October 11, 2014 … Transformation Power

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 284

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of the group Hillsong, leading in worship, singing the classic hymn I Surrender All, declaring the secret to the power of God’s Spirit in our lives - and that is total surrender

Highlight Passage: 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. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Romans 12: 1-8 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Our power to resist the world as living sacrifices in God’s family …

Reference Passage #1: Matthew 22: 34-37 - Note vs 37 [NKJV} …
  34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” … 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ [Deut. 6: 5] 

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 - NKJV: 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Surrendering to the power of God’s truth with change one’s life and could change the world …

Reference Passage #4 - NKJV: 2nd Peter 1: 2-4 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … We have all the power we need to be transformed into Christlikeness

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, refers to another author as he writes … Educator and best-selling author Tony Wagner is a firm believer in “disruptive innovation” that changes the way the world thinks and works. In his book Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, he says, “Innovation occurs in every aspect of human endeavor,” and “most people can become more creative and innovative—given the right environment and opportunities.” 

And that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul was teaching to the Church in Rome [and to us as modern day Christians] when he wrote in today’s highlight verses - under the inspiration of God in today’s highlight passages - about the power of total surrender - as a “living sacrifice” - to God’s will and His way through His word, which gives the Christian the power to resist the way of the world and the leadings of Satan, … transforming us … “by the renewing of our minds” … with all the power we need into Christlikeness (see 2nd Peter 1: 2-4, linked above).

 The question is, … in our current world (i.e., culture), are we willing to go into surrender mode to God’s Spirit to capture the power that God offers to become more like Christ tomorrow than today and more like Him today than yesterday? 

That’s God’s plan for me (and for you); and I, for one, plan to surrender to it!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … I surrender all … prayerfully more today than yesterday … and even more tomorrow !! 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, 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.

October 10, 2014 … Hula Hooping

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 283

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Kristyn Getty singing her husband Keith’s song By Faith, declaring that it is faith which moved the Church to accomplish God’s design in this world.

Highlight Passage: Mark 6: 34 [NKJV] …
  34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Mark 6: 30-44 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus shows how depending on God is where the “action” is …

Reference Passage #1: 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 #2 - NKJV: Matthew 11: 28-30 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Jesus - On resting in the Lord to do what HE needs done …

Reference Passage #3 - NKJV: Galatians 6: 7-10 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul - On how to get God’s work done - especially note verse 9

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Julie Ackerman Link, uses an illustration from her youth to teach how doing the work of God should be done. And the author tells of her learning how to use a hoola-hoop when she was a girl, learning that it wasn’t frantic action which kept the plastic ring spinning. No, it was quietly using a correct motion which did the trick, … action which relied on technique, rather than wild, self-directed, physical motions. 

And Jesus taught a similar lesson to His inner 12 Disciples as well, when they were surrounded by thousands of hungry followers on a hill near Capernaum. Jesus’ Disciples were frantically trying to figure out how to feed all the hungry people; and the Lord showed them that faith in God and just a few loaves and fishes would be enough to feed them all with food left over. Again this truth was also taught by what Kristyn Getty sings in the song link today. It’s “BY FAITH” we move to glorify God - not be just doing things our own way.

 Once again, it doesn’t take a doctorate in theology or a Ph.D. in physics to get the lesson God is teaching through His word here today. Paul taught it simply in the link above from Galatians 6: 9, when he wrote - “ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. “ And we’ll always avoid such weariness in doing God’s work when we follow His commands from Luke 9: 23 and Matthew 11: 28-30, referenced above. If we just avoid trying to do the work in our own power and - IN FAITH - follow God’s way, we’ll get the work done for God’s glory.

 Okay, … what can we do to keep the hoola-hoop going today while doing God’s work - HIS WAY?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Let me follow You and do Your work, Your way 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, 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.

October 9, 2014 … Our Overcomer

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 282

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing All Is Well, declaring the truth that Christ has made all things well, … not matter what we face in this life … “Death has died and all is well!!!” … HALLELUJAH and PTL!!!

Highlight Passage: John 16: 33 [NKJV} …
  33 “… In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: John 16: 25-33 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus trying to calm His disciples in their fearful moments

Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 23: 7 [NKJV} …
  7 As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. 

Reference Passage #2 - NKJV: Isaiah 26: 1-4 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  God, thru Isaiah prophesies of the ultimate peace - especially in verse 3 …

Reference Passage #3 - NKJV: Matthew 11: 28-30 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus - On where to go for peace in our lives

Reference Passage #4 - NKJV: Philippians 4: 11-13 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul - On where to find contentment and strength in our weakness

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dennis Fisher, tells his readers (and that’s me) about an attitude which can help all Christians to deal with the challenges of life. And Fisher refers to an illustration used by C.S. Lewis in his book, God In The Dock. Fisher writes, quoting Lewis …
  “Imagine a set of people all living in the same building. Half of them think it is a hotel, the other half think it is a prison. Those who think it a hotel might regard it as quite intolerable, and those who thought it was a prison might decide that it was really surprisingly comfortable.” Lewis cleverly used this contrast between a hotel and a prison to illustrate how we view life based on our expectations. He says, “If you think of this world as a place intended simply for our happiness, you find it quite intolerable; think of it as a place of training and correction and it’s not so bad.” 

