November 30, 2022 … Our Words Have Power …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 334 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics of  Hawk Nelson singing … Words … poignantly and powerfully singing about the power of our words to build us up or tear us down.  

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Highlight Passage: … Proverbs 15:4  [NLT] …  

4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.   

… God’s Spirit, thru Solomon, shows the power of our words to build up or tear down.                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Proverbs 15:1-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon speaks Godly wisdom about the power of the tongue                                                  

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 12:37, 15:18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …

…  God’s Spirit, thru Jesus Himself, declares that the power of our words comes from the depths of our hearts.      

Reference Passage: … Luke 6:45 [NLT] …  

45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

…  Jesus shows His followers that the words we speak come from the depths of our heart.        

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] … 

29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 

…  Paul strongly exhorts fellow Christians to use our words wisely because of the power of the tongue to encourage or discourage others. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 4:6 [NLT] … 

6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.  

…  Paul again exhorts fellow Christians to use our conversations to bring about Godly responses in others.  

Reference Passage: … James 3:7-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s word, thru James, teaches about the power of the tongue to build up or to tear down. 

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tom Felton… AT THIS LINK …   … shows how the intensity and frequency of a rattlesnake’s rattle has the power to fend off threats of other animals, just as our speech can have great power in dealing with others.  

And I would hope - and pray - that all reading here with me have taken in - and believe - the truth which is taught in the linked song and the Scriptures above; … that there is great power in how we use our words and our speech to deal with others.  No less than Jesus Himself, … as well as Solomon, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus’ brother, James, … all speak truth about the power of the tongue to build up or tear down our relationships with others. 

I pray today that all of us take God’s truth (above) to heart; because out of our hearts comes the well-spring of Godly wisdom, thru our words,  to build up and encourage others.                           

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing us how to use our words powerfully to edify and encourage others.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use our words wisely, as You have in Your word, Lord, to edify and encourage 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.

November 29, 2022 … Serving The Needy …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 333 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics of Todd Schreiner singing … Help and Serve the Poor and Needy … poignantly singing of God’s call for His chosen to help and serve those in need, especially those in the family of Gold. 

Helping those in need ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 25:40  [NLT] …  

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ 

… Jesus shows that those who love and follow Him will serve the needy; and when they (we) do, they (we) will be serving Him.                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Matthew 25:34-40 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus reaches His disciples (and us) that we must reach out to serve - and even feed - those in need among the family of God.                                                                                                    

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 15:11  [NLT] … 

11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.. 

…  God, thru Moses, teaches His people about sharing with the needy, especially with those among His chosen people. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 14:31, 19:17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s Spirit, thru Solomon, teaches on what believers must do to honor God by serving the poor and needy.            

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:1-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, teaches those who would follow Him to give generously to the needy in private, not to give to show others one’s goodness.

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:35 [NLT] …  

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus:  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” 

…  Paul, in parting from the Elders at Ephesus (and to us), showing, as an example, what it’s like to follow Jesus’ command to help others in need.       

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul strongly exhorts fellow Christians to reach out to help others in need, … especially those in God’s family.  

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Katara Patton… AT THIS LINK …   tells of a woman, who solicited her friends to help her give out hot meals to 54 homeless people on the streets of Chicago <b>(see photo)</b> to celebrate her 54th birthday.   

                  

And certainly this gesture of kindness illustrates what the linked song and what God’s word above repetitively exhorts and commands to those of us who want to honor God by reaching out to help those our Lord wants us to help.  

And so, will we be alert - maybe even today - to reach out and help others in HIS Name and for HIS glory?  I hope so!!                                                      

My THANKFULNESS:.. Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me the grace and opportunity to help others in Your name.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to watch for opportunities to serve You, Lord, by serving others in need.  …  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.

November 28, 2022 … Walking With Jesus …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 332 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a chorus singing Curtis Lundy’s song … Walk With Me< … poignantly and powerfully singing of how Our Lord walks with any and all who surrender to receive His saving and sanctifying grace. 

