April 25, 2023 … Using God’s Strength

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 115 

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 … powerfully singing of how we Christians can rely on God’s empowering grace to overcome the temptations of life.    

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Highlight Passage: … Romans 13:14 [NLT] … 

14 … , clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to choose to set aside our sin nature and to clothe ourselves in Christlike living.            

Highlight Passage (Context): … Romans 13:11-14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to choose to surrender to receive God’s empowering grace to overcome our weakness to sin.                              .                     

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Reference Passage </u>: … Isaiah 40:29 [NLT] … 

29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.. 

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, of God’s strength to cover the weakness of real believers.

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.

… Jesus shows His followers what it takes to be His disciples . to surrender to follow Christ.    

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 

… Paul promises fellow Christians how to deal with the temptations or trials in life … by surrendering to follow Christ.     

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians :12:9 [NLT] … 

9 Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.. 

… Paul remembers Jesus instructions on how to overcome our human weakness … by surrendering to use God’s empowering grace.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:11 [NLT] … 

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to put on Christ’s armor of Christlike character to deal with the temptations of life.

                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer … AT THIS LINK … tells of early church father, Augustine, who had lived a past life deeply into sexual sin and debauchery, finally taking in the highlight passage (of Romans 13:13-14, allowing God’s empowering grace to give Augustine the strength to follow Christ and overcome the weakness of his human nature.     

Oh, how I identify with Augustine’s story and confession, … myself at age 39, walking away from over two decades of compulsive sinful living; … but finally coming to use God’s empowering grace to walk away from my own weakness and selfish sin by choosing to follow my Lord.

Perhaps some of my readers are looking to overcome the temptations of this world and seeking freedom from our very human weaknesses.  Well, I charge any/all who deal with our sin nature to take in the linked song and meditate on the truth of God’s word above; … and simply choose to use God’s strength to overcome our human weakness; … BECAUSE, … our Lord will give us His strength to cover our weakness, as Augustine did, … by surrendering to follow Christ as Lord.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise and strength to help me overcome my weaknesses. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to surrender today to receive Your strength, Lord, to help us overcome our weaknesses. …  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.

April 24, 2023 … God Will Provide

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 114 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from the group Freedom Hill Worship singing … The Lord Our God Will Provide … powerfully, singing of how we Christians can trust and rely on our God to provide our needs.    

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Highlight Passage: … Exodus 16:4 [NLT] … 

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions. . 

… John teaches fellow Christians on how we Christians must share the love of Christ with others by thinking and living like Him.            

Highlight Passage (Context): … Exodus 16:1-30 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… When the food was scarce for God’s people escaping from Egypt, God showed His faithful and obedient people that He would provide their needs with food from Heaven.  .                       

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Reference Passage: …Psalm 37:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God always providing for His Godly and faithful remnant.  

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

… Solomon calls on believers to trust God and always follow His leading grace.   

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:33 [NLT] … 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 

… Jesus commands His disciples to seek His righteousness above all with God’s promise to provide all we, born-again believers, need.    

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … 

19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

… Paul assures fellow Christians that our God will take care of His faithful by providing all our needs from His Heavenly provision.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … 

5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, … “I will never fail you.   I will never abandon you.”   

… The Author of Hebrews quotes from Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 that our God will never abandon those who need His provision.   

                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson … AT THIS LINK … relates a story of relatives of the famous actress Ann Margret’s finding, after her death, evidence of the Actress’s legendary frugality by finding a bag with many, multicolored, pieces of string with the label, ”String too short to use.”  

The Story illustrates the tendency of our human nature to hoard or go into hyper-control  mode when we feel insecure .  But  when were obedient to God's promises that He will provide ... HE WILL!  All we need to do, as His disciples, is to trust Him as He promises in God's word (see above).   But will we?  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for providing me with my needs ... ALWAYS!     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to trust that You will ALWAYS provide, Lrod, what we need. .  …  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.

April 23, 2023… Sharing Christlike Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 113 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from Zach Williams singing … Less Like Me … powerfully, singing of how we Christians try to do more each day to show Christ’s love and be more like Him and less like ourselves.   

Loving Others like Jesus loves His disciples ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 1John 3:18 [NLT] … 

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 

… John teaches fellow Christians on how we Christians must share the love of Christ with others by thinking and living like Him.            

Highlight Passage (Context): … 1John 3:11-18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s word, thru John, teaches on sharing the love of Christ with others .                               ===============                                                                 .                                                                                                                         

Reference Passage: … John 3:16 [NLT] … 

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 

… God’s ultimate and eternal show of love for mankind by giving His Son to save mankind from our sin.  

