March 19, 2017 ... Words Like Wildfire

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 78 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the BeeGees sining their hit song… Words … and you can imagine Jesus singing those lyrics to any/all who read or hear His words being spoken to them (us).

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Highlight Verse[s]: James 3:5 [NLT] … 
5 In the same way the tongue is a small thing which makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a forest on fire. 
… The tongue may be a small organ; but it can do great damage if not bridled.
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Highlight Passage [context]: James 3:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
... Jesus’ brother, James, teaches on how powerful is the tongue to do damage in our lives. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 16:24, 27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon tells how words can be sweet like honey or destructive like a fire. We choose which.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Ephesians 4:29 [NLT] …  
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. 
… If one can’t say something which brings God’s grace and love to someone else, it’s best not said at all.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder, used an historical reference to illustrate the power of the tongue. The ODB author wrote: It was a Sunday night in September and most people were sleeping when a small fire broke out in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane. Soon the flames spread from house to house and London was engulfed in the Great Fire of 1666. Over 70,000 people were left homeless by the blaze that leveled four-fifths of the city. So much destruction from such a small fire! 

Most biblically astute Christians are familiar with Jesus’ brother, James, preaching [in James 3] on the inordinate power of the very small organ - the tongue - when it is used either for good or for evil. And if used for the latter, it can create a wildfire out of a small spark which can burn down marriages, churches, or whole nations … just like that fire in London, which started from a small house fire, and almost burned down the entire city (see photo).

God, thru the Apostle Paul, taught us how to use our words, telling us (in Eph. 4:29 that we must avoid using emotionally inflammatory words, … using them only to build up others or give them God’s grace.

I pray today that we’ll only use our tongues for God’s glory and not to start a fire in someone else’s life.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, …Help me to use my words for Your glory. … Amen

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

March 18, 2017 ... Words To Pray?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 77 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Sara Groves singing her song … It’s Going To Be Alright … poignantly singing of the trust we have in a caring God to bring us thru times of desperation.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 34:18 [NLT] … 
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. 
… David knew to Whom he must turn when he was brokenhearted.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David, on the run from King Saul, writes of turning to God in a time of desperation [see also 1Sam. 21 below).
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … 1st Samuel 21:10-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David, so desperate that he would feign lunacy to save his life. This was the scene he wrote about in Psalm 34.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Romans 8:26-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
... There are times when we know not what to pray; but we can always know God’s Spirit will intervene for us.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… No worries … just prayers!

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … 1st Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… Simple command; but do we follow it?

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Jolene Philo, told a personal story to illustrate praying in our times of brokenness and worry. The ODB author wrote: The morning after our son, Allen, was born, the doctor sat down in a chair near the foot of my bed and said, “Something’s wrong.” Our son, so perfect on the outside, had a life-threatening birth defect and needed to be flown to a hospital 700 miles away for immediate surgery. When the doctor tells you something is wrong with your child, your life changes. Fear of what lies ahead can crush your spirit and you stumble along, desperate for a God who will strengthen you so you can support your child. [see photo] … 
Then my husband, Hiram, arrived and heard the news. After the doctor left, Hiram said, “Jolene, let’s pray.” I nodded and he took my hand. “Thank You, Father, for giving Allen to us. He’s Yours, God, not ours. You loved him before we knew him, and he belongs to You. Be with him when we can’t.  Amen.” 

We all have times, when we feel pretty desperate, don’t we[?] … even tho we trust in a God Who cares for us (see 1st Peter 5:7). And in those times, all we can do is pray (see Phil. 4:6-7). But there are times, as in the scenario above, when it’s even difficult to do that, not finding the words to pray (see Romans 8:26-28).

Young David, desperate and on the run from King Saul, was in a place [see highlight passage] where he was compelled to even feign lunacy to save his life (see 1Samuel 21:10-15); but he knew that God watches over the lives/hearts of the brokenhearted (see Psalm 34:18); and so he ultimately took his anxieties to God in prayer/song.

And since we know and believe in reference passages 2-4 above (well , don’t we?!!), we know that God is always close and wouldn’t do, or allow, anything that was not for His glory and our good as Christians! So, why should we not take our desperation to Him? And even if we know not what to pray, we can rely on God’s Spirit to pray for us (see Rom. 8:26-28).

So, anybody feeling anxious or down today? … Listen to the song linked above; and let’s take it to God!!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, …Pray for me, Lord! I need Your help today. … Amen

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

March 17, 2017 ... His Way First!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 76 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from friends, Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans, and Bob Carlisle singing … I Will Follow Christ … gloriously singing of our choices, as Christians, to honor God by following Christ and seeking His road when we walk the road of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 13:8-9 [NLT] … 
8 Finally Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives! 9 The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.” 
… Abram could’ve had the first choice; but he yielded first to Lot, honoring God with his choice. 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Genesis 13:1-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Abram defers to Lot the choice of which land to claim.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 
23 … “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 
… As His disciples, we are to always deny self and follow Him, and this generally means yielding to others before self.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Philippians 2:3-4 [NLT] … 
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 
 … Others before self is usually God’s way.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, made a biblical reference to Abram and Lot to illustrate how we need to make choices in our lives which affect others. The ODB author wrote: In some cultures a younger person is expected to permit his elder to enter a room first. In others, the most important or highest ranking individual enters first. No matter what our traditions, there are times when we find it difficult to allow someone to choose first on important matters, especially when that privilege rightfully belongs to us.   
Abram (later called Abraham) and his nephew Lot had so many flocks, herds, and tents that the land could not support both of them as they traveled together. To avoid conflict, Abram suggested they part company and generously gave Lot first choice of the land. His nephew took the fertile Jordan Valley, leaving Abram with the less desirable land. 

