August 20, 2013 … God’s Way – Our “GPS”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 232

 Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Before you take in what I’ve written below, watch/listen to a poignant song sung by Alison Krauss, singing “Be Thou My Vision”, reminding us that God should be our direction-finder in this life, leading us to the next.

Highlight meditation passage – Philippians 3: 13-14 [NLT]: …  
13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. 

Highlight reading study #1 of Philippians, Chapters 3: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [Trusting God’s way is our GPS in life.] … [NLT] …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 [Following Jesus and never looking back!.] … [NLT]  
... “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow Me.

My Journal for Today: These days when we’re going to take a trip in a car and we don’t exactly know where we’re going, we use maps to help us stay on course, don’t we? Or in these modern techno-times, many of us use a GPS device to help us get to our destination. And when we’re on the road, driving to our goal, we keep out eyes on the road ahead, occasionally using our rear or side view mirrors to see where we’re going in order to insure that, with the help of our GPS, we get to our destination.

Now, … I realize that maps and GPS devices are not perfect; and they may not be able to help us get through some road construction, detours, and the like. But they still are helpers to get us where we’re going. Well, this word picture helps us see what the Apostle Paul was trying to get Christians to understand in the highlight passage for my devotional entry today. He wanted his fellow believers in Philippi to understand that he, Paul, had not yet arrived at his destination of Christlikeness; and that he was going to be keeping his eyes on the road which Christ was leading him to follow, straining to do what Christ had commanded His disciples to do; (see Prov. 3: 5-6 and Luke 9: 23 above) and that is to follow our Lord’s perfect “GPS” and to strain forward, following God’s way, to follow Jesus to where Paul’s Lord was leading him.

My friend, when I come here to this place every morning, that’s exactly what I’m attempting to do in life, and that is to follow God’s inerrant “GPS,” which I have in His word, … striving to see all I can and to travel through the often unpredictable roads in life, straining, by looking ahead, to see through what I can see in my wind-shield of life and to stay on God’s way, doing all I can to get to the destination which Christ has pre-programmed into His “GPS” for my life.

There’s another passage in Philippians, i.e., Phil. 1: 6, which states, And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. So, Christ has pre-programmed us in His Spirit to get to His destination of Christlikeness; and He has given us His perfectly-programmed “GPS,” i.e., His word, to help us stay on the road ahead as we drive toward THE GOAL to which Paul was writing about in today’s highlight passage.

But all too often we have a tendency to try to drive through life by using the rear-view mirrors more that keeping our eyes on the road ahead by using the front wind-shield. And you know I’m right, don’t you? We keep looking into our past; and by doing so, we blind ourselves to what’s ahead. And we also have a tendency to turn off God’s “GPS” and not use His perfect direction-finder from His word. And when we drive down the road through life in this way, we risk an almost certain crash.

So, I believe God is saying to me – LOUDLY – today, … “Bill, use My GPS; and keep your eyes on the road ahead; and I’ll get you where I want you to go!”    And that’s what I’m doing here today! And Allison Kraus sings these directions as well in the lilting old hymn to which I’ve linked you today.

Is God saying these same things to you about how we travel toward our common destination, that being heaven, today?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I seek Your way. Shine Your light on my path as I keep my spiritual eyes on Your road ahead. … Amen

August 19, 2013 … How Great Is Our God!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 231

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please, Please, PLEASE, before you take in what I’ve written below, watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Chris Tomlin, singing “How Great Is Our God”, which I’m using as the title for my devotional entry today. In all the challenges of life, how many of us believe and rely on the greatness of our God?

Highlight reading study #1 of Isaiah, Chapters 36-37: Go to this link … 

Highlight reading study #2 of Isaiah 37: 9-20: Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Ephesians 6: 10 and 18 [When we’re embattled, the most powerful battle strategy we have is PRAYER to our great God.] … [NLT] …  
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. … 
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

My Journal for Today: You know, when any of you fellow readers take in the title which I’ve given to my devotional entry for today, I think most – if not all – of you would agree – at least intellectually - that we serve a GREAT GOD. But when we’re faced with the battles of life, just how much do we believe and rely on God’s greatness and His desire to show His greatness to His enemies and the world?

Going back today into the Old Testament history of God’s people and their embattlement, we read in Isaiah, Chapters 36-37, of one of God’s good-guy Kings, … Hezekiah, who was confronted in his day by the Assyrians. The Assyrians were an empire of bullies, led by a king, Sennacherib, who was out to destroy Jerusalem. And they besieged the City of David and had the kingdom of Judah, under Hezekiah, total surrounded and outnumbered. And you can read above in Isaiah, Chapter 37: 9-20, linked above, that Sennacherib sent a letter to Hezekiah mocking God and touting the power of the Assyrians. And so, what was Hezekiah’s primary battle strategy? It was PRAYER. And when you read the remaining historical documentation in Isaiah, Chapter 37, you see how God showed off His greatness in sending His angel to defeat and slaughter 185,000 Assyrians without Hezekiah losing one soldier in battle.

How truly great IS our God?!!

Yes, … but do we REALLY believe that, when we’re confronted and besieged in the battles of life, … we can totally rely on God for His greatness in our spiritual battles by taking our battles to the Lord in prayer. Paul recognized this battle strategy when he wrote about putting on the full armor of God, taking up a well-sharpened and well-practiced sword of the Spirit, … but then, … taking the high ground for battle by praying, … praying, … praying in the Spirit (see Ephesians 6: 10-18).

 However, fellow Christian, when we’re backed up in battle by a world which mocks and hates God and when Satan shows his powerful enmity for God in the world, do we really believe that we serve a God Who is greater and more powerful to overcome our spiritual foes? ….

I wonder!!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, today, I’m taking the high ground in prayer. … Amen

August 18, 2013 … Vision in Faith Versus Fear

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 230

Devotional Song: Go to this link … Today watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Steve Green, singing “Find Us Faithful”, declaring that our faith in action must pave the way in everyday life for others to believe.

Highlight reading study #1 of 2nd Kings 4: 8-37: Go to this link … 

Highlight reading study #2 of Matthew 14: 21-36: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: 1st Corinthians 10: 13 [When we’re faithful, God provides what we need to handle the circumstances of life.] … [NLT] …  
13 But remember that the temptations [or can be translated … “tests, trials, troubles, or tribulations”] that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

My Journal for Today: Yesterday, if you were reading with me, we looked at how God honors faithfulness in action with His grace; and today Os Hillman has me re-exploring that issue, leading me to read and meditate on two stories, … one from the same chapter in 2nd Kings I read yesterday and another, one of my favorites, from Chapter 14 of Matthew’s Gospel. I hope you’ll use the links above to study these two passages, focusing on how our vision (i.e., what we see and experience in life) can effect our choices and actions, depending on our faith).

In the Old Testament story in 2nd Kings, Chapter 4, Elisha encountered and befriended a Shunemite woman who had had a son after Elisha’s prophesy of a miracle leading to the birth. Ultimately the woman’s son died; but she didn’t panic in her grief. Rather, she took the horrible tragedy to Elisha in her faith in the God of Elisha’s prophesy; and Elisha was led by God to raise the boy from the dead.

In the other story, which you probably know, Jesus’ Disciples encountered a death-threatening storm on the sea of Galilee; and Jesus came walking to them on the water. However, the Disciples, never having experiencing anything like that and deathly afraid in the storm, saw Jesus a ghost. But then, when Peter did recognize Jesus, faithfully he stepped out of the boat, at Jesus’ beckoning call, and walked on the waters himself – that is, until Peter’s faith waned, and he began to sink.

