April 11, 2014 … How Great Thou Art !!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 101

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  – Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Chris Tomlin singing his classic song, How Great Is Our God, which proclaims nothing less than the greatness of our God. … And then to this link  to another video of contemporary singers Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill singing the old, classic hymn How Great Thou Art which needs no explanation beyond the greatness of the lyrics to declare the greatness of our God.
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See photo of “God’s Greatness” below Highlight Passage – NKJV: Psalms 29: 2 [NKJV] …   
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Psalms 29 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Job, Chapters 38-39 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #2: Psalms, Chapter 33 [NKJV] …Go to this link ... 

Reference Passage #3: Isaiah 55: 8-9 [NKJV] …  
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Reference Passage #4: Hebrews 11: 3 [NKJV] …  
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

My Journal for Today: I don’t need to write anything here today. If you’ve taken the time to take in all that I’ve posted here, the picture, the songs, and the Scriptures, you know that my devotional today from Our Daily Bread and God’s word has declared, and is proclaiming, the greatness of Our God and the majesty of the works of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, … Who with a word created all that we see and has redeemed all that we know from His creation by His life, death, and resurrection.

I need say no more because any words from my finite mind would take away from my Lord’s glory at this point. So, let me go immediately to prayer …

My Prayer for Today … Lord, in You I live, move, and have all my being. Praise Your Holy Name. … How great Thou art !!! … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 10, 2014 … Living By The Word

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 100

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of the power of Psalm 119, which teaches the truth and power of living by/under/with God’s word.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Galatians 5: 13-14 [NKJV] …  
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Lev. 19: 18] 
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Galatians 5: 1-14 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Psalms 119 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 

Reference Passage #2: Psalms 119: 9-11 [NKJV] … 
  9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Reference Passage #2: Isaiah 55: 11 [NKJV] …  
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Reference Passage #3:  John 14: 21 [NKJV] …  
21 … He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

My Journal for Today: Fellow Christian; … if I could give you a tool which would unlock the secrets of living, would you want to borrow it? … If I could give you a path to victory in your life over all the evils you see in the future, would you want to take it? … If I could give you a drug which would give you peace in the midst of any storm, would you desire to use it?  

DUH!!! … If we’re serious about this business of being a Christian, we would answer a resounding “YES!!!” to all of those questions, wouldn’t we?

Well, the author of Psalm 119 (some think it was King David, other scholars don’t), whoever he was, discovered the answer to those questions. And if you take the time to use the video link above, you’ll be able to see the lyrics to the God-inspired love song in Psalm 119, the psalm written by a man who had fallen in love with the power of God’s word to answer “YES” to the questions I posed above.

For example, … Psalm 119: 9-11 poses a question which I believe any Christian would want to answer, … i.e., how can we avoid sin in our lives? And it gives the answer, … a prescription, directly from God, to have power over our sin nature. And the answer?! … To bury God’s word deeply in our mind/heart so that we can have power to resist sin.

The Prophet Isaiah, writing for God (in Isaiah 55: 11), gave us God’s promise with regard to the power of His word; and that promise is almost overwhelming, … seemingly too good to be true! But in this instance something that seems TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, … actually is true. God’s word, i.e., His truth, will always produce God’s power when it’s used for His purposes and to give Him glory.

So, now it’s up to us, isn’t it?! If we believe what I’ve presented above, why aren’t we adopting the attitude of love that the author of Psalm 119 exhibits? Why aren’t we contextualizing, memorizing, and internalizing more of God’s word? Why don’t we use the Sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6: 18) in spiritual warfare more effectively?

Prayerfully we will go from here and follow God’s word more powerfully tomorrow than we have in the past. Because if we do, we will be more powerful Christians.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thank You for giving me Your power and peace from Your living word. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 9, 2014 … People Need The Lord

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 99

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Steve Green singing the poignant and powerful song, People Need the Lord, reminding us that anyone we pass today may need our Savior as their Lord.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Deuteronomy 12: 15, …19 [NKJV] …  
15 The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them; and He chose their descendants after them, you above all peoples, as it is this day. … 19 Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. …  
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Deuteronomy 10: 12-22 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Exodus 22: 21-22 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 5: 14-16 [NKJV] …  
4 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Reference Passage #3: John 13: 33-34 [NKJV] …  
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Reference Passage #4: Philippians 1: 27 [NKJV] …  
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, …

Reference Passage #5: Ephesians 4: 1-2 [NKJV] …  
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, …

My Journal for Today: In the Old Testament, God, through Moses [see highlight passages today from Our Daily Bread], instructed His people to show the same love to others that He, their Lord, had bestowed on His chosen people. And in the New Testament, Jesus and His Disciples trumpet this same message of God’s love being witnessed to anyone who was in need of a Savior. And, of course, that’s everyone.

I’ll not go on with a lot of words today. If you’ve taken in Steve Green’s song today [linked above] and the attached photo, as well as all of the Scripture references I’ve copied or linked above, I’m sure you’ll agree that everyone we encounter today, whether believers or not, need the Lord.

