The Truth and Light

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Jesus Restores Us.” Mike Wittmer wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Genesis 3:17–24. The key verse is, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21. 

 My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I pray to God to guide my words to inspire spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries to inspire comments and witness.

I experienced collateral damage on both ends. Here is my story.

I perpetrated collateral damage through my carelessness and shortcuts. I tested samples for water content. I knew they were no good, but I failed to send them back for more processing. The pressure was on releasing the product, so it ships to another facility to make car steering wheels. The result was steering wheels cracking and breaking on new cars. The other plant shut down when demand for their product sharply dropped. 

I was the victim of collateral damage at a company where one of the executives embezzled millions of dollars and fled to another country. As a result, we lost our jobs.

We inherited collateral damage through Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God. Therefore, we are tainted with sin. Our sins call for collateral repair through Jesus’ blood atonement. Collateral repair is not fair, it cost Jesus’ life, but it is free. Reach out to Jesus in belief and receive the salvation He offers. His righteous life will count for you. Make the right choice. 

Reflect & Pray:

How has loss marked your life? How can Jesus provide the help and hope you need?

My Prayer for Us:

Jesus, we believe in You, and we know Your life counts for us. 

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/07/12) Jesus Restores Us, Mike Wittmer, retrieved from www.odb.org 12/07/2021 Jesus Restores Us.

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Hope in Grief.” Bill Crowder wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18. The key verse is, “We do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13. 

 My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries to inspire comments and witness.

During these troubled times with the COVID VIRUS and unprecedented violence, people lost a loved one or knew someone who lost a loved one. My wife and I lost our daughter to COVID. We lost her on Thanksgiving Day last year. The hardest is that we did not have the chance to say goodbye. We cremated her, and her remains sit on our dresser top in our living room. As you can imagine, my wife grieves for her every day. 

Our friends and Desiree’s friends ask how we are doing. We tell them that we are relieved because her suffering is over, and she is in the presence of God. We know we will see her again when Christ returns. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

This promise is from God, who is His children. The question is, do you want the promise of eternal life through Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ? “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31.

Reflect & Pray

How has loss marked your life? How can Jesus provide the help and hope you need?

My Prayer for Us:

Father, there is nothing on earth that can fill the places in our hearts made empty through loss. Draw us to You and comfort us with Your love and grace. 

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/07/11) Hope in Grief, Bill Crowder, retrieved from www.odb.org 11/06/2021 Hope in Grief.

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Not Fatherless.” Albert Lee wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Matthew 6:5–13 with the key verse, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16. 

 My beloved brothers, and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries to inspire comments and witnessing.

When I was small, my dad left my family and me. For a long time, I thought I had no Dad. I live with my grandmother. One day in church, they sang the song “We Are Our Heavenly Father’s Children.” It was like God was singing to me. I loved the music. I knew that I did not have an earthly father, but I have a heavenly father who loved me. Our heavenly father is kind. He loves and cares for us and made us His children through Jesus.

Reflect & Pray:

Who do you know, anyone who feels they are fatherless? How can you help them to understand they have a heavenly father?

My Prayer for Us:

Dear heavenly Father, thank You for making us Your child and for being a Father that welcomes me into Your presence through prayer.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/07/06) Not Fatherless, Albert Lee, retrieved from www.odb.org 07/06/2021 Not Fatherless.

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Perfect Justice,” Winn Collier wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Deuteronomy 32:1–4 with the key verse, “All [God’s] ways are just.” Deuteronomy 32:4.

 My beloved children, grandchildren, cousins, nephews, brothers, and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words. So these words serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries to inspire comments and witness.

Thanks to modern media and communications, lies, deceit, and injustices are broadcasted in real. It is terrifying because news media compete for higher ratings. This leads to misleading headlines. Also, our courts and police are not trustworthy and unjust. All it takes is one corrupt District Attorney, court Judge, juror, or witness. 

How can anyone find justice in this world? It might not happen in this world at this present time. Thankfully, unlike fickle and sinful humans, God wields perfect justice. “His works are perfect,” says Moses, “and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). God sees things as they indeed are. 

