February 10, 2018 … Always There!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 41 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics with Twila Paris singing … God Is All Around Us … poignantly singing of the reality that there is nowhere we can go to be separated, as Christians, from the love of our God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 139:7-8 [NKJV] … 7  Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8  If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 
… Nowhere to go to be away from our God!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 139:7-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David knew there was nowhere he could go to get away from the presence/power of the Lord. 
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Reference Passage : … Romans 8:38-39 [NKJV] … 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. 
 … God’s assurance is that those in Christ will be with Him in glory.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 5:8 [NKJV] … 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 … NOTHING can separate a born-again believer from the love of God … not even death!

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 
… God will always be with us … even when we cannot sense His presence

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, used a very personal reference to a lost loved one to illustrate God’s omnipresence and the presence of his loved one with God. The ODB author wrote: A family friend who, like us, lost a teenager in a car accident wrote a tribute to her daughter, Lindsay, in the local paper. One of the most powerful images in her essay was this: After mentioning the many pictures and remembrances of Lindsay she had put around their house, she wrote, “She is everywhere, but nowhere.” 
Although our daughters still smile back at us from their photos, the spirited personalities that lit up those smiles are nowhere to be found. They are everywhere—in our hearts, in our thoughts, in all those photos—but nowhere. 

When we, who are in Christ, lose a loved one, perhaps a child as with the ODB author, we certainly sense deep loss. However, our faith in the reality of the truth of God’s omnipresence and HIs promises to take all who are in Christ to be with Him in glory, softens the loss with the realization that we have not really LOST our loved ones.

I pray that any reading here hold on the reality that there is nowhere we can go to be separate from the love of God (see Ps. 139 and Rom. 8 passages; and that when we or any Christian loved one is lost to us in the living, that one is forever in the presence of King Jesus, where we will join them in glory.

Do I sense a resounding HALLELUJAH!! 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your constant presence. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I’m so thankful for the knowledge and faith that you are ALWAYS with 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.

February 9, 2018 … What Will It Be Like?!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 40 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with the group Mercy Me singing their song … I Can Only Imagine … poignantly looking forward to that day when we will stand in the very presence of our Lord, … the King of kings and Lord of lords!!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 11:6a [NLT] … 6  In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. ... 
… Under Christ’s eternal reign there will be no more enemies or foes. He will rule over all. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 11:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet sees what it will be like under the rule of Jesus when He comes again as Messiah, King, and Judge.
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Reference Passage : … Genesis 1:26-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… And God created mankind as the pinnacle of His creation; and He gave them all that He had created for their (our) pleasure and His glory. ... But then we blew it all in pride and selfishness, leading to what we have today. ...  BUT it will one day return the glory of the garden when Jesus comes back.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
… God’s promise to complete us in His image during what we endure in this life … for His glory and His return to rule as our King Jesus!

Reference Passage : … Revelation 21:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… And God revealed, thru John, what it would be like when the Lamb of God sat on His eternal throne in the New Jerusalem, … where there would be no more sin, no more pain, no more death.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, uses a social media illustration to show where we’ve come from and where we are going in Christ. The ODB author wrote: My Facebook friends often post endearing videos of unlikely animal friendships, such as a recent video I watched of an inseparable pup and pig, another of a deer and cat, and yet another of an orangutan mothering several tiger cubs. 
When I view such heartwarmingly unusual friendships, it reminds me of the description of the garden of Eden. In this setting, Adam and Eve lived in harmony with God and each other. And because God gave them plants for food, I imagine even the animals lived peacefully together (Genesis 1:30). 

And, as Mercy Me sings in the linked song above, which I pray you’ve heard, “I can only imagine” what it will be like when all of those who’ve become the Bride of Christ will be with Him at the wedding feast of the Lamb in glory, … when, as in the photo, the lion will live in peace with the lamb, … when we dance in the glory of His throne in the New Jerusalem.

But knowing that it will be infinitely more wonderful than I can imagine lifts me up above all that I see and know here in the darkness and misery all around us in this life. So, I will live out the life He has given me toward the completion He promises (see Phil. 1:6) with hope, knowing that we will one day reign with our King Jesus in glory.

Yes, … I can only imagine!!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for coming again to rise again in glory!! We await Your coming.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Come soon, Lord Jesus, to rule with us in 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.

February 8, 2018 … Looking Clearly Ahead

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 39 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing their song … Dear Younger Me … poignantly looking back on life and realizing that the more important look is ahead … especially when we’ve been set apart from our selves … freed and redeemed for God’s glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Proverbs 16:18-19 [NLT] … 18  Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. 19  Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. 
… But will we heed the truth when we look into the rear-view mirror … or better yet, ahead on the road of life. Which road will we choose … the road of humility or pride?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Proverbs 16:16-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, helps us to see ourselves for who we are and who we will become. 
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We can choose to let our humility allow Jesus to help us carry the burdens of life, rather than pridefully taking all the burdens of life on our own shoulders where pride will aways cause us to fall.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:28-30 [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 clearly showed us were we should go as His disciples.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus modeled how we should see ourselves and the road we should take in life … and that is His road of humility.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, uses a well-known proverb to have us look in the mirror of truth and see who we are and who we will become. The ODB author wrote: People who achieve an extraordinary level of fame or reputation while they are still alive are often called “a legend in their own time.” 
A friend who played professional baseball says he met many people in the world of sports who were only “a legend in their own mind.” Pride has a way of distorting how we see ourselves while humility offers a realistic perspective. 
The writer of Proverbs said, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18). Viewing ourselves in the mirror of self-importance reflects a distorted image. Self-elevation positions us for a fall. 

