September 6, 2022 … Cracks In the Wall …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 249 

\Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lydia Walker singing … I Have Decided To Follow Jesus … poignantly singing of how we Christians must decide to let Jesus lead our lives  

Our nature ... lacking in self control ... 

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Highlight Passage: …  Proverbs 26:28 [NLT] …  

28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.   

… Solomon compares lack of self-control to a city with cracks in the walls.               

Highlight Passage (Context): … Proverbs 25:16-28 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon submits a number of proverbs about pursuing and gaining self control                       

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Reference Passage: … Romans 12:2 [NLT] …  

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  

… God, thru Paul, shows us to follow His will and His ways rather than that of the world. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 9:24-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians how to develop self control - to be like a disciplined runner training to win a race.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

… Paul shows Christians that God’s Spirit will always provide the way for the surrendered Christians to have the self-control to deal with temptations.   

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] …  

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things!  

… Paul shows Christians that self-control is a fruit of God’s Spirit and will develop in the Christian who becomes disciplined to live for Christ.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:7 [ESV] …  

7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.    

… God, thru Peter, calls on Christians, seeing that Christ is coming soon, to be self-controlled, … especially in our prayers.                  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Elisa Morgan … AT THIS LINK … uses an illustration of rabbits coming thru a hole in a garden fence to eat the flowers to illustrate how lack of self control can allow our undisciplined minds to erode and let temptation devour our fruitfulness as Christians (see highlight passage).  

Our natural feelings and desires are such that they can break down and let our sin natrure rule in times of temptation or trial (see photo).   But God’s word above shows us that we Christians can - and should - develop self-control as a fruit of God’s Spirit, … allowing us to resist and deal with the temptations of life. 

What do we need to do to repair the fences in our lives so that we do not let temptations invade our minds and devour our self control.  Personally, i use the disciplines of daily, morning prayer and meditation in God’s word to shore up my fences. How about you?        

My THANKFULNESS:... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your enabling grace to give me the strength to develop my self control.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to surrender my spirit to follow Yours, Lord, so that I can resist the temptations of my flesh and the world today.  .… 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.

September 5, 2022 … Lego’s Lasting Legacy …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 248 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from an anonymous praise group singing … Perseverance … poignantly singing of how we Christians must “keep on keeping on” in our faith during times of trial. 

The LEGO legacy of perseverance ... 

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Highlight Passage: … James 2:12 [NLT] …  

12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

… James shows God’s reward for perseverance during trials or suffering.             

Highlight Passage (Context): … James 1:2-12 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… James exhorts fellow Christians to persevere in their (our) faith during times of trial.                 

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 24:13 [NLT] …  

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.  

… Jesus shows His followers the reward for those who endure in faith in Him 

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

… Paul shows fellow Christians (us too) how perseverance in faith during trials will yield the hope of glory. 

Reference Passage </u>: … Galatians 6:9 [NLT] …   </b>

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.  

… Paul also encourages fellow Christians of God’s blessing for those who don’t give up in times of trial.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 12:1 [NLT] …  

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.   

… God, thru His Spirit in the book of Hebrews, shows how we Christians must set aside the sin which keeps us from running the race of faith with endurance.                  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's ur Daily Bread author, Dave Brandon … AT THIS LINK … tells of toymaker Ole Kirk Christiansen, who endured WW2, two factory fires, and many other obstacles to build a legacy of success that we know of as the Lego industry (see photo), which has produced over 400 billion of the plastic toy pieces.  

It’s s good illustration of the kind of legacy of faith which God’s word calls Christians to endure for the glory of God (see Scriptures above).  

Our challenge: … Are we holding on and enduring in the face of suffering as we walk the walk of faith today?  And will we tomorrow?  I pray we do!!       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your call to trust You, Lord, in the face of so many trials as we follow You today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to hold on with faith and endurance in the face of the trials we’ll face today, Lord.  .… 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

September 4, 2022 … Following His GPS Again Today …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 247 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Word of God Speak … poignantly singing of how we Christians must let God’s word speak truth and direction into our lives. 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 34:31 [NLT] …  

31 The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord’s presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all His commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul. He promised to obey all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll. 

… King Josiah’s commitment to follow God’s covenant found in God’s Book of the Law.             

