September 7, 2021 … Completed By Christ …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 250 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song  and lyrics from the group Casting Crowns singing … Only Jesus … powerfully singing of how we, who are in Christ, are only completed in the legacy of our relationship with Christ. 

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Highlight Passage:  Colossians 2:10 …  [NLT] …  </b>

10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

… We become eternally complete when we surrender to Christ’s Lordship in our lives.                

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Colossians 2:6-15 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul teaches fellow Christians what it’s like to live a completed life in Christ.    

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 138:8 [NLT] … 

 8 The Lord will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me. 

…King David prays that God will complete God’s plans for David’s life - as He will in our lives.      

Reference Passage: … John 14:25-26 [NLT] … 

25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. 

… Jesus promises to sent His Holy Spirit to finish His plans for all born-again believers. 

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

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

… Paul shows his confidence that any born-again Christian will experience an eternal completeness from our relationship with Christ 

Reference Passage: … James 1:3-4 [NLT] … 

3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. 

… James asserts that our trials in life, as Christians, are what bring about eternal completeness. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK  … relates an ancient Greek myth that each of us contains a “half” of our eternal self and life is the search for the other half.  

And as Christians, to use that word-picture, we find our other “half” when we come into an eternal - saved - relationship with Christ; and our lives are all about being completed in that relationship.  And if you’ve taken in the linked song and the Scriptures above, we see that our works on this earth are all about completing the puzzle of this life, and letting God’s Spirit fill in the pieces to our life puzzle (see photo), … which only our Lord can accomplish.

And I pray that we are are surrendering, even today, to let God fill in the pieces to each of our life puzzles … in preparation for the completed puzzle which we will only see in heaven.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for putting the puzzle of my life together … piece by piece … for Your glory.      

My Prayer Today:: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to rely on Your Spirit, Lord, to piece together the puzzle of this life.  … 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.

September 6, 2021 … Knowing Whose I Am …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 249 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song  and lyrics from Lauren Daigle who sings … You Say … poignantly singing of how we, who are in Christ, must believe that who we are is believing in Whose we are.  

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Highlight Passage:  Deuteronomy 33:12 …  [NLT] …  

12 Moses said this about the tribe of Benjamin: “The people of Benjamin are loved by the Lord and live in safety beside him.  He surrounds them continuously and preserves them from every harm.”  

… God, thru Moses, promises His protection over His people.                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Deuteronomy 33:1-5, 12 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Moses, assures His people of His promised protection as they enter the promised land.   

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Reference Passage: … Romans 8:1 [NLT] … 

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 

…Paul came to recognize and believe that he followed a Lord who had died for him and would NEVER condemn him for his sin.     

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 

… Paul teaches God’s truth that in Christ we are made new by His Spirit dwelling in us.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:10 [NLT] … 

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

… Paul believed … and taught …  that we were created before time began to be a masterwork in Christ for God’s glory. .  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:9 [NLT] … 

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.

… Peter asserts the truth about God’s chosen being HIS possession, chosen to be His light in the face of the darkness of this world. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's <b><I>Our Daily Bread</b></i> author, Amy Boucher Eye, AT THIS LINK  … tells of writing a letter to each of her children as they became teenagers, knowing that this would be a time of confusion as to finding their identity as children of God.  

I’ve heard it said that we cannot know who we are until we know WHOSE we are?  And that’s what Lauren Daigle sings about in the linked song, doesn’t she?   And it’s what God related to His chosen people (in the highlight passage) as well as Paul and Peter in the NT Scriptures above; … that we have our eternal identity all wrapped up in at the knowledge that we were created to be loved and to become a new person when we come to believe in and surrender to the Lordship of Christ.  

And I pray that all reading here have come to that place in life where we KNOW that in Christ we are loved and protected forever by our Lord’s love and His empowering grace.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me in your word that You will protect me until I see you in glory.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to recognize and thank You, Lord, for Your protection today and for eternity.  … 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.

September 5, 2021 … Choosing His Way …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 248 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in a song  and lyrics from Don Moen who sings … God Will Make A Way … poignantly singing of how we, who are in Christ, must know that God will  ALWAYS make a way that we can follow Him.  

We get to choose !! 

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Highlight Passage:  Jeremiah 3:22 …  [NLT] …  

22 “My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.”  … “Yes, we’re coming,” the people reply, … “for You are the Lord our God.  

