Aug 31, 2020 … Are You Listening?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 244 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images. song and lyrics from Twila Paris singing … I Will Listen … poignantly singing of how must decide to open our hearts and minds to hear God seeking our surrender to listen for His way.

The Ship's Radio 

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Highlight Passage : … 1Samuel 3:10 [ESV] ...    10 And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.” 
… God calls for Samuel repeatedly; and finally Samuel tunes in to the Lord’s calling. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … 1Samuel 3:1-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God calls and calls to Samuel, who finally chooses to listen for God’s call.

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  Reference Passage : … Psalm 139:23-24 [ESV] … 23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me,  and lead me in the way everlasting. 
… A good prayer, from a surrendered heart/mind, to be able to allow God’s “GPS” from HIs word to lead us thru the day.

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 CHOOSE to trust God and to have a heart that is tuned in to hear Him calling for us.

Reference Passage : … John 10:27-28 [ESV] … 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  
… Jesus teaches that, as our Good Shepherd, those of us who are truly His, and belong to His flock, will hear His voice and follow Him as our Shepherd.

Reference Passage : … Revelation 3:20 [ESV] … 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 
… Jesus is continually calling to us; … but we’ve got to choose to open our hearts/minds to hear Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Packiam, AT THIS LINK  tells of the tragic loss of life on the Titanic which might of been avoided if the radio of a nearby ship had their radio (see photo) on and able to hear the distress call of the Titanic.

The author, of course, was illustrating that we cannot - and will not - hear God calling to show us the way in life - i.e., His will - if we don’t CHOOSE to tune our minds/hearts to His calls for us. And If we’re not willing to use God’s “GPS,” which, of course, is the truth from His word, then we will often not hear or follow God’s way for our life [see Scriptures above].

That’s why you find me here each morning, beginning my day by tuning in to God’s Spirit, thru prayer and His truth, to let My Lord speak to me and show me the way - HIS WAY - for me to follow Him. And all of us who seek to serve our Lord, need to begin our days by making sure that we do what Twila Paris sings in the linked song and insure that we’re willing to seek God’s way for our day by listening for His call.

Are you tuned in today, seeking His way and His will thru His word?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … as I did yesterday, for giving me Your “GPS” thru Your word; … and showing me that I will need to be tuned in tomorrow as well. 
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to make sure that our mind/hearts are turned on and in “surrender mode” to be able to hear God calling 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>

Aug 30, 2020 … Jesus In the Mirror

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 243 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images. song and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of how we should desire, as Christians, for others to see Jesus in the way we live in/for Him.

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Highlight Passage : … Lamentations 3:40 [ESV] ...    40 Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! 
… God desires that we test our selves and return to the ways of the Lord.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Lamentations 3:37-42 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jeremiah exhorts fellow believers to join him to examine our selves and eliminate our transgressions of God.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 119:59-60 [ESV] … 59  When I think on my ways,  I turn my feet to your testimonies; 60 I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. 
 … The Psalmist sings of using God’s word to examine his ways and to keep God’s commandments.

Reference Passage : … Psalm 139:23-24 [ESV] … 23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me,  and lead me in the way everlasting 
… King David praying for God to examine his heart to be able to follow the Lord more closely.

Reference Passage : … 2Corinthians 13:5-6 [ESV] … 5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 
… Paul charges fellow Christians to examine ourselves to see how we’re walking in the faith.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:3-5 [ESV] … 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load. 
… Paul warns Christians to test themselves to see if we’re bearing the load God desires for us to carry.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Banon, AT THIS LINK  writes of reading old WW2 letters from his father which showed him how the Army examined all letters to protect against sensitive information getting out if the letters fell into hands of the enemy.

And those letters reminded the ODB author how important it ways to examine ourselves to see if we are worthy of God’s grace and His sacrifice to save us from our own sins and so that others will see more and more of our Savior in the way we live. The scriptures above, from both the OT and NT, show us Prophets, Psalmists, and the Apostles calling on fellow believers to test and examine ourselves in the faith to see if others might see our Lord living in and thru us.

That’s what Joy Williams sings in the linked song; and it’s why you find me here every morning beginning my day by praying from Psalm 139:23-24 and seeking God’s truth as His “GPS” to be able to follow God’s way … so that others might see more of Jesus in the way I live day-by-day-by-day.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your “GPS” thru Your word; … and helping me to imitate You more closely today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to test ourselves and see if we see more of Jesus in the mirror today . and even more tomorrow. … 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>

Aug 29, 2020 … Starting a Wave

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 242 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of how so many out there in the world need what has changed our lives forever, … we needing to share the Gospel enthusiastically with them.