No, we cannot save them; … that’s God’s job. But we can do what Jesus commanded and Paul exhorted, and that’s to be the only light of Christ they may be able to see in this dark world.

Therefore, as Paul touted in Philippians 1 and Ephesians 4, copied above, we need to be worthy of God’s calling on our lives as Christians and as Jesus commanded in Matthew 5 and John 13 we must shine Christ’s light of love on any and all we may encounter.

So, as the old Nike ad slogan used to say, we should ”just do it!” 

My Prayer for Today … Lord, let my light of Your love shine today for any/all to see YOU. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 8, 2014 … Seeing Beyond Self

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 98

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing the poignant and powerful song, He’ll Do Whatever It Takes, reminding us that Jesus will do whatever it takes to transform us into the image of Himself when/if we’re willing to pursue that image by looking into His life and following Him.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: 2nd Corinthians 3: 18 [NKJV] …  
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: 2nd Corinthians 3: 7-18 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Exodus 33: 17-23 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] …  
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … "

Reference Passage #3: John 10: 27 [NKJV] … 
 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

Reference Passage #4: Philippians 1: 6 [NKJV] …  
6 … being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; …

Reference Passage #5: Galatians 5: 22-23 [NKJV] …  
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.

My Journal for Today: Have you ever looked into a flower (see attached photo), … or maybe a gorgeous sunset, … or maybe into the face of your first born, … or perhaps into the eyes of your beloved when his/her smile gives away indescribable joy? All of these, and other view points in life, I believe are God giving us glimpses of glory, … little visual snip-its of elements of life which go WAY beyond self and let us see a bit of what it’s going to be like in glory.

These are moments when we do what Jesus told His disciples they must do to follow Him [see Luke 9: 23]. And these moments encourage us when we see a bit of what following Christ is all about. They are like that moment (use the link to Exod. 33: 17-23 above) when God gave Moses just a little glimpse of Himself. He couldn’t let Moses look upon His face, because it would’ve been too much for Moses to behold. But when Moses beheld what he was allowed to see, it transformed Moses, even to the point of the prophet having to wear a veil later to cover what became of his countenance.

And in today’s highlight passage from 2nd Cor. 3: 7-11, the Apostle Paul writes that if just one glimpse of glory was enough to transform Moses, we can imagine how much more transformative getting to see Jesus can be. And this is how we can (and must) go beyond self to see as much of the Savior which God will give us, getting glimpses of glory to encourage us to want to want to see more of our Savior so that we’ll want His Spirit to transform us into the real deal of what we see in our Savior.

And that, my dear reader, is why you find me here everyday, delving into God’s major glimpse of glory, … His word. Because as I get to see more of Jesus and deny myself in the process; I get to partake more and more of Who He is; and that involves partaking of His fruit (see Gal. 5: 22-23).

Years, ago, a mentor told me that I would see these fruit of the Spirit mature and sweeten in my life more and more the more I pursued getting to know my Lord; and he led me to do that by doing all I could to know Him through His word. And my mentor was right. I’ve found that the more I get to know Christ via His word, the more He gives me glimpses of glory in my life; and the more I experience His fruitfulness.

What about you today, my friend? Do you want to see more of God’s glory and less of yourself? Do you want to taste more of His fruit in your life (see Gal. 5: 22-23) and less of the fruit of the flesh (see Gal. 5: 19-21)? Do you want to become more like THE ONE you follow? Well, join me in digging into His word each morning; and you’ll find He’s willing to show you more of His glory and to sample His fruit as you get to know Him more from His word.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thank you for providing me with THE WAY to see glimpses of Your glory, by getting to know You through Your word. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 7, 2014 … Reconciliation is Messy Business

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 97

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Sara Groves singing the poignant and powerful song, It’s Going To Be Alright, reminding Christians that it’s imperative that we mend broken relationships with the love of Christ
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Philippians 4: 2-3a [NKJV] …  
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, …
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Philippians 4: 1-9 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 14-16 [NKJV] …  
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven …”.

Reference Passage #2: John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] …  
34 ”… A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”…”.

Reference Passage #3: Philippians 4: 6-7 [NKJV] …  
5 Be anxious about nothing; but in everything, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Reference Passage #4: 1st Peter 5: 6-7 [NKJV] … 
 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

My Journal for Today: In case you haven’t noticed, relationships are messy.

From fellow readers here, do I sense, a loud, ”AMEN!!” !! 

Well, apparently the apostle Paul, who was writing – from prison - a letter of love to beloved fellow Christians in Philippi, had learned that there were two key believers in that congregation who were at odds; and knowing that they had both labored together with Paul in the past when he was in prison there in Philippi, Paul writes to exhort these two women, with the help of other key Christians there in Philippi, to reconcile their relationship and come together in the unity that they will only find in their relationship in Christ.

