August 10, 2016: His Goodness Shades Us

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 223  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Newsong singing … For Goodness Sake, singing of the reality of God’s love ALWAYS shielding us when we surrender our lives to our Savior.

 
Highlight Passage:  Psalm 121:5 [NKJV] …  
5 The Lord is your keeper; … the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 
… God’s goodness and mercy shields us from the heat of our day.
===========
Highlight Context – Psalm 121 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… A Song of God’s goodness shading us from evil.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Lamentations 3:22-23 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God’s shielding faithfulness never ceases

Reference Passage #2 … Hebrews 13:5 [ NKJV] …  
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deut. 31:6, Josh. 1:5] 
… God repeats His promise to never forsake us.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Amy Boucher Pye, relates a word picture to illustrate the goodness and mercy and faithfulness of our God. She wrote: Living in Britain, I don’t usually worry about sunburn. After all, the sun is often blocked by a thick cover of clouds. But recently I spent some time in Spain, and I quickly realized that with my pale skin, I could only be out in the sunshine for ten minutes before I needed to scurry back under the umbrella. As I considered the scorching nature of the Mediterranean sun, I began to understand more deeply the meaning of the image of the Lord God as His people’s shade at their right hand. Residents of the Middle East knew unrelenting heat, and they needed to find shelter from the sun’s burning rays.

The ODB entry today is a word picture with which we can all identify; … i.e., the need to be shaded from the scorching sun (which, of course, represents the evil in this world). Everyday, watching the news we see/hear of the heat of this evil world bearing down on us … with murders, terrorism, and all sorts of mayhem pervading our times.

BUT … God’s promise to Israel in Psalm 121, and repeated in the other reference scriptures above, is that His goodness and mercy will always be there to shade us from the heat of evil in the world. Take in today’s linked song, and know that even if we lose our lives to this scorching evil, believers will be shaded with God’s love for eternity.

So, when you see reports of terrorists and murderous mayhem today, … take heart in the shading we have from our Lord.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … I run into the shade of Your mercy today, Lord, to be shielded from the heat of evil in this world.  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.

August 9, 2016: Soldiers of Selfishness

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 222  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Steve Green singing … People Need The Lord, poignantly singing the reality that so many will pass our way everyday who need God’s saving grace.

 
Highlight Passage:  2 Corinthians 4:1 [NKJV] …  
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 
… The “ministry” to which Paul refers is sharing God’s good news with those who need Him. 
===========
Highlight Context – 2 Corinthians 4:1-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Sharing Christ’s good news should be the heart of every Christian
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … John 3:16-17 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… He loved us so much; and we need to share His love with others

Reference Passage #2 … 2 Timothy 1:8-12 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul exhorted Timothy (and all Christians) to be willing to do all to share the Gospel with others who need Christ.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, relates a true story about a man who lived over 30 years after WW2 was over thinking that the war was still being fought. She wrote: World War II had ended. Peace had been declared. But young Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda of the Japanese Imperial Army, stationed on an island in the Philippines, didn’t know the war had ended. Attempts were made to track him down. Leaflets were dropped over his location, telling him the war was over. But Onoda, whose last order in 1945 was to stay and fight, dismissed these attempts and leaflets as trickery or propaganda from the enemy. He did not surrender until March 1974—nearly 30 years after the war had ended—when his former commanding officer traveled from Japan to the Philippines, rescinded his original order, and officially relieved Onoda of duty. Onoda finally believed the war was over. [See attached photo of Hiroda’s surrender] 

Have you noticed how resistant non-believers can be to the truth of the Gospel? Perhaps you have a resistant relative who won’t surrender to God’s saving grace to end his war of selfishness. And, as Steve Green sings in today’s song, linked above, we will pass some, maybe many, today who need the Lord. And if not you or me, … who will share the love of God (see John 3:16) with these lost folks at war with God?

That was Paul’s obsession in exhorting Timothy, in the highlight passage above, to share Christ’s saving grace whenever/wherever he could; and that should be our heart as well. And perhaps today God will arrange a divine appointment to do just that and help a soldier of selfishness to surrender to the saving Grace of our Lord.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Show me, Lord Jesus, whom I should share You with 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.

August 8, 2016: Waiting With Love

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 221  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Sara Groves singing … I’ll Wait, poignantly singing the reality of all Christians to wait in anticipation of the return of our Lord.

Highlight Passage:  Revelation 22: [NKJV] …  
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” … Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! … I, for one, await My Lord’s return!
===========
Highlight Context – Revelation 22:12-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus defending the little children.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … John 3:16-17 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… He loved us so much!!

Reference Passage #2 … Revelation 19:7-8 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… I am preparing for His return.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, told a story about her son to illustrate how much we Christians should be anticipating the return of our Savior. She wrote: The day before my husband was to return home from a business trip my son said, “Mom! I want Daddy to come home.” I asked him why, expecting him to say something about the presents his daddy usually brings back or that he missed playing ball with him. But with solemn seriousness he answered, “I want him to come back because I love him!” 

