Nov 23, 2020 … Jesus Calling!!

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 328 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing … Just As I AM … poignantly singing of how we as Christians can come - just as we are - to respond to Jesus’ call to save us and follow Him into eternity. 

Jesus calls twelve misfits to follow Him ... 

 

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Highlight Passage:  Mark 3:13-14 [ESV] ... 

13 And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him. 14 And He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) so that they might be with Him and He might send them out to preach …   

…  Jesus calls 12 Apostles to come with Him and go out to preach in His Name … and they came to follow Him.   

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Highlight Passage [Context] : …  Mark 3:13-19 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus call 12 to go out in His Name <b>(see photo)</b> … 

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Reference Passage: …  John 3:16-17  [ESV] … 

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.

…  Jesus preaches on the results of generous giving … that we reap what we sow. 

Reference Passage: …  John  14:6  [ESV] … 

6 Jesus said to him [to Thomas and any who might doubt], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 

…  Jesus tells any who might doubt that HE is the only way to salvation.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 10:9-13 …  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s truth that ANY/ALL who repent and follow Christ as Lord will be saved.

Reference Passage: …  2Peter 3:9 …  [ESV] … 

9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  

…  God desires that any all who will repent and follow Christ to join the family of God. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson AT THIS LINK uses a story of a tough old soldier who believed that God had no space for him in Heaven.  But someone who cared shared the truth about Jesus with him so that the vet could see that anyone/everyone can come to be saved at Jesus’ call.   

That’s the picture we see in the attached photo, isn’t it?  It was Jesus’ calling of 12 to be His inner circle of Disciples [see photo].  And they were a sorry lot, weren’t they?  

And then I think of God calling me three + decades ago as an angry atheist, deeply into habitual sin.  But then again when we hear the linked song and meditate on the truths in the Scriptures above, we realize that Jesus calls anyone and everyone who would repent of our sin and follow Him to be His disciples.

And I pray that all reading here have responded to Our Lord’s call; because if you need help to follow Christ, … email me @ billb13@bellsouth.net ; and I’ll show you the way to follow Jesus’ call to glory.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being willing to come after me to be Your disciple and leading me to Your glory. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to follow You, Lord, into glory by serving you today and tomorrow.    … Amen

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

Nov 22, 2020 … Christlike Generosity

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 327 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing Take My Heart … poignantly singing of how we as Christians need to be willing to give our all for others as Jesus gave His all for us. 

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Highlight Passage:  1Timothy 6:18-19 [ESV] ... 

18 They [i.e., the wealthy] are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

…  Paul helping Timothy teach the wealthy in his Christian flock to give generously.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Timothy 6:17-19 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaching Timothy about the wealthy being willing to give generously to those in need. 

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Reference Passage: …  Proverbs 11:24-25 …  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Solomon teaches on the results of a generous heart in giving.

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:19-20 …  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus showed that our giving shows the status of our heart. 

Reference Passage: …  Luke 6:38…  [ESV] … 

38 … give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

…  Jesus preaches on the results of generous giving … that we reap what we sow. 

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 9:6-7 …  [ESV] … 

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  

…  Paul teaches on God’s law of reciprocity … again, … that we reap what we sow.

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier AT THIS LINK uses a story of a generous friend fixing up a used car and giving it to a young, needy friend whose car had become totaled … to illustrate God’s law of reciprocity … that we reap what we sow.     

And today’s ODB entry caused me to take a look at my own heart, … asking myself if I was willing to do what Chris Tomlin sings in the linked song.  And I think we all need to ask ourselves if we’re willing to do what Jesus did for us … i.e., give our all for God’s glory.  … Are we?      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for helping me to see that I need to give more of myself for Your glory. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to give all we can for others in need today … and tomorrow …  knowing that You, Lord, love a generous giver.    … Amen

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

Nov 21, 2020 … Seeking God’s Peace

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 326

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the Heritage Singers singing … PeaceSpeaker … poignantly singing of how we when we truly know Jesus we know the “PeaceSpeaker,” … the way out of the darkness into the light, …  by knowing Him more intimately.    

Peace comes from seeking God's wisdom ... 

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Highlight Passage:  James 3:13, … 18 [ESV] ... 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. … 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

…  James knew that the only way to peace is sown and received from Godly wisdom.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  James 3:13-18 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru James, teaches of how we seek peace … thru God’s wisdom, … not our own. 

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Reference Passage: …  Psalm 119:105-107 …  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK ... 

…  God’s Psalmist sings of the way to find righteousness and peace … by following God’s word as a light in the darkness. 