Helping to start a Gospel Wave ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Colossians 1:5-6 [ESV] ...    5 … Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, … 
… Paul declares how the good news of The Gospel spreads when it is shared with other who need it. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Colossians 1:1-8 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Paul tells of the Gospel spreading from Christians in Colossae throughout the whole world. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 96:3 [ESV] … 3  Declare His glory among the nations, … His marvelous works among all the peoples! 
… God, thru His Psalms, proclaims of His wondrous works throughout the world.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 24:14 [ESV] … 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 
… Jesus proclaims that the Gospel must be shared all over the world before He comes again.

Reference Passage : … Mark 16:15 [ESV] … 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. … “ 
… After His resurrection and just prior to His ascension into heaven, Jesus charges His disciples (and that’s us, too!) to go into all the world sharing the Gospel.

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.” 
… Jesus charges ALL disciples to be His Gospel witnesses throughout the world.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks, AT THIS LINK illustrates our charge, as disciples of Christ, to be His Gospel witness throughout the world, by comparing it to starting THE WAVE at a sporting event (SEE THIS LINK).

I think most of us, if not all, have seen or participated in an enthusiastic “WAVE” at a large sporting event. It starts with just a few enthusiastic fans standing and cheering with arms extended and then the fans next to them pick up the action and it speeds throughout the entire stadium. And it’s a good word picture of what Jesus has charged us to do in this world; … to enthusiastically be a witness for the transforming power of The Gospel in our life, … sharing it with others, who, as is sung by Steve Green, desperately need the Lord.

How about we pray for an opportunity to try and start a Gospel wave with someone today or as soon as God gives us the chance to share our witness with someone who needs God’s love and grace? I’ll bet we pass someone who needs our story today.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving us Your good news 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 raise our hands in praise, … praying for opportunities to start a Gospel wave with someone who needs Your grace. … 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>

Aug 28, 2020 … Our Rescuer

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 241 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lauren Daigle singing … Rescue … poignantly singing of how God rescues us in our times of trouble or tribulation.

Kayak rescue of a desperate swimmer ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Ezekiel 34:11-12 [ESV] ...    11 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 
… God promises to be the Shepherd of His wayward flock.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Ezekiel 34:5-12 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru a Prophet, promises his people to be their (our) rescuing shepherd.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 23:1-4, 91:1-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru His Psalms, promises to be our Good Shepherd and Rescuer in times of trouble.

Reference Passage : … Isaiah 53:6 [ESV] … 6  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 
… We are God’s stray sheep; and we need a Good Shepherd to rescue us.

Reference Passage : … John 10:10-11 [ESV] … 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 
… Jesus promises to rescue us from Satan.

Reference Passage : … John 16:33 [ESV] … 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 
… Jesus teaches that He is our “Overcomer” in the trials of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK tells of a kayak rescuing a desperate swimmer (see photo) to illustrate how God is our “Rescuer” when we’re in over our heads in rough waters.

And the Bible in both the OT and NT, heralds God’s promise to be our rescuer, … with us often pictured as desperately wayward sheep with a “Good Shepherd” coming to rescue us from going astray from His flock. We certainly read that image in the Psalms shared above, don’t we? And of course, Jesus became our ultimate “Good Shepherd,” … coming and rescuing us from Satan and ourselves.

That’s what Lauren Daigle sings about and the Scriptures promise to us above; and so, in these troubled - and almost desperate times - where we’re shown to be weak and wayward sheep, I pray that we all come to realize that God is still our Good Shepherd, … Who has come to rescue us. We need to reach out and let Him!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being our Rescuing Good Shepherd.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to praise and thank You for being our Good Shepherd and our Rescuer in these trying times. … 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>

Aug 27, 2020 … Let’s DO SOMETHING Today

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 240 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in Matthew West singing … Do Something … powerfully singing of how we, as Christians, need to do all we can to reach out and DO SOMETHING when we see others in need.

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 82:4 [ESV] ...    4  Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 
… We are called by God’s word to help the weak and needy.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Psalm 82 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God’s call, thru Asaph, the Psalmist, to DO SOMETHING in reaching out to help the needy. 
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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, thru Moses, calls His people [and us] to reach out and help the poor and needy.

Reference Passage : … Luke 4:18-19 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus declared His mission on earth, by quoting from Isaiah’s prophesy about the Messiah; and we should take on the same mission to reach out and free the captives and help the needy.

