Feb 21 2026 … Remembering God’s Goodness …

Feb 21 2026 … Remembering God’s Goodness … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Cece Winans singing Goodness of God … calling on all Christians to focus on and remember the eternal goodness of God.

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Highlight Passage: … Psalms 42:5 … [NLT] …  

5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?  I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again — my Savior and my God! 

… The Psalmist sings of taking all his discouragement to the Lord with praise, … even n the face of life’s challenges.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Psalms 42:1-8  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s Psalmist writes of maintaining faith as the author deals with severe  life challenges and even depression.  

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 103:1-2, 10-13  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God’s willingness to give His faithful children the grace and strength to deal with the challenges of life.

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

… God, thru Isaiah, promises to give His peace to those who’re willing to focus, in faith, on God’s love and grace.   

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

… The Apostle John, teaches truth for Christians to remember the blessings they (we) have received from God’s abundant grace. 

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

…  Paul exhorts fellow Christians to remember all the blessings we receive from God’s grace.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-8, 19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also calls on all fellow Christians to take their (our) anxieties and concerns to God in prayer with thankful hearts, recognizing that The Lord will provide all our needs … ALWAYS! 

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

… James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches truth about God blessing those who’re tested because of their (our) faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Bill Crowder …  USE THIS LINK   … describes how a theologian, who was dealing with memories of the days of apartheid in South Africa, asked a young girl what the concept of “memory” meant to her, to which the student responded, ”Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.” And the ODB author immediately pointed to the brilliance of that insight from such a young child.   

And that insight is at the heart of how we, as Christians, must deal with our past, especially memories we have difficulty forgetting.  We need to be able to remember God’s goodness and His blessings in order to forget what we’ve dealt with in the past, or are dealing with in the present.   

Personally, I’m dealing with a lot of personal issues right now.   Perhaps my readers are too.  Well, I’m stopping, … right now, … to pray that we’ll all remember God’s goodness and His grace to give us the peace to forget the past and the strength to deal with the present.   Are you with me?  

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your strength, especially when I have trouble forgetting my past or dealing with my present ills.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and grace, giving us the truth from Your word to allow us to “forget” our past and deal with today’s challenges.  … 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.

Feb 20 2026 … Watch Out For Wolves …

Feb 20 2026 … Watch Out For Wolves … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing Take My Life and Let I Be … calling on all Christians to let their (our) lives be lived for  and dedicated to worship, honor, and glorify our Lord.

Watch out for the wolves ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:10 … [NLT] … 

10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.. 

… Paul declares how Christ died so that we, His faithful, could - and would - live with and for Him FOREVER when He returns for His glory.

Highlight Passage in Context:  1Thessalonians 5:10-23  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts and instructs his fellow Christians to do all they can to live for the One Who died that they (we) be free to live as He, our Lord, lived. 

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 6:5  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, calls on God’s chosen to give ALL of their (our) heart, soul, and strength to follow God’s ways in living for His glory.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:15-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount, warns his followers and disciples to watch for false teachers/leaders, who can become like wolves in sheep’s clothing (see photo), and devour those who cannot identify these false leaders by their behaviors, which go against God’s word and His ways.   

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

… Paul teaches truth to his fellow Christians (and God’s chosen) to become living sacrifices and to follow His ways ALWAYS, avoiding the ways of  the world. 

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

…  Paul also testifies to being a slave to follow Christ, calling on fellow Christians to honor the Lord by faithfully following His ways.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul calls on all fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ in surrendering to live like Him.

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

… Finally, the Apostle Paul teaches Timothy - and all Christians - that God’s word was given to believers to allow them (us) to follow Him in the way we live their (our) lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Monica La Rose …  USE THIS LINK   … described a news release in Kenya in 2023 involving a number of people who died from self-starvation being led by a cult leader who had convinced many in the cult to starve themselves so that they could be with Jesus.  After his arrest, the cult leader denied ever teaching that but a number of survivors testified that he did.     

The ODB entry today, especially in light of God’s truth in the Scriptures shared above shows that false prophets, like the Kenyan cult leader, can invade the world and become what we’d call “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” (see photo), leading desperate Christians to live in ways that are false to what our Lord died to free His chosen ones for … and that is to live in ways that honor and glorify our Lord.   And that’s why you find me here - starting each day - by emerging my mind and my heart - in God’s word; because I know that I will be living for Jesus, … ALWAYS, … when I follow His word, which God has given us to follow our Lord all the way to glory.  Are you with me?  

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for giving me Your word so that I can live for You as I follow You again today, waiting for You to come for me to be with You forever.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for helping us to avoid those wolves in sheep’s clothing each day as You lead us to 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.

