November 12, 2015: Majestic - OR - Messy

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 315  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Larnelle Harris singing… Love Found A Way, … declaring the truth that God found a way - through the grace of His love - to over come the messiness of humanity’s sin crisis.

Highlight Passage:   Romans 12:18 [NKJV] …  
18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 
 … Coming out from the messiness of life and living under the majestic love of God.                        
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Highlight Context – Romans 12:14-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Paul declares the remedy for the messiness of humanity … i.e, to live under the love of God. 
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus shows the way to overcome life’s messy journey - by surrendering to His love and following Him obediently.

Reference Passage #2 - John 14:21 [NKJV] … 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 
… Jesus’ love and grace are only for those who’ve been willing to give their all to/for Him.

Reference Passage #3 - Ephesians 2:8-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
… Our good works are shown for God’s glory when we surrender - in faith - to receive God’s saving and sanctifying grace.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Randy Kilgore, used the following story to illustrate his teaching. When we first moved into our present home, I enjoyed the beauty of the geese that nest nearby. I admired the way they cared for each other and the way they moved in straight lines in the water and in majestic V-formations in the air. It was also a joy to watch them raise their young. … Then summer came, and I discovered some less beautiful truths about my feathered friends. You see, geese love to eat grass, and they don’t really care if it ruins the look of the lawn. Worse, what they leave behind makes a stroll across the yard a messy adventure. 

Like those majestic and messy geese, we have the dual potential for glory or gory. We humans can exhibit majesty or messiness as our free will leads us. When we choose to follow the Savior, life can be shaped into His majestic image [see Eph. 2:8-10]. However, when we choose to follow self, life often - really, almost always - can get quite messy, letting our selfishness and sin nature get in the way of God’s love and grace.

 So, when we surrender to God’s will and follow His way [see Luke 9: 23], usually being led by His will, we fly free like those Canadian geese pictured in the attached photo. But when try to control things on our own, trying to satisfy self, rather than the Savior, … well, I think you know what that picture looks like - messy, messy, messy!! …

 I don’t know about you … but today I’m going to do all I can to fly in God’s flock and following the lead of my Savior.

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … Help me to fly free with You. … Amen  

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

November 11, 2015: Crumbs

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 314  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group Avalon singing… Everything To Me, … declaring the reality of surrender to Christ, where He becomes our everything and demanding our all for Him.

Highlight Passage:   Daniel 6: 10 [NKJV] …  
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 
 … Daniel was willing to give his best and riskiest time for His God.
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Highlight Context – Daniel 6: 10-23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Daniel was willing to give his all for his Everything.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus knew that following Him as a disciple would be a very difficult investment of time/energy; but that is what He demanded of anyone who would surrender to His saving grace.

Reference Passage #2 - John 14:21 [NKJV] … 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 
… Jesus’ love and grace are only for those who’ve been willing to give their all to/for Him.

Reference Passage #3 - Romans 12: 1 [NKJV] … 
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
… God demands not the leftover crumbs from His table … but nothing else than our best as a “living sacrifice.”

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, used the following story to illustrate her teaching. A friend was coming to town. He is a very busy man and his schedule was tight, but after a difficult day in important meetings, he managed to see my family for half an hour for a quick and late dinner. We enjoyed his visit, but I remember looking at my plate and thinking, “We only got the crumbs of his time.” 

 You know, dear ones, I think that too many who come to Christ as Lord and Savior and are truly “born-again,” may think that this Christianity living is a casual walk in a fragrant and protected park. But the early Christians, and many who are still being persecuted and even martyred today, came to realize what Paul taught (e.g., in Romans 12:1) … that being a real disciple of Christ meant that we must be willing to give our all.

 Jesus, we we are saved in faith, desires a sold-out relationship with Him (see Luke 9:23 and John 14:21). As in author Ochoa’s story above, Jesus wants more of us, as disciples, than just the leftover crumbs from the table of life (see attached photo). No, our Lord desires our best for His best (i.e., His grace).

 Please take some special time to hear and meditate on the linked song above and ask, as I am of myself this morning, … as I invest my time in life, am I really giving more than just crumbs of time to Him? Is Jesus really MY EVERYTHING? …

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … I pray that I am giving my best to You, as a living sacrifice; … not just the leftover crumbs from my table of life. … Amen  

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

November 10, 2015: Shine Jesus Shine

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 313  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group Hillsong singing… Shine Jesus Shine, … praying in song that all Christians shine the light of Christ into an ever darkening world.

Highlight Passage:   1st Peter 3: 15 [NKJV] …  
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  ... 
 … Always ready to turn on the light of Christ …
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Highlight Context – 1st Peter 3: 13-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Shine Jesus’ light, even in suffering …
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Reference Passage #1 - Matthew 5: 16 [NKJV] … 
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 
… Jesus’ teaching to shine His light to the world … BRIGHTLY.

Reference Passage #2 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. …” 
… Jesus knew that following Him as a disciple would be difficult … especially when we would shine His light brightly in a dark world.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, wrote the following as he taught about sharing our Lord with the world, People will watch our walk before listening to our talk. The best witness combines good behavior with appropriate words, reflecting the difference Christ makes in our lives. … Whatever our situation, let’s shine for Jesus where we are. He can provide the grace we need to reach even those who don’t agree with us.

