Aug 1, 2025 … Humble and Kind …

Aug 1, 2025 … Humble and Kind   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Tim McGraw singing… Humble And Kind,  … calling all to be humble and kind to one another.  

Highlight Passage: … Psalms 37: 17 … [NLT] … 

17 For the strength of the wicked will be shattered;.. but the Lord takes care of the Godl …  

…  David sings of God protecting the Godly …         

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … Psalms 37:5-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David sings of God watching over and taking care of the Godly  … ”               

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

… God speaking to Solomon about the Temple built to honor God’s promises to His people,  …declares the importance of His people humbling themselves to serve God.

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 25:8-9 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… King David sings of God watching over His faithful and leading them in His way.

Reference Passage: …   Proverbs 3:34 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God promises, thru Solomon, His grace to those who humbly follow the Lord.

Reference Passage: …  Micah 6:8 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Prophet Micah, lays out what He, The Lord, demands of His people and that is to humble themselves (ourselves) to follow Him. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:29  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Jesus invites His followers (i.e., disciples) to walk like Him - in humility and kindness. 

Reference Passage: … James 4:10  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… James, the brother of Jesus, calls on fellow Christians to humble themselves before the Lord and He will lift them up.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author,  Tim Gustafson  … AT THIS LINK    … uses the Charles Dicken’s character of Oliver in the classic novel, Oliver Twist to illustrate how Oliver was treated so unfairly in life, yet he ended up being rewarded and protected for his humble way of treating others.  Dickens always wanted his characters to have a happy ending.  But unfortunately that’s not always the way life goes, does it?     

Right now, some, who are reading here with me, may be going thru some really rough trials; but our troubling circumstances are God’s way of leading us and lifting us up with His strength and redemptive grace.  But taking in the linked song by Tim McGraw and meditating on the Scriptures God’s word shared with me today, I think we’ll all see that when we humble ourselves before God’s throne of grace, the Lord will lift us up and provide us with His enabling grace.  … Pretty good deal, isn’t it?  So, let’s all stick in there and continue to be humble and kind and see our God lead us today and on into tomorrow.         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for calling me to be humble and kind, like You, Lord.

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … again Lord. …for leading us to live lives like You, … being humble and kind to 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.

July 31, 2025 … More Like Him …

July 31, 2025 … More Like Him   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Zach Williams singing… Less Like Me,  … calling fellow Christians to becoming more like Jesus!! 

 

Highlight Passage: … John 15:15 … [NLT] … 

1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around Him, 2 and He began to teach them..    </i> 

…  Jesus teaches His disciples and followers the characteristics of those who belong in God’s kingdom.         

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … Matthew 5:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shares the qualities of those whom God blesses … ”               

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:29 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… A good place to start in becoming more like Jesus is to strive to become like He described Himself … as “humble and gentle of heart.”  

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

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A1-2&version=NLT

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to become living sacrifices worshipping God with the way we live like Jesus lived. … avoiding living as the world lives.

Reference Passage: …   2Corinthians 3:18 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Paul also charges fellow believers in Christ to live - more and more - to be like Jesus. 

Reference Passage: …  Galatians 2:20 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul gives witness to dying to self and living to be more like Christ. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 1:6  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul shows his faith and confidence that God’s Spirit, living in him, will make him  (and us) into His image.

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

… John also teaches that those who live for Christ (i.e., born-again Christians) should strive to live as Jesus live.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author,  Arthur Jackson … AT THIS LINK      … told of growing up as a child of the 50s and 60s, and loving to play the national game … Baseball.  And Arthur Jackson described the pride he had wearing his first little league uniform, with his team’s name - ’The Giants” - on the uniform shirt for all to see.  And how all on his team followed the coach to strive to be like their heroes in the big leagues.   

I really identify with those feelings expressed by the ODB author as he used that baseball analogy to describe what God’s word teaches, in the scriptures shared above, about striving to put on the uniform labeled ”CHRISTIAN"; and for all who call themselves (ourselves) … “CHRISTIAN,” striving to become more and more like Jesus and less-and-less, as Zach Williams sings, … like ourselves.   Personally, that’s my life goal - to become more like JESUS.  How about you?         

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for calling me - and helping me - to more like You day-by-day.  