 So, I don’t think it takes one with a Master’s in Theology or a Ph.D. in rocket-science to grasp what these stories are conveying to us as Christians. No, it’s pretty simple, isn’t it? The message is that the degree of our faith can be – and often is – measured by how we handle faith-rattling situations in life. And when we can walk-the-walk of faith in the midst of such trials, as Paul wrote about in 1st Corinthians 10: 13, God’s faithfulness, when met with our own faith, always gives us the way to deal with the troubles of life.

 I know that you, as have I, have experienced some test or trial in life which challenged our faith severely; and how we come through those trials is going to determine, as Steve Green sings in the song offering I’ve left for you again today, whether we’ll be found faithful to walk the walk of faith in our Lord; … and maybe that could even be today.

My Prayer for Today … So, Lord, I come here, as faithfully as I can today, to pray that I have the faith to meet any circumstance You might bring or allow into my life which might test me to believe in Your faithfulness. Help me to pass any such test of my faith, Lord, and allow me to come out praising Your Holy Name!.… Amen

August 17, 2013 … God Honors Faith In Action

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 229

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Steve Green, singing “Find Us Faithful”, declaring that our faith in action must pave the way in everyday life for others to believe.

 Highlight Study passage found in 2nd Kings 4: 1-3 [NLT] …  
1 One day the widow of one of Elisha’s fellow prophets came to Elisha and cried out to him, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.” 2 “What can I do to help you?” Elisha asked. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” “Nothing at all, except a flask of olive oil,” she replied.
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Contextual reading study of 2nd Kings, Chapter 4: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [Faith in action is God’s witness to the world!] … [NLT] …
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

  Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 [Letting the world see God’s grace/power through our faithfulness.] … [NLT] …  
8 “… But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Reference Passage #3: Matthew 5: 16 [When we choose to act in faith, we shine the Light of our Lord to the world.] … [NLT] …  
16 “ … let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 

My Journal for Today: Many times, through clouds of circumstances, it’s difficult to see that God has given enough of His enabling/empowering grace for us to be His witness by simply using what we have been given for His glory. That is the powerful lesson of the widow in 2nd Kings, Chapter 4 who was about to lose her sons to slavery because of indebtedness. But when she went to Elisha, God’s Prophet, and responded to His leadership in faith, God’s power was seen through her actions and faithfulness.

Sometimes we have trouble to live out our faith when we’re confronted with great challenges in our life; and the confusion of the challenges often causes us to be blind to what we have, i.e., God’s grace working through our faith, which can, when activated, witness to God’s purpose and His power through our faithfulness. And that was also the message Jesus was declaring when He ascended to heaven, proclaiming that He would always be with those who faithfully were His witnesses in the world … but only when we do so witness in faith [see Acts 1: 8].

But no matter what our own understanding or fears might be, as Solomon had declared in Proverbs 3: 5-6, when we put our trust in God, He will lead us on the path of witness which shines God’s light, … once again just as Jesus has declared for all of us to shine His light through our acts of faith [see Matt. 5: 16].

I’m afraid that all too often I let the cloudiness of my circumstances or the tyranny of the urgent drag me down into fearfulness and unfaithfulness; and when that happens my Spirit-ignited power becomes dampened by my own inability and inaction to witness. But like the widow of 2nd Kings 4, I need to use what God has given me, mixed with my faith, to be His witness to the world; and when I’m willing to surrender in this way to His will, He can and will use me to shine His light for His glory.

Hey, my friend, just as Elisha called the widow to act in faith, Jesus is calling us to be His witness today; and He has given us all we need to shine His light for the Father’s glory. Dear one, just listen to the powerful song to which I’ve linked you today; and then realize that we need to move forward – even today – faithfully using what God has given us – in His power – to shine His light in this darkened world.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, use my gifts with Your power to let others see You shining through my actions today. … Amen

August 16, 2013 … In Christ – Rejected!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 228

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, singing “I Choose To Believe”, declaring that our faith must last when others find us an affront to their lives … that God is always worth choosing to believe.

Highlight Study passage found in Matthew 13: 57 [NLT] …  
57 And they [i.e., the people of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth] were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him.
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Contextual reading study of Matthew, Chapter 13: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: 2nd Corinthians 5: 16-17 [Always faithful – no matter what others may think about us in Christ.] … [NLT] …  
16 So, we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though He were merely a human being. How differently I think about Him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

Reference Passage #2: Romans 12: 1-2 [Shining Jesus’ light in the world as our worship is going to cause ripples of rebellion.] … [NLT] …  
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will accept. When you think of what He has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do;, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.

Reference Passage #3: Matthew 5: 14-16 [Even if those from your past reject you, shine Christ’s light elsewhere to let others see Christ in you.] … [NLT] …  
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 My Journal for Today: In 1940 a book was released posthumously by Thomas Wolfe’s publishers entitled You Can’t Go Home. It was the story of a man, George Webber who’d written a book with his hometown characters depicted in the book; and when he went back home to visit, he was shocked by the attitudes of rejection about him which he confronted. And so he went on a quest to discover his own identity.

Well, though Jesus knew His identity with no doubts, when He went back to His home town, early in His public ministry, He, like the main character in Wolfe’s book, faced public reprisal. And Jesus, openly declaring God’s truth, became a mirror for the souls of those around whom He had known when He was growing up. Actually wherever Jesus went, He was a light reflecting in the darkness; but in His hometown, many of the people remembered Him and His family; and they just didn’t imagine that this carpenter’s kid could teach and preach truth the way He did. And it caused them to rebel against Him.

Have you noticed that when you’re willing to be true to the change Christ has brought about in your life [see Matthew 5: 16], others, especially those who’ve known you well in your pre-Christ past will find it hard to take the change they see in you? When I first was saved (i.e., converted) those who had known me as a cynical agnostic on my worksite found it hard to believe that I had become a Christian. And many of them, especially those who had been comfortable with me being a non-believer, rejected me as I openly witnessed my faith in Christ.

And can you imagine how difficult it must’ve been for the Jews of Saul’s day to imagine the change that came over the Apostle Paul when, after being away for a few years, the die-hard Christian-hater came back to Jerusalem spouting Christ’s love and the message of the gospel. So, really it’s not hard to see why Jesus was not well received in His home territory of Nazareth. Jesus, preaching the truth of Himself in the Synagogue there in Nazareth was, as I often depict Christians witnessing in the world, like a mirror; and quite often when people see themselves in a mirror they can often react in anger or denial at what they see; and they will either want to run from the mirror or they will desire to break the mirror and not see themselves reflected there anymore.

That is what may happen when you become a new creation in Christ (see 2nd Cor. 5: 17 above) and you begin to witness your new self in the world (see Romans 12: 1-2). Many, especially those who might have known you before your transformation, will not want to be around you; and you may just have to move on to others with your witness of faith and belief in Christ.

 My friend, if you have family or friends who just can’t take you as a mirror of truth in Christ, … move on and be Christ’s light for others, merely being a witness of who’ve you’ve become through Christ’s Lordship.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, no matter where I go with my witness of faith, help me to be true to You. … Amen

August 15, 2013 … Blameless … Not Perfect … Just Redeemed!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 227

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Big Daddy Weave, singing “Redeemed”, declaring that being blameless is not being perfect; … it’s being new in Christ … redeemed!!

Highlight Study passage found in Psalm 84: 11-12 [NLT] …  
11 For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. 12 O LORD Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.
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Contextual reading study of Psalms, Chapter 84: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Colossians 1: 21-22 [Reconciled and redeemed.] … [NLT] …  
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.

Reference Passage #2: 2nd Corinthians 5: 16-17 [Not perfect; but new!] … [NLT] …  
16 So, we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though He were merely a human being. How differently I think about Him now! 17 What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!

