August 31, 2018 … Trusting In God’s Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 242 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of the reality of God’s grace and strength which covers our weakness in moments of trial/trouble in life.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Acts 2:21 [NLT] … 21  But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 
… Peter quotes the prophesy of Joel (from Joel 2:28-32), which closes with the great Gospel promise which was fulfilled by Christ’s death/resurrection.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 2:14-21 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Peter preaches the hope and reality of the Gospel and those who believe are saved. 
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. 
… Trusting in God, we must wait on His grace to show us the way in life.

Reference Passage : … Romans 10:9-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, gives the Gospel steps to salvation and closes by quoting Joel 2:32 (see above).

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9a [NLT] … 9 Each time He [Jesus] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 
… Paul learned and teaches us, from Jesus’ own lips, that God’s grace gives us the power to wait on God to save and sanctify us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Marvin Williams, uses a social/historical reference to illustrate that many times we don’t have the resources or strength to deal with life and we are forced to wait on God’s grace to deliver us, if He so chooses. After five deaths and fifty-one injuries in elevator accidents in 2016, New York City launched an ad campaign to educate people on how to stay calm and be safe. The worst cases were people who tried to save themselves when something went wrong. [See photo] 
 The best plan of action, authorities say, is simply, “Ring, relax, and wait.” New York building authorities made a commitment to respond promptly to protect people from injury and extract them from their predicament. 

It’s really tough in life, isn’t it, when we get in a dilemma or trial where we don’t have the strength or ability to deliver ourselves, … like the ODB scenario of getting caught in an elevator? But for the mature Christian, there is a way to deal with such situations; and and that is found in the truths provided above by God’s promises of His grace to cover our weakness.

And when distraught disciples of Christ, after the resurrection, had to wait on God, … those who knew and believed the prophesy of Joel (see Joel 2:32), as did Peter who preached the coming of God’s Spirit after Jesus had ascended And in that frightful time [found in Acts 2] Christ’s faithful disciples were rewarded by salvation, where God’s Spirit and power came down into their hearts with the grace of God to sanctify all who believed on Christ as Messiah, Lord, and Savior.

And I pray that all who read here know King Jesus as Lord and can wait on Him when trials come to show us that we must trust and rely on God’s strength, thru His grace, to cover our weakness. And so, … I pray that we can wait on God if we get caught in an elevator today.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for Your grace which I can rely on ALWAYS.
=============

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, give me Your empowering grace to cover my weakness as is sung in the linked song. … 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, 2018 … A Strong Foundation

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 241 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of hymn and lyrics from a worshipping group singing … How Firm A Foundation … poignantly singing of the reality of building our lives on the firm foundation of God’s word and life.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 6:48 [NLT] … 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 
… When building a life, Jesus shows it wise to build it on His word and life.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 6:46-49 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tells of the wise builder who builds on a strong foundation.
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 1:7 [NLT] … 7  Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. 
… Knowing and following God is the foundation of our lives.

Reference Passage : … 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 [NLT] … 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
… ALL things which occur in the life of Christians are for our good … from a loving/caring Father.

  Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9a [NLT] … 9 Each time He [Jesus] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 
… Paul learned that he absolutely needed God’s grace in his relationship with Christ to deal with the weaknesses in his life.

Reference Passage : … 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. 
 … It is God’s sanctifying grace which allows us, as Christ’s disciples, to do what it takes to build our lives on Him as our foundation.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, uses a story about friends repairing their foundation to illustrate the reality of of building our lives on the strong foundation of Jesus Christ. After living in their house for several years, my friends realized that their living room was sinking—cracks appeared on the walls and a window would no longer open. They learned that this room had been added without a foundation. Rectifying the shoddy workmanship would mean months of work as builders laid a new foundation. They had the work done, and when I visited them afterwards, I couldn’t see much difference (although the cracks were gone and now the window opened). But I understood that a solid foundation matters. 
This is true in our lives as well. 

I really don’t need to add much more to this ODB entry to have anyone reading here, including myself, to do an inventory of the foundation of our lives. And I realize that being here day after day, in God’s word and journaling what I glean from my Lord thru His enlightening grace, is my way of laying more sold bricks of truth to the foundation of my life.

My life is the dwelling place of God’s Spirit, and it behooves any Christian to make sure that His Temple is built on the most solid foundation we can lay; and that is the strength of God’s sanctifying grace which comes thru God’s truth [i.e., His word] and by following His life.

So, as long as we know our Lord intimately and live from His truth, we will be able to withstand the strongest winds and storms which come our way.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You, Lord, … for the strong foundation which gives me Your strength to uphold me in the storms of life.
=============

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that I can building my life with You and Your word as my foundation. … 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, 2018 … Yes, He Loves Us!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 240 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Good Good Father … poignantly singing of the reality a loving Abba Father Who’s always there with His mercy and love for His children, even if that love is the love of discipline.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Malachi 1:1-2 [NLT] … 1 This is the message[a] that the Lord gave to Israel through the prophet Malachi. … 2  “I have always loved you,” says the Lord. 
 … To the remnant of believers returning to Jerusalem from Babylon, God assures them of His everlasting love.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Malachi 1:1-5 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Malachi, declares His everlasting, covenant love for His children.
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We must trust God no matter what occurs in our lives

Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s mercies never end … they are new EVERY MORNING!!

