June 7, 2021 … Christ - Our Cornerstone …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 158 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Pat Barrett singing …Build My Life … poignantly singing of how, as Christians, must build our lives on the foundation of a relationship with Christ. 

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Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 14:1 [ESV] …  

2 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. 

… Solomon shows how a wise/sstrong woman builds a life led by a fear of God.            

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Proverbs 14:1-3, 26-27, 33 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Solomon, shows what that it takes a fear of God and seeking His wisdom to build a strong/sound life. 

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 7:24-27 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches that only by following His directions can we build a life that will hold up during the storms of life which will come. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 3:9-11 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that one can only build a life with a strong foundation by following Christ. 

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. 

… When we’re able to die to self and surrender to Christ, He becomes the foundation of the way we live our lives.

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:19-22 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul also shows Christians that Christ must the the cornerstone of the life we build by following Him and the wisdom of the ages.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Linda Washington, AT THIS LINK  … Uses the life of an 18th century slave, Isabella Baumfree, who renamed herself, “Sojourner Truth,” after she was freed, became a Christian, and chose to follow Christ to build the foundation of her life, … following the truth of Proverbs 14:1 above.  

And that is the challenge - and the choice - that every one of us must make in life, … to build our lives on our selves or the Savior.  It is the message Pat Barrett sings about in the linked song; and it’s the truth told by Solomon in the OT as well as Jesus and His Apostles (see Scriptures above).  And like Sojourner Truth, I pray all reading here with me are joining me to make Christ the cornerstone of how we build our lives for Gods’ glory.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being the cornerstone of the life I build on my Rock of faith.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to build our lives with You, Lord, and Your word as our cornerstone of truth.   … 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.

June 6, 2021 … Living Like Him …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 157 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kristian Stanfill singing … More Like Jesus … poignantly leading worship and singing of how, as Christians, live to become more like our Lord every day. 

Living to become more LIKE JESUS today ... 

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Highlight Passage:  1John 3:2 [ESV] …  

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

… John looks forward to whom we will become, as born-again Christians, when we are Home with our Lord in heaven.           

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1John 3:1-3 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru John, shows that we, as surrendered disciples of Christ, are being made over into His image. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 139:13-14 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru King David, sings of how we were knit in our mother’s womb to become wonderfully made, like our Lord. 

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. 

… When we’re able to die to self and surrender to Christ, He lives in us and we can chose to follow Him to become more like Him. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:20-24 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows fellow Christians (like you and me) that, as disciples of Christ, we get to choose to put off the old self and put on the new self, being made over in the image of Christ. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 1:6 [ESV] …  

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 

… From the day we become born-again in Christ, His Spirit makes us over to become like Jesus.

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK   … Reflects on seeing a photo of when he was a plump, freckled-faced young boy and and a second photo of how he had changed when he became a teen and then on into adulthood.   

We do develop and change physically as we grow and develop.  However, we also develop spiritually as well; and the latter is the most important transformation we will undergo in life.  And for those of us who surrender to God’s saving grace and are born-again into God’s family, the change we will undergo will make us over into the image of our Lord.  

And I pray today that all reading here with me are experiencing that wondrous “make-over” as we surrender to put off the old self and put on the new Christlikeness … where, as documented in the truth of the Scriptures above, we are becoming more like our Lord everyday.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for allowing me to become more like You today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to put off the old self and put on the newness of our Lord by following Him more obediently and diligently 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.

June 5, 2021 … God Calls For Love …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 156 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Dionne Warwick singing … What the World Needs Now … poignantly singing of how we need to be sharing “God’s love sweet love” with others in this ever darkening world. 

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Highlight Passage:  Romans 12:10 [ESV] …  

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to outdo one another in serving others with the love of God.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Romans 12:9-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, calls for His faithful disciples to show love to one another as a signature of our true love for God.  

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Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  

… Jesus, in the upper room, the night of His betrayal, gives His disciples His charge to show love to others as a signature of His love for all who would follow Him.

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Apostle Paul relates God’s definition of real - GODLY - love. 

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. 

… When we’re able to die to self and surrender to Christ, He lives in us and we can show His love to others.  