Our Lord and our Bridegroom has declared, through His Apostle, John, that He’ll be coming home soon (see the highlight passage); and seeing all the events in our lives, it seems His return is imminent. But have we, as Christ’s Bride (i.e., the Church) been waiting for Him as God described we should (see Revelation 19:7-8), i.e., by preparing our linens because we love him so much, … much like the little boy in the Ochoa’s story was waiting on his daddy.

Just because we love Him as He loved us [yes, we know - from John 3:16] … and as Sara Groves sings in today’s song, … we wait with anticipation.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … I’m waiting. … Oh, dear lord, … come soon!  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.

August 7, 2016: Lifting Them Up

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 220  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing … He’ll Do Whatever It Takes, poignantly showing what God will do for any who are down trodden and need His grace.

Highlight Passage:  Mark 10:16 [NKJV] …  
16 [Jesus to His disciples] “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. …” 
… Jesus so defended the vulnerable, little children who came to Him.
===========
Highlight Context – Mark 10:13-16 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus defending the little children.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Luke 10:25-37 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus defending the “Good” Samaritan.

Reference Passage #2 … John 4:1-26 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus saving the “woman at the well.”

Reference Passage #3 … John 8:1-11 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus protecting the woman caught in adultery.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, told a story of a teacher protecting her student to illustrate how Christians need to take up for others in need. He wrote: When Kathleen’s teacher called her to the front of the grammar class to analyze a sentence, she panicked. As a recent transfer student, she hadn’t learned that aspect of grammar. The class laughed at her. Instantly the teacher sprang to her defense. “She can out-write any of you any day of the week!” he explained. Many years later, Kathleen gratefully recalled the moment: “I started that day to try to write as well as he said I could.” Eventually, Kathleen Parker would win a Pulitzer Prize for her writing. 

And this teacher was being much like Jesus, Who so very often took up and supported the vulnerable and defenseless around Him, … much like he did in the highlight passage above, defending the little children; … or (in Luke 10) where He castigated the Pharisees with the story of the “good” Samaritan; … or (in John 4 )where the Lord took up for the loose woman at the wall; … or (in John 8) when He even protected a prostitute accused of adultery.

And aren’t we, as Christians, charged by our God to be as much like our Savior as we can in this life? And so, today’s ODB entry asks of me … whom am I defending who needs defending? Whom am I lifting up who is down trodden? Or whom am I protecting who is defenseless?

My prayer is that we all can be more like Jesus today [and tomorrow] by responding to help the vulnerable and defend the defenseless.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … help me to see others in need and to do all I can to help.  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.

August 6, 2016: Looking Up

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 219  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Michael W Smith, leading in worship and singing … Open The Eyes Of My Heart, poignantly praying in song that God open the eyes of believers to see His glory. … And then ON TO THIS LINK  to hear Alan Jackson singing, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, following God’s desire that we look up ... upon His Son ... always.

Highlight Passage:  2 Kings 6:17  [NKJV] …  
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 
… God opened the eyes of the King’s messenger so that he may see God’s army.
===========
Highlight Context – 2 Kings 6:8-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God can/will open the eyes of unbelief to behold His glory.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Hebrews 11:1, 12:1-2 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… God gives us the way for our eyes to be fixed … on His Son, Jesus!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Marion Stround, used a life picture to illustrate how we can get down in our selves, due to life’s circumstances to ignore God’s glory in our lives. He wrote: Emil was a homeless man who spent a whole year looking down at the pavement as he plodded around the city day after day. He was ashamed to meet the eyes of others in case they recognized him, for his life had not always been lived out on the streets. Even more than that, he was intent on finding a coin that had been dropped or a half-smoked cigarette. His downward focus became such a habit that the bones of his spine began to become fixed in that position so that he had great difficulty in straightening up at all. 

And then the ODB author, in the highlight passage (above), … used the biblical story of Elisha when the Prophet helped the king’s servant to look up and see God’s glory; … and to get his eyes off of his own fears. And that’s why the author of Hebrews [see Hebrews 11/12 above] also gives us as God’s desire to help us see our way through life.

So, after taking the time to deeply hear and internalize the songs, linked above, I had to ask myself if I was letting internal or worldly matters take my eyes off of my Savior. Perhaps any readers here today need to ask the same question.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … open my eyes this day that I may see your power and love, i.e., Your glory, manifest in 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.

August 5, 2016: Watching Over Me

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 218  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Selah singing … His Eye Is On The Sparrow, poignantly declaring the reality of God’s watchful care, overlooking all who believe in Him.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 34:15 [NKJV] …  
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. 
… David felt His God watching over him in times of trial.
===========
Highlight Context – Psalm 34:15-22 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… David, being pursued by Saul, knew peace because his faith looked to His Lord.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Solomon knew God watched over him.

Reference Passage #2 … Isaiah 26:3 [ NKJV] …  
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 
… The Prophet declared that God’s peace comes to those who look to the Lord in faith.

