April 26 2026 … Rebuilt and Restored …

Apr 26 2026 …  Rebuilt and Restored  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Leeland and Stephen McWhirter singing God of My Restoration … giving witness in song to the restoration brought about in the life of a broken sinner by the God of all grace.

Restoring Notre Dame Cathedral ... 

========================

Highlight Passage: … Ezra 3:7… [NLT] 

…  7 Then the people hired masons and carpenters and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre and Sidon, paying them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Joppa, for King Cyrus had given permission for this. 

… Ezra tells of God’s people working together to restore God’s temple in Jerusalem after their return from Exile in Babylon.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Ezra 2:68, 3:1,7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Ezra documents the restoration of God’s Temple when God’s people returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of exile in Babylon.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 51:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David prays in song for God to restore him to a repentant and restored follower of Christ.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 30:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises His broken people, thru Jeremiah, to heal their wounds.

Reference Passage: … Joel 2:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God also promises His people, thru the Prophet Joel, to restore His broken people.

Reference Passage: … Acts 3:19-21[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to repent and receive God’s restoring grace.

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:11  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to encourage and edify one another.     

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Peter also encourages fellow Christians to share in God’s grace/glory by building each other up through faith in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kristen Holmberg …  USE THIS LINK    … told about recent efforts by Christians, working together to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral, which had almost been destroyed in a recent mammoth fire.  The restoration - <b>(see photo)</b> - and the Scriptures shared above illustrate and describe God’s promises to rebuild and restore His church which has been devastated by the sin of God’s people. 

And I am one who has been restored and rebuilt from an atheist to a surrendered and repentant believer in Christ by God’s grace.  And I pray the same for you.  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for rebuilding me as Your temple.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for rebuilding and restoring Your church through Your grace.   … Amen

=============

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.

April 25 2026 … More Like Christ …

Apr 25 2026 …  More Like Christ  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Zach Williams singing Less Like Me … calling on Christians to grow to become more like Jesus, humbly serving others.

========================

Highlight Passage: … Philippians 2:4-5… [NLT] 

…  4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.  5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

… Paul cals on fellow Christians to do all we can to become more like our Lord Jesus, humbly serving others.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Philippians 2:3-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to empty themselves and become more like Christ, Who humbled Himself to become a servant, … even dying to save mankind.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus calls on His followers/disciples to become like Him, being humble and gentle in serving others.

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on fellow Christians to become more like Christ, becoming living servants of The Lord and avoiding becoming like the world.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 11:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also exhorts other Christians to imitate Christ like he does in his life.

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

… Paul testifies that He was transformed to become more like Christ when he died to his ole selfish ways and chose to be more like his Lord.

Reference Passage:… Ephesians 2:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God creates us (Christians) to become God’s workmanship in the world carrying out God’s purposes in the good works we do in and thru Him.     

Reference Passage: … 1John 2:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John teaches truth that Christians should live as Jesus lived if they (we) claim to be followers of Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Katara Patton…  USE THIS LINK    … wrote about visiting a friend in a hospital who announced to a group of physicians discussing her case that she needed to go to the bathroom but was not able to do so; and a young, inexperienced doctor, calmly found a urinal and was lauded by the lead physician for simply doing what was necessary to help the patient.  

It’s an example, illustrating what Zach Williams sings in the linked song and the Scriptures teach above … that we, as surrendered disciples of Christ, need to be more like our Lord and humbly serve others as HE did.   I’m doing all I can to be more like my Lord today.  How about you?   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for helping me grow to be more like You today.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing Your chosen how to be more like You today … and even more tomorrow.   … Amen

=============

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.

April 24 2026 … River Crossings …

Apr 24 2026 …  River Crossings  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Don Moen singing God Will Make A Way … promising that God’s presence will ALWAYS be with those who believe in Him as Lord.

Joshua and God's people crossing the Jordan  ... 

 

========================

Highlight Passage: … Joshua 3:7 … [NLT] 

…  7 The Lord told Joshua, “Today I will begin to make you a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites. They will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses.

… God’s promise to Joshua to be with God’s people ALWAYS.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God shows His people that God’s promise of His presence will be for Joshua as it was for Moses.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Exodus 33:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise to Moses to be with His promised people ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 16:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God’s promise of His presence in David’s life always.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20b [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises to be with His chosen disciples ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 3:16  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul, teaches truth to fellow Christians, that they (we) are The Temple of God with His Spirit dwelling in them (us).      

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Author of Hebrews calls on Christians to come boldly to God’s throne of grace to receive the power God has promised.

Reference Passage: … James 4:8a [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The brother of Jesus relates to Christians that if His faithful followers draw near to God, He will draw near to them … ALWAYS.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Tim Gustafson…  USE THIS LINK       … wrote about how the tragic death of the explorer Chris McCandless, who died in trying to cross the Teklanika River in Alaska, which later has been memorialized in book and movies.  

And the ODB entry the author points out that we all will find difficult “river crossings” in our lives too; but as we read of God making a way for His faithful followers in the Scriptures shared above, so we can expect God’s presence and power to go with us as it did for God’s faithful in the Bible.

I personally believe, as is sung in the linked song, that our God “will make a way when there seems to be no way;” and His presence is in me … ALWAYS.   And I’m praying that all/any of my readers here today believe that too.    

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

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for leading Your faithful across the rivers of life and all the way to Your glory.   … Amen

=============

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.

April 23 2026 … Working TOGETHER …

Apr 23 2026 …  Working TOGETHER  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly singing Together … Calling for God’s people to join in unity to glorify God.

Working TOGETHER to glorify God!

========================

Highlight Passage: … Romans 15:7 … [NLT] 

…  7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to accept each other just as The Lord has accepted all who come to Him in faith.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Romans 15:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paull calls on fellow Christians, both Gentile and Jew, to come TOGETHER to work in unity to glorify God..

================ 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 133:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …    

… King David sings of God’s people coming TOGETHER to work for and worship The Lord.

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:42 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… After the resurrection, Luke describes how the believers came to TOGETHER to work in unity and community.

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:3-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul compares individual Christians working in unity as all parts of a body working TOGETHER.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 1:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul, writing to a broken church in Corinth, calls on Christians to come TOGETHER and work in unity to glorify God.     

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Again, Paul calls on fellow Christians to work TOGETHER to honor and glorify God.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews calls on Christians to come TOGETHER to encourage one another.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon…  USE THIS LINK       … wrote about Lilian Colon, who came from being an orphan to become a part of a highly recognized precision dance company and ultimately to be lead instructor in the dance troop.  And the dance company was always known for dancing TOGETHER in unity

And this ODB illustration, along with the attached photo, the linked song, and the Scriptures I’ve shared above. make the strong point that we Christians need to work TOGETHER, … in unity, … to maximally glorify God.  That’s why I’m here every day, into God’s word, … to be able to join with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to glorify God, Who gives us His purpose and direction to follow Him thru His word.  Are you with me?    

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for coming TOGETHER to work in unity to glorify our God. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for creating us to be one body, working TOGETHER for Your glory. … Amen

=============

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.