July 31, 2018 … My Friend Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 211 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … Jesus, Friend of sinners … poignantly singing of the God invites all to come and eat at His table of love and grace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 15:2 [NLT] … 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 
 … Jesus’ parable confused the Pharisees seeing Jesus’ desire to invite any/all to come to his Table. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 15:1-7 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Luke relates the story of Jesus telling the Pharisees about the lost sheep to illustrate that God wants all sinners, even those lost Pharisees, to be saved by the Good Shepherd.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [NLT] … 6  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. 
… God provides a way for any/all, yes, even sinners, to come to Him and be saved.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [NLT] … 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that EVERYONE who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 
… Jesus relates to a Pharisee the truth that Jesus wants all lost sheep - EVERYONE - who believe in Him and those who truly repent of their sin can be saved by His love/grace.

Reference Passage : … 2 Peter 3:9 [NLT] … 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 
… God wants all who’re willing to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus as Lord to come to His table of love/grace.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 
… God declares openly that He wants to dine FOREVER with anyone willing to open the door and let Him in to dine in fellowship with Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, used a story about a friend who found out that Jesus wants to be a Friend to any/all who invited Him to be their Lord by repenting of their sin. The ODB author wrote: I have a friend—her name is Edith—who told me about the day she decided to follow Jesus.  Edith cared nothing for religion. But one Sunday morning she walked into a church near her apartment looking for something to satisfy her discontented soul. The text that day was Luke 15:1–2, which the pastor read from the King James Version: “Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”  
That’s what it said, but this is what Edith heard: “This man receives sinners and Edith with them.” She sat straight up in her pew! Eventually she realized her mistake, but the thought that Jesus welcomed sinners—and that included Edith—stayed with her. That afternoon she decided to “draw near” to Jesus and listen to Him. She began to read the Gospels, and soon she decided to put her faith in Him and follow Him. 

And like Edith in this true story, I’m a prime example that Jesus pursues any/all sinners to dine at His table of love/grace. Because 3 decades ago I came to Him, a confused unbelieving atheist who was steeped in compulsive sexual sin; and my Good Shepherd found this lost lamb and broke me to a place where I could receive His saving grace with my repentance and surrender.

So, any reader here, who meditates on the Scriptures as well as the linked song, will see that anyone - yes, any sinner - who opens the door to God’s love/grace and His invitation to dine with Him forever, can be a friend to our Savior.

And I pray that all who read here with me have done just that, and can call the Good Shepherd A FRIEND, … just as I do. Because we’re all lost sheep in our sin nature; and the Good Shepherd, Who pursues all stray lambs [see photo], as in Luke 15, desires to bring any/all lost sheep into His eternal flock of loved ones.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for pursuing me as a lost lamb, now surrendered to graze with You forever.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Use me to help others to come to You as their Good Shepherd. … 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.

July 30, 2018 … Overcoming Challenges

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 210 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Don Moen singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of the God providing “a way when there seems to be no way.”

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Highlight Verse[s]: Nehemiah 6:15 [NLT] … 15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 
… God’s calling for Nehemiah to rebuild the wall was completed thru His grace and the surrendered work of God’s people under Nehemiah’s leadership.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Nehemiah 6:1-9, 15 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… In spite of seemingly overwhelming challenges, God’s people, led by Nehemiah complete the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem in 52 days.
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Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [also translated “tests, trials, or troubles”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation [or trials] to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted [or tested], He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… Jesus declares His light to the Pharisees and the people who had been blinded by their own traditions and biases.

Reference Passage : … 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. 
… Jesus reminded Paul that God’s grace is always sufficient to carry on … even when the challenges of life seem too painful or overwhelming.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 
… God, thru Paul, declares His promise to provide our needs from His glorious riches.

  Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … 5 … be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, … “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” [quoted from Deut. 31:6, 8] 
… God promises us to never abandon us when life seems hyper-challenging.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used a personal story of a friend completing a very difficult task to illustrate God’s grace giving us what we need in life. The ODB author wrote: We gathered monthly to hold one another accountable to our individual goals. My friend Mary wanted to reupholster the seats of her dining room chairs before the year’s end. At our November meeting she wittily reported her progress from October: “It took ten months and two hours to recover my chairs.” After months of not being able to obtain the materials required, or find the quiet hours away from her demanding job and her toddler’s needs, the project took merely two hours of committed work to finish. [See photo] 

When things seem seemingly overwhelming and we feel God’s calling to complete a task, we must rely on His grace to provide a way, as in the linked song, “where there seems to be no way.” That’s what Nehemiah relied on; and as we read in the highlight passage, God provided His people with the resources and strength to overcome all obstacles and rebuild the walls around Jerusalem in miraculous time.

Years ago, a mentor once challenged me when I felt overwhelmed with a daunting task which I was sure God had called me to accomplish. He said, … “Bill, God’s calling is His enablement.” And that’s the promise of the Scriptures above, isn’t it?

And so, if any reader here is facing a tough challenge, we must know that if God is the One Who has called us to the task, … “He will make a way!”

