November 10, 2023… Loving Thru Prayer …

November 10, 2023… Loving Thru Prayer …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Kyle Sigmon singing  … Love Your Enemies …  Powerfully singing of how all Christians must follow God’s command to reach out with the love of God to pray for our enemies.         

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 6:28 [NLT] … 

28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 

… Jesus teaches His followers to love others and even to pray for those who hurt us.       

Highlight Passage in Context … Luke 6:27-31 (NLT) … USE THIS LINK ... </b> 

… Jesus, in sharing His time as a Rabbi, teaches His followers to share His love with others, … yes, even our enemies.        

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:43-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, preaching of loving others, commands those who would follow Him to love and pray for even our enemies.   

Reference Passage: …Romans 8:26-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians about God’s love and how God’s Spirit will help Christians as we pray to share God’s love with others.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:18 [NLT] …  

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.   

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (and us) to pray, with help of God’s Spirit, for fellow believers everywhere, even those who are difficult to pray for.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:16 [NLT] …  

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.   

… God’s Spirit, thru the author of Hebrews, commands Christians to come to God’s throne of grace boldly to pray for God’s grace for others… yes, even our enemies.                     

Reference Passage: … James 5:16 [NLT] …  

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  

… God’s Spirit, thru Jesus’ brother James, commands Christians to confess our sins and pray for one another because God’s power is released thru the prayers of righteous believers.           

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Leslie Koh … AT THIS LINK …  …   tells of an irritating fellow churchman, … John … who, the ODB author found it difficult with whom to interact because of his irritating personality.  But, remembering what is taught in Scriptures (see the highlight passage and the Scriptures above), the ODB author began praying for John.  It was difficult at first; but in time the author found it easier and easier to pray and interact with John.   

And I would guess that all of us reading here can think of a number of people with whom we find it difficult to interact.  But what does God’s word, and especially Jesus’ commands, say to us.  Yeah, … it’s tough to pray for those we find irritating or especially to pray for those who’ve hurt us in the past.  But if we claim to be followers - especially as Christ’s disciples - we MUST reach out, with God’s love and His grace, to pray for others - even our enemies.  So, let’s get to it today … and begin to pray for the “Johns” in our life.       

   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for convicting me to pray for those whom I find irritating or enemies.                                                       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to seek Your Spirit, Lord, to humbly pray for those we think of as enemies.     … 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.

November 9, 2023… Praising God For His Victory …

November 9, 2023… Praising God For His Victory …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from the group Elevation Worship singing  … See A Victory …  Powerfully singing of how all Christians should praise God for His victory thru Christ’s shed blood on the cross.        

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Highlight Passage: … 2Chronicles 20:22 [NLT] … 

22 At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.. 

… God wins the victory over His enemies in the days of King Jehoshaphat, the people learning to praise the Lord and trusting Him to do battle for God’s faithful people.       

Highlight Passage in Context … 2Chronicles 20:13-22 (NLT) … USE THIS LINK ...  

… In the days of King Jehoshaphat, God’s people, threatened by their enemies, praised God for leading them to victory, which was won by God’s Spirit … not the might of Israel’s army.       

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 20:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Moses gives God’s faithful instructions to go forth into battle trusting and praising God, for HE will bring the victory.  

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians about God’s love and strength in bringing victory in our warfare with sin, Satan, and the world.   

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:57 [NLT] …  

 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.   

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (and us) to continually praise God for bringing victory thru Christ and for defeating our ultimate enemy, .. our sin.

Reference Passage: …Ephesians 6:10-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians (and us) how to be victorious in our battle agains sin.                    

Reference Passage: …Colossians 2:13-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also calls fellow Christians (and us) to celebrate God’s victory over our sin by His finished work on the cross.  .          

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Karen Pimpo … AT THIS LINK …  …   tells of the allied military command in WW2 air dropping specially built pianos to the troops to lift their spirits and raise their morale as they could sing songs to prevent home-sickness and fear.                

Today, we Christians are in a battle, … are we not?   And we must praise and offer continual thanks to our God, Who has won the victory over our sin and selfishness, … and for the Lord giving us His power as we do battle in His Name and for His glory.  So, what can I - what can WE - do today to thank and praise Him for HIS victory?      

   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me victory over my sin thru Your enabling grace and power.                                                      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to praise You. Lord, for giving us Your victory over our sin..     … 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.

November 8, 2023… Listening For God’s Voice …

November 8, 2023… Listening For God’s Voice  …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Twila Paris singing  … I Will Listen…  Poignantly, and yet powerfully powerfully singing of how all Christians are called by God and they (we) must CHOOSE  to listen for His voice.         

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Highlight Passage: … John 10:4 [NLT] … 

4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

… Jesus uses the imagery of a Shepherd calling His sheep to show that His disciples listen to hear Him (i.e., their Good Shepherd) calling them.     

Highlight Passage in Context … John 10:1-10 (NLT) … USE THIS LINK ...  

… Jesus teaches His followers that He was the good Shepherd and those who are in His flock know His voice and, hearing His voice, follow Him.      

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 30:21 [NLT] …  

21 Your own ears will hear Him.  Right behind you a voice will say, <b>“This is the way you should go,” </b>.. whether to the right or to the left.  

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, assures His faithful remant that they will hear the Lord’s voice and follow His way and His will. 

Reference Passage : … Luke 11:28 [NLT] …  

28 “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”

… Jesus lauds those who listen, hear, and follow God’s word.  

Reference Passage: …Romans 8:14, … 10:17[ NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians about true Christians who are led by God’s Spirit by faithfully following Christ thru hearing His voice thru His word.

