July 14, 2021 … Trust and Obey …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 195 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen singing  … Trust and Obey… poignantly singing about how we must trust in God’s will and His way thru His word to follow the Lord in all of His ways. 

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Highlight Passage:   James 1:22  [NLT] …  

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  

… James exhorts fellow Christians to listen and learn God’s ways from His word … and then to follow the Lord; because we’re fools if we don’t.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  James 1:19-27 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… James provides Godly wisdom on trusting and obeying God in all that we think, say, and do.       

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

… King David sings about learning to listen and follow God’s word … ALWAYS !!!  

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

… Know and trusting God’s way is the only way to go, … especially avoiding our own way. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23  [NLT] … 

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

… Jesus teaches His followers that any disciple of His must be willing to listen and learn His ways and then humbly and obediently to follow Him.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:21  [NLT] … 

21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 

… Jesus teaches His disciples that trusting and being obedient to His commands is the is the way to reveal if we truly love our Lord.

      

My Devotional Journal:Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK   … relates a story of neighbors who used yard signs to debate with one another over political opinions, … obviously not willing to listen to each other or to humbly dialog about their differences. 

Unfortunately, … this unwillingness to LISTEN and LEARN (see photo) from one another, and especially from God, is becoming a social-emotional pandemic in our world these days, isn’t it?   And we see the results of this sinful epidemic bearing witness in the riotous streets of many of our cities these days, … where so many are unwilling to listen to others and act with violence rather than try to quietly hear and learn the feelings of others. 

Really, God has the answer to this conundrum in His word, doesn’t He?  And His answers are expressed so simply in the words of Don Moen’s song as well as in the Scriptures above.  Because if we just took time and surrendered to listen to others, and especially to know and trust God’s word, we’d find ourselves trying to find ways to trust God’s way - thru His word - rather than just yelling our way to others. 

So, …  pray we activate the Nike slogan today and “JUST DO IT” ...  God’s way!!   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing us Your way to avoid anger and strife in our world; and that is to trust and obey Your way as the only way.    

My Prayer Today Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to listen and lean Your way, Lord, from Your word; and then to follow You in all things. 

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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.

July 13, 2021 … A Heart of Worship …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021</u> - Day 194 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Michael W Smith singing  … A Heart of Worship … poignantly singing about how those who truly love the Lord are continually called to return to Him with a heart of worship. 

Returning to God with a heart of worship ... 

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Highlight Passage:   Nehemiah 1:9  [NLT] …  

9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’   

… Nehemiah rehearses God’s promise to Moses to return His people to the Lord’s home in Jerusalem if they have repentant hearts of worship.     

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Nehemiah 1:5-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Nehemiah feels God’s call on his heart to return and rebuild the walls in Jerusalem.       

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 63:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David’s prayer of longing fo worship his God.   

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:9  [NLT] … 

9  In the night I search for you in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when You come to judge the earth will people learn what is right. 

… A song of longing for al to return to God’s worship and His ways. 

Reference Passage: … John 4:13-14, 6:35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… We all have desiring hearts which can only be filled by God’s promise, thru Jesus, of living waters and the bread of life.   

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:6  [NLT] … 

6 And He also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. …  

… The ultimate fulfillment for those thirsty souls who sought after God’s life-giving waters.  

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK  … relates a story of a couple who sold their home and moved; but their cat ran away twice to return to what the cat felt was his home.  

It’s been said, “Home is the where the heart is;” and that’s ultimately true about our heart’s longing to return to the home God desires to give us.  But we have to respond to His call to “come home” … like Nehemiah did responding to God’s call for him to come home and rebuild the walls in Jerusalem (see highlight passage). 

Do any of my fellow readers feel the Lord calling us to return to Him with the heart of worship sung by Michael W Smith in the linked song?  If so, I pray that we simply - but diligently - return to have our hearts filled with the love and grace God is willing to give to any who thirst after His life-giving waters (see John 4 and 6 above and Rev 21:6).  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for providing me with Your living water in Your word to satisfy my thirst for Your truth.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to return with thirsty hearts to drink from our God’s life-sustaining waters.    … 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.

July 12, 2021 … God’s Restoring Grace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 193 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West, singing  … Restored … powerfully singing about how our lives can be restored by our loving and grace giving Savior. 

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Highlight Passage:   Genesis 3:21  [NLT] …  

21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.    

… In spite of man’s sin and the curse on mankind, God’s grace provides Adam and Eve with garments of protection against the elements outside the Garden.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Genesis 3:17-24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Mankind and the curse for Adam’s sin, becomes collateral damage for the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden.     

