August 31, 2017 … He’s All Around Us

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 243 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls … poignantly singing of the the glory of God which we can’t miss in all of creation … and AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK  to hear the group Anointed singing of the reality that God Is All Around ; but we must be the ones to see Him and worship Him when we see His glory in creation. … And finally GO TO THIS LINK  to hear Gordon Mote exhorting us in song, singing Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory to look around and not miss the glory of God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Romans 1:20 [NLT] … 
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 
… Mankind has no excuse to claim there is no God; and so often we let our own desires dictate our worship rather than worshipping the God who created all that is around us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Romans 1:18-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul declares the glory of God in creation, where many have a tendency to worship creation rather than the creator.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 19:1 [NLT] …
1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” 
… We see the glory of our God in all of His creation.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Psalm 46:10 [NLT] …
10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 
… All we have to do is be still and look around us to see our God in His creation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Sheridan Voysey, used an personal observation of nature to illustrate how we must look around and know that our God is the creator of all we see. The ODB author wrote: Lord Howe Island is a small paradise of white sands and crystal waters off Australia’s east coast [see photo]. When I visited some years ago, I was struck by its beauty. Here, one could swim with turtles and with fish like the shimmering trevally, while moon wrasses drifted nearby, flashing their neon colors like a billboard. In its lagoon I found coral reefs full of bright orange clownfish and yellow-striped butterfly fish that rushed to kiss my hand. Overwhelmed by such splendor, I couldn’t help but worship God. 

But unfortunately, all too often, all too many of us miss what Gordon Mote exhorts us in song (see link above), to look around and not miss God’s glory. And as the group, Anointed, sings, our God truly is all around us! But unfortunately some attempt to worship the creation rather than the Creator, and they miss seeing the reality and greatness of God Himself on display in His creation. And then there are those, who just simply cannot see the Creator in his creation as Brian Doerksen sings. 

Today, all reading here, please take in the linked songs; and let’s all just look around us and be still and know that we are taking in God’s creation (Ps. 46:10); and let the heavens declare His glory (Ps. 19:1).

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’m in awe of what You’ve created, Lord, for Your glory and showing Yourself so that we will worship You. ... I pray we do!! … 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, 2017 … All Clean in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 242 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from group Casting Crowns singing their song, … East to West … poignantly singing of the reality of how we are completely cleansed of our sins in the eyes of God when we come in surrender for the cleansing grace offered by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ezekiel 36:25-26 [NLT] … 
25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. 
… And this is exactly what God has done for His remnant of believers who have come in faith to experience the cleansing blood of The Messiah.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ezekiel 36:24-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Ezekiel prophesies of believers being cleansed from our sins by the Messiah.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s mercies are afresh every morning and His faithfulness is there to cleanse any repentant sinner.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 3:23 [NLT] …
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 
… Yes, all of us are dirty when we come to our Lord for cleansing.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] …
17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
… In Christ, we are made NEW!!

Reference Passage [NLT] : … 1st John 1:9 [NLT] …
9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL wickedness. 
 … Totally, utterly, completely cleansed!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Eye, used a personal word picture to illustrate how we become totally/utterly cleansed by the blood of Jesus’ finished work on the cross when we surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. The ODB author wrote: When I opened our dishwasher, I wondered what went wrong. Instead of seeing sparkling clean dishes, I removed plates and glasses that were covered in a chalky dust. I wondered if the hard water in our area was wreaking havoc, or if the machine was broken. 
God’s cleansing, unlike that faulty dishwasher, washes away all of our impurities. We see in the book of Ezekiel that God is calling His people back to Himself as Ezekiel shared God’s message of love and forgiveness. The Israelites had sinned as they proclaimed their allegiance to other gods and other nations. The Lord, however, was merciful in welcoming them back to Himself. 

Do you get it fellow Christian? Do you believe it; … that when we repent of our sins and confess them before God’s throne of grace, we are totally, utterly, and COMPLETELY cleansed? That’s why I like the dishwasher word picture painted by the ODB author today. Because I’m always gratified by how our dishes, so grungy before a cycle in our dishwasher, come out so squeaky clean.

And as the group Casting Crowns sings, when we bring our sins in confession … to be cleansed by the blood of our Savior, we all, who are completely dirty (see Rom. 3:23), are seen by our Heavenly Father as totally, utterly, and COMPLETELY cleansed by our faith in the finished work of His Son, the Christ, on our behalf.