Choices! … As we walk the roads of life, we have to make them everyday, don’t we? And often they involve others as we choose to go one way or another in life. I call them “crossroads choices” (see photo). And I think they are God’s way of testing our obedience and our loyalty to Jesus’ command of discipleship in Luke 9:23.

Abram, when he came to faith in God, was given such a choice with regard to his family in deciding which way to go in life [see highlight passage]. And he chose to honor God with his choice and give first dibs to Lot. The Apostle Paul taught about this to fellow Christians in the Phil. 2 passage above. And when we choose to allow others go ahead of us, especially those who are part of the family of God, we’re often making the choice which honors God the most.

Up ahead, … which road will we take?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … My LORD, …King Jesus, …Shine a light on my way so that I can help others to see Your way. … Amen

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

March 16, 2017 ... He’s All I Need!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 75 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of lyrics from the group Hlllsong singing their song … Jesus You’re All I Need … gloriously singing of the reality of all we need in life … and that is our relationship with our Lord and Savior, … and to serve our King Jesus.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Isaiah 40:12a [NLT] … 
12a Who els (but God) has held the oceans in His hands? … Who has measured off the heavens with His fingers? … 
… REALITY - we can’t handle this world … but GOD can!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Isaiah 40:9-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Our God is the only One Who can handle the overwhelming problems of this world. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon knew that the only way we can find our way thru life is to surrender, completely, to the One, … the ONLY ONE … to show us the way … His way!

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Isaiah 26:3 [NLT] … 
3 You (Lord) keep in perfect peach all who trust in You, … all whose thoughts are fixed on You! 
… God, thru Isaiah, gives His people (you and me) His prescription for prioritizing the difficulties of life … i.e., focusing on our relationship with Christ.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … John 16:33 [NLT] … 
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
… Jesus is the ONLY ONE Who can handle the challenges of this world.

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul shows Christians how to handle life when things become overwhelming, producing anxiety, stress, or depression.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Kirsten Holmberg, used an illustration of the sometimes overwhelming stress we undergo in life and how we must handle it. The ODB author wrote: After I clumsily knocked over my glass on the restaurant counter, the spilled beverage began to cascade over the edge and onto the floor. Out of sheer embarrassment, I tried to catch the waterfall with cupped hands. My efforts were largely unsuccessful; most of my beverage rushed through my fingers. In the end, my upturned palms held little more than a meager tablespoon each, while my feet stood in puddles. 
My life feels similar on many days. I find myself scrambling to solve problems, oversee details, and control circumstances. No matter how hard I try, my feeble hands are incapable of managing all the pieces and parts. Something invariably slips through my fingers and pools on the floor at my feet, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. No amount of contorting my hands or squeezing my fingers more tightly together makes me able to handle it all [see photo]. 

Fellow Christian, … have you ever felt overwhelmed by the challenges of this life? I think I sense a consensus of … “Been there, … got that T-shirt!” … Yeah, … we’ve all been there, haven’t we? 

Recently, I seemed to have so many things that were slipping thru my grasp, much like trying to keep the water in my hands from an overwhelming cascade of challenges (again, as in the photo). And my inability to prioritize and handle it all actually had caused me to be diagnosed with clinical depression; and it was affecting my blood sugar (I’m diabetic) and causing bouts of hyper-fatigue. 

Well, ... three physicians helped me with some medication and the recommendation to begin pairing some of the lower prioritized, highly stress producing, choices from my life. But the thing that helped me most was focusing on my relationship with my Lord; and looking to Him to help me set my priorities on those things HE wanted me to focus on most in my life. [see the reference Scriptures above]

And it’s working! ... My blood sugar measures are within normal limits. The episodes of hyper-fatigue have disappeared; and my quiet times with God - like right now - have become sweeter than ever. So, my friends, if you’re looking for more peace and less stress, … take the advice, from Gods’ truth above; and let the guidance of Hillsong in the linked song guide your life.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … My LORD, …King Jesus, …You’re all I need. You have overcome the world; and I look to You for THE way! … Amen

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

March 15, 2017 ... A Gospel Legacy

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 74 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Joy Williams singing her song … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of what should be the desire of all Christians … for others to see Jesus in the way we live, leaving a legacy of Christ when we leave this world.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 2Timothy 1:5 [NLT] … 
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 
… Paul had left a legacy of the Gospel in Timothy’s life to be passed on to others.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 2Timothy 1:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul writes of the legacy of Christ left in Timothy by his family and thru Paul’s mentoring. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Deuteronomy 6:4-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God charges all believers in Him to pass along His legacy to our family and others in every opportunity we have.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon knew that the only way we can find our way thru life is to surrender, completely, to the One to show us the way … His way!

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Matthew 28:19-20 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Christ’s “Great Commission” to Christians to GO and do all we can to make other disciples in His Name and for His glory.

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. …” 
… As we walk thru life, following Jesus, do others see Jesus in the way we live.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Keila Ochoa, used a personal story to illustrate how we Christians must live in order to pass along a legacy of Christ to those who come after us. The ODB author wrote: Grandpa and Grandma Harris didn’t have a lot of money, yet they managed to make each Christmas memorable for my cousins and me. There was always plenty of food, fun, and love. And from an early age we learned that it was Christ who made this celebration possible. We want to leave the same legacy to our children. When we got together last December to share Christmas with family, we realized this wonderful tradition had started with Grandpa and Grandma. They couldn’t leave us a monetary inheritance, but they were careful to plant the seeds of love, respect, and faith so that we—their children’s children—might imitate their example.

