May 14 2021 … Awaiting Our Real Home …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 134 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matt Maher singing … Abide With Me … poignantly singing of how Christ will never leave those who’ve put our faith in Christ and that we will have a home forever with Him in heaven.  

He just really doesn't understand ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Psalm 49:20 [ESV] …  

20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. 

… Unbelieving mankind, steeped in his/her pomp and pride, are like the beasts who have no understanding of God’s call on our lives to an eternal home with Him in heaven.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 49:5-20 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Psalm sings of the joy of knowing that we have an eternal home with God, unlike those unrighteous souls who are no different than the beasts who have no understanding of our God. 

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Reference Passage: … John 14:1-6  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises His disciples a home in heaven if they but believe in Him.  His promise is for us too.  

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:8  [ESV] …  

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

… God’s word, thru Paul, shows that all who are in Christ at death will be absent from the body and immediately home in the presence of our Lord. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 3:20-21  [ESV] …  

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 Who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians the reality of what lies ahead for those who have surrendered their (our) lives to the Lordship of Christ. 

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:4  [ESV] …  

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  

… The promise of what lies ahead when we are home in heaven with our Lord and all former pain and sorrow is gone. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK   … speculates about what his dog might think [see photo], … knowing that the animal can’t really understand what we can understand as born-again Christians, … i.e., KNOWING what lies ahead for us when we are home with our Lord in Heaven.     

And the sad reality is that those who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior are, as the highlight verse from Ps  49:20, no different that that author’s dog, with no understanding, as Paul wrote in 2Cor 5:8, that when we die as Christians, we will step immediately into the glory of our heavenly home (see Rev 21:4).  Jesus promised that reality to His disciples see John 14:1-6; and His promise extends to you and me today. 

My fellow Christian, … do you believe what Matt Maher sings in the linked song?  Because if you do, we will be TOGETHER with our Lord - FOREVER - in our eternal heavenly home. … My fellow believer, if I go home first, look me up when you get there.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise of my heavenly home. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to rest today … and tomorrow … in the reality of our eternal home with Christ.    … Amen

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

May 13 2021 … Our God Provides …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 133 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of how we must truth God to provide us with what we need in life.  

God will make a way ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Exodus 17:6 [ESV] …  

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 

… God promises Moses that He, … the Lord God, … will provide water for His thirsty people.   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Exodus 17:1-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …

… God shows Moses and the people that He will provide water when they are thirsty. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 34:10  [ESV] … 

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

… God, thru David, sings of the Lord providing for those who seek after Him. 

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

… God, thru Solomon, shows that we should trust God … ALWAYS … to show us His way instead of relying on our own way. 

Reference Passage: … Luke 12:24  [ESV] …  

24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the bird  

… Jesus teaching on God being willing to provide for His own.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28  [ESV] …  

28 And we know that for those who love God ALL THINGS work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.  

… God, thru Paul, shows that ALL THINGS in our lives are from God - for our good and His glory. 

Reference Passage</u>: … Philippians 4:19  [ESV] …  

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  

… Jesus to those who believe on Him as Lord … that He will set them (us) free from sin and self.

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK   … used the wide-spread drought in Australia some years ago to illustrate how devastating it can be for a people when there is not enough water to seemingly provide for the earth’s needs.     

And the ODB author then compared this with the drought experienced when God’s people were wandering the wilderness, challenging their faith in God and their trust in Moses, as God’s representative, to provide for the needs of God’s people.  But we know from the highlight passage today that God will provide a way, as Don Moen sings, where there seems to be no way (see photo).  

And that's why, as the Scriptures above relate for us, we need to trust that God will provide for our needs … ALWAYS.  In fact, … according to God’s word, thru the Apostle Paul, to all of us Christians (see Rom 8:28 and Phil 4:19), God will ALWAYS supply what we need and make a way - HIS WAY - for us to follow.  The question is … do we believe Him?   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being my Provider … ALWAYS!! 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to trust that God will provide EXACTLY what we need today.   … Amen

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

May 12, 2021 … See God ’s Way More Clearly …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 132 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Bonnie Knopf singing … I Will Bow To You … poignantly singing of how we must let nothing in our lives get in the way of seeing and worshipping God. 

Clear vision restored ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  1Samuel 2:2 [ESV] …  

2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides You; there is no rock like our God.

… Hannah prayed and saw hope in God’s promise more clearly.   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Samuel 1:1-20, 2:1-2 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Hannah’s vision in trusting God was restored to be able to pray to the Lord with hope, … letting no earthly circumstances get in the way her hopeful vision of God. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105  [ESV] … 

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

… God’s word gives us clearer vision to see God’s path in life.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 139:23-24  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David’s poetic prayer for clearer vision from God to help him see God’s way ahead.  

