December 13, 2021 … Worth the Wait …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 347 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Lincoln Brewster singing … While I Wait … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, must follow God’s call to wait on Him for His grace and mercies. 

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 30:18   [NLT] …  

2 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so He can show you His love and compassion.  For the Lord is a faithful God.  Blessed are those who wait for His help.   

…God’s promise to bless those who wait on Him.                                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Isaiah 30:15-19 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah to Israel, to bless those who trust and wait on Him.                         

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, to trust and follow only the ways of the Lord.     

Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-25 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s promise that HIs mercies are ALWAYS available for those who trust and seek the Lord’s will and follow His ways.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:6 [NLT] …  

6 Jesus told him [Thomas and His disciples], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. …”   

… Jesus shows His disciples (and us) that the only way to The Father and heaven is through our faith in and our following Him. 

Reference Passage: … James 5:7-8  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… James shows fellow Christians that it’s worthwhile to wait on the Lord as a farmer waits for the harvest of his crops.       

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Leslie Koh, AT THIS LINK …   writes about a Christian, … named James, … discouraged in a dead-end job with a disagreeable supervisor.  However, with his wife’s encouragement, James remained faithful, praying for a new job; and months later, he was led to a new job with better pay and a work schedule that allowed more time with his family.    

 

The ODB author, in this story, illustrates the call of God on the lives of those who wait for God’s promised blessing, just as the Lord did to His people thru Isaiah (in the highlight passage).  And, … as in the linked song … we, who love the Lord, are to have faith in waiting on the Lord and seeking His will as we follow His ways.  

And if we, God’s disciples, seek His will and follow His ways through His word, His promise is that ultimately - in HIs timing - our Lord will show us His way and provide His blessing.  So, my fellow Christian, have faith; … His way is worth it!!                         

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … as I follow Your promise to wait on You as I seek Your way in life.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to continue today to seek and follow Your way, Lord … by following Your truth.      … Amen

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

December 12, 2021 … The Right Hero …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 346 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from David Crowder and Tauren Wells singing … All My Hope … poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, must put ALL our hope in following HIS will and HIS ways thru HIS word. 

Beethoven's Third Symphony - Original Draft - Title Change ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Corinthians 2:2   [NLT] …   

2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.   

… Paul shows that he relied on nothing but His knowledge and hope in Christ to share the Lord’s truth with them.                                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … 1Corinthians 2:1-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul describes to fellow Christians what he relied upon when he brought the Gospel truth about Jesus to them (and to us).                        

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, to trust and follow only the leadership of One true God.    

Reference Passage: … John 14:6 [NLT] …  

6 Jesus told [His disciples], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. …”   

… Jesus declares to His disciples in the upper room that following HIM is the only way to glory. .

Reference Passage: … John 15:5 [NLT] … 

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing 

… Again in the upper room, before His time on the cross, He charges His disciples to abide in Him ONLY to be able to be fruitful in the way they (we) live.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] …  

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.  

… Peter tells persecuted Christians to take all their [our] anxieties and cares to Jesus, … our Lord, … Who truly cares for us.        

      

My Devotional Journal:Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, AT THIS LINK …   writes about Beethoven, in disappointment having followed Napoleon aa a hero after Bonaparte had declared himself as “Emperor,” … even to the point of erasing the name “Bonaparte” from the composer naming his third symphony (note the eraser hole in the original symphony draft in the photo).    

 

The ODB author, in this story, is trying to show us that we must be careful in whom we put our trust as “heroes” or leaders.  And that is what Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples in the upper room the night before His unjust crucifixion (see John 14-15 above).  It’s what Paul was trying to get across to fellow Christians in the highlight passage and what the Apostle Peter wrote to persecuted Christians in 1Peter 5:7, … all quoted above. 

And I pray we all grasp what we hear in the linked song, …  doing all we can to put our hope and hero worship in our One and ONLY true hope … KING JESUS!!   He’s my only hope!! … Is He yours?                                

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for being and becoming my ONE and ONLY hope.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to surrender and follow You, Lord, as our ONE AND ONLY Hope.     … Amen

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

December 11, 2021 … Equipped To Help Others …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 345 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … If We Are the Body … poignantly singing of how we, as Christ’s Body, having been equipped to help others reach out and become the hands and feet of Jesus.

Reaching out TOGETHER to lift up those in need ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Deuteronomy 15:11   [NLT] …  

11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.  

… Moses carries God’s command to help the needy to fellow believers.                                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Deuteronomy 15:7-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, commands His people to be generous in helping the needy and poor.           ===============                                              .             

