December 11, 2016 ... God Works Thru Prayer

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 346

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Jaci Velasquez, singing Dennis Jernigan’s song … On My Knees … longingly and lovingly singing of the power invoked when we get on our knees in surrender to King Jesus.

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Highlight Verse: 1st Kings 18:37 [NKJV] …  
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” 
… Elijah’s prayer to God for Him to show Himself …
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Kings 18:36-46 … USE THIS LINK …
… Elijah prays for God to reveal Himself to the Godless Ahab and his court; and rain came forth after years of drought.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... John 15:7 … 
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 
… Jesus on the effectiveness of prayer from an abiding and surrendered servant.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... James 5:16-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… James makes reference to the mighty and wondrous power in prayer by citing Elijah’s prayer.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, makes reference to the miraculous story of Elijah praying and God bringing rain after years of drought to illustrate how God often works. He writes: God often chooses to move through our prayers to accomplish His work. We see this when God told the prophet Elijah, “I will send rain on the land,” promising to end a drought in Israel that had lasted three and a half years (James 5:17). … Elijah understood that God wants us to join in His work through humble, persistent prayer. Regardless of our human limitations, God may choose to move through our praying in amazing ways. That’s why the letter of James tells us that “the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results,” all the while reminding us that “Elijah was as human as we are” (James 5:16–17 nlt). 

If it is truth and God will often reveal Himself when we pray, why then don’t we do all we can to follow what Jesus said about prayer to His disciples (see John 15:7)? Should we not be trying to abide in Christ more diligently and bring our adoration, confession, thankfulness, and supplications (that’s the “ACTS” of prayer) to our Lord as righteously and intently and as often as we can?

The Apostle Paul taught fellow Christians that prayer, offered to God with a humble/thankful heart, was God’s prescription of peace for our anxieties (look up Phil. 4:6-7); so, are you as convicted about our puny prayer practices as I am?

My fellow Christian, it’s easy to see why Satan will do all he can to keep us diverted from our prayer life. So, let’s do more - even today - to prioritize the time/effort we spend in prayer, knowing that this will be time well invested for God’s glory.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, this is my time with/for You. And I’m here to follow You with my prayers. ... 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.

December 10, 2016 ... A True Friend

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 345

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Wayne Watson, singing his song … The Friend of A Wounded Heart … longingly and lovingly singing of our True Friend, Jesus, Who’s always there to lift us up when we’re wounded.

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Highlight Verse: Proverbs 27:5-6 [NKJV] …  
5 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 
… But how often are we unwilling to be a true friend by lovingly sharing the hard truth with our beloved ones.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Proverbs 27:5-10 … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, tells us of the essence of true friendship, … which may, at times, offer painful rebuke instead of the kisses of untruth.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Psalm 147:3 … 
3 [The Lord] He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 
… Our Lord is our true friend, Who heals our brokenness.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... Ephesians 4:15 … 
… 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ …
… The truth, spoken in love, may be painful but it helps us grow in the image of our Savior.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, makes reference to a telling article which shows us that God’s tough love is often necessary to bring us closer to Him and be shaped in His image. He writes: Charles Lowery complained to his friend about lower back pain. He was seeking a sympathetic ear, but what he got was an honest assessment. His friend told him, “I don’t think your back pain is your problem; it’s your stomach. Your stomach is so big it’s pulling on your back.” 
In his column for REV! Magazine, Charles shared that he resisted the temptation to be offended. He lost the weight and his back problem went away. Charles recognized that “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Prov. 27:5–6). 

When a real, loving friend speaks truth, which may be hard to hear because of its pain, we often get defensive and may even bolt from the rebuke or honest appraisal. Anybody been there in the past? … I certainly have; and too often I’ve turned away from the love being expressed in this honesty, even turning my back on the true friend who shared truth with me.

I hope all Christians reading here know that Jesus is our TRUE Friend. He is what Wayne Watson sings (linked above), … the “Friend of a Wounded Heart.” And all too often our Lord speaks through the honesty, love, and even the rebukes of someone very close to us, … like a spouse or a “BFF” (our closest friends). It’s really tough to be a loving friend and speak truth into the life of one who needs to hear the hurt that heals. … But we must ... IF ... we’re really friends.

That’s what Jesus will do for us; … because of His love for us; and we must do it for those we love as well. I pray we will.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, help me to be a real friend and speak Your loving grace and truth into those who need Your healing friendship. ... 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.

December 9, 2016 ... A Special Advent Gift

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 344

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Merle Haggard, singing his song mentioned below … If We Make It Thru December … longingly singing of the discouragement many feel during the Advent season … but then ON TO THIS LINK  to hear a very different attitude for Christmas, sung by Michael Bublé … about images of a joyful time of year for the Advent Season.

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Highlight Verse: Acts 4:36-37 [NKJV] …  
36 And Joses [Joseph], who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 
… Note how the Apostles gave Barnabas a special name which described his gift of encouragement; … and we all should aspire to that name this time of year.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 4:32-37, 9:26-27 … USE THIS LINK …
… Barnabas was the “son of encouragement,” a model for us all at Christmas.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Galatians 6:9-10 … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts us to never grow weary of doing good for others, especially our brothers/sisters in Christ.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... Philippians 2:3-4 … USE THIS LINK …
… Again, Paul exhorts Christians to to help carry the burdens of others to lift their spirit in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, makes reference to a song written country singer, Merle Haggard, bringing out the downer many feel at this time of year [see song link]. He writes: An old Merle Haggard song, “If We Make It Through December,” tells the story of a man laid off from his factory job with no money to buy Christmas gifts for his little girl. Although December is supposed to be a happy time of year, his life seems dark and cold for some. Discouragement is not unique to December, but it can be amplified then. Our expectations may be higher, our sadness deeper. A little encouragement can go a long way. 

“Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

We read this wish on holiday cards at this time of year, don’t we? … But I think we all know that many people feel really down during the holiday season; and that’s what Merle Haggard wrote about in his song (linked above).

And the ODB author today pointed us back to a post-resurrection Bible character, Barnabas, who had a way of lifting those around him during tough times. And Jesus’ Apostles even gave him a nickname - “Son of Encouragement!” And during this time of year, when feelings of despair can be amplified for some, even with all the lights and glitter of Christmas, … we all should glean the exhortation of God (perhaps from Paul in Gal. 6 or Phil. 2 linked above) to reach out with some Barnabas encouragement for others.

So, I hope we can all give some degree of encouragement to others, … perhaps just a smile [see photo], … to help lift the spirits of someone who’s a bit down for Christmas. And if you’re reading here with me, watch the beautiful video of Michael Bublé singing and imagine that I’m singing his encouraging wishes … TO YOU.  ... {Oh, if I could only sing that well!}

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, yes, Lord, I do pray that all reading here have a “merry little Christmas,” all of us gratefully thinking of Your wondrous gift to us - eternal 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.

December 8, 2016 ... Praises In Surround Sound

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 343

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the family group, The Martins, singing the classic praise hymn … The Doxology … poignantly and powerfully singing the praises we all should raise to our Lord for all His wondrous works in our lives.

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Highlight Verse: Nehemiah 12:43 [NKJV] …  
43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off. 
… God’s people offering up songs of praise to reflect their gratefulness to God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Nehemiah 12:27-43 … USE THIS LINK …
… The Levites gather the people around the walls of Jerusalem to praise the Lord in song loudly to Him and to all who would share in their joy.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Psalm 150 … USE THIS LINK …
… I can just imagine that this may have been one of those songs sung by the Israelite chorus on the walls of Jerusalem being led by Ezra and Nehemiah.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, uses a modern day illustration to teach on how we can/should praise our God. He writes: Walt Disney Studios was the first to introduce a new concept in listening to movies. It was called “stereophonic sound” or surround sound, and it was developed because producers wanted the movie-going audience to hear the music in a new way. 

These days “surround sound” is certainly a wonderful way of enjoying the sound of movies or even TV or music in our own home [see attached photo]. But the concept is not a new one; and today’s ODB author goes on to show how the Israelites used “surround sound” to praise the Lord. He wrote: … Thousands of years earlier, Nehemiah introduced the idea at the dedication of the rebuilt wall of Jerusalem. “I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall,” he explained. “I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks” (Neh. 12:31). The two choirs began at the southern part of the wall, at the Dung Gate. One went to the left, one went to the right, and they surrounded the city of Jerusalem in praise as they marched toward the temple (vv. 31, 37–40). 

And more personally, I use “surround sound” every day, right here, as part of my devotional discipline, finding a song [usually on YouTube], like the one linked above that illustrates my journaling, putting on my head phones, which produce glorious sound production, and praising God by listening to, and sometimes even singing, the praises I feel in my heart for my God.

And on this day, which happens to be my birthday, I invite any readers to join me in reading the last Psalm, which is a glorious praise song (see Psalm 150); and then put on your headphones or let the stereo speakers from your sound system proclaim the praises of the Martin siblings as they sing The Doxology hymn linked above.

As Dave Branon quotes in the ODB devotional today and I agree, "We can never praise Jesus too much!" … And to that I loudly declare in my own surround sound, … AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!! 

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, I lift my praises to You this day for all the glorious blessings You have brought into my life. Hallelujah and hallelujah!!! ... 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.

December 7, 2016 ... Together in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 342

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from The Gettys singing their song … By Faith … poignantly and powerfully singing that the only we way we can be unified in spirit is to surrender to God’s Spirit in faith and follow our Lord TOGETHER!

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Highlight Verse: Ephesians 4:3 [NKJV] …  
… 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
… But do we?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 4:1-6 … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to be unified, … even in our differences.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Isaiah 53:6 … 
6 All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
… Only in/thru Christ can we find the unity of His cleansing for our selfishness and sinfulness.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... 1st Corinthians 12: 12-13 … 
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 
… We are many - and different - but unified by God’s Spirit into ONE Body, … the Body of Christ.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : ... Philippians 2:1-2 … 
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 
… God, thru Paul, so wanted (and now wants) all in His body to come together and find unity from/in His Spirit. My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Marvin Williams, uses a poignant natural illustration to teach on how our differences can come together in unity through our face and surrender to God’s Spirit. He writes: Seeing three large predatory animals cuddle and play together is extremely unusual. Yet this is precisely what happens daily in an animal sanctuary in Georgia. In 2001, after months of neglect and abuse, a lion, a Bengal tiger, and a black bear were rescued by Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary. “We could have separated them,” said the assistant director. “But since they came as a kind of family, we decided to keep them together.” The trio had found comfort in each other during their time of mistreatment, and, despite their differences, they live peacefully together. 