Fellow Christian, … do you have such a family legacy of Christmas and Christ in your life? I did not. … It was a mentor, later in my life, … much like the Apostle Paul was to Timothy [see the highlight passage], … who began to instill in me the legacy written about in the OT (see Deut. 6:4-7) and in the NT where Jesus commanded His disciples to follow Him and to lead others to Him (see Luke 9:23 and Matthew 28:19-20 ).

And the roaring question which resounds from today’s ODB entry for me is … Am I doing all I can to leave a legacy of Christlikeness in the way I think, the way I walk, and the way I lead others to Christ?”

What are we doing in our lives to show others, … our family, our friends, and others, the way to the Lord and in leading others to follow His way of living. Paul did that for Timothy. Are we doing it for others?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … LORD, … As Joy Williams sings in the linked song, … I so want others to see You in me … Amen

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

March 14, 2017 ... Falling Into His Arms

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 73 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from the group Selah singing a contemporary arrangement of the old hymn … Do How Deep the Father’s Love For Us … poignantly singing of the vast expansive and open arms of love of our Savior.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 139:23 [NLT] … 
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; … test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
… When anxiety strikes, ... so what David did!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 139:17-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David knew where to go when he felt lost, alone, and weak.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon knew that the only way we can find our way thru life is to surrender, completely, to the One to show us the way … His way!

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… When our strength runs out, we need to fall into the arms of the One who will give us His strength.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 
… When we’re anxious, afraid, or feeling lost, … there’s only one place to go!

Reference Passage #4 [NKJV] : … 1st Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 
7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 
… Peter also knew where to go when he had burdens too heavy for himself to bare.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Shelly Beach, used a personal story to illustrate how we Christians must rely on God’s love to fuel us when we run out of human strength. The ODB author wrote: The day my husband, Dan, and I began our caregiving journey with our aging parents, we linked arms and felt as if we were plunging off a cliff. We didn’t know that in the process of caregiving the hardest task we would face would be to allow our hearts to be searched and molded and to allow God to use this special time to make us like Him in new ways. 
On days when I felt I was plunging toward earth in an out-of-control free-fall, God showed me my agendas, my reservations, my fears, my pride, and my selfishness. He used my broken places to show me His love and forgiveness. 

Do I sense any readers with me here, saying … “Yeah, been there … got that t-shirt!” … Well, maybe not with the caregiving of aging parents; but having been in situations where we felt lost, afraid, or helpless, … I’d bet there aren’t any of us who haven’t been there.

So, what does one do; … where does one go? Well today’s photo and song tell us. … We run into the arms of love of a Savior who knows exactly where we are and what we need. And as He promised David in Psalm 139 … or Paul 2nd Cor. 12:9, … our Lord’s love and enabling grace will always be there for us.

So, if any of us are feeling weak or anxious today, let’s do what Paul and Peter exhorted in Phil. 4:6-7 and 1Peter 5:7; … let’s take our cares to Jesus!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … LORD, … I come running to You. … Amen

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

March 13, 2017 ... This Is My Story…!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 72 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of lyrics from the group Third Day singing a contemporary arrangement of the old hymn … Blessed Assurance … powerfully singing of the power of sharing one’s story of how God’s love changes lives.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Acts 9:19b-21 [NLT] … 
19b Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 21 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” 
… After Saul’s conversation, he became the Apostle Paul, sharing his testimony and preaching the Gospel wherever he went; and many came to faith in Christ thru his story.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Acts 9:1-31, 26:1-32 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul openly and strategically used his testimony to show the power of God to change a life. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 4:14-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus shared the prophesy of His story (prophesied by Isaiah - Is. 61:1-2) in His synagogue; and revealed that He was the Messiah. It was to become Jesus’ story and His life, death, and resurrection - i.e., His Gospel of deliverance.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
… Jesus’ command for us to go forth and share our testimony (i.e., witness) with anyone and everyone we can.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, opened today’s entry with a personal story to illustrate how a story can impact the lives of others. And then the ODB author went on to show how the Apostle Paul’s conversion story was so influential in showing how Christ changes lives thru the witness of others [see highlight passages].

And the ODB entry today reminded me of how powerful our witness, thru testimony, can be to show others how the Gospel can (and will) change lives. And really, that’s Jesus’ command to all of us, isn’t it? [see Acts 1:8]

And an illustration of this is the sharing of “cardboard testimonies.” Some time ago in my church, a group of our partitioners came on stage during a Sunday service, carrying cardboard signs. On one side was a brief testimony of what our lives were like BEFORE Christ; and on the other side was our declaration of how becoming a Christian [i.e., AFTER Christ] had changed us (see photo). My “before” card read, “Addicted to PORN!” … and the “after” side read, “Addicted to God’s word!”; … a pretty obvious witness of how Christ changed my life, right?! If you did a cardboard testimony today, what would yours read?