So, do you want to stand before the Lord as clean as the dishes AFTER a complete cleansing cycle? … Well, then, … you know what to do! Surrender to His cleansing mercy and grace, … and be clean!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I’ve been in Your shower of grace today; and I feel so clean!! … 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, 2017 … Choosing Fruitfulness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 241 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from the UK about our participating in God’s fruitfulness today … AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK to hear Jason Gray singing his song, Glow In The Dark, declaring how fruitful Christians shine Christ’s light into a dark world.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Galatians 5:24-25 [NLT] … 
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 
… The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians (you and me too!) to be fruitful in the Spirit. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Galatians 5:16-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru his later Apostle, Paul, lays out what fruitfulness in Christ is all about. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … John 15:16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus on being fruitful in the Spirit for God’s glory.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … 2nd Corinthians 5:16-17 [NLT] …
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
… In Christ, we need not choose to be as we were in our own humanity. We can choose to be the newness of Spirit in our new nature.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 2nd Peter 1:3 [NLT] …
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.
 … We’ve got all it takes to glow Christlikeness in this dark world.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon used a personal word picture to illustrate how we Christians can choose to share the fruitfulness of Christ; and when we do, we become like Jason Gray sings in today’s linked song … to glow in the dark. The ODB author wrote: During the spring and summer, I admire the fruit growing in our neighbor’s yard. Their cultivated vines climb a shared fence to produce large bunches of grapes. Branches dotted with purple plums and plump oranges dangle just within our reach. 
Although we don’t till the soil, plant the seeds, or water and weed the garden, the couple next door shares their bounty with us. They take responsibility for nurturing their crops and allow us to delight in a portion of their harvest. 
The produce from the trees and vines on the other side of our fence reminds me of another harvest that benefits me and the people God places in my life. That harvest is the fruit of the Spirit. 

If any reader has taken in the YouTube videos and meditated deeply on the Scriptures above, I really need not write much more, do I?

In the newness of Christ, God’s Spirit has given us all we need to be fruitful for His glory [see 2Peter 1:3]. And to choose to do what Jason Gray sings, … i.e., to glow Christlikeness in a very dark world, … we need not yield to our base, human nature (see Gal. 5:19-21). But rather, we are new creatures in Christ [see 2Cor. 5:17], and we can choose to be fruitful in/for Christ (see Gal. 5:22-23).

In Christ we get to choose today … to live with the fruit of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirt.

What will we choose?!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Personally, Lord, today I choose to do all I can to glow, like You, in the dark, so that others can taste Your sweet fruit by the way I live. … 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, 2017 … Try A Little Kindness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 240 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Glen Campbell singing … Try A Little Kindness … poignantly declaring how we, as Christians, need to reach out in His Name and help those who need a little kindness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 41:1a [NLT] … 
1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! 
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 41:1a [NKJV] … 
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor. 
… King David sings a blessing for those who “pay attention” to the poor.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 41:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David expresses God’s wishes for those who pay attention to the poor.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Matthew 25:40 [NLT] … 
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 
… When we pay attention to the needy and help them, Jesus says that we’re helping Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, quotes John Newton with a convicting lesson (at least for me) about paying attention to the needy around us. The ODB author wrote: John Newton wrote, “If, as I go home, a child has dropped a halfpenny, and if, by giving it another, I can wipe away its tears, I feel I have done something. I should be glad to do greater things; but I will not neglect this.” These days, it’s not hard to find someone in need of comfort: A care-worn cashier in a grocery store working a second job to make ends meet; a refugee longing for home; a single mother whose flood of worries has washed away her hope; a lonely old man who fears he has outlived his usefulness. 

Today’s ODB entry was convicting for me. So often these days I see those who appear down-and-out, begging alongside the road at traffic stops; and I am conflicted as to whether I should help them in some way. They appear so needy; but I’ve had experiences in the past where I’ve given them food and observed them throw it away because they wanted money, perhaps to appease their addictions. 

What to do?

But then I recalled one of Aesop’s sayings, … “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” And I’m convicted that it’s not MY responsibility what the perceived beggar does with my help, … it’s only my calling (by Jesus Himself in Matt. 25:40) to see the needy as Jesus Himself and to reach out and serve my Lord. And it really all boils down to what Glen Campbell sings in his hit song, linked above. And so, I hope that we all “try a little kindness” today.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Today I pray that I will see You in anyone that really needs Your help thru my act of kindness. … 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, 2017 … Rescued and Redeemed

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 239 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Don Men leading in worship and singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly declaring how God will make a way for His children no matter how desperate life seems. … And THEN TO THIS LINK to hear Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song, He’ll Do Whatever It Takes, showing how God’s Spirit does all our Lord can to seek out, redeem, and remake lost ones like you and me.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 62:11 [NLT] … 
11 The Lord has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, you Savior is coming. See He brings His reward with Him as He comes.’ ” 
… The Prophesy of Christ’s final coming for His Bride.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 61:1-2, 62:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Isaiah’s prophesy of God searching, finding, and bring His Bride to Himself.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Jeremiah 29:10-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet tells of the Messiah seeking out, finding, and bringing His beloved Bride to Himself.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Luke 15:1-7, 19:10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, the Good Shepherd, came to seek out His lost sheep. That’s you and me!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, related a personal story illustrating what it’s like to seek out a loved one who is difficult to find. The ODB author wrote: Every Saturday our family lines the edges of the race course to cheer on my daughter as she runs with her high school cross-country team. After crossing the finish line, the athletes stream out to rejoin their teammates, coaches, and parents. Crowds engulf the finishers—often more than 300 of them—making it difficult to find one person among so many. We scan the crowd excitedly until we find her, eager to put our arms around the one athlete we came to watch: our much-loved daughter. 

I pray that all reading here with me know and believe the truth that our Redeemer and Lord seeks and saves His lost children, … our Good Shepherd, Who searches for and brings His wayward lambs to Himself. And having been one of those lost sheep whom my Lord came after and saved, I am one who knows to what lengths our Good Shepherd will go to find His lost ones and to rescue us for Himself.