You know, it’s said that the way to catch a moth is to light a flame in the darkness where the moth is flying (see attached photo). Well, Jesus, when teaching on that hillside near Capernaum in what we call “The Sermon on the Mount,” exhorted His followers not only to follow Him (Luke 9:23), but also to be ready, when called upon, as Peter taught in 1st Peter 3: 15, to shine His light into a dark, and ever darkening, world (see Matthew 5: 16). In that way the lost will be drawn to THE LIGHT OF TRUTH, Who is Christ.

 The conviction question today is … ARE WE?

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … May I be more of Your Light everyday and be ready to shine Your truth in all I think, say, and do. … Amen  

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

November 9, 2015: Safe Harbor

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 312 

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Sara Groves singing… It’s Going To Be Alright, … declaring the reality of the ultimate peace found in a deep and abiding relationship with Christ. He’s our lighthouse in the storms of life.

Highlight Passage:   Psalm 107: 19 [NKJV] …
5 And they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 
 … Taking our lost friends to Jesus.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 107 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… The Lord is our God of deliverance
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Reference Passage #1 - Romans 15: 13 [NKJV] … 
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
… Paul knew where to lead others for joy and peace … into the arms of the Holy Spirit.

Reference Passage #2 - 1st Peter 5: 6-7 [NKJV] … 
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 
… Peter knew and exhorted others to come to the Lord, humbly, and cast all our cares on Him.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dennis Fishers, illustrated his teaching with the attached photo and a story about Charity Island. He writes, Charity Island is the largest island in Saginaw Bay in the Michigan waters of Lake Huron. For many years the island has provided a lighthouse for navigational aid and a safe harbor for those sailing these waters. The island received its name because sailors believed it was there “through the charity of God.” … Sometimes in life we have to navigate through seas of troubling circumstances. Like those sailors we need guidance and a place of safety; we might wish for our own Charity Island. 

Dennis Fisher is asking his readers (me) to head towards God’s light of safety in the storms of life. The Psalmist in today’s highlight passage (please take the time to meditate on Psalm 107 linked above) wrote his song to steer sojourners to the one source of peace as God leads us into and out of the storms we face in life. Paul (see Romans 15: 13) knew exactly where to lead Christians when we face rough seas - into the hope we find in a deep and abiding relationship with God’s Spirit. And Peter, writing to harshly persecuted Christians in 1st Peter 5:6-7, also pointed us, as born-again believers to cast off all our cares on THE ONE Who cares for us.

 In a storm today? … Look to the Charity Lighthouse, Who is our Lord! And use the link to hear Sara Groves singing, … It’s Going To Be Alright.

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … Coming out of a storm right now, and You shine your Light for me to head in out of the winds and into Your arms of peace. … Amen

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

November 8, 2015: Faithful Friends

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 311  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Seve Green singing… People Need the Lord, … declaring a truth that challenges us all to bring our lost friends and loved ones to Jesus in prayer.

Highlight Passage:   Mark 2: 5 [NKJV] …  
5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” … Taking our lost friends to Jesus.
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Highlight Context – Mark 2: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Jesus, seeing the faith of the paralytic’s friends, forgave the man’s sins and healed him.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all (i.e, Jesus’ followers), “if anyone would desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 
… Another reminder, from the ODB story in Mark 2 today, just how challenging it is to be a disciple of Jesus.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 10: 9-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… How many will I pass today who need this reality ?… Too many, I fear.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David C McCasland, used a story from the Gospel of Mark to illustrate a truth. He writes, In ancient times, paralysis was viewed as a permanent, hopeless condition. But one group of men believed Jesus could help their paralyzed friend. While Jesus was teaching in the village of Capernaum, four of the men carried the man to Him. When they couldn’t reach Jesus because of the crowd, “they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.” 

As we know Jesus honored the faithfulness and determination of the trends of the paralytic by healing the man, but even more so … to forgive his sins, … something only Jesus (i.e., God) can do. My conviction today is wrapped up in the song, linked above and sung by Steve Green that our lost friends, … really all the lost we contact, … need Jesus’ healing and forgiveness.

 The question before me today is … Do I do enough to bring my lost loved ones and friends to my Lord, … at least in prayer?” Well I know what the answer to that challenge is for me - not often enough and not with enough diligence. Prayerfully my faith, forward from here, will be more like the friends of the forgiven paralytic in Mark 2.

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … I bring my sister to you today, as I do often - but not often enough - begging for Your healing and forgiving touch. Do business with her heart, Lord, and keep me under conviction to bring her to you more often until she is saved. … Amen  

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

November 7, 2015: Jesus IS God!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 310  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the Maranatha Singers singing… Jesus, You Are My Life, … declaring truth of surrender to Jesus, the Son of God, as our Lord and Savior.

 
Highlight Passage:   Acts 4: 18-20 [NKJV] …  
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 
… Peter and John, ordered by the Sanhedrin not to speak of Jesus, refused and went forth to share Jesus, … the Truth they knew would transform the world.
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Highlight Context – Acts 4: 5-20 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Peter and John, believed in the Lordship of Christ, and would not be silenced by Jewish leaders of speaking of Him to others.
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all (i.e, Jesus’ followers), “if anyone would desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 
… Jesus declares what His calling to discipleship is all about; and His inner Disciples, such as Peter and John, were totally surrendered, in faith, to THE ONE they knew was The Messiah.

Reference Passage #2 - John 14: 1, 10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus, prior to His passion on the cross, taught His inner Disciples of His divine authority/nature; and after the resurrection, these Disciples believed Him TOTALLY.