Reference Passage : … Galatians 6:2, 9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, calls all Christians to reach out and bear one another’s burdens.

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, thru the author of Hebrews, exhorts us to show His love for others by serving them in their need.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Linda Washington, AT THIS LINK - https://odb.org/2020/08/27/rescue-the-weak - uses the true example of Nicholas Winston, in1938, reaching out to help Jewish children get to safety in Britain, saving their lives when he saw them in orphanages in Czechoslovakia just prior to WW2.

This story, and the Scriptures above, most certainly call us - STRONGLY - to do anything we can, within the scope of our abilities and resources, to help others when we see the need and, as Matthew West sings, “DO SOMETHING.” 

Hey, wouldn’t today be a good time?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your Spirit to fulfill Your mission on earth.
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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 and DO SOMETHING when we see others oppressed or in need 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>

Aug 26, 2020 … Safely Driving Life’s Roads

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 239 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … I Will Follow … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, need to do all we can to follow Christ.

Drive Safely !!! ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Ephesians 5:15-17 [ESV] ...    15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 
… Paul exhorts Christian to be wise in their (our) walk to follow Christ in difficult times.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Ephesians 5:8-20 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to follow the Lord’s way, carefully in this evil world.
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Reference Passage : … Luke 9:23 [ESV] … 23 And He [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …” 
… Jesus helps Christians to find their (our) way in these difficult/dangerous times.

Reference Passage : …Romans 12:2 [ESV] … 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 
… God, thru Paul, warns us to beware of the world’s ways. But to do all we can to seek and follow God’s will.

Reference Passage : … 1Corinthians 11:1-2 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul had taught fellow Christians to follow his teachings because he knew that he was following Christ.

Reference Passage : …1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 [ESV] … 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to be discerning and test all we hear/learn and follow only what is God’s way and His will.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Adam Holz, AT THIS LINK uses techniques taught in driver’s education [see photo] to illustrate how God’s word exhorts and teaches us, as Christians, to be discerning of God’s will and to avoid the wayward ways of the world.

Jesus wanted us, as His disciples, to seek and carefully follow His way, didn’t He (see Luke 9:23)? And God’s word, especially from the Apostle Paul (see highlight/reference verses), often warns Christians (and that’s us!) to be discerning and careful to avoid the ways of the world and even more carefully following the Lord, as Chris Tomlin sings in the linked song.

And taking in Paul’s warning in the highlight passage, I think these trying times we’re driving thru these days certainly qualify as the “evil times” referred to in that passage, don’t you think? So, let’s all take note of how we’re driving down the roads of life and do all we can to seek God’s wisdom and carefully follow His way thru His word. That’s why I come here EVERY DAY to be involved in my Lord’s “driver’s ed” course, … called The Bible, … because as Paul taught fellow Christians (and me!) in 1Cor 11:1-2, when we follow God’s way and His will in His word, we will ALWAYS be driving safely.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for showing me Your way to go in life 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, to seek out God’s “driver’s ed” for carefully following His way in life.. … Amen

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

Aug 25, 2020 … He’s In His Word

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 238 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing … Open Our Eyes … poignantly singing of how our greatest desire in life as disciples of Christ should be to have our eyes opened to Jesus.

Seeking and Finding God in His word ...  

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 119:18 [ESV] ...    18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. 
… The Psalmist prays in song to have his eyes opened to the Lord thru God’s word. 
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Psalm 119:17-24 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru a psalmist, shows believers how they seek/find the Lord thru His word. 
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Reference Passage : … Joshua 1:8 [ESV] … 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  
 … God shows Joshua (and us) that we can only be successful to follow His will if/when we seek it thru His word.

Reference Passage : … Psalm 1:1-2 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God blesses those who seek Him and stay in His word to find Him.

Reference Passage : … Matthew 6:33 [ESV] … 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [i.e., the basics of life] will be added to you.  
 … Jesus commands us to seek FIRST after Him and His righteousness and the best place to do that is in His word.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God word tells us that the best place to seek after God is in His word.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, AT THIS LINK  writes of a woman discovering a surprising reward by reading the small-print in an insurance document, … the author illustrating how we can find so much more of the essence of God by searching for His treasures in His word.

My fellow readers, … oh how God desires for us to know Him more intimately; and the Scriptures above attest to that as well as The Lord telling us - in/thru His word - that we will find Him and follow Him best when we seek Him in His word [see photo]. So, I don’t have to go on to see the point of this ODB entry, do I?