And if you’ve taken in the linked songs above, I’m sure you’re glad that our Lord, as the “Good Shepherd,” is sometimes called the “Hound of Heaven,” … as He will do, as Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing, “whatever it takes” to bring His lost ones, redeemed and reshaped, to Himself.

Do I sense readers joining me in a resounding “HALLELUJAH!!”?

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … We are blessed to be saved by Your dogged pursuit to search out and rescue Your lost sheep. … 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, 2017 … Fact, … Not Fiction!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 238 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Third Day singing the old hymn … Blessed Assurance … poignantly and powerfully declaring the reality of a faith in Christ which we can trust as fact … not fancy.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 1:3-4 [NLT] … 
3 Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, 4 so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught. 
… Luke, being a physician, knew of the importance of careful observation and documentation of the historical facts; and he so recorded them in his gospel journal and in the historical writings in the book of Acts for all who came after him to read the truth about Jesus as THE CHRIST! 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 1:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Luke wrote his gospel account as a letter to a friend so that this man, and all who came after him, would know of the FACTS and TRUTH about Jesus, the Christ.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Acts 1:1-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The journal in the book of Acts, which was written as a letter to the same friend as Luke’s gospel account, was the Physician’s careful attempt to document the spread of Christ’s gospel throughout the known world.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … The Apostle Paul declares and documents the accuracy of known Scripture for the young preacher, Timothy, and for all of us as well. Scripture is truth for us to know how it helps us in living our lives. the way God intended.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 1st John 5:13 [NLT] … 
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 
 … The Apostle John wrote his letter to Christians to help them KNOW, beyond a doubt, that they could be confident in their salvation thru belief in King Jesus. Take in the linked song declaring that confidence.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, related a rather fanciful, but personal, tale of his early childhood, … a story about his tricycle being parked over a poisonous cobra. Go figure!! But later Gustafson writes of his tale being corroborated by a family letter. So, fancy became fact in relating this tale to others. You can read about it in the link to today’s ODB [linked in the Blogger Note below].

For the Gospel writer and historian, Luke, it was important that the accounts of Jesus, as THE CHRIST, be transmitted accurately to his friends and fellow Christians. He was a physician, who knew of the importance of an accurate record of true accounts (see photo of a medical record). And so, he wrote a journal of the historical FACTS about Jesus; and we have that accurate record in the books of Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, … documentation of the gospel facts about Jesus.

Other New Testament writers also set out their documentation of the accuracy of Scripture (involving both Old and New Testaments) to help Christians following them to know that belief in Christ as King Jesus was no fanciful faith, but rather accurate and believable facts (see 2Tim. 3:16-17 and 1st John 5:13). As Christians, we don’t have to have a “blind faith.” No, … our faith is based on historical and accurate accounts of the Son of God, coming to save mankind from our own sin.

And we’re so indebted to men like the Gospel writers and called ones, like the Apostles, who documented TRUTH in the New Testament, … which BTW, these accounts have never been refuted by a historical or archeological evidence.

Brothers and Sisters, reading here … our Bible is the REAL DEAL!!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … We are blessed by a faith in You as the true Son of God … our Savior and 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 25, 2017 … The Lure of Living

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 237 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Even If … poignantly and powerfully declaring the reality of life tempting and testing us to trust in God’s faithfulness and willingness to lead us thru and away from the temptations of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: James 1:14-15 [NLT] … 
4 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. 
 … The bold/underlined word, in the Greek, is”peirasmo” a verb form of the root word, “peirasmos,” which can mean being “tested” or “tempted,” and when it is used as above, it means being lured into Satan’s grasp rather than the other context when God tests us to help us grow closer to Him. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 1:5-6, 12-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ brother helps us, as Christians, to realize the nature of temptation.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … 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’s desire to lead us in His will/ways is the answer to dealing with the lure of temptation.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Matthew 26:38-41 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus trying to help His disciples learn about the nature of temptation so that they’d be able to resist its lure.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 1st Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… Paul helping Christians realize God’s promise to faithfully be with us and show us the way clear of temptation, luring us toward sin.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, related a personal story to illustrate that, as Christians, we are often tempted and tested by the circumstances of life. The ODB author wrote: In the summer of 2016, my niece convinced me to play Pokémon Go—a game played on a smartphone, using the phone’s camera. The object of the game is to capture little creatures called Pokémon. When one appears in the game, a red and white ball also appears on the phone’s screen. To capture a Pokémon, the player has to flick the ball toward it with the movement of a finger. Pokémon are more easily caught, however, by using a lure to attract them. 

The Pokemon story is a good word picture of how life can lure us (i.e., tempt us) into following the wrong leads in life, … i.e, those which can lead us right into the clutches of satan using our human desires. Personally, I’ve always liked the word picture of what a fisherman (like Satan) uses to lure a fish to its death (see photo). But both illustrations show that we, in our human state, can be lured by the world and our flesh toward death producing sin.

But no matter what the lure of temptation from our flesh or Satan … or from the testing of God’s Spirit to help us grow in Christ, … God is ALWAYS faithful to draw the Christian closer to Himself (see 1Cor. 10:13). But we have to be willing to humbly receive His enabling grace to overcome the temptations of life.

