July 10, 2016: Speaking Love Loudly

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 192  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Dionne Warwick singing Bert Bacharach’s 60’s hit … What The World Needs Now Is Love, and we need God’s love spoken loudly and in abundance.

Highlight Passage:  James 3:9 [NKJV] …  
9 With it [the tongue] we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 
 … Yes, we have all we need in Christ
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Highlight Context – James 3:1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… James speaks forcefully about the need to speak God’s language of love.
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Reference Passage #1 … Romans 12:1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Paul exhorts Christians to live out the love of God as a daily sacrifice of the love He showed for us.

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 4:29 [NKJV] …  
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 
… God, thru Paul, on how we are to speak grace and love to others - ALWAYS.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, used a colorful illustration (see OBD like below) to remind her readers (me) on something we need in abundance, which I’m illustrating with the attached photo and the linked You Tube song (above).

And given what has transpired in the current headlines and this nation the past week (i.e., mass killings of police and explosive racial hatred), I really don’t think I need to write very much here to expand on the message of Bert Bacharach’s 1960s song and the attached photo, do I?

The passage in Chapter 3 of James certainly speaks to how powerful our “tongue” is in speaking out our emotions; and Jesus’ brother shows us how a poisoned tongue can poison the waters of this world so easily, especially when it’s spreading the poison of hatred.

And the Apostle Paul loudly exhorts us in the passages above (as Christians) to only speak forth the grace and love of God’s truth-in-love anytime we open our mouths to express what’s on our minds. As my parents used to say over and over again when I was growing up, … “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all !!” But I don’t think we’re hearing that message loudly enough, are we? And I’m certain that we’re not speaking God’s love loudly enough as depicted in the photo.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, give me a loud voice to shout Your love at the top of my lungs!  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.

July 9, 2016: Everything To Me

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 191  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Hillsong leading worship and singing… Jesus, You’re All I Need, poignantly expressing the reality of God providing all we need to live in Christ.

Highlight Passage:  2nd Peter 1:2-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK 
… Yes, we have all we need in Christ
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Highlight Context – 2nd Peter 1:1-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Peter related the essence of the sufficiency of God’s grace to live in this word.
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Reference Passage #1 … 2nd Cor. 12: 9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
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.  
… Even His empowering grace to cover our weakness.

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 3:20 [NKJV] …  
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, … 
… Our God is most certainly capable of providing all we need … AND MORE … thru His grace.

Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 4:19 [NKJV] …  
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
 … God’s promise of provision through Paul.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, related an illustrative story about G.K.Chesterton, the famous British apologist, who went out to sketch the lovely British countryside with pastel chalks. And when he arrived, with a lovely scene to sketch (see attached photo), he discovered that he had forgotten to bring an essential color of chalk … WHITE. But then, laughingly, Chesterton discovered that all he had to do was pick up any rock around him because the countryside was made up of white limestone. which essentially is white chalk. And in that moment G.K. realized how God provides what we need to live this life.

And that is the devotional message today for any/all reading here; and it is conveyed in the passages by the Apostles Peter and Paul above … that God’s Spirit will give us all we need to live our lives … if only we but surrender our ways to His. Certainly it’s a tough lesson to hold onto in life, isn’t it [?]; … especially when we’re confronted by pain, anguish, and our own obvious weaknesses. But both Peter and Paul recognized God’s willingness, and most certainly His ability through His Spirit, to give us what we need when we need it.

So, I pray today that we go out and use what God provides us to draw out our picture of life.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, you’re all I need!!  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.

July 8, 2016: God’s Dream and Our Reality

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 190  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Dennis Jernigan and Natalie Grant singing Dennis’ song … You Are My All In All, poignantly expressing the reality of God’s dream to have all He has called and saved to some to Him forever.

Highlight Passage:  Matthew 7:12-14 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK 
… God’s desire and our reality.
=========== Highlight Context – Matthew 7:12-23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus from His Sermon on the Mount on God’s dream for His Church.
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Reference Passage #1 … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
23 Then He said to them all [Jesus to His followers], “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” 
… Jesus’ reality for His disciples

Reference Passage #2 … John 14:6 [NKJV] …  
6 Jesus said to him [one of His disciples], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. …” 
… Both God’s desire and our reality.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, went back to Jesus and His Sermon on the Mount to teach about the tension between God’s Kingdom dream for His Chosen and the reality of our humanity. He wrote: When a British scholar called on the world’s religions to work together for worldwide unity, people everywhere applauded. Pointing out that the major religions share a belief in the Golden Rule, she suggested, “The chief task of our time is to build a global society where people of all persuasions can live together in peace and harmony.” 

Yes, that would be the pipe-dream of mankind, wouldn’t it? And Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount showed His dream for mankind as well, when, in Matt. 7:12 He expressed what we call the “Golden Rule.” And some claim that almost all religious share this lofty principle. However, when we look at the world mankind has built and what we are building (or rather destroying), we’d have to say that the “reality” doesn’t match the dream of the Golden rule, … does it?

