April 23, 2021 … Sharing Is Caring …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 113 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Christian singing … We Are An Offering … poignantly singing of how we Christians are called to make our lives an offering in Christ’s name and for His glory. 

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Highlight Passage:  Philippians 2:3-4 [ESV] …  

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

… We are charged by God to comfort others even before we would look out for our own interests. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Philippians 2:1-5 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, showing fellow Christians how we must humbly and unselfishly be willing to share God’s love/grace with others. 

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 19:17. 22:9 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God’s promise, thru Solomon, that He will bless those who’re willing to share with those in need.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 3:11 [ESV] … 

11 And He answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”  

… Jesus clearly commands those who have more than we need to share and help those who are in need.

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

2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 

… Sharing and bearing the burdens of others fulfills God’s law of love.   

Reference Passage: … 1John 3:17 [ESV] …  

17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?  

… John helps Christians see that God’s love abides only in those who’re willing to reach out and help others in need.      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK …  tells of a video game which allows a player, eliminated from the game, to see the remainder of the game thru the exploits of the player who had eliminated them, … giving that player a new way of seeing the game thru the eyes of their opponent.  

Unfortunately, in life, we often have trouble seeing things thru the eyes of others, … thereby letting our own wants or needs blind us to the needs of others.  That’s what the Apostle Paul was trying to get fellow Christians to see in the highlight passage as well as Jesus and other Bible authors in the other Scriptures above. 

Wouldn’t it be great today if we all did our utmost to look out for those with whom we might be able to share God’s love/grace in some way, … sharing what we have with others?  So, let’s all take in the linked song and meditate on God’s word above; and then, … let’s do all we can to let God’s Spirit open our eyes to our ability to see and help others in need. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your empowering grace to help others. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … again today as I prayed yesterday, … to be the caring partner of our Lord to help others in need of His care.      … 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.

April 22, 2021 … Comforted to Comfort …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 112 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Kari Jobe singing … Be Still My Soul … singing of how we Christians can rely on our God to quiet and comfort our hearts in times of turmoil or trial.  

Comforter Cat ... 

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Highlight Passage:  2Corinthians 1:3-4  [ESV] ... 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

… We are comforted by God so that we can comfort others.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  2Corinthians 1:3-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, showing Christians how to let the God of comfort, thru His Spirit, give us the grace to comfort others. 

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 23 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  David’s song of God’s comfort in the face of walking thru the valley of the shadow of death.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:4-5 [ESV] …  

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 

… We are charged by God to comfort others just as our Lord comforts us …   

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

… Paul shows fellow Christians God’s formula to receive God’s peace and comfort in the face of our personal or worldly anxieties.  

Reference Passage: … 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… We Christians should be comforted, knowing that Jesus will come for us one day - perhaps soon!!

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:5-6 [ESV] …  

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you  … 

… All we have to do is humble ourselves before a God Who cares for our troubles or anxieties.      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Alyson Kieda, AT THIS LINK …  tells of a contented cat, adopted and cared for by a Vet [see photo], … the cat actually became a comfort for other suffering animals in the Vet’s clinic.  

And that is an apt animal analogy, illustrating how our God comforts us so that we can share that comforting grace with others who are struggling or in need of comfort [see highlight passage].   So, what can we do - if given the opportunity today - to reach out and give comfort to someone we see in need of God’s grace/care?    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … may we reach out with Your grace today to comfort others who need Your care. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to be the caring partner of our Lord to help others in need of His care.      … 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.

April 21, 2021… Words Matter! …

 Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 111 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Hawk Nelson singing … Words … singing of how we Christians need to measure our words when we’re trying to reflect Godly wisdom. 

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Highlight Passage:  Proverbs 15:1  [ESV] ... 

16 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

… Solomon had Godly wisdom about the words we use and the way we deliver them…  to turn away wrath. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Proverbs 15:1-7, 18 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon had wise words about how to use wise words.  

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 12:18, 16:24, 18:21 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God word, i.e., His truth, has much to say, thru Solomon, about the impact our words have on our world. 

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:29 [ESV] …  

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

… God, thru Paul, gives us a way of measuring our speech to have Godly impact.   

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 4:12 [ESV] …  

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

… God shows the impact HIS Word has on our lives; … so should our words have Godly impact as well.   

Reference Passage: … James 1:26 [ESV] …  

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 

… God, thru James, warns us how our words have impact  - for or against God - in all we say and how we say it.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK …  relates a story of a British TV host who receive a caustic email criticism from a viewer who was annoyed at the journalist’s way of speaking.  But, the gentle response from the TV host caused the critic to apologize and promise never to be so caustic words in emails again, … the story, of course, illustrating the power of our words in influencing others. 

