March 31, 2016: Following Him

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 91 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a video of Daniel O’Donnell’s lovely tenor voice singing, Here I Am, Lord, declaring the intent of any Christian to follow Christ anyway, anytime, anywhere.

Highlight Passage:  Mark 2: 17 [NLT] …  
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
 … Jesus came to served the sick, not the well, and that even included sinners like Levi. 
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Highlight Context – Mark 2:13-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Levi, the tax collector, was called by Jesus and he followed Christ, renamed by Jesus to become “Matthew,” the Apostle whose name means “gift from God”
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 5:27-32; 9:23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Luke’s version of Jesus calling Levi to follow Him; and Jesus’ command to all who would follow Him.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NKJV] …  
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
…The degree to which we surrender to Christ’s pursuit of our spirit is the degree to which he can reshape us into His image.

Reference Passage #3 - Acts, Chapter 9 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  
… Read and meditate on how Jesus came after the ultimate sinner, … Saul of Tarsus

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Marvin Williams, used the story of Jesus calling out the tax collector, Levi [see attached photo], to become Matthew, a beloved Disciple of our Lord. Williams wrote: Two thousand years ago, Jesus came to call the spiritually unfit to follow Him. Levi was one such person. Jesus saw him sitting in his tax collector’s booth and said, “Follow me” (Mark 2:14). His words captured Levi’s heart, and he followed Jesus. Tax collectors were often greedy and dishonest in their dealings and were considered religiously unclean. When the religious leaders saw Jesus having dinner at Levi’s house with other tax collectors, they asked, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (2:16). Jesus replied, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (2:17). 

And as I meditated on the ODB entry today, I vividly recalled how my Lord came after me, … a reprobate, recalcitrant sinner … calling myself an “agnostic,” though I was really an atheist, doing all I could to tear down the faith of Christians around me. And I was a sinner, deeply addicted to sex, wallowing in the pursuit of impurity and infidelity. And yet Jesus became my pursuer … and ultimately my healer (i.e., Jehovah Rapha), … just as he was for Levi, the tax collector (see Mark 2 and Luke 5 linked above), … as well as Saul of Tarsus, who was a persecutor and killer of Christians (see Acts, Chapter 9 above).

Perhaps you were one of those, like me, who was pursued and broken, and now is being reshaped by God’s Spirit. And you know that Jesus lives up to His reputation as “the Hound of Heaven.” On the other hand, maybe you were one of those fortunate ones who came to follow Christ as Lord and Savior at a very young age as my grandkids have/are. If so, following Christ has been a lifelong pursuit; and so I say “HALLELUJAH” … for you.

 So, my fellow Christian, … I’ve now become addicted to my pursuit of Christ, … as evidenced by my being here day-after-day-after-day, gleaning direction and joy from God’s word and blogging it for others to read, … like you today. But having been a flagrant unbeliever, like Levi and Saul of Tarsus, I truly appreciate how Jesus comes after even the worst of sinners; and He’s willing to lead a Levi or a Saul, and yes, even a Bill Berry, out of the pits of sin and heal us with His Spirit to become reflective images of our Lord and Savior.

 And if you’re one of those, like me, join me in singing along with Daniel O’Donnell in the linked song today, Here I Am Lord.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Yes, Lord, here I am … today and all days … to follow You. … 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.

March 30, 2016: Truly Amazing Grace!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 90 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing, Your Grace Still Amazes Me, declaring the amazing God which transforms the lives of those who come to receive God’s amazing gift of love.

Highlight Passage:  Acts 9:3 [NLT] …
3 As he [Saul of Tarsus] was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 
 … God’s grace can sometimes be overwhelming.
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Highlight Context – Acts 9:1-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Saul of Tarsus, knocked off his horse by God’s grace.
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Reference Passage #1 - Lamentations 3: 22 [NLT] …
22a The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 
… God's promise that His mercy and grace are new every morning.

  Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …
9 And He [Jesus] said to me [Paul], “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
… Paul learned the power of God’s grace to overwhelm his weaknesses.

Reference Passage #3 - Ephesians 2:8; 3:7 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul surrendered to God’s amazing grace in service to His Lord’s merciful gift.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, wrote of God’s amazing grace which saved Saul of Tarsus to become the amazing Apostle Paul. The ODB author wrote about how astonishing it must have been for the anti-Christian zealot, Saul of Tarsus, to have been knocked to the ground that day as he traveled to Damascus on a mission to persecute Christians. And Cetas asks her readers (me) if God’s grace has ever had any astounding and/or amazing effects in our lives. 

And as I meditated on the ODB entry today, I had no trouble recalling the morning in my life when I was on my way to work; and God’s grace, was brought to me that day in a testimony on tape of a young man who became quadriplegic. Yet this paralyzed young man testified that he knew God’s grace, thru his Lord, will bring him through this horrible episode. And that story took me that day from brokenness to belief; and God’s amazing grace came pouring into my life, … the grace of salvation to save me … and the grace of sanctification to reshape me. And now, every day, I see that AMAZING grace, which broke the chains of my past unbelief and sinful living, working itself out in my life.

And I see it so many days when I come here to be retouched and renewed by God’s amazing grace, being imparted through His word into my life. And I’m praying that you are seeing our Lord’s mercy and grace work itself out in your life on a daily basis as well.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Thank You, Lord, for your mercies and Your grace, … new every morning … for me and anyone who’s willing and humble enough to receive 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.

March 29, 2016: My Weakness Is His Strength

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 89 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing his lyrics in, His Strength Is Perfect, declaring the reality of God’s promise to give us His strength to cover our weakness in the battles of life.

