April 16 2026 … Speaking Life …

Apr 16 2026 …  Speaking Life … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from an anonymous worship group singing Speak Life … calling on Christians to avoid gossip, speaking life into all we say.

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Highlight Passage: …Proverbs 11:13 … [NLT] </b> … 

...  13 A gossip goes around telling secrets; but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. 

… Solomon calls on believers to avoid being a gossip and guarding what they (we) say.    

Highlight Passage in Context:  Proverbs 11:11-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, calls on believers to avoid gossip and to guard what they (we) say.

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 23:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, calls on God’s people to avoid giving false witness.

Reference Passage: … Leviticus 19:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s people are warned by God, thru Moses, to avoid slanderous gossip.

Reference Passage: … Psalm 34:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David testifies in song of speaking the truth at all times.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 20:19  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Godly wisdom from Solomon about avoiding being around gossips who spread falsehoods.    

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaching truth about our words ALWAYS being able to lift others up and NEVER tearing them down.

Reference Passage: … James 1:26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother James calling on fellow Christians to control their (our) tongues to avoid dishonoring their (our) faith in Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra …  USE THIS LINK      … told of a friend, named Tomas, who described a mentor being his “Hollow Willow,” which is a term in his culture for one who will hide confidential thoughts like a hollow willow tree will protect anything stored in its empty trunk.   Another words, that person would never gossip or share things which their friends shared with them.

And the author shared that bottom-line truth, which was supported by the Scriptures I shared above today, that we need to avoid being “gossips” (see photo) … and speak only truth which comes from Godly wisdom and caring relationships.  

And in this digital - computerized - world we’re in today, those warnings from God’s word become all the more meaningful.  And as I share these ideas today, I’m doing all I can to share my words, carefully checking to see that they honor my God as well as protect those who share their words with me.   Are you with me in this, my friends.    

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for helping me to use my words in ways that honor You and lift others up.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for helping us, with Your Spirit and Your truth, to share only those words which edify others.  … 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.

April 15 2026 … Citizens of Heaven …

Apr 15 2026 …  Citizens of Heaven … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Tauren Wells singing Citizen of Heaven … declaring openly - and loudly - that his citizenship is in heaven, … living for King Jesus.

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Highlight Passage: …Philippians 3:20 … [NLT]  

…  20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior.  

… Paul calls on his fellow Christians to live as citizens of Heaven where Jesus lives as King forever.   

Highlight Passage in Context: Philippians 3:4-11, 17-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul directs disciples of Christ to follow him all the way to their (our) citizenship in heaven.

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Reference Passage: … John 14:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares to His disciples, the night of HIs betrayal, of the home He will prepare for all faithful believers when He comes back to take them to be with Him in heaven

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to live for the new house and new body we will have with The Lord in heaven.

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

… The Apostle Paul also teaches truth about living the new life NOW that we will have with the Lord forever in heaven.

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

…The Author of Hebrews describes those who have lived by faith in anticipation of the home God has prepared for them in Heaven.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The same Author describes living now for the permanent home that faithful Christians will enjoy in Heaven.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals to the  Apostle John the New Jerusalem, with God living with His fellow residents forever in Heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Mike Wittmer …  USE THIS LINK      … related a true story of a family, who had been living in Argentina as secret agents from another country.  And tho they lived carefully as citizens of Argentina, they were uncovered and deported back to their home country.   And Anna, the mother, didn’t know how she was going to explain their deportation to their daughter. 

And if my readers today take in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, … it is true that we Christians live in this world.  But as citizens of Heaven, we await being with and living in the eternal home prepared and waiting for us in Heaven.  I don’t know about you; but I’m ready to go and be with my King in His glory?   But, I’ll live now here, with the time He has given me, as His “double-agent” in this earthly realm,  … preparing for what my King has for me in His eternal glory.  Are you with me?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for getting me ready to be with You in glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for letting Your children live now as we prepare ourselves as citizens of heaven.  … 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.

