Saturday, November 30, 2019

November 30, 2019 … Aged In Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 334 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Sara Groves singing … Abide With Me … poignantly singing of a prayer for Christ to abide with us in our lives so that we can become more like Him.

The aging process for fine cheeses

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ephesians 4:11-12 [ESV] ... 11 And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, …  
… God provides specially gifted disciples to equip the body of Christ to become more Christlike. ==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesian 4:11-14 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God gives His Body, the Church, those with special gifts to help equip His body for growth to become more like Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …” 
… Jesus charges any/all who would be His disciples to deny themselves daily and follow Him.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-4 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… Jesus explains to His disciples (and us too) that we cannot become fruitful in HIs kingdom without abiding in/with Him.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 1:6 [NLT] … 6 And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 
… God, thru Paul, shows Christian that He’s going to complete us for our eternity with the Lord in heaven when we continue to abide in/with Him in this life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Linda Washington, uses a word picture of aging fine cheeks to how we, as Christians, must be aged in Christlikeness to equip us for service to Him in this life and the next. … The ODB author wrote: In a YouTube video, Alan Glustoff, a cheese farmer in Goshen, New York, described his process for aging cheese, a process that adds to a cheese’s flavor and texture. Before it can be sent out to a market, each block of cheese remains on a shelf in an underground cave for six to twelve months. [see photo] In this humid environment the cheese is carefully tended. “We do our best to give it the right environment to thrive . . . [and] to develop to its truest potential,” Glustoff explained. 

Christian discipleship in this life is an aging process, isn’t it? After our surrender of will to God’s Spirit, and we, as babes in Christ, begin to be completed in the maturation process of Christian discipleship, we desire to become more and more like Christ (see Phil. 1:6). And in that aging process, God provides gifted craftsmen (see highlight passage) to help equip disciples of Christ to grow and mature and to serve the Lord more fruitfully and effectively in His kingdom.

The question is … what are we doing, as Christians, to abide in Him (as He describes in the maturation of disciples in Luke 9:23 and John 15) and to become more fruitful in, with, and for God’s kingdom? Long ago, from a gifted mentor in Christ, I learned that the best way to become fruitful for our Lord was to begin each day in God’s word, praying that His Spirit would grow and mature me as a disciple and to serve Him more effectively.

That’s why you find me here, sharing each day what I glean from His truth, … so that I might grow in Him and help others mature in the faith. What’s your aging process in Christlikeness? 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me Your word and other mature mentors and teachers to help me grow in Christlikeness. =
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to do all we can to grow and mature and become more like Christ today than yesterday and even more like Him tomorrow than today.

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.</ span>

Friday, November 29, 2019

November 29, 2019 … Word Alert

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 333 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Laura Story singing … Grace Abounds … poignantly singing of how we must turn to God’s grace, especially in our interactions with others.


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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 6:5 [ESV] ... 5 And I [Isaiah] said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” 
… Isaiah given a vision of his uncleanness of thoughts and words.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 6:1-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Isaiah was shown by God that he was a man of unclean lips, requiring atonement. 
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Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 
… God, thru Paul. shows us the only speech (i.e., words) which should come from us in our relations with others.

Reference Passage : …James 3:6-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… God, thru James, warns us of the hazard our tongue or words can be as we relate to others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a word picture of how we sometimes need a hazard alert on the words we use in relating to others. … The ODB author wrote: The sound of a siren increased to an ear-piercing level as an emergency vehicle sped by my car. Its flashing lights glared through my windshield, illuminating the words “hazardous materials” printed on the side of the truck. Later, I learned it had been racing to a science laboratory where a 400-gallon container of sulfuric acid had begun to leak. Emergency workers had to contain the substance immediately because of its ability to damage whatever it came in contact with. 
As I thought about this news story, I wondered what would happen if sirens blared every time a harsh or critical word “leaked” out of my mouth? Sadly, it might become rather noisy around our house. 

Any fellow readers ever said or communicated words that we wish we had a hazard warning [see photo] on before we let them out from our mouth or online in social media? I’d guess I’d get an unanimous “AMEN” on that one.

James was right, wasn’t he, about the danger of the tongue (or these days online) when we say or write words which are hazardous to our relationships with others [see James 3]? Oh how we wish we had some sort of “hazardous word” warning, as Isaiah did (see highlight passage] to help us carry out God’s instructions, from Paul, in Ephesians 4:29.

That’s basically, from God’s word, what my mother used to say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” And I pray that we can all take her advice (and that of God’s word) and use our words with the grace of God today (as Laura Story sings in the linked song). 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me Your grace to share in words with others today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to say or write only those word which build up or give grace to others.

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.</ span>

Thursday, November 28, 2019

November 28, 2019 … Thank You, Lord!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 332 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Thank You, Lord … expressing his thanks to God in song.

Post Interview - Bread-n-butter notes 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 9:1 [ESV] ... 1  I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 
… David gives thanks for all the wonderful things God has done for God’s people. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 9:1-2, 7-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… King David, the Psalmist, gives thanks and praise in song for the joy he’s received from the Lord. 
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Reference Passage : …Psalm 63:1-4 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… Again David expresses his thanks to God in sing, expressing how much his heart searches for a deep relationship with the Lord.