The ODB entry caused me to remember a poignant song (linked above) with Mercy Me singing about looking back on life. Please listen to the song carefully!

I’m sure many, like me, will reflect on ill-begotten choices and misdirections we took earlier in life. But, as I’ve often said about our road in life as Christian disciples, … we cannot effectively drive ahead in life and follow Christ’s way by exclusively using the rear-view mirror. No, as Christians, we have to look ahead and use our biblically-cleared perspective; and then choose the road God is leading us toward [see the reference verses above].

And it’s clear, from God’s true and clear biblical windshield, we will see that we need to take the Savior’s road, not the prideful ways of self, which will ALWAYS lead to destruction. As the photo declares … “Pride destroys - Humility builds!” …

So, which road will we choose; and will we look ahead and follow Jesus, or crash and burn trying to drive onward using only the prideful rear-view mirror? … Our choice, isn’t it?

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You giving us Your perfect GPS in Your word. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light of truth brightly on my path that I can’t help but see Your way to travel. … 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.

February 7, 2018 … Our Security Blanket

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 38 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing the old hymn Gospel song … Love Lifted Me … poignantly singing of how God’s grace is our security blanket in this life allowing God’s love to lift us up when we’re down.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 4:7-8 [NLT] … 7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 
… Even in light of the end of this world, we are to lift others up with Christ’s love just as Peter was charged to do.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 18:15-27, 21:15-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus lifts up Peter from the despair of his denial to the charge of discipleship by showing Peter just how much He loved Peter despite his failing.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We are to be God’s light of love in this very darkened world.

Reference Passage : … 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.” 
… Jesus charges all disciples to be His witnesses of love and light, with the power provided by God’s Spirit.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, use a personal pain to illustrate how we can rely on God - no matter what!! The ODB author wrote: Linus Van Pelt, better known as simply “Linus,” was a mainstay in the Peanuts comic strip. Witty and wise, yet insecure, Linus constantly carried a security blanket. We can identify. We have our fears and insecurities too. … 
Have you ever needed that kind of “blanket”? I have! After saying or doing something I later regretted, I have felt the chilly draft of guilt and shame. I have needed to be “covered” in the manner that Jesus covered disgraced, shame-filled people in the Gospels. 
To followers of Jesus, love is a blanket to be graciously and courageously given away for the comfort and reclamation of others. As recipients of such great love, let us be givers of the same. 

Does anybody besides myself identify with Charles Schultz’s character, Linus, … always carrying around his security blanket because of so many fears of what might happen in the world? I do. … There’s a part of me, even tho I’m sort of a care-free type, that always needs the security blanket I have from my relationship with my Lord

The Apostle Peter was a brash, many times over confident, disciple of Christ. Yet, we know he failed His Lord many times while following Him prior to the resurrection. And when he had his “over-the-top” failure, denying the Lord thrice in the Garden [see the John 18 passage], … Jesus came back after the resurrection, giving Peter His security blanket - three times - by committing his love back to His Lord [see the John 21 passage].

And that’s what we all should get from this ODB entry and meditation on the life of Peter. Jesus is our “Linus Blanket” … always there with us, … always giving us the security of His love; … but at the same time, charging us, as He did with Peter, to witness His love and shine His light into this very insecure and darkened world (see also Matt. 5:14-16 and Acts 1:8). Yes, we can always know that our Lord provides us with the power of His Spirit to do just that. So, I will pray that we carry our Spirit-blanket into the world and go be His witness of love … even today.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the security of Your eternal love.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me take Your Spirit and shine Your love to help lift others up as You have 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.

February 6, 2018 … God’s Empowering Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 37

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song … Your Grace Still Amazes Me … poignantly singing of God’s grace which covers all our weakness and pain with His strength.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Job 2:10b [NLT] … 10 “…  Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. 
… Job remained steadfast in his faith no matter the pain he incurred.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Job 1:13-22, 2:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Job, inspire of losing all except his life and wife, maintained his praise for God.
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 31:6 [NLT] … 6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” 
… God’s promise to ALL His people … that He would never abandon us - NO MATTER WHAT!

