Oct 9 2026 … Slow Growing

Oct 9 2026 …  Slow Growing  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …      and PLEASE take the time to listen to Pat Barrett singing … Build My Life … calling on Christians to build their (our) lives on surrendering to God’s word. 

The slow-growing Saguaro Cactus ... 

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Highlight Passage: … John 16:8 [NLT]

…   15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.    

… Jesus explains His parable which shows that those who hear God’s word and slowly grow in the Spirit will be fruitful for the Lord in their lives.

Reference Passage: …  Luke 8:4-15  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus explains His parable of planting the  seeds to His disciples after telling it to a large group of followers.  

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 139:23-24  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  King David sings of his desire for God to allow him to follow God’d ways all the days of his life.

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

…  Solomon teaches his son (and all believers) to trust in God to show him (us) the way to go in life.

Reference Passage: Ephesians 4:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows his own and the commitment of fellow Christians to grow in Christlikeness.   

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

… The Apostle Paul also teaches truth to fellow Christians about honoring and pleasing the Lord in the way we live our lives for Him.   

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

… The Apostle Paul was convinced that living for and following Christ was the way God will grow us to become more like our Lord.

Reference Passage: …  2Peter 1:5-8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches truth to fellow Christians about what it takes to grow in spiritual fruitfulness.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Winn Collier  …  USE THIS LINK   tells about the slow growth if the saguaro cactus (see photo), which grows in the desert to over 45 feet at less than 1.5 inches per year. But in its lifetime it will produce millions of seeds to help other cacti to root and grow so tall.

And the point being made in the Our Daily Bread entry today is that we Christians should not worry about slowly growing to honor and serve our Lord.  Because slow growth in Christ, as discussed in the Scriptures shared above, shows that we are planted in God’s good soil and nourished by God’s truth to grow in fruitfulness and become more like Christ in our lives.  Personally, I’m here every morning feeding on God’s truth to grow and become more like my  Lord every day.   Are you slowly growing in Christlikeness as well?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank for showing me the way to grow to become like You.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for planting us where we are to grow to become more like You.   …  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.

Oct 8 2026 … The Holy Spirit’s Work

Oct 8 2026 …  The Holy Spirit’s Work 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …     and PLEASE take the time to listen to Jeremy Riddle singing … Fall Afresh … calling on God’s Spirit to fall afresh on Christians and awaken them (us) to fulfill God’s purpose. 

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Highlight Passage: … John 16:8 [NLT]

…   8 And when He (i.e., The Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.    

… Jesus assures His Disciples that He would send them His Spirit to guide them into all truth.

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

…  Jesus assures His disciples that after His departure (i.e., death) He would send them God’s spirit to show them God’s power and work in/thru them.  

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Reference Passage: …  Matthew 28:19-20  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus give His Disciples His “Great Commission” … for them to go in the power of His Spirit to make disciples.

Reference Passage: …  John 15:26  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus assures His Disciples that after He leaves them, He will send them God’s Spirit to allow them to be His witnesses to the world.

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

… Just before Jesus ascends back into Heaven, He assures all His faithful disciples, giving them (us) power from His Spirit to be His witnesses to the world.  

Reference Passage: Romans 8:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the power and guidance of the God’s Spirit residing in them.   

Reference Passage: 2Timothy 1:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul encourages Timothy (and us) of God’s Spirit providing him (us) with His power and guidance.  

Reference Passage: …  2Peter 1:20-21  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches truth that all Prophesy in God’s word comes from the truth of God’s Spirit. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Amy Boucher Pie  …  USE THIS LINK   ... related a true story of Oswald Chambers running a small Bible college and discovering that a couple, employed by the college, was stealing supplies.  And rather than confront the couple, Chambers prayed that God’s Spirit would convict them of their sin, which happened shortly thereafter; and the couple came forward and took responsibility for their theft and pledged to work to serve God with all their heart.

And reading today’s ODB entry and taking in God’s word shared above, I was reminded that I have God’s Spirit working in me and guiding me to follow His truth.  And you do too if you’re a sold-out fellow Christian.   Are you as encouraged by this reality as am I?  I hope so; … I pray so! 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank for sending Your Spirit to reside and work in/thru me.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for Your Spirit doing His/Your work in those of us who know You as Lord.   …  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.

Oct 7 2026 … Longing For His Return

Oct 7 2026 …  Longing For His Return  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …         and PLEASE take the time to listen to Kristian Stanfill singing … Even So Come … showing Christians eagerly awaking the second coming of Christ. 

Eagerly awaiting His return ... 

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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 writes to fellow Christians from prison in Rome of his longing for the second coming of our Lord and Savior.

Highlight Passage: …  Philippians 3:17-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul writes to fellow Christians of his longing for the second coming of The Lord.  

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Reference Passage: …  Romans 8:23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul writes of eagerly awaiting the return of Christ when He will give us our full rights to Heaven.

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 1:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Again, The Apostle Paul, assures fellow Christians of Christ’s return, reminding them of their (our) Spiritual gifts as we await His return.

Reference Passage: Hebrews 9:27-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, assures fellow Christians of the return of Christ to bring those who believe in Him as Lord to Heaven. 

