August 31, 2015: Come On! It’s Time!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 242

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Brian Doerksen singing the old Billy Graham call to surrender song, Just As I Am reminding all that Christ’s invitation to salvation is for anyone … anytime, … anywhere. But to receive His saving grace, no matter how unworthy we are, we must repent and surrender to His Lordship; and follow Him.

Highlight Passage:   Luke 9: 62 [NKJV]  …
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” 
… How many who claim to be “Christian,” are true disciples of the Living Lord.
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Highlight Context – Luke 9: 57-62 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  The cost of true discipleship in Christ.
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew, Chapters 5-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount tells of how difficult it is to be a follower of Jesus.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He (Jesus) said to them (a large crowd following Jesus), … “If anyone would follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 
… Success in following God’s will can only be found by following His truth - THE WORD.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, used a personal story to illustrate how difficult it is to be a surrendered following (i.e., a true disciple) of Jesus Christ. Darmani wrote: For many years I spoke to my distant cousin about our need of a Savior. When he visited me recently and I once again urged him to receive Christ, his immediate response was: “I would like to accept Jesus and join the church, but not yet. I live among people of other faiths. Unless I relocate, I will not be able to practice my faith well.” He cited persecution, ridicule, and pressure from his peers as excuses to postpone his decision. 

I identify with the struggling, lost soul in Darmani’s story. For many years, during a time when I was lost, identifying myself as an “agnostic,” … I knew I was in desperate need of spiritual strength. Just like everyone - from birth - I had a “love-hole,” as I call it, which could only be filled by God’s love; but I refused to surrender to His Lordship in my selfishness.

 But, … the “Hound of Heaven” came after me; and through a wondrous set of circumstances several decades ago, I was broken to a place where Jesus became the only way out of my sin and selfishness; … so, I gave up selfhood and surrendered to the Savior.

 I pray that all who read here today are surrendered disciples of Christ; and like Brian Doerksen sings in the song linked above, you have come, at some point in your life, to repent of your sin nature and receive the saving grace, freely offered by Jesus to anyone - at anytime. And if you have any doubts of that surrender, contact me @ billb13@icloud.com; and I would be honored to be used by God’s Spirit to show you how you can come to Him for the eternal life He promises (see John 3: 16 - a verse you probably know).

 But PLEASE … DON’T WAIT !! … COME!!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I pray all who read here know you as their LORD and SAVIOR. If not, bring them home to follow You today.    … 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.

August 30, 2015: Finding the Real Deal

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 241

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Dennis Jernigan singing his song Who Can Satisfy reminding all Christians that only the reality and truth of the Gospel message can satisfy our souls.

Highlight Passage:   Acts 17: 11-12 [NKJV]  …
11 These [the Christians in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. 
… When Paul preached The Gospel truth in Berea, these fair-minded seekers knew where to go to verify Paul’s teaching … to God’s word - their Book of the Law.
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Highlight Context – Acts 17: 10-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Those in Berea knew how to verify truth with THE TRUTH.
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Reference Passage #1 - Joshua 1: 8 [NKJV] … 
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 
… Success in following God’s will can only be found by following His truth - THE WORD

Reference Passage #2 - Psalm 119: 9, 105 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  Knowing the truth and then walking by it is the way of the Lord.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, used a modern-day dilemma, for which many readers, like myself, can identify. Have you ever been tantalized by a story or intriguing message online, perhaps on some form of social media, which seemed so believable or truthful? And perhaps you, like me, would be tempted to pass it on, or follow it, as “truth.” However, when checking out the fantastic story, perhaps it was found to be untrue and misleading, … just one of those “urban legends” which get passed along these days as if they are absolutely truth.

 That’s why I love the “true story” of the Christians in Berea [found in the linked passage from Acts 17]. Paul had come to Berea from from an angry encounter in Thessalonica; and he was preaching the Gospel in the local Synagogue. And the Berean people were intrigued by his message; but they knew how to verify Paul’s teaching. They went to an absolutely true source - their “Book of the Law” (i.e., their Bible) - to check out Paul’s teaching; and when they discovered his teachings were true, many of them surrendered and followed Christ.

 We need to be like the Bereans, don’t we? When we hear fantastic claims from so-called “christian” teachers in the media or online, we need to have God’s truth - the Bible - so deeply imbedded in our minds and hearts that we can verify - or not - what we’re hearing.

 It’s like the Secret Service being able to tell a counterfeit bill [see attached photo] from the real one because they’ve been trained to recognize the “real deal.” So, I pray that all who’re reading here with me have gotten God’s truth so deeply into our minds/heart, that we’ll always be able to discern truth from fiction in the teachings of others.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Show me Your Truth so that I can discern untruth and to share Your truth with those who need it.    … 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.

August 29, 2015: Unsteady Baby Steps

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 240

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Steven Curtis Chapman singing the his song His Strength is Perfect reminding all Christians that God’s strength will cover us in our weaknesses.

Highlight Passage:   Psalm 18: 32 [NKJV]  …
32 And it is God Who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect. 
… When we take those unsteady baby steps; God, our Daddy is there to catch us.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 18: 31-36 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …
 …  Our Lord watches our steps and guides us in life.
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … 
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. 
… Even with our way seems precarious or frightful, we are to trust in our Lord for guidance and protection.

Reference Passage #2 - Isaiah 41: 10 [NKJV] … 
10 Fear not, for I am with you; … be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, 
… yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 
… Yes, even when we feel weak and unable to go forward.

Reference Passage #3 - Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] … 
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 
… Yes, … ALL things; … even the unsteady, scary steps we have to take in life.

