy of the reality that He was (AND IS) ALIVE!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 20:11-18 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… We can only imagine the sense of joy experienced by the grieving Mary Magdalene when she realized she was looking into the eyes of her living, breathing, loving, “Raboni,” … her Messiah and Lord … ALIVE!! 
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Reference Passage : … Romans 10:9-13 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The truth about ANYONE who believes in our hearts and repents of our sins, KNOWING that Jesus is alive to follow … FOREVER!

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] … 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
… Anyone who’s been born again from Christ’s shed blood knows the feeling of newness in that eternal relationship.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 2:20 [ESV] … 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
 … Once anyone dies to self and is born-again into a living relationship with Christ knows that Jesus is alive, … living forever in the hearts of born-again believers.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, cites the story of Mary Magdalene being the first to see and know that Jesus, after His death on the cross, WAS ALIVE. … The ODB author wrote: Grief is a powerful emotion we’ve all experienced, particularly at the death of a loved one or of a treasured hope. Mary Magdalene experienced it. She’d traveled with and helped support Jesus and His disciples (Luke 8:1-3). But His cruel death on a cross separated them. The only thing left for Mary to do for Jesus was to finish anointing His body for burial—a task the Sabbath had interrupted. But imagine how Mary felt when she found not a lifeless, broken body but a living Savior! Though she hadn’t at first recognized the man standing before her, when He spoke her name, she knew who He was—Jesus! Instantly, grief turned to joy. Mary now had joyful news to share: “I have seen the Lord!” (John 20:18). 

Anyone who’s ever been to a funeral of an openly witnessing Christian and then to the wake of a non-Christian has sensed the difference in the tone of those memorial services. For the Christian who has died, a funeral is a celebration of the life …. of one who is now in the presence of the living Savior. It’s a glorious home-going, where grief is felt, … but set aside, … because all in attendance KNOW, beyond doubt, what Mary Magdalene must’ve felt when she saw Jesus alive the day He was “MIA” from the grave [see highlight passage].

And on this EASTER morning I’m remembering the day [April 13, 1983 - which I’ll celebrate tomorrow] when Jesus came alive for me and I realized the reality and truth of the reference scriptures above, having died to self and having been made alive by my Savior, … Whom I knew then - and still know now - was alive and living in me.

 Oh, how I pray all reading here are celebrating with me today that our Savior lives in our hearts. Yes, … HALLELUJAH - HE’S ALIVE !!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for You blood which was shed so that I could die to self and live with You forever.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to declare our praise for the Savior, WHO IS ALIVE and living in the hearts of all who KNOW that He’s our Redeemer. 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.</ span>

April 11, 2020 … Feeding His Sheep

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 102 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from David Crowder singing Forgiven … lovingly singing of how we are forgiven by our Lord so that we can forgive others.

"Feed My sheep!" 

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 21:17 [ESV] ...   17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 
… Jesus restoring Peter three times with the commission for Peter to go and become a shepherd of the lost and feed God’s sheep.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 21:15-19 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… After His Resurrection, Jesus singles out Peter. who had denied the Lord thrice and gives Him a thrice given restoration and renewal with God’s charge to go “feed His sheep.”
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [ESV] … 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’re all wayward sheep, which the Lord, our Messiah, has chosen to save and feed so we can become His shepherds in this world.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:16-20 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… After the resurrection, just before Jesus ascended back into Heaven, He commissions His remaining Disciples to go tend the flock of the lost, seeking them, leading them, and feeding them just as He had done for His flock of disciples; and now that is our “Great Commission.”

Reference Passage : … Luke 4:18-20 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, quoting from the Prophet Isaiah, declares His mission on earth to God’s people; and when we find ourselves carrying out His mission, we become shepherds of His flock.