Reference Passage : …Psalm 100:4-5 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK
… The Psalmist expresses what should be the attitude of all believers coming to God and that is an attitude of thanksgiving.

Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 
… Jesus states clearly that we express our thanks/love to God by obeying Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Xochitl Dixon, uses a personal story to illustrate how we need to express our thanks to others who consider or care for us in life. … The ODB author wrote: In preparation for Xavier’s first job interview, my husband, Alan, handed our son a pack of thank-you cards for him to send out after he met with prospective employers. He then pretended to be a hiring interviewer, using his decades of experience as a manager to ask Xavier questions. After the role-playing, our son tucked several copies of his resume into a folder. He smiled when Alan reminded him about the cards. “I know,” he said. “A sincere thank-you note will set me apart from all the other applicants.” [see photo] 

At a very young age my mother taught me age to write, what she called, “bread-n-butter” notes, … i.e., hand-written notes, … thanking someone when they had done something positive for me in life. These days I still try to remember to do it, likely using email or social media; … but the sentiment of thankfulness hopefully is conveyed.

In the Bible quite a few of the Psalms are hand-written and poetic “bread-n-butter” notes; … very personal notes of thankfulness to God … from psalmists like King David, who felt the need to praise and/or thank God often for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His love.

And everyday when I arise in the morning, I pray from a few of the Psalms, and one of them is cited above (see Ps. 63:1-4), … expressing my personal desire to show my thanks and praise to my God for another day that I might show my love for Him by seeking a deeper and more abiding relationship with Him.

Perhaps, … on this Thanksgiving Day, … we all need to lift up a very personal “bread-n-butter” note of thanks to our God. … And tomorrow too; … and the day after that!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me another day to show my thanks to You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to express our deep praise and thankfulness for God’s love and grace which sustains us in life.

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.</ span>

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

November 27, 2019 … Grateful or Greedy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 331 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from an anonymous worship group singing an old hymn … Count Your Blessings … singing in worship what we all should be able to do ALWAYS!

The closed fist of greed 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ecclesiastes 4:6 [NKJV] ... 6 … , “Better to have one handful with quietness than two handfuls with hard work and chasing the wind.” 
… Solomon admonishes believers to hold on to God’s blessings rather than chasing selfish desires. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ... 
… God, thru Solomon, reveals what our attitude toward God’s providence should be. 
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Reference Passage : … Ecclesiastes 5:10 [NLT] … 10 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! 
… More advice from Solomon about the fruitlessness of pursuing wealth rather than an abiding relationship with the Lord.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 6:24 [NLT] … 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 
… Jesus states clearly that we cannot serve two masters … God AND money!

Reference Passage : … Luke 12:15 [NLT] … 15 Then He said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” 
… Jesus states clearly what should be a Christian’s attitude toward greed.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … 5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have, For God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.” 
… God gives us the proper perspective on life in showing us to avoid loving money because of His faithfulness.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Remi Oyedele, uses an old fable to illustrate what our attitude toward God’s providence should be. … The ODB author wrote: In the ancient fable The Boy and the Filberts (Nuts), a boy sticks his hand into a jar of nuts and grabs a great fistful. But his hand is so full that it gets stuck in the jar. [see photo] Unwilling to lose even a little of his bounty, the boy begins to weep. Eventually, he’s counseled to let go of some of the nuts so the jar will let go of his hand. Greed can be a hard boss. 

On this day before Thanksgiving Day here in the USA, today’s ODB entry and the Scriptures above to support the need for all of us to “count our blessings,” as the linked hymn sings, … to hold onto an attitude of thankfulness and avoid the very human tendency to pursue wealth with an attitude of greediness.

 Jesus was about as clear on that issue as God could be, wasn’t He (see Matt. 6:24 and Luke 12:15), … certainly supporting what Solomon wrote to believers in the OT scriptures from Ecclesiastes [see above]?

So, as we celebrate THANKSGIVING DAY tomorrow, what attitude will we have in our hearts; and will we be able to open our fists in the jar of life [again, see photo] and be thankful for what God has provided for us?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving us all we need.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to try to do what I do everyday, and follow God’s “GPS,” i.e., His word, … to start the day out on the right path.

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.</ span>

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

November 26, 2019 … His Way - Not Mine

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 330 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Frank Sinatra singing … My Way … His signature song and the anthem of doing life our own way rather than following Christ … But there is another way, the right way and it’s found in Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing “I Will Follow Christ” - AT THIS LINK


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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Peter 3:17-18 [NKJV] ... 17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
… Peter, helping fellow Christians to grow in grace and to avoid the ways of the world. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Peter 3:14-18 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God, thru Peter, shows us that we need tp continue to grow in His sanctifying / enabling grace our entire lives.
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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 lights the way for our path in life thru His word.

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. 
… To be a disciple of Christ, He desires that we give up our own way and surrender to follow His.

