July 31, 2020 … Shining His Light Berry

Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 213 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and images from New Scottish Hymns singing … Let Your Light Shine in the Darkness … poignantly singing how we must shine the light of Christ into the darkness of this world.

Shining Christ's Light into a very dark world ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [ESV] ... 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 
… Jesus teaches that we are to shine His light into a very darkened world.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Matthew 5:13-16 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus teaching on becoming salt and light in this world.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:105 [ESV] … 105  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
 … When we share God’s truth from His word, we are shining His light.

Reference Passage : … John 8:12 [ESV] ... 12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 
… When we follow Christ’s light, we can lead others to God, just as He did when He was in the world.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 4:4-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches us that following Christ leads us out of the darkness of this world into His light of life.

Reference Passage : … 1 Peter 2:9 [ESV] … 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 
… God, thru Peter, shows Christians that we have been called as a Royal Priesthood out of the darkness into Christ’s wondrous light.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK relates a story of a reticent Bible teacher who found confidence to teach when he realized that He was shining Christ’s light when he was teaching from the word of God.

And any time we go forth - yes, even today - and we share the Gospel, or really when we share anything from God’s word (i.e., His truth), we are shining His light into an ever darkening world (see Scriptures above). So, as the Scottish hymn rings out above in the linked song, I pray that we take any/all opportunities which God gives us to shine His light today, showing the way to Him and His eternal grace.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your light of truth to share with 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 shine Christ’s light as brightly as we can … so that we can lead others out of the world’s darkness into the light He shows us thru His 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.</ span>

July 30, 2020 … Helping the Needy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 212 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and images from Michael W Smith singing … I Will Carry You … poignantly singing of how our Lord is willing to carry us so we should be willing to carry others in need.

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Highlight Passage : … Luke 13:13 [ESV] ... 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.  
… Jesus heals a woman on the Sabbath.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Luke 13:10-17 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus heals a woman crippled for decades on the Sabbath and shows the religious leaders why compassion knows no religious or time barriers.
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 15:11 [ESV] … 11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ 
… God has always commanded His people to reach out to help the needy whenever we see it.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 25:40[ESV] ... 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 
 … The way we reach out with compassion to help others is the way we reach out to help King Jesus.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:2, 9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches us how we are to ALWAYS take the opportunity given to us by God to help others.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:3-5 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul recognized that when we reach out to help those in need, we have the same attitude as our Lord, who always, in compassion, reached out to help the needy.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 6:10 [ESV] … 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do. 
… God always knows when we reach out to help others in need.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Estera Pirosca Escobar, AT THIS LINK  uses the compassion of Nobel Peace winner, Mother Teresa (see photo), to illustrate the Christlike attitude we all should have for the needy when we have the opportunity and ability to help.

And then the ODB author uses the biblical example of Jesus showing compassion and helping a crippled woman on the Sabbath (see highlight passage) to show the attitude and action we should have, as supported by the Scriptures above, when we encounter others - anytime/anywhere - whom we have, as indicated above, the ability to help.

Today, if we see someone we can definitely help and God’s Spirit calls us into action, will we be there to do the right thing … the Christlike thing?!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me the ability to help others when You call me forward to do so.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to reach out, when convicted and directed by God, to help others. … Amen

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

July 29, 2020 … Sharing God’s Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 211 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Laura Story singing … Grace Abounds … poignantly singing of how God’s grace abounds when His love is shared with others in our lives.

God's truth shows us how to share His love/grace with others ... 

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Highlight Passage : … 2Samuel 9:9 [ESV] ... 9 Then the king called Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson. 
… David brings Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, into his court to be protected by the King’s grace, a picture of what God would do thru Christ for us who were once the King’s enemies. 
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Highlight Passage [context] : … 2Samuel 9:1-13 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… The story of King David showing mercy and grace to the grandson of Saul, well beyond the cultural norm of the times.
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Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s mercies are ALWAYS available to those of us who need it (and that’s all of us).

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:7 [ESV] ... 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. …” 
… God will bless those who are merciful to others.

Reference Passage : … Romans 3:23-25 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… All of us sinners deserve the judgment of death for our sin; but through God’s grace, Jesus’ blood has given us His eternal mercy for our faith in Christ and our repentance.

