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.

April 12 2026 … Slow To Anger …

Apr 12 2026 …  Slow To Anger … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Joshua Miller singing Slow To Anger … showing Christians that our God is slow to anger and rich in love and forgiveness.

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Highlight Passage: … Joel 2:13 … [NLT]  

…  13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.

… Joel shows God’s people of God’s mercy, … being slow to anger and rich in forgiveness and grace for those who’re willing to repent and turn back to God.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Joel 2:12-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God thru the Prophet, Joel, shows that He promises His mercy and forgiveness to the repentant in spite of their (our) sinfulness.

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 34:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …     

… God (i.e., Yahweh) declares to Moses that He, The Lord, is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love for His people.

Reference Passage: … Numbers 14:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Moses calls on God’s promise to hold His anger and forgive His faithful and repentant people.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 103:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God being slow to anger and filled with unfailing love.

Reference Passage: … Lamentations 3:22-23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, shows that His mercy is ALWAYS there for those who love the Lord.

Reference Passage: … James 1:19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus’ brother, James, calls on fellow Christians to be slow to be angry.  

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 3:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Peter teaches of God being patient with His people that they (we) would return to God’s unfailing love and forgiveness.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from John Blase …  USE THIS LINK      … described a form of TV broadcasting called “Slow TV,”  which was brought to the Norwegian people by their TV network by filming  and producing a seven-hour train ride, which showed the viewers all the details of the lovely countryside, which became mesmerizing to the viewers when compared to the quicker, fast-paced action drama which had been broadcast in the past.

I don’t know whether my TV viewing tastes would appreciate that slower genre of TV or not; and I do know that today’s description of God being slow to anger, as described in the Scriptures shared above and the linked song, applies to me greatly.  In fact, … every morning that you find me here, delving into God’s truth from HIs word, I am sampling God’s ever-present mercy and His unfailing love and grace.   AND I LOVE IT!!  … How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for being there with Your compassionate grace; …  EVERYDAY!  …

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing us Your patience and Your mercy every morning that we live for 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.

April 11 2026 … Clinging To God …

Apr 11 2026 …  Clinging To God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Donnie McClurkin singing Cling To Jesus … calling on Christians cling closely and firmly to their (our) relationship with Christ … ALL our lives.

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Highlight Passage: … Psalm 63:8… [NLT] </b> …

...  <i> 8 I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely.. 

… David, in a time of desperation, sings of clinging to God and The Lord’s strength.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 63 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David, in a time of wilderness desperation, shows HIs clinging dependence on God.

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

… David sings of pleading to God for HIS direction in life.

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

… Solomon calls on believers to trust COMPLETELY in God to show them (us) THE way (i.e., HIs way) in life.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God, thru Isaiah, promises His peace to those who focus and follow His will and His ways.

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

… The Apostle Paul pleads with fellow Christians to surrender and become living sacrifices to God, avoiding the ways of the world to cling to and  follow The Lord … ALWAYS!

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also instructs fellow Christians that no matter what we face in life, seeking to cling to and follow God will provide the way - God’s way.

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

… The Author of Hebrews calls on fellow Christians to follow God closely in running the race of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Adam R Holz …  USE THIS LINK     … related that as he wrote today’s ODB devotional blog, his dog, “Winston,” a Lahsa-Apso, was curled up at his feet; and if the ODB author moved, Winston moved with him, … clinging to his side.  And the author, … Adam Holz, … surmised that Winston’s clinginess likely was because Holz had been away traveling for some time; and Winston was just expressing his need to be close to his owner

And that attitude of clinging/closeness to God is what is brought forth by the ODB author and in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, … calling on us Christians to cling to and follow our Lord closely in all we think, say, and do, … avoiding our own desires and the ways of the the world.   But focusing our will and our ways to follow our Lord ever so closely … day-by-day, … yes, even moment-by-moment, … just like Winston did to the ODB author in today’s devotional blog.  Personally, that’s where I’m going again today, using God’s word, as I do every morning to cling closely to my God.   How about you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for watching over me as I cling closely to follow you everywhere You go.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for showing us the way - Your way - to go again today.   … 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.

April 10 2026 … Safe With God …

Apr 10 2026 …  Safe With God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Katy Nichole singing Safe In Your Hands … showing faithful Christians of the safety they (we) ALWAYS have in God’s hands. 

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 … [NLT] </b> … 

...  10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.   I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 

… God holds His chosen people in His strong hands.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  Isaiah 41:8-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His chosen people in exile in Babylon, their safety in His strong hands.

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 33:27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Moses, promises to lift up His chosen people in His arms. 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 55:22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of God’s promise to keep His people secure … ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 18:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God, thru Solomon, promises to be a strong tower into which God’s people can run and be safe.

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28-31   [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians of how God will always keep His chosen people safe with no need to fear.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also instructs fellow Christians to bring all their fears and concerns to God in thankful prayer, seeking His peace to guard their (our) hearts.

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 4:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul witnesses to Timothy and all Christians that God will bring them (us) all safely into His glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Nancy Gavilanes …  USE THIS LINK       … related a fearful memory she had of slowly ascending on a steep carnival ride and taking a peek to see the steep descent which was to come   momentarily.   I think we all have childhood memories like that of fearful times or experiences, ….don’t we?   

However, in the linked song and God’s word, shared above, we hear and read of God’s promises to hold His chosen faithful in His hands … to be a strong tower into which we can run to be safe … ALWAYS!   I’m feeling that promise and HIs security as I write this.   Do you feel it?   If not; … go back and take in God’s promises of His safety from His truth in the Scriptures shared above.  We’re in HIs hands … ALWAYS! 

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for holding me up in Your hands again today.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for holding us in Your hands ALWAYS.    … 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.