Reference Passage #3 … Philippians 4:6-7 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul declares how to find God’s inexplicable peace.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Dave Branon, used the timely picture of the Olympic athletes being able to look up in Rio and see Jesus watching over them. He wrote: No matter where the athletes of the 2016 Olympics go in the city of Rio de Janeiro, they can see Jesus. Standing high above this Brazilian city and anchored to a 2,310-foot-high mountain called Corcovado is a 100-foot-tall sculpture called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer). With arms spread wide, this massive figure is visible day and night from almost anywhere in the sprawling city. 

How pertinent are those words today as the Olympics get under way in Rio; ... and all in attendance there can look up and see the statue of Jesus looking down over them. But, as Selah sings in my linked song (above), and the Scriptures above declare, any day/anywhere, any Christian can/should know that Jesus watches over us, providing us with His peace.

Young David, when he wrote Psalm 34, knew the peace of his Messiah watching over him as he was being threatened and pursued by Saul; ... and Isaiah & Paul knew that God watched over them as they wrote Isaiah 26:3 & Phil. 4:6-7.

And … I will pray today that all who read here with me, ... no matter what pressures we may be experiencing, can look up and feel Jesus watching over us and giving us His peace.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … I pray that all here know, as do I, that You watch over all who look to You in faith.  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.

August 4, 2016: Not Perfect - Just Forgiven

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 217

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the group Unspoken singing … Call It Grace, poignantly declaring the reality of God’s perfect and powerful grace white-washing our sin and saving us in spite of our sin.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 7:18-19 [NKJV] …
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 
… Paul was far from perfect; but definitely forgiven … read on to Romans 8:1 !!
===========
Highlight Context – Romans 7:14-25 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul’s admission of imperfection and failure.
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … Ephesians 2:8-10 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul, like all Christians, saved by grace, thru faith, unto good works.

Reference Passage #2 … 1st Timothy 1:15 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul declares himself saved, even though admitting to be the “worst of sinners.”

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Jennifer Schuldt, referenced a book by a Christian writer who came to Christ because of the witness of very imperfect Christians. She wrote: In his book Jumping Through Fires, David Nasser tells the story of his spiritual journey. Before he began a relationship with Jesus, he was befriended by a group of Christian teens. Although most of the time his buddies were generous, winsome, and nonjudgmental, David witnessed one of them lie to his girlfriend. Feeling convicted, the young man later confessed and asked for her forgiveness. Reflecting on this, David said that the incident drew him closer to his Christian friends. He realized that they needed grace, just as he did.  

I really love the way the Apostle Paul staged the reality and truth of God’s amazing … saving … grace in the greatest victory chapter in all of the NT, … Romans 8, … when he writes of his own failures and imperfections in Romans 7. Take a few minutes to read and meditate on Romans 7:14-25 and then all of Romans 8.

Do you identify, perhaps even empathize, with the Romans 7 passage? Sure you do! We all do, don’t we? … But then there is the truth and reality of Romans 8. … And does Paul calling our attention to the victory of Romans 8 over our imperfections in Romans 7 cause you to praise our Lord, as it does me?

I hope so, … nay, … I pray so!! Because, as Christians, we can choose to live in Romans 7 or Romans 8. How about you? Where’re you going to live today?

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … I choose to live in Romans 8 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.

August 3, 2016: Way More!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 216

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Phillips, Craig, and Dean singing … Your Grace Still Amazes Me, poignantly declaring the reality of God’s grace being more than we could ever imagine.

 
Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 3:20-21 [NKJV] …
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. 
… Glory to the One Who provides more than we could ever imagine.
===========
Highlight Context – Ephesians 3:14-21 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The mystery of God’s providence … more … WAY MORE … than we imagine !!! 
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … 1st Corinthians 10:13 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
 … Paul teaches on what’s always available for us to deal with the trials/temptations of life … always more than we need.

Reference Passage #2 … 2nd Peter 1:2-4 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God provides what we need - and so much more!!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland, referred to the Apostle Paul’s teaching on God’s amazing grace and what God provides for us to deal with the circumstances of life. He wrote: What are the five best toys of all time? Jonathan H. Liu suggested the following: A stick, a box, string, a cardboard tube, and dirt (GeekDad column at wired.com). All are readily available, versatile, appropriate for all ages, fit every budget, and are powered by imagination. No batteries required. 
Imagination plays a powerful role in our lives, so it’s not unusual that the apostle Paul mentioned it in his prayer for the followers of Jesus in Ephesus (Eph. 3:14–21). After asking God to strengthen them with His power through His Spirit (v. 16), Paul prayed that they would be able to grasp and experience the full dimension of the love of Christ (vv. 17–19). In closing, Paul gave glory to “him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (v. 20).  

 There’s really not much I could add to this pertinent and powerful teaching, along with the Scriptures above, on the reality that our God always provides what we need to deal with life, especially when we feel overwhelmed or weak. The question is not about God’s provision or His power … but rather our willingness to believe and receive His amazing grace to handle life’s challenges.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … You give me more than I could ever imagine from Your grace … everyday.  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.

