Oct 24, 2020 … More Deeply Rooted

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 298 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kerrie Roberts singing … Rooted … poignantly singing of how we must strive to be deeply rooted in our relationship with Christ to be fruitful for Him. 

More deeply rooted in Christ ,,, 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Jeremiah 17:8 [ESV] ... 

8  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” 

…   God shows believers what it takes for us to become fruitful believers. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Jeremiah 17:5-8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet shows God’s people what it takes to become fruitful for God. 

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm 1:1-3 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… When we send down our roots to connect with God’s living waters, we can become fruitful for God’s kingdom. 

Reference Passage: …  Mark 4:14-17 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus explains, in the parable of sowing seeds, that a believer must send his/her roots deep into the soil of God’s grace to become fruitful.  

Reference Passage: …   John 15:5 [ESV] … 

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 

…  Jesus declares to His 12 Disciples (and to all born-again believers) that we are branches of His sanctifying grace and must stay connected to (i.e. “abide in”) Him to be fruitful.  

<b><u>Reference Passage</u>: …  Colossians 2:6-7 [ESV] …  </b>

<i>  6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. </i> 

…  Go, thru Paul, shows us that we must be well rooted in our relationship with Him.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten, AT THIS LINK  uses the word picture of tumbleweeds, which become disconnected from their roots, to illustrate how we, as Christians, must be well-rooted in Christ to become more fruitful for God’s kingdom (see photo).  

This ODB entry loudly proclaims God’s repeated teaching in His word (see Scriptures above), in both the OT and NT, for us to send down our roots of trust and faith deeply to mature and grow in our relationship with our Lord so that we can grow to become fruitful for His glory and God’s kingdom.  

And that is why you find me here daily, praying for God’s sanctifying grace and doing all I can to send my roots of relationship more deeply into God’s word, which is His living waters to nourish and grow my abiding desire to be fruitful for God’s kingdom and my Lord’s glory.   So, join me and let’s become fruitful together. 

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing us how we can become more fruitful for Your kingdom. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to do all we can today to connect our roots of faith into God’s soil of truth. … Amen

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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.

Oct 23, 2020 … God’s Enduring Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 297

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Michael W Smith singing … His Love Endures Forever … powerfully singing of God’s faithful promise that His love endures FOREVER. 

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Highlight Passage:  Psalm 136:1, 26 [ESV] ... 

1, 26  Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His steadfast love endures forever. </i>

…   First and last (and every stanza) declares our thankfulness that ”God’s love endures forever…”

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 136 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s people declare strongly and repeatedly that ”God’s love endures forever…”

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Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 31:2-3 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise, thru Jeremiah, that His love is EVERLASTING. 

Reference Passage: …   John 14:21 [ESV] … 

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 

…  Jesus declares to His 12 Disciples (and to all born-again believers) that we show our love for Him by our belief in and our obedience to His truth.  

Reference Passage: …  Romans 8:38-39 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul believes in the truth that NOTHING can separate the born-again believer who trusts in the EVERLASTING love of Christ.  

Reference Passage: …   1John 4:16 [ESV] … 

16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. </i>

…  God, thru the Apostle John, declares the truth that we must come to trust and believe in God’s ENDURING love. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, AT THIS LINK  relates a cute story about a young boy blurting out a loud and embarrassing outburst in a quiet movie,  … declaring ”NICE SHOT”, when in the movie Bambi’s mother was killed by a hunter in the famous Disney classic.  

The young boy enthusiastically believed what he said, … especially since his dad was an avid hunter; and he was willing to loudly declare his beliefs for all to hear, … no matter what other people might think.  And that raises the question if we Christians, believing what we say we do from God’s word about God’s enduring love (see Scriptures above), are willing to declare loudly … for all to hear - as is repeated over and over in Psalm 136 … our thanks for God’s EVERLASTING love. 

No, … the real question is … DO WE BELIEVE IT? … And, as the Apostle Paul declared in Rom 8:38-39, do we believe that NOTHING can separate us from God’s love?   Oh, how I pray we do!! 

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your promise of Your everlasting love.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to give thanks today for God’s everlasting love and then to show that love for our Lord by our obedience to His word.  … Amen

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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.

Oct 22, 2020 … Anywhere and Everywhere

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 296

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need The Lord … powerfully singing of how Jesus calls us, as His disciples, to be willing to go anywhere to share His gospel with others who need Him 

We all need the Lord ... anywhere and everywhere ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Matthew 28:19:20[ESV] ... 

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

…   Jesus' charge to all Christians to do all we can to bring the Gospel and God’s truth to any/all who need it.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 28:16-20 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Christ’s “great commission” to any/all disciples … to GO and make disciples 

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Reference Passage: …   Isaiah 53:6 [ESV] … 

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  

…  God, thru the Prophet, shows that we have ALL gone astray; but it is God’s plan to lay all those stray sheep on The Messiah and for His called ones (that’s us as Christians) to bring His gospel to the world of lost sinners.   

Reference Passage: …  Romans 3:23, 6:23 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Since all mankind is condemned by our sin, we ALL are in need of God’s saving grace. 

