Dec 16 2025 …  You Are My Neighbor … 

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 us ALL to ALWAYS stay humble and kind to others.

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

… 36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. 37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”  Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

… Jesus’ answer to the question …  who is our neighbor?

Highlight Passage in Context:  Luke 10:25-37  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus relates a parable about a Jew, robbed and left for dead on the road, and how a Samaritan helped and saved the man’s life, becoming the man’s “neighbor.”

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

… Solomon teaches that we are ALWAYS to be kind to ALL.

Reference Passage: …  Hosea 6:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s call, thru the Prophet Hosea, to show love to ALL, … even more than sacrifices.

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

… God calls His people, thru the Prophet Micah, to show love and mercy to all people.

Reference Passage: … Zechariah 7:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Zechariah, calls His people to ALWAYS show mercy and kindness to others. 

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

… Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, teaches that God will bless those who show mercy to others. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus commands His disciples to be compassionate to others, just as God is compassionate to His children. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon …  USE THS LNK     …  related a true story about a young woman, Marie Coble, who fell in her driveway, hitting her head and causing a brain bleed.  A delivery truck driver, passing by, saw the incident and stopped, calling paramedics, and ultimately saving Marie’s life, …  also visiting Marie in the hospital, bringing her sweet treats to help her  during her time of rehab. 

And the ODB story reminded the author today of Jesus’ parable of the “Good Samaritan.” (see the Highlight Passage), which calls all Christians to be - or become - the “neighbor” Jesus taught about in His classic biblical parable.   And I’ve always liked the song, linked above  by Tim McGraw,  which calls us all to be like Jesus, … always humble and kind.  I’m going try again today to be just like that, … treating everyone as my neighbor.   How about you?  Are you with me? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling and leading me to be just like You, … ALWAYS humble and kind.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … THANKS, Lord, for helping us to become a “neighbor” for anyone we see who needs our compassion and mercy.  … 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 15 2025 … Following HIs Way …

Dec 15 2025 …  Following HIs Way … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Phil Wickham singing The Jesus Way … slowing that following Jesus is the way to go in life, becoming an ambassador of God’s love and grace.

Highlight Passage: … 2Corinthians 2:4 … [NLT] …  

4 … I wrote that letter in great anguish, with a troubled heart and many tears. I didn’t want to grieve you, but I wanted to let you know how much love I have for you.

Highlight Passage in Context:  2Corinthians 2:1-8   [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul wrote his friends in Corinth to help them follow Jesus …  out of deep love for them.

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

… Jesus, after washing the feet of His Disciples in the upper room, commands them to become ambassadors of His love and grace to to others.

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches those who follow Christ how Jesus gave His life to save us sinners. 

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the kind of Christlike love Christians are to show to others.

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

… Paul gives witness to how his life was transformed to love others when he surrendered his life to follow Christ.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Finally Paul exhorted fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ to care for the welfare of others more than we do our own selfish desires. 

Reference Passage:… 1John 4:11-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches fellow Christians about loving and caring for others, showing God’s love through our love for others.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Tim Gustafson …  USE THS LNK   …  wrote about Hippocrates in ancient Greece (460-375 BC), who led medicine in that time out of the dark ages of superstition into the light of testing and observation.  He taught of retaining the humanity of caring for the patient; and he was quoted as saying, ”It is far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has.” 

And that was the ultimate message Jesus had for those who were committed to follow Him (see Scriptures above), like His Disciples, and prayerfully all who read with me here.  If my readers have taken in the poignant and powerful linked song, I’m praying that we all are striving, with our very beings, to follow “The Jesus Way” and become more like our Lord, … day-by-day,  … becoming ambassadors of God’s love and grace to others.  That’s where I’m headed!   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being my model of love and grace to follow all the days of my life.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … THANKS, Lord, for calling all of us to follow Your way, every day!  … Amen

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Blogger Not:  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 14 2025 … Needing HIs Living Water …

Dec 14 2025 …  Needing HIs Living Water … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Anne Wilson singing Living Water … declaring God’s restoring mercy and grace through His refreshing Spirit, … i.e., His living waters.