Reference Passage #3 - Philippians 2: 5-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul came to believe - and share everywhere He went - the Gospel truth about Jesus, as the Son of God

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, used a personal to illustrate his teaching. He writes, A church group invited a speaker to address their meeting. “Talk about God,” the group leader told him, “but leave out Jesus.” … “Why?” the man asked, taken aback. … “Well,” the leader explained, “some of our prominent members feel uncomfortable with Jesus.  Just use God and we’ll be fine.” … Accepting such instructions, however, was a problem for the speaker who said later, “Without Jesus, I have no message.” 

Then Darmani reminded his readers (me) of the incident when Peter and John were ordered by the Sanhedrin to silence their preaching and mention of Jesus [see the linked passage in Luke 4 above]; but Jesus’ close disciples refused to be silenced because they truly believed that Jesus was truly the Son of God and their Messiah.

 Jesus had declared such in His “upper-room discourse” (see John 14 passages linked above), and the remaining inner core of Disciples were sold-out and surrendered to Jesus as their Messiah after the resurrection; and they would not be silenced in sharing the Gospel message anywhere and everywhere they went. And, as a later Apostle, Paul, having encountered the risen Christ post-resurrection, was the same way [see Phil. 2: 5-7 above].

 The question from this ODB entry today is … Are we totally sold-out disciples of the living Lord … our Messiah? Use the song link above and hear the Maranatha Singers singing that Jesus is their everything in life; and then ask that same question as we move about encountering others who need Christ as their Lord/Savior. Will we be willing to share our Lord, the Son of God, with them today?

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … Give me an opportunity to share You with someone in my life, … maybe even today. … Amen  

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

November 6, 2015: Here I Am, Lord

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 309  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Daniel O’Donnell singing… Here I Am Lord, … declaring the commitment and dedication and courage of a Christian to surrender to God’s will and follow Him, … whatever His calling.

Highlight Passage:   Psalm 144:1 [NKJV] …  
1 Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Whop trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle - 
…  If God calls us, He enables us.
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Highlight Context – Exodus 4:10-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Moses’ reluctant calling and his empowerment by God’s grace to lead God’s people out of Egypt 
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 23 Then He said to them all (i.e, Jesus’ followers), “if anyone would desire to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 
… Jesus declares what His calling to discipleship is all about.

Reference Passage #2 - Acts 1: 8 [NKJV] … 
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 
… Jesus, re-entering heaven, charges His disciples to be His witnesses, … giving us all the power we need to do so.

Reference Passage #3 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] … 
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
… Paul remembering Jesus’ promise of God’s strength when Paul (or any believer) is weak.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jaime Fernandez Garrido, used a personal basketball story to illustrate his teaching. He writes, When former NBA player David Wood was playing for Taugrés de Baskonia, I was with him at a Spanish Basketball Cup final. Before one game, he read Psalm 144:1: “Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” He turned to me and said, “You see? It’s as if God has written this verse just for me! He trains my hands to catch rebounds and my fingers to shoot!” David felt called to play basketball and had learned that God takes us as we are and enables us to do what He calls us to do. 

David Wood grasped a truth that many believers miss; and that is that God’s calling is His enablement. He would never give us a clear calling, as David Wood felt, that we didn’t have what it takes to accomplish for God’s glory. However, even the likes of a Moses, seeing his own human failings had trouble grasping that truth. In Exodus, Chapter 4 [see linked passage above], when Moses encountered God in the burning bush, God called the exiled Jew to go back to Egypt and lead God’s people to the Promised Land. But Moses balked, not having enough faith to respond as Daniel O’Donnell sings in the linked song above.

 We Christians must always remember what Jesus said to disciples in Luke 9: 23, Acts 1: 8, and 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 - all copied above. He calls. He gives us His enabling grace; and all we have to do is follow Him. He will take care of the rest.

 Do you believe Him? Well, if so, let’s go do it today!

My Prayer Today:  Yes, Lord, … As I declared yesterday, Your grace is sufficient! … Amen  

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

November 5, 2015: Control OR Contentment?

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 308  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing… His Strength Is Perfect, … declaring how God’s empowering grace is ALWAYS there for those who surrender to Jesus and receive His Spirit in humility.

Highlight Passage:   Psalm 86: 3 [NKJV] …  
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I cry out to You all day long. 
 …  David, in surrender to God’s mercy.
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Highlight Context – Psalm 86: 1-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
 … David’s prayer for mercy.
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Reference Passage #1 - Habakkuk 1:2, 3:17-18 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
…  Habakuk’s transformed faith.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] … 
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. … Paul remembering Jesus’ promise of His strength when Paul (or any believer) is weak.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Shelly Beach, used a personal illustration to teach about God’s God’s empowering grace being available to surrendered Christians. She writes, The neighbors probably didn’t know what to think as they looked out their windows at me one wintry day. I was standing in the driveway with a garden shovel clutched in my hands, whacking wildly and angrily at a clump of ice that had formed beneath a corner gutter. With each smack, I was uttering prayers that were variations on one theme: “I can’t do … As a caregiver, with a long list of responsibilities to handle, I now had this ice to deal with, and I had had enough! … My anger was wrapped around a bundle of lies: “I deserve better than this.” … “God isn’t enough after all.” …“Nobody cares anyway.” … But when we choose to cling to our anger, we become mired in the trap of bitterness, never moving forward. And the only cure for anger is truth.

Anybody, besides me, have that T-Shirt? … Yeah, … been there - don’t that; … well maybe not angry at God because of icy gutters (see photo); but mad at God because things seemed out of control. Yeah, … been there, done that, … got the T-Shirt, for sure! … And maybe that’s the reason I so love the journal written by the Prophet, Habakkuk, in the Old Testament.

