June 23, 2021 … Can You Just Imagine?! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 174 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … I Can Only Imagine … poignantly singing how we can only imagine how glorious it will be like when we, born-again Christians, are with Jesus in heaven.  

TV Home Renovation

==============

Highlight Passage:  Isaiah 65:17 [ESV] …  

17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 

… Isaiah “paints” the glorious picture of what heaven will be like when the Messiah, King Jesus, returns again in His glory.     

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Isaiah 65:17-25 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah’s prophesy, paints a picture of the New Jerusalem, when the Messiah comes to restore heaven on earth. 

==============     

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:42-49  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow believers how our mortal, earthly, bodies will be transformed into glorious - pain free - Christ-like bodies in heaven.   

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. 

… In Christ, we are restored and made new.    

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.

… God is making me - and you, fellow Christian - into the newness of the imagine of Christlikeness; and will complete that work in heaven.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 22:1-5  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The “Revelation” to John of the glory of what heaven will be like . 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK  … quotes a TV home restoration host in helping his “client” see what it will be like after they renovate the client’s home (as in the photo), describing what the home will be like after the proposed changes, …  saying, “Imagine this!” 

And that’s somewhat like what Isaiah prophesied [in the highlight passage], 700+ years before Christ would come as Messiah and almost three millennia before Jesus will come again, to bring about the restoration of what the curse (go on your own to Genesis 3) did to destroy the glory of The Garden of Eden.   And God has helped us to imagine what that restoration of “God’s home” will be like (see the New Testament Scriptures above).    

And I hope all reading here have taken in the recent popular Christian song by Mercy Me (linked above); and are now closing our eyes to imagine what it will be like when we, who are born-again in Christ, will experience when God’s home renovation is complete.  Personally, I can’t wait to experience a pain-free body … and a totally renovated heavenly garden, … and to be with our Savior in my newly renovated home in glory.  How about you?      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for the promise of what lies ahead for me in Your glory.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to imagine what it will be like to be with our Lord in the New Jerusalem.  … Amen

=============

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

June 22, 2021 … Our Promise Keeper …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 173 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Michael W Smith singing … Forever … powerfully singing how we can rely on the promises of our God now and FOREVER.   

==============

Highlight Passage:  Genesis 28:15 [ESV] … 

15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”  

… God repeats the promise He had made to Abraham and to Isaac before him of God’s  faithfulness to take God’s people into the promised land.     

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Genesis 28:10-15, 20-22 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise to Jacob and Jacob’s surrender to God.  

==============     

Reference Passage: … Numbers 23:19  [ESV] … 

4 … God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will hH not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it?

… Our God is a promise keeper Whom we can always trust. 

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

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

… We can trust God’s charge thru Joshua; because God is faithful to keep His promises.   

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… We can - and must - always trust in God’s promises to lead us thru life.  

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

… God’s promise, thru Paul and His word, that NOTHING can separate us from His love/grace.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:8 [ESV] … 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

… Jesus never changes; so His promises (as in Matt 28:20 to be with us ALWAYS) are faithful.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK  … relates a touching story of how a loving note of encouragement left in a coat made it’s way to a runaway young man and lifted him up when he needed the strength to go on. 

And then the ODB author shows us that God’s promises, … like those made to Jacob and to Abraham and Isaac before him [see highlight passage], can be trusted because our God ALWAYS keeps his promises (see also Numbers 23:19).  So, as we move forward from today, I pray we all meditate on the truths above from God thru His word; and we realize that we can - AND MUST - trust in our promise-keeping God.  

My friends, Jesus, Who is the fulfillment of God’s promises, is the same as He was when He died for our sins and was resurrected to defeat death [see Hebrews 13:8].  So, … let’s trust His promises to be with us always; … Yes, and that means TODAY !!!      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being there for us today … and tomorrow.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to stand firm and trust in God’s faithful promises today and then again tomorrow.   … Amen

=============

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

June 21, 2021 … God Is Our Victory …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 172 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing how we Christians can go into battle today, knowing that God will provide us with His strength when we are weak. 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 21:30-31 [ESV] …  

30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. 31  The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. 

… Our God always prevails in the battles He chooses to fight for His Name.     

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Proverbs 21:21-31 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, shows that our Lord ALWAYS prevails in battle for His Name and for His glory. 

==============     

Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 20:4  [ESV] … 

4 … for the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory. 

… When we are fighting the Lord’s battles, victory is ours because God fights with us.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10  [ESV] … 

10 … fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’

… We need not fear when we go to battle in God’s Name and for His glory because His strength will lift us up.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:31, 37  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul recognized that no one can stand against us when our God is for us.   