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 [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. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
 … Paul learned, as we should, that God’s grace will empower us to deal with all trials.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, use a personal pain to illustrate how we can rely on God - no matter what!! The ODB author wrote: “It’s cancer.” I wanted to be strong when Mom said those words to me. But I burst into tears. You never want to hear those words even one time. But this was Mom’s third bout with cancer. After a routine mammogram and biopsy, Mom learned that she had a malignant tumor under her arm. Though Mom was the one with bad news, she had to comfort me. Her response was eye-opening for me: “I know God is always good to me. He’s always faithful.” Even as she faced a difficult surgery, followed up by radiation treatments, Mom was assured of God’s presence and faithfulness. 

Sorta reminds one of Job’s attitude immediately after he incurred all his terrible loss and pain, doesn’t it (see highlight passages)? And it also reminds me of Paul’s faith in the face of his immense and permanent pain from that “thorn” (see 2 Cor. 12:9-10). Paul realized that no less than His Lord and Messiah had promised His grace to cover us in Paul’s (and our) weakness.

Some time in our lives, we’re all going to incur some setback or pain, … maybe even one like the mother in today’s ODB entry. But this mother was able to hold on to her strength and smile (see photo) because of her faith and the reality of God’s grace.

Right now I’m dealing with a neurologic problem; and I’m uplifted by the knowledges that my God will never abandon me (see Deut. 31:6); and His amazing grace will give me the strength to deal with a problem that is WAY SMALLER than was Job’s. … Hearing today’s linked song, … I’ll be okay!!! 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for doling out Your grace to give me the strength when I’m weakened right now.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Gird me up with Your empowering grace, 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.

February 5, 2018 … Following His Voice

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 36 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Kristyn and Keith Getty singing their song … Speak O Lord … poignantly singing of our desire to hear God’s voice ringing true in our lives to lead us in His purpose and ways.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 10:27 [NLT] … 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 
… As one of His flock, I follow His voice.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 10:25-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Jesus declares that, as the Good Shepherd, His sheep (i.e., His disciples) hear His voice and follow Him. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 23 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK …
… David was a shepherd follow THE SHEPHERD.

Reference Passage : … 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. … “ 
… Those who saw Jesus in the flesh witnessed first-hand the glory of God.

Reference Passage : … 1 Thessalonians 2:13 [NLT] … 13 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 
… We primarily hear the voice of our Good Shepherd thru His word.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Ropers, teaches on hearing and following God’s word in spite of the noisiness of this world. The ODB author wrote: I’m hard of hearing—“deaf in one ear and can’t hear out of the other,” as my father used to say. So I wear a set of hearing aids. Most of the time the devices work well, except in environments where there’s a lot of surrounding noise. In those settings, my hearing aids pick up every voice in the room and I cannot hear the person in front of me. 
So it is with our culture: a cacophony of sounds can drown out God’s quiet voice. … 
Fortunately, my hearing aids have a setting that cuts out the surrounding sounds and enables me to hear only the voices I want to hear. 

We’ve probably never lived in an era where the noise of information, coming from so many confusing sources, can so easily drown out God’s “still small voice.” The noisiness of the world Satan has built, therefore, becomes one of his primary tools to divert Christians from following their Good Shepherd.

Hence, we need times, like the one I’m enjoining right now [see photo], where we can get alone - out of the noise of the world - and hear the voice of our Good Shepherd, … the One Who will lead us with His word. And that’s why you find me here in my quiet place, every morning, letting my Lord lead me with the still small - but powerful - voice which come from the truth of His word.

And the more I seek His voice, the easier it is to follow Him.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for crying out for me over the din or the world’s noise from the clarion voice of Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Speak, Oh Lord, as the Gettys sing, as I listen for Your truth to follow none but 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.

February 4, 2018 … Glory, Glory, Glory

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 35 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images from Gordon Mote singing his song … Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory … poignantly singing of the desire we should have everyday to see as much of His glory that we can capture in the world He has left behind for His Bride.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Revelation 21:10-11 [NLT] … 10 So he [an Angel] took me [John] in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 
… God’s glory, which emirates from Christ, will light up the New Jerusalem.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Revelation 21:10-11, 23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, which was engulfed with the Light of God’s glory. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 72:18-19 [NLT] … 18  Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who alone does such wonderful things.19  Praise His glorious name forever.  Let the whole earth be filled with His glory. 
 … And David’s prayer was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus, The Messiah and will ultimately be completed in the New Jerusalem (see Rev. passages above).

Reference Passage : … John 1:14 [NLT] … 14 So the Word became human [“flesh”] and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness [“grace and truth”]. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. 
 … Those who saw Jesus in the flesh witnessed first-hand the glory of God.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 1:2-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus created everything so that one day He could radiate His glory thru His creation; and He does that even now as we get glimpses of glory in creation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, teaches on the essence of the glory of God. The ODB author wrote: Throughout the Bible we are told that we can enjoy glimpses of God’s magnificent glory as we dwell on this earth He has created. God’s glory is described as the external display of His being. Because we cannot see God, He gives us clear pictures of His presence and His work in things like the majesty of the universe, the greatness of our salvation, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 
Today, look for God’s glory—for the evidence of His greatness. You’ll see it in nature’s beauty, a child’s laughter, and the love of others. God still fills the earth with His glory. 

