Dec 20 2025 … God With Us …

Dec 20 2025 …  God With Us … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from the group, The Afters, singing God Is With Us … calling on Christians to have faith that God is with us, … no matter what we face in life.

Highlight Passage: … Matthew 1:23 … [NLT] …  

23 …  “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”   

… Matthew shows that Jesus was born to fulfill the prophesy of Isaiah that God would be born of a virgin and would be “Immanuel,” God with us. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Matthew 1:18-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew writes God’s truth about Jesus being born to be “Emmanuel,” … God with us!  

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 31:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises to be with and protect His people  … ALWAYS … as they were about to enter the promised land. 

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 23:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of knowing that God was ALWAYS with him, even through the “valley of the shadow of death.”

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

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promises to be with His people …  ALWAYS . and to provide them (us) with His strength.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises His followers to be with them (us) ALWAYS!

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth that Christians are the “Temple" of God with The Lord dwelling in them (us).

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, teaches (quoting from Deut. 31:6) that His chosen ones (i.e, Christians) are not to rely on money for security but to trust that God will never leave or abandon them (us).  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Bill Crowder …  USE THS LINK   …  wrote how Henry David Thoreau once call a “city” as a place where many people are “lonesome together.”   And the ODB author went on to list a few songs from the his youth, like “Only the Lonely,”  and “Eleanor Rigby,” which were songs of my youth as well, … songs which described people who were so, so lonely.  And the ODB author went on to describe the loneliness experienced by the planet during the more recent pandemic.  And Crowder closed by saying that perhaps loneliness is the “universal pandemic.” 

And tho I’m not a betting man, I would - in my mind - wager that many of my readers here today are experiencing loneliness; or maybe you recall a time in your life when God seemed far away - if not absent. Well, we all may empathize with how loneliness feels, and right now, I’m going thru some physical challenges which make God seem farther away.  But He’s not; and my faith and my confidence in God’s word <b>(see Scriptures shared above)</b> lift me up, … KNOWING that God is with me.  Yeah, … even IN ME, …  always there to show me THE way, … HIS WAY, ,,, in life.   He’s with us today!  … And I’m praying you, as I do, feel His presence. 

<b><u>My Thanksgiving:</b></u> … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being there with me . today … and tomorrow. …

<b><u>My Prayer Today</u>:</b> Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You for being here with us today, Lord.  … 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>

Dec 19 2025 … Finding Peace With God …

Dec 19 2025 …  Finding Peace With God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from the group, The Vagle Brothers, singing Peace Wonderful Peace< calling on Christians to experience the deep and wonderful peach which comes from God for His children.

Highlight Passage: … Acts 12:6 … [NLT] … 

6 …  The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.   

… Peter slept peacefully between two soldiers the night before he was to be on trial by Herod, the king. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Acts 12:5-11[NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God sends an angel to free Peter from his shackles, … imprisoned by Herod, the King, to be on trial for his life.

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 29:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God giving His strength to believers to give them His peace.

Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promises His peace to those who keep their minds on The Lord and trust in Him ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew records Jesus’ promise to give His followers, with worries,  His yoke of peace.

Reference Passage:… John 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… In the upper room, the night before Christ would go to the cross, Jesus promises His worried Disciples that, though they would face trials in the world, that He had overcome the world.

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow Christians that those who have faith in The Lord will have the peace of God … ALWAYS.

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

… The Apostle Paul also assures fellow Christians that they (we) can take their worries and concerns to God in prayer … to receive His peace which will guard their (our) hearts always..

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Leslie Koh …  USE THS LNK   …  wrote about her neighbor, Sam, who came home one night to report to his wife that their car had been stolen; and his wife couldn’t understand how Sam didn’t seem to be worried or concerned about the car, … to which he replied,  “What else can I do? Panicking won’t make any difference.”