Reference Passage: … 1John 4:7-12 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… John shows that when we love others - as God loves us -  we let others see the love of Christ. 

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Xochitl Dixon, AT THIS LINK  … tells of an inspiring friend, .. Rogelio, … who showed the love of God to others by the way he worked to share with his family and others the love he felt from God.  

And immediately my old brain thought of Dionne Warwick’s 1960’s hit song (linked above), which is so pertinent and needed these days.  Wouldn’t you agree with the title of this old Burt Bacharach song?  Do I sense a consensus “AMEN” from my fellow Christians? 

Well, if so, how about we join together and do all we can, as did Rogelio in the ODB story, and share all of the love of God we can muster … really showing off the love of Christ as we reach out to help someone today.

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for infusing us with Your love to share with others.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to reach out and share God’s love with someone who needs it 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.

June 4, 2021 … Walking Justly …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 155 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Tim Hughes singing … God Of Justice … poignantly singing of how our God is a God of perfect justice … ALWAYS. 

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Highlight Passage:  Deuteronomy 32:4 [ESV] …  

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.  A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He. 

… God’s ways are always perfectly just.          

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Deuteronomy 32:1-4 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Moses, charges God’s people, about to enter the Promised and to serve each other as God serves with His chosen with justice.  

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Reference Passage: … Ezekiel 18:24 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Ezekiel, calls for His chosen ones to act justly with others, as God does with His people. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:8-9 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Isaiah, shows that His ways, always perfect, are often way above mankind’s ability to understand. 

Reference Passage: … Micah 6:8  [ESV] …  

28 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  

… God’s call for mankind to walk humbly and justly with Godly kindness.    

Reference Passage: … Matthew 22:35-37  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus, when challenged by a lawyer, quotes from Deuteronomy 6, that God’s children are to love God and live as He calls us to live … for God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. … But do we?!  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK  … used a true story about 3 teens wrongly convicted of a murder and jailed for 36 years, … illustrating that the justice of man can be flawed at times when compared to God’s justice, which is always perfect. . 

And that truth is born out in the scriptures above, … where God - thru His prophets and our Lord, calls us to love God and live for Him humbly with Godly love, kindness, and mercy.  However, we can - and often do - fall short of that call, don’t we?  But the call is still there thru God’s word, as in Micah 6:8 and Matt 22:37; and I pray that all reading here with me will do all we can to live up to that call today.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being our model of perfect love and justice today and all days.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to serve You, Lord, with love and justice 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.

June 3, 2021 … Whatever !! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 154 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Jeremy Camp singing … Whatever May Come … poignantly singing of how we Christians can deal with whatever may come in life because of the empowering grace of God. 

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Highlight Passage:  Lamentations 3:25-26 [ESV] …  

25  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  26  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 

… God will watch over those who wait on Him.          

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Lamentation 3:18-26 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jeremiah waits on His God to provide protection/help for the faithful. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 37:3-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David trusted in and waited on His God, no matter what may befall him.  … Do we?

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

… God, thru Solomon, calls on God’s faithful to trust Him … NO MATTER WHAT!

Reference Passage: … Matthew 28:20b  [ESV] …   

20 …  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

… Jesus declares that NO MATTER WHAT we face, He will always be there for us.  

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

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

… Paul knew, as should we, that all things in our life of faith are for our good and His glory.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Julie Schwab, AT THIS LINK  … wrote of feeling abandoned by God during the 2020 Covid pandemic, with her fears of the virus, compounded by financial woes and the isolation so many were experiencing at the time. 

These days, you often hear frustrated people who say ”WHATEVER!”  … They probably feel a lot like Jeremiah’s lament in the highlight passage, or the cries of King David in Psalm 37.  And the ODB author realized, as did Solomon In Proverbs 3:5-6, that we need to trust God no matter what befalls us in this life; … and that WHATEVER comes our way, as the Apostle Paul reflected in Romans 8:28,  … it’s for our good as Christ’s disciples and for His glory as our God. 

