May 7, 2021 … Winning Words … 

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 127 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Hawk Nelson singing … Words … powerfully singing of the power of words to lift others up or tear them down. 

Powerful Words of Life in Sharing the Gospel ... 

 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 6:18-19 [ESV] …  

18 … praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, …

… Paul wanted fellow Christians to pray that he would have the right words to share the Gospel with others.   

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Ephesians 6:10-20 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, shows fellow Christians the power of our words to do battle for God’s Kingdom.  

==============   

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 12:18, 16:24, 18:21  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God thru Solomon shows the power of our words …  

Reference Passag: … Matthew 12:36-37  [ESV] …  

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” 

… Jesus declares the truth about God’s judgment on EVERY WORD that we speak,    

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [ESV] …  

<i>  29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. </i> 

… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to speak only those words which edify or give grace to the hearers.

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:12 [ESV] …  

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

… God, thru the author of Hebrews, shows the power of His - and our - words.  

Reference Passage: … James 3:1-12  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru James, warns of the power and the danger of our use of words.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Monica La Rose, AT THIS LINK …   writes about a modern school of Christian thought which espouses relearning how to use our language to share the gospel, … espousing that many words we use have lost the power of their meaning in sharing the power of the Gospel to save others. 

And if any reader with me here has seriously listened to the linked song and meditated deeply in the Scriptures above, we’ll see that what we share from our mouths or our digital devices today has great power; and according to Jesus, Himself, (see Matt. 12:36-37), … we are being held accountable to God for every word we utter or share with others.  And Paul, in the highlight passage from Eph 6:10-20, shows that our words are the strongest weapon we have in sharing the Gospel (see also Eph 4:29 and James 3:1-12); and Paul (again in Eph. 6:19-20) wanted other Christians to be praying that he would have the right words to share the Gospel with others.

And I pray that for all of us as well.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the power Your words of truth to share You with others.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use Godly-wise words today to share Your Gospel truth with others.   … 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.

May 6, 2021 … Seeking God First …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 126 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … The More I Seek You … poignantly singing of how we Christians will find our God the more we’re willing to seek His love and grace. 

Seeking God with ALL our hearts ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 88:1-2 [ESV] …  

1 O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before You.  2   Let my prayer come before you; incline Your ear to my cry!   

… The Psalmist pleads desperately seeking God’s help.  

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 88:1-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalmist desperately seeks after God with hope of God’s grace being there for him.  

==============   

Reference Passag: … Proverbs 8:17  [ESV] …  

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 

… God thru Solomon makes it clear His desire to be found by those who seek after Him. 

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 29:13  [ESV] …  

13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.  

… God so wants us to seek and find Him;  but do we seek Him with ALL our heart.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:33  [ESV] …  

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

… Jesus taught that we should put God’s kingdom and His righteousness first as we seek to satisfy our hearts.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:21  [ESV] …  

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 

… Jesus makes it clear to His disciples that He can only manifest Himself in those who truly love Him and show that love thru their (our) obedience to His word. 

Reference Passage: … James 4:8  [ESV] …  

8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

… God will abide in those who abide in Him; but we must cleanse ourselves to abide in Him. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK …   used the imagery of the comic strip, Peanuts where Lucy sets up her psychiatry booth, offering her help for 5 cents, …  showing how little we put our whole hearts into seeking the real help we need from the God who can provide that help. 

How often do we really seek after God’s help, … seeking after Him with desperate hearts which He must sense from us in our surrender to seek after Him?  Seldom I think.   And yet, as we read in the above scriptures - which are absolutely true - God so wants us to seek after Him, doesn’t He?  And when we do - truly with ALL our hearts - He has all the love and grace we could ever need to deal with the issues of life. 

I leave it to any reading here to see where that should lead us as we apply our hearts and live to make the decisions we need to make in seeking after God’s enabling grace. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for being there to provide me with all I need when I’m willing to seek Your enabling grace.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek God’s grace by pursuing our God first for His 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.

May 5, 2021 … The Only Way …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 125 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Michael W Smith singing … Lord I Give You My Heart … poignantly singing of how we Christians must surrender our hearts to Jesus as LORD to know Him as Savior. 

Charlie VanderMeer - Christians Radio as "Uncle Charlie" 

 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Philippians 3:8 [ESV] …  

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ …  

… Paul shows others (including you and me) the importance of intimately KNOWING Christ as our LORD.  

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Philippians 3:7-11 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to get to know Jesus intimately as Lord in order to follow Him closely as our Savior.  