In other words, Fisher is contending that it’s how we choose to view life which will dictate how we live [see the Proverbs 23: 7 truth above]; and this teaching comes through in multiple passages, some of which I’ve copied or linked above. Jesus certainly taught this perspective in his Upper Room Discourse to a very fearful group of Disciples as their Lord was heading to the cross (see the John 16 highlight passage above). … God taught it through Isaiah in the Old Testament (see the Isaiah 26: 3 link above), teaching that it is the believer who focuses on their relationship with God who finds peace in life. … The Apostle Paul, in teaching on contentment in life, indicated that he had learned that in all the tough times, he could find strength in his relationship with Christ (see the Phil. 4: 10-13 link).

 So, my question (yours as well) today is, “HOW DO WE SEE LIFE?” Do we see life, as C.S. Lewis writes, through eyes of selfishness and punishment; or do we see it as the place where we’re being prepared for greatness and glory by the challenges of life? Because how we see this life will have a lot to do with how we prepare for the next life.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Help me to see YOU in the midst of my trials; and allow me to be Your overcomer in this life. 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, 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.

October 8, 2014 … Impatiently Waiting

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 281

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Laura Story singing one of my favorites of hers - Blessings, declaring the truth of how we Christians so often pray for God’s mercies; but we either are not willing to wait on God or we don’t recognize His “blessings” when they come our way.

Highlight Passage: Psalm 62: 1, … 5 [NKJV} …
1 Truly my soul silently waits for God; … From Him comes my salvation. ... 
5 My soul, waits silently for God alone, … For my expectation is from Him. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Psalm 62: 1-8 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  David sings of waiting silently and patiently on God

Reference Passage #1 - NKJV: Psalm 37: 7-9 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Rest and wait patiently !!! … Well, at least try!!

Reference Passage #2 - NKJV: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Good advice from Solomon to his son and all believers
 
Reference Passage #3: Job 35: 14 … [NKJV]
  14 Although you say you do not see Him, … Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.

Reference Passage #4: Philippians 3: 20… [NKJV]
  20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, … 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by C.P. Hia, reminded me today of a common Christian conundrum; and that is learning, through discipleship, to wait on God. As Laura Story sings, in the song to which I’ve linked readers today, we often even have trouble recognizing God’s blessings in the here-and-now anyway; let alone to wait for them??? That waiting business is often way tough for those of us who now have gourmet tastes and live in a McDonalds culture.

 We want - and too often EXPECT - things to come to us faster, FASTER, and EVEN FASTER!!. And unfortunately this attitude carries over into our expectations from our relationship with God and our prayer life. Common; be honest! … We want it NOW from God, don’t we? But very, VERY often God has a timetable which is not to our liking or expectations; and He will have us waiting, many times for months, if not years, for HIS timing and HIS will to transpire. And then when He moves or provides, as Laura Story sings in her song, we often don’t even recognize God’s blessings when they come our way.

 My wife often contends that in my basket of Spirit-given fruit [see Galatians 5: 22-23], the fruit of “patience” is the most unripened of God’s fruit in my life. And she’s right! So, today I’m duly convicted to let God’s timing be HIS, rather than me trying to impose my timed expectations on my Lord.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Your will be done … In Your time! 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, 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.

October 7, 2014 … Flying God’s Flag

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 280

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing one of my favorites of theirs - I Want To Be Just Like You, declaring the truth of how we Christians should live … just like Jesus

Highlight Passage: Ephesians 5: 1-2 [NKJV} …
  1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Ephesians 5: 1-13 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul teaches the church on being imitators of Christ


Reference Passage #1 - NKJV: Matthew 5: 14-16 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus - On shining God’s light for all to see Him in us

Reference Passage #2: 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.” 

Reference Passage #3 - NKJV: Philippians 2 : 5-11 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  See verse 5 as to the exhortation to have a mind like Christ’s

Reference Passage #4 - NKJV: Galatians 5: 16-23 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Walking in the Spirit produces His fruitfulness

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Joe Stowell, uses an interesting story illustration to show how we need to be flying the flag of Christ in our lives for all to see Him in residence. The story goes like this … “ Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over the British Empire for more than 60 years. Her monarchy has been characterized by grace and class. She has diligently given her life to serve her people well, and as a result she is deeply loved and highly revered. So, you can understand the importance of the flag flying above Buckingham Palace. When the flag is flying, it means that she is in residence in the heart of London. The flag is a public statement that the queen is present with her people. " 

In other words, today’s attached photo asks the operant question - "Are we flying the flag of the Christ in us as we live to shine His light into a very dark world and so that those who see us will see the radiance of Christ shining through us."

I hope you take a few minutes and take in the YouTube video to which I’ve linked you above. It’s my favorite Christian group singing one of my favorites of their songs, … which brings out the image to which all Christians should aspire … that of having the mind of Christ and living as He lived so that all - especially our kids - can see Christ shining forth from the way we live.

 So, inspired and convicted by today’s OBD entry, I ask … Are we going to fly the flag of Christ in all we think, say, and do today?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Shine, Jesus, shine forth in my 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, 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.