Reference Passage : … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… The Christian life is learning to surrender to God’s way and avoid trying to take the road the world offers.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 12:8-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… We, as Christians, must learn as Paul did, to surrender our weaknesses to our Lord, where He can cover our weakness with His strength.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:13 [NLT] … 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 
… Maturing in our relationship with Christ is learning, as Paul did, to use Christlikeness as our standard of direction.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mike Wittmer, uses a word picture of child trying to learn how to ride a bike to illustrate how we, as Christians, mature in Christ the more we His way rather than trying life our way (see photo). … The ODB author wrote: Pastor Watson Jones remembers learning to ride a bike. His father was walking alongside when little Watson saw some girls sitting on a porch. “Daddy, I got this!” he said. He didn’t. He realized too late he hadn’t learned to balance without his father’s steadying grip. He wasn’t as grown up as he thought. 

Our nature, as humans, tells us to do life “MY WAY,” as you may remember Frank Sinatra sang in his signature song [see linked song #1]. However, as Christians, we learn (as the Apostle Paul did - see scriptures above) that we become stronger and grow more mature in Christlikeness when we follow HIS way rather than trying to go it our way in life (see song #2).

So, today’s ODB entry and the reference passages above, are trying to help us to learn to surrender our will to the Lord’s way and avoid trying to go it alone. … No, … “lone ranger” Christianity will just take us off God’s road and lead us astray every time, won’t it? And He shows us the right way to go in life thru His word [see Ps. 119:105]. All we need to do is follow the light of His word to lead us out of the darkness of own way.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for showing us the way to go in/thru Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to try to do what I do everyday, and follow God’s “GPS,” i.e., His word, … to start the day out on the right path.

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.</ span>

Monday, November 25, 2019

November 25, 2019 … Special Treasure = Me

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 329 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the group Sidewalk Prophets singing … Come To The Table … poignantly singing how, we, as God’s Royal Priesthood have been invited to dine at the table of the King - FOREVER!

God's Special Treasure Chest

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1Peter 2:9 [NKJV] ... 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 
… Believing and following Christ has brought us from the darkness into the light to become part of God’s family treasure chest.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1Peter 2:4-10 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God, thru Peter, shows us that we follow King Jesus as Lord have become a royal priesthood. 
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 7:6 [NLT] … 6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. 
… Under the Old Covenant (in the Old Testament), God saw His chosen people, the Israelites, as His “special treasure.” And now, in the New Covenant, fulfilled by Christ, we Christians have become His treasure.

Reference Passage : … John 14:1-3 [NLT] … 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 
 … Jesus promises His Disciples (and thereby all born-again in Him) that He will bring us to a special eternal home in Heaven.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:38-39 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… Paul shows fellow Christians that NOTHING can separate the Lord’s special priesthood of disciples from the value and love of God.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, John Blase, uses a word picture of a royal treasure chest to illustrate just how valued God’s chosen are to Him. … The ODB author wrote: Imagine a vast throne room. Seated on the throne is a great king. He’s surrounded by all manner of attendants, each on their best behavior. Now imagine a box that sits at the king’s feet. From time to time the king reaches down and runs his hands through the contents. And what’s in the box? Jewels, gold, and gemstones particular to the king’s tastes. [see photo] This box holds the king’s treasures, a collection that brings him great joy. Can you see that image in your mind’s eye? 

And that’s a rather fanciful mental image of just how much God values EVERY ONE of His chosen ones. And we read of that value in the Old Testament (see Deut. 7) and again in the New Testament (see highlight passage), where God showed that each and every true believer in Messiah was part of His eternal treasure chest. And even as Jesus expressed to His Disciples how ALL who followed Him as Lord would be sitting at His eternal table with an everlasting home in Heaven [see linked song]. 

And as you take in the song and meditate on the Scriptures above, do I sense that my fellow Christian readers here feel the value we have in the Kingdom Family of God? And I pray that we see ourselves as part of His royal treasure chest.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for adding me, lowly me, to your royal treasure chest.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to see ourselves as part of God’s Royal Priesthood, sitting at the Lord's table and dining with King Jesus as the Sidewalk Prophets sing in the linked song.

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.</ span>

Sunday, November 24, 2019

November 24, 2019 …Speaking of God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 328 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … If We Are The Body … poignantly singing how, we, as the “body of Christ” should be reaching out - speaking out - in/for His Name in our lives today.

Speaking forth about God today ... 

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Highlight Verse[s]: Deuteronomy 11:18-19 [NKJV] ... 18 “So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 
… We should be speaking often, especially to our kids, about God and using our testimony to proclaim of God’s greatness.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Deuteronomy 11:13-21 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God His people to obey His commands and speak of Him to others, especially our children. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:45-46 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… The Psalmist, writes/sings of how he will speak to anyone - even to kings - about God’s word. Will we today?

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [NLT] … 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 
… And our deeds includes our words.

Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
… Jesus commands us to be His witnesses anywhere/everywhere we can.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Peterson, reflects on a study showing that few people these days are willing to speak about God than in years past. … The ODB author wrote: A study conducted by the Barna Group in 2018 found that most Americans don’t like to talk about God. Only seven percent of Americans say they talk about spiritual matters regularly—and practicing believers in Jesus in America aren’t that different. Only thirteen percent of regular churchgoers say they have a spiritual conversation about once a week. 
Perhaps it’s not surprising that spiritual conversations are on the decline. Talking about God can be dangerous. Whether because of a polarized political climate, because disagreement might cause a rift in a relationship, or because a spiritual conversation might cause you to realize a change you need to make in your life—these can feel like high-stakes conversations. 

The ODB entry today was convicting for me, … perhaps for you too. How long has it been since we shined Christ’s light (see Matt. 5:16) outward to others with our testimony or witness of how God has transformed us - or is doing so today? Too long for me; … how about you?

I pray today that God gives us an appointment to proclaim His glory to someone today. 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me a sphere of influence where I can give witness to Your glory to others.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to speak out, whenever God gives us a divine appointment, to share Him or to live for Him.

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.</ span>

Saturday, November 23, 2019

November 23, 2019 … His Approval Only

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 327 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Sara Groves singing … Abide With Me … poignantly singing a prayer of Whom we should go to when we feel overwhelmed or helpless in life.

An original score by Giuseppe Verdi 

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1 Thessalonians 2:4 [NKJV] ... 4 For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. 
… Paul to fellow Christians declares his attitude to seek approval from Christ and Christ alone for Paul’s preaching of the Gospel to others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Paul sought approval from God and God alone for His sharing of the Gospel everywhere he went. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 139:23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… The Psalmist, King David, shows us the attitude we should have toward the Lord, … seeking His approval, and His approval only in life.

Reference Passage : … John 15:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… Jesus tells His Disciples (and us) that we must abide in Him and Him alone.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1 [NLT] … 1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 
… God, thru Paul, exhorts us, as called by God, to seek to live a life worthy in the eyes of our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, uses a story of great composer, Giuseppe Verdi, who desired to please only one man with his work, an attitude we should avoid as Christians. … The ODB author wrote: When the legendary composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813–1901) was young, a hunger for approval drove him toward success. Warren Wiersbe wrote of him: “When Verdi produced his first opera in Florence, the composer stood by himself in the shadows and kept his eye on the face of one man in the audience—the great Rossini. It mattered not to Verdi whether the people in the hall were cheering him or jeering him; all he wanted was a smile of approval from the master musician.” 

The ODB author, Bill Crowder, then asks some pointed questions of his Christian readers, … “Whose approval do we seek? A parent’s? A boss’s? A love interest’s?” And then Crowder refers to what the Apostle Paul, who, inspired by God’s Spirit, wrote to fellow Christians (see passages from Thessalonians and Ephesians above) … that we should seek approval for the choices and ways we live our lives from God, … and GOD ALONE.

And that’s why every morning, before my feet hit the ground, I pray from Psalm 139:23-24, seeking God’s direction and approval for everything I will think, say, and do for that following day. As Sara Groves sings in the linked song, I seek to “abide” in and to follow the ways of my Lord, recognizing one of my primary spiritual weaknesses - the desire to please others.

And so, today, …I pray that we all do as much as we we can to use God’s “GPS,” i.e., His word, as the path to follow Him, …seeking approval ONLY from His will and way for our lives thru His word. 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me the truth of Your word to light my way in life (on your own see Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 119:105).
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to seek approval for the way we live from You, and You alone, thru Your word.

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.</ span>

Friday, November 22, 2019

November 22, 2019 … Surrender to the Father

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 326 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Broken Things … poignantly singing of how Heaven will reach down to accept all who come to offer all to Our Lord and Savior … Yes, … even me!

Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal's Return

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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 15:1-2 [NKJV] ... 1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! 
… The religious leaders couldn’t abide Jesus showing His love for sinners.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 15:1-2, 11-31 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Jesus relates the parable of the Prodigal to illustrate who we become related to God, the Father. 
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Reference Passage : … John 3:14-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… God’s love - given to us in His Son - is for ANYBODY and EVERYBODY who is willing to receive Him as our King, … our Lord, … and our Savior.

Reference Passage : … Romans 10:9-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… God, thru Paul, declares what it takes to be received into God’s Kingdom as a child of God … ANYONE!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, uses painting by Rembrandt to illustrate how in the parable of the prodigal God shows how His love, extended thru His Son, is for EVERYONE. … The ODB author wrote: Author Henri Nouwen recalls his visit to a museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, where he spent hours reflecting on Rembrandt’s portrayal of the prodigal son. [See Photo] As the day wore on, changes in the natural lighting from a nearby window left Nouwen with the impression that he was seeing as many different paintings as there were changes of light. Each seemed to reveal something else about a father’s love for his broken son. 

Henri Nowwen, according to the ODB author, went on to describe how he saw himself in all of the characters in Rembrandt’s paining, … all except the Father image, … Who was receiving His long lost son; … and yes, even the jealous older son and the observers whom Rembrandt saw as like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day [see the Luke 15:1-2 passage].

