May 5 2025 … A Fresh Start …

May 5 2025 …  A Fresh Start …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   

Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Don Moen singing  … God Will Make A Way,  showing how our God will show believers His way to a fresh - new - start in life. 

  

Highlight Passage: …  2Chronicles 33:12-13 … [NLT] … 

12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!            

…  King Manasseh humbled himself in repentance for his sins against God.     

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … 2Chronicles 33:10-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … </b> 

… After being captured and exiled to Babylon, King Manasseh repented of his sins against God and was transformed to serve God.                                                                            

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

… When and if we humble ourselves to follow God’s ways, The Lord will show us His way to go in life.

Reference Passage: … Luke 15:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ parable showing the joy in God’s kingdom over one repenting and turning away from his sin.   

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians of the newness we find in following Christ.        .         

Reference Passage: … Romans 2:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians about God’s kindness and patience, waiting to see His chosen to humble themselves and turn from their sin in repentance. 

Reference Passage: …  2Timothy 2:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul instructs Timothy and fellow Christians to be patient, like Christ, helping others to change their ways and follow Christ’s ways.  

Reference Passage: …  2Peter 3:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Peter assures fellow Christians that God is patient with His chosen, waiting for them (us) to repent and come to follow His ways.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - James Banks … AT THIS LINK      …  relates a true story about Alfred Nobel, reading the mistaken headline, reporting “The Merchant of Death is Dead!”  Nobel, learning of the people’s ideas about his invention of dynamite, decided to create an award to recognize a special selectee each year who promotes peace in the world, which, of course, became the Nobel Peace Prize.      

And this special series of annual awards reminded the ODB author how God’s word recognizes those who humble themselves before God, Who honors those who turn their lives around from their (our) sinful, selfish, ways to follow the Lord and live NEW  LIVES, following and serving the Lord.  And reading the Highlight passage about King Manasseh’s repentance and also God’s word, shared above, we see what Don Moen sings about in the linked song - that God truly will make a new way for those who humble themselves (ourselves) to follow the Lord’s ways rather than our own ways in life.  Personally, that’s where I’m headed; … how about you?   

         

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for showing me Your way to follow You in my life, Lord.  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all of us reading here, will humbly follow You, Lord, today … and tomorrow.   … 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.

May 4 2025 … Filled With Joy …

May 4 2025 …  Filled With Joy …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with the group Rend Collective singing  … Joy of the Lord,  to find our joy in praising the Lord and following His ways … ALWAYS.  

Highlight Passage: …  Psalms 16:11 … [NLT] … 

11 You (i.e., my Lord) will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presenc and the pleasures of living with you FOREVER.           

…  David is filled with joy knowing that he will live with the Lord FOREVER>   

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … Psalms 16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David sings of the joy in his heart which only comes from The Lord.                                  

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 5:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Once again, King David, sings of the joy and praise which comes from the protection The Lord provides for His faithful followers.

Reference Passage: … Nehemiah 8:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God’s people rediscover God’s Law thru Ezra who declare to God’s people the joy which comes from being under and following God’s truth. 

Reference Passage: … John 15:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Jesus, in the upper room shared His words to give His disciples joy in the midst of their turmoil and confusion.       .         

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians about the essence of God’s joy found in following Jesus as our Lord.  

Reference Passage:…  Philippians 4:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also commands fellow Christians to be filled with joy.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Kirsten Holmberg … AT THIS LINK     …  relates a true story of a village in Norway in 2014 putting up a sign on a street crossing in their village which instructed those crossing that one street to do so in silly ways, … giving those who crossed that one street at least a little laughter and joy for just a moment in their day.     

And if my readers have take in the scriptures shared above and the linked song, I’m hoping - nay, I’m praying -  that YOU, my fellow Christians, are seeking to find the joy that a deep and abiding relationship with Christ  provides for all who follow where our Lord leads those of us who follow Him down the streets of our lives.   

         

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for showing me Your way to joy.  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all of us, Lord, will let You lead us down Your path to joy.  … 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. 

May 3 2025… He Sees THE WAY …

May 3 2025…  He Sees THE WAY …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Phil Wickham singing  … The Jesus Way,  calling on all Christians to seek and follow the Lord’s way in life.

Following Jesus' way ... 

Highlight Passage: …  Philippians 1:12 … [NLT] … 

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.           

…  Paull witnesses to all things being good from God’s perspective.   

           

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Philippians 1:12-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul shows that even his imprisonment in Philippi was beneficial to the Gospel being spread to others.                                                                            

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Reference Passage: … 1Samuel 16:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God shows Samuel - and all believers - that God does not judge or lead His people by the externals but rather by looking at the heart. 

Reference Passage: … Job 34:21  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Job declares that NOTHING evades God’s watchful care over ALL His chosen people. 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King sings and prays that God open his (our) eyes to see things as the Lord shows them from His Law.        .         

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

… We must trust in the way God sees the world to lead us in HIS WAY, ,,, not ours.    