My Journal for Today: Doing the right thing, … living the right way, … being the right kind of person. That’s a tough calling in living the Christian life, isn’t it? We’re called to live holy lives and to be blameless before God in glory; … yet, here we are, so imperfect in our human state.

Yes, my friend, we’re called unto righteousness and we’re still unrighteous; but fortunately that has been rectified by Christ on the cross; and now, IN CHRIST, having been redeemed by HIS blood through the faith I have placed in Him as my Lord and Savior, I can live my life as a new creation, … being molded into His image by His Spirit living in me.

Yes, … I should ALWAYS strive to be like my Lord, … Holy and Perfect; … but now my striving to blamelessness is covered by His redemption; and when I’m surrendered to Him, I AM BLAMELESS. It’s a hard one to fathom for any Christian; but even when I sin, being redeemed, He covers my transgressions with His blood. No, it doesn’t’ mean that I can recklessly sin, willfully and openly and chronically, without being convicted in my sin. Sin always has consequences. But it does mean that my redemption in Christ will lead me to desire to live blamelessly before God’s throne of grace.

So, today I’m praying, having taken in God’s truth above, that we all strive to live blameless lives before the Lord, Who died and was resurrected that we live for Him as redeemed and new creations in Christ.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I surrender to Your grace to cover my humanity. Bring all who read here to live blameless lives, covered by Your blood, … REDEEMED!! … Amen

August 14, 2013 … < ?WGO,G? ><

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 226

Devotional Song: Go to this link -  … Today in my devotional journal entry, please take the time to watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Nicole Nordeman, singing “What IF”, challenging us go beyond our selves with the ultimate question about God, “What if it’s all true?!”

Highlight Study passage found in Job 42: 3b [NLT] …
 1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. 3You ask, ‘Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I. And I was talking about things I did not understand, things far too wonderful for me.

Contextual reading study of Psalms, Chapter 145: Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Romans 8: 28 [Really! … REALLY!!] … [NKJV] …  
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

 Reference Passage #2: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [Yes, …REALLY! … It’s all true!] … [NLT] …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will direct your paths.

My Journal for Today: If you’ve been with me, maybe reading here with me over the years, you’ve seen me use a few 1st Century type short-hand symbols to indicate some personal Christian expressions … like my symbol for my signature, which is “ <'wrb>< ” … which means “William Robert Berry is in Christ.” Or another I often use is “ <'KOKO>< ” … which would mean “Keep On, Keeping On in Christ,” my way of encouraging fellow Christians to stay strong in their faith.

Well, above I’ve used another such symbol; and perhaps you’ve already guessed what it might mean from the highlight scripture for my blog this morning. But if not, let me define it for you. It means, “What’s going on, God?!” And Os Hillman had titled his devotional for today: “Things I Cannot Understand;” … and he used Job as his biblical example of a righteous believer who probably has become God’s primary example from His word as to God allowing inexplicable, bad things to happen to people which cause the believer to ask, “What’s going on, God??!! 

But Job wasn’t the only example in Scripture of this syndrome of confusion, was he? No, … there was Moses at the burning bush; and Jonah in the belly of a big fish; and there was Habakkuk, asking “Why God?” in the midst of circumstances he couldn’t understand. And also in the Old Testament, there was old Abram and Sara, who just couldn’t get it when God laid His covenant on them; and finally there was Abe’s grandson, Jacob, who had to wrestle with God, in confusion, trying to get God’s blessing. And then we go into the New Testament; and how many times did Peter get confused, blundering forth with his “foot-in-the-mouth” impulsiveness; … or there was Paul, having to be knocked off a horse and healed from blindness to understand with Whom he was dealing; … or there was Thomas who just couldn’t get it until he could put his finger in Jesus’ wounds after the resurrection?

And I would bet that any who’re reading here with me, like myself, could recall an instance when we were asking, “What’s Going On, God!?” … Are you with me? … Right now, I’m recalling the morning when God used the number “13” so powerfully to break me to my core after He had relentlessly pursued me for so many years? Well, that’s too long of a story to tell (or retell) for you here; but save it to say that God had allow this hard-head agnostic (really, an atheist) to blunder about for over 20 years with me pushing Him away and questioning His existence and absolutely denying His place in my life. My story was much like the dilemma and question which Nicole Nordeman sings about in her song, “What If?” And I hope you’ve taken the time to go to You Tube and see/hear that song, which poses the ultimate question which all must ask themselves, “What if all God has said about Himself, in the Bible and elsewhere, is true?”

 But it’s even quite often the case that believers – yes, even we born-again Christians – can be in a place in our lives where we are asking “ <’?WGO,G?>< ” … What about you?

 Ever been there, done that, and now you have the t-shirt on that spirit of confusion. Well, God’s truth; and all of His promises in His word are there to lift you up with His declaration, … especially in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, … that IT’S ALL TRUE? And like Job, Moses, Jonah, and all the others, we can come to the conclusion which Jesus declared from the cross, “It is finished!” And then God the Father, through His Spirit, punctuated this reality by raising His Son from the grave, defeating death, and inviting all of mankind to see exactly what was and is going on for us to come to Himself in faith.

How about you, are you having a < moment right now? If so, go cling to the cross and realize that you can “ <’KOKO>< ” and be assured that it’s all going to be “ <’OK!!>< ” … i.e., yes, … Okay in Christ!

My Prayer for Today … Yes, Lord, it’s totally OK in You!!! … Amen

August 13, 2013 … Our Faithful God

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 225

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today in my devotional journal entry, please take the time to watch/listen to a powerful song sung by the group, The Maranatha Singers, singing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”, from Lam. 3: 22-23 God’s word reminds us that our hope for tomorrow is found in the faithfulness of our God

Highlight Study passage found in Psalm 145: 13b-14 [NLT] …  
13b The LORD is faithful in all He says; He is gracious in all he does. 14 The LORD helps the fallen and lifts up those bent beneath their loads.
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Contextual reading study of Psalms, Chapter 145: Go to this link …
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Reference Passage #1: Lamentations 3: 22-23 [Always faithful!.] … [NLT] …
22 The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. 23 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD. 

Reference Passage #2: Proverbs 3: 5-6 [Faithfulness is the foundation of trust.] … [NLT] …  
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

My Journal for Today: Ever had someone in your life with whom you could trust implicitly and completely, … maybe your spouse or a parent or a reliable, close “BFF.” If that person said they would be somewhere at a certain time, you could put it in the bank that they would be at the designated place … ON TIME! And if they were not there, ON TIME, you just KNEW that something had happened – maybe even something bad – which caused them to be late.

I’ve heard it said that “faithfulness is the foundation of trust.” And I know that to be true because for the first 12 years of my marriage I was unfaithful to my wife; and during that time she had no idea of my inexcusable indiscretions. But my unfaithfulness was finally uncovered and confessed; and all the credits which I had had in her bank of trust were gone. Then Christ came into our lives; and we began to put our trust in His love, … His mercy … and HIS faithfulness. And over time, through me walking, first with Christ and then, in exhibiting my faithfulness to my wife, she began to trust me because I was faithful; and now – YEARS LATER – she knows that I would do anything to retain her trust. But it took years for me to rebuild credits in her trust bank; and my primary walk in doing so was simply following the faithfulness of my Lord, …following Him in all I think, say, and do.

The Prophet Jeremiah, in his writings in Lamentations 3: 22-23 expresses – from God’s Spirit – the absolute truth about our God’s faithfulness. We can ALWAYS trust our God because He is ALWAYS faithful, … just like the “Son” comes up everday. And you can read about Him being faithful time and time and time again in the Old and New Testaments, and His faithfulness was completely and finally expressed in the life, death, and resurrection of the Lamb of God, our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

 Please take the time to use the link above and hear that wonderful old hymn about God’s faithfulness and His mercies, … which are new every morning in our faith-based relationship with our Lord. And then go back to the Song of faithfulness, written and sung by King David in Psalm 145, to see why our God can be trusted and why we can always put our hope in Him.

