February 28, 2023 … Use Me Today, Lord …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 59 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Michael W Smith leading in worship and singing … Lord, I Give You My Heart … powerfully singing of how we Christians worship our God with our service to/for Him.    

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Highlight Passage: … Numbers 22:28  [NLT] … 

28 Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. 

…  God rebukes Balaam thru his donkey. to worship God by the way he treats his donkey.   

Highlight Passage (Context): … Numbers 22:21-31 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  God uses a donkey to speak truth about life to the donkey’s master, … Baalam.             

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows His people (and us) that we must trust Him to be able to worship and follow the Lord by the way we live for our Lord.                 .         

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT] … 

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.   

…God, to His people (and us), thru Jeremiah, showing that the Lord has plans for ALL His people to worship Him thru service to Him. 

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

… Paul strongly teaches and exhorts fellow Christians to become living sacrifices of worship to our Lord by the way we live our lives for Him.    

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

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.   

… All Christians, being made over by Christ are now fashioned for service and worship to Him thru the way we live for Him.   

Reference 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..   

… All, born again Christians have been refashioned for serving God as our way to worship Him.                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks … AT THIS LINK …  related a true story of how a man in Africa trained a baboon to serve and work for him, doing things he could not do, working at a railroad yard.  And then the ODB author, reminded his readers of how God used Balaam’s donkey to show Salaam how to worship the Lord.  

And if a donkey and a baboon can be used of God to show mankind how to serve and worship our Lord, certainly we ought to be able to trust our Lord, thru the truth of His word <b>(see Scriptures above)</b> to worship our Lord though our service to Him. 

So, what can we be doing today that will allow us to worship the Lord thru the gifts and abilities He has given to us to serve Him.  Personally, I will keep on keeping on in the ministry God has led me to serve and worship Him again today.   How about you?!                                  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me to worship You, Lord, by using the gifts You have given me to serve You.                   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to go out and worship You, Lord, by the way we serve You 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.

February 27, 2023 … Find a Need & Fill It …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 58 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew singing … Do Something … powerfully singing of how we Christians were made by God to reach out and help others in need.  

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Highlight Passage… Acts 9:36  [NLT] … 

36 There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor.                                                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Acts 9:36-42 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  Luke tells the story of Tabitha (also, “Dorcas”), who was known for her work in helping others and who was raised from the dead by Peter’s prayer.            

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

… God’s wisdom, thru Solomon, on reaching out to help those in need.                .         

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 5:41-42 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches how those who follow His way should live, … helping others in need.   

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

… Paul strongly exhorts fellow Christians to take on the attitude of Christ to avoid being selfish by humbly reaching out to help others.    

Reference Passage: …  Hebrews 13:16 [NLT] … 

16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.  

…God’s word, in Hebrews, shows that God favors those who sacrifice to help others in need. 

Reference Passage: …  1John 3:17-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… The Apostle John charges fellow Christians to show Christlike love by reaching to give and help others in need.                               

                                                                             

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper … AT THIS LINK …  wrote of a nurse caring for the author’s father in the last days of his life, giving him a shave every morning and relating, “Older men of his generation like to have a neat shave every day.”

And that nurse, … Rachel, … was like the woman, named Tabitha, <b>In the highlight passage</b>, who did all she could as a follower of Christ, to humble herself, as would Christ, to see the needs of others and reach out to help those in need.  

It’s like Matthew West calls on Christians in the linked song to reach out and ”Do Something” when we see those who need what we can do to help.  So, … are any of my readers feeling convicted, like I am, to do more today to help others who might need God’s love and grace flowing thru what we could do to show that love to others.                                  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your love and grace to share with someone who needs it today.                 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to see the needs of those with whom I can share Your love 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.

February 26, 2023… Following God’s Way …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 56 

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… poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians are called and commanded to follow God’s will by serving Christ.  

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Highlight Passage: … 1Samuel 24:6  [NLT] … 

<i>  6 He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” </i> 

…David shows his men that he was following God’s will to spare Saul’s life.                                                                                                   

Highlight Passage (Context): …1Samuel 24:1-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  King David follows God’s will rather than take the opportunity to kill King Saul, who was pursuing David to kill him.          