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for providing us with Your grace, which is always sufficient to complete Your calling.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I know You are with me no matter how challenging the road ahead seems. … 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.

July 29, 2018 … Light of the World

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 209 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Light of the World … poignantly singing of how how Jesus our Light to walk thru this world of darkness.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 24:31 [NLT] … 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! 
… The men found the light of Christ when He broke the bread of life with them.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 24:13-32 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Two men, walking in the darkness of grief from confusion surrounding the death of Jesus, are given His light of awareness on the road to Emmaus.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … 105  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 
… God shines His light of truth most clearly thru His word.

Reference Passage : … John 8:12 [NLT] … 12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 
… Jesus declares His light to the Pharisees and the people who had been blinded by their own traditions and biases.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 3:20 [NLT] … 20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 
… Jesus declares His desire to come into our darkened lives and share all that He is with believers.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, used personal story of coming out of the darkness of grief into Christ’s light of truth. The ODB author wrote: When I was nineteen, one of my close friends was killed in a car accident. In the following weeks and months, I walked each day in a tunnel of grief. The pain of losing someone so young and wonderful clouded my vision, and at times I even felt unaware of what was going on around me. I felt so blinded by pain and grief that I simply could not see God. 

Then the ODB author used the story of the two confused and grief stricken followers of Christ who encountered the resurrected Savior on a walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus; and it was not until God opened His word to them, the Bread of Life, that they recognized Jesus, their living Lord.

And that is the way our life can be in the confusion, turmoil, and darkness of this world. My fellow Christians, … if we don’t accept Jesus’ invitation to shine His light into our darkness, especially thru the light of truth from HIs word, then we will be like the two men walking to Emmaus, not being able to see the road ahead clearly because of our misperceptions and human human feelings. But when we’re willing to open His door of truth (see Rev. 3:20) and let Him shine His light on our path (see Ps. 119:105), He will become the light of the world (as promised in John 8:12) and show the way … His way.

And that is why you find me here daily, letting Jesus, thru His Spirit and His word, light my path for that day. And He does!!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for shining Your light thru the darkness of this world and my feelings.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light so brightly, even today from Your word, that I can clearly see the road ahead. … 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.

July 28, 2018 … Dad’s Job

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 208 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing their song … If We Are The Body … poignantly singing of how Christians must play their roles in the kingdom of God, working in unity to serve His purposes as the Body of Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 7:11 [NLT] … 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him. 
… If my earthly father would give me good gift, wouldn’t my Heavenly Father give me a far better gift; … and He has … in His Son!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 7:7-11 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches on how our Heavenly Father will give us what we need to serve Him in His family. 
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Reference Passage : … John 3:16, 17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… What a gift our Heavenly Father has given us!!! And we must use it for His glory.

Reference Passage : … Romans 12:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, instructs His body to use our gifts - TOGETHER - to serve His kingdom purposes as a living sacrifice for the Father’s glory.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Similarly, as in Romans 12 above, God calls His family to use our gifts to be worthy of our calling as disciples of Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, used a family situation to illustrate how we all play roles in God’s kingdom. The ODB author wrote: Some problems have Daddy’s name written all over them. For instance, my kids recently discovered bees had moved into a crack in our front porch [see photo]. So, armed with bug spray, I went out to do battle. And I got stung … five times. 
I don’t like being stung by insects. But better me than my kids or wife. Taking care of my family’s well-being is at the top of my job description after all. My children recognized a need, and they asked me to address it. They trusted me to protect them from something they feared. 

In our family, taking care of those bees would have been my role as “the dad.” And in God’s family, as the Body of Christ, we each have roles to play, using the gift[s] He has given each of us to serve Him and HIs purposes (see Rom. 12:1-8). That’s what Jesus was preaching about in His Sermon on the Mount (see the highlight passage and Matthew, Chapters 5-7).

On any good football team, each of the 11 players on the field has a designated role to play; and it’s only when EACH of them, individually, do their thing - TOGETHER - that they will be successful as a team. And similarly, Christ’s Body (i.e., the Church) needs to function in much the same way.

Each of us, individually as Christians, has been given at least one Spiritual gift; and together, we are part of God’s team - His family; and today’s linked song cries out a call to each of us in the Lord’s “Body” to do our part for His glory. And in the unity and power, given to His Body thru God’s Spirit, we can accomplish what the Father has for us to do.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for giving my gifts which I can use for Your glory in surrender to Your purposes.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Express Yourself today thru the gifts You’ve given me, Lord, 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.