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

6 Jesus said to [Thomas and His disciples] “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  

… Jesus showed His disciples (and us) that following Him was the only clear path in life. 

Reference Passage: … John 9:31-32  [ESV] …  

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

… Jesus to those who believe on Him as Lord … that He will set them (us) free from sin and self. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK    … related how, after an eye surgery, when she got glasses, she was able to see clearly again (see photo).  But she had to be willing to use the glasses to see clearly.    

And the ODB author used this personal illustration to show that we often let our personal circumstances deter us from seeing God’s way clearly; and she used the biblical story of Hannah, who let her grief over childlessness diminish her hope in her God.  And, <b>as in the highlight passage</b> reveals, … when Hannah surrendered to trust God, she found the clear vision of her hope coming from God, which resulted in her having a son, Samuel, who would ultimately lead God’s people to Kings Saul and David. 

So, … are any of us letting the current circumstances of life blur our vision of faith and hope?  If so, take in the linked song and meditate on the Scriptures cited above and let God’s truth, especially that from our Lord, King Jesus, in His word, clear up our vision and give us direction and hope in our prayers.  Hannah did, to see God’s path ahead more clearly; and so can we!!   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for shining Your light of truth and promise on my path in life to show me Your way ahead more clearly. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use God’s truth - His word - as a beacon of light to more clearly see the path ahead.   … Amen

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

May 11, 2021 … Seeking Godly Wisdom …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 131 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Laura Woodley singing … Wisdom Song … poignantly singing of seeking out and finding Godly wisdom in life. 

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Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 12:15 [ESV] …  

5 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

… Solomon espouses Godly advice to avoid being a fool.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Proverbs 12:1-15 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, on seeking Godly wisdom. 

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

… God blesses the man who seeks Godly wisdom from God’s word, and flourishes in life like a tree planted near water.   

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 1:7, 3:13, 4:7  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, again thru Solomon, repeats His admonition to do all we can to seek Godly wisdom to handle the challenges of life

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:16  [ESV] …  

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to help each other to let God’s word dwell in the hearts of fellow Christians to impart Godly wisdom for life. 

Reference Passage: … James 1:5  [ESV] …  

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  

… God’s promise, thru James, that He will provide wisdom to the one who genuinely seeks it from the Lord. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Con Campbell, AT THIS LINK …  uses an historical reference to President Lincoln being humbled during the Civil War and having to apologize to his Secretary of War for a bad decision, … illustrating the need to seek wisdom when we need to make important decisions.     

And the ODB entry today leads us to strong Biblical advice and admonitions (see Scriptures above) that we are fools when we don’t seek/find good/Godly advice when we’re confronted with challenging situations in life.  And the primary source that we have for seeking/finding that kind of wisdom is from those who rely on God’s truth, … i.e., His word (see photo and truth from Psalm 1:1-3). 

So, I pray today, that if any reading here with me identify with the need to seek Godly advice for some challenging decision ahead, … that we do so by following God’s word and also seeking help from those who deeply know His truth.  We’ll be BLESSED if we do; … FOOLS if we don’t !!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me that seeking Your wise counsel thru other wise, biblically directed, counselors is the only way to go when we’re confused or challenged in life. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to avoid becoming the proverbial fool by not getting wise and Godly counsel in tough situations today or tomorrow. … Amen

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

May 10, 2021 … He’s Singing To Us …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 130 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group, MercyMe, singing … God With Us … poignantly singing of our joy and praise, … knowing that God is always with us.

Daddy singing to his hearing impaired child ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Zephaniah 3:17 [ESV] …  

17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty One Who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; … He will exult over you with loud singing.  

… Oh to hear God’s promise to sing over His chosen family.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Zephaniah 3:14-17 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet sings to God’s remnant of The Lord’s joy and love for His people. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 98:4-6  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… We, as God’s children, should sing our praises to a God who shows His love and grace for us.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 100 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Knowing that the Lord sings for us (see highlight passage), we should sing our praises back to Him.   

Reference Passage: … John 17:9  [ESV] …  

9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are Yours.  

… Jesus prays for all who’ve been given to Him by His Father.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg, AT THIS LINK …   creates a beautiful word picture of a father singing to his hearing impaired baby (see photo), … singing of his love even tho the dad knows that his child is not hearing the words.     