As a black man, I saw injustices all my life. My heart cries out to God. As a Christian, I wait on the Lord because I know He will return and exact justice. In time, God will bring about final, ultimate justice. We have confidence because we serve a “faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Reflect & Pray:

Where have you seen justice abused or misrepresented? Where does your heart cry out for God to bring justice?

My Prayer for Us:

Father God, you created us in our mother’s wombs, and You know and love us. May we never doubt how much You care for us.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/06/04) Perfect Justice, Winn Collier, retrieved from www.odb.org 04/06/2021 Perfect Justice.

Today, at our church, we started the book of Daniel. The first chapter begins with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, all youths with education and nobility, taken to Babylon. Ashpenaz, Nebuchadnezzar’s chief eunuch, is assigned to them by the King.
Nebuchadnezzar planned to “reeducate” these young men into the Chaldean culture, then serve in the King’s palace. The King assigned daily portions of the food that the King ate and the wine he drank. The King planned to reeducate them for three years, and at the end of that time, they were to stand before the King. (Daniel 1:5-6). Their names were changed as follows: Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah, Shadrach, Mishael, Meshach, and Azariah, Abednego. (Daniel 1:7)
Daniel decided that he and his comrades would not defile themselves with the King’s food. Daniel asked Ashpenaz, the King’s chief eunuch, to feed them vegetables and water. God gave learning and skill in all literature and wisdom. Daniel the gift to interpret dreams. The King found them ten times better than his magicians and enchanters.
It would have been easy for Daniel and his friends to adapt to the ways of their captors, but they remain loyal to God. God brought them favor with the King.
We are in a world that wants us to conform. Like Daniel, we have a choice; to conform or follow God. It is evident in this story that God will look after those who follow His commands and do His will. As we go through the book of Daniel, you will see how God protected and rescued them.

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Legally His” Amy Boucher Pye wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Romans 8:1–2,10–17 with the key verse, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” Romans 8:15.

 My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as my inspiration for comments and witnesses.

As mentioned in the apostle Paul’s day, when a Roman family adopted a son, his legal status would change completely. Any debts from his old life are canceled, and he would gain all the rights and privileges of his new family.

How wonderful that is for us! Once we have received the gift of salvation, we are God’s children, heirs of His kingdom, and united with Christ. Christ Jesus’ death and resurrection forgave all our sins. We have all the rights and privileges of our new family, God’s kingdom. We no longer need to live in fear or condemnation. 

Reflect & Pray:

How does your status as a child of God affect how you live? What could you do to embrace this central part of your identity?

My Prayer for Us:

Father God, You created us in our mother’s wombs, and You know and love us. May we never doubt how much You care for us.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/05/08) Legally His, Amy Boucher Pye, retrieved from www.odb.org 08/05/2021 Legally His.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. This summarizes a sermon by Pastor Houston, San Diego Christian Fellowship Church, South Campus. 

“You can do anything you set your mind to,” One might say. This advice can set you up for success or, most likely, set you up for disappointment. 

This sermon was taken from Psalm 131. “1 My heart is not proud, Lord,

 my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.2 But I have calmed and quieted myself. I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child, I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.”

The Pastor is using this passage to teach us how to set our sights on something better.

• Reality Check: There are some things that are truly out of reach. (Psalm131:1)

1. There are some things that are out of reach of all people. (:1a)
2. It is not a human prerogative to figure right or wrong independently and, at times, guiltlessly pushing aside Bible truths or ignoring Jesus as Lord over all. 
3. There are some specific things beyond the reach of each person. (v:1b)
4. We are called to utilize our capabilities and opportunities but realize that there are limitations to both. 

• Heart Check: Better things are within reach. (Psalm 131:2)

1. We are to calm our ambitions and appetites that God does not fulfill. (V.2a)
2. God detaches us from childish things and egos. 
3. When our requests get ignored, we feel sad or mad until we have nothing else but to surrender to God’s will. 
4. We are to be content with our relationship with God. (V:2b and c)
5. Having God without the world is far better than having the world without God. 
6. We have matured when we want the giver (Jesus) more than the gift. 