… God calls His chosen people back to follow Him to glory.                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Jeremiah 3:11-15, 22 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, with His eternally forgiving heart, calls His wayward children to come back and follow His ways home.     

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 24:15 [NLT] … 

15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”  

…Joshua challenges God’s people to CHOOSE to follow the Lord.  

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

… David’s prayer of repentance - which should be our prayer -  with a desire to follow God’s ways rather than our own.   

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 53:6 [NLT] … 

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away,  We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. 

… We can always choose to follow His ways rather than our own.  

Reference Passage: … 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. 

… Jesus calls any disciples to deny our way and to follow His.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Leslie Koh, AT THIS LINK  … tells of a professor in college who had a way of showing his students how to study for final exams, … which all of his students learned about and follow to insure better scores on the final exams.  

  

And God has given us - thru His word - THE WAY … HIS WAY - to follow Him all the way to glory.    So, … as Joshua and Jesus put the question to God’s people in their day (see Joshua 24:15 and Luke 9:23), we get to choose TODAY which way we’re going to follow … God’s way or our own.  Which way will we choose?    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me the way to go home.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to choose to follow Your 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.

September 4, 2021 … Becoming Prayer Warriors …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021- Day 247 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a song  and lyrics from Keith Green who sings … Make My Life a Prayer To You … poignantly singing of how we, who are in Christ, should desire that our very lives be a prayer, unfolding to honor our Lord.   

Praying Hands Plant ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Matthew 6:6 …  [NLT] …  

6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you..  … “  

… Jesus shows us how to pray …                  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Matthew 6:6-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus shows His disciples how to pray.        

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 26:41 [NLT] … 

41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” 

… Jesus commanded His disciples to be watchful and praying to avoid temptation. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesian 6:18 [NLT] … 

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.  

… Paul teaches that fellow Christians should be prayer warriors, taking and holding the high ground of prayer in our daily spiritual battles. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7 [NLT] … 

<i> 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.</i>

… Instead of worrying, and seeking God’s peace in life, we should pray, pray, pray  !!  

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 [NLT] … 

17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to have an attitude of continual thankful prayer.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, AT THIS LINK  … tells of her grandfather who grew in his faith to become a strong and loyal prayer warrior, … to the point, at his passing. the ODB author’s husband gave her grandma a “praying hands” plant (see photo) to help her grandmother remember their family prayer warrior.  

  

And Jesus wanted His disciples to remember the importance of our prayer in his sermon on the mount (see Matt. 6:6) and then later in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matt. 26:41).  And the Apostle Paul taught repeatedly (see Pauline Scriptures above) about how we born-again believers must become prayer warriors, praying daily for one another and to avoid temptation in our lives.

So, I pray that all reading with me here become diligent prayer warriors, … DAILY … and almost momentarily …  taking our concerns to the Lord as Jesus taught in His model prayer (see Matt 6:9-13).  So, join me … let’s pray !! 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing us how to pray.   

My Prayer Today Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to lift up our concerns today to You, Lord, in prayer.  … 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.

September 3, 2021 … Willing To Help …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 246 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in a powerful song from Matthew West who sings … Do Something … powerfully singing of how God created us - his Church - to DO SOMETHING when we see those in need where we can help. 

Running to share with open arms of love ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 15:20 [NLT] …  

20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.   

… The prodigal son returns home and his father sees his son from afar and with compassion runs to welcome his son home with open arms of love [see photo].                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … Luke 15:17-24 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The parable of the the prodigal father and son.      

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 19:17 [NLT] … 

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord; …  and He will repay you! 

… God, thru Solomon, shows that we are serving the Lord when we help others in need. 

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:35 [NLT] … 

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. 

… Jesus preaches on the benefits of giving with a sacrificial and compassionate heart.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 20:35 [NLT] … 

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”. 

… Paul reminds the church Elders in Ephesus (and us) that we are exhorted by Jesus. Himself, to give to help others.  

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:2 [NLT] … 

2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians that when we share each others burdens we are following the ways of our Lord.

Devotional Journal:</b> Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK  … tells of a young friend who arrived at a breakfast meeting realizing that he had forgotten his wallet.  He was embarrassed to ask others for a loan; but when he overcame his pride and let one of his friends know of his situation; and the friend generously said he’d love to buy his breakfast.   

And when we’re in need we should not let our pride get in the way of asking our church or fellow Christian friends, both of which have the resources to help for assistance.  If we let out pride deter us from asking for help, we prevent fellow Christians from the joy of being willing to do what Jesus has commanded us to do … and that is give to help others in need. 