And that’s a glorious and accurate human reflection of what the Prophet Zephaniah brought forth, singing to God’s people (in the highlight passage), who had become deafened to God’s love/grace, but the Prophet singing for God nonetheless of God’s eternal love for His children.  And do we realize that God, in the person of King Jesus, Who not only prays in heaven for God’s children (see John 17), but I relish, from Him singing to us from His word, as thru Zephaniah, that He’s singing to this somewhat hard of hearing child of the King. 

Can I sense that you, joining me as a born-again, hard-of-hearing fellow Christian, desiring - with me - to sing our praises back to a God Who sings everyday of His love/grace to those of us who so often turn a deafened ear to Him?   I pray so !!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … singing to me thru creation and thru - my life circumstances - of Your love for me.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to tune in to Your song of love to us, Lord, … always thru Your word and may we sing back, as best we can, of our praises for Your grace.  … Amen

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

May 9, 2021 … Nature Reveals Our God …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 129

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Brian Doerksen singing … Creation Calls … poignantly singing of God’s creation calls us to realize how much God loves us and cares for us.  

God paints His glory in His creation ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Matthew 6:26 [ESV] …  

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

… Thru Jesus’ teaching, God shows us how much He provides for our care by showing how much our God cares for even the birds.   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 6:25-34 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows His followers how much God cares for them (US), showing them (US) how much He cares for all in His creation.  

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Reference Passage: … Job - Chapter 38  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God challenges Job (and us) to look around and see His glory in creation. 

Reference Passage: … Psalm 8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David writes/sings of God’s glory on display in His creation.    

Reference Passage: … Psalm 19:1-2 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, again thru David, sings of His glory on display in the heavens.

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:20 [ESV] …  

20 For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

… Paul declares that when we look around we see God’s glory on display; therefore, we can never declare that we cannot see God.   

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK …   writes about a scientific study showing that those who invest time in contemplating nature live longer, … more healthy, … lives than those who don’t spend time and think about nature.  

And those research findings are certainly supported by the Brian Doerksen song and the Scriptures above, aren’t they?   And no less that Jesus, thru God’s word, … (see highlight passage)…  showed His followers during His Ministry that since God would take care of the birds of the air, wouldn’t He even more provide for our needs?  And all the other Scriptures above support that truth, don’t they?

So, … what should we do about that?  … Well, I challenge all reading here today or tomorrow or soon, to go out - into the spring of the year and take in God’s glory thru nature.  Look up into a clear night sky and see the vastness of our God.   In the morning sun, realize the warmth of the love of God’s Son for us.  And as Jesus declared, seeing the beautiful birds flying about, know that our God provides for them; but even more that He provides for us.  And surrounded by His creation, realize how much more that our God has waiting for us when we’re home with Him in glory.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing Your love for us thru Your creation.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to take in all of God’s love for us thru His creation.   … Amen

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

May 8, 2021 … Forever His Child …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 128 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … No Orphans of God … poignantly singing of how born-again Christians become fully adopted into the Family of God as sons and daughters of King Jesus’ throne of grace. 

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

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  

… Paul wanted fellow Christians to know that Christ paid the price of our adoption into the Family of God by His grace and our faith in His finished work on the cross.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Romans 8: 1-2, 10-17 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

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

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 68:5-6  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings to His God as a Father to the fatherless … 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 18:5  [ESV] …  

5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, … 

… Shows the heart of God to receive into adoption any who come to Him receiving His saving grace.    

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 1:5 [ESV] …  

5  … He (God) predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, … 

… It was God’s purpose to adopt all Who surrender to Christ as adopted sons and daughters in the family of God. 

Reference Passage: … Galatians 3:25-26 [ESV] …  

25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 

… Thru our faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross, we become sons and daughters of God.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, AT THIS LINK …   writes about the elation of a childless couple who had just finalized the legal adoption of a child born in a foreign land to illustrate how our God, and His heavenly hosts, are thrilled with those He has predestined to become heirs to His throne of grace finally completing the adoption thru our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. 

And oh how I pray that all reading here with me today are truly born-again, adopted, sons or daughters in the family of God.  Because, hearing the reality of the linked song and taking in the truth of the Scriptures above, …  when your adoption was completed thru your repentance and faith to accept Jesus as your Lord/Savior, you were (and are) adopted into the Family of God. 

So, … WELCOME [!!] … as a brother or sister in my adopted family … the Family of God. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, thank You, King Jesus, … for being my adopted Daddy, …  my Lord, … My Abba Father!     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to faithfully follow our Lord today as our Daddy forever.   … Amen

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