So, take in today’s song and the promises from God in the Scriptures above and know that Jesus will always be there to lead us to Himself … IF … we but choose to trust Him and follow Him.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Help us all to avoid the lures of Satan and to trust that You are leading us to Yourself. … 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, 2017 … Serving Him, Serving Others

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 236 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from John Waller singing … As For Me And My House … poignantly and powerfully declaring the commitment from Joshua, which we should share, to choose to serve our Lord by serving others over the idols of selfishness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … 
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. … 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 
… We are to think of the needs of others before self and in doing to be more like Jesus. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 2:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts us to serve others - like Him!
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Joshua 24:15 [NLT] … 
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 
 … We always have a choice to serve self or the Savior, … which will we choose today?

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Mark 10:43-45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus commands His disciples to serve Him, as the Son of Man, by serving others.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 1st Peter 4:10 [NLT] … 
10 God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 
… Today’s let’s use our God-given gift(s) to serve others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, related a personal story to illustrate that, as Christians, we only serve our Lord when we’re serving others. The ODB author wrote: My friend Jaime works for a huge international corporation. In his early days with the company, a man came by his desk, struck up a conversation, and asked Jaime what he did there. After telling the man about his work, Jaime asked the man his name. “My name is Rich,” he replied. 
“Nice to meet you,” Jaime answered. “And what do you do around here?” 
“Oh, I am the owner.” 
Jaime suddenly realized that this casual, humble conversation was his introduction to one of the richest men in the world. 

Because of our human default to selfishness and our sin nature, one of the hardest lessons that we Christians learn, in becoming more and more like our King, Jesus, is to choose to serve others before self. … Common; … admit it, … it’s tough, isn’t it? We’re so prone to serve self before others; but meditating on the truth in today’s ODB certainly points us 180 degrees in the opposite direction, doesn’t it; … to serve our Lord by serving others?!

So, like me today, when you take in the song and the Scriptures today, maybe, instead of choosing to serve the idol of self today, … like Joshua, … we’ll declare strongly, … “As for me and my family we will serve our God;” and in doing so we’ll be serving others before ourselves just as our Lord did.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Help us all to focus on serving You by serving 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 23, 2017 … Not Guilty!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 235 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Natalie Grant singing … Clean … poignantly and powerfully conveying the truth that we, as Christians, can confess and be made totally and utterly CLEAN from our sinfulness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 32:5 [NLT] … 
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to my self, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord;” and You forgave me! All my guilt is gone! 
… For David’s confession meditate on Psalm 51.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 32:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David testifies of God’s healing grace when he was able o confess and be cleansed of his sin.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Psalm 103:10-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David’s testimony of God’s mercy and forgiveness; and His willingness to separate us from the guilt of our sin as far as the east is from the west.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jeremiah’s joy, in the midst of his sorrows, of God’s faithfulness to extend His mercy every day of our lives.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … James 5:16 [NLT] … 
16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 
 … James’ exhortation for Christians to confess their sins, not only to God, but to one another so that the prayers of righteous brothers/sisters can help heal one from the guilt of sin.

Reference Passage #4 [NLT] : … 1st John 1:9 [NLT] … 
9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 
… If this is true (and of course, it is!), they why would we hesitate from confessing our sins and being cleansed by God’s mercy?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, related a personal story of being released from the guilt of a sinful act. The ODB author wrote: As a young girl, I invited a friend to browse with me through a gift shop near my home. She shocked me, though, by shoving a handful of colorful crayon-shaped barrettes into my pocket and yanking me out the door of the shop without paying for them. 
Guilt gnawed at me for a week before I approached my mom—my confession pouring out as quickly as my tears. Grieved over my bad choice of not resisting my friend, I returned the stolen items, apologized, and vowed never to steal again. The owner told me never to come back. But because my mom forgave me and assured me that I had done my best to make things right, I slept peacefully that night. 

Have any of my readers done something you knew was sinful and ultimately confessed to be released from the guilt of that sinful act by your confession? It’s highly likely, I think! … And that was the experience of King David after his momentary, but catastrophic, sinfulness, involving Bathsheba and the cover-up of his adultery and the murder which followed. And David wrote songs about his confession ( Ps. 51) and the release he felt from the guilt ( Psalms 32 and 103).

I have always identified and empathized with David’s transgressions, his confession, and his testimony of healing; because I was involved with hidden habitual sexual sin for 22 years of my life. However, after I confessed and repented of that sinfulness, I found out the truth of James’ admonition, found above (i.e., James 5:16). And I’m praying today that all who read here have experienced the reality of God’s forgiveness and release from our human guilt. Because if you haven’t, you need to … NOW!

God’s mercies are truly new every day (see Lam. 3:22-23) and when we confess our sins, He WILL cleanse us from our sins (see 1John 1:9) … EVERY SIN … EVERY TIME!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Extend Your mercy today to any of us who need Your cleansing (and that’s likely ALL OF US!). … 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, 2017 … Ripe for Harvest

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 234 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly and powerfully conveying the truth that we, as Christians, need to recognize that the harvest of souls all around is ripe unto harvest.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 4:25 [NLT] … 
35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. 
… Jesus points us toward the harvest of souls all around us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 4:25-42 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shows His disciples that even the Samaritans were ripe for the harvest of souls in God’s kingdom.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Trust that God will lead us to the ones with whom we are to share Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, related a word picture of fruit that was ripe for the harvest, just as so many we contact every day who need Jesus. The ODB author wrote: In late summer, we went for a walk in the New Forest in England and had fun picking the blackberries that grew in the wild [see photo] while watching the horses frolicking nearby. As I enjoyed the bounty of the sweet fruit planted by others perhaps many years before, I thought of Jesus’s words to His disciples: “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for” (John 4:38). 