But in the painting [again, see photo] our “Prodigal” Father is willing to receive and honor anyone, like the “prodigal” son, who was willing to come and surrender their brokenness to the Father. That’s what Matthew West sings in the linked song; and what the highlight and reference scriptures above declare. And I pray we all see ourselves as coming in surrender to receive the “prodigal” love of our Abba Father.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for being willing to receive us as broken prodigal’s giving our all in surrender to You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to come in total surrender to our Heavenly Prodigal Father.

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.</ span>

Thursday, November 21, 2019

November 21, 2019 … Carried By Faith

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 325 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  lease take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Brian Free and the group Assurance singing … He Will Carry You … poignantly singing of how there is no problem in our lives which God cannot help us with or carry us thru.


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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 11:28 [NKJV] ... 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. …” 
… Jesus invites us to let Him help us carry the burdens of life.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Jesus declares His ability to help us carry the burdens in life.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 55:22 [NLT] … 22  Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall. 
… God graciously invites His called ones to let Him help us carry the burdens we have.

Reference Passage : … John 14:1 [NLT] …  1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.  
… Jesus invites His disciples (and that’s you and me too!) to not worry and trust COMPLETELY in Him.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 13 The temptations [also translated “trials, tests, or troubles”] in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 
… God, thru Paul, helps us realize that there’s no trial in life which God cannot lead or carry us thru.

Reference Passage : …1 Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 
… God, thru Peter, invites us to bring ALL our cares to Him since He cares for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Elisa Morgan, uses a personal reflection to show us that we all will face challenges in life which overwhelm us; and when we do, we need to take them to our Lord. … The ODB author wrote: I awoke to pitch darkness. I hadn’t slept more than thirty minutes and my heart sensed that sleep wouldn’t return soon. A friend’s husband lay in the hospital, having received the dreaded news, “The cancer is back—in the brain and spine now.” My whole being hurt for my friends. What a heavy load! And yet, somehow my spirit was lifted through my sacred vigil of prayer. You might say I felt beautifully burdened for them. How could this be? 

I know we’ve all had - or now have - burdens or challenges in life which we simply cannot handle on our own. So, unfortunately in our human nature, we feel like we should be able to do what it takes - in our own strength; but we know that there are some temptations or trials in life which are just too burdensome for us to handle.

So, … if you’ve taken in the linked song and the scriptures above; and you believe, as I do, that we have a Lord, our Messiah, Who is not only capable; but is willing to be there for us, … to give us His strength when we’re not strong enough, … and to be there to help us carry our burdens when they’re too heavy.

So, … how about it dear ones … how about we take Him up on His offer to yoke us to Himself and to lift us up today. I’m go! … How about you?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for being there for us when things get to heavy to carry the load.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to yoke ourselves to You, God, when things get too heavy for us. … Amen

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

November 20, 2019 … Ever Faithful and Fruitful

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 324 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from Barbara Streisand singing … Evergreen … poignantly singing of how love can blossom and remain fruitful until the end of life; and that is especially true of God’s love for us.

Remaining Fruitful for Life

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 92:12 [NKJV] ... 12  But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. 
… The godly, who remain faithful to our Lord, will continue to be fruitful as long as they live for Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 92:12-15 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The Psalmist compares Godly/fruitful believers to the cedars of Lebanon which grow tall and remain fruitful during their entire lives.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 1:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
 … The Psalmist extols the fruitfulness of those who remain true to God’s word.

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 commanded His followers to be His faithful followers until the end.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… Jesus explains what it takes to be fruitful as Christians; but … are we willing to do what it takes to follow Him with vigor all our lives?

Reference Passage : … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… God, thru Paul’s exhortation to Christians, tells us what it takes to pursue a life-long abiding relationship with our Lord … to remain faithful followers

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Arthur Jackson, uses a personal friend’s story to illustrate how one can remain vibrant and fruitful in their walk with Christ until the very end of life. … The ODB author wrote: Although Lenore Dunlop was ninety-four years young, her mind was sharp, her smile was bright, and her contagious love for Jesus was felt by many. It wasn’t uncommon to find her in the company of the youth of our church; her presence and participation were sources of joy and encouragement. Lenore’s life was so vibrant that her death caught us off guard. Like a powerful runner, she sprinted across life’s finish line. Her energy and zeal were such that, just days before her death, she completed a sixteen-week course that focused on taking the message of Jesus to the peoples of the world. 

If any took in my devotional blog yesterday, you’ll note that several of the reference scriptures were repeated above today. That’s because they apply to those who, like yours truly, desire to be fruitful Christians from the time we give ourselves to Christ’s service until the end of this life. And the way to do that, taken from the truth of God’s word above, is to remain true to God’s word and to remain connected to the Source of that truth, … and that is to maintain a close and abiding relationship with our Lord, … King Jesus.