And this is a lesson we all need to learn; and the exhortations Paul was writing to beloved fellow believers in Philippi are lessons we all need to take to heart in our various churches and denominations today. Broken relationships, often between key church leaders, are at the heart of schisms and splits in many church congregations today; and they can lead to divisions which in turn can cause the Holy Spirit to snuff out the light of influence in that divided church. Paul realized this; and he wrote from prison that these two church laborers needed to heal their relationship with the help of their fellow believers; and they all needed to come together and find the joy that comes from unified relationships with the Lord in the body of Christ.

Paul had shown the Philippians that in their past they were TOGETHER. And he was exhorting them to come TOGETHER again and to find that same joy that they had shared - TOGETHER. Perhaps you note my redundancy of emphasis in that sentence. Really, we Christians need to do so much more to mend broken relationships and come TOGETHER in the relationship we ALL have in Christ. If we don’t repair broken relationships and remain humanly fragmented in the Church, we’ll never be able to do what Christ admonished His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (in Matthew 5: 14-16), … i.e., to shine Christ’s light – in unity – into a very dark, and ever darkening, world and to exhibit the love of God to non-believers if we cannot even do that to one another in the Church (see John 13: 34-35).

So, with whom do we need to reach out and rediscover the joy we have in our relationship with Christ in any broken relationships we have with other believers? And then TOGETHER, as fellow Christians, what do we need to do, as body of Christ … TOGETHER, ,,, to shine our light more brightly into this every darkening world? Certainly, following Paul’s exhortation to the church in Philippians 4: 1-9 would be a good start.

My Prayer for Today … Today, help me to do all I can to help fellow Christians to share in the love and joy we have in the relationship we have in You, Lord.. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 6, 2014 … I Choose Life!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 96

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a video of Phillips, Craig, and Death singing their song, I Choose To Believe, declaring our faith in Christ, trusting in His ways, even when we find ourselves having to make life/death decisions, finding it hard to see life in the face of deadly circumstances.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Deuteronomy 30: 19 [NKJV] …  
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; …
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Deuteronomy 30: 11-20 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Highlight Passage #2 [Context] – NKJV: Deuteronomy 32: 44-47 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 1-2 [NKJV] …  
1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

My Journal for Today: When Moses was the chosen prophet and leader of God’s people, God tried His best to get the simple choice before His chosen ones, which is the choice represented in this morning’s Our Daily Bread. The choice was life versus death … blessings versus curses [see the highlight passages from Deuteronomy linked above]. However, because of corrupted hearts (see Jeremiah 17: 9) and a fallen nature, God’s people, even with the stark life or death choice before them, so often chose to follow the selfish pattern of deathly defiance.

And here we are today, even with the ultimate life or death decision to make – i.e., YES or NO to Jesus – mankind still finds it hard to make the right choice. I’m not going to dwell on this with a long diatribe of verbosity, trying to get you to make the right choice. I pray that any who’re reading here have made that ultimate right choice for life and for a relationship with Christ, Who chose life over death when He set aside His glory – by choice – to become a man and to live/die and to be raised again that we might choose to have eternal life with Him.
  
Today I choose LIFE!!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I know that today I will be presented with many life/death … blessing/cursing decisions. Help me to make life choices, Lord! … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 5, 2014 … You-nique gifts & talents

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 95

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to see/hear a sequence from the movie, Amadeus, where Antonio Salieri is overwhelmed and jealous of the talent of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, showing us that God doesn’t always place His talents in mankind in the fashion we might like or consider fair.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Matthew 20: 16 [NKJV] …  
16 The last will be first, and the first last. For many are called; but few are chosen.
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Matthew 20: 1-16 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Isaiah 55: 8-9 [NKJV] …  
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Reference Passage #2 – NKJV: Matthew 25: 14-30 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #3– NKJV: Romans 12: 1-8 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #4: 1st Peter 4: 10 [NKJV] …  
10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Reference Passage #5: 1st Corinthians 12: 4-7 [NKJV] …  
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all …

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional reminded me of one of the themes of the movie, Amadeus, where the famed 18th Century composer Antonio Salieri was contracted by his king to compose a piece of music; and so, being a Christian, Salieri wanted it to honor God and his king when he brought his self-composed piece of music before the king’s court. But also present when the piece was introduce was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a young, upstart composer who upstaged the older, more famous Salieri in front of the King. The sequence is linked above for viewing; and it shows how God’s design on the distribution of His inspired talents/gifts is not always measured out in ways we see as “fair” or appropriate.

But as God prophesied through Isaiah (see Is. 55: 8-9 above), God’s ways are quite often obscure and passed out in ways that we have trouble understanding. Hence, a man like Salieri, who was dedicated to composing music for God’s glory, had trouble understanding and seeing so much God-inspired gifting in a care-free and ungodly merchant of music like Mozart.

But as emissaries of God’s will in our lives, we must do all we can to be stewards of the talents and gifts which the Lord has given each of us to use for His glory. Hence we read the admonishments and exhortations from Scripture above to use all that God has given us, … time, talents, and treasure, … for His glory (see the Parable of the Talents in Matt. 25: 14-30). And as Paul and Peter instructed the church (see the passages above), all Christians have been given special gifts within the body of Christ to use for the Body’s edification and power. It’s our job to discover our own, personal, God-given gifts and use them for God’s purposes.

