September 30, 2022 … God’s Enabling Grace   …  

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 273 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from tom Laura Story singing … Grace Abounds … poignantly singing of how we Christians can always rely on and find God’s enabling grace when we turn to Him in times of trial or trouble. 

Numbing the pain ... a quick fix ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 30:18 [ESV] …  

18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so He can show you His love and compassion.  For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.  

… Paul shows that those who live for Christ are a sweet aroma to those who’re being saved. but the smell of death to those who are perishing.                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Isaiah 30:1-19 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, warns His people to turn to Him for His love/grace rather than relying on the world for help.                                                                                                                                   

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Reference Passage: … 1Chronicles 16:11 [ESV] …  

11 Search for the Lord and His strength; continually see Him.   

… King David sings of God’s desire that His people seek after God’s empowering grace in times of trial. 

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

… God, thru Solomon, charges His faithful to trust Him to lead us thru life and to avoid doing life our own way.             

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 6:33 [ESV] …  

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously; and He will give you what you need. 

… Jesus shows that we must seek the Lord’s righteousness for Him to provide us with our needs.  

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 12:9 [ESV] …  

9 Each time He said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me  

… Paul learned from Jesus in a painful trial that God’s empowering grace is what we need when we’re feeling weak or in need of God’s strength .

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

16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. </i> 

… God’s promise to provide us with His enabling grace when we’re willing to seek it from Him and from Him alone   

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt … AT THIS LINK …  tells of a young man, named Jack, who turned to drugs (see photo) to quell the pain in his life rather than seeking God’s grace to bring him thru.               

And oh how sad it is these days we see so many who ignore God’s promise to provide us with His grace and strength if we will but trust Him and seek our Lord’s enabling grace rather than seeking a quick fix from the world.  

If my readers have taken in the linked song from Laura Story and meditated on the Scriptures above, I pray that we all trust in the Lord and seek after His enabling grace rather than turning to seek a quick fix from the world to numb the pain of life.  Because it’s no less than God’s promise to give us His strength to deal with the pain of life; but we have to be willing to seek God’s grace to give us His strength when we need it.  Oh how I pray we  will.                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving Your grace and strength to help me deal with the pain in meh life.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek after Your enabling grace, Lord, to help me find Your strength when I’m feeling weak … even 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.

September 29, 2022 … A Sweet Aroma …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 272 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from tom Booth singing … Fragrance Prayer … poignantly singing of how we Christians should pray that our lives be a sweet aroma to those who share life with us.  

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Highlight Passage: … 2Corinthians 2:15 [ESV] …  

15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing 

… Paul shows that those who live for Christ are a sweet aroma to those who’re being saved. but the smell of death to those who are perishing.                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): …  2Corinthians 2:14-16 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches that the Christlike lives of those who’ve been saved is like a sweet aroma to those who’re being saved but the mell of death to those who are lost. .                                          

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Reference Passage: … Leviticus 1:9 [ESV] …  

9 But the internal organs and the legs must first be washed with water. Then the priest will burn the entire sacrifice on the altar as a burnt offering. It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.  

… The Old Testament sacrifices were burned by the Priests as a sweet aroma to God for His covenant to His people. 

Reference Passage: … John 12:1-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, as a preparation and sacrifice for His coming death.           

Reference Passage: …  Romans 12:1  [ESV] …  

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.

… Paul pleads with fellow Christians to become a living sacrifice in the way we live for Christ as our way of worshipping the Lord. 

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 5:8 [ESV] …  

8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.  

… God reveals to John (and us) that the prayers of God’s people are sweet incense to the Lamb of God. 

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Brandon … AT THIS LINK … tells a touching story of how his daughter had kept a bowl of fragrant pistachio nuts in her room producing a sweet aroma; and after her tragic death in an auto accident at 17, the ODB author and his wife keep a bowl of the fragrant nuts around always to remind them or their sweet daughter.                 

Oh how I pray that we Christians realize that our lives, well lived as living sacrifices to/for God’s glory (see Romans 12:1), are a sweet aroma of praise and worship to our God (see Revelation 5:8).  That’s why the animal sacrifices were burned in the OT (see Leviticus 1:9; and it’s why Jesus’ friend, Mary, anointed his feet with expensive oil (see John 12:1-7, to worship her Lord with the fragrance of her sacrifice of worship.  

