May 7, 2022 … A Mother’s Love …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 127

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Celine Dion singing … A Mother’s Prayer … poignantly singing of a mother’s prayer for her child.

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Thessalonians 2:7 [NLT] …  

7 As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.

… Paul, to fellow Christians, likens his love for them to be like the love of a nursing mother to her child.                           

Highlight Passage [Context]: … 1Thessalonians 2:1-9 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul, in reminiscing of his love for fellow Christians, compares his love to that of a mother caring for her child.                                                                                

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 66:12-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Isaiah, promises His protective love for His faithful will be like the love of a mother for her child. 

Reference Passage: … John 3:16 [NLT] … 

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 

… Jesus describes for us the sacrificial love of the Heavenly Father.          

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 13:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …

… God, thru Paul, describes love, like that of God, that we should express to one another. 

Reference Passage: … 1John 3:16 [NLT] …

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up His life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.  

… God, thru the Apostle John, shows that God has shown us how to love others by giving His eternal love to us by dying for us.                                                                      

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer … AT THIS LINK …  relates a story about a mother raising her child during the depression where the only meat they would get to eat would be when her husband brought home a squirrel he had killed. And the mom would ask for the head of the squirrel, saying that it had the best meat.  But we know there was no meat on the head of the boiled animal. She was just making sure that her kids had all the meat, showing the love of a mother for her children.   

        

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day here in the USA; and we honor the love of our mothers for those of us who were blessed to be raised by mothers like the one in the ODB story.  And in today’s Pauline letter to fellow Christians (see highlight passage), the Apostle Paul compared his love for his dear fellow believers (and us) to that of a mother’s love for her child (see photo).  And that is the kind of love God’s word (see Scriptures above) calls us to love others, … like the sacrificial motherly love God has for and gives to His children.  

Oh, how I hope all reading with me have experienced the love of a mom and will go out today to share that kind of love with others, … especially to our family and friends.  

        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for sharing Your love with me everyday. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  today to  share the mother-like love of our God with others.       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 6, 2022 … He Knows All …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 126 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matt Boswell singing … God Omniscient - God All-Knowing … poignantly singing of how Christians serve a God who is all-knowing about all things He has created. 

"He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" ... 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 139:1 [NLT] …  

1 O LORD, You have examined my heart and know everything about me 

… David acknowledges that His omnipotent/omniscient God knows everything that David thinks…                             

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Psalm 139:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… King David honors his all-knowing God with song and praise …                                                

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Reference Passage: … Job 37:16 [NLT] … 

16 Do you understand how He moves the clouds with wonderful perfection and skill? 

… One of Job’s friends, Elihu, gives Job (and us) God’s wisdom about our all-knowing and all-powerful LORD, Who is in control of all He created.

Reference Passage: … Psalm 147:5 [NLT] … 

5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute!  His understanding is beyond comprehension!

… God, thru a Psalmist, is honored for His power and all-knowing comprehension.         

 

Reference Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] … 

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

… Jesus, assures His disciples (and us) that we will encounter overwhelming worldly trials in this life, but HE has overcome the world.  

Reference Passage: … 1John 3:20 [NLT] … 

20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and He knows everything. 

… God’s Spirit, thru the Apostle John, that our God knows EVERYTHING and is in control of EVERYTHING.                                                                       

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Karen Huang … AT THIS LINK …  relates a story about a young mother and nurse who needed to move from the Philippians to Taiwan to get a job which would support her family.  But doing so - at lease for a time - forced her to leave her young daughter behind with her sister in Manilla.  However, her faith allowed the mother to have the peace of mind to believe that God was in control and would watch over her daughter for the time of their separation.  

        

And this illustration of faith and trust in our God, … Who, … if you believe as I do, …knows all and is control of everything He created (see photo).  Yes, … we all encounter times where we are overwhelmed by the circumstances of life.    Jesus even taught His disciples about such times (see John 16:33.  But in that passage our Lord asserts that He has overcome all that the world can bring against us. The question is, .. Do we believe Him?

Well, …  God’s word, which I believe is ABSOLUTELY TRUE <b>(see Scriptures above)</b>, tells us that our God is in TOTAL control and knows ALL about EVERYTHING.  So, like the young mother in the ODB story, I trust my LORD today; and will tomorrow!  … Do you?  

        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being in control today … and tomorrow … and ALWAYS!             

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to trust You, Lord, to shows us Your way today … and 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 5, 2022 … Praying - “Our Father” …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 125 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Don Moen singing … Our Father … poignantly singing of how we, should come to “Our Father” everyday with an attitude that our Abba Father is always there with His love/grace for His children. 