So, as the old Nike commercial phrase posited, … Let’s … JUST DO IT!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, today, … may what I’ve written here from Your gifting be used for Your glory or for Your purposes. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 4, 2014 … Regular Maintenance

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 94

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear Queen Latifah singing the poignant and powerful song, Fix Me Jesus, … pleading for the Lord to fix what is broken our lives.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: John 1: 42 [NKJV] …  
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Psalms, Chapter 5 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Psalms 51: 17 [NKJV] …  
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart …

Reference Passage #2: Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] …  
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

My Journal for Today: Today my Our Daily Bread devotional segment reminded me of something my grandfather used to say about auto repair. He maintained that he would never own a Ford product because “F.O.R.D.” was an acronym for “Fix Or Repair Daily.” He had owned a lemon of a Ford car as his first auto; and besides the regular maintenance one would expect, this Ford apparently had to be fixed so often that my grandfather had it in for Ford cars.

Certainly any car that we own requires regular maintenance (see photo) to keep it in good, running condition; and our spiritual lives require much the same thing, especially these days in an age which puts so much pressure on our minds/hearts from Satan and the world. I’ve learned that if I don’t come here EVERY MORNING to maintain my Spirit by being with God in some quiet place with an attitude as is sung by Queen Latifah in today’s devotional son, my spiritual vehicle becomes vulnerable to break down.

My morning quiet times, where God’s truth does a check-up on my spirit; and praise, prayer, and supplication give me the peace I need for any day driving through life, are absolutely necessary to allow me to fix what is broken in my life.

So, here I am today, in spirit, singing along with my song today, Fix Me, Jesus, fix me!

My Prayer for Today … Yes, Lord, … fix me. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 3, 2014 … My Name is “William”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 93

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear the Christian singer Carmen, leading a live worship service and singing the poignant and powerful song, His Name is Wonderful , … reminding us that only in the Name of Jesus can we worship as Savior and LORD.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: John 1: 42 [NKJV] …  
42 Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: John, Chapter 1, Verses 35-42 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 16: 17-18 [NKJV] …  
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. …”

Reference Passage #2: Philippians 1: 6 [NKJV] …  
6 … being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; …

Reference Passage #3: Luke 4: 16-22 [NKJV] … Go to this link …

My Journal for Today: What’s in a name, anyway? … Good question; and having been given the name “William” at birth, studying the origin of my name, especially after I became a Christian, has always been a fascination for me.

My name, “William,” is of Germanic origin, with the name being “Wilhelm.” And at the heart of the name, is the translated meaning, “helmeted warrior.” Now, for sure, my parents, who gave me that name, had no idea that one day I’d be converted from a warrior against Christianity to an ordained Minister of the Gospel, who would become the founder of “Battle Plan Ministry,” which is a ministry on the front-lines of spiritual warfare, helping Christian men walk free from the self-induced imprisonment of habitual sexual sin [you can see more of this ministry at this link]. 

So these days, I can see that I follow in the warrior footsteps of other “Williams” in history, like William the Conqueror, the 11th Century Norman, from France, who became ruler in England. And there was William of Orange, the Dutch warrior who established the reign of the “House of Orange” in the Netherlands in the 16th Century. But my favorite warrior “William” was William Wallace, whom we know these days from the movie about his life 13th Century Scotland, where he fought against England, the oppressor of the Scots in those days. All of these “Williams” were helmeted warriors who lived up to the name “William.”

And here I am, having been given the name “William” at birth, who has become a leader in the warfare against Satan and the world, who’ve established a strong beachhead of hypersexuality, warring against the minds of mankind, especial MAN-kind, trying to enslave us in the prisons of p0rnography, prostitution, and pandering in sexual enterprise. And I recognize that God gave me the name, “William,” and has led me into the battle against the entrenchment of hypersexuality which Satan has established in the world.

Well, if you go to today’s Our Daily Bread for this date, at this link, you’ll see that Jesus gave His new disciple, Simon, son of Jonah, a new name to reflect who the Apostle would become one day; and that was “Cephas” or “Peter,” the rock of a leader in the early church. But from the time that Jesus renamed Peter, we know that this man, who was discipled by Jesus, was anything but “a rock,” wavering and wandering in his faith, even to the point of denying Jesus just before our Lord went to the cross.

But ultimately, what Jesus knew and gave Peter in a name became who this great early leader of the Church was, just as his Christ-given name … “the rock.” … referred. So, what kind of a name is God giving you as you become in the person God’s Spirit is renaming you. All I know is, now, I’m trying to live up to the name God has given me, “William,” a warrior, going to battle daily to free the prisoners of sexual sin; and show them the way to freedom. That was Jesus’ mission [see Luke 4: 16-22 linked above]; and it is mission of this “William” today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I wear Your helmet of salvation into battle today, as Your “William, a conqueror;” … and I do so wearing Your armor, carrying Your sword, and doing battle in Your Name. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 2, 2014 … Our Friend, Jesus!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 92

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear an anonymous praise group leading worship and singing the old hymn What A Friend We Have In Jesus, … praising our Lord, Jesus, for being our dearest friend.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Psalms 23: 4 [NKJV] …  
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Psalms, Chapter 23 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: John 15: 15 [NKJV] …  
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Reference Passage #2: 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …  
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

My Journal for Today: Are you a Facebooker?