And we need to be asking ourselves, … what can we be doing - even today - to offer up the sacrifice of our lives as a fragrant worship for God’s glory?  Personally that’s my prayer today, How about you?                  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … giving me the opportunity to live a fragrant sacrifice of worship today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to make our lives as living and fragrant sacrifices of worship today, praying that our witness to/for You, Lord, is a sweet aroma of praise to You.    .… 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.

September 28, 2022 … A Heart Cleansed …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 271 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Keith Green leading in worship and singing … Create In Me A Clean Heart … poignantly singing of how we can ALWAYS trust God as we move into our future.

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 15:19 [ESV] …  

19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 

… Jesus teaches on the organ of our uncleanliness … our hearts.                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Matthew 15:12-20 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples (and us) that our hearts are the source of words and actions which defiled God’s holiness. .                                                                                                         

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 51:10-15 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David confesses his sin to God and begs for God’s Spirit to cleanse his heart and restore the joy of God’s salvation to David’s life.   

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 17:9 [ESV] …  

9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

… God, thru Jeremiah, shows His people the origin of their sin coming from man’s heart.

Reference Passage: … Ezekiel 36:25-27 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Ezekiel, prophesies what it will be like in heaven when all hearts will be cleansed of all sin and uncleanliness        

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 5:8 [ESV] …  

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.  

… Jesus teaches His followers that God blesses those who keep their hearts pure and clean.   

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 1:22 [ESV] …  

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 

… Peter shows fellow Christians that sharing God’s love with one another helps to cleanse and purify our hearts.  

Reference Passage: …  1John 1:9 [ESV] …  

9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  

… God’s word, thru John, shows us what it takes to purify our hearts of the stench of sin. 

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Marvin Williams … AT THIS LINK … tells of an animal rescue operation, dubbed “Operation Noah’s Ark,” which cleansed a house of the stench of over 400 mistreated animals.               

And the ODB author likened that animal rescue to what is necessary with the human heart, which, according to God’s word (see Jeremiah 17:9) is naturally filthy and in desperate need of cleansing.  That’s what David realized and confessed about his own heart in Psalm 51 (see above); and it’s what everyone of us needs to do to rid and cleanse ourselves of the stench of our human hearts. 

And I’m praying today that ALL OF US reading here will do all we can to cleanse our hearts of the stench of our sinful nature by taking the actions brought out in the Scriptures above, especially that of 1John 1:9.                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for cleansing me of my sin and purifying my heart for Your glory. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to walk in obedience to Your truth to help us keep our hearts pure for Your glory, Lord.   .… 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.

September 27, 2022 …Walking With Wisdom …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 270 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Elevation Worship singing … Do It Again … powerfully singing of how we can ALWAYS trust God as we move into our future.

Our future or His glory ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Psalm 90:12 [ESV] …  

12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. 

… Praying that we all use our time wisely for God’s glory.                                 

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Psalm 90:12-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses sings of follow God’s ways into the future.                                                                       

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 6:6-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon teaches how to learn from the ant how to use our time wisely every day.   

Reference Passage … Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon shows how God has arranged that there is a time for everything for His glory     

Reference Passage…  Ephesians 5:15-16 [ESV] …  

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.. 

… Paul recognizes that we live in evil days and exhorts fellow Christians to be careful and live wisely for God’s glory. .  

Reference Passage…  Colossians 4:5 [ESV] …  

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. 

… Paul teaches that living amongst the lost we must live wisely for God’s glory.

Reference Passage: …  James 4:14 [ESV] …  

14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.. 

… James helps fellow Christians realize the fleeting and unpredictable time we have on earth.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Monica La Rose … AT THIS LINK … writes about the teaching of psychologist, Meg Jay, who teaches that it is difficult to deal with and/or help others with whom we cannot identify, empathize, or understand personally.  So, Jay helps young people envision their future more clearly to be able to use their time more wisely in the present.             

And really, if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the reference Scriptures above, we will see that God’s word, in the OT and NT, calls for God’s people to do all we can to use our time wisely so that our God will be glorified, … even in the evil times we will always face in this life.  

That’s why you find me here each day, praying and starting my day by using God’s word and His truth to give me His“GPS” … to keep me on track as I travel into the future He has given me. What is your GPS, my friend?               

