Apr 2, 2025 … He Forgives …

Apr 2, 2025 … He Forgives …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Matthew West singing about  … Forgiveness,  reminding Christians of God’s complete forgiveness of their (our) sins.

Highlight Passage: … Luke 15:24 …[NLT] … 

24  for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.            

…  The Son’s Father forgives His son and calls for a celebration of the son’s return.               

Highlight Passage (in context): … Luke 15:17-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  Jesus tells a story of a father’s forgiveness in the return of a lost prodigal son.                        

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus preaches to His followers of God’s forgiveness being there for those who’re willing to forgive others. 

Reference Passage: …   Luke 6:37  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Luke quotes and describes Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness.   

Reference Passage:… Acts 10:43 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter declares that Jesus is the One Whom the Prophets foretold Who came to die that all who believe in Him would be saved from their (our) sins.  

Reference Passage: …  Romans 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that God extends His love and forgiveness to any/all who believe that Jesus is THE Messiah and THE Lord of all.

Reference Passage:  …  Hebrews 8:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s wonderful promise, thru the Author of Hebrews, that God will forgive the wickedness of those who’re willing to confess and repent of their (our) sins.

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

… The Apostle John strongly declares that out God will cleanse any/all of their (our) sin if we’re willing to confess of their (our) sins to our loving God. 

                        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Sheridan Voysey  … AT THIS LINK    … used a short story by Ernest Hemingway to illustrate how a father whose son had left the father and their family; … and the father in the story advertised in the local newspaper of his forgiveness of the son and called for the son to return to the father at a certain time and place.   And when the designated time arrived, the father found a crowd of men there claiming to be the lost and forgiven son.        

And the Hemingway short story, of course, reminded the ODB author of Jesus’ parable of the lost son in Luke 15, which tells of God’s forgiveness of any who come to God, believing in Jesus as The Christ, and who are willing to confess of their (our) sins before a loving God.  I am certainly one of those lost sons who has been forgiven by my Heavenly Father.   And if you are one of those who’s looking for God, our Heavenly Father, to run to you with His forgiveness, … be assured ,,,  He will.   And He will celebrate your return as well.   

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for forgiving me of my past sins.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to come to You, Lord, … our Heavenly Father; … to receive Your saving grace and forgiveness … 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.

Apr 1, 2025 … Kindness Always Wins …

Apr 1, 2025 … Kindness Always Wins …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  

…  Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with Steven Curtis Chapman singing … Kindness,  proclaiming how God blesses those who extend His kindness and love to others.

Sharing God's Kindness with Others .. 

Highlight Passage: … 1Peter 3:8 …[NLT] … 

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.            

…  Peter calls fellow Christians to show humility and the kindness of God’s love to one another.               

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1Peter 3:8-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  Peter quotes from <b><u>Psalm 34:12-16</b></u> about King David being blessed by God’s kindness as David was trying to escape King Saul’s wrath.                                                  

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon shows that God rewards those who show kindness to one another. 

Reference Passage: …   Luke 6:35  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Luke extends Jesus’ teaching that as His ambassadors, we Christians are to extend Godly love and kindness to others just as The Lord did by dying for our sins.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 2:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Paul exhorts fellow Christians to extend God’s love and kindness to others just as God does for (us) sinners.  

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

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that God extends His fruitfulness, inclining His kindness to those who surrender themselves to follow Christlikeness.  

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

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to be kind to one another just as The Lord has been kind to all  who surrender to receive God’s love and grace.

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

… Paul shows Titus - and all Christians - how Christ showed His kindness and love by offering Himself to wash away the sins of all who surrender to receive His saving grace.

                        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Arthur Jackson  … AT THIS LINK       … related the true story of a 10 year old white girl who recalled how kind her father treated an old black man who was seated next to her father and her on the day Jackie Robinson played in his first game in Philadelphia, where her dad carried on a friendly and welcoming conversation with the son of slaves.  And the young girls’ dad gave her a lesson in kindness she remembered all her life.     

And most certainly today’s ODB entry, as well as the linked song and God’s word that I’ve shared above, call all of us to show God’s love and kindness with others today.  So, .. I’ll be looking to do that today as God gives me opportunity.   How about you?   

         

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

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to take any opportunity You give us, Lord, to share your kindness with 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.

Mar 31, 2025 … Jesus Changes Everything …

Mar 31, 2025 … Jesus Changes Everything …  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with the group, Casting Crowns singing … The Change In Me,  proclaiming how God changes us to serve and glorify Him with our transformed lives.