So, I pray that we disciples of Christ, who’ve been given the providence and opportunity to reach out and help, be “prodigal” givers, like the Father in the Luke 15< parable, and run, with open arms of love, to embrace the opportunity to give God’s grace to one who needs help. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the ability to DO SOMETHING (see song) help others 

My Prayer Today:Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to show us opportunities to do what You, Lord, have done for all mankind and that it to reach out and help those in need of Your love and 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.

September 2, 2021 … Follow God’s “GPS” …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 245 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from The Gettys singing  … Speak O Lord … poignantly singing of how we Christians desire to live out the truth of God’s word. 

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Highlight Passage </u>:  2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …  

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God[a] may be complete, equipped for every good work. 

… God’s word is all we need to guide our path to righteous living.                    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Timothy 3:16-17 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul helping Timothy (and us) realize the perfect power of God’s word to lead us in all we encounter in this life.     

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 19:7 [NLT] … 

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure,  making wise the simple;

… King David sang of God’s word giving us God’s wisdom to follow in life. 

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:106 [NLT] … 

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

… King David sang of God’s word being the light that guides us in life.

Reference Passage: … John 17:17 [NLT] … 

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. 

… God’s Spirit is given to the Lord's born-again believers to guide us, thru His word, wherever we go in life. 

Reference Passage: … John 17:17 [NLT] … 

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.. 

… Jesus prayed (and now prays) that we, His Church, would be sanctified by following His truth.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg, AT THIS LINK … tells of a friend creating a stained-glass window, receiving a box of glass pieces and learning that the glass pieces were from WW2 and when assembled made a beautiful window (see photo).   

  

And the ODB author used the story to illustrate that truth from God’s word often comes in pieces, which, when taken in and assembled with the help of God’s Spirit, give us all we need to traverse this life in preparation for the next.  That’s the message of the Scriptures above and the linked song by The Gettys. So, I pray the readers taken them in and mediate on their direction.

I’ve come to realize the truth of God’s word and the guidance of God’s Spirit to be the light which leads me in my life (see Ps 119:105).  God’s word is His perfect “GPS” (i.e., God’s Positioning System) to guide me.  In truth, God’s word is all I really need to make it thru this life in preparation for the next (see highlight passage).  Jesus prayed that for us (see John 17:17; and so that’s all we need to have confidence in His “GPS.” 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your “GPS” to guide me down the roads of life. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to follow Your word, Lord, … today and all our tomorrows. … 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.

September 1, 2021 … Living More Like Jesus …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 244 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing  … Less Like Me … powerfully singing of doing all we can, as followers of Christ, to live lives more like Jesus and less like us.  

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Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 4:22-24 [NLT] …  

22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. </i> 

… God, thru Paul, charges Christians to live more like Christ.                   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …Ephesians 4:20-32 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to put off the old way of selfish/sinful living and to put on Christlikeness thru God’s Spirit.       

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

23 Then He said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 

… Jesus commands His followers to follow HIS way of living in the life we’ve been given as His disciples. 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 11:1 [NLT] … 

1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 

… Paul was confident that He was following Christ; t and therefore, exhorted other Christians to follow him in following Christ. 

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

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, to fellow Christians, declares what it’s like to put to death the old sinful way of living and to live a Christlike - Spirit-led - way of life. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul so desired that other Christians, like the Colossians, live more like Jesus and less like their old way of sinful living.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, AT THIS LINK  … tells of desiring to paint and fix-up his home; and learning that the COVID19 restrictions would limit home-repair supplies, he rushed to purchase what he’d need to make the changes he desired to make in his home. 

And the ODB author made a comparison if this personal “fixer-up” scenario to that of the Apostle Paul, who had learned to make serious, Christ-like, changes in his own life and to teach/preach that other other fellow Christians could follow the Lord’s ways and live lives which reflected less of their (our) old selfish/sinful selves and would live more like Christ. 

Jesus certainly calls us to follow Him, doesn’t He (see Luke 9:23)?  And I’m sure all fellow born-again Christians reading here with me see that this was Paul’s desire for all of us in writing to many of his fellow disciples of Christ (see Pauline Scriptures above).  So, I pray that we take up God’s will for us in Paul’s writing and do all we can, as Zach Williams sings, … to live more like Jesus today and not just a little bit … but a LOT …more like Jesus today. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving empowering grace to live more like You today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to clean up our way of living and to live more like You.  … 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.