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your word to help me walk more wisely in this life.         

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to walk wisely as we trod into the future, where You lead us to walk toward Your glory.    .… 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 an subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

September 26, 2022 … Rise Up! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 269 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Cain singing … Rise Up … powerfully singing of one being raised from death to life thru faith in Jesus. 

Up from the grave like Lazarus ... 

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Highlight Passage: … John 11:42 [ESV] …  

42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”  

… Jesus prays to His Heavenly Father for those to see God’s power over death.                                

Highlight Passage (Context): …  John 11:38-44 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Lazarus is risen from death to life for all to see Christ’s power over death.                                

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Reference Passage: … John 14:6 [NLT] …  

6  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

… Jesus declares that following Him is the ONLY way to eternal life. 

Reference Passage: …  Romans 6:4 [ESV] …  

4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 

… When we surrender our self to follow the Savior as our Lord we die to self and are made alive in Christ. .   

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 5:17 [ESV] …  

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  

… Paul teaches that anyone who is in Christ has become a new creation in/for Him.    

Reference Passage: …  Galatians 2:20 [ESV] …  

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

… Paul teaches truth about our old, sinful, life being crucified with Christ and the new life we live in and for His glory.  

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 2:4-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul shows fellow Christians God’s mercy in providing a way, thru Christ’s death, that we find eternal life by our faith in Christ.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kimya Loder … AT THIS LINK … tells of the testimony of a social media blogger who related his story of Christ intervening as he was about to commit suicide and giving him new life and purpose in following Jesus by creating an online ministry on YouTube.           

And the ODB author likened the blogger’s story to that of Christ raising Lazarus from the dead (see photo and highlight Scripture) to show the people of God’s power to save with the Lord’s power over death itself.  And as the reference Scriptures above attest, those of us who’ve experienced the Lord’s death-to-life salvation experience know of the transformation and newness experienced by God’s saving and sanctifying grace. 

Oh how I pray that anyone reading here has experienced God’s transforming life.  If not, I’m available at billb13@icloud.com to have the privilege to lead you to RISE UP and walk out of the grave of sin to an eternal life of service in/for Christ.              

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me out of my grave of sin to a transformed life in following You.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to rise up and walk out of the grave of sin to walk in the newness of life to follow You, Lord.   .… 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.

September 25, 2022 … No Turning Back!! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 268 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lydia Walker singing … I Have Decided To Follow Jesus … poignantly singing of how we must make the chalice to surrender out lives and follow Jesus. 

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Highlight Passage: … Mark 9:35 [ESV] …  

35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  

… Jesus shows His followers the critical nature of making the choice to deny ourselves and to follow Him.                               

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Mark 8:34-38 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus clearly declares to His followers and inner disciples that they (we) must make the choice to follow Him and deny ourselves.                                                                                         ===============                                                                     .                  

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

… To follow God’s lead in life, one must trust Him wholeheartedly.      

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23 [NLT] …  

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me … “ 

… Luke’s version of Jesus showing His followers what it takes to follow Him.  .  

Reference Passage: … John 14:6 [NLT] …  

6  “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 

… Jesus declares that following Him is the ONLY way to heaven.  

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 11:1-2 [ESV] …  

1 And you should imitate me, … just as I imitate Christ.  2 I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.  

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to follow Christ just as he has done and taught them (us).   

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 2:21 [ESV] …  

21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.

… Peter shows that following Jesus is the ONLY way to go in life, … even if it means that we must suffer for His glory.   

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg … AT THIS LINK …  tells of how Chris Ferguson, the head of a NASA flight crew, scheduled to go to the Space Station, made the critical, but very personal decision, to bypass a mission to be able to be present at his daughter’s wedding.         

Sometimes critical decisions in life will require personal sacrifice, won’t they?  And there’s no more crucial - and eternally important - decision we will make in this life that whether we surrender our self to follow our Savior as he calls us to do (see Scriptures above).  

And oh how I’m stopping to pray … RIGHT NOW … that all who read with me here have made the decision Lydia Walker sings about in the linked song … to deny our selves and to follow Jesus as He is the only One Who can lead us to our eternal home.   Yes, … no turning back … no turning back!!                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me and showing me the way to follow You.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to follow You, Lord; … no turning back, … no turning back!   .… 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.