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. 
… ALL things which occur in the life of Christians are for our good … from a loving/caring Father.

Reference Passage : … 1 Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 
… We have a loving, Abba Father, Who ALWAYS loves us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, uses a personal story to illustrate the love of a parent which at times can seem hard or even harsh, but is a reflection of real parental love. As a teenager, I went through the typical season of rebellion against my mother’s authority. My father died before I entered adolescence, so my mom had to navigate these turbulent parenting waters without his help. 
I recall thinking that Mom didn’t want me to ever have any fun—and maybe didn’t even love me—because she frequently said no. I see now that she said no to activities that weren’t good for me precisely because she loves me. 

Perhaps there are those reading this who had times in our youth where a parent, especially a father, who had to express his/her love with discipline, which, at the time, may have seemed harsh but was for our good. But now we see that the discipline was the love of protection and caring concern.

That was where the Israelites were when they were allowed to return to Jerusalem from Babylon [see highlight passage]; and God sent the Prophet Malachi to tell them that His love, the love of their Heavenly Father, had always been with them, even when the Abba Father, allowed their captivity for a time. It was the discipline of a good, good Father … as is sung in the linked song [which I hope all readers here take the time to hear].

And if readers have meditated on the truths above in the reference passages, we need to see that our Abba Father ALWAYS loves us and that His mercies are new every morning; and … He allows ALL things into the life of His children for our good … yes, ALWAYS!

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You, Lord, … for Your eternal goodness. 
=============

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that I can always see Your loving hand of discipline in my 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.

August 28, 2018 … All Our Needs

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 239 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Everything To Me … poignantly singing of the reality that Jesus becomes all we need and trusting in Him provides us with all we need.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 6:33 [NLT] … 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 
… Jesus commanding us to seek God and His kingdom first - always - because He is the one who supplies all we need.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 6:25-34 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaches His followers on how we must trust God, our Father, to supply all our needs. 
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We must trust God to show us His way - THE WAY - thru lift.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … [see photo] 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, assures Christians that He will supply all our NEEDS.

Reference Passage : … James 1:17 [NLT] … 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, Who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow 
 … God, thru James, assures Christians that everything we have or ever desire comes from God and that He never change.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses a reference to his past in learning to trust God for everything in his life, just as we should as Christians. When I was a teenager I sometimes challenged my mother when she tried to encourage me to have faith. “Trust God. He will take care of you,” she would tell me. “It’s not that simple, Mom!” I would bark back. “God helps those who help themselves!” 
But those words, “God helps those who help themselves” are nowhere to be found in Scripture. Instead, God’s Word teaches us to depend on Him for our daily needs. Jesus tells us, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”  (see highlight passage). 

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, from which today’s ODB is highlighted, was tough for the people on that hillside near Capernaum to hear; and it’s tough for us to follow today trustingly, isn’t it? Because God in these passages above is teaching us to trust Him for EVERYTHING, … not just some things… but for EVERYTHING [hear the linked song today].

And when we do, in the Scriptures above, our God promises to supply all that we need. The question to me today is … Do I REALLY trust Him?

And perhaps that’s the question for any of us.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You, Lord, … for Your promise of providing all we need as Your children.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that I live gratefully live, trusting You for all my needs. … 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, 2018 … Daily Time With God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 238 

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 the commitment to serve the Lord which comes from being available to give of our lives with/for Him.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Daniel 6:10 [NLT] … 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. 
… Daniel, even when his life was threatened by injustice and lions, maintained his discipline of prayer and serving God; and we know how God protected him from the king and the lions. 
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Daniel 6:10-22 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Even when threatened by injustice, Daniel maintained his discipline of faith with His God; and from that discipline we know that God gave him favor and protection from the lions. 
=============

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:12-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to be diligent and disciplined in serving God and spending time with Him.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:12-13 [NLT] … 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 
 … Paul so wanted fellow Christians to find what He had from spending time with and serving his Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Keila Ochoa, used the research of a psychologist who showed that DISCIPLINE is the common trait of hyper-achievers in life. When educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom, researching how to develop talent in young people, examined the childhoods of 120 elite performers—athletes, artists, scholars—he found that all of them had one thing in common: they had practiced intensively for long periods of time. 
Bloom’s research suggests that growing in any area of our lives requires discipline. In our walk with God, too, cultivating the spiritual discipline of regularly spending time with Him is one way we can grow in our trust in Him. 

“DISCIPLINE” … is a concept that many Christians find very difficult to develop, … especially being willing to devote and invest disciplined daily devotional time into our lives. But years ago a mentor helped me learn what Daniel learned and practiced in the highlight passage, where God delivered him from the lions because Daniel was so disciplined in his devotion to his God.

And in the reference passage of Philippians 2 above, the Apostle Paul so wanted Christian friends (and that’s you and me, too!) to follow his lead and serve God with deep reverence and devotion. That’s why you find me here every morning, my friends, … in prayer and journaling what God gives to me thru His word; … because I know that investing this time is investing in eternity, bringing me closer and closer to my Lord every day.