Highlight Passage:  Judges 7:2 [NKJV] …  
2 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ 
… God showed Gideon that the Lord was all he needed to win in battle with the Midianites. 
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Highlight Context – Judges, Chapters 6-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Gideon learned that God was his strength in battle.
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Reference Passage #1 - 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. 
… God is all we need to cover our weakness in the battles of life.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …  
9 And He [Jesus] said to me [Paul], “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
… Our weaknesses can actually be our best witness to God’s strength in life.

Reference Passage #3 - Philippians 4: 13 [NKJV] …  
13 I can do all things, through Christ, Who gives me the strength. 
… No matter what the circumstances, our strength from God’s Spirit is all we need.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, wrote of Gideon being called to lead God’s people in battle against the fearsome Midianites [read Judges, Chapters 6-7]. Schuldt wrote: No one could have mistaken the ancient Babylonian soldiers for gentlemen. They were ruthless, resilient, and vicious, and they attacked other nations the way an eagle overtakes its prey. Not only were they powerful, they were prideful as well. … God did not want this kind of self-reliance to infect Israel’s forces as they prepared to battle the Midianites. So He told Gideon, Israel’s army commander, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me’ ” (Judges 7:2). 

And we know, from the rest of the story, God paired Gideon’s forces down to 300 worthy warriors; and God led these men to victory over the tens of thousands of crack Midianite soldiers. I really love the story of Gideon in the OT because God came to him as a sniveling coward; and we see that the Lord could even use this weakling once he surrendered to the Lord’s strength to win a great victory for the Lord. And that was the lesson the Apostle Paul also learned and reported in 2nd Cor. 12: 9, where he remembered that Jesus taught him that God’s strength is always enough when we are weakened in fighting the battles of life (see also Isaiah 41:10 and Phil. 4: 13).

So, if any of my fellow Christian warriors are feeling weak in the face of our worldly circumstances today, realize that the best posture we can be in is right where the soldier is in today’s attached photo. And when we realize the truth that Steven Curtis Chapman sings about in the linked song, above, we’ll be able to let God’s strength cover our weakness and do battle in this - at times - cruel world. 

So, … today, … let’s surrender to our Lord and let Him give us the strength to do battle.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Today, You’ve got my back, Lord. Let’s do battle in Your Name and for Your glory!! … 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.

March 28, 2016: Unlikely Encounters

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 88 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Gretchen Keskeys singing, Then I Met Jesus, declaring how an encounter with Jesus changes one’s life - FOREVER!!

 
Highlight Passage:  Luke 24:30-31 [NKJV] …  
30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 
… Jesus reveals himself to two disciples who felt so lost without their Messiah.
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Highlight Context – Luke 24:13-35 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The men on the road to Emmaus had their eyes opened to the resurrected Jesus
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] …  
4 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… A faith encounter with the Savior changes a life forever.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NKJV] …  
4 Therefore, If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; … old things have passed away; behold, … all things have become new. 
… A faith encounter with the Savior changes a life forever.

Reference Passage #3 - Galatians 2: 20 [NKJV] …  
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
… When one believes in Christ as Lord and Savior, he/she dies to self and is raised again to a new life in Christ.

  My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, wrote of an Italian artist who painted the scene of the travelers to Emmaus from Luke 24 finally seeing who Jesus really was (is). Our ODB author wrote: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), an Italian artist, … used ordinary working people as models for his saints and was able to make viewers of his paintings feel they were a part of the scene. The “Supper at Emmaus” shows an innkeeper standing while Jesus and two of His followers are seated at a table when they recognize Him as the risen Lord (Luke 24:31). One disciple is pushing himself to a standing position while the other’s arms are outstretched and his hands open in astonishment. 

I can remember so vividly that morning in 1983 when, after many years of walking in the fog of unbelief, my eyes were finally opened and I recognized Jesus for Whom He really was (is). My astonishment was overwhelming; and my life was changed forever (see 2nd Cor. 5:17 and Gal. 2:20).

Oswald Chambers was quoted in today’s ODB writing: “Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits.” 

And today, … as we walk the roads of life, I think we need to be looking for an encounter where our Savior shows up in some special or unexpected way to help us become more like Him and to allow us to follow Him more closely.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I’m going to look for You on the road 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.

March 27, 2016: When Scars Shining Brightly

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 87 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video the group Point of Grace singing, Heal the Wounds, declaring how Christians can let our scars tell the story of God’s saving grace, shining brightly into a very darkened world for hurting souls.

Highlight Passage:  John 20:27 [NKJV] …  
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
 … Jesus’ divinity shone brightly in his scars for Thomas.
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Highlight Context – John 20:24-31 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Thomas need to see/touch Jesus’ scars to break through His doubts.
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Reference Passage #1 - 1st Corinthians 15:50-58 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The new body we will experience in Glory … scars will shine brightly for all to see how Jesus turned those scars to stars.

Reference Passage #2 - Revelation 21:4 [NKJV] …  
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 
…The hope of our scars becoming stars in heaven.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Philip Yancy, reminded his readers (me) of that time, after the resurrection, when Jesus lovingly offered His scars to Thomas so that the doubting Disciple could believe [see attached photo]. Yancey wrote: One detail in the Easter story has always intrigued me. Why did Jesus keep the scars from His crucifixion? Presumably He could have had any resurrected body He wanted, and yet He chose one identifiable mainly by scars that could be seen and touched. Why? … I believe the story of Easter would be incomplete without those scars on the hands, the feet, and the side of Jesus (John 20:27). 

And I agree that Jesus chose to retain His scars in His heavenly, post-resurrection body, the scars which all believers will one day see shining brightly in heaven to remind us of His finished work for all who’ve come to believe in Him as King Jesus. And we, as Christians, need to remember that our scars - here on earth - become shining evidence of Christ’s saving grace when we’re willing to share them - with our testimony - with others who have troubles believing.