 The confused Prophet had come to God in Chapter 1 (see above links) with waning faith, angrily crying out to God with that big “WHY?” question. And then God sits the Prophet down and leads him through the reality that things were going to get worse before they could get better; and Habakkuk was going to have to trust God. And then in Chapter 3 (again see link), we read of Habakkuk resigning himself to not letting anything steal his joy. In other words, Habakkuk’s faith had been transformed by God’s enlightening and empowering grace.

 Paul had that dilemma too when the Apostle wrote about dealing with that so-called “thorn in the flesh.” And Paul finally, after praying in confusion over and over again to be relieved of the “thorn,” and remembering Jesus’ exhortation (see 2nd Cor. 12: 9), finally relented that he actually needed that thorn to keep him humble so that he could receive God’s grace to give him the power to deal with his own weaknesses.

 The question we have today is … do we want to be like Habakkuk in Chapter 1 or Chapter 3? Do we want to surrender COMPLETELY, as did Paul, and accept our “thorns” in life so as to receive God’s strength, or do we want to try to deal with life in our own weakness?

 I know the answer, … how about you?

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Your grace is sufficient! … Amen  

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

November 4, 2015: My Jealous God

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 307  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the Dave Crowder Band singing… How He Loves Us, … declaring how jealous is God’s love for those who’ve come to Him in repentance and love.

Highlight Passage:   2nd Corinthians 11: 1-2 [NKJV] …  
1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 
 …  Being protective of our love for our Savior just as He is jealous in His love of us. 
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Highlight Context – 2nd Corinthians 11: 1-4 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Oh, how we need to be jealous of our love for our Bridegroom just as our God is jealous and protective of His love for His foundlings.
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Reference Passage #1 - Exodus 20:3-5, 34:14 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
…  We should strive to be jealous of our love for God because He is so jealous of His love for His children.

Reference Passage #2 - Deuteronomy 4:24, 5:9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
…  Again, … doing all we can to honor God’s jealous love for His own.

Reference Passage #3 - John 14: 21 [NKJV] … 
21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 
… Our love should be guarded and shown through our obedience to His word.

Reference Passage #4 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
… Jesus lays out His criteria for discipleship, which declares clearly just how protective we should be of our love by denying self and following the Savior.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, used an interesting illustration to teach about God’s jealousy for His children. He writes, In 2014 a University of California researcher used a stuffed dog to show that animals are capable of jealousy. Professor Christine Harris asked dog owners to show affection for a stuffed animal in the presence of their pet. She found that three-fourths of the dogs responded with apparent envy. Some tried to get attention with touch or a gentle nudge. Others tried to push between their owner and the toy. A few went so far as to snap at their stuffed rival. … In a dog, jealousy seems heartwarming. In people, it can lead to less admirable results. Yet, as Moses and Paul remind us [see Scriptures above], there is also another jealousy — one that beautifully reflects the heart of God. 

In human terms, “jealousy” is generally denoted to be a negative character quality. But God clearly states in the Old Testament that He is a “jealous” God, Who loves His children so much that He protects us with His love. A dog may reflexively try to protect his affection for his/her master [see attached photo]; but we, as God’s children, need to do all we can to jealously protect the closeness of our relationship with THE ONE Who has saved us, … our Lord, … King Jesus.

 And really Jesus, Himself, laid out the way we can do this, i.e., to protect and demonstrate our love for Him (see John 14:21); and that is by doing all we can to deny our selfishness and to follow Him as closely as we can (see Luke 9: 23). So, today, let’s establish or renew our vows to do all we can to jealously pursue a deeper, more abiding love relationship with our Savior.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Thank You for Your jealous love; and help me to protect and show my love for You. … Amen  

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

November 3, 2015: “Redundancy Teaches”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 306  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group 4Him singing… The Basics of Life, … declaring that we need to get back to the basics of the faith … no matter how redundant they are.

Highlight Passage:   Colossians 3:23-24 [NKJV] …  
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 
 …  When we serve Christ in everything we do, we honor the Lord with what we do. 
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Highlight Context – Ephesians 6: 5-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… As slaves to Christ, do whatever we do, as bondservants, unto the Lord.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 119: 9-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
…  The discipline and repetition of getting God’s word buried deeply into our hears will change the way we think and act.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 12: 1 [NKJV] … 
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 
… We need to make what we do in life, no matter how mundane and repetitive, our “living sacrifice” to the Lord.

Reference Passage #3 - 2nd Tim. 3: 16-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
…  Again, … God’s word buried with redundancy, deeply into our hearts, will change the way we think and act.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David Roper, wrote of the discipline and fruitfulness which comes from following Godly mentors/leaders/counselors. He writes, The high school I attended required 4 years of Latin instruction. I appreciate the value of that discipline now, but back then it was a grind. Our teacher believed in drill and repetition. “Repetitio est mater studiorum,” she intoned over us several times a day, which simply means, “Repetition is the mother of learning.” “Repetitio est absurdum,” we muttered under our breath. “Repetition is absurd.” 

I too used to hate those recitations of Latin verb conjugations in high school. But now I realize that repetition and redundancy are what life is all about. And as my mentor used to say, over and over and over again, “redundancy teaches.” In fact recognizing just how immature I was as a new-born Christian, he took me on an 18 month trek where he had me contextualize and memorize two topically based (and practical) scripture passages each week. The exercise was a drudge, … repetitively memorizing verse-by-verse each week. And then repeating them over and over again, … until finally I was able to recite all 60 topical memory verses in the series to my mentor [USE THIS LINK]. That repetitive exercise changed my life FOREVER.