Reference Passage : … Johns 18:15-18, 25-26 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter denies Jesus three times before the Lord went to the cross.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, cites a word by Oswald Chambers showing that all Christians are called to the hard work of being a shepherd to God’s people, following our Lord’s example. … The ODB author wrote: In a lecture in 1911, Oswald Chambers reflected on being a young shepherd in the highlands of Scotland: “When you have to carry across your shoulders a dirty old [goat] and bring it down the mountain-side, you will soon know whether shepherding is poetry or not.” He didn’t want to romanticize this form of labor as “poetry” but rather called it “the most taxing, the most exhausting, and the most exasperating work.” The hard work of shepherding people is what Jesus entrusted to Peter, for Peter would face criticism, misunderstanding, and other challenges in caring for His flock. 

Don’t you just love that scene in John 21 (see link above) where Jesus, having returned bodily from the resurrection, singles out Peter, who had denied the Lord three times just before the cross (see the John 18 passages). And Jesus intentionally gives Peter three times to declare His love for His Lord, … charging Peter thrice to become a shepherd of God’s people, seeking them out and feeding them as they (WE) need to be fed.

And think about it. All of us have denied our Good Shepherd, as wayward sheep at some time in our lives, haven’t we (see Isaiah 53:6? But in His mercy and grace, Jesus came to become our Good Shepherd and to save us from ourselves, restoring us with His blood, and coming back from the dead to charge us, as He did with John (see highlight passage) to feed His sheep. And we read of that commission in Matthew 28, don’t we? … It’s the “Great Commission,” … which Jesus imparted to all of His disciples (that’s us too!) when He ascended into Heaven.

And I pray that we take that commission seriously today and moving forward in our lives, … for Jesus Himself has charged us to carry out His mission as His shepherds on earth. … And whenever we find ourselves carrying out the mission of the Good Shepherd (see Luke 4:18-20), we are “feeding His sheep” and carrying out the Great commission.

So, dear one, let’s go feed His sheep today!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your forgiveness and for the opportunity we have to feed Your sheep.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to go out today and do whatever it takes to feed Your sheep. 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.</ span>

April 10, 2020 … We Stand Firm !!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 101 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images and song from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing I Will Follow Christ … declaring strongly in song how we must stand firm and follow Christ NO MATTER WHAT !!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 15:40-41 [ESV] ...    40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem. 
… Several women stood firm in following Jesus to the end and attending to His needs. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 15:33-41 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Mark relates how some stood firm in their faith, even to follow Jesus to the cross. 
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Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [ESV] … 23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …” 
… Jesus demands that we be willing to deny ourselves and follow Him … NO MATTER WHAT!!

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 15:58, 16:13 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorts fellow Christians, being persecuted, to stand firm in their faith … just as we should do these days.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 6:10, … 13 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, calls Christians to stand firm in the faith even when confronted with spiritual warfare.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:8-9 [ESV] … 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 
… Peter, writing to persecuted Christians, exhorts them (and us) to resist the attacks of Satan and the world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, tells of two Christian evangelists who were willing to give up successful artistic careers to follow God’s call on their lives, … i.e., to share the Gospel with the lost world. … The ODB author wrote: In the Middle Eastern country where they live, Adrian and his family suffer persecution for their faith. Yet, through it all, they demonstrate Christ’s love. Standing in his church courtyard, which was pummeled by bullets when terrorists used it as training ground, he said, “Today is Good Friday. We remember that Jesus suffered for us on the cross.” And suffering, he continued, is something that believers in Jesus there understand. But his family chooses to remain in their homeland: “We’re still here, still standing.” 

On that horrible “Good Friday,” as it relates in the highlight passage, there were those who stood with Jesus right to the end of His life. Some of His inner disciples had fled; but not those few, especially those loyal women, were there with/for our Lord as He carried out His mission on the cross.

And the question which arrises from today’s ODB entry, given to us on this “Good Friday,” is whether we are willing to stand with our Lord, … to follow Him as the linked song challenges, … even if we face persecution, as Adrian and his family did in the ODB story. One day, who knows, we may come up against spiritual warfare like the early Church faced from Nero and Rome; and we need to be willing to do what Paul and Peter encouraged those early Christians to do [see reference scriptures]; … and that is to stand firm in the faith.

