October 31, 2022 … Shining Christ’s Light …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 304 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Revival Worship singing … Shine Your Light … powerfully singing of how we Christians are called by God to shine the light of Christ into this very dark world. 

Called to shine Christ's light in this very dark world ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: …  Matthew 5:16   [ESV] …  

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  

… Jesus calls His followers to let our Christlike deeds shine the light of Christ into a very dark world.                                                 

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Matthew 5:13-16 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus calls those who would follow Him as His disciples to be salt and light in a world polluted and darkened by sin.                                                                                                          

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] …  

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet an a light for my path.  

… King David sings of using God’s word - His truth - to be the light which guides our path in life. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 4:18 [NLT] …  

18 The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. 

… Solomon’s wisdom on righteous living being like the light of dawn dispelling the darkness of the night.  .     

Reference Passage: …  John 8:12 [NLT] … 

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” 

… Jesus shows His followers that following Him is like following the light out of the darkness.      

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 4:6 [NLT] … 

6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians (and us) that Christ’s light, shining from their (our) hearts, lights up the darkness of this world with God’s light. 

Reference Passage: …  1Peter 2:9 [NLT] … 

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. 

… Peter shows persecuted Christians (and us) that they (we) have been called out of the darkness of despair and darkness into God’s glorious light.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda … AT THIS LINK …   tells of Whitney, a retired financial worker in NY city, who worked for weeks in the worst part of the COVID crisis, shining Christ’s light wherever she was able to help the city deal with the darkness of the pandemic.  

If my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, I pray we’re all convicted to act on the call from God’s word, … from King David and Solomon in the OT and from Paul, Peter, and no less than Jesus, Himself in the NT (see Scriptures above), to do all we can, as did Whitney in the ODB entry, to shine the light of Christ into the darkness of this world (see photo) by following God’s light of truth and by doing our best to live like God’s word calls us to live.                                   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me to shine Your light into the darkness of this world again today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can - even today - to shine Your light, Lord, into this ever darkening world.  .,,  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.

October 30, 2022 … Hopefully Waiting On God …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 303 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Lincoln Brewster singing … While I Wait … poignantly singing of how we wait for God’s mercy/grace, … even in times of trial or trouble. 

Hopefully and patiently waiting for God's mercy and grace ... 

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Highlight Passage: …  Lamentations 3:24   [ESV] …  

24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him.  

… In spite of the trials God allows into the life of believers, Jeremiah shows that he puts his hope in the LORD.                                                

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Lamentations 3:22-26 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  In the midst of lamenting over Jerusalem being destroyed by the Babylonians, Jeremiah sings of the hope God’s people have in waiting for the Lord’s mercies, in which we know we have eternal hope.                                                                                                                            

===============                                                                     .                                              

Reference Passage: … Psalm 27:14 [NLT] …  

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.  Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.  

… King David sings of patiently and hopefully waiting on the LORD in the midst of trying times.

Reference Passage: …  Psalm 37:7, 34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Again, in another time of trouble, King David shows fellow believers his hope is in the Lord as we patiently wait on His grace and mercy.        

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

… Paul shows fellow Christians that, no matter what temptations or trials we face, … God is faithful to show us the way to deal with life’s challenges.      

Reference Passage: …  Titus 2:12-13 [NLT] … 

12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.

… Paul shows Titus - and us - that we must turn from godless living, and live patiently and hopefully seeking God’s way and waiting for His return to take us to His glory.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kimya Loder … AT THIS LINK …   tells of how the patience and expectations for shoppers, using online shopping, can run thin when shipping guarantees are not met because of various shipping delays.  

Our patience, especially with our residual sin nature, can run thin all too easily - and all too often - when our personal - and very human - expectations are not met, we get impatient, don't we? But from the highlight teachings of Jeremiah and David in the OT Scriptures above to the NT teachings of the Apostle Paul in the Reference passages, God wants those of who claim to follow Christ, to patiently exercise the perfect hope we have in our Lord as we wait on His return to take us home to be with Him forever.

Personally, I’m reminded - and convicted - to wait on my Lord … much more than I have been; … how about you?                                  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me thru Your word to hopefully be patient and to wait on your mercy and grace, which are new every morning. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to wait patiently on Your mercy and grace, Lord, … today … and then again 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.

October 29, 2022 … God’s Strength In Our Weakness …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 302 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … HIs Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of how God will provide His perfect strength to cover our imperfect human weakness. 