When I’m open and vulnerable enough to share my scar-ridden story with someone who’s been through years of hidden sexual sin, my scars of recovery, redemption, and renewal brightly shine Christ’s ability to restore those who’re willing to believe in the power of Christ to redeem the hurting and the lost. My scars, therefore, become stars, … shining Christ’s light brightly into the life of a sin-ridden lost soul. And perhaps some reader here has scars which you need to open up to show others, through your testimony, so that some hurting, maybe even bleeding, soul can find the healing power of Jesus.

So, if God presents such a one to you today or tomorrow, show those scars of salvation to one who needs to believe and be healed for eternity.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … My scars, as Point of Grace, sing above, tell my story of redemption. So, let them shine Your light brightly for all to see Your healing grace. … 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.

March 26, 2016: Forsaken On A Friday

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 86 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Chris Tomlin singing, At The Cross, declaring how we owe all to the One Who bled and died, abandoned by His Father, on that cross so that we who come to Him will never experience that kind of separation from God.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 22:1 [NKJV] …  
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? 
 … He experienced it so that I will never feel it. … HALLELUJAH!!!
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Highlight Context – Psalm 22 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus cried from the cross the words of David’s song, feeling the abandonment of His Father … a separation we, as Christians, will never feel. … HALLELUJAH!!!
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew, Chapter 27 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
 … All that Christ went thru on the Cross - the total abandonment of His Father - so that we, who receive His saving grace will never experience such abandonment.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 8:37-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Nothing … NOTHING … NOTHING!!! … can separate us, as true believers and Christians, from the love of God … HALLELUJAH!!!

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] …  
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deut. 31:6, Joshua 1:5] 
… God’s promise to all true believers. that He will never forsake us.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder used a very stark quote from a Russian author to make his Holy Week point [and take in the attached photo as well]. Crowder wrote: Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” With that in mind, I read an online article describing “The Top 8 Deadliest Prisons in the World.” In one of these prisons every prisoner is held in solitary confinement. 

Last night my wife and I gathered, along with our brothers/sisters in Christ, at our church for a “Good Friday” remembrance. It was a somber gathering with the sanctuary darkened and our Pastor sitting at a solitary chair with several candles lined up near him. Soberly, … he went through the events of that fateful week where Jesus came into the Temple triumphantly, only to be unjustly sent to a lonely cross by the Romans and the Jewish leaders, … where Jesus was decried by the people and experienced the unimaginable horror of being abandoned by His Heavenly Father. Each event on that passion week our Pastor marked by blowing out a candle; … and we left the church last night soberly contemplating how Jesus experienced that separation and abandonment so that any who would receive Him as “King Jesus” in faith would never have to be separated from our God.

And now, this morning, as I think about that Good Friday service last night, I can’t help but think about that famous sermon preached by Dr. S.M. Lockeridge, “It’s Friday, But Sunday’s A Comin!” (a portion LINKED HERE for any reader).  ... Because, today is Saturday; and tomorrow we’ll celebrate a much different prospect, … the reality that CHRIST IS RISEN; and His resurrection signals the truth that any of us, who have received Him in faith as Lord and Savior, will NEVER be abandoned or separated from Him (see the Scriptures above).

Do I sense a glorious … and golden … HALLELUJAH?!!

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Yes, again today … HALLELUJAH, my Lord, … You went to the cross for me; … and now I follow You into Your heavenly home forever. … HALLELUJAH!!! … 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.

March 25, 2016: Few Last Words

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 85 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group, Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing, Let My Words Be Few, declaring the truth of Christian love being spoken in few words … “Jesus, I am so in love of You” is all I need to say.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 8:35 [NLT] …
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?
… Simply said … “NOTHING!!!”
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Highlight Context – Romans 8: 28-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives the night prior to His crucifixion and prayed.
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 28:5-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The Angel spoke to the woman at the tomb and probably all the women could hear was … “He is risen!”

Reference Passage #2 - John 17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus prays for me in Heaven this day … just as He did with the Disciples in that Upper Room.

  My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland used a rather quaint story to illustrate that often in Scripture some of the most powerful expressions come in few words. He wrote: Before Stig Kernell died, he told the local funeral home that he didn’t want a traditional obituary. Instead, the Swedish man instructed them to publish only three words noting his passing: “I am dead.” When Mr. Kernell died at age 92, that’s exactly what appeared. The audacity and simplicity of his unusual death notice captured the attention of newspapers around the world. In a strange twist, the international curiosity about the man with the three-word obituary caused more attention to his death than he intended. 

Our ODB author today, as well as the linked song above, speak to a glaring truth we often find in Scripture … that some of the most powerful truths from God’s Book are often found in succinct wording, … just as the story David M uses above to make his point. Mr. Kernell, in the story above, wanted to de-emphasize his passing, yet his few words in his obituary, “I am dead!” raised more attention from their truthful exclamation than a long, drawn out dissertation.

And when Jesus died and was placed in the tomb, sealed by the Romans, when the women came to see the place, they encountered an angel, who told them that Jesus had risen; and those words - as few as they are - ring clarion truth from that moment down through the centuries. … “HE IS RISEN!!!” … And because Jesus declared three other pointed words from the cross, “IT IS FINISHED!” … we can know that His blood, which was shed on that cross, was all that we need to come to the cross and receive His eternal pardon for our sins.

Yes, my friends, on this Good Friday, know that "IT IS FINISHED" and “HE IS RISEN;” and join me with only one word … HALLELUJAH!!! 

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Yes, HALLELUJAH, my Lord, … You are risen and live in Heaven to intercede on my behalf this very moment; … and You will live with me for eternity. I say again HALLELUJAH!!! … 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.