August 2, 2016: Diligence in Discipleship

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 215

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Steven Curtis Chapman singing the song with his own lyrics … His Strength Is Perfect, poignantly declaring the reality of a NEVER GIVE UP life in Christ.

Highlight Passage:  2nd Timothy 4: 7 [NKJV] …
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
… Paul never gave up for the Gospel of Christ.
===========
Highlight Context – 2nd Timothy 3:10-15, 4:7 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… The Apostle Paul modeled the “NEVER GIVE UP” attitude about the Gospel for God’s Kingdom.
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … 2nd Corinthians 11:22-33, 12:9 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… What Paul went thru to spread the Gospel to the world … and he NEVER GAVE UP because He knew that God’s grace was enough to sustain him.

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 4:1-3 [ NKJV] …
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
 … Our calling is to live a life worthy of our calling as in/for Christ !!!

Reference Passage #3 … James 1:2-4 [ NKJV] …
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 
 … Working through the challenges of life for Christ and NEVER giving up!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Jaime Garrido used the life success of Dutch cyclist Joep Zoetemelk to illustrate his teaching of the Apostle Paul’s NEVER GIVE UP attitude in Christ. He wrote: Joep Zoetemelk is known as the Netherlands’ most successful cyclist. But that’s because he never gave up. He started and finished the Tour de France 16 times—placing second five times before winning in 1980. That’s perseverance! Many winners have reached success by climbing a special ladder called “never give up.” 
However, there are also many who have lost the opportunity to achieve success because they gave up too soon. This can happen in every area of life: family, education, friends, work, service. Perseverance is a key to victory.  

Joep Zoetemelk is famous in my wife’s native land of The Netherlands; … because he refused to give up on his dream and finally succeeded in winning the Tour de France. And then there is an even more powerful example of NEVER GIVING UP; and that is the Apostle Paul, who, in his lifetime, after his conversion, never wavered from his calling to spread the gospel to the known world, especially among Gentiles.

We read of what Paul went through to take the Good News to the known world (see 2nd Cor. 11:22-33); and in his final days, modeling Christlikeness for Timothy, a young preacher, Paul came to declare that he had fought the good fight in running the race for Christ’s Gospel and God’s Kingdom. And this, of course, raises the question for us this day, are we running our race for Christ and for His glory … no matter what we encounter in/for His calling; and NEVER GIVE UP?!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … and empowering Spirit, … I know You are there to give me Your strength to never give up on my calling.  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.

August 1, 2016: His Everlasting Arms

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 214 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of a contemporary medley of two old hymns, sung by the David Crowder Band … Leaning on the Everlasting Arms & ’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus, poignantly declaring the reality of the loving arms of our Savior and our trust in His eternal protection.

Highlight Passage: Deuteronomy 33: 29 [NKJV] … 
27 The eternal God is your refuge (O Israel); and underneath are the everlasting arms; … 29 Happy are you, O Israel! … Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, … 
… What a promise!! … What a blessing!!
===========
Highlight Context – Deuteronomy 33:27-34:12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Moses gives God’s blessing on Israel as they were about to traverse into the Promise Land without their Prophet-Leader.
===========

Reference Passage #1 … Numbers 20:1-12 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Moses, denied entry into God’s promised land, … still looked positively and with blessing on the entrance of Israel into God’s promise.

My Journal for Today: … Our Daily Bread author, James Banks taught on a truth we Christians must lay hold of in this life. He wrote: Are the best days of your life behind or in front of you? Our outlook on life—and our answer to that question—can change with time. When we’re younger, we look ahead, wanting to grow up. And once we’ve grown older, we yearn for the past, wanting to be young again. But when we walk with God, whatever our age, the best is yet to come! 

Banks’ primary biblical example of this positive-looking attitude was how Moses viewed his own life and God’s people. We know from Numbers 20:1-12 how Moses was denied entry into the Promised Land. Yet, this Prophet who led God’s people out of Egypt and through the wilderness for 40 years, still longed for God’s people to enter His promise; and he blessed them when it was time for them to go forth to claim God’s promised land.

No matter what our condition or circumstances, that should be our attitude, especially for those in our family or the family of God. Today, I pray, as Moses blessed Israel, and the David Crowder Band sings, … that we lean on the everlasting arms of our Savior, Who died to give us eternal entrance into God’s promised land forever.

My Prayer Today: O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, … truly tis so sweet to trust in Your everlasting arms. 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.

July 31, 2016: Paid In Full

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 213

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of a contemporary arrangement of the old hymn… Jesus Paid It All, poignantly declaring the reality of Jesus paying our admission fee to heaven - COMPLETELY.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 3:23-24 [NKJV] …
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, … 
… He paid it all to cover our sin debt!
===========
Highlight Context – Romans 3:21-26 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… “It is finished!” … Jesus paid our sin debt … COMPLETELY!!
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … John 19:28-30 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Mankind’s sin debt PAID IN FULL - forevermore!!

Reference Passage #2 … 1st John 2:2, 4:10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… “Propitiation” is God’s payment for our sin debt on the cross … It is PAID IN FULL!!!