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Highlight Passage: … Jeremiah 20:13   [ESV] …  

10 Sing to the LORD!  Praise the LORD!  For though I was poor and needy, He rescued me from my oppressors. 

… In spite of Jeremiah’s weakness and trials, the Prophet was able to in praises to His LORD for rescuing him.                                                

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Jeremiah 20:7-18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jeremiah, in despair, being chosen to be God’s Prophet, in a time of weakness, questions God’s motive for choosing Jeremiah to bring God’s message to a willful nation.                            

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Reference Passage: …  Job 1:20-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Job, in his weakness and loss, Job was faithful to his LORD and now willing to blame God.     

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] …  

10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  

… God’s promise to Isaiah and to all HIs faithful followers that He will provide them (US) with his strength to lift us up in times of trial.  

Reference Passage: … Habakkuk 3:19 [NLT] …  

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength!  He makes me surefooted as a deer, …  able to tread upon the heights.

… God’s Prophet, after questioning God’s ability to correct His willful chosen people, was shown - by God - that He, THE LORD, was in total control, giving Habakkuk the strength to go on.   

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] … 

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

… Paul shows fellow Christians that no matter what we face, … God is faithful to show is the way to deal with life’s challenges.      

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 12:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul, in a time of deep weakness and pain, remembered Jesus’ promise to give him God’s strength to cover his weakness. [PLEASE take in the linked song!].  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer … AT THIS LINK …   tells of a missionary, named Drew, who was imprisoned for two years in a country hostile to Christians, … relating that, unlike other Christians who maintained a Job-like faith (see passage in Job 1:20-22 above), Drew felt weak and alone in his circumstances.  

There are many examples, besides Job, of stalwart men of faith in the Bible, who felt abandoned by God’s strength.  Jeremiah was certainly one of those (see <b>highlight passage</b> above).  And yet, as Paul describes in the two Pauline scriptures above, no matter what we face, God is faithful, as He was for Job and Jeremiah and Habakkuk, to provide God’s strength to cover our weakness in dire circumstances.

Perhaps some of my readers - perhaps you - are facing tough times right now.  I’m there right now.  And so I stop to pray that we realize that God’s strength is there to lift us up in our time of need.  As Steven Curtis Chapman sings, … “His strength is perfect, when our strength is gone! … He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on!”                                

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being there to give me Your strength as I feel weak today.             

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to carry on, seeking the Lord’s strength to carry us in times of our weakness.  .,,  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.

October 28, 2022 … Christlike Living …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 301 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kristian Stanfill singing … More Like Jesus … poignantly singing of how we Christians must choose to surrender to God’s Spirit to become more like our Lord, Jesus. 

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Highlight Passage: … Titus 2:10   [ESV] …  

10 [Christians] must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.  

… Paul teaches Titus (and fellow Christians) that he (and they) must live out the Gospel truth by living to become more like Christ.                                               

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Titus 2:1-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul shows Titus (and fellow Christians) how Christians must live like Christ to share the Gospel with others thru the way they (WE) live.                                                                               

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Reference Passage: …  Matthew 7:21-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches that Christians must be surrendered completely to become like Christ in order to eternally inherit the kingdom of God.      

Reference Passage: …  Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul strongly teaches fellow Christians that they (we) must BE living sacrifices of Christlike living to show Christ ruling our lives.     

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

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 fellow Christians (and us) that true, born-again, Christians are transformed into a new - Christlike - image.  

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 4:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul sees himself as a slave to follow Christ and begs fellow Christians to do the same to honor Christ and the Gospel.

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 4:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians (and us) that they (we) must pursue Christlike thoughts and practices to witness our true faith in the Lord’s saving/sanctifying grace.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Karen Huang … AT THIS LINK …   tells of the dedicated Christian life of the father/mother of Ruth Graham, Billy Graham’s wife, who lived and worked for 24 years in a hospital, as medical missionaries, leading thousands to Christ by living for and exhibiting Christlike lives in hospital service in China.                

When we are truly born-again into surrendered Christian lives, as Paul taught Titus and other fellow Christians (see Titus 2 and other Pauline Scriptures above), they/we surrender our lives to become living sacrifices (see Romans 12:1-2 and Philippians 4:8-9), surrendered to live like Jesus, being living examples of the Gospel. 

Personally, I’ve got some way to go to live and be more like Christ as a witness to His love and grace to others.   How about you?                                 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me to become - AND BE - more like You today … and then tomorrow.           