Yes, life can be tough at times. It sure was for all those years David ran from Saul in the dessert. It was for those years Joseph languished in slavery and prison. It was for Moses for all those years as a shepherd in the wilderness. And it certainly was for Jesus, Who was so unjustly put on a cross to die for you and me. But in all of those times and all of the challenges and trials of our lives, God is ALWAYS FAITHFUL to be there with His grace and mercy … WITH us … and FOR us. And in the end, it will be HIS faithfulness and HIS grace which will prevail in our lives.

My Prayer for Today … Yes, Lord, … great is Thy faithfulness!!! … Amen

August 12, 2013 … Our work is our worship

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 224

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today in my devotional journal entry, please take the time to watch/listen to a powerful song sung by the group, Hillsong, singing “Here I Am To Worship”, asking us if we’re living our lives in worship of our Lord. … And then at this link  there is a video of a very poignant prayer of a young man who desires to be all that Hillsong sings about by living his life in worship and outreach for Christ’s Name.

Highlight Study passage found in Colossians 3: 23-24 [NLT] …  
23 Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ.
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Contextual reading study of Colossians, Chapter 3: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Romans 12: 1 … [NLT] [All of our living and working is our “living sacrifice,” i.e., our worship.] … [NLT] …  
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice — the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.

Reference Passage #2: Psalm 104: 23 … [NLT] [“Avodah” is our WORK.] … [NLT] …  
23 Then people go off to their work [“avodah”]; they labor until the evening shadows fall again. 

Reference Passage #3: Exodus 8: 1 … [NLT] [“Avodah” is our WORSHIP] … [NLT] …  
1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh once again and tell him, ‘this is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so they can worship [“avodah”] Me.

My Journal for Today: There’s an Old Testament concept in Hebrew; and it is “avodah.” You can find it in OT Scripture referring to either “work” or “worship.” Two of those references can be found above as reference passages #2 and #3. Taken together, therefore, one can say that “our work – i.e., whatever we think, say, or do – is our worship.” And the Apostle Paul was certainly one who found himself called out for service to our Lord; and he picked up on this Jewish concept of “avodah” in the New Testament in his writings to Christians in the Colossians 3:23 and Romans 12: 1 passages above.

And the song to which I link you above shouts out the very same charge to our lives … i.e., that we need to be declaring by our everyday work is our “living sacrifice” and our worship of the One, our Savior, Jesus, Who served mankind all the way from His carpenter’s bench to the cross. Do I really need to go into depth here in reinforcing the Hebrew meaning of “avodah?”

No, I think not. I’m duly convicted to pray here this morning that I can go forth with all the works that I do today being both my work and my worship, … showing as much “living sacrifice” as I can as my work/worship of my Lord.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, whatever I think, say, and do today, may it be my worship and thankful praise for Your Lordship in my life. … Amen

August 11, 2013 … Reflecting God’s Glory

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 223

  Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today in my devotional journal entry, please take the time to watch/listen to a powerful song sung by Chris Tomlin, “How Great Is Our God”, reminding us that God’s greatness declares itself in creation and in how He relates with us in this life.

 Highlight Study passage found in Psalm 145: 11-12 [NLT] …  
11 They will talk together about the glory of your kingdom; they will celebrate examples of your power. 12 They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. 
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Contextual reading study of Psalm 145: Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 14-16 [Our lives reflect God’s glory or Satan’s deception.] … [NLT] …  
14 “You are the light of the world — like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

 Reference Passage #2: Acts 1: 8 [We are God’s witness in the world.] … [NLT] …
8 But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 Reference Passage #3: 1st Corinthians 2: 4-5 [In the context of verses 1-5] … [NLT] …  
1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I first came to you I didn’t use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God’s message. 2 For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you. 5 I did this so that you might trust the power of God rather than human wisdom.

My Journal for Today: God’s desire – post New Covenant – is really quite simple and powerful. And it was even prophesied by King David in the Old Testament (see above in Psalm 145: 11-12) … that mankind – all mankind – would faithfully declare God’s glory. And Jesus, … the Light of the World, when He came to us in His incarnation, declared before/after His resurrection that we Christians, … i.e., His disciples, … should reflect His glory (i.e., His Light) through the way we live our lives. And the later Apostle, Paul, [see 1st Cor. 2 copied above] picked up on this when he wrote to the Corinthians (and all Christians) that his preaching was simply – and clearly - to reflect the power of God to all who would see/hear of His glory.

So, what does God intend for us to be? And I think, from God’s word and the song to which I’ve linked you to above, we should understand that we become reflections of God’s glory for all to see WHEN and IF we live, move, and have our being reflecting the Light of the world. And as we reflect His glory, by doing all we can to live in Christ’s likeness, others will see His glory as we wear His robes of righteousness rather than as we display our own rags of sin.

POP QUIZ: … let me reflect here the questions asked by Os Hillman in his devotional entry for today. • ” If you do not see His glory being reflected through your life, then you need to ask why. He has promised to do so if we will walk in obedience to His commands.”

Personally, there are times when I do shine Christ’s light through my life; but those times are fewer than I – and most certainly my Savior – would like. I’m praying today that I can reflect His Light through all I think, say, and do. …

 How about you?!

My Prayer for Today … Lord, as I so often pray, … shine Your light so brightly on my path today that I can’t help but see the way to reflect Your glory for others to see. … Amen

August 10, 2013 … God’s timing is gonna be alright

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 222

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Today in my devotional journal entry, please take the time to watch/listen to a poignant song sung by Sara Groves, “It’s Going To Be Alright”, reminding us all that God’s timing may be tough at times; but when we let Him doing His work in His timing, it’s gonna be alright!

Highlight Study passages found in Isaiah 30: 18 and 64: 8 [NLT] …  
30: 18 But the LORD still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. … 
 64: 8 And yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We all are formed by Your hand.
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Reference Passage #1: Romans 9: 21-23 [We are clay in the Potter’s hands.] … [NLT] …  
21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show His anger and His power, He is very patient with those on whom His anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of His glory shine even brighter on those to whom He shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 

Reference Passage #2: 1st Peter 5: 7 [God’s timing is best; but we have to be willing to cast our cares on the One Who cares for us.] … [NLT] …  
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. 

My Journal for Today: Have you ever been in a place in your life when God seemed like such a slow poke? Some times when we so want something to happen right now, God’s timing, even though we know in our heads is perfect, we just so want for Him to do His thing more quickly.

 Aw common, admit it, … you’ve been there, haven’t you?

This morning, in his devotional entry, Os Hillman reminded me that God has a track record in HIS-story of taking a lot of human time to shape the lives of those He’s going to use. Hillman writes …
 • ” Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt. It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban's control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. So why isn't God in a hurry?” 

I found out this Godly “M.O.” very personally; … because God let me languish in my selfishness and habitual sexual sin for 22 years before He broke me to my core and came into my life to begin His reshaping process, which also took 14 more years of discipleship before He had me ready to call me to do His work in Battle Plan Ministry (go to this link if you don’t know about BPM – http://battleplanministries.org ). Why couldn’t God have just bypassed at least those 22 years and shortened the 14 years to shape me into His design to serve Him?

Well, actually the answer is found above in meditating on today’s highlight and reference passages. It is reality that we are the clay in God’s hands; and He is the potter. And if God took 40 years of reshaping Moses or 17 years to mold Joseph or almost 35 years to prepare me for ministry, that’s HIS way and HIS timing; and yes, we may not like the speed of the Potter’s hands, but they are HIS hands and He knows best how to shape us for HIS glory.

