Sept 4, 2025 … Finishing Strong In Faith …

Sept 4, 2025  … Finishing Strong In Faith    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Francesca LaRosa and Hannah Schaefer singing… I Have Finished The Race,  … calling for Christians to finish the race of life with faith in Christ. 

Highlight Passage: …Ezra 7:10 … [NLT] … 

10 This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel..  

…God’s favor and grace were on Ezra during the exile out of Babylon for God’s people because of Ezra’s dedication to study and share God’s word with God’s people.

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Ezra 10:6-11, 27-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God was with Ezra as God’s people were exiled from Babylon back to Jerusalem because of his diligence and dedication to study and teach God’s Law to God’s people. 

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

… God gives Joshua and shows God’s faithful how to be successful in carrying out God’s will by using God’s word.  

Reference Passage: … Mark 13:13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows that those who finish their life, walking in faith in Christ will be saved. 

Reference Passage: … John 8:31-32  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches His faithful disciples that following God’s truth will lead them to finish strong n the faith.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul declares his faith to follow Christ, which is necessary for all who’ve surrendered their (our) lives to finish the race of life <b>(see photo)</b> by faith in our Lord. 

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

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, shows Christians that God calls His followers to follow the Lord all the way to His glory.

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 2:11-12  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul declares that Christians must hold on to their (our) faith in Christ as God leads them (us) to glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Tom Felton … AT THIS LINK      … told of how a woman, Ginnie Hislop, who received a standing ovation upon receiving her Master’s Degree 84 years after she had completed the coursework.  Ginnie wanted to finish what she had started, but was interrupted by WW2. 

This story reminded the ODB author, in today’s devotional,  … citing the determination of Ezra, a Priest of God’s people, who had been exiled to Babylon and were released to return to Jerusalem (see Highlight passage).   God’s favor during these times was on Ezra because of his determination to study, follow, and teach God’s Law to God’s people.  Ezra desired to finish strong with faith in God’s word, … a goal to which I aspire today and tomorrow.  How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord …  tor giving us Your word to guide me on my path in life.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for giving the favor of Your grace, thru Your word, to show us the way - YOUR WAY - in life.   … 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 to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 3, 2025 … Joining in Prayer …

Sept 3, 2025  … Joining in Prayer    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the tme to hear music and lyrics with Matthew West  singing… Don’t Stop Praying,  … calling for Christians to never cease praying for each other.

Highlight Passage: … Romans 15:30 … [NLT] … 

30 Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.  

… Paul calls for fellow Christians to pray for him.

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Romans 15:30-33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul cals for fellow Christians in Rome to pray for him to be released from his imprisonment and to be able to come to be with his fellow Christians.  

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Reference Passage: …  Job 42:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God calls on Job’s friends to offer up a sacrifice to God for Job’s faithful prayer for them.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to share each other’s burdens (with prayer) 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 3:14-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul prays for his fellow Christians.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:11-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul repeats his plea to fellow Christians to pray for one another.   

Reference Passage: …  1Thessalonians 5:11, 17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul repetitively calls for fellow Christians to NEVER stop encouraging each other in prayer..

Reference Passage: … James 5:16  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  James exhorts fellow Christians to pray for one another. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Xochitl Dixon… AT THIS LINK    … told of how a few  lionesses came to the rescue of another female lion in the pride who had been attacked by a pack of hyenas, saving the fellow lioness from death. 

And the ODB author, uses that story to illustrate how God calls on Christians (see Reference Scriptures above), … as also in the linked song, … to never stop praying for one another as God will hear and honor such sincere prayers in His Name.   So, as I do each morning, I go to God’s throne of grace top pray for my own well being as well as for many whom God has laid on my heart  to pray for.    Will you stop for a moment, my friend, and say a little prayerful this old warrior.   I thank you!! 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for those who stop to pray for me today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for those who bring prayers to offer before Your throne of grace 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.

Sept 2, 2025 … A New Direction …

 Sept 2, 2025  … A New Direction    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the tme to hear music and lyrics with Don Moen  singing… God Will Make A Way,  … showing that God will often make an unexpected way in life, … even when it seems there is no way.