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:57 [ESV] … 

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

… It is n Christ that we have victory over our Spiritual enemies.   

Reference Passage: … 1John 5:4 [ESV] … 

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 

… In our born-again relationship with Christ, we overcome the world in the battles of life. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK  … writes of how courageous horses were as mighty weapons in ancient battles because of their courage to go forward no matter what they faced in battle. 

And that may be true on the biblical battle fields; but nothing in those ancient battles, … nor in our battles today, … can prevail against us when God is on our side <b>(see Scriptures above)</b>.  Yes, we are to plan for our daily battles and do all we can with the weapons we have available to us.  However, nothing is more effective in our spiritual warfare than having God on our side.  We can even be weakened for battle, as the linked song declares; but, as Paul declared in Romans 8:31,  “… if God be for us, who can stand against us!” 

So, my fellow Christian warriors, … let us go forward today with confidence; because we know that we have King Jesus on our side.      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being with me in battle today.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to confidently go into battle today following King Jesus.  … Amen

=============

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

June 20, 2021 … My Quiet Time …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 171 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics by an anonymous worship group singing … My Quiet Time … poignantly singing how we Christians need to follow the model of our Lold and find solitude to pray and seek after God’s will … EVERY DAY!! 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Luke 5:15-16 [ESV] …  

15 But now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.  

… Jesus sought out solitude to be refreshed by quiet time alone with His Heavenly Father, … a model for us when we feel stressed or pressured by the world.     

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Luke 5:12-16 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… When Jesus felt under stress (which was often), He would get alone to pray and be restored by His relationship with God, the Father and The Holy Spirit.

==============     

Reference Passage</u>: … Matthew 6:5-6  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ instructs His followers how to avoid self-indulgent prayer … by getting alone with God.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 14:23  [ESV] … 

23 And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, … 

… After feeding the thousands, … Jesus, needing to be renewed of Spirit, … so sought solitude to be alone with His Father.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 14:23  [ESV] … 

12 In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God.

… When Jesus needed wisdom from His Father, He often went out to be alone and seek  His Father’s will, … especially just before He was to choose His 12 disciples.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23  [ESV] … 

23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. … 

… Jesus’ commands for His disciples to follow His will and His ways. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, John Blasé, AT THIS LINK  … uses the preacher father figure in the novel <i>A River Runs Through It</i>, who needed time between his Sunday morning sermon and his Sunday evening service message to be alone with God and renew himself in God’s Spirit. 

And oh how much that example and the often repeated model of Jesus getting alone to meditate and pray with His heavenly Father [see Scriptures above] means to me.  And here I am, … as you will find me any morning I’m capable, … seeking some early morning solitude to pray and to meditate on God’s word, … which is God’s “GPS” (God’s Positioning System) to guide me in life.  

And since Jesus commanded me to follow Him in life as His disciple (see Luke 9:23), … and since He often sought to be renewed and redirected in His life by getting alone with His Father God, I figure that I should follow my Lord’s example to have a quiet time each morning with Him (see photo).  

So, if you’re reading this journal entry of my quiet time today, … or you come back tomorrow, … you’ll see how I’m seeking to follow my Lord from His word.  Could it be that you - as well - need some time alone with God today … AND … in many upcoming tomorrows?!     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me the importance of getting alone with You, my Lord, to follow You more clearly today.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to spend some quiet time with our Lord today. … Amen

=============

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

June 19, 2021 … Way Bigger Than My Problems …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 170 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics by the Vineyard Kids singing … Great Big God … joyfully singing how we serve a God big enough to handle any/all of our troubles and trials. 

When "Behemoths" roamed the earth ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Job 40:15 [ESV] …  

22 “Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox.  

… God shows Job that He, as Creator, is bigger than all of Job’s (and mankind’s) problems or trials in life.      

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Job 40:15-24 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God demonstrates for Job His bigness to handle all of Job's ills ... 

==============     

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6  [ESV] … 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

… We must trust in God in our trials or troubles because He is way bigger that we can imagine.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:8-9 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God shows us, thru Isaiah, that there are just some things in our lives that are way beyond the scope of our understanding. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 3:20a  [ESV] … 

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, …  

… God, thru Paul, shows believers that He is WAY BIGGER than we can imagine. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:6-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Peter, shows us that we can bring any trial or challenge to our God because He cares for us and is big enough to handle it.

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, AT THIS LINK  … illustrates how big our God is by comparing Him to the dinosaurs in the murals of Karen Carr (see photo) in the  Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.  