And how many of us have shared our testimony with anybody recently? Perhaps, if we prayed for the opportunity, today might be our chance to show others how Jesus has changed our life.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … LORD, … Have testimony, will travel and share ANYWHERE!! … Amen

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

March 12, 2017 ... Using Our Gifts/Talents

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 71 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Joy Williams once again singing her song … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of a question we all should ask ourselves everyday …

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Peter 4:10 [NLT] … 
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 
… A straight-forward exhortation to serve one another (and first, God) by using the great variety of gifts/talents we Christians have been given.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Peter 4:7-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Peter, exhorts Christians to use our Spirit-given gifts and talents to honor God. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 
 … Jesus on showing His love to others thru our obedience to His words/commands.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] …
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
… Jesus’ command to His disciples to become His witnesses to this world.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Ephesians 4:1-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A1-17&version=NLT … God, thru Paul, preaches for Christians to use their diverse gifts to unify the Church and to show our worthiness, called as Christians.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David Branon, used a personal story to illustrate how we must use our varied, God-given, talents/gifts for God’s Glory. The ODB author wrote: While on vacation recently, I gave my razor a rest and grew a beard. Various responses came from friends and co-workers—and most were complimentary. One day, however, I looked at the beard and decided, “It’s not me.” So out came the razor [see photo]. I’ve been thinking about the idea of who we are and why one thing or another does not fit our personality. Primarily, it’s because God has bestowed us with individual differences and preferences. It’s okay that we don’t all like the same hobbies, eat the same foods, or worship in the same church. … 
Jesus’s disciples didn’t check their characteristics at the door before entering His world. Peter was so impulsive that he cut off a servant’s ear the night Jesus was arrested. Thomas insisted on evidence before believing Christ had risen. The Lord didn’t reject them simply because they had some growing to do. He molded and shaped them for His service. 

No, Paul and Peter (see passages referenced above) used their varied personalities/gifts/talents to teach about how we Christians should let our diversity of gifts bring unity in His Church and glorify God with how we live. And Jesus, taught strongly to show that true Christians show His love to others by how we live in obedience to Him as His disciples [see John 14:21].

Question #1 from these thoughts is: Do we know what are God-given gifts/talents are? … And ?#2 … you guessed it! … Are we using those gifts/talents for God’s glory? … Yes, today … and all days?

Perhaps it would be productive for us to do this self-inventory; and then get busy, … as Paul exhorted in Ephesians 4 [see above], showing our worthiness to the calling we have as Christians (see also Acts 1:8).

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … LORD, … Convict and empower me, thru Your grace, to use my gifts/talents for Your glory today. … Amen

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

March 11, 2017 ... Help!!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 70 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of lyrics sung by Jordan Smith singing a contemporary arrangement of the classic hymn … Great Is Thy Faithfulness … powerfully singing of our assurance of God’s faithfulness when we are in dire need of His presence and power.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 86:6-7 [NLT] … 
6  Listen closely to my Prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent dry. 7 I will call to You whenever in trouble, and You will answer me. 
… David knew God would hear his “Mayday” call.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 86:1-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David’s faith and trust in His God for deliverance in dire circumstances.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
 … God will always direct and lift up His chosen one.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … 
22  The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is His faithfulness; … His mercies begin afresh every morning. 
… God’s mercies NEVER cease.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … John 16:33 [NLT] … 
33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 
… We will ALWAYS have troubles in this life. That’s Jesus’ promise. But it is also His promise that He has overcome the trials of this world; and we are to find our peace in Him.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, used a traditional emergency call for help, “Mayday,” to illustrate how we can - and should - call on God in times of trial. The ODB author wrote: The international distress signal “Mayday” is always repeated three times in a row—“Mayday-Mayday-Mayday”—so the situation will be clearly understood as a life-threatening emergency [see photo]. The word was created in 1923 by Frederick Stanley Mockford, a senior radio officer at London’s Croydon Airport. That now-closed facility once had many flights to and from Le Bourget Airport in Paris. According to the National Maritime Museum, Mockford coined Mayday from the French word m’aidez, which means, “help me.” 

The ODB entry today took readers back to a time when King David was in an emergency situation; and just as we should in dire circumstances, he knew exactly to Whom he must call on and to trust for deliverance. When threatened by life, King David put out a MAYDAY call to His God (see highlight passages above).

Do I really need to go deeper to write about the message for us Christians after you’ve taken in the Scriptures above and heard Jordan Smith sing his rendition of that classic old hymn. I think not!

Jesus promised His disciples (and that’s us too) that He had overcome the world with all of our trials/troubles. The question is do we believe it; … and will we, like David, go first - and foremost - to God when we get in a MAYDAY [!!] situation?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … LORD, … You are my MAYDAY Redeemer!! … Amen

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

March 10, 2017 ... Going Home With Hope

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 69 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics sung by the lead singer from Third Day singing a contemporary arrangement of the classic hymn … Blessed Assurance … powerfully singing of our assurance of a Savior and our hope of heaven.

Image of “Without a Home” taken from ODB Devotional  

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Highlight Verse[s]: Ephesians 2:12-13 [NLT] … 
12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 
… The blessed assurance of being IN CHRIST forever.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Ephesians 2:11-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul, writing to disenfranchised Christians to encourage them to know that their hope was in heaven, not in this world.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Trusting in Christ is being led to Him in eternity.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT] … 
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 
 … God will always direct and lift up His chosen one.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … 1st Peter 2:11 [NLT] … 
11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 
 … As long as we’re headed toward our heavenly hope and staying away from earthly temptations, we’ll be okay.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Mart DeHaan, used a true story of a young african boy to illustrate our condition as temporary travelers, headed to our home in heaven. The ODB author wrote: A young African refugee who goes by the name of Steven is a man without a country [see ODB photo]. He thinks he may have been born in Mozambique or Zimbabwe. But he never knew his father and lost his mother. She fled civil war, traveling country to country as a street vendor. Without ID and unable to prove his place of birth, Steven walked into a British police station, asking to be arrested. Jail seemed better to Steven than trying to exist on the streets without the rights and benefits of citizenship. 