Oh how I pray we do so!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your willingness to give us Your grace to empower us to stand and follow You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to stand and follow our Lord even thru the valley of the shadow of death. 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.</ span>

April 9, 2020 … Really? Surrender Everything!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 100 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song and lyrics from Robin Mark singing the old hymn I Surrender All … poignantly singing of how all Christians must surrender all of ourselves to follow Jesus in this life into the next. Can we really sing along with this song of self surrender?

I Surrender All !!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 10:27-28 [ESV] ...    27 Jesus looked at them [His Disciples] and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”  
… At least for a moment, Peter, and perhaps others of the 12 Disciples following Jesus, realized what was being demanded of them.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 10:17-31 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… After seeing how difficult it was for the “Rich Young Ruler” to give up his wealth to follow Jesus, they had to realize that this was what they would have to surrender to continue to follow Jesus. 
==============

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [ESV] … 23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …” 
… Jesus demands no less than complete self denial in order to follow Him and deal with life’s circumstances.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [ESV] …   21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”  
… Obedience to Jesus’ commands is what He commands of all who would follow Him.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [ESV] … 28 And we know that, for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 
… Yes, this is true … no matter what we’re going thru!!

Reference Passage : … Romans 12:1 [ESV] … 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 
… Only when we’re willing to sacrifice our selves - all of ourselves - are we capable of true worship of our Lord.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 2:20 [ESV] … 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 
… When we’re willing to die to self and give up ALL of ourselves, that’s when Jesus can live in and thru our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, tells of two Christian evangelists who were willing to give up successful artistic careers to follow God’s call on their lives, … i.e., to share the Gospel with the lost world. … The ODB author wrote: Two men remembered for serving others for Jesus left careers in the arts to commit themselves to where they believed God had called them. James O. Fraser (1886–1938) decided not to pursue being a concert pianist in England to serve the Lisu people in China, while the American Judson Van DeVenter (1855–1939) chose to become an evangelist instead of pursuing a career in art. He later wrote the hymn “I Surrender All.” [see linked song] 

And in these confusing and challenging viral times we are going thru, when I took in the ODB entry, the linked song, and the Bible passages above, I was convicted to realize that I, like many these days, lean toward fearful self control, rather than realizing the truth that the Apostle Paul came to experience and teach (see passages from Romans and Galatians above).

And it all comes down to whether we really believe - and are willing to follow - the teachings of Jesus (see the highlight and red-letter verses above). So, … unlike the so-called rich young man in the Mark 10 passage, are we willing to do what Jesus commanded of His disciples, … i.e., to surrender our selves completely and follow Him? Because when - AND IF - we are able to do that, Jesus can - AND WILL - manifest Himself in our lives (see John 14:21).

I’m up for that, … how about you?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your challenge to give up my self and follow You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to do all we can to surrender all we are to follow 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.</ span>

April 8, 2020 … It’s Our Choice!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 99 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing Who You Say I Am … poignantly singing of how all Christians have been set free from our sin-ridden lives by Christ’s blood so that we can choose to walk in freedom with Christ.

As Christians we get to choose!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2 Corinthians 5:15, 17 [ESV] ...    15 …and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. … 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  
… In Christ, God, thru Paul, teaches that every day we can choose to live the new life we now have in Christ by confessing and repenting of our sin and walking with Christ in freedom from self. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God, thru Paul, shows Christians that we no longer are shackled by our old sin nature; but that we can now choose our new life, walking in freedom with Christ.
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Reference Passage : … John 8:31 [ESV] … 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  
… Jesus declares the truth to His disciples about our freedom from the old self when we’re willing to be His disciples and choose to walk in His truth.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [ESV] …   21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is 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 challenges His disciples to show their (our) love for Him by follow His commandments; and in doing so, allowing Him to manifest Himself in them (us).

Reference Passage : … 1 John 3:24 [ESV] … 24 Whoever keeps His commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
… We can see those who are truly children of God by their (our) choices they (we) make, … choosing to abide in Christ and following His commandments.