And in the Old Testament, God tried to illustrate how big He was to handle Job’s problems when, as Creator of the earth, He showed Job how He created “Behemoths” to roam the world (see highlight passage).  And what the ODB entry is teaching today, with the Scriptures above to support God’s truth, is the reality that our God is WAY BIGGER than any challenge we might not comprehend with all of our “WHY ME” feelings.  

And so, … if any of you fellow Christians are feeling pretty small today, … with issues that are way beyond your understanding, … let’s all just bring them to a God who cares deeply for us (see 1Peter 5:7) and Who, according to Prov 3:5-6 and Eph. 3:20, is way big enough to handle anything we can’t understand.  

Common dear one, … let’s give our big...  BIG ,,, God today what we’re too small to handle.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being there FOR me and WITH me … NO MATTER what I face today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to trust in our WAY BIG God to deal with our challenges today.  … Amen

=============

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

June 18, 2021 … Seeking His Peace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 169 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics by Don Moen singing … Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace … poignantly singing how we can find the peace of God when we surrender to the Spirit of God.  

==============

Highlight Passage:  Galatians 5:22-23 [ESV] …  

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  

… It is God’s Spirit Who provides us with His fruitfulness, … including His PEACE.      

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Galatians 5:16-25 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul compares the turmoil from the fruit of the flesh as opposed to the Spirit-provided fruit of the Spirit. 

==============     

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6  [ESV] … 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

… We will never find God’s peace unless we trust in Him COMPLETELY.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [ESV] … 

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 

…  WE can seek - AND FIND - God’s peace by trusting in Him and focusing on Him. 

Reference Passage: … Mark 4:35-40 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shows His disciples in a storm that He can provide the peace they seek. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, gives us His prescription for finding God’s peace thru humble and thankful prayer.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, AT THIS LINK  … used the relates a real-life story of a place called “Shalom House” in Australia which helps men shackled by the turmoil of addiction to find peace from themselves in an abiding relationship with Christ.  

And our Lord can - AND WILL - provide His “shalom” (i.e., God’s peace), when we’re willing to fully trust in God’s Spirit to overcome the storms produced by selfishness and sin; … and when we can completely trust in the Lord.  That’s what Jesus demonstrated to His disciples in Mark 4:35-40 when He calmed the turmoil of a storm.  And it’s what God promises to any who’re going thru the storms of life when we’re willing to trust in our Lord COMPLETELY (see Isaiah 26:3 and Phil. 4:6-7).  

God’s promise of the fruitfulness of His peace (see Galatians 5:22) is there for any Christian who is willing to surrender to God’s Spirit to provide it.  I pray we are so willing to seek and find His peace today.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for overcoming the storms of this life by giving us Your peace today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to let God’s Spirit give us His peace today as we trust in Him to do so.  … Amen

=============

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

June 17, 2021 … Following With Faith …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 168 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics by Alan Jackson singing … Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus … poignantly singing how we must turn our eyes of faith on the Lord, especially when feel overwhelmed by the world. 

2017 Trinidad-Tobago Soccer Team ... 

 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Judges 7:2 [ESV] …  

2 The Lord said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’  

… God showing Gideon to have faith in His way by reducing the number of His warriors against the Midianites.      

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Judges 7:1-8, 22 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Gideon learns to have faith in God in order to let the Lord lead His chosen people against  the Midianites in battle. 

==============     

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6  [ESV] … 

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.

… We need to trust God with ALL our heart and not rely on our own perceptions and feelings. 

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

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  

…  Joshua learns to have faith in his God … NO MATTER WHERE OUR LORD LEADS … just as WE should trust the Lord. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23 [ESV] … 

23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

… Jesus calls on His disciples to follow Him … NO MATTER WHERE HE LEADS US. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28 [ESV] … 

28 And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to His purpose. 

… Paul shows that we must have faith in our God … NO MATTER WHAT!!  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 11:1, … 6 [ESV] … 

1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  …6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

… God shows what it takes to have faith and follow our God. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK  … used the story of the 2017 Trinidad-Tobago soccer team [see photo], who had faith in themselves and defeated the highly favored USA team to eliminate the US from the 2018 World Cup, illustrating the faith we need to have in God to take on our enemies in life. 

And then the ODB author used the story of Joshua in Joshua 1:9 and Gideon in the highlight passage to show how we as Christians who claim to follow Christ will have the faith to follow the Lord, no matter what we face (see remaining scriptures above). 

Our challenge today from this ODB entry asks if we have trust and faith in God that it takes to take on any/all challenges where God may lead us today.   I pray we do.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the faith to follow You today … and tomorrow.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to follow our Lord no matter where He will lead us 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.