That’s what made the elderly woman in the ODB story so fruitful as a Christian; and it’s the essence of why you find this old warrior (now 75) here every morning beginning my day connected to God’s truth and trying to share that love with others. As Barbara Streisand sings in the linked song, I will do my best to take in God’s love and share it here daily as long as I can, remaining “Evergreen” to my last day.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for giving me the purpose and power to remain fruitful to the end.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to stay connected to the Vine of life, our abiding relationship with Christ. … 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.</ span>

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

November 19, 2019 … Deepest Desire?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 323 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and images from Jeremy Camp singing … The Answer … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, find satisfaction on in “THE ANSWER,” which is a deep and abiding relationship with King Jesus.

Reepicheep expresses his greatest desire ... to follow Aslan

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Highlight Verse[s]: Mark 10:51  [NKJV] ... 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. … “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 
… And Jesus hears the blind beggar declare his greatest desire in life.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Mark 10:46-52 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… The blind beggar, Bartimaeus, receives his greatest desire from His Messiah, Jesus. 
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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 commanded His followers to live as He would live and to treat others the way He would treat us.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… Jesus explains what it takes to be fruitful as Christians; but … are we willing to do what it takes to follow Him?

Reference Passage : … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… God, thru Paul’s exhortation to Christians, tells us what it takes to pursue an abiding relationship with our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Winn Collier, uses a character from one of C.S. Lewis’ stories to illustrate how fighting thru our weaknesses for the strength to follow Christ should be our greatest desire in life. … The ODB author wrote: A mouse with a shrill voice, Reepicheep is perhaps The Chronicles of Narnia’s most valiant character. He charged into battle swinging his tiny sword. He rejected fear as he prodded on the Dawn Treader toward the Island of Darkness. The secret to Reepicheep’s courage? He was deeply connected to his longing to get to Aslan’s country. “That is my heart’s desire,” he said. Reepicheep knew what he truly wanted, and this led him toward his king. 

The mousey character, Reepicheep (see photo) in the Chronicles of Narnia reminded the ODB author of blind Bartimaeus (in the highlight passage), … where Jesus encounters a blind beggar and asks him what Bartimaeus desires from Jesus. Well, … “DUH!” Of course Jesus knew what the blind man wanted; but He wanted to hear it from Bartimaeus.

And likewise, in C.S. Lewis’ tale, Reepicheep, the brave little mouse, would do anything to follow Aslan, the Lion King. And these two characters call to us, asking us … what is our greatest desire in life? Is it to satisfy ourselves with the delights of this world; … or is it to simply do whatever we need to do to follow King Jesus [see Jesus’ command in Luke 9:23 and Paul’s exhortation in Romans 12:1-2?

Because, … if it’s the latter, we need to tell our Lord today that we need His empowering and healing grace to do whatever it takes to pursue and receive the essence of life from our King and Lord [see John 15:1-8].

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for being willing to provide us with Your empowering grace so that we can go deeper and follow You more closely. 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to seek the grace and power necessary to overcome our selfish desires and follow our King, Jesus. … 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.</ span>

Monday, November 18, 2019

November 18, 2019 … Golden Living

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 322 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and images from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, do all we can to live and love the way Jesus loves us.


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Highlight Verse[s]: Exodus 23:9 [NKJV] ... 9 “You must not oppress foreigners. You know what it’s like to be a foreigner, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.  
… We should treat others from different lands or cultures as we would want to be treated.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 23:1-9 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God, thru Moses, conveys the Lord’s instructions on how we should live with others of different cultures.
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Reference Passage : …Leviticus 19:33 NLT] … 33 “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 
… God wants us to treat strangers the way we would want to be treated in their homes or when visiting their lands.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 7:12 [NLT] …  12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. 
… Living by Jesus’ “Golden Rule” …

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 commanded His followers to live as He would live and to treat others the way He would treat us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Patricia Raybon, uses a personal story to illustrate how we, as Christians, should live as Jesus did, … applying the “Golden Rule” to all our relationships. … The ODB author wrote: After a member of my family converted to a different religion, Christian friends urged me to “convince” her to return to Jesus. I found myself first seeking to love my family member as Christ would—including in public places where some people frowned at her “foreign-looking” clothes. Others even made rude comments. “Go home!” one man yelled at her from his truck, not knowing or apparently caring that she already is “home.” 

Several years ago there was a “fad” among Christians to wear “WWJD” bracelets [see photo], … where fellow Christians were trying to witness to what Joy Williams sings in the linked song … to live and make decisions following what Jesus would do or decide.

And certainly, when it comes to how we treat others, both the Old and New Testaments [see Scriptures above] would be in favor of us treating others in our relationships just as Jesus treated others … or how He called on us to treat others … i.e., with he same treatment or respect, or Jesus-like caring attitude, as we would want to be treated ourselves. That’s His “GOLDEN RULE” of living, isn’t it [see Matt. 7:12]?