==============   

Reference Passage: … John 14:6  [ESV] …  

6 Jesus said to him, [to Thomas and the Disciples in the Upper Room]  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. … “ </i> 

… Jesus so wanted His disciples (and us) to see that HE was - AND IS - the only way to the Father.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23  [ESV] … 

23 And He said to all [to those following Jesus], “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. …” 

… If we’re going to follow the Savior as Lord, we must be willing to surrender self to the Savior. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 10:9-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul desperately wanted fellow Christians to see and know what he had been shown as an Apostle - that the only way to heaven is thru knowing Christ as Lord and believing that His blood sacrifice on the cross was our salvation from sin.   

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 1:1-3 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK ... 

…  God shows us THE way - the only way - to the Father and that is thru His Son …  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, AT THIS LINK …   … quoted Charlie VanderMeer, known on Christian radio as “Uncle Charlie,” who shortly before his death in 2019 SEE THIS LINK for video about Charlie, who was quoted as saying, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Of course, I’m talking about Jesus Christ.”  

Uncle Charlie - the radio personality  [see photo] - had the same passion as did the Apostle Paul, and that was to have as many people as possible to see and follow the truth, preached by the Scriptures above, … that the ONLY WAY to know God, the Father, is by knowing and believing His Son, King Jesus and what did on the cross to save all who would believe and surrender to follow Him as LORD [see Rom 10:9-13].  

I pray all reading here have done that and are now doing all we can to follow Him as He called us to do in Luke 9:23.  Because if we are, we’re on our way to glory.  If not, we’re on our way to hell.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me the way - Your only way - to be with You in heaven. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to get know King Jesus as our LORD and Savior and the only way to heaven.    … 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.

May 4, 2021 … Out of the Fires …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 124 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Mercy Me singing … Even If … poignantly singing of we Christians need to trust God’s promises of deliverance EVEN IF we face the fiery trials of life. 

 

Deliverance from the fiery furnaces of life ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Daniel 3:17-18 [ESV] …  

17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 

… The faith of three who would not yield to serve a false king over their one-true God.  

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context] </u>: …  Daniel 3:13-18, 25-27 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Deliverance of the three Jewish boys from Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace. 

==============   

Reference Passage: … Psalm 34:17 [ESV] …  

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. 

…God’s promise, thru David’s song, of His deliverance of the righteous. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] …  

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.   6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. 

… As Christ followers, we are to ALWAYS trust in our God to lead us out of the fires of life.

Reference Passage: … 2Samuel 22:1-4 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of his deliverance by God from near death.  

Reference Passage: … John 15:7 [ESV] … 

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 

…  Jesus’ promise to His disciples that He will ALWAYS be there for those who believe in and abide in His grace.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK …   writes about how a woman serving two-firefighters in a restaurant paid for their food to honor their willingness to go into a fire and risk death to protect the rest of us when fires break out.   

And that story reminded the ODB author of the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who went into the Babylonian fiery furnace because they were unwilling to abandon their faith in God … even under the threat of death by fire at the hands of a pagan king [see photo and highlight passages].   

The question raised by this ODB entry, of course, challenges us to stand up, with our faith in the delivering promises of God and in the face of the fiery trials of life as the group Mercy Me sings in the linked song or God’s truth speaking out in the Scriptures above.  And I pray we will have the faith of those 3 Jewish boys if we face any fiery trial today. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … Your promise to deliver us into Your hands and out of the fiery trials of life.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to trust that our God will ALWAYS be there to deliver us from the fires of life.  … 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.

May 3, 2021 … No Turning Back …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 123 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … No Turning Back … poignantly singing of we Christians must follow the ways of Christ no matter how unpopular that may be in the world. 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Matthew 5:39 [ESV] …  

39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

… Many of Jesus’ teaching were difficult to hear and follow by the people. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 5:38-48 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus’ radical/unpopular ways from His Sermon on the Mount 

==============   

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] …  

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.   6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. <

… As Christ followers, we are to surrender to God’s ways … ALWAYS … trusting in our Lord … ALWAYS !! 

Reference Passage: … Luke 9;23 [ESV] …  

23 And He (Jesus) said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.   

… Following Jesus often means we have to deny our own ideas and selfish ways. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [ESV] … 

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

…  As disciples of Christ we are to become living sacrifices, avoiding the ways of the world to follow the ways of our LORD.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, AT THIS LINK …  writes about a white-supremacist, who turned to follow Christ’s and had to be protected by the same African-American Christians he had wronged in the past.     

Turning to follow Christ’s ways, and repenting of our selfish/sinful ways, will often mean going against the ways of the world, won’t it?  And that’s why in His day Jesus’ teaching (see highlight passage) went against the ways of the culture of those times.  And to this day, we still find it difficult to TOTALLY turn from the ways of the world or the flesh in surrender to follow our Lord as He calls us to discipleship in Luke 9:23.  