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 14:31, 19:17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon imparts God’s wisdom on reaching out to help the needy and poor.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:19-21 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches His followers (and us) that how we reach out to help others shows our heart. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul teaches that to follow Christ and to have His attitude, we, His body, must be willing to reach out and help those in need <b>(see photo)</b>. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 3:17-18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru John, shows that true Christians will be willing to share God’s love and grace with others who are in need.         

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Julie Schwab, AT THIS LINK …   tells of a man, named Elvis Summers, who was touched and convicted by the needs of a woman, named “Smokey,” who came around begging for cans to sell so that she could eat.  And    this Christian man, Elvis, …developed a GoFundMe page online and raised the funds to build the woman a small hut to provide the woman with shelter from the elements.   

 

And that’s the kind of sharing heart that God commands of those who follow Him as Lord, isn’t it?  We read it throughout the Bible, don’t we (see Scriptures above)?   So, as Casting Crowns sings in the linked song, why are we, as Christ’s Body (i.e, His Church), not out there continually doing what God commands and expects from His followers; and that is to reach out and lift up those in need (see photo) with the resources the Lord gives us to be His Body?  

I’m convicted to do more, my fellow Christian, … how about you?                                

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me Your resources to do more to help others meet their needs.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to reach out and serve You - as Your Body, Lord - to help those in need.     … Amen

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

December 10, 2021 … God’s Power To Save …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 344 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from David Crowder leading in worship and singing … Because He Lives … poignantly singing of how we can face tomorrow as followers of Christ because of what our Lord did on the cross to save us. 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Samuel 22:18   [NLT] …   

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.  

…  David testifies as to God saving him from powerful enemies.                                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Samuel 22:17-20 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David gives witness to God’s saving power an His grace to save.                     

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Reference Passage: … 1Chronicles 29:10-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… King David gives witness to God’s power and … grace by praying humbly before God’s people of the Lord’s power to save. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru Solomon, charges us, as His followers to trust Him COMPLETELY, not relying on our own powers or will.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 19:26 [NLT] …  

26 [Jesus to His disciples] … “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”   

… Jesus tells His disciples [and us] to trust in His power to save even in impossible situations.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:15-16 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul gives witness that Christ is God and how He is all powerful over all He created.        

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK …   tells of the exploits of one OSS soldier, George Vujnovich, who bravely and capably helped rescued over 500 of his fellow Serbian nationals in a secret operation, taking place over several months during WW2, to save those men.  

 

But at the heart of that wartime operation and throughout all human history, it is God Who provides the power and the grace to save His people (see photo).  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the truth in the Scriptures above, we will realize … and recognize … and rely … on the truth that we must trust in our God to provide us with His omnipotent power and grace to save us,  … not relying on our own human power.  And that is my prayer for all of us here today; … that we will trust our almighty and all powerful Lord when we’re in situations which we could never overcome with our human power.  

Maybe you’re there right now.  I am; … and I praise and thank my Lord for being here to give me His grace to see me thru.                                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for being there with me …  ALWAYS ,,,  when I find myself overwhelmed by life’s circumstances.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to yield and trust in Your power and grace, Lord, to save us.     … Amen

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

December 9, 2021 … My Invitation Is Sealed …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 343 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from worship at the Maranatha Church singing … Marriage Supper and the Lamb … poignantly singing from Revelation about the wedding feast of the Lamb to which all are invited who know Christ as Lord. 

Modern Day Zoom Wedding ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Revelation 7:9   [NLT] …   

9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.  

…  Part of John’s glorious vision of heaven was the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.                

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Revelation 7:9-12 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… gives John a vision of the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.                    

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 22:1-14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus’s parable of His wedding feast, to which many are invited but few are chosen to attend. 

Reference Passage: … John 14:1-3 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus tells His disciples in the upper room that He is preparing a place for His Bride in glory. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:37-39 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… If we are given over in surrender as Christ’s bride, there is NOTHING that can separate us from His love.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 19:6-9 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s vision thru John of God’s Bride, prepared for the wedding feast of the Lamb of God.            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pie, AT THIS LINK …  relates a story of modern day wedding, tho in the midst of the Covid days, was attended online by a multitude of joyful participants via the online Zoom technology (see photo).  

 

But that scenario will not compare in scope or grandeur with the vision of the wedding feast of the Lamb of God which God gave to John, … where thru John’s Revelation, we get a glimpse of what is to come for those who are invited to be with our Bridegroom at His glorious wedding feast as the Bride of the Lamb of God. 

