Mar 31, 2021 … Pulling Weeds …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 90 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing… I Will Follow Christ …  powerfully singing how we Christians must follow the Lord’s will no matter where it might lead in life. 

Pulling out the weeds by the roots ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Psalms 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.  

… David sings of his desire that God root out all sinful thoughts and lead him in God's way everlasting.       

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalms 139:1-7, 23-24  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David recognizes His God’s omniscience and omnipotence and prays for God to root out any wickedness in the King’s heart.       

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Reference Passage: … 1Chronicles 28:9  [ESV] …  

9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, he will cast you off forever. 

…  King David charges His son, Solomon, to ALWAYS seek and follow God’s ways … with a willing heart and mind.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:9-10 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  David sings of God tool to root out sinful thinking … i.e., by actively using God’s truth as our weeding tool.    

Reference Passage: … Psalm 44:20-21 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  God, thru the Psalmist. shows that God ALWAYS knows where all the weeds are growing in our hearts.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK …  tells of her family, including her grandchildren, working together to pull weeds out of the family garden (see photo), which is an apt picture of what we need to do in our lives … i.e., to eradicate the roots of sin in our hearts and minds so that we might grow in Christ more readily.   

And that’s what all of the Scriptures above point to from King David, who was a “man after God’s own Heart,” telling His son, Solomon, and writing songs about doing all they can, as believers in an all-knowing and all-powerful God, to weed out any roots of sin in our hearts/minds so that we may be able to follow God’s way more readily and effectively to grow in Christlikeness.  

That’s why … EVERY DAY of my life … I begin each day by praying from David’s Psalm 139:23-24 … for my God, who knows all my thoughts, to help me pull out the roots of any sin in my heart and to lead me that day - and in life - so that I would do what the linked song sings … and that is to follow Christ no matter where He might lead me.  

How about joining me in that prayer?     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for helping me to pull out the weeds of sin in my heart today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to take action and do some weed pulling today.     … 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.

Mar 30, 2021 … Nosey Idols? …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 89 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing… You Are God Alone …  poignantly singing how we Christians must worship God, and God alone, setting aside any/all idols in our life. 

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Highlight Passage:  Exodus 12:12 [ESV] ... 

12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.  

… God’s curse on Egypt which led to God’s curses and judgments on the gods of Egypt and the death of all their first-born.       

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Exodus 12:12-19  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s edict on Egypt to execute God’s judgment on the gods of Egypt.       

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Reference Passage: … Exodus 20:3-6 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  God’s law and commandment against idol worship. 

Reference Passage: … Jonah 2:8 [ESV] …  

8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. 

…  Jonah’s recognition, in prayer, that those who worship idols forsake the steadfast love of God. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:5 [ESV] …  

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  

…  God, thru Paul, exhorts fellow Christians to put their idolatry to death, … that is, … ANYTHING we might worship above our God, especially the selfish passions of the flesh. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 5:21  [ESV] …  

20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 

…  God, thru John, warns His children against the idols which are so easy to “worship” in our world, taking the place of our worship of our Savior.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK …  tells of the many examples, found in Egyptian antiquities, of statues of idols or gods with noses removed by historical vandalism. {See photo}  Apparently experts believe it was invading enemies of Egypt who were trying to render the Egyptian gods powerless.  That is, … no nose = no breath = powerless god.  And the ODB author was trying to get readers to look at our lives to see if we need to cut off the noses of any idols or “gods” in our lives. 

In other words, …  we need to render the idols - i.e., the false gods - in our lives powerless; … that is anything which we allow into our lives to get in the way of our worship of our God thru the way we live.   An example of one such category of idols, which is becoming pervasive these days, especially among young people, is the addictive use of digital devices, which is capturing the WORSHIP of our world.  

So, … from this ODB entry, … we need to ask ourselves if there is ANYTHING which is becoming an idol in our lives; and then “CUT OFF ITS NOSE” to be able to worship, as the inked song sings, our God as God alone !!!     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … showing me the way to worship You by destroying the idols in my life.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to cut off the noses of any idols in our lives.   … 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.

Mar 29, 2021 … God - Our Refuge …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 88 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir singing… God Is Our Refuge and Strength…  powerfully singing in worship of how must rely on God’s strength to lead and lift us thru the battles of life. 

Desmond Doss in WW2 ... in the Movie, Hacksaw Ridge 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Psalm 11:1a [ESV] ... 