Reference Passage #4 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 …  It’s Jesus’ promise to give us His enabling grace when we are weak or doubtful. So why should I be afraid?

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, used a personal illustration to provide a word picture for her entry today. She wrote: My baby is learning to walk. I have to hold her, and she clings to my fingers because she is still unsteady on her feet. She is afraid of slipping, but I’m there to steady her and watch over her. As she walks with my help, her eyes sparkle with gratitude, happiness, and security. But sometimes she cries when I don’t let her take dangerous paths, not realizing that I am protecting her. 

And there are times in our lives, even as adults, that we feel like a babe as we take uneasy, even fearful, steps when we have to make decisions where our emotions are unsteady and we can even be hyper-anxious about our choices. And perhaps you’re even conjuring up some incident from the past - or maybe even currently - where you seemed to be very hesitant or fearful of the steps you had to (or must) take. And perhaps we feel like that little babe in the attached photo.

 The ODB author went on to write from the highlight passage above about the King after God’s own heart: King David knew all about the need for God’s watchful care in his life. In Psalm 18 he describes how God gives us strength and guidance when we are lost or confused (v. 32). He keeps our feet steady, like the feet of the deer that can climb high places without slipping (v. 33). And if we do slip, His hand is there for us (v. 35). 

And if we meditate on all of the Scriptures above, as well as take in the linked song, we must realize that we need not fear when we’re take “baby steps” that are uneasy or fearful. God is with us; and His grace will always be there to help us move forward.

 So, let’s go … and take those baby steps we need to take today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Steady me as I walk toward you, my Abba Father, today.    … 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.

August 28, 2015: A REAL Hero!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 239

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Alan Jackson singing Blessed Assurance, declaring the song of all saved sinners … that of blessed assurance of the saving grace and the sainthood which is ours in the blood of Christ.

Highlight Passage: Hebrews 3: 1-3 [NKJV]  …  
1 … Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 Who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 
… To Christians suffering for their faith, the Author presents a case of the authenticity of Jesus as King Jesus, … the Christ.
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Highlight Context – Hebrews 3: 1-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  The Author building a case for the Sonship of Jesus.
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Reference Passage #1 - Romans 5: 6-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ... 
… Justified by our faith in His atoning sacrifice and blood.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 5: 8 [NKJV] … 
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
… Do we get it; because if we do, this Hero saves us.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, used an interesting illustration to point to our real hero … the genuine Savior … our Lord … the One Whose blood did it all to save us. Gustafson pointed to a recent book where the research of the author uncovered the reality of the lives of a couple of men who have been glamorized and elevated in the movies to hero status, … that of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday (see attached photo of these two as depicted in a 1994 movie). The author of the book contends, as he stated in an interview about the real Wyatt Earp: “[This man] didn’t do anything remarkable in his whole life, … ever.” 

But if we go to God’s word, one can find many true stories of just the opposite, … i.e., very fallible, even broken men, who became real heroes of the faith. Consider Gideon, or Joseph, or even Moses, … or … in the NT, … Saul of Tarsus, who became the Apostle Paul and Simon, the fisherman, who failed Jesus miserably but became Peter, preaching to the masses at Pentecost. True heroes!!

 Yes, the ODB author today, uses Moses as the prime example of a real hero of the faith, … yet, one who was a murderer and a broken man who needed 40 years in the wilderness as a shepherd to develop the humility to receive a calling from God to become THE HERO who would lead God’s people out of Egypt. But even Moses, as much of a hero as he was, according to the author of Hebrews, could not compare with our ultimate hero, … Jesus, … the Son of God, Who died the most humiliating death ever to bring us into a right relationship with God, the Father (see the highlight passage as well as that of Romans 5 linked above).

 My friends, Jesus, is the only true hero of our faith; and all we need to do is believe in and worship this Hero as our Lord; and He has saved us for all eternity.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … my Hero … I believe!!  … 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.

August 27, 2015: Purposeful Routine

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 238  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a video of Steve Green singing Find Us Faithful, declaring the faithfulness of those who walk the walk of faithful, carrying out the disciplines of the faith diligently every day.

 
Highlight Passage: 1st Corinthians 9: 26-27 [NKJV]  …  
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 
… Paul knew his limitations; and through maintaining spiritual discipline, he kept himself in “fighting shape” to carry out his calling
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Highlight Context – 1st Corinthians 9: 19-27 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Paul’s routine was his spiritual discipline to maintain his mission sharpness.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 119: 9, 11 [NKJV] … 
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? … By taking heed according to Your word. … 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sing against You. 
…Hiding God’s word in our hearts (though contextualization, memorization, and internalization) takes great discipline.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 5: 16-17 [NKJV] … 
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
… Take off the old and put on the new … EVERY DAY!!!

Reference Passage #3 - Ephesians 6: 13-18 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...
… EVERY DAY, putting on the full armor of God to do battle.

Reference Passage #4 - Colossians 3: 12-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Maintaining spiritual discipline is the way to building the character of Christ

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David C McCasland, used a very practical illustration to demonstrate the purpose in routine by telling about the so-called “rolling ball” clock found in a London Museum. You can see this clock in the attached photo.

 McCasland wrote: A rolling-ball clock in the British Museum struck me as a vivid illustration of the deadening effects of routine. A small steel ball traveled in grooves across a tilted steel plate until it tripped a lever on the other side. This tilted the plate back in the opposite direction, reversed the direction of the ball and advanced the clock hands. Every year, the steel ball traveled some 2,500 miles back and forth, but never really went anywhere. 