Praying to "Our Father" ... 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Matthew 6:9 [NLT] …  

9 Pray like this: … Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.

… Jesus shows that our prayers should always be to “OUR FATHER” …                             

Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Matthew 6:5-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches His disciples and followers how to pray …                                                          

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 116:1-2 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …

… I agree with the Psalmist, inspired by God’s Spirit, who tells us that our Heavenly Father even bends down to hear the prayers of any/all who genuinely seek Him in prayer.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:17 [NLT] … 

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

… Everything we do or say, especially our prayers, should be done/said to honor Jesus, with a thankful heart before God, the Father. </u>.        

 

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

… God, thru Paul’s instruction, expects us to bring any and everything to God in prayer to receive His grace and peace in our anxious.  

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

17 Never stop praying. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to live our lives in a continual attitude of surrendered prayer to God, the Father.                                                                        

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, John Blasé… AT THIS LINK …  relate a story of starting each day by praying the so-called “Lord’s Prayer” (see highlight passage); and one morning as He began by saying, “Our Father,” his cell phone rang and looking at the screen, it said, “DAD” … but when he picked up the phone no one was on the line.  And the ODB author, knew it was a mistaken call, but also felt like it was no coincidence either, … feeling like it was God, the Father, recognizing that He was there to hear the author’s prayer … that morning … and ALWAYS. 

        

That call was no coincidence, was it?  If we believe, as the Scriptures above tell us, that our Heavenly Father is always there to hear our prayers, … our pleas for mercy, … our concerns, …big or small, … then why aren’t we coming to Him, as “Our Father,” more often?  Personally, that’s convicting to me!   How about you?         

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for ALWAYS being there to hear my prayers.            

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to take our concerns to You, Lord, today … and always!       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 4, 2022 … Surrendered To Serve …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 124

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kristian Stanfill from the group Passion singing … More Like Jesus … poignantly singing of how we, who are born-again in Christ are called to serve others like He served us.

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Corinthians 9:13 [NLT] …  

13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 

… Paul leads and teaches fellow Christians to reach out and use the ministry of service to others to show the good news of the gospel of Christ.                            

Highlight Passage [Context]: … 2Corinthians 9:12-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, exhorts believers to serve others, showing the driving grace behind Christ’s service for all who follow Him as Lord and Messiah.                                                                        

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Reference Passage: … John 13:1-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus showed His willingness as their Messiah to serve His disciples by washing their feet, which they didn’t understand at the time but later would imitate by service to others as His called Apostles.  

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 shows fellow Christians that they (we) that like Jesus said, it is always <u>more blessed to give than to receive</u>.       

Reference Passage: … Galatians 6:9-10 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that we must never grow weary of serving others as Jesus has served us.  

 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:3-5 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (like us) to reach out and help others, like Christ would, rather than thinking of our own desires.                                                                         

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kimya Loder… AT THIS LINK …  tells of a  ministry in California which serves their community by providing food with their mission, as they promote the Gospel, saying,  “As believers in Christ, God desires for us to use what we’ve been given to bless others, drawing our communities closer to Him. How can we develop a heart for service that brings glory to God?”

        

And if readers with me today, have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, the lesson is clear, isn’t it?  Jesus showed His disciples in the upper room what it was like to serve Him by washing their feet (see John 13:1-5).  Paul repetitively urged, and even begged, fellow Christians (see the Pauline passages above) to ALWAYS be willing to serve others as Christ has served us, … giving His all for us on the cross. 

What could we do TODAY, … as disciples of Christ, … to show the love of Christ to others?       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for give me the opportunity to serve You by serving others.             

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to show Your love/grace to others by serving them 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 3, 2022 … Headed Home …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 123 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Jennifer Hudson singing … Jesus Promised Me A Place … powerfully singing of how we, who are born-again in Christ are promised a place in Heaven. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 62:8 [NLT] …  

8 O my people, trust in him at all times, pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.  

… King David sings of His Lord being the refuge for all God’s faithful followers.                            

Highlight Passage [Context] : … Psalm 62:1-8 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of God being His eternal refuge and home.                                                              ===============                

Reference Passage: … John 14:1-3 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus, in the upper room, promise His 12 disciples to come to them from heaven to take them (and all believers) to be with Him forever.  

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

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that, when we die, born-again believers will be absent from the body but present - AT HOME - with the Lord … forever!       

Reference Passage: … Philippians 3:20-21 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul assures fellow born-again Christians that we will have an eternal home in heaven. 

 

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:3-4 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God reveals to all true believers what it will be like when they (we) are when they (we) are with the Lord in our heavenly home.                                                                           

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas… AT THIS LINK …  made reference to the story of Anne, the main character in the book series, Anne of Green Gables, who was an orphan longing for and finally finding a home with an older couple who adopted her and showed Anne that she was loved and cared for.        