11a In the Lord I take refuge; …  

… David declares that THE LORD is his refuge …     

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 11  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… David writes of relying on the Lord as his refuge in the battles of life.      

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 18:1-2 [ESV] …  

1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.  2  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,  my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

…  David again sings of God being his fortress, … his refuge, .. his stronghold, … his salvation. 

Reference Passage: … Psalms 46:1 [ESV] …  

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

…  David repetitively sings of relying on God’s strength to be his refuge in times of trouble. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20b [ESV] …  

20  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” … 

…  Jesus tells His disciples that He would be with us ALWAYS. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK …    tells of the exploits of a young soldier in WW2, Desmond Doss, who received the Medal of Honor for saving many lives in battle, a story depicted in the movie, Hacksaw Ridge, … an incredible story of a Christian relying on his faith in God during the throes of  battle and relying on the Lord’s strength to lift him up.  

If you’ve seen that movie, you know that Private Doss was a conscientious objector, and never fired a weapon in battle. … However, as a medic, he saved the lives of many others in battle at great risk to himself and was recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor [see photo].  And I personally found the movie compelling to illustrate what David wrote and sung about repetitively in Scripture (see Psalms 11, 18, and 46 above), showing his reliance on God when he did battle in God’s Name and for His glory.  

And the ODB entry today challenges all Christians to ask of ourselves whether we’re doing battle on our own strength in the trials of life; … OR …  are we trusting and relying on God’s Spirit to give us the strength and direction to fight onward in God’s name?   I pray for the latter !!     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your empowering grace and strength to do battle today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to go to battle today relying on You, Lord, as our refuge.   … 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.

Mar 28, 2021 … From the Mouths of Babes …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 87 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from a chorus of children singing… Jesus Loves the Little Ones…  poignantly singing of how we should love Jesus as He loves us like the little ones.  

The little ones recognized their Messiah ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Matthew 21:15 [ESV] ... 

15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, <b>“Hosanna to the Son of David!”</b> they were indignant, 

… Even the children could recognize and praise their Messiah.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 21:12-17  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… After Jesus cleansed the Temple on that first Palm Sunday, the children were declaring Him to be the Son of God.      

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 8:2 [ESV] …  

2  Out of the mouth of babies and infants, You have established strength because of Your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

…  The Psalmist acknowledges that even the children can recognize the greatness of the Lord. 

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

…  God shows the way, HIS WAY, only for those who trust in Him.

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [ESV] …  

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

…  God, thru Isaiah, declares that focusing on the Lord is the way to find God’s peace.  

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 tells His followers (and us) what it takes to be His disciples.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK …  tells of the innocent joy expressed by her 3YO granddaughter, as the little one danced for joy at the beginning of their family holiday.  

And the ODB author then made reference to how little children, at the time Jesus had cleansed the Temple, recognized and acknowledged Jesus as the “Son of David” (I.e., as The Messiah - see highlight passage).  And yet, the religious leaders of the day could not. 

And here on this Palm Sunday, do we, who declare ourselves to be “Christians,” know at least as much as the little children who so readily flocked to Jesus in His day?   Do we recognize Jesus as our Messiah?  Do we follow Him and surrender to His Lordship like the little ones did in His day?   I pray we do!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for showing Your way for Your children to follow.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to follow our Lord as a child of faith would today … and tomorrow.  … 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.

Mar 27, 2021 … Child of The King …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 86 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing… Who You Say I Am…  poignantly singing of how we, as born-again Christians, have been adopted into the family of God as children of the King of kings.  

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Highlight Passage:  Galatians 3:25-26 [ESV] ... 

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.  

… No, thru faith, we, as born-again believers, are no longer orphans of sin, under the protective guardianship of God’s Law; but now are children of THE KING with all the royal rights of the King of kings.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Galatians 3:25-29  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul’s teaching, helping Christians realize that they are no longer under the guardian protection of the Law, but rather now are children of the King of kings.     

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Reference Passage: … John 1:12-13 [ESV] …  

12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 

…  To any/all who believe and surrender to Christ’s saving grace, He gives us the right to be a child of the King of kings. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:15-16 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  If we are in Christ, He has adopted us as adopted sons (or daughters) of King Jesus.  We are now children of God’s family.  

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. …  

…  God, thru John, helps Christians to realize whom we are in Christ … i.e., children of God!  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, AT THIS LINK …   tells of a couple being given the opportunity to entertain the Queen of England for tea and the couple’s nervousness in preparation for the visit, … UNTIL they realized that they were also royalty as adopted children of the King of kings.  