We need to ask ourselves if we’ve found all the treasures God has for us by seeking to know Him in/thru His word. I think not! So, I’ll be here every morning, as the Maranatha Singers sing in the linked song, … seeking to know my Lord more intimately from His word. Will you join me? 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for letting me know You more intimately today in Your word.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to get to know You in Your word today … and even more tomorrow. … 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>

Aug 24, 2020 … Out from the Fog

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 237 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song, and lyrics from Matt Maher singing … Hold Us Together … poignantly singing of how God leads us out of our despair when we don’t know where we are or where to go.

Out of the fog, ... into His light !! 

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Highlight Passage : … Job 2:10 [ESV] ...    10   "…  Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. 
… Realizing where he was and what had happened, Job declares his faith in God.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Job 2:1-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Job “wakes up” to find everything gone and though not knowing what has happened, God’s man holds onto his faith.
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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 feel lost or confused, we need to seek God’s light of truth to show us the way, … His way!

Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Solomon, charges His own to trust in Him, even when we’re confused or feeling lost.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:13 [ESV] … 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  
 … No matter what the conditions, Paul knew, and shared with fellow Christians that his strength always came from his relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 1:7 [ESV] … 7 … for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  
 … Believers should know that fear is never from God, and that God will give us His Spirit of power and love in times of confusion and doubt.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 5:6-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Peter, exhorts us, when we’re confused, to humble ourselves and bring our cares and confusion to a God, … Who ALWAYS cares for us.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK  uses a story of someone waking up confused on an airplane, not know where she was, to illustrate how our relationship with Christ and His light of truth needs to be our focus point when we don’t know how to walk out of the fogginess of life (see photo).

Every been there? I have, … waking up and not knowing where I was. It’s a scary feeling; and many may be feeling that way right now in this pandemic, … with all the chaos in life making it feel like one is in a fog and not knowing where we are or what to do. Imagine what Job must’ve felt like after God let Satan get into his life and he felt so lost and confused as to how he got on that ash-heap of life [see highlight passage].

But we see that Job didn’t lose his faith. He reached out, as all the scriptures above exhort us to do, and sought the answers from His God. And so should we in these foggy times of confusion and disorientation.

Because, trusting the Lord, He promises to ALWAYS be there for us. And if we seek His way out of the fog, using His light of truth from His word, He will be our “GPS” (i.e., “God’s Positioning System”), leading us onward to His eternal joy and peace.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving us your light of truth to lead us out of these foggy times.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to seek God’s light of truth from His word to show us the way out of the fog and onward to our home in glory.

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>

Aug 23, 2020 … Set Free Forever

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 236 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song, and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing … Redeemed … powerfully singing of how, in Christ, we are fully redeemed and freed from our sins … FOREVER!

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 130:7-8 [ESV] ...    7   O Israel, hope in the Lord!  For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. 8  And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.  
… God’s promise in song of redemption for all the past sins of Israel.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Psalm 130 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… As God’s people ascended to Jerusalem annually for the Jewish festivals, as with Psalms 120-134, they would sing of their forgiveness, deliverance, and redemption by God.
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Reference Passage : … Micah 7:18-19 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s promise, thru Micah, of redemption for the remnant of those who fear and believe in God’s Messiah, casting their (our) sin into His “sea of forgetfulness” [see verse 19].

Reference Passage : … John 8:36 [ESV] … 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. 
… When Jesus sets us free from our past sins, we are free FOREVER.

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:1 [ESV] … 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 
… God makes it clear that He does not condemn any who are fully surrendered to Christ for their (our) past sins.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 1:7 [ESV] … 7 In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  ...  
 … God, thru Paul, promises COMPLETE redemption and forgiveness for our past sins

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.  
 … When we confess (i.e., say and live in accordance with God word) our sins, God cleanses from ALL our sins.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, AT THIS LINK  quotes Corrie Ten Boom about God’s complete forgiveness and redemption of our sins. Corrie said, “When we confess our sins, God casts them into the deepest ocean, … gone forever. . . . I believe God then places a sign out there that says No Fishing Allowed.” [see photo]

That concept - and ABSOLUTE TRUTH - is very important in my life personally and for Christian men who come to our ministry (SEE THIS LINK) seeking to walk free from past patterns of sexual sin. And as they confess their sins, they learn the truth of the scriptures of above … that God’s promise of eternal forgiveness and redemption is the REAL DEAL.

