May 24, 2021 … God’s Purposes > Our Plans …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 144 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing  … I Will Follow … poignantly singing of how real Christians are convicted and directed to follow Christ in life, knowing that He will lead us in His purposes.  

==============

Highlight Passage: Proverbs 16:9 [ESV] …  

9 … The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. 

… We plan but God’s purposes prevail.          

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Proverbs 16:3-9 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God , thru Solomon, shows that we may plan our way; but God is in control of the outcome.

==============    

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

… Solomon also shows that we must trust to follow God’s ways and beware of our own desires.

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

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

… God has His plans for the welfare of His chosen; … but do we follow those plans or our own.  

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.  

… Jesus made it clear to His followers that we are to do all we can to follow His way in life. 

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. 

… In the life of any real Christian, ALL THINGS are for our good and God’s glory.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesian 5:15-16 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Paul, exhorts His own to to be wise in making our plans, … following the Lord’s way to make our steps His steps.    

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Cindy Hess Kasper, AT THIS LINK … uses the story of a young man going off to college with big plans for his future; … BUT … along came Covid19 and God had a different way to go for the young man.   

And that’s the way life sometimes goes for us Christians, doesn’t it?  God’s word  (see Ephesians 5 above) actually encourages us to plan wisely; and in the linked song Chris Tomlin sings how we should do our best to follow Jesus’ commands (see  Luke 9:23) to follow Him in all we do.  However, as with the young man in the ODB entry, our plans sometimes get rerouted to follow God’s way, which is always the right way.   

But we can know, as Paul wrote in Romans 8:28 … if we’re doing out best, as Christ’s disciples, to follow the Lord, all things which happen will be for our good and God’s glory.  

So, let’s go forward today, my friend; and do all we can to plan and plod to follow our Lord, and then trust our God Who’ll ALWAYS lead us where He purposes.  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for ALWAYS showing me the right way to go thru Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to plan our ways to follow God’s. … 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.

May 23, 2021 … We Must Choose …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021- Day 143 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Keith Matter singing … I Believe In Jesus … poignantly singing of his belief that Jesus is LORD !! 

Praying you believe this too !! 

==============

Highlight Passage: Luke 16:31 [ESV] …  

31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’” 

…Jesus tells of Abraham speaking from heaven to Lazarus in Hades, relating the truth about accepting the Messiah in faith during our lifetime.        

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Luke 16:19-31 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus relates a parable showing that those following Him must choose in this life Whom they believe in; because once one dies it is too late.   

==============    

Reference Passage: … John 6:47, 8:24 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares clearly that we must make a choice in this life to believe in Him as LORD.          

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

6 Jesus said to [His disciples], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.   

… Jesus clearly tells His disciples (and us) that choosing Him as Messiah and Lord is the only way to heaven. 

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

… God, thru Paul, clearly teaches what we must choose in this life to be saved by God’s grace for eternity. 

Reference Passage: … Hebrews 11: 6  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. . 

… God’s word shows that we must believe that Christ is LORD and that He rewards (with Heaven) those who seek after His salvation in faith.   

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Tim Gustafson, AT THIS LINK  … tells of how the Soviets used the return of their first astronaut, Yuri Gagarin, to claim that there was no god in space.  But making such a claim illustrates how we must make a choice in this life what - and in WHOM - we believe.  

And that’s what Jesus was illustrating in his parable to the Pharisees about the “rich man” in Hades and the poor man, Lazarus, in heaven, (see highlight passage) showing that after we die it’s too late for us to be relieved by God or to help others avoid an eternal hell.  In our lives, Jesus showed His disciples and His followers that we must choose to believe and follow Jesus as LORD in this life to be saved (see Scriptures above) from eternal hell. 

And I’m praying that all reading with me here have made the choice sung by Keith Matten in the linked song.  Because if you have surrendered, … in faith, … to Jesus as Lord/Savior, we will be sharing eternity together.  But if not, your fate will be that of the rich man spoken of by Jesus in His Luke 16 parable. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for sealing my eternity to be with You, Lord, because of my faith in You as my LORD.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to share a belief that Jesus is LORD, … insuring our eternity to be with You forever.  … 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.

May 22, 2021 … Drinking From His Well …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 142 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group The Gettys singing … Living Waters … poignantly singing of the waters of life only available from Jesus in faith.

Samaritan woman learns about God's living waters ... 

 

==============

Highlight Passage: John 4:13-14 [ESV] …  

13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

…Jesus shows a Samaritan woman how she could satisfy here thirst for righteousness by drinking from His living waters.      

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … John 4:7-14 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus shows a Samaritan woman the waters of eternal life which alone satisfy our souls, ever thirsty for salvation.    

==============    

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 58:11 [ESV] …  

2 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

… Isaiah prophesies a time when all the spiritual thirsts of mankind will be satisfied by the living waters of the coming Messiah. 

Reference Passage: … Jeremiah 2:12-13 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru Jeremiah, rebukes God’s people for trying to satisfy their thirst for by taking in idol-polluted waters from cisterns they build for themselves.        

Reference Passage: … John 7:37  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus declares that His Spirit would be the source of the living waters of salvation for any/all who would drink of it in faith.