Sometimes it’s easy to feel lost, isn’t it? We can feel like we’re walking thru a minefield with all those deadly dangers all around us, … not knowing which way to go. But then, when we realize that we can follow THE ONE Who knows exactly where all the mines are, we can have confidence and hope that we’re headed in His right direction, … headed home with Christ.

That’s why Paul, from a prison, was writing to the Ephesian Christians, … a people who were on the run and feeling oppressed by the world, with their lives threatened every day. But he helped them (and prayerfully us) to realize that we need not fear this world, we can follow Christ out of the minefield of this life, … all the way to our permanent, eternal, home in heaven.

That’s the Blessed Assurance that Third Day sings of in today’s linked song (above). And I pray it’s the assurance that all who read here have, especially with the truths espoused in today’s highlight and reference passages.

My friends, all we need to do is follow our Savior; and He will lead us out of the minefield and all the way to our heavenly home.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … We follow You, … confidently today, knowing You will lead us home. … Amen

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

March 9, 2017 ... Oops! … I Blew It!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 68 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics sung by Queen Latifah from the movie, Joyful Noise, singing … Fix Me Jesus … poignantly singing a prayer of repentance and sorrow for sin to our Lord, … praying for His redemption and restoration.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Genesis 32:22-24 [NLT] … 
22 “Don’t get so upset, my lord,” Aaron replied [to Moses]. “You yourself know how evil these people are. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire—and out came this calf!” 
… Knowing that he had done wrong, Aaron cannot own up to his sin.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Exodus 32:1-5, 19-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Before his brother, Aaron deflects blame for his golden-calf sin, blaming the evil on others. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Genesis 3:8-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Blaming others for our own sin goes all the way back to the garden; … and we have inherited that selfish blame-shifting nature of Adam and Eve.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … 1st John 1:8-9 [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. 
… God’s promises to cleanse us from any/all sin, … IF … we’re willing to own up to the sin and confess it to receive His cleansing redemption and restoration.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Cindy Hess Kasper , used some OT biblical illustrations to teach on our need, as born-again sinners, to own up to our sins, to confess, and be fixed by God’s Spirit. The ODB author wrote: “Mistakes were made,” said the CEO as he discussed the illegal activity his company had been involved in. He looked regretful, yet he kept blame at arm’s length and couldn’t admit he had personally done anything wrong. 
Some “mistakes” are just mistakes: driving in the wrong direction, forgetting to set a timer and burning dinner, miscalculating your checkbook balance. But then there are the deliberate deeds that go far beyond—God calls those sin. When God questioned Adam and Eve about why they had disobeyed Him, they quickly tried to shift the blame to another (Gen. 3:8–13). Aaron took no personal responsibility when the people built a golden calf to worship in the desert. 

When Aaron was uncovered making the golden calf, or when Adam and Eve tried to shift the blame for their sins to others, they demonstrate the unfortunate default in our human character to deflect blame for our sin, rather than admitting it, confessing it before God, and then receiving His forgiving grace to cleanse us of the sin.

Am I sensing any of my fellow Christian reading here saying, “Been there, done that, and certainly have that T-shirt?!! ...  Yeah, we’ve all felt that inner need to deflect the guilt for our sin and pin it on someone or some thing other than self! But when we can be vulnerable and accountable for our sins, confessing them to a loving and merciful God, … our Lord is most certainly able … and very willing to cleanse us COMPLETELY (see 1st John 1:8-9).

So, if we have any need to be fixed, as Queen Latifah sings in the linked song, let’s come to Jesus and plead for Him to fix us and help us do a U-turn in our life (see photo).

And He will !!!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Fix me, Lord, … fix me! … Amen

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

March 8, 2017 ... Seeing Him in Me?

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 67 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics sung by Joy Williams from her song … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing a question in prayer all Christians should like ask of ourselves with the goal of becoming the images of our Lord as we live for Him.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Philippians 2:5 [NLT] … 
5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 
… And having His attitude others see Him living through our choices/actions.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Philippians 2:1-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to become more like Christ so that others see Him living in our lives.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… All Christians should internalize Jesus’ discipleship command to deny self and follow Him.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Acts 1:8 [NLT] … 
8 “… But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
… Jesus’ command for His disciples to be His witnesses to a lost world, with Him giving them (us) the power to do so.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Acts 4:1-22 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter and John after the Resurrection were brought before the Sanhedrin, who, in trying to get them to quit preaching the Gospel, could only see Jesus working thru these two Disciples.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Bill Crowder , used an artistic illustration to teach on Christians becoming more like Christ and displaying His attitude and actions to a lost world. The ODB author wrote: The National Portrait Gallery in London, England, houses a treasure of paintings from across the centuries, including 166 images of Winston Churchill, 94 of William Shakespeare, and 20 of George Washington. With the older portraits, we may wonder: Is that what these individuals really looked like? 
For instance, there are eight paintings of Scottish patriot William Wallace (c. 1270–1305), but we obviously don’t have photographs to compare them to. How do we know if the artists accurately represented Wallace? 

And I think the ODB illustration is an interesting and pertinent allegory, depicting how we, as disciples of Christ, appear to others when we live our lives as CHRISTIANS in this ever darkening world. And it begs the all important personal question, at least for me today, … Do other see Jesus in me?!

