September 12, 2017 … Finally Reconciled

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 255 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Acoustified Worship singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of God’s charge to all Christians to take the good news of salvation to all who will hear and be reconciled to the Lord.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 [NLT] … 
18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 
… As God’s saved ones, we have been given the banner of carrying the good news of God’s saving grace to all who will hear and receive it.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Corinthians 5:11-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul describes the urgency of being God’s ambassadors of reconciliation.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
… At His ascension Jesus charges His true disciples (all) to be His witness of redemption and reconciliation to the world.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1 Peter 3:15 [NLT] … 
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 
… Peter exhorts all Christians to be ready to give an answer (i.e., a testimony) to those who question us about our salvation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, relates a story of a friend who was led to find Christ. The ODB author wrote: Tham Dashu sensed something was missing in his life. So he started going to church—the same church his daughter attended. But they never went together. In earlier days, he had offended her, which drove a wedge between them. So, Tham would slip in when the singing started and leave promptly after the service ended. … 
 One day Tham fell gravely ill. His daughter plucked up the courage and wrote him a letter. She shared how Christ had changed her life, and she sought reconciliation with her dad. That night, Tham put his faith in Jesus and the family was reconciled. A few days later, Tham died and entered into the presence of Jesus—at peace with God and his loved ones. 

I totally identify with this story, because some years after I was born-again in Christ, I discovered that my parents, at age 70+, didn’t have a clue about the reality of salvation. So, … I began to witness to them, first to my Dad via letter. And one day I got a letter from him (see photo of that letter, laminated for safe keeping) explaining that he had gone to church one Sunday and prayed a prayer that I had sent him in one of my letters (it was a model of a “sinner’s prayer” surrendering to Christ as Lord). And then some years later, literally on her death bed, my mother declared to me that she wanted to go be with Jesus. And then I realized that God had used me to do what He charges all Christians to do (see Scriptures and Song above); and my witness had allowed His Spirit to reconcile my parents to Himself. And now I know that I will be with them in heaven.

Whom do you know, as readers here, that needs reconciliation, … maybe to yourself … but infinitely and eternally more importantly, … to God? Perhaps today we should go and do what Jesus charged us al to do … and witness our salvation to a dear one - or even a stranger - and let God’s Spirit use our testimony to reconcile that one to Himself.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … show me whom I might share You with 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.

September 11, 2017 … God’s Empathy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 254 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Unspoken singing their song … Call It Grace … poignantly singing of God’s grace which is always there as God knows all we need from Him .

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 1:14a [NLT] … 
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. 
… The Living Word became flesh.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 1:1-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God empathizes because He was one of us.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 6:8 [NLT] … 
8 Don’t be like them [i.e., unbelievers], for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 
… Nothing escapes our God’s watch care!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:26-27 [NLT] … 
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will. 
 … God’s Spirit, dwelling in us, knows what to pray even when we don’t.

Reference Passage [NLT] : …2 Corinthians 12: 9 [NLT] …
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
 … God’s grace will cover us in our times of weakness because our Lord knows exactly what we’re feeling.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:6-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God set aside His divine privileges to become a man so that He could identify with those He would save.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, used a story of a police chaplain going thru academy training to be able to empathize with his fellow officers. The ODB author wrote: John Babler is the chaplain for the police and fire departments in his Texas community. During a twenty-two-week sabbatical from his job, he attended police academy training so that he could better understand the situations law enforcement officers face. Through spending time with the other cadets and learning about the intense challenges of the profession, Babler gained a new sense of humility and empathy. In the future, he hopes to be more effective as he counsels police officers who struggle with emotional stress, fatigue, and loss. 

I think we all know that we may have feelings for someone who is struggling in life. But if we’ve been thru the struggle they are living, we have EMPATHY for them; and we can minister to their needs, knowing exactly what they’re feeling. And that’s the primary reason why the God of the Universe set aside His glory and became a man … so that He would know all that man feels when He would go to the cross to save us (see Philippians 2:6-8).

My friends, we worship a God Who ALWAYS knows exactly what we’re feeling [see Matt. 6:8]; and He has given us His Spirit to dwell in believers to help us relate with God even when we don’t understand what we’re feeling or going thru (see Romans 8:26-27). So, today, … when we pray to our Lord, know that He is on His throne, empathetically praying for us, knowing exactly how/what we feel and being able to provide all the grace we need when we’re weak (hear the linked song and see 2Cor. 12:9).

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … I know You know what I’ve feeling today. Please help me in my weakness. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 10, 2017 … We Are His Letters

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 253 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of the desire all Christians should feel and pursue … for others to see Jesus in the way we live.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2 Corinthians 3:3 [NLT] … 
3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. 
… A Clearly stated word picture of what we should be to there world, writing our love for Christ for all to read in the way we live.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul expresses a word picture of what we should be, as living letters, expressing Christ to the world, letting them see Jesus in the way we write our lives.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … 
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” 
… Jesus clearly expresses how others should see our discipleship being expressed in the way we live our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, used a personal story about a relative’s love of writing letters as the same word picture the Apostle Paul wrote about in his letter to Christians [see highlight passage] about how our lives should be open letters of Christlikeness to the world. The ODB author wrote: My mother and her sisters engage in what is increasingly becoming a lost art form—writing letters. Each week they pen personal words to each other with such consistency that one of their mail-carriers worries when he doesn’t have something to deliver! Their letters brim with the stuff of life, the joys and heartaches along with the daily happenings of friends and family. 

