December 24, 2021 … He’s Our Prince of Peace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 358 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Celine Dion singing … O Holy Night … poignantly singing the classic Christmas song of the birth of the “Prince of Peace” and “Lord of lords” on that morning in Bethlehem. 

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Highlight Passage: …  Isaiah 9:6  [NLT] …   

6 For a child is born to us, a Son is given to us.  The government will rest on His shoulders.  And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. </i>                                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Isaiah 9:1-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises, thru the Prophet Isaiah, a Messiah who will be our prime of peace.                   

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

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 

… God promises, again thru Isaiah, His peace for those who continue to focus on Him.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:27 [NLT] … 

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  

… Jesus, to his troubled disciples in the upper room, promises them (and us) His peace, a peace that only HE can provide.

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

… Paul helps fellow Christians realize that they can have the peace of Christ when they bring their cares to Him with a thankful heart. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:15 [NLT] …  

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 

… God, thru Paul, exhorts His Body (i.e., the Church - that’s us!) to let the peace of Christ dwell in our hearts thru our relationship with the Prince of Peace. 

          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pie, AT THIS LINK …  writes of a man named John who was hospitalized for pneumonia with his mother in the same hospital for cancer.  John was understandably troubled; but found peace when he heard the strains of the Christmas classic, ”O Holy Night”  [LINK to the song above], playing on the hospital sound system and showing how our mind, focusing on the PRINCE OF PEACE, can quell our personal anxieties.       

 

God’s word is replete with His promises to give us His peace when we’re troubled, as we read in the story above in the ODB story.  Certainly Isaiah (see highlight passage and in Isaiah 26:3)</b> promised that God would send a Messiah to be our Prince of Peace!  And we read how Jesus promised to give His special peace to His disciples when they were so, so troubled (see John 14:27).  And the Apostle Paul shared God’s promised peace with fellow Christians so many who were being oppressed (see Phil 4 and Col 3 above). 

So, as we close out on the Advent season, I pray that we all can focus in on God’s promises and His hope to bring us His peace as we enter the New Year.                             

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for the hope and promise of Your peace as we enter the darkness of this New Year.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to believe in and live out Your promise of peace into this New Year, Lord.   … 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.

December 23, 2021 … “Christians” Coming Together …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 357

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Jonathan David and Melissa Helser singing … No Longer Slaves … poignantly singing of how in Christ we are all children of God, … no longer slaves to fear or ethnic division.  

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Highlight Passage: …  Acts 11:26  [NLT] …   

26 When he [Barnabas] found him [Saul], he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.)  

… Barnabas and Paul found Jew and Gentile worshipping together and first called “Christians” in Antioch.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Acts 11:19-26  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Barnabas and Paul return from Tarsus to Antioch where they find Jews and Gentiles worshipping together.                                

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

… Trusting and following God has nothing to do with race or ethnic identity or sex.  It’s our choice to surrender to our Lord.  

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. 

… All Jesus asks of His followers is to deny our selves and follow Him, which has nothing to do with gender, race, or political identity. 

Reference Passage: …  John 13:34-35 [NLT] … SEE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples [and us] that it is His love in them, exhibited to others, which will demonstrate that they [we] are His disciples.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 3:26-29 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, strongly asserts that there is nothing that can divide those who follow Christ as Lord and Savior. 

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK …   tells of worshipping with fellow Christians in Thailand, where racial and ethnic differences were set aside with believers coming TOGETHER simply to worship the Lord.       

 

I live in a part of the USA called “The Bible Belt,” where one can find many, many churches in any quarter mile radius.  Yet, in this area, Sunday morning finds more racial division on display in this area than any other day of the week; … with predominantly African-American churches and predominantly Caucasian churches … and many other ethnic dividers on display in these churches.  

But if you’ve taken in the linked song and believe - as I do - in the Scriptures above, then we know that the love of God is displayed so much more powerfully if we can come together as CHRISTIANS (as they did in Antioch in the highlight passage).  And we “Christians” should be doing as our Lord has called His disciples to to; and that is to unify in Christ (see photo) to show the love of Christ and to worship Him by sharing that love - HIS LOVE - with others, … setting aside all racial of ethnic dividers.                              

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your love, Lord, which reaches out to all who would believe on You as Lord.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to reach out - TOGETHER - as Your body, Lord, to show Your love to others … any and ALL others.       … 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.

December 22, 2021 … Virtual Connectivity …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 356 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Jesus Culture singing … Make Us One … poignantly singing of how our God calls us Christians to do all we can to come together as one body in and thru Christ. 

Staying connected ... virtually ... 

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Highlight Passage: …  Colossians 2:5  [NLT] …   

5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong. 