Well, Jesus also spoke as to why that tension exists between His dream for His chosen few and the reality of mankind in our darkened world [see all of the passages above]. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, we read of what God’s kingdom living SHOULD BE all about; but unfortunately, when we read of what it takes to bring it about, we fall way short. And Jesus spoke of His desires and our reality in the reference passages above; and once again most of mankind don’t - or won’t - live out God’s dream of Him being “the way, the truth, and the life” for our lives. And when our Lord commands us to deny self and follow Him, … most don’t … do they?

So, here we are; … and we must ask ourselves. Are we going to set about living out God’s dream for our lives as expressed in the Golden Rule? And do we proclaim to others that Christ is the “way, the truth, and the life?” And will we deny ourselves and follow Him today?

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … May I join all reading here with me and do all You desire for us this day … and all days.    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.

July 7, 2016: God’s “TO-DO” List

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 189  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group 4Him singing … Back To The Basics, powerfully declaring the reality that God’s people need to get back to all that God has in the Holy Spirit’s TO-DO list in His word.

Highlight Passage:  Deuteronomy 6:4-6 [NKJV] …  
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. … 6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 
… Never to be forgotten … God’s greatest TO-DO list.
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Highlight Context – Deuteronomy 6:1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s reminder to Israel of His greatest commandment.
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Reference Passage #1 … Exodus 20:1-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s Top-10 TO-DO list.

Reference Passage #2 … Mark 12:28-31 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus gives God’s top two “TO-DOs”

Reference Passage #3 … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  2
3 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.” 
… Jesus’ “TO-DO” list for true disciples.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, used an interesting word picture to illustrate his teaching today. He wrote: Anthropologist Anthony Graesch says that the outside of a refrigerator reveals what’s important to people [see attached photo]. During a research study of families in Los Angeles, Graesch and his colleagues noted an average of 52 items posted on the fridge—including school schedules, family photos, children’s drawings, and magnets. Graesch calls the refrigerator “a repository of family memory.” 

The ODB author then went on to show that God uses many things to remind His people (that’s us, folks!) of what’s important; … i.e., His own “TO-DO” lists, if you will. His “Big-10” TO-DO list, of course was Given to God’s people through Moses in the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20). And in Deuteronomy, Chapter 6 (see above), God summarized His TO-DOs with what the Jewish people call the Greatest Commandment. And Jesus summarized all of these into an easier to remember TO-DO list of three for New Covenant believers in Mark 12:28-31. And then for those who would truly follow Jesus as The Christ [and I hope that’s you and me!], He put out his TO-DO list for disciples in a verse I often quote in my devotional entries - Luke 9:23, which I hope any readers here have deeply embedded to remember it … so that we can live it!

God’s word is the repository of God’s TO-DO list for His people, isn’t it? So, that of course implies that we know His word and have His TO-DO list of truths deeply in our hearts to live them out every day. …

SO … how’re we doing with God’s TO-DO list today?

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … As 4Him sings above … it’s back to the basics of Your TO-DOs 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.

July 6, 2016: Heart Work Out

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 188  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Unspoken singing … Call It Grace, powerfully declaring the truth of the amazing grace which turns hearts from dead to live … and resurrects the lost to be found and transformed in Christ.

 
Highlight Passage:  Exodus 17:11-12 [NKJV] …  
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 
… Exercising the heart with God’s grace is so much more powerful than physical exercise. 
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Highlight Context – 1st Timothy 4:6-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God promises Timothy, from Paul, the power which comes when the heart is transformed by God’s enlightening, enabling, empowering grace.
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 Reference Passage #1 … 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …  
9 And He said to me [Jesus to Paul], “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. 
… God’s strength, through His empowering grace, is always there to cover our weakness.

Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 1: 6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
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; … 
… If we’re willing to use God’s empowering grace, He is willing - and most able - to transform our hearts into His image …

Reference Passage #3 …Hebrews 13: 5, 9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s promise to never forsake us and to let us use His grace to transform our hearts.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David Roper, used a very human illustration to teach about the application of God’s grace to our hearts. He wrote: The neighborhood fitness center where I have worked out for years closed down last month, and I had to join a new gym. The former place was a warm, friendly facility, patronized by those who liked to socialize while they worked out. We hardly ever broke a sweat. The new gym is a hard-core facility filled with serious men and women, earnestly invested in building better bodies. I watch these people strain and toil. Their bodies look strong, but I wonder if their hearts are being strengthened with grace. 

The Apostle Paul, when he was mentoring the young church minister in Ephesus, … Timothy, wondered much the same thing about his protege. And he wanted to make sure that Timothy had experienced all the young pastor could in/thru his relationship with Christ. So, in the highlight passage above, we read Paul exhorting Timothy (and all Christians alike) to utilize the power of God’s grace when we use it to exercise our hearts in the disciplines of the faith and with the power of God’s Spirit.