I think we’ve all heard the old saying, ”Sticks and stones may break my bones; but words will never hurt me!” And to that old adage, we’d all probably respond with a robust …”NOT!!!!” … wouldn’t we?  Of course, … words can hurt and they always have a powerful impact on our interaction with others [see photo].  And that’s why all the truths from God’s word above are so, SO important. 

God’s word is repetitively clear, thru Solomon in Proverbs over/over, as well as thru a number of the NT writers, … God’s word exhorting or commanding us to reign in our words as we speak out or write our opinions in this darkened world in which we live these days.  As my mother use to say - as yours might have too - “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all!” … (see also Paul’s exhortation in Eph 4:29). 

So, how about joining me today to do all we can to use our tongues … or our keyboards, … using Godly words in Godly ways?     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … using Your words to show us how to use ours. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to use our words for Your glory, Lord … all of them … ALWAYS!!      … Amen

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

April 20, 2021 … Our Advocate In Heaven …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 110 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Francesca Battistelli singing … Holy Spirit … poignantly singing of how we Christians rest in the truth that the presence of God’s Spirit dwells in our hearts as believers in King Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  

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Highlight Passage:  John 14:16  [ESV] ... 

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

… Jesus promises to send His Spirit as our advocate, helper, and comforter and to dwell with born-again believers forever. 

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  John 14:15-21, 25-27 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus promises His disciples to send His Spirit to be our advocate before God’s throne of grace and our teacher of all truth.  

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Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 3:16, 6:19 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Paul, promises to come and dwell in the hearts of true believers as God dwelt in His Temple.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 11:13 [ESV] …  

13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” 

…  Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit coming from our Heavenly Father to those who seek after The Spirit’s comforting guidance.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:9 [ESV] …  

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. 

…  The Spirit of God dwells in the hearts of truly born-again believers.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 1:17-19 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God gives us His Spirit so that we can come to know the Lord Who has saved us more intimately.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Anne Cetas, AT THIS LINK …   writes about a screaming toddler given over to Amy, the child-care worker at church, who calmed the child instantly when the child realized that she was safe in Amy’s care. 

And I’m praying today that all reading here, like that child, are comforted with God’s peace, knowing that we, as born-again Christians, have been safely entrusted to ministry of God’s Spirit, Who dwells in our hearts FOREVER.  The Greek word for the Holy Spirit is “parakletas,” which means advocate or comforter; and that was the promise of that Lord imparted to His Disciples [see highlight passage] when they were so fearful that Jesus might die on a cross that next day. after their time together in the upper room.    

I’m sure that readers here have any number of reasons to be fearful in these Covid days and with all the social division and unrest in our world.  But again I pray that we rest on God’s promises that His Spirit, as Francesca Battistelli sings in the linked song, resides in our hearts, as Christians; and He, … the HOLY SPIRIT, … will be our advocate before God’s throne of grace, giving us comfort and guidance thru these difficult times.   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … thru Your Spirit, … for always being there for us.        

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to rest in the truth that Your Spirit, Lord, dwells in our hearts, as believers, forever.   … 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.

April 19, 2021 … Fear Is A Liar …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 109 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing … Fear Is A Liar … poignantly singing of how we Christians can dispel our fears by trusting in God’s truth. 

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Highlight Passage:  Luke 12:31-32  [ESV] ... 

31 ”…Instead [of worrying], seek His kingdom, and these things [our needs] will be added to you.   32 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. …” 

… Jesus showing His followers (and disciples) how they must set aside their worries and fears and focus on God’s Kingdom.    

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Luke 12:22-34 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Luke quotes Jesus on how to overcome fear in our lives as Christians.  

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

12 You keep him [any true believer] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. </i> 

…  God, thru Isaiah shows that focusing on  and trusting in The Lord, rather than self, will give us peace

Reference Passage: … John 14:1 [ESV] …  

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.  

…  Jesus declares to His Disciples, who were fearful, to set aside their fears and believe in Him.  

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

6 … do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  

…  God’s prescriptions, thru Paul, for seeking peace to conquer our worries/anxieties.  

Reference Passage: … 2Timothy 1:7 [ESV] …  

7 … for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.  

…  Paul helps Timothy (and us) realize that fear is a lie and God is never in or behind our fears.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Julie Schwab, AT THIS LINK …   writes about something we’ve all gone thru in the last year, … i.e., being guaranteed in fear because of the Covid19 pandemic.  And research from so-called experts on fear has shown that many social maladies, like suicide and violence and depression have exploded in our world because of the fears of the virus and death.  So, the ODB entry explores God’s antidote for fear.  