Reference Passage : … 1 John 1:5-9 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we exercise our choice as Christians to confess and repent of our sins, our Lord cleanses us and allows us to walk in freedom from our past.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, relates a story about his son’s testimony of the freedom he had found from past addictions in his relationship with Christ. . … The ODB author wrote: “I’m not who I once was. I’m a new person.” 
Those simple words from my son, spoken to students at a school assembly, describe the change God made in his life. Once addicted to heroin, Geoffrey previously saw himself through his sins and mistakes. But now he sees himself as a child of God. 

Hey, … my friend; … who are you? When you sin against God, are you one who realizes it, through conviction, and confesses the sin and moves on, knowing that you have been cleansed and can walk with Christ in the newness that He has provided by shedding His blood on the cross [see reference passages above]. Or are you one who would rather just keep choosing to wallow in your selfish sin nature?

Because dear one, if you are the latter, and you’ve taken in the truth of the scriptures above, deciding to follow self over the Savior, you are one who is condemned by your own choices, … demonstrating the reality that you are shackled in your own selfish sin nature. HOWEVER, my friend, if your sin leads you, … in conviction, … as it did for me about my selfish choices yesterday, … you join me in experiencing the newness of Spirit which is in us as a born-again Christians. And now, … we get to move on, … in repentance, … knowing that we get to live the new life we have in Christ rather than going back to make choices in our old sin nature.

So, as in the photo, I pray we make the right and empowered choices today!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me the choice to choose to walk with You rather than wallow in myself.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to choose to walk in the freedom You show us when we follow You in the 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.</ span>

April 7, 2020 … Our Holy Calling

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 98 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, images, and lyrics from Steve Green singing People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of how all Christians are called to share God’s life-changing Gospel with others who are lost or some who need to come back to The Lord.

Our Holy Calling As Gospel Witnesses 

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Timothy 1:8-9 [ESV] ...    8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, … 
… Paul charges Timothy to follow thru with the holy calling to share Christ which had been placed on Paul and Timothy by God’s Spirit.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Timothy 1:6-14 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Apostle Paul declares from scripture that NO ONE is righteous in this world. 
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Christ’s “Great Commission” and charge to all Christian disciples as He ascended back to Heaven after the resurrection.

Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [ESV] … 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
… Jesus, when He ascended to heaven, called all disciples to be His witnesses.

Reference Passage : … Romans 1:16 [ESV] … 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 
… The Apostle Paul showed that he was not afraid or embarrassed to witness his faith to anyone, just as we should be in our world.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1 [ESV] … 1  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, … 
… The Apostle Paul clearly declares the calling on all Christians to live lives worthy of His love thru our witness of His Gospel.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, uses a story of a convict, converted to Christ to witness his faith to other prisoners while in prison. … The ODB author wrote: Teenage gang leader Casey and his followers broke into homes and cars, robbed convenience stores, and fought other gangs. Eventually, Casey was arrested and sentenced. In prison, he became a “shot caller,” someone who handed out homemade knives during riots. 
Sometime later, he was placed in solitary confinement. While daydreaming in his cell, Casey experienced a “movie” of sorts replaying key events of his life—and of Jesus, being led to and nailed to the cross and telling him, “I’m doing this for you.” Casey fell to the floor weeping and confessed his sins. Later, he shared his experience with a chaplain, who explained more about Jesus and gave him a Bible. “That was the start of my journey of faith,” Casey said. Eventually, he was released into the mainline prison population, where he was mistreated for his faith. But he felt at peace, because “[he] had found a new calling: telling other inmates about Jesus.”

I so identify with stories like this ODB entry; because, 35+ years ago, I was in a “sin prison” of my own making and angrily rejecting any Christian who tried to witness to me. But thru a wondrous set of events [too long to describe here], God hounded me and finally broke me to surrender my life to Him. And now, somewhat like the Apostle Paul called a disciple, Timothy, I have been called to help others to find the truth of the Gospel in Christ and develop an abiding relationship with our Lord, … being freed from the prison of sin as I was so many years ago.