Reference Passage : … 2Peter 1:2-8 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Thru God’s grace, we are given the power to share God’s love/grace with others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK relates a story of a Christian work supervisor who was advised to forgive and rehire a co-worker who had embezzled money from the company; … and the worker would become a loyal and productive employee, having received this mercy and forgiveness.

And then the ODB author relates this more current story with that of how King David, when he became King, refused to exercise the normal practice of killing off the progeny of the former king by bringing the grandson of Saul, who had tried to kill David, into David’s court to become part of David’s family [see highlight passage]. And we see how this mercy and grace was a picture of what God would one day do thru Christ to offer forgiveness to us sinners and bring us, God’s former sinful enemies, into His family by our faith and repentance.

And now I pray that all Christians reading here, … with thankful hearts, … will praise our Lord for His mercy and grace; … and then go out today to share that love/grace with all in our lives, … yes, even those who’ve sinned against us.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your love and grace to share 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, to find ways today to share God’s abounding love/grace with others, just as Laura Story sings 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.</ span>

July 28, 2020 … Power In My Story

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 210 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing … My Story … powerfully singing of how others are changed and healed when we’re willing to share our story of grace.

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Highlight Passage : … 2Timothy 1:12 [ESV] ... 12  …  But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 
 … The Apostle’s unashamed and condiment witness in the power of his Lord.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … 2Timothy 1:6-12 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul gives witness to the power of a humble testimony.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 9:1 [ESV] ... 1  I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 
 … King David, driven to sing of God’s wonderful deeds.

Reference Passage : … Luke 8:38-39 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus commanded to the man He had healed of demons to go and testify to what God had done for him.

Reference Passage : … Acts 1:8 [ESV] ... 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
 … All Christians are commanded to give witness to/for Christ with our testimony.

Reference Passage : … Galations 2:20 [ESV] ... 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   
 … Paul shares a testimony all Christians can - and should - share with others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, AT THIS LINK  relates a story of a Christian couple who shared their testimony of pain and loss as the husband went thru the stages of terminal cancer, even unto death, and the myriads of people who were lifted up and helped by their testimony.

Sometimes, in our moments of pain or anguish, I think it’s easy to lose sight of how we can help others with the power of our testimony. And that is what is shared in today’s ODB entry, the linked song, and the Scriptures above.

And I pray today that, if given the opportunity (as we pray for God to do so), we’ll be willing to humbly share our life story of transformation and help by God’s Spirit with others. Because if we do, … God will infuse the power of His healing/enabling grace into our story.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me a story of Your saving/healing grace to share with others.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to pray that God will give us the opportunity to share our story with others. … Amen

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

July 27, 2020 … Hard Work for Him

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 209 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … If WE Are the Body … powerfully singing of how we as Christians were created to be Christ’s Body working on earth for the glory of The Father.

Working hard ... for Whom? 

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Highlight Passage : … Genesis 2:15 [ESV] ... 15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
… God places us where we can work for His glory and our well being.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Genesis 1:26-27, 2:15 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… We were created in God’s image to work for His glory. ... Are we?!!
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 16:3 [ESV] ... 3  Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 
… If we’re doing our work for God’s glory, our plans will be His plans.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9;23 [ESV] ... 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 charged His disciples to deny our selves and to follow and serve Him with all that we do.

 Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:9 [ESV] ... 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 
 … We should never grow weary of doing God’s work for His glory.

Reference Passage : … Ephesian 2:10 [ESV] ... 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   
 … Paul teaches the truth as to why we were created … to be HIs workmanship.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 3:23-24 [ESV] ... 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.  
 … When we do what we do, we must be doing it to serve our Lord.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Packiam, AT THIS LINK writes of a daughter, wanting to play with her father, … asking her dad why he had to go to work, … which he knew he had to do as her father and for the family’s well being.

But, ... are family obligations the only reason which drive us to our career plans or our daily chores? Well, if we’re Christians, which I pray all reading here are, there should be other, … more important, … reasons why we do what we do for a living wage. And as the group Casting Crowns sings in the linked song, we should be out there doing what we do because we are the “body of Christ.” And what we do - ALL OF WHAT WE DO - should be for our God’s glory.

So, ... taking in the linked song and the Scriptures cited above, perhaps we should be asking ourselves, … are we following Christ’s command as His disciples (see Luke 9:23) and denying our self-interests in what we do and working in our lives to follow our Lord? … Perhaps we should be following the exhortations of the Apostle Paul (see Pauline scriptures above) and doing all we do for God’s glory, … becoming His workmanship on earth.