So,  … I’m praying today that we all can - AND WILL - trust in our God to be with us as He promised in Matthew 28:20 … to provide what we need …WHATEVER may befall us on our road ahead in life … yes, even today!  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being there to lift me up today … NO MATTER WHAT comes my way. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to be thankful and trust our God no matter what may come our way 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.

June 2, 2021 … Whom Do They See In Me? …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 153 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Joy Williams singing … Do They See Jesus In Me … poignantly singing of how we Christians should live our lives so that others see Jesus in the way we live. 

Whom do we see in the mirror today? 

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Highlight Passage:  1Peter 2:12 [ESV] …  

12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.  

… God, thru Peter, charges us to live our lives so that others can see God in the way we live.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Peter 2:9-12 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter exhorts fellow Christians (that us, too!) to live our lives surrendered to and for the Lord. 

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:16  [ESV] …   

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. 

… Jesus teaches that we are to live our lives so that we shine HIS light thru our deeds to glorify the Father in Heaven. 

Reference Passage: … Romans 14:8  [ESV] …  

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.  

… Paul declares that no what we do, it should be for Christ’s sake.  

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

… God, thru Paul, charges fellow Christians to live lives that are worthy of our calling as disciples of Christ.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:23  [ESV] …  

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 

… Paul declares that no matter what we do, it should be for Christ’s sake.

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK … writes of the remarkable life of a Christian physician, Catherine Hamlin, who established a surgical hospital as a mission in Ethiopia, doing specialized surgery for over 60,000 women in her years in Africa.  According to the ODB author, Dr. Hamiln … “ told curious questioners that she was an ordinary believer in Jesus who was simply doing the job God had given her to do.” 

This story of a remarkable Christian doctor raises the question for any of us here … How are we living our lives? Or may I should ask it, … For Whom are we living our lives? … And I pray that all reading here would answer those questions the way Dr. Hamlin answered … or the way Joy Williams sang in the linked song … or the way Jesus and the Apostle Paul called Christians to live in the scriptures above. 

And that is, of course, … I pray we’re living our lives so that others would see Jesus in us as we live our lives for The Savior rather than for our selves.  So, [see photo] as we look into the mirror today, can we see Jesus reflected in our lives?  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being the image I desire to see in the mirror today - and tomorrow.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to live our lives so that others see You, Lord, in the way we live.  … 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.

June 1, 2021 ... Delayed Grace ...

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 152 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics Kari Jobe singing ... Oh the Power ... poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ, experience the power of the cross in our lives, showing us that God is always in control. 

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Highlight Passage : Psalm 13:5 [ESV] ... 

5  But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 

... The Psalmist sings of his trust in the God Who saves. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: ...  Psalm 13 [ESV] ... USE THIS LINK ... 

... God shows that His justice and mercy may be delayed; but we, as God’s faithful, can ALWAYS depend on His caring grace. 

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

5 Trust in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART and lean not on your own understanding.  6 In ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.   ... God calls on us to trust Him ... no matter what !! 

Reference Passage: ... Isaiah 41:10 [ESV] ... 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

... God, thru the Prophet, Isaiah, promises to uphold us even in times of weakness or stress. 

Reference Passage: ... Romans 8:38-39 [ESV] ...

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

... God, thru Paul shows us that NOTHING can separate a born-again Christian from God’s love and grace. 

Reference Passage: ... Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV] ... 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

... God, If we are in Christ, we have no reason to worry or question God’s motives in any set of circumstances. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks AT THIS LINK ...  uses the infamous Chicago fire and the legend of how a cow kicked over a lantern to start the fire, which years later, upon investigation turned out to be a falsehood.   The story illustrating how justice in our world is often delayed. 

And fairly often we may even question the way God deals with the stresses and trials we have to deal with in life.  But as the linked song declares and God’s word (above) supports, we can ALWAYS know that God’s love, grace, mercy, and peace are ours in Christ. 

And I pray that all reading with me here have the kind of faith to trust that God’s plan, even when things don’t seem fair or just, will ALWAYS be best for us [look up Romans 8:28 on your own if you don’t know it !!].  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, ... for always having my best in Your caring hands. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, ... to trust God’s love and grace, even if things don’t seem fair to us. ... 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.