Sometimes doing something over and over and over and over, much as the rolling clock depicts, can seem boring and purposeless; but there are behavioral habits - or may I call them DISCIPLINES - which we carry out daily for a very purposeful reason. For example, I would guess that all reading here brush our teeth daily. … WHY? … Well, of course, we do it daily [maybe twice a day] to prevent cavities, … to avoid bad breath, … and to keep our teeth for a long, long time. It’s a physical discipline, which may seem boring and very redundant; but the discipline is necessary - FOR A REASON.

 And that’s what the Apostle Paul was getting at in today’s highlight passage (see 2Cor. 9: 19-27 linked above). Paul knew that if he didn’t maintain certain Spirit-led disciplines in his life, like an boxer working out in preparation for a fight, he would not be as effective as he should be for the mission God had set before him.

 And that, my fellow Christian, is why I’m here EVERY DAY, digging into God’s word and pouring His truth into my mind/heart (see the Ps. 119 and Eph. 6 and Col. 3 passages above). Being a “couch potato” type in my nature, I know that if I don’t choose to discipline myself DAILY with time in prayer and God’s word, I will not be well prepared for the battles which lie before me every day; and I will ultimately let my sin nature take over with my natural tendencies toward selfishness and laziness.

 So, tomorrow if you come to this site, I’ll be here, posting what I sense God is giving me to put on His full armor and to prepare for the day’s battles. So, if you’re here tomorrow, … “see ya then!!”

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I come here today - as every day - to be with You, hear from You, and set my day - FOR YOU - in motion.  … 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.

August 26, 2015: Word Power!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 237  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing, the song they wrote, Let My Words Be Few, poignantly expressing the need for all Christians to limit their words to those which convey the grace and love of God to others.

Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 18: 21 [NKJV]  …  
28 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, … 
… So, what I say is sort of important, isn’t it?!
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Highlight Context – Proverbs 18: 1-8, 20-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  We can have the power of life/death in the power of our words.
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 4: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life. 
… Our words come the heart [see Prov. 23: 7 NKJV)

Reference Passage #2 - Proverbs 19:14 [NKJV] … 
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, … my strength and my Redeemer. 
… Oh how this is always my prayer!!

Reference Passage #3 - Ephesians 4: 29 [NKJV] … 
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 
… If our words don’t impart grace or build someone up, … SHUT UP!

Reference Passage #4 - James 3: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… So difficult to tame the power of the tongue.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Marvin Williams, writes, as did Solomon at length (see Highlight and reference verses from Proverbs), about the power of our words to build up or to destroy. Hence, my link to the poignant and pertinent song of theirs, Let My Words Be Few, which we should all take to heart.

 As Solomon conveyed (see above) our words emanate from our heart; and the truth in Prov. 23: 7 is so right on, … As a man thinks, in his heart, so is he …. When we come to realize what the Apostle Paul taught in Eph. 4: 29 is so true, we can use the power of the tongue to avoid what James wrote about in James 3 [see link above]. And that is that the tongue has such power to destroy … that we must avoid letting anything come out of our mouths which will tear down or destroy. And Paul’s rule of speech held such truth.

 And what he conveyed in the Eph. 4: 29 passage (see above) was to avoid any words which do not either convey grace to the hearers or build them up in some way. So, as I wrote above after that passage, … if what I say doesn’t edify or give grace to others, I should simply keep my mouth shut!! So, that’s my prayer today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Please give me opportunities to encourage others with my words or to lift them up in some way with what I say; … but if I feel anger or selfishness, to keep my mouth shut!!  … 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.

August 25, 2015: All Things Good - Really?!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 236  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Laura Story singing, the song she wrote, Blessings, poignantly expressing the reality that God’s blessings so often come in very unwelcome packages when the circumstances of life seem anything other than a “blessing.”

Highlight Passage:  Romans 8: 28 [NKJV]  …  
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 
… “All things?” … REALLY?!!
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Highlight Context – Romans 8: 28-30 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  God’s plan just doesn’t seem fair at times.
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… It’s the “lean not on our own understanding” part that’s tough at times.

Reference Passage #2 - Isaiah 55: 8-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… And there are times when God’s will and His ways are just SO HARD to understand.

Reference Passage #3 - 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… So, if this is true - and it is, of course! - then Romans 8: 28 must be true as wall - ALWAYS!!

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, uses, as his highlight teaching passage, one of the hardest truths in all of the NT to grasp - especially when we’re in the midst of really tough circumstances (see attached photo, extracted from today’s ODB entry). 

Common, … admit it! Life just doesn’t seem fair at times, does it? And some of life’s twists and turns just make Romans 8: 28 hard to believe. “All things” for our good? … REALLY?!! … But if Paul was writing truth in 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17, that ALL scripture is God-breathed and true, then His truth from the Romans 8 passage is also true; and we must then realize that what Laura Story wrote about and sings about in the linked song above is also true - that some of God’s biggest blessings are disguised in life-bringing tears and the anguish of tough times.

 Many reading here may be able to think back to times when believing Romans 8: 28 and the truth of Isaiah 55: 8-9 was just hard to swallow and to think of the trials of life as “blessings.” But then we remember how those tough times led to some of our strongest growth in Christ and brought us closest to God, we remember how God worked those tough times as blessings in our lives.

 So, if anyone reading here is going through one of those rough times and we feel like Paul did when he was visited with that thorn in the flesh (see 2nd Cor. 12: 7-10 - linked here) … and we want to cry out, “Take it away, Lord!!” Well, take note that the toughness of our circumstances is all part of God’s plan to make us over into His own image.

 So, … we move on in that reality today!!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I do recognize that ALL THINGS are from You and for me. Help me to grow closer to You in that truth today.  … 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.

August 24, 2015: Come Alongside

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 235

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing, I Will Be Here, expressing the love that close siblings or a married couple has for one another, being there for one another no matter what happens.