In Christ, as the Apostle Paul wrote to fellow Christians like us (see Rom 8:1), “There is NO CONDEMNATION!!” And when we realize and live under the truth of John 8:36 and 1John 1:9, the blood of Christ on the cross has cleansed us from all our sins … past, present, and future … i.e,. when we’re willing to confess and repent of them. And as Big Daddy Weave sings, … in Christ we are “REDEEMED.”

And today, I pray that all reading here know that our sins have been cast into God’s sea of forgetfulness.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for cleansing me and any born-again believer - of our sins.
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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 and help any born-again Christian know that we have been set free from our sins in Christ … FOREVER! … 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>

Aug 22, 2020 … Working His Fields

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 235 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in images, song, and lyrics from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, singing … The Field of Souls … poignantly singing of how we need to be faithful to our calling to plant the seeds of the Gospel so that God can reap the harvest of souls from His fields.

Faithful to work God's fields unto harvest ... 

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Highlight 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 are called to diligently and faithfully work God’s field of souls.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Galatians 6:7-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, calls us to plant the seeds and then to faithfully be here for His harvest. 
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 9:35-39 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus calls His disciples to work His fields for the harvest of souls …

Reference Passage : … Matthew 28:19-20 [ESV] … 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 
 … Jesus, in His “great commission” called all Christians to go and make disciples of all the nations.

Reference Passage : … Luke 10:1-2 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus sent out His disciples to harvest His field of souls.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK relates a story of a faithful servant of God, doing all she could to plant the seeds of the Gospel so that her Savior could reap the harvest of souls.

My fellow Christian reader, … really all you need to do to get the essence of my devotional thoughts today is take the time to see/hear the linked song, poignantly sung by the Brooklyn Tab. Because, I’m going to assume the you know and believe Jesus’ “great commission” for us [see Matt. 28:19-20], as His called ones, to go out and “make disciples” of all the nations with His promise that He’ll go with us and be there with us at His harvest of souls.

I pray we’re all out there doing what we can to fulfill that commission with the faithful commitment to be there to share in the harvest (see photo).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for sending me out today to faithfully plant the seeds of Your Gospel and tend Your fields.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to do all we can to plant God’s Gospel seeds, tend the fields, and be there at God’s harvest of souls. … 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>

Aug 21, 2020 … Being A “Son” Flower

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 234 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers, singing … The Steadfast Love of the Lord … poignantly singing of how our God’s love and His grace/mercies never cease.

Becoming a "Son"flower for someone today !! ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Psalm 86:5 [ESV] ...    5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  
… Even in times of trial and struggle, David saw His God’s steadfast love.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Psalm 86:1-13 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God inspires King David to see His God’s steadfast love in the midst of trying times. 
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Reference 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.  … God’s love and mercies never cease!!

Reference Passage : … Matthew 5:16 [ESV] … 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 
… Jesus wants us to shine His light in this world to glorify His Father in Heaven

Reference Passage : … Romans 8:38-39 [ESV] … 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
… Paul knew - and shared - that NOTHING could separate him (or us) from God’s love.

Reference Passage : … 1Thessalonians 1:2-3 [ESV] … 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ 
… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to exercise the steadfastness of love as does Jesus for us.

Reference Passage : … 2Thessalonians 3:5 [ESV] … 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. 
… Again, God, thru Paul, charges fellow Christians to become the steadfastness of God’s love to/for others.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK writes of being encouraged and uplifted by seeing a single, bright sunflower bloom in a field of weeds and wildflowers [see photo], reminding the author of God’s unchanging, unflagging, steadfast love/grace in the midst of trying times.

And immediately, after taking in the ODB entry and finding the linked song as well as the photo to illustrate God’s quiet-time thought for me today, I asked myself … “What can I do today to become a “Son” flower for someone in the midst of these pandemic and stressful times?” 

I’m gonna try; … how about you? Will you join me to try our best to be a “Son” flower of encouragement for someone today?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your Spirit to become a bit of brightness for someone today.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to do all we can today to shine Jesus light in this ever darkening world. … 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>

Aug 20, 2020 … Working TOGETHER for HIM

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 233 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, Casting Crowns, singing … Lifesong … poignantly singing of how, we Christians can - and should - make our life work a song for God’s glory.

Christians working together for clean water ... 

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Highlight Passage : … 1Corinthians 3:8-9 [ESV] ...    8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. …  
… God charges each of us to be fellow workers in God’s kingdom.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … 1Corinthians 3:1-9 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to avoid divisions and work TOGETHER, using all we have and all we do for God’s glory.
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Reference Passage : … Deuteronomy 6:5 [ESV] … 5 You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your might. 
… God’s command, thru Moses, to His people (that’s us too!) … to live to serve God with ALL of our heart, soul, and strength.