October 6, 2014 … A FROGGY DAY

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 279

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of the Maranatha Singers leading Promise Keepers in the old hymnOh God Our Help in Ages Past, declaring that our only hope is God through all generations

Highlight Passage: Jeremiah 20: 12-13 [NKJV} … Jeremiah relying on God  …
  12 But, O Lord of hosts,… You Who test the righteous and see the mind and heart. Let me see Your vengeance on them; for I have pleaded my cause before You. 13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor From the hand of evildoers. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Jeremiah 20: 1-13 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jeremiah prophesies to God’s people as to their downfall

Reference Passage #1 - NKJV: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Hope you know this one by heart … from Solomon to his son … truth as to trusting in God

Reference Passage #2: Jeremiah 1: 19 … [NKJV]
  19 They will fight against you, … But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.” 

Reference Passage #3 - NKJV: John 14: 15-18 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus’ promise of His “paraklete” … His Spirit as our forever helper

Reference Passage #4: John 16: 33 … [NKJV]
  33 “ … These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 

Reference Passage #5: Romans 15: 13… [NKJV]
  13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Jennifer Schuldt, took her readers (among them, me) back to the Old Testament prophesies of that “weeping prophet,” Jeremiah, … when he was charged to bring the bad news to Judah that they were about to be overrun by the Babylonians. Jeremiah was persecuted severely for his prophesies; and he lamented having even been born; … but even more to be the bearer of God’s bad news. Yet, in spite of the anguish and his own pain, he trusted in his God; and he went forward to carry God’s news to His peoples.

 Oh how much more we have been given through God’s truth to be God’s messengers; … but now, as Jesus spoke to His disciples in the John 14 & 16 passages above, our Lord, Who is, as the Maranatha singers sing in the above linked song, our help in ages past - AND PRESENT - has sent us His helper, His comforter, His “paraklete,” … the Holy Spirit, … so that, as Jeremiah trusted Him to deliver God’s people, so we can trust in our Lord for deliverance no matter what we face.

 Today’s attached photo may be over the edge with it’s levity; but I do hope we all take in all God gave me to share today; and then we take these truths and rely on God IN ALL THINGS. Let’s go out and have a “F.R.O.G.” day (“… Forever Relying On God!!!).

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Relying on You in all things!! 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, 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.

October 5, 2014 … Love Sweet Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 278

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Jackie DeShannon singing Bert Bacharach’s classic What the World Needs Now is Love, declaring Christ’s forever message of His love being witnessed to a love-starved world.

Highlight Passage: John 10: 11 [NKJV} … In a disposable culture, PTL for His everlasting love and mercy …
  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. …” 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: John 10: 7-18 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus - our “Good Shepherd”

Reference Passage #1: 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.” 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dave Branon, related a personal experience to illustrate the main point of his ODB entry today. The Story goes like this …
"While traveling on a road from Glasgow to Edinburgh, Scotland, I was enjoying the beautiful, pastoral countryside when a rather humorous sight captured my attention. There, on a small hilltop, was a rather large flock of pink sheep. I know that sheep owners mark their animals with dots of spray paint to identify them—but these sheep really stood out. The owner had fully covered every animal with pink coloring; and everyone knew to whom those sheep belonged." 

Branon then referred to the passage about the “Good Shepherd” in John 10, linked above, to highlight the need for Christians to take on the “mark” or “color” of love to be identifiable in the world as one of the “Good Shepherd’s” flock.

 If any reader, here with me today, takes in the attached photo, listen to the old Jackie DeShannon hit from 1965, and then meditates on the Scriptures above, it doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to discern God’s truth here. We Christians need to be doing WAY MORE of what Jesus commanded in John 13: 34-35, don’t we? Pure and simple … more of His love for a love-starved world.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … Let me be an instrument of Your love 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, 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.

October 4, 2014 … Love and Mercy Forever

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 277

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Michael W Smith leading worship and singing Forever, declaring the forever of God’s mercy, love, and grace.

Click on photo to read text - 

then on "X" [upper right] to return to blog 

Highlight Passage: Psalm 136: 1 [NKJV} … In a disposable culture, PTL for His everlasting love and mercy …
  1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Psalm 136: 1-9; 23-26 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … YES, … God’s love and mercy endure forever !!!
============

Reference Passage #1: 2nd Chronicles 7: 3, 6 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  YES, … God’s love and mercy endure forever !!!

Reference Passage #2: Psalm 106: 1 … [NKJV]
  1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

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. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Bill Crowder, remind his readers - mostly Christians like me - that we live in a “Disposable Culture,” which is the title of his ODB entry today. And I would say that we’d all likely say a resounding “AMEN” to his contention. Right now if we checked our trash containers, even if we’re recycling stuff, we’d find all manner of throw away stuff, … plastic bags, cardboard boxes, empty soda cans, and the like. Yes, ours is a world of disposables.

 BUT - and this one is an enormous “but” - we serve an absolutely unchangeable, FOREVER, God. And that is what the author[s] of Psalms 106 and 136 was/were trying to declare … that God’s love and mercy endure forever. And by going to the reference passage of 2nd Chronicles 6, 3, 6, these truths from these Psalms were declared when God’s Temple was dedicated unto a forever God. And it’s the message of the great Prophet, Jeremiah, in his book of Lamentations (see Lam. 3: 22-23 copied above).

 Hence, what are our conclusions from today’s mediation? Though we live in a disposable world, we live for an ABSOLUTELY INDISPOSABLE, everlasting God; and truly, we can trust in our God because His love and mercies endure forever. … Revel in that today!!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … even today Your love abounds and Your mercies are new for 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, 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.

