Sept 30, 2020 … Rooted in Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 274 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kerrie Roberts singing … Rooted … poignantly singing of how we Christians need to do all we can to be deeply rooted in God’s truth and His love. 

Geraniums well-rooted to grow ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 3:16-17  [ESV] ... 

16 … that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, … 

…    We learn from God’s “teacher” in Ecclesiastes the truth that our experiences of seeing and hearing will never satisfy the longing for God in our hearts.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Ephesians 3:14-21 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul helping fellow Christians to mature in Christlikeness by being well rooted in God’s truth and His love.  

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Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 3:5-6  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Solomon shows believers that trusting in God, and not in our selves, is the key to following the Lord.

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 17:7-8   [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru Jeremiah, promises to bless believers whose trust is well-rooted in our faith in The Lord.      

Reference Passage: …  John 15:5  [ESV] …  

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

…  We can only be fruitful in/for Christ if we are connected to [i.e. abiding in] His enabling grace by our faith-walk with Him.  

Reference Passage: …  Colossians 2:6-7 [ESV] …   

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,  just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.  

… Paul repeats his exhortation to walk closely with Christ so that we will be well-rooted in faith with an attitude of humility and thanksgiving.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Peterson, AT THIS LINK  uses a word picture of setting out well-rooted geraniums (see photo) so that they will grow and flourish, being well-nourished in good soil. The illustration is to show us Christians how we must be well-rooted in our faith and trust in God to grow and mature in our faith. 

God’s word (see Scriptures above) is clear and repetitive on how God blesses those who are well-rooted in our relationship with Christ (see Jeremiah 17:7:8 and John 15:5), sending down roots of faith into well-nourished soil to be able to grow and flourish by following our Lord. In this way, as God, thru Paul  in Eph 3 and Col 2 above, shows us how we can be fruitful in Christlikeness; … and I pray that for all reading with me here today.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for nourishing my faith by being well-grounded in Your truth and feeding me to grow in my faith daily.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, seeking to grow in Christlikeness daily by being well-rooted and nourished by God’s truth.   .… Amen

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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.

Sept 29, 2020 … More Clearly Than Ever

 Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 273 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the Maranatha Singers singing … Open the Eyes of My Heart … poignantly singing of how we Christians need to do all we can to open our spiritual eyes to see our Lord high and lifted up.  

Anamorphic Art

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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 sings of how God’s truth opens his eyes to the wondrous things of life. 

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Highlight Passage [Context] : …   Psalm 119:18, 97-104 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalmist in Psalm 119 sings of the understand and clarity he has be meditating in God’s word.   

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Reference Passage: …  Matthew 13:10-16   [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus explains why He spoke in parables … to help those who see His truth to see it more clearly. 

Reference Passage: …  John 8:31-32  [ESV] …   

31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” <

… Jesus tries to to show repentant followers how to see more clearly to follow Him. 

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 11:1  [ESV] …   

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. 

… Paul knew that if other Christians followed Him they would be following Christ.

Reference Passage</u>: …  2Timothy 2:7  [ESV] …   

7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything..

… Paul wanted Timothy (and other Christians) to see that clearly that they could only see things clearly by following Christ’s way obediently.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan, AT THIS LINK uses a description of anamorphic art work <b>(see photo)</b> to illustrate that one must view this type of art work from many angles to be able to see more clearly what the artist was depicting.  

And that’s true of the Bible, isn’t it?  Trying to see God’s truth more clearly and follow our Lord more closely, we need to take time and seek to follow the Lord by meditating on God’s word over-and-over-and-over again.  That’s why you find me here <u>every morning</u> beginning my day by praying for God to show Himself to me by mediating on His truth, … in order to do what He exhorted and commanded in His word <b>(see Scriptures above).</b> 

And if anyone reading here is really serious about seeking God’s way and following it more closely, I would highly recommend a life-changing book by Robert J. Morgan, entitled “Reclaiming the Lost Art of Biblical Meditation,” which can be obtained at this link.  Read this book seriously, implement its clear teaching, and you will follow Christ more clearly and closely than ever. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your perfect “GPS,” in Your word, … to see Your way more clearly and follow You more closely.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to do all we can to see God’s will and follow His way thru His word more closely than ever.     .… Amen

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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>

Sept 28, 2020 … Finding Real Satisfaction

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 272 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … Only Jesus … poignantly singing of how we Christians often get trapped into trying to build a name for ourselves in this world, … forgetting that “Jesus” is the only Name to be remembered for eternity. 

Apollo 8 Astronauts excited to see the earth rise from the moon ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 15:6 [ESV] ... 

8  All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. 

…    We learn from God’s “teacher” in Ecclesiastes the truth that our experiences of seeing and hearing will never satisfy the longing for God in our hearts.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

… The author of Ecclesiastes, likely Solomon, relates his discovery that pursuits of the flesh satisfy only our vanity and never produce eternal fulfillment.   

