Nov 16 2025 … Count the Cost …

Nov 16 2025 …  Count the Cost  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  https://tinyurl.com/bde6uajf  and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing I Will Follow Christ … calling on those who’re willing to sacrifice all to follow Jesus as our Lord and King.

"The Road To Nowhere" in N.Carolina ... 

  

Highlight Passage: … Luke 14:28 … [NLT] … 

28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?    

… Jesus uses a parable of building a tower after planning and counting the cost first. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Luke 14:25-35  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…Jesus calls on His followers to be willing to give their all to follow Him as His disciples.  

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

… Solomon calls on believers to trust God with ALL their hearts and let His ways lead them (us) to glory.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 16:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Matthew also records Jesus calling on His disciples to be willing to give their all to follow Him  

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Jesus shows that He, as the Son of Man would suffer and die and be raised again to defeat death; but those who declare to follow Him must be willing to give up everything, EVERY DAY, to follow Him.    

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

… Jesus, after telling His disciples that He was about to die the next day, and calling them (and us) to be willing to suffer to follow Him because He would give up everything to save them.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 6:19-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul declares that anyone who is born-again is no longer his own, having been purchased by price of the blood of Christ.

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

… Paul gives witness to the radical change in his life which took place when he was willing to surrender and die to himself and follow God’s will and His ways.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, James Banks  …  USE THS LNK  -     …  relates a story about a road in the Great Smoky Mountains, which goes thru a 1200 foot tunnel (see photo) and then abruptly ends because the government ran out of money to complete the project.   The road, officially called, “Lakeview Drive,” is labeled as “The Road to Nowhere,” by the locals because it ends so abruptly.   

The story of the road in the ODB entry today was used to illustrate the point that if we’re going to live our lives to honor and glorify Jesus, as our King and Lord, we’ve got to be willing to pay the price to do so.   And if my readers have taken in the linked song and are willing to give up what it takes to follow Christ, … EACH DAY, … we can righty and officially call ourselves “DISCIPLES” of Christ.  I’m one!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, …for calling me to be Your “disciple.”    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... for dying to allow us to become Your disciples by our living and suffering to serve and follow You as our 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.

Nov 15 2025 … Chosen and Loved …

Nov 15 2025 …  Chosen and Loved  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from the group, Third Day, singing Blessed Assurance … assuring Christians of God’s eternal love for His chosen children.

Highlight Passage: … Song of Solomon 1:5a  … [NLT] … 

5  I am dark but beautiful, … O women of Jerusalem …   

… God shows His people that His love is there for ALL of His children, no matter what they (we) look like to the world.  

Highlight Passage in Context ...  Song of Solomon 1:1-6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God expresses and confirms His love for His chosen Bride, … Israel.  

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

…Jesus, in the upper room, commands His Disciples to love one another just as He, The Lord, loved them (and us).

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

…The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians that NOTHING can separate them (us) from God’s love.     

Reference Passage:… 1Corinthians 13:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul also describes the quality and extent of God’s love for those who surrender in faith to receive His saving Grace.    

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 1:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth about God choosing and loving those whom God chose to be his own.  

Reference Passage: …1Peter 2:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches truth to fellow Christians that they (we) are chosen by God to be His beloved possession … FOREVER.  

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

… The Apostle John shows that God, out of His love chose those who believe in Him to be His children.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Amy Boucher Pie  …  USE THS LNK      …  relates a story about Julie, a Christians girl, who began to sing Scripture passages during her morning “quiet” time, trying to dispel her negative self image.  And Julie reported, singing from Song of Solomon in God’s word (see Highlight passage) about how God chooses to love even those whom the world rejects … recognizing and saying,  “God loves me even though I am not perfect.”

As my readers take in the linked song, and God’s word shared above, depicting the truth of God’s love for ALL of His children, we need to come away, as Julie was in the ODB entry today, feeling loved by our God, … Who chose us - no matter what we look like to the world - to be His own beloved Children.  I’m in for all of that!   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, …for choosing and loving ME, … yes, imperfect “little-ole”  me.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... for showering Your love and saving grace on ALL of us who come to You in faith.   … 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.

Nov 14 2025 … Waiting On God …

Nov 14 2025 …  Waiting On God  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from The Maranatha Singers, singing Great Is Thy Faitfulness … calling on Christians to hold on to their (our) faith in our faithful God to be there for us … ALWAYS.