 My mentor realized that the very repetitive practice of scripture memory would do what God promised in 2nd Tim. 3: 16-17 [see linked above]. And if I pursued that exercise, as Paul exhorted in Col. 3: 23, for God … and not to impress men, I would be transformed; … and I was.

 So, perhaps we need to do what the group 4Him sings above and get back to the basics of exercising the redundancies wrapped up in the basics of our faith, … and I would maintain that the most basic of those repetitive pursuits would be getting God’s word deeply into our hearts so, as the Psalmist writes in Psalm 119: 9, 11, we can eradicate the sinful practices of our flesh.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Help us to do whatever it takes … no matter how redundant or repetitive, to honor you as “living sacrifices.” … Amen  

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

November 2, 2015: Godly Counsel

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 305

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Clay Crosse, Bebe Winans, & Bob Carlisle singing… I Will Follow Christ, … expressing a Christian’s commitment to follow the ways of our Lord … ALWAYS.

Highlight Passage:   Ecclesiastes 9: 17 [NKJV] …
17 Words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard rather than the shouts of a ruler of fools. 
…  Whom one hears and follows is important!
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Highlight Context – Ecclesiastes 9: 13-18 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Following wise and Godly counselors is a wise battle strategy in life.
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Reference Passage #1 - Psalm 119: 105 [NKJV] … 
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 
… Finding others who use God’s word as their light in life is wise.

Reference Passage #2 - Proverbs 3:7, 14:33, 15:22, 19:20 [NKJV] … USE THESE LINKS …
… Seeking Godly, discerning counsel from those who closely follow God’s ways is wisdom.

Reference Passage #3 - Jeremiah 17: 9 [NKJV] … 
9  “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; … Who can know it? 
… Our natural heart will lead us astray if we don’t follow God’s ways and His disciples.

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Corinthians 11: 1 [NKJV] … 
1 Imitate me just as I imitate Christ. 
… Paul was confident in his ability to counsel others.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, wrote of the wisdom which comes from following Godly mentors/leaders/counselors. She writes, The cautions of a discerning friend can reflect the wisdom of God. … Ecclesiastes 9:17 says that the “words of the wise, spoken quietly, should be heard.” … Scripture warns us not to be wise in our own eyes or proud (Prov. 3:7). In other words, let’s not assume that we have all the answers! … Whether it is a friend, a spouse, a pastor, or a co-worker, God can use others to teach us more of His wisdom. 

It is true that we are wise when we use God’s truth, i.e., His Word, the Bible, as our GPS, discerning our way in life (see Psalm 119: 105). However, following others who know and follow God’s truth is also important because our natural leanings (i.e., our hearts) are wicked and ridden with deceit (see Jer. 17: 9 above). Therefore, we should find Godly - Bible following - leaders/mentors to help guide us through the minefields of life [see the Proverbs linked above].

 The Apostle Paul exhorted his fellow Christians to follow him because he knew he was following Christ (see 1st Cor. 11: 1). This was not bravado, only confidence in God’s Spirit, Who was leading Paul. He knew that as long as he followed God’s truth, others could follow him (as the Psalmist wrote in Ps. 119: 105).

 So, my fellow Christian, I hope we all have Godly leaders, mentors, or counselors whom we can trust because we know they are steeped in God’s truth and closely follow our Lord. And as they follow Christ, we need to follow them toward Godly discernment and a walk in God’s ways, … following His will, … through His word.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Help me to follow You so that I can lead others in Your ways … to follow Your will through Your word. … Amen

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

November 1, 2015: Living Water

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 304  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Hlengiwe Mhlaba singing… Let Your Living Waters Flow, … with a prayer for Jesus, through His Spirit, to give believers His living waters.

Highlight Passage:   John 4:13-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  The waters of life for one dead in thirst.
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Highlight Context – John 4:1-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… Jesus gave the Samaritan woman the waters of eternal life.
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Reference Passage #1 - John 7: 37-38 [NKJV] … 
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
… Jesus - so willing (and able) to dispense His living waters to anyone who thirsts.

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 10: 9-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Partaking of the living waters - FOREVER.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, uses a story to teach about Jesus providing His living waters to any/all who believe in Him. Taking in the attached photo, Branon writes, As Dave Mueller reached down and turned the handle, water rushed from the spigot into a blue bucket. Around him people applauded. They celebrated as they saw fresh, clean water flowing in their community for the first time. Having a clean source of water was about to change the lives of this group of people in Kenya. … Dave and his wife, Joy, work hard to meet people’s needs by bringing them water. But they don’t stop with H2O. As they help bring people clean water, they also tell them about Jesus Christ. 

Personally, I’m drawn to the truth of this illustrative story because the church where I’m an Elder has participated for years in doing all we can to support a Pastor, the Rev. Paul Ngundu, in Kenya, who has brought physical water and the living waters of Christ to he Masssai people, with thousands of them coming to partake of God’s living waters over the years.

 And even more personally, why do you think that I come to the well of life, God’s word, every day? Well, as the Samaritan woman in John, Chapter 4 [see highlight link] came to the well every day for life giving water, so I come here for the waters which brought my spirit to life. Without those waters that woman in John 4, and those with whom she shared God’s waters, would die physically. But Jesus showed her waters that gave her eternal life; and she was born again SPIRITUALLY for eternity.