Reference Passage: … Revelation 22:17  [ESV] …  

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.  

… The Revelation promise from God’s word that anyone who is thirsty for salvation can COME to Christ with a repentant spirit and drink from His eternal waters.   

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Bill Crowder, AT THIS LINK  … tells of 1/5th of the earth’s clear, potable, water is found in one lake located in Siberia.  Yet, because of its inaccessible location, it’s not available to most of the world who thirst after life-giving waters.

And then the ODB author likens this reality to the offer Jesus gave to the Samaritan woman at the well (see photo), which we read about in John, Chapter 4.  That woman was thirsty for a righteous life; and Jesus showed her that He was her only source of the waters which would satisfy her thirsty soul.  

And I pray this morning that all reading here with me have taken in the inked song and meditated on the Scriptures above; and then I pray that all of us have avoided drinking from the polluted waters, which we often pursue to satisfy our spiritual thirst (see Jeremiah 2:12-13). And on I pray that we drink daily from the clear, life giving, waters provided for us and available to anyone at the well of God’s truth [i.e, His word].  

That’s why you find me, starting my day - EVERY DAY - by drinking from the pure waters of God’s well of truth.   Come drink with me, dear one!! 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for making your “living waters” available to me every day from Your word. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to come to God’s well of living water, available for any of us to drink of the pure, living, waters of His truth 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.

May 21, 2021 … Under His Control …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 141 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Hillsong singing … In Control … poignantly leading in worship of God and singing of God being in control of all things in our lives. 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Psalm 139:12 [ESV] …  

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”  12  even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. 

… God, thru David, assures us that there is nowhere we can go to be out of God’s light and His control.       

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Psalm 139:7-12 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… King David wrote and sung about God’s sovereignty - everywhere at all times.  

==============   

Reference Passage: … Job 42:2  [ESV] …  

2  “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 

… After all he went thru, Job, learned that God was always in control.   

Reference Passage: …Psalm 115:2-3  [ESV] …  

2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”  3   Our God is in the heavens;  He does all that He pleases.

… God is sovereign … He does what He pleases when He pleases.  

Reference Passage: … Proverbs 16:9, 19:21  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… We make make plans; but, as God thru Solomon shows, the Lord is in control of our steps.  

Reference Passage: … Luke 4:35-41  [ESV] … USE THIS LINK …  

… The Disciples see - first hand - the power of their Messiah, Jesus, to control even the waves of a terrible storm on the open sea.   

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon AT THIS LINK  … writes of a tribe in New Guinea, living on a small island, who courageously went out to retrieve Bibles for their tribe, unafraid of the dangerous seas, because they had come to faith in Christ, Whom they had faith would bring His holy word to His people. 

The true story illustrates the power of our faith in God to overcome our fears when we realize that God is ALWAYS in control … EVERYWHERE!! That’s what Job learned going thru his horrible ordeal (see John 42:2).  That’s what David sang about in Psalm 139.  And i’s what Jesus’ Disciples learned about their Messiah as they were caught in the storm on the sea of Galilee (see Luke 4:35-41).  

But the question for us here is …DO WE BELIEVE, as Paul posited in Romans 8:28 {if you don’t know it, look it up}, that God is control ALWAYS … and that, for those who believe on Him, as our Lord-God, He ALWAYS has our good in mind.  In other words, … we must ask if we can trust God’s sovereignty?  

Well, I believe we can, … do you?  And I’m praying we all go out today and move forward, knowing that God’s Spirit is always with us; and Jesus will never forsake us. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for watching over my every step today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to move forward today, planning and plodding, and knowing that our God is in control wherever we go and whatever we do. .  … Amen

=============

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

May 20, 2021 … Walking Humbly Today …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 140 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Pat Barrett singing … Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly … poignantly singing from Micah’s prophesy for God’s people to walk humbly with God.   

Power walking in the Spirit ... 

 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Micah 6:8 [ESV] …  

8 He [GOD] has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?. 

… God demands that we walk with Him humbly.        

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: … Micah 6:6-8 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… The Prophet Micah sees and proclaims for God that His people must bring their sacrifices to God with humble hearts, walking with hearts of  justice and kindness toward others. 

==============   

Reference Passage: …Deuteronomy 5:33  [ESV] …  

33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. 

… Moses relays God’s instruction to walk in life as God commands us to walk, humbly following His way and His will.  

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105, … 133  [ESV] …  

105  Your word is lamp to my feet and a light to my path . … 133  Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. 

… King David sings truth that the best way to walk with God is to follow the light of His truth thru His word, following God’s promises.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 2:10  [ESV] …  

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

… God, thru Paul, shows that we Christians were created to walk with God and do His good works.   

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:16  [ESV] …  

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  

… God, thru Paul, shows that we Christians are to discipline ourselves to walk in His Spirit, avoiding the desires of our flesh.   

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, John Blasé, AT THIS LINK  … illustrates” power walking” with God, as Micah brought God’s commands to Israel (in the highlight passage), to walk with disciplined humility, keeping in step with God’s Spirit, thru His word.  Power walking [see photo] is an athletic discipline which requires the humble discipline of walking as fast as possible with with one foot always on the ground, not breaking into a run. 