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. 
…  Paul charges us, as His body, to serve Him in ALL that we do.

Reference Passage : … Ephesians 4:1 [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, … 
… Again, … Paul charges us, as His body, to serve Him in ALL that we do.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 3:17 [ESV] … 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do EVERYTHING in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. 
… Again, … God, thru Paul, charges us, as His body, to serve Him in ALL that we do. How often does God need to repeat Himself for us to do what He says. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK writes of Christians working together in a non-prophet mission to provide clean water for third-world peoples (see photo) to illustrate how Christians must work TOGETHER for God’s glory in this world.

And if you have read my journaling recently you may recall my blog of 8/13/20 (SEE THIS LINK ) which referenced the same linked song and scriptures as those above, … where the ODB author for that date was showing that we, as Christ’s body, should be doing all we can - TOGETHER - working in unity for God’s glory.

The question today is … WILL WE? … I pray so !!

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for allowing us, as Your body, to work together for 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 commit ourselves today … TOGETHER … to work in unity and doing all we can to glorify You. … Amen

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

Aug 19, 2020 … God Provides

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 232 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Jehovah Jireh … singing of how God is THE Provider of all of our needs … for His glory.

God provides for Elijah's needs thru a needy widow and her family ... 

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Highlight Passage : … 1 Kings 17:15 [ESV] ...  15 And she [the widow] went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days.  
… Learning in trusting in God, thru Elijah, the needs of Elijah and the entire family were met by God’s provision.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … 1 Kings 17:8-16 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God provides for Elijah’s needs, also providing for the needs of a widow and family.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 23:1-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David sings of God’s protection and provision.

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 hHm, and He will make straight your paths. 
 … God will show us the way to go … when we trust in His providing grace.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:19 [ESV] … 19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 
… God, thru Paul, promises to provide us with what we need in/thru His Son, Jesus.

Reference Passage : … James 1:17 [ESV] … 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 
… God, thru James, shows that everything we have or need comes from the hand of God.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK  uses the true story of a Christian missionary in a 19th century orphanage, who trusted in God, Who provided the needs of the orphans in wondrous ways.

All too often, especially in our western Christian culture, I believe we forget, as Don Moen sings in the linked song, that God is our provider. That’s the lesson that even a Prophet of God, Elijah, forgot, as we read about the Lord teaching Elijah of His providing grace thru a needy widow (see 1Kings 17 highlight passage). And there are many other stories or passages in God’s word (see Reference passages above) which echo and reinforce that God will provide what we need in HIS timing and HIS good will when we trust Him to do so.

Will my readers join me today to thankfully pray for what we NEED … and avoid seeking what we WANT?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for providing me with what I need.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to pray, trusting that our God provides for our needs today … and all days. … 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>

Aug 18, 2020 … Love, Sweet Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 231 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Dionne Warwick singing … What the World Needs Now … lovingly singing of what this divided world needs now … as it did back in the 1960s when the song was released.

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Highlight Passage : … 1 Corinthians 1:10 [ESV] ...  10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.  
… Paul pleas with fellow Christians in Corinth (and everywhere) to unite and have the same mind in their love of Christ.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, appeals to fellow Christians to unite in their common bond in Christ’s love. 
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 133:1 [ESV] … 1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! 
… King David sings of the bond of unity that God’s people have in our Lord’s love.

Reference Passage : … John 13:34-35 [ESV] … 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 
… Jesus commands His disciples (and that’s us too!) to come together in our love for Him and His love for us all.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 2:1-2 [ESV] … 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 
 … Paul exhorts fellow Christians to come together in the joy of Christ’s love.

Reference Passage : … Colossians 3:12-14 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, calls His Church to unite in the love of Christ.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 3:8 [ESV] … 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 
… Peter joins Paul to call on God’s people - the Church - to humble ourselves have unity in the mind of Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg, AT THIS LINK uses the curious geographic division in the community of Texarkana [see photo], divided by a borderline between two States (AR and TX), to illustrate how a community of people must come together, in spite of legal and political differences, to work in unity.

Over and over, in the New Testament, we read read of the Apostles Paul and Peter (see highlight and reference passages), echoing the calls of David’s song in Ps 133:1, calling on Christ’s Body (i.e., the Church) to cast aside our differences and come together in the unity of Christ’s love. Jesus even called on His disciples (as He does with us) in John 13:34-35) to join in unity to show the world of our purpose and the uniting power of His love.