Reference Passage: …  Luke 4:18-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, teaching from Isaiah 61:1-2, declares that God’s Spirt was in Him, and He had come to fulfill the prophet’s in His life on earth. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Marvin Williams … AT THIS LINK       …  relates a story of how a Pastor, named Tan Flippin, who was hospitalized for injuries sustained in a cycling accident.  And during the hospitalization, the doctors did a CT scan to rule out concussion and discovered a brain tumor which turned out to be cancerous.  And Pastor Flippin realized that God had used the painful cycling accident to uncover  and reveal the brain tumor which led to successful treatment of the cancer.   

And it’s a good illustration that, as the linked song and the Scriptures shared above reveal that God sees all and will show His way in life if we’re willing to trust that our Lord will reveal His way to go in life. Personally, … i’m following Him again today, no matter where He will lead me.  Are you with me?  

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for showing me again that Your way is the best way.  .  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all of us, Lord, will find that Your way is the best way to follow.   … 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.

May 2 2025 … “Can I Get A Witness?!” …

May 2 2025 …   “Can I Get A Witness?!” …   

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Shawna Edwards and a worship chorus singing  … I Am A Witness,  calling on all Christians to to be witnesses for the love of God.

Highlight Passage: …  1Peter 3:15 … [NLT] … 

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.             

…  Peter calls on fellow Christians to be ready  - at all times - to give a witness about Christ in our lives.  

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1Peter 3:13-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Peter speaks to suffering Christians to be willing to witness for Christ by being a willing witness of Him in this world.                                                                           

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:46 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David sings of not being ashamed to speak of God and His laws.        

Reference Passage: … Matthew 24:42-44  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches that His disciples must ALWAYS be prepared to witness for him since we don’t know when His will come again.         

Reference Passage: … Acts 1:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus commissions all born-again Christians to be witnesses in/for His Name as we live and follow His Spirit in this world.   

Reference Passage: … Colossians 4:6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches that our speech and conversation, as born-again Christians, should  be “seasoned with salt” (i.e., gracious and attractive).  

Reference Passage: …  James 1:27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ earthly brother, James, calls on fellow Christians to be witnesses of God’s love by witnessing for Christ by reaching out to help widows and orphans.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Elisa Morgan … AT THIS LINK         …  wrote about a friend, named Bert, who was surprised wen he gave his credit card to a a server in a restaurant who saw a quote from the Bible from John 14:6 on the credit card which declared that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” and reading that the server said said ”That’s so arrogant,”, giving Bert the quiet opportunity to witness the truth about Jesus to the server.   

And that’s what today’s ODB entry, the linked song, and the Scriptures shared above address, don’t they?  As we Christians live our lives in a world which is hostile to our call to be witnesses for Christ, we likely will encounter those who question or challenge our faith in Christ.  And that’s why you find me here, daily, praying, preparing and readying myself to give an answer for Christ to those who might challenge or question me or my devotion to the Lord in my life.  Are we all ready to answer if someone challenges our faith today?  

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for calling me to be Your witness today.  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that we all are ready to be Your witness, Lord,… 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.

May 1 2025 … Listening For God’s Voice …

May 1 2025 …   Listening For God’s Voice …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with the group Mercy Me singing  … Word of God Speak,  calling on all Christians to listen and hear God’s Spirit, calling to us thru His word. 

Highlight Passage: …  1Kings 19:12 … [NLT] … 

12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.           

…  Elijah hears God speaking to him through a still small voice.  

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1Kings 19:8-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God speaks to Elijah in a gentle whisper.                                                                            

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 25:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of desiring to hear and follow the Lord.       

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 2:1-5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Godly wisdom from Solomon on seeking and following God’s commands (i.e., His word).        

Reference Passage: … Mark 4:24  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in teaching HIs disciples and followers, calls on them to listen to Him and hear what He teaches.   

Reference Passage: … John 8:47  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John warns Christians that only those who belong to God (i.e., truly born again Christians) will listen to and follow God’s word.

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John’s revelation that Jesus was (and is) wiling to come in and dwell in anyone who is willing to hear the Lord and open the door today and let Him in. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Brent Hackett … AT THIS LINK         …  wrote about how NY City had become a very noisy city in the early 20th century with new auto engines, trains, newsboys yelling out, and so many people rushing about; but one day a man named Clark Kellogg, declared to a friend, ”Listen, I hear a cricket!”, to which his friend said that Kellogg must have amazing hearing.  But to that Kellogg said, “Not at all … it’s a matter of where you focus your attention.”

And that illustration reminded the ODB author today of the story of Elijah being exposed to God’s reassuring  voice; and hearing his words in a gentle whisper (see Highlight passage).  And in our own “noisy” world, with so many voices and ideas, trying to clamor for our attention, we need to be tuning into and listening for God, … thru His word and His Spirit, which will ALWAYS bring truth to our life.  Are we listening for His voce today?

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for speaking to me thru Your word and Your Spirit today.  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that we all are tuning into and listening for Your truth thru Your word.… 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.