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

…  Solomon knew that the only way to find our way peacefully thru life is to trust God’s way and not our own.

Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 26:3 …  [ESV] … 

3  You (Lord) keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.  

…  God, thru Isaiah, shows the way to peace … by keeping our mind on God’s will and His way. 

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 6:33 …  [ESV] … 

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

…  Jesus preaches that the only way to find our needs and direction in life is to seek after God’s kingdom and HIS righteousness … FIRST!  

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

…  Paul knew that the only way to find God’s peace was to thankfully pray for it, trusting that God’s way was was <u>the only way</u>.  

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder AT THIS LINK uses the darkness and death of WW1 to illustrate what mankind will find if we seek to do life our selfish way rather than seeking first after the righteousness of God.     

And that is what all of what God’s truth (i.e., His word) points to above, isn’t it?  So, I’m not going to expound further on what God’s wisdom clearly says to us and the linked song reinforces.  

So, I will only pray that … in these very dark times of human division and viral confusion … we truly, humbly, and thankfully pray for God’s wisdom thru the truths espoused from God’s word above, … all of us seeking God’s peace and trusting that we’ll only find it when we seek His will, … and by finding His way, … thru His word as our “PeaceSpeaker.”     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for guarding our hearts with Your peace when we seek Your way thru Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to seek out God’s peace by trusting His wisdom, found in His word.    … Amen

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

Nov 20, 202 … Always Humble and Kind

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 325 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Tim McGraw singing … Humble and Kind … poignantly singing of how we all need to do all we can the remain humble and kind in helping others.  

Albert Einstein (L) and Hendrik Lorentz [R}

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Highlight Passage:  Ephesian 4:32 [ESV] ... 

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  

…   As disciples of Christ Paul declared we are to be kind to one another.   

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Ephesians 4:26-32 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul strongly charging fellow Christians to be gentle and kind as was Jesus. 

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Reference Passage</u>: …  Matthew 11:29 …  [ESV] … 

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  

…  Jesus actually describes Himself as humble and gentle.  So shouldn’t we try to be like Him? 

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 5:17-21 …  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK ... 

…  Again Paul shows that we Christians are to be ambassadors of Christlike reconciliation. 

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 2:3-7 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Repetitively Paul exhorts fellow Christians to be humble and gentle in helping others.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon AT THIS LINK tells of the famous scientist, Albert Einstein, citing a fellow scientist, Hendrik Lorentz [see photo] at his friend’s funeral, for Lorentz’s “never-failing kindness,” … telling others of how his friend and brilliant colleague would always be helpful, especially when there were arguments over scientific theories.   

And that was the constant and repeated refrain of the Apostle Paul (see Pauline passages above), who regaled fellow Christians to live out the attitude of our Lord, Who ALWAYS was as Tim McGraw sings in the linked song … “humble and kind.”  

So, I pray that we meditate on the Scriptures above and then go out and do <u>ALL WE CAN</u> today to exhibit a Christlike attitude of kindness and helpfulness as we deal with others in this hostile and troubled world.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for being our model of humility and kindness.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me today to be as Christ ALWAYS was … humble and kind.    … Amen

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

Nov 19, 2020 … Dying To Save Others

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 324 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steve Green singing … People Need the Lord … poignantly singing of how we need to share Christ with anyone and everyone we feel is lost so that as many a possible might be saved. 

So many who need saving ... 

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Highlight Passage:  John 10:14-15  [ESV] ... 

4 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

…   Jesus proclaims His mission to die that His “sheep” might live.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  John 10:7-18 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus relates who He was and why He came as our Good Shepherd to save His “sheep.”

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Reference Passage: …  Isaiah 53:4-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Isaiah, prophesies that a Messiah would die that we, His sheep, might live. 

Reference Passage: …  John 3:16-17 …  [ESV] … 

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. …” 

…  God, the Father, gave up His Son to save the world. 

Reference Passage< …  John 14:6 …  [ESV] … </b>

6 Jesus said … , “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.…” </i> 

…  Jesus declares to HIs disciples (and to us) that HE is the only way to come to The Father. 

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 2:6-8 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul declares to Christians that our Lord set aside His glory and became a man to die on a cross to save mankind.     

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Estera Pirosca Escobar AT THIS LINK tells of one John Harper, realizing that the Titanic would sink <b>(see photo)</b>, did all he could, making sure as many as possible had life vests, and even dying in the tragic sinking to save others.   