As anyone with me here today hears the group, Unspoken, singing their song linked above and we think of being disciplined in the physical disciplines of cardio-exercise, … we need to be reminded that thought that is important, using God’s grace to energize our hearts in Christ is SO MUCH MORE IMPORTANT. So, let’s ask ourselves how we’re using the disciplines of the faith in accord with the power of God’s Spirit to build up and reshape our hearts in Christ.

Personally, that’s why you find me here every day, digging into God’s word and letting the truth from God’s Spirit give me His power in/thru Christ. And I’m glad you’re here working out with me.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Strengthen my heart, dear Lord, with your empowering grace.    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.

July 5, 2016: Coming Along Side In Support

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 187

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing a song for which he wrote the lyrics… His Strength Is Perfect, poignantly expressing the strength of Spirit support we have in Christ.

 
Highlight Passage:  Exodus 17:11-12 [NKJV] …
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 
… Sometimes we need this support of our fellow believers to defeat our enemies.
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Highlight Context – Exodus 17:8-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Moses need help from his brothers, with God’s strength, to defeat God’s enemies.
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Reference Passage #1 … 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] … 
9 And He said to me [Jesus to Paul], “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. 
… God’s strength, through His empowering grace, is always there to cover our weakness.

Reference Passage #2 …Hebrews 13: 5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God repeats His promise in Hebrews offered to Moses first.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, illustrated God’s promise/power to be there to support His children in times of weakness with a poignant story. She wrote: Her thirty classmates and their parents watched as Mi’Asya nervously walked to the podium to speak at her fifth grade graduation ceremony. When the principal adjusted the microphone to Mi’Asya’s height, she turned her back to the microphone and the audience. The crowd whispered words of encouragement: “Come on, honey, you can do it.” But she didn’t budge. Then a classmate walked to the front and stood by her side. With the principal on one side of Mi’Asya and her friend on the other, the three read her speech together. What a beautiful example of support! 

Sometimes, even though we know that God will always be there (see God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5, first issued thru Moses in Deut. 31:5), we just need the support of others in our life, don’t we? That was the way for Moses when God’s army came up against the Amalekites in Exodus 17 - see above. Moses needed to hold his staff high for God’s army to see it; but he was too weak; and his brother, Aaron and another warrior, Hur, held up his arms with their support.

Perhaps we know someone in our lives who needs God’s support through our coming along side and holding them up in some way. Let’s be on the alert and see whom we can support today.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Your strength has always been there for me when I needed it just as Steven Curtis Chapman sings. Let me be Your power for someone else again 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.

July 4, 2016: On Our Knees, America!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 186  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Twila Paris and Dennis Jernigan singing a song Dennis wrote… On My Knees, poignantly expressing need for all Christians, in this scary, confusing, and sin-ridden world, to pray for our nation’s repentance and our own personal turn to surrender to God.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 122:6 [NKJV] …  
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; “May they prosper who love you.” 
… So do we pray for God’s people? If we want to thrive in Christ, we should!
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Highlight Context – Psalm 122:6-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God wants His people to pray for His people.
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Reference Passage #1 … 2nd Chronicles 7:14 [NKJV] …  
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 
… But do we pray? … And are we repentant?

Reference Passage #2 … Psalm 116:1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… We pray because God listens.

Reference Passage #3 … 1st Timothy 2:1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 
… Paul’s exhortation to pray for kings and countries.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, teaching on God’s command to pray for nations, wrote of mothers in Africa who gathered to pray diligently and daily for all countries on their continent. And the ODB teaching reminded me of two women I know personally here in my area who have marshaled many hundreds of prayer warriors to gather in corporate prayer often, … leading us in prayer for our city, the Church, our community, and our country.

And on this Independence Day here in the USA, nothing could be more pertinent that a call to our knees, as sung by Twila Paris and the song’s writer, Dennis Jernigan, … when we’re so confused by this world, … to pray for all in authority … and to do what God has called us to do in 2nd Chronicles 7:14 … to humbly pray that our world repents and turns away from our wicked ways to follow our God.

So, meditating on God’s word on this subject above, join me today … tomorrow, … and every day, to pray that our world leaders will surrender to the leadership of Christ. And that each of us will kneel to God’s Spirit and humbly pray for our own repentance. Only then will God hear us and heal our lands.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Forgive us, Lord, of our wicked ways and help us to repent so that You can/will heal our land.    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.

July 3, 2016: Waiting Not So Patiently

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 185

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Jeremy Camp singing … There Will Be A Day, poignantly expressing the hope we have in Christ … the hope on which we must wait until He calls us home.

Highlight Passage:  2nd Peter 3:9 [NKJV] …
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 
… God wants all His children to come to Him in repentance.
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Highlight Context – 2nd Peter 3:8-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God is patiently waiting on His beloved called ones.
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Reference Passage #1 …Psalms 37:7; 62:5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… David had learned to wait on God. Have we?

Reference Passage #2 … Isaiah 40:31 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Those who wait on the Lord will be renewed.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Randy Kilgore, teaching on God’s patience with us and our patience to wait on Him, wrote: Sometimes I find myself impatient with God, especially about His return. I wonder, What can He be waiting on? The tragedies around us, the suffering of people we love, and even the stresses of daily life all seem bigger than the fixes on the horizon. 