Isn’t it incredible that I have over 500 “FRIENDS” on Facebook; but how many of them would you say are really my CLOSE friends? It’s really amazing that in these days of SOCIAL MEDIA we are inundated with many online APPS to connect us with other humans on the planet; yet, there are people with millions of Facebook “friends,” media icons, many of whom are seen daily with an entourage; and some of them commit suicide because they are without one really … good … friend.

But we go back and read in the Bible of two of the great believers, David, the shepherd boy and the Apostle Paul, … both of whom, for much of their lives, lived or traveled alone, in isolation, where trials/tribulations followed them; but they did not despair because each of them had a deep and abiding friendship with the living God.

David wrote one of his most famous songs (i.e., Psalms), Psalm 23 [linked above], when he was isolated, out in the desert, ALONE, watching over a herd of sheep. And we know he encountered attacks from bears and lions; and yet, he did not despair because, as we read in Psalm 23: 4, young David felt the strength of his friendship with the living God as he traversed through “the valleys of the shadow of death.”

And the Apostle Paul, as he wrote in 2nd Cor. 12: 9, when he, in isolation, encountered the pain of some “thorn” in his life, was comforted by his friendship with His Lord, realizing that Jesus would give him the strength to endure the pain of the moment.

My “friend,” and though in reading this you may not consider that I am one of those FRIENDS who’d die for you, … we, who identify ourselves as “CHRISTIANS,” do have a real, true, FRIEND. And He’s One Who has already died for us, saying, in John 15: 15, that He no longer considers us slaves. No, … our Lord and Savior, rather calls us, … His “FRIEND.”

And as the old southern gospel song rings true (see link above), What a friend we have in Jesus!”

My Prayer for Today … Oh, Lord, I’m overjoyed to know You as my Friend. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

April 1, 2014 … Giving Is The Heart

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 91

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear the group Hillsong, leading worship and singing Here I Am To Worship, … reminding us that worship is an attitude of sacrifice when we come to give the first fruits of our time, talents, and treasures for God’s glory and in remembrance of His sacrifice for us.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Exodus 35: 21 [NKJV] …
21 Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Exodus 35: 20-29 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Malachi 3: 10 [NKJV] …  
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 6: 33 [NKJV] …  
33 " ... Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you..”

Reference Passage #3: Romans 12: 1 [NKJV] …  
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Reference Passage #4: 2nd Corinthians 9: 6-7 [NKJV] …  
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

My Journal for Today: It has been said that the best way to measure the heart of a Christian is to look at his/her calendar and checkbook [or maybe now the online bank records]. Because in those records one could find the documentation of how that believer used his time and talents for God’s kingdom.

My Our Daily Bread devotional for today reminded me that God’s people, when they were given the opportunity to build a Temple for God brought their most precious treasures (see Exodus 35 linked above – and as depicted in the attached photo). And as I listened to the linked song today, the reference Scriptures on giving to God’s Kingdom bubbled up from my memory/consciousness.

I really don’t need to go into this in depth for any Christian who has the right attitude of worship through the giving of our time, talents, and treasures for God’s Kingdom, … do I? As I said by the title I gave for my blog today, … our giving is our heart of worship. So, I’ll leave it to you and God’s Spirit to determine whether your living sacrifices of time, talent, or treasure reflect what/how you should worship our Lord.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, may what we give to You reflect our attitude of worship for Your infinite sacrifice for us. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 31, 2014 … The Cost of the Water

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 90

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear Joseph Cheetham-Wilkinson, with a musical devotional on Fountains of Living Waters, … reminding us that Christ is the only One Who can provide the priceless gift of His living waters.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Romans 5: 18 [NKJV] …  
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.   
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Romans 5: 12-21 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 19: 21 [NKJV] …  
21 Jesus said to him [the rich, young ruler], “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Reference Passage #2: Revelation 5: 5-6 [NKJV] …  
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” … 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts….” 

My Journal for Today: Fifty years ago, when I was a young man, who would’ve thought that the Coca-Cola corporation would be making more money off of bottled water than they do off of Coke? But here we are with people willing to pay good money for water in bottles when perfectly good, clean water can be consumed by twisting the handle of a faucet; and there are more regulations on the cleanliness of tap water than there are on water consumed in bottles. …

GO FIGURE!!! 

It’s an interesting illustration of the fountains of living waters which can be freely consumed by anyone who is spiritually thirsty; and the price of those waters has been completely paid for by the infinitely expensive sacrifice of the Lamb of God. And Jesus, as that One Who explained to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19: 21 [above], … any of us who desire to consume God’s living waters have to be willing to give our all to receive those pre-paid, costliest of all, living waters. The question is, “Are we willing to sacrifice, in surrendered faith, our belief in Christ’s grace to partake of those waters which give eternal life, … those waters which were purified and paid for by Christ’s blood sacrifice on the cross?”