July 27, 2018 … Sharing Lavish Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 207 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Laura Story singing her song … Grace Abounds … poignantly singing of how Christians can always find God’s love/grace … especially when it’s given thru others.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 9:8, … 13 [NLT] … 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. … 13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 
… If we live to share God’s love/grace with others, they will see Jesus in/thru our giving. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Corinthians 9:6-15 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul teaches on the benefits of generosity.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 112:1, 9 [NLT] … 1 Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands. … 9 They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will the remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. 
… God, in song, praises the generous giver who shares His love/grace with others.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16, 17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s lavish love on display for all who will receive it.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Think of how much Jesus was willing to give up for our salvation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, used a personal story of her husband’s lavish display of love to illustrate just how much God loved us thru His Son. The ODB author wrote: On our wedding anniversary, my husband, Alan, gives me a large bouquet of fresh flowers [see photo]. When he lost his job during a corporate restructure, I didn’t expect this extravagant display of devotion to continue. But on our nineteenth anniversary, the color-splashed blossoms greeted me from their spot on our dining room table. Because he valued continuing this annual tradition, Alan saved some money each month to ensure he’d have enough for this personal show of affection. 
My husband’s careful planning exhibited exuberant generosity, similar to what Paul encouraged when he addressed the Corinthian believers. [see highlight passage]

When any of us who love the Lord, know of just how much He was willing to give up on the cross, in His love for us, and lavishly and generously share of ourselves with others, God’s grace abounds and He lavishes His love in these expressions of His grace.

So, with whom and how can we share His love today? Who will experience God’s grace if we go overboard and share the love we feel for Him, which, as Laura Story sings, abounds when we reach out lavishly with His love for others?

Let’s go and give a bouquet of grace to someone today!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for giving all of Your love and grace to me. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Show me someone with whom I can share some of Your grace and love 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.

July 26, 2018 … Serving As A Light

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 206 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Daniel O’Donnell singing … Here I Am Lord … poignantly singing of how Christians should be shining lights of service in a very selfish and darkened world.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 58:10 [NKJV] … 10  If you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your [d]darkness shall be as the noonday. 
… When we do what we can to serve others, we become God’s light in the darkness. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 58:6-12 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Isaiah, spells out how we can shine the light of our Lord by serving others. 
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 6:8 [NKJV] … 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 
… Isaiah was willing to go forth and serve God as a light for God’s glory.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:14-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches that our “good works” can become a light in this dark world glorifying our God.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 25:40 [NKJV] … 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 
… Jesus declares that service to others is service to Him.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we serve others we are humbly showing Christlikeness to the world.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Randy Kilgore, observed and reported an a act of service which illustrates how we can glorify God thru serving others. The ODB author wrote: A small collection of people stood together, dwarfed by the size of the huge tree lying on the lawn [see photo]. An elderly woman leaned on her cane and described watching the previous night’s windstorm as it blew down “our majestic old elm tree. Worst of all,” she continued, voice cracking with emotion, “it destroyed our lovely stone wall too. My husband built that wall when we were first married. He loved that wall. I loved that wall! Now it’s gone; just like him.” 
Next morning, as she peeked out at the tree company workers cleaning up the downed tree; a big smile spread across her face. In between the branches she could just make out two adults and the boy who mowed her lawn carefully measuring and rebuilding her beloved stone wall! 

I think we’d all agree that day-by-day the world is becoming a darker, more selfish, place in which we, as Christians, are called to walk on our way to our eternal home. And today’s ODB entry points us to the calling we have as disciples of Christ, … i.e., … to shine His light in the world … by reaching out to serve others. And that’s what the Scriptures above point us toward, don’t they?

But the question is really illustrated by the linked song, which asks, … when God calls us to serve others in His Name, will we respond as did Isaiah [?] …

“Here I am, Lord, … send me!”

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for giving me the empowering grace with the Spirit-imparted gifts You’ve given me to serve others.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Give me an opportunity - even today - to shine Your light of service to others. … Amen

Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

July 25, 2018 … Christianity 101

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 205 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group 4Him singing … The Basics of Life … powerfully singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, need to avoid the pitfalls of self and the world and get back to simply following Christ.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ephesians 3:16 … 19 [NKJV] … 16 … that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, … 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
… Paul so desired that other Christians find what God had given him as Paul was freed from living for the perfectionism of the law.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 3:8-19 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… In Christ we are freed from the law to live in the fullness of Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:105 [NKJV] ...  105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
… God gives us His light to follow His path and avoid the selfish rabbit-trails of life.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… We must pursue life by following God’s way rather than trying to do life our way.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 1:11-16 [NKJV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul wanted others to find the same freedom in Christ he had found in living in God’s grace rather than pursuing God’s perfect Law.

Reference Passage : … 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 commanded that we free our selves from self to live for the Savior.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Monica Brands, remembered what a college prof said to influence how we live our lives. The ODB author wrote:  A college professor of mine [see photo], picking up on my perfectionism-induced procrastination, gave me some wise advice. “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good,” he said, explaining that striving for perfect performance can prevent the risks necessary for growth. Accepting that my work would always be imperfect would give me the freedom to keep growing. 
The apostle Paul explained an even more profound reason to let go of our own efforts to perfect ourselves: it can blind us to our need for Christ. Paul had learned this the hard way. After years striving to perfectly obey God’s law, encountering Jesus changed everything (Galatians 1:11–16). 