October 3, 2014 … My Ministry of Light

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 276

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of Don Moen leading worship and singing Shine Jesus Shine, declaring the worship of the Living God in our lives as Christians by shining the glory of God as His light into the darkness of this world.

Highlight Passage: 2nd Corinthians 4: 5-6; 11-12 [NKJV} … We now have the light of Christ’s Gospel to shine in this ever darkening world …
 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. … 
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: 2nd Corinthians 3: 7-17; 4: 1-12 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … The ministry of God’s Spirit gives us His Light to shine in our lives where the veil of darkness is lifted
============

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. … “ 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, remind his readers - mostly Christians like me - of our Gospel ministry charge to carry out Christ’s commission to His followers to shine His light of life into a world darkened by death. You can read McCasland’s ODB devotional by using the ODB link below.

Normally, I’m a wordy blogger - probably too wordy! But if you take in today’s attached photo, the worship/devotional song, and the highlight and reference scriptures, surely you’ll be convicted, as was I, to go out and do all I can to shine the Light of Christ, which has been implanted in my life by God’s Spirit when Jesus became my Lord and Savior. That is my prayer today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … may I be a light bearer, even today, of Your glory in this ever darkening world. 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, 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.

October 2, 2014 … Peace in the Storm

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 275

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of a popular rendition of Lawrence Chewing’s, The Anchor Holds, with his lyrics, declaring and reminding believers that our anchor of faith is affixed to the solid rock of Christ, Who always is in control of the storms of life.

Highlight Passage: Mark 4: 39 [NKJV} … Remembering Christ with our communion table…
  39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Mark 4: 35-41 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … … Jesus calms the raging storm in the boat with His disciples …
============

Reference Passage #1: Psalm 9: 9-10 … GO TO THIS LINK … [NKJV]  … Our anchor of faith always holds in the storms of life when it’s affixed to the ROCK of Ages …

Reference Passage #2: Proverbs 3: 5-6 … GO TO THIS LINK … [NKJV]  … The question always is … DO WE REALLY TRUST in the One Who controls the storms of life?

Reference Passage #3: 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 #4: 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. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Poh Fang Chia, reminds us of THE ROCK to which we affix our anchor of faith, especially when we face the storms of life.

 To illustrate this truth and stability in the rough storms of life, the ODB author uses one of my favorite stories in the Gospels, … that of Jesus sleeping in the back of boat, found in Mark, Chapter 4 [linked above]. And as you probably know, The Disciples, in stark terror, due to a raging storm, awaken Jesus, Who, recognizing their lack of faith in Him, rebukes the storm, allowing His followers a glimpse of His power over the very waves for which He is their Creator.

 The attached photo, depicting this story, was painted by a friend of ours, Dave McGraw; and it hangs in our living room, reminding us every day of how our faith and trust in our Lord will never forsake us; because that faith is solidly affixed to the One Who ALWAYS has power over His own creation; … yes, even the raging storms of life.

 So, the ODB devotional and I, today in this blog, ask the obvious questions … Do we really have our anchor of faith affixed to the Rock of Ages; … and does our faith calm the raging storms of life as it should?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … My anchor is set deeply in You 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, 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.

October 1, 2014 … Rituals

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 274

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see/hear a video of the group Hillsong, singing Here I Am To Worship, declaring the need of all Christians to choose our worship of the Lord Who gave us His New Covenant of eternal life.

Highlight Passage: 1st Corinthians 11: 23-24 [NKJV} … Remembering Christ with our communion table…
  23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: 1st Corinthians 11: 23-34 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …    Instructions from Paul to the Church on the #1 Christian ritual …
============

Reference Passage #1: Mark 14: 22-26 … GO TO THIS LINK … [NKJV]  … institutes the New Covenant Supper in the Upper Room …

Reference Passage #2: Luke 22: 14-23 … GO TO THIS LINK … [NKJV]  … The Lord’s Supper begins - Luke’s account …

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Julie Ackerman Link, reminded her readers [that’s me] of the importance of certain family rituals which become important to remember the loving relationships we have in our family.

 And the author’s illustration reminded me of one loving ritual which two of our grandchildren have EVERY TIME they come to visit their Oma and PawPaw. Yes, every time the girls enter our home, they literally run to us - their old grandparents - and give us a hug. They are now 13 and 10 years old respectfully; and they’ve been going through this little greeting ritual for as long as they could come to visit us. And this little ritual is so loving, with a certain degree of respectfulness, to acknowledge the love we have for them with a simple hug. I pray they’ll never come to be too sophisticated to set aside this ritual.

 Well, the ODB devotional today and my own example harkens back to a much more important ritual in Christendom … that of the Eucharist or Communion Table. Jesus, of course, instituted this ordinance for His Disciples in the Upper Room, hours before He went to the cross. And down through the centuries of the Church, … coming to our Lord to partake of the Lord’s Supper is probably the most important “ritual” in the Christian Church.

 Yes, there are some important differences in the interpretation of what happens when Christians come together to celebrate Christ’s Table of remembrance. Roman Catholics and Easter Orthodox believe that the elements, the bread and the wine (or juice) mysteriously are transformed into Christ’s body and blood. Protestants generally believe that the elements are powerful remembrances of Christ’s sacrifice. But all Christians recognize the importance of this New Covenant ritual in the life of the church, especially to do as Christ charged … to remember Him in worship. The Apostle Paul, in today’s highlight passages, even felt the need to instruct the early church (and for us now) of the importance of carrying out this one Christian ritual with reverence and remembrance [see the 1st Cor. 11 passage linked above].