As Steve Green sings, my questions from today’s ODB and my meditation in John, Chapter 4, are … Whom will God present for me today who is ripe for hearing about Jesus? … How many lost souls will I see today who need my Lord?

Just as the ODB author was able to harvest blackberries which were ripe for the picking, today my Lord may present someone to us whom He wants to use us to harvest for His kingdom. So, let’s pray that we recognize their ripeness and be the ones to take in the sweet harvest for God’s glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Show me someone today - or tomorrow - whom I can have the privilege of harvesting for Your family. … 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, 2017 … In the Stillness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 233 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Steven Curtis Chapman singing his song … Be Still and Know … poignantly and powerfully conveying the truth that we need to be still in our lives to be able to know God more intimately.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 46:10a [NLT] … 
10 “Be still and know that I am God. …” 
… God speaks, thru the psalmist, of our need to find intimacy with God in the stillness of our lives. But … where to find the stillness is the key!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 46:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist writes of being able to find God in all the clamor of the world.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Joshua 24:15 [NLT] … 
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 
… Joshua made his choice as to Whom he would pursue. We have to make our choice.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … 2Cor. 9:6-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul’s word picture shows that when we give only a small amount of quiet-time to God, He can return only a small amount of His enabling grace in return. But when we give Him a lot of dedicated time, He will return it many fold with His grace.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, wrote of the state of our world to prevent our deepening relationship with God. The ODB author wrote: “We’ve created more information in the last five years than in all of human history before it, and it’s coming at us all the time” (Daniel Levitin, author of The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload).  “In a sense,” Levitin says, “we become addicted to the hyperstimulation.” The constant barrage of news and knowledge can dominate our minds. In today’s environment of media bombardment, it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to be quiet, to think, and to pray. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God,” reminding us of the necessity to take time to focus on the Lord. 

If you were Satan trying to keep Christians from praying and getting deeply into God’s word, what kind of a strategy would you develop? Well, you probably have already recognized that satan’s system of deterrence is already in operation … BIGTIME! In this digitalized information age, we are bombarded with informational overload. And we are captivated by our choice to devote our time to digital devices which distract us to their screens, where we spend hours being stimulated and even addicted to their lure.

Hence we become indentured slaves to what the world wants us to see/hear, rather than choosing to do what Steven Curtis Chapman sings in today’s linked song … to BE STILL and get to know God more intimately. We need to ask ourselves how much time we are choosing to devote to our relationship with God and how much time we’re choosing to devote to the clamor and confusion of the world.

Because if we don’t, as Paul taught in 2Cor. 9:6-8, plant our seeds of devotion, with disciplined time spend relating to God, we will be vulnerable to Satan’s system in the world, distracting us from those disciplines of solitude, prayer, and devotion to God’s word. And in doing so, we we will not be able to reap the benefits of God’s enabling grace.

Personally, as you can see by my time spent here in prayer and journaling God’s truth, with time alone, devoted to what God gives me daily, I’ve chosen to become addicted to this morning solitude, … rather than to be distracted by worldly informational overload. And as Joshua had chosen for himself (see Joshua 24:15), we have to choose for ourselves … Whom we will spend time with and serve.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Daily I will be here, Lord, … with YOU. … So, help me to avoid Satan’s distractions and bring me close to You in this stillness. … 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, 2017 … God Shows Up

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 232 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill singing the old hymn … How Great Thou Art … at the 2011 ACM special awards when God showed up to turn the entertainment show into a worship service. …
AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK where blind singer Gordon Mote sings Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory with the prayer all Christians should have to be able to see God’s glory in the midst of trials/tribulations.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Esther 8:16 [NLT] … 
16 The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere. 
… When it looked like the Jews were about to be wiped out, God showed up and everything turned for His glory, causing the people to revel with joy.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Esther 8:11-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God showed up to save His people from peril using Mordecai and Esther in an unusual set of circumstances to show off His glory.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Matthew 14:25-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus is always with us, as believers; but sometimes we just have trouble seeing Him in troubling situations.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … 
7 … For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 
… God is always there, … we just have to be observant enough to find Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, told a personal story where God showed up to show off His glory in a curious set of circumstances. The ODB author wrote: As the minister spoke at a funeral for an old military veteran, he mused about where the deceased might be. But then, instead of telling the people how they could know God, he speculated about things not found anywhere in Scripture. Where is the hope? I thought. 
At last he asked us to turn to a closing hymn. And as we rose to sing “How Great Thou Art,” people began to praise God from the depths of their souls. Within moments, the spirit of the entire room had changed. Suddenly, surprisingly, in the middle of the third verse my emotions overwhelmed my voice. 

Have you ever seen our great God show up and show off His glory in curious, sometimes amazing, places? In 2011, many were watching an awards show of County Music artists on TV; and they had Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill sing a powerful rendition of that old hymn How Great Thou Art (see YouTube link), the one mentioned in the ODB entry above; and all of a sudden God shows up and the TV audience became a worship service. It was amazing to see God’s glory on display that night.