April 14 2026 … He Lives In Me …

Apr 14 2026 …  He Lives In Me … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from David Crowder leading in worship and singing Because He Lives … declaring the reality of being able to live, worshipping a God Who lives, because of what Jesus did on the cross.

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Highlight Passage: … Leviticus 26:11 … [NLT] 

 …  11 I will live among you, and I will not despise you.  

… God’s promise for those who’re who’re faithful and willing to follow and live by His commands.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Leviticus 26:3-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise thru Moses to live with His faithful people who obey His decrees. 

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

… Jesus teaches truth to Nicodemus about God, The Father being willing to sacrifice His Son to save mankind from their (our) sin.

Reference Passage: … John 14:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus calls on HIs disciples to be willing to follow Him by keeping His commandments.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 6:4-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth about being able to fruitfully follow Christ because He suffered the cross and was resurrected to give His disciples life in/for Him. 

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:17  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Paul also teaches fellow Christians that they (we) become new - and Spirit-led - people when we surrender to follow His grace.  

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

… Paul gives witness to the transformation in his life when he surrendered to follow Christ.

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John writes of the transformation which will happen in the lives of those who faithfully follow Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Pimpo …  USE THIS LINK    …related a true story of Mark, a fifth-generation fruit tree farmer, whose family, over the years, had developed many ways to promote and bring in a good harvest of cherry, peach, and apple trees.  Mark and his family realized that they were always dependent on God’s grace to bring in a harvest.  However, they knew that given that reality, they could - and would - bring in a good harvest of fruit if they followed and surrendered to God’s will and His ways. 

And if my readers have taken in the linked, Bill Gaither song, sung by David Crowder, and meditated on the Scriptures shared above, we all can be - and will be - fruitful in this life if we’re willing to faithfully live under the reality of God’s amazing grace.  That’s where I am today, living by and under God’s love and most certainly by His grace.   How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being able to live by Your grace.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for extending Your grace, thru Christ, to be able to live for You 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.

April 13, 2026 … Saved By Grace Alone …

Apr 13, 2026 …  Saved By Grace Alone … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing Amazing Grace … declaring God’s truth that it is <u>only by His grace</u> that we have been saved by faith.

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Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 2:8 … [NLT] </b> 

…  8 God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. . 

… Paul declares God’s truth about our salvation coming as a gift of His grace, … not by our works.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Ephesians 2:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth about God’s gift of salvation, … not by our works.

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

… The Apostle John declares that we Christians have received from The Lord God’s grace in abundance.

Reference Passage: … Romans 11:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul show that it is only by God’s grace that Christians find salvation.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also gives witness to the power of God’s grace working thru Paul’s life.

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

…Paul repeats his testimony of God’s grace being enough in his life to give Paul God’s power.  

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

… The Author of Hebrews calls on Christians to bring their circumstances to God’s throne of grace.

Reference Passage: … James 4:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother James, quoting from Solomon in  Proverbs 3:34, testifies to the power of God to give believers His grace in their (our) humility.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Dave Brandon …  USE THIS LINK    …related a true story of a young college football player, name Mark, who was arrested for driving while intoxicated.  However, the arresting officer gracefully dropped Mark off at the college rather than taking him to the station. The next day Mark’s coach, knowing what had happened, suggested that Mark go to church the next day, which led to Mark hearing the good news of God’s amazing - saving - grace to which Mark responded and was saved.

Today is the 43rd anniversary of my being saved by God’s grace; and it’s fitting that the ODB entry today would focus on the reality of God’s grace being the most important gift that God gives to those who’re willing to humbly surrender and receive His free gift of salvation.   I did what Mark did 43 years ago today.  How about you?  Have you received God’s amazing grace, as Alan Jackson sings in the linked song? I’m stopping to pray it’s so for my readers today. 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your amazing grace 43 years ago.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for extending Your free gift of grace to those who’re willing to receive it.  … 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.