Feb 19 2026 … God’s Lavish Love …

Feb 19 2026 … God’s Lavish Love … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...       and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from Scott Underwood singing This Is Love … describing God lavish love for His chosen ones.

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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. 

… Moses describes God’s desire for Israelites to share His lavish love with others by supporting each other; and even by sharing their homes with those who were poor and needy.

Highlight Passage in Context:  Leviticus 25:35-43  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, describes how His chosen people were to treat others with the love of God on display for all to see, … sharing their homes with fellow Israelites who were poor and displaced. 

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Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises His love and His plan to restore God’s people and to give them an eternal hope for their future.  

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

… Jesus describes the extent of God’s love to Nicodemus … with God being willing to give up His son in love for all who would believe on Him as Messiah and Lord. 

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

… The Apostle Paul teaches truth about God’s willingness to die to share His love … even with sinners.

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

…  Paul also describes his confidence that NOTHING in this world can separate God’s lavish love from those who believe in His Son as Messiah and Lord.

Reference Passage:… 1Corinthians 13:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Finally, Paul describes, as best he could in his own words, the extent of God’s lavish love for His children and how that love should be shared with others.

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

… Finally, the Apostle John declares truth that God’s love extends to ALL His children, … unlike those who don’t know Him as Messiah and Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Tom Felton …  USE THIS LINK   … related a story about two brothers, the older one, Todd, being willing to open his home for the younger brother, Alex, who was just out of college and needing to get his finances in order.  Todd later took all the money that Alex paid in rent to establish a savings account for his younger brother; …  and to set Alex’s finances in order with a stable start.      

And the ODB entry today, especially in light of God’s truth in the Scriptures shared about God’s lavish love, illustrate how much God loves His children and calls on them (us) to share that love with others as Todd did for his brother, Alex.  I, for one, know of God’s love for me and how much He did for me on that cross to show His lavish love for me.  How about you?  How has God shown His love for you?

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for showing Your love for me and by calling me to share Your love with others.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, using Your children to reach out and share Your lavish love for others who need to experience 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.

Feb 18 2026 … God’s Restoration …

Feb 18 2026 … God’s Restoration … 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...      and PLEASE take the time to listen to music and lyrics from the group Elevation Worship singing Graves Into Gardens … showing that God’s restoring grace is bigger, and more powerful, than anything we experience or fail at in our past. 

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Highlight Passage: … Joel 2:25 … [NLT] …  

25 The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you. 

… God says, thru the Prophet Joel, that he would restore the devastation wrought by God sending a horde of locusts to devour the fields around God’s sinful people. 

Highlight Passage in Context:  Joel 2:21-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Joel, promises to restore the fields which were devoured as God punished His people by a horde of locusts devouring the vegetation in the area where His people lived.  

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Reference Passage: … Job 42:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God restored all that Job had lost when Job decided to pray for his mistaken “friends.”  

Reference Passage: … Psalms 51:11-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David prays that God would restore his repentant heart after David’s sin with Bathsheba and her husband.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 61:7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Isaiah, promises restored and everlasting joy to the remnant of God’s forgiven people. 

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

… Jesus promises to restore all we have lost in our sinful lives if God’s faithful will but repent and follow Him.

Reference Passage: … Acts 3: 19-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Peter preaches to the people, in the Temple, of God’s restoring grace when they are willing to repent of their sins and be healed forever.

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

… Finally, the Apostle John declares truth that God is willing - and able - to forgive and cleanse any and all of His children who will confess of their (our) sins.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread from Nancy Gavilanes …  USE THIS LINK   … told of feeling devastated when a friend accidentally deleted all of her personal photos and videos while helping the ODB author install a new computer.  But after several hours of working to find the deleted photos, her friend was able to restore all the precious memories the ODB author thought she had lost.      

And that incident reminded the ODB author of how God was able to restore what God’s people had lost when a horde of locusts had devoured  all the vegetation in their land, which we read about in the Highlight passage.  Perhaps, like me, some of my readers have experienced God’s promised, and very real, restoration from the devastation that can be wrought from our past sins.  But God is a God of grace and  restoration (see photo); and if we’re willing to confess and repent of our sins, He will, as revealed in the Scriptures shared above, most certainly restore us.  I’m praying - right now - that you have - or will - experience God’s restoring mercy and grace.  Maybe today!

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You …Lord, … for restoring and cleansing me of ALL my past sins and giving me the glory of Your healing grace.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, … thank You, Lord, for of being The God of restoration for all who believe in and follow 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.