How about it, fellow Christian; … what will we plan or do today in which we will be His body, working for the glory of King Jesus’ Father?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me the opportunity to serve You today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to plan and work today for our God’s glory. … Amen

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

July 26, 2020 … Betrayal and Forgiveness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 208 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from David Crowder singing … Forgiven … powerfully singing of how we are forgiven by the One we have betrayed, ... our Lord, Jesus, Whom we nailed to the cross with our sins.

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" mural ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 41:9 [ESV] ... 9  Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 
… King David’s prophetic lament about being betrayed.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … John 13:18-22, Psalm 41:9-12 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, at the Last Supper, quotes from King David’s lament of being betrayed.
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Reference Passage : … Numbers 14:18 [ESV] ... 18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but He will by no means clear the guilty, … 
… Our Lord abounds in love and forgiveness …

Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God’s loving and forgiving mercies are ALWAYS there for anyone willing to receive it.

Reference Passage : … Luke 6:37 [ESV] ... 37 “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; …  
 … As Jesus commanded, … we must be willing to forgive our betrayers just as our Lord was - AND IS - willing to forgive His.

Reference Passage : … 1John 1:9 [ESV] ... 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness. 
 … God’s forgiveness and cleansing grace is there for us any time we’re willing to confess, repent, and receive it.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK  references the famous mural by Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper, where Jesus is depicted in the upper room relating to His Disciples how he would be betrayed. And we certainly know the rest of that story, don’t we?!!

But that famous painting, depicted in John 13, should resonate with us all, shouldn’t it? Why? Because we’ve all betrayed Jesus, haven’t we? But even more, if you’re reading here as a born-again Christian, we’ve all been forgiven by our Lord as well. Yes, as Crowder sings in the linked song, we all once nailed King Jesus to His cross with our sins, didn’t we? But just as Jesus did for any of His disciples, He died, shedding His blood, so that anyone - AND EVERY ONE - who believes in His finished work on the cross as sacrifice for our sins, can - and WILL - be forgiven.

Jesus, in the John 13 pronouncement, quotes from the song of forgiveness in Psalm 41 [in the highlight passage], where King David laments being betrayed and ultimately sings of God’s forgiveness, which, of course is what Jesus, Himself, would claim as fulfilled at the Last Supper where Judas Iscariot would betray our Lord. But Jesus was even willing to forgive Judas; but the betrayer rejected Jesus’ love and grace.

But oh how I pray that all reading here have not rejected the love, grace, and forgiveness from our Savior, … Who, with open arms from the Cross, gives it to any of us who’re willing to let Him be our LORD and King forever. And if we’ve been betrayed in our lives, we must forgive our betrayer(s) just as Jesus has forgiven us.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your forgiveness. 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to forgive anyone in our lives who has betrayed 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>

July 25, 2020 … Onward and Upward

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 207 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  …lease take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Selah singing … Press On … poignantly singing of how we must, as soldiers for Christ, press on in the battles of life.

Onward and upward for God's glory !!! 

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Highlight Passage : … Judges 6:14 [ESV] ... 14 And the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” 
… Gideon learns from The Lord, Himself, that God’s calling is His enablement.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Judges 6:1-16 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Gideon, a lowly farmer, is called to be God’s “mighty warrior.”
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Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [ESV] ... 28 And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 
… No matter what we encounter, it’s for our good and our Lord’s glory.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 15:58 [ESV] ... 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 
 … Our work for God’s kingdom and His glory is never in vain.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:9 [ESV] ... 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 
 … God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to not grow weary in doing good.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 3:13-14 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had learned - and exhorts fellow Christian - to press onward … again, no matter what!

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks, AT THIS LINK - https://odb.org/2020/07/25/plod-on - wrote of the persistence of William Carey, who was called to be a missionary; and, tho unschooled, learned many languages to be able to translate scripture for those he was called, as a missionary, to bring the Gospel.

And then the ODB author used the biblical story of Gideon [in the highlight passage], whom God called, tho Gideon considered himself inadequate, to become God’s “mighty warrior” and to go up against the mighty Midianites, the enemies of God. Gideon learned that as long as God was with him, he could persist and win God’s battles. And that’s the message the Apostle Paul repetitively exhorted fellow Christians to learn (see Pauline passages above) … that nothing we are ever called to do for the Lord and for God’s kingdom will ever be in vain; and that we must “Press On,” as Selah sings in the linked song.

