Sept 9, 2025 … No Turning Back !! …

Sept 9, 2025  … No Turning Back !!     …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Lydia Walker singing… I Have Decided To Follow Jesus,  … strongly declaring to follow Jesus … NO MATTER WHAT!!   

"No turning back, Lord, .. No turning back !!"

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

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 

…The Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy - and all Christians - to unashamedly share and stand for the Gospel with faith in Christ - ALWAYS!! 

Passagein context): …  2Timothy 1:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul declares his own calling to unashamedly share the GOOD NEWS of Christ with anyone/everyone; and charges Timothy - and all Christians - to do the same 

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 1:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God assures Joshua - and all believers - how to be successful in unashamedly following God’s will.

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

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to find the true way in life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength when we, as believers in The Lord, feel weak.

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Paul declares that he is not ashamed to declare His faith in Christ because it is the power of God to say any/all who believe in Jesus as Lord..  

Reference Passage: … Act 1:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus commands all who believe on Him as our Savior to rely on God’s Spirit to empower them to be His witnesses and share His “good news” with the world.

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter encourages all Christians to give our cares over to a God Who cares for His children.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Dave Branon  … AT THIS LINK     … writes about an African Pastor (name not provided) who was martyred for his faith, and penned a profound message known as “The Fellowship of the Unashamed,”  which included these words: “I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of [Jesus] and I won’t back up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. . . . I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by the Holy Spirit’s power.”

Personally, after hearing the linked song and reading today’s ODB entry and then searching thru God’s word (see above), I realize that I am committed to my faith in following Jesus as my Lord.  But I, .. for one, … can do SO MUCH MORE to share His “Good News” of salvation with others.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for calling me to be Your witness in my life today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for giving us Your strength to go forth as Your witnesses to 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. 

Sept 8, 2025 … Jesus Is The Real Deal …

Sept 8, 2025  … Jesus Is The Real Deal    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Alexander Pappas singing… The Way, the Truth, the Life,  … relating that Jesus is the ONLY WAY to God’s glory.   

Highlight Passage: … John 14:6 … [NLT] … 

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

… Jesus declares to Thomas and His remaining Disciples that the only way to God, The Father, was to follow Him all the way to glory.

Highlight Passage (in context): …  John 14:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...  

… Jesus declares the absolute truth to His Disciples in the upper room,  the night He was to be betrayed and arrested, … the night before He was to die on the cross. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 25:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of the reality of God saving him and all who follow Him 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 86:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2086%3A11&version=NLT

… King David repeats his plea for God to show him (and  all believers) the way to go in life.

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

… Solomon teaches truth … that trusting in God is the only way to find the true way in life.

Reference Passage: … John 1:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…   John writes of God’s Word (i.e., HIs truth) becoming flesh in Christ and Who came to live and die to save us from our sin.  

Reference Passage: … John 17:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus prays that God teach His disciples to follow God’s word, which is to follow Him as The Truth.

Reference Passage: …  2Timothy 2:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul charges Timothy, and all fellow Christians, to reflect and teach God’s truth thru His word.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Karen Pimpo  … AT THIS LINK    … told of a friend, named Connor, an artist as a photographer, whose analog film photography captured the stark reality of life, rather than the airbrushed and distorted images which are often seen in the digital images captured and displayed in social media.  

And if my readers have taken in the truths taught in God’s word, … shared above; … and in the ODB entry today, I’m praying you ALL would agreed that following Christ, thru HIs word,  is the only way to find and to follow THE TRUTH, which is to follow Christ … all the way to glory.  Most certainly that’s my goal in life!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for for showing me THE WAY … Your way!    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for giving all who love You the true way to follow in life thru Your 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. 

Sept 7, 2025 … As Children, We Come …

Sept 7, 2025  … As Children, We Come    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with a children’s chorus singing… Jesus Loves the Little Children,  … showing that Jesus loves ALL the children who come to Him as Lord and Father.   

• Coming to Him like little children ... 

Highlight Passage: …Mark 10:14 … [NLT] … 

14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of G od belongs to those who are like these children. 

… Jesus call for all who seek Him to come to Him with the heart of a little child..