Highlight Passage (Context): … 2Chronicles 34:29-31 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Under King Josiah, the people of Judah, were committed to follow God’s truth as found in the Book of the Law.                                                                                                                               

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 1:8 [NLT] …   

8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.  

… God gives Joshua - and us - His prescription for seeking and following God’s will and His way..  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105-106 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… David sings of using God’s word to lead him in life. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

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, thru Isaiah shows the power of His word to lead those who will follow it in life. 

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows Timothy - and all believers - the power of God’s word to lead us in life.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:12 [NLT] …   

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.   

… God, thru His Spirit in the book of Hebrews, shows how powerful God’s word is to shape the lives of those who will follow it.                 

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra … AT THIS LINK … related a story about a car collector who found a very rare antique car, a 1939 Buick Dual Cowl Phaeton, … a car that any auto collector would want to feature as a jewel in a collection of valuable show cars. 

And the ODB author used this story to illustrate how valuable was the find by King Josiah in ancient Judah (see highlight passage), when God’s priests uncovered God’s Book of the Law, which had been hidden away in God’s Temple and ignored for years as God’s people were led astray into idolatry.  But young King Josiah, used God’s word to lead God’s people back into following God’s will for their lives. 

God’s word became their “GPS” (i.e., God’s Positioning System - see photo).  And, as long as the people followed God’s word, they prospered from God’s blessing and direction. How diligently are we following God’s GPS today?  Do we let it shine a light on our path, leading us to follow our Lord daily?  That’s why you find me here, … yes, every day, …seeking to let God’s truth lead me forward (see Scriptures above) for the day.  What about you?      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your Your word, Lord, which is my GPS today and again tomorrow.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to use Your word, Lord, as our GPS to lead us as You would direct us today. .… 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.

September 3, 2022 … Rooted In God’s Love …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 246 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Ken Janzen singing … Rooted and Grounded In Love … poignantly singing of how we Christians are ALWAYS undergirded and grounded by God’s love.  

Rooted and grounded in God's love ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Ruth 2:12 [NLT] …  

12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” 

…  Boaz, expresses a prayer for Ruth to take refuge under the care of God.            

Highlight Passage (Context): … Ruth 2:5-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Boaz, impressed by Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, reaches out to help and care for Ruth, … blessing her to receive God’s love and watch-care.                                                                         

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 36:5 [NLT] …  

5 Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.   

… David sings of the extent of God’s love for His chosen people. 

Reference Passage: … John 15:13 [NLT] …  

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.   

… Jesus expresses the extent of His love for His disciples, which they could not fully grasp until later, after He had died on the cross and was resurrected.  

Reference Passage: …Romans 8:35-38 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians [us too] the truth that NOTHING can - or ever will - separate born-again Christians from God’s love. 

Reference Passage: …1Corinthians 13:4-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians about the essence and extent of God’s love extended to those who believe in and follow the Lord, showing that God’s love should be extended to others.    

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

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.  

… God, thru John, shows us that all who know Him as our Heavenly Father have His love.                                                                                              

My Devotional Journal:</b> Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon … AT THIS LINK …  related a story about patients and families in a cancer-care center who bonded quickly with one another because of their mutual empathy for one another’s situation, … illustrative of God’s love when Christians can share the love of God with one another.   

And the ODB author also used the OT story of Boaz reaching out with God’s love to Ruth (see highlight passage), whom Boaz recognized was reaching out with God’s love to help her mother-in-law Naomi.  

And I’m stopping to pray, as I write these words, influenced by the linked song and the Scriptures above, … that all reading here with me have experienced God’s love in our lives and that we are committed, as Boaz was for Ruth, to share God’s love with others … yes, maybe even TODAY!    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your love, Lord, which roots and grounds me <b>(see photo)</b> in an eternal relationship with You.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to ground ourselves in Your love, Lord, so that we can reach out to share Your love with others. … 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.

September 2, 2022 … Are We Ready?! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 245 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Exalt Worship singing … Be Ready … poignantly singing of how we Christians must be ready - ALWAYS -  in whatever we’re doing, prepared for the coming of Christ for His Bride.  

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 12:40 [NLT] …  

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” 

…  Jesus prepares His disciples for the coming the Messiah for them.           

Highlight Passage (Context): … Luke 12:35-40 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus preaches to His disciples (and to us) that we, His disciples, must be ready for the return of the Son of Man as if it could occur any time.                                                                     

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 24:44, 25:13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus repeatedly taught His disciples (and us) to be ready for the Lord’s return,…  not knowing when He will come for His Bride.    