So, PLEASE take the time to use the song link above, viewing today’s attached photo, asking that question of yourself as you read along with me. There’s another illustrative story of Jesus’ Disciples becoming what He commanded them to become (see Luke 9:23 and Acts 1:8). It’s that time depicted in Acts 4:1-22 (linked above) where Peter and John we brought before the Sanhedrin, who were doing all they could to suppress the Gospel spreading in Jerusalem in those days after the resurrection. And these Jewish leaders could not deny what they were seeing in these men; … and that was the persona of Jesus working thru these disciples.

So, as we reflect on the highlight passage above (primarily Philippians 2:5), let’s all ask ourselves if, in our daily lives, others see Jesus in the way we think, talk, and act. If not, … I think we all, as I am today, need to ask ourselves: “What do I need to be doing to become a portrait of Jesus for others to see when they see me?”

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, I want others to see YOU when they see me. … Amen

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

March 7, 2017 ... Surrender to a Great God

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 66 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of one my favorite versions of an old hymn sung by Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill … How Great Thou Art … poignantly singing and playing a great poetic modern psalm about the greatness of our God. … Folks; … HE IS SO GREAT!!! … And WE ARE NOT!

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Highlight Verse[s]: Job 38:11 [NLT] … 
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. … Here your proud waves must stop! 
… The waves of pride stop where our humanity ends and God’s deity remains.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Job 38:1-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God confronts Job with His greatness; and Job is broken by the truth.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon documents, for God, where our pride must stop and our trust in God’s greatness takes over; and that word is SURRENDER!!

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … 2nd Corinthians 12:9 [NLT] … 
9 Each time He [Jesus] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 
… Pride gets us no where! .. Humility brings God’s grace to cover our weakness.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … 1st Peter 5::5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter quotes Solomon that our pride thwarts God’s greatness working in our lives.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, a new writer, Sheridan Voysney , used an historical story to illustrate our human challenge to set aside our pride and let the greatness of God’s strength cover our weakness The ODB author wrote: King Canute was one of the most powerful men on earth in the eleventh century. In a now-famous tale, it is said that he ordered his chair to be placed on the shore as the tide was rising. “You are subject to me,” he said to the sea. “I command you, therefore, not to rise on to my land, nor to wet the clothing or limbs of your master.” But the tide continued to rise, drenching the king’s feet. 
This story is often told to draw attention to Canute’s pride. Actually, it’s a story about humility. “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty,” Canute says next, “save Him by whose will heaven, earth and sea obey.” Canute’s story makes a point: God is the only all-powerful One.

When do we get it, my dear ones? … GOD is GOD; and we are not!!

 It took a long time for Job to get that message (see highlight passage above). Solomon knew it (see Prov. 3:5-6); but he lost it for awhile, … coming back to write of the vanity of self indulgence in Ecclesiastes. And finally, Jesus had to die on a cross for His disciples to surrender their all to His Spirit.

But I’m afraid too many of us play the King Canute role in our lives [see photo], don’t we? We let our pride get in the way of our humble surrender to the greatness of a God, Who deeply cares for us, … enough that He sent His Son to die for us. And enough that He will pour His grace of enlightenment, enablement, and empowerment into the saved hearts of true believers who’re willing to humble ourselves before His greatness.

Who is willing to sing along with the incredible version of the song linked today, declaring, … ”How great thou art!!” Who will join me it surrendering our all to our Lord today?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, I give up!! … Amen

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

March 6, 2017 ... Real Love Is Jesus

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 65 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of lyrics from The Judds singing their song … Love Can Build A Bridge … poignantly singing of the power of God’s love, expressed in our lives, to build bridges between broken people.

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Highlight Verse[s]: 1st Corinthians 13:7 [NLT] … 
7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. … What real love is all about.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God, thru Paul, teaches on perfected love.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus calls all His disciples (you and me) to show His kind of love to others.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … John 14:21 [NLT] … 
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” 
… When we’re truly Jesus' disciples and are obedient to His word, we can show the love He manifests in/thru us.

Reference Passage #3 [NKJV] : … Acts 9:1-31 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul’s conversion shows that when we surrender to Christ as Lord, He can transform even the most hateful humans into vessels of love.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Poh Fang Chia, used a personal story to illustrate our human challenge to find/express the love of God to others. The ODB author wrote: Her voice shook as she shared the problems she was having with her daughter. Worried about her teenager’s questionable friends, this concerned mum confiscated her daughter’s mobile phone and chaperoned her everywhere. Their relationship seemed only to go from bad to worse. 
When I spoke with the daughter, I discovered that she loves her mum dearly but is suffocating under a smothering love. She longs to break free. As imperfect beings, we all struggle in our relationships. 
Whether we are a parent or child, single or married, we grapple with expressing love the right way, saying and doing the right thing at the right time. We grow in love throughout our lifetime. 

Real love, the Jesus kind of love, is tough, isn’t it? … In reality, … maybe it’s even impossible, … especially for us imperfect and sin-ridden people. But the Apostle Paul, in 1st Corinthians 13, the so-called “love chapter,” told his fellow Christians what that kind of love was (is). But as in the scenario above, we have trouble doing what the Judds sing about in today’s linked song, … i.e., building bridges between our imperfect hearts with the love of Christ.

But the Apostle Paul, as today’s OBD entry depicts, was a good example of the love Jesus was [and is] and what He called us to be. Paul, when he was Saul of Tarsus, was ridden with hate, doing all he could to have Christians killed. But after his conversion and surrender to Christ [see Acts 9], he became a man who could (and did) share the love of God and His gospel message with any/all he could.