It’s true that writing letters,“snailmail”style, is going by the wayside in this world of email, texting, and instant messaging on social media sites. But, as Christians, do we realize that the way we live our lives is an open letter to the world, writing in the penmanship of Christlikeness, … that is, … IF … we live as Jesus lived and loved?

When I was a teenager, and the love of my life lived in Holland, I wrote letters, at least weekly for two years, expressing my love to her, before she finally came over to the USA and we ultimately married. As we live our lives today, will we be writing letters from our lives showing Christ’s love and how He expresses that love thru the way we live (see the scriptures above).

Really, ... that is why you find me sitting down each morning, as I am right now, and writing my reflections from God’s love letter to the world (the Bible) so that others might read how much I love my Lord and how He has changed my life.

How will we all write a letter today about God’s love … for others to read from the way we live?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … let me an open love letter for all to read of You in the way I live 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.

September 9, 2017 … Seeing The Father

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 252 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from the Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patty singing … I’ve Just Seen Jesus … poignantly and powerfully singing of the reality of our seeing God, the Father, when we see the essence of Jesus as we do thru His word.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 14:11 [NLT] … 
11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. 
… But do we believe Him?
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 14:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to the Father.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 11:27 [NLT] … 
27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” 
 … Believe it! … In seeing the Son of God, … King Jesus …, we see the Father.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 10:30 [NLT] … 
30 “ …The Father and I are one.” 
 … How much clearer does He need to say it? … But do we truly believe it?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, used a cute story about Art Letter on his old TV show, Kids Say the Darndest Things, and a child’s quote which spoke volumes about how we see God by seeing Jesus. The ODB author wrote: Author and pastor Erwin Lutzer recounts a story about television show host Art Linkletter and a little boy who was drawing a picture of God. Amused, Linkletter said, “You can’t do that because nobody knows what God looks like.” 
“They will when I get through!” the boy declared. 

I used to love watching Art Linkletter interview those little kids on his clever TV show back in the late 50s [see photo]. And they would come up with some real gems of wisdom, like the quote above from a boy who just knew he could draw a picture of God.

Which brings up the question: “Do we know what God looks like?”

Well I do! And I come here to see Him and be with Him every morning, spending quality time with Him. And I see His essence by meditating on His word. And when I’m on my knees in this quiet place, I feel His presence. How about you? Have you been with King Jesus today? Can you say as Larnelle and Sandi sing in the linked song, “I’ve just seen Jesus?”

I hope so!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … thanks for being with me here this morning. And I know that You’ll be with me all day today. … I’ll be back tomorrow for some more quality time with 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.

September 8, 2017 … Carried Homeward

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 251 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from the group MarcyMe singing their song … Dear Younger Me … poignantly reflecting on a past life, with some regrets, but gratefulness to a God Who has redeemed us from our younger selves.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 30:1a [NLT] … 
1 I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me. ... 
… Oh, how so many of us can empathize with King David here, having been rescued and carried by God thru perilous times.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 30:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David reflects on how God brought him thru the tougher times earlier in life. 
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 40:30-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet speaks of a Day when King Jesus will restore His people, in their weakness, with His strength.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
… When we come to Christ in surrender, He transforms us and makes all things new.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Monica Brands, used personal story to illustrate how we Christians can likely look back and reflect on how God carried us thru life, especially when were too weak to walk ourselves (see photo). The ODB author wrote: I recently stumbled across some of my journals from college and couldn’t resist taking time to reread them. Reading the entries, I realized I didn’t feel about myself then the same as I do today. My struggles with loneliness and doubts about my faith felt overwhelming at the time, but looking back now I can clearly see how God has carried me to a better place. Seeing how God gently brought me through those days reminded me that what feels overwhelming today will one day be part of a greater story of His healing love. 

Perhaps other readers here, like myself today, can look back at our younger lives and see how God directed us, and even at times carried us (see photo); and we could, as the inked song reflects, write a letter to our younger selves about our God giving us the strength to be lifted up when we couldn’t even walk ourselves.

And tho I’m not a betting man, I’d almost wager there are many of my readers here who could write of such reflections. And if so, we should, as I am this morning, be so grateful that our Lord pursues us and lifts us up to carry us when we’re weak or too lost to find our way home. And in doing so, He transforms us into a new person, made over into His own Image.