Don’t you think, as Christians in these days of divisiveness, that we need to harken to the old song of the 1960s, linked above, and come together, at least as Christ’s body, to show the world of Christ’s “love, sweet love” …?

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for bringing us together with Your love, sweet love !!
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to share Your love with anyone and everyone we can 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>

Aug 17, 2020 … Refiner's Fire

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 230 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing … Refiner’s Fire … poignantly singing of how our hearts as Christians are purified by the trials we face in life.

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Highlight Passage : … 1 Peter 1:7 [ESV] ...  7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  
… Peter encourages Christians, undergoing great persecution, to take heart in their faith being tested and purified by fiery trials.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … 1 Peter 1:6-9 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Peter, writing to persecuted Christians, shows them (and us) that it is the fires of trial in life which purify our faith in Christ.
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Reference Passage : … Job 23:10 [ESV] … 10  But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. 
 … Job recognized and held on to the faith that God was refining his faith by the trials he allowed in Job’s life.

Reference Passage : … Zechariah 13:9 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s prophesy, thru Zechariah, that in the end times, God’s remnant of true believers will be purified by the fires of the the Lord’s final coming for His bride.

Reference Passage : … Malachi 3:2-3 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s prophesy, thru Malachi, that when the Messiah finally comes for His Bride, He will have purified His beloved by fire.

Reference Passage : … 1Peter 4:12-13 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We shouldn’t be surprised by the fiery trials of life as they being used by God to refine us to become more like our Lord.

Reference Passage : … James 1:12 [ESV] … 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 
 … God blesses and crowns those in heaven who remain steadfast in their (our) faith when they [we] stand the test of the fiery trials of life.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Linda Washington, AT THIS LINK uses the same metaphor used often in the Bible repetitively (see highlight and reference passages) to illustrate how God uses the trials of life as fire was used in Bible times to refine and purify gold/silver.

I don’t think it’s difficult for any reader here to identify with going thru the fiery trials of life, does it, … especially in these troublesome and viral times we’re living thru now? And the word picture of gold being purified by fire (see photo) would have been easy for any of those addressed by Peter’s letter to Christians in his day who were be persecuted so horribly, … some even being tarred and burned alive in Asia Minor.

And the faith of Christians - true believers - has always been under fire all thru history, hasn’t it? Job certainly experienced it [see Job 23:10]; and a number of the Prophets (see two references above), wrote of how the remnant of believers would be put thru fiery trials when the Lord, … the Messiah, … comes for His bride, the Church. And perhaps we now are beginning to experience just the beginnings of some of those fiery trials which will intensify in the end times. I pray that we’ll be able to see that these trials are just preparing us as The Bridegroom coming for His Bride. 

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being with us as we go thru any fiery trial which You use to purify our faith.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to go thru any trial You use to make us like Yourself. … 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>

Aug 16, 2020 … He Loves His Kids

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 229 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from a children’s chorus singing a Sunday School medley … Jesus Loves the Little Children … poignantly singing of just how much God loves His little children.

Oh how God loves His little ones ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Luke 18:16 [ESV] ...  16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. … “ 
… Jesus shows the value in EVERY CHILD.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Luke 18:15-17 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus rebukes His disciples for inhibiting children from coming to Him.
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Reference Passage : … Matthew 19:13-15 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Matthew’s account of Jesus calling the little children to Himself as examples of who should enter God’s kingdom.

Reference Passage : … Mark 10:13-16[ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The parallel passage from Mark about Jesus rebuking those who hindered the children from coming to Him.

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. … " 
… And according to Jesus WHOEVER = CHILDREN !!

Reference Passage : … 2Timothy 3:16 [ESV] … 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, … 
... Since all Scripture is God breathed, the words above, from Jesus Himself, testified by three separate NT authors about children coming to God, are ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Elisa Morgan, AT THIS LINK  shows how our culture/world seems to value the older over the younger, the bigger over the smaller, … the faster over the slower.

But not Jesus! … As we see clearly in parallel passages from three separate NT authors (see from Matthew, Mark, and Luke above), Jesus not only valued the little children, … He used their childlike faith in Him as examples for us more mature disciples of Jesus, … like you and me, … to make sure the little ones were able to come to Him.

And when God’s word says the same thing three times so clearly in HIs word, God is giving His disciples a clear word that we must not do anything to hinder any child of God from coming to Him. In John 3:16, Jesus said that “WHOEVER” desired to come to Him would be saved; and that includes babies or children, doesn’t it?