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Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s faithful mercy and grace are there for sinful mankind … every day ,,, and ALWAYS.   

Reference Passage: … Joel 2:25  [NLT] … 

25   The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts,  the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts …  

… God’s promise, thru Joel, of God’s restoring grace to even His disobedient people. 

Reference Passage: … John 21:15-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus with compassion, mercy, and grace, restores Peter three times after Peter had denied Christ thrice before the crucifixion.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 3:19-21  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise of restoration to those who repent and turn from their sin to follow the One Who saved us, … King Jesus!   

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:9  [NLT] … 

9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. …  

… God’s promise of restoration and cleansing from our sin for any repentant believer.  

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK   … relates a story of a a young man who became “collateral damage” and lost his job, thru no fault of his own, … showing that life can be unfair at times and bad things can happen to good people.  

It’s the way of life after Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden, isn’t it?  But don’t you just love what the Bible shows us about the restoring grace of our Lord, Whose mercies are new for the repentant follower of Christ, … Who shed His blood and gave Himself that we might be saved from the curse of our inheriting Adam’s sin.  

So, after my readers have taken in the powerful song of forgiving grace by Matthew West and you’ve meditated on the encouraging Scriptures above, let us all say a resounding "HALLELUJAH" to praise our Lord for His restoring love and grace. 

Again, say it with me … "HALLELUJAH !!"

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for making Your saving and sanctifying grace available to this old sinner today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to declare our praise and thanks for our God’s restoring grace today . and then again tomorrow 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.

July 11, 2021 … Hope Eternal In Christ …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 192 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, The Gettys, singing  … Christ Our Hope In Life and Death … poignantly singing about how death cannot - and will not - diminish because our hope is in Christ, Who conquered death.  

Our Hope Eternal in Christ ... 

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Highlight Passage:   1Thessalonians 4:17-18  [NLT] …  

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them [i.e. fellow believers]  in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.  

… God’s truth, thru Paul, lifts the spirits of Christians who have lost loved ones in death.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Thessalonians 4:13-18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul encourages fellow Christians that all born-again believers will join their loved ones who believe in Christ in heaven.   

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Reference Passage: … John 10:10, 14:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ... 

… Jesus Himself declared that He, and only He, was the way to defeat death and have eternal life. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 6:8-11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians our hope is in Christ Who conquered death. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:37-39  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul again shows fellow Christians that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God in Christ.  

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

… For those of us who are in Christ, we must set our minds/hearts - i.e., OUR HOPE - on the things above, not on the things of this world. 

      

My Devotional Journal:Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, AT THIS LINK   … relates a story of a London cabby who was living with his hope of joining his family again whom he had been separated from when he came to England to support the family. 

Similarly, Paul addressed fellow Christians in Thessalonica [see highlight passage] who were anguished that they were losing beloved Christian family members to Roman persecution.  But Paul showed these born-again believers what is taught in the Scriptures above … that NOTHING -  no, not even death can - or will - separate us from Christ.  

No, … when we believe what Jesus said in John 10:10 and 14:6, one day all who follow Christ as Lord and Savior will be united with Him in our home in glory, created for us by the Lord.   So, as Paul wrote, also to fellow Christians In Col 3:1-3, let us set our minds and hearts on the things above and focus all our hope in Christ  … just as The Gettys sing in the linked song.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me that ALL MY HOPE is in You today … and tomorrow … and forever!!  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to set our minds on You, Lord, … with our eternal hope in the glory ahead.     … 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.

July 10, 2021 … Replacing Lies With Truth …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 191 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, The Gettys, singing  … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing about how God speaks to us thru His word to dispel the lies of Satan, the world, and our own feelings. 

The Power of God's Truth ... 

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Highlight Passage:   Proverbs 30:5  [NLT] …  

5 Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. 

… God’s word provides us with a shield against the lies of the world and our own feelings.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Proverbs 30:5-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon extols the power of God’s truth to overcome the lies of our spiritual enemies.  

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Reference Passage: … Numbers 23:19 [NLT] … 

19 God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?  

… God, thru Moses, shows the power of God in our lives thru His word.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:9-11, 105  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s prescription for avoiding sin in our lives … hiding and using God’s word, taken into our hearts, in order to follow God’s will and His way.   

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:10-11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, … shows the power of God’s word to bring forth God’s fruit and His purpose in our lives.  

