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.

May 13 2026 … Waiting for Harvest …

May 13 2026 … Waiting for Harvest … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group Maranatha Singers singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness … declaring that God is faithful forever to allow believers to reap what they sow.

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Highlight Passage: … Galatians 6:9 … [NLT]

… So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to remain faithful in sewing and repeat as they (we) live to share God’s love with one another.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Galatians 6:7-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians about sowing and reaping.

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 23:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses declares to God’s people to celebrate at the time of the harvest.

Reference Passage: … Leviticus 23:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God gives instructions to His people how to celebrate at the time of the harvest..  

Reference Passage:… Proverbs 6:6-8[NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… Solomon uses how the ants work to show how believers should work faithfully for God’s harvest.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 13:24-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His followers in a parable about a farmer waiting patiently for the harvest of his planting.

Reference Passage: … 1 Corinthians 15:58  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul calls on fellow Christians that nothing they do for the Lord is ever useless.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul reinforces the truth of God’s law of sowing and reaping to fellow Christians.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Dave Brandon …  USE THIS LINK        … told of two missionaries, Joanne Shetler and Anne Fetzer, who went into the mountains of The Philippians to share the gospel with natives who had never heard of Jesus.  They worked for years to translate the Bible into the language of the people; but there were no converts.  Then they also worked to build a landing strip for a plane to being goods to the people.   And one day that supply plane helped carry a pregnant woman to be treated, saving the woman and her baby.  And seeing this wondrous work, many came to saving faith in Christ.

The story, of course, illustrates the truth of all of the scriptures shared above about God’s law of sowing and reaping (also see the photo) where we, as God’s chosen people, are called to faithfully live for Christ and Who will give the harvest for all the seeds we Christians have sewn for God’s glory.  So, I will Keep on keeping on, sewing His seeds with the way I live my life, knowing that God will bring in the harvest in His good and faithful timing.   Are you with me?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for calling me to keep sewing the seeds of Your glory. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, bring in Your harvest as we plant the seeds for Your glory.  …  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 12 2026 … Growing In Knowing God …

May 12 2026 … Growing In Knowing God … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing The God I Know… declaring that we grow in knowing our God.

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Highlight Passage: … 2Timothy 2:15 … [NLT]

…  15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive His approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

… Paul exhorts Timothy to work hard to present himself for God’s approval, correctly being able to explain God’s truth to His people,

Highlight Passage in Context:  2Timothy 2:14-19, 22-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy - and all Christians - to grow in the knowledge of God.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:66 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist, likely King David, shows that God’s truth - i.e., God’s word -  is the key to knowing God.

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 1:7, 2:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches that knowledge of God’s wisdom comes from His mouth (i.e., HIs word).  

Reference Passage: … Daniel 12:4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God calls on Daniel to protect God’s word, which is the secret to knowing The Lord.

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy - and all Christians - that God’s word was given so that His people would know God and serve Him Lord more effectively (see photo).

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

… James calls fellow Christians to call on God to provide them (us) with the wisdom we need to serve Him.

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 3:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to grow in God’s grace and the knowledge of The Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Nancy Gavilanes …  USE THIS LINK       … related a story of the ODB author struggling to swim two laps of the the pool before she had learned to swim and how inept she was.   However, years later after she had learned all the strokes in swimming that task of swimming the laps in the pool was no problem    

We all are more effective in carrying out a given task when we have been given the knowledge we need to carry out that task, aren’t we?  And that applies to how we serve God, doesn’t it?  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and the Scriptures God’s word provides above, I think we’d all agree that we become more effective servants of God when we get to know Him more intimately; and we do that by knowing HIs word and practicing its truth.   And that’s why I’m here into God’s word again today.   Are you with me?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your instructions for my life through Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, once again, for giving  us Your word which helps us to know You more intimately and serve You more effectively.   …  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 11 2026 … God’s Word Endures … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...           and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group Woodside Worship singing The Word Remains … declaring that God’s word endures forever.

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 40:8 … [NLT]

…  8 … The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.” 

… Isaiah declares to God’s people that all will fade but God’s word endures forever.

Highlight Passage in Context: Isaiah 40:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s prophet declares that God’s word will remain forever.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:1-176 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist, likely King David, honors the eternal power of God’s word.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul and Barnabas encourage fellow Christians to continue in faith despite the trials they face.

Reference Passage:… John 1:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John preaches that Christ is the eternal Word Who came into the world to save mankind.

Reference Passage:… 2Timothy 3:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy and all Christians that God’s eternal word was given so that His people would be given its eternal power.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews teaches of the eternal power of God’s word.

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

… The Apostle Peter quotes from Isaiah 40:6-8 teaching fellow Christians that God’s word and its power is eternal.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from John Blase …  USE THIS LINK      … told of a wealthy NYC businessman, Charles Schwab, building the largest mansion in all of New York City in the early 1900s.   However, by 1948 it became out of date in its style and was demolished after Schwab’s death because no one would by it.  And this shows the temporary nature of all things in this world, … EXCEPT God’s word, which, according to God’s truth in the Scriptures above, lasts FOREVER.    

And that’s why, my fellow Christians, you find me here, starting each day in God’s eternal truth, because I, for one, want to stay grounded in what is taught by God, Himself, in His word.  Are you with me?   And is God’s eternal truth your guide for life as it is for me?       

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for Your truth which is my eternal light.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for giving  us Your word which endures forever as the light for our lives.   …  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 10 2026 … Christ Revealed In Us …

May 10 2026 … Christ Revealed In Us … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing His Strength Is Perfect … declaring that believers in Christ receive strength from Christ to deal with he troubles/trials of life.

 

His Light shines from my box ... 

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Highlight Passage … 2Corinthians 4:7-8 … [NLT]

…  7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.  8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that God’s power will sustain us no matter what we face.

Highlight Passage in Context:  2Corinthians 4:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul describes God’s treasure coming in jars of clay.

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Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in His upper-room discourse, teaches his disciples that they will face trials in the world but HE would overcome the world.

Reference Passage: … Acts 14:22b [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul and Barnabas encourage fellow Christians to continue in faith despite the trials they face.

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that all things we face in life are for their (our) good.

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 12:7-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul remembers Jesus’ teaching that God’s power works best in his (and our) times for weakness and trouble.

Reference Passage: … James 1:2-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …                                           

… James teaches truth that troubles in life give believers the opportunity to grow stronger in faith.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:12-13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter gives God’s assurance to persecuted Christians that they (we) not be surprised by fiery trails but relish in them because they will help us grow stronger in faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Amy Boucher Pie …  USE THIS LINK     … wrote of Joni Eareckson Tada, the paralyzed and wheelchair bound Christian ambassador of God’s light, after her mother died, comparing a Christian’s life to a light shining from a broken-down cardboard box (see photo).   

And that word picture is very much like that which various Biblical writers picture the Christians life, … where the light of Christ shines from the lives of those who contain that light.  And if my readers take in the linked song and the Scriptures shared above, I know you will be encouraged, as was I.   And right now I’m one who needed that reminder; … how about you?      

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for Your strength in dealing with my brokenness.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for giving  us with Your enabling grace to deal with the trials of 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.