So, … with me today, let’s say our thanks to a loving, ever merciful, and protective Father, Who is bringing His children home, made over in His own image, to be with Him forever.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … thanks for carrying me thru my past and transforming me in my present to have a future with You forever. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 7, 2017 … Sharing the Loss

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 250 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Deborah Liv Johnson singing the old hymn … There Is A Balm In Gilead … poignantly singing of the “balm” of Christ which can always be shared with another who is feeling deep loss or grief.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Acts 8:2 [NLT] … 
2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 
… Stephen’s close friends came together to grieve their loss … TOGETHER!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 7:54-8:2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When Stephen was martyred, a group of Godly men gathered together, in their loss, to bury him and grieve for their mutual loss.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Job 2:11-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When Job lost everything, three of his friends, who later were well-meaning fools, first came to him and ministered to him by just being their with/for him in his grief.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:26-27 [NLT] … 
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[l] in harmony with God’s own will. 
… When Christians come together, feeling deep loss, we can share in the hope we’ve been given by the empathy of Christ in giving us the Holy Spirit to share our anguish with King Jesus and the Heavenly Father. So, we’re never alone in our loss.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Hebrews 10:24 [NLT] … 
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 
… As the Bride of Christ, we always have a Savior Who knows our loss; and we can come together to share in the loss/grief.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, used personal story to illustrate how we Christians have a Lord Who knows our pain and we can come TOGETHER - and should - to share loss with our brothers/sisters in Christ who’re grieving. The ODB author wrote: In 2002, a few months after my sister Martha and her husband, Jim, died in an accident, a friend invited me to a “Growing Through Grief” workshop at our church. I reluctantly agreed to attend the first session but had no intention of going back. To my surprise, I discovered a caring community of people trying to come to grips with a significant loss in their lives by seeking the help of God and others. It drew me back week after week as I worked toward acceptance and peace through the process of sharing our grief together. 

Anytime we humans experience loss, as did the ODB author, we will grieve and experience a deep sense of loneliness. And that is when we need to come together, in the body of Christ, to experience the mutual ministry of mourning. And when we see a brother grieving, we can empathize with that one because we all know the pain of loss and can share in the grief.

That’s what the biblical examples express when Stephen was martyred and his friends came together to bury him and share their grief TOGETHER (see highlight passages). And when Job lost every thing, we read in his journal in Job 2, how three of his friends came to him and just sat with him for some time, SHARING his grief.

And also we read how we’re strongly exhorted (see Hebrews 10:24-25) to come together and lift one another up in Christ … especially when we need one another as we would in times of loss/grief. And Paul reminded us in the body of Christ (see Romans 8:26-27) that we have a Savior who has sent His Spirit to grieve with us; and even when we don’t know what to say or pray, God’s Spirit will ALWAYS be there to share our grief before the throne of grace. And when do we need God’s uplifting grace any more than in times of loss.

So, today … or tomorrow … if we are given the opportunity to just be there and share in the grief of another, let us share the love of God with that one by our empathy and presence in that time of loss.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … let me be an agent of Your love to anyone in my life who experiences loss; and help me to set aside pride and be willing to reach out to fellow Christians if in a time of grief. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 6, 2017 … Gaining God’s Perspective

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 249 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Sara Groves singing here song … It’s Going To Be Alright … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we gain God’s perspective and His strength when we’re willing to bring our troubles to Him.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2 Kings 19:14 [NLT] … 
14 After Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord’s Temple and spread it out before the Lord. 
… The worried King knew exactly where and to Whom he should take his overwhelming problems, … exactly where we should take ours!
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Kings 19:9-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When King Hezekiah was overwhelmed by the Assyrian forces, he took his worries to God; and God gave Him His peace.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we don’t know where to go with our worries/problems, … how about trusting God?

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 
6 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, … all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 
… But we so easily let our minds focus on our troubles, don’t we?

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
… So simple and true; but in our controlling nature, so difficult to do.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1 Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… Simple plan; but when we’re overwhelmed, it’s the only plan that will work.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used personal story to illustrate how we focus on our own perspective to our problems rather than taking them to God. The ODB author wrote: As a teenager, when I became overwhelmed by enormous challenges or high-stakes decisions, my mother taught me the merits of putting pen to paper to gain perspective. When I was uncertain whether to take specific classes or which job to pursue, or how to cope with the frightening realities of adulthood, I learned her habit of writing out the basic facts and the possible courses of action with their likely outcomes. After pouring my heart onto the page, I was able to step back from the problem and view it more objectively than my emotions allowed. 
Just as recording my thoughts on paper offered me fresh perspective, pouring our hearts out to God in prayer helps us gain His perspective and remind us of His power. 

Years ago, with the help of a mentor, I learned that starting each day in prayer and surrender to God and taking my troubles to Him and focusing on where He was taking me, took a lot - if not most - of the stresses and pressures off of my mind/heart. And that was the strategy we read in today’s highlight passage, telling the story of how King Hezekiah, who was under siege by the all-conquering Assyrians, took His problems and laid them out before God.