 We may not have the advantage of seeing the glory of God in the living God-Man, Jesus, as did those who were with Him when He walked the earth, which He had created. But in His creation, and even in His bride, the Church, He has left behind enough of His glory that we can now - maybe even today - get glimpses of His glory, which points us to the ultimate hope of glory to be spent with Him in eternity.

I love the song (linked above), written and performed by a blind Christian artist, who so desires not to miss the glory of God, which even he can capture in this world. I pray that we seek out and do all we can today to catch a glimpse of what is to come when we are with Him in glory forever. 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for leaving enough of Your glory behind so that we can sense the hope we have to be with You as Your glory lights Your New Jerusalem.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me see some of Your glory 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.

February 3, 2018 … Life Changing Words

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 34 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from the group 4Him singing their song … The Message … poignantly singing of all we say and do become our “message” of Christ imparted into the lives of those we contact in this life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Proverbs 16:24 [NLT] … 24  Kind words are like honey — sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. 
… Words can heal or kill.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Proverbs 15:4, 16:24, 18:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God shares, thru Solomon, how what we say to others can change lives.
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Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 
… The Apostle Paul knew the impact our words have on others.

Reference Passage : … James 3:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru James, warns us of the power of “the tongue”

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Monica Brands, describes how one song changes the life of the famous song writer and singer, Bruce Springsteen. The ODB author wrote: Sometimes our lives can change in a moment through the powerful impact of others. For rock ’n’ roll legend Bruce Springsteen, it was the work of musical artists that helped him through a difficult childhood and a persistent struggle with depression. He found meaning in his own work through the truth he’d experienced firsthand, that “You can change someone’s life in three minutes with the right song.” 

I’m certainly no musician or song-writer, like The Boss or King David, but the lyrics of a powerful song put to a good melody have always had a great impact on my life. In fact, having studied the brain quite a bit, I know that meaningful words put to an emotional melody affects the entire brain, both left and right hemispheres. But even what we say, which is understood by others greatly impacts the way we think and act.

That’s why the books of Psalms and Proverbs in the Bible have always been looked upon as two of the most life altering books from God’s word. And both the Apostle Paul and James, [in the reference scriptures above] wrote about the power of “the tongue” (meaning our words) when it comes to impacting the lives of those around us.

 So, if you’ve read with me in my daily blogs, which are certainly impacted by the very words of God, you’ll note that I use a song linked each time to give the emotional underpinning for what I write. And I always pray that each time I write something here, that it might touch the life of someone else … just as God’s word touches my heart/mind every day as I meditate on what my Lord shares with me from His word.

And I will pray that what we say to others today, trying to glorify God and His message (see today’s song), might change a life and bring someone closer than ever to Christ.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the power and impact of Your word to change my life.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Give us the words to share with someone today so that it my impart God’s love and grace to them. … 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.

February 2, 2018 … Sharing His Love & Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 33 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Joy William singing her song … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of the charge we are to be in this world … reflections of God’s love and grace to others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Colossians 4:5 [NLT] … 5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 
… As Jesus entered the City of David, He was proclaimed to be the “Son of David” by the people. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Colossians 4:2-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts us, as His disciples, to take advantage of every opportunity to serve Him. 
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … 16 … let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 
… Jesus charged all Christians to be His witnesses as we live our lives for His glory.

Reference Passage : … 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.” 
… Jesus charged all Christians to be His witnesses as we live our lives for His glory.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:9 [NLT] … 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 
… We should not grow weary of serving God, taking advantage of every opportunity He presents for us to let other see Him as we serve Him.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 5:15-16 [NLT] … 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 
… We live in a very complex, with a lot of evil around us; so, we must live wisely as we serve our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, uses a modern technological word picture to see how we must use clever ways to motivate us to serve our Lord. The ODB author wrote: Like lots of people, I struggle to get enough exercise. So I recently got something to motivate myself to move: a pedometer that counts steps [see photo]. It’s a simple thing. But it’s amazing how much difference this gadget makes in my motivation. Instead of grumbling when I have to get off the couch, I see it as an opportunity to get a few more steps. Mundane tasks, like getting one of my kids a cup of water, become opportunities that help me work toward a larger goal. In that sense, my pedometer has changed my perspective and my motivation. Now I look to get extra steps in whenever possible. 

I think all readers here would agree with me that IT’S HARD to stay motivated as a Christian to “keep on keeping on” in our life surrendered to serve Christ and to let others see His love and His grace as we live in this world, surrounded by evil and complexities. I know, as Joy Williams sings in the linked song, we want to have others see Jesus in the way we live. … BUT … it’s really tough to live as the Apostle Paul was exhorting Christians to live [see Pauline exhortations above] … as an agent of our Lord in this world.