Reference Passage: James 5:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, Jesus’ brother, calls on fellow Christians to wait patiently for the return of Christ.  

Reference Passage: 1John 3:2-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle John calls on fellow Christians to eagerly awaits the second coming of Christ, Who will reveal His glory to all who are His children.  

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 22:20  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises to believers, thru the Apostle John, that He is coming again soon. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Lisa M Samra  …  USE THIS LINK   illustrated our longings for some of our desires by her family regularly visiting Chick-fil-A, their favorite fast-food restaurant.  And this longing was illustrated when the family moved to new home where there were no Chick-fil-A restaurants near them.

And the ODB author’s longing for Chick-fil-A waffle fries and Tea falls way short of the longing all Christians should have, awaiting the second coming of our Lord … to bring all who believe in Jesus as Messiah to be with Him in glory.  And as my readers take in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, I’m sure we all long deeply for Christ to come again.   I, for one, can’t wait!!! … How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, I’m waiting for You to come for me.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for Your promise to come again for Your children.   …  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.

Oct 6 2026 … Calling on God

Oct 6 2026 …  Calling on God  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …      and PLEASE take the time to listen to the group Elevation Worship singing … Call God … calling Christians to call on God when they (we) seek His saving grace.

Calling on God ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Samuel 21:12-13 [NLT]

…   12 David heard these comments and was very afraid of what King Achish of Gath might do to him. 13 So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.  

… David, pretends to be insane to escape the wrath of the King of Gath where David had gone to escape Saul. 

Highlight Passage: …  1Samuel 21:10-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David pretends to be insane before the King of Gath while trying to escape King Saul. 

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 34:22  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  David praises God for keeping him safe while he was escaping King Saul’s wrath.

Reference Passage: …  Psalms  145:18  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David also sings praises to the God Who protects all who faithfully come to Him. 

Reference Passage: Joel 2:32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Joel, promises to save ALL who come to The Lord seeking protection.

Reference Passage: Acts 2:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter, preaching to believers, quotes from the Prophet Joel that ALL who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved. 

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

… Paul, also quoting from the Prophet Joel, teaches truth that any/all who declare Jesus to be raised from the dead as Messiah and Lord will be saved.

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 2:8-9  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians that those who  believe in Jesus as Lord will be saved by God’s grace and not by their works.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Tim Gustafson  …  USE THIS LINK   relates a story about a young high-school wrestler, named Dave, who during a wrestling tournament, sustained a rib injury.   And to avoid his opponents targeting that side of his torso, he faked a leg injury on the other side, falsely limping to cause his opponent to focus on his leg instead of his rib.  And the ploy worked, allowing Dave to win his match.

But the ODB entry for today, focused on another David, this one in the Bible, relating the story of King David, giving praise to God Who protected David when the young anointed King “to be” was trying to escape the wrath of then King Saul. And the account of David’s deliverance and protection, along with the NT Scriptures shared above. show that God will protect and save ANYONE who comes to the Lord (see photo) seeking salvation from God’s grace.  I’ve certainly been one of those.  How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for saving me from myself.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for protecting and saving all those who come to You for Your saving grace.   …  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.

Oct 5 2026 …  Eternal Treasure  

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK  …      and PLEASE take the time to listen to the group Pinelake Worship singing … Treasure … calling Christians to seek seek our worldly treasure in our faith in Christ’s sacrifice to provide our eternal treasure.

A treasure worth so much more ... !!! 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 13:44 [NLT]

…   44  “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.   

… Jesus’ parable of a man finding a treasure and selling all he owned to hold onto his eternal treasure.   

Highlight Passage: …  Matthew 13:44-46 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus relates parables about finding and holding onto the eternal treasures God has for faithful believers in Christ.

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Reference Passage: …  Matthew 6:19-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus teaches about His faithful followers storing up in their (our) hearts the treasures of Heaven.

Reference Passage: …  Mark 12:41-44  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus uses the giving of a poor widow to illustrate how his followers must give sacrificially to store up treasures in heaven.

Reference Passage: Luke 12:33-34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke relates how Jesus taught His followers to seek and capture the eternal treasures of Heaven by giving to the poor.

Reference Passage: Acts 2:44-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The early church, guided by God’s Spirit, gathered all and provided their earthly wealth for the good of all in need.

Reference Passage: …  1Timothy  6:17-19  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy how to live to build  up riches in Heaven.  

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

… Peter teaches truth to fellow Christians about how to live for our eternal inheritance in Heaven.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Cindy Hess Kasper …  USE THIS LINK   relates a story about a man, named James, who used a very powerful magnet lowered into a lake to pull up a safe with millions in soaked dollars, most of which could be reclaimed for their value, which turned out to be enough for James to buy a new house.

And that’s a great story about the value of finding a treasure in this world; but the ODB entry today was trying to help Christians focus on the eternal value that we Christians have in our faith in what Jesus did in dying to provide us with the priceless and eternal wealth we will find in Heaven when we’re with our Lord.   Wow, I’m so rich … to hold onto my eternal wealth that I have found in my faith in Jesus as my Lord.   How about you? 

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for giving me all I have by my faith in You as Messiah and Lord. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for holding onto our eternal treasure chest which we will find being with you in 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.