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’s word, thru the Author of Hebrews (i.e., the Holy Spirit) shows God’s faithful followers to hear and follow Him thru His powerful word. .                

Reference Passage: … Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … 

 Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.  

… In John’s Revelation, Jesus calls His born-again disciples to listen and hear Him calling and to follow His voice to fellowship with Him in glory.           

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier … AT THIS LINK …    tells roaming around the Tennessee ranch which was his home with a close friend; but when he heard the powerful whistle from his father, he knew to come to his dad IMMEDIATELY.                

And the ODB entry today is an apt illustration of what we, who call ourselves “CHRISTIAN,” simply must do when we hear our Lord and Savior calling us.  And that is to run to follow Him. I don’t know about you, my fellow Christian readers, but as the Scriptures above teach, I seek to hear my Lord calling thru His word, … i.e., our Bible.  How do you listen for the voice of our Good Shepherd?     

   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me Your path to Glory by calling me to follow You, Lord, thru Your word.       

                                             

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to listen for Your voice, Lord,…  and then to follow Your call wherever You lead us as our Good Shepherd.     … 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.

November 7, 2023… Avoiding the Serpent …

November 7, 2023… Avoiding the Serpent  …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing  … Redeemed …  Powerfully singing of how all Christians are redeemed from our sin when. they (we) believe in Christ’s finished work on the cross.       

Defeating God's enemy, the Serpent ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Genesis 3:9 [NLT] … 

9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”. 

… God comes into the Garden, with HIs mercy and grace, by calling out His beloved Adam and Eve from the destruction wrought by the Serpent.  

Highlight Passage in Context … Genesis 3:1-10 (NLT) …  USE THIS LINK ... </b> 

… The Serpent wreaks destruction by tempting Adam and Eve in God’s garden.    

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

… If believers trust and follow the Lord, . He will redeem and lead them (us) to His glory.      

Reference Passage: … John 3:16-17 [NLT] …  

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him ….  

… God’s plan, thru His Son, Jesus, was to save and redeem the world from their (our) sin thru our faith in the finished work of God’s Son on the Cross. 

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.   

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians that God will faithfully show us how to deal with the temptations and destruction of Satan by ALWAYS showing Christians the way to go in life.   

Reference Passage: …1John 2:15-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John teaches fellow Christians to avoid the world’s temptations, … the same temptations used by the Serpent in the Garden of Eden, … the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.             

Reference Passage: … Revelation 20:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals to John (and to us) how His angel will one day bind Satan, the Serpent, forever.                                                                       

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks … AT THIS LINK …  tells of his wife closely following the recently hatched birds in a wren’s next.  However, just as they were about to fly from the nest, the ODB’s author’s wife discovered a snake in the nest (see photo) who had devoured all of the baby birds.  And the incident reminds us how Satan came as a serpent into the Garden of Eden to seek and destroy God’s beloved created beings, … Adam and Eve.               

But if we Christians know and believe the Scriptures above, we have faith that our God has made a way to be redeemed from the destruction of THE serpent, God’s enemy, … Satan, … by believing in and faithfully following God’s Son as our Lord, and Redeemer.  That’s why you find me here each day, seeking to follow my Lord’s truth (from HIs word) which leads me to glory.  How will you seek His redeeming grace and follow Him today?    

   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me Your path to Glory, Lord.                                                   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to avoid the temptations of the world by following You, Lord, as You lead us to Your 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.

November 6, 2023… Keep On Keeping On !! …

November 6, 2023… Keep On Keeping On !! …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing  … <b><i>I Will Follow</b></i> …  Powerfully singing of how all Christians are called to persistently follow our Lord wherever He leads.      

Ibraham made GREAT PIZZA ... (see story below) 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Galatians 6:9 [NLT] …

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 charges fellow Christians to NEVER stop doing all they (we) can to do good for others.  

<b><u>Highlight Passage in Context</u> … Galatians 6:2-10 (NLT) …  USE THIS LINK ...

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to remain vigilant and to be persistent in helping others in need. 

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Reference Passage: …Luke 11:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus calls on those who follow Him, as disciples, to <b>keep on keeping on</b> in their (our) faith.     

Reference Passage:… 1Corinthians 15:58 [NLT] …  

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.. 

… Once again Paul urges fellow Christians to be strong to work with persistence, enthusiastically following the Lord to do His work for God’s glory. 

Reference Passage: … 2Thessalonians 3:13 [NLT] …  

13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good..  

… Persistently, Paul exhorts fellow Christians to NEVER give up doing good for the glory of God. 

Reference Passage: …Hebrews 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God’s word calls Christians to run the race of life with endurance and persistence, keeping their (our) eyes on and following Jesus, as He leads them (us) to glory.           

Reference Passage </u>: … James 1: 2-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James encourages fellow Christians to let the persistent trials we face help us to grow in endurance as we find joy in following the Lord.       

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon … AT THIS LINK … tells of  a young man, named Ibraham, who from Africa to Italy.  And while learning the language, he decided to open an pizza shop. And persistently learning the skills to make delicious pizza (see photo), which was rated highly by experts, Ibraham decided to reach out to help feed hungry children on the streets of his new home town by asking his customers to buy and extra pizza or a beverage to help those children.              

And, … I don’t know about my fellow readers here today, but this story and the Scriptures God led me to share today, exhort and convict me - and perhaps you - to be more  persistent in following Christ to serve others … day-by-day… developing a more enduring faith walk with and for our Lord.  So, … let’s all “keep on keeping on”o be servants for our Lord, for God’s glory, today … and then, persistently, tomorrow.     

   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the enduring grace to serve you today and tomorrow.                                                   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to reach out, following Your lead, Lord, to help 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.