Oh, how I needed to take in this message today! Perhaps you, like me, become discouraged at times and need to remember that God’s calling is His enablement … for any task we’re called to do for His kingdom, … no matter what it is!! So, let’s press on today … for our good and His glory! 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your calling to press on for Your kingdom today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to “keep on keeping on,” plodding upward and onward (see photo) for God’s glory. … Amen

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

July 24, 2020 … Thankful for the Scars

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 206 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group I Am They singing … Scars … poignantly singing of how our scars remind us of our Savior’s scars which He endured for our salvation and sanctification.

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Highlight Passage : … John 20:28-28 [ESV] ... 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  
… A doubting Thomas comes to see and believe. We must believe, without seeing, to receive God’s promise of eternal life.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … John 20:24-29 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus reveals to a doubtful Thomas that His scars are real … that He is truly the Son of God. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... 5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. 
… We must trust the Lord with ALL our heart.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:5 [ESV] ... 5 But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed. 
… 700+ years before Christ died and was raised from the dead, His wounds/scars were prophesied for our eternal healing as sinners.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [ESV] ... 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. …” 
… Jesus describes what God, the Father, was willing to do to redeem mankind thru His love and sacrifice.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [ESV] ... 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. 
… For born-again Christians, all things in our lives, including the scars, our for our good and our Lord’s glory.

Reference Passage : … Hebrews 11:1 [ESV] ... 1. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
 … Our faith is in an unseen, but very real, Lord, Who REALLY died and was resurrected to show us that He is the Son of God.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK shares the story of a young man who always used a fist-bump greeting (see photo) to hide the scars of a past suicide attempt, … reminding the ODB author of the very real fears in the heart of Thomas (in today’s highlight passage), who needed to see and touch the risen Savior’s scars to have his faith confirmed. But when Thomas touched Jesus’ scars, he knew Jesus was the Son of God.

Do we believe? … In our lifetime, as Christians, we will never likely be granted a physical touch, or even a vision, of our raised Savior; but faith we still must have to receive His saving grace. And our own sin scars, and the healing promised by Christ’s scars (see Is. 53:5), are reminders of what Christ did on the cross, and His resurrection from the grave, to bring us the salvation and eternal life God has promised for all who repent and believe on the Son of God for healing and redemption.

So, I pray that all reading here have the faith that Thomas didn’t have … faith without seeing, … and the trust that we must have to glean the promise of healing we have received from the scars Jesus endured from the cross. Because in those scars we are healed forever.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your healing grace.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to remember that the scars from our lives are reminders of our Savior’s scars. … 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>

July 23, 2020 … Hope In His Light

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 205 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from David Crowder and Tauren Wells singing … All My Hope … poignantly singing of how we have all our eternal hope in the blood of Christ and His mercy/grace to save us from our own sinfulness.

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Highlight Passage : … Ephesians 2:13 [ESV] ... 13 But now in Christ Jesus you, who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 
… Paul, to fellow Christians, explains how even Gentiles, once lost in their sin, can find hope in the mercy/hope of Christ’s sacrifice.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Ephesians 2:1-5, 11-13 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exclaims the truth of how Gentiles, who were once lost can find eternal hope in the shed blood of Christ.
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Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [ESV] ... 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. …” 
… Jesus describes what God, the Father, was willing to do to redeem mankind thru His love and sacrifice.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] ... 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
… God’s amazing grace has made me into a new creature.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 2:20 [ESV] ... 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 
… When I repented and believed in Christ’s amazing/saving grace, I now live a new and redeemed life.

Reference Passage : … 1John 1:9 [ESV] ... 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
… And tho we still deal with our sin nature; all we need to do is submit our sins to God in humble confession and allow Him to redeem the brokenness into the newness of His image.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK relates the story of a WW2 spy, who was suicidal and swimming to his death. However, looking back at the lights of the shoreline (see photo) Malcolm Muggeridge realized that he had hope - and life - in his relationship with Christ.

And I, for one, identify with the desperate spy’s story. Not that I was ever suicidal; but I too was once in a place of desperation and weakness, and found all my hope being in the finished work of Christ … just as Crowder and Wells sing in the linked song.