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, David McCasland used a very clear word picture to explain how Jesus paid it all on the cross to cover our sin debt. He wrote: Every year some two million people from all over the world visit St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. It is well worth the admission fee to experience the magnificent structure designed and built by Sir Christopher Wren during the late 17th century. But tourism is secondary at this place of Christian worship. A primary mission of the cathedral is “to enable people in all their diversity to encounter the transforming presence of God in Jesus Christ.” If you want to tour the building and admire the architecture, you must pay an admission fee. But there is no charge to enter and attend any of the daily worship services at St. Paul’s.   

As the song proclaims truth today, … Jesus Paid It All!! ... Yes, He did!! … When He said “It is finished!” on the cross [see John 19 linked above], His death became the “propitiation” for our sin debt. So, my admission fee to heaven has been PAID IN FULL by my faith in His finished work … PAID … COMPLETELY &FOREVER!! … and that’s His AMAZING GRACE!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord Jesus, though I didn’t deserve it, … thank You for paying my debt in full.  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.

July 30, 2016: God’s Promise for the Faithful

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 212

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Steve Green singing … Find Us Faithful, poignantly declaring the heritage of faithfulness in all those who paved the way to Christ by their faith; … and may the faithful of today pave the way for others to receive Christ’s promise.

Highlight Passage:  Hebrews 11:6, 39  [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK … 

 

… Faith is no magical formula to wealth and happiness … 

===========
Highlight Context – Hebrews 10:32-11:39 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Those who lived by faith lived for the promise of God, never having received it.
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … Lamentations 3:22-23 [ NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Forever God is Faithful

Reference Passage #2 … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] …
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deut. 31:6,8] 
… God will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER forsake His beloved remnant of believers.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Philip Yancey, pointed to a troubling religious trend in our world today as he wrote: It’s tempting to think of faith as a kind of magic formula. If you muster up enough of it, you’ll get rich, stay healthy, and live a contented life with automatic answers to all your prayers. But life does not work according to such neat formulas. As proof, the author of Hebrews presents a stirring reminder of what constitutes “true faith” by reviewing the lives of some Old Testament giants of faith (Hebrews, Chapter 11). 

There are many false teachers/preachers out there these days, many of whom claim to be “christian” and teach that the words we speak// have the power of faith to produce health, wealth, and happiness. This so-called “word of faith” teaching lulls people into thinking that we produce the power of faith by claiming our world by some magical formula of faith.

But Philip Yancey, in today’s ODB entry, repudiates these teachings, pointing out that none of the “giants of faith,” listed in the “Hall of the Faithful” in Chapter 11 of Hebrews, no matter how great their faith, received the promise of God [see verse 39]. Yes, they will one day; and their faith will be rewarded by their Messiah in Heaven; but none of them, even a giant of faith like Abraham, ever achieved God’s ultimate promise in their lifetime.

And none of God’s faithful will achieve health, wealth, and happiness by claiming to be God’s faithful in their lifetime on earth now. Our faith does produce justification, just as it did for Abraham and the other giants of faith in Hebrews 11; but faith does not come from our mouths by claiming to be faithful. It only comes by faith in the one Who died to give us His promise of glory … and that is Jesus!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, You are the promise for the faithful.  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.

July 29, 2016: Love Wraps It All Up

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 211

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a repeated You Tube video this month of Bert Bacharach’s 1960s classic … What The World Needs Now Is Love, poignantly repeating a song choice posted earlier this month and one that is desperately needed in our world right now.

Highlight Passage:  Romans 13:8 [NKJV] …
8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 
… Loving others is the summary of God’s Law.
===========
Highlight Context – Romans 13:8-11 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Paul to Christians … on LOVE being the summary of the whole Law of God.
===========     

Reference Passage #1 … Luke 10:25-28 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Jesus says that loving our neighbors is fulfilling God’s law.

Reference Passage #2 … Galatians 5:14 [NKJV] …
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” [Lev. 19:18]
… Paul expounded on the truth summarized by love in God’s Law.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Mart DeHaan, used the story from an anthropologist to remind readers (me) of God’s love and our obligation to love others. DeHaan wrote… An anthropologist was winding up several months of research in a small village, the story is told. While waiting for a ride to the airport for his return flight home, he decided to pass the time by making up a game for some children. 
His idea was to create a race for a basket of fruit and candy that he placed near a tree. But when he gave the signal to run, no one made a dash for the finish line. Instead the children joined hands and ran together to the tree. When asked why they chose to run as a group rather than each racing for the prize, a little girl spoke up and said: “How could one of us be happy when all of the others are sad?” Because these children cared about each other, they wanted all to share the basket of fruit and candy. 

And I don’t think I would get much disagreement that what Paul is summarizing here [see the Romans and Galatians passages above] is about Christ relating that our loving our “neighbor” (i.e., who is everyone!!) is the fulfillment of God’s Law. So, … given what has transpired recently in our world, do you agree with me that we need exactly what Jesus taught and Bert Bacharach wrote about in his classic song linked above?