Does this photo image of those three, as well as the linked song and these Scriptures, speak to you as strongly as they do to me? Because I see so much discord and division surrounding and involving God’s chosen ones these days.

Yes, as Isaiah prophesied (see Is. 53:6 above), we are different and our individuality, especially our selfishness, drives us apart. Even God’s church has allowed denominationalism and division to weaken its impact on the world. But the rest of God’s truth (see passages above), speaks to the reality that, like those creatures in the photo, we can, as the Gettys sing, come together in the unity of our faith and surrender to receive God’s enabling grace to be His UNIFIED BODY and giving Him glory on earth.

How about we all do ALL we can to make that happen and allow others to see God’s created and chosen ones come together in love … as His word commands … to impact the world for Christ?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, help us as Your Body to come together in faith and unity and serve Your kingdom for Your glory. ... 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.

December 6, 2016 ... More Kindness Please!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 341

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Glen Campbell singing … Try A Little Kindness … poignantly and powerfully singing of something sorely needed in this world today.

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Highlight Verse: Ephesians 5:32 [NKJV] … 
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. … 
But are we?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 4:29-32 … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to be kind to one another in word and deed.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Psalms 141:3-4 … USE THIS LINK …
… King David’s warning against all unkindness and wickedness.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... Galatians 5:22-23 … 
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 
… Our call to fruitfulness by God. But are we?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, uses an illustration from literature to illustrate God’s call for us to be kind to one another. He writes: When I was a child I was an ardent reader of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz books. I recently came across Rinkitink in Oz with all the original artwork. I laughed again at the antics of Baum's irrepressible, good-hearted King Rinkitink with his down-to-earth goodness. Young Prince Inga described him best: “His heart is kind and gentle and that is far better than being wise." 
How simple and how sensible! Yet who has not wounded the heart of someone dear to us by a harsh word? By doing so, we disturb the peace and quiet of the hour and we can undo much of the good we have done toward those we love. "A small unkindness is a great offense,” said Hannah More, an 18th-century English writer. 

I really don’t need to add very much to all that’s above today. So, … if you’ve taken in the pertinent, poignant, and powerful message of Glen Campbell’s lyrics in his linked song above as well as David Roper’s reflections AND especially the truths from God’s word above, it really says it all, doesn’t it? So, for once I won’t be too wordy!

So, how about it? … Let’s just do all we can today to “try a little kindness” in what we think, and especially what we say and do.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, help me to be as kind to others today as You have been to me ALWAYS. ... 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.

December 5, 2016 ... Lights of Christmas

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 340

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Matt Redman singing … Light of the World … poignantly singing of King Jesus as the light of the world, Who came into the world as flesh to shine our way out of the darkness of sin to live in/with our Lord forever.

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Highlight Verse: Jonn 8:12 [NKJV] … 
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again [the Pharisees and His followers], saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 
… Jesus declares clearly His witness to all who were to follow His light.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 8:12-20 … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus declares clearly that He is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD!!
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 Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Luke 2:8-9 … 
8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 
… God, with His own light show announces the coming of King Jesus!!!

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... Philippians 2:5-11 … USE THIS LINK …
… My favorite Scripture passage at Christmas, declaring how Jesus came so humbly to mankind as our King and Savior.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, C.P. Hia, from Singapore, writes how his country lights up at Christmas [see photo], declaring Christ as the light of the world. He writes: Each year for several weeks around Christmas, Singapore’s tourist belt, Orchard Road, is transformed into a wonderland of lights and colors. This light-up is designed to attract tourists to spend their money at the many stores along the street during this “golden month of business.” Shoppers come to enjoy the festivities, listen to choirs sing familiar Christmas carols, and watch performers entertain.

Personally, I love the lights of Christmas, even tho I know that they are to promote the sale of holiday products. To me, all the traditional lights and Christmas carols create an atmosphere which honors what the advent season is all about; … and that is the humble, yet glorious, coming of the One Who would declare Himself to be the “light of the world.” [See the highlight passage above].

Yet, when King Jesus was born into the world, even though God’s light show and His angels announced His coming, it was not with a showy display of light for all to see. His initial light show was humbly displayed to small group of shepherds, considered by others to be the lowliest of all in those days (see Luke 2). But as the Apostle Paul would later write (in Philippians 2:5-11), Jesus may have set aside His glory and majesty, coming as a man, to live and die for the sins of mankind; … but nonetheless, our Christmas lights should reinforce the truth that He came as Matt Redman sings, as the “Light of the World,” to show our way to the glory of salvation.

So, when we see the lights of Christmas, may we all see God’s glory, the One Who came to shepherds and kings - and to us - a Babe in a manger - to become our LORD and Savior, … King Jesus! And as the Light of the world, He is the One who will come again to light the way for all, who come to Him in faith, to experience eternal glory.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, You sent the Light of world to save me. O glory, in this Advent season, … forevermore!! ... 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.

December 4, 2016 ... God’s Truth Treasure

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 339

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing … Thy Word … poignantly singing of the value of God’s word to lead us to His glory.