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm 103:1-5   [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… King David learned that only the Lord could satisfy his human desires and longings.  

Reference Passage</u>: …  Proverbs 19:23  [ESV] …   

23  The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; He will not be visited by harm. 

… Our pursuit of the Lord is the only pursuit which will satisfy our hearts.   

Reference Passage: …  John 6:35  [ESV] …   

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. … 

… Jesus is the bread of life and His truth the only real fulfillment in life. 

Reference Passage: …  John 10:10 [ESV] …   

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  

… Jesus relates to His followers that HE alone is the only way to an abundant life. 

My Devotional Journal:</b> Today's Our Daily Bread</b></i> author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK  writes of the boredom the Apollo 8 crew encountered going to the moon … until they saw the earth rise over the horizon of the moon [see photo], … illustrating how only seeking to know God more intimately can really bring joy and satisfaction to our lives. 

It’s true, isn’t it [?], … that we so often try to fulfill our longings with earthly of fleshly pleasures, when only a deep and abiding relationship with Christ can eternally satisfy those longings.  That’s what Kings Solomon and David wrote about in the Old Testament (see highlight passage and Ps 103).  And it’s what Jesus related to His followers in John 6:35 and 10:10. 

And I pray today that any reader here is pursuing the only experience that can bring contentment and fulfillment to our hearts in this life, and that is to know God intimately and to pursue a deeper, more abiding relationship with Him, primarily thru feeding on the “Bread of Life” and His “living waters,” … which we pursue in His word. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for leading me to the “abundant life,” which we find by following Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to seek the only real contentment we’ll ever experience in this life, … and that is to know our Lord more intimately.    .… Amen

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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.

Sept 27, 2020 … Prone To Wander

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 271 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Rice singing a modern version of the old hymn … Come Thou Fount … poignantly singing of how we, like sheep, are “prone to wander” from the One we love, … our Good Shepherd.    

Oh, how we are prone to wander ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 15:6 [ESV] ... 

6 And when he [the shepherd] comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ …  

…    Jesus tells of our the Good Shepherd will seek out and find any of His sheep who have wandered and are lost.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Luke 15:1-10 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ parables of how a “good shepherd” will do all He can to retrieve a lost sheep … and when a lost coin is found to illustrate how the angels celebrate when any lost sinner repents of his/her sin.    

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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.   

… With hearts that tend to wander toward greener pastures, we have a tendency to follow our own way rather than that of our “Good Shepherd.”   

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 like sheep, prone to wander away from the One, our Good Shepherd, Who watches over all His flock.   

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, our Good Shepherd, demands that His “flock” deny ourselves and follow Him. 

Reference Passage: …  John 10:1-4, 11-14  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares Himself to be our “Good Shepherd” watching over ALL those who come into His flock as sent to Him by His Good Father.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, AT THIS LINK  uses the word picture of cows or sheep, grazing in a pasture, and tending to wander off to find greener grass.  And then the author likens any of us to those sheep who, in the Bible, are often compared to wandering sheep. 

And Jesus used that word picture, didn’t He, when used the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin (see highlight passage) to illustrate how heaven celebrates when a repentant lost soul is found and brought back into God’s flock?  Yes, as the old hymn, sung by Chris Rice in the linked song, sings, … we, like sheep, are “prone to wander” from our Good Shepherd.  

But today, I pray we all respond to the call of our Good Shepard and come back to Him [see John 10 passages] to follow Him wherever He leads us [see Luke 9:23].

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being my (our) Good Shepherd.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to come back to follow our Good Shepherd WHEREVER He leads us.    .… Amen

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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.

Sept 26, 2020 … Our Promise-Keeping God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 270 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Phillips, Craig and Dean singing … You Are God Alone … poignantly singing of how our God is our “promise keeping” God, … a God above EVERYTHING, … able to do ALL things.  

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Highlight Passage:  Hebrews 6:15 [ESV] ... 

15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 

…    God shows us that if He was able to keep His promises to Abraham, which He did, our Lord can keep His promises to us. 

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Highlight Passage [Context] : …   Hebrews 6:13-20 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru the author of Hebrews, assures us as born-again believers that our God is THE Promise Keeping God.  

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Reference Passage: …  Numbers 23:19  [ESV] …   

19  God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind.  Has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not fulfill it? 

… God, thru Moses, shows God’s people that He, our Lord, will keep His promises.  

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 11:28-30  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises to yoke Himself to us when we feel life’s burdens are too heavy. 

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [ESV] …   USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that our God is ALWAYS there to help us navigate the really tough circumstances of life. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK  tells of a young Christian groom who prayed, before his wedding, that he would be able to live up to and keep his wedding vows [see photo], knowing that he was too weak - on his own - to do it.  

