April 7 2026 … Living By God’s Word …

Apr 7 2026 …  Living By God’s Word … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Jeremy Camp singing Living Word … calling on Christians to live by God’s word. 

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Highlight Passage: … James 1:22 … [NLT]  …  

... 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  

… James exhorts fellow Christians to live by God’s truth in His word.  

Highlight Passage in Context:  James 1:22-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ brother James calls on fellow Christians to live by God’s word.

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of using God’s word as a light for his path in life.

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

… Jesus teaches His followers (disciples) that God blesses those who live by God’s word.

Reference Passage: … John 17:17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Jesus prayed that those who follow Him be made holy by God’s truth. 

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches Timothy of the power of God’s word to lead them in life.  

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

… The Author of Hebrews teaches about the power of God’s word in the lives of believers.

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

… The Apostle Peter teaches that following God’s truth leads to eternal life.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Karen Huang …  USE THIS LINK     … tells of having a memo pad on her desk at work which read, “10 Habits for Great Health.”  However, when pressed the ODB author admitted that she could only remember 4 of the 10.  

And that is often the way it is with God’s word, which might disappear in our consciousness if we see it often but don’t follow it as the linked song and the Scriptures above teach.  And that is why each day I begin my waking moments delving in and following God’s word.  The habit wakes me up - ever day -  to the reality that I’m here in life to follow God’s “GPS,” which is His living light for my path in life.  Ae you with me?   

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your perfect “GPS” … Your word. … AGAIN TODAY.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for leading us with Your truth..    … 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 6 2026 … Forgiven and Forgiving …

Apr 6 2026 …  Forgiven and Forgiving … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Matthew West singing Forgiveness … sharing what it takes to forgive others the way God has forgiven any Christians who have confessed themselves (ourselves). 

Worshipping the Golden Calf ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Exodus 32:24 … [NLT]  … 

...  24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire — and out came this calf!”  

… Aaron’s lame excuse for the people’s, and his, sin in casting a golden calf to worship rather than worshipping God.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Exodus 32:15-24, [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The account of God’s people and their sin in worshipping a golden calf while Moses was on the Mountain with God.

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in His sermon on the Mount, teaches truth about forgiveness.

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John also repeats God’s stance on forgiveness … that The Lord will forgive Christians if - and only if - they (we) are willing to forgive others. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:37 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Luke’s account of Jesus teaching on forgiveness …  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32   [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to cast aside all evil behaviors and be willing to forgive others the way God has forgiven them (us).  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul again teaches truth of Christians willingness to forgive others the way God has forgiven them (us).

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

… The Apostle John teaches fellow Christians about God forgiving and cleansing those Christians of their (our) sin when they’re (we’re) genuinely willing to confess of the sin. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from James Banks …  USE THIS LINK    … The author for today’s ODB devotional uses the lame excuse of Hans Solo in the movie saga, The Empire Strikes Back, where Solo says, “It’s not my fault,” when his space ship is broken down.  The movie scene reminded the ODB author of Aaron’s lame excuse when Moses came down from the mountain with God to discover the golden calf (see photo). 

And don’t we all have the natural tendency to blame others to excuse our own failings.   And I, for one, reflexively will try to blame-shift when I’ve “blown it” and have been uncovered in my failure.  But God calls all of us (see Scriptures above), who claim the Name of “Christian,” to confess our sin to God and to be willing to forgive the sins of others in order to receive God’s forgiving and saving grace.   I’m there, confessing again today; … how about you?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for forgiving me … AGAIN.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for being willing to forgive Your children when we forgive 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 5 2026 … Resurrection Power …

Apr 5 2026 …  Resurrection Power … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing Resurrection Power … relating the truth of the Resurrection Power and freedom that resides in all who believe in Christ as Messiah and Lord.

The stone was rolled away .. HE IS RISEN!! 

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Highlight Passage: … Mark 16:6 … [NLT] </b> …  

... 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. 

… Arriving at the grave the women discovered an Angel, telling them that Jesus was alive and had risen from the grave. .   

Highlight Passage in Context: Mark 16:1-8, [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Three women go to Jesus’ grave to place more burial spices on His body; but they wondered whom they would get to roll away the stone covering the grave.

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 118:22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalmists, likely David, sings of God’s “Cornerstone.” 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Matthew’s account of women going to Jesus’ tomb and an angel showing them the tomb was rolled away revealing that Jesus was risen.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 24:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Luke’s account of women going to Jesus’ tomb to discover an Angel had rolled the stone away, revealing what The Lord had prophesied earlier, .. that He would rise from the dead on the third day …  

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

… Jesus reveals God’s plan to Nicodemus, and all Christians, … to sacrifice His Son to save mankind from their sin.  

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth of God building His church on Christ as His cornerstone.

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

… The Apostle Peter teaches about Christians living with the expectation of freedom and grace from Jesus having been raised from the dead to defeat death FOREVER. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Patricia Raybon …  USE THIS LINK        … related a personal story of a friend, Loretta, who received a utility bill for $100, which was larger than usual for that month.   Not knowing how she was going to pay the bill, she told her son that “The Lord will provide.”  That very day Loretta received word from her brother to look in the mail for something from him.  And when Loretta opened the mail, there was a check for exactly $100 from her brother.  

This incident reminded the ODB author of today’s entry of the three women in the Gospel accounts (cited above) who went to the tomb wondering whom they would get to roll away the stone for them to bring spices into Jesus’ tomb.  But from those accounts we know that Jesus’ body was gone,  He was risen!!! 

What stone have we experienced being rolled away to reveal the power of Christ’s resurrection in our lives?  I sure have seen that power on display as I share the love and grace of Christ in my life with others!   How about you?  

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for revealing Your resurrection power in my life everyday.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for rolling the stones away in our lives to show Your resurrection power.     … 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 4 2026 … Serving Him Today …

Apr 4 2026 …  Serving Him Today … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Zach Williams singing Less Like Me … calling all Christians to be more like Jesus and less like our selfish selves.

Serving like Jesus ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 6:20 … [NLT]  … 

... 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 

… Jesus teaches, in the Sermon on the Mount, for His followers to store up treasures in Heaven by the way we serve others here on earth.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  Matthew 6:1-4, 19-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His followers that follow Him, as Lord, requires their (our) serving others from His love for them (us). 

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 11:25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches that those who are generous in helping others will be blessed by God generously.

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

… Again, Jesus teaches His followers, and Disciples that HE, the Son of Man, as their Lord, came to serve, not to be served. 

Reference Passage: … John 13:12-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Jesus teaches His disciples how they (we) must serve others as He did by washing their feet <b>(see photo)</b>.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christian leaders, using his service to others as an example of serving the Lord by serving others.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul also teaches fellow Christians how they (we) must serve the needs of others out of our love for Christ.

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 4:10-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter teaches about Christians using the gifts we’ve been given by God’s Spirit to serve the needs of others.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Anne Cetas …  USE THIS LINK        … related how her hard-working father would often receive help on the family farm from neighbors who would never allow her father to pay them; and her father saying, “until you’re better paid.”  The ODB author reports not understanding those words until later, as a Christian, reading God’s word in Scriptures like this shared above.

As Christians, from these words of truth, we who surrender our lives to follow the example of Christ (see attached photo) are called to serve others in need out of the love we have for Christ.  Yes, … that’s why I do all I can to use the gifts God has given me, as a Christian, to serve HIM by teaching and encouraging others.   What’s your gift; and how are you serving our Lord by helping others?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me gifts of teaching and encouragement to serve You by serving others.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for what You have given us in order to serve You by serving 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.