July 6 2026 … Thriving In Christ

July 6 2026 … Thriving In Christ 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group, Elevation Worship,  singing … In Your Presence … relishing being in the presence of God..

Seeking God's presence ... thru His word ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Samuel 6:14  [NLT]

… 4 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.  

… King David dances for joy that God’s presence was brought into the walls of Jerusalem.

Highlight Passage: … 2Samuel 6:9-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David danced for joy being in the presence of God as the Ark of God’s Covenant was bought back into the walls of Jerusalem.      

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

…  God promises Moses and God’s people the Lord’s security by His presence, following God’s chosen.

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 30:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  David sings for joy as God’s presence was brought back into the City of David.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises that those who seek after God’s presence will find Him.  

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

… Jesus promises His chosen faithful to be with them ALWAYS.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 13:5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Author of Hebrews quotes from Deut 31:6, repeating God’s promise to be with God’s people FOREVER.

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

… Jesus’ brother, James, teaches truth that God’s presence will be with those who’re willing to repent of their sin and to follow the Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Kenneth Petersen  …  USE THIS LINK      writes about Zoologists studying the strange - and wonderful - dancing behavior of loggerhead turtles, who are known to “dance” when they are in the presence of food sources.  However, scientists have shown that the “dancing” stops when radio waves confuse the internal “GPS” of the turtles.  

Apparently this “dancing” phenomenon reminded the ODB author today of King David dancing for joy when God’s presence, along with the Ark of the Covenant, was brought back into the walls of Jerusalem, as documented in today’s Highlight passage.  But if my readers take in the linked song and the remainder of the Scriptures shared above, all of us who follow the Lord are promised of God’s presence ALWAYS when we seek after Him.   And that’s why my readers find me here - every morning - seeking after God’s presence thru His word.   Are you with me?   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for Your Spirit and Your presence thru Your truth every day.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for Your promise to be with Your people ALWAYS!    … 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.

July 5 2026 … God’s Lavish Love

July 5 2026 … God’s Lavish Love 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Cory Asbury  singing … Reckless Love … sharing about God’s lavish and reckless love.

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Highlight Passage: … Leviticus 25:35  [NLT]

…  35 “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you.  

… God, thru Moses declares instructs His chosen people to share His love with those in need.

Highlight Passage: … Leviticus 25:35-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, commands His people to share God’s love with those in need.      

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Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 31:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru the Prophet Jeremiah shows God’s people of the extent of God’s love given freely to Gods’ chosen people.

Reference Passage: …  Zephaniah 3:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru the Prophet Zephaniah, promises to calm the fears of  HIs people with His love.

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

… Jesus shares about God’s love by sacrificing His Son to save His chosen people.

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:38-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about the eternal extent of God’s love.

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:10, 16  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John writes about the extent of God’s lavish love.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:3-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals to John - and all believers - of the extent of God’s covenant love for His faithful.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Alyson Kieda  …  USE THIS LINK            related a story about her grandson’s 11th birthday, which was held, with many friends, at a posh mediterranean restaurant.  And the boy’s father asked him what he wanted served for this special day.  However, the birthday boy hesitated, … in that his desire to have salmon he felt was too expensive.  But His dad quickly said, “It’s your birthday. If that’s what you’d like, you can have it.”

And the ODB story illustrates all that is written above, thru the linked song and all the Scriptures shared above … that God’s lavish love will be (and is) extended to all His faithful children.  Personally, my faith in my loving Heavenly Father has me in for all of His love; and prayerfully I will share it with all who need it in my life.  Are you in for all of that love?   

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for giving me ALL of Your love thru Your Son, Jesus.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for sharing all of Your lavish love with any/all who believe in 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.

July 4 2026 … He’s My Shepherd

July 4 2026 … He’s My Shepherd 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...         and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Patrick Mayberry  singing … Lead On Good Shepherd … calling on all Christians to follow the Lord as our Good Shepherd.

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Highlight Passage: … Ezekiel 34:15  [NLT]

…  15 I myself will tend My sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord. 

… God, thru Ezekiel, declares Himself to the Shepherd for Israel. 

Highlight Passage: … Ezekiel 34:1-2, 11-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Ezekiel, shows Himself to be the “Good Shepherd” for His chosen people..      

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 23:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David sings of The Lord being his (and our) Good Shepherd.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, describes our Lord being like a Good Shepherd, caring for His flock. 

Reference Passage:… Matthew 9:36 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus was described by Matthew as being like a good shepherd, having compassion and caring for His sheep.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-29  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, invites His faithful followers to rest in Him, just as a shepherd would his flock.