 I’ll not go on with wordiness here. I think any reader can recognize the message for believers. As the Hillsong devotional group, singing the song linked above, we need to come regularly and often to Christ’s Table with the due reverence this Christian ritual deserves, … having been cleansed by confession of sin (see 1st John 1: 9) and remembering the sacrifices our Lord made in brokenness of body and the shedding of His blood for the remission of our sins.

 And so, today, remembering my Lord’s sacrifice … I come to worship Him by this offering of written words and added prayer. And Sunday I will do so at His table.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … may my life be a living testimony of remembrance to Your sacrifice … FOR 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, 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.

September 30, 2014 … Starting Over

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 273

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to hear a poignant poem, written and recited by Woodrow Kroll, Start Over, which documents the choice all Christians have given God’s sanctifying grace and His resurrection power when things are not going God’s way … we can START OVER.

Highlight Passage: Luke 5: 31-32 [NKJV} … And to this truth - HALLELUJAH!!! …
  31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Luke 5: 17-32 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  Jesus IS “a fresh start” …


Reference Passage #1: Luke 9: 23 [NKJV} … Anytime a Christian needs a restart, Jesus gives the formula …
  7 Then He said to them all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 

Reference Passage #2: 2nd Corinthians 5: 17 [NKJV} … Salvation is THE fresh start …
  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

Reference Passage #3: Philippians 1: 6 [NKJV} … Salvation is THE fresh start …
  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; … 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, reminded me of a choice I always have in life … to do a redo.

 Take a look at the attached photo Perhaps you’re in a place in life where you’d like to hit that “START OVER” button? And if you’ve got about 2 minutes, use the “Devotional Song” link above [even tho it’s not a song] to hear one of my favorite poems, entitled “Start Over,” by the great Bible teacher, Woodrow Kroll. Each year on December 31st, I stop at the end of the day, reminded by my computer scheduler; and I recite that poem aloud, meditating on the deeper meaning, which is reinforced by the Scriptures, linked and copied above.

 BTW, if anyone wants a copy of that poem, JUST USE THIS LINK  and you can print out or read a pdf version of the poem.

 You see, my fellow Christian, when we became a Christian (see 2nd Cor. 5: 17), we got the ultimate “start over,” didn’t we? We became “new creations” from the covering/saving blood of Jesus Christ. And now, being covered and completed by God’s sanctifying grace (see Phil. 1: 6), if we follow Jesus’ commands to His disciples [see Luke 9: 23 above], and we’re willing to deny ourselves and follow our Lord, His Spirit will empower us to hit the restart button during any trying times in life (go look up and meditate on Matt. 11: 28-30, John 16: 33, and 2nd Tim. 1: 7).

 So, let’s hit the restart button today and do our REDO for the day.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … I’m so grateful that you led me to hit THE restart button on my life. 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, 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.

September 29, 2014 … YES, Truly AMAZING Grace

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 272

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of country singer, George Jones, singing the most oft sung hymn in Christian history, Amazing Grace, and Jones is an apt example of the amazing grace of God to save such a man, … a former letch and alcoholic.

[To read lyrics, click on graphic - 

then on "X" in upper right to return to blog]

Highlight Passage: Ephesians 2: 8a [NKJV} … And to this truth - HALLELUJAH!!! …
  8  For by grace you have been saved through faith.. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Ephesians 2: 1-10[NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  From death to life by God’s grace …
 ============

Reference Passage #1: Ephesians 1: 7 [NKJV} … More from Paul on grace …
  7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace … 

Reference Passage #2: Ephesians 2: 1-3 [NKJV} … Once dead, … now alive; … once according to the world, … now following Christ; … once according to the flesh, … now according to the Spirit. Truly, AMAZING GRACE!! …
  1  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Phillip Yancey, takes his readers back to the incredible historical story of the author to the lyrics of one of the most famous hymns in Christendom, … Amazing Grace.

 You likely know the story of John Newton, a former Captain of a British slave ship, who was mercifully saved by God and later became a Pastor in 18th century England and mentor of William Wilberforce, … the two fighting hard in those times to have slavery legally abolished. The story of Wilberforce become a powerful movie a few years ago with the title of Newton’s famous hymn.

 I’ve always identified deeply with the opening lyrics of the powerful refrain of that hymn, … “Amazing grace, … which saved a wretch like me.” And in today’s linked song (above), one such “wretch,” George Jones, the famous, but raucus, country singer, so poignantly and personally sings those powerful lyrics. And I, as well, was one of those “wretches,” living over 22 years of my younger adult years, deeply involved in habitual sexual sin, adultery, and perversion. And as it says in today’s highlight passage, from Ephesians 2: 1-10, I was dead in my sin; and God reached down into the deadness of my existence and gave me life eternal. … AMAZING GRACE!!!

 And think of the historical examples of wretches, like John Newton. … or King David or the Apostle Paul, … or again, … ME, … whom God was so merciful to save and to sanctify for His glory. And I pray today that all who read here, including this former wretch, are being bathed in God’s AMAZING GRACE.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, … “I once was lost, but now I’m found, … was blind, but now I see.” … HALLELUJAH!!! and… 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

Sept 28, 2014 … Grateful for Boll Weevils

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 271

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please go this video link to again hear a version of Steven Curtis Chapman singing his classic, His Strength Is Perfect, reminding us of the truth of our TOTAL dependence on God’s strength to cover our weaknesses in this life.

