May 18 2026 … Avoid Hardened Hearts

May 18 2026 … Avoid Hardened Hearts 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Petra,  singing Don’t Let Your Heart Be Hardened … exporting believers to avoid letting their (our) hearts be hardened to the leading of The Lord.

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Highlight Passage: … Hebrews 3:7-8 … [NLT]

… 7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear His voice, 8  don’t harden your hearts … “ 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, exhorts Christians to avoid letting their (our) hearts be hardened (see photo) by their (our) selfish desires.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 3:7-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… The Author of Hebrews shows the tendency of believers to let their (our) hearts be hardened by their (our) human desires.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 95:7-8 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                                          

… The Psalmist, likely King David, calls on believers to soften their (our) hears and follow God faithfully.

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

… Solomon promises that God will direct the paths of those who trust and follow The Lord faithfully.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 17:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah warns believers of how hard the human heart can be.

 

Reference Passage: … Ezekiel 26:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Ezekiel, promises to one day God’s Messiah will give mankind new hearts which faithfully follow the Lord.

Reference Passage: … Mark 8:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus challenges His followers to avoid letting their hard hearts follow their own desires rather than to follow Jesus.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the effect God’s Spirit will have on those who surrender faithfully to follow Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Adam R Holz …  USE THIS LINK    wrote about his heart doctor giving the ODB author the opportunity to see the hardening of the arteries in his heart, showing the atherosclerosis and the calcium build up in his arteries.  This clear view of his damaged heart motivated him to change his diet and exercise more to avoid further damage to his heart.

And if my readers, as I have, take in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, I pray we all “take to heart” the truth God shares with us to avoid letting our hearts be hardened and to avoid following God’s call to let Him lead us to follow His ways rather than our own.  That’s why I’m here again today, letting my eternal “heart doctor” (i.e., His Spirit) show me the way, thru His word, how to keep my Spiritual heart healthy.  Are you with Him, as well, my friend?     

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing me through Your word how to keep my Spiritual heart heathy for Your glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for Your call to avoid a hardening of my Spirit-filled heart.   …  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.

May 17 2026 … Deep Roots of Faith

May 17 2026 … Deep Roots of Faith 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Michael Verburg and Chris Wichmann singing Rooted In Christ … declaring how the roots of our faith are planted deeply in the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Trees survive the LA fires in 2025 ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Jeremiah 17:7 … [NLT]

…  7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  

… God, thru the Prophet, Jeremiah, promises His people His blessing to those who put their trust in The Lord.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 17:5-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet Jeremiah teaches that God blesses those who have their roots of trust and faith planted deeply in God’s love.

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

… King David sings of God’s blessing and fruitfulness from those whose roots are planted deeply into the word of God’s truth.

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

… Solomon promises that God will direct the paths of those who trust and follow Him.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 13:4-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His followers with His parable of the seeds about our faith being planted deeply in the good soil of God’s love.

 

Reference Passage: … John 15:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches His disciples that ALL those who have deep faith and abide in Him who will be fruitful in their lives.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 3:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches taught about Christians being deeply rooted in in faith in Christ.

Reference Passage:… Colossians 2:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also calls on fellow Christians to have roots of faith which go deeply to receive the love/grace of God so that they (we) will thrive and grow in Christ. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon …  USE THIS LINK        … told of a landscape artist, Douglas Kent, walking amid the rubble and remains of the fires in Los Angeles in 2025 and being amazed to see a number of trees which had not only survived the fires but were growing and thriving (see photo).  Kent surmised that the trees survived the fires because their roots were planted deep in the soil prior to the fires .

And the ODB author, from today’s ODB entry, shows the parallel message of the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, which teach us God’s blessings on those whose faith is planted deeply in Christ, … those who can - AND WILL - survive the killing fires of the temptations and trials of this life … to grow and thrive for God’s glory,  I, for one, desire to send my roots of faith deeply into soil of God’s love and enabling grace.   How about you?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for my roots of faith which are planted deeply in the soil of Your love to survive the fires of this life.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for the roots of our faith, which are planted deeply in the soil of Your love … to resist the fires of this 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.

May 16 2026 … Following My Good Shepherd

May 16 2026 … Following My Good Shepherd 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Patrick Mayberry singing Lead On Good Shepherd … showing a Christian who seeks to follow the Lord as his/her Good shepherd (see photo).

Following my "Good Shepherd" ... 

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Highlight Passage: … John 10:10-11 … [NLT]

…  10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.  

… Jesus teaches truth to His followers that He is their Good Shepherd, … willing to give His life for His flock.

Highlight Passage in Context:  John 10: 1-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus teaches truth that HE is the Good Shepherd who will die to save His sheep.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 23:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of following the Lord as HIs “Good Shepherd.”

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies that one day the Lamb of God, The Messiah, will come as a Shepherd to lead His flock to glory..