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 40:8, 139:23-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of his desire to do and follow God’s will and His way in all of David’s life.        

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

… God’s word, thru Solomon, shows us to trust God and follow His ways ALWAYS, … even when our feelings lead us our own way.         .         

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

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

… Jesus teaches any disciple or followers that God will provide His faithful with their (our) needs if they (we) follow the LORD. 

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

… Paul strongly exhorts fellow Christians (and us too) to surrender to follow God’s way in life, avoiding following the ways of the world.   

Reference Passage: …  Ephesians 5:17 [NLT] … 

17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do..   

… Again Paul charges fellow Christians to avoid foolish or selfish decisions by following God’s way and His will. 

                                                                                                            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread< author, Leslie Koh… AT THIS LINK …   tells of Peter, who was desperate, looking for a job; and was offered a tempting job offer; but in reviewing the offering company, he discovered some practices which went against his faith.  So, he refused the offer.  

Sometimes following the ways of the world as Christians will cause us reject those ways to follow God’s ways.  Perhaps some of my Christian readers have had circumstances like that, where following God’s will became difficult when the world’s ways were tempting but clearly not where God would lead us.  

So, …  as we take in the inked song and the truth of God’s word above, I pray that we all will do all we can to discern God’s way today and then to follow it, even it’s very tempting to follow where the world, Satan, or our flesh would lead us.                                

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me Your way thru Your word.               

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek and follow Your way, Lord, as we walk the paths of our lives 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.

February 25, 2023 … Sharing “JESUS” ALWAYS …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 56 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing about … Jesus … powerfully singing of how we Christians are called to share JESUS everywhere and always. 

Sharing the Name of JESUS everywehre ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Acts 5:42  [NLT] … 

42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”   

…The Apostle went forth, even under persecution, and shared the Name of Jesus as the Messiah.                                                                                                     

Highlight Passage (Context): … Acts 5:17-21, 25-29, 41-42 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  The Apostles were charged by God to go out from persecution to share Jesus everywhere and to all who would hear.            

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Reference Passage: …  Matthew 28:19-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, upon His return to heaven after the resurrection, commands all disciples (that’s us!) to go forth and share the Gospel, making other disciples in His name with His promise to be with us forever.       

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

15 And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.   

… After the resurrection, Jesus appears to the eleven remain disciples and changes them to go and share the good news to everyone who will listen.         

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

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

… In the upper room, Jesus shows His disciples that HE is the ONLY way for others to go to the Father.

Reference Passage: … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”   

… Jesus declares and charges all who would be His disciples to be His witnesses to the entire world.       

Reference Passage: …  Philemon 1:6 [NLT] … 

6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.   

… The Apostle Paul to a fellow Christian, shows Paul’s desire that Philemon (and all Christians) put their (our) faith into action by living for Christ. 

                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda … AT THIS LINK …   tells how a Christian musician and band leader was told by his agents to back off from sharing Jesus to help those who were offended by hearing about Jesus.  But the band leader responded by saying,  “The entire point of my music is to share my faith in Christ. . . . No way [am I] going to be silent.”

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, that’s the attitude all Christians are called - no less than by Jesus Himself (see Matt 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8 - to go forth everyday to anyone who’ll listen to share our witness and testimony that  faith in Jesus is the ONLY WAY to Heaven.  

So, I’m also praying that we ALL take every opportunity to share the Good News of Christ with some one God puts in our path today … or tomorrow.                               

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the opportunity to share Your love/grace with someone …. maybe even today.               

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to go, as You’ve called us, Lord, to be Your witness 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 LINKon the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

February 24, 2023 … He ALWAYS Hears …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 55 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Mandy Lining singing… God Hears Our Prayers … poignantly singing of how God hears our prayers … even when He doesn’t seem to.     