And I pray that all reading here have experienced the reality of that song and found truth in the Scriptures above, most of which I repeat from my blog yesterday morning. My friends, all of us, who are born-again in Christ, were once enemies of God, … completely lost in our own sin. But now we, who know Christ as our Lord/Savior, have been saved from ourselves and now live with and for Christ … FOREVER.

Can I sense a robust “PTL” … and a loud “Hallelujah!!” 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for the eternal hope I have in my surrendered relationship with You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to declare our praises to the One Who died that we might pursue the Light of Christ for 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.</ span>

July 22, 2020 … Made Over By Grace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 204 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Laura Story singing … Grace Abounds … poignantly singing of how God’s grace is ALWAYS there to allow for the redemption of our brokenness thru our faith and repentance thru Christ’s shed blood on the cross.

Japanese Kintsugi restoration art form ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Isaiah 44:22 [ESV] ... 22  I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud; and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. 
… And now it’s true! It is finished!! My sins are redeemed thru my faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross as the Lamb of God.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Isaiah 44:21-23 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Isaiah’s prophesy, tells of His redeeming grace when the Messiah comes for His people. 
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Reference Passage : … John 3:16 [ESV] ... 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. …” 
… Jesus describes what God, the Father, was willing to do to redeem mankind thru His love and sacrifice.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] ... 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 
… God’s amazing grace has made me into a new creature.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 2:20 [ESV] ... 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 
… When I repented and believed in Christ’s amazing/saving grace, I now live a new and redeemed life.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 1:6 [ESV] ... 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. 
 … In my life, redeemed by Gods’ amazing saving/sanctifying grace, I am being made over into Christ’s image.

Reference Passage : … 1John 1:9 [ESV] ... 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
… And tho we still deal with our sin nature; all we need to do is submit our sins to God in humble confession and allow Him to redeem the brokenness into the newness of His image.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK  uses the modern “Alexa” technology with its “erase all” command to illustrate how God gives us, as born-again Christians, the right, and ability, to let His saving/sanctifying grace erase our past and have the hope of newness in Christ as our eternal future.

Personally, I prefer the imagery of the Japanese art form of KINTSUGI (see photo) where the artist takes broken pottery and redeems it with healing gold seams to make it into beautiful - and useful - pieces of art. However, … really, … both the ODB image and that of Kintsugi show what God does for me - or you - with His amazing and redeeming grace.

As the scriptures above indicate, … we have to be willing to humble ourselves before God’s throne of grace and repent of our sins, with confession, to be healed, redeemed, and transformed into God’s art form of cleansing and redemption. I pray all reading here are experiencing that wonderful Phil 1:6 make-over, which will be completed for the Lord’s glory in heaven.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for making me over with Your grace into the likeness of our Lord.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to humble ourselves and claim our redemption and transformation which is ours in 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>

July 21, 2020 … Royal Blood

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 203 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing … Who You Say I Am … poignantly singing of how all born-again Christians are children of King Jesus and heirs to His throne of grace.

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Highlight Passage : … John 1:12-13 [ESV] ... 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 
… We who know Jesus as King and Lord, are reborn into His family and become heirs to His throne. 
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Highlight Passage [context] : … John 1:9-14 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru John’s gospel, promises that any/all who receive Jesus as Lord are reborn into the family of God and become heirs to the King’s throne of grace.
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Reference Passage : … John 14:21 [ESV] ... 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 is manifest in those who truly believe Him and obey His commands (i.e., His word).

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:14 [ESV] ... 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 
… If we are led by the Spirit of God, we are sons of God.

Reference Passage : … 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorts us, as fellow Christians, to be separate from the word because we have been selected out as sons and daughters of God, the Father, … heirs to the throne of King Jesus.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 3:25-29, 4:7 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God’s promise, thru Paul’s teaching, that our faith in Christ has allowed us to become free from the guardian of the Law and now heirs of the promise of God’s throne.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Linda Washington, AT THIS LINK  writes of the succession to the British throne to illustrate how some in that line are unknown to the world but still heirs to the throne.

And the ODB author was trying to illustrate how we, as born-again Christians, have been separated out from the lost world, by our faith in the Lordship of King Jesus. And now, in this faith walk, we become heirs to the King’s throne of grace and part of the family of God. And in that role, … tho we may be obscure witnesses to God’s grace, we must now represent our King, Jesus, with the way we live in obedience to Him (see John 14:21).