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Highlight Passage: …Titus 2:11-12  [NLT] …  

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 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, …  

… Paul shows fellow Christians how our Lord shows any, who would believe in His saving grace, to walk away from self and walk to follow the Savior.                                                                 

Highlight Passage (Context): … Titus 2:11-14  …  USE THIS LINK … </b>

… God, thru the Apostle Paul, relates how our Lord, thru His saving grace gives any/all the opportunity to walk away from self and follow the Savior.                                                                

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

…  God, thru Solomon, shows believers that we must trust the Lord to lead us in life. 

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

…  invites any/all who would follow Him to yoke themselves (ourselves) to His strength to overcome their (our) weakness.           

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. 

…  Jesus charges His followers to deny themselves and and daily follow the Lord.    

Reference Passage: … Colossians 2:6  [NLT] … 

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him. 

…  Paul exhorts fellow Christians to continually follow God’s will and walk in His ways.    

Reference Passage: … 1John 2:3-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  The Apostle John teaches how those who obey and follow God’s commands are the ones who truly walk with Jesus as His faithful disciples.   

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey… AT THIS LINK …   tells how a former prisoner was inspired to write a song <b>(linked above)</b> showing how those who truly and faithfully follow Jesus can - and will - walk away from fleshly desires to walk with The Lord. 

                  

And if there is one desire that this old follower of Christ has, … it is to seek out God’s will and His ways from His word and to walk with my Lord the rest of my life.   How about you?                  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for showing me thru your word the way to walk with You, Lord, again today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek out Your way, Lord, and then to walk with You today and then onward 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.

November 27, 2022 … God Sees Our Beauty …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 331 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Beautiful … poignantly singing of how God sees the beauty in all He has chosen for Himself.  … And also  …  THE LINK TO HEAR the popular song You Are So Beautiful, released by Joe Cocker in 1974.   

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Highlight Passage: … Ephesians 2:10  [NLT] … 

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. 

… Paul teaches the reality of how God sees us, . as HIs, … created for His eternal purposes …   

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

… God, thru the Apostle Paul, relates how the Lord sees Christians as His special creation.         

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Reference Passage: … 1Samuel 16:7 [NLT] …  

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

…  God, thru the Prophet Samuel, declares how God sees and judges mankind.   

Reference Passage: … Psalm 139:1-2, 23-24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  King David in song recognizes that God knows our hearts completely and perfectly and David prays for God to lead him in God’s everlasting ways..         

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 15:3 [NLT] …  

4 The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping His eye on both the evil and the good. 

…  Solomon declares that God see EVERYTHING in our hearts.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:;29-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Pau, shows Christians that God knew us and chose us as born-again Christians to become like Christ.   

Reference Passage… 1Peter 2:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter quotes from Isaiah showing that we Christians are a chosen people and The Lord will bring us out of our darkness into His light.  

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper… AT THIS LINK …   tells how, as a young girl, the ODB author saw a father looking at his new baby, … all wrinkly and with a cone-shaped head; but the father, longingly looked on his new baby and was singing to her that old popular song, “You Are So Beautiful,” (see link to the song above) 

                  

And if my readers have taken in the first linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, I’m praying we, who know Christ as our Lord, recognize that our God sees us - thru our salvation - as His beautiful children, created before time began for His purposes and His glory.  To the Lord, we are His beautiful children. 

And from that reality in God’s truth, … knowing how God sees us, … can I sense a glorious HALLELUJAH!! from you today?                                                       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … that You see me as Your masterpiece, created for Your glory.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to revel in the reality that we were created to be Your masterpiece, 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.

November 26, 2022 … Repentant Living …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 330 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group New Wine Worship singing … Song Of Repentance … poignantly singing of how we Christians must respond to God’s call for us to confess and repent of our sins.  

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Highlight Passage: … Hosea 4:2  [NLT] …  

2 Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer You our praises  

… Hosea’s call for God’s people to confess of their sins and reptant to follow The Lord’s will and His ways.                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Hosea 4:1-4 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Hosea, calls God’s people, who were living in sinful separation from God, to repentant living.                                                                                                                   

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Reference Passage: … 2Chronicles 7:14 [NLT] …  

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.  

