January 4, 2024 … Faithfully Serving God ???

January 4, 2024 …  Faithfully Serving God ??? 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Faithful …  Poignantly, yet powerfully, singing of how God is ALWAYS faithful to us; but are we to Him?   

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Highlight Passage: …  1Thessalonians 4:11-12  [NLT] … 

11 Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. 12 Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.. 

… God, thru Paul, charges fellow believers to live quiet lives which faithfully honor God.        

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1Thessalonians 4:1-2, 9-12  … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Spirit, thru the Apostle Paul, exhorts fellow Christians to live lives honoring God with our work in serving Him.                                         

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 16:3 (NLT] … 

3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.  

… God, thru Solomon, calls His faithful followers to commit their (our) actions to faithful serve our Lord. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 25:14-30 (NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Jesus’ parable of three serving their Master with their assigned work to faithfully honor the Master.  

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. 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to ALWAYS work to faithfully serve the Lord.   

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:23 (NLT] … 

23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as thought you were working for the Lord rather then for people. 

… The Apostle Paul again exhorts fellow Christians to work as tho we were serving God rather than humanity.  

Reference Passage: … 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT] … 

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.  

… Paul instructs Timothy (and us) that he (we) must work faithfully and hard in order to present ourselves for approval by the Lord.            

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:19 (NLT] … 

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.  

…The Apostle Peter encourages fellow Christians to faithfully serve the Lord, even if that service involves suffering for Christ.  

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily BreadAuthor , Adam Holz -  AT THIS LINK -   wrote of being in a hotel which had an area for serving breakfast and observing the man who was charged to keep the area clean and completely stock.  And the man who served the area did so with diligently and faithfully, being an apt illustration for the ODB author of faithful service to the Lord in the way we, as Christians, are charged to live our lives for God (see Scriptures above).       

I’m praying for those reading with me here to take in the linked song and mediate on those words above from God in the Bible and see if you are convicted, as was I, to do more, today and tomorrow, to honor the Lord, our Master, with more faithfulness in serving God.  Are we really doing what we should to honor our God?  Yes, I’m praying!!     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for charging me to serve You, Lord, with my life.       

My Prayer Today Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to serve You, Lord, faithfully with our lives.   … 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.

January 3, 2024… All Our Hope in God’s Creation

January 3, 2024…  All Our Hope in God’s Creation 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls …  Poignantly, yet powerfully singing of how we we see the power of our omnipotent God as we look around to see what He has created.   

Do we see our God in His creation? ... 

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Highlight Passage: …  Psalms 33:22  [NLT] … 

22 Let Your unfailing love surround us, for our hope is in YOU alone. 

… The Psalmist charges fellow believers to put all our hope in The one-and-only God, Who created all that we see.        

Highlight Passage (in context): … Psalms 33:6-9, 12-22  … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David, likely the Psalmist in Psalm 33, extols God’s greatness, calling believers to put all their (our) hope in Him.                                        

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Reference Passage: … Genesis 1:31a (NLT] … 

31 Then God look over all He had made, and He saw that is was very God. …  

…God, thru the Prophet Moses, declares that all that He created that we see in nature was VERY GOOD.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 19:1 (NLT] … 

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display His craftsman’s ship.  …  

… King David, again in song, proclaims the glory of God in all that we see around us.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:12-13 (NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, shows believers that our hope is in God, Who promises to recreate all the thorns in our lives to trees which sing of God’s glory.    

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:26 (NLT] … 

26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

…Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, teaches His followers (and us) that our hope is in God, Who feeds the birds, … and see mankind as far more valuable that the birds He created.          

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:20 (NLT] … 

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.  

…The Apostle Paul reasons that mankind cannot claim not to know God because we see Him when that (we) see Him when we look around to see all He created. 

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author , Xochitl Dixon -  AT THIS LINK -  who wrote about oceanographer, Sylvia Earl, who noted and studied the deterioration of many of the coral reefs in the oceans, and went on to found a group of scientists who are working to restore what they call, “hope spots,” which they believe are critical - if restored - to the health of the oceans and the planet.     

But truth be told, what this darkening world needs is for ALL to see, as did King David in his psalms, and the Prophets of old, and most certainly Jesus, Who taught, as did the Apostle Paul all of whom observed (see the Scriptures above) … by just looking around to see God’s creation, … that all of our hope comes icy seeing God and having faith in God, Who created all we see around us.  