And I think that anyone - especially one who’s been married 55 years as I have - can identify and empathize with fears like that of this young man.  We’re not strong enough on our own to meet many of the demands of life, are we, … especially like those in the traditional wedding vows?  

But fortunately, as born-again Christians, we’ve yoked ourselves (see Matt. 11:28-30) to our Savior, Who is a promise-keeping Lord.  And being the God Who kept His amazing promises to Abraham (see highlight passage and Numbers 23:19), we can rely on our Lord to give us His strength when we’re too weak to handle the temptations and trials of life (see 1Cor. 10:13 and 2Cor. 12:9).   

So, … as we launch into or continue on in another day, … let’s yoke ourselves to our Promise-Keeping God, and rely on His strength to be there to help us thru another day for His glory. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being my promise-keeping God.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to rely on the strength of our God when we know we’re too weak to handle the day’s challenges.   .… Amen

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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.

Sept 25, 2020 … Locked-in Love

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 269 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing … In Your Hands … poignantly singing of God’s forever and unending love which holds us in His hands … FOREVER. 

"Love Locks" on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris

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Highlight Passage:  Song of Solomon 8:6a [ESV] ... 

6   Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death,  … 

…    God’s promise to His beloved of His secure love … FOREVER!! 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Song of Solomon 8:5-7 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s song about His steadfast love for His Bride … a sealed/forever love. 

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm 86:15  [ESV] …   

15  But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

… God, thru David's song, reminds God’s people of the unending love and forgiving grace of our merciful God. 

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 31:2-3  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise - thru Jeremiah - to His beloved Israel [and to us in Christ] of His covenant love … FOREVER.  

Reference Passage: …  Romans 5:7-8 [ESV] …   USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians the extent of God’s love … in that He would die for even sinners. 

Reference Passage: …  1John 3:1  [ESV] …  

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

… The love God has lavished on us is His FOREVER love. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK  shows the “love-locks” on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris [see photo] where couples would place padlocks on the bridge to show their “undying” love for one another.  

And we have that kind of promise in God’s word, … in His covenant love letter … to His beloved, [see Scriptures above] pledging His sealed/forever love for anyone who knows Him as Lord and Savior.  And in the midst of this pandemic of sickness and the hatred/division we see in this world, that promise of His undying love is <u>so-so-so</u> reassuring.  

Can I get a witness of praise for our Lord’s love today … maybe even join me with a resounding ”HALLELUJAH!!!” of thanks.     

My THANKFULNESS</u>:</b> ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for the promise and reality of Your never-ending love. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to give our Lord praise for the ultimate witness of His love for us by dying that we might live with Him forever.    .… Amen

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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.

Sept 24, 2020 … Unending Mercies

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 268 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Rice singing … Great Is Thy Faithfulness … poignantly singing the old hymn of God’s faithfulness to be there with His mercies and grace … ALWAYS!

New and fresh mercies today !!! 

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Highlight Passage:  Nehemiah 9:17b [ESV] ... 

17b … But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

…    God’s people are reminded of God’s forgiving and merciful character.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …   Nehemiah 9:17, 27-31  [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK … 

…  Ezra preaches to God’s remnant of believers - from God’s word - about God’s never-ending mercy and grace extended to the repentant believers. 

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Reference Passage: …  Lamentations 3:22-23  [ESV] …   USE THIS LINK ... 

… God, this time thru Jeremiah, reminds God’s people of the unending love and forgiving grace of our merciful God. 

Reference Passage: …  Romans 10:9-13  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK ...  

… God’s promise - thru Paul - to save ANYONE who’s willing to repent and believe in Christ’s finished work on the cross to save sinners. 

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 2:4-10  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK ... 

… Paul preaches about the never-ending grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our God for those willing to repent and receive God’s saving and sanctifying grace. 

Reference Passage: …  Hebrews 4:16  [ESV] …   

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

… God reminding me, and all born-again believers, of our ability to find God’s grace when we seek it out with repentant hearts. 

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. 

… Our God is ALWAYS willing (and able) to forgive us and cleanse us from our sins when we’re willing to confess and repent before His throne of grace and mercy.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Julie Schwab, AT THIS LINK  relates a story about a college student who regretted not taking the opportunity to share with a professor - likely lost - about the never-ending saving grace of our God. 

I’ve been there and had those feelings of regret in the past when I blew an opportunity to share with an obviously lost soul about the wondrous grace of our merciful God … sung about by Chris Rice in the linked song and from the truths proclaimed in the Scriptures above. 

But now I’m older and hopefully bolder; … and if God puts anyone in front of me today whom I perceive as a lost soul, I pray I would share my story of God’s saving grace. And oh how I pray that any of us would share of God’s unending love/mercy today if that opportunity comes into our lives.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for Your never-ending and eternally forgiving mercy and grace.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray, Lord, that all reading here will join me today, to share of God’s unending love and grace if we see anyone whom we feel may need God’s mercies.    .… Amen

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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.