What ways, in our lives, do we find it difficult to turn and follow Jesus, … with a “no turning back” attitude (see photo)?  But if we’re willing to surrender completely and follow Jesus, the road may be tough to follow; but it will be so-SO worth it!!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me Your way to follow You, Lord, by using Your “GPS,” found in Your word.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to turn from the ways of the world to follow God’s ways. … 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.

May 2, 2021 … Surrendered Faith …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 122 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Carrie Underwood singing … I Surrender All … poignantly singing of Christians must be willing to surrender our all … in faith …  to a God we can’t see but know and trust . COMPLETELY …  

Unseen, Yet Surrendered, Faith ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Hebrews 11:1, … 6  [ESV] …  

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.…  6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.  

… God’s word spells out that faith in an unseen God is necessary to be able to relate to God.  

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Hebrews 11:1-6 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, spells out what it takes to believe in an unseen God. 

==============   

Reference Passage: … Psalm 19:1 [ESV] …  

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. 

… Really all we need to do is look up at night (see photo) to see God in all of His glory. 

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] …  

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.   6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. 

… Our faith in our God is trusting Him even when we cannot see or even understand what He’s doing, … avoiding our own feelings and perceptions.

Reference Passage: … Luke 9;23 [ESV] …  

23 And He (Jesus) said to all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.    

… Jesus spells out that we must be willing to deny our own perceptions and feelings to follow Him.  

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 10:23 [ESV] … 

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He [JESUS] Who promised is faithful. 

…  God calls on his faithful to hold fast - in faith - to the the faithful One [Jesus], Who provides us with our eternal hope.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, AT THIS LINK …   writes historically of how the so-called “atomic age” began in 1945 when the first atom bomb was exploded in the USA.  Yet in the 4th century BC, the Greek philosopher, Democritus, postulated the existence of atoms well before mankind had ever observed such things microscopically.     

And that speaks to mankind’s ability to have the type of faith spoken of In the highlight passage above, … a faith that can - and does - believe in an unseen - but knowable - God (see Hebrews passages above).   Actually, … as in Ps 19:1, those who can look up into a night sky (as in the attached photo) and see the wonder and glory of God have that kind of surrendered faith that Jesus called on (see Luke 9:23) of His disciples, … or that the kind of faith Carrie Underwood sings about in the linked song.

The question, which this ODB entry brings to us who claim Christ as our LORD, asks whether we have that kind unseeable - yet surrendered - faith?  Because that’s why I come here every day … to seek out more from God’s truth which helps me surrender more and more -  AND YET EVEN MORE - every day to a God Whom I may not be able to see but a God Whom I CERTAINLY KNOW and a LORD Whom I can trust and follow.   

How about you?  Do You know Him?  And do you surrender all to follow Him? 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for ALWAYS being there for me even tho I don’t often see You, Lord.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to look up into a clear night sky and see our knowable God.  … 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.

May 1, 2021 … He’s Living In Me …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 121 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Rend Collective singing … Christ Lives In Me … poignantly singing of Christians need to surrender to the reality that Christ’s empowering grace lives in the lives of all truly born-again believers. 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 3:16  [ESV] …  

16 [Paul prays] … that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, …  

… Paul prays for fellow Christians that they consume and use God’s empowering grace which dwells in true, born-again believers. 

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Ephesians 3:13-21 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, so wants fellow Christians (like you and me) to grasp the power, thru God’’s grace, that we have to empower us to live like Christ. 

==============   

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:10 [ESV] …  

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  

… Paul declares clearly that although we still deal with sinful bodies that we can and will pursue righteousness because Christ dwells in born-again believers. 

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 13:5 [ESV] …  

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!   

… God, thru Paul, wants all Christians to realize that our Lord lives in the lives of those who are truly surrendered to God’s Spirit.

Reference Passage: … Galatians 2:20 [ESV] … 

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

…  Paul repeats to Christians - repetitively - that all true, born-again, believers have Christ dwelling in their (our) hearts. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:27 [ESV] … 

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

…  Paul showing that even the Gentiles would find Christ dwelling in their (our) hearts when they come to truly believe and follow The Lord. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pay, AT THIS LINK …   related how the ODB author’s daughter simply, but elegantly, understood that Jesus was dwelling inside of “her tummy,” which gave her daughter great peace to sleep at night.    

How often did the Apostle Paul desire that fellow believers would grasp that truth as did that little girl?  We read it over-an-over again in His epistles to various fellow Christians (see Pauline passages above), don’t we?  And God’s word, thru these truths, wants all of us - as born-again believers - to be crucified with our Lord, and holding on to the reality that the same power which raised Jesus from the dead which now dwells in the hearts of any/all who would surrender and allow God’s empowering grace to dwell and work in/thru us.

I pray that we all are truly surrendered to that truth today.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for being in me to give me Your power and Your peace today … and tomorrow.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to capture our Lord’s peace, knowing that He dwells in our hearts 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.