And as the ODB author shows, it illustrates how God wants us to humbly discipline ourselves to “walk in the Spirit” as Paul exhorted fellow Christians and to walk humbly with discipline in life so as to do God’s work (Eph. 2:10 and Gal. 5:16) by walking in the Spirit and avoiding breaking to run ahead of God in our own flesh.  And the best way to do this in life, according to David in Psalm 119: 106/133, is to follow God’s commands in His word. 

So, I’m praying that all reading with me here will join me today to humbly do all we can to avoid running ahead of God and do some real Spirit-led POWER WAKING in the Spirit today. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for shining Your light thru Your word to be able to walk with You today. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to walk WITH GOD and not run ahead of Him 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.

May 19, 2021 … Giving Our All?? …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 139 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from an unnamed praise team singing … I Surrender All … poignantly singing of how we Christians must be willing to surrender our all to serve and follow our Lord, King Jesus.  

Giving her all for Her Master ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Mark 14:8 [ESV] …  

8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 

… Jesus, in receiving the offering of oil from this “Mary,” recognized that she had given her all for this act of worship.       

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Mark 14:3-9 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… An unnamed “Mary” anoints the feet of Jesus with expensive oil in the home of a leper much to the scolding of Jesus’ disciples. But Jesus sees the sacrificial offering from the woman as an act of faith and worship, giving her all for her Master.  

==============   

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

5  Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  6  In ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.

… Solomon charges believers in God to trust the Lord with ALL OUR HEARTS? … Do we? 

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’ charge to His followers is to seek FIRST the ways of His kingdom of righteousness.  … But DO WE?     

Reference Passage: … Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus’ disciples relate their Savior’s demands to deny our selves and GIVE OUR ALL to follow our Lord and Messiah.  … But do we? 

Reference Passage: … Mark 10:17-23  [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Mark relates the account of the “Rich Young Ruler,” who sought after salvation from Jesus but was unwilling to give up any of his worldly positions to follow Jesus, which was the Lord’s demand of the young man …ALL OF US!  

Reference Passage: … 1John 2:15-17 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru John, charges Christians to avoid letting desires of the flesh and worldly pleasures get in the way of surrendering our hears to The Lord. … Again,,, DO WE?  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Elisa Morgan, AT THIS LINK   … writes of a woman in a grocery line, seeing that a mother ahead of her was checking out with supplies for her daughter’s birthday, but not having the money to pa.  And so, using her credit card, the generous woman paid for the mother’s needs.   

This story, for the ODB author, seemed to illustrate Jesus’ attitude of gratefulness to the so-called “Mary,” who came to him at a dinner in the home of a Leper during Holy week, offering a whole jar of expensive oil, likely the woman’s dowry holdings. Jesus recognized that the woman, labeled as “a sinner” came in faith, giving her all to worship Jesus, … a beautiful act of surrender, … a model for us all.

And the challenge of today’s linked song and the Scriptures above to us is …  Are we willing to deny ourselves and the demands of the world, and follow Jesus, GIVING OUR ALL, to serve and follow our Lord?  I pray we are!! 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being willing to pay for my sin debt as I do what I can to surrender to Your love/grace.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to come in worshipful surrender today to follow Our 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.

May 18, 2021 … Light of the World …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 138 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Here I Am To Worship … poignantly singing of how we Christians must come to worship and follow the Light of the World, Who leads us out of the darkness of sin. 

God's light of truth ... 

==============

Highlight Passage:  Isaiah 9:2 [ESV] …  

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has Light shone.

… God’s promise to His people in deep darkness that one day a LIGHT will come to lead them out of the darkness of sin and death ,,, into the light of life.       

=============  

Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Isaiah 9:1-7 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Isaiah prophesies a coming child Who will become the light of the world, leading God’s people out of the darkness thru a Messiah. 

==============   

Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105  [ESV] …  

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

… God’s word, His truth, is a light which leads those who follow it out of the darkness of self and sin and into Christ’s light (see photo).   

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

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

…Jesus declares to the Pharisees that HE is the light they [and we] must follow.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 5:7-10  [ESV] …  

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians to walk, to follow Christ in obedience to Him, as children of Light, not as into the darkness of disobedience.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:9  [ESV] …  

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  

… Peter shows Christians how they (we) have been called out of the darkness into Christ’s wonderful light of life and truth.  

 

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Glenn Packiam, AT THIS LINK … makes reference to a study on two who volunteered to go into total (cave) darkness for several months and the disorientation and mental disturbance which resulted.   

This illustrates how mankind needs light to overcome the darkness of self and the world.  And 700+ years before Christ came, Isaiah prophesied [see highlight passage] that He, our Messiah, would come as a babe to become the Light of the World, … leading His people out of the darkness of sin and death and into the light of eternal life.  And oh how i pray all reading here believe and follow the Light of God’s word, leading us on God’s path home  … to live in and with the Light of the World forever. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for shining Your light of truth brightly on my path so that I can follow You, Lord, … out of the darkness of this world to be with You forever. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to use God’s light of truth from His word to light our ever darkening path in 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.