Even Jesus, when He was in the world, charged His followers to follow Him by shining HIS light of love/grace into a dark world (see Matt. 5:16) and by witnessing His love to others (see Acts 1:8). So, I don’t know about you; but I’m convicted to look for more opportunities, using whatever motivation I can, like the ODB author used a pedometer, to find ways to show off God’s love thru the way I live. 

How about you?

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your example of perfect love and grace. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Give me opportunities today to shine Your light into this ever darkening world. … Amen

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

February 1, 2018 … Who Is This Jesus?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 32 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Chris Rice singing the old Hymn … How Great Thou Art … poignantly singing of the greatness of our God, Who created even the birds who sing to His glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 21:9 [NLT] … 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!” 
… As Jesus entered the City of David, He was proclaimed to be the “Son of David” by the people. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 21:1-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Jesus lauded as the “Son of David” … the Messiah Who had come to save them from their captivity; but the Pharisees couldn’t see Him that way.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 9:27, 20:30-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… If two blind men could recognize Jesus as the “Son of David,” Who was their King, why couldn’t the Pharisees see Him for Whom He was (and is)? The question is … DO WE?!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, uses an interesting comparison of a famous statue of David by Michelangelo to have us see Whom Jesus really is. The ODB author wrote: When an advertiser altered a photo of Michelangelo’s famous marble sculpture of the biblical hero David, Italy’s government and gallery officials objected. Picturing David with a military rifle slung over his shoulder (instead of his slingshot) would be a violation—“like taking a hammer to it or worse,” a cultural official said. 

In other words, depicting a picture of the famous statue by Michelangelo in any other way than the original (see photo) was seen by some as defacing the genuine work of art. And this is much like the Pharisees during Jesus’ walk on earth who were trying to deface the image of the Messiah, Who had come as prophesied in the Old Testament and by their Prophet, John the Baptist, but these religious leaders couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see as the “Son of David” as many of his followers were claiming they had found in this Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus was “the King” they had been looking for; but many in his day, especially the religious leaders were unwilling, or unable, to see Him as their Messiah. But the important question for us is … WHOM DO WE SAY HE IS? Fellow reader, do we see Jesus as “KING,” … KING of kings and LORD of lords … as Matthew was claiming for his fellow Jews in his Gospel account? … I pray we do! … Because if we don’t we’re going to spend eternity in hell.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for coming as our King to show Yourself as our Messiah.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Today may I show any and all that Jesus is my King! … 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.

January 31, 2018 … Snow White

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 31 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Twila Paris and chorus singing … White As Snow … poignantly singing of the reality of how God’s blood has cleansed those who believe on Him as white as now.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 1:18a [NLT] … 18  “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. 
… What an amazing promise ... fulfilled by Jesus!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 1:16-20[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru the Prophet, makes it clear that He can and will make all believers white as snow … that our sins, which are like crimson, will be cleansed forever.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 103:11-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s promise to remove our sins COMPLETELY!!

Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Jeremiah, promises that His cleansing mercies are new EVERY morning.

Reference Passage : … 1st Jonn 1:9 [NKJV] … 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. 
 … Anytime, anywhere, a believer is willing/able to confess his/her sins, that one is cleansed completely and made as white as snow.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, told a personal story to illustrate God’s faithfulness, especially when we face times of trouble. The ODB author wrote: Last December, my family and I went to the mountains. We had lived in a tropical climate all our lives, so it was the first time we could see snow in all its magnificence. As we contemplated the white mantle covering the fields, my husband quoted Isaiah, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).

The photo above is a snow phenomena which occurs occasionally on a mountain in Montana where snow completely covers the trees forming figures which look like what is called “snow ghosts.” It makes an interesting nature picture to illustrate what the Prophet Isaiah was communicating from God as to how, we we surrender ourselves to God completely, He has covered our sins with the blood of the Lamb of God, His Son, Jesus, The Christ, and made us white as snow.

And for one, my fellow Christians, I’m one who has - and still is - the benefactor of having been cleansed of my sin and able come to my Lord daily to confess my sin with a humble attitude of contrition and have my sins completely cleansed - as white as snow (see 1st John 1:9 and hear the linked song). And God’s promise is that His mercy, in this regard, is new every morning for as long as I live combatting my sin nature.

And it’s like my Lord makes me from a snow “ghost” into a very real snow “man” with His blood having covered me eternally on the cross. And if you share my gratefulness, do I sense you joining me in a rousing HALLELUJAH!!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, another Hallelujah of thanks for Your shed blood which covers all my sins.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit …I come again this morning doing all I can to humbly present myself for your covering, knowing that You will make me as white as the snow. … 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.

January 30, 2018 … My Mighty Fortress

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 30 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … Be Still and Know … poignantly singing of the faithfulness of our God, Whom we can run to in times in trouble and pain. … and ON TO THIS LINK to hear a chorus singing Martin Luther’s famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress, powerfully singing what David wrote in Psalm 46 … that God is our faithful protector in times of trouble.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 46:1 [NLT] … 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 
… We run to Him in times of trouble.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 46 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David honors his God with a song declaring the Lord’s sovereignty and available to all who trust him the Lord.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:28-30[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, our Messiah, invites all who struggle to bring their worries to Him; and He will help carry them.