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Highlight Verse: Psalm 119:162 [NKJV] … 
162 I rejoice in Your word as one who finds great treasure. 
… Do we see God’s word as a treasure trove from Him to His family?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 119: 161-168… USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist expresses the reality of the treasure he cherished which is God’s word
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Isaiah 55:11 … 
11 So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth. It shall not return to Me void. But it shall accomplish what I pleas, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 
… God’s promise of the priceless treasure which is ours from possessing His word.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Keila Ochoa, writes of a significant archeological find in Mexico. She writes: In 1932, Mexican archaeologist Alfonso Caso discovered Tomb 7 at Monte Alban, Oaxaca. He found more than four hundred artifacts, including hundreds of pieces of pre-Hispanic jewelry he called “The Treasure of Monte Alban.” [see attached photo] It is one of the major finds of Mexican archaeology. One can only imagine Caso’s excitement as he held a jade cup in its purest form. 

What great joy Caso, the archeologist, must have sensed holding the treasure trove he discovered, much of it glimmering in priceless gold. But thousands of years earlier, a psalmist, the author of Psalm 119, wrote of a treasure which was an even more valuable gift from God. And to this Old Testament believer, God’s word was the greatest treasure on earth; and it had transformed His life and was leading him to glory.

Today the ODB author summarizes the comparison between the treasure discovered by Alfonso Cast and the treasure depicted in Psalm 119 and the song sung by The Maranatha Singers (linked above). Ochoa wrote: Caso’s name is remembered today because of his discovery in Tomb 7. We can enjoy it if we visit a museum in Oaxaca. However, the psalmist’s treasure is at our fingertips. Day by day we can dig into the Scriptures and find diamonds of promises, rubies of hope, and emeralds of wisdom. But by far the greatest thing we find is the person whom the book points to: Jesus Himself. After all, He is the Author of the book. 

My friends, every day when I come into my quiet place to be with God to start my day and to write these journal thoughts, I have the opportunity to share in the greatest treasure on earth, given to mankind to save us from ourselves and lead us to eternal life. My treasure trove is God’s word; and I pray that anyone reading here shares in this treasure with me.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, Your word is my greatest treasure from You. It has saved me; and it lights my way to You every day. ... 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.

December 3, 2016 ... Helping the Needy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 338

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Orphans of God … poignantly speaking of the need for the Body of Christ to reach out to the most vulnerable of us, as with widows and orphans, often treated as orphans to bring them into the family of God, helping them in need.

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Highlight Verse: James 1:27 [NKJV] … 
27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. 
… God charges His family of true believers to reach out and live their faith by helping the most vulnerable in the family, … widows and orphans.
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 1:22-27 … USE THIS LINK …
… James wanted his fellow Christians to be doers of the word, not just listeners and to see this manifest in helping those in need.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Proverbs 14:31, 19:17, 21:13 … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon’s wisdom on the must for believers to help the needy.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... Matthew 25: 37-40 … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus speaks of when He will come to judge mankind, telling all that only those who lived their faith by helping the needy will be worthy of God’s eternal kingdom.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a personal illustration, with which most of us can identify, to teach on our prayer life with God. She writes: The phone rang in the night for my husband, a minister. One of the prayer warriors in our church, a woman in her seventies who lived alone, was being taken to the hospital. She was so ill that she was no longer eating or drinking, nor could she see or walk. Not knowing if she would live or die, we asked God for His help and mercy, feeling particularly concerned for her welfare. The church sprang into action with a round-the-clock schedule of visitors who not only ministered to her but showed Christian love to the other patients, visitors, and medical staff. 

The Church universal is the family of God; and Jesus’ brother, James, wrote to Jewish Christians of hIs day to help them see what Avalon sings in the linked song, today … that there are NO ORPHANS in God’s family. And He wanted Christians to see that we must see and meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our “family” if we are to truly BE the Family of God.

Right now, my local church is committed to living our faith by financially and spiritually supporting a local rescue mission (as pictured in the photo), reaching out to help the homeless in our area, … providing food, shelter, and the Gospel message of salvation. And this local mission support has saved the souls and lives of thousands of men over the years.

We are blessed to be an active part of an effort like this to serve God’s family and His kingdom in this life. I hope that any reading here have ways to live out our faith as James preached in the highlight passage above. We are to be DOERS of the Gospel, not just HEARERS.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, help us to see those in need and then DO SOMETHING to help them … even 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.

December 2, 2016 ... Talking To Myself and God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 337

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Dolly Parton singing her prayer in song … Hello God … poignantly speaking openly to God in song with a prayer of contrition and a plea for God’s love.

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Highlight Verse: Psalm 116:7 [NKJV] … 
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. 
… The Palmist talks to himself of how God has dealt with his soul.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 116:1-7 … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist has a quiet conversation with God and himself.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Psalm 62:5, 103:2 … USE THIS LINK …
… King David has a self-directed conversation in song, knowing that God is listening.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses a personal illustration, with which most of us can identify, to teach on our prayer life with God. He writes: Do you ever talk to yourself? Sometimes when I’m working on a project—usually under the hood of a car—I find it helpful to think aloud, working through my options on the best way to make the repair. If someone catches me in my “conversation” it can be a little embarrassing—even though talking to ourselves is something most of us do every day. 

And we do, don’t we? … Well, at least I do. And quite often, especially here in the later stages of my life, I find myself talking with myself, … but knowing that my Lord is listening … even bending down to monitor my self-talk, which includes Him (see how God listens to us in Psalm 116:1-2).

In fact, I come to a quiet place every morning to be with my God with few earthly/personal distractions; and I quite often find myself speaking to myself, believing - no, KNOWING - that my God hears me in my self-directed conversations.