So, let’s go out that lay some of Jesus’ love on someone today. Hug someone; and tell them that you love them; … but also tell them that Jesus loves them even more!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, let me share Your love with someone 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.

July 28, 2016: Our “BFF”

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 210

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sining… Friend of a Wounded Heart, poignantly expressing reality of Jesus … the forever friend of any who’re willing to follow Him into Heaven.

Highlight Passage:  James 2:23 [NKJV] …
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Gen. 15:6] And he was called the friend of God. 
 … Abraham … justified by his faith to be God’s “friend.”
===========
Highlight Context – James 2:18-26 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… Walking with our BEST FRIEND - FOREVER!!
===========   

Reference Passage #1 … John 15:11-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jesus calls those who follow Him, “FRIENDS”

Reference Passage #2 … Hebrews 13:5 [NKJV] …
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Deut. 31:6,8]
… God’s promise for his “friends.”

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Joe Stowell, taught today on the ultimate “BFF” … Jesus, our “best friend forever.” In a very personal way, Stowell wrote of advice from his dad … One of the pieces of wisdom I have come to appreciate is my dad’s often-repeated statement, “Joe, good friends are one of life’s greatest treasures.” … How true! … With good friends, you are never alone. They’re attentive to your needs and gladly share life’s joys and burdens. 

And fellow Christian, do you know and have recognized Whom we have as our eternal “BFF.” It’s none other than our Lord and Savior, … KING JESUS! 

And after you take in the uplifting song link above, the attached photo, and the Scriptures above, … please join me in thanking our King and Friend, Jesus, for saving us to be His friend forever.

 … I don’t think I need to say any more, do I?

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Lord, thank you for being my BFF!!  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.

July 27, 2016: Vulnerability Is Risky

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 209  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of Mia Fieldes singing … Fearless, poignantly singing how we should be in God’s presence … fearless … and willing to be vulnerable to share His love with others.

 
Highlight Passage:  Ephesians 4:1-2 [NKJV] …  
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, …
… To truly BE Christians we must be willing to reach out with vulnerability and help others. 
===========
Highlight Context – Ephesians 4:1-6 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul’s exhortation for Christians to walk strong in their calling, being willing to help others. 
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Philippians 2:3-5 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul exhorted fellow Christians (you/me too) to be like Christ … willing to be open and vulnerable, helping others whenever we can.

Reference Passage #2 … 1st Thessalonians 5:11-19 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Paul challenged his friends in Thessalonica (and others) to open themselves up and live as Christ would live.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Kasper, used an illustrative story to teach on vulnerability. She wrote: As I ventured out several weeks after shoulder surgery, I was fearful. I had become comfortable using my arm sling, but both my surgeon and physical therapist now told me to stop wearing it. That’s when I saw this statement: “At this stage, sling wear is discouraged except as a visible sign of vulnerability in an uncontrolled environment.” Ah, that was it! I feared the enthusiastic person who might give me a bear hug or the unaware friend who might bump me accidentally. I was hiding behind my flimsy baby-blue sling because I feared being hurt.

Yes, the OBD story does illustrate the riskiness of being vulnerable, open, honest, and willing to open up to others. When we take off the sling, especially after an injury, and get out there, with vulnerability, being willing to hug and be hugged, there is the risk of injury for sure. But according to the Apostle Paul, the risk is worth it for us [see Scriptures above] … to live in Christ as Mia Fieldes sings in the linked song … “FEARLESS!”

It’s only when we live in/for Christ, as He lived (and died) for us, that we can truly be Him to others. And that takes vulnerability. So, what about today, my friends; … are we willing to take off the sling and go out and hug someone who needs a hug today? … I hope so!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Thank You, Lord, for helping me to share my story with others who need to hear that they are not alone in their weakness.  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.

July 26, 2016: Sandpaper For The Soul

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 208  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of images from the group Unspoken singing … Call It Grace, which I use once again [see blog from 7/24/16] to shout the love which comes from God’s grace, … which, all too often, can come from dear friends who love us enough to honestly share God’s truth with us.

Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 27:17 [NKJV] …  
17 As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of a friend. 
… Often it is the honest words of a good friend which helps to round out our character. 
===========

Highlight Context – Proverbs 27:5-17 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon’s wisdom on how relationships can be God’s sandpaper to smooth out our character for His glory.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Ephesians 4:29 [NKJV] … 2
9 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 
 … Paul knew that our words of love of tough love can impart the grit of grace to help dear ones grow in the their relationship with Christ.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Amy Pye, spoke from her own experience about how a tough rebuke from a close friend caused her to serious look at herself; and she wrote:  My friend’s words stung. Trying to sleep, I battled to stop mulling over her pointed comments about my strong opinions. As I lay there, I asked for God’s wisdom and peace. Several weeks later, still concerned about the matter, I prayed, “I hurt, Lord, but show me where I need to change. Show me where she’s right.” 
My friend had acted as God’s sandpaper in my life. My feelings felt rubbed raw, but I sensed that how I responded would lead to the building of my character—or not. My choice was to submit to the smoothing process, confessing my pride and stubborn stance. I sensed that my bumps and imperfections didn’t glorify the Lord. 