I have often noted to others that of all the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22-23) PATIENCE is my least mature; and sometimes, as our ODB author also confesses, I can become impatient with God, waiting on Him with very human expectations. God is so patient with us, waiting for us to repent and come to Him (see highlight passages above). But we are not so patient with Him, are we? 

Yes, I know the truth and reality of what is depicted in the attached photo, and what David promised in his Psalms [see above], … and what Jeremy Camp sings in today’s linked song. But I still need to pray for the strength to wait on that which was promised by God through the Prophet (see Isaiah 40:31).

I need to wait more patiently on my Lord. How about you?

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … give me the strength to wait on 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, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 2, 2016: “Come Sit A Spell”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 184  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Michael W Smith. leading in worship, and singing … Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, poignantly in worship declaring what every Christian must do in the face of this harried world, … to come aside and “sit a spell” with Jesus [every day]

Highlight Passage:  Luke 19:5 [NKJV] …  
5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 
… Jesus shows us we need to set aside time for the needs of others.
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Highlight Context – Luke 19: 1-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus stopped for a time to save Zacchaeus and to show His followers the compassion he has for any/all - even tax collectors.
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Reference Passage #1 … Ephesians 5:15-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul shows us that we need to be careful in the use of our time in times that are evil (which, certainly, is now!).

Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Our love for fellow Christians should never leave them “out in the cold” without others to care for them.

 My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, related a personal story of how he learned from his family the value of stopping and setting aside time to get to know or help others. He wrote: When I was a kid, our family made a monthly excursion from Ohio to West Virginia to visit my maternal grandparents. Every time we arrived at the door of their farmhouse, Grandma Lester would greet us with the words, “Come on in and sit a spell.” 
It was her way of telling us to make ourselves comfortable, stay a while, and share in some “catching-up” conversation. Life can get pretty busy. In our action-oriented world, it’s hard to get to know people. It’s tough to find time to ask someone to “sit a spell” with us. We can get more done if we text each other and get right to the point.  

When I was growing up, that exhortation, “stop and sit a spell,” in our family, was “stop and take a load off,” … but the meaning was the same. All too often, in this super-sized and way-too-fast world, we need to stop and relate to one another, taking our personal time to focus on the needs of others first, as Jesus showed with Zacchaeus and Paul wrote about in the verse I’ve repeated today from yesterday’s devotional entry [see Phil. 2:3-4]. And Paul also exhorted all Christians to use our time wisely in this evil world (see Eph. 5:15-16).

So, today why don’t we watch for a Zacchaeus, i.e, … one who comes into our lives and needs some face-to-face time, getting to know his/her needs and giving that one all we can to help out, especially if they, like the tax-collector, needs Jesus. And yes, that even might require that we set our smart phone down and “sit a spell” with someone who needs us.

And above all … EVERY DAY … we need to “take a load off” and, as Michael W Smith, sings - from above - “Turn Our Eyes Upon Jesus.” …. That’s why I’m here today; and I’m glad you’re “sitting a spell” with me in this time with our Lord.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … help me to “sit a spell” and take whatever time is needed for me to help someone who needs 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.

July 1, 2016: Left In the Cold

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 183  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the Gaither Band singing … He Touched Me, powerfully declaring what all Christians should realize - that God wants to reach out and help others … by Christians sharing His love when they have need for Him.

Highlight Passage:  Job 12:4 [NKJV] …  
4 “I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, the just and blameless who is ridiculed. 
…Saved to live a new life in Christ.
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Highlight Context – Job, Chapters 11-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Job criticized and set out by his friends by their perception of Job as a sinner.
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Reference Passage #1 … Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Our love for fellow Christians should never leave them “out in the cold” without others to care for them.

Reference Passage #2 … Hebrews 13:5, 10:24 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God will never forsake His children; … so we should never forsake one another.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, taught today on how Christians should be there for one another, especially when they need God’s caring outreach. He wrote: In desperation, a woman called the housing assistance center where I worked. A heating problem had turned her rental home into a freezer with furniture. Panicked, she asked me how she would care for her children. I hurriedly replied with the scripted official response: “Just move into a hotel and send the landlord the bill.” She angrily hung up on me.  
I knew the textbook answer to her question, but I had completely missed her heart. She wanted someone to understand her fear and desperation. She needed to know she wasn’t alone. In essence, I had left her out in the cold. 

How often do we casually miss the needs of others - even fellow Christians - who are hurting and need someone to express the love of God to/for them in their time of need? And what do we do? … Perhaps too often, we are like the one in the illustration above or maybe like Job’s friends were for him; and we leave those in need “out in the cold” (see the photo) rather than helping them as Paul exhorted in Philippians 2:3-4.

Let’s do all we can today to be “tuned in” to the needs of others; and let their needs do what the author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 10:24, showing the love of God to others who need His never failing love.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … let me to dole out Your love to 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, 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.