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … again Lord. …for giving us Your playbook, Lord, … that is, Your word … to help us play on Your team … 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. 

July 30, 2025 … Midnight Friendship …

July 30, 2025 … Midnight Friendship   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Matt Maher singing… What A Friend,  … assuring fellow Christians that we really have a friend in Jesus!! 

Highlight Passage: … John 15:15 … [NLT] … 

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.     

…  Jesus relates his love and friendship for His disciples the night before He is to go to the cross and die for them (us).         

           

Highlight Passage (in context): … John 15:9-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows His disciples (and us too) that God’s love is shown in those who reach out to help those in need; … that’s why He calls them (us) “Friends.”               

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

… Solomon reveals that the essence of true friendship is found in those who’re willing to reach out and help those in need.   

Reference Passage: …  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon also relates to believers about the value of true friendship.

<b><u>Reference Passage:</u> …   Galatians 6:2 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …</b> 

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%206%3A2&version=NLT

…  The Apostle Paul shows that bearing one another’s burdens fulfills God’s law of love. 

Reference Passage: …  1Thessalonians 5:11 NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul lauds fellow Christians in Asia Minor (and all Christians) for their (our) willingness to comfort one another. 

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

… The Apostle John shows that the love of God is on display in those who’re willing to help others by sharing with them in their time of need.

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… John also teaches that God’s love is expressed when we (Christians) are willing to love one another.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author,  Sheridan Voysey … AT THIS LINK     … wrote about hearing someone questioning our Christian priorities by asking, “Who can you call at midnight when everything has gone wrong?” … Hearing the question, the ODB author wondered if he had friends who would be there for him if he called them at midnight in a crisis or whether he would be a friend to others if they called him at midnight in the midst of a trial.  

The ODB question does test our views of true friendship; doesn’t it?   And I’m praying we all have friends who would call us at midnight if they needed help; … OR … we are sure that we have friends whom we could call at midnight if we needed their help.  I’m so blessed to have friends like that in my life; … and I pray that I would be there to help any of my friends - ANYTIME -  (as in the photo). How about you and your friends?       

My Thanksgiving: … Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for ALWAYS being my friend, Lord.

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … again Lord. …for being our Friend in our times of 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.

July 29, 2025 … He Really Cares …

July 29, 2025 … He Really Cares   …

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to hear music and lyrics with Matthew West singing… The God Who Stays,  … assuring fellow Christians that we serve a God Who stays and never fails those who love Him. 

Highlight Passage: … Psalms 55:22 … [NLT] … 

22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.    </i> 

…  David is certain of God’s watch care over him.         

           

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Psalms 55:1-9, 16-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David, running for his life from Absalom, is certain that his God cares and watches over him.             

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 31:8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses assures Joshua and God’s people of God watching over and protecting them as they go into the Promised Land.   

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

… God’s promise, thru Solomon, of God’s caring protection of ALL who trust in Him with ALL their (our) hearts. 

Reference Passage: …   Isaiah 41:10 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

…  Isaiah assures God’s faithful of His strength when they (we) are weak. 

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… Paul relates Jesus’ assurance of providing His sustaining and enabling grace in times of trial or trouble. 

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

… Paul assure fellow Christians of God’s peace when His children are willing to bring our troubles to God in prayer, with thankful hearts. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter assure fellow Christians that they (we) can take ALL our cares to God, Who cares for them (us) ALWAYS.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread Author,  Karen Huang … AT THIS LINK       … tells how she and her family took care of their parents for many years - 24/7,  due to their disabilities.  And the ODB author made reference to how David sang of how God took care of him (see Highlight Passage) when David’s son, Absalom, pursued David, trying to kill his father, the King.     

If my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures shared above, I’m hoping that we all know that we serve a God Who cares for us - and watches over us - ALWAYS!   And we can ALWAYS go to Him, with thankful hearts, to receive His enabling grace and strength when we feel fearful or threatened.   Personally, and believing God’s word, I’m feeling His grace today.  How about you?      

My Thanksgiving:… Oh, King Jesus, thank You, … for promising me Your strength in my times of weakness. 

 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I praise You, … again Lord. …for being there for us ALWAYS.  … 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.