And during this Holy Week, I pray we all heed the calling on all our lives as witnesses to God’s love in Christ, … from the Scriptures above, …sharing God’s love and grace, thru Christ’s Great Commission, and helping others find the freedom they can have by surrendering their lives to our Lord. Yes, … as Steve Green sings in the linked song, so many “People Need the Lord.”

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing me the way to find freedom from my sin nature in my relationship with You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to take every opportunity the Lord will give us to share the Gospel with those who need His love and saving 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.</ span>

April 6, 2020 … Overcoming Ourselves

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 97 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, images, and lyrics from the group Third Day singing Blessed Assurance … poignantly singing of how mankind, born sinners, can only receive God’s salvation when we surrender to receive His grace thru the blood of Jesus.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 3:10-12 [ESV] ...    10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands;  no one seeks for God. 12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 
… Paul declares the truth that there is no one can claim to be righteous enough to be granted entrance to Heaven.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 3:9-18 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Apostle Paul declares from scripture that NO ONE is righteous in this world. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 53:1-3 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David in song declares the the truth about mankind … that NO ONE is righteous in and over ourselves.

Reference Passage : … John 16:33 [ESV] … 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
 … In a moment of dire confusion and uncertainty, Jesus recognizes that we’re going to have troubles in this world, … BUT that He had overcome the world.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 2:8-9 [ESV] … 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 
… The Apostle Paul clearly declares that it is ONLY by GOD’S GRACE that we are saved and admitted into Heaven, … not by anything we can do in our own strength.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9 [ESV] … 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
… The Apostle Paul remembered that Jesus had declared that it is only thru God’s grace that we can be saved and sanctified and given the power to overcome our selves in this world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kasper, uses a memorial declaration of the Gospel truth that NO ONE ON OUR OWN has the strength to overcome our own sin nature and gain entrance to Heaven. … The ODB author wrote: “Jerry was a good man,” the pastor said at Jerald Stevens’ memorial service. “He loved his family. He was faithful to his wife. He served his country in the armed services. He was an excellent dad and grandfather. He was a great friend.” 
But then the pastor went on to tell the friends and family gathered that Jerry’s good life and good deeds were not enough to assure him a place in heaven. And that Jerry himself would have been the first to tell them that!  

The message from this ODB entry is clear, … isn’t it? In and of ourselves we are sinners and need a Savior to enter the portals of Heaven. And that is certainly the message we get from meditating on the truth of the Scriptures above; and you can hear of my own “Blessed Assurance” in the linked song as well, … with the joy I’m feeling during this Holy Week, knowing that I’m surrendered to my Savior with the eternal hope of salvation.

Oh, how I pray today that all reading here have internalized these truths and have surrendered your will to the ONLY ONE Who can give us the strength to overcome ourselves and seek entrance, thru our Savior’s blood, into that eternal relationship He promises to all who would repent of our sins, believe on Him, and receive His grace to enter His eternal kingdom.

And if you have done that, let others know about it by sharing your testimony, as the Apostle Paul do so often in His letters to other Christians. Let them know - personally or on social media - just how Jesus has changed your own life! … He certainly has changed mine !!! And I’d be glad to share that with any reader (send me an email - billb13@bellsouth.net - and I’ll be glad to share my story of how God broke an angry atheist, who was deeply into sexual sin, and has made me over into Rev. W.R. Berry, an Ordained Minister, working every day to help others who desire to walk free from habitual sin).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing me the way to surrender and follow You today and into eternity.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to surrender completely to receive God’s grace and to follow You, King Jesus, 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.</ span>

April 5, 2020 … He Truly IS Messiah!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 96 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, images, and lyrics from Majesty, a praise group singing Jeshua Ha Mashiasch … powerfully singing of how Jesus, “Yeshua,” his Hebrew name, was/is The Messiah, the Holy One, … Who came to redeem mankind from our sin.

Hacksaw Ridge Movie Poster 

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 12:13 [ESV] ...    13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”  
… The people, who had heard of this man who raised Lazarus from the dead, proclaimed Him to be “Messiah,” in their desire for this man, Jesus, to be the King they wanted to overthrow Rome. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 12:12-18 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Apostle John reflects on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the week which would show Him to become Yeshua HaMamashiach, Jesus, The Christ and the Redeemer of the world. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 118:26-29 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist sings what we the crowds would sing on that day when Yeshua Ha Maschiach entered Jerusalem to become King Jesus, the Redeemer of all mankind.