. … Paul shows is God-inspired desire to stay connected with his fellow Christians and his prayer for them to stay strong in their faith in following Christ’s lead. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Colossians 2:1-5  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul so desired that His fellow Christians would remain connected to Christ’s purpose for their lives.  And even in prison, He desires to stay connected to them.                              

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows that when we avoid selfish ways and seek to follow God’s ways, no matter what conspires to stop us, …  HE, God,  will lead us to His glory. 

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

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.. 

… As Christians we must do all we can to heed Jesus’ call to His disciples (that’s us too!) to remain connected to Him so that we can be fruitful in HIs purposes for His Church. 

Reference Passage: … John 15:26 [NLT] …  

26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. <

… God, thru Christ’s finished work on the Cross has sent us His Spirit, Whom, if we seek and follow His guidance will lead us to become effective as His Body, seeking the unity of His purpose for us. 

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God calls us thru His word to come together to encourage and uplift one another in Christ. 

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg, AT THIS LINK …  writes of how the coronavirus pandemic has caused the citizens of countries worldwide to separate themselves from interaction which leads to productivity; … and then how we have come to develop virtual tools, like the Zoom technology (see photo), to stay connected and work together to be productive during the pandemic.      

 

I firmly believe that the COVID pandemic is another tool Satan is using to drive the Body of Christ apart, and to keep us from staying close to one another, and to interrupt God’s call for us to come TOGETHER to encourage one another as we follow God’s ways.  And I see virtual tools for connectivity, like Zoom technology in the photo, are a God-led drive by mankind, to combat the forces of spiritual oppression and to come together to serve our Lord’s purposes and be fruitful as He called us to be see John 15 and Hebrews 10 above).  

So, I’m praying that all who read with me here are doing all we can as the Body of Christ, …TOGETHER,  … to stay connected as the Body of Christ so that we can be fruitful for His glory.                           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your drive, Lord, to hold Your Body together as we strive to serve You.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to use all means - TOGETHER - as Your body, Lord, to combat Your enemies and remain fruitful for You.      … 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.

December 21, 2021 … God’s Word - Our Compass …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 355 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Word of God Speak … poignantly singing of how God’s word speaks to us and shows us the way to go in life. 

God's word - our compass in life ... 

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Highlight Passage: …  Psalm 119:105  [NLT] …  

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.                                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Psalm 119:105-112 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David, shows how powerful God’s truth - i.e., His word - is to show us His will and His way in life.                              

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 32:8 [NLT] …  

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. 

… God promises, thru David’s song, that He will guide us on the paths of life … when we’re willing to follow His ways thru His word

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows that when we trust God, He will lead us and be with us … ALWAYS. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:10-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isiah, promises to give His true followers all we need in life thru the truth of His word. 

Reference Passage: … John 16:13 [NLT] …  

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard. He will tell you about the future. 

… Jesus shows His disciples (and us) that He will send His Spirit to guide disciples who are willing to seek His ways thru His word.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Marvin Williams, AT THIS LINK …  tells of a crew on the USS Alcoa Guide, which was sunk by a German U Boat in WW2, using the compass on board the lifeboat to guide them by leading them to the shipping lanes to be spotted and recovered by an American ship.      

 

I think every reader here with me has experienced the feeling of being lost in this confusing and darkened world.  Perhaps, in these covid days, we’ve all needed a compass (see photo) to guide us to safer waters.  And that’s exactly what God offers, in and thru His word, doesn’t He (see Scriptures above))? 

Many - who’ve followed my blogs, which I write from my seeking direction in life from God’s word - have seen me use the word picture of God’s word being a perfect/effective “GPS” system to guide us and lead us in life.  And so, I pray that you, as do I, are using God’s truth … EVERY DAY … as our compass or GPS … to guide us in following God’s way … to His will … thru His word.                            

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your word as our compass in this foggy, darkened, life of ours. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to use Your word, Lord, as our compass in 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.

December 20, 2021 … Drop Your Blanket !! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 354

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Fear Not … poignantly singing of how our God is a mighty warrior, fighting for us in the battles of life. 

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 2:10-11  [NLT] …  

10 … but the angel reassured them.“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 

… God’s angel commands the Shepherds to “FEAR NOT!”                                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Luke 2:8-14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke’s account of the night Jesus was born where an angel from God called the Shepherds in near by fields to come and see their Messiah.                              

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows that when we trust God, He will lead us and be with us. 

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

3 You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His peace to all who trust completely in God and keep their (our) thoughts on Him.   

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

10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 

… God, thru Isaiah promises to ALWAYS be with us.

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

… God, thru Paul, exhorts fellow Christians to bring our fears to God with a thankful heart; and He will give us His peace.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, AT THIS LINK …   uses the famous Christmas story scene in the Charlie Brown Christmas Movie where Linus, in telling the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2 - USE THIS LINK -  drops his little security blanket, something he always carried with him to belay his fears. And Charles Schultz, the author, was trying to show that now that we have Jesus, … our Messiah …, we need not have any more fears.     