And Hezekiah got the same message from God which Sara Groves wrote about and sings in the linked song today, … that “it’s going to be alright!” And after you take in that song and today’s reference scriptures, I hope you can see why I start each day, taking my cares to my Lord, laying them out before Him, taking in His truth, and then writing down the thoughts, mostly from His word, in these journal entries.

I find that in this discipline, I start each day with God’s peace rather my own worries; and that, my friends, is a much better way to start the day than wrapping myself in my own problems.

Do I sense an “AMEN” out there?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … I’m so grateful for the peace You give me by being here with You to start each 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.

September 5, 2017 … All Things New

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 248 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Gordon Mote singing his celebration of His glory … Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory … poignantly and powerfully singing of what we all should pray for and pursue … to see God’s glory in this darkened and decaying planet.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Revelation 21:5a [NLT] … 
5 And the One sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new! 
… One day He will make all things new. Until then we should be aware when He shows us glimpses of His glory.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Revelation 21:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God reveals to the Prophet and to us that He is in the process of making all things new for His glory.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:18-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Right now God only gives us a foretaste of the glory to come when He returns for His Bride and remakes the whole of creation for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, used personal observations to illustrate how we need to take in and recognize the glimpses of God’s glory to come when He makes this world over at the return of the Bridegroom for His Bride. The ODB author wrote: Gazing out my open study window, I hear birds chirping and hear and see the wind gently blowing in the trees. Bales of hay dot my neighbor’s newly tilled field, and large, white cumulus clouds stand out in contrast to the brilliant blue sky. 
I’m enjoying a little bit of paradise—except for the almost incessant noise of the traffic that runs past our property and the slight ache in my back. I use the word paradise lightly because though our world was once completely good, it no longer is. 

I don’t think anyone would disagree that the evidence is all around us that this world which God created in perfection (see Genesis 2); mankind has messed it up royally (see Genesis 3). And most certainly, thru our history we can see our world decaying all around us.

But thru all of this, as Gordon Mote sings, we need to look around us and see glimpses of God’s glory in creation and in moments of glory He sends our way. Because in these remnant glances of glory we see God’s promise that He’s going to make all things new for His Son [see the highlight passage from Revelation]. Yes, Jesus created it all for the Father’s glory and for our pleasure as His Bride.

My friends, one day the Bridegroom, i.e., King Jesus, is going to return for His Bride and He will do the grand makeover for us and for His Father’s glory. And we, who are His bride, will spend eternity in that remade creation.

… Do I sense a grand "HALLELUJAH?!" 

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … Don’t let me miss whatever parts of Your Glory today that You’re willing to show me 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.

September 4, 2017 … When We’re Weak

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 247 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing his strength … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of the reality that often we need God’s strength to lift us up in moments of vulnerability and weakness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Chronicles 16:11 [NLT] … 
11 Search for the Lord and His strength; … continually seek Him. 
… David exhorts the people to continually seek God’s strength to cover their weakness. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Chronicles 16:11-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David reminds God’s people when the Ark was brought back to the Temple of the covenant strength God provides when His children are vulnerable.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon shows us all the truth about trusting God in times of vulnerability.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Isaiah 40:31, 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet reminds God’s people (us) of God’s strength when we’re weak.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] …
9 Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
 … Jesus reminded Paul that God’s empowering grace was his in his time of weakness.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:13 [NLT] …
13 I can do all things through Christ Who gives me His strength. 
… Paul shows us where we get our strength in moments of weakness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a personal story to illustrate how we need to be willing to trust God for His strength in moments of weakness. The ODB author wrote: “Will we see any snakes?” 
Allan, a young boy in our neighborhood, asked that question as we started on a hike by the river near our home [see photo]. 
“We never have before,” I answered, “but we might! So let’s ask God to keep us safe.” We paused, prayed together, and kept walking. 
Several minutes later my wife, Cari, suddenly took a quick step backward, narrowly avoiding a poisonous copperhead partially coiled on the path ahead. We waited as the snake left the trail, giving it a wide berth. Then we paused and thanked God nothing had happened. I believe that through Allan’s question, God had prepared us for the encounter, and our prayer was part of His providential care. 

Dear one, … have you, like the Allan in the ODB story, ever had a time when you felt vulnerable or weak with the unknown trail ahead seeming fearful (see photo)? … Of course, we all have. Well, when I was a baby Christian (even tho I was in my early 40s), feeling very vulnerable to my own obsessive/sinful weaknesses, my newly found mentor, a man strong in His faith, showed me how to apply trust in God’s word (i.e., truth) when I was feeling weak.

So, he taught me to imbed the reference scriptures above deeply into my consciousness and to stop and repeat them when I was feeling vulnerable or weakened in spirit. And to this day, when I’m feeling weak, as Steven Curtis Chapman sings in the linked song, I let God’s strength, from His words and promises cover me with HIS strength. And the fear may not always go away; but as SCC sings, “His strength is perfect when my strength is gone!” 