He is saying to anyone, “Come, … drink, … and live!!”   But can we partake of His free gift of the living waters with the cost of our faith? … It’s His gift, … and our choice to drink or not!

My Prayer for Today … I choose to drink from Your fountain, Lord! … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 30, 2014 … Blessed Are The Meek

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 89

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear the group, London Fox Singers, singing the old hymn Meekness and Majesty, … reminding us that we must serve our Lord in Christlike meekness.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Matthew 5: 5 [NKJV] …  
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Matthew 5: 1-10 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 11: 29 [NKJV] …  
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Reference Passage #2: Galatians 5: 22-23 [NKJV] …  
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.

Reference Passage #3: Ephesians 4: 1- 2a [NKJV] …  
22 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, …

Reference Passage #4: Colossians 3: 12-13 [NKJV] …  
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

My Journal for Today: Could I get a strong “Amen!” to the assertion that all real Christians desire to be reshaped and reformed into Christlikenss. Don’t you want to be more like Jesus today than you were yesterday; or even more tomorrow than you are today? Of course, you do!

Well, if you were going to start today to SERIOUSLY pursue CHRISTLIKENESS, where would a good place be to launch this reshaping process? Wouldn’t it be trying to see how Christ described Himself? Of course it would be.

Just look no further than in Matthew 11: 29, which is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus uses adjectives to describe Himself; and He says that His heart is MEEK (sometimes translated “gentle”) and HUMBLE (sometimes called “lowly”). And these two qualities go together like fraternal twins. But let’s just focus on the one quality of “meekness” or “gentleness” from today’s Our Daily Bread discussion.

“Meekness” is not exactly a personal characteristic which our western culture embraces very strongly. All too often it is equated with “weakness;” and we, especially us males, more often desire to become strongly independent or controlling leaders, rather than to shrink into the Western-world concept of being “MEEK.” But that’s a mischaracterization of what the Greeks meant with their concept of “praos” (i.e., meek) or “praotes” (i.e. meekness), which is how Jesus, Himself, or later, the Apostle Paul, used these descriptive terms in the passages quoted above.

Actually, in the English language, “meekness” had an older connotation of “power brought into control,” much as the old English phrase “meeking a wild beast,” which meant, as in the attached photo, bringing a strong animal, like a horse, under control. When we think of Jesus being meek, it’s not hard to see that His self description of “meekness” was totally appropriate from the Greek; because here was GOD in the flesh, able to call down legions of Angels at any time; He was being marched unjustly to the cross; but He “meekly” and “humbly” went to His death so that we all could have eternal life.

And when we’re willing to control our human desire for independence and control, and submit our will to God’s will, we are letting that fruit of the Spirit, “meekness” (see Gal. 5: 23) predominate over our human default of strongly trying to control a situation. And that is the pursuit of CHRISTLIKENESS.

So, today, let’s do all we can to be more like Jesus; and … let’s shine his light of MEEKNESS as we move through our day today, yielding our will to His.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, give me more of Your meekness as I encounter life today. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 29, 2014 … Shining Our Light - Every Day

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 88

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear the group, Katrina and the Wave, singing the encouraging song, Let Your Love Shine A Light, … reminding us that we, as Christians, are to shine the light of Christ into a darkened world so that others can see that light and flock to it as do moths to a night light.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: 1st Peter 2: 11-12 [NKJV] …  
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: 1st Peter 2: 4-12 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 14-16 [NKJV] …  
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. …” 

Reference Passage #2: Philippians 2: 14-16 [NKJV] …  
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

My Journal for Today: Today my Our Daily Bread devotional reminded me of a bright light which used to shine in my life every morning as a young boy; and today’s attached photo was one segment of that light.

For many years in my youth I was a paperboy, delivering the morning paper to about a hundred customers in my Indiana home town. And EVERY MORNING, very early, when we gathered at the place to get our papers, I would open the “funnies” (i.e., the cartoon section) to read through several of the comic strips; and my favorite was always “Charlie Brown,” which, of course, was penned by Charles Schultz. And each year just before the American football season, he would have a cartoon involving Charlie Brown and little Lucy, where Lucy would hold out a football and con Charlie into running up to kick the ball; but Lucy would ALWAYS take the ball away, leaving poor, gullible, Charlie sprawled on the ground having missed the ball. And each year I would wonder why would Charlie always fall for Lucy’s sweet talk? But Charlie Brown’s innocent forgiveness and desire to see the best in Lucy really was a light shining in the darkness of my human cynicism.

I really think Charles Schultz had an impact on my character with that little light of a cartoon strip; because I became a Charlie Brown, … gullible to a fault, … willing to try to find the best in people, … and always willing to forgive the faults in others, … maybe even going overboard in the latter. And that’s why you find me here EVERY MORNING now, digging in to God’s word and believing it with the naïveté of a Charlie Brown, searching for ways to become more like Christ and to follow His commands to shine His light into an every darkening world (see the Scriptural citations above and the linked song).