Somewhere along my way in life I heard someone, maybe a professor, … maybe a preacher, say … “Don’t let the good stuff in life get in the way of pursuing great stuff!” … Good advice, don’tcha think?

Oh, how often we [well, at least I] let our pursuit of the perfect and doing a lot of GOODNESS get in the way of our pursuit of Christlike “GREATNESS.” And we Christians so often get so wrapped up in the performance mentality of doing so many GOOD things that we lose sight of God’s Spirit calling us to do GREAT things for Christ.

So, perhaps it’s time to get “back to the basics” of our faith, taking a course called “Christianity 101,” … doing an inventory of our lives as sung in the linked song by the group 4Him … or perhaps looking at what/how we’re pursuing Christ’s command of His disciples to deny ourselves and follow His light thru the dark paths of life (see Ps. 119:105 and Luke 9:23).

Therefore, let’s move forward, … striving away from selfish perfectionism, … and surrendering to yield to God’s Spirit’s call to humble Christian practicality … back to HIS basics of life!!l 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for showing me Your way and Your will thru Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Keep shining Your light brightly on my path so that following You will be straight forward. … 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.

July 24, 2018 … Why, Lord?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 204 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing … Open Our Eyes, Lord … poignantly singing of our prayer, as disciples of Christ, to know and understand God’s ways … and to clearly see how to follow Him.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 8:25 [NKJV] … 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 
… Jesus healed the blind man in stages … WHY?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 8:22-26 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus has a curious way of hearing a blind man.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… When we feel “Why?” … we need to avoid leaning on our feelings and just trust God.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 7:28-29 [NKJV]… 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 
… Jesus’ authoritative teaching baffled the people.

Reference Passage : … Luke 8:9-10 [NKJV] ...  USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ parables gave clarity to some as to God’s kingdom; but to others it caused confusion.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [NKJV] ...  28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 
… Many of us know the truth of God’s word here from Paul; but many times when can’t explain what is going on in our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, raises a conundrum that has caused most - if not all - of us to ask, “Why, Lord?!” The ODB author wrote: I have friends who’ve received partial healing but still struggle with painful aspects of their diseases. Other friends have been healed of an addiction but still struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-loathing. And I wonder, Why doesn’t God heal them completely—once and for all? 

Dear one, … have you ever observed something going on in your life or the life of others and felt - or even asked - “Why, Lord?” We all have, haven’t we? And in today’s highlight passage, we read of Jesus healing a blind man with a curious two-step process [see photo]. Why didn’t he just heal the man outright? Actually, Jesus’ ways were curious = if not confusing - to many of His followers, and even His inner 12 Disciples. They often must’ve been thinking “Why” or “How” their Rabbi did things or said things the way He did.

Somewhere I’ve heard it said that if we see things and ask “Why, God?” … it’s because of FEAR; and if we ask “What can I learn from this?”… we’re asking out of FAITH.

So, if any of us are confused or confounded by things in our lives, which of these feelings or questions do we find ourselves asking? Do we really believe in God’s word above in Prov. 3:5-6 and Rom. 8:28; because if we do, we’re going to be led to ask God what we can learn from our challenges so that we can get to know our Lord more intimately and follow Him more closely … in faith.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the truth of Your word and the leading of Your Spirit.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … As today’s linked song sings, “Open My Eyes, Lord,” I want to see Your way and follow You more closely 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.

July 23, 2018 … 24/7 Watch Care

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 203 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … I Am Not Alone … poignantly singing of the reality that God our God is always with us and even goes ahead of us.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Jeremiah 23:24 [NKJV] … 24  Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord. 
… Nowhere to go that our God doesn’t see us.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Jeremiah 23:20-24 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru The Prophet, confirms that God’s eyes are on all His children … ALWAYS! 
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 31:8 [NKJV]… 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
… Moses, to Joshua, declaring that God will go with - and even before - him as he leads God’s people into the Promised Land.

Reference Passage : … 2 Chronicles 16:9 [NKJV]… 9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 
… God declares thru a prophet to the King of Israel that there was nowhere he could go that God couldn’t see his heart.

Reference Passage : … Psalm 139:1-7 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… King David knew that our omniscient God was (IS) always watching.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 4:13, 13:5 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru the author of Hebrews, declares that He, our Lord, will never leave us or forsake us and that his watchcase over us is 24/7 complete.

  My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Lisa Samra, uses a personal reflection about an insightful remark of her child illustrating a truth about God’s watch care we need to remember. The ODB author wrote: Before he raced out the door to school, I asked my son if he had brushed his teeth. Asking again, I reminded him of the importance of telling the truth. Unmoved by my gentle admonishment, he half-jokingly informed me that what I really needed was a security camera in the bathroom. Then I could check for myself if he had brushed his teeth and he wouldn’t be tempted to lie. 
While the presence of a security camera may help remind us to follow the rules, there are still places we can go unnoticed or ways we can avoid being seen. Although we may evade or trick a security camera [see photo], we fool ourselves if we think we are ever outside the gaze of God. 

