April 25, 2024 … Following THE Leader …

April 25, 2024 …  Following THE Leader …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing … I Will Follow Christ …  Powerfully singing of how we Christians must choose to follow our Lord in life. 

His way is really the only way to go ... 

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Highlight Passage: … Joshua 14:9 [NLT] … 

9 So that day Moses solemnly promised me, ‘The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your grant of land and that of your descendants forever, because You wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.’         

… Joshua promises Caleb that God will lead his faithful follower to Caleb’s inheritance in the promised land.                                             

Highlight Passage (in context): … Joshua 14:6-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Joshua remembers the trust and faithfulness of Caleb, even as Caleb humbly followed God in the wilderness for 45 years.                                                      

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Reference Passage: … Leviticus 26:1-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… God’s blessing on those who obediently follow the ways of the Lord.   

Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 28:9-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… God repeats His promise to God’s chosen - and faithful - followers to bless them in their willingness to follow The Lord.

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

… God, thru Solomon’s wisdom, imparts truth about those who trust in God to lead us to HIs glory.    

Reference Passage: … Luke 10:25-28 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches truth about following the Lord with ALL of their (our) hearts.  

Reference Passage: … John 14:15, 26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… Jesus promises to His disciples (and to us) that God will provide His Spirit to lead us as we choose to show our love for Him by obeying and following His ways rather then our own.                     

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Arthur Jackson -  AT THIS LINK  -  relates today’s ODB author and his  admiration for an 85 year old friend, Raleigh, who, as an octogenarian reported that he had just finished writing a book and was starting up a new ministry, … all the result of faithfully following God as Raleigh’s helper.   

Raleigh’s humble following of His Lord in life reminded the ODB author of Caleb (in the highlight Bible passage), who had faithfully followed Moses and Joshua as they followed God thru the wilderness for over 4 decades.  And taking in the linked song and the Scriptures above, I’m praying that all reading with me here are committed to trusting God to lead us to His eternal glory.  My friend, … it’s really the only way to go for those who have faith in God, … isn’t it?         

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …for showing me the way to go as I follow You thru Your word every day..   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to choose to follow Your way, … really way every day, … as my Lord.    … 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 24, 2024 … Unity From Diversity …

April 24, 2024 …  Unity From Diversity …     

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Erik Dewar singing … Male Us One …  Poignantly singing of how God provides us with His enabling grace to make us ONE in His church.     

Unity in Christ's Church ... 

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Highlight Passage: … 1Corinthians 12:18 [NLT] … 

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it.              

… The Apostle Paul uses the picture of the human body, picturing the unity of His body out of the diversity of my parts, put together by God for his purposes.                                            

Highlight Passage (in context): … 1Corinthians 12:12-27 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul teaches about God creating His church to be unified as one body which is put together to be Christ’s body.                                                  

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 133:1 [NLT] …  

1  How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.   

… King David sings of God’s desire and will is for His chosen to live and work together in unity.  

Reference Passage: …  John 17:21-23 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus’ prayer that all born again Christians be bonded to one another in His church.   

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:1-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to unify and become one body, coming together and being unified in the bond of Christlikeness.  

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:14 [NLT] …  

14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony..  

… The Apostle Paul calls on fellow Christians to let the love of Christ bind them together in harmony.                    

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 3:8 [NLT] … 

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters.  Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.   

… The Apostle Peter calls on fellow Christians to humbly come together, love each other, and treat each other as one family.

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Monica La Rose -  AT THIS LINK  -   quotes and teaches from an essay by Professor Daniel Bowman Jr,, who writes about how difficult it is for autistic individuals to fit into the Christian community.  It really takes Christ’s body of faithful servants, humbly reaching out to bring in those who have unique qualities which the Lord values in His body, … the Church. 