I’m sure others would see me as very naïve in my willingness to forgive people who’ve done me wrong over and over and over again. But since my Savior once told Peter he must be willing to forgive others “seventy-times-seven” (which meant “forever” in the colloquial Greek); and since my Savior told His disciples to shine their light of Christlikeness brightly into this world, I figure I should do all I can by blogging here every morning to do just that.

And like Lucy, you may pull the ball away from me and even disappoint me terribly again and again; but I pray that I’ll be there next fall if you want me to try to kick that ball again.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, give me the courage to forgive those who’ve wronged me and the meekness to ALWAYS try to see the best in others, shining Your light of love for all to see You in me and not me in me. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 28, 2014 … Waiting Patiently

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 87

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear John Waller singing the poignant and powerful song, While I’m Waiting, … reminding us to patiently wait on God and to serve Him obediently while we’re waiting.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Psalms 130: 5-6 [NKJV] …  
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. 6 My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning — yes, more than those who watch for the morning.  
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Psalms 130 [NKJV] … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Isaiah 8: 17 [NKJV] …  
17 And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; and I will hope in Him.

Reference Passage #2: Isaiah 40: 31 [NKJV] …  
31 But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Reference Passage #3: Lamentations 3: 22-23 [NKJV] …  
22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Reference Passage #3: Romans 12: 12 [NKJV] … [Paul exhorted Christians to be … ]  
12 .... rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; …

My Journal for Today: Fellow Christian … have you even been in a place in your life where you were praying and praying for some help from God; but your patience just didn’t seem to be rewarded with a clear, positive “YES” from God? I’d almost bet that you’ve been there, done that, and have the t-shirt on that one. I certainly have.

But as the attached photo, the linked song, and all of today’s passages from God’s word exhort, … we, who rest our hope – really our only hope – in Christ, must wait … and then wait some more.

That’s what the Psalmist did in today’s highlight passage. It’s what Isaiah did as God’s people were continually failing to wait in obedience to God. It’s what Paul exhorted the church in Rome to do in spite of all the persecution they were experiencing. And it’s what God says – rather loudly I might add – to me today as I pray once more, as I have for years, for my sister to be saved, for God to heal a friend to be delivered from his addiction to p0rn, and for … well, you fill in the blank with your long-term prayer need.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, we wait patiently on Your mercy, knowing that it’s new every morning. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 27, 2014 … Holy Spirit, Rain Down

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 86

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  If you’re reading here, I BEG YOU to go to this video link to hear Hillsong, leading in worship, and singing the poignant and powerful song, Holy Spirit, Rain Down, … pleading for God’s Spirit to pour over His worshippers with God’s love, mercy, and grace. Let this beautiful song cleanse and give you God’s love through His Spirit.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Titus 3: 5 [NKJV] …  
According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.  
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Titus 3: 1-11 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: John 14: 15-17 [NKJV] …  
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

Reference Passage #2: Ephesians 2: 8-10 [NKJV] …  
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Reference Passage #3: 1st John 1: 9 [NKJV] …  
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

My Journal for Today: I hope you’ve taken the time to use the song link above and hear the group Hillsong leading in worship as they sing the song Holy Spirit, Rain Down, especially as you take in the attached photo and meditate on the highlight and reference Scriptures which were brought to my consciousness this morning in my quiet time with God.

Oh how we, who are born-again in Christ, need to realize that we’ve been sealed by God’s Spirit and that He dwells in the hearts of all true believers, pouring out His cleansing grace to provide us with His enrichment, encouragement, enlightenment, enablement, and empowerment.  

Do you get all of that?

God’s Spirit is pouring out in the hearts of Christians to do all of the following reminded by Our Daily Bread today … "God’s Holy Spirit gives us access to abundant spiritual life in Christ. When we accept Christ as Lord, God washes our sins away (1st John 1:9) and renews us “by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:5-6). And once we know Christ, the Holy Spirit helps us experience God’s love (Rom. 5:5), understand God’s Word (John 14:26), pray (Rom. 8:26), and abound in hope (Rom. 15:13).” 

So, be cleansed and renewed today by God’s Holy Spirit, Who has sealed and sanctified us for what we’ll face today.

My Prayer for Today …Holy Spirit, rain down!!! … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 26, 2014 … Out of Chaos

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 85

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear an anonymous praise chorus singing the traditional hymn Peace, Peace …. Wonderful Peace, … reminding us that peace in our lives can only come if granted and brought into our lives from God.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Titus 3: 1, 2 [NKJV] …  
1 Remind them … 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.  
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Exodus 8: 1-19 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] …  
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.… 

Reference Passage #2: Philippians 4: 6-7 [NKJV] …  
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Reference Passage #2: Revelation 3: 20 [NKJV] …  
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

My Journal for Today: The refrain of today’s song link is from the old, traditional hymn, Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace; and the refrain goes as follows …  

Peace, peace, wonderful peace, 
Coming down from the Father above! 
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray 
In fathomless billows of love! 