And reading the exhortations and promises of God thru the Apostle Paul above (see Pauline reference passages), I pray we realize that we are now born-again children of God; and we live our lives, separate from the world, as representatives and witnesses of our King Jesus.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for taking me into the family of God as an heir to Your throne.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to live our lives today as heirs to the throne of 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>

July 20, 2020 … Waiting … Trusting

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 202 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lincoln Brewster singing … While I Wait … poignantly singing of waiting on God’s way and His timing … even when things seem desperate.

Waiting ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 27:13-14 [ESV] ... 13  I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! 14  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 
… David sings of waiting - with faith - on his God in times of peril.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Psalm 27:1-3, 7-14 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… A frustrated, yet patient, King David, pursued by his enemies, waits with faith on his God. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon learned, likely from his father, David, to trust in God to be there for him, even when things looked desperate.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 55:6-9 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… When we have trouble understanding God’s ways, and when wicked forces seem to be winning, we must wait on God, trusting that He knows what’s best for us.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28, 31 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had faith and knew he could trust that God will not allow anything to happen that was not for our good, as Christians, and for His glory, as our God.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:6-7 [ESV] ...  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. 
 … God, thru an often impatient Peter, exhorting Christians to humbly wait on a God Who cares for us and will ALWAYS be there for us … in His timing.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK  uses a story about a frustrated young 17 year old who had trouble seeing the promises of God as really true. 

And then the ODB author relates that young lad’s frustration to that of King David, who, in the highlight passage, was threatened and pursued by enemies, yet had learned to trust and wait on God, even tho things looked bleak. And in our own threatening viral and divisive times, we ought to be able to identify with the young teen’s frustration and prayerfully with David’s faith.

And I pray that all reading with me here have the trusting belief of Solomon (in Prov. 3:5-6), … of the Prophet Isaiah (in Isaiah 55:6-9), … of a confident Apostle Paul (in Romans 8:28, 31), … or in a strengthened Apostle Peter, who had learned (see 1Peter 5:6-7) to humble himself to a faithful, caring God. Because in these troubled times, we can wait for God’s train to arrive (see photo), … trusting that it will be on time … His time!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your promises to give me hope even when things seem hopeless.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to trust that God’s timing is perfect and that His train will be here on His scheduled arrival time. … 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>

July 19, 2020 … Close To My Heart

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 201 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Keith and Krystin Getty singing … Speak O Lord … poignantly singing a prayer to have God plant His truth deep in our hearts from His Holy Word.

God's truth held close to the heart ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Deuteronomy 6:6 [ESV] ... 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.  
… God’s word should be held close to our hearts/minds … ALWAYS!!
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Deuteronomy 6:1-9 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God commanded that His word be obeyed … ALWAYS!!
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 19:14, 139:23-24 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Every morning these are the words of God that I pray to Him, pleading that He would order my life according to His truth and His will.

Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:1-16 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist sings of his love for and the power of God’s word.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 55:11 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… When God’s truth from His word goes forth it will ALWAYS accomplish God’s purpose and His power.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [ESV] ...  16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 
 … The Apostle shows all that God’s word has transforming power to give us God’s power to order our lives according to God’s will and His ways.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK  uses a story to illustrate a father teaching his son the value of declaring truth with his mouth to help order how the son thinks about his school work.

And that process is much like I was taught by a Godly Christian mentor over twenty years ago; … and that is to begin each day, praying God’s truth back to the Lord from Psalms 19:14 and 139:23-24 (see link above). And that is a practice I still carry out each morning when I wake up … before my feet hit the floor to begin my day. And it works because of the power of God’s promise about His word (see the remaining scriptures above).

My fellow Christians; … God’s word is literally the power of our Lord to give us the way to live our lives … for HIS purposes and HIS glory. And when we hold it close to our hearts (see photo) and live by its precepts, we will be following God’s will and His ways … ALWAYS !!!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your word to be my “GPS” for life.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to meditate on and live by God’s truth daily. 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>

July 18, 2020 … Seeking More of His Light

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 200 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Maranatha Music, singing the old hymn … Great Is Thy Faithfulness … poignantly singing their praise to God for His faithful mercies which are new every morning.