As Sara Groves sings in the song to which I’ve linked any reader above, … my friend, “It’s gonna be alright,” … as long as we do what God through Peter wrote (in 1st Peter 5: 7) that we “… cast all our cares on Him; because He cares for us.” And today I’ll pray one of those dangerous prayers … that God develop in me the patience to let Him be the potter as I am His clay.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I’m the clay in Your hands. Help me to be patient as You reshape me into Your own image for me to be a vessel of Your purpose. … Amen

August 9, 2013 … Embracing the mess

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 221

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … PLEASE … before you go to my devotional journal entry for today, take the time to watch/listen to a poignant song sung by Queen Latifah, “Fix Me, Jesus”, reminding us all that we’re broken and need Jesus to fix us.

Highlight Study passage found in Proverb 14: 4 [NASB] …  
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, but much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
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Reference Passage #1: Psalm 51: 8-10 [Brokenness is messy business.] … [NLT] …
8 Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me — now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Reference Passage #2: Philippians 1: 6 [Jesus will take care of the mess it takes to remodel us.] … [NLT] …
6 And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again. 

 [Click on photo for larger image]

My Journal for Today: I hope you took the time to go to the You Tube link above and watch the video of Queen Latifah, singing that poignant song, “Fix Me, Jesus!” with some very powerful images in the video supporting the message of the song. And you’ve no doubt noted the picture of Jesus holding the broken man above. Yeah, I know, how could you miss it?!

Well, I identify so very personally with both of these illustrations; because at one time in my life, I was a mess !! … But then Jesus took me through a very messy renovation process to bring me to a much better place in my life right now. However, … He’s not done with that renewal project yet. No, Jesus is still doing all that He needs to do to make me over until one day, in glory, I’m going to look a whole lot better – in His image – than I do today. That’s the message of Phil. 1: 6, quoted, isn’t it?

Today’s highlight verse from Proverbs 14: 4 expresses a truth, for sure. When you have oxen in the barn, they create a mess; but the farmer is willing to clean up the mess because he would not be able to bring in the harvest without the oxen. … Some years ago, my wife and I needed to remodel our kitchen; and we hired a contractor to do the project. He and his men ripped out almost everything from the kitchen; and for 5 weeks, we had kitchen appliances and boxes full of utensils in our living room and dining room. It was a BIG mess; but now we look at our renovated kitchen and we would say, “It was worth all the mess to have the kitchen we now have.”

It’s often the case that one has to go through a mess in our life as Jesus does His remodeling project, … until He’s done “fixing us,” as Queen Latifah sings. What about you? As a Christian, is Jesus going about a “fix-up” project in your life? He did with King David after the king had sinned mightily with Bathsheba and that cover-up mess which followed. That was certainly a messy process, wasn’t it? But as we read in Psalm 51, God was willing to clean up David’s mess and do a remodeling project in his life. And He will with us, too, … if we’re willing to embrace the mess as Jesus does His fix-up project in our lives.

So, this morning I’m praying we all sing along with Queen Latifah, “Fix me, Jesus, … fix me.”

My Prayer for Today … O Lord, I thank you for the renewal and fixing You’ve already done in my life; but PLEASE do whatever it takes to finish Your project to make me over into Your image. … Amen

August 8, 2013 … Why we fail as Christians

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 220

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … A powerful truth, performed in song by Nichole Nordeman, singing “Finally Free”, reminding us that we can – if we’ll but surrender to God’s will and way, TOTALLY, walk in freedom and victory in Christ. However, we have to be the ones to shed our shackles by being willing to do what Christ commanded in denying our selfish choices and following Him (see Luke 9: 23).

Highlight Study involving today’s passage found in Joshua, Chapter 7 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1: Matthew 5: 23-25 [Setting things right by getting things right.] … [NLT] …
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. 25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. ..."

Reference Passage #2: 1st John 1: 8-9 [We can walk in victory without being stoned by simply confessing our sins and letting Jesus cleanse us to walk in freedom.] … [NLT] …  
8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

Reference Passage #2: Matthew 6: 33 [Our focus should always be on Christ and to walk in His righteousness.] … [NLT] …  
33 "... Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. ..."

My Journal for Today: Have you ever asked yourself, as a Christian, why you were seemingly walking in so much defeat, not being able to find freedom and victory in your walk with Jesus? Well Joshua wondered the same thing after God had promised that he and the Israelites would have victory, following God, after they crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land [see Joshua, Chapter 1]. But if you’ve read Joshua, Chapter 7, linked above for your study, Joshua discovered, after a serious and unexpected defeat, that one of his leaders, Achan, had disobeyed God’s commands and selfishly kept some of the spoils of victory, even after God had specifically commanded against doing such.

Now the punishment for Achan’s sin of disobedience, i.e., being stoned along with his family, was certainly harsh in our eyes as New Testament Christians; but to purge that sin in THAT day, the punishment of Achan was necessary in God’s eyes. Today, covered by the blood of Jesus’ sacrifice for all such sins, we, as Christians, need only to humbly confess our sins and be cleansed forevermore (see 1st John 1: 9). However, Jesus commanded of His disciples, that we can’t openly choose, in selfishness, to disobey and walk in our own way, and then to expect God’s Spirit to bless us with a free walk in victory. But if we are willing to walk as Jesus also commanded (see Luke 9: 23); AND … if we are willing to confess our sins, openly and humbly before God’s throne of grace (again in the Spirit of 1st John 1: 9), we can, as Nichole Nordeman sings in today’s devotional song, be ”Finally Free”) and walk in victory.

So many times, however, we think we’re doing the right thing and going to church and giving to the church and walking in the surface rituals of our RELIGION, … when in truth, we have pockets of sin which we’re exercising “in the closet,” and we delude ourselves to think that somehow God doesn’t see our “hidden” transgressions. My friend, as Jesus told us in His great Sermon in Matthew 5: 23-25, if we’re going to declare ourselves to be free in Christ, we have to walk in that freedom by being totally cleansed of our sinfulness, confessing openly to God and/or setting things right in His eyes.

Our focus, as disciples of Christ, should always be to live as Jesus has instructed us, … to follow Him out of our selfishness, and to live lives, as Nichole Nordeman sings, “Finally Free” of ourselves and fully immersed in the righteousness of our Savior. Again, that’s what Jesus was exhorting in Matthew 6: 33; and I’m praying today that I can walk in freedom, having been cleansed by the infinite power of confession, and redirected by my desire to choose to surrender in my walk and follow only Christ.

 How about you?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I can’t speak for any who meditate with me here today; but I choose to follow You and walk in freedom from myself. … Amen

August 7, 2013 … A touch for those in need

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 219

  Devotional Song: Go to this link  … A classic song, performed by The Gaither Vocal Band, singing “He Touched Me”, reminding us God heals the soul when He touches those who come to Him in faith. …  And at this link  there is the wonderful, poignant song by Nicole C. Mullen, “One Touch,” helping us see that we can be the “one touch” which helps another to be healed from their shame or protected in their storm.

Highlight Passage of the Day: Isaiah 32: 2 [In the context of verses 1-3.] … [NLT] …  
1 Look, a righteous King is coming! And honest princes will rule under him. 2 He will shelter Israel from the storm and the wind. He will refresh her as a river in the desert and as the cool shadow of a large rock in a hot and weary land. 3Then everyone who can see will be looking for God, and those who can hear will listen to His voice. 
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Isaiah, Chapter 32 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage #1 found in Luke 8: 43-48 … Go to this link …

Reference Passage #2 found in Luke 8: 22-25 … Go to this link …

My Journal for Today: Seven hundred plus years before Jesus came to earth, ministered to the people of Galilee for three years, died on a cross, and was raised to life again to save mankind, the Prophet Isaiah prophesied (see Isaiah 32: 1-3 above) that one day there would come a “righteous King” to rule and those who followed His voice would rule under this King.

