Oct 31 2024 … Following Jesus To Glory

Oct 31 2024 … Following Jesus To Glory

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  

… Please take time to hear  Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and BeBe Winans , with music and lyrics, singing I Will Follow Christ, making sure all know Whom we follow in life. 

  

Highlight Verse: … Mark 12:17 [NLT] …  

17 Then Jesus said to them, “Pay to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. Pay to God the things that belong to God.” They were surprised and wondered at Him.  

… Jesus calls His followers to render to Caesar what is his and to God what we are called to do for Him.  

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Mark 12:13-17  … [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The religious leaders, trying to trap Jesus in His words; but He declares to the people pay to Caesar what is His and to God what is due to the Lord.                                                                  

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

…  Jesus teaching His followers what it takes in obedience to follow our Lord.               

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

…Jesus to His followers, one must be willing to give up his desires and take up his cross to follow Jesus. 

Reference Passage: … John 10:27  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, like being a “Good Shepherd,” declares that when His followers hear His voice they will come to Him like sheep to their shepherd  .                                                    

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

…  The Apostle Paul teaches that born again Christians will become living sacrifices to follow the Lord, avoiding the ways of the world.   

Reference Passage: …1Corinthians 11:1 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

…   The Apostle Paull confidently calls fellow Christians to follow his ways because he (Paul) imitates Christ. .  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 1:14-16 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…   Peter quotes from Lev. 11:44-45, calling on those who follow God’s ways to be holy as God is holy and to follow God’s ways rather then our own ways. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’Our Daily Bread  Author, Tim Gustafson -  AT THIS LINK  -  uses a famous Peanuts cartoon (SEE PHOTO) where Linus says, “There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people . . . religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin!”< to illustrate how Christian’s should be careful when we follow Jesus, i.e., to follow HIS WAYS and to avoid following our own desires or those of the world. 

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, I’m praying that we’re all doing all we can to seek and to follow God’s ways and to avoid taking the ways that our selfish desires or the world would call us to follow.  Are you with me … as we choose to follow the Lord today?                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being my “GPS” again today.               

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me to CHOOSE to follow You again 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 “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.

Oct 30 2024 … A Gift of Glory

Oct 30 2024 … A Gift of Glory

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... 

… Please take time to hear an anonymous praise group, with music and lyrics, singing How Great The Glory Of Our God, praising the Lord and singing of His glory, now and forever.  

 

A glorious surprise !!! 

Highlight Verse: … Isaiah 4:2 [NLT] …  

2 In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and shining with greatness. The fruit of the earth will be the pride and the beauty of those of Israel who are still alive. 

… God’s promise of His glory to come.  

Highlight Passage (in context): … Isaiah 4:2-6  … [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, to HIs chosen people of His coming glory.                                       

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Reference Passage: …  Psalms 24:7-8… [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

…  The Psalmist, likely King David, calls on believers to look, by faith, to see the King of greatness, our Messiah.             

Reference Passage:… Isaiah 60:1 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… The Prophet Isaiah foretells of believers to rise up and see the Light of the Lord, Who has risen to save His chosen ones (and that’s all who believe in the Lord.  

Reference Passage: … Habakkuk 2:14  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Habakkuk foresees the coming knowing and shining greatness of God’s glory.  .                                                    

Reference Passage: … John 11:40 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…   Jesus tells Martha, and all who believe in Christ as our Messiah, that we will see the Lord’s shining greatness and glory as He calls Lazarus to rise to show God’s glory.  

Reference Passage: …Philippians 2:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…   The Apostle Paull urges fellow Christians to see that God has given all glory to His Son and to all who believe in Him as LORD.  

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

…   Jesus reveals to John and all who read of John’s revelation about the coming glory of God in Christ.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread<  Author, Tom Felton -  AT THIS LINK  -   tells of a farmer, Lee Wilson, who decided to plant a 40 acre field in sunflowers to honor his wife with a field of her favorite flowers for their 50th anniversary.  And when the field grew to harvest, Lee’s wife was overcome with gratitude, … seeing the glorious flowers in bloom (see photo).  

And that’s what all of us, who believe in Christ as Lord and our Savior, should feel every day, remembering what our Lord has done for us to see and receive His saving grace and to be with Him forever in heaven.  Will you join me to praise our Lord for the glory He is for us every day? Look around, my friend, and see His field of sunflowers blooming for us in Heaven!                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for the beauty blooming for us in all of Your creation, Lord. .               