So, if any of us is feeling weak today, let’s let King Jesus lift us up.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … I will be speaking to a group of teenage boys today. I need Your strength to show them how You can empower them with Your 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.

September 3, 2017 … Giving Our All

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 246 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Brian Littrell singing the old hymn … I Surrender All … poignantly singing of what God desires of our worship.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 18:43-44 [NLT] … 
43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” 
… Jesus teaches His Disciples on what giving in His Kingdom is all about.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 18:38-44 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus compared the heartless giving of the Pharisees with the surrendered giving of a widow, willing to give her all.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] …
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. ..."
… Jesus teaches His followers on what it takes to follow Him.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 9:6-7 [NLT] …
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” [Proverbs 22:8] 
… Paul repeats God’s law of reciprocity and teaches on how we must give our all as Jesus gave His all.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, used a personal testimony to illustrate how we must give of ourselves, as Christians, cheerfully and sacrificially in service to our King, Jesus. The ODB author wrote: I use writing to worship and serve God, even more so now that health issues often limit my mobility. So, when an acquaintance said he found no value in what I wrote, I became discouraged. I doubted the significance of my small offerings to God. 
Through prayer, study of Scripture, and encouragement from my husband, family, and friends, the Lord affirmed that only He—not the opinions of other people—could determine our motives as a worshiper and the worth of our offerings to Him. I asked the Giver of all gifts to continue helping me develop skills and provide opportunities to share the resources He gives me. 

Oh, how I identify with the ODB author today. I do so desire to worship and serve my Lord by writing these daily blogs to honor His truth and to share His word with others. However, I do fall so short of the devotion and joyful giving which Jesus illustrated (and demanded) for His followers when He related the story of the widow giving her all to God’s treasury (see highlight passage).

And the ODB devotional this morning causes me to ask myself if I’m doing what Brian Littrell sings in the linked song … to surrender my all when I give my time, talents, and treasures for God’s kingdom. Oh, I share His truth/love here daily and joyously donate some of myself in follow Him, … just as He commanded and demanded in the reference passages above?

 … But do I give as the widow gave? … I think not! … I can do more. … But will I?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … Help me to give my all for You as You have given Your all for me. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 2, 2017 … Lifted Up

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 245 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing their song … Broken Together … poignantly singing of how God intends for His family to lift one another up in our mutual brokenness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 17:12-13 [NLT] … 
12 Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. 13 As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. 
… God often uses others to help us when we’re down.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 17:8-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Aaron and Hur helped Moses lift his arms so that God could lift Joshua and the Israelites to defeat the Amalekites.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Matthew 11:23 [NLT] … 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 
… Jesus wants to lift us up when we’re down and out.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 2:3-4 [NLT] …
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 
 … Pride can often be the heaviest burden of all when we’re down and out.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Hebrews 12:1 [NLT] … 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 
 … We can run the race of life so much easier when we don’t have to carry so much self-induced weight.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Peterson, used a personal story to illustrate how so often, running the race of life, we need help from others. The ODB author wrote: My husband Jack was on mile 25 out of 26 when his strength failed him. This was his first marathon, and he was running alone. After stopping for a drink of water at an aid station, he felt exhausted and laid down on the grass beside the course [see photo]. 
Minutes passed, and he couldn’t get up. He had resigned himself to quitting the race when two middle-aged schoolteachers from Kentucky came by. Although they were strangers, they noticed Jack and asked if he wanted to run with them. Suddenly, he found his strength restored. Jack stood and accompanied by the two women he finished the race. 

That’s a good illustration by the ODB author of how there are times in life when we need the help of others to move on down the road. And in the highlight biblical example from today’s ODB, Moses needed to keep his hands raised so that Joshua could advance to defeat the Amalekite army; but Moses was exhausted and needed the help of Aaron and Hur to lift his hands to encourage Joshua onward in battle. And after the victory Moses had this episode written down so that Joshua [and God’s family] would know how the victory came about … i.e, because of God using Aaron and Hur to lift Moses’ arms.

Marriage is a battle that both husband and wife must fight TOGETHER to lift one another up, especially when one of the couple is down. That’s why I love the song, by Casting Crowns, linked above, because it helps us to know that we can still be broken in life at times, especially when we’re “broken together.”

Perhaps we might see someone running the race of life today and broken down along the road. Shouldn’t we be the ones to lift them up today and help them onward in the road of life?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … when I need a lift, help me to set pride aside and ask for some help from fellow Christians. And may I be willing to lift another today if they need my help. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 1, 2017 … Love Leads the Way

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 244 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Don Men leading worship and singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of how God will help us find our way thru the worst of life’s challenges.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Thessalonians 3:12-13 [NLT] … 
12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.
… Paul had been thru so much; and he so wanted others to experience the depth of God’s love as he had found thru God’s grace.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Thessalonians 3:6-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul prays that his fellow Christians could discover the depth of God’s love in their lives and to share it with others.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … John 13:34-35 [NLT] …
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” 
… Jesus so wanted their love for each other to show God’s love for all mankind.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 13:13 [NLT] …
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 
 … Oh how the Apostle wanted other Christians to discover God’s greatest grace … and that is love.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Anne Cetas, used a personal observation of a group processing how they could do more to show God’s love in the world. The ODB author wrote: “Is God doing something new in your life?” was the question the leader asked in a group I was in recently. My friend Mindy, who is dealing with some difficult situations, responded. She told of needing patience with aging parents, stamina for her husband’s health issues, and understanding of her children and grandchildren who have not yet chosen to follow Jesus. Then she made an insightful comment that runs contrary to what we might normally think: “I believe the new thing God is doing is He’s expanding my capacity and opportunities to love.” 