Do you have friends who love you enough to tell us what we really need to hear … so that God can use their words as His sandpaper to smooth out our character and help us to be more like Christ? Paul did say, and I quoted him from Ephesians 4:29 in my blog a couple of days ago, that we should only speak forth words which either build up others or give them grace. And that’s true; … but sometimes words like that, when uttered with God’s love, can grind in the mind/heart of a loved one when he/she hears what they need to hear. That’s the way it was for the ODB author.

Perhaps you’ve had someone in your life who was willing to be the “iron sharpening Iron” agent from God to help you grow in Christlikeness. I have; and I’m so much more the better person for a dear friend who was willing to apply the grace of tough words so that I could hear what I needed to hear as God’s sandpaper to my character.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Thank You for using dear ones in my life to help shape me into Your image.  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.

July 25, 2016: And The Game Goes On

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 207  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of images from the The Voice winner Jordan Smith singing the old hymn … Great is Thy Faithfulness, joyously declaring how God’s faithfulness always outweighs the tests that come our way in life.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 35:17 [NKJV] …   1
7 Lord, how long will You look on? … Rescue me from their destruction … 
… Good advice … tough at times to put on this truth.
===========
Highlight Context – Psalm 35:17-28 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David sings a prayer of trust in his faithful God to deliver him from the trials of his life. 
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Jeremiah faithfully declaring deliverance from the ever present mercy of a faithful God

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 remembers Christ’s promise of God’s strength to cover his weakness.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, uses the illustration of how testing the game of cricket [see attached photo] can be before an outcome is realized. And I must agree with him that I’ve never been able to be attracted to Cricket, … the games (they call them “tests”) sometimes lasting for several days before a game, with a score in the hundreds, is resolved. But author crowder likens cricket to our life as he writes: The tests we face in life are sometimes intensified for a similar reason—they feel unending. The long search for a job, an unbroken season of loneliness, or a lengthy battle with cancer is made even more difficult by the fact that you wonder if it will ever end. 

Can I get a witness reading here? We’ve likely all been there and wore that t-shirt of impatience at some time[s] in our lives, haven’t we? Life can be as the anointed young king, David, wrote in Psalm 35 [see above] as he was trying to escape from the life-threatening trials imposed by Saul, which lasted over several years.

And sometimes I’m sure we’ve all been in a place where God seemed far away and our testing just seemed to go on interminably. But as Jordan Smith so elegantly sings from Lam. 3:22-23, our God is ever and always faithful; and as Jeremiah wrote in that passage, … His mercies are truly new every morning; and as Paul discovered in 2Cor.12:9 His strength is there to cover our weakness, … yes, even when the trials go on morning after morning after morning.

So, fellow Christian cricketeer, let’s play on and try to do all we can to win this game of life!!

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … Help us to recognize that You are ever and always faithful, … desiring that we play out each trial in life for our growth and Your glory.  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.

July 24, 2016: Say It With Grace

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 206  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …   Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of images from the group Unspoken singing … Call It Grace, declaring how we should speak to others … with and from God’s grace.

 Winter Horse Shoe

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 34:13 [NKJV] …   1
3 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 
… Good advice … tough at times to put on this truth.
===========
Highlight Context – Psalm 34:11-18 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David admonishes fellow believers to avoid casting fear on others by what we say.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Proverbs 18:1-8 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… Solomon follows his father’s wisdom with his own words about our words.

Reference Passage #2 … Ephesians 4:29 [NKJV] … 
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 
… God, thru Paul, exhorts Christians to use our tongues gracefully to edify others.

Reference Passage #3 … James 3:1-12 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …  
… What we say can have power way beyond the size of the tongue.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, from Singapore, C.P. Hia, uses an interesting historical reference to illustrate how overlooking a very small item, the right horseshoe [see attached photo], can produce disastrous outcomes. He wrote: Napoleon's defeat in Russia 200 years ago was attributed to the harsh Russian winter. One specific problem was that his horses were wearing summer horseshoes. When winter came, these horses died because they slipped on icy roads as they pulled the supply wagons. The failure of Napoleon’s supply chain reduced his 400,000-strong army to just 10,000. A small slip; a disastrous result! 

And I think most reading here with me have taken in the illustration Jesus’ brother, James, uses to warn Christians how one of the smallest organs in the body, … the tongue, … can wreak havoc on others by what we speak (see James 3:1-12 linked above). And the other wise authors of the Scripture passages above exhort us, as Christians, to speak only those words which either build up or give grace to our hearers (see especially Eph. 4:29).

 So, as we go forth today, let’s all make it our mission to say what God’s grace - and only HIS wisdom - lead us to say.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … I pray that I will share your love and grace but the words I speak to today … and always.  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.

July 23, 2016: Fear? … NO! … Freedom!!