In this morning’s linked song, you can hear Dolly Parton praying in song; and you get the sense that she’s just having an open conversation with God, believing strongly that He not only hears but He cares.

I hope that others, reading with me here, take the time to get alone - and yes, daily - to talk to ourselves, reciting our blessings and thankfulness to God as the Psalmists in today’s highlight scriptures above; and then pouring out our hearts, openly and verbally, with our confessions , thankfulness, and petitions; … because our God even bends down to hear our words of contrition and concern.

He so loves and cares for His children!!!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, oh my soul is so weary of my selfishness. May I surrender more to You, Lord, … seeking Your will and Your way thru Your word … every day!! ... 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.

December 1, 2016 ... Light of the World

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 336

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the Australian group Hillsong leading a large audience and receptively singing the chorus of the old hymn … Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus … poignantly singing of how when we focus on Jesus, His light shines on us and gives us a view of life that reflects His glory. … And THEN TO THIS LINK to see images and images from Matt Redman’s song, Light of the World, giving us God’s prospective our our walk in this world, with His Light shining to light our way.

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Highlight Verse: John 1:9 [NKJV] … 
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. 
… John the Baptizer gives witness to the true light of the world … and that is Jesus, our Messiah. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 1:1-14 … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s word give believers a view of a darkened earth which produces the Light the world needs to bring light into the darkness and peace from the turmoil of this world.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Isiah 26:3 … 
3 You [LORD] will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
... When we focus on our Lord, we can find peace and see light in the darkness of our world.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... John 14:6 ... 
6 Jesus said to him [a fearful Thomas], “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 
... Jesus is the light of life when we are fearful or lost in the darkness of the world.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, uses an apt word picture, of seeing earth from space, to illustrate how we can see the world when we focus on Jesus in faith, trusting in His sovereignty. He writes: “My perspective on earth changed dramatically the very first time I went into space,” says Space Shuttle astronaut Charles Frank Bolden Jr. From four hundred miles above the earth, all looked peaceful and beautiful to him. Yet Bolden recalled later that as he passed over the Middle East, he was “shaken into reality” when he considered the ongoing conflict there. During an interview with film producer Jared Leto, Bolden spoke of that moment as a time when he saw the earth with a sense of how it ought to be—and then sensed a challenge to do all he could to make it better. 

It’s true, isn’t it? When we focus on the world, things can look very, very dark, … even foreboding. But as the group Hillsong and Matt Redmon sing [linked above], and we read and believe in the truth from God’s word above, when we “Turn Our Eyes Upon Jesus,” and truly see Him, in faith, for Whom He is, … “the things of this world, grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”

Need I say more? I think not.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, help me to focus on Your light, the Light of the world, and let You shine on my path through this 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.

November 30, 2016 ... My Worth In Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 335

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing … Redeemed … singing of how we receive our worth from the redemption provided by Christ’s blood sacrifice.

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Highlight Verse: 1st Peter 1:18-19 [NKJV] … 
18 … knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, or from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 
… What really gives us self worth … only our relationship with Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Peter 1:17-23 … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Peter, reminding Christians from whence comes our worth … in the redemption from Christ’s atoning blood.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Luke 9:23 … 
23 Then He said to them all (followers),  “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
... Our worth in Christ creates newness, redemption, and freedom.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... 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. 
... Our worth in Christ creates newness, redemption, and freedom.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : ... Ephesians 1:7 [NKJV] … 
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 
... Our worth comes ONLY from the redemption offered by Christ’s blood covering our sin.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, uses an historical story to illustrate how we must find our self worth from our relationship with Christ. He writes: There is a story that in 75 bc a young Roman nobleman named Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates and held for ransom. When they demanded 20 talents of silver in ransom (about $600,000 today), Caesar laughed and said they obviously had no idea who he was. He insisted they raise the ransom to 50 talents! Why? Because he believed he was worth far more than 20 talents. 
What a difference we see between Caesar’s arrogant measure of his own worth and the value God places on each of us. Our worth is not measured in terms of monetary value but by what our heavenly Father has done on our behalf. 

Family identification, position, power, wealth, traditions are all factors which so often create our identity … i.e., our self-worth. But as Peter disclaimed to his fellow Christians (and to you/me) [see nightlight passages] our worth ONLY comes from the redemption offered by Christ’s atoning blood, which was shed for all who are redeemed by faith in Him.

As Big Daddy Weave sings in the song today (linked above), we are set free from self-identification and created anew in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 1:7); … but only when we become identified in/with Christ … FOREVER!!

So today’s devotional screams for us, as Christians, to set aside seeking our image/worth in the world or from fleshly lusts/pleasures, and seek only to go deeper into the newness and fruitfulness which comes from our identification with/in Christ.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, help me to come here daily seeking to grow closer and closer to You and to surrender more, as You commanded, denying self, taking up my cross daily, and following only 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.

November 29, 2016 ... Wow - I’m Rich!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 334

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Kristyn and Keith Getty singing their song … Speak O Lord … singing of how we receive God’s matchless glory through His word.

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Highlight Verse: Psalm 119:14 [NKJV] … 
14 I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 
… We can find the joy of great riches when we are blessed by God’s truth.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 119:9-16 ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Psalmist declares his joy in meditating on an surrendering to God’s word.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : ... Isaiah 55:11 [NKJV] … 
11  So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 
... God's word always has power for His purposes.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : ... John 14:21 ... 
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. 
... How filled with joy we should be in our obedience to God's commands in His word.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, uses a clear and very human analogy to illustrate how we might react if we came into vast unexpected riches. He writes: Perhaps you've seen the TV ad in which a person answers the door and finds someone who hands over a check for an enormous amount of money [see attached photo]. Then the amazed recipient begins shouting, "I won! I'm rich! I can't believe it! My problems are solved!" [Certainly] striking it rich evokes a great emotional response. 

