March 31, 2023 … Assurance of Peace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 90 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Third Day singing … Blessed Assurance … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians have God’s assurance of His salvation no matter what we face in this life.  

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Highlight Passage: … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 

3 You will keep in perfect peace ALL who trust in You, . ALL whose thoughts are fixed on You.…  

…Pa showed fellow Christians how difficult it was for even a mature Christian, like himself, to avoid the pull of our sinful nature.                         

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Isaiah 26:1-6 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s covenant promise of His eternal peace for those who trust in and faithfully follow Him.   

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

… God call, thru Solomon, to seek and trust and follow God’s ways, avoiding doing life our own way.        

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

… Jesus invites those who trust in Him to find His peace and His strength by trusting in Him.  

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

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.. 

… Jesus assures His disciples in the upper room that they need not be troubled because He, … their Messiah, … would leave them (and us) HIS peace. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:1 [NLT] … 

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us..   

… Paul assures fellow Christians that by believing in the Lord’s finished work on the cross we will find God’s peace.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4;6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians how to find God’s peace, … by faithfully and with a heart of thanksgiving, bringing any and all of their (our) concerns to God’s throne of grace in prayer.     

                                                                                                               

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Karen Pimpo… AT THIS LINK …   … tells of Chinese physicians researching to find ways help ICU patients who found it difficult to sleep, … finding that some things, like sleep masks and headsets which helped to reduce light and noise, did helped; but many patients still found it difficult to sleep.      

And in this world, which is permeated with so much stress and the “noise” of information and conflict, it’s so difficult to find peace, isn’t it?   So, what can we Christians do to find God’s peace?  Well, really the only way is to trust that God’s invitation to find His peace is, as God’s word tells us (see Scriptures above), to trust - and believe - that our God will give us His strength when we faithfully follow His way thru His word.  

That’s why you find me here, starting each day, basking in God’s peace-producing promises from His word and praying that His truth will give me the strength to find His peace, just as His word promises.  …. And my fellow Christian readers, take it from an old peace-seeker, …  God’s word will give us His peace, just as He promises!  How about joining me in that search today by taking in the linked song and meditating on the Scriptures above?                                                      

My THANKFULNESS:... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your peace, Lord, as I thankfully bring my concerns to Your throne of grace in prayer, believing in the promises of Your word.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to bask in the strength of Your truth, Lord, to give us Your peace when we rest in Your promises.      …  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.

March 30, 2023… God’s Warning Signs …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 89 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Trust and Obey … poignantly singing of how we Christians should do all we can to trust and obey God’s word in order to follow God’s will for our lives. 

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Highlight Passage: … Romans 7:19 [NLT] … 

19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 

…Paul showed fellow Christians how difficult it was for even a mature Christian, like himself, to avoid the pull of our sinful nature.                         

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Romans 7:15-20 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul gives witness to fellow Cristians of his won difficulty in following God’s way and avoiding sin in our lives.                     .                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David shows his surrender to follow God’s word in order to avoid his own sinful nature.

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

… God call, thru Solomon, to seek and trust and follow God’s ways, avoiding doing life our own way.        

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 teaches that His disciples are to deny our own sinful ways a surrender our will to follow His   

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

… Paul teaches Timothy (and us) that Christians can - and MUST - use God’s word to avoid the dangers of our sin nature.  

Reference Passage: … James 4:17 [NLT] … 

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. 

… James teaches fellow Christians that they (we), knowing God’s way, thru His word, must use God’s warnings to follow God’s will.   

                                                                                                                

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper… AT THIS LINK …   tells of ignoring warning signs (see photo) posted by an old WW2 tank in their town park, and the ODB author and her friends playing on the old tank in spite of the warning signs.    

And isn’t that the way we al can be in our own sinful nature at times, … even as Christians committed to following God’s warnings, thru His word. Yes, even a mature Christian like the Apostle Paul (see the highlight passage), admitted to a personal battle with his own sin nature.

But battle we must, … using God’s word as our warning signs and seeking to do all we can to choose to follow God’s way in life and to avoid relenting to our own sinful ways.                                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me, thru Your word, how to follow Your warning signs for my life.      

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to follow Your warning signs for our life, 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.

March 29, 2023 … Seeking God’s Ways …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 88 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Eleventh Hour Worship singing … Your Plans For Us … poignantly singing of how we Christians should do all we can to seek out and follow God’s good plan for our lives. 

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

10 Later, when the boy was older, his mother brought him back to Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own son. The princess named him Moses, for she explained, “I lifted him out of the water.”  

…God’s plan was to deliver Moses to live to become God’s deliverer.                        

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

… Pharaoh had a plan to kill al the first born in Egypt; but God had a another plan for the life of Moses.    .                   .                     

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

… God call, thru Solomon, to seek and trust and follow God’s ways, avoiding doing life our own way.       

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:8-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, teaches His people to seek after and follow God’s ways, which are way beyond our own. 

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:11-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God promises, thru the Prophet, Jeremiah, that once day the LORD will reveal His plans and His will to His people thru a Messiah, … Whom we know now is Jesus.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them..

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that all things in the lives of His faithful disciples are for their (our) good and His glory. 