And that story is a picture from literature of all born-again Christians who have come from being lost orphans, but being adopted into the family of God and will have an eternal home in heaven.  And so, I’m praying, as I write this, that all reading here with me realize that no less than Jesus Himself has promised His disciple [and that’s you/me too] an eternal home with Him forever.  

So take in that promise in Jennifer Hudson’s linked song and the Scriptures above; and realize that we, who love and follow Jesus today are headed home to be with Him forever.  Do I sense and share a strong “HALLELUJAH?”       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me home to be with You forever.            

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to praise and thank You, Lord, for Your promise to take those of us who love You home to be with You in heaven one day.       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 u can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

May 2, 2022 … Don’t Listen To the Lies …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 122 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Colton Dixon singing … The DevIi Is A Liar … powerfully singing of how we, as disciple of Christ, must recognized the lies of the Devil and follow the truth of our Lord. 

Avoiding Satan's lies ... 

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  John 8:44 [NLT] …  

44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

… Jesus shows His followers that they (we) must avoid following Satan, the father of all lies.                            

Highlight Passage [Context]: … John 8:32-47 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches truth about abiding Satan’s lies.                                                                           ===============                

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 11:14 [NLT] … 

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 

… Paul tries to help fellow Christians realize that Satan disguises himself as and angel of light.   

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 6:11[NLT] … 

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

… Paul shows fellow Christians that they (we) can put on God’s armament to stand against the Devil and his lies.     

Reference Passage: … James 4:7 [NLT] … 

7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

… James helping Christians realize that they (we) can resist the Devil’s lies.    

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:6-9 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Peter helping oppressed and persecuted Christians to watch out for the schemes of the Devil, who prowls around like a lion to devour us with his lies.                                                                            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer … AT THIS LINK …  … tells how a young man, Victor, fell to the lies of Satan that viewing pornography is no big deal; and he, like many of his friends, became addicted to this evil plague, which spreads in our world like wild fires when people, even vulnerable Christians, don’t recognized the schemes of the Devil.        

Once I was one of those, before I surrendered my life to Christ, who didn’t - no, …really couldn’t - recognize Satan prowling around to devour my life with porn (see 1Peter 5:8).  But after I surrendered my life to Christ, I have learned to follow the truth and power of God’s word (see Scriptures above) and to follow Christ, being armed to recognize Satan’s lies and to do battle against those lies with the truth of God’s word.  

Oh how I pray that, as my readers take in the linked song and become well armed for battle with the Father of lies by using God’s word to guide us, we will see the Devil flee from us and we’ll walk in freedom from his lies as we follow Christ.       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me the discerning wisdom of Your word to recognize the lies of the Devil.            

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to gleen from Your truth, Lord, the clarity of Godly vision to recognize the lies of Your arch enemy.       Amen 

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Blogger Not :  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, 2022 … Light In the Darkness …

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 Third Day singing … Jesus, Light of the World … poignantly singing of how Jesus is the Light Who leads us out of our darkness. 

Following His light ... 

 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Genesis 1:2-3 [NLT] …  

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. … 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  

… God creates the light to separate the day from the night.                           

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Genesis 1:1-5[NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s first creation was to bring the light of day out of the darkness of night                               ===============                

Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:105, 130 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David sings God’s word being the light we follow out of the darkness of this world. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 5:14-16 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus charges His followers to become His light, shining in the darkness of the world to show the way to Him by the way we live.

Reference Passage: … John 8:12 [NLT] … 

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  

… Jesus teaches His followers and enemies that He came to be the light of the world.   

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:5-7 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God’s word, thru John, teaches that we come out of the darkness of sin and are cleansed when we follow His light.                                                                          

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kirsten Holmberg … AT THIS LINK …  ells how, in teaching words her baby daughter the names of various things in the baby’s life, the little one’s first declared word was not “daddy or mommy,” as the parents might have expected; but rather it was “dight” … a mispronounced version of “light.”       

LIGHT is a very important concept in all of Scripture, being a characterization of God, Who, as we know created and separated light from the darkness of this world as His first creation (see highlight passage).  And when Jesus came into the world, He called Himself to be “The light of the world,” (see John 8:12), charging those who would follow Him to come out of the darkness of sin into the light of God’s grace (see Matt 5:14-16 and 1John 1:5-7), and to shine His light for all to see Him thru the way we live.  

And from this ODB entry, I’m convicted to ask myself what I can do today to shine God’s light thru the way I live my life for His glory.  Will you join me to be a light-bearer for our God today?        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your light to shine so that others can see You.            

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, …  to be Your light-bearer for God’s glory 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.