And then we read of that ONE, … Jesus, … who came to earth as a babe, grew to manhood as a carpenter, and then He set about walking the countryside of Galilee, showing the people, with His miracles of healing and grace, that He was that One about Whom Isaiah had prophesied. And don’t you just love the true encounters, documented by Luke and others, of Jesus as he walked among the Galileans. For example the two linked above in Luke, Chapter 8 are great examples, … where Jesus healed the bleeding woman when she touched His garment in faith; … and one of my favorites, where Jesus was wakened with His disciples in a small boat in the midst of a storm which He calmed by merely waving His hand, showing His command over even the winds.

As the Gaither Band sings about above, Jesus is one who transforms lives when they are surrendered to His touch in faith; and He is One Who can heals lives with just “one touch” from those who seek His life-giving power in faith. And yes, my dear one, following our King Jesus, we, as His princes, can be agents of healing and protection, just as Nicole C. Mullen sings, when we reach out to provide His touch of healing or power in His Name. I hope you’ve heard the songs to which I’ve linked you above as you meditate on the power Jesus had and the power He passed on to you and me as His disciples.

As we go about our day, to whom might we reach out to be Jesus, helping one to receive the power Jesus provides to bring them out of their storm or to be healed from their shame or guilt? Yes, today we could be THE ONE who brings the healing, protecting, revealing, or storm-calming touch of Jesus to someone out there who’s bleeding or caught in a life-threatening storm. But to do that we’ve got to be willing to reach out and be that servant of the King, touching the lives of others in His Name.

So, my friend, let’s go out there and be Jesus for someone today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, put me into the life of someone who needs Your touch today. … Amen

August 6, 2013 … "May I pray for you?"

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 218

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … A powerful song, performed by Shelly Moore Band, singing “Jesus, I Come”, reminding us just Whom we come to when we desire to pray for ourselves or for others.

Highlight Passage of the Day: Philippians 4: 6 [In the context of verses 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.
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 Contextual Study involving today’s passage in Philippians, Chapter 4 … Go to this link …
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: Matthew 18: 20 [God is there when two or three come together IN HIS NAME] … [NLT] …  
20 “… For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.”

Reference Passage of the Day #2: 1st John 5: 14 [The power in prayer is our relationship with Him.] … [NLT] …  
13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 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. 

Reference Passage of the Day #3: 1st Peter 5: 7 [When God says “ALL” cares, He means it!] … [NLT] …  
7 Give ALL your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

Reference Study involving today’s passage found in John, Chapter 17 … Go to this link …

Reference Study involving today’s passage found in James 5: 13-18 … Go to this link …

My Journal for Today: Has anyone ever asked you to pray for them? Or, perhaps you noted someone in deep physical, emotional, or spiritual need; and you offered to pray for them? As Christians, … why do we do that? Do we really believe that prayer makes a difference?

Of course we do, or we wouldn’t be offering to pray for someone, would we? Jesus prayed to His Father for the needs of His disciples [including you and me], didn’t He (see link to John 17 above)? And I’ve always thought and said, “If it’s good enough for Jesus, it’s good enough for me?” And as an Elder in my church, we Elders often get requests to pray over someone who has an illness (see James 5: 13-18 link) or for some other need in the lives of members of our flock. And over the years, I’ve witnessed some wondrous things happen as God answered the prayers of my fellow Elders as we prayed for these needs.

Today’s highlight verse has a very pertinent exhortation, followed by an even more pertinent prescription, followed by a very powerful promise. As Christians we’re challenged by God not to worry (in fact NEVER to be anxious); but God, through Paul, doesn’t just want us NOT to do something. No, God’s word gives us the exact remedy for worry; and that is prayer. And then, God lays out His wonderful promise on us, … that He will give us His peace to guard us if we’re willing to bring our needs to Him in prayer. Wow!

Some years ago I witnessed the power of the truth in this very practical passage when a colleague of mine came bolting into my office in tears. She was absolutely torn up over something one of her sons was into; and she needed consolation. Well, she laid out her story for me, sobbing as she did; and just having memorized Phil. 4: 6-7, I asked her if she knew what it said. She didn’t; and not wanting to show off for her, I handed here the Bible I had on my desk and asked her to go to that passage and read it out loud. She did so; and as she read the passage, I saw a total change in her countenance … from one of panic to peace; and she abruptly said to me, “Oh, I see! … I’m taking all of this worry on my own back; and I need to be taking it to God, don’t I?” Of course, I agreed with her; and she left my office that day with God having related to her just how much He loves her and how He was willing to take on all her cares (see 1st Peter 5: 7).

But do we believe that? … REALLY?!! 

Because if we did, as well as in the truth in 1st John 5: 14, copied above, I would expect that we’d be bringing our cares and our needs to God far more often than we do, … wouldn’t we? And also, may I give you a tip about the commitment to pray for others. Besides the surface reality of actually praying for someone when you promise we will, if/when we’re in the physical presence of someone and they ask us to pray for them or we see a need and ask that one if we can pray for them, I’ve learned the power of stopping … right there – in the moment – and praying for the one in need. Don’t wait! Just do it [!] … at the time that the promise of prayer is requested or needed. It is a powerful reminder of what is communicated in the song to which I’ve linked you here today.

When we pray with another, thankfully, … in the Name of Jesus … in that very moment in time when the prayer was requested or needed, we are recognizing the truth of Matt. 18: 20; and we are saying, as the song sings today, “Jesus, I come!” And in that moment of humble prayer before God’s throne of Grace, He will much more be able to pour out the enriching, enabling, empowering grace that He so desires to lavish on His children … so much more readily than if we were to go off and worry about things on our own.

So, I come here this morning … praying that I pray more … for myself and WAY MORE for others.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, convict me to pray more and come to You more often with my needs and especially with the needs of others. … Amen

August 5, 2013 … Two By Two

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 217

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Hear a longing and poignant song, performed by Mark Harris, singing “I Wish You Were Here”, reminding and us that God made us for relationships with others … all the way to glory.

 Highlight Passage of the Day: Ecclesiastes 4: 9 [Two simply better than one.] … [NLT] … 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Ecclesiastes, Chapter 5 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: Matthew 18: 20 [God is there when two or three come together IN HIS NAME] … [NLT] …  
20 “… For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them.”

Reference Passage of the Day #1: Mark 6: 7 [Two by two He sent them out.] … [NLT] …
7 And He called His twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with authority to cast out evil spirits.

My Journal for Today: Have you discovered the reality that God didn’t make us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians? Individualism and independence may be part of the great American cultural value system; but “doing it alone” just doesn’t cut it when it comes to being Christ’s called ones in the world. Yes, God gives each of us, when we come to Him in faith, the same Holy Spirit to go forth with power in His Name (see Acts 1: 8). But in His Kingdom and working for His glory in this world, God made us for relationships; and that’s why, when Jesus’ disciples were ready to go out witnessing in His Name, He gave them all the same authority; but He sent them out TWO-BY-TWO (see Mark 6: 7). And we know what Jesus said to all His disciples about God being with them (us) any time they (we) come together as two or more … in His Name.

Solomon, when he was writing his reflections on life, recognized the power of doing battle in life, paired for action with others. That’s why accountability in life, especially as a Christian, is so important. How can one read Solomon’s teaching in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 above and not realize that going it alone as a believer in life is not the way to go?