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.

… Paul also teaches truth that it was God’s plan to make His faithful disciples to do His good work for His glory.   

                                                                                                               

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson … AT THIS LINK …  relates the wonderful story of two Polish sisters who were abandoned during WW2 by their Jewish mother to save their lives from the holocaust.  And 80 years later, from DNA testing, they were reunited.   

And this story led the ODB author to remember the biblical story of Moses’ mother (see Highlight passage) led by God to give over her baby to be adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter, … illustrating the truth of the Scriptures above that God’s ways often are way above our understanding (see Isaiah 55:8-9); but are always for the good of those who trust in the Lord and seek to follow His ways (see Prov 3:5-6 and Rom 8:28).  

Oh, how I pray that all reading with me here are doing all we can to use God’s word to seek out and follow His ways for our lives, … rather than trying to find our own way down the road of this life.  My friend, our God wants us to see out and follow HIS WAYS and not our own.   Common, … my fellow Christians; … as the Nike slogan calls out … Let’s <b>“JUST DO IT!!”</b>                                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me, thru Your word, how to follow Your will and Your ways, Lord.       

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to seek out and follow Your ways, Lord, rather than do life on our own.         …  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.

March 28, 2023 … Seeking God’s Peace …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023- Day 87 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Gateway Worship singing … Give Me Your Peace … poignantly singing of we Christians can set aside our stresses by giving them over to God to seek His peace.   

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Highlight Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians how to deal with stresses in life thru prayer.                       

Highlight Passage (Context): …  Philippians 4:4-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul  exhorts fellow Christians to use prayer as their (our) tool to replace the anxieties of life with His peace. .                   .                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:165 [NLT] … 

165 Those who love Your instructions (i.e., Your word) have great peace and do not stumble. <

… God’s promise, thru King David’s song, of His peace for those who love and follow God’s word.       

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

 3 You will keep in perfect peace ALL THOSE who trust in You, … ALL WHOSE thoughts are fixed on You! 

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah promises His peace to ALL THOSE who focus their thoughts on the LORD.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:27, 16:33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises His disciples His peace to replace their (our) fears and anxieties.

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

15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to let God’s peace rule in their (our) hearts with thankfulness. 

Reference Passage: … James 3:18 [NLT] … 

18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness 

… James teaches fellow Christians the rewards of being peacemakers in God’s kingdom. 

                                                                                                               

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Katara Patton … AT THIS LINK … writes about being able to overcome the anxiety and stresses of moving to a new home by being engrossed in God’s word and praying for the completion of book which, at the time of the stressful move, called for the ODB author’s mind being focused on God’s word.  

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, that’s exactly the strategies our Lord, thru His Prophet, Isaiah, … thru King David’s Psalm, … thru Jesus to His disciples, and thru teachers like Paul and James, put forth to find God’s peace to deal with the anxieties and stresses of life. 

it’s so easy to let anxiety and stress overwhelm us these days, isn’t it?  So, I’m praying that we all implement the teaching from God’s word above, …  to allow us to focus on and pray about letting God’s peace replace those fears and stresses with the peace of God.                                                        

My THANKFULNESS ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me thru Your word how You have given me Your peace to deal with my stresses today.      

My Prayer Today Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to focus our hope on You, Lord, to deal with the anxieties of this 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.

March 27, 2023 … We Pray - God Hears …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 86 

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 ALWAYS hears the prayers of those who seriously seek our Lord. 

We pray - God hears !!! ... 

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Highlight Passage: … James 5:16 [NLT] … 

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results..      

… James exhorts fellow Christians that their prayers for one another have great power when offered up to a caring God.                     

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

… James writes to persecuted Christians to have confidence to pray to God when we’re in need of help.                   .                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 116:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Most scholars believe King David wrote about God always being there to hear the Psalmist’s prayers.      

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

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

… God thru Solomon promises to heart the prayer of the righteous. 

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

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. 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, calls those of faith in Christ to come confidently to the Lord to find His grace when we need it.   . 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 3:12 [NLT] … 

12 …The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers.But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil..” 

… Peter quotes from King David [see Psalms 34:12-16] assuring fellow Christians that their (our) prayers as believers are always heard by God.      

Reference Passage: … 1John 5:14-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...

… The Apostle John assures fellow Christians that our God ALWAYS hears us when we’re asking for something that pleases Him.     

                                                                                                            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda … AT THIS LINK …  writes about a famous Hollywood actor and martial artist (I’m assuming Chuck Conners) , who told about his mother, who prayed diligently for years for her son, … Chuck testifying … “When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood, she was back home praying for my success and salvation.” …  “I thank [my mom] for helping God to make me all I can and should be.”

And that story gives human witness to the truths my readers hear in the linked song and the Scriptures above, giving witness from God’s own word that our Heavenly Father ALWAYS hears the prayers of His chosen faithful.  So, what are we waiting on?!!  … Let’s be in prayer for ourselves and those we know need to be lifted up before God’s throne of grace .. NOW! … 

Our all-knowing, all-powerful, God will hear us.                                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for ALWAYS hearing my prayers.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to pray for those who need You today, 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.