I pray that all who read this have found that serving God, thru a daily quiet time with Him, is one of the most valuable ways to spend our time.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You, Lord, … for Your presence every morning when I come to share the sweetest fruit of my time with You every day.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all who come here to be with me any morning, reading my journal entries, find You, as have I, building eternal intimacy into our lives. … 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, 2018 … Confrontation With Truth

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 237 

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 the reality of God’s grace being with/for us when confronting human feelings in life.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Galatians 2:11 [NLT] … 11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 
… At Antioch, Paul challenges Peter’s dealing with the Gentiles there.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Galatians 2:11-16 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Paul confronts Peter over what Paul felt to be a distortion of Peter applying the Gospel to his interaction with Gentiles.
=============

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …
… As we are ambassadors for Christ with His ministry of reconciliation, we must confront those who are unwilling to live out the gospel in their interaction with others.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… And seeing how much God was willing to give to us, … what are we willing to give to/for Him?

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-4 [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. 
 … Christ’s way is always thinking of others before self.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, uses a social picture of friends discussing God’s truth. At a roundtable discussion about reconciliation [see photo], one participant wisely said, “Don’t freeze people in time.” He observed how we tend to remember mistakes people make and never grant them the opportunity to change.

Confronting the truth, especially with those we love, is never easy, is it? Well, in today’s highlight passage, the Apostle Paul felt compelled - certainly by God’s Spirit - to confront Peter about perceived hypocrisy; and it had to have been a very difficult confrontation.

In the Scriptures above, we read how the Apostle Paul was called to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles; and at one point (see Gal. 2:11-16), he confronted Peter because Paul perceived Cephas was being a hypocrite as he interacted with the Gentiles in Antioch. Confrontation is always tough; but Paul was courageous enough to bring God’s truth, compelled no doubt by God’s Spirit, to Peter so that the Gospel would not be hindered.

Perhaps we have someone in our lives, maybe even a dear friend or loved one, whom we need to confront because we think it is clear they are sinning or misapplying God’s truth. Obviously we need to be sure that our feelings conform to God’s will and His word in the matter. But if we seem compelled to confront our loved one/friend with what we know to be God’s truth, then we must!

But when we have to confront others and our feelings of fear, we must alway remember the message of the linked song above and the truth that God’s calling, even into confrontation, is ALWAYS His enablement.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You … for giving us Your will and way thru Your word.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Now, Lord, … help us to show others Your way if they seem to be off of Your track of truth. … 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, 2018 … Giving Our All

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 236 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Brian Littrell singing … I Surrender All … poignantly singing of the reality of what our God demands of all His children … to give our all to Jesus.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: 1 Chronicles 29:14 [NLT] … 14 But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! 
… David leading and God’s people following give their all for God’s glory.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: 1 Chronicles 29:1-14 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… King David leads God’s people in showing their obedience and giving spirit by giving generously to built a temple for God’s glory.
=============

Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [NLT] … {I sure hope we all know this one by now!!} 
… And seeing how much God was willing to give to us, … what are we willing to give to/for Him?

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We should give with a generous heart because God has provided all we need … and so much more.

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. 
 … Does our giving for God’s glory reflect all God does for us, giving us all we need.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, relates a personal story of how we should give our all for God’s glory. After reviewing all God had already done throughout our church’s history, leaders presented the congregation with a proposal for a new gym to help us better serve our community. The leadership team announced they’d be the first to sign pledge notes to fund the construction. I initially prayed with a heart soured by selfishness, not wanting to offer more money than we had already committed to give. Still, my husband and I agreed to pray for the ongoing project. While considering all God continued providing for us, we eventually decided on a monthly offering. The combined gifts of our church family paid for the entire building. 
Grateful for the many ways God’s used that gym for community events since we celebrated opening its doors for ministry, 

When the plate is passed in Church (or in whatever manner we give our tithes and offerings) how much do we decide is the right amount to give? When our community or church needs volunteers to give of their time for the good of all, how much of our time are we willing to give for the project. And of the gifts we Christians have been given to serve God by His Spirit, how much are we using them for the Father’s glory?

Though questions to answer at times, aren’t they? But that’s what God’s people had to decide to do when God led David to build a temple for His glory (see highlight passage). And at least at that time, led by David’s generosity and leadership, the people gave - from their heart [see photo] - all they could give, realizing that God owns it all and that He provides all we need (see the reference passages).

So, back to my questions above, … the answers to which should be reflected in what Brian Littrell sings in the linked song … that we surrender our all, … generously, and willingly giving our hearts for God’s glory.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, thank You … for giving us Your all in Jesus. 
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Now, Lord, … help us to humbly give our all for 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.