Highlight Passage:  2nd Corinthians 1: 3-4 [NKJV]  …  
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 
… Often when we’ve suffered in our past, we have a special empathy for others who are suffering and can come alongside them when they are in need of God’s love.
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Highlight Context – 2nd Corinthians 1: 3-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  When we come alongside a suffering brother or sister with the love of God, we are sharing Christ’s love of us with one who needs His care and love.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We show Christ’s love with to an uncaring world when we show our love to other needy fellow Christians

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 12: 1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we share God’s love and His grace with others who need Him, being a “living sacrifice,” we are separating ourselves from the world and connecting to others with the love of God

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, reflected on the love his family shared for one of Crowder’s sisters who was diagnosed with cancer. The illness brought the whole family closer together as they lifted their loved one up for healing and they cared for the needs of their loved one.

 And anyone who’s had a sister or a brother or a spouse go through some malady or ailment in life knows about sharing the love of Christ with one who needs His love in some time of trouble or trial. Steven Curtis Chapman wrote and sung a lovely song to his wife [see linked song above] about being there for her in times of challenge. And it expresses perfectly the love two sister might have for one another … or a loving couple … when one or the other goes through some life threatening malady. 

And that’s the kind of love which Christians should have for one another at all times, … showing the world (as Jesus spoke in John 13: 34-35) what His love for all of us is all about. He’ll be there for us - no matter what! - so we must be there for one another - no matter what!!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Let me show Your love to another today.  … 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.

August 23, 2015: Listen, … He Speaks!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 234  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Dennis Jernigan, who wrote this song and is joined by Twyla Paris singing, On My Knees, expressing the need of most of us today to unplug from the world and find refuge on our knees, in solitude, and in the presence of God. … And then ON TO THIS LINK to hear Dave Lubben singing Speak To Me … with the desire we all should have for God to speak to our hearts and that we would hear His call.  

Highlight Passage:  Mark 6: 31 [NKJV]  …  
31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 
… Jesus tells His inner 12 to seek solitude to be with God, the Father.
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Highlight Context – Mark 6: 30-32, 45-47 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Jesus teaches the need to disconnect from the world and rest in the Lord
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Reference Passage #1 - 1st Corinthians 13: 11-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We SO NEED to get face-to-face with God; and the closest place this side of heave we can do that in this world is, as Dennis Jernigan and Twyla Paris sing (linked above) … on our knees, alone with God.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd John 1: 12 [NKJV] … 
12 Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full. 
… John last wish desired to see beloved fellow Christians … FACE-TO-FACE.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, reflected on our deep cultural need to unplug for periods of time from the hubbub of information overload and get alone with God … just as Jesus advised His inner 12 Disciples at a time when they had been under great demand just after they saw Jesus feed the thousands on that hillside near the Sea of Galilee [see the Mark 6 passages above].

 What do you think would be the reaction if you asked the group of young people, depicted in the attached photo, to unplug from their laptops, iPads, and smartphones for a period of just 24 hours to get alone and just be with God IN SOLITUDE. It would be a hard sell, wouldn’t it?

 Today, we’re almost addicted to the noise of the world; and it can be so distracting from face-to-face connection with our friends and loved ones (see 2John 1: 12).   So many of us, who love God and seek His way, need to take Jesus’ advice to His Disciples and seek a closer and more abiding relationship with Him … yes, … by seeking to hear God IN SOLITUDE.

 Solitude?!!! … Now there’s a spiritual discipline that has become all too scarce in our world today, … hasn’t it? How often do we do what Dennis Jernigan wrote about in his poignant and pertinent song (linked above) … i.e., to get alone on our knees with God? How long has it been since you’ve done what I’m doing right now … to get alone with God - in quiet - and just listen for God’s still small voice … perhaps coming through prayer … or maybe, as I hear Him every morning, … through His word.

 Does God speak to you in your quiet place - EVERY DAY - through His word? It’s remarkable how many times, out of the hustle and bustle of the world, when I get alone with God - as I am here today - that His truth rings true in my mind, and I hear Him speaking clearly to my heart … sometimes lovingly, … sometimes with conviction, … often with direction . as He seems to be right now! … But He speaks; and when I listen and apply His truth to my life, I live with so much more grace than I do by listening to the world.

 So, let’s get quiet here … and maybe get on our knees; … and let’s pray the prayer Dave Lubben sings in his song, linked above . “Speak to me, Lord!” …

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Speak to me, that I may hear You through the noise of the world.  … 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.

August 22, 2015: Godly Family

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 233  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Bill Gaither leading his gospel singer friends in the song, The Family of God, with tears of joy flowing as these friends remember two of their number who had followed God and sang to His glory all their lives.  

 
Highlight Passage:  Psalm 11: 10 [NKJV]  …  
8 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; … A good understanding have all those who do His commandments His praise endures forever. 
… The lead in for Psalm 112 (see link below]
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Highlight Context – Psalm 112 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  God blesses the man who “fears the Lord and delights in His commandments. [See v. 1]
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Reference Passage #1 - Proverbs 1: 7, 3: 5-6, 4: 7-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Godly fear and seek God’s wisdom to guide them in all they do.

Reference Passage #2 - Matthew 5: 3-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The blessed ones!

Reference Passage #3 - John 14: 21 [NKJV] … 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 
… The words of Jesus blessing those who love and live by His word.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, reflected on being raised by a father who had been injured in war but never complained and humbly followed God in raising his family. And Branon’s family were blessed to be led to know God and live by His word … because of a father who quietly knew the Lord and used God’s wisdom from His word to raise the Branon family.