So, today if we encounter someone from another culture or see them in a “foreign” looking mode of dress, I pray that we’ll treat them the way Jesus commanded His followers to treat them … with the Lord’s “golden rule” of respect and love.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for modeling the “golden rule” of love for us to follow.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to reach out with Christ-like love for anyone who appears to be different than are we. … 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.</ span>

Sunday, November 17, 2019

November 17, 2019 … Unentangled

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 321 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the Zach Williams singing hi8s song… Chain Breaker … powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, can break free from the chains of temptation and sin which entangle us … IF … we’re willing to follow the Chain Breaker, … King Jesus.

Entangled in a web of selfishness and sin

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 12:1 [NKJV] ... 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  … God's word charges us to strip off all the entanglements of sin which bind us to ourselves.  ==============
Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 2:17-18, 12:1-2 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, exhorts Christians to shed the entanglement of sin strongholds so that we can utilize the empowering grace of God to serve him effectively.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… So often our own biases and perceptions entangle us in our own nature. So, we need to trust in the way God leads us forward.

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 commands His followers to be willing to deny our own selfish desires which entangle us in our sin nature to surrender completely and follow Him to deal with the challenges (i.e., “crosses”) of life.

Reference Passage : …1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT] … 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure..
… God shows us that He will lead us out of the entanglements of temptation and life’s trials … IF … we’re willing to deny our selfish desires and follow Him as He instructed in Luke 9:23 (see above).

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 showed Paul, and us, that He grace and strength are always there to help us untangle ourselves from ourselves in order to follow Him thru life more effectively.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kasper, uses a word picture of soldiers entangled in prickly vines to illustrate how we can easily become entangled by our strongholds of sin to make it difficult to impossible to deal with the challenges of life. … The ODB author wrote: Soldiers fighting in a sweltering jungle many years ago encountered a frustrating problem. Without warning, a pervasive prickly vine would attach itself to the soldiers’ bodies and gear, causing them to be trapped. As they struggled to get free, even more of the plant’s tentacles entangled them. The soldiers dubbed the weed the “wait-a-minute” vine because, once entwined and unable to move forward, they were forced to shout out to other members of their team, “Hey, wait a minute, I’m stuck!” 
In a similar way, it’s hard for followers of Jesus to move forward when we’re ensnared by sin. [see photo] 

I’d guess that any born-again Christian reading with me here has experienced the challenges of life created when we let our own sin nature and selfish desires entangle us in selfish sin. Can I get a witness?

But, … and it’s a big “BUT;” … we have God’s promise (see Scriptures above) that He will lead us out of those entangling vines of selfishness, especially the temptations which grab ahold of us (see photo), helping to free us to follow Him and receive His empowering grace to be more effective as His disciples.

So, how about it? let’s take up the empowering mantra of Luke 9:23 and set aside our selfish desires, and just follow Jesus’ way today. Because, if we do, we’ll walk free from those thorns which have us entangled, … walking free to follow our Lord.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for showing us the way out from the thorns of selfishness which so often entangle us.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to shed the thorns of temptation and was free to follow our 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.</ span>

Saturday, November 16, 2019

November 16, 2019 … Let Go - Let God!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 320 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the group Third Day singing their arrangement of the old hymn … Blessed Assurance … powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, need live our lives … trusting that God will never leave us, no forsake us.


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Highlight Verse[s]: Deuteronomy 31:8 [NKJV] ... 8 “… Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” 
… God, thru Moses, exhorts and encourages Joshua to know that God would go ahead of him in leading God’s people into the Promised Land.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Deuteronomy 31:1-8 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… As Moses is about to die, God charges Moses to transfer the leadership of God’s people being led into the promised land to follow Joshua.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… God, thru Solomon, commands that we trust our Lord, … NO MATTER WHAT!!

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:20b [NLT] … 20 … And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 
… Jesus Himself promises His true followers (i.e., disciples) that He will be with us ALWAYS as we carry out His great commission.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 13:5b NLT] … 5 … For God has said, “I will never fail you; … I will never abandon you.” 
… God, to Christians by the Author of Hebrews, assures us, repeating what He had promised His people in Deut 31:8, … that He would never leave us, nor forsake us.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 21:1-4 NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… When John sees the New Jerusalem, he sees, and we can trust, that God is with those who’ve received God, the Son, as Lord and Savior. He WILL BE with us in glory.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Adam Holz, uses a personal story to illustrate how we, as Christians, must learn to trust God . ALWAYS! … The ODB author wrote: “Dad! Where are you?” 
I was pulling into our driveway when my daughter, panicking, called me on my cell phone. I’d needed to be home by 6:00 to get her to play practice; I was on time. My daughter’s voice, however, betrayed her lack of trust. Reflexively, I responded: “I’m here. Why don’t you trust me?” 
But as I spoke those words, I wondered, How often could my heavenly Father ask that of me? In stressful moments, I too am impatient. I too struggle to trust, to believe God will keep His promises. So I cry out: “Father, where are you?” 

Are we willing to LET GO … an LET GOD?! [see photo]   

In other words are we willing to trust our Lord that He will lead us in life, … trusting COMPLETELY that He is leading us to His promised land in glory. Because if we do, … i.e., genuinely trust our God, … He has promised (see Scriptures above) to be with us always and lead us into the New Jerusalem.