And I think of something much simpler like flowers growing beautifully thru the cracks of rocks on a city street [as in the attached photo]. Or biblically, when God showed up and saved His people with young Esther intervening before the King. Most certainly, our Lord will never leave us or forsake us (see Heb. 13:5); but as the disciples almost missed Him in that horrible storm (see Matt. 14:25-27), sometimes we let our fears and faithlessness blind us to our Lord’s presence; and we miss His gory. 

As the amazing blind pianist and song writer, Gordon Mote sings his song [linked above), we need to pray that we don’t let our egos and fears blind us to be able to see God’s glory in even some flowers growing in strange places or when circumstances seem to force our Lord far away from us.

God’s there, ... we just need to trust that He is and do our best not to miss His glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … On this Sunday, Lord, … help me to see Your glory and worship You in church 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, 2017 … God’s Anecdote for Anguish

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 231 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Sara Groves singing her song … It’s Going To Be Alright … a poignant song reminding us, as Christians, that there is hope in Christ … no matter what our circumstances.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 16:20, 33 [NLT] … 
20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. … 
 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
… Jesus’ promise to His disciples that their grief would turn to joy … and it did!
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 16:16-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tries to calm His disciples in His prediction of His impending death.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Acts 1:3 [NLT] … 
3 During the forty days after He suffered and died, He appeared to the apostles from time to time, and He proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive. And He talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 
… Just as Jesus had promised He returned to His grieving Disciples to give them joy for 40 days following His death.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to use God’s anecdote for our anguish.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 1st Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… God invites us to give all our cares to Him … but DO WE?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, used an apt word picture to describe how God can replace our angst with His joy. The ODB author wrote: Kelly’s pregnancy brought complications, and doctors were concerned. During her long labor, they decided to whisk her away for a Cesarean section. But despite the ordeal, Kelly quickly forgot her pain when she held her newborn son. Joy had replaced anguish. 

And this comparison … of a mother’s pain turning from anguish to absolute joy at the birth of her new baby (see photo) … was the word picture Jesus used (see highlight passage) to describe how He CAN AND WILL replace our anguish with His joy … IF we let Him. That was Jesus’ promise to His disciples just before He died; and He fulfilled that promise by returning to them after the resurrection [see Acts 1:3], … giving them 40 days of joyful sharing before He ascended to heaven.

And as Sara Groves sings, and Paul promises (Phil. 4:7), our God will give us His peace to replace our anguish, if we are but willing to cast our cares on Him (see also 1Pet. 5:7). But we’ve got to be willing to do just that, trusting that our Lord can replace our angst with His caring love. How about it, fellow believer?

Sounds like a plan to me … a good one!!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Be my care-taker today, 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 18, 2017 … Remaking Me Today

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 230 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing their song … He’ll do Whatever It Takes … a poignant song reminding us, as Christians, that our God is doing whatever it takes to reshape us into His own image.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 100:3 [NLT] … 
3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His. … 
… About as clear as one can say it … We are HIS!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 100 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist declares that God is good, … in that He created us for Himself.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Psalm 139:13-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… He made me (and you) as His workmanship.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Jeremiah 18:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet lays out God’s truth … that God is the Potter and we are His clay.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … John 1:3 [NLT] … 
3 God created everything through Him and nothing was created except through Him. 
… He made it all!

Reference Passage #4 [NLT] : … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … 
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. 
… He made me [and you] to be His masterpiece.

Reference Passage #5 [NLT] : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 
… Yes, He made me … but He’s not done with me yet!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Roper, got right to the point he was trying to emphasize today. The ODB author wrote: Each of us is an original from God’s hand. There are no self-made men or women. No one ever became talented, buffed, or bright all by himself or herself. God made each of us all by Himself. He thought of us and formed us out of His unspeakable love. God made your body, mind, and soul. And He isn’t done with you; He is still making you. 

Fellow Christian, … let me be blunt, as was David Roper above. If you believe, as do I, that the Bible is truth … ALL TRUE! … Then, if you’ve take in and meditated on the Scriptures above - ALL TRUE! - then you must realize that we Christians were made by God, for God, to be in Christ, for His glory. We are God’s masterpiece; but as the Potter (see photo), He’s not done with me yet. He is making me over into His image; and the closer I get to that image, the more I look like Him and the more I glorify Him.

So, I say. Do your thing, Lord? As the song reminds me, … you’re doing whatever it takes to remake me; and I pray I yield to your Hands this day. And as the Prophet Jeremiah declared (see above), You, … Lord, … are the Potter, I am Your clay.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Make me over into Your image today … and all days I live for You; … whatever it takes! … 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, 2017 … Our Real Home

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 229 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the young singer, Blandy Garcia, singing … Heaven’s My Home … a song reminding us, as Christians, that no matter where we live now, our real home is in heaven and now we’re just traveling thru life as sojourners.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Micah 4:4 [NLT] … 
4 Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear. … 
… The Messiah will come for us and take us to His home, where we will live in peace and prosperity forever.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Micah 4:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet was reminding God’s people of His promise to return and take them into the Promised Land to live with Him forever in a home He has created for us.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
 … Isaiah, prophesying to God’s people, along side of Micah, declaring God’s promise to lift up His people in their times of need.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … John 14:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ promise to His disciples (you and me too!) of an eternal home with Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Peterson, used the reality of the refugee status in this world to illustrate how our lives now are in temporary domiciles … that we long for our eternal home with Jesus. The ODB author wrote: Sixty-five million. That’s the number of refugees in our world today—people who have had to leave their homes due to conflict and persecution—and it’s higher than it’s ever been. The UN has petitioned leaders to work together in receiving refugees so that every child will get an education, every adult will find meaningful work, and every family will have a home. 