There’s no doubt from the Scriptures above - which are all true - that there will be a glorious  wedding feast in heaven.  The question is … will we, as the Bride of Christ be there?  I’ve been invited: … how about you?                                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me Your invite to be with You forever as Your Bride; and I’m preparing my linens now.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to prepare our linens for the wedding feast of the Lamb as You, Lord, have called us to do, as Your Bride, in Rev 19:6-9.     … Amen

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

December 8, 2021 … Unity … for His Sake …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 342 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Jesus Culture singing … Make Us One … poignantly singing of how we plead for God to make us ONE in our relationship with The Triune God. 

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Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 4:3   [NLT] …  

3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 

…  The Apostle Paul, inspired by God’s Spirit begs for fellow Christians to bind themselves in the peace provided by our Lord.                                

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Ephesians 4:1-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, pleads for God’s church to unify around the peace of Christ.                   

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 133:1 [NLT] …   

1 How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!   

… King David wrote of how glorious it is when brothers/sisters live TOGETHER in unity.   

Reference Passage: … John 17:20-21 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus prayed that His church would be one, pursuing a relationship with one another as the triune God has in heaven.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:37-39 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul was convinced and shared with fellow Christians that NOTHING could separate us from God’s love … IF … we sought to pursue that love TOGETHER in the Body of Christ. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 1:10 [NLT] …   

10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.  

… The Apostle Paul pleads with fellow Christians to come together to live and serve God in until of mind and spirit.     

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:2 [NLT] …   

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  

… The Apostle Paul calls yet another Church body to work TOGETHER in unity of mind and purpose.      

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK …   relates a story of a Baptist church which divided because two leaders in the church disputed who - between them - would get a leg of chicken at a church dinner, … showing the need for Christians to overcome petty differences and come TOGETHER in unity. 

 

That was certainly the call of the Apostle Paul - repetitively - to various church bodies with whom he was writing (see Pauline Scriptures above), … begging them to come together in Christ, pursuing the unity provided by our Triune God.  And it was most certainly the prayer of our Lord, wasn’t it (see John 17:20-21 above)?  

So, … the ODB entry today begs the question of what we can do - within our sphere of Christian influence - to promote the unity of the Body of Christ?  I’m going to do all I can, in my calling as a Christian, to bring brothers/sisters together; … how about you?                               

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving us Your empowering grace to bring us together in Your love today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to surrender and take the name our Immanuel gives us as we follow King Jesus to glory.    … Amen

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

December 7, 2021 … The Right Name …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 341 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … O Come, O Come, Emmanuel … poignantly singing of how we, who follow The Christ as King, are following “Emmanuel,” … which IS God with us.  

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 7:14   [NLT] …  

14 All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 

…  The Messiah was to be named “Immanuel” to show that The Messiah, born of a virgin would be “God with us.”                                

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Isaiah 7:10-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… 700+ years before the birth of Christ, His birth by a virgin and His name, … Immanuel, … was prophesied by Isaiah.                   

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 1:18-23 [NLT] …   USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew relates the story of Joseph receiving a message from God’s messenger before the birth of the The Messiah, which would confirm and fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah that God’s Son would be born of a Virgin and would be “God with us.”   

Reference Passage: … John 1:10-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God shows that many who hear of Immanuel would not recognize Him; … but those who do and surrender to Him as Messiah, would live forever with Him.              

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Marvin Williams, AT THIS LINK …  tells of naming his second son, … struggling to come up with just the right name. 

 

But God didn’t struggle to come up with just the right name for His one and only Son.  Seven hundred plus years before Jesus would be born to the Virgin Mary, God would give The Messiah the name of “Immanuel,” which means “God with us.” 

When I was a baby, my parents gave me the name “WILLIAM;” and they had no idea just how right that name would be; because in that name, of Germanic origin, which means “helmeted warrior,” it would describe whom I would become in God’s kingdom.  As it turns out, I would ultimately found and lead a spiritual discipleship ministry to help men walk free from habitual patterns of sexual sin.  But, no matter what your name is - my fellow Christian, … God has the perfect name for you; and you will know that name, His name for you, when you’re with Him in glory.

But we can be assured that all we have to do is receive Jesus in faith as our Lord, and we will follow our Lord with exactly THE RIGHT NAME for all eternity.                              

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for letting me be Your heir for eternity; and letting me carry the NAME You have given me.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to surrender and take the name our Immanuel gives us as we follow King Jesus to glory.    … Amen

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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.