August 24, 2018 … Seeing Him In Me

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 235 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing the penetrating question of whether others see Jesus in the way we choose to live our lives.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: John 12:20-21 [NLT] … 20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 
… Many who don’t know Jesus desire to see Him and experience His grace.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: John 12:12-26 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Some gentiles came to Phillip seeking to see Jesus after he entered Jerusalem in His last days. 
=============

Reference Passage : … John 14:16-17 [NLT] … 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate,[a] who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 
 … Jesus has sent His Spirit to reside in the hearts fo all born-again Christians so that we can be His witness and allow others to see Him in us (see also Acts 1:8)

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 3:18, 5:17 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …
… Any/all with God’s Spirit in us can - and should - reflect the newness and Christlikeness into a world who needs to see Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, refers to a Christian being celebrated in death for having reflected Christlikeness from her life into others. The ODB author wrote: As I looked down at the pulpit where I was sharing prayers at a funeral, I glimpsed a brass plaque bearing words from John 12:21: “Sir, we would see Jesus” (kjv). Yes, I thought, how fitting to consider how we saw Jesus in the woman we were celebrating with tears and smiles. Although she faced challenges and disappointments in her life, she never gave up her faith in Christ. And because God’s Spirit lived in her, we could see Jesus. 

Fairly often I end up asking the question sung by Joy Williams in the linked song; and perhaps others reading here desire, as do I, to look into the mirror, and, like the little kitten in the photo, desiring to see the image of the Lion of Judah, … the image of King Jesus, … and the image of Christlikeness which others can see reflected into a world where so many desperately need to see our Lord.

That’s why the Greeks in the highlight passage came to Phillip, one of Jesus’ Disciples, asking to see Jesus (see John 12:20-21). But Phillip was not yet able to reflect the Savior to those men … because, unlike those of us who’ve received God’s Spirit, Phillip was not yet able to reflect Christlikeness in a clear and reflective image.

But, … we, … those of us who know Christ as Lord/Savior, … are new in Him [see 2Cor. 3:18 and 5:17] with God’s Spirit filling us with the reflection of Christlikeness for others to see our Lord. Our challenge as Christians is whether we are adequately able, thru our complete surrender to Christ, to become His light for others to see His love/grace in the way we live.

And that’s why today’s linked song is so penetrating … at least for yours truly. Perhaps others reading here also need to hear the song and reflect on its question.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You … for giving me Your Spirit transforming me into Your image, King Jesus.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Give me Your enabling grace to be able to shine Your images for others to see You in/thru me. … 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, 2018 … My Way or His?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 234 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Elvis Presley singing … My Way … sadly singing the anthem of the selfish … and the TAKE THIS LINK to hear Jeremy Camp singing the anthem of the selfless, … The Answer.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 34:12, 14 [NLT] … 12  Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? ...  14  Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 
 … God’s way is the only way to a happy and spiritually prosperous life.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 34:1-14 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… David sings of the way to find happiness, contentment, and peace … following GOD’S WAY! 
=============

Reference Passage : … Psalm 63:1 [NLT] … 1  O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. 
 … Searching for God’s way should be our exhaustive search in life.

Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … 105  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. 
 … God’s word is the light to guide us down God’s way in life.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We must trust and follow God for the way in life … HIS WAY!

Reference Passage : … John 15:7 [NLT] … 7 But if you remain in Me and My words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 
… Jesus tells His disciples exactly how they (we) must remain (i.e., abide) in Him to have happiness in this life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David H Roper, refers to a poet’s words and a song of David in teaching on what we must do to find happiness as Christians. The ODB author wrote: Often we hear that happiness comes from doing things our own way. That, however, is not true. That philosophy leads only to emptiness, anxiety, and heartache. 
Poet W. H. Auden observed people as they attempted to find an escape in pleasures. He wrote of such people: “Lost in a haunted wood, / Children afraid of the night / Who have never been happy or good.” 
 The psalmist David sings of the remedy for our fears and unhappiness. “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4). Happiness is doing things God’s way, a fact that can be verified every day. 

As humans I think anyone would agree that we long - and search - for happiness in this life. God has placed in us an emptiness - what I call “the love hole,” which only He can fill with His love and grace. But unfortunately it is also our nature, our sin nature, to want to fill that hole with our own desires and by doing life, as Elvis sings, “MY WAY.” 

But as Jeremy Camp sings (also linked above), there is another way to seek for THE ANSWER to our pursuit of happiness; and I would pray that we, as mature (or maturing) Christians, would realize the truth of what the scriptures above attest, … that the ONLY way to find happiness and contentment in this life (and peace as well) is to pursue GOD’S WAY.

 And so, … that is my prayer for all of us today.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You … thank You … for shining Your light of truth on Your way through, guiding us with Your word.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Shine that light of truth on Your way brightly, Lord, so that we can’t help but see the way, YOUR WAY, in this 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.

August 22, 2018 … God’s Caring Heart

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 233 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing … Redeemed … poignantly singing of how we freed from the chains of sin and shame by the believing in the atoning blood of Jesus and repenting of our sinfulness.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 3:32 [NLT] … 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. 
… In spite of their sinful and shame, God gives them clothing before He expels them from the Garden, setting His plan of redemption in motion.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 3 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… God’s children sin and He loves them enough to set His plan in motion to save them. 
=============

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. 
 … God’s ultimate plan for the redemption of mankind unfolds as The Father gives His son to be the Lamb of God, saving all who believe on Him and His blood shed on the cross.