Reference Passage : … Zechariah 9:9 [ESV] … 9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 
… That day Jesus rode the colt down from the Mt of Olives into the City of David on what we call “PALM SUNDAY” was the fulfillment of this prophecy in God’s word.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16-17 [ESV] … 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 
 … Jesus declares to the Jewish leader and to the world what God sent His Son to save us all from our sin, … because He loved us just that much.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses an historical figure from WW2 to illustrate how one, like Jesus, could become so much more than the people of His day could imagine. … The ODB author wrote: He was called “one of the bravest persons alive,” but he wasn’t what others expected. Desmond was a soldier who declined to carry a gun. As a medic, he single-handedly rescued seventy-five injured soldiers in one battle, including some who once called him a coward and ridiculed him for his faith. Running into heavy gunfire, Desmond prayed continually, “Lord, please help me get one more.” He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. 

Hollywood made an Academy Award winning movie of the story of Desmond Doss [see the Hacksaw Ridge poster in the photo], because this young man’s real story became so much more than the Army thought he would become when he was made a medic in World War 2.

And on this Palm Sunday, when we Christians celebrate the day Jesus entered Jerusalem on the first day of His passion week, the people who laid palms before Him as He rode down from the Mount of Olives on a prophesied colt, hoped Jesus would become the King who would liberate the Jews from Rome. But those same people who cried for this “Yeshua” to become their “Messiah” on that day would, a few days later, cry for Jesus to be crucified. Even John, who wrote the highlight passage, reports that the Disciples didn’t really understand Whom Jesus was until after the Resurrection [see John 12:16].

Yet, three days after their royal disappointment, seeing Jesus die on a cross, He rose from the dead Himself and became so much more than these palm throwers on that Sunday could ever imagine. He became “Yeshua HaMashiach,” the prophesied Messiah, … our Redeemer, … King Jesus, … the Holy One … Who would come from God’s love to save us from our sin [see John 3:16-17].

And yet again on this, another, Palm Sunday, let’s all hail our Lord to be exactly Whom He is … our Lord and Savior, Who now lives as King of kings and Lord of lords … FOREVER!!! 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing the world EXACTLY Whom You are … Yeshua HaMaschiach and King Jesus !!!
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to declare, “Hosanna and Hallelujah” to recognize King Jesus as our King of kings and Lord of lords!!! 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.</ span>

April 4, 2020 … What’s Really Important?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 95 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and images from from the group, The O’Jays singing For the Love of Money … powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, must avoid falling pray to the very human temptation to pursue a relationship with money as opposed to a deeper, more abiding, relationship with Christ. … And THEN ON TO THIS LINK  to hear the group, Hillsong, singing Jesus, You’re All I Need, showing where our priorities as Christians should really be.

... the root of all evil !!! 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 5:10 [ESV] ...    10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.  
… God, thru Solomon’s errors in life, trying to show us how we, as believers in the one true God, must prioritize our pursuits.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Solomon had learned, later in his life, the futility and fruitlessness of trying to amass wealth in lieu of a deeper relationship with God.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… If we trust God … #1 … and avoid leaning on our own desires, we’ll be able to follow God’s ways a lot more readily.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 6:19-21, 33 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus is very clear on how we must put our relationship with Him as #1, avoiding trying to amass wealth in our lives.

Reference Passage : … 1Timothy 6:10 [ESV] … 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 
 … Paul, trying to help Timothy and other fellow Christians keep their (our) priorities straight [see photo].