Highlight Passage - 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. 
============== 
Highlight Passage [Context] - 2nd Corinthians 12: 7-12 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK ... 
============== 

Reference Passage #1 - The entire Journal of Job in the Old Testament, which you’ve very likely read in the past … but GO TO THIS LINK for the final chapter … to see how a merciful and just God restored the beleaguered, but repentant, believer. 

Reference Passage #2 … Romans 8: 28 … 
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

Reference Passage #3 … 2nd Corinthians 5: 17 … 
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

My Journal for Today: In this morning’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, the author, Julie Ackerman Link, uses one of my favorite stories in the New Testament, the incident of Paul being socked with a mysterious “thorn,” to illustrate her lesson that often God uses very devastating, and often very painful, circumstance or maladies to bring us to a surrendered and seeking state of mind, which then often leads to a repentant and receptive spirit, which in turn leads us to surrender and seek God’s guidance and onward to HIS victory.

 Ms. Links also used a more current story of the time when the boll weevil descended on the cotton crops in Enterprise Alabama, which led them to diversify and rotate their crops, saving the region’s farmers and their economy. In the attached photo, you can see the monument Enterprise erected in thanks that God sent the boll weevil to lead them to change their way of farming. This story, plus the story of the Apostle Paul’s “thorn,” as well as the entire book of Job, show us that God sometimes either allows or engineers calamity to cause us to go in surrender mode in our life to His merciful and willingness to save, renew, and restore our lives.

 Perhaps you’ve had a boll weevil or a “thorn” … or a maybe some devastating, chronic, or painful malady in life, which has caused us to recognize how dependent we are on God. I sure have; and I’m so grateful that God led me through my “boll weevil” times; and, now believing in the truth of Romans 8: 28, I am a monument to his restoring and renewing Spirit (really a poster boy for 2nd Cor. 5: 17 - see copied above).

 How about you? Can you see that our “boll weevils” are God’s way of getting us to look to surrender ourselves to Him.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I am here where I am today because of Your mercy in sending the times of the “thorn,” to save me from myself. Amen

Blogger Note: Every day 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.

Sept 27, 2014 … Wonderful Reunion

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 270

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please go this video link to see/hear Fernando Ortega singing his classic, Beyond The Sky, reminding us, so gloriously of ,what awaits us … the blessed reunion we’ll have with God Himself, our Christian family and friends … in Heaven … AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!!

 
Highlight Passage - 1st Thessalonians 4: 17-18 [NKJV] … 
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. 
==============
Highlight Passage [Context] - - 1st Thessalonians 4: 13-18 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK
==============

Reference Passage #1 - 1st Corinthians 15: 35-58 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK ...

My Journal for Today: In this morning’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, the author, Joe Stowell, began his devotional with thoughts of his beloved earthly father and how he looked forward to his reunion with his dad in heaven. And his remembrance caused me to think of my own earthly father in his final years.

My dad spent his last few years in a nursing care facility with many, many, MANY maladies, most of them painful. I didn’t get a chance to visit dad all that often; but when I did he always jumped on me to reprise a reading of a passage of scripture from Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth [go to 1st Corinthians 15: 35-58] which I had read to him shortly after he had gone to the nursing residence with all his problems, where he had lost all semblance of independence. It was tough for him, especially having to deal with all the physical pain of his various maladies and the emotional humiliation of not being able to care for himself. So, he really fixated on that passage in 1st Cor. 15; and I was so honored that he remembered that I had read it to him. I gloried with him as I read the passage from First Corinthians 15 [I had my share of aches and pains too], and we both imagined what it was going to be like when He both had a new, resurrected body in heaven. And he would say, “I can’t wait!”

 And now He’s with Jesus, with no pain anymore; and we both await Jesus coming again to take His bride to glory, … where my father and I, along with all of God’s Saints will experience that glorious reunion which Joe Stowel wrote about in his ODB devotional today [you can use the link below to read it]. And thinking about that great day of reunion in glory, I can’t help but say, with a big HALLELUJAH [!!!], what the Apostle John wrote in Revelation 22: 20 … 

“Yes, even so, come, Lord Jesus!!” 

My Prayer for Today: Lord, all those who believe and live for You await Your return to take ALL of Your Bride home. Amen

Blogger Note: Every day 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.

Sept 26, 2014 … My Weakness – His Strength

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 269

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please go this video link to see/hear Stephen Curtis Chapman singing his classic, His Strength Is Perfect, declaring God’s truth that He’s always there with HIS strength to cover our weakness … that we can trust Him in our times of weakness …

Highlight Passage - Psalm 5, Verse 11 [NKJV] … 
11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. 
==============
Highlight Passage [Context] - - Psalm 5 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK
 ==============

Reference Passage #1 - 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: In this morning’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, the author, Bill Crowder, illustrates how we trust God in our trials and life challenges with a story of a young woman, Pascale Honore, in Australia who had been paraplegic for over 18 years. She was befriended by Ty Swan, young surfer, who helped Honore experience the joy of surfing by strapping her with duct tape to his body; and with his strength/skill, he surfed the waves with Honore on his back.