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 16:13 [NLT] …  

13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong..    

… Paul charges fellow Christians to be on guard and stand strong in preparation for the Lord’s return.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:17, 23-24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that they (we) must join him to do EVERYTHING we do as Christ’s representatives, … preparing for His return.   

Reference Passage: … 1John 2:24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

28 And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when He returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from Him in shame.  

… The Apostle John warns God’s chosen to abide closely and follow Him to be prepared for His return for His Bride (the Church)    

Reference Passage: … Revelation 19:7-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… John’s revelation calls for Christ’s Bride (i.e., the Church) to be ready with our linens (i.e., our good deeds) prepared for the coming of our Bridegroom (i.e., the Lord).               

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks … AT THIS LINK … tells of Abraham Davenport, who was a member of the Connecticut Governor’s council, in the midst of dark days in 1790, where the state was engulfed in darkness from the smoke from wildfires and the council was challenged to adjourn due to the darkness, possibly being God’s judgement of the end of days.  Davenport was reported as saying, “I am against adjournment. The day of judgment is either approaching, or it is not. If it is not, there is no cause for an adjournment; if it is, I choose to be found doing my duty. I wish therefore that candles may be brought.”

And that’s the courageous attitude of faith that Jesus and God’s word (see Scriptures above) calls us, as Christ’s Bride (i.e., the Church), … to be ready for our Bridegroom’s return; because … we may not know not when He will return, … only that we know He will come again for His Bride.

And God, in His revelations to John, calls on His Bride [that’s us, folks!] to get ready for the Bridegroom’s coming by preparing our “linens,” [see Rev. 19:7-8] which are the good deeds we can carry out now in His Name and for His glory.  

So, are we ready for His return?  I, for one, am here to declare that I’m trying my best to be ready for when my Lord comes for me.  How about you?   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise, Lord, to come for me one day - likely soon!   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to get ready for Your coming, Lord, by doing all we can to work now for Your glorious return. … 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.

September 1, 2022 … Gathering Together …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 244 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from an anonymous praise group singing … We Gather Together … poignantly singing of how we Christians gather to worship and sing praises to God to honor His saving and sanctifying glory.    

The Danish bathing TOGETHER in the light of Christ ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Hebrews 10:25 [NLT] …  

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near..

…  God exhorts His chosen people to come TOGETHER to encourage and edify one another especially as we see the Day of the Lord approaching, … which we certainly do these days.         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Hebrews 10:19-25 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God shares, thru the Author of Hebrews, how we can come together in Christian fellowship to lift one another up no matter what our circumstances might be.                                                      

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Reference Passage: … Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God shares, thru Solomon, that believers are always much stronger in faith when they (we) come together rather than as individuals. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] …  

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, … all whose thoughts are fixed on You.    

… God’s prescription for believers to capture God’s peace … when we focus on Him rather than our selves.

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] …  

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”  

… Jesus acknowledges to His disciples (and to us) that they (we) will face many trials but that He has overcome the world and its tribulations. 

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:42-47 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke describes how the early Christians came TOGETHER to worship God and to share their lives.   

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:2 [NLT] …  

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.  

… Paul exhorted fellow Christians (that’s us, too) to share one another’s burdens.                

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg … AT THIS LINK …   writes of the cultural concept of “hygge” in Denmark, where the Danish people, especially during the darkness of the north during the winter, gather together in small community groups <b>(see photo)</b> to avoid loneliness and the despair that darkness can often bring.  Consequently, the Danish people are considered some of the happiest people in the world.    

My fellow Christian readers, I hope you realize that the darkness in this world is growing and deepening as we approach the return of our Lord.  And I pray that we are taking the Scriptures above to heart, … doing all we can to come TOGETHER, with other fellow believers, to praise God and to share one another’s burdens.  And, in that sharing and mutual encouragement, we can relish in the light of Christ to dispel the darkness of the world.  

That is my prayer for of all of us today; … that we al have multiple places - daily or at lease weekly - where we can gather TOGETHER, with fellow Christians, as in the linked song, to share our lives and lift each other up, worshipping our Lord, …  TOGETHER!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me to a community of believers who worship You together in fellowship. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to gather with fellow Christians to worship You, Lord, and share our lives TOGETHER!   … 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.