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [ESV] … 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
… The author of Hebrews quotes Jesus on why we should not rely on money since Jesus is all we need.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Winn Collier, tells of a young man who learned thru life that living for the love of money was a fruitless pursuit. … The ODB author wrote: As a young man, Duncan had been afraid of not having enough money, so in his early twenties, he began ambitiously building his future. Climbing the ladder at a prestigious Silicon Valley company, Duncan achieved vast wealth. He had a bulging bank account, a luxury sports car, and a million-dollar California home. He had everything he desired; yet he was profoundly unhappy. “I felt anxious and dissatisfied,” Duncan said. “In fact, wealth can actually make life worse.” Piles of cash didn’t provide friendship, community, or joy—and often brought him only more heartache.  

A mentor once told me, “I can tell what your deepest longings are by just looking at your calendar and your bank statement for the past few months.” He knew that how we use our time and treasures would reveal where our heart lies [see Jesus’ words in Matt. 6]. And that’s basically where all of those truths above (from God’s word) direct us, don’t they?

And once you take in the linked songs and meditate deeply on the Scriptures above, I’ll leave it to you and God’s Spirit to work out how these truths might impact your future pursuits. I know that they have certainly caused me to do a course correction.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for helping me to remember where my heart lies.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to set our course towards a deeper, more abiding, 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.</ span>

April 3, 2020 … Crowns Await

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 94 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  …Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Mia Fieldes singing Fearless … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, can - AND SHOULD - live fearless lives, knowing that what lies ahead are crowns in glory and an eternal life with our Lord and Savior.

Awaiting Crowns in Glory

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Timothy 4:7-8 [ESV] ...    7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 
… In the end Paul knew that his life had been lived to attain the crown of righteousness which awaited him in glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Timothy 4:1-8 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Apostle Paul, sensing his eminent death, declares what lies ahead for him and for all of us who have surrendered our lives to the Lordship of King Jesus.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 23:1-4 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… As long as we follow the Good Shepherd in this life, He will lead us thru all the valleys of the shadow of death into His green pastures and still waters in glory.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can fearlessly trust that God will lead us to glory on His paths of righteousness when we surrender to follow His will and His ways.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [ESV] … 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
… Tho all Christians who are called to God’s “Great Commission,” the Lord also promises to be with us all the way to glory.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:4 [ESV] … 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you [Elders/Pastors] will receive the unfading crown of glory. 
… For those who are called to shepherd God’s people, a crown of glory awaits in heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Remi Oyedele, tells of Martin Luther King being fearless the night before his assassination because of his faith in Christ and knowing how he had lived his life. … The ODB author wrote: On the night of April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King gave his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” In it, he hints that he believed he might not live long. He said, “We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. . . . [But] I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.” The next day, he was assassinated.  

And the ODB author also references the Apostle Paul’s fearless confidence, writing to a young church leader, Timothy, encouraging the young pastor to go ahead with confidence, knowing that he, like Paul, would receive crowns of glory in heaven. And that is a promise we can all be lifted up, … as Mia Fieldes sings in the linked song … to live life FEARLESSLY because of our faith in King Jesus, Whom we follow and Whom will be with us always (see reference passages above).

This seems very pertinent and appropriate as today we face all the unknowns of a viral pandemic which is taking so many lives in our world. But we can - AND SHOULD - move ahead fearlessly, as did the Apostle Paul and Martin Luther King, … even with the shadow of dearth hanging over us, … because we know of the crowns of glory which await us in heaven (see photo).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your promises to crown me when I come Home to be with You in glory.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to move ahead in these fright-filled times, … FEARLESSLY knowing what God has for us in 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.</ span>

April 2, 2020 … Giving Back Cheerfully

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 93 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen leading in worship and singing Give Thanks … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, give our thanks, from a joy-filled heart, back to a God Who was (and is) willing to give His all for us.

"God loves a cheerful giver!"

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 9:7 [ESV] ...    7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 
… We reap what we sow; because God provides our needs freely and loves it when we give back freely to HIs kingdom and for His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 9:6-8 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God exhorts fellow Christians to give as God has given to us.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s word commends us to give from the FIRST FRUITS of what He has provided for us.

Reference Passage : … Luke 6:37-38 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches on God giving to us in proportion to how we give. Again, we reap what we sow.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [ESV] … 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 
… According to Jesus, here is how God gives. But … do we give in the same way?

