Feb 19, 2025 … Loved By God - ALWAYS!

Feb 19, 2025 … Loved By God - ALWAYS!  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Kari Jobe singing … Rest, showing how we Christians can always rest in the love of God for His born-again believers.

Highlight Passage: … Genesis 29:31-32 …[NLT] … 

31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to have children, but Rachel could not conceive. 32 So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “The Lord has noticed my misery, and now my husband will love me.”        

… God sees Leah’s rejection by Jacob; and gives her a son to show her God’s love.         

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Genesis 29:28-35[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God sees Leah’s rejection from her husband and opens Leah’s womb to have Jacob’s sons.   

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 139:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David acknowledges that God sees all and cares for all of David’s (and our) well being.   

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

… Jesus invites all Christians to yoke themselves (ourselves) to His enabling grace from God’s love for His chosen - faithful - followers.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows and promises His disciples that, even in their most fearful moment, God’s peace would be theirs (ours).  

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

es assurance to fellow Christians that NOTHING can separate them (us) from God;s love. 

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

… The Apostle Paul also assures fellow Christians of God giving His love and peace to those who bring their worries and concerns to Him in thankful prayer.     

                            

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Karen Huang … AT THIS LINK -     … tells of a young boy, named Ben, who longed to be like his athletic, out-going, popular brother, David; but struggled, saying, ”I was clumsy in sports, timid, and struggled with a learning disability. I’d always wanted a close relationship with Dave, but he didn’t. He called me ‘the boring one.’ ”

But later Ben, after he surrendered his heart to Christ, learned the truth that is taught and promised in God’s word, … like the Scriptures above, … which promises that God’s love and enabling grace are with born-again Christians ALWAYS.  And that’s all of  us who are born-again believers in Christ as our Lord and Messiah.  We can rely upon His love …  ALWAYS … to be with us and His grace. which will ALWAYS abide in our hearts.  Pretty cool promise, … isn’t it; … especially since it’s true!!                           

          

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for being with me. again today, Lord, giving me Your enabling grace thru Your word.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to rest in Your peace and the reality of Your love, Lord, today … and then again 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.

Feb 18, 2025 … Living the Truth

Feb 18, 2025 … Living the Truth  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Matthew West singing … Truth Be Told, showing how God calls Christians to live and die by the TRUTH.

Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 4:25 …[NLT] … 

20 So stop telling lies.  Let us tell our nelghbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.   

… Paul calls out his fellow Christians to live their (our) lives sharing and following God’s truth.         

Highlight Passage (in context): … Ephesians 4:17-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to live under God’s truth.                                         

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 51:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David recognizes and confesses his sinfulness and God’s desire that he (and all believers) live under God’s truth.    

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches that all who live under God’s righteousness will be provided all they (we) need in life.

Reference Passage: … John 8:31-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows believers who were following Him, that knowing The Truth (i.e. Jesus) will set them free from their (our) sin. 

Reference Passage: …  Romans 1:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul also strongly teaches that God shows His anger on those who suppress the truth.

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:20-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul charges fellow Christians to test everything and hold on to what is good and true.  

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

… Paul mentors and charges Timothy (and all Christians) to rightly teach God’s word of truth.    

                            

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Marvin Williams … AT THIS LINK -     … tells of having to rate ride-sharing drivers and giving them higher ratings than they deserved, not wanting to be part of them losing their livelihood from his ratings.     

But those of us, who supposedly live by God’s truth (see Scriptures above), i.e., God’s word, should recognize that any kind of lie doesn’t help others; … but - to the contrary (see photo), ALWAYS hurts others.  Therefore, living under God’s truth is the only way to go for  us Christians, isn’t it?   And I”m praying we all are committed to following God’s truth today.                           

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for reminding me that following Your truth, thru Your word, is my guiding light today and on into my tomorrows. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to follow Your truth, Lord, everyday in every way.  … 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.

Feb 17, 2025 … Being Cool In Christ

Feb 17, 2025 … Being Cool In Christ  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Joshua Miller singing … Slow To Anger, showing how God is slow to anger as He pursues us with HIs love.  