God shows us a NEW WAY to go ... 

Highlight Passage: … Acts 9:5-6 … [NLT] … 

5 Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”  

… Sauls life was changed forever as Jesus shows “Paul” a new direction in life.

Highlight Passage (in context)  …  Acts 9:1-6, 8, 10-12. 15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John shares the joy that he and the Disciples and followers of Christ experienced in sharing life with The Lord,    

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 32:8, 119:105  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…King David sings of the Lord being his guide in life and David using God’s light to guide his feet on the right path.

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

… Solomon shows his son (and all believers) to trust God to show us the way - HIS WAY - to go in life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 30:21  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2030%3A21&version=NLT

…  Isaiah, shows that God will shows us the way to go in life..

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> … John 16:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

… Jesus shows His disciples in the upper room that He will send His Spirit to guide their (our) lives.    

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

… Paul, to Timothy (and all Christians), that God gives His word to guide them (us) in life.

Reference Passage: … James 1:5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  James shows that God wants His people to rely on Him for wisdom to follow Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Kenneth Petersen … AT THIS LINK       … wrote how Samuel Morse was an itinerant painter in the early 19th century with an interest in science, and more specifically in electricity.  And we know that this interest - and his faith in God - led Morse to invent the telegraph, which changed the world forever.

And the ODB author made reference to God interrupting the life of one Saul of Tarsus (see Highlight Passage) to an entirely different path in life as this man would become the “Apostle Paul,” … whose rededication of his life to follow Jesus and share His good news with all he encountered, would reroute the direction of all who heard The Gospel and surrender their (our) lives to follow Christ.  

I’m one of those who was a declared atheist 40+ years ago, who now is an ordained Minister of the Gospel, leading a discipleship ministry for/in my church.    And so, … <b>BELIEVE ME!</b> … God can - and will - change your life to by believing in and following His ways.    

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for showing me THE WAY - Your way - to go n life.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. … for giving all of us, who believe in You, the way to go in life 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. 

Sept 1, 2025 …Finding Joy In Christ …

Sept 1, 2025 …Finding Joy In Christ    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the tme to hear music and lyrics with Don Moen and a praise chorus  singing… Sing For Joy,  … declaring that, …  by following Christ, … we find His joy.

Highlight Passage: … 1John 1:4  … [NLT] … 

4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy..  

… John writes of his experience, along with The Disciples, of the joy of s following Jesus.. 

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1John 1:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK      …            

… John shares the joy that he and the Disciples and followers of Christ experienced in sharing life with The Lord,    

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 16:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…King David sings of the eternal joy we find by following The Lord in our lives. 

Reference Passage: … John 16:24  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises His joy will come to His disciples (and us) when they (we) seek life in HIs name. .

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

…  The Apostle Paul teaches  truth to fellow Christians that JOY is one of the fruit of God’s Spirit, which He places in the hearts of all faithful followers of Christ.

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

… The Apostle Paul also calls on fellow Christians to rejoices ALWAYS!!    

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

… James, Jesus’ brother, calls on fellow Christians to find joy even in the trails of life.

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

…  Peter also calls on fellow Christians to find joy in their (our)  relationship with Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Karen Huang … AT THIS LINK    … wrote how Bonnie Ware, in her blog post, entitled ”Regrets of the Dying,” that, in her role of nurse in a hospice care unit, many who were facing death expressed regret that they had “worked too hard … too long;” …  or one person who said, 

“I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

To any/all of those who read with me here, if you’ve taken in the linked song and meditated on God’s truth in the Scriptures above, as I have, are you asking yourself if you “could’a … should’a” sought to find more joy in Your relationship with Christ?   God so wants us to find our joy in this life, because He died on a cross to give us His joy.  How about we all go out today and share some of His joy with others?!!   It’s ours for the asking.   Let’s go for it, my friends!!        

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for giving me Your joy today … 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. … for dying on that cross to give us Your joy today and forever.  … 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.