Yes, as the Judd’s sing in the linked song, Jesus’ love can build bridges. But real love, as Charlie Brown expresses above, IS Jesus; … and only when we can be Jesus to others can we build bridges of love between us. How about we go out and build some bridges today?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, help me to be Your love when I encounter others today, … especially those who are difficult to love. … Amen

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

March 5, 2017 ... Open Arms

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 64 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing … How Deep the Father’s Love … poignantly singing of the open arms of Christ on the cross, offering His love and WELCOME to any/all who would accept the grace of His saving love.

 {How many of my readers are old enough to remember 
the "Welcome Wagon?"

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 13:2 [NLT] … 
2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 
… A straight-forward principle which is being lost to our current culture.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 13:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God thru the author of Hebrews exhorts all Christians to extend hospitality to others. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Matthew 25:40, 45 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
... When we reach out to extend God’s love in welcoming others, we are showing the welcome Christ gives to all who come to Him.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … John 13:34-35 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… When we extend the open arms of “WELCOME” to others we showing the love Christ has extend to all … and we exhibit openly our being disciples of Christ.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Amy Boucher Pye, used a personal story to illustrate how we Christians should extend hospitality to others in Christ’s Name. The ODB author wrote: The dinner where we hosted families from five nations remains a wonderful memory. Somehow the conversation didn’t splinter into twos, but we all contributed to a discussion of life in London from the viewpoints of different parts of the world. At the end of the evening, my husband and I reflected that we had received more than we gave, including the warm feelings we experienced in fostering new friendships and learning about different cultures. 

When I was a young man, growing up in the midwest of the USA, when someone moved into our community, an organization called “WELCOME WAGON” visited the new person[s] to the community or neighborhood, giving them a basket full of “goodies," and extending a warm welcome on behalf of the community [see photo above]. I’m afraid that cultural tradition of extending hospitality to any/all, as taught by the Author of Hebrews (see highlight scripture), is sorely lacking in our world/culture these days.

 Recently, my wife and I had a new person moved in next door to us; and we decided to get out of our comfort zone (well, at least mine) and do all we could to make our new neighbor welcome. We had never really done much of that before, being loners by nature. But our hospitality was more than welcomed by our new next-door neighbor; and I think we’ve made a friend, … one whom we’ll be close to as long as she lives next to us - and even beyond that should she move.

 Jesus said that when we extend His love to others, we are really showing the love/hospitality He offers to any/all who would come to Him [hear the song above]; and we also show that we are Christ’s disciples when we reach out to welcome others. [See reference scriptures above] So, to whom can we extend the open arms of fellowship or hospitality today?

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, help me to be You with open arms to others, … just has You have been to me … ALWAYS. … Amen

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

March 4, 2017 ... Comfortable Like Old Shoes

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 63 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … I Will Follow … poignantly singing of how we follow a Lord who will always lead us where we need to go.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 139:4 [NLT] … 
4 You (God) know what I’m going to say even before I say it. 
… Jesus ALWAYS know how we feel.
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 Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 139:1-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… King David had gotten to know His God well and expresses how God’s all knowing, ever present nature allows Him to know, not only our goings/comings, … but our hearts as well. 
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … We can trust in a God Who knows our innermost feelings and will never lead us astray.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : …1st Peter 5:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … … Once again, we know HE knows us and is always there to care for us. My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a very comfortable, but personal, word picture to describe walking in the shoes of our Lord. The ODB author wrote: Sometimes my wife and I finish each other’s sentences. In over thirty years of marriage we’ve become increasingly familiar with the way the other thinks and speaks. We may not even have to finish a sentence at all; just a word or a glance is enough to express a thought. There’s comfort in that—like an old pair of shoes you continue to wear because they fit so well. Sometimes we even refer to each other affectionately as “my old shoe”—a compliment that might be difficult to understand if you didn’t know us well! Through the years our relationship has developed a language of its own, with expressions that are the result of decades of love and trust. 

My wife and I are much like the couple described above. Married for 50+ years, we also finish each other’s sentences and often are thinking EXACTLY what comes out of the mouth of the other. Yes, … I guess we are like that comfortable pair of shoes we love to wear [see photo "old shoes"]; … but our shared hearts are nothing akin to what we share with the heart of our Savior. He knows us even better than we know ourselves; and when we’re willing to put Him on, and wear Him, like a comfortable pair of shoes, we can walk with Him though life knowing that He will always take us where we need to go.

 I expect you readers have noted that I’ve been using many of the same reference scriptures over and over again the last few days. Well, there’s a reason for that; … they wear well … like an old pair of comfortable shoes. LOL!!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, You always know my heart and I know you’ve walked in my shoes. It feels so good to walk with You. … Amen

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

March 3, 2017 ... Sharing My Pain

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 62 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Wayne Watson singing … Friend of a Wounded Heart … again … poignantly singing of how we have Someone who always cares and will always be there for us … our King Jesus, … Who ALWAYS meets us where we are.