And I think anyone can identify with the emotions one would feel if, somehow, we came into sudden financial providence. And the ODB author today immediately made the comparison of what the author of Psalm 119 wrote in comparing the joy he felt in meditating on and living by God's word. [see Ps. 119:14 above].   This God-inspired song writer had come to realize that being blessed by God's truth from His word can (and should) evoke the same, or even more, joy than we get with vast financial wealth.

But what about you and me? Do we find the kind of joy and exhilaration we might feel in sudden riches when we are blessed by taking in God's truth from His Holy Word? If we are not getting great blessing and joy from God's word, we evidently don't choose to believe what God actually says in Isaiah 55:11 and John 14:21. Because if we really believed what God says in just those two scriptures, let alone the rest of the Bible, we'd be overjoyed to seek out His wealth of wisdom, ... which we can get EVERY TIME we delve into His word.

Well, my friends, that's why you find me coming back here EVERY DAY to open the door of God's love from His word and receive the riches of His glory which He imparts to me from the wealth of wisdom He gives to me from His love letter to me … His Holy word in my Bible.

And I will pray below that we all can find the joy of God's wondrous wealth of truth which we can glean anytime we partake of the living waters from the wondrous well of riches found in God's word.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, thank You for providing me with Your vast riches of love and truth in Your Word. And I will continue to come here every day and be blessed by the joy which comes from Your word.. I pray others who come here with me will as well. ... 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.

November 28, 2016: Beautiful to God

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 333

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Ray Stevens singing his song in 1970 … Everything Is Beautiful … singing of how God’s love is for all … and that He sees the beauty in everyone.

Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 7:47 [NKJV] … 
47 “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 
… Jesus forgave the woman sinner, seeing the beauty of her worship.
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Highlight Context: Luke 7:36-50 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
... Jesus saw the beauty in all who came to Him with their surrendered hearts.
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Reference Passage #1 … Genesis 1:27 [NKJV] … 
27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 
… God has no favorites. He created us all in His image.

Reference Passage #2 … Mark 14:3-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus sees the beauty in anyone, who comes to Him to receive His grace, … ANYONE, not matter their condition.

My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, uses our imagination to have us picture a beautiful girl in a wheelchair. He wrote: Picture two teenage girls. The first girl is strong and healthy. The other girl, though beautiful has never known the freedom of getting around on her own. From her wheelchair she faces not only the emotional challenges common to life, but also a stream of physical pains and struggles. But both girls are smiling cheerfully as they enjoy each other’s company. Two beautiful teenagers—each seeing in the other the treasure of friendship. 

Dave Branon, the ODB author today, brings out that Jesus, in his ministry walk on earth, often encountered those who had physical or emotional challenges. There was the woman labeled as “a sinner” (in the highlight passage) who tried to wash Jesus’ feet with her tears. And there was that incident where Jesus was criticized for letting an unidentified woman pour a flask of costly oil on His head, to which He responded, ”Let her alone. … She has done a good work for me.” (see Mark 14:6)

Jesus has no “faves,” does He? Why else would He have loved me (or you) enough to see past our sinfulness or possibly our disabilities and die for us all on the cross so that we could be free from our physical limitations or sinfulness … FOREVER?!! Yes, as Ray Steven sings, … Everyone is beautiful in His eyes; and let’s be thankful for it.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, one again, as on Thanksgiving, we celebrate with gratitude … and praise You for loving us all. … 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.

November 27, 2016: Being a Lure for Christ

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 332

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … singing of how we need to be “fishers of men” in a world where so many need Jesus’ saving grace.

Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 92:14 [NKJV] …
14 They (righteous believers) shall bear fruit in old age; … they shall be fresh and flourishing. … Age shall not hold back the effectiveness of the righteous.
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Highlight Context: Psalm 92:12-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The Psalmist praises the Lord on the Sabbath … as long as he shall live to serve Him. ===========

Reference Passage #1 … Isaiah 40:31 [NKJV] … 
31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; … they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. 
… The faithful shall be strengthened … even in old age.

Reference Passage #2 … Acts 1:8 [NKJV] … 
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
… Jesus charges us to be His witnesses to a lost world, no matter how old we get.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David Roper, reported an interesting 2nd Century piece, … written about fishing lures, which triggered a word picture for Roper of older Christians. He wrote: Several years ago I stumbled across a bit of fishing lore in a second-century ad work by the Greek writer Aelian. “Between Boroca and Thessalonica runs a river called the Astracus, and in it there are fish with spotted skins [trout].” He then describes a “snare for the fish, by which they get the better of them.  They fastened crimson red wool round a hook and attached two feathers. Then they would throw their snare, and the fish, attracted by the color, comes up, thinking to get a mouthful” (On the Nature of Animals). 
Fishermen still use this lure today [see attached photo]. It is called the Red Hackle. First used over 2,200 years ago, it remains a snare for trout by which we “get the better of them.” 