Reference Passage: …   Acts 1:8 [ESV] … </b>

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

…  Christ calls and empowers His disciples to be His witnesses to all the world.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK  writes of a Colorado Pastor who took the Great Commission seriously and discovered a laundromat near his church where his partitioners could go and share prayer and God’s love with others (see photo). 

What does Christ’s so-called “Great Commission” (see Matt. 28:19-20) mean to us?  And as Christians, are we, as Christ’s disciples, taking the Lord’s call to be his witnesses seriously (see Acts 1:8)?   Because, … as Steve Green sings in the linked song, … people need the Lord (ALL PEOPLE as the Rom 3/6 passages tell us).  

Pastor Chad in the ODB story took Christ’s call at His word and did all he could to take the Gospel to that Colorado laundromat.  So, … are we ALL feeling that commission from our Lord to “GO” and make disciples and to teach them what God brings to us in His word? …   I pray so today.     

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for calling us to be Your witnesses today … and all days.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to GO and to be Christ’s witnesses, … sharing His love/grace with any who might need it.    … Amen

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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.

Oct 21, 2020 … What’s Wrong? … “I Am!”

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 295 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Jeremy Camp singing … The Answer … poignantly singing of how Jesus is THE answer to ALL the questions of what is wrong with this world. 

G.K. Chesterton's answer to the ? - "What's Wrong with the World"

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Highlight Passage:  1Timothy 1:15 [ESV] ... 

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 

…   The Apostle Paul, totally surrendered to Christ as Lord, admits his sinful nature.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Timothy 1:12-17 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, showing the humility and surrender necessary to overcome our sin nature. 

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Reference Passage: …   Ecclesiastes 7:20 [ESV] … 

20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.  

…   God, thru Solomon shows all that no one is righteous.  

Reference Passage: …   Isaiah 53:6 [ESV] … 

6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.  

…  God, thru the Prophet, shows that we have ALL gone astray; but it is God’s plan to lay all those stray sheep on The Messiah.   

Reference Passage: …  Romans 3:23, 6:23 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul declares the truth of our universal sin nature and God’s plan to give us a way to save ourselves.  

Reference Passage: …  1John 1:6-9 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…We lie if we say that we are not sinners; but THE solution to our nature is fellowship with The Christ. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, John Blasé, AT THIS LINK  writes of a question which was in the London Times, … “What Is Wrong With the World?”  And a famous response came by postcard by well known Christian philosopher (see photo) showed that ALL of us sinners are the problem in the world with JESUS being the answer (hear the linked song). 

Solomon and Isaiah in the OT and Paul and John in the NT (see Scriptures above), all reinforce the truth that we, as God’s God’s sheep - ALL OF US - have gone astray in our sin; but, … our Heavenly Father has given us a way - HIS WAY - to get right and be in fellowship with Him; and that, of course, is surrendering to and confessing our sin to be cleansed forever.  

I pray all reading here have done so … and are doing so EVERY DAY!!    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being the answer to our sin dilemma. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to confess and surrender our sins to the Lord today; and … to allow Jesus to be the answer to what is wrong in our world.  … Amen

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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.

Oct 20, 2020 … Scars Become Stars

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 294

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … once again poignantly singing of how we Christians should be willing to show others how Christ has turned our scars into stars, showing His grace for all to see HIM in the way we live.

Kintsugi transformational art ... brokenness into beauty ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  2Corinthians 11:30[ESV] ... 

30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 

…   One of two thieves dying with Jesus on the cross, finds repentance and shows compassionate love for Jesus, … showing. as Jesus personified, … that love always wins over hatred.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Corinthians 11:30, 12:1-10 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke describes God’s love prevailing over hatred on the cross with one of two thieves showing love for Jesus on the cross. 

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Reference Passage: …   Psalm 51:10-12 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   David’s prayer for restoration in repentance and confession for his sin involving Bathsheba.  

Reference Passage: …   2Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] … 

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  

…   God, thru Paul, declares the truth that surrendering to follow Christ, makes us over into a new you. 

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 1:6 [ESV] …  

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

… Paul wanted fellow Christians to know the truth that all born-again Christians are being made over into the image of Christlikeness. 

Reference Passage: …  1John 1:9 [ESV] …  

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.</i>

… If we’re willing to confess and truly repent of our sin, God will cleanse us from any/all sin.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread</b></i> author, Amy Peterson, AT THIS LINK  writes of  Dutch apparel art, mimicking the Japanese Kintsugi art form of turning broken pottery in to beautiful and restored pottery by using gold to patch the broken pieces together [see photo].  But the Dutch use golden thread to repair old clothing into valuable art where wearing the garments exhibits the beauty and value of restoration.       

And these two art forms illustrate what the Apostle Paul had experienced in His transformational relationship with Christ.  And it’s what motivated the Apostle to share the truth of Christ’s work of restoration and renewal for anyone who was willing to surrender themselves to the Lordship of Christ.  That is the message King David discovered as God forgave the broken King after his sin with Bathsheba (see Ps. 51:10-12).  And it’s certainly what Paul related to fellow Christians in the Pauline scriptures copied above. 