 Certainly it’s easy to see the degree of trust that this paralyzed woman had to have in the young surfer; and this illustrates what David was singing about in Psalm 5, especially in verse 11, linked above. When we, as Christians are at our weakest, that’s the time when we need to surrender our weakness to God’s strength. As Jesus related to the Apostle Paul in 2nd Cor. 12: 9, when the Apostle had been weakened by some devastating “thorn,” … Jesus declares that His strength is perfected in our weakness

The question is … DO WE BELIEVE THE LORD?!! … Please take the time to take in the attached photo, the linked song by Stephen Curtis Chapman, and all of God’s word linked/copied above; and then meditate on God’s strength; and let’s revel in His love.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I BELIEVE YOU, and I trust You in my times of weakness to give me Your strength. Amen

Blogger Note: Every day 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.

Sept 24, 2014 … The Shepherd’s Whistle

Blogger Note: Technical reasons precluded me posting my 9/24/14 journal entry. Therefore, though out of sequence, I'm posting it today - on 9/25 - for accountability or quite possibly to satisfy my OCD tendencies ... ;>) ... WRB
===============

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 267 Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please go this video link to see/hear a brief tutorial on the whistles used by modern shepherds to control their sheep dogs and call their sheep …

Highlight Passage - Zechariah 10: 8 [NKJV] …
8 I will whistle for them and gather them; … I will redeem them.
==============
Highlight Passage [Context] - - Zechariah 10: 1-8 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK
==============

Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] ...
  23 Then He [Jesus] said to them all [a large group of followers], “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” 

Reference Passage #2 - John 10: 27 [NKJV] … 
10 My sheep hear My voice; and I know them; and they follow Me. 

My Journal for Today: In this morning’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, the author, Mart de Haan, opens with a story about tie ancient language of whistling developed over time by the inhabitants of La Gomera, one of the small Canary Islands, where the people could communicate with distinct and identifiable whistles over the valleys/hills of that island, over distances of up to 2 miles.

In the time of Christ on earth, the shepherds would use whistling commands for their lead, more mature, sheep, especially when they were at a distance; and these older sheep would recognize the shepherd’s call and come to him, leading the lesser mature in the flock to the shepherd. In John 10: 27 [above] we read of Jesus, using the self-identifying metaphor of “The Good Shepherd,” indicating that the flock who’ve been sent to Him and gathered by His Heavenly Father are the ones who know His voice – i.e., like the whistles of the earthly shepherds – and they obey His calls, following Him obediently (see my ever recurring passage of Luke 9: 23).

 The self-evaluation questions which readily come from today’s ODB entry are these for anyone reading along with me here?
1. Am I in Jesus’ flock? 
2. Am I willing to deny myself and follow my Good Shepherd wherever He leads? 

It doesn’t take a theologian to answer these questions; and I personally know to stay as close to my Good Shepherd as possible – at all times! … And one way I do that, as well as to hear His calling more clearly, is to be here daily … in His word; … because like the whistles of those 1st Century shepherds, Jesus’ calling is clearest and most discernible from His word. So, everyday, God willing, you will find me here doing all I can to stay close to My Good Shepherd and to hear His calling.

My Prayer for Today: Lord, I hear Your call, … My Shepherd, and I come. Amen

Blogger Note: Every day 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.

Sept 25, 2014 … Let My Words Be Few

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 268

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please go this video link to hear Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their poignant song Let My Words Be Few, declaring the truth that we all should observe … that we speak too much and do not listen enough.

==============
Highlight Passage - Proverbs 10: 19 [NKJV] … Jesus prays for the unity of His Church …
19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, … but he who restrains his lips is wise.
==============
Highlight Passage [Context] - - Proverbs 10: 17-21 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK
==============

Reference Passage #1 - Ecclesiastes 3: 7 [NKJV] ...
  7 A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; … 

Reference Passage #2 - Ecclesiastes 5: 2 [NKJV] … 
2 Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few. 

My Journal for Today: In this morning’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, the author, Jennifer Schuldt, begins by quoting an old poem of anonymous authorship …
A wise old owl sat in an oak; 
The more he saw the less he spoke; 
The less he spoke the more he heard; 
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?

One of my biggest weaknesses [I guess you could call it a “fault”] is my desire – and all too often reality – of getting my “two-cents worth” in a conversation. Most of the time I’m trying to create or live up to a self-imposed reputation which goes along with the “Dr.” and “Rev.” titles which are attached to my persona, given my education or ordination. I’ve always been a people-pleaser; and the way I so often try to make an impression is through my verbosity.

 Now it’s clear that press for getting “my say” into my interactions with others is not supported by God’s word, is it? Just read through the poem and the scripture references provided by the ODB author; and I become duly convicted – to say the least! Clearly I need to do what Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing about in the song I’ve linked readers to above. I need to “Let My Words Be Few!” I’ll let the attached photo, the linked song, and the scriptures above speak to your heart; but I do plan to monitor my verbal output more and speak less for at least the next week. We’ll see how it goes.

My Prayer Today: ... Lord, help me to let my words be few.

Blogger PS:  ... It's certainly not of great importance; but if one just might be following my blogs, which are generally filed daily, you may have noted I missed posting yesterday.  The technical reasons are a damaged internet modem and lack of connection to the Internet on 9/24.  Right now I'm in a restaurant with wifi access posting this entry for 9/25 a bit later than normal in the day for me.  But be assured I had my own quiet time with the Lord yesterday and today; and I'll do my best to keep on track with daily entries - somehow!  Thanks for your understanding.   <'wrb><

Blogger Note: Every day 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.