And you may be thinking, “Bill, … how, pray tell, does this fit in with a devotional blog?” But it does: … because the ODB author was stricken by the fact that a VERY OLD fishing technique was still being used effectively today to catch trout. And that’s the way we should look at the aging process for us as Christians.

Unfortunately, the world would like for us older Christians (and I’m certainly one of those) to think that getting older equals becoming less effective or powerful as witnesses for Christ. Hey folks!! I’m much more effective now in my 70s than I was in my 30s as a “fisher of men,” which is what Jesus wants me to become … just as he did His original disciples. In fact just think how Peter, Andrew, James, and John became WAY MORE effective as fishing lures for Jesus later in their lives than they were when Jesus first called them to become “fishers of men.”

So, as we get older, fellow fishermen, let’s wrap ourselves in the lure of Christlikeness and cast ourselves on the waters of life and do some fishing for souls. Because as Steve Green sings in the linked song, “People Need the Lord!”

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, help me to cast myself as a witnessing lure for Your glory. … 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.

November 26, 2016: Sending Out Godly Words

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 331

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Testify to Love … singing of how any Christian should speak, text, or email … to testify to God’s love.

Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 3:10 [NKJV] …
10 For “he would love life and see good days, … let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. 
… Peter’s exhortation for Christians to avoid speaking evil or deceitful to one another if we desire to see good days in this life.
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Highlight Context: 1st Peter 3:8-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s calling to be a blessing in this life.
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Reference Passage #1 … Psalm 141:3 [NKJV] … 
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; … keep watch over the door of my lips. 
… Good advice in prayer and song from King David about using our words.

Reference Passage #2 … Proverbs 18:21 [NKJV] … 
21 The tongue has the power of life and death. 
… God's wisdom, thru Solomon, about the power of our words.

Reference Passage #3 … 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. 
… Paul’s teaching on how to use our verbal communication as Christians.

Reference Passage #4 … James 3: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Jesus’ brother, James, giving Christians warning about using “the tongue,” which these days can extend to texting or emails.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, used an illustration with which many these days should likely identify. He wrote: Have you ever sent an email and suddenly realized it went to the wrong person or it contained harmful, harsh words? If only you could press a key and stop it. Well, now you can. Several companies offer a feature that gives you a brief time after sending an email to stop it from leaving your computer. After that, the email is like a spoken word that cannot be unsaid. Rather than being seen as a cure-all, an “unsend” feature should remind us that it’s extremely important to guard what we say. 

Wow, been there, done that, and have that T-shirt!! … Haven’t we all - well, at least many of us - said something or used our keyboards (or smart phones) to communicate our thoughts, many times laced with human emotions, to someone; and then, after saying or sending our thoughts, we realized that we’d like to UNSEND or UNSAY the words, ... which now are irretrievable?

Back in biblical times, one couldn’t send a message that would be retrieved and read within moments of the sender’s email or text. So, most of the biblical warnings about verbal communication dealt with the use of “the tongue.” And some of those Scriptural warnings can be found in the passages above; and I don’t think it takes a biblical scholar to translate those passages to our use of rapid digital communication today.

Personally, I think the Apostle Paul’s warning is the clearest and easiest to use when judging whether what we say, text, or email should be shared with others. With the Holy Spirit’s anointing, Paul wrote [see Eph. 4:29] that what we communicate verbally should either build someone up (i.e., edify them) or give them the grace (i.e., love) of God. If it doesn't do either of those, Paul would say, “Don’t hit the send button!!” (see photo)

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, help my words do what is sung by Avalon in today’s song … “Testify to Love!” … 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.

November 25, 2016: He’s All I Need

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 330

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing … Jesus, You’re All I Need … singing of how any Christian can find contentment and avoid greed in this life.

Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 5:10 [NKJV] …
10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; … nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity. 
… Solomon had experienced the effects of abundance and wealth; and God uses him to warn God’s people of the effect it can have on many.
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Highlight Context: Ecclesiastes 5:10-19 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God, “The Teacher,” in Solomon’s treatise on vanity tells of the effect that possessions can have on the human spirit.
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Reference Passage #1 … Matthew 6:24-34 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ warning of how wealth and possessions can take a hold of one’s spirit.

Reference Passage #2 … 1st Timothy 6:6-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches on finding contentment in the possession of God’s providence … in order to avoid becoming overwhelmed with greed.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, used an illustration of what happens on this date annually, … teaching on the effect pursuing STUFF can have on our mentality. She wrote: How much is enough? We might ask this simple question on a day that many developed countries increasingly devote to shopping. I speak of “Black Friday”, the day after the US Thanksgiving holiday, in which many stores open early and offer cut-price deals; a day that has spread from the States to other nations. 
Some shoppers have limited resources and are trying to purchase something at a price they can afford. But sadly, for others greed is the motivation, and violence erupts as they fight for bargains. 

If you’ve taken in and meditated on the ODB teaching, the linked song, and the Scriptures above, I don’t think I have to add very much to teach what Jesus clearly taught in his hillside sermon about the effect which possessions can have on us (see Matthew 6 passage), do I?

So, I won’t.

I’ll leave it to God’s Spirit through these truths to get us to realize what the group Hillsong sings (see the link). Jesus is truly all we need!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Jesus, You are all I need to pursue in 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.

November 24, 2016: Attitude of Gratitude

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 329

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from a group of kids singing … We Gather Together … singing one of my favorite Thanksgiving songs.