June 30, 2016: That Special Name

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 182 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Alan Jackson singing … What A Friend We Have In Jesus, poignantly declaring what all Christians should realize ... That "Jesus," the One with the Name above all names ... Calls us "FRIEND!"

Highlight Passage: John 10: 3 [NKJV] …
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
… So cool that My Good Shepherd and Lord knows MY NAME.
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Highlight Context – John 10:1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Jesus, the One with the Name above all names, as my Good Shepherd, knows my name ... And how cool is that !!!
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Reference Passage #1 … Philippians 2:9-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… "Jesus" - His Name is "Yahweh," the Name above all names.

Reference Passage #2 ... John 15:15 ... 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.
... Jesus call His disciples "FRIEND" ... Hey, that's me too!!!

My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, taught today about how special we feel when a teacher, or any important person in our lives, knows our name. He wrote: When I first meet a new group of students in the college composition class I teach, I already know their names. I take the time to familiarize myself with their names and photos on my student roster, so when they walk into my classroom I can say, “Hello, Jessica,” or “Welcome, Trevor.” I do this because I know how meaningful it is when someone knows and calls us by name. 

And I would predict that all reading here identify with the ODB author in this point, .... Don't we?! And to think that the One with the Name above all names ... "Jesus" ... My Lord and Savior ... The Good Shepherd, as it says in today's highlight passage, actually knows my name, and as it says in John 15:15, He calls me His friend too; ... And you too if you're one of His disciples.

And isn't it so great to know that we have a friend in Jesus (as is sung by Alan Jackson linked above).

My Prayer Today: O, Heavenly Father, … thank You for being 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, 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.

June 29, 2016: Transformed Living

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 181

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of friends, Clay Crosse, Bebe Wynans, and Bob Carlisle singing … I Will Follow Christ, powerfully declaring what all Christians should proclaim … that we will live lives which follow Christ and declare His glory.

Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 2:10 [NKJV] …
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 
…Saved to live a new life in Christ.
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Highlight Context – Ephesians 2:1-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul exhorts Christians to live the transformed life Christ gives us to live for Him.
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Reference Passage #1 … 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… A complete make-over in Christ produces a new Christian.

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 4:1 [NKJV] …
  1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, … 
… Living a life worthy of our calling as “Christians.”

Reference Passage #3 … 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; … 
… Once one is converted in Christ the make-over begins and will be completed in glory.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, taught today about living the Christian life as a disciples of our Lord. He wrote: I was struck by a phrase I heard quoted from a contemporary Bible translation. When I Googled the phrase “our way of life” to locate the passage, many of the results focused on things people felt were threatening their expected way of living. Prominent among the perceived threats were climate change, terrorism, and government policies. What really is our way of life as followers of Jesus? I wondered. Is it what makes us comfortable, secure, and happy, or is it something more? 

Well if you go back (USE THIS LINK) and read my devotional blog from yesterday, you’ll see that we’re being reshaped in this life into the image of Christ … to live a life IN and FOR Him; and when we do, issues like terrorism, discomfort, and tribulation take on a whole new meaning, don’t they?

 I won’t write much today; but this ODB entry helped me to realize that whatever comes my way today is part of the Romans 8:28 life my Lord has for me to live out … for my good and His glory.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … use me today, Lord to be a vessel of Your purpose.    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.

June 28, 2016: Miraculous Make-Over

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 180  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Daniel O’Donnell singing … There Is No Secret, poignantly declaring the truth that Christ can/will transform the life of any surrendered disciple.

Highlight Passage:  2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NKJV] …    
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
… A total makeover into Christ’s image.
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Highlight Context – 2nd Corinthians 5: 12-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul declaring God’s promise of His ministry of reconciliation and reconstruction by His Spirit. 
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Reference Passage #1 … 1st Corinthians 6:9-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… A complete make-over in Christ.

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, self-control. 
 … The make-over is completed when we see the character of Christ in His disciple.

Reference Passage #3 … 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; … 
… Once one is converted in Christ the make-over begins and will be completed in glory.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a true story of a tattoo artist who helps former gang members and victims of sex trafficking by making tattoos they have received in their former life into new and beautiful tattoos depicting their dreams for the future [see attached photo].

And that’s an interesting life picture of what happens when one comes to Christ for His promised and perfected make-over by His Spirit. And I should know; … because when it comes to the reality of the highlight passage from ODB today, I’m a living poster boy for 2nd Corinthians 5:17.

God took this former sex-addict and angry atheist and has already reshaped me into an ordained minister of His Gospel, doing all I can daily to bring the truth of the reference promises above to others. In essence, I’m sort of a spiritual version of the tattoo artist our ODB author wrote about today. I take broken and beleaguered disciples of Christ and show them the make-over God has waiting for them when they surrender and truly make Christ the LORD of their lives. Because, He truly will do a make-over which reshapes them into His own image (see Phil. 1:6 and Gal. 5:22-23 above).

I pray that all who come here with me are allowing the great make-over artist, Who is our Lord, to make us over into His image … today and into the future.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … make us over into Your image, 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, 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.