March 24, 2016: Pressed Into Forgetfulness

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 84 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video o Morgan Cryar singing, What Sin, declaring the result of Christ sharing His blood on Calvary and allowing all the sins of mankind to be pressed into the sea of forgetfulness - FOREVER - for all those who receive His saving grace in faith.

Highlight Passage:  Mark 14:32 [NKJV] …  
32 They [Jesus and 11 of the Disciples] went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray. 
… The only way into His glory is thru Him.
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Highlight Context – Mark 14:32-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus went into the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives the night prior to His crucifixion and prayed.
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 26:36-46 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Matthew’s account of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Reference Passage #2 - John 17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus prays for His Disciples (including me!) after His time in the Upper Room.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, used an illustration about Jesus taking His Disciples to the Mount of Olives and into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He wrote: If you visit the village of Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee, you will find an exhibit of ancient olive presses. Formed from basalt rock, the olive press consists of two parts: a base and a grinding wheel. The base is large, round, and has a trough carved out of it. The olives were placed in this trough, and then the wheel, also made from heavy stone, was rolled over the olives to extract the oil.  

Having been to the Garden of Gethsemane myself, and having taken the route from the Upper Room, across the Kidron Valley and up to the Mount of Olives, the route Jesus led His Disciples to that Garden the night after His Upper Room Passover discourse (see John, Chapters 14-17), I have personally viewed the scene depicted in the ODB author’s description of the wine press [see attached photo].

And on that fateful night, before Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He went into the Garden; and pressed physically/emotionally/spiritually beyond his human limits, our Lord prayed for the cup of atoning sacrifice to be taken from Him; but He knew that it was the Father’s will that He march on to the cross. So, resigned to that destiny, the trials and events of His passion unfolded, … the events we remember and celebrate this Holy Week and into this weekend (i.e., Easter).

As the stone of the wine press illustrates, every ounce of my sin was pressed out by Jesus’ blood on that cross; and the result was sung about by Morgan Cryar in the beautiful song linked above. Please take the time to view/hear this video and join me in remembering and celebrating what our Lord did for us when all the sins of mankind were pressed out and into the sea of forgetfulness for our Father by His Son’s atoning work on Calvary.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … My sins are forgotten because of Your finished work on the cross, … covered by Your blood, … and all I can muster here and now is a weak and tearful … HALLELUJAH! … 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.

March 23, 2016: Enter Here …!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 83 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group Third Day singing, Blessed Assurance, declaring the story of ALL who come to saving faith in Christ and entering into His glory through His finished work on the cross.

Highlight Passage:  Hebrews 9:11 [NKJV] …
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 
… The only way into His glory is thru Him.
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Highlight Context – Hebrews 9:11-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Christ is our Tabernacle; and it is thru Him, as the door, we enter His inner sanctuary.
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Reference Passage #1 - Exodus, Chapters 25-27 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 … God delineates clearly the elements of His Tabernacle, … all a picture of His living Tabernacle to come … The Messiah!

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 4:18-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The prophesied one (see Isaiah 61:1-2) became reality in Jesus.

Reference Passage #3 - John 10: 9 [NKJV] …
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 
… As the Good Shepherd, He is the door to the pasture.

Reference Passage #4 - John 14: 3-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… He’s the way in … the ONLY WAY in!

Reference Passage #5 - Acts 4: 12 [NKJV] …
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. 
… God makes it very clear that the way to salvation is found in only one Name … and that Name is “King Jesus!”

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, painted a word picture of an old cabin he had seen, which was a show place for any who visited it. He wrote: The vintage cabin, expertly constructed from hand-hewn logs, was worthy of a magazine cover. But the structure itself was only half the treasure. Inside, family heirlooms clung to the walls, infusing the home with memories. On the table sat a hand-woven egg basket, an ancient biscuit board, and an oil lamp. A weathered pork pie hat perched over the front door. “There’s a story behind everything,” the proud owner said.  

It reminded the ODB author of all God went thru to have a Tabernacle prepared for His chosen people, a place where He could reside as they wandered through the wilderness (see Exodus, Chapters 25-27 linked above). But this was just an historical picture of THE TABERNACLE to come, … His Son, Jesus, … God’s Messiah, … Who would come; and thru His finished work on the cross become THE WAY and the ONLY WAY to enter His Heavenly Home Place (see the Scriptures above).

This is Holy Week as I write this; and each day this week I’m led, by my time of morning solitude, to remember and celebrate My Savior, Who became my door to heaven and eternal life with Him when He went to the Cross as the Lamb of God and shed His blood for my sin. And I pray that all who read with me here are celebrating this week, our Lord’s finished work which made Him the door to salvation for all who would enter through Him.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I enter The Tabernacle through You, my Lord; and I will spent eternity with You in that place. … 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.

March 22, 2016: The Best Lies Ahead

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 82 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Mark Harris singing, Find Your Wings, posing the hope we hold for those who come after us … to find their hope and future in Christ … FOREVER!!

Highlight Passage:  Colossians 3: 2 [NKJV] …
2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 
… God’s will for our future … about as clear as it can be stated.
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Highlight Context – Colossians 3:1-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul exhorting Christians (that’s you and me as well) to live for Christlikeness, striving always toward the hope we have our eternal future with our Lord.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 17:20-26 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus prays for the well being of His future disciples. - HEY! - That’s you and me!!

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 8:37-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… When we’re in Christ, nothing can separate us from the eternal hope we have in His finished work.

Reference Passage #3 - 1st Corinthians 15:50-58[NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Life may be great - or not so great - but look ahead to what is to come!