As the Apostle Paul traveled his known world and went thru so much (go read 2Cor. 11:22-33) and as he shared God’s good news with others, he prayed for these lost ones to find, to know, and share the love of God [see photo], … that love and grace that he had experienced (see the highlight passages). And Jesus wanted His disciples to share His “agape” love for others by sharing their love for one another (see John 13:34-35), knowing that God’s love is the greatest character trait that He gives us to share with our fellow man (see 1Cor. 13:13).

Currently a horrific hurricane, called “Harvey,” tore thru the US city of Houston; and as a result of the devastation from wind and floods, the people of the USA have shown togetherness and giving in probably the greatest display of love seen in America in decades. And this is in the context of some of the worst exhibits of hatred and separation seen in America as well.   I believe that this has been God showing Americans how His ways of love can always overcome the worst storms of selfishness in our lives.

I pray we learn His lesson.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … may we see how Your love is the only answer we have to defeat our selfish nature. … 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.

August 31, 2017 … He’s All Around Us

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 243 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls … poignantly singing of the the glory of God which we can’t miss in all of creation … and AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK  to hear the group Anointed singing of the reality that God Is All Around ; but we must be the ones to see Him and worship Him when we see His glory in creation. … And finally GO TO THIS LINK  to hear Gordon Mote exhorting us in song, singing Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory to look around and not miss the glory of God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 1:20 [NLT] … 
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 
… Mankind has no excuse to claim there is no God; and so often we let our own desires dictate our worship rather than worshipping the God who created all that is around us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 1:18-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul declares the glory of God in creation, where many have a tendency to worship creation rather than the creator.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 19:1 [NLT] …
1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” 
… We see the glory of our God in all of His creation.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 46:10 [NLT] …
10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 
… All we have to do is be still and look around us to see our God in His creation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Sheridan Voysey, used an personal observation of nature to illustrate how we must look around and know that our God is the creator of all we see. The ODB author wrote: Lord Howe Island is a small paradise of white sands and crystal waters off Australia’s east coast [see photo]. When I visited some years ago, I was struck by its beauty. Here, one could swim with turtles and with fish like the shimmering trevally, while moon wrasses drifted nearby, flashing their neon colors like a billboard. In its lagoon I found coral reefs full of bright orange clownfish and yellow-striped butterfly fish that rushed to kiss my hand. Overwhelmed by such splendor, I couldn’t help but worship God. 

But unfortunately, all too often, all too many of us miss what Gordon Mote exhorts us in song (see link above), to look around and not miss God’s glory. And as the group, Anointed, sings, our God truly is all around us! But unfortunately some attempt to worship the creation rather than the Creator, and they miss seeing the reality and greatness of God Himself on display in His creation. And then there are those, who just simply cannot see the Creator in his creation as Brian Doerksen sings. 

Today, all reading here, please take in the linked songs; and let’s all just look around us and be still and know that we are taking in God’s creation (Ps. 46:10); and let the heavens declare His glory (Ps. 19:1).

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’m in awe of what You’ve created, Lord, for Your glory and showing Yourself so that we will worship You. ... I pray we do!! … 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.

August 30, 2017 … All Clean in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 242 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from group Casting Crowns singing their song, … East to West … poignantly singing of the reality of how we are completely cleansed of our sins in the eyes of God when we come in surrender for the cleansing grace offered by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezekiel 36:25-26 [NLT] … 
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 
… And this is exactly what God has done for His remnant of believers who have come in faith to experience the cleansing blood of The Messiah.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezekiel 36:24-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Ezekiel prophesies of believers being cleansed from our sins by the Messiah.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s mercies are afresh every morning and His faithfulness is there to cleanse any repentant sinner.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 3:23 [NLT] …
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 
… Yes, all of us are dirty when we come to our Lord for cleansing.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] …
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
… In Christ, we are made NEW!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st John 1:9 [NLT] …
9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL wickedness. 
 … Totally, utterly, completely cleansed!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Eye, used a personal word picture to illustrate how we become totally/utterly cleansed by the blood of Jesus’ finished work on the cross when we surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. The ODB author wrote: When I opened our dishwasher, I wondered what went wrong. Instead of seeing sparkling clean dishes, I removed plates and glasses that were covered in a chalky dust. I wondered if the hard water in our area was wreaking havoc, or if the machine was broken. 
God’s cleansing, unlike that faulty dishwasher, washes away all of our impurities. We see in the book of Ezekiel that God is calling His people back to Himself as Ezekiel shared God’s message of love and forgiveness. The Israelites had sinned as they proclaimed their allegiance to other gods and other nations. The Lord, however, was merciful in welcoming them back to Himself. 