June 27, 2016: My Anchor Holds

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 179  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Ray Boltz singing … The Anchor Holds, poignantly declaring the truth that our faith, when anchored to God’s truth, will always hold.

 
Highlight Passage:  Hebrews 2:1 [NKJV] …    
4:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. …
… We must anchor our faith to the Rock of Truth, Who is Christ!
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Highlight Context – Hebrews 2:1-4; 6:19-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …    … Our lives will not drift in the darkness or the storms of life, … IF … we affix our anchor of faith to the Rock of Christ.
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Reference Passage #1 … Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] …   23 Then He said to them all (His followers), … “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross DAILY, and follow Me.” … Staying true DAILY with our faith affixed to and following Jesus.

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. 
… Jesus, our Rock, on how He manifests Himself to the faithful.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, reflected on seeing a boat in a harbor drifting out to sea because it was not properly anchored in the harbor. The ODB author then offered this observation for his readers (me): Drifting in our relationship with God is hardly noticeable at first; it happens gradually. However, spending time talking with Him in prayer and reading His Word, confessing our wrongs to Him, and interacting with other followers of Jesus can help us stay anchored in Him. As we connect with the Lord regularly, He will be faithful to sustain us, and we can avoid drifting away. 

Long ago, with the help of a mentor, I learned that it’s easy for me to pull up the anchor of my faith into into selfish pursuits and drift out into the storms of life. So, I learned to discipline myself to start each day, setting my anchor deeply into the Rock of my faith and affixing it to God’s truth. That’s why you find me coming here DAILY and and setting my anchor of faith strongly into God’s truth (see attached photo).

I pray we all avoid drifting out into the storms of life by setting our anchor of faith into the Strong Rock, Who is our Savior and Lord. It takes a Decision - Daily - and then the Discipline and Determination to set our anchor of faith in God’s Rock of Truth.

And I’m here - AGAIN TODAY - to do just that.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, You are my Rock; and I come here daily to set my anchor of faith strongly in Your truth.    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.

June 26, 2016: Humble Prayer

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 178  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Bebo Norman singing … I Will Lift My Eyes, expressing the need of all Christians to come our Lord with a pure heart in prayer. … AND ON TO THIS LINK to hear a chorus singing … Surely The Presence of The Lord Is In This Place.

Highlight Passage:  1st Peter 3:12 [NKJV] …    
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. 
… Peter quotes from Psalm 34:15-16 as to coming to our God, seeking His peace with a pure heart. 
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Highlight Context – 1st Peter 3:7-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s, thru Peter, for Christians to come to God, seeking His peace with a purified heart. 
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Reference Passage #1 … Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] …  
3 You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. 
… We can’t expect peace when we’re focusing on self rather than on the Savior.

Reference Passage #2 – Philippians 4:6-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… When we come to God seeking His peace, we must have a heart, purified with humble thanksgiving.

Reference Passage #3 … 1st John 1:9 [NKJV] …  
9 If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
… A good strategy before we pray to cleanse our hearts of unresolved sin.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, used a somewhat humorous illustration to teach on how we must come to God in prayer with a purified heart. The ODB author wrote: When the minister asked one of his elders to lead the congregation in prayer, the man shocked everyone. “I’m sorry, Pastor,” he said, “but I’ve been arguing with my wife all the way to church, and I’m in no condition to pray.” The next moment was awkward. The minister prayed. The service moved on. Later, the pastor vowed never to ask anyone to pray publicly without first asking privately. 

Many of us can probably identify with that church elder, can’t we? Yeah, I’ve been there, haven’t you, … trying to pray to God, sometimes seeking His peace with a heart full of unrighteous turmoil, … maybe even unresolved sin? Does’t work, does it?

No, as Bebo Normon sings in the linked song above, we need to lift our eyes to God with a purified heart. And sometimes, that means being cleansed by confession (see 1st John 1:9); … or it may mean recognizing and acknowledging our thankfulness (see Phil. 4:6-7; … or merely focusing on God’s essence rather than on our own selfish desires (see Isaiah 26:3).

Today, as I come here, seeking His peace again today, I am praying with a deeply thankful heart, cleansed by confession of my sinfulness, and entirely seeking my Lord’s way rather than mine; … and, as the chorus sings in the 2nd linked song, I feel His presence in this place. How about you where you are as you read this? Perhaps you need some cleansing … as you join me and come to Jesus today, seeking His peace.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, it is with a cleansed and grateful heart that I come here today, seeking Your peace. And I feel Your presence in this place as the song linked above declares.    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.

June 25, 2016: On Solid Ground

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 177  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of an anonymous praise group singing … On Christ The Solid Rock, poignantly expressing the need of all Christians to affix our anchor of faith to THE solid Rock, … our Lord, Jesus Christ.

 
Highlight Passage:  Psalm 40:2 [NKJV] …    
5 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, … out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. 
… That’s David writing about himself; … but also about me!
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Highlight Context – Psalm 40:1-5[NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s promise of His immutability and stability … that He’ll never change and will always be there for us.
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Reference Passage #1 – Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s solid path is established when we trust in His way … and HIS WAY only!!