Reference Passage #4 - Philippians 3: 12-14[NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul was always looking forward to the prize ahead, … his eternity with his Lord.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Joe Stowell, reflected on this time of year joyously. He remembered how his family used to celebrate “March Madness,” when the Stowell family would anticipate the annual ritual of the NCAA basketball tournament, … rooting for their team’s victories or agonizing over their losses.

And Stawell’s reflections took me back to my youth in Indiana, where Hoosier “roundball” fans were even more passionate at this time of year over the state high-school basketball tourney. They call it “Hoosier Hysteria” in Indiana; and March is the month when everyone dreams of their home team being crowned State Champ … or at least beating a local rival in the first round of the tournament. 

But Stowell was using this earthly basketball analogy to reflect on how we can put our hope in earthly entities rather than focusing on a hope which rises far beyond our earthly pursuits or dreams; and that is the eternal hope we Christians have in our here-and-now relationship with Christ; … but even more the hope we have for our heavenly relationship with our Lord. In other words, for rabid basketball fans there are dreams that go way beyond March Madness or Hoosier Hysteria (see attached photo).

I really do hope any reader here will take the time to take in the song video linked above as was as to meditate on the Scriptures provided by the ODB entry and my own reflections. And in the latter you’ll read of the hope that Christ had for His disciples (you and me) when He prayed for us (see the John 17 passage). You’ll also read how the Apostle Paul repetitively tried to get his fellow Christians to realize just what would lie ahead for those of us who have our hope in Christ’s resurrection and now in His intercession on our behalf until we’re with Him in Glory.

As I write this, it’s HOLY WEEK, where Christians all over the world are reflecting on the death and resurrection of our Lord from His finished work on the cross, … the atoning work which allows me to have the hope I have in Christ. And that, my friends, goes WAY BEYOND any passion I might hold for a basketball team or anything I might pursue in this life.

How about you? Are you looking forward to the glory we will have eternally with Christ?

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Come soon, Lord! I want to be with You. But in the meantime, use me for Your glory here on earth. … 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.

March 21, 2016: Basking in the "Son Light"

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 81 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Matt Redman singing, Light of the World, declaring the reality God shining His Light, … Christ, … on all who come to receive His enlightening, saving grace.

Highlight Passage:  Ephesian 5: 8 [NKJV] …
  8 Walk as children of light … 
… We are to thrive in His light and share it with the world …
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Highlight Context – Ephesians 5:1-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …    … Paul exhorting Christians (that’s you and me as well) to become the light of the world, reflecting the light of Christ into a dark world.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 89:15 [NLT] …  
15 Happy [i.e., blessed] are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of Your presences, Lord. 
… Walking [i.e., worshipping] in His light brings blessing and joyfulness.

Reference Passage #2 - Psalm 119:105 [NKJV] …  
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
… God’s word becomes our light to walk in the world.

Reference Passage #3 - Matthew 5:14-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus teaches that we are to become His light shining into the darkness of the world

Reference Passage #4 - John 8:12, 9:5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus spoke clearly that HE was the “light of the world” which would become our light in life.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Julie Ackerman Link, teaches with an easy to understand word picture. She writes, … I know better, but I still keep trying. The instructions on the label are clear: “Needs full sun.” … Our yard has mostly shade. It is not suitable for plants that need full sun. But I like the plant. I like its color, the shape of the leaves, the size, the scent. So I buy it, bring it home, plant it, and take really good care of it. But the plant is not happy at my house. My care and attention are not enough. It needs sunlight, which I cannot provide. I thought I could make up for lack of light by giving the plant some other kind of attention. But it doesn’t work that way. Plants need what they need. 

And we need the light the “Son” too, don’t we? Okay, … I switched a key letter in that word from “sUn” to “sOn;” but you see my picture here, don’t you? Like plants need sUnlight, we need the “light of the world,” the “sOn,” to light our way and give us his life sustaining light of truth.

Jesus declared clearly to His disciples that He was the “Light of the world” (see the passages from John’s Gospel linked above). And the Apostle Paul exhorted his fellow Christians, and by extension you and me, to walk (i.e. live) in His light (see the highlight passage above). And Jesus also commanded His disciples to become His light, reflected into a very dark world (see Matthew 5:14-16).

That’s why, my dear ones, that I’m here every morning basking in the SON light of His word, growing in the grace of His enlightenment, and doing all I can, by blogging His truth, to reflect His light on the path of others who would, as I try to do, … to walk in it (see Psalms 89 and 119 verses above).

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I pray it almost every morning, Lord; … that You would shine Your light so brightly on my path that I can help but see it and reflect it so that my friends and I can walk in its brilliance. … 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.

March 20, 2016: Waters and Winds Obey

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 80 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Chris Tomlin leading a crowd in worship, singing, How Great Is Our God declaring the magnitude of the great God we serve. Listen and sing along and worship our glorious God !!!

Highlight Passage:  John 1:14 [NKJV] …  
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 
… And mankind beheld the greatness of God in the flesh.
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Highlight Context – John 1:1-14 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… John writes of the glory and majesty when the Word became flesh and walked among us. 
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Reference Passage #1 - John 2: 1-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus begins to show His divine nature at a wedding in Cana.

Reference Passage #2 - Mark 4:35-41 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  
… His disciples being to see Whom they follow.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, reminded his readers (me) of the greatness of the God to Whom we have surrendered our lives as Lord and Savior.

John declared it in the first chapter of His gospel account, didn’t he (see John 1 - linked above)? And the people of Cana began to see Jesus for Whom He really was [and is] when He performed His first miracle at a wedding in that little town (see the John 2 passage). And His inner 12 Disciples were really amazed when they witnessed the One they followed calming the waves of that storm in John Mark’s eye-witness account (see Mark 4).

But do WE get it? I mean; … do we really grasp the greatness of our God? … I hope so.