 When I was first married and we had two daughters, I didn’t know God as my Lord/Savior. But PTL, I did come to follow Him as our girls were in their formative and growing years; and I’m so grateful to have discovered this truth of patenting, taught by Branon in today’s ODB entry, … that of being led by God’s word and using His wisdom to lead my family. Because both of our daughters now are Godly women with kids who are being led in Godly families by parents who know the Lord and follow Him.

 I pray that principle has been the way any reader here has been raised; and that now you are leading your family into the family of God. If not, … now is the time to begin to live for our Lord in His family, follow His truth from His word and leadings others to know Him and to follow HIm.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … HALLELUJAH … Praise Your Holy Name that You, dear Lord, have led me into YOUR family for all of my days - and forever!!  … 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.

August 21, 2015: Lord, … You Lead Me, … I’ll Follow

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 232  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Aaron Pelsue singing the old hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, with a song of commitment to follow Jesus … no matter where He leads … and a more modern arrangement declares that we must not look back when this commitment is made …  

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 63: 8 [NKJV]  …  
8 My soul follows close behind You, [LORD]; and Your right hand upholds me. … The attitude of any who are disciples of the Living God. 
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Highlight Context – 1st Kings 19: 19-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Elisha is called and follows Elijah
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 28: 19-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus' parting commission to all who follow Him … "The Great Commission"

Reference Passage #2 - Luke5: 10b - 11 [NKJV] … 
10b And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will be a fisher of men.” So, when they (Simon, Andrew, James, and John) had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. 
… Jesus calls the fishermen to follow Him.

Reference Passage #3 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
ALERT !! - You should know what Jesus calls His followers to do. 
… Deny self and be like our Savior!! … Follow Him.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, reflected on her youth with memories of going to church camp in the summers, and gathering around a roaring campfire at the end of camp, … singing the old hymn, with the lyrics, “I have decided to follow Jesus, … No turning back, … No turning back!! … And so many around the campfire were burning for discipleship after their week together. Many of the youth felt God’s call; and had decided to follow their Lord.

 Following Jesus is not an easy commitment, especially in these days where the ungodly demands of the world are so strong. And in today’s Scripture readings above, we see others in both the Old and New Testament times, who made strong and lasting commitments to follow the Lord. … There was Elisha being called into a servant relationship to follow Elijah (see 1st Kings 19: 19-21 linked above); and there was Jesus calling the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James, and John to leave their boats - in faith - and follow Him (see Luke 5: 10-11) to become “fishers of men.”

 And during Jesus’ ministry on earth, teaching His inner Disciples and reaching out to others who were following Him around the countryside, He exhorted and called them to true discipleship by denying themselves, taking up their daily circumstances of life, and being willing to obediently follow Jesus as their Lord (see Luke 9: 23). And finally all Christians were called and commissioned by Jesus when He rose into heaven after His resurrection, … called by His “Great Commission” (see Matthew 28: 19: 20). And all who are sincere born-again Christians are still called by that Great Commission to obediently and humbly follow our Lord.

 The question from ODB today is … “ARE WE?”

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … You call, and prayerfully and obediently, I desire Your grace and strength to be Your slave.  … 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.

August 20, 2015: You Are My Neighbor

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 231  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Dr. Fred Rogers singing the title song from his famous children’s TV program, Won’t You Be My Neighbor, where Rogers became the neighbor of every child (or adult) who watched his program, which taught so many wonderful Christian values.  

 
Highlight Passage:  Luke 10: 36-37 [NKJV]  …  
36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” 
… Since anyone and everyone in need is our “neighbor,” we must be neighbors to all. 
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Highlight Context – Luke 10: 25-37 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Jesus’ parable of the “Good Samaritan”
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … ALERT !! - I hope you know this one by heart !!
… Deny self and be like our Savior!! … Be a neighbor to anyone in need.

Reference Passage #2 - Philippians 2: 3-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Being a “neighbor” means thinking of the needs of others over selfish desires … just as Jesus thought of us as His “neighbor” and friends.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Marion Stroud, who BTW is now with Jesus, told an illustrative story of a friend who was looking forward to being with her close friends at church to study the difference between “going” to church and “being” the church … when a next door neighbor called. The neighbor, whom she’d never met, reluctantly asked for transportation assistance. Author Stroud related that knowing she’d miss her class with dear friends, she, of course, relented to help her neighbor by driving her for car repairs. And in doing so, Stroud learned an even more valuable lesson in “being” the church to a neighbor.

 When I was reading Stroud’s story, I was taken back to a children’s TV show which was created decades ago and starred Dr. Fred Rogers. The show, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,” was a delightfully entertaining show for our two girls as they grew up in their learning years. Though we weren’t Christians at the time, I now recognize that the values taught on this old TV show were those of Fred Rogers, who was a Christian, teaching Kingdom values to those on national network TV. It was a great show for our girls to be watching (see attached photo and Fred Rogers singing the show’s title song in the linked song above).

 And author Stroud’s ODB teaching today came from one of Jesus’ most famous teaching parables, … the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” where Jesus was teaching a Pharisee lawyer about the reality of being a good neighbor, … because, as the parable illustrated, everyone is our neighbor and anyone in need, even a pagan Samaritan (despised by the Jews), who was in need, deserved neighborly assistance. Question, …

With whom can I be a neighbor today? Do you need me? If so, call on me, and I’ll do all I can to be there for you?

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … If a “neighbor” needs me, let them call on me; and I’ll do all I can to be You for them today.  … 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.

August 19, 2015: Creating for God’s Glory

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 230  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of Brian Doerksen singing Creation Calls reminding us that all of those created by God, The Creator, are to reflect His glory in who we are and what we do in this life.  