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Highlight Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [ESV] ...  22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
… Tho his life was dampened, the weeping Prophet held out hope for God’s mercies to come thru in the end.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Lamentations 3:13-24 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jeremiah’s lust for life had been wiped out by the defeat and enslavement of God’s people by Babylon; but his hope holds out for God’s promises and His faithful mercies.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… No matter the darkness of our path, Christ can light the way.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 40:31, 41:10, 43:2 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God repeats His promises thrice, thru Isaiah, to give us hope and strength in very dark times.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:28-30 [ESV] ...  28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
… Jesus Himself invites His disciples to give us His strength in our toughest trials.

Reference Passage : … John 8:12 [ESV] ...  12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 
… Christ's promise of His light is our way out of the darkness in the world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, AT THIS LINK  shows how a Christian can glean hope from looking to God’s faithfulness, … even in the darkest times or life’s most dire circumstances.

Jeremiah certainly lamented of his life in the highlight passage; but he found hope in resting on the faithful promises of God’s mercies ahead in life. Isaiah prophesied over and over (see passages from Is. 40, 41, 43 above) that God’s strength will be there for us when we need it. And no less than King Jesus Himself (in John 8:12) promises to shine His light on our path to allow us to follow Him in our darkest times (see also Prov. 3:5-6).

But are we willing to seek His light and trust in God’s promises; or will we wallow in our self pity as we deal with the darkness where we find ourselves today? … As born-again Christians, we have the choice. Personally, I see the Light of Christ today; … how about you?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me the light of Your hope today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to seek and walk in the Light of Christ today. Amen

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

July 17, 2020 … Following His Light

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 199 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Light of the World … poignantly singing of how Christ lights up our life in the darkness of these days.

Fireflies lighting up the darkness ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 18:28 [ESV] ...  28  For it is You Who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. 
… David sings of God being the One Who is his light in the darkness of life.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Psalm 18:28-36, 46-49 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… King David recognizes and praises God for being his light in darkness and his strength when he needed God’s power.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… No matter what our circumstances we must trust that God will show the way.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] ... 10  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, that His strength will lift us up when we’re down.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:28-30 [ESV] ...  28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
… Jesus Himself invites His disciples to let Him be our yoke of strength when we feel weakened.

Reference Passage : … John 8:12 [ESV] ...  12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 
… Promises His disciples that if they follow Him, that He would light their path.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 12:9-11 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul learned from Jesus that God’s grace will lift us up when we feel weakened and need God’s strength.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK  uses the imagery of fireflies lighting up the dark to illustrate how our God becomes our light in the darkness of this world.

And certainly we need the “Light of the World” (hear Chris Tomlin’s song) in these very dark times, don’t we? And we also need the empowering strength of our God to lift us up in our weakened condition (see reference scriptures).

So I’m praying today that we all take Christ’s invitation (see Matt. 11 and John 8 above); and let Him lift us up and light our path in these dark times. And as Paul discovered from Christ [see 2Cor. 12:9-11), we need to let our Lord give us His strength in these days when we’re so weak. 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for lighting my way in the darkness of this world.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to look for Christ’s light to show us His way in our darkness and His grace to lift us up in our weakness. 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>

July 16, 2020 … My Coming Joy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 198 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matt Maher singing … He’s My Everything … poignantly singing of the joy of being willing to give up anything/everything to follow Christ.

The Joy of the Ice Cream Truck on a Hot Summer Day ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Matthew 13:44 [ESV] ...  44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 
… Jesus tells of ultimate joy when we’re willing to give up everything for the ultimate treasure … eternity with Christ.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Matthew 13:44-46 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus’ two parables about the joy of giving up our everything to gain the joy of heaven. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God will show us THE way - His way - if we trust in Him COMPLETELY.

Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [ESV] ...  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 on what it takes to be His disciple … to deny ourselves and take up whatever comes our way to follow the Lord.

Reference Passage : … John 15:1-5 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shows His disciples what it is in store for those who’re willing to abide in Him.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 3:20-21 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul showed us that God is willing to give us His all, and do far more for us than we could ever imagine, when we’re willing to give our all for Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Peckiam, AT THIS LINK  uses the imagery of hearing - with joy - the approaching ice cream truck on a hot summer day, (see photo) illustrating what God’s word pictured in the highlight passage - i.e., the joy of looking forward to glory with Christ when we’re willing to put up with the heat of this life.