But when I took the time this morning to quiet my heart and mind in this place of solitude and listen to Chris Tomlin lead an audience of thousands in worship, singing the linked song for today, I was overwhelmed to tears, … realizing the greatness of the God to Whom I’ve surrendered my life.

I pray you do so as well.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I pray others here today will see that You are our God, … our Lord, … our Messiah, … our Savior!!! … 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.

March 19, 2016: Just Do It ! [AGAIN!!]

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 79 

Blogger Note: I used this title … “Just Do It” … in a blog on August 10, 2015, which a reader can access by USING THIS LINK . The redundancy and exhortation will be obvious to the reader. But remember what my mentor used to say: “Redundancy teaches!!!“

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group Newsong singing, For Goodness Sake declaring the commitment of Christians to live - every day - to be worthy of Christ’s calling.

Highlight Passage:  Philippians 1:27 [NKJV] …  
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, … 
… An exhortation [i.e., verse 27a in bold] Paul often wrote to Christians under the pressure of the world and the flesh … that our words and deeds BE WORTHY of Christ’s gospel calling. 
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Highlight Context – Philippians 1:27-30 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul so wanted his beloved Christian friends to stay on Christ’s path … the path worthy of the calling of Christ on our lives.
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Reference Passage #1 - 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.” 
… Jesus lays it out for His Disciples … and do we get it today?

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9:23 [NKJV] …  
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … “ 
… Jesus declares what it takes to walk a walk worthy of His Gospel.

Reference Passage #3 - Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul repeatedly exhorted his fellow Christians to “walk worthy” of the calling we have from the Gospel of Christ.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dave Banon, reminded his readers (me) of the reality of the Gospel’s calling on our lives as Christians. As the Apostle Paul often reminded his beloved fellow walkers in “The Way” in his letters (see highlight and reference passages linked above), we are commanded by Christ (see Luke 9:23) to follow Him … i.e., to walk in a manner worthy of His Gospel calling.

So, the question is … ARE WE? And if not, WHY NOT?

Because if we claim to love our Lord, as He told His inner disciples (see John 14:21), we will keep His commandments. Therefore, after taking in today’s ODB entry, and remembering my similar blog on August 10, 2015 (see link above), I’m convicted by that old Nike slogan again … to … “Just Do It !!” … that is, … to follow His walk and His way today [and tomorrow too!].

How about you?

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Show the me THE way, Lord; and I will follow in Your footsteps. … 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.

March 18, 2016: Walk Away To Freedom

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 78  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Nichole Nordeman singing her song, Finally Free declaring that no human habit or hang up can hold a Christian from walking to freedom in Christ when that one decides to follow his/her Lord.

 
Highlight Passage:  Genesis 39: 7-9 [NKJV] …USE THIS LINK …  
… Joseph chooses to follow God rather than his own flesh.
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Highlight Context – Genesis 39:1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Joseph was a slave, yet he chose to walk away from the bondage sin.
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus becomes the fulfillment of the Messiah, … the One prophesied to come and free God’s children from their bondage to sin.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9:23 [NKJV] …  
23 Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. … " 
… Jesus declares what it takes to walk from bondage to freedom.

Reference Passage #3 - 1st 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. 
… God, through Paul, declares the truth about a Christians ability to walk free from the bondage of any temptation, trial, or test.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, reminded his readers (me) of the reality of our being in bondage to our own fleshly desires and what it take to walk free by choosing to deny self and follow the Messiah. And Darmani’s highlight biblical illustration came from the Old Testament story of Joseph, who had been enslaved in Egypt and was tempted by the wife of his master to sin against Joseph’s God; but instead, … Joseph chose to follow His God and walk away from the sin [see the Genesis 39 passages linked above].

These days it is so enticing, sometimes addictive, to become enslaved to the flesh. I know, because for two decades of my early life, I was shackled by my own addiction to pornography. But (long story) God pursued me; and I ultimately chose to walk free my self and follow my Savior [see Jesus’ command to His disciples in Luke 9:23; and when I did I was led to freedom by The Messiah.

It’s a wonderful truth that the Prophet Isaiah, centuries before Jesus came to walk amongst God’s people, prophesied of the One who would free God’s chosen from themselves (see Isaiah 61:1-2); and then over 700 years later, God sent His Son to set those, who come to Him in faith, free from their bondage to sin (see Luke 4:18-21).

And anyone … ANYONE … can experience what Nichole Nordeman sings about (linked above) … i.e., the freedom which comes when we choose the Savior over self. Let me pray that will be our pursuit today.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Help us to walk in freedom from the bondage to sin by following You. … 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.

March 17, 2016: Don’t Do It !!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 77  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Dennis Jernigan, with his friend Annie Herring, singing Dennis’ song, Faithful and True,… declaring the need for all Who follow Christ to faithfully follow His way in this life … even though it is so hard at times.

Highlight Passage:  Deuteronomy 30:16 [NKJV] …    
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 
… Jesus preaches of the ever sustaining, always providing, love of His Father.
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Highlight Context – Deuteronomy 30:11-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Moses said it over and over again; but did God’s people get it?
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Reference Passage #1 - Exodus 20:1-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…The big 10 don’ts … But do we follow God's signpost??

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.” 
… Could Jesus have made it any more clear?

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, reminded his readers (me) of a very human tendency which has hung God’s people up since the Garden … where mankind couldn’t abide by God’s one rule and rebelled against His very clear instructions.

And how many times did Moses have to repeat God’s rules to God’s chosen, who had been wandering in the wilderness for almost 40 years [see today’s highlight passage above]? God gave His people His VERY CLEAR laws, didn’t He? And Moses told the people to follow them or die? But over and over and over again, what was the very human tendency of God’s chosen ones? … Yes, … REBELLION. And we’re still doing it to this day, aren’t we?