 Yes, I come here everyday to partake of the living waters God has given me to be quickened and kept alive in my spirit. And these waters not only keep me alive now, but they will forever. I pray that you’ve been brought to life and kept alive by the same waters Jesus gave to the woman at the well over 2000 years ago.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … I thirst and You bring me Your living waters. … Amen  

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

October 31, 2015: Make Over In Christ

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 303  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Queen Latifah singing a song from the movie “Joyful Noise” … Fix Me Jesus, … with a prayer for Jesus to make us over into His image to prepare us for His glory.

Highlight Passage:   2nd Corinthians 5: 17 [NKJV] …  
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 
…  Brand new!!!
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Highlight Context – 2nd Corinthians 5: 14-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… In Christ we are being made over into HIS image.
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Reference Passage #1 - Romans 12: 1-2 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Make over into a living sacrifice, proving that we are new in Christ.

Reference Passage #2 - Philippians 1: 6 [NKJV] … 
6 … being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; … 
… God’s Spirit … making us over into the image of our Savior.

Reference Passage #3 - Colossians 3: 12-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… The character of the new man (or woman) … in Christ.

Reference Passage #4 - 1st Peter 1: 13-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter exhorting the church to be holy as they were recreated in the image of THE HOLY One, … Jesus, their Messiah.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, uses a personal illustration to teach about becoming who we are in Christ. He writes, It was time to fix the trim on the windows of our house. So I scraped, sanded, and applied wood filler to get the aging trim ready for paint. After all of my efforts—including a coat of primer and some too-expensive paint—the trim looks, well, pretty good. But it doesn’t look new. The only way to make the trim look new would be to replace the old wood. … It’s okay to have weather-damaged window trim that looks “pretty good” to our eye. But when it comes to our sin-damaged hearts, it’s not enough to try to fix things up. From God’s point of view, we need all things to become new ( see 2nd Cor. 5:17). 

How often do we, as born-again Christians, try to put on a mask of self-control or to put on some paint to cover over some really rotten wood on the inside? Too often, I would guess!

When we become a Christian (I mean FOR REAL!), we are what Paul wrote about to the Christians in Corinth (again, see the highlight passage above). We are new, leaving the old behind; and God’s Spirit desires to make us over into the image of Christlikeness (see Phil. 1:6). He desires, as Peter wrote in 1st Peter 1:13-16, linked above, to live on the inside as well as the outside, … as Christ called us to live … in holiness.

 Now, it’s true that the Heavenly Father sees all born-again Christians in the image of His Son, Who paid the price of our make-over on the cross. But we still must live as Paul exhorted the Church [see Romans 12: 1-2 and Colossians 3:12-13]; and we must pray as Queen Latifah so poignantly sings, for Jesus to fix us and make us over in His image day by day. … Not just a paint job on the outside; but on the inside too.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Fix me, Jesus, … fix me! … Amen  

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

October 30, 2015: Our Anchor Holds

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 302

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of George Beverly Shea singing an old hymn … The Anchor Holds, … strongly declaring how our anchor of faith needs to be fixed to the “Rock of Ages,” … Jesus.

Highlight Passage:   Mark 4: 39 [NKJV] …
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm 
…  Jesus controls everything and is our ROCK.
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Highlight Context – Mark 4:35-41 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…I n spite of a horrible, threatening storm, Jesus’ disciples were learning that their faith need not falter with Jesus in the boat.
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] … 
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 
… We will only find peace in the storms of life when our mind is strongly fixed to the Rock of Ages.

Reference Passage #2 - Philippians 4: 6-7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peace in the midst of any storm, found when we fix our faith in Christ and bring Him our storms in prayer.

Reference Passage #3 - 1st Peter 1: 6-9 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Holding on to the faith which is anchored to Christ in our salvation.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Albert Lee, writes, No one is exempt from the storms of life. But just as the disciples who initially feared the storm later came to revere Christ more, so the storms we face can bring us to a deeper knowledge of God. “Who is this,” the disciples pondered, “even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mark 4: 41). Through our trials we can learn that no storm is big enough to prevent God from accomplishing His will. 

So, as you listen to George Beverly Shea sing the old hymn linked above, and see the attached image, I think we must ask ourselves whether our anchor of faith is firmly affixed to ROCK OF AGES, our Savior, Jesus. Because if it is, no matter what storms we face may do to rock our boat, we know that He is in control and will keep us - even though we may die - with Him.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” … Amen

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

October 29, 2015: God’s Warnings

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 301  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the group 4Him singing a song of truth… The Basics of Life, … strongly declaring how this world needs to return to God’s way and seek His will for living.

 
Highlight Passage:   Hebrews 10: 32 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
…  God’s own rejecting His love warning!
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Highlight Context – Jeremiah 18: 1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
… God, thru Jeremiah, warned His people; but they wouldn’t heed God’s love.
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Reference Passage #1 - 2nd Chronicles 36: 15 [NKJV] … 
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. 
… How many warnings does God have to send before His children listen?

Reference Passage #2 - Romans 1: 18-32 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… See today’s headlines and view the culture and then read God’s warning.  ... SCARY!!! 