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. 
… Keeping focused on God’s ever-present spirit is where we find our way to walk on solid ground.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, used a very clear illustration to teach on how we must trust in our Lord’s way and walk only in it. The ODB author wrote: The historic riverwalk area of Savannah, Georgia [see attached photo], is paved with mismatched cobblestones. Local residents say that centuries ago the stones provided ballast for ships as they crossed the Atlantic Ocean. When cargo was loaded in Georgia, the ballast stones were no longer needed, so they were used to pave the streets near the docks. Those stones had accomplished their primary job—stabilizing the ship through dangerous waters. 

I think we’d all agree that we want to walk on solid ground in this life; but so often - especially these days - the way ahead seems to be like trudging in quicksand. King David, in today’s highlight passage from Psalm 40 [see above] wrote this song, likely at a time when we was in one of the notable trials in his life [he had several biggies, didn’t he?]. And as with the more current song linked above for our meditation today, we need to realize that we’ll only have God’s peace when we trust in our God and let Him lead our steps in life.

My prayer today is that all who read here join me to affix our anchor of faith to the only solid Rock; and He is our Lord, Jesus!!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, it is on You, and You alone, that we come today to anchor our faith. You are our Rock, and in You we walk on solid ground.    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.

June 24, 2016: God’s Presence Is Peace

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 176  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Don Moen singing … Wonderful Peace, poignantly expressing the need of all Christians receive the grace of peace that only God can provide to His faithful family.

Highlight Passage:  Hebrews: 13:5 [NKJV] …    
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”[Deut. 31:6, 8 - Joshua 1:5] 
… God reiterates His promise of being with the believer always and forever.
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Highlight Context – Hebrews 13:1-8 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s promise of His immutability and stability … that He’ll never change and will always be there for us.
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Reference Passage #1 – Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s promise, thru Moses, to his people that their LORD would ALWAYS be with them. [Restated again in the NT by the Author of Hebrews in Chapter 13 - see above.]

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. 
… Keeping focused on God’s ever-present spirit is where we find our peace.

Reference Passage #3 … Philippians 4:6-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… God’s peace is there for the faithful who’re willing to come to Him with a thankful heart and bring their burdens to Him.

Reference Passage #4 … Hebrews 4:14-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… We serve an ever-present, ever-compassionate God - ALWAYS!!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Joe Stowell, reflected on a personal story about how just being there for a hurting friend can - and usually does - bring peace to the loved one. The ODB author wrote: Our hearts sank when we learned that our good friend Cindy had been diagnosed with cancer. Cindy was a vibrant person whose life blessed all who crossed her path. My wife and I rejoiced when she went into remission, but a few months later her cancer returned with a vengeance. In our minds she was too young to die. Her husband told me about her last hours. When she was weak and hardly able to talk, Cindy whispered to him, “Just be with me.” What she wanted more than anything in those dark moments was his loving presence. I

sn’t that what we want from our God; … i.e., for Him to always be there, especially when we are hurting or confused and need to sense His presence, … His grace, … His love? Of course, we do!! And it’s only when we can focus, in faith, on His presence, in humble thankfulness, that we can receive His peace (see Isiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6,7).

Perhaps, dear one, you’re in a place today where you just need to know that your Savior is there for you; … that He’s even going ahead of you … to pave the way for your peace (see Deut. 31:8 and Hebrews 4:15). Well, … until we KNOW - in faith - that our God will ALWAYS be there for us, as He ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will be [see Hebrews 13:8], we will not find that glorious peace which only He can provide (see Phil. 4:6-7).

So, my fellow Christian, I plan to lean HEAVILY on my ever-present Lord today and get as much of His peace as I can. How about you?!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, I’m selfish, but thankfully and gratefully so! I want more of Your peace today. So, I come to You as I do here everyday, … for Your mercy and grace. More please!!    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.

June 23, 2016: Slaves? … Really?!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 175  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Brian Littrell singing … I Surrender ALL, poignantly expressing the need of all Christians to surrender and follow our Lord, King Jesus, with complete devotion. … But do we?!

 
Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 6:5 [NKJV] …  
5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; … 
… We are to serve our earthly superiors (i.e., masters) as we would bondservants to Christ. 
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Highlight Context – Ephesians 6:5-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul exhorts Christians to serve our Lord in total surrender to Him - as slaves to King Jesus! 
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Reference Passage #1 – Romans 12:1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul exhorted nothing less than total surrender of our bodies as living sacrifices to our King Jesus!

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 4: 1 [NKJV] …  
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, … 
… The Apostle didn’t exhort any to be anything he didn’t consider himself, … i.e., a slave (i.e., prisoner).  

