April 15, 2024 … Following Him Home …

April 15, 2024 …  Following Him Home  …       

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Chris Tomlin singing … Home …  Poignantly singing of how We born-again Christians are being led to Heaven by our Lord. 

"Lead me, Home, Lord!" ... 

==========

Highlight Passage: … John 14:3  [NLT] …  

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.             

… Jesus’ promise to His disciples (and all believers) that He would come and lead them (us) to His home in heaven.                                          

Highlight Passage (in context): … John 14:1-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus assures His disciples that He will come back to them and lead them to a home in heaven.                                      

=========  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 91:1-2 [NLT] …   USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses, as God’s people wandered in the wilderness, … but knowing and believing God’s promise to lead His faithful remnant to their home in His Promised Land.  

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

… God, through Solomon, shows that God will show the way home for those who trust Him with all their (our) heart. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 32:18 [NLT]  … 

18  My people will live in safety, quietly at home.  They will be at rest.  

… God promises, thru the Prophet Isaiah, that The Lord will lead His faithful family to a place of rest and safety.   

Reference Passage: …Jeremiah 29:11 [NLT]  …  

11  For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope..  

… God promise, thru the Prophet Jeremiah, that He will lead His faithful followers to a place of hope.    

Reference Passage:  … Revelation 22:20  [NLT]  … 

20  He Who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!… 

… The Apostle John, having seen our Heavenly home, calls for Christ to come soon and take him (and us) home.    

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Bill Crowder -  AT THIS LINK -  Writes about the character of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, who clicked the heels of her ruby slippers to transmit her and Toto,  her little dog, back to the safety of her Kansas home from the threatening world of Oz.  And isn’t that the desire of all mankind, to be transported to the safety of God’s promised home in heaven and away from this very threatening world in which we live now.     

Personally, … hearing and believing the promises from God’s word (see Scriptures above) and in the linked song, …  I’m praying, as I do often, led by God’s word in Revelation 22:20, where the Apostle John calls for God to come soon and take us home.   Anybody want to join me in that Ruby slipper’s prayer?                                        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading he homeward again today.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to trust that You’re leading us homeward to be with You, Lord, 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.

April 14, 2024 … Trusting God’s Provision …

April 14, 2024 …  Trusting God’s Provision  …     

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Matthew West and Jenn Johnson singing … I Trust Jesus …  Poignantly singing of how We Christians must trust Jesus to provide our needs ,,, ALWAYS … no matter what we face in life. 

Jeepney in the Philippines ... 

==========

Highlight Passage: … Matthew 6:33  [NLT] …  

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.           

… Jesus’ teaching to His followers about the priorities of how God will provide for those who humbling seek to serve God’s kingdom before their own needs.                                        

Highlight Passage (in context): … Matthew 6:25-34 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus preaches about God providing all our needs when we seek to provide the needs of others.                                       

=========  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 37:23 [NLT] …   

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.   He delights in every detail of their lives.  

… King David sings of God delighting to order the steps and meet the needs of the Godly in this life 

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

… God, through Solomon, shows that show the way for those who trust Him with all their (our) heart. 

Reference Passage:  … Isaiah 41:10 [NLT]  … 

10  Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.  

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promises His control of everything .  

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

28  And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.…

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that EVERYTHING is under God’s control for HIS purposes. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4: 6-7, 19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  …  

… The Apostle Paul also teaches fellow Christians about trusting God to provide ALL of needs of those who’ve trusted God to provide all their (our) needs. 

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:6-7 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Peter teaches oppressed Christians that God cares for the needs of those who bring their (our) concerns to God for His provision.   

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Karen Huang -  AT THIS LINK -   Writes about Lando, a young Jeepney driver (see photo) in the Philippines who was trying to recover lost income from the Covid pandemic and was encouraged that current sports events would help to meet some of his needs.  But Lando encountered a friend, a street sweeper, named Ronnie, whom he felt compelled to help before he met his own needs, … and act of benevolence which we all should endeavor to follow because it’s what God’s word and our Savior models and demands of His followers (see Scriptures above).       

Jesus clearly modeled and taught that we Christians must seek to trust the LORD to provide all our needs, no matter what we face in life, … especially when we can help others in need along the roads of this life.  So, if my readers have taken in the teachings of the linked song and the Scriptures above, I’m praying that we, like Lando did in today’s ODB story, will provide help for those we see in need today.  And if we do that, we can KNOW that God will provide al we need to help others with their needs.  