Reference Passage : … Romans 3:23-24 [NLT] … 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 
… Yes, we are all sinners, worthy only of death, but God’s love overcomes our sinfulness and redeems us with the blood of Christ.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 2:8-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… It’s God’s plan to save His children so that we can become His light in a dark world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Alyson Kieda, uses an illustration of kids at play and their innate sinfulness to tell about God’s redeeming love. The ODB author wrote: My young grandsons enjoy dressing themselves. Sometimes they pull their shirts on backwards and often the younger one puts his shoes on the wrong feet. I usually don’t have the heart to tell them; besides, I find their innocence endearing. 
I love seeing the world through their eyes. To them, everything is an adventure, whether walking the length of a fallen tree, spying a turtle sunning itself on a log, or excitedly watching a fire truck roar by. 
But I know that even my little grandsons are not truly innocent. They can make up a dozen excuses about why they can’t stay in their beds at night and are quick to yank a wanted toy from the other. Yet I love them dearly. 

Kids at play, as the ODB author relates, seem so innocent; but then we see their innate character when they lie as they are caught in sin or wrongdoing. No, … even as young children we are born sinners, inheriting the sinful character legacy of Adam [see Genesis 3]. And all of mankind, even when we’re doing good things, and seeming so innocent, are basically sinners at heart (see Romans 3:23).

But even in the Garden of Eden, God set in motion a plan to redeem His wayward children; and we know that plan was fulfilled in the birth, life, and death of His only Son, … Jesus, … The Christ (see reference scriptures above). And in his love, as sung in the linked song, we are redeemed!.

Do I sense a thankful ”HALLELUJAH [!!!] from those reading here? I hope so; … but I will certainly offer up my gratefulness in prayer today for my Lord’s love and His saving grace which has redeemed this sinner.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You … thank You … thank You … for shedding Your blood to redeem me from my sin.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I do believe and declare loudly … HALLELUJAH for Your willingness to redeem me and take me to be with You in eternity. … 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, 2018 … A Good Father’s Watch Care

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 232 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing his … Good, Good Father … poignantly singing of how we can put our lives in the hands of a good, good Heavenly Father … ALWAYS!

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 23:46 [NLT] … 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands!” And with those words He breathed His last. 
… In our Lord’s last breath on earth, He cries out in prayer, quoting from Psalm 31:5 for His Heavenly Father to take His Spirit.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 23:44-48 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Luke’s account of Jesus’ death shows the Lord’s last words were a prayer to His Heavenly Father to take His Spirit back into the loving hands of the Father.
=============

Reference Passage : … Psalm 31:5 [NLT] … 5  I entrust my spirit into Your hand. Rescue me, Lord, for You are a faithful God.
… Jesus’s prayer from the cross as He died, quoting from a prayer in song by David.

Reference Passage : … John 1:12 [NLT] … 12 But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. 
… When we become converted Christians, we have a loving Heavenly Father watching over us forever.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, reflects on a prayer taught to children by their parents, … often the first prayer the child learns, and a prayer which has great biblical significance. The ODB author wrote: One of the first prayers I learned as a little boy was “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep . . .” It was a prayer I learned from my parents, and I taught it to my son and daughter when they were little. As a child, I found great comfort in placing myself in God’s hands with those words before I fell asleep. 

It is a prayer taught to many a child as their first prayer, isn’t it [see photo]? But I doubt that many of those parents realize the biblical significance of this little prayer, which was essentially the prayer that Jesus prayed with His last human breath on earth (see the highlight passage). And in that prayer to His heavenly Father, Jesus was actually quoting from a prayer uttered in song by David in a moment of deep distress [see Psalm 31:5].

And it is a prayer which we all should pray with deep meaning … that, as the linked song sings, we have a “good, good Father,” whose watch care over us as His children extends 24/7, everywhere we go; … tand hat His loving, saving grace will be with us, not only in this life, but forever. And I think that’s a truth for which we should pray a prayer of thanks, don’t you? And I will.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your loving watch care as my Heavenly Father.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … When I lay down to sleep tonight, I pray, dear Lord, my soul to keep. … 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, 2018 … Done Deal!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 231 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Matt Maher singing his song … Your Grace Is Enough … poignantly singing of how God’s completed work on the cross, giving us His saving grace, is all we need from Him to be saved and to become like Him in glory.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 104:24 [NLT] … 4 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 
… One perfect sacrifice and His new covenant is made complete when we accept, in repentance for our sins, His saving grace.
==============

Highlight Passage [context]

: Hebrews 10:5-14 [NLT]…  USE THIS LINK …  

 … Jesus canceled out the Old Covenant and made a new, final one, complete with His single, perfect sacrifice for the remission of our sin that we can be made holy thru His sacrifice.  