And today’s ODB entry challenged me - maybe you too - to do all we can, as unique members of Christ’s body, to reach out and include others who have individual needs; … but Christ, thru His Spirit, is calling us to include in His body, …The Church.   May we all be alert to that calling in our lives as members of Christ’s body, … HIS CHURCH.                                                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …giving me the discernment to reach out and invite others with special needs into Your body, Lord.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to reach out and bring those with unique qualities into Your Church, … maybe 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 23, 2024 … Jesus Offers Us His Peace …

April 23, 2024 …  Jesus Offers Us His Peace …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Don Moen singing … Peace, Peace Wonderfull Peace …  Poignantly singing of how God provides us with His peace thru Jesus.   

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Highlight Passage: … John 16:33 [NLT] … 

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”            

… Jesus teaches His disciples that He, as their Messiah, would overcome the troubles of the world by bringing His peace.                                            

Highlight Passage (in context): … John 16:25-33 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus, in the upper room, promises His disciples His peace from a troubled world.                   

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 26:1-3 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… God’s Spirit, thru the Prophet Isaiah, shows that in the day of Messiah, He, the Lord God, will provide His peace to those whose minds are fixed on and trusting The Lord, God.  

Reference Passage: …  John 14:27 [NLT] …   

27 “I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.  

… Jesus gives His promise of peace as His disciples were wallowing in fear over His promise of dying on the cross.   

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:1 [NLT] … 

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God  because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.  </i> 

… The Apostle Paul assures fellow Christians of God giving us His peace when trust in Him.

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

… Paul also shows fellow Christians how to set aside their fears and experience God’s peace which is beyond human comprehension.                    

Reference Passage:   …  Hebrews 12:14-15 [NLT]  … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, charges Christians to live at peace with one another and work at living a holy life.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Winn Collier -  AT THIS LINK  -     related a true story of North and South troops encamped on two sides of a  river in Tennessee during the Civil War, joining in peaceful music and songs the night before they would engage in battle the next day where over 24,000 of those men would die, … illustrating how our hearts seek after peace, especially when the threat of death or disaster looms in our lives.   

And the death of Christ is what loomed heavy in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples as they dined with Him in that upper room the night of His betrayal and just before He promised His death on a cross.  Just as those Civil War solders, when we face the threat of death, it is God’s peace that we seek; and our God provides and promises His peace when we trust in Him in dealing with the dangers and threats of living in this world. 

So, I’m praying that all who read with me here today, can -  and will - hold on to what Don Moen sings about about in the linked song; and you will experience that wonderful peace promised by God’s word in the Scriptures above, which can only come to those who trust in the Lord during the trials we’ll face in this world.                                                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, …giving me Your peace and power, Lord, again today as I face what the world deals out.   

My Prayer Today Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … as we trust in You, Lord, to give us Your peace. … … 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, 2024 … Christian Community …

April 22, 2024 …  Christian Community …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Together …  Poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians come TOGETHER to serve Him with His strength lifting us up in Christian community.  

Coming TOGETHER to serve Christ ... 

   

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Highlight Passage: … Ecclesiastes 4:12 [NLT] … 

12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.          

… Solomon warns trying to do and live alone.                                            

Highlight Passage (in context): … Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Solomon reveals the vulnerability of trying to live and act all alone in life.                                  

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

… God’s Spirit, thru Solomon, shows that following the Lord in Christian wisdom is the way for believers to follow God and find wisdom in that mutual surrender. 

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 18:20 [NLT] …   

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” .   

… Jesus teaches the reality that when Christians come TOGETHER, He, The Lord, is in their midst, providing strength to them (us).  

Reference Passage: … Acts 2:42-47 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… Early, after the coming of God’s Spirit, the Church learned that coming TOGETHER allowed them to serve God more powerfully.       

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:3-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Paul warns fellow Christians that we should never try to go it alone in serving God.            