In the ministry God has called me to serve Him, when I’m discipling the men God leads to us (USE THIS LINK) , I often remind these Christians that they may be able to con me, or their brothers in the ministry, or maybe their wives if they’re married; but they MUST NOT try to con God; because there’s simply no where they can go to hide from His watch care.

That’s the message God gives to us over and over again in His word. It was the message He gave to Joshua, thru Moses, when Joshua was charged (in Deut. 31:8) to take God’s people into the promised land. It was the message He gave to King David in song (see Ps. 139:1-7 … that the Lord watched over EVERYTHING in David’s life. And the Lord repeats this assurance of His 24/7 watch care in all the other Scriptures above.

So, as Kari Jobe sings in the linked song, we are never alone; and as He promised in the passages from the Author of Hebrews above, … our God will never leave us nor forsake us. And I think that truth is WAY WORTHY of a resounding and thankful ”HALLELUJAH!!” … don’t you? 

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your omniscient watch care. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … O Lord, watch over me as I do all I can this day to serve and glorify Your Name. … 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.

July 22, 2018 … Hope Lies in Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 202 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Crowder along with Tauren Wells singing … All Our Hope … poignantly singing of the hope we have in our eternal relationship with Christ..

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 34:18 [NKJV] … 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 
… When we’re at our lowest, our God is at His closest.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 34:15-18 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… King David in a time of great trial/stress couched all his hope in His God.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:50 [NKJV]… 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life. 
… The Psalmist found his hope in God’s word.

Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NKJV]… 22  Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.23  They are new every morning; … great is Your faithfulness. 
… God’s mercies are new every morning and available to all whose hope is in Christ.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 1:27 [NKJV]… 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
… Christ in us, His Holy Spirit, is our hope of glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Dave Branon, uses a personal personal reflection about the loss of a child to show that all our hope lies in Jesus. The ODB author wrote: As we were enjoying an excursion to the airport, Steve [my son] turned to me and said, “It’s not as much fun without Melissa,” his eight-year-old sister and sidekick. Neither of us knew then how poignant those words would turn out to be. Life indeed has not been “as much fun” for the years since Mell died in a car accident as a teenager. The passage of time may dull the ache, but nothing takes the pain away completely. Time cannot heal that wound. But here’s something that can help: listening to, meditating on, and savoring the solace promised by the God of all comfort. 
Life can never be the same again when someone we love is gone. But God’s promises bring hope and comfort. 

Perhaps there are readers here today who’ve experienced a great loss or a personal trauma which has been a “gut punch” in our life, causing great pain, sorrow, and feelings of loss. But we Christians, … if we believe in the hope that lies in us thru our relationship with Christ, can move onward, letting time heal the wounds of loss, because, as Crowder sings in the linked song, “All our hope is in Jesus!” 

Please take in the song and meditate on God’s truth and prayerfully get the same soothing balm from God’s word as the Psalmist sung of in Psalm 119:50 … or King David in the highlight Psalm 34, … or the Apostle Paul in Col.1:27, all seeing what we need to see … the truth of what lies ahead in eternity when we see all hope come to fruition in glory.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You the hope You have planted in my heart in Your Spirit.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I set the past in the past and find all my hope which lies ahead in 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.

July 21, 2018 … Shelter in the Storms

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 201 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Ryan Stevenson singing … Eye of the Storm … powerfully singing of how we find God’s guiding and protection in the storms of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: James 1:[NKJV] … 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 
… We all encounter the storms of temptation which lead to sin/death.
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 1:12-18 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… James encourages us to find our shelter in the storms of life in the loving protection of our Lord. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 62:5-8 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David sings of where His strength is found to deal with the storms of life.

Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 10:13 [NKJV]… 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 
… God, thru Paul, shows us the Lord’s faithfulness to help us deal with the storms of life.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9 [NKJV]… 9 And He said to me, “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. 
… God’s grace is always sufficient to give us the strength to deal with the trials of life.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:1-5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We are called as Christians to help others deal with the temptation to sin.

Reference Passage : … 2 Timothy 2:22 [NKJV]… 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 
… God’s primary battle strategy for dealing with storms of lust where so many find themselves these days.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses a personal story about storm chasers to illustrate how we must avoid and deal with the storms of life The ODB author wrote: When I lived in Oklahoma I had a friend who “chased” tornados. John tracked the storms carefully through radio contact with other chasers and local radar [see photo], trying to keep a safe distance while observing their destructive paths so he could report sudden changes to people in harm’s way. 
One day a funnel cloud changed course so abruptly John found himself in grave danger. Fortunately, he found shelter and was spared. 
John’s experience that afternoon makes me think of another destructive path: sin in our lives. 

In my life, I have been called to be a Gal. 6:1-5 and 2Tim. 2:22 “storm chaser,” … helping Christian men who encounter storms of habitual sexual sin, to walk out of those storms and find the protective shelter of their relationship with Christ.