Reference Passage: … John 10:11-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …           

… Jesus describes Himself as “Good Shepherd” watching over, caring for, and protecting His flock.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Peter also shows Jesus describing Himself as a “Shepherd” caring for His flock of sheep.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from James Banks  …  USE THIS LINK           related a story about two friends, Heather, who found a small lamb caught in a fence and called in her Husband, Tim, who freed the fawn and put it in a safe place.   But the mother was no where to be found.  Later Tim noted a flock of sheep near the woods nearby and a somewhat nervous doe in their midst.  Tim looked up a distress call for a sheep on his cell phone and played it on his speaker; and the doe followed him to where he released to lamb to the doe; and she immediately began to nurse her little lamb.  Tim had a been a good shepherd for those sheep, … an illustration of what our Lord is for His sheep.

And for my fellow Christian readers here with me today, … you guessed it!  We’re the sheep and our Lord, Jesus, if you’ve taken in the linked song and the Scriptures above, is our “Good Shepherd.”  He cares for, guides, and protects His Flock; and I for one, follow Him.  How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for being My Good Shepherd.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for being our Good Shepherd ,,, ALWAYS!   … 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.

July 3 2026 … Walk By Faith

July 3 2026 … Walk By Faith 

Devotional Son: ... 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 God will provide His perfect strength when our faith is weak.

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 40:31  [NLT]

…  31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. 

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, to give HIs strength to His weary people.

Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 40:25-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promises His strength to give faith to His weakened people.      

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

…  God promises to show THE WAY, … His way …, to those who trust in Him with ALL their heart.

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 33:6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …         

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises His peace to His weary people. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… Jesus promises to His faithful followers His rest for their weary souls..  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:37  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth that Christians are conquerers thru our faith in and relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul again witnesses to the strength he had thru His faith in Christ.

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

…  The Author of Hebrews assures fellow Christians that they (we) can (and will) run the race we call “life” by shedding all the burdens we carry in this life.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Nancy Gavilanes  …  USE THIS LINK     related how a handicapped woman struggled to walk up the steps to get into the church for worship; and a man, trying to encourage her said, “One step at a time. That’s the only way you’re going to make it. ...Take it easy.”  And the ODB author, who heard the words of this man to this fellow believer, was encouraged as well as the handicapped woman.

And if my readers have taken in the linked song, and have meditated on the Scriptures I shared above, I hope you are lifted up, as was I, by the promises God has made thru His word to provide His people - and that’s you and me - with His strength and peace when we feel down or discouraged.  And right now I’m needing more than a little of my God’s strength.  How about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for promising me Your strength as I walk this walk of faith.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for lifting us up when we feel  weak.  … 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.

July 2 2026 … Teamwork for Christ

July 2 2026 … Teamwork for Christ 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...        and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin and Russell Dickerson singing … Together … Calling all Christians to work TOGETHER in service to the Lord.

Teamwork for Christ !!! 

 

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 22:19  [NLT]

…  10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

… Solomon discovers that working alone is not as effective as TEAMWORK in this world.

Highlight Passage: … Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon shares Godly wisdom about believers working TOGETHER for the Lord’s will and His work.      

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Reference Passage: …  Genesis 2:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

…  God designed mankind, from the beginning, to work TOGETHER for His glory.

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

… King David sing that it wonderful when mankind can work TOGETHER for His glory.  

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 27:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon shows that “iron sharpens iron” when believers work TOGETHER.  

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 12:22-25  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth that all parts of the Body of Christ, like all parts of our physical body, are necessary for the whole body to work TOGETHER effectively

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

… The Apostle Paul again exhorting fellow Christians, compares working TOGETHER as the Body of Christ to how the whole human body functions, with all of it’s parts working in harmony.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter reminds fellow Christians that they (we) must use our individual gifts TOGETHER with other fellow Christians, working in harmony with each other.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Dave Branon  …  USE THIS LINK         related a true story of the main engineer for the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1892 becoming very ill and his wife, working closely with her husband, relaying his plans to the workers, … the couple working TOGETHER, as a team, got the bridge finished, which still stands today as a tribute to teamwork.

We all need each other, don’t we, … especially in this life where we were designed by God to be in teamwork, as the linked song and the Scriptures shared above?    It’s the individual parts of God’s body, His Church, working TOGETHER, for His glory.  Common, fellow Christians, let’s be a team today!   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You … for giving all the parts of Your body to work TOGETHER with me for Your glory.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, … for calling us ALL to work TOGETHER in harmony 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.