Reference Passage #3 … Colossians 3: 17 [NKJV] …  
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 
… Total surrender?!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, reflected on the strong teaching of the Apostle Paul in her teaching today on our becoming bond slaves to our King Jesus. The ODB author wrote: In Ephesians 6, Paul talks to servants and masters. He reminds both groups that we serve one Master who is in heaven. So we need to do everything with sincerity of heart, integrity, and respect because we are serving and working for Christ Himself. As the apostle Paul reminds us, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (Eph. 6:7). What a privilege to serve God in everything we do, whether answering a phone or driving a car or doing housework or running a business. Let us work with a smile today, remembering that no matter what we are doing, we are serving God. 

 If there is one powerful - and personally pertinent - recurring theme from the Apostle Paul after his conversion on that road to Damascus (see Acts 9:1-9), it is his absolute surrender and devotion to his King, Jesus. And that’s what he expected and exhorted of other Christians [like me] as well … i.e., for us to become bondservants of our Lord [see the highlight and reference Scriptures above].

I don’t know about other readers here with me, but taking in Brian Littrell’s song and meditating on Paul’s exhortations above, I realize that, though my attitude is one of being a slave to Christ, my actions still have a way to go for me to be able to truthfully sing “I Surrender ALL.”

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, give me more of Your empowering grace for me to be able to follow Your command from Luke 9:23 to deny myself and completely follow 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, 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.

June 22, 2016: God Is Our Provider

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 174  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group, Hillsong, leading in worship and singing … Jesus, You’re All I Need, poignantly expressing the truth that our Lord is the provider of all we need. … AND ON TO THIS LINK for Chris Tomlin singing Lord I Need You also expressing our need for God, Our Provider.

 
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. 
… And seeing that they were hungry, He used as few loaves and fishes to feed several thousand. 
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Highlight Context – Mark 6:31-44 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus compassionately providing for thousands in a remote location - also found in Matthew 14:13-21, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15.
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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 will direct your paths. 
… We probably know that one by heart … but do really believe it … and live by it?

Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 4:19 [NKJV] …  
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 
… But do we trust Him to do so?

  Reference Passage #3 … 1st Peter 5:7 [NKJV] …  
7 … casting all your care on Him because He cares for you. 
… Really? … Yes, really!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Schudt, used an illustration to remind her readers (me) of our need to trust in God’s provision. The ODB author wrote: Tristan da Cunha Island is famous for its isolation. [See attached photo] It is the most remote inhabited island in the world, thanks to the 288 people who call it home. The island is located in the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,750 miles from South Africa—the nearest mainland. Anyone who might want to drop by for a visit has to travel by boat for seven days because the island has no airstrip. 

The few people on this remote island are dependent on the provisions of others for their needs; and this was the lesson Jesus tried to show His followers in another remote location when He fed several thousand hungry followers, as related in today’s highlight passage. Unfortunately, sometimes God has to lead us or allow us into circumstances in our lives to show us, as the group Hillsong sings in the linked song, that He’s all we need.

I will pray this morning that we recognize the lesson of Phil. 4:19; and we trust our Lord to be our provider and Good Shepherd in all circumstances (see Prov. 3:5-6 and 1st Pet. 5:7), … yes, even when we’re feeling isolated and all alone.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, we trust You to provide for all we need.    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.

June 21, 2016: Love, Sweet Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 173  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Dionne Warwick singing Bert Bacharach’s hit from the 60s, … What the World Needs Now, poignantly expressing what the world always needs more of … God’s love through Christ.

Highlight Passage:  1st Corinthians 14:1a [NKJV] …  
19 Pursue love … 
… After the exhortation of love in Chapter 13, God’s command is to pursue His love above all His attributes …
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Highlight Context – 1st Corinthians 13 - 14:1 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God's love, sweet love, ... that's just what we need.          
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Reference Passage #1 … John 14 21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Our willingness to follow Christ’s commands is His way of knowing whether we truly love Him.

Reference Passage #2 … 1st John 4:7-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s love is manifest in us when we love others.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, teaches today what Jackie DeShannon and Dionne Warwick, both having hit songs back in the 1960s, taught with Bert Bacharach’s famous song, ”What The World Needs Now” [Is love Sweet Love].

And … our 21st century world got another big reminder of that truth this past week when there was another mass shooting, … a long serial line of tragic and senseless killings at the hands of a people filled with anger and hatred. And predictably this most recent massacre set off a debate of how we can DO SOMETHING to make these senseless episodes of hatred go away; but all the debates over political solutions will not solve the problem; because our Lord in His truth has given the solution; … and we, … many of whom claim to be His followers, are unwilling to do what His says in the passages offered above with God’s solutions.

Duh! … If we truly love God, … we do what He says; and when we do, we’ll love others the way He loved us; and love will win … as God says it will in the end, my friend. … And BTW, … the reason why you find me here every day, posting of my time in God’s word, is because everyday, I need this time to be hugged by my Lord by His loving truth. It’s my “hug fix” to start each day; and then I do my best to take that love and share it with others.

Do you need a bit of love from God today? Well, glean it here from His word; … and then go out and share it with someone else!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, lead me to someone who needs a love hug today which only I can pass along from 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, 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.