Reference Passage: … 2Tim 3:16-17 [NLT] … 

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

… God’s word gives Christians the power we need to overcome the lies of our spiritual enemies.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK   … relates a personal witness of how relying on God’s word helped the author to overcome self-degrading fears at a speaking engagement.  

And we ALL can have such fears of what “the world” might think or when we feel paralyzed by our  perceptions of our circumstances.  And that’s when, as The Gettys sing in the linked song, we need to let God speak to us thru His truth, … letting the power of His word, spoken thru the Scriptures above, give us His strength to overcome our fears.  

And if any reading here with me are encountering the lies of Satan or the world, or dealing with fears that come from our feelings, then let’s all take up, believe, and be empowered by God’s grace thru His word today. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your truth thru Your word to keep me on track in following You today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use Your truth, thru Your word, to knock down the lies of our enemies 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.

July 9, 2021 … Pursuing His Worthiness? …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 190 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, Elevation Worship, singing  … Worthy … poignantly singing about how can - and must - live our lives to express Christ’s worthiness by the way we live for Him.  

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Highlight Passage:   2Peter 1:5-7  [NLT] … 

5 In view of all this [i.e., God’s Spirit residing in us], make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.  

… Peter exhorting Christians to do all we can - in Christ - to live lives worthy of our Lord’s saving and sanctifying love and grace.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Peter 1:3-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaching on the pursuit of our worthiness in Christ.    

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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.  

… Paul personally shows fellow Christians how he - and we - can pursue Christlike living because of His Spirit living in us.     

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:1-3  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to live lives worthy of our calling as Christians.   

Reference Passage: …Philippians 4:8 [NLT] … 

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 

… Paul shows that the key to the pursuit of worthiness in Christ is choosing to think worthy - Christlike - thoughts.  

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread< author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK   … quotes the great 19th century English preacher, Charles Spurgeon, who revealed his driven desire to live like Christ, when he said, ” The sin of doing nothing is about the biggest of all sins, for it involves most of the others. . . . Horrible idleness! God save us from it!”

And after the resurrection, driven by God’s Spirit residing in them, the Apostles Peter and Paul were driven to live for Christ’s glory by ALL OUT living for and following Christ … and exhorting fellow Christians <b>(see Scriptures above)</b> to live lives worthy of our calling as “Christians.”  

And I’ll leave it to my fellow Christian readers to ask ourselves … Are our pursuits worthy of His calling on our lives? 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me all I need - by Your Spirit - to live my life worthy of Your calling.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can today to live in ways which honor Christ by the way we think, speak, and choose to live.    … 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.

July 8, 2021 … Breakthrough Prayer …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 189 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, Casting Crowns, singing  … Praise You In This Storm … poignantly singing about how can - and must - come with unfettered prayer and praise to our God - even in the midst of the storms of life. 

Breakthrough Prayer

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Highlight Passage:   Mark 11:25  [NLT] …  

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”   

… To pray to God we must first make sure that we have forgiven others as the Lord has forgiven us so that our prayers are not impeded to God’s throne of grace.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Mark 11:20-25 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows His Disciples that holding back forgiveness can block our prayers to God.   

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 66:18-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The psalmist shows that unconfessed sin can block our prayers from being heard and answered by God.  

 

Reference Passage: … James 1:5-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James shows that wavering in our faith blocks God from receiving our prayers.  

Reference Passage: …1Peter 3:7 [NLT] … </b>

7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered. 

… God’s word, thru Paul, teaches that dishonoring a loved one, such as wife, can block our prayers to God.

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:8-10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru John, that we must confess and be cleansed of our sins to be heard by God.       

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Elisa Morgan, AT THIS LINK  … tells of how the Mars rover, <i>Opportunity</i>, shut down sending messages to earth when its sun-powered batteries were covered with dust from a surface storm.  

And the story illustrates how there are some things in the lives of believers, from the dust storms of life, which can block our prayers from being heard - and acted upon - by God.  For instance, the Scriptures above, delineate that lack of forgiveness of others (Mark 11:25), or unconfessed sin (Psalm 66 or 1John 1), or dishonoring a loved one (1Peter 3:7), or weak faith (James 1:5-7) all can become the dust storms  impeding our prayers being received by God.  

I pray that we don’t let these storms get in the way of our seeking God’s intervention thru prayer as we have strong faith and come to God - even in the midst of the storms of life - as we hear in the linked song - and we come with unfettered prayer and praise before God’s throne of grace. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … that You, Lord, can hear my praise and prayers being lifted thru the storms of life.           

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to clear out the dust from the storms of life and come to Your throne of grace, Lord, praying so that You can hear 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.