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 12: 5-6 [NKJV] … 
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: … “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, … Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6  For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” [Prov. 3:11-12] 
… God’s word tells us not to despise God’s warnings because they show the Love of our Heavenly Father.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Benson Schuldt, uses a personal story to illustrate her ODB truth about God’s warning and His chastening. Schuldt writes, As a young girl I went with my parents to visit my great-grandmother, who lived near a farm. Her yard was enclosed by an electric fence, which prevented cows from grazing on her grass. When I asked my parents if I could play outside, they consented, but carefully explained that touching the fence would result in an electric shock. … Unfortunately I ignored their warning, put a finger to the barbed wire, and was zapped by an electrical current strong enough to teach a cow a lesson. I knew then that my parents had warned me because they loved me and didn’t want me to get hurt.

OUCH!! … How many times does God have to warn us and clearly show His love for us by chastening us or exhorting us through His word. Certainly we read of God warning His chosen people, the Israelites, over and over and over again in the Old Testament; and finally having to bring or allow disaster to teach them a lesson [see the passages linked above from Jeremiah and 2Chronicles above]. And when I read the New Testament warning from Paul in Romans 1:18-32 [linked above] and see how the world is rebelling against God’s warnings, IT’S SCARY to think what might happen in the future.

 God is our Heavenly Father and His warnings (as it tells us in Hebrews 12:5-6) are expressions of His love by chastening us. I just cringe to thing how our grandchildren might have live out God’s chastening on our current generation for the open disobedience of God’s ways and His will shown by our world today. As the group 4Him sings in the song linked above, “We need to get back to THE BASICS of life!” 

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Help Your children to heed Your love and Your warnings to get back to living Your way. … Amen  

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

October 28, 2015: Focusing on Christ

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 300  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of The Maranatha Singers singing one of my favorite praise songs… Jesus, You Are My Life, … strongly declaring what should be the life reality for all Christians - to focus on and pursue a deeper, more abiding relationship with Christ.

Highlight Passage:   Hebrews 10: 32 [NKJV] …  
32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: … 
…  Holding our belief and faith in Christ - NO MATTER WHAT!
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Highlight Context – Hebrews 10: 32-39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  Keeping our belief and focus on Christ even when things go bad.
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] … 
3 You will keep him in perfect peace (LORD), whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in You.
… Isaiah states where our trust, hope, and peace lies - by focusing on our relationship with the living God.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, David C McCasland, used a true story to illustrate his ODB teaching about our focus being on Christ in the midst of the turmoils of the world. McCasland writes, Early in September 2011, a raging wildfire destroyed 600 homes in and around the city of Bastrop in central Texas. A few weeks later an article in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper carried this headline: “People who lost the most, focus on what wasn’t lost.” The article described the community’s outpouring of generosity and the realization of those who received help that neighbors, friends, and community were worth far more than anything they lost. 

And then McCasland referred his readers (me) to the highlight Scripture passage from the the book of Hebrews (see link/reference to Hebrews 10 above), where the author was writing to persecuted Jewish Christians, exhorting and encouraging them to remember, in the midst of turmoil and the fires of life, that they must hold on to their faith and their focus on their relationship with Christ.

 How about it, fellow Christian? In the midst of the fires of life, can we, or DO WE, keep our focus on our Savior? I must admit that this can be a real challenge, … to find peace in the fire storms by focusing on the One and only author of true peace; … JESUS!! And that’s why I believe that it takes proactive discipline to develop a habit of focusing on Christ as deeply as possible when life is not so stormy or fiery. Because when the fire storms come, we need to have developed the habit of turning our focus, almost entirely, on Christ. Then - and only then - will we find any degree of peace in midst of the storms of life.

 That, my fellow Christian, is why you find me here - EVERYDAY - in the peace and quiet of each morning, focusing on my Lord, through His word and in prayer, … developing the faith habit of focusing on Christ - no matter what might come along in the future.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Help me to keep my focus on You; because, as the Maranatha singers sing, … “You are my life.” … Amen  

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

October 27, 2015: Without Love = Nothing!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 299  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of Sara Groves singing her song … Without Love, … strongly declaring the truth of 1st Cor. 13 … that without love we have NOTHING … and as the attached image depicts, we miss the bus we call life.

Highlight Passage:   1st Corinthians 13:1-3 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 
…  Without love, as Christians, we accomplish NOTHING!!
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Highlight Context – 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  God’s love chapter.  ... But are we on board?!!
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Reference Passage #1 - John 13: 34-35 [NKJV] … 
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” 
… Jesus stings His disciples and the world with His love commandment.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Randy Kilgore, emphasizes the need to reveal God’s love as we strive to reveal Him in our relationships. And Kilgore tells about an older, more mature “Christian [?]” lecturing a younger believer. He writes, … I heard the saddest words today. Two believers in Christ were discussing an issue about which they had differing opinions. The older of the two seemed smug as he wielded Scripture like a weapon, chopping away at the things he saw as wrong in the other’s life. The younger man just seemed weary of the lecture, weary of the other person, and discouraged. …“You missed the chance to love me,” the young man said. “In all the time you’ve known me, what has seemed to matter most to you is pointing out what you think is wrong about me. … What do I want? I want to see Jesus—in you and through you.”

Ouch! … That Randy Kilgore story, the image in the attached photo, as well as Sara Groves’ linked song above, really hit me hard with conviction today. I’m sitting here … asking myself, “How many busses of opportunity to show God’s love have I missed in this life because I didn’t jump on board with Jesus’ command to love others?” [See John 13: 34-35]

UGH!! 

I really don’t have to write any more here, do I? … I’ll let you deal with your feelings as a Christian when you take in all above. But if you feel anything as I do here, … let’s not miss today’s love bus!