 

And the question from this ODB entry today is immediately the same for us.   Can we - or WILL WE - believe in the message of the Luke 2 Christmas story, and the linked song, and the Scriptures above, … all which show us that we need not fear ANYTHING now that we have our Messiah, … Who came to save us and has promised to be with us ALWAYS.  

Personally, … I need to drop my security blankets [I have several].  How about you?                            

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promises which help me to quell my fears. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to drop our security blankets and just follow You, Lord, … wherever You lead us.     … 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.

December 19, 2021 … He Listens - He Remembers …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 353 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group Vinesong singing … God Answers Prayer … poignantly singing of our God hears and answers our Prayers. 

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Highlight Passage: … Genesis 30:22  [NLT] …   

22 Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children. 

…Paul shows Timothy (and us) what it takes to receive Jesus’ crown of glory from serving Him in this life.                                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Genesis 30:1-2, 22-24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God shows in the lives of Jacob and Rachel that He hears, He knows best, and He answers prayers.                              

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 33:13-15 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…God shows, thru the Psalmist, that He knows all, hears all, and cares for all who pray to Him. 

Reference Passage: … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…God shows, thru the Psalmist, that He bends down to hear the sincere and humble prayers of His faithful. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 3:19-20 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches and explains for fellow Christians just how we will grow to trust our Lord, … much more than we could ever understand or comprehend. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] …  

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 

… Peter, to oppressed and fearful Christians, exhorting them to bring their fears and cares to God, Who ALWAYS cares for them (and us).  

Reference Passage: … 1John 3:20 [NLT] … 

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything.

… God, thru John, shows that God knows everything about us.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Rayon, AT THIS LINK …  reports being brought to tears watching a YouTube piece showing the body of a large African church crying out to God in prayer, … “God Remember US!”  And it reminded the ODB author of Rachel crying out to God in desperation to have a child; and God hearing and remembering her pleas (as we read in Genesis 30, the highlight passage).        

 

And I stop today to pray that all reading with me here will join me to call out to our Lord in prayer and rise above any feelings of despair today.  And if we believe in what the linked song sings and in what the Scriptures above declare, we will know that our God knows all about our circumstances and He hears all our prayers with a loving heart … far beyond anything we could ever imagine. 

So, dear one, let’s go Him!!  Let’s pray to Him; because He listens and He cares.                           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your loving heart as I bring my concerns to You today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to bring all our cares to You, Lord, knowing that You care for us.     … 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.

December 18, 2021 … Well Done !! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 352 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song and lyrics from the group The Afters singing … Well Done … poignantly singing of what it will be like to hear our Lord say, “Well done,” when we see Him face-to-face. 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Timothy 4:1-8  [NLT] …   

 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing. 

…Paul shows Timothy (and us) what it takes to receive Jesus’ crown of glory from serving Him in this life.                                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Timothy 4:1-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul gives testimony to his confidence of living a live surrendered to serving Jesus.                              

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 25:14-30 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… In a parable, Jesus teaches as to what it will take to receive His “Well done” when the faithful come to see the Lord face-to-face in heaven.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:1 [NLT] …  

1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  

… Paul preaches truth about God never condemning those who truly have a heart to follow Christ.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 4:5  [NLT] … 

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. 

… Our rewards and praise from Jesus in heaven, as Christians, will depend on the lives we live to serve King Jesus. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:8 [NLT] …  

8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.  

… God, thru Paul, shows believers that we will receive rewards for the way we have lived in Christ’s name on earth.    

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK …  relates a story of how his son received nothing but praise from his coach when his son’s HS football team had lost the state championship, … illustrating how we Christians will be received in heaven by our Lord.       

 

I think many, if not most, Christians want to hear our Lord, when we see Him in heaven, say to us, … “Well done, my good and faithful servant?” Certainly that is the message of the linked song, isn’t it?   But as the Scriptures above attest, we, who are born-again in Christ, will be rewarded based on how we followed and lived to serve our King Jesus?  That was certainly the teaching of Jesus (see Matthew 25:14-30) and repeatedly by the Apostle Paul (see Pauline scriptures above). 

So, I pray that we all realize these truths and are doing all we can to serve our Lord faithfully today and tomorrow.  Because, when that day comes, when I see my Lord face-to-face in heaven, I want hear Him say, ”WELL DONE!”.   How about you?!                           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your encouraging words from Your word today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to do all we can to serve You, Lord, today, seeking for Your “Well done” when we see You in heaven.     … Amen

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[b]<u>Blogger Note</u>:[/b]  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 [b]GO TO THIS LINK[/b] - http://www.odb.org/ - 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. </ span>