Unrestrained anger ... 

Highlight Passaged: … Proverbs 29:20 …[NLT] … </b>

20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.           

… God wisdom, thru Solomon, about restraining our anger and avoid becoming a fool.          

Highlight Passage (in context): … Proverbs 29:4-11, 20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Solomon shows that only a fool does not restrain his (or her) tongue or their anger.                  

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Reference Passage:… Exodus 2:11-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses let his anger loose in killing an Egyptian.    

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

… God’s call, thru Solomon, for God’s chosen to avoid speaking in anger, rather using gentle words.

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:17-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to do all they (we) can to live in peace with teach other. 

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

… Paul also exhorts Christians to get rid of all rage and anger and choose to love one another thru their (our) relationship with Christ.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:7-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul repeats his charge to fellow Christians to put off all rage and anger and to put on our new nature of Christlikeness and love. 

Reference Passage: … James 1:26 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James calls out those who claim to be in Christ and do not control their tongues in anger to have a useless religion.    

                            

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Tim Gustafson … AT THIS LINK      … relates the true story of President Lincoln, angry to hear that General Meade had ignored Lincoln’s order to attack General Lee of the Southern armies in Virginia close to the end of the Civil War. But rather Meade chose to rest his weary troops.  But with restraint, Lincoln never mailed that letter in anger and Lee finally surrendered to end the war.    

The ODB entry and God’s desire today, expressed in the Scriptures above, for all His faithful followers is to avoid letting our anger prevail (see photo); but rather letting Godly peace win the day in our hearts, ultimately shows God’s peace in the mind an heart of God’s people.  Oh, how I fall short in this area, too often letting my anger win out.  Looking for God’s peace to quell my anger today; … how about you?                          

          

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for helping me to “BE COOL” for Your will today, Lord.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to seek Your Peace, Lord, today … and then even more 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.

Feb 16, 2025 … Reflecting His Mercy

Feb 16, 2025 … Reflecting His Mercy 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Danny Gokey singing … Love God To Love People, showing how our sharing God’s love/mercy with others reflects God’s mercy/love that He shares with us … ALWAYS.  

His mercy washes me everyday ... 

Highlight Passage: …Matthew 7:12 …[NLT] … 

12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.           

… Jesus share the essence of what is conveyed in God’s law … to treat others as we would desire they (we) treat everyone.          

Highlight Passage (in context):… Matthew 7:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches and preaches the essence of God’s law is reflected in God’s golden rule … to share the love and mercy of God with others as we would desire He (God) share the same with everyone (and us).                                                                            

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 86:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David sings of God’s compassion, love, and mercy being the essence of God’s Character being expressed thru those He loves.  

Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God promises to His people, thru Jeremiah, that His love for His chosen is faithful and extended to them thru His mercy … which is new every morning. . 

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

… Jesus commands His disciples (i.e, all who follow Him) to show and share His love for them (us) just as He has for them (us). 

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

… Paul also teaches the truth that nothing can separate God’s love from those He loves

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

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow Christins that God’s love is the most important aspect of His character. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7-8 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John shows that loving one another is the greatest way to share God’s love for those He loves.  

                            

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Winn Collier … AT THIS LINK     … relates the story of a wounded Finnish soldier in the short war with Russia in 1939, encountering a Russian soldier who could’ve killed the Finnish soldier but instead gave him medical supplies and went on.  Later the recovered Finnish soldier encountered a wounded Russian on the battle field and because of what had happened earlier, he give the Russian medical supplies and went on his way.   

The ODB story, of course, illustrates God’s Golden Rule, … which Jesus taught His followers (and us) in His sermon on the mount (see the Highlight passage).  And that command, and the truth shared in Scriptures above, calls on all of us Christians to share God’s love and mercy with one another as our Lord lavishes on all of us.  I sure need to do more of that today.  How about you?                          

          

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for washing my feet with Your love and mercy every day.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to reach out with Your love to others 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.