And if my fellow readers will use the song link and then meditate deeply on God’s truth, from His word above, we will see that our God, thru a number of His authors, … and One, no less that Jesus, Himself [see John 14:1], … have assured us that, as Zach Williams sings, “Fear Is A Liar!”  So, the question is … are we giving in to THE LIAR; or are we finding God’s peace by focusing on and trusting in His truth? 

Personally, I choose the latter, … how about you? 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for giving your faithful Your peace to overcome our fears by trusting in Your truth.         

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to surrender to and focus on Your word to overcome our fears.    … 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.

April 18, 2021 … Our Redeemer …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 108 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Big Daddy Weave singing … I’m Redeemed … poignantly singing of how we Christians are Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb of God.  

Redeemed to grow in the sun ... we in the Son ...

 

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Highlight Passage:  Ruth 4:14  [ESV] ... 

14 Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 

… Ruth finally find her kindred redeemer in Boaz and the two of them give birth to the ultimate Redeemer, … our Lord Jesus.     

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Ruth 4:13-22 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The story of Ruth begins in tragedy and death and ends in the redemption of all true believers in line of David which gave us our Redeemer, Jesus, The Christ.  

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 44:6 [ESV] … 

12 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.   

…  God, thru Isaiah prophesies of the coming Messiah, The Redeemer of God’s people. 

Reference Passage: … John 3:16 [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.  

…  Jesus declares that God’s Son is the Savior/Redeemer of the world.  

Reference Passage: … Philippians 2:10-11 [ESV] …  

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

…  One day all will bow before The Lord, Who has redeemed all who believe on His Name as Lord and Savior and Redeemer.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:16 [ESV] …  

16 For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.   

…  Christ is our one - AND ONLY - Redeemer.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, James Banks, AT THIS LINK …   writes of how the redemptive story of Peter Pan came out of a tragedy in the life of its author, James Barrie, … losing his brother at a young age and later writing about a boy who never had to grow up.  As the ODB author writes:  “Like a flower pushing its way through pavement [see photo], good emerged even from the hard ground of unthinkable heartache. “  

Peter Pan is a story of redemption, isn’t it?  But no story of redemption could ever be more compelling or poignant than that of the book of Ruth in the OT.  Ruth is a story of tragedy and death becoming one of triumph and life everlasting.   And I hope that all readers here have read it to see that the lives of all sinners have been redeemed - as Big Daddy Weave sings in the linked song - by the blood of Jesus, our Redeemer.  

As was Boaz for Ruth, Jesus is our Kindred Redeemer; and as our Bridegroom, He will one day come and claim us, His Bride, the Church, … redeeming us and taking us for His wife to be with Him forever. And I pray that all reading here know Jesus as our Redeemer.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise of redemption forever!!        

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to look forward with joy to our Lord and Redeemer coming for His Bride, … Who, BTW, just may come for us today.     … Amen

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

April 17, 2021 … God’s Word - My Window …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 107 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Gordon Mote singing … Don’t Let Me Miss the Glory … poignantly singing of how we Christians must seek to let the light of glory shine in our lives by seeing it in God’s creation. 

Letting in the light ... 

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Highlight Passage:  Isaiah 55:6 ... 11  [ESV] ... 

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon Him while He is near; … 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

… God commands His people, thru Isaiah, to seek Him by seeing Him in His creation and hearing Him thru His word …         

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Isaiah 55:6-13 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies of a time when God’s people will seek and see the Light of Messiah.

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Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 9:23-24 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Jeremiah, commands that we - above all - see to know our Go of live and mercy.

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’ command to His followers to seek for God’s righteousness first … 

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

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows ME will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”   

…  Jesus teaches His followers and detractors that HE is the Light of the world that we should be seeking to come out of the darkness of this world. 

Reference Passage</u>: … Hebrews 1:3 [ESV] …  </b>

<i>  3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. … </i> 

…  Our God is sought and seen in His creation and His power found from His word.   

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK …   writes of travelers in the Himalayas seeing houses with no window and learning that those home owners believed that windows might let in evil spirits at night.  However, Christian home owners in this area always wanted windows to let in the light of Christ. 

And this illustration, with the attached photo, and the truth from God’s word in the Scriptures above shows that we, who believe that our Lord is the “Light of the World,” as He says in John 8, are commanded to use God’s word as our window of truth, letting in God’s light to dispel the darkness of our feelings and the lies of this world.

That’s why you find me here, every morning, beginning my day by opening my window of truth from His word to shine into my life and allow me to seek out God’s glory by seeing what He created for me in His creation, … and seeking out where He wants to lead me today.   And every day my Lord shows off His love and mercy and grace thru His window of truth.   

And so, … I pray that we all seek His glory today thru by opening up His window of Light and Truth.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, King Jesus, … for opening up the window of Your word to let Your light shine thru.        

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me today, … to open up Your window of truth so that we might see more of Your glory today.    … Amen

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