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

… Jesus, after washing their feet to show His love for them (and us), commands His disciples to love others as He has shown His love for His disciples.

Reference Passage: …John 15:9-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows the essence of living to love others as He has loved us.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 

8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 

… God, in the life of Christ, showed us Christians the essence of His love by being willing to die for us.     

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:37-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that for born-again Christians nothing can separate us from His love as long as we live to love like He loves us.       

                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon … AT THIS LINK … tells of a photo taken, … which went viral on Facebook, … of an elderly man on a subway, helping an unknown teenager who was struggling to tie his tie as being a good illustration of Christlike love.  

And if my readers have listened to Zach Williams’ song about living to be more like Jesus and less like our ourselves … as well as taking in the Scriptures above:; … perhaps my fellow Christians are convicted, as I am, to do more today to live and love like Jesus.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … showing me to live for others today as You, Lord,  lived and loved for me for eternity.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to share more of Your love for others today, Lord, thru the way we live for 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.

April 22, 2023 … God’s Power Thru Forgiveness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 112 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from the group Sidewalk Prophets singing … Where Forgiveness Is … powerfully, singing of how God’s love and grace are expressed so powerfully in our forgiveness of those who’ve hurt us.  

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 18:21-22 [NLT] … 

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

… Jesus shows Peter that His disciples (and all who follow Him) must be willing to forever and ALWAYS be willing to forgive others.           

Highlight Passage (Context): … Matthew 18:21-35 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shows Peter and His disciples (and us) thru a parable how we must be willing to forgive others just as He, our King Jesus, was  willing to forgive His chosen ones … ALWAYS.                

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 86:5 [NLT] … 

 5 O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. 

… King David sings of God’s forever and faithful willingness to forgive those who love and follow Him. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14 [NLT] … 

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 

… Jesus teaches about God’s willingness to forgive those who forgive others.   

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:25 [NLT] … 

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”   

… Jesus teaches that we, who follow Him as Lord, must be willing to forgive any/all who have wronged them (or us).   

 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (and us) that they (we) must be willing to forgive others just as our Lord was (and is) willing - and able - to forgive us.        

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… calls on fellow Christians to take on the banner of Christlikeness and show God’s love and grace by forgiving others, … remembering the love of God which has forgiven those who believe in Christ as our LORD.    

                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Brandon … AT THIS LINK …   … told of a group of 17 missionaries who were kidnapped by a gang but escaped to safety; and once safe sent a message to their captors saying, “Jesus taught us by word and by His own example that the power of forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you.”

Really that’s the entire message of the ODB entry today, where Jesus teaches and Paul repeats the call (from God’s word above) for all Christians to be willing to forgive any/all who’ve wronged us, just as Jesus was willing to - and did - forgive others.  So, I’m praying we all take in the linked song and look into our lives and see if there is anyone God is calling us to forgive, especially as we remember His death on that cross to show God’s forgiveness of our sins.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … taking those three nails and for Your shed blood forgiving me.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to express our thanks for Your forgiveness, Lord, just as we forgive others in our lives to share and show Your love and grace.  …  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.

April 21, 2023 … Creation Calls

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023</u> - Day 111 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls … poignantly, yet powerfully, singing of how God calls us to trust Him as we take in His mighty and wondrous creation. 

The deepest cave on earth ... 

     

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 95:4 [NLT] … 

4 He holds in His hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains., 

… God’s psalmist sings of our God holding the wonders of His creation in His mighty hands.         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Psalm 95:1-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… The psalmist shows the greatness of our God as we take in His wondrous creation.                 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 27:1 [NLT] … </b>

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? .

… King David sings of trusting in God in all circumstances, dispelling any fears which believers may have.    

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

… God’s call for His chosen to trust in Him no matter what we may encounter during our lives as believers in the LORD.   

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’s promise of His strength to cover us in our weakness.  

 

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

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to take all of our anxieties to God in prayer to seek and find His peace.      

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 1:7 [NLT] … 

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.   

… Paul shows Timothy and all born-again Christians that our Lord is not the author of any fear that we might have.  

                                                                                                                           

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg … AT THIS LINK …   tells about deepest caves in the world found in the Eurasian country of Georgia (see photo), showing the wonders of God in creation.     

And when I consider the truth of the linked song and the Scriptures above, all I have to do is look around in God’s creation and see how we can trust our Lord to be with us, dispelling all fears; … and being lifted up by God’s glorious creative strength.  Why don’t you join me today and look around to see/hear/feel God’s glorious - creative - strength.  And yes, … we can trust Him, … can’t we?  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me Your strength, Lord, thru Your creation. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to look around and see the glory of Your creation, 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.