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 31:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah, as a Prophet of God, teaches that God will come for His people and lead them as a Shepherd leads his flock.

 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 9:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, writes of Jesus having compassion on His followers, .. like a shepherd would his flock.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …          

… The Apostle Peter teaches truth that Christ will lead those who willingly follow Him as a flock of sheep follow their Shepherd (see photo).

Reference Passage: … Revelation 7:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals to John … of Jesus, as the Lamb of God and their Good Shepherd,  leading His faithful followers to Glory. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Elisa Morgan …  USE THIS LINK       … related how she went to her bank when she discovered that two large charges had been taken from her account when her identity had been stolen online.   And after the bank helped her restore her account, she learned to be more vigilant in watching over her online financial transactions.

For my readers, and those who follow Jesus as our Good Shepherd, we know that He will not lead us astray.   And we also know that when we follow Him, He will lead us safely as a Shepherd would lead His sheep (again - see photo).  That’s where you find me again today, … seeking to follow my Lord, … by using HIs word as His perfect “GPS.”   How about you?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing me THE way … Your way … all the way to Your glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for being our Good Shepherd.   …  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.

May 15 2026 … God Seen In Creation

May 15 2026 … God Seen In Creation 

Devotional Song</u>: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Brian Doerksen singing Creation Calls … declaring that all we see in creation declares the glory of God.

See God's glory in Creation ... 

  

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 104:2 … [NLT]

…  2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;… 

… The author, likely David, sings of God’s grandeur seen in His creation.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 104:1-7, 10-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist sings of God’s glory showing forth in HIs creation. 

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Reference Passage: … Genesis 1:1  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses declares God’s creation as seen in His creation.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 19:1-2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Once again King David sings of God’s grandeur showing forth in the heavens of His creation.

Reference Passage: … Nehemiah 9:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Priests call out to God’s people, praising God’s greatness in His creation.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 8:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  The Apostle Paul teaches of God’s glory and grandeur seen in the creation of the world by and for God's Son, Jesus.

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:15-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Again Paul teaches truth about God’s creation being unfolded to reveal God’s glory in HIs Son, The Christ.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 4:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Apostle John, reveals God’s glory, seen in the Creation which was fashioned, in all its glory, by/for Christ. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Monica La Rose …  USE THIS LINK          … writes about the 19th century poet,  Gerard Manley Hopkins, who, in a sonnet describing that mankind has trouble seeing God’s grandeur because they (we) have polluted the earth with our own creations, which blind man to God’s glory.

I, for one, totally agree with Hopkins’ cynicism in declaring that we can, so easily, become blind, in our selfishness, to what God has created in/thru His Son, Jesus, … revealing God’s glory throughout His creation.   So, last night, I looked up to see God’s grandeur in the heavens that He created for us, just as the linked song and the Scriptures above declare.   And this morning, … I look out my window and see His light come in from the Eastern sky, again revealing our Lord’s glory.  Look around, … with me today, … and see God’s glory all around us!!  Ain’t it great?!    

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me a glimpse of Your glory every day by seeing what You have created … just for me!  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for surrounding us with Your glory and grandeur.  …  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.

May 14 2026 … Good Soil To Grow

May 14 2026 … Good Soil To Grow 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from an anonymous group singing Let My Heart Be Good Soil… relating Jesus’ parable of the good soil bearing good fruit.

Good Soil for Fruitful Growth

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 8:8 … [NLT] 

…  8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When He had said this, He called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” 

… Luke share Jesus’ parable of the good soil producing much fruit.

Highlight Passage in Context: Luke 8:4-8, 11-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke relates Jesus’ parable of good seed planted in good soil producing much fruit.

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

… God’s psalmist sings of becoming fruitful from being fed by God’s truth.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 13:18-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus explains his parable of good seed planted in good soil to His Disciples.

Reference Passage: … Luke 8:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke explains Jesus revealing the meaning of His parable of the good seed being planted in good soil to produce much fruit.  

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches of the fruit produced in the life of the Christian who is nourished by God’s word.

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

… Paul calls on Timothy to become a fruitful ambassador of Christ.

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

… As babes in Christ we crave God’s milk (i.e., HIs word) that we would grow in its nourishment. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Katara Patton …  USE THIS LINK         … told of planting cucumber seeds in her garden each spring and watching them grow from seedlings to plants to fruit each year.  However, some seasons the ODB author noted that she had to add plant food to the soil (see photo) as the fruit was delayed in growing as in other seasons.

Today’s ODB entry points to our spiritual hearts being the soil that God must grow in us to be fruitful.  And that’s why you find me here every day, being fed by God’s truth, thru His word, so that I might become fruitful for His glory (see Gal. 5:22-23).   Are you with me?       

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for growing me from the good soil of Your truth.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for nourishing us in the good soil of Your word.   …  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.