When I see a “stay off the grass” sign in someone’s beautifully groomed yard, what does the little boy in me want to do? You guessed it? And when one needs to lose weight, does putting a “NO EATING” sign on the fridge help? Not if we don’t choose to abide by it. … And how many people do we have to see die in auto accidents to motivate us to abide by signs like the one in the attached photo - “NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING?” 

Moses pointed God’s people to God’s ultimate “DON”T DO IT” signpost (see Exodus 20:1-17) with the warning that they would die if they didn’t obey. … But what was the outcome of that. Jesus (see John 14:21) very clearly declared that only those who truly love Him will keep his commands. But what happened in that other garden when Jesus was arrested by the Temple guard? Yeah, … even His closest disciples bolted and ran in fear.

We all have trouble believing that those “DON’T DO IT!!” sign posts are really for our good. And even when we do believe the warnings are for our good, we often ignore the signs (such as the one in the attached photo) anyway., don’t we? Well, how about it, fellow Christian? If we know it comes from God today, how about we go out there and stay off the grass; … or avoid a little chocolate to lose weight: … or REALLY abide our State’s no texting laws?

 God’s laws are to allow us to live; and if we believe them and love our Lord, we’ll abide by them. So, please listen to the poignant and pertinent song by Dennis Jernigan above; and then let’s just lay down the cell phone and follow our Lord as we drive though life today.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, …Thank You, Lord, for Your laws to help me stay alive for Your glory. … 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.

March 16, 2016: Lovingly Ours - Always!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 76  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Christ Tomlin singing his song,  Jesus Loves Me, … declaring, in song, the love Jesus ALWAYS has for His beloved ones.

Highlight Passage:  Matthew 6: 26 [NKJV] …    
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; … yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 
… Jesus preaches of the ever sustaining, always providing, love of His Father.
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Highlight Context – Matthew 6:25-34 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus declares openly to His followers of the life-sustaining and ever-present, caring love of God, the Father, for His children.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 3:16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… I’m sure most, if not all, know this Jesus quote by heart … but do we really believe it?

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
 … Jesus lovingly lifts up a disconsolate Paul with His love and grace.

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] …  
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deut. 31:6, 8] 
… True love, … always there for those who truly believe.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Randy Kilgore, tells the story behind a well-known, but lonely cemetery in Boston where many well known figures in American history are buried. He wrote … Years ago I had an office in Boston that looked out on the Granary Burying Ground where many prominent American heroes are buried. There one can find the gravestones for John Hancock and Samuel Adams, two signers of the Declaration of Independence, and just a few feet beyond that is Paul Revere’s marker. … But no one really knows where in this burial ground each body is buried because the stones have been moved many times—sometimes to make the grounds more picturesque and other times so lawn mowers could fit between them. And while the Granary features approximately 2,300 markers, closer to 5,000 people are buried there! Even in death, it seems, some people are not fully known. 

Any quiet cemetery can be a lonely place; but this one in Boston, where so many American luminaries are buried under grave stones which are inaccurate, would seem to be even more a lonely place. And as Randy Kilgore wrote, we may sometimes feel … “like those unmarked residents of the Granary,” … unknown and unseen. But for those of us who’ve been saved by the grace of God, knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we can bask in the sunshine [or should I say “SONshine”} of God’s ever-present love and sustaining grace.

As Jesus said more than once (see Matthew 6:26 and John 3:16 above), … God is always with us to provide His love for us. The Author of Hebrews also stated, from God’s own words in the Old Testament, that our Lord will never leave, nor forsake, any who are His children.

So, being a child of God today along with me here, we’re covered by His grace, aren’t we? As Jesus said to Paul when he was feeling really low, "My grace is sufficient for you, …” ; and Paul really needed that encouragement in that moment (see 2nd Cor. 12: 9). Perhaps some of us need it today. 

Therefore, if you’re a Christian, like me, we need to take in the song by Chris Tomlin, linked above, and know that we are the loved ones of God, our Father. And I will pray for us below.

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, …When we get low, Lord, … lift us up with Your love and grace. Oh, how we need Your grace!! … 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.

March 15, 2016: Heads Up!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 75

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Alan Jackson singing the old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,… declaring, in song, our need to look up from the realities of life onto the Eyes of our Savior, who’s always willing to pour His grace into the lives who look to Him.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 146:8 [NKJV] …    
8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; … The Lord raises those who are bowed down; … The Lord loves the righteous. 
… Listen to the counsel of wisdom to avoid getting burned out for the future.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 146: 1-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God opens the eyes of those who look upon Him in humility, belief, and reverence. 
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 4: 16:21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …    … Jesus declares His mission, which includes giving sight to the [spiritually] blind and to lift up (and free) the downcast [a restatement and fulfillment of the Prophesy of Isaiah 61:1-2 ... 700+ years earlier]

Reference Passage #2 - Hebrews 12:2 [NKJV] …
15 … looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, … 
… We must turn our eyes upward - off of self - and unto the eyes of our Lord and Savior.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, uses an interesting word picture to illustrate how Christians tend to look down and into our selves for answers, when the only true answers can come from looking UP onto the eye of Jesus. He wrote … An article in the Surgical Technology International Journal says that looking down at a smart phone with your head bent forward is the equivalent of having a 60-pound weight on your neck [see attached image]. When we consider that millions of people around the world spend an average of 2-4 hours daily reading and texting, the resulting damage to neck and spine becomes a growing health concern. … It is also easy to become spiritually bowed down by the burdens of life. How often we find ourselves discouraged by the problems we face and the needs of those we love. 