Reference Passage:   …  Hebrews 10:24-25 [NLT]  … USE THIS LINK … 

… God, thru the Author of Hebrews, charges Christians to come TOGETHER to serve the Lord.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Karen Pimpo -  AT THIS LINK -  - tells of a young Christian, named Jordan, who was participating in a reality show and discovering that he needed to forget his family to focus and stand strong to win in the reality show competition.  However, Jordan, in dropping out of the competition, reported, …  “I’ve found I can’t do that. They’re woven into the fabric of my heart and soul.”  Jordan’s need for his family simply would not allow him to forget his family in dealing with the focus needed to compete in the reality competition.     

And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, surely we all grasp God’s call for us, as disciples of Christ, … finding more power and strength in serving God’s kingdom when we come TOGETHER in God’s community, … i.e., His Church, …rather than trying to go it alone in serving God.  So, let’s join today with other Christians and magnify our strength in our service to the Lord.                                                    

My THANKFULNESS... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me that being a LONE RANGER in serving Christ just doesn’t cut it in life!  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to join with other fellow Cristians to serve You, Lord..  … … 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, 2024 … Bittersweet Sin …

April 21, 2024 …  Bittersweet Sin …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from the group Peterson Praise singing … Fighting Temptation …  Poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians rely on God and His word to lead us from temptation into the hands of His victory. 

Caught with his hand in the cookie jar ... 

 

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Highlight Passage: …Proverbs 20:17 [NLT] … 

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.            

… Solomon warns of how sin turns from sweetness to gravel in the mouths of those who persist in sampling sin’s sweetness.                                            

Highlight Passage (in context)  … Proverbs 20:11-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… warning of the effects of allowing the sweetness of sin to become bittersweet in the mouths of those trie to hide sin in our lives.                                             

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Reference Passage: … Psalms 119:9-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

…God, thru King David’s song, calls for God’s children to be faithful to His word to remain pure of heart. 

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

…God’s call, thru Solomon, to trust the Lord and faithfully follow God’s will and His ways in order to let HIM lead us in life.

Reference Passage: …  Matthew 6:13 [NLT] …  

13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. .  

… Jesus teaches the truth of God blessings those who pursue peace in the family of God.       

Reference Passage: …  1Corinthians 10:13 [NLT] …  

13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.  

… The Apostle Paul shows fellow Christians that God will make a way to overcome any temptation if His faithful followers are will to seek His way and then follow Him.           

Reference Passage:   …  James 1:12; 4:7 [NLT]  … USE THIS LINK …  

… James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches fellow Christians that God blesses those those who endure and choose to humble themselves (ourselves) and follow God’s way rather than relent to the bitter sweetness of temptation.  

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Marvin Williams -  AT THIS LINK -- tells of how thieves in Germany stole $80,000 dollars worth of chocolate which authorities sent out notices in Germany for people to be in the lookout for anyone trying to sell large quantities of the chocolates.  And if caught the thieves would certainly taste of the bitter “rewards” of their getting caught like a little boy with his hand in the cookie jar <b>(see photo)</b>.     

Dealing with the temptations of life is a pervasive problem in life, isn’t it?  And there are so many ways that satan uses the tempting sweetness of life to tempt any/all of us to relent to the weakness of our flesh, yielding, with our sin nature, to the sweetness of this world.  But if we trust and rely on God’s enabling grace and His guidance, any/all who really believe on God’s word <b>(see Scriptures above)</b>, those who trust and follow the Lord’s way will be led away from our flesh and be able to resist the temptations of this world.  

It’s a worthy pursuit, don’tcha think?                                                  

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<b><u>My THANKFULNESS</u>:</b> ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me Your strength when I feel weak.  

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<b><u>My Prayer Today</u>:</b> Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to rely on Your empowering grace when we’re tempted and feel so week, Lord..  … … Amen

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<span style="font-size: x-small;">[b]<u>Blogger Note</u>:[/b]  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 [b]GO TO THIS LINK[/b] - http://www.odb.org/ - 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. </ span>