Today’s ODB author is reminding us, as disciples of Christ, that no mater where we live now, we can look forward to that day when we will live in peace and prosperity with our Lord … FOREVER. And as in the ODB illustration today, there are millions living as depicted and described above in refugee camps [see photo], … people who could latch onto that promise - i.e. that truth - as they live in squaller and pain.

But no matter what our status in life, or where we live now, as Micah and Isaiah reminded a displaced Judah in the OT [see passages from Micah 4 and Isaiah 41], and Jesus reminded His disciples in the the NT (see John 14:1-3), our Lord is going to return for His Bride and take us home to live in a wonderful place He has prepared for any/all who have believed on Him and received His saving grace.

So, as young Blandy Garcia sings in the linked song, we should all look forward to our permanent and eternal home in glory.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … As You promised Lord to Your disciples, come soon and take us home. … 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, 2017 … Fear or Faith?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 228 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Mia Fieldes singing her song … Fearless … a song repeated from my journal entry yesterday, poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, much choose where we are going to let God lead us forward or retreat in fear to the enemy.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Numbers 14:9 [NLT] … 
9 Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” 
… God’s people had a choice to follow their faith or retreat in fear. We have the same choice everyday as Christians.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Numbers 13:25-14:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Before entering God’s promised land, His people rebelled and balked at Moses’ leadership, choosing to follow fear rather than yielding to their faith in God.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Joshua 24:15 [NLT] … 
15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” 
 … Joshua had a choice as to Whom he and his family would serve. We have the same choice today!

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Faith is always a measure of our trust in God, … fear, almost always, shows our faith in following our spiritual enemies.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 1:7 [NLT] … 
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 
… Any time we FEEL fearful at a choice that seems right in our faith, that CANNOT be from God, … but rather from Satan.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, used a personal story to illustrate how we can often let feelings of fear lead us in the wrong direction. The ODB author wrote: “My husband was offered a promotion in another country, but I feared leaving our home, so he reluctantly declined the offer,” my friend shared with me. She explained how apprehension over such a big change kept her from embracing a new adventure, and that she sometimes wondered what they missed in not moving. 

I’m not a betting man, but I would almost wager that any/all of us have been in places, as Christians, as pictured in the photo, where we’re faced with a choice of following our fears or our faith. I’m sure any reader here with me has a personal example, maybe even one we’re facing today.

The Israelites, in today’s highlight passage, had such a choice just before entering God’s promised land of milk and honey; but they balked and wanted to go back to Egypt and slavery. Certainly we can see that they were being led by fear rather than faith. Later, when Joshua was leading God’s people in the promised land, he told the people [see Joshua 24:15] they were going to have to choose the God (or gods) they would follow; but he stated clearly that He would follow his faith in God.

And we read from Paul, mentoring the new preacher/leader, Timothy, telling him (and us) that when we have feelings (i.e., a spirit) of fear, … that this ALWAYS comes from something other than our God, Who would NEVER give us a spirit of fear.

So, many days, … perhaps today, … we’re going to be faced with a fear verses faith challenge; and we’re going to have to decide which road we’re going to follow. I pray it will be the road of faith we follow ... and become, as Mia Fieldes again sings [link above repeated from my blog yesterday], … FEARLESS.

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Help me to follow my faith in You and avoid responding to my feelings of fear. … 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, 2017 … Wings of Protection

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 227 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Mia Fieldes singing her song … Fearless … poignantly singing of how we can deal with the trials life without fear because of God’s protective wings.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 91:4 [NLT] … 
4 “He (our God) will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. 
… David uses a strong word picture of God’s protection for the righteous.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 91 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David shows his fearless attitude as he prays for God’s refuge and protection
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Psalm 17:4-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David is clear as to whom and why God provides His wings of protection.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 
3 You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all those whose thoughts are fixed on you!  
… We all look for peace, don’t we? Well, here’s where to look!

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand. 
… We can be fearless (hear today’s song) with God lifting us up.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington used an apt word picture from nature to illustrate God’s protective wings covering those who trust Him and rely upon Him. The ODB author wrote: When I think of protection, I don’t automatically think of a bird’s feathers. Though a bird’s feathers might seem like a flimsy form of protection, there is more to them than meets the eye. 
Bird feathers are an amazing example of God’s design. Feathers have a smooth part and a fluffy part. The smooth part of the feather has stiff barbs with tiny hooks that lock together like the prongs of a zipper. The fluffy part keeps a bird warm. Together both parts of the feather protect the bird from wind and rain. But many baby birds are covered in a fluffy down and their feathers haven’t fully developed. So a mother bird has to cover them in the nest with her own feathers to protect them from wind and rain. 