Highlight Verse[s]: 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. 
… Doing everything we do with an attitude of gratitude.
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Highlight Context: Colossians 3:12-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul outlines Godly character for believers to emulate.
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Reference Passage #1 … Psalms 100 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Probably one of the greatest songs of thanksgiving ever written.

Reference Passage #2 … 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NKJV] …
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
 … Yes, in EVERYTHING, give thanks!  

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Joe Stowell, used a personal story to illustrate what we celebrate on this day - THANKSGIVING. He wrote: Every autumn we throw a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast on campus at Cornerstone University. Our students love it! Last year a group of students played a game at their table. They challenged each other to name something they were thankful for—in three seconds or less—without repeating what someone else had said. Anyone who hesitated was out of the game. 
There are all kinds of things that students might gripe about—tests, deadlines, rules, and a host of other college-type complaints. But these students had chosen to be thankful. And my guess is that they all felt a lot better after the game than they would have if they had chosen to complain. 

If we were playing the game, what would be the first jewel of thankfulness which comes to your mind? And then when the game came around to you again, what would be #2 on your list? … And how many different things can you come up with right now for which you are genuinely thankful for God’s mercy, His kindness, His providence, … His grace.

Just stop here for a time and do a mental list of thankfulness; or better yet, write them down so that you can see how God has been working in your life. And then having done that, as have I, we’ll have - at least for a few moments - an attitude of gratitude which we should have 24/7 for all the days of our lives.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Listing all for which I’m thankful has humbled me and convicted me of my selfishness most of the time. Forgive me and help me develop more of an attitude of gratitude in 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.

November 23, 2016: Our Humble King

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 328

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from a group singing … Meekness and Majesty … sings of the mysterious mix found in our Lord’s life, … a wondrous mixture of humility and glory.

Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 2:8 [NKJV] …
8 And [Jesus] being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 
… Jesus was the model of humility; … yet, he became the most famous person in the world. 
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Highlight Context: Philippians 2:1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus’ mission in His life had nothing to do with seeking fame and recognition.
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Reference Passage #1 … Matthew 9:30-31 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus heals two blind men, telling them not to spread the story; but they did anyway and his fame grew.

Reference Passage #2 … John 6:15 [NKJV] …
15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. 
… Jesus didn’t seek fame, fortune, or power; … only to do the will of His father.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Kasper, makes a clear point about what most of us covent in life. She wrote: Many of us are obsessed with fame—either with being famous ourselves or with following every detail of famous people’s lives. International book or film tours. Late-night show appearances. Millions of followers on Twitter. 
In a recent study in the US, researchers ranked the names of famous individuals using a specially developed algorithm that scoured the Internet. Jesus topped the list as the most famous person in history. 

Somehow I can sense readers here saying or thinking, “Not me … I don’t want fame and fortune; … I’ve seen what it does to people like Hollywood stars, famous athletes, and politicians!” … Okay, … but then do any of you seek affirmation or recognition from your boss at work or perhaps your parents? Most of us seek the latter and many even would covet the former.

But THE role model for our lives as Christians sought none of the fame and notoriety that he received while our Lord walked the earth (see the reference passages above). No, Jesus humbly sought only to do what His Heavenly Father sent him to do. And the Apostle Paul wrote about that mission in the highlight passage above; and the ODB author today quoted C.S. Lewis who summarized that mission, writing, “The Son of God became man so that men might become sons of God.”

As the song linked today sings that Jesus was wondrously “Meekness and Majesty” … in one glorious personhood; and His life is the model for how we should live to glorify Him.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Help me to live humbly that others would see You in me, Lord, and not me in me. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, 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.

November 22, 2016: Going Home

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 327

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from John Denver singing … Take Me Home, Country Home … proclaiming joyfully that we a place in our hearts to return home; … but we Christians will never be home till we return to the home God has prepared for us in Heaven.

Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 11:16 [NKJV] …
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 
… “They” here is all who look forward to a heavenly home.
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Highlight Context: Hebrews 11:8-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The Author of Hebrews pointed to a desire in the hearts of all of God’s true family to return to the home prepared for them by God.
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Reference Passage #1 … John 14:1-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus promises His disciples a home in Heaven, prepared by Him and waiting for all who truly follow Him in faith.

Reference Passage #2 … Philippians 3:20-21 [NKJV] …
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 
… Our home is Heaven; and we’ll one day return there to be with our Lord.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, James Banks, tells a personal story to illustrate how Christians must live in this world in anticipation of returning to our home in Heaven. He wrote: My wife walked into the room and found me poking my head inside the cabinet of our grandfather clock. “What are you doing?” she asked. “This clock smells just like my parents’ house,” I answered sheepishly, closing the door. “I guess you could say I was going home for a moment.” 
The sense of smell can evoke powerful memories. We had moved the clock across the country from my parents’ house nearly twenty years ago, but the aroma of the wood inside it still takes me back to my childhood. 

Are we, in Christ, living today, knowing that we’ll one day return to the home now prepared for all who believe and follow Christ … just as He promised to His disciples in that upper room [see John 14 passage above] and just before He went to the cross to make that return to Him a reality?

The Apostle Paul knew that his life and his ministry was a time of life merely preparing for his return home [see the Philippians 3 passage]. And the Author of Hebrews wrote (see highlight passage above) that all of God’s family hope and live for a Heavenly home to be with God forever. 

Personally, I know where I’m headed! … Do you?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … My life here on earth is now a journey homeward. … 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.