The unknown psalmist of today’s highlight passage (from Psalm 146) knew that the answer for our downcast view of life was to LOOK UP … to our Savior/Messiah in faith, … knowing that it is our Savior’s mission to give sight to the blind and lift up the ones who look UP to Him in faith [see Christ's mission in Luke 4]. The ODB author today points to our tendency to look down (like we do so often into our cell phones today) which causes us to look away from the One - and ONLY ONE - who can lift us up and save from from our selves and our sin.

 Let’s think about that today when we’re looking down into our cell phone for answers. Let’s realize that we need to do what Alan Jackson sings in the old linked hymn above and turn our eyes (UPWARD) to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith [see Hebrews 12:2).

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I look UP to 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.

March 14, 2016: Just One Touch

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 74

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Nichole C Mullen singing her song, One Touch,… declaring, in song, the reality of God’s desire to let His power cover our weakness … as happened with the woman who pressed her way through the people for a healing touch from Jesus.

Highlight Passage:  Luke 8:45 [NKJV] …    
45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” … When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 
… Listen to the counsel of wisdom to avoid getting burned out for the future.
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Highlight Context – Luke 8:40-48 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Our desire to be touched by The Lord brings His healing, empowering grace. [See also Mark 5:25-34]
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Reference Passage #1 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Just as with Paul, Jesus desires to pour His enabling and empowering grace into the lives of those who desire His touch.

Reference Passage #2 - Hebrews 4: 15 [NKJV] …
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 
… We have a Savior who knows our pains and temptations and desires to touch us with His healing grace.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, C.P. Hia, uses an interesting word picture to illustrate how the multitudes sought after closeness with Jesus. He wrote … An industrial design graduate from a Singapore university was challenged in a workshop to come up with a novel solution to a common problem using only ordinary objects. She created a vest [see attached image] to protect one’s personal space from being invaded while traveling in the crush of crowded public trains and buses. The vest was covered with long, flexible plastic spikes normally used to keep birds and cats away from plants. 

Often during Jesus’ ministry walk on earth, He was crowded by throngs of people, … some just curious to see His miracles; … but others, as the woman in Luke 8 and Mark 5, who pressed hard through the throngs of people for just one touch of Christ’s garment for His healing grace. Jesus very often let down His “personal space” to be able to let His hearing and empowering grace to flow to those who so needed a touch from Him.

 That was me in the early 1980s, when I recognized just how spiritually bankrupt and weak I was, … so needing someone, … something, … to give me the strength to go on. And then one morning in 1983, God’s Spirit broke me to the place of being able to understand and receive His free offer of grace and strength. And like that desperate woman, who reached out through the throng, Jesus touched me on that April 13th, 1983, and my bleeding stopped. Oh, it wasn’t physical bleeding, … more emotional and spiritual; but from that point forward, as I imagine it was for that woman who was healed, I went forward as a healing child of God, … saved by His grace and desiring to grow as His disciple.

 I pray that anyone reading here has had that touch of saving grace; and now is growing and thriving in His amazing, and freely-offered, sanctifying grace. If not, reach out through the press of the world, and let God’s Spirit give You His strength to cover your weakness [see 2nd Cor. 12: 9].

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … Thank You, Lord, for your mercy and grace, which saved me and is sanctifying me every 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.

March 13, 2016: Take Care of Yourself

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 73  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing his song, His Strength Is Perfect,… declaring, in song, the reality of God’s strength being available, thru His grace, to all of us in times of our own weakness.

Highlight Passage:  Exodus 18:17-18 [NKJV] …    
17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 
… Listen to the counsel of wisdom to avoid getting burned out for the future.
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Highlight Context – Exodus 18:14-24 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Moses’ father-in-law gives him good self-care advice to prevent spiritual, emotional, and physical burn-out.
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 22:37-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...  
… The question is … how do we show our love for our selves by taking care of our own well being?

Reference Passage #2 - Mark 6:30-32 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus could see the pressure of duty mounting on His Disciples; and He gives them good self-care advice, wisdom that we should apply in our lives.

Reference Passage #3 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul’s commentary on using God’s grace to cover our own weaknesses.

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Peter 5:7 [NKJV] …  
7 … casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you … 
… Peter shows where we should cast our cares to protect our inner being.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, goes right to her highlight Scripture to exhort Christians (like me) to take care of ourselves first or we will weaken our ability to serve our Lord by helping others. She wrote … Moses was wearing himself out serving alone as judge over the Israelites. Jethro cautioned his son-in-law Moses: “You will only wear [yourself] out. The work is too heavy . . . you cannot handle it alone” (Ex. 18:18). He then explained ways that Moses could delegate his work and share his heavy load with others. 

And when I read that Old Testament self-care lesson from Moses’ Father-in-law, my mind went to the wise, preventative instructions given by light attendants in an airplane concerning how to handle oxygen masks should they deploy in flight. Passengers are told to first put the mask on themselves before helping others, like small children (see attached images).

That’s the advice Jethro was giving to Moses, wasn’t it? We won’t be able to help others, which God certainly wants us to do, if we don’t take care of ourself first. And taking care of self involves all dimensions of life, … certainly physical, … but also emotional and spiritual as well. Which raises the question for me today, what are we doing personally to allow God to pour His empowering grace into our lives so that we can have the power we need to reach out and serve Him by helping others [see the reference passages above].

Personally, that’s why I’m here every day, taking down God’s oxygen mask by getting into His word and blogging it for others to read. It allows me to breath in life-giving breaths from God Himself, which, in turn, allows me to breath His life into others. So, … what will we be doing today to allow God to give us His strength to cover our weakness (see the song linked above)?

My Prayer Today:  Heavenly Father, … I breath You in from Your word so that I can pass along life to others, Lord. Please give me Your life-sustaining power to cover my weaknesses. … 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.