King David used this word picture too in two of His psalms [see the links to Psalms 17 and 91 [above, especially Ps. 91], where he liked God’s protection to the wings of a mama bird [see photo]. And the Prophet Isaiah also showed readers of God’s truth how God will provide peace and protection to those who trust in God’s wings of protection (see Isaiah 26:3 and 41:10 passages).

And most certainly there are times when we need the FEARLESS nature sung my Mia Fieldes in the linked sing. But, I know quite often it’s difficult to see God’s wings covering us in times of peril or fearful situations. The news these days is full of fearful images of potential danger; but we who are in Christ need to pray the truth of Psalm 91 back to a God Who desires to cover us with His wings of protection.

Yes, today!!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Your words from King David give me peace in times of trouble and trial, 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 14, 2017 … Loving the Kids

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 226 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from an anonymous chorus of children singing … Jesus Loves the Little Sining … poignantly singing of just how much God loves children.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 18:5-6 [NLT] … 
5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf[a] is welcoming me. 6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. …” 
… Jesus loved the little children and severely warned against treating them badly. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 18:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus makes it very clear that He loved children and that we, His disciples, needed to have attitudes of faith like a child to inherit the kingdom of God.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Matthew 19:13-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus rebukes [esp. v. 14] His disciples as they tried to shield him from the children; and once again (see Matt. 18 above) He showed his deep love for children.

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … James 1:27 [NLT] … 
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. 
… Our faith can only be genuine IF we have a heart to protect and provide for widows and children, especially the orphans.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder used an historical illustration to teach on Christians caring for children as a measure of the reality of our faith. The ODB author wrote: Thomas Barnado entered the London Hospital medical school in 1865, dreaming of life as a medical missionary in China. Barnado soon discovered a desperate need in his own front yard—the many homeless children living and dying on the streets of London. Barnado determined to do something about this horrendous situation. Developing homes for destitute children in London’s east end, Barnado rescued some 60,000 boys and girls from poverty and possible early death. Theologian and pastor John Stott said, “Today we might call him the patron saint of street kids.”

I’ve actually had people, who think of themselves as “progressive” thinkers, argue that since the Bible doesn’t condemn abortion outright that we, who call ourselves “Christian conservatives,” shouldn’t come down so harshly against it. And the argument always hinges on how one defines “children,” doesn’t it? Because if one defines an unborn fetus as an actual “CHILD,” then Jesus’ attitude and description of how we should view a “child” speaks forcefully against abortion.

In the Scriptures from Matthew 18 and 19 above, we read how Jesus rebuked anyone, including His disciples, against hindering any “CHILD” from being able to come to Him, saying that only those who came to Him so humbly as a “CHILD” will inherit the kingdom of God.  So, if one defines a fetus as a “child,” as I believe it is, then we must NEVER do anything to inhibit that child from being able to come to Jesus.

The argument is really that simple!

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … May we do all we can to let the little children come to You and may we come to You with the attitude of a child. … 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, 2017 … Fear or Faith?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 225 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Cece Winans singing … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of how God is always there to give us His strength when our strength is seemingly gone.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Habakkuk 3:19 [NLT] … 
19 The sovereign Lord is my strength! 
… We should be grateful in all things.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Habakkuk 3:16-19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Prophet gained the faith to overcome his fear and was able to sustain his joy amidst trying, even disastrous, circumstances.
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Reference Passage #1 [NLT] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
… But do we believe it?

Reference Passage #2 [NLT] : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 
… One of God’s toughest truths to live out when we’re confronted by dire circumstances.

Reference Passage #3 [NLT] : … 2 Corinthians 12: 9 [NLT] … 
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… In the midst of painful circumstances, Paul remembered Jesus’ words.

Reference Passage #4 [NLT] : … 2 Timothy 1:7 [NLT] … 
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 
… Feelings of fear CAN NEVER come from God.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Karen Wolfe used a personal story to illustrate how fear can sometimes blunt or block our faith. The ODB author wrote: The doctor’s words landed in her heart with a thud. It was cancer. Her world stopped as she thought of her husband and children. They had prayed diligently, hoping for a different outcome. What would they do? With tears streaming down her face, she said softly, “God, this is beyond our control. Please be our strength.” 
What do we do when the prognosis is devastating, when our circumstances are beyond our control? Where do we turn when the outlook seems hopeless? 

My favorite OT character is the Prophet, Habakkuk. I so identify with his vulnerability and willingness to take his fears to God, which he did in the opening chapter of his poetic journal. And like the word picture in the ODB entry above, God, like the doctor, gave Habakkuk a very bad prognosis. And tho the Prophet didn’t want to hear God’s words, he finally realized that God was in control; and that God loved him and His people in spite of the impending horror. And, as one reads in Hab. 3:16-19, Habakkuk came to a place where he trusted God and was able to hold on to his faith in the midst of the fearful times.

If my readers today have taken the time to meditate on the linked song and the truths from God’s word above, we, who are in Christ, should realize that a spirit of (i.e., feelings) of fear NEVER come from God. Such feelings of fear are only provoked by our spiritual enemies and part of a default of our sin nature. But in Christ, as the song declares [and we read in 2Cor. 12:9], God’s strength is able to supplant our fears in the midst of trying times and give us the strength to live on in faith [see Isaiah 41:10 and 2Tim. 1:7].

My Prayer Today:   Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I Your strength today, 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.