May 31, 2023 … Joy Out of Sorrow

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 151 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Tauren Wells singing … Joy In the Morning … poignantly singing of how we Christians can look past any grieving today to the joy Christ gives us for the morning ahead thru Go's saving and sanctifying grace.  

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Highlight Passage: … Ezra 3:13 [NLT] …

13 The joyful shouting and weeping mingled together in a loud noise that could be heard far in the distance.  

… The loud shouting for joy and tears of remembrance were joined as Ezra led God’s people to rebuild the Temple after the return of God’s faithful remnant after their 70 year exile to Babylon.                    

Highlight Passage (Context): … Ezra 3:8-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Ezra leads God’s people in the rebuilding of the Temple which causes tears of remembrance and joy among the people of God.                                             .                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 30:5 [NLT] … 

5 For His anger lasts for only a moment, but His favor lasts for a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. . 

… King David sings of God’s joy and restoration, which will outlast God’s anger and His loving discipline.    

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’s promise thru Jeremiah to restore the joy of salvation to God’s people. 

Reference Passage: … John 16:10-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…Jesus teaches His confused Disciples of the joy which will come … but only after He would leave them for a time.  

Reference Passage : … Acts 2:28 [NLT] … <

8 You have shown me the way of life, and You will fill me with the joy of Your presence.’.. 

… Peter, at Pentecost preaches from David’s song in Psalms 16: 8-11 that God will restore the joy of God’s people.   

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

8 You love Him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.   

… Peter shows persecuted and troubled Christians that our Lord will restore us from our suffering to a foundation of joy in Christ’s love.        

                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye … AT THIS LINK …  tells of the grief being shared by three sisters who experienced three losses in a short span of time, including one of their own children.  But the sisters received comfort from God’s word in the Book of Ezra (see highlight passage) where God shared the tears of sorrow and joy mingling after God’s Temple was rebuilt.        

Perhaps some of my readers today are going thru a tough time, as God’s people did being exiled to Babylon.  But as we read in God’s Reference Scriptures above, our God’s plan for all of His chosen people is to return and restore them (us) from our times of trouble and loss to the joy of God’s Salvation thru the work of our Messiah, King Jesus, and His blood sacrifice on the cross.

I pray we all can - and will - grieve that our sin, which nailed our Lord to that cross; … but then, we can shed tears of joy that God’s sacrifice has saved those of us who believe in Jesus as our Messiah … so that we can have eternal life with our Lord.   And that is our JOY and hope forever! 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me the joy of Your saving grace which I can hold onto forever.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to praise and give thanks to You, Lord, for Your saving and sanctifying grace.    … 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.

May 30, 2023 … Restored By Christ

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 150 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Restored … powerfully singing of how we Christians are restored by the Lord’s saving and sanctifying grace. . 

Giorgio Vasari masterpiece restored from flood damage ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Ezekiel 37:5 [NLT] … 

5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again!   

… God’s promise thru Ezekiel that the Lord will restore God’s people from the dry bones of death to life eternal with God.           

                         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Ezekiel 37:4:14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God gives His sovereign promise to restore God’s people from death to life.                             

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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’s assures His faithful remnant of believers that His plans for them will restore them to the hope of eternal life. 

Reference Passage: … Joel 2:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…God’s promise, thru the Prophet Joel that the Lord will restore all that His people have lost.  

Reference Passage: … Zechariah 9:12 [NLT] … 

12 Come back to then to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still of hope!  I promise this ver day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.   

… God’s promise to restore and repay His people two-for-one for al the troubles God’s people have incurred.    

Reference Passage: …John 10:10 [NLT] … 

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.. 

… Jesus promises to restore His faithful and overcome Satan’s purpose to kill and destroy with His rich and satisfying … eternal … life.   

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:10 [NLT] … 

10 In His kindness God called you to share in His eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He will place you on a firm foundation.  

… Peter shows persecuted Christians that our Lord will restore us from our suffering to a foundation of hope in Christ.         

                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Adam Holz … AT THIS LINK …  tells of the 50+ year project to restore the Giorgio Vasari masterpiece, The Last Supper from flood damage in 1966 (see photo).      

But that restoration project - as arduous and miraculous it was - pales by comparison to the restoration that God has completed in the restoration our God has brought about when God’s Son died on the cross and was resurrected to defeat the plans of Satan as our Lord defeated death and restored His chosen and faithful remnant to eternal life and God’s ultimate glory.  

So, I pray that all my restored fellow Christian readers will join me to praise our Lord today for His truly wondrous  restoring grace.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for restoring me from death to life with Your saving grace.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to thank You, Lord, for restoring all of us who believe in You as Lord and Savior.    … 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 in the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site

May 29, 2023 … Full of Hope Today

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 149 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from David Crowder and Tauren Wells singing … All My Hope … poignantly singing of how we Christians place al our hope in our relationship with Jesus Christ. 

A Vase filled with hope ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Habakkuk 3:17-18 [NLT] … 

17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!   

… God assures the Prophet Habakkuk (and all faithful believers)  that He will provide His chosen ones His joy in spite of the troubles of this world.          

                         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Habakkuk 3:11-19 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God gives His sovereign hope thru the Prophet Habakkuk.                                                    .   

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:31 [NLT] … 

31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. 

… Those who trust in God will find all our hope and strength in following the 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’s assures His faithful remnant of believers that His plans for them give them (us) a hope for the futures. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 15:13 [NLT] … 

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

… Paul assures fellow Christian that our trust in God give us a confident hope for the future no matter what we face in the world.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:25 [NLT] … 

1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that our faith in Christ gives us our hope for the future.   