Reference Passage : … 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] … 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. 
… Paul learned that even in the worst pain, God’s grace is sufficient to give Paul (and us) the strength when we are weak.

Reference Passage : … 1st Peter 5:7 [NKJV] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… God, thru Peter, exhorts believers to bring their cares to our God; … anyone, anytime, anywhere.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, told a personal story to illustrate God’s faithfulness, especially when we face times of trouble. The ODB author wrote: My husband was at work when I received news about my mom’s cancer diagnosis. I left him a message and reached out to friends and family. None were available. Covering my face with trembling hands, I sobbed. “Help me, Lord.” A resulting assurance that God was with me comforted me through those moments when I felt utterly alone. 
I thanked the Lord when my husband came home and support from friends and family trickled in. Still, the calming awareness of God’s presence I sensed in those first few hours of lonely grieving affirmed that God is readily and faithfully available wherever and whenever I need help. 

 Right now, as I write this, I’m feeling very weak and quite ill. And I really needed these uplifting thoughts and reminders that anyone (who is in Christ), anytime, anywhere can be comforted by the reality and truth that our God never changes and as David wrote in Psalm 46, we can garner His strength when we are weak (see also the reference scriptures above).

And I need His strength today. Perhaps you do too.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for being what Martin Luther wrote … “A Mighty Fortress.”
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I need Your strength and healing touch today, dear 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.

January 29, 2018 … Childlike Trust

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 29 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song … I Want To Be Just Like You … poignantly singing of the surrendered attitude of a child to become just like his father just as we, as God’s children want to become just like His Son, our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 18:2-3 [NLT] … 2 Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 
… It takes the surrendered/faith attitude of a child to enter Heaven.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 18:1-5, 19:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus was clear that we need the trustful attitude of a child to receive His saving grace. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Complete trust in our Lord, like that of a child for his parent is what is need to follow Jesus.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NKJV] … 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. …” 
… That’s what a child does in following a parent … to give up himself and to follow in complete trust.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 3:20 [NKJV] … 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. …” 
… Jesus wants to fellowship with us; but we have to trust Him and open the door to our hearts just like a child will come to a father when he calls.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, told a personal story about his little laughter to illustrate how we must come to Jesus to receive His saving grace. The ODB author wrote: One evening many years ago, after saying a goodnight prayer with our two-year-old daughter, my wife was surprised by a question. 
“Mommy, where is Jesus?” 
Luann replied, “Jesus is in heaven and He’s everywhere, right here with us. And He can be in your heart if you ask Him to come in.” 
“I want Jesus to be in my heart.” 
“One of these days you can ask Him.” 
“I want to ask Him to be in my heart now.” So our little girl said, “Jesus, please come into my heart and be with me.” And that started her faith journey with Him. 

It is true that children, even at age two, are little heathens in need of salvation; but they also have an attitude of trust where they can openly and accept the need for a Savior. And that’s what Jesus used as a life picture when He instructed His disciples [in the highlight passages] on the attitude of trust and surrender it took for anyone to come to Him in faith and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

It took a full 39 years, and the relentless pursuit of God’s Spirit, for me to finally, in brokenness, to surrender and accept God’s saving grace. I can only hope that all reading here have - at some point - had the trust of a child and seen the need to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

And I will pray below that we all have that childlike trust today and open the door of our hearts for our Savior to be with us in fellowship today (see Rev. 3:20).

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You helping me get to the point of a child who needs to come to His Father in repentance and accept Your saving grace.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … May all who read with me here join me in coming to You daily and receiving your sanctifying grace so that we can fellowship with You and follow You as our Lord all days. … Amen

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

January 28, 2018 … Joyful, Joyful!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 28 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from a group of Mennonite singers singing the old hymn… Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee … singing JOYFULLY of the attitude we should have when we come into the presence of our Lord … i.e., joy at knowing that He is our God and He has saved us from ourselves.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 92:4 [NLT] … 4  You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!  I sing for joy because of what you have done. 
… David sings for joy in looking back at what the Lord has done for him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 92 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David sings of the joy of knowing his Lord.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 28:7 [NLT] … 7  The Lord is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. 
… We capture joy in hearts when we trust in the Lord - no matter what. Reference Passage : … 

Psalm 32:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David relates the joy he found when God forgave him of his sins involving Bathsheba and how any believer can find that joy in God’s forgiveness.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… [Also Mark 1:11] God, the Father, finds His greatest joy in His Son … and so should we!

Reference Passage : … John 15:10-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus makes it clear that we will only find joy when we walk in obedience to His word.