Common, let’s do it together for God’s kingdom … TODAY!                                      

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving me all I need to serve You, Lord, today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to trust that You’ll provide all we need today, Lord, especially as we reach out and help others.     … 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.

April 13, 2024 … He’s In Control …

April 13, 2024 …  He’s In Control  …      

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Christy Lane singing … He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands …  Poignantly singing of how God is in control of EVERYTHING.    

EVERYTHING is in His hands ... 

==========

Highlight Passage: … Genesis 1:2 [NLT] …  

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.             

… God’s Spirit prepared to bring order from the chaos before creation at the word of God.                                        

Highlight Passage (in context): … Genesis 1:1-10 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Moses writes of God speaking the world into creation.                                      

=========  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 37:23 [NLT] …   

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.   He delights in every detail of their lives.  

… King David sings of God ordering and controlling the steps of His faithful and chosen followers.     

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 45:18  [NLT]  … 

18  For the Lord is God, and He created the heavens and earth and put everything in place.  He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos.   “I am the Lord,” he says,“and there is no other.…

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, promises His control of everything 

Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 14:33, 40 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians about them (us) following God’s control of the order of all things.  

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

28  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.…

… Paul teaches truth to fellow Christians that EVERYTHING is under His control for HIS purposes. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:15-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Paul also teaches fellow Christians about God being in control of ALL creation. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Tom Felton -  AT THIS LINK -  Writes about Seth, a desperate young man who attempted to end his own life, not seeing any purpose in life.  But later, after Seth survived that suicide attempt, a friend helped him to see that the God of the Bible is in control and gives purpose to all His faithful followers.      

And I’m stopping here today to pray that all reading here with me have come to realize that our Lord is in control of EVERYTHING in the lives of believers who have surrendered to follow The Messiah, … our Creator God, … Who loves and shares His creation with ALL who would follow Him.  And, … believing in what is shared by the linked song and Scriptures above, I’m one of those followers.  How about you?                                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for leading all of us, who follow Your ways, Lord.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to put ourselves in Your loving hands, 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.

April 12, 2024 … Ambassadors of Peace …

April 12, 2024 …  Ambassadors of Peace  …       

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from Don Moen singing … Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace …  Poignantly singing of God calls all believers to share the love and peace of God with a hostile world.  

==========

Highlight Passage: … Acts 23:11 [NLT] …  

11 That night the Lord appeared to Paul and said, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to me here in Jerusalem, you must preach the Good News in Rome as well.”             

… The Apostle Paul calls and assures Paul that the Lord will call him to testify of the Lord one day in Rome just as he gave his testimony in Jerusalem.                                       

Highlight Passage (in context): …Acts 21:27-22:2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … </b> 

…The Apostle Paul was unjustly arrested and tortured for trying to witness to God’s peace.         

=========  

Reference Passage: …  Psalms 29:11 [NLT] …   

11  The Lord gives His people strength.  The Lord blesses them with peace.  11

… God’s promise as King David sings of the Lord blessing His people with His peace.    

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

3  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You,.. all whose thoughts are fixed on You. … 

… God, thu the Prophet Isaiah, promises His peace on all those who focus their (our) minds on the Lord.              

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, in the Upper Room to His disciples, promises to bring them (and us) HIs peace by trusting in Him.

Reference Passage: … Romans 5:1, 12:18 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK  … 

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians about Christ giving His peace to those who surrender their (our) hearts to the Lord and charges them (us) to live at peace with each other.  

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

… God gives His prescription for peace thru the Apostle Paul to fellow Christians. 

My Devotional Journal: Today’s Our Daily Bread  Author, Tim Gustafson -  AT THIS LINK -  Writes about Nora, a young Christian woman joining in a peaceful protest of injustice which turned disruptive and violent when outside agitators, from out of town, joined in the protest.    

And this incident reminded the ODB author of when the Apostle Paul was accused unjustly of being a agent of protest against the Jewish people; but God used Paul’s witness and testimony as an agent of peace, with God’s Spirit sharing God’s peace thru Paul’s testimony (see Scriptures above, especially the Highlight passage). 

And likewise, all Christians are called and charged with sharing God’s peace with any/all who would hear about Jesus and His love/grace/peace, being given to all who believe in Him as Lord.  How about you; … will you join in the peaceful protest and witness to show that God’s love and peace are there for any/all who believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior?                                    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling all Christians to become ambassadors of God’s peace. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray. again today, that all reading here will join me today, … to be an ambassador of Your peace, Lord, as this world becomes more and more hostile to You an Your ways.      … 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.