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Help me get on board today with Your love bus. … Amen  

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

October 26, 2015: God’s Word Is Power

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 298  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of various verses from the Bible expressing … The Power of God’s Word, … declaring various truths from Scripture about how God uses His word for His purposes.

Highlight Passage:   Psalm 119: 11 [NKJV] …  
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin agains You. 
 …  God’s prescription for avoiding sinful living.
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Highlight Context – Psalms 119: 9-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  A Psalmist who loved and revered the power found in God’s word
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Reference Passage #1 - Isaiah 55: 11 [NKJV] … 
11 So shall my word go forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 
… God’s word will always accomplish what God desires, especially when it goes out in His Name and for His glory.

Reference Passage #2 - 2nd Timothy 3: 16-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… ALL scripture is inspired by God and equips Christian to do His work.

Reference Passage #3 - Hebrews 4: 12 [NKJV] … 
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 
… God’s word is a powerful sword in the hands of a capable Christian warrior.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, emphasizes the power of God’s word as she writes … I have a digital edition of the Bible on my reading device. But I still have my favorite printed Bible—the one I have underlined and read many times. We don’t know the future of the printed page, but one thing we do know: The best place for God’s Word is not on our cell phones, electronic reading devices, or bedside table. … Nothing compares to pondering God’s Word, learning more of Him, and putting it into practice in our daily lives. The best place for His Word lies deep in our souls. 

Right on, Keila! You nailed it, girl!! … And may I take a moment to give you a little test as to what you feel is important about God’s word. Here’s my test …
1.  Do you believe what it says in Isaiah 55:11?
___A. Absolutely YES
___B. Absolutely NOT
___C. Let me see what it says first 
2. Where is all truth found? 
___A. The Bible
___B. Science
___C. Worldly Education  3
. If you could do something for 30 minutes every day that would make you a better/stronger Christian, would you do it?
___A. ABSOLUTELY YES! 
___B. Maybe, after I hear what it is
___C. Knowing me, probably not

Well, … my fellow Christian (I’m assuming you are a Christian), if you marked anything by “A” in this 3 question test, you need not read on; because I really don’t think you are serious about the power found in God’s word. But anyone reading here is welcome to read on.

I’m being a bit longer in my journaling today because I’m so passionate about how getting God’s word into my heart (see Ps. 119: 9-11) has transformed my life. I had a mentor who taught me how to memorize Scripture; and he took me on an 18 month journey, memorizing over 70 passages in proper historical context; and then he led me into the discipline which you read me exercising here today … i.e., DAILY getting into God’s word, praying from God’s word, and journaling from God’s word to change my life.

 My guess is that you have certain disciplines which you carry out daily, … for example, … like brushing your teeth, fixing your hair, choosing your clothing, or maybe jogging or exercising; and you do these disciplines for specific, positive reasons. Well, as Question #3 in my test above asks, if you could take 30 minutes every day to take on a discipline which would give more strength/power to your Christian life, would you do it? …

 I hope so … because if you took 30 minutes using a good devotional tool, like Our Daily Bread; and you dug into God’s word, studying it and meditating on it; and then you wrote a paragraph (you don’t have to be as wordy as I am here!!), journaling what you feel God is saying to you, … doing this discipline DAILY for a year would transform you and give you more power for Christian living.

 But I guess you have to decide whether that doing that DAILY would be worth it for YOU. It sure was for me; and I’ll be here tomorrow - into God’s word and getting His truth into me. Come back for more! …

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … Thank You for the power of Your word to change me. … Amen  

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

October 25, 2015: Behind the Scenes

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2015 - Day 297  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a video of the Maranatha Singers singing, You Are My All In All , … declaring the reality of how we should see Christ in our lives - as our sovereign all in all.

Highlight Passage:   John 3: 30-31 [NKJV] …  
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 
 …  John the Baptist moves behind the scenes to proclaim the preeminence of Christ.
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Highlight Context – John 3: 22-31 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK  …  
…  John the Baptist goes behind the scenes to exalt Christ
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 9: 23 [NKJV] … 2
3 Then He [Jesus] said to them all [His followers], “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." 
… How we must see and follow Christ, elevating Him above all in our lives.

My Journal for Today:  Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Lawrence Darmani, reflects on something I’d bet we’ve all seen in our church, … i.e., those who are never out front - in the limelight - but are almost invisible behind-the-scenes servers, who are crucial to what goes on out there on center stage. It’s that way in the theater/movie business. It’s that way on Sunday morning in church. And it’s probably that way where you work.

 When Jesus came on the scene and entered into His three years of ministry on this earth, John the Baptizer was the “big deal” Jewish prophet of his day, … baptizing people far and wide by their repentance of sin and belief in the coming Messiah. But as we read in the Apostle John’s Gospel account (see John, Chapter 3), Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, realized and recognized that THE MESSIAH had come and that he, the Baptizer, must now go behind the scenes and put Jesus on stage as THE ONE, … their Messiah.

 Perhaps you know of someone who is one of those behind-the-scenes - but absolutely necessary - believers, who always put’s Jesus first and does anything he/she can to elevate Jesus to #1 in their life. Perhaps you are one of those people. If so … keep on keeping on … to elevate Christ to where He should be… #1… !! And let’s all do all we can to do what Jesus, Himself, said in Luke 9: 23, and be His behind-the-scenes disciples, following Him … exalting Him - no matter what it takes.

My Prayer Today:  Oh, my Lord, Jesus! … You are my all-in-all. … Amen  

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