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Highlight Passage: … Psalm 61:2  [NLT] … 

61 From the ends of the earth, I cry to You for help when my hearty is overwhelmed.   

… Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and religious leaders for letting their man-made traditions from getting in the way of honoring God with their lives.                                                                                                    

Highlight Passage (Context): … Psalms 61 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…  King David cries out for help, knowing that His God hears his prayers.          

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm116:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Most scholars believe David wrote this song out of his confidence that God bent down to hear his prayers.       

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 15:29 [NLT] … 

29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.   

… God promise, thru Solomon, of ALWAYS hearing the prayers of the righteous.       

Reference Passage: … Matthew 21:22 [NLT] … 

22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”.   

… Jesus’ wonderful promise to answer the prayers of the faithful.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:15-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s promise to His faithful, as our High Priest, to always hear our prayers for His mercy and His grace.      

Reference Passage: …  1John 5:14-15 [NLT] … </b>

14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for.  

… The Apostle John teaches truth about our confidence, as Christians, to come to God, knowing that He hears and answers out prayers.  

                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Packham … AT THIS LINK …  … tells of author, Russell Moore, noticing the silence in a Russian orphanage, looking to adopt a child; and being told that the children didn’t cry out because no one had been there to respond to their cries.        

Not so with God, … IS IT?!!  No!  As the linked song plaintively sings and the truth of God’s word attests above, God not only is ALWAYS there to hear our cries as His faithful adopted children; but He even bends down to hear our pleas for His mercy and grace.  

So, what’re we waiting for today, my friend.  Let’s pray !!!                                

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for always being there to hear my prayers.               

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to go to You, Lord, Who will always be there to hear our prayers.                      … 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.

February 23, 2023 … At His Well - Everyday …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 54 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kristyn Getty singing… Living Waters … poignantly and powerfully singing of how Jesus offers His living waters to all who believe in Him and thirst for His salvation 

Jesus offers His living waters to the Samaritan woman at the well ... 

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Highlight Passage: … John 4:9-10  [NLT] … 

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.  She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”  

… Jesus offers the Samaritan woman His living waters of eternal life.                                                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … John 4:1-14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus offers the woman at the well His living waters.          

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Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 12:3 [NLT] … 

3 With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation.   

… Isaiah prophesies of a joyous day when God’s people will drink freely from the living waters of salvation.   

Reference Passage: …  Jeremiah 2:13 [NLT] … <

13  “For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water.  And they have dug for themselves cracked cistern that can hold no water at all!   

… God, thru the Prophet Jeremiah, rebukes those who drink from the self-built cisterns of idolatry and sin rather than partaking of God’s living waters.    

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

8 On that day life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half toward the Dead Sea and half toward the Mediterranean, flowing continuously in both summer and winter.   

… God, thru the Prophet Zechariah, prophesies of a time when God’s living waters of salvation will flow out from God’s people. 

Reference Passage: …  John 7:38 [NLT] … 

38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”   

… Jesus invites any who thirst for the eternal waters of salvation to come and drink from His living waters.     

Reference Passage: …  Revelation 22:17 [NLT] … 

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.   

… God’s open invitation for ANYONE who is thirsty for eternal life to come and drink from God’s eternal waters of life.   

                                                                                                        

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye … AT THIS LINK …  relates the story of a young woman, who left home at 14, seeking love and affirmation, which she didn’t get at home.  And after a failed and dismal marriage and not finding satisfaction in alcohol and drugs, she was befriended and loved by some Christians who showed this thirsty seeker the living waters offered by Jesus.        

Really, that’s the story related in the highlight passage of Jesus befriending the Samaritan woman at the well (see photo), Who offered His living waters of salvation to this woman, who was desperately seeking the love and eternal salvation only Jesus could offer.  And Oh how I pray that all reading here with me have found those eternally satisfying waters that flow from the truth of God’s word, through the only One Who can satisfy our thirst for salvation. 

That’s why I’m here every morning, beginning my day, by drinking from the eternally satisfying waters that my Lord offers me at the well of truth, … His living word.                                   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading me to Your waters of life to drink and be satisfied each day until I drink from those waters in glory with You, King Jesus, … forever.                   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to drink from Your well of living waters each day, 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.