And, of course, that story is a 20th century reflection of what Jesus did, as our Messianic Good Shepherd, … being willing to set aside His glory and even His life to become the God-Man … in order to die on a cross to save all who would believe on Him.   And being willing to share that truth, by living as John Harper died on the Titanic, … sharing the truths in the Scriptures above, is all we can - and should - do to help others find the saving grace of our Lord

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for dying that I [we] might live forever. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to be modern day John Harpers, doing all we can to help others be saved, … maybe even today in a world that is sinking like the Titanic.   … Amen

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

Nov 18, 2020 … Everything!! … Really??

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 323 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Avalon singing … Everything To Me … poignantly singing of how knowing our Lord intimately becomes EVERYTHING to us as His disciples.

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Highlight Passage:  Philippians 3:8  [ESV] ... 

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 

…   Paul could’ve claimed pride in keeping God’s law; but he realized that was all trash compared with surrendering to the Lordship of Christ. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Philippians 3:2-8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul realized that only knowing Jesus intimately was worth anything in his life.  All the rest was rubbish!! 

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

…  Note how God, thru Solomon, demands that we trust the Lord with ALL of our heart.

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

23 And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  

…  What Jesus demands of His disciples … EVERYTHING!!

Reference Passage: …  Romans 8:5-8 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul realized that living in and for the flesh could never satisfy Christ’s demands to know and follow Him.     

Reference Passage: …  Romans 12:1-2 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  We, as Christ’s disciples, are to become living sacrifices, avoiding the world’s values, and living to know our Lord and glorify Him with our lives. 

Reference Passage: …  Galatians 5:22-23 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  The fruit of the Spirit is the outcome of being surrendered disciples of Christ. 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Packiam AT THIS LINK writes of following a doctor’s demands to lose weight.   And after being successful (as in the photo) the author became judgmental of others who were overweight.     

That happened to me too when I became serious to get my blood sugar under control as a type 2 diabetic.  I lost almost 60 pounds; and then became prideful when I saw others who were obese.  

And that was the case for the Apostle Paul [see highlight passage], who, after becoming a disciple of Christ, came to the realization that only knowing and serving Christ was important; … Paul sharing in his teachings above that anything and everything we might accomplish as Christ’s disciples in the flesh was RUBBISH. 

And I pray that all reading with me here listen to the linked song and mediate on the truths on the Scriptures above … where Jesus demands that ALL who claim to be His disciples deny our flesh and simply do all we can to follow Him (see Luke 9:23), … and demanding that we become living sacrifices, exhibiting the fruit of Spirit-filled living (see Romans 12:1-2 and Gal. 5:22-23).

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for letting us exhibit the fruit of the Spirit so others can see You in the way we live.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to surrender all of our hearts to following and honoring You with the way we live in/for You.    … Amen

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

Nov 17, 2020 … Holding On in the Wind

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020 - Day 321 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...    Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing … His Strength Is Perfect … poignantly singing of how we must, in our human weakness, rely on God’s strength to handle the storms/trials of life. 

Overwhelming winds of our times ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Psalm 28:8  [ESV] ... 

8 The Lord is the strength of his people, He is the saving refuge of His anointed.  

…   David knew to Whom to turn in times of trial.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 28 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… When King David felt weak, He turned to plead for God’s strength. 

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Reference Passage: …  Isiah 26:3, 41:10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Isaiah, promises His peace and strength in stormy times of trial  

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 11:28-30 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus promises to yoke Himself to us in the storms of life … when we feel weakened.  

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

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.

…  Yes, … for Christians, … even the worst of storms or trials in life are for our good.

Reference Passage: …  2Corinthians 12:9-10 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus showed Paul (and us!) that His empowering grace was sufficient to give Paul (and us!) God’s strength to handle the storms and trials of life.   

Reference Passage: …  Philippians 4:13 …  [ESV] … 

13 I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me.

…  No matter what the circumstances, we can find strength and contentment in our relationship with Christ. 

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, USE THIS LINK relates a story of a woman and her son trying to safe a tree they relied on which was being blown and uprooted in the wind [see photo].    

The ODB story illustrates how we all feel occasionally when we face the winds of severe trial or loss in our lives, … times when we need God’s strength to cover our human weakness, … as S.C. Chapman sings in the linked song.  

Perhaps some of my readers, … as am I, … are feeling that kind of weakness as we face the viral storms of these troubled times.  Well, … if you’re joining me in these feelings of frustration, turn with me today to the truths above from God’s word and His promises above to provide us with His strength in our times of weakness.  The tree (as in the photo) may even fall due to the winds of our times; but God’s strength will always be there to lift us up.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for giving us Your strength to deal with the strong winds of these times. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me to pray and seek after God’s strength to lift us up in these times of trial.  … Amen

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