=============

Reference Passage : … John 17:4, 19:30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus completed the word that His Father sent Him to accomplish by shedding His blood as the Lamb of God to atone for my (and your) sin.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 12:9a [NLT] … 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” … 
… Jesus declared, thru Paul, that His grace, which comes from His shed blood, is all we need.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 2:8-9 [NLT] … 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 
… Receiving God’s saving grace in the humble faith of repentance for our sin is all we need to be saved; and it’s nothing we can do to receive it … just surrender in faith.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, used a very human situation to illustrate how we feel when we complete a task; and then to realize what Jesus did on the cross to fulfill the task which His Father in heaven sent Him to accomplish. The ODB author wrote: It’s satisfying to finish a job. Each month, for instance, one of my job responsibilities gets moved from one category to another, from “In Progress” to “Completed.” I love clicking that “Completed” button [see photo]. But last month when I clicked it, I thought, If only I could overcome rough spots in my faith so easily! It can seem like the Christian life is always in progress, never completed. 
Then I remembered Hebrews 10:14. It describes how Christ’s sacrifice redeems us totally. So in one important sense, that “completed button” has been pressed for us. 

I pray anyone reading here has taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above.

 It’s a “done deal,” isn’t it … the completed work that Jesus did on the cross, shedding His blood to save any/all who would surrender to Him in repentance and receive His saving grace.?

There’s nothing we can do to check off the box that we have earned God’s reconciling/atoning grace. Our Lord, King Jesus, did it all, didn’t He? And when he arose from the grave, we knew [and now know] that what He said on the cross, saying “Is is finished,” is God’s perfect DONE DEAL from heaven in giving us His way to make us complete in Him … FOREVER!! 

Enough said!

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for doing all it takes for me (us) to be saved. 
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, help me to share with others what you have done to save me … and them! … 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, 2018 … God’s Glory in Creation

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 230 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images from Gordon Mote singing his song … Don’t Let Me Miss The Glory … poignantly singing of how we see God’s glory all around us in His creation.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 104:24 [NLT] … 24  O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!  In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. 
… Look around and see God’s glory on display.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 104:24-34 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… The psalmist sings of God’s glory on display in creation.
=============

Reference Passage : … 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. 
… To see God and His glory all we have to do is look around us at His creation

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, used his personal observation of God’s creation to remind us to look around and see his glory. The ODB author wrote: As an amateur photographer, I enjoy capturing glimpses of God’s creativity with my camera. I see His fingerprints on each delicate flower petal, each vibrant sunrise and sunset, and each cloud-painted and star-speckled sky canvas. 
My camera’s powerful zoom option allows me to take photos of the Lord’s creatures too. I’ve snapped shots of a chattering squirrel in a cherry blossom tree, a colorful butterfly flitting from bloom to bloom [see photo], and sea turtles sunning on a rocky, black beach. Each one-of-a-kind image prompted me to worship my marvelous Maker. 

The song linked today [please take the time to see the video] was written and is sung by a blind Christian songwriter, pianist, and singer; and having met Gordon Mote on a cruise to Alaska, we all got some incredible views of God’s glory, as Gordon sings, in Alaska. But Gordon Mote can’t see any of those glorious sights or even simpler evidences of our Lord as in the beautiful photo of the butterfly in the attached photo. But in his mind’s eye, Gordon Mote knows of the evidence of his God when he heard with us the crashing sounds of ice breaking away from glaciers, or the cries of the whales we saw, or even the birds chirping in the morning.

But we, who can see God’s glory in His creation, as it says in Romans 1:20, have no excuse to be able to behold what our God created for us. So, I pray we all look around today and behold the marvel of God’s creation and thank Him for it.

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for giving me the sight to behold You in Your creation and for all that I see, I praise Your Holy Name.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, help me to see You all around me today as I look around to behold Your creation. … 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, 2018 … God’s Perspective

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 229 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of the group Brian Free and Assurance singing … He Can Take It … poignantly singing of how we can take anything to our God, because He sees things we will never see and knows all.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 102:19-20 [NLT] … 19  Tell them [God’s people] the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven 20  to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. 
… God sees things we cannot see.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 102:1-2, 18-28 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… The psalmist sings of God’s perspective on our world.
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… In trusting in God, in all situations, we must be willing to take all our cares to Him so that He can lead us.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus wants to lead us; but we’ve got to be willing to follow Him.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
 … Believing that God cares, we must bring our cares to Him … ALL our cares.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, used an illustration of the perspective one gets by being able to view life from a high perspective. The ODB author wrote: While in London, a friend arranged for my wife Marlene and me to visit the Sky Garden. On the top floor of a thirty-five-story building in London’s business district, the Sky Garden is a glass-encased platform filled with plants, trees, and flowers [see photo]. But the sky part captured our attention. We gazed down from a height of over 500 feet, admiring St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and more. Our views of the capital city were breathtaking—providing a helpful lesson on perspective. 
Our God has a perfect perspective of everything we experience. 

Using the author’s word picture from today’s ODB, wouldn’t you agree that we have a far clearer perspective on a city, like London, by seeing it from the heights of a structure like the Sky Garden rather than viewing life from down on the streets? And so, when we take that truth to heart, we have to see that God has a perspective on our lives - a heavenly perspective - that is infinitely higher and clearer than what we could ever see.

That’s why we read the psalmist, in the highlight passage, taking his dire cares to God, trusting that God sees and God knows and God cares about what we, His people, bring to him. We may have trouble seeing where we should go; but God always sees and knows what is best; and since Jesus desires that we, His disciples, deny ourselves and follow Him [see Luke 9:23], we should be willing to bring anything/everything to Him at all times (see 1Peter 5:7).