Our Ministry (see www.battleplanministries.org), shows men the truth of God’s faithfulness (see 1Cor. 10:13) and the sufficiency of His grace (see 2Cor. 12:9) to walk away from the storm clouds of sexual sin into the light and freedom offered by God’s Spirit.

These days, our “pornified” world has become shrouded in the the thunderstorms of hyper- sexuality, making it very difficult for men (well, really anyone) to avoid these storm clouds. But as King David sung [in Ps. 62:5-8], and Ryan Stevenson sings in the linked song, we can find shelter from these storms and take on God’s strength to walk out from under these dangerous thunderstorms of sin.

I pray that those reading this have found that strength and the “Son-shine,” where we can find His light to walk away from the dark and dangerous thunder clouds of lustful pleasure which surround so many of us today.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for sanctifying and empowering grace to flee the storm clouds of lust in our world.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … You are my shelter in the storm. … 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.

July 20, 2018 … Homeward!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 200 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Scott Parker singing his song … Heart Headed Home … poignantly singing how need to have the hope which comes from looking forward to our home in heaven.

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 14:2 [NLT] … 1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
 … Jesus tries to belay the fears of His disciples by telling them of a glorious home He will have prepared for them when they find their way to their eternal home.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 14:1-14 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, in the Upper Room, tells His Disciples that He is going ahead to prepare an eternal home for them.
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT]… 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.’ 
… During our trek thru this life, we need not fear what comes into our lives [see also Rom. 8:28]

Reference Passage : … 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Truth [!!] … and from it we have the hope of a new home - with Christ - forever!!

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… During our sojourn on earth we need never fear because our God will never forsake us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Keila Ochoa, a common word picture of a family move to illustrate our heading every homeward in our sojourn in this life. The ODB author wrote: “Why do we have to leave our home and move?” my son asked. [see photo] It’s difficult to explain what a home is, especially to a five-year-old. We were leaving a house, but not our home, in the sense that home is where our loved ones are. It’s the place where we long to return after a long trip or after a full day’s work. 

Yes, it may be difficult for a 5 year old to understand the concept of “home,” especially when circumstances in life are confusing or in upheaval. But how often do we older folks, those of us who’ve given our lives to Jesus, get uptight or stressed out when we have to move to a new place and start a new chapter in our life. Just imagine how difficult it was for Jesus, the night before He died, to explain and belay the fears of His Disciples when they learned that He was “going away” from them, especially learning that one of them would betray Him that night.

But Jesus told them, as captured in the highlight passage [see John 14], that He would return to them and have a home waiting for them. But they didn’t get it, just as we so-called people of “faith” forget that our trek on this earth is just a temporary sojourn thru time and that our hope is in the home waiting for us in glory.

Stop, then, as you read this, listen to the linked song, and meditate on the truths above; … and then breath a sigh of relief, knowing that Jesus has a glorious home waiting for us when He comes again to claim His Bride.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for having my eternal home waiting for me to be with You forever.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Waiting, Lord, … to be with You in 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.

July 19, 2018 … Focus!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 199 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing the old classic … Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus … poignantly singing how we must focus our eyes on our relationship with Christ and not let visions of worldly/fleshly things divert our attention from God’s grace.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Corinthians 4:17-18 [NLT] … 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 
… Focusing on the here-and-now will take our mind’s eye off or what is really important … our relationship with Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2 Corinthians 4:8-18 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorts Christians to focus on Christ and the Cross rather than on our circumstances 
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Reference Passage : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT]… 3  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 
… God’s anti-anxiety prescription is to keep our trusting focus on Him.

Reference Passage : … John 10:10 [NLT] … 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 
 … Since Jesus’ promise here is truth,… so, why would we ever take our eyes from His purposes and dwell on what the world or Satan would try to get us to see.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8: 28, 39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Truth [!!], … showing us that nothing can separate us from God’s love … and that our God works thru all of life’s circumstances FOR OUR GOOD.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 11:1 [NLT] … 1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 
 … Seeing life thru the eyes of faith keeps our focus on God’s will and His purposes and reduces or eliminates our anxieties about the circumstances of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Anne Cetas, uses an illustration of how a friend of hers used a glass cross to keep his focus on Christ and away from the troubles of the world. The ODB author wrote: My coworker, Tom, keeps an 9 inch by 12 inch glass cross on his desk. His friend Phil, who like Tom is cancer survivor, gave it to Tom to help him look at everything “through the cross.” The glass cross [see photo] is a constant reminder of God’s love and good purposes for my friend, Tom. 
 That’s a challenging task for all believers in Jesus, especially during difficult times. It’s so much easier to focus on our problems than on God’s love. 

 I so love the simple, but powerful message of Alan Jackson’s rendering of the old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, linked above, because it gives the same TRUTHFUL message as the ODB today. And the truth is that when we can take our eyes off of our own desires and the lures of the world (and Satan), we can see so much clearer what’s really important thru eyes of faith.

That’s the message of all of those truths from God’s words provided above for the meditation of any reader here. Perhaps you’re one whose attention has been anxiously focused on some challenging circumstances in your life. Well, God gives us His anti-anxiety prescriptions (see above); but we must choose to view life thru the eyes of faith, trusting that God is in COMPLETE control and always doing or allowing what is good for us.