 
Highlight Passage:  Exodus 31: 1-3 [NKJV]  …  
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, … 
… When God led Moses to build the Tabernacle, the Lord called specific artisans to craft all the furnishings for His dwelling place.
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Highlight Context – Exodus 31: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Some are called by God to use their talents and gifts for His glory …
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Reference Passage #1 - 1st Corinthians 6: 19 [NKJV] … 
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 
… Saved Christians become the living temple of God’s Spirit … hence we are to do all we can to outfit our Temple for God’s glory.

Reference Passage #2 - Ephesians 2: 8-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
…  In faith we are born again to be His workmanship on this earth all the years we are given to reflect His creation for His glory.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dennis Fisher, used a word picture illustration of artisans and artists who use their creative talents to reflect God’s creation and His glory in this world; and it reminded me of traveling to Jerusalem several years ago and seeing a group of Orthodox Jewish artisans who had been collected and funded to rebuild what Jewish scholars believe are the articles which should be in the rebuilt Temple of God [see attached photo of many of the articles this group has created]. These artists/artisans believe they are recreating the artifacts and articles spoken of in Old Testament Scripture which they believe will be necessary in a rebuilt Temple of David when their “Messiah” comes in glory to restore Israel to it prophesied glory.

 Now, we New Covenant Christians believe that these young, gifted artisans have the timeline of God’s story wrong; and that their Messiah has already come; and that He, Christ, will return again to establish His forever Kingdom. However, … we must admire the desire of these young Jews to use their talents and gifts, creating and crafting for God’s coming New Jerusalem. And we, who believe that Christ has come to save us and to be His workmanship on earth (see Eph. 2: 10 linked above), should realize that we should be doing all we can to keep God’s Temple (i.e., our bodies - see 1st Cor. 6: 19) clean and prepared for Christ’s return. And we should be using all that God has crafted into our bodies to reflect His glory by using our gifts/talents to create in or with His Temple as God did in using special artisans to prepare His dwelling place in the Tabernacle (see the highlight passage in Exodus 31: 1-11 linked above).

 The question from today’s ODB entry - at least for me - becomes - "Am I using my Temple [i.e., body] as God has created me ... for His glory; and what can I do today to prepare His Temple for His return?"

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I pray that my life and works declare Your glory as do Your creation [see song linked above]   … 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.

August 18, 2015: Living Broken … Together

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 229  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of the group Casting Crowns singing Broken Together reminding us that we broken Christians can live together in Christ - broken together.  

 
Highlight Passage:  Philippians 2: 4-5 [NKJV]  …  
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, … 
… Breaking through self and living like the Savior …
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Highlight Context – Philippians 2: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Oh if we could just take on the mind/attitude of Christ … perhaps we could live more as He lived.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He [Christ] said to them all (a large crowd following Jesus), … “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 
… Jesus’ teaching of true discipleship.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, used one of my favorite teaching passages in all of the Pauline epistles as the author’s highlight Bible reference in the ODB devotional for the day.

 I would first admonish any reader here with me today to read and meditate on that convicting/challenging passage in Philippians 2. And then PLEASE take the time, assuming you’re at a computer or smart phone, to use the song link above to read the lyrics and hear the song by Casting Crowns, entitled Broken Together.

 And yes, if you’ve read today’s ODB entry (see link below), you’ll note that my blog today takes a different approach than that of the ODB author. I have taken the Philippians 2 passage into a marriage context rather than a worldwide warring context, as did ODB, today. My approach asks the question, How many marriages could/would be saved if the broken, quarreling parties could/would take the same attitude as Christ took when He was surrendered to His Heavenly Father and went to the cross to save mankind? 

 In Phil. 2: 5, Paul, writing from imprisonment to beloved Christians, exhorted them [and us] to have the same humility and mind of Christ and to reach out to others (perhaps a spouse in a broken marriage context) and think more of the interests of the other rather than of self. How many tattered marriages, headed for divorce, could be saved if the parties could adopt the Christlike mindset of humility and live, as did our Savior, for others rather than for self?

 Oh, if we could just be disciples of Christ in our marriage and live as Christ commanded His disciples to live (see Luke 9: 23), and then live as Casting Crowns sings. And if we did, we might just live … Broken Together and many, many marriages would be saved to glorify God.

 Just a thought from one who had to learn that lesson long ago and applying it allowed my wife and I to celebrate our 50th anniversary just recently [see the attached image]. And we still live - every day - broken TOGETHER.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I pray for any reading here to learn how to adopt Your attitude of humility and seek to live - broken together.    … 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.

August 17, 2015: Bread of Life

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 228  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of a group of anonymous singers singing Bread of LIfe with the eternal message that Jesus is the life giving bread which nourishes and gives life.  

Highlight Passage:  John 6: 27 [NKJV]  …  
27 “…Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” 
… Jesus on partaking of the “bread of life.”
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Highlight Context – John 6: 22-34 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Partake of the food which will last forever - God’s truth.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 4: 1-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus gives His “living water” to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Reference Passage #2 - John 6: 1-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Jesus feeds thousands.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, related a cute personal story to illustrate his devotional blog. He wrote: One morning as Lilia prepared for work, her 4-year-old daughter Jess set to work too. The family had purchased a conveyor toaster, and the concept of cycling bread through the small countertop oven fascinated Jess. Minutes later, Lilia discovered a loaf and a half of toast piled on the counter. “I’m a very good baker!” Jess declared.

No mystery how little Jess could turn all that bread into toast; but then author Gustafson related that to Jesus’ teaching in John, Chapter 6 where Jesus first fed all those thousands with just a few fishes and loaves of bread. And then He blew the minds of those who’d been fed and the local religious leaders by telling them that HE was the bread of life and they should feed on His truth rather than concentrating and relying on the bread they could make from the wheat of the earth.