“3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.” (Psalm131:3)

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Extending Mercy,” Amy Boucher Pye wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Luke 17:1–5 with the key verse, “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them” Luke 17:3

 My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as my inspiration for comments and witnessing.

I am an induvial who has the gift of a photographic memory, but it can be a curse as well. I remember the day our Dad walked out on our Mom. It was rainy, and he walks down the stairs of the house we lived. I never saw him again until I was around eight or nine in Detroit. Growing up, I was very bitter and hostile. I did not understand why until I took counseling. The counselor said you need to confront and forgive your Dad. Years much later, I faced and told him how I felt and why. He cried and asked for forgiveness. I forgave and renewed our relationship. I was glad to have him back in my life. We can always ask God through His Holy Spirit to help us forgive. 

Reflect & Pray:

If someone who wronged you later repented, how did you react? How could God help you to forgive in these situations?

My Prayer for Us:

Jesus, thank You for releasing us from the consequences of our sins through Your death on the cross. We give You the glory!

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/04/16) Extending Mercy, Amy Boucher Pye, retrieved from www.odb.org 16/04/2021, Extending Mercy.

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “The Baggage Activity,” Kirsten Holmberg wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Leviticus 19:32–34 with the key verse, “Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egyp.” Leviticus 19:34

 My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ; before I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as my inspiration for comments and witnessing.

As the virus continues to ravage throughout the country, people remain quarantined. Trapped in their homes, they feel isolated and alone. As a kindergarten Distance Learning Teacher, I stayed at home alone and isolated. I am teaching my students about empathy. I asked them how they feel about staying home and not going to school, playing, learning, and making new friends. Each of us shared our feelings. They learned how to put themselves “in someone else’s shoes.”

As Christians, sometimes the burdens we carry make us feel like foreigners—alone and misunderstood—even among our peers. We can always treat those God puts in our paths with the respect and understanding that we, ourselves, desire. We honor God when we do.

Reflect & Pray:

Who around you might need your empathy for the burdens they carry? How can you “love them as yourself”?

My Prayer for Us:

God, you know the weight in our hearts, and You graciously unburden us as we put our trust in You. Help us to offer care and compassion toward those in our lives.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/04/15) The Baggage Activity, Kirsten Holmberg, retrieved from www.odb.org 15/04/2021 The Baggage Activity

I start every day with God and reading daily devotions from Our Daily Bread. Today’s devotion is titled “Hosting Royalty,” Sheridan Voysey wrote this devotion. The scripture reading is from Galatians 3:26–29 with the key verse, “So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith.” Galatians 3:26

 My beloved children, grandchildren, cousins, nephews, brothers, and sisters in Christ; for all I write, I first pray to God to guide my words to serve as spiritual food and guidance. I desire God to be my sole source of writing. All the credit goes to God, not me. I am his humble servant. I thank God that He led me to use Our Daily Bread Ministries as my inspiration for comments and witnessing.

We all know what has happened in Georgia. More states Republican and Trumpublican states will adopt similar laws to keep Jim Crow ideology alive. The purpose of “voter security” is no more than a front to suppress the black vote. Trust me, they are fooling no one, especially God. These racists are planning and living for the now in this nasty sin-ridden world. This is what non-Christians and pagans do.

As Christians, we know that this planet will be replaced by “a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Revelation 21:1. I hope they remember that God runs and comforts the oppressed. I am not saying that we do not fight for equal justice and liberty, but we are assured that God will judge the wicked and lustful. When He does, they and followers who stand by and do nothing will face God’s justice and judgment. 

This is what it means to be an heir of Abraham is as Christians, we will dwell with The Lord, where we are all children of God. We no longer are bound by division, such as race, social class, gender, or political parties. We are “all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians3:28). 

Reflect & Pray:

What does it mean to you to be an heir of Abraham? How could you invite others to become part of the family?

My Prayer for Us:

Loving God, we are afraid—and so today, we put our trust in You. What can mere mortals do to us when You’re fighting for us? Thank You for the coming victory.

Our Daily bread Ministries (2021/03/27) Hosting Royalty, Amy Boucher Pye, retrieved from www.odb.org 27/03/2021 Hosting Royalty