That picture really says it all, doesn’t it? Jesus calls us [see Luke 9:23] to be willing to deny ourselves in this life because of the coming joy of eternity with Christ , … which is far greater than we could ever imagine (see John 15:1-5 and Eph 3:20-21).

So, I pray today that we all see the heavenly ice-cream truck coming to serve us with the joy of what God has waiting for us in our relationship with Christ.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for dying to give us Your all when we’re willing to give our all for You.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to see the joy we look forward to as we live in the heat of today for 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>

July 15, 2020 … A Time for Everything

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 197 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song and lyrics from an anonymous duo singing … For Everything A Season … poignantly singing from Ecclesiastes 3 that there is a time for everything in life.

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Highlight Passage : … Ecclesiastes 3:11 [ESV] ...  11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 
… God teaches us that He has put eternity in our hearts, and not our heads, so that we can experience all things in life in the context of our trusting relationship with the Lord.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, “the Teacher,” explains that the Lord has a time and a place in our lives for all that we experience.
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God teaches, thru Solomon, that we must trust God in all things … at all times in our lives.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [ESV] ...  28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 
 … God, thru Paul, encourages us to realize the truth that all things in the life of true, born again, Christians are for our good and His glory.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:11-13 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had learned to be content in all things because of his trusting relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:6-7 [ESV] ...  6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 
… Peter exhorts fellow Christs to take all our anxieties to our caring/loving and grace-giving God, Who will exalt us in HIS WAY and in HIS TIMING.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, AT THIS LINK writes of the poetry of a Chinese writer who realized, while gazing at a full moon (see photo), that he and his brother, who was thousands of miles distant from him, could see that sight, created by God, at the same time, giving them both a simultaneous glimpse of God’s glory.

And then the ODB author made reference to the poetic teaching from God, thru Solomon, in Eccles. 3:1-11, that there is a time in the seasons of our life for all things, which are all under the scope and control of God. And this truth called my mind to several other truths from God’s word (see reference passages), which show that we can - AND MUST - learn to accept ALL THINGS in the scope of God’s timing and His control.

And I pray today that all reading here have learned, as did Solomon and the Apostles Paul and Peter, that we must trust God (Prov 3:5-6) that all things are - IN TRUTH - for our good (Rom 8:28); and that we must be content (Phil 4:11-13) that our loving/caring God will take care of us in His timing and His way (1Pet 5:5-6).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being there ALWAYS for our good and Your glory.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to trust that God is ALWAYS working things out in our lives for His good purposes. 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>

July 14, 2020 … Humbling Life Lessons

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 196 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Charl Folscher singing … Humble King … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, serve the Sovereign God Who became our Humble King.

Learning from humiliation ... 

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Highlight Passage : … James 4:5-6 [ESV] ...  5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 
… James quotes from Proverbs 3:34 (see below) to fellow Christians that we must remain humble so as to receive God’s wisdom.
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Highlight Passage [context] : … James 4:4-12 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God teaches, thru James, that God gives His grace to the humble, … not the proud. 
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Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:34, 11:2, 22:4 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God teaches, thru Solomon, that we must remain humble to receive God’s grace.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 66:2 [NLT] ...  2 My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine …  I, the Lord, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. 
… God speaks clearly thru the Prophet as to whom He will bless … i.e., the humble ones who reverence His word.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 11:29 [ESV] ...  29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
… For those who desire to be like Christ, He describes Himself as gentle and humble …

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1-2 [ESV] ...  1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,  
… The Apostle Paul charged fellow Christians to walk, in life, with a manner worthy of Christlikeness and that is with humility and gentleness.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:5 -6 [ESV] ...  5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” … 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, … 
… Peter also quotes from Prov 3:34 to show Christians that we must remain humble to receive God’s grace of wisdom.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK  describes a personal public speaking experiencing which was humiliating, yet helped the author to grow as a person.

And if you’ve taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, I hope you see - as have I - that we Christians will only receive God’s enabling grace in life when we choose to humble ourselves as did our humble King. My friend, it’s only when we set aside our pride and reverence God’s word that we can receive His empowering grace.

So, … humiliating experiences, like the one described by the ODB author, will ultimately - and very likely - be those which bring us more closely in line with Christlikeness. And I pray that we all can do all we can today to humble ourselves and to serve our humble King Jesus.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me life lessons which keep me humble enough to receive Your grace.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to remain humble enough to receive God’s enabling grace today. Amen

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