I see His glory, as Brian Doerksen sings in the linked song, … do you as well?  And are we doing all we can to honor our Lord, as our Creator, by being stewards of His planet?      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for charging me and giving me (and us) to be a steward of Your creation.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to see and honor You, Lord, by being stewards of Your creation.   … 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.

January 2, 2024… The Son ALWAYS Rises Our Hope   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from The Gettys singing … In Christ Alone …  Poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, always have hope thru our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior.  

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Highlight Passage: …  Ecclesiastes 1:5  [NLT] …

5 The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again 

… Likely Solomon writes of how the sun rises daily but in a meaningless attempt to search for our selfish or worldly desires.      

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Ecclesiastes 1:1-11  … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Ecclesiastes, likely Solomon, teaches of meaningless of a life lived for worldly or selfish desires.                                       

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 31:23-24 (NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of being strong and putting ALL our hope in The Lord Who protects those who faithfully follow Him. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:31 (NLT] … 

31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles.  lThey will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.  

…God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, shows that those who, in faith, trust in God will gain hope and strength in following Him.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT] … 

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 

…God, thru the Prophet Jeremiah, promises to give faithful believers hope and a glorious future by faithfully following The Lord.    

Reference Passage: … Romans 15:13 (NLT] … 

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.. 

…The Apostle Paul prays that fellow Christians would be filled joy, peace, and hope by faithfully walking in the Spirit and following our Lord.         

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 1:13 (NLT] … 

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.  

…Peter calls fellow Christians to holy living in the hope we have of Christ coming again.  

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author , Tim Gustafson -  AT THIS LINK -   writes of Earnest Hemingway’s first novel being titled after the a line in the Bible, in Ecclesiastes 1, verse 5, “The Sun Also Rises,” where the author captures the meaningless of life lived only to satisfy mankind’s vanity and self satisfaction.    

And I’m praying - on this second day in a new year - that my readers have taken in the Linked song and meditated on the Scriptures I’ve shared here today, which show us that only when we put ALL OUR HOPE and trust in God can we find meaning and hopeful direction in life. 

Do you know - really KNOW - that God’s Spirit is leading you to follow Him today?  I pray we just trust and follow Him faithfully today … and then again tomorrow!    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me with the light of Your word again today.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to trust in Your Spirit leading us again 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.

January 1, 2024 … Truly A HAPPY NEW YEAR

January 1, 2024 … Truly A HAPPY NEW YEAR   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Mac Powell singing … New Creation …  Powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, are wonderfully made new in Christ. 

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Highlight Passage: …  2Corinthians 5:17  [NLT] …

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

… The Apostle Paul reminds fellow Christians that in Christ they (and we) have been new.     

Highlight Passage (in context)  … 2Corinthians 5:14-21  … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews prays for fellow believers in Christ for God to give them (and us) His power to do His will no matter the oppression they (we) might face .                                      

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 43:17-19 (NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, reminds God’s people of how He brought them out of Egypt but prophesying that He would do far more in creating a new dwelling place for them (us). 

Reference Passage … Ezekiel 11:19-20 (NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Ezekiel, tells God’s people of how He will create a new heart in those who faithfully follow the LORD.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 3:22 (NLT] … 

22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are..  

…The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians that by their (our) faith in Christ, we are made right with God.   

Reference Passage: … Galatians 2:20 (NLT] … 

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me..  

…The Apostle Paul testifies to fellow Christians that that his life had been radically been made new, … dying to self and living in Christ..       

Reference Passage: …  1John 3:1-2 (NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru John, teaches that then (we) are being made new into the image of our Savior by the grace of our Lord’s sacrifice.   

        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author , James Banks -  AT THIS LINK -  - tells of a young man, Geoffrey, who testifies at a school assembly how he had been radically made into a new person, having been an addict to cocaine but freed to walk in newness of life thru His surrendered faith in Christ.   

And that’s me too !!! … Once - over 40 years ago - I was an addict to lust and sexual sin.  But today, I declare another NEW YEAR, celebrating the newness i feel each day, remembering and realizing what God has done, thru my faith in His dying to save me and remaking me into His image so that day-by-day I can serve Him in this life and follow Him into the next.  

What about you?  Is this another wonderful year of newness for you in Christ?  I pray so!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me a new life to serve You, Lord, … forever … truly a HAPPY NEW YEAR !!    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me, … to declare a HAPPY NEW YEAR … serving You.   … 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.