Reference Passage : … James 1:2-3 [NKJV] … 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 
… You see, … we can even choose joy when we’re cast into moments of trial.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Allison Kieda, cites King David’s reference to finding joy in our relationship with God (see the Psalms highlighted and referenced below. The ODB author wrote: I’m fast approaching a new season—the “winter” of old age—but I’m not there yet. Even though the years are galloping by and sometimes I’d like to slow them down, I have joy that sustains me. Each day is a new day given me by the Lord. With the psalmist, I can say, “It is good to praise the Lord . . . proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night”! (Psalm 92:1–2). 

Well the ODB author today may not be in the “winter” of her life; but I am. And I’m here to give witness to what King David proclaimed in his songs, cited above; … that we can only find true joy, especially in the difficult times of life, when we capture the joy that God, the Father, has in His Son (see Matt. 3:16-17 and Mark 1:11). When things are tough in life, it’s only our abiding relationship with Christ (see John 15) and our trust in Him that can inject joy into our lives (even in the milieu of sorrow or pain - see James 1:2-3).

When can you remember a moment like the one in the photo, where you were almost overwhelmed with the joy of friendships? Well, that was likely sparked by the happiness of the circumstances; but our joy is not a feeling. It is a choice; … and it is kindled when we remember and revel in our abiding relationship with Christ.

I will pray that we all choose to bask in the joy that Christ has brought in to our lives as a gift of the Spirit (on your own, see Gal. 5:22-23).

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the joy of knowing and abiding in You. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Let me choose joy … even when lift gets trough. … 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.

January 27, 2018 … Approaching God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 27 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Matt Redman singing … Let My Words Be Few … poignantly singing of the attitude we should have when we come into the presence of our Lord in prayer.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 [NLT] … 1 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut. It is evil to make mindless offerings to God. 2 Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. 
… As today’s linked song proclaims … when we come into an attitude of prayer, approaching God, … “let my words be few.”
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The author shows us how we are to approach God … more with a listening ear than a rambling tongue.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 10:32, 13:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, gives us guidance on how to approach Him … with a listening ear and a muted tongue.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 12:34b [NLT] … 34b … whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 
… Jesus tells the religious leaders that what ever comes out of our mouths emirates from our heart. [Also see Luke 6:45]

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:29b [NLT] … 29 … Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 
… Paul teaches on how to limit our speech only to those things which lift others up or convey God’s grace to the hearers.

Reference Passage : … James 3:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… James shows us the importance to limiting what we speak.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, citing the author of Ecclesiastes, shows her readers (me) how we should come into the presence of the Lord in Prayer. The ODB author wrote: One day during a university philosophy class, a student made some inflammatory remarks about the professor’s views. To the surprise of the other students, the teacher thanked him and moved on to another comment. When he was asked later why he didn’t respond to the student, he said, “I’m practicing the discipline of not having to have the last word.” 
This teacher loved and honored God, and he wanted to embody a humble spirit as he reflected this love. His words remind me of another Teacher—this one from long ago, who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes [see highlight passage]. 

Readers here have probably heard the old saying: “We have two ears and one mouth; and we should use them in that proportion.” And according to God’s word, from Solomon, to Paul, to James, and yes, even Jesus (see above), that is good advice when it comes to approaching God in prayer as well. 

Most certainly it is truth that what we say is a reflection of our hearts (see Jesus’ admonition in Matt. 12 and Luke 6 referred to above). So, knowing that my heart defaults to my flesh (see Jer. 17:9), the admonition of today’s linked song is good advice. Therefore, when I come to God in prayer, as today, I should “let my words be few” and listen to God’s Spirit at least twice as much as I speak my piece to God.

So, today … and prayerfully tomorrow too … I need to be listening for God’s perfect “GPS,” especially from His word; and then speaking only what He leads my heart to say.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for pouring Your grace of illumination and enlightenment into my heart that I might speak Your thoughts to others.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to pour out your grace and edification to others and stop to listen for what You’re saying to me before I speak to You, and certainly others. … 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.

January 26, 2018 … Time Flies

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 26 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from Oleta Adams singing the song of worship … Holy Is The Lamb … poignantly singing of the heart of worship all Christians should have for our Lord, Who is the Lamb of God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Revelation 4:8 [NLT] … 8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, … “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty — the One Who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
… John saw the angels in Heaven worshipping God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Revelation 4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… John has a revelation of what worship in Heaven looks like.
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Reference Passage : … Acts 1:6-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… How glorious it must have been to be there to witness Jesus being taken by God’s Spirit into His glorious reunion with His Heavenly Father.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Julie Ackerman Link, who BTW is in heaven now worshipping our God, uses a common phrase to illustrate what time will be like when we’re in heaven worshipping God. The ODB author wrote: “Time flies when you’re having fun.” [see photo] This cliché has no basis in fact, but experience makes it seem true. When life is pleasant, time passes all too quickly. Give me a task that I enjoy, or a person whose company I love, and time seems irrelevant. 

There is some truth to that old cliche, isn’t there? Time seems to drag on forever when we’re wrapped in stress and anguish; and time sees to fly so fast when life is going well. So can we imagine how fast time will fly in heaven, when every moment will be glorious as we will be ALWAYS in the presence of the Lamb of God? And as the Apostle John was given revelation, worship in Heaven (see Revelation, Chapter 4) will be so glorious that time, as we know it, will be almost meaningless.