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 205  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of images from Nichole Nordeman singing … Finally Free, poignantly expressing the reality of breaking free from internally directed and self-captivating fear.

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 34:4 [NKJV] …  
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from ALL my fears. 
… Good battle plan for life, don’tcha think?
===========
Highlight Context – Psalm 34:1-10 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David learned how to break free from internally captivating fears.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Proverbs 23: 7 [NKJV] … 
3 As a man (or woman) thinks in his [or her] heart, so is he [or she]. 
… Fear can transform us by shackling us in our selves.

Reference Passage #2 … Isaiah 26:3 [NKJV] … 
3 You [LORD] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
… Isaiah peace plan; … and being from God, … IT WORKS!!!

Reference Passage #3 … Philippians 4:6-7 [NKJV] … 
6 Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
… God’s antidote for fear and anxiety.

Reference Passage #4 … 2nd Timothy 1:7 [NKJV] …  
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 
… Internally captivating fear does NOT come from God.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, relates a feeling all reading here probably have felt at one time or another. This native Mexican author wrote: Fear sneaks into my heart without permission. It paints a picture of helplessness and hopelessness. It steals my peace and my concentration. What am I fearful about? I’m concerned about the safety of my family or the health of loved ones. I panic at the loss of a job or a broken relationship. Fear turns my focus inward and reveals a heart that sometimes finds it hard to trust. 

Who hasn’t let our hearts be wrapped up or even captivated by internally-directed fears (see Proverbs 23:7)? As Solomon wrote [in Prov. 23:7] we become what we think; and when we allow fearful thoughts to shackle us, we become vulnerable to our spiritual enemies. But, … as Christians, we need to realize that God never gives us a spirit of fear [see 2nd Tim. 1:7]; … but as Paul wrote to a sometimes timid protege, God’s power and love are available to any Christian … to break the chains of fear as Nichole Nordeman so poignantly sings in the song linked above.

So, I pray that we all believe the prayer of King David [see Psalm 34:4] to seek and realize the deliverance from fear (i.e., freedom) that God has for any believer who trusts completely in King Jesus.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … I pray that all who’ve come here are in total surrender to You, O Lord, and are experiencing the freedom from fear which comers from your empowering grace.  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.

July 22, 2016: Resting in Him … AGAIN

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2016 - Day 204  

Devotional Song:  … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a You Tube video of a worship service with the New Creation Church singing … My Rest in Jesus, poignantly expressing our need to get alone and rest in Our Lord.

 
Highlight Passage:  Mark 6:31-32 [NKJV] …  
31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 
… Jesus’ inner Disciples needed some alone time to rest.
===========
Highlight Context – Mark 6:7-13, 30-32 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… After the Disciples returned from their mission assignment from Jesus, He noticed that they needed to rest in the Lord.
===========      

Reference Passage #1 … Isaiah 26:3 [NKJV] … 
3 You [LORD] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
… Isaiah repented of his sinful resistance and surrendered to follow God's way.

Reference Passage #2 … Luke 5:16 [NKJV] … 
16 So He, Himself, often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. 
… Jesus quite often needed to get alone with His Heavenly Father and be renewed by His Spirit.

Reference Passage #3 … John 16:33 [NKJV] …   33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” 
…We find peace from the clamor of the world when we rest in God’s word.

My Journal for Today:  … Our Daily Bread author, Poh Fang Chia, related an observation about this world which is really pretty obvious. He wrote for my edification: The alarm clock goes off. Too early, it seems. But you have a long day ahead. You have work to do, appointments to keep, people to care for, or all this and more. Well, you are not alone. Each day, many of us rush from one matter to another. As someone has wittily suggested, “That’s why we are called the human race.” 

It’s interesting to me, coming here every day this year with Our Daily Bread, to observe how often the subject of resting in Christ is covered. Yes, I know that repetition is a powerful teaching tool; but the ODB authors must think that their readers [me] need this reminder often, because the subject is raised repetitively by the ODB staff.

And the ODB authors are right, of course. We do need to be reminded and exhorted to get alone and rest our minds/hearts in Christ, especially because of the clamor and demands of this world, which is Satan’s system, trying to take us away from God’s truth and His loving, renewing, presence.

In today’s highlight passage, Jesus noticed that His disciples needed to rest in a place of solitude when they returned from the excitement of their first missionary experience. So, in Mark 6, just before Jesus fed the multitude, He had them get off alone for a short time to quiet their minds and hearts in the presence of the Lord. And Jesus, Himself, often needed to get alone with His Heavenly Father to bask in the peace and love and rest provided by God’s Spirit [see Luke 5:16].

And so do we, my friend!! And that’s why today - AND EVERY DAY - you find me beginning my day with a time alone, in my quiet place, resting in God’s word and getting away from the “human race” … with music, prayer, and some mental peace … WAY AWAY from the demands and clamor of the world. And I pray that you find that peace - EVERY DAY - as well.

My Prayer Today:  O, Heavenly Father, … I pray that all who’re with me here are in a quiet place to rest in You, dear Lord.  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.