So, if we feel in the dark about something today - or any day - let’s do what the group Assurance sings in the linked song; … because no matter what we bring to our Lord, … “He can take it!” 

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for hearing us anytime … anywhere! 
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, I need Your eternal perspective today. Help me see my way. Shine Your light on my path. … 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, 2018 … Reaching Out In The Storm

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 228 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing … He’ll Do Whatever It Takes … poignantly singing of how Christ is there to lift us up from our selves … IF … we’re willing to trust in Him.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 14:30-31 [NLT] … 30 But when he [Peter] saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. … 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 
… And do we know that Jesus is always there, reaching out for us in the storm?  
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 14:22-33 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus reaches out to save Peter, sinking in the storm after walking on water with Jesus. 
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… In trusting in God, in all situations, we must beware of our own feelings and selfish fears.

Reference Passage : … 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 have faith that our Lord will do just that?!

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… We have to be willing to give up our own way to humbly and faithfully follow Jesus.

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 so desires to have fellowship with us; … but we’ve got to open the door by faith to Let Him into our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Julie Schwab, used a few life situations which distract us from our trust/faith in God to illustrate how we can wane in our faith as the circumstances of life engulf us. The ODB author wrote: Sometimes life gets busy—classes are hard, work is exhausting, the bathroom needs to be cleaned, and a coffee date is on the day’s schedule. It gets to the point where I force myself to read the Bible for a few minutes a day and tell myself I’ll spend more time with God next week. But it doesn’t take long before I’m distracted, drowning in the day’s tasks, and forget to ask God for help of any kind. 

The highlight passage from Matthew 14 where Jesus came walking on the water to His Disciples in a horrible storm. … Peter was rescued from the waves as he went out to walk on the water with Jesus. But he sank because of his weakened faith, which illustrates our faithlessness at times doesn’t it? Jesus, as in the linked song sing, is willing to do whatever it takes to bring us to Himself; but as the truth of Rev. 3:20 reveals, we’ve got to have the faith to open the door of our hearts to let Him in when we hear Him knocking, … especially in the storms of life.

Peter, in the highlight story, was able to have the faith to get out of the boat when Jesus called Him to Himself, but his faith waned when he saw were he was in the storm; and he sank into the waves. if we can have the faith to let Jesus come into our lives during our storms, or to step out of our boat into the storms of life, KNOWING that Jesus is always there for us to lift us up (see Isaiah 41:10), then He will do just that for us, … even saving us when sink beneath the waves of our storms. 

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for always being there for us in the storms of life.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, forgive my weakened faith. Lift me up, 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 16, 2018 … Bread of Life

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 227 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from the group ForeverBeSure singing … Bread of Life … poignantly singing of how Christ desires to feed and fill us with His “bread of life.”

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: John 6:35a [NLT] … 35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. … 
… The question is … do I desire the Bread of Life enough to fill my spiritual hunger? 
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: John 6:32-40 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus tells His Disciples that any who seek after the “Bread of Life” from Him will never hunger. 
=============

Reference Passage : …Deuteronomy 8:3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God taught His people that they cannot live by bread alone … but by every word which comes from God. [Which was quoted by Jesus to Satan in the wilderness as the enemy was tempting Him - see Matt. 4:4]

Reference Passage : … Psalms 34:8, 107:9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The psalmists sing of how only God can satisfy the deep longings of our hearts.

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 so desires to dine with us in fellowship; but will we let Him in?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Elisa Morgan, used a personal story to illustrate how we can hunger for physical pleasure more than our desire for Christ’s “Bread of Life.” The ODB author wrote: Riding along with my husband on some errands, I scrolled through emails on my phone and was surprised at an incoming advertisement for a local donut shop, a shop we had just passed on the right side of the street. Suddenly my stomach growled with hunger. I marveled at how technology allows vendors to woo us into their establishments. 
As I clicked off my email, I mused over God’s constant yearning to draw me closer. He always knows where I am and longs to influence my choices. I wondered, Does my heart growl in desire for Him the way my stomach did over the idea of a donut? 

Oh how God desires that we seek after our relationship with Christ as much as we seek after those things which satisfy our physical bodies! … The ODB story today reminded me of my own gluttony for donuts [see photo]; and how I so desire to love the word of God, which is the “bread of life,” … just as much - and preferably more - that my lusting for donuts. And yes, the advertisement business [and really Satan himself] would do all they can to get us to lust after the things of this world so as to draw us away from our desire to partake of the “bread of life.”

The latter, of course, can only come from an abiding and intimate relationship with Christ and especially partaking regularly and often from the “bread of life,” which is His word. So the challenge from today’s journal entry is to lead us to open the door of fellowship when we hear Jesus knocking (see Rev. 3:20); and to dine with Him, partaking of His ‘bread of life,” which we consume from His truth.

And that is why you find me here - EVERY DAY - at the table of fellowship and devotion, praying that my Lord will dine with me as I partake of the “bread of life” which He shares with me from His word. And it so fills me!!