My friends, … it’s the truth of what any of us discover when we turn our lives truly over to become slaves of the Lordship of Christ.  He will completely turn our scars into stars and allow others to see His workmanship in our changed lives (see 2Cor 5:17, Phil 1:6, and 1John 1:9).   

And I so pray today that any reading here have experienced others seeing the “scars-to-stars” transformation that a deep/abiding relationship with Christ brings.  Again, … it’s what led me to repeat the song I shared in my blog yesterday … where Joy Williams sings of others seeing Christ in our transformed lives. 

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for using Your gold threads of purpose to repair the brokenness in me, allowing others to see You in me.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to pray that others see our scars turned into stars by the way we live in Christlikeness today.  … Amen

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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.

Oct 19, 2020 … Love Wins

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 293 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of how we Christians should always be trying to reflect the love of Jesus in the way we live our lives. 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 23:41 [ESV] ... 

41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  

…   One of two thieves dying with Jesus on the cross, finds repentance and shows compassionate love for Jesus, … showing. as Jesus personified, … that love always wins over hatred.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Luke 23:32-46 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke describes God’s love prevailing over hatred on the cross with one of two thieves showing love for Jesus on the cross. 

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Reference Passage: …   John 3:16-17 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   Jesus declares that the love of His Heavenly Father would ultimately win our over the hatred of sin.  

Reference Passage: …   1Corinthians 13:4-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   God, thru Paul, declares the truth that love prevails over all ills in this world. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 4:8 [ESV] …  

8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 

… Peter declares that love will conquer and win over a multitude of sins.  

Reference Passage: …  1John 4:8 [ESV] …  

8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

… When we don’t show love for others, we are not reflecting the very nature of God, which is love.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK reflects on how one young man, whose mother was murdered in the horrible hate crime in a church in Charleston, SC in 2015 [see photo].  In spite of his loss, the young man declared “Love is stronger than hate,” indicating his Christian grace and faith which he had learned from his mother.      

I’ve always been uplifted by the true story of the two thieves dying with Jesus on crosses, side-by-side on Golgotha [see Luke 23 account]. One thief demonstrated hatred and the other love.  And the one with the loving recognition of God’s grace in Jesus was rewarded by salvation, … showing that love alway prevails over hatred. 

So, with division and hatred showing their ugly faces of death all around us these days, how can we be lights of hope and love [see reference passages above], showing the love of Christ in all we say and do these days?  I pray we live as Joy Williams sings in the linked song today.      

 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing me how to love and conquering any unGodly feelings I might have today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to become beacons of hope and love today in a world so racked by hatred and spite.  … Amen

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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.

Oct 18, 2020 … Quietly Listening

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 292 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in images, song, and lyrics from Twila Paris singing … I Will Listen … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must choose to do whatever it takes to listen for God’s voice. 

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Highlight Passage:  Isaiah 55:6 [ESV] ... 

6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon him while He is near; … </i>

…   God calls for us to seek and listen for Him … 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Isaiah 55:1-6 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, charges believers to seek and listen for Him always. 

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Reference Passage: …   Proverbs 2:1-5 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   God, thru Solomon, calls for all believers to search for and listen for Him always to be able to find His wisdom. 

Reference Passage: …   John 10:27-28 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   Jesus declares that those who humbly and obediently seek after Him will be able to hear His voice.  

Reference Passage: …  Romans 10:17 [ESV] …  

7 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

… The Apostle Paul taught that our faith is more tuned into His Spirit when we’re listening for him thru His word. 

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 3:20 [ESV] … 

<i>  20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. </i>

… Jesus promises to be there, calling for us to let Him in to fellowship with us. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks, AT THIS LINK  uses a description of the National Radio Quiet Zone [see photo], where the government has established a zone of quiet in the country, restricting the use of radio devices, to allow radio telescopes in that area to more effectively hear radio signals from space.  

And the ODB author uses this “Quiet Zone” to illustrate how we, as Christians, need to have our own “quiet zones” in our lives to more effectively listen for God, … Who so desires to commune with us daily (see Rev. 3:20).  And God’s word repetitively tells us [see Scriptures above]</b> that our Lord so desires for us to seek Him and humbly listen for Him. 

And that’s why I have established the “Berry Patch Quiet Zone,” where I am here in my quiet place everyday - the first thing every morning - obediently seeking to hear my God thru prayer and diligently being in His word.  And EVERYDAY He sends me His “radio signals,” … thru His word, … to help me grow closer to Him and to share His truth with others.  

I pray that all reading here have their own “quiet zones,” where you can shut out the cacophony of the world and listen quietly for our God speaking thru His word.     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being there - ALWAYS - to hear me everyday in my “quiet zone” of prayer and as I listen for the “signals” You send me from Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to listen to Twila Paris singing about God’s call for us, as His disciples, to listen for His voice, … calling out thru His word to guide us thru life.   … Amen

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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.