Do you get it fellow Christian? Do you believe it; … that when we repent of our sins and confess them before God’s throne of grace, we are totally, utterly, and COMPLETELY cleansed? That’s why I like the dishwasher word picture painted by the ODB author today. Because I’m always gratified by how our dishes, so grungy before a cycle in our dishwasher, come out so squeaky clean.

And as the group Casting Crowns sings, when we bring our sins in confession … to be cleansed by the blood of our Savior, we all, who are completely dirty (see Rom. 3:23), are seen by our Heavenly Father as totally, utterly, and COMPLETELY cleansed by our faith in the finished work of His Son, the Christ, on our behalf.

So, do you want to stand before the Lord as clean as the dishes AFTER a complete cleansing cycle? … Well, then, … you know what to do! Surrender to His cleansing mercy and grace, … and be clean!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’ve been in Your shower of grace today; and I feel so clean!! … 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.

August 29, 2017 … Choosing Fruitfulness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 241 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from the UK about our participating in God’s fruitfulness today … AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK to hear Jason Gray singing his song, Glow In The Dark, declaring how fruitful Christians shine Christ’s light into a dark world.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Galatians 5:24-25 [NLT] … 
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 
… The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians (you and me too!) to be fruitful in the Spirit. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Galatians 5:16-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru his later Apostle, Paul, lays out what fruitfulness in Christ is all about. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … John 15:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus on being fruitful in the Spirit for God’s glory.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 [NLT] …
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
… In Christ, we need not choose to be as we were in our own humanity. We can choose to be the newness of Spirit in our new nature.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 2nd Peter 1:3 [NLT] …
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.
 … We’ve got all it takes to glow Christlikeness in this dark world.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon used a personal word picture to illustrate how we Christians can choose to share the fruitfulness of Christ; and when we do, we become like Jason Gray sings in today’s linked song … to glow in the dark. The ODB author wrote: During the spring and summer, I admire the fruit growing in our neighbor’s yard. Their cultivated vines climb a shared fence to produce large bunches of grapes. Branches dotted with purple plums and plump oranges dangle just within our reach. 
Although we don’t till the soil, plant the seeds, or water and weed the garden, the couple next door shares their bounty with us. They take responsibility for nurturing their crops and allow us to delight in a portion of their harvest. 
The produce from the trees and vines on the other side of our fence reminds me of another harvest that benefits me and the people God places in my life. That harvest is the fruit of the Spirit. 

If any reader has taken in the YouTube videos and meditated deeply on the Scriptures above, I really need not write much more, do I?

In the newness of Christ, God’s Spirit has given us all we need to be fruitful for His glory [see 2Peter 1:3]. And to choose to do what Jason Gray sings, … i.e., to glow Christlikeness in a very dark world, … we need not yield to our base, human nature (see Gal. 5:19-21). But rather, we are new creatures in Christ [see 2Cor. 5:17], and we can choose to be fruitful in/for Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23).

In Christ we get to choose today … to live with the fruit of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirt.

What will we choose?!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Personally, Lord, today I choose to do all I can to glow, like You, in the dark, so that others can taste Your sweet fruit by the way I live. … 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.

August 28, 2017 … Try A Little Kindness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 240 

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 declaring how we, as Christians, need to reach out in His Name and help those who need a little kindness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 41:1a [NLT] … 
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! 
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 41:1a [NKJV] … 
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor. 
… King David sings a blessing for those who “pay attention” to the poor.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 41:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David expresses God’s wishes for those who pay attention to the poor.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Matthew 25:40 [NLT] … 
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 
… When we pay attention to the needy and help them, Jesus says that we’re helping Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, quotes John Newton with a convicting lesson (at least for me) about paying attention to the needy around us. The ODB author wrote: John Newton wrote, “If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel I have done something. I should be glad to do greater things; but I will not neglect this.” These days, it’s not hard to find someone in need of comfort: A care-worn cashier in a grocery store working a second job to make ends meet; a refugee longing for home; a single mother whose flood of worries has washed away her hope; a lonely old man who fears he has outlived his usefulness. 

Today’s ODB entry was convicting for me. So often these days I see those who appear down-and-out, begging alongside the road at traffic stops; and I am conflicted as to whether I should help them in some way. They appear so needy; but I’ve had experiences in the past where I’ve given them food and observed them throw it away because they wanted money, perhaps to appease their addictions. 

What to do?

But then I recalled one of Aesop’s sayings, … “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” And I’m convicted that it’s not MY responsibility what the perceived beggar does with my help, … it’s only my calling (by Jesus Himself in Matt. 25:40) to see the needy as Jesus Himself and to reach out and serve my Lord. And it really all boils down to what Glen Campbell sings in his hit song, linked above. And so, I hope that we all “try a little kindness” today.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Today I pray that I will see You in anyone that really needs Your help thru my act of kindness. … 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.