Depleted and Needing God's Living Waters ... 

  

Highlight Passage: … John 7:38 … [NLT] …  

38 … Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” 

Highlight Passage in Context:  John 7: 37-39,  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus, teaching during the Festival of Shelters, shows that God’s word promises that His Spirit will pour out living water on those who need eternal refreshment. 

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 58:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… One of the Scriptures likely referred to by Jesus in John 7:38, where God will one day pour out His Spirit on those who need to be refreshed by God’s “living water.” 

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 2:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet Jeremiah shows that some of God’s people have abandoned God’s fountains of living water and have built polluted cisterns of sin for themselves.  

Reference Passage: … Ezekiel 36:25-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Ezekiel, promises that He will plant a new Spirit in those who believe in the coming Messiah - likely one of the Scriptures referred to by Jesus in <b><u>John 7:38</b></u>.

Reference Passage: … John 4:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus, to the Samaritan woman at the well, promising her (and us) living water to refresh her (our) Spirit forever.

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… All people, since creation can see all God is and what He provides.  So, … we have no excuse for not knowing God.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Elisa Morgan …  USE THS LINK  -      …  told of when she led a ministry to help and uplift mothers of pre-schoolers; and to illustrate the condition of these depleted moms, the ministry chose the image of an empty juice box (see photo) … to illustrate those who needed refreshment and help.  Certainly, those mothers were in need of being “refilled”  by what Jesus spoke of in the Highlight passage.  … And so are we, … right?!  

And if any of my readers here today are feeling depleted and maybe “burned out,” like the moms in the above illustration, you (we - me too!) need to realize the truth of what Jesus - and God’s word, shared above, teach.   God desires to pour out His living waters (i.e., HIs Spirit) on any/all who love Jesus and need His refreshing and restoring grace.  Personally, I’m in need of some of His living water; … TODAY! …  How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for pouring out Your waters to restore me from Your Spirit and Your word.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … THANKS, Lord, for continually pouring out Your living waters. … 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 13 2025 … Strength In God’s Word …

Dec 13 2025 …  Strength In God’s Word … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics, from Steven Curtis Chapman singing His Strength Is Perfect …  calling on Christians to glean our strength from our relationship with God.

Highlight Passage: … Nehemiah 8:10b … [NLT] …  

10 … And Nehemiah continued, “…  Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Nehemiah 8:5-6,  8-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Ezra and Nehemiah shared God’s word, sharing The Lord’s promises of joy and strength for His exiled peoples. 

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

… God gave Joshua a prescription for spiritual success in carrying out God’s commands … to be in and follow God’s word. 

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 18:32-34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of getting his strength from God in dealing with the trials of his life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:29-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His strength and power when His faithful feel weak.

Reference Passage: … Habakkuk 3:17-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet Habakkuk learned that God will provide His joy and strength in dealing the troubles of life.

Reference Passage:… 2Corinthians 12:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul experienced pain and suffering and relied on God’s grace to enable and strengthen him.

Reference Passage:… Philippians 4:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul teaches truth that (we) Christians can - and will - receive God’s strength when they (we) feel weak.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Katara Patton …  USE THS LNK  -     …  wrote of how a tour guide at a New Orleans museum explained a joyful exhibit made from discarded plastic bottles, explaining, “For a city that’s had such hardship, we’ve also learned to use what we have to create joy and beauty. We don’t focus only on the hard times; we celebrate the resilience.” 

And the exhibit apparently reminded the ODB author of how God’s people rebounded with joy from God’s word when His exiled people had returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls and temple, experiencing God’s strength and His promises thru His word.  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, I know you, as I was, will be uplifted with joy, realizing that we can rely on God’s strength in dealing with the trials, temptations, and troubles of life.   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for providing Your enabling grace when I am weak.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … THANKS, Lord, for Your strength in our times of weakness and trial.  … 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.