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me to praise You, Lord, for the glory You are for us in this life and evermore for what lies ahead for us in glory!!       …  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.

Oct 29 2024 … Stopping To Pray

Oct 29 2024 … Stopping To Pray

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  

… Please take time to hear Matthew West, with music and lyrics, singing Don’t Stop Praying, calling on Christians to keep on praying to God for His grace and peace.    

 

Highlight Verse: … 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.. 

… God’s promise, thru Paul, of God’s peace for those who pray to God with thankful hearts.   

Highlight Passage (in context): … Philippians 4:4-9  … [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to cast aside their worries and pray with thankful hearts for one another.                                                                                                                     

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Reference Passage: …  Job 42:10… [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

…  With all Job went thru, when he learned to pray for his ill advised friends, God restored Job twice over.  .             

Reference Passage: … 2Chronicles 7:14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… God’s response to Solomon’s prayer, showing that He respond to humble prayer for His grace and mercy.  

Reference Passage: … John 15:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  Jesus teaches His disciples (and all believers) that God will respond to humble prayers in HIs Name.                                                    

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…   The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to be in constant prayer for others with joy and thankfulness in our hearts 

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

…   The Apostle Paull urges Timothy and all believers to pray for each other, giving thanks for them always.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Nancy Gavilanes -  AT THIS LINK  - tells of a TV meteorologist in Mississippi who recognized, while on live TV, that there was impending danger from possible tornadoes in the area.    And while on TV, almost reflexively, prayed and said, . “Dear Jesus, please help them. Amen.”  The prayer from the TV weather reporter went viral online and was credited in saving many lives.  

Well, if my readers have taken in the linked song from Matthew West and have meditated on the Scriptures shared above, I’m praying - yes, right now - that all of us take to heart God’s call for us to be in constant and thankful prayer for one another, … knowing that God hears our prayers.  Are you with me, today!   Let’s pray !!!                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promises, in Your word, that You hear our prayers, Lord.               

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me to pray and pray, and keep on praying, for Your grace, 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.

Oct 28 2024 … Letting Baggage Go

Oct 28 2024 … Letting Baggage Go

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  

… Please take time to hear Jack Cassidy, with music and lyrics, singing Let God, Let God, showing that we Christians need to let go of our sinful selves and receive God’s forgiveness and love to know who we really are in Christ.     

 

Heavy text - a burden ... 

  

Highlight Verse: … Genesis 33:4 [NLT] …  

 4 Then Esau ran to meet him (Jacob) and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. 

… Esau runs to Jacob and hugs him in forgiveness and love.  

Highlight Passage (in context): … Genesis 33:1-11  … [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jacob receives Esau’s forgiveness with gifts of repentance, restoring their brotherhood.          

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Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 17:9, 28:13 … [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

...  Godly wisdom from Solomon to let go, forgiving past sins, letting love grow and flourish with those who’ve hurt us in the past.             

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14-15 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus calls on His followers in His Sermon on the Mount, to be willing to let go and forgive past hurts so that God, our Father, can - and will - forgive us our past sins.

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:25  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

…  Jesus teaches truth about being willing to let go and forgive anyone where you been hurt in the pas so that our God can forgive us of past sins.                                                    

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …   

…   The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to let all past hurt and sins against them (us) go in forgiveness just as God is willing to forgive them (us). 

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

…   The Apostle John shows fellow Christians that God will cleanse them (us) from any/all sin if we’re willing pray and confess our past sins which weigh them (us) down.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread</b></i>  Author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt -  AT THIS LINK  tells of taking a course on Shakespeare’s writings and having to carry around a text of the great author’s writings which weighted several pounds (see photo).   And when the course was over, the ODB author was greatly relieved to jettison the weight of carrying that test around any more.   

And apparently that memory of letting go reminded the ODB author of being able to let go of the weight of past burdens, reading and remembering how Esau was able to let go of past wrongs that Jacob had done in the past to Esau; and how God’s forgiveness prevailed as the two brothers came together to receive God’s love as Esau was able to forgive Jacob and receive his brother’s gifts of love.  And the ODB  entry today calls on all of us Christians to be willing to let go of past hurts and burdens and to receive God’s forgiveness and His gift of cleansing love.  Oh, how I pray we can.                     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your willingness to hear and forgive my past, … unburdening me to receive Your eternal love and forgiveness.         

My Prayer Today:  Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I’m praying that those who read with me here will join me to receive your grace and pass it on to others with our forgiveness and Your love.     …  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.