But do we trust Him?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for Your promise of leading me (us) to be with you in glory.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to let go and LET GOD! … 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.</ span>

Friday, November 15, 2019

November 15, 2019 … Running to Win

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 319 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of song and lyrics from the group Sidewalk Prophets singing … Live Like That … powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, need live our lives … following the example of how Jesus lived His life.


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Highlight Verse[s]: 1Corinthians 9:24 [NKJV] ... 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!  
… The Apostle exhorts fellow Christians (and that’s us too) to run the race of life in such a way to win God’s prize of eternal fellowship with Him.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1Corinthians 9:19-27 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… We are commanded by God’s word to run the race of life to win the prize of God’s eternal fellowship.
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Reference Passage : … Philippians 3:13-14 [NLT] … 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 
… Paul saw himself as preparing for and running the race of life to in God’s heavenly prize of an enteral life of fellowship with His Lord.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 4:7 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… At at the end of his life, Paul, declares that he has run the race of life with faith in such a way as to get the prize God would have for him in glory.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 12:1b-2 NLT] … 1  … And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. 
… We run the race of life, keeping our eyes on Jesus, Who will lead us to the finish line and the prize of eternal life He has waiting for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, uses a a literary comparison to make the point that we need to run the race of life with purpose and discipline rather than on a whim as did Forrest Gump. … The ODB author wrote: In the 1994 fictional movie Forrest Gump, Forrest becomes famous for running. What began as a jog “to the end of the road” continued for three years, two months, fourteen days, and sixteen hours. Each time he arrived at his destination, he set another one and continued to run, zig-zagging across the United States, until one day when he no longer felt like it. “Feeling like it” was the way his running began. Forrest says, “That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run.” 

And unlike Forrest Gump in that book/movie, who ran because he “felt like it,” we Christians are called by God’s word, especially by the Apostle Paul [see Scriptures above], to run the race we call “life” with the purpose and discipline of a well-trained runner so that we can win the prize which God has waiting for all who do; and that is his crown of eternal life and fellowship with the Lord. And I’d say that’s a worthy prize to prepare for and to run for, wouldn’t you?

So, what are we doing to focus on this marathon we call LIFE? Are we disciplining ourselves for the run ahead. What are we doing to get in shape and keep running so that we can finish as Paul felt he had finished his life race (see 2Tim. 4)? Because if we are, we will finish by winning the crown of glory God has for us as we cross the finish line of life. And that’s where I certainly want to finish; as I pray any reading here do too.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for holding out Your prize of glory when we finish the race of life.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to prepare for and to run the marathon of life for the prize God has waiting for us at the finish line. … 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.</ span>

Thursday, November 14, 2019

November 14, 2019 … On Alert TOGETHER

Berry Patch Devotions in 2019 - Day 318 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … If We Are the Body … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to come TOGETHER in unity to work for God’s kingdom.

Gazelles in "alert circles"

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 10:24-25 [NKJV] ... 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 
… We, as Christians need to come TOGETHER as the household of faith to lift one another up. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 10:19-25 [NLT] ... USE THIS LINK ...
… Scriptures warns us that we need to come together to look our for one another in the body of Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:20 [NLT] … 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
… Jesus promises to be there with us as Christians … always and everywhere. - no matter what we face, especially if/when we can all work TOGETHER in obedience to God.

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. 
… God, thru Paul, shows His family that we need to humble ourselves and work together to look out for the interests of each other.

Reference Passage : … 1 Peter 4:10 NLT] … 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.
… God, thru Peter, exhorts Christians to come together - in Christ’s Body - to work together, using our individual Spirit-given gifts to work for God’s kingdom.

Reference Passage : … 1 Peter 5:8 NLT] … Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 
… Peter also warns fellow Christians to be alert and watch out - TOGETHER - for our prowling spiritual enemies.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses a word picture from the wild to show how we Christians need to be alert - TOGETHER - for our prowling spiritual enemies. … The ODB author wrote: African gazelles instinctively form “alert circles” while resting on the savannah. They gather in groups with each animal facing outward in a slightly different direction. This enables them to scan the horizon a full 360 degrees and to communicate about approaching dangers or opportunities. [see photo] 
 Instead of looking out only for themselves, the members of the group take care of one another. This is also God’s wisdom for followers of Jesus. 

I think the word picture and its application for us Christians is pretty obvious, isn’t it? As the linked song declares and all the Scriptures above point toward … we Christians, as the body of Christ, need to come together, as do the gazelles, to protect one another from our prowling spiritual enemies (see 1Peter 5:8) and to use the unity of our spirit-given gifts to work for God’s kingdom (see highlight passage and Phil. 2:3-4 and 1Peter 4:10). And in all of that, we must know that our Lord will be with us in our humble quest to serve His kingdom [see Matt. 28:20].

So, my dear ones, in the words of the old Nike motto, let’s … JUST DO IT!!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, ... for bringing us together to protect the body and be more effective in serving You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to watch out of our prowling enemy and to work as Your body for Your kingdom. … 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.</ span>