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 ... 

========================

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.

================ 

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

=============

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!! 

========================

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.

================ 

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

=============

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 ... 

========================

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). 

================ 

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

=============

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 3 2026 … Why GOOD Friday? …

Apr 3 2026 …  Why GOOD Friday?  … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing Old Rugged Cross … calling all Christians to recognize and remember what our God did of by giving HIs Son to die on that old rugged cross.

========================

Highlight Passage: … 1John 4:9-10 … [NLT]  

… <i> 9 God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. 10 This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

… The Apostle John shows the extent of God’s love, that HE would be willing to sacrifice His only Son to save those who believe and surrender to follow Him.   

Highlight Passage in Context:  1John 4:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle teaches truth to fellow Christians about the extent of God’s love in that He was willing to sacrifice His only Son to save us from their (our) sins.

================ 

Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 7:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses teaches about the extent of God’s covenant of love for His chosen people.

Reference Passage: … Psalms 86:15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David prays in song of God’s unfailing love for His chosen people. 

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

…Jesus teaches Nicodemus and all Christians of the extent of God’s unfailing love for those who believe in Him as LORD.

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians about God’s willingness to sacrifice His Son to save them (us) from their (our) sinfulness.    

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

… The Apostle Paul testifies that when he was willing to die to self, Christ made him alive by believing in The Lord’s sacrifice on the Cross.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter teaches about God’s willingness to sacrifice His Son to save any who believe in Him as Lord. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Alyson Kieda …  USE THIS LINK        … discusses the reasons why we have come to call the Friday Jesus died on the Cross …“GOOD” Friday.  It may have come from an older tradition of calling that day “God’s Friday.”  But to most Christians, it’s not difficult to call the day that Jesus died on the cross for their (our) sins, as being a gloriously GOOD day.

I, for one, have no difficulty in seeing the “GOOD” in this Friday as we approach the celebration of EASTER, recognizing what God’s love did for me and any others who recognize Jesus’ loving sacrifice on that Friday, before His resurrection, as a gloriously “GOOD” day.   How about you?  Is this a GOOD day for you to celebrate God’s love?   It sure is for me!!    

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for dying on that horrible cross to save me from my sins.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for what You did on that infamous Friday to save us with Your atoning love.     … Amen

=============

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.