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your word which provides me with Your bread of life.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, I pray that all who read here are being filled and satisfied, as I am, with Your “bread of 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.

August 15, 2018 … God Speaks - We Listen!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 226 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of images and lyrics from Keith and Kristyn Getty singing … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing of our desire to hear God’s word to speak to us and build our faith in His presence and providence.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Job 38:3 [NLT] … 3  Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. 
 … God challenges Job with questions that lead Job to realize Who God really is and why Job must have faith in God in spite of Job’s challenges and trials.
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Job 38:1-11 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… Job had so many “WHY” questions; but when God finally comes to Him it is God who asks the questions to show Job the way back to faith.
=============

Reference Passage : … Job, Chapter 1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Even after great pain/loss, Job’s faith remained steadfast … at least for a time.

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… It’s our trust (i.e., faith) in God which provides us with His guidance, not our questions about the inexplicable things in life.

Reference Passage : … 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. 
 … When we feel weak and threatened, God promises to give us His strength.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:38-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… It is our surrendered faith in God which shows us that nothing in this life can separate us from His love/grace.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 11:6 [NLT] … 6 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 
… So may thinks can’t be explained beyond our faith in God’s presence and providence.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Phillip Yancey, used Job’s dilemma and his dialog with God to challenge our faith. The ODB author wrote: We can find nearly every argument in the book of Job about why there is pain in the world, but the arguing never seems to help Job much. His is a crisis of relationship more than a crisis of doubt. Can he trust God? Job wants one thing above all else: an appearance by the one Person who can explain his miserable fate. He wants to meet God Himself, face to face. … 
No one—not Job, nor any of his friends—is prepared for what God has to say. Job has saved up a long list of questions, but it is God, not Job, who asks the questions. 

I think all readers here have had, as did Job, “Why God” questions. Perhaps our challenges have not been as painful as Job’s (or perhaps they have); but it is so easy in our very human weakness or confusion to have our faith in God challenged by life’s trials/troubles.

That’s what happened to Job, didn’t it [see link to Job 1]? He had great faith early after God allow Satan to bring all that pain/loss into his life; but finally as the pain and confusion wore on, and even Job’s friends challenged his faith, Job waned into a “Why, Lord” attitude. But finally God showed up, not with answers to Job’s questions, but rather with questions to Job, which, when Job realized God was the only One with the answers, he surrendered to God’s grace with the faith to go on.

And in God’s questions [see highlight passage], we should realize that God does give us the answers to our questions … thru His word; and when we believe what He speaks to us, and we listen to His truth, our faith can give us the strength to handle even Job-like challenges.

And that’s why one finds me here every morning, coming to God with the prayer spoken by the Getty’s in the linked song today, … desiring to hear God speak to me thru His Holy word. And when I listen to God’s truth, spoken to me thru His word, I can move on with renewed strength and faith. 

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for Your word which challenges me to hear Your truth, which then guides me in my times of confusion.
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, help me to deal with the “Jobian” challenges of life with the faith you give to me thru Your Truth. … 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, 2018 … Jesus In Our Boat

Berry Patch Devotions in 2018 - Day 225 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Crowder and Tauren Wells singing … All My Hope Is In Jesus … poignantly singing of how we must put all our hopes in Christ no matter the storms we face in life.

=============
Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 43:2 [NLT] … 2  When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. 
 … God’s promise of His uplifting strength when we’re engulfed by the storms of life. 
==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 43:1-7 [NLT]… USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Isaiah, promises His people His uplifting strength in the storms of their captivity. 
=============

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God promises His guidance if we trust in Him.

Reference Passage : … 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. 
 … When we feel weak and threatened, God promises to give us His strength.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, Luke 8:22-25 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shows His power to His disciples to save them from the storms of life … IF … they have faith in Him.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … 5 … “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” [Quote from Deut. 31:6,8]
 … God’s promise that He will never leave or forsake His own.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used a personal story to illustrate how we must trust in God’s deliverance and care in the storms of life. The ODB author wrote: The rafting guide escorted our group to the river’s edge and directed us all to put on life jackets and grab paddles. … [see photo] 
… Sometimes life feels like a white-water rafting trip, one that contains more rapids than we might like. 

I think all readers here would agree that life can seem like a white-water river rafting trip at times, can’t it? And no matter how well trained or prepared we are - as we should be - the storms can be threatening. And it’s in those times, as it was for Jesus’ disciples in such a storm [see references above], that they learned what Crowder sings about in the linked song … that “all our hope is in Jesus.” 

God promises never to forsake us [see Heb. 13:5 (from Deut. 31:6,8)]; but do we have faith in that promise when we encounter the rough storms of life (see Prov. 3:5-6 and Is. 41:10)?

Today, some who read here may be in their own white-water ride of emotions. I pray that we all can have the faith that Jesus is in our boat and has control of any storm we encounter. But besides the scriptures above, … remember and live on the truth of Romans 8:28 (And I hope you have that one memorized and internalized!).

=============
My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for the hope I have in You … ALWAYS!! 
=============

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … O Lord, help me to ride out this storm today with You in my boat! … 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.