Highlight Passage: … Jeremiah 3:22-23  … [NLT] … 

22  The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  23  Great is His faithfulness; …  His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

… God shows His people that His mercies will provide HIs faithful followers His mercies and strength to deal with life today … and tomorrow.  

Highlight Passage in Context: Jeremiah 3:22-33  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises His people to give them (us) His strength to deal with the trials of this life.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 27:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…King David sings of his faith in His God, even in times of peril and problems.    

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

…  Solomon charges his son (and all believers) to trust in God … ALWAYS… to show him (us) the way in life.     

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 30:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God pronounces blessing on those who wait on Him.

Reference Passage: … Micah 7:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s prophet, Micah, gives witness to his confidence in God’s grace to save all who faithfully wait on The Lord.  

Reference Passage: …Romans 5:3-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth that trials and troubles in life produce joy as they help to give God’s faithful their (our) strength and endurance.   

Reference Passage: … James 5:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother, James, gives honor to those who faithfully endure trials in life for God’s glory  

<b><u>My Devotional Journal</u>:</b> Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Winn Collier  …  <b>USE THS LNK</b>  -  https://www.odbm.org/en/devotionals/devotional-category/waiting-for-god      …  wrote about the true story of a man who became stranded in a NY city airport, having no papers (i.e, visas) from his home country, which was involved in a civil war.   And the man, who refused to be involved in the war, and trying to escape from his country, was finally caught in a NYC airport and sustained himself there for 18 years, being supported by airport employees and generous people who followed his plight online. Steven Spielberg even made a movie about this fateful traveler, called “The Terminal,” starring Tom Hanks in 2004.  Perhaps my readers today have seen the movie.

But, Today’s ODB entry and the Scriptures I’ve shared above challenge believers (i.e, “travelers” in this life) to hold on to our faith in God …  no matter what our life circumstances might be.  Personally, that is my daily quest in life, especially now, as I face physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges late in my life.   How about you?   Are you holding on to your faith today. 

<b><u>My Thanksgiving:</b></u> … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, …for giving me Your grace and the strength to face today, knowing that Your mercies are new every morning. 

<b><u>My Prayer Today</u>:</b> Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... for giving us Your strength to face the trials of today and tomorrow.     … 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>

Nov 13 2025 … Kindness ALWAYS …

Nov 13 2025 …  Kindness ALWAYS  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Tim McGraw, singing Humble And Kind … calling on Christians to witness God’s love and kindness to others.

  ALWAYS ... !!! 

Highlight Passage: … Obadiah 1:13  … [NLT] … 

13 You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity.  You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity. You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity. 

… God chastises the nation of Edom for taking advantage of Israel in a time of crisis and calamity.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Obadiah 1:4-9, 12-13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

… god, thru the Prophet Obadiah, rebukes the Edomites for taking advantage of Israel in a time of peril.

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 21:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Solomon calls for believers to ALWAYS pursue righteousness and God’s love in dealing with others in order to find God’s love and kindness in return.   

Reference Passage: … Micah 6:8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God calls on His people, thru the Prophet Micah, to live righteous live, honoring God with their (our) kindness and humility.      

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…The Apostle Paul lists the primary fruit of the Spirit which results from a deep and abiding relationship with Christ.

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

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to mimic God’s love and grace by being tenderhearted and  kind to one another just as God has shown His love and kindness to them (us).

Reference Passage: …Titus 3:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God reveals to all Christians the extent of God’s love and kindness to sinners, whom He has saved … in spite of their (our) sinfulness.   

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 3:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter charges fellow Christians to avoid vengeance by showing God’s love and kindness to others in their time of need.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author, Lisa M Samra  …  USE THS LNK  -       …  writes about the plight of those Hawaiian people after the disastrous fires in Lahaina in 2023, where some took advantage of the people there by looting and stealing from their burned out town.  But the love of God shown brightly in the darkness with Churches on the Island opening up in kindness to do all they could to help the hapless victims of the fires.  

And that’s what today’s ODB entry, the linked song, and God’s word, in the Scriptures shared above, which call all Christians to do … and that is to share God’s love when they (we) see others needing our humble kindness, …the kind of love that God has shown to us by saving us and leading us to His eternal glory. Oh how I pray we all can be sharing God’s love and kindness with those who need it today.  I’m doing what I can.  How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, …for giving me Your love and grace to share with others.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... for lifting us up to lift others with Your love and kindness.    … 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.