August 27, 2017 … Rescued and Redeemed

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 239 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Don Men leading in worship and singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly declaring how God will make a way for His children no matter how desperate life seems. … And THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song, He’ll Do Whatever It Takes, showing how God’s Spirit does all our Lord can to seek out, redeem, and remake lost ones like you and me.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 62:11 [NLT] … 
11 The Lord has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, you Savior is coming. See He brings His reward with Him as He comes.’ ” 
… The Prophesy of Christ’s final coming for His Bride.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 61:1-2, 62:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Isaiah’s prophesy of God searching, finding, and bring His Bride to Himself.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Jeremiah 29:10-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet tells of the Messiah seeking out, finding, and bringing His beloved Bride to Himself.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Luke 15:1-7, 19:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to seek out His lost sheep. That’s you and me!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, related a personal story illustrating what it’s like to seek out a loved one who is difficult to find. The ODB author wrote: Every Saturday our family lines the edges of the race course to cheer on my daughter as she runs with her high school cross-country team. After crossing the finish line, the athletes stream out to rejoin their teammates, coaches, and parents. Crowds engulf the finishers—often more than 300 of them—making it difficult to find one person among so many. We scan the crowd excitedly until we find her, eager to put our arms around the one athlete we came to watch: our much-loved daughter. 

I pray that all reading here with me know and believe the truth that our Redeemer and Lord seeks and saves His lost children, … our Good Shepherd, Who searches for and brings His wayward lambs to Himself. And having been one of those lost sheep whom my Lord came after and saved, I am one who knows to what lengths our Good Shepherd will go to find His lost ones and to rescue us for Himself.

And if you’ve taken in the linked songs above, I’m sure you’re glad that our Lord, as the “Good Shepherd,” is sometimes called the “Hound of Heaven,” … as He will do, as Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing, “whatever it takes” to bring His lost ones, redeemed and reshaped, to Himself.

Do I sense readers joining me in a resounding “HALLELUJAH!!”?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … We are blessed to be saved by Your dogged pursuit to search out and rescue Your lost sheep. … 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.

August 26, 2017 … Fact, … Not Fiction!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 238 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Third Day singing the old hymn … Blessed Assurance … poignantly and powerfully declaring the reality of a faith in Christ which we can trust as fact … not fancy.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 1:3-4 [NLT] … 
3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. 
… Luke, being a physician, knew of the importance of careful observation and documentation of the historical facts; and he so recorded them in his gospel journal and in the historical writings in the book of Acts for all who came after him to read the truth about Jesus as THE CHRIST! 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 1:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Luke wrote his gospel account as a letter to a friend so that this man, and all who came after him, would know of the FACTS and TRUTH about Jesus, the Christ.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Acts 1:1-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The journal in the book of Acts, which was written as a letter to the same friend as Luke’s gospel account, was the Physician’s careful attempt to document the spread of Christ’s gospel throughout the known world.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … The Apostle Paul declares and documents the accuracy of known Scripture for the young preacher, Timothy, and for all of us as well. Scripture is truth for us to know how it helps us in living our lives. the way God intended.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 1st John 5:13 [NLT] … 
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 
 … The Apostle John wrote his letter to Christians to help them KNOW, beyond a doubt, that they could be confident in their salvation thru belief in King Jesus. Take in the linked song declaring that confidence.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, related a rather fanciful, but personal, tale of his early childhood, … a story about his tricycle being parked over a poisonous cobra. Go figure!! But later Gustafson writes of his tale being corroborated by a family letter. So, fancy became fact in relating this tale to others. You can read about it in the link to today’s ODB [linked in the Blogger Note below].

For the Gospel writer and historian, Luke, it was important that the accounts of Jesus, as THE CHRIST, be transmitted accurately to his friends and fellow Christians. He was a physician, who knew of the importance of an accurate record of true accounts (see photo of a medical record). And so, he wrote a journal of the historical FACTS about Jesus; and we have that accurate record in the books of Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, … documentation of the gospel facts about Jesus.

Other New Testament writers also set out their documentation of the accuracy of Scripture (involving both Old and New Testaments) to help Christians following them to know that belief in Christ as King Jesus was no fanciful faith, but rather accurate and believable facts (see 2Tim. 3:16-17 and 1st John 5:13). As Christians, we don’t have to have a “blind faith.” No, … our faith is based on historical and accurate accounts of the Son of God, coming to save mankind from our own sin.

And we’re so indebted to men like the Gospel writers and called ones, like the Apostles, who documented TRUTH in the New Testament, … which BTW, these accounts have never been refuted by a historical or archeological evidence.

Brothers and Sisters, reading here … our Bible is the REAL DEAL!!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … We are blessed by a faith in You as the true Son of God … our Savior and 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.