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [ESV] … 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 
… God will supply all that we need. Are we willing to give Him all that He deserves.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, John Blase, used a story of his wife who was willing to cheerfully give back from God’s providence in a way that gave God glory. … The ODB author wrote: Years ago, my wife received a small rebate from something she’d purchased. It wasn’t something she’d expected, it just showed up in the mail. About the same time, a good friend shared with her the immense needs of women in another country, entrepreneurial-minded women trying to better themselves by way of education and business. As is often the case, however, their first barrier was financial. 
My wife took that rebate and made a micro-loan to a ministry devoted to helping these women. When the loan was repaid, she simply loaned again, and again, and so far has made twenty-seven such investments. My wife enjoys many things, but there’s rarely a smile as big on her face as when she receives an update on the flourishing taking place in the lives of women she’s never met. 

Time, talents, and treasures. … God provides them as we need them, doesn’t He (see Phil. 4:19)? In fact God was willing to give His all. … even His Son, … to save us, wasn’t He (see John 3:16)? So, … what and how are we willing to give Him in return, … from our time, talents, and treasures, … for His glory from a willing, and even a CHEERFUL heart?

Because God’s law of provision is simple, isn’t it? We reap what we sow (see highlight passage); and we will receive from God’s provision what we are willing to dole out to/for His kingdom, … i.e., when our hearts are feely, and with hilarity, willing to give back what He has given to us (see Luke 6:38).

You’ve no doubt have heard it before: You can’t out-give God! … So, how will we use the time, talents, and treasures He has given us today for His glory?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me what I need today to glorify You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to use God’s provisions today to give back to His kingdom from a grateful and joy-filled heart. 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.</ span>

April 1, 2020 … Which Side Shows?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 92 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song and lyrics from Joy Williams singing Do They See Jesus in Me … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, get to choose whether others see our base nature or that of Jesus, … Whose Spirit can show out in the way we choose to live our lives.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 22:41-42 [ESV] ...    41 And He withdrew from them [two of the Disciples] about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 
… Jesus, the God-Man, chose to yield to the will of His heavenly Father’s plan of salvation as He prayed in the Garden the night before His crucifixion.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 22:39-44 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Jesus’ dual nature as the “God-Man” showed itself in His prayer battle in the Garden of Gethsemane.
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Reference Passage : … Romans, Chapter 7&8  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows fellow Christians that he too battles the old sin nature in Romans 7; but shows clearly that as born-again Christians we can choose to live as Romans 8 describes, free from our bondage to sin and showing the world that nothing separates us from God’s love.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] … 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
… In Christ we get to choose which side is seen by others, the old nature or the new.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Elisa Morgan, used a common word picture to show that we have a dual nature as Christians, where we get to choose which side shows itself. … The ODB author wrote: Every coin has two sides. [see photo] The front is called “heads” and, from early Roman times, usually depicts a country’s head of state. The back is called “tails,” a term possibly originating from the British ten pence depicting the raised tail of a heraldic lion. 
Like a coin, Christ’s prayer in the garden of Gethsemane possesses two sides. In the deepest hours of His life, on the night before He died on a cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). When Christ says, “take this cup,” that’s the raw honesty of prayer. He reveals His personal desire, “This is what I want.”

We’re in a battle with our two-sided nature every day as Christians, aren’t we? The Apostle Paul wrote about that battle in two chapters of His letter to the Romans (please take the time to meditate on Romans 7 & 8).

But as born again Christians, we have been sealed with a new nature (see 2Cor. 5:17); and we get to choose … yes, even TODAY … whether we want to live as “Romans 7” or “Romans 8” Christians. 

Jesus had that choice in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed the night before His death on the cross (see Luke 22), … and we know what His choice was. What will be our choice today; and will that choice allow others to see Christ in us as Joy Williams sings in the linked song? … We get to choose!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for allowing me to choose whom I will follow today and where I will walk.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me to choose to live in Romans 8 rather than in Romans 7 … so that others will see Jesus living in us. … Let’s not be April fools 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.</ span>