The hymn reminded me that real peace in our lives can only really come from God. Oh, we may try to create peace out of the chaos and often confusion of life with analgesics, other, more potent drugs, and pleasure seeking, such as p0rnography. However, all attempts by mankind to erase or medicate the anxieties or chaos of life will come to naught without a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.

I can recall some years earlier when I was sitting on a bench on a point near Kentucky Lake watching the sun come up on a chilly November morning (see the attached photo which I took and now share from that morning); and I realized that the peacefulness of that scene could never be duplicated by any man-made substance or experience. No, … only God could produce that kind of peace; and I was able to experience it because I was responding to the truth of Isaiah 26: 3 or Philippians 4: 6-7, as well as Revelation 3: 20 [see above]. I was allowing myself to surrender all my cares to God and to let Him guard my heart/mind with His inexplicable peace.

If you’re reading along with me today, you, like me, probably are being engulfed by the tyranny of the urgent, the demands of this world, or the ploys of Satan to divert our attention away from our relationship with Christ or the disciplines of the faith. Your mind may be saying to you, “It’s okay to skip being with God in prayer or in His word today!” … But, my friend, we must know that the only way we can have a credible claim on peace in our lives is to respond to Jesus’ invitation [see Rev. 3: 20] as He knocks on the door of our consciousness, desiring to come in and fellowship with us, … giving us the only peace we’ll ever find, wrapped up in that closeness of His presence.

So, I don’t know about you, but I’m going to open the door and let Him in today. … How about you?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I hear You, knocking on the door of my heart. Come on in; and let’s dine together today. I desire a big share of the peace that only You can provide. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 25, 2014 … Christ, …The Center

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 84

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear Israel Houghton and the group New Breed singing Jesus At The Center, … reminding us that we’re not the center of our personal universe … that He, Jesus, must be our center … our life’s focus.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Psalms 33: 11  [NKJV] …  
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Psalms 33: 6-19 [NKJV] … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 6: 33 [NKJV] …  
33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness …

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] …  
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 

Reference Passage #3: Galatians 2: 20 [NKJV] …  
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. …

My Journal for Today: In Rev. Rick Warren’s immensely popular book, The Purpose Driven Life the first sentence reads, ”It’s not about you,” referring to the reality that life is all about Christ and following Him (see Matt. 6: 33 and Luke 9: 23) should be the focus of our life.

And in today’s highlight passage (from Psalm 33) a psalmist expresses a truth which allows us to cast our anchor of faith into the Rock, Who is our Lord. When all is confusing and falling and swirling about in our life, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. And in Him our flesh can be crucified, hence the attached photo depicting Christ at the cross being the center of our being (see Galatians 2: 20); and He calls us to deny our very human selves to follow Him (again see Matt. 6: 33 and Luke 9: 23).

So, who will be the center of our personal universe today? Will it be our self or the Savior?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, be my Center! … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

March 24, 2014 … Telling Our Story

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 83

Devotional Song: Go to this link …  Please go to this video link to hear an anonymous gospel quartet singing the old hymn I Love To Tell The Story, … encouraging us to share our story of God’s life-changing gospel transformation.
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Highlight Passage – NKJV: Acts 1: 8 … 19b [NKJV] …  
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
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Highlight Passage [Context] – NKJV: Acts 1: 1-11 [NKJV] Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 28: 19-20 [NKJV] …  
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

My Journal for Today: A little over 30 years ago I was a self-declared “agnostic,” who was searching for spiritual strength; and a friend loaned me a cassette tape to hear a story about a young man who became paralyzed in a football accident; and in this story his football coach told of the young man finding his strength in his relationship with Christ.

Well, hearing that story of a young quadriplegic witnessing to strength in the midst of his weakness changed my life forever; because here I am writing a bit of my story and how I found the strength I was looking for by hearing a story and surrendering my life to Christ on April 13, 1983.

I love to relate that story, with more detail, of course, because when I do, I can relive how Jesus, through His Spirit, transformed my life. And I have told the story many, many, many times since then; and in doing so, I’ve seen the lives of many others change by using my witness, empowered by His Spirit, to transform the lives of others.

But what if, like in the photo attached, I was unwilling to witness for Christ as our Lord Himself commanded us to do in the highlight verse for today, Acts 1: 8, … the words of Jesus to His disciples just before He ascended into heaven after the resurrection.

Yes, my friend, along with the Great Commission, found in Matthew 28, copied above, we have our marching orders as Christians, don’t we? We’re to be witnesses for Christ, telling our story to others so that God carry out His disciple-making mission in the world. And it’s God’s promise that, when we do tell the old-old story (hear today’s song), He will use HIS power to change the lives of others who hear it.

So, if you knew that a life could be changed for eternity even today by simply sharing your story about how Jesus has changed your life, why then don’t we go and share our witness with others?

I’ll leave you to deal with that one as I am dealing with the challenge today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, give me the opportunity to share my story – no, I mean Your story with someone today. … Amen

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 [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK  on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.