I learned, in reading and mediating on this ODB entry today, that the author of this devotional is now in heaven worshipping our Lord with the angels; and how glorious it is to contemplate how wonderful that must be for the one who was writing in this piece about how time will all be wonderful as we worship the Lamb of God in heaven.

Sure, I want to live as long as God gives me time to be here, worshipping Him with my life; but I so revel in the thought (and reality) of how time will fly in heaven as I see - and worship - my Lord face to face.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You where You are taking me to be with You in eternity.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help my time of worship to fly as I live for Your glory here and new. … 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.

January 25, 2018 … Real-deal Hope

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 25 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with song and lyrics from the group Third Day singing the old Hymn … Blessed Assurance … poignantly singing of the hope we have in Christ to join Him in glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 5:3-4 [NLT] … 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 
… Because our hope is in Christ’s finished work on the cross and not on our own abilities or position in life, our hope is the “real-deal!!”
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 5:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, shows Christians where our hope lies … in the one - AND ONLY ONE - Who died that we might have life thru our faith in His saving grace.
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Reference Passage : … Romans 5:8-9 [NLT] … 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 
… Yes, … even tho we were (are) sinners, Christ died and was risen again, to allow us to have genuine hope for our eternal future.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:16 [NLT] … 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 
… For the born-again Christian, it’s God’s Spirit, joined with ours at conversion and justification which testifies to the hope we have in our eternal relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 3:13-14 [NLT] … 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 
 … We have “real-deal” hope in Christ that helps us look forward to heaven no matter what we’re facing.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses an interesting word picture of waiting in lines to get somewhere to illustrate the very real-deal hope we have in Christ. The ODB author wrote: Not long ago I visited the Empire State Building with a friend. The line looked short—just down the block and around the corner. Yet as we entered the building, we discovered the line of people stretching through the lobby, up the stairs, and into another room. Every new turn revealed more distance to go. 
Attractions and theme parks carefully route their crowds to make the lines seem shorter.[see photo] 

Perhaps you’ve been to a theme park or airport where the waiting lines are in a “snake” configuration (again see photo) to give those waiting a feeling that the lines are shorter than they really are. The park or airport creates a feeling of false hope that we’re going to arrive at our destination faster than we really will.

Well, the hope we have in Christ is no false feeling of getting to our destination. It’s “real-deal” hope … because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection to show us the genuine hope we can have to overcome the “waiting” we have to do as we travel thru the circumstances (i.e., waiting lines) of life.

That’s what the Apostle Paul was writing about to Christians in the Scripture passages from Romans 5 and 8 and Philippians 3 [see above]. We. who’re genuine, born-again Christians, can have real-deal hope in any waiting line in life; because we have the genuine assurance [hear the song] that Jesus gives us as we wait for our eternal reward in heaven. And it looks like the line to get there is getting shorter and shorter, doesn’t it?

It could be tomorrow … or even today!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for showing us the end of the line, which is to be with You forever.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Come soon, Lord Jesus; … but I wait with the hope that is in 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.

January 24, 2018 … Sing Praise to His Glory

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 24 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with images and lyrics from Chris Rice singing the old Hymn … How Great Thou Art … poignantly singing of the greatness of our God, Who created even the birds who sing to His glory.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 104:1, … 12 [NLT] … 1  Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are!  You are robed with honor and majesty. … 12  The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees. 
… Is this the attitude which we bring to living; … an attitude of praise to the God of all that even the birds sing forth.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 104:1-12, 24-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… As with the Psalmist, we must hold a continual reverence for our God.
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Reference Passage : … Colossians 1:17 [NLT] … 17 He [GOD] existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. 
…Wow! How great is our God?!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jeff Olson, uses a reference to how all creation sings out to worship our God. The ODB author wrote: A few winters ago, my hometown experienced an unusually long blast of bone-chilling temperatures that finally gave way to the warmer weather of spring. For two weeks straight, the outside thermometer dipped well below the sub-zero degree mark (-20 C; -5 F). 
On one particularly bitter cold morning, the sound of chirping birds broke the silence of night. Dozens, if not hundreds, sang their hearts out. If I didn’t know any better, I could have sworn the little creatures were crying out to their Creator to please warm things up! 
Bird experts tell us that the multitude of birdsongs we hear during late winter mornings are mostly male birds, attempting to attract mates and claim their territories [see photo]. Their chirping reminded me that God fine-tuned His creation to sustain and flourish life—because He is a God of life.

Isn’t it magnificent that even the birds sing of God’s glory (again, see photo). So, then let us, sing as does Chris Rice in the linked song, … “How Great Thou Art!” 

I don’t think I need to say any more, do I?

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for creating all we see for our pleasure and Your glory.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Even the birds sing of Your glory, … let me join their praise song this 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.