Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video with Alan Jackson singing the old gospel song … Precious Memories … reflecting on the memories past which kindle our hope for the future in Christ … AND THEN ON TO THIS LINK with Chris Rice singing from Lam. 3:22-23, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, reflecting on just how we can rely on God from memories past, present challenges, and on into an unknown future.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Lamentations 3:23-24 [NLT] … 23 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”
… God’s truth, thru His Prophet that God’s mercies never end and we can look forward to them tomorrow no matter what our past or present troubles.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Lamentations 3:19-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jeremiah reflects on his past troubles and heartaches; but then reflects on the hope he has and holds onto in his relationship with his God.
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Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
… No matter what we’ve gone thru or what we’re going thru, in Christ, it’s all for our good. … Yes, ALL OF IT !!
Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:8 [NLT] … 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
.. We can rely and hope in Christ because He never changes.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, wrote of a New Year’s Eve where many memories caused her to reflect on the hope she held - and still holds - in her relationship with Christ, the One Who never changes in His willingness to provide us with His grace and mercies. The ODB author wrote: As I stepped into the music-filled sanctuary, I looked around at the crowd that had gathered for a New Year’s Eve party. Joy lifted my heart with hope, as I recalled the prayers of the previous year. Our congregation had collectively grieved over wayward children, deaths of loved ones, job losses, and broken relationships. But we’d also experienced God’s grace as we recalled changed hearts and healed personal connections. We’d celebrated victories, weddings, graduations, and baptisms into God’s family. We’d welcomed children born, adopted, or dedicated to the Lord, and more—so much more.
Today is 2017. Tomorrow will be 2018; and like the ODB author, any of us can reflect on many things that have happened in the past, … many of which may have been painful or troubling. But perhaps we also have memories which are endearing and hopeful.
But like the Prophet Jeremiah as he wrote of his relationship with his God, we can rely - totally and completely - on a God, our Lord Jesus, Who never changes [see Heb. 13:8]. As the Prophet reflected on his past trials in the highlight passage, we can know - with confidence - that our God is ALWAYS greater than our challenges and His mercies truly are new every morning.
So, as we reflect on 2017 (or further into our past), know that God’s grace and His mercies will be there for us in 2018; and our hope is ALWAYS in our Lord and Savior, Who is leading us homeward to be with Him forever.
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My THANKFULNESS: Oh Lord, I rest in the hope that is YOU!
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I know Your mercies are there for me tomorrow just as they are 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.
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