Highlight Passage (in context):…  Mark 10:13-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...  

… Jesus teaches that all who come to Him must do so like children who come to Him with open and receiving hearts.  

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

… Solomon teaches his son, and all believers, that they (we) must surrender ALL our heart in dependence on our Heavenly Father so that He can give us all we need… 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 18:1-4  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus used the faith of a little child to teach His disciples what it would take to enter God’s kingdom.

Reference Passage: … Luke 18:15-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Luke also relates the story of Jesus teaching them (and us) that only those who come to Him with the dependence of a child will be received into God’s Kingdom.  

Reference Passage: … John 15:5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches that apart from Him all believers must totally abide in Him to  be fruitful.

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  ...  

… Paul charges fellow Christians to deal with temptations (trials or troubles) by trusting in God COMPLETELY to show us the way - His way - out.

Reference Passage:… Colossians 1:18  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

… Paul also teaches that our Lord is God over ALL as the Head of His church.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, James Banks  …  AT THIS LINK   … told of looking into the frowning face of his 10 week-old granddaughter and assuring her, with an assuring voice that she was loved by her parents, grandparents, and most of all by Jesus; and as the ODB author quietly lay in his arms, little Leilani (her name) smiled as if she sensed his assurance. 

And  if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures shared above, I think you might be uplifted and edified by God’s word, as I was realizing that when we come to the Lord with surrendered and open hearts, like a little child does with a reassuring parent or grandparent, we can - and will - have the humility and dependence on God to receive them (us) into His kingdom.  And I fell like one of those little children in Mark 10 and Luke 18 (see above) today.  How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for for receiving my neediness into Your presence and strength today.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for receiving me as I jump into Your lap today, needing Your strength to cover my weakness.   … 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.

Sept 6, 2025 … Seeking God’s Justice …

 Sept 6, 2025  … Seeking God’s Justice    …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Pat Barrett singing… Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly,  … calling for Christians to live under God’s justice, with His mercy; and walking humbly as we serve the Lord. … even in times of suffering and oppression.   

Highlight Passage: …Psalms 109:20 … [NLT] … 

20 May those curses become the Lord’s punishment for my accusers who speak evil of me. 

… David calls on his God to enact His justice on those who speak ill against David.

Highlight Passage (in context): …  Psalms 109:6-9, 20-29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… King David turns his anger directed toward his enemies to seek God’s justice.  

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Reference Passage: …  Leviticus 19:18  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, calls on His chosen and faithful followers to never seek revenge but seek God’s justice and show love to your neighbors, … yes, even those who do wrong to you. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 24:29  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s promise thru Solomon to enact His justice on those who do wrong in God’s eyes.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:44  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus calls on His followers to pray for those who persecute you.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:19-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul quotes from Deuteronomy 32:35 exhorting fellow Christians to avoid seeking revenge against others; but rather leaving the justice or punishment to God.

Reference Passage: …  1Thessalonians 5:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also charges fellow Christians to NEVEr pay back evil for evil; … but to do good to those who do evil to them (us). 

Reference Passage:… 1Peter 2:23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Peter show how Jesus left the reprisal for those who came after Him to His heavenly Father’s justice.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Leslie Koh … AT THIS LINK   … related a true story of a young domestic worker who as was brutally treated by her employers who were ultimately accused and jailed for the torture they enacted on their hired worker.  But the ODB author was angry at the sentence, feeling that the employers ought to suffer the same kind of suffering that the young worker had endured.  And the author recognized that her feelings of revenge where not right, given what God’s word says about such situations and circumstances. 

So, if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures shared above, I think you might be convicted, as was I,  to do more to pray for - rather than to seek vengeance on - those who mistreat us in life. Too often my anger at those who come against me, which. too often, leads me to seek reprisal on those who come against me.  How about we all seek God’s mercy and HIS justice on those who come against us, … and praying that He will have mercy on us as we pray for our enemies to receive God’s loving justice.   

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … Lord … for for showing me that I need to seek -  and pray for -  YOUR justice for those who come against me.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … Lord. …for  being the God of all justice 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.