How often in Scripture do we see examples of believers being paired in their calling in life with another. There was Moses and Aaron, Moses and Joshua, David and Jonathan, Elijah and Elisha in the OT; and there was Paul and Timothy, Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, and Paul and Luke in the NT?  Paul really got the message about God’s power in being paired or having close relationships as he went his way as an Apostle; and Paul was no slouch as an individual believer, was he?

So, if we see that having close Christian relationships is important in being His witnesses in this world, to whom have we attached ourselves for accountability and action in this world? Maybe you have a spouse with whom you are paired. Maybe you have a brother or sister in Christ with whom you are accountable and with whom you witness TOGETHER for God’s glory. Maybe you have a close group of brothers who are willing to ask you the tough questions and hold you closely accountable to God’s will and for His glory. But as you listen to Mark Harris’ song, linked above, and you see yourself in heaven one day, with whom would you long to be with in glory? And if you have no one, God has made us to be witnesses for His glory, but reaching out in His Name, He wants us to be paired and grouped with others to magnify our witness.

I pray that we all have others with whom we will be witnessing for Christ today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I thank You for giving me so many cohorts of togetherness as I go forth in Your Name today. … Amen

August 4, 2013 … God’s Priestly Blessing

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 216

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … I’m leading you to use this link and hear a promised-filled song, performed by Krystin Getty, singing “By Faith”, reminding and us that God’s Priesthood should continue to bless His people through lives of faith.

Highlight Passage of the Day: Numbers 6: 24-26 [God’s priestly blessing on His people] … [NLT] …  
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, 23 “Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: 
 24 ‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. 
25 May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. 
26 May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’  
27 This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as My people, and I, Myself, will bless them.” 
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Numbers, Chapter 6 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: 1st Peter 2: 9 [In the New Covenant all who have declared Christ as Lord are God’s “royal priesthood.”] … [NLT] …
 9 But you [who’ve come to Christ in faith] are not like that, for you are a chosen people [NKJV – a “royal priesthood”]. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

My Journal for Today: This morning in my devotional from Os Hillman’s ministry, as editor and teacher, Hillman led me to the priestly blessing which Aaron and his progeny of priests were to give to the Jews as God’s blessing on His chosen people. It is found (see above) in Numbers, Chapter 6, Verses 24-26 and Hillman indicated that this blessing, God’s blessing, is to be placed on anyone who blesses Israel today. And it is not often that I disagree with Hillman’s interpretation of scripture and his devotional writings, but today I must do so.

I don’t think one can interpret the passage found in Numbers 6 above to be God’s instruction that we, as Christians, are to expect God’s blessing anytime we bless a Jew. Yes, … it is true that we, as Christians, are to be a blessing to others as God’s “royal priesthood,” as Peter wrote about in 1st Peter 2, see above. In the New Covenant, we who have declared – BY FAITH – Christ to be our Lord and Savior, have now become the Lord’s “royal priesthood;” and all who’re truly born-again in Christ are now the lineage of priests which in the old testament was designated to Aaron and his progeny.

 In Aaron’s day of the Old Covenant, the Priests, i.e., Aaron’s sons and lineage, were to declare a blessing on those who, IN FAITH, followed and were obedient to God’s Law, as handed down through Moses to God’s chosen people. And the Priestly blessing, declared above by God’s Priests, would declare God’s blessing on those who blessed God by their faith in His Law. But now, under the New Covenant, the “royal priesthood” has been designated to ANYONE who lives – BY FAITH – in One Who has fulfilled the Old and New Covenants; and ANYONE who lives a faith-led life will become a priest who blesses others, showing them God’s blessing of protection, grace, and peace (see today’s highlight passage).

Yes, it is true that nations who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed; but that is a very different study from God’s truth. However, though Hillman was trying to put forth today’s highlight scripture passage as support for that position, which is becoming more and more pertinent in today’s world, I just don’t think that was what God’s Spirit was trying to communicate to His readers in Numbers 6, by the benediction to be pronounced over God’s people by God’s Priesthood.

I think it boils down to us, as Christians and God’s “priesthood” in the New Covenant, living lives as challenged by the song I’ve brought to any readers here today, sung by the brother/sister duo, The Gettys, where we, as a Christian Priesthood, become a blessing to anyone who sees us living out our faith and blessing others by lives of faith in Christ. Because anytime we live – BY FAITH – in this way, we are declaring the blessing which God’s Priests were to declare over His people.

 And today, my friend, prayerfully, as one of God’s royal priesthood, I pray that my life of faith declares to you … “May the Lord bless and protect you. May our Lord shine upon you; and may He show you His grace and give you His peace.”

My Prayer for Today … Oh, Lord, that is my prayer for any who read my words here today and live by faith in Your promise of protection, grace, and peace. … Amen

August 3, 2013 … Doing What I Don’t Want To Do – Why?

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 215

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … I’m leading you to use this link and hear a powerful song, you may have heard, performed by Phillips, Craig, and Dean, singing “He’ll Do Whatever It Takes”, reminding and encouraging us that God is with the Christian to bring us to Himself … no matter what it takes!!

Highlight Passage of the Day: Hebrews 4: 1-2; 9-11 [The peace we all seek in Christ?!!] … [NLT] …  
1 God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. … 9 So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. 10 For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. 11 So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall. 
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Hebrews, Chapter 4 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: Romans 7: 14-17 [Sometimes we just try to beat the flesh with the flesh; and that is unbelief in action.] … [NLT] …  
14 The law is good, then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. 15 I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. 16 I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.

Reference Passage of the Day #1: Romans 8 [Yes, the answer is here; … but do we believe it?!!] … [NLT] … Go to this link …

My Journal for Today: Today I took a little departure from Os Hillman in my devotional, being led (I believe by God’s Spirit - it’s a long story!) to read the 1st Chapter of a book by Craig S. Hill, which you can read by going to this link  [click on the graphic of the book to have linked access to chapters 1-3 of Hill’s book]. The book is entitled Bondage Broken; and coming on this information this morning was so personal and so compelling, I just felt driven to share the main points of Hill’s premise here.

 Have you, as a Christian, ever done – perhaps through fleshly compulsion – something you knew was wrong or sinful; … but you went ahead and did it anyway? And when this departure from God’s will/way occurred, what were the resultant feelings experienced in your mind/heart? … I would predict remorse, anguish, and guilt – to say the least! … Am I right?

Of course I am! As they say, “I’ve been there, done that, and have the T-shirt!” I know what it’s like to willfully leave the peace which God promises to the righteous and obedient believer … that peace describe above in the highlight passages of Scripture from Hebrews, Chapter 4. And you or I are not the only ones who’ve experienced this fleshly compulsion. Hey, … no less than the Apostle Paul writes about doing what he knew was wrong and experiencing the resulting feelings of remorse; and we read about his confession to such a lapse of faith in Romans 7 (see above).

Craig Hill apparently wrote his book, as Paul wrote Chapter 7 of Romans, to help Christians see that we all have times when feel weakness and our human default, from a lapse of faith and belief in Gods’ will and His way, is to use the flesh to overcome the flesh; and that strategy will NEVER WORK!! Think of how many men, in trying to find missing feelings of love and affirmation, compulsively turn to p0rnography, which is pseudo-intimacy, to fill up that hole of love in their souls. How many people try to drown their sorrows in booze; or take pain pills to quench the emotional pain in their souls?

And sometimes our lack of faith and our compulsively driven flesh leads us into addictive cycles which can never be filled with more fleshly agents; … can they?! But my friend, … there is always the victory promised in Romans 8 (see the link above). That’s where Paul wanted any Christian reading and identifying with him in Romans 7 to go. And it’s our choice as Christians! We can compulsively and faithlessly live in Romans7, professing “Woe is me;” and going deeper and deeper into fleshly strategies, which will never provide the peace and rest promised in Hebrews 4 above.