 You know, … if you’ve come here anytime in the past and read my daily blog, posted here and elsewhere every morning, … some may wonder why I do this. Well, every day I use the ODB devotional and delve deeply as I can into God’s word each day to partake of God’s living waters and His bread of life; and I hope you see that I’m not doing this daily to impress you. No, … I’m much more selfish than that. I want as much as I can get from God’s table and the offerings of His bread of life.

 I recognize and believe that God’s truth is the bread of life and it’s also the inexhaustible source of living water Christ showed to the woman at the well in John, Chapter 4. So I come here every day to get my share - as much as I can glean - of God’s manna… His bread of life and His living waters. So, if you come here and share that with me each day, we’ll be well nourished, … for sure!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Give me more today. Feed me, dear Jesus, from Your bread of life and Your living waters. Give me what I can use for life and the rest to share with 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.

August 16, 2015: Count Your Blessings

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 227  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from the movie White Christmas with Bing Crosby singing Count Your Bessings with that lovely version of the Academy Award winning movie … and then ON TO THIS LINK to see/hear Guy Penrod singing the old hymn by the same title, declaring our need to count our blessings amid any trials/tribulations we face in life.  

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 25: 1, … 4 [NKJV]  …  
7 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. … 4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. 
… Trusting God for my ways and counting my blessings along the way.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 25: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Trusting God … thanking God … for deliverance and His blessings.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 100 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …    
… David’s song of thankfulness.  

Reference Passage #2 - Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] … 
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. 
… Trusting God is the key to thankfulness and finding our way in life.

Reference Passage #3 - 1 Corinthians 10: 13 [NKJV] … 
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 
… No matter what transpires; God will lead us through it. What a blessing!!

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 4: 6-7 [NIV] …  
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
…  Everything to God - with a THANKFUL heart.

Reference Passage #5 - Romans 8: 28 [NIV] …  
28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purposes. 
…  Yes, … ALL THINGS are really God’s blessings - some we don’t even like.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Julie Ackerman Link, referred to some of the great biological and/or scientific discoveries, as the 20th century unfolded, … discoveries finding white blood cells or the discovery of penicillin …, all of which changed the way we looked at our blessings in life. Even things we couldn’t see were blessings from God which helped us fight enemies of life, like bacterial diseases. And author Link’s pointed out; … if things are going bad in our lives, we should still be thankful for even the things we can’t see which God has given us to deal with life’s troubles.

 Today, in meditating on the ODB devotional, my memory was taken back to the romantic scene from that 1954 classic movie, White Christmas, where Bing Crosby was singing about counting his blessings to Rosemary Clooney. And then I was led to another old classic hymn with the same title as the movie song, Count Your Blessings, linked above for any reader with Guy Penrod singing. I would hope that readers here have taken the time to see/hear and meditate on the meaning of both songs.

 Because these modern psalms convey a truth that we all need to remember … that we need to come to God with a thankful heart - ALWAYS - because there are so many things God has wrought or brought into our lives - even things we can’t see - that allow us to realize that we are ALWAYS a blessed people, … just as King David brought out in the psalms documented above. So, let me pray below with a thankful heart this day.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I am reminded of all the blessings You have brought into my life - even the troubles and things I cannot see - to help me grow closer to You. Thank You, Lord!!!    … 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.

August 15, 2015: Reaching Out in Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 226 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Steve Green singing People Need The Lord exhorting and encouraging all Christians to reach out and share the love of God … because so many desperately need Christ.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 15: 7 [NKJV]  …
7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 
… Receiving others as Christ received us.
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Highlight Context – Romans 15: 1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Bearing the burdens of others.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Loving one another is our way of showing God to the world.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 14: 12-13 [NKJV] … 
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
… We give an account to God for His love when we refrain from judging others.

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 10: 24-25 [NIV] …
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 
…  Christians exhorted to come together and encourage one another.

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] … 
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
… How many different ways does God’s word have to say it … before we choose to welcome and love one another? My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, illustrated his teaching by showing a famous 19th century statue, created to commemorate a lovely New England lady.

 Crowder wrote: In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a familiar sight greeted ships as they pulled into the port of Savannah, Georgia. That sight was Florence Martus, “The Waving Girl.” For 44 years, Florence greeted the great ships from around the world, waving a handkerchief by day or a lantern by night. Today, a statue of Florence and her faithful dog stands in Savannah’s Morrell Park, permanently welcoming incoming vessels. … There is something in a warm welcome that speaks of acceptance. 

The picture here was the same one which the Apostle Paul was trying to get across to new Christians in his day; … that Christians were at their best when they refrained from judging or superimposing man-made rules on others. No, .. Christ was reflected best into the world when Christians received, accepted, and loved one another (see the Romans and Philippians passages above). And the Apostle John echoed this teaching when we exhorted Christians to readily reach out and show love to one another just as God had loved us enough to sacrifice His Son for us [see John 13: 34-35].

 So, let’s go out and be a “Waving Girl” (or guy) today by receiving others in love, … by encouraging others (see Hebrews 10: 24-25) as the body of Christ, … and by sharing the love of God with as many as we see today. …

 … Because as Steve Green sings in the linked song above … so many people so DESPERATELY need the Lord.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … Let me be God’s ambassador of love for others today.    … 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.

August 14, 2015: Light of the World

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 225

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Chris Rice singing the his song Go Light Your World exhorting and encouraging those of us in Christ to take His Light into this very darkened world.