So, let’s turn our eyes upon our Lord today and see life His way!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for giving me eyes of faith.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Shine Your light brightly on Your purpose so that I can easily see it 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.

July 18, 2018 … Passion = Christ B

erry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 197 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Everything To Me … poignantly singing how we can choose to make Jesus our everything in life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 20:7 [NLT] … 7  Some nations boast of their chariots and horses; but we boast in the name of our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm. 
… Christians must put NOTHING in the place of our relationship with our God.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 20 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… King David sings of how his God is #1 in his life.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Trust God with ALL YOUR HEART … and … Acknowledge Him with ALL OUR WAYS.

Reference Passage : … John 15: 5, 7 [NKJV] … 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. … 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 
 … Abiding in Christ is putting Him above all aspects of our life, … i.e, making Him our passion.

Reference Passage : … 1John 2:15-17 [NKJV] … 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
… God’s strong warning to avoid elevating anything in this world above our abiding love for Jesus.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, uses an illustration of how we can let earthly/worldly things become idols in our lives. The ODB author wrote: One of the tellers at my bank has a photograph of a Shelby Cobra roadster on his window. (The Cobra is a high-performance automobile built by the Ford Motor Company. ... See photo above) 
One day, while transacting business at the bank, I asked him if that was his car. “No,” he replied, “that’s my passion, my reason to get up every morning and go to work. I’m going to own one someday.” 
I understand this young man’s passion. A friend of mine owned a Cobra, and I drove it on one occasion! It’s a mean machine! But a Cobra, like everything else in this world, isn’t worth living for. Those who trust in things apart from God “are brought to their knees and fall,” according to the psalmist (Psalm 20:8). 

So, is our passion our relationship with Christ and filing our lives with His truth and our surrender to His ways? Or do we pursue passions like the Cobra in the ODB entry above?

God put a “love-hole” in the soul of every one of us that only HE can fill; and that is clearly expressed in the Scriptures above as well as the linked song. Our challenge … what drives our lives? What do we pursue above all else? … What is our passion?

Because if it’s anything besides an abiding, surrendered life to our King Jesus, we have let idols become our passion; and we’ll never live the fruitful life God desires for us (see John 15: 5,7 and 1John 2:15-17). We get to choose our passion in life, don’t we? God's questions become …

WHAT IS OUR CHOICE?!! … WHAT IS OUR PASSION?!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for showing my way to be fulfilled by Your love/grace.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Be my passion in life.!… 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.

July 17, 2018 … Chosen and Called

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 197 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics of Daniel O’Donnell singing … Here I Am Lord … poignantly singing of responding to God’s call with our willing/humble service.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1 Corinthians 1:27 [NKJV] … 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; … 
… Really, God; … You’ve chosen me!!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God’s truth, thru Paul, that God’s ways are sometimes mysterious to us.
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Reference Passage : … Joshua 1:1-9 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God’s call and charge to Joshua … as well as His promise to be with him in his calling.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:48 [NKJV] … 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 
… And to that charge from Jesus, I think all must say, … “I just can’t do that!!”

Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [NKJV] … 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
… Jesus calling to ALL Christians and His promise to provide HIS power to enable us to be His witnesses to the world.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5-6 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God’s promise to all He chooses … that He …”will never leave us, nor forsake us!”

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, uses a word picture with which most of us can identify to teach on God’s calling to His beloved. The ODB author wrote: “I just can’t do it!” lamented the dejected student. On the page he could see only small print, difficult ideas, and an unforgiving deadline. He needed the help of his teacher. 
We might experience similar despair when we read Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). Anger is as bad as murder (v. 22). Lust equals adultery (v. 28). And if we dare think we can live up to these standards, we bump into this: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (v. 48). 

Yeah, … been there, felt that, and have worn that T-shirt, for sure! I can remember looking down at a genetics test in college [see photo] and having those “No Way!!” feelings [see photo]. I think we’ve all felt inadequate to our calling at times, haven’t we? And those feelings are certainly described in may Biblical characters.

Think of Joshua getting the overwhelming calling to lead God’s people into the Promised Land after Moses died (see Joshua 1). Or what about “scaricat” Gideon being called to take 300 men to face thousands of Midianites [see Judges 6]? Or Moses’ doubts and fears when God called him at the burning bush [see Exod. 3]? Or impetuous Peter whom Jesus called to be a “fisher of men.” [see Matt. 4] Those turned out to be pretty good witnesses for God, didn’t they? But they certainly had those “NO WAY, GOD!” feelings when they were called.

But then we remember the truth of God’s word in the highlight and reference passages above; and we’re confronted with a truth a mentor repeated many times to me, … that … “God’s calling is His enablement.” And so, if we’re convicted or feeling called by God’s Spirit to a certain task or service for God, and we’re having those “can’t do it” feelings, we can know that our God will gives us what it takes from His Spirit to carry out that task; … just as He did with Moses, Gideon, Joshua, or Peter.