September 23, 2014 … Poetic License from God

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 266

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of an anonymous celtic group singing old hymn Be Thou My Vision, which expresses in song many of the same thoughts God gave me this morning to write the poem I’ve crafted and written below.

Highlight Passage: 2nd Samuel 1: 17, … 19 [NKJV} … David’s psalm - “The Song of the Bow” …  
17 Then David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son, … 19  “The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen! … “ 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: 2nd Samuel 1: 17-27 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK …  David’s lamentation, inspired by his grief over the death of Saul and Jonathan
============

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, related the story behind the poem David wrote in his grief after the death of King Saul and his son, Jonathan, who had been David’s beloved friend. David called the poem, “The Song of the Bow,” and it used David’s inspired and poetic talents to express his grief and his love for the King and his dear friend, now gone from his life. Please take the time, reading here to use the link to the pass quoting the poem/song in 2nd Samuel 1, linked above.

 As McCasland points out, “ We find poetry used throughout the Bible to express deep emotion, ranging from joyful praise to anguished loss. “ David probably wrote more poems, many accompanied by music that we do not have now; but the poetic lyrics from the original Hebrew, now translated into English, we do have; and how many of us have been enriched or enlightened, or empowered by the inspired poems of David and other biblical writers? God obviously used poetry, written by various authors to provide His grace to readers, even today, … believers who need the emotions conveyed by the poems to lift us up when we’re down and give us direction when we seem lost. Have you ever been lifted or directed by David’s psalms? l would guess you have, as have I. 

Well, this morning after meditating on David’s poem from 2nd Samuel and reading McCasland’s OBD entry, and having written some poetry in my past, I prayed a simple prayer, asking God’s Spirit to give me a word of poetry to express myself about my journey as a Christian. And this is what came to me, … a short poem I call “Homeward Bound.”

Homeward Bound 

Seeking the essence of perfection, 
Moving down a foggy path, 
And following the Light Provided by His Spirit; 
I'm empowered by grace, 
Undeserved but welcomed ... 
To cover human weaknesses 
Which abound in my soul. 

He leads me; 
And I weakly, yet willfully follow 
Thru the minefields of death, 
Yet ever onward, 
 Toward His garden home 
 Of life and eternal peace, … 
 Homeward bound! 

No, … I’m no David; but I do believe God can give anyone who’s touched by His poetry to express His message … from any soul who has been given the talent to receive and express his/her thoughts in poetry. Perhaps you should take a little God-time today to pray and see if God’s Spirit can make a poet of you.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, thank You for imparting Your inspiration to write a short thought about my journey with You through life, … Homeward Bound! … 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, 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.

September 22, 2014 … Danger - Danger - Danger !!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2014 - Day 265

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please take the time to see a video of the group, 4 Him, singing the pertinent and powerful song The Basics of Live, reminding Christians that we must avoid false teachings and return to the truth of the one, true Gospel

Highlight Passage: Galatians 1: 6-7 [NKJV} … There’s only ONE true gospel!
  6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 
============
Highlight Context - NKJV: Galatians 1: 6-10 [NKJV] … GO TO THIS LINK … Paul’s warning to the Church still holds true today.
============

Reference Passage #1: Ephesians, Chapter 1 … [NKJV] ... GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul writing to the church as to the basics of the faith

Reference Passage #2: Colossians, Chapter 2… [NKJV] ... GO TO THIS LINK …  Paul again warning against false teachings

My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Dave Branon, referred to a challenge faced by the Apostle Paul, which is a dilemma we still encounter today. In the 1st century there were false teachers doing all they could with their clever ploys to draw the attention of mankind away from the ONE and ONLY true Gospel. And I think you know that we still have such wolves in sheep’s garments today (see attached photo).

 In the Apostle Paul’s day there were Judaizers, Gnostics, and legalists trying to convince newly converted Christians that there was more to the Gospel than just surrendering in faith to the finished work of Christ and believing in Christ as Lord and Savior. And Paul felt compelled, as in today’s passage, as well as in Chapter 1 of his letter to the Ephesians and other epistles, like the one in Chapter 2 of the letter to Colosse [both linked above], to send up a warning to the Church to “BEWARE” of false teachers.

 And again, as you can see in the attached photo, we still have the problem of false teachers in our world today, doing all they can to invent a false “gospel,” which takes non- believers farther than ever away from being able to see the truth of the true Gospel; and taking Christians into confusion and distorted thinking about life. If you’re a mature Christian you can probably cite many examples in our world today such as the distortions of legalism, … of the heresies of the prosperity gospel, … of the myriad of false religions such as Mormonism, Islam, etc., and the clever con-artists of the “word of faith” or new age movements. As in the attached photo, many of these Gospel distorters are wolves in sheep’s coverings, … those like Joel Osteen and more worldly versions like Oprah Winfrey.

 So from my ODB devotional and from my own keyboard there today, I scream out BEWARE!!! … WARNING!!!. And as the song link proclaims (see above), let’s get back, teach, and live by the BASICS of the true Gospel in our lives.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, give me Spirit-led discernment to avoid the wolves which prowl our world in sheep’s garments. 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, 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.