Highlight Passage:   John 9: 5 [NKJV]  …
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 
… And one day in glory He will be the light of ALL the world … not just the blind of this world.
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Highlight Context – John 9: 1-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Jesus opens the eyes of even the blind.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 1: 79 [NKJV] … 
12 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, … to guide our feet into the way of peace.” 
… The prophesy of Zacharias, after the birth of John the Baptizer, of the coming of Messiah to bring those out of darkness into the Light.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 4: 18-19 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61: 1-2, announcing His mission, which had been prophesied by The Prophet; … and part of that was to give sight to the blind and free the oppressed.

Reference Passage #3 - John 8: 12 [NKJV] … 
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 
… After having saved the adulteress and showed up the Pharisees … Jesus begins to declare His deity before men.

Reference Passage #4 - John 12: 42-46 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …     …  Jesus rebukes the Pharisees as walking in darkness and rejecting the Light of God.

  My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, used a reference to how Einstein caused science and mankind to see the universe in a new light. Doha wrote: We remember Albert Einstein for more than his disheveled hair, big eyes, and witty charm. We know him as the genius and physicist who changed the way we see the world. His famous formula of E=mc2 revolutionized scientific thought and brought us into the nuclear age. Through his “Special Theory of Relativity” he reasoned that since everything in the universe is in motion, all knowledge is a matter of perspective. He believed that the speed of light is the only constant by which we can measure space, time, or physical mass.

 But as DeHaan teaches, … long before the so-called genius of Albert Einstein there was a simple Carpenter from Nazareth who had come into the world to give light and absolute perspective on the destiny of mankind. And this man - the God-Man, Jesus - was no “simple” carpenter. He was the prophesied One, Who had come to be, as He, Himself declared, the “Light of the World.”

 But the leaders of the world at that time, rejected His Light and held on to the darkness even trying to extinguish His light on a cross. But all that did was pass the light on to those who believe in Him as Lord and Savior, setting a blaze all who truly believe in Him a fire to shine our lights into the darkness of this world. And now it is our charge to take His light and reflect it forward, dispelling the darkness wherever we go.

 So, … today, … as Chris Rice sings in the song, linked above, let us go and shine His Light into the darkness.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … make me a torch for You today.    … 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.

August 13, 2015: Count To Ten! …

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 224  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK  … Please take the time to take in a video of images from Sara Groves singing the her song I’ll Wait with the singer’s proclamation that we, who know Christ, need to wait on Him so often when we find ourselves going inward to deal with our self.  

Highlight Passage:   2nd Thessalonians 2: 13 [NKJV]  …  
13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, … 
… And recall that Paul was run out of Thessalonica by an angry mob [see Acts 27: 1-15]. He had every right to hold anger for the Thessalonians; but from prison, he shows God’s love for the Christians in this region.
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Highlight Context – 2nd Thessalonians 2: 13-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Paul’s love for those who had chased him out of Thessalonica can only be explained by God’s Spirit dwelling in the Apostle.
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Reference Passages #1 - 2 - Ephesians 4: 26, 29 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  … From prison, Paul writes to his beloved Christians in Ephesus, exhorting them to avoid the reaction to anger and to speak nothing by grace in sharing Christ with one another.

Reference Passage #3 - Philippians 2: 3-4 [NKJV] …  
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 
…  Holding on to Christlike humility when we live, and move, and share with others.    

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, used a very personal, here-and-now, story to illustrate his teaching for today. The author wrote: As I was reading the text message on my mobile phone, my temperature started to rise and my blood began to boil. I was on the verge of shooting back a nasty message when an inner voice told me to cool down and reply tomorrow. The next morning after a good night’s sleep, the issue that had upset me so greatly seemed so trivial. I had blown it out of proportion because I didn’t want to put another person’s interest before my own. I was unwilling to inconvenience myself so I could help someone. 

Ever been there? … I have. … All too often. …

 Today’s highly connective, rapid communications, via texting and email, can often rile up our anger; and we’re tempted to shoot back a reactive message in the heat of our emotions. But the strategy (I call it a “battle plan”) illustrated by author, Chia, in his story above is a good one; and it certainly is manifest in how the Apostle Paul communicated with Christians who had shown animosity and anger toward him in his past. If you know Paul’s history in Ephesus, Philippi, and Thessalonica (see the book of Acts), we know that in all of those places he had been treated very harshly, either being imprisoned or driving out of those areas, by angry mobs. Yet, in all of the passages above, written from prison to these Christians, Paul only writes about his love - Christlike love - for those peoples. 

I’m afraid that I identify all too much with the ODB writing of today’s author, Poh Fang Chia. As I touched on above, all too often, I’ve felt the temptation to respond rapidly to a text or email with a quick comeback in anger. But I’ve learned to do the old “count-to-ten” strategy (or sometimes, more often, to wait 24 hours, as did Chia). And then I can do what the Apostle Paul was trying to teach to Christians in his Epistle teachings documented above.

 I think we all need to develop a “battle plan” to avoid what is depicted in the attached photo and do what Sara Groves sings about in today’s song, and what the Apostle Paul wrote about in His wise words above. And that is, … to give our anger time to simmer and boil over as we seek the Holy Spirit’s enlightening and enabling grace to deal with our anger.

 So, … let’s cool it … and count to ten … and communicate as Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Eph. 4: 29. In fact let’s all go mediate on that one today. And I don’t know about you; but I needed this reminder today.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, … I wait on You to help me communicate when I feel anger brewing. Help me to stay cool, like You, dear Savior.    … Amen

Blogger PS: From today’s ODB, they provide a book resource for those who are dealing with anger issues. GO TO THIS LINK to read about the book by Tim Jackson, Christian counselor, on this subject,  

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.