My fellow Christian friends; … do we realize, as the group Hillsong sings, that we been adopted into the regal family of God?  My friends, we are kids of the King of kings.  And one day we will sit with our King Jesus in the royal court of God, our Abba Father. 

So, … I pray today that we acknowledge wearing the Robes of righteousness placed on us by King Jesus.   And therefore, we must shed any feelings of being orphans, under the protection of God’s law.   NO, … we need to entertain and receive the grace of our King Jesus everyday … as children of The Living God,  … giving our Abba Father the respect and dignity He deserves and serving Him as part of His family.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for making me a part of Your family, Lord.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to serve our Abba Father today as adopted children of our King. … 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 to the blog via email at that site.

Mar 26, 2021 … God’s Redeeming Grace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 85 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing…Redeemed…  powerfully singing our redemption from sin by Christ’s blood shed on the cross. 

Joyful music redeemed from the trash heap of Paraguay ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Isaiah 35:10 [ESV] ... 

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 

… Isaiah tells of God’s people being redeemed by the Messiah and singing with joy at their return to God’s promised land.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Isaiah 35 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies the redemption of mankind and the earth by The Messiah.    

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 111:9, 130:7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  The songs of joy when God redeems mankind at His 2nd coming.    

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 1:30, 6:20 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Our redemption was bought and paid for by God’s grace and Christ’s blood on the cross.  

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 joyfully writes of his (and our) redemption and the newness of living in/for Christ.    

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, declares that we are redeemed from our sin only thru the love/grace of our Lord’s blood shed on the cross.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK …   … tells of an amazing orchestra which was formed by young people redeeming instruments from a trash heap in Paraguay and making joyful music.  Readers can see the short report of this wondrous orchestra AT THIS LINK   …  

The story of the youth orchestra in Paraguay making joyful music from instruments redeemed from a trash heap is a life-picture of the redemption that Christ has made available to all who are willing to come to Him for the saving grace that He purchased for mankind by shedding His blood and dying for our sins on the cross.  

I pray that all reading here can sing along with Big Daddy Weave today that we are of those who make joyful music by accepting Jesus’ redeeming grace and robustly praising Him for shedding His blood to redeem us to life with Him eternally.  Oh, dear one, … sing it or shout it with me …

HALLELUJAH !!!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for redeeming me from the trash heap of my sin. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to declare our joyful HALLELUJAH for God’s redeeming grace. … 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.

Mar 25, 2021 … Our Shepherd Calls …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 84 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Marty Goetz singing… Psalm 23…  poignantly singing from his arrangement of Psalm 23 … of the Lord being our Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd calls His sheep ... 

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Highlight Passage:  John 10:14-15 [ESV] ... 

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

… Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and the sheep know Him as their Shepherd who is willing to die for His sheep.   

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

… Jesus likened Himself to a shepherd who gathers and takes care of His sheep.   

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 23:1-4 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  David knew and sung of The Lord as being his Good Shepherd.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:11, 53:6 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Isaiah prophesies of a Good Shepherd coming to gather His flock, … loving His sheep, who often go astray.  

 

Reference Passage: … John 3:16 [ESV] …  </b>

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.  

…  God was willing to sacrifice His Son as the Good Shepherd, willing to die for His sheep. 

Reference Passage: … 1 Peter 2:25 [ESV] …  

25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.  

…  Peter also likens The Lord as a Good Shepherd gathering His wayward lambs.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Julie Schwab, AT THIS LINK …   … tells of a young man, … Ken, … who was put in charge of the sheep for a live-animal display in his church.  And in the process, the wayward sheep ultimately learned to know Ken’s voice and trust him and would eventually even come to him when he called. 

No wonder that the Bible often uses the picture of Jesus, our Messiah, being our “Good Shepherd” and us being pictured as His wayward lambs (see Isaiah 41/53).  who come to know and trust The Lord as our Good Shepherd (see Ps. 23 and John 10).   I really love the arrangement of Psalm 23 written and sung by Mary Goetz. We all know this beloved Psalm from King David; and I hope this linked version calms your soul as it does mine.  

AND, … I pray that all reading here with me know our Good Shepherd; and that we’re all willing to come when He calls us by name, … because He will … and He does!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being my loving, GOOD Shepherd.    

My Prayer Today:: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to come to our Good Shepherd when He calls us today.   

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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.