So, let’s just jettison those “I just can’t” feelings; and rely on our God to give us what it takes to do what He calls us to do and let’s echo what Daniel O’Donnell sings in the linked song … “Here I Am, Lord, … I will follow!!”

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your enabling grace and Your calling for me to serve.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Lift me up to overcome my feelings of inadequacy and pour Your enabling/empowering grace into my efforts to fulfill Your calling. … 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.

July 16, 2018 … God’s Promises

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 196 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of a praise chorus singing the old hymn … Standing On the Promises … poignantly singing of the reality of being able to stand securely on the immutable/infallible promises of God.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 6:16-17a [NKJV] … 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, … 
… God’s promises are just as immutable as He is!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 6:13-20 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God documents to the Hebrews how secure are His promises for their (our) faith to thrive. 
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Reference Passage : … Numbers 23:19 [NKJV]… 19  “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? 
… God’s word is truth ... forever!!

Reference Passage : … John 14:1, 6, 21 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… As Jesus is The Truth, we can (AND MUST) trust His word.

Reference Passage : … 2 Timothy 3:16-17 [NKJV]… 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 
… If we read it in God’s word, we can trust it!!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, teaches on the infallibility and immutability of God’s promises by showing the trust we hope to have in the promises of other men. The ODB author wrote: When a person without a long history of paying his or her bills on time wants to obtain a loan to purchase a home or car, lenders are often reluctant to take the financial risk. Without a track record, that person’s promise to repay what he borrows is insufficient for the bank. The would-be borrower usually resorts to finding someone who does have a history of making good on their debts, asking them to put their name on the loan too. The co-signer’s promise assures the lender the loan will be repaid. 

It’s true, isn’t it; … that we only have faith in the oaths, promises, or declarations of others to the extent we know how reliable is their ability to keep past promises. If one has been shown - over time - to be trustworthy, we will trust them. If not, we simply don’t trust that person’s word.

And hence, … that principle, of trusting in the integrity of another’s promises, is at the heart of our faith in God, isn’t it? And so, as one gets to know God thru His word, the Bible, we determine that God’s promises are ABSOLUTELY TRUSTWORTHY (See Numbers 24:19). Our God cannot lie; and therefore, His promises are immutable and can always be trusted.

In today’s ODB highlight scriptures we read how God made a promise to Abraham and it was fulfilled; and we read in Scripture that when God promises or prophesies something in His word that it ALWAYS is fulfilled … with 100% accuracy.

And so, today I’m thinking of His most personal promise TO ME (and all born-again Christians); … and that promises is that He is coming again to take me to be with Him in glory … FOREVER!! And it’s a promise I totally - TOTALLY!!! - believe; and I pray it’s a promise shared by all who read my words here in this journal entry.

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your promise of everlasting life. 
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Come soon, Lord Jesus, and take us home to be with You. Until then, … we rest … secure in Your promises. … 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.

July 15, 2018 … What A Gift!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 195 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of of Janice Kapp singing… The Voice of the Holy Spirit … poignantly singing of the great gift fo God’s Spirit which speaks and works in the hearts of all born-again believers.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 11:9 [NKJV] … 9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. …” 
… God’s gift of the Holy Spirit is given to all who seek Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 9:9-13 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promises His Spirit to those who truly believe in Him and ask for its legacy of grace. 
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Reference Passage : … John 14: 15-19, 25-26 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus promises the gift of His Holy Spirit to all who surrender to receive this gift Who will impart His grace of enrichment, enlightenment, and empowerment.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:5, 14, 16, 26-27 [NKJV]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, explains the extent of God’s gift of His Spirit which resides in the hearts of all true born-again believers.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a personal story about a special gift to illustrate how wonderful is the gift of His Spirit to His true disciples. The ODB author wrote: When I was packing up to go home to London, my mother approached me with a gift—one of her rings I had long admired [see photo]. Surprised, I asked, “What’s this for?” She replied, “I think you should enjoy it now. Why wait until I die? It doesn’t fit me anyway.” With a smile I received her unexpected gift, an early inheritance that brings me joy. 
My mom gave me a material gift, but Jesus promises that His Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). 

Any gift, like the one in the ODB story above, which imparts the spirit of the giver and inspires one to pursue the value in life represented by that gift, is a very special and powerful legacy. And one can imagine that the ODB author would be inspired to live forward with the legacy represented in the love of the giver of that ring.

But if such a temporal gift can have such legacy power, just imagine the power of grace imparted by Jesus’ gift of His Spirit, Who is imparted to the hearts of anyone who humbly repents of self and surrenders to God to receive His infinitely powerful gift of His Spirit.

And now, having received that gift of His infinite love and grace, I can let Him speak to me with His voice (see linked song) and guide me thru life.

What a gift!!!

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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You your enriching, enlightening, empowering gift of Your Spirit.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Guide today and empower me to live a life which reflects Your grace and glory in all that I think, say, and 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.