So, what does that say to God’s world about abortion? To me the three Scripture passages above are the clearest anti-abortion rebukes in the Bible, which from 2Tim 3:16, we know to be God-breathed truth. So, if we want anyone and everyone to have access into God’s kingdom, we must do all we can to make sure that we let the little ones come to the One Who created them for Himself (see/hear the linked medley of songs).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for clearly calling Your disciples to do all we can to make sure the little ones can come to you.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to do all we can to insure God’s little ones can come to Him. … 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>

Aug 15, 2020 … God’s Everlasting Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 228 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lincoln Brewster singing … Everlasting God … powerfully singing of our God’s love and mercy are EVERLASTING !!

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Highlight Passage : … Jeremiah 31:3 [ESV] ...    3 … I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 
… God's everlasting promise, thru the Prophet Jeremiah, to His remnant of believers. =============
Highlight Passage [Context] : … Jeremiah 31:1-9 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God shares His promise to bring His everlasting love to His people.
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Reference Passage : … Psalms 103:17, 136:26 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s psalmists sing of the Lord’s everlasting love for those who fear and pursue Him.

Reference Passage : … John 3:16, 13:34 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We are commanded by Jesus Himself to have the same love for others that He had for us.

Reference Passage : … Romans 5:8, 8:37-38 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God’s promise, thru Paul, that His love, shown on the cross, is everlasting and nothing can separate the born-again Christian from that love.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK shows how God’s everlasting love, expressed thru the of a believer to another, can breakthrough even the hardest heart to fill that one with God’s grace.

My fellow Christian, a little over 3 decades ago, my heart was filled with anger and anguish; and it was God’s persistent - EVERLASTING - love and grace, pursuing me relentlessly, which broke thru my hardened heart and showed me the love of God, which is expressed in the linked song and the Scriptures above.

And I pray that all reading here have experienced that relentless/eternal grace and will join me today to share it with whomever God puts in our lives who might need the love of our everlasting God today.

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for implanting your everlasting love in my heart 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 reach out to others today to share God’s everlasting and eternal love. … 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>

Aug 14, 2020 … Blossoming Hope

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 227 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Gordon Mote, blind Christian artist singing … Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory … poignantly singing of how, we Christians need to look around and see the glory of God in creation, … interestingly being sung by a blind singer-songwriter.

Hope blossoms in the midst of urban blight ... 

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Highlight Passage : … Isaiah 35:1-2 [ESV] ...    3 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing.  
… The Prophet paints a glorious picture of hope for His people, which will be recognized over 700 years later in Christ coming for HIs Bride.
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Highlight Passage [Context] : … Isaiah 35:1-4 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK …
… God shows His downtrodden people their hopeful future thru the Prophet Isaiah.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 118:24 [ESV] … 24  This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 
… We choose the way that we see the day … do we see it thru the eyes of selfishness or thru the eyes of our Savior.

Reference Passage : … Habakkuk 3:17-18 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… A discouraged/downtrodden prophet comes to realize that his joy is found in his relationship with God not in his circumstances.

Reference Passage : … John 16:24 [ESV] … 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 
 … Jesus shows his disciples (and us) how to find joy in the midst of life’s anguish.

Reference Passage : … Philippians 4:4-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …
… We choose whether we find joy/peace in our life … or worry and anxiety.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK relates how the people of a downtrodden neighborhood in Philadelphia used flowers planted (see photo) which successfully raised the level of hope in the residents there, … illustrating what God teaches His people and Jesus His disciples in God’s word related below.

My friends, joy is not a feeling, … it is a choice! And that’s what God related to His people in their down-trodden condition (see highlight passage). And it’s what Jesus related to His disciples the night before He told them He would be betrayed and die (see John 16:24). And it’s what Paul related to fellow Christians to belay their anxieties and to help them find peace (see Phil 4:4-7).

And in the linked song today, a blind song-writer and singer, Gordon Mote, shows others (us) how to seek out and see God’s glory, … maybe even today … by looking around (if we can in our mind’s eye) to see the glory in God’s creation. Perhaps, in the midst of these viral (uncertain) times, we all need to do more of that and find more joy in God’s creation and our relationship with Him today (see Ps 118:24 and Habakkuk 3:17-18).

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My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me hope and joy in looking around to see glimpses of Your glory in Your creation.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me, to look around to sense God’s glory and find joy in today’s life, following Him from this current valley of the shadow of death into His haven of hope from our 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>