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to serve You today, Lord, as Your living witness of Your love and grace to others. .,,  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.

October 27, 2022 … Brothers and Sisters …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 300 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Sidewalk Prophets singing … Sisters & Brothers … powerfully singing of how we Christians are brothers and sisters working together as we deal with the world.  

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Highlight Passage: … 1Timothy 5;2   [ESV] …  

2 Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters. 

… God, from Paul’s teaching to fellow Christians, shows that we are treat fellow Christians with respect and love, as we would family.                                                

<b><u>Highlight Passage (Context)</u>: …  1Timothy 1-2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … </b>

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+5%3A1-2&version=NLT

…  Paul counsels fellow Christians to treat each other as family, like brothers and sisters following Christ together.                                                                                                                  

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Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 17:17 [NLT] …  

17 A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.   

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, on always treating others like we would our brothers and sisters.   

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 12:48-50 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shows that He loves His disciples just as He would His brothers.     

Reference Passage: …  John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… In the “Upper Room,” after washing the feet of His disciples, Jesus commands them (and us) that they (we) are to love one another, as fellow Christians, to show that they (we) are truly His disciples.   

Reference Passage: …  Romans 12:4-5 [NLT] …  

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians (and us) that fellow Christians are joined together as the parts of a body, the parts joined to work together in unity. 

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians (and us) that we take on the attitude of Christ when we look beyond ourselves to help others as we would love and show grace to our family.  

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey … AT THIS LINK …   tells of praying with and counseling a single friend who was in a toxic - codependent - relationship with a married co-worker, … the ODB author showing her friend that she needed to treat the co-worker like a brother, … as Christ taught and showed His disciples and followers, … His teachings we follow from His word.                  

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and the biblical teachings above, we know and must follow our Lord’s teaching and commands when it comes to dealing with others as if they are brothers/sisters in the family of God.  In that way we will be living as Christ lived and loved US as His brothers/sisters.

Oh how I pray that we all can be brothers and sisters - TOGETHER - serving our Lord as part of His family today.                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for bringing me into Your family to serve You today with my brothers/sisters in Christ.          

My Prayer Today:: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to serve You today, Lord, alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. .,,  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.

October 26, 2022 … The Power of God’s Word …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 299 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kristyn Getty singing … Speak, O Lord … poignantly singing of taking in the power of God’s word.  

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 55:11   [ESV] …  

11 It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  

… Isaiah declares the power of God’s word to bring about God’s plan and purposes.                                              

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Isaiah 55:9-11 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Isaiah, declares the power of His word for believers.                                                 

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … 

105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.   

… King David sings of the power of God’s word to lead us in life.   

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 15:16 [NLT] …  

16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them.  They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.   

… God, thru Jeremiah, shows God’s power to produce joy in the life of those who consume God’s word.    

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 4:4 [NLT] …  

4 But Jesus told [Satan], “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 

… To dispel the temptation of Satan, Jesus quotes God’s truth from <b><u>Deut 8:3</b></u>, showing the power of God’s word to defeat Satan’s attacks.   

Reference Passage: …  2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …  

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.   

… Paul teaches Timothy (and us) the power of God’s word to accomplish God’s purposes in this life.     

Reference Passage: …  Hebrews 4:12 [NLT] …  

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.  

… God, thru the author of Hebrews, shows the power of God’s word to expose our thoughts and desires in life.   

                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra … AT THIS LINK …   tells a story from the memoirs of Ben Malcolmson, a walk-on football player in college, who expressed his Christian faith to his fellow players by giving them each a Bible.  Years later, he learned that one of the players had read that gift Bible and became a Christian, … illustrating the power of God’s word to save those who believe in God’s truth.                

And I’m one who can give witness to that reality, … because God used one Scripture to break me down, in my days as an angry atheist, to see the truth that Jesus is my LORD.  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the truth of God’s word in the Scriptures above, I pray that you all have experienced the power of God’s word to accomplish His purposes in our lives as born-again Christians.  

And I also pray that we all are taking God’s word, into our minds/hearts daily, to wield God’s power to defeat Satan thru the truth of His word … just as the Lord did in Matthew 4:4.     Common, fellow Christians, … if God’s word is powerful enough for Jesus to send Satan fleeing, it’s powerful enough to do the same for us.                                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your word to give me Your power, Lord, to deal with life today and tomorrow.         

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use Your word, Lord, as a light to lead our path 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.