…  God’s promise to true believers what it will be like when they (WE) truly turn from our sins and humbly follow the Lord.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 13:3, 5:32 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus’ repeated message in His time on earth was for His followers [and us] to confess and repent of their [our] sins and to follow The Messiah.    

Reference Passage: … Acts 3:17-20  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Peter preaches of the need of fellow Jews to repent of their sins and turn to Christ for forgiveness.     

Reference Passage: … Romans 2:4 [NLT] …  

4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 

…  Paul preaches that God’s kindness and forgiveness is to lead His followers to real repentance, . following the Lord no matter where He might lead. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:7-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru John, shows Christians that truly confessing our sins is the first step of cleansing, leading to repentant living which, in turn, leads us to to His light and out of our own darkness.  

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson… AT THIS LINK …  told of a man, named Grady, who had come to a saving relationship with Christ, which led him to turn and walk away from his previous life of gambling, adultery, and deceit, … a story of real brokenness, leading to repentance and a new life following Christ. 

                  

And oh how yours truly identifies.  For 22 years of my life, I led a double-life which looked good to many but was steeped in hidden, sinful living.  But Christ was relentless and finally I surrendered to follow God’s call for me to confess and live in surrender and repentance, following my Lord rather than myself.   

And if you’ve taken in the linked song and the Scriptures above, believing in their truth, as I do, … then we all know that following the Lord in repentant living is the only way to go!!   And that’s what I pray for all reading here with me.                                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … may my surrender to follow You, Lord, be the life of real-deal repentance every day. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to turn to follow You daily, Lord, and to help others follow Your call to repentant living.    …  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.

November 25, 2022 … Our Heavenly Hope …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 329 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Heaven Is The Hope … poignantly singing of how our eternal hope is a hope to be with Jesus forever in Heaven.    

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Highlight Passage: … Revelation 21:4  [NLT] …  

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”  

… God revelation, to/thru John, of what hope of Heaven will be like. .                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Revelation 21:1-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle John’s Revelation of the hope believers have of the New Jerusalem, our heavenly and eternal home with Jesus.                                                                                           

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Reference Passage: … John 14:1-4 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus promises His disciples (and all born-again Christians) an eternal home with the Lord forever.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 14:8 [NLT] …  

8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.. 

…  Paul shows fellow, born-again, Christians that whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord … FOREVER.   

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:51-58  [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul, to fellow Christians, reveals God’s promise of a new, transformed, body in heaven as our reward for all the suffering we experience in this life.   

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:8 [NLT] …  

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

…  Paul again shows fellow Christians that they (we) have a heavenly hope of being with Jesus, whether in life or in death, with His eternal hope of Heaven for which we can look forward.

Reference Passage: … Philippians 3:20 [NLT] …  

20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 

…  Paul repeatedly shows fellow Christians that they (we) have our eternal home, awaiting Christ’s return to bring all Christians to live with Him in Heaven.  

                                                                              

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon… AT THIS LINK …   told of a young man, named Solomon, who suffered from Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy; and how Solomon fought the progressive disease, but would often declare,  “I’m happy there’s no Duchenne’s in heaven.”  

                  

And tho many of us may not suffer physically to the extent of Solomon; we do occasionally suffer in these earthly bodies, don’t we? My dad suffered greatly in his latter years with many physical maladies; but being a Christian, when I came to visit him in the nursing care facility where he ultimately died, he would ask me to read for him from 1Corinthians 15:51-58 which promises a new body in Heaven.  

And as Matthew West sings in the linked song and God’s word repeatedly promises, we may suffer now for the sake of God’s glory; but the Apostle Paul promised repeatedly (see Pauline Scriptures above) and Jesus promised the night before His death, … that those of us who are sealed as born-again Christians, long for, and look forward to, being with Jesus forever when He comes for His bride and we join Him, with new, pain-free, bodies to be Him forever in our eternal and Heavenly home.  

And I - for one today - am looking forward hopefully for that day. How about you?                                                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … that all my pain will be gone when I’m with You, Lord, in heaven.         

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to look forward to being with You, Lord, and suffering no more in our internal and Heavenly home.    …  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.