And Sam’s peace reminded the ODB author about fellow Christians finding God’s peace when they (we) encounter the trials of life, … which is discussed, with God’s promises, in the Scriptures shared above.   And I’m praying that all of us, who claim Christ as our Lord and Savior, can rest in the peace of God, shared in the linked song, … knowing that His Spirit lives in our hearts and will guard us through any trial we encounter in life.   I’m resting there right now; … how about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your peace as I deal with so many troubles these days.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … May we, who love You Lord, rest in Your peace 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.

Dec 18 2025 … Gifted By God …

Dec 18 2025 …  Gifted By God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Chris Tomlin and Chris Lane singing Gifts From God … sharing about being gifted by God to serve Him for HIS glory.

Highlight Passage: … Exodus 31:6b … [NLT] …  

6b …  I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make …  

… God gives special gifts for selected servants to carry out His call to serve the Lord in building His Tabernacle. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Exodus 31:1-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s gives gifts to His children to be use for God’s glory.

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Reference Passage: … Mathew 7:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches, in His sermon on the mount, about Christians being gifted to serve the Lord.

Reference Passage:…  Romans 12:6-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth about God giving His chosen ones special gifts to be used for God’s glory.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 12:7-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also exhorts/encourages fellow Christians to use the gifts God imparts to them (us) to serve and glorify God.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that they (we) are His workers, chosen and gifted to serve for His purposes and His glory.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:10-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter calls fellow Christians to use the gifts God has imparted to His beloved to serve the Lord for God’s glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kirsten Holmberg …  USE THS LINK      …  told of the universally recognized musical giftedness of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, being tested by studying his DNA when compared with over 14,000 others.  However, the scientific testing revealed that Beethoven’s ability for rhythm was very low in the genetic testing.  

Obviously, we recognize Beethoven’s giftedness; so, there are elements, … i.e., gifts from God, … that allow some to serve the Lord in special ways, … which, when applied, glorify God.   And we, who have been so gifted to serve God, need to use our gifts, … whatever they are, … to serve our Lord in special ways … for His glory.   I have been gifted to teach and to encourage others; so I’m going to do my best to use those gifts for God’s glory today.   What are your gifts; and how will you use them today?   

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for my giftedness to teach and to encourage  others. May I use them for Your glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … May we all use the gifts You have given us for Your glory … today and tomorrow.   … 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.

Dec 17 2025 … Redeemed and Restored …

Dec 17 2025 …  Redeemed and Restored … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Big Daddy Weave singing Redeemed declaring of his redemption from sin thru the singer’s faith in Christ.

Rembrandt's "Adoration of the Magi" ... Restored ... 

 

Highlight Passage: … Luke 10:36-37 … [NLT] …  

4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to Me. You are honored, and I love you.  

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, to redeem and restore His beloved chosen people.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Isaiah 43:1-7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, to redeem and restore Judah to God’s promised land because of His love for the people He created for His glory.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 130:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God’s Psalmist, likely King David, sings of God’a promise to redeem His beloved people.

Reference Passage:…  Isaiah 44:22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises to set His beloved people free from the bondage of their sin thru a coming Messiah.

Reference Passage:… John 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus tells Nicodemus, and all believers in Messiah, that God will redeem His people from their sin thru His Son.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 2:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul testifies to his redemption when he was willing to die to self and be restored by His faith in Jesus as Lord.

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians how God’s Son shed His blood to redeem those who believe on Him as Lord.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also assures fellow believers in Jesus as Christ and Lord of their (our) redemption thru His shed blood. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from James Banks …  USE THS LNK   …  related a true story about a painting which hung in a home for years, falling off the wall and needing repair and restoration.  And during that process, it was discovered that the painting was a genuine lost masterpiece by Rembrandt (see photo) worth millions.  

And the ODB author used this story to illustrate the value of God’s love for all of His chosen people which was evidenced by God being willing to give His Son, Jesus, to live as human and die on a cross to redeem and restore those who believe in Him as Lord.  And, … as the linked song declares, I, for one, know I’ve been redeemed; … how about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for the eternal love you have given to me by dying to save me … and anyone who believes in You as our Lord. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thanks for the love and redemption You have offered to anyone who genuinely believes in You as our Lord and King. … 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.