OR … IN FAITH … and choosing to follow the truths espoused by God through Paul in Romans 8, we can seek God’s victory over the flesh!! Yes, … as my devotional song for today declares, God will do whatever it takes to bring us back to Himself and provide the peace of mind and heart we seek, if – and only IF – we’re willing to BELIEVE what He declares in Romans 8, internalizing its truth, and living in the promises which He espouses therein.

What about it today, my friend, do we choose to live in Romans 7, compulsively choosing to use unsuccessful fleshly devices to overcome what is missing in our souls; … OR … will we choose to receive, internalize, and live in the truthful promises of Romans 8 and to walk toward the God who is calling us to live in His peace and His promises?

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I choose to live in the truths of Romans 8!! … Amen

August 2, 2013 … Choosing Surrender? Really?!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 214

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Again today, like yesterday, please use this link and hear a challenging song performed by Faith Hill, singing “I Surrender All”, exhorting Christians to choose to do what is probably the hardest choice we’ll ever has a disciples of Christ.

Highlight Passage of the Day: Job 23: 10 [Surrender all? Really?!! … That’s hard !!!] … [NLT] …  
10 But He [i.e., God] knows where I am going. And when He has tested me like gold in a fire, He will pronounce me innocent.
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Contextual Study involving today’s passage found in Job, Chapter 23 … Go to this link … 
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Reference Passage of the Day #1: 2nd Corinthians 4: 17 [Knowing what “surrender” means and choosing it are two very separate things.] … [NLT] …  
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

Reference Passage of the Day #1: Romans 8 [Yes; but do we believe it?!!] … [NLT] … Go to this link …

My Journal for Today: Surrender? … ALL? … Really?!! … Ugh; … that’s hard!

If you’ve been following my daily journal entries these past days, a recurring theme seems to be Os Hillman’s editorial choice; and yes, it’s SURRENDER. And today Hillman, and I, following his shepherding, refer to Job, who, in Chapter 23 of his book [linked above] and responding to the last of his four critics, declares that he’s innocent and doesn’t deserve the pain/suffering which has been foisted upon him. And the tough thing is, … he’s right!

Ever made a choice to fully surrender to God’s way and what you perceived to be His will; and the world (or maybe Satan) seemed to dump on you? You know I’ll bet that we’ve all had Jobian-like moments in our life. And I also think about how Joseph, who was a good dude who had to endure harsh treatment from his family, slavery, and false imprisonment, … GIVING ALL and still remaining faithful in spite of all those trials. And Habakkuk, one of my favorite OT characters, had to learn – through seeing horrible stuff happen at the hands of God – how to hold on to joy in the midst of privation and troubles.

Yes, I get it; … or at least I think I do. And the image Job used in today’s verse is that word picture of how gold is only purified completely when it’s put under great heat. And I know that. BUT (big “but” again!), … knowing it and believing it … and then living it, are totally separate choices, aren’t they?

We may know – and even agree – with what Faith Hill so elegantly sings about in the song I’ve linked you too again today. We may understand and completely agree with what Paul wrote about in Chapter 8 of Romans (also linked for your meditation above). But living in those truths is a scary proposition, isn’t it? … Why, … because somehow we know, deep in our hearts, that surrendering ALL to Christ comes with the potential (if not the reality) of a great cost; and who wants to choose to give all to Christ when it might come with aggravation, at least, … and even death, at worst?

But then after we’ve really been showered with the wondrous truth of Romans 8; and we realize why God desires the purification which comes from surrendering all to Him, we can revel in the reality of what Paul also stated (see above) in 2nd Cor. 4: 17. Let me paraphrase it here for emphasis: Whatever we’re going through now, even if it’s painful, is NOTHING compared with the glory God has waiting for us when we choose to surrender our all for Him!!

 I really hope you’ve taken in Faith Hill’s beautiful song here again today; and even more, I pray that you’ve been rolling in the wondrous – TRUE – promises of Romans 8; because if we believe them, internalize them, and live in surrender to them, we’ll be able to live with the assurance that Christ gave to Paul when the Apostle was hurting so painfully in 2nd Corinthians 12: 9, when He said, " My grace is sufficient for you; for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” 

Surrender all? … Yeah, … let’s do it!

My Prayer for Today … Okay, Lord; … I get it; and I want it; … so, I’ll surrender my all for Your grace. … Amen

August 1, 2013 … A Vessel of Blessing

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 213

Devotional Song: Go to this link  … Please use this link and hear a song sung by the Faith Hill, singing “I Surrender All”, exhorting Christians to surrender all we are and all we have been given to bless others in the Name of Christ.

Highlight Passage of the Day: Proverbs 11: 24-24 [Are we vessels of blessing whom God uses to bless others?] … [NLT] …  
24 It is possible to give freely and become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything. 25 The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
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Contextual Study #1 involving today’s passage found in Proverbs, Chapter 11 … Go to this link 
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Reference Study involving the teaching of Jesus found in Mark 10: 17-29 … Go to this link  

Reference Study involving Jesus’ parable found in Matthew 25: 14-30 … Go to this link 

Reference Passage of the Day #1: 2nd Corinthians 9: 6-9 [When we put our check in the offering plate on Sunday, is our heart laughing?] … [NLT] …
6 Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure; for God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say , [Ps. 112: 9] “Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.”

My Journal for Today: When that offering plate comes by on Sunday and we’ve decided to give a certain amount, perhaps our tithe and/or an offering for a designated ministry or missionary project, what is the attitude of our heart as that envelope is dropped in the plate? That’s really at the heart (forgive my pun) of Os Hillman’s devotional lesson today.

When our heart is right and our lives are blessed providentially by God time, talents, and treasures which reflect God’s desire for us to be the stewards of His providence, what do we do with those blessings? Do we do what Faith Hill sings in the song to which I’ve linked you today … i.e., “Surrender All?” Or is our heart reluctant as we drop that envelop in the plate at Church on Sunday?

You probably remember the story of that rich young ruler who came to Jesus, wanting to know how he could be ushered into heaven; and Jesus, recognizing the condition of the young man’s heart, told him exactly what Faith Hill sings above … that he must be willing to “surrender all;” … and the wealthy young man turned on his heel and walked away saddened; because he was not willing to part with the treasures God had given him.

The Apostle Paul to the Corinthian believers (and to us by extension) wanted them (us) to get all of the blessings God has for His faithful; and so above, from 2nd Cor. 9: 6-9, we read Paul’s exhortation and teaching about giving; and it’s the condition of the heart which determines how much God can bless us as we manage His providence, and actually, with hilarity, are willing to be a blessing for others with our giving.

 God gives His providence to us so that we, as the children in His family, can manage it and use it to bless others … just as Jesus spoke about in the parable of the talents (found linked above in Matthew 25: 14-30). What God gives us, in time, talents, or treasure, is not ours. It’s all His; … and it’s to be used for HIS glory … not for ours. And therefore, we find our re-gifting for His glory mostly when we become vessels of giving, using His providence in the lives of others, especially those in the church first and then for all in need.

So, we all need to ask ourselves if we’re being such vessels of God’s purpose in the giving of all we have. Are we surrendering all, managing what God has given us in time, talents, and treasure, and then giving it back to others in need in HIS Name with a grateful and joyful heart? I’ll leave this soul-searching question for you as I deal with my own attitude toward giving today.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, I pray that I’m smiling when I put the check in the offering plate on Sunday and then You smile because You know my heart is so grateful for what we can to return to others from Your providence. … Amen