Highlight Passage: … 1Timothy 1:15 …[NLT] … 

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”  — and I am the worst of them all.             

…  Paul shows all how God transformed him and used him as an example of God’s saving grace.              

Highlight Passage (in context):… 1Timothy 1:12-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  The Apostle Paul, who once pursued Christians to imprison or kill them, is turned around and used by God to bring transformation in Christ for many.                                                                  

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Reference Passage: … John 14:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…Jesus declares to HIs disciples in the Upper Room showing them that HE is the only way to the Father.

Reference Passage: …   Romans 3:23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  The Apostle Paul declares truth about everyone being a sinner in need of salvation and sanctification.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 10:9-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul shows fellow Christians the reality of faith in Christ changing everything in the lives of those who believe in Him as LORD and SAVIOR.  

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

… Paul testifies to the change in his life which took place thru HIs faith in Christ.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> …  Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

… Jesus calls on believers in Christ to open the door of their (our) hearts as God’s Spirit knocks and desire entry to transform our lives with His fellowship and enabling grace.

                        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Arthur Jackson  … AT THIS LINK     … related the true story of a young man, named Eric, who had many personal challenges as a young man, leading him - by his own choices - to become,  in his words “the king of bad.”  But a friend at Eric’s job invited him to a church service where Eric heard and was drawn by The Gospel to surrender his life to Christ.   And Eric became one of those, like the Apostle Paul, whose life was transformed by his faith in Jesus, to follow Christ rather than living for himself.     

Eric was transformed by the truth and reality of what the Apostle Paul taught in 2Corinthians 5:17 … that we become transformed by God’s Spirit into lives which reflect Christlikeness.  Personally, being led by God’s word, that’s what I desire for my life; … how about you?     

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for providing us Christians with Your truth as our guide in life, leading us onward every day to become more like Jesus.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to accept Your make-over, Lord, leading us onward every day to a better life.   … 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.

Mar 30, 2025 … Infinity From Infirmity

Mar 30, 2025 … Infinity From Infirmity  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with music and lyrics with the group, Victory Worship singing … Beauty For Ashes,  proclaiming how God’s salvation turns our lives from ashes to infinite beauty. 

Blue Dancers by Edgar Degas

 

Highlight Passage: … Galatians  4:13 …[NLT] … 

13 Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.            

…  Paul reminds fellow Christians in Galatian of the sickness which led him to that area and birthed a church dedicated to God’s glory.              

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Galatians 4:13-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  The Apostle Paul reminds fellow Christians in Galatia how his sickness led him to stay in that area and led to the foundation of a church in that region.                                                                

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 61:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…God, thru Isaiah, proclaims and prophesies the day of restoration of Israel will come when Messiah will bring blessings and righteousness to God’s people forever.

Reference Passage: …   Jeremiah 31:13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah prophesies of the coming day of joy and beauty which will come to restore God’s people from the sickness of sin.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus calls on God’s people to shine the Light of Christ into the darkness of this world, bringing beauty from ashes.

Reference Passage: …  Romans 8:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows that all things in the lives of Christians are intended to bring God’s transforming grace for their (our) good and God’s glory.

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

… Paul also teaches truth about the beauty of God’s Spirit bringing His fruit into the lives of born-again Christians.

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 1:6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that His Spirit is transforming them (us) into vessels of Christlikeness, doing good work for God’s glory..

                        

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author - Sheridan Voysey … AT THIS LINK -   … tells of how the infirmities of several impressionistic artists, like Degas, Renoir, or Matisse, all who had debilitating infirmities where they had to adapt to create many of their beautiful paintings.  For example, Edgar Degas’ eyesight was so poor that he had to transfer media from paint to pastel chalk to be able to see well enough to create works like his series of “Blue Dancer” pastels … as illustrated in the photo.    

And these were illustrations, for the ODB author of how God uses His transforming grace to bring His fruit into and thru the lives of born-again Christians.   For example, in my life, God brought strength to me to overcome a severe addiction and allow me to share that strength to help many others who suffered from that same addiction, … leading them to freedom and a restored walk with Christ.  Perhaps God has brought His victory or beauty into your life to help others to overcome the brokenness or ashes in their past.   If so, I pray you will go forth and and continue to help others to find beauty to replace the past ugliness in their lives. 

         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for giving me Your strength to allow me to help others walk free from the ashes of their past.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray, … again today, … that all reading here will join me, …  to rely on Your strength, Lord, to lead us out of the darkness of our sin and to walk in the light of Your glory.   … 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.