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

… Peter teaches oppressed Christians that Christ’s blood shed on the cross and His resurrection gives those who have faith in Him all our hope for a glorious future.         

                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks … AT THIS LINK …  told of a daughter, whose father declared was missing in action in WW2, who held out hope that here dad would return because he had prearranged to have flowers sent to her in a vase (see photo).   And ultimately the daughter’s hope and faith proved right as her father did return from a very dangerous action in the war.   

And on this Memorial Day, here in the USA, … thru the linked song and the hopeful Scriptures above, I pray we all hold onto the promises from God’s word that our Lord gives us, as His faithful remnant, all hope thru the saving grace brought about by our Lord, … King Jesus … dying on the cross and being resurrected to give those who believe in Him eternal life.   

So, my fellow Christian, join me, on this Memorial Day, to relish the hope we have in Christ to deal with all the woes we face in this life.      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me the hope I have in my relationship with You.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to trust in the saving and sanctifying hope, provided by Your finished work on the cross, dear 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.

May 28, 2023 … Waiting on God’s Spirit

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 148 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Leeland singing … Holy Spirit - Have Your Way … poignantly singing of how we Christians follow God’s way when we surrender to walk with God’s Spirit.  

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Highlight Passage … Acts 2:4 [NLT] …

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.   

… Those who surrendered to receive God’s Spirit were given gifting from the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.          

                         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Acts 2:1-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… At Pentecost the Holy Spirit came down to to share God’s gifting with those who would surrender to receive the Spirit of God.                                                    .                     

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 30:21 [NLT] … 

1 Your own ears will hear Him.  Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go;” whether to the right or the left. 

… God’s prophesy, thru Isaiah, of the coming of the Holy Spirit to lead His chosen people. 

Reference Passage: … John 14:26 [NLT] … 

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 

… God’s assures His disciples and us of the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide all who would surrender in faith to our Lord.  

Reference Passage: …Romans 8:5, 9, 14, and 26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Those who surrender to follow Christ are led by God’s Spirit.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:25 [NLT] … 

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to surrender to follow the leading of God’s Spirit.   

Reference Passage: … 2Peter 1:21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter teaches that true Prophets of God in the Old Testament were led in their prophesy by God’s Spirit.         

                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier …  AT THIS LINK …   tells of how an elderly and respected theologian, Jürgen Moltmann (see photo), was asked at a lecture how Christians could activate the Holy Spirit, … to which Moltmann responded,  … 

“What can I do? Don’t do anything. Wait on the Spirit, and the Spirit will come.” 

We Christians, so often in the weakness of our sin nature, feel we must take charge or “do something” to let  the Holy Spirit’s power work thru us.  But from the linked song and the Scriptures above, I pray we all come to recognize the reality that all we must do is believe and surrender to receive God’s enabling and empowering grace from God’s Spirit to work thru us.  

So, my fellow Christian, join me today to surrender and let God’s Spirit do <u>His thing</u> today as HIS SPIRIT works thru us.      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me Your Spirit-led power when I’m willing to surrender to let You work thru me.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to surrender to yield Your Power, Lord, to work in/thru us 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.

May 27, 2023 … Small Changes = Big Results

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 147

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Josh Williams singing … Less Like Me … powerfully singing of how we become more like Jesus when we’re willing to make the changes in our lives which reflect His glory rather than our own. 

Dr. Ken Ono coaching an Olympic hopeful .... 

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Highlight Passage: … Zechariah 4:10 [NLT] … 

10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”   

… Prophesy on the building of God’s temple and how the building will seem small at the outset but will produce greatness by God’s Spirit as it is built.          

                         

Highlight Passage (Context): … Zechariah 4:4-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah+4%3A4-10&version=NLT

… God’s prophesy of the completion of God’s temple and what it will mean to God’s people.       

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 1:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God shows Joshua - and us - what it takes to be successful in following the Lord and carrying out the tasks He calls us to accomplish.  

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows that God’s children must trust in and follow the Lord’s lead in life, avoiding trying to do it on our own. 

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

6 And I am certain that God, Who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

… Paul assures fellow Christians that the work of remaking us into Christ’s image will be completed our Lord before He comes again.  

Reference Passage: … 1Timothy 4:7-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul, teaching Timothy - and us - that Christ’s disciples must train themselves (ourselves) in the disciplines of Godly living.   

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 12:11 [NLT] … 

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.  

… Growing in the disciplines of the faith is painful … but the results are Godly living.        

                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Rayon … AT THIS LINK …  tells of how a math professor, Dr. Ken Ono, coaching a potential olympic caliber swimmer (see photo) showed the swimmer some minute changes in her swimming discipline that produced dramatic results in improving the simmer’s times.  

Whom among us, as disciples of Christ, would not like to do what Josh Williams sings in the linked song; and that is to become more disciplined to live more like Jesus and less like ourselves?   If we’re really born-again, I would assume, that all reading with me would be answering in the affirmative.  

Well, if you’ve take in and meditated on the Scriptures above, and believe they are true - as I do - we are all committed to do whatever small things it takes to discipline ourselves to grow in our faith and to become more like Jesus today … and then even more so tomorrow.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for giving me Your enabling grace to discipline myself more today to follow You.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do the small things today to become more like You, Lord.    … AMEN 

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.