 {Real EMPATHY IS ... "Been there, ... done that, ... 

know EXACTLY how you feel!"}

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Highlight Verse[s]: John 16:22 [NLT] … 
22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 
… Jesus ALWAYS know how we feel.
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Highlight Passage [context]: John 16:19-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus had perfect empathy for the fears felt by His disciples in the upper room; and yet He also knew what they would feel after He was risen again.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Hebrews 13:5  … USE THIS LINK ...
… We don’t have to fear before men because we worship a God Who will never leave, nor forsake us.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : …1st Peter 5:5-7  … USE THIS LINK …
… When we humble ourselves before His throne of grace we come to One Who knows our pain and cares for our sorrows.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, taught about the essence of real empathy which was personified in the upper room when Jesus knew EXACTLY the fears and feelings of His remaining eleven disciples. The ODB author wrote: There’s something special about the comfort of others who have experienced our pain. They know. 
Just before Jesus’s arrest, He warned His disciples, “You will weep and mourn while the world rejoices.” But in the next breath He comforted them: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy” (John 16:20). In mere hours, the disciples would be devastated by Jesus’s arrest and crucifixion. But their crushing grief soon turned to a joy they could not have imagined when they saw Him alive again. 

When someone goes through something painful, we might be able to “sympathize” with their pain; but only someone who’s been thru what we’re going through can truly “empathize” with our pain. That’s why, no matter what we’re going thru or feeling, Jesus knows what it is. He has felt it; and He will always care for us like no other.

Once again today, as in my blog for yesterday, I link readers to hear the lyrics and feel the emotions in Wayne Watson’s poignant song; and then to know that anytime we bring our cares to our Savior in prayer, He’s there for us, cares for us, and will feel our pain like no other.

Perhaps readers here are feeling some kind of pain, or loss, or anguish today. If so, take them to our God, Who always cares for us.

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, again today, I bring my cares to You because You know perfectly my feelings, andYou care for me. … Amen

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

March 2, 2017 ... He Understands and He Cares

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 61 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Wayne Watson singing … Friend of a Wounded Heart … poignantly singing of how we have Someone who always cares and will always be there for us … our King Jesus, … Who ALWAYS meets us where we are.

 {Imagine being nestled and hugged in the arms of Jesus}

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Highlight Verse[s]: Hebrews 2: 18 [NLT] … 
18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. 
… He knows our pain!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Hebrews 2:5-18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus can exercise the ultimate in empathy for our sorrows because tho fully God, He was fully man and experienced all of our pains.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Hebrews 13:5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK
… We don’t have to fear before men because we worship a God Who will never leave, nor forsake us.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : …1st Peter 5:5-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
 … When we humble ourselves before His throne of grace we come to One Who knows our pain and cares for our sorrows.

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David McCasland, told of the funeral of the cartoonist who created the classic Charley Brown comics. The ODB author wrote: At the memorial service for Charles Schulz (1922–2000), creator of the beloved Peanuts comic strip, friend and fellow cartoonist Cathy Guisewite spoke of his humanity and compassion. “He gave everyone in the world characters who knew exactly how all of us felt, who made us feel we were never alone. And then he gave the cartoonist himself, and he made us feel that we were never alone. . . . He encouraged us. He commiserated with us. He made us feel he was exactly like us.” 

Do you realize that when we surrender our lives and our cares to King Jesus, we can - anytime - fall into the caring arms of THE ONE Who knows our pain and can share in our sorrows?
{AGAIN, close your eyes and imagine a big hug from your friend, King Jesus! - See photo!}
From today’s highlight text, we know that our Lord lived it all and even died for our cares; and when we come to him - as you may have right now - we come to a God, Who, as it says in the reference texts above, cares deeply for us and will never leave us nor forsake us. As Wayne Watson sings in today’s linked song, … Jesus is the “Friend of a Wounded Heart.” 

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, I bring my cares to You today because I know You care for me. … Amen

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

March 1, 2017 ... His Everything - FOR ME!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 60 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman singing a contemporary version of Isaac Watts’ classic hymn … Oh The Wonderful Cross … powerfully singing of the wonder and magnificence of what Christ accomplished for mankind by dying on that cross.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Matthew 27:54 [NLT] … 
54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” 
… At them moment of Christ’s death even the Centurion recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. But do we?
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Highlight Passage [context]: Matthew 27:45-54 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The passion of The Christ on that wonderful/terrible cross.
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Reference Passage #1 [NKJV] : … Luke 9: 23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ... 
23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. …”
… Jesus declared clearly what it would take to follow Him from the cross into the world for His glory.

Reference Passage #2 [NKJV] : … Romans 12:1 [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.
 … The Apostle determined what it took for him to be an acceptable sacrifice for His Lord. And he pled for fellow Christians to follow him. But do we?!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, used the lyrics from Isaac Watts’ classic hymn to teach on the wonder (and horror) of the Cross. The ODB author wrote: Young Isaac Watts found the music in his church sadly lacking, and his father challenged him to create something better. Isaac did. His hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” has been called the greatest in the English language and has been translated into many other languages. 
Watts’s worshipful third verse ushers us into the presence of Christ at the crucifixion. “Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my all.” —Isaac Watts The crucifixion Watts describes so elegantly stands as history’s most awful moment. We do well to pause and stand with those around the cross. 

If you’ve taken the time (and I hope you have) to use the link above to hear a contemporary version of the famous Isaac Watts hymn; and you’ve taken in the Scriptures provided above, I really think the ODB words today are quite enough. And they have, this morning, for me, taken me emotionally once again to the foot of the cross to gaze emotionally and spiritually on that scene with Jesus shedding His blood to bring ME, in my brokenness, into His family and into eternal fellowship with Him.

How could I (and WE) not join in with the Apostle Paul desiring to become living sacrifices for our Lord (see Romans 12:1)? He gave His everything for me (us)! How can I (we) not do all I (we) can to give my (our) everything for Him?!

My Prayer Today: Heavenly Father, … Lord, empower me with Your grace to die daily to self for You. … Amen

 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.