Topic > Christian Beliefs > Holy Spirit > Work of the Holy Spirit >
A little over a year ago my Mom Margaret McFarland, who had been a faithful reader of Our Daily Bread for years, lost her vision to the point that she could no longer read. One day in our daily phone conversation she said that she missed reading she especially missed reading her daily devotions from ODB and the Daily Guideposts. I realized that I could make that wish come true by reading them to her during my morning calls. So for this past year or so we have shared our devotions together. Our daily devotion together has opened the door to many discussions about our faith and our love of Jesus. My Mom just moved on to Heaven two weeks ago at the age of 93, and while I miss her so very much I have many wonderful memories of our love for each other and among the tops are our daily devotion times. I have just made a contribution to the ministry of ODB and I want you to know it is because of Mom and her love for you folks that I make that gift to continue your ministry.
Thank you you and may God continue to show favor to you as you minister to so many.
Luella Krieger
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Each morning, as I do my morning devotions, I recall the fall of 2011 as my wife Margie lay wasting away at the Springhill Village nursing home.
We were both saved in 1967 but while she stayed close to the Lord, I fell away and drifted, on and off, for many years. But, when Margie became too ill to do her daily devotions, I would help, and eventually do them for her using Our Daily Bread. Then I would try to find Bible passages for her that related to her life.
She was such a great witness, even as she lay suffering and dying she would still praise the Lord every day.
When she would fall asleep during or after devotions, I found I was still reading our Bible. It was as though I could not get enough. God used that experience and Our Daily Bread to draw me back to Him! I cannot even write this without having to choke back tears.
I still use ODB in my morning devotions, and always will. Thank you so much for all you do to bring God’s word with understanding to people everywhere.
David Larimer
12075 S. Carlisle St.
Terre Haute, IN 47802
P.S. You have my permission to edit this and use it (or toss it) any way you wish.
ReadBible Reading: Proverbs 3:1-8
I worry a lot about everything. I am afraid that things won't work the way I want. From the book of Our Daily Bread, 2008 edition, I read the devotion entitled "Surprise me!". As I went on to read, it really surprised me that, God spoke to me through that book. He said, 'Do you like surprises?', "Yes I do", I answered immediately. Then I felt suddenly worried when I read the next line, 'Would you ever dare say, "SURPRISE ME! to God?'. It's true that many of us are somehow scared to do that. And before I read that book, I was one of those who were scared to say that. Yes, I have faith that God is good and that He loves us. Yet I am afraid I won't like what He chooses for me. Remember what God did to Job? God had allowed
Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him. What was Job's reaction? "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him" (Job 13:15). His love and reverence for God took precedence in his life.
In the end, God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before. God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them. Above all, however, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your way acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight". (Proverbs 3:5-6)
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I came in contact with ODB when I was 12. An older neighbour who had relocated to the US had some of his old books cleaned out by the family and among the trash were copies of ODB from the 70s and very early 80s. This was in 1986. My brother and I picked those and began reading. I cannot tell you how much using the ODB helped my new-found faith and also in forming a habit of daily devotion. Part of the beauty is that one year with ODB would have taken you to almost every book in the bible and touched on many topics that affect the believer. I still use ODB 29 years on (now the 1-year editions) and am still being blessed by the Bread.
God bless the memory of Dr. De Haan and all those who make this devotional possible.
Osaeloka Daniels
Lagos, Nigeria
ReadMy husband and I were having a very difficult time in our marriage, My husband is a drug addict and I was trying every thing I could to get him some help. I have driven all over the state of Illnois to various detox programs and hospitals that had detox programs to get my husband the help that he needed, some of the programs were for 30 days. My husband decided to leave every one of them on his own free will( he didn't complete any of the programs). Then he went to jail for selling drugs, I bonded him out. He came out doing the same thing and he was picked up for another case and he is currently back in jail. I have prayed and ask God to deliver my husband and to restore our marriage he has answered my prayers. My faith has increased and I am a stronger woman, even tho my husband and I are seperated physically we are connected spiritually, we read our daily bread everyday and have prayer time each night, we also study through letters and send each other scriptures and we discuss them when I go visit him. Thank You for sending me our daily bread booklets and other books and resources. You all have been such a blessing to us and we truly thank God for your ministry of reaching people all over the world.
ReadLast year my husband retired after 31 years of military service, including time in Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. I took note of a magazine article he was reading this week. It was titled "Alive Day". In it were written the stories of various people who had faced a particular day in their military service when something took place that could have ended their lives. These people recognize the anniversary of this date annually. It was described as the "day they were wounded, and their lives were changed".
Christians have a similar day in our lives, although most of us do not recognize it annually. We may share our testimony from time to time, but it might be a good idea to practice celebrating our own "ALIVE DAY". We would celebrate the time when we came to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and be born into life eternal.
We need to thank all those who serve in our armed forces for their service and protection of the freedoms that we enjoy in this great country. We also need to thank The Lord for his provision of our own individual "Alive Day".
ReadA broken dream isn’t the greatest tragedy, but a life forever defined by it is. Creating a healthy new normal after the death of a dream is essential. In this…
WatchWhat is the secret to contentment?
The truth is, there’s only one thing you need to become perfectly content. Once you obtain this one thing, you’ll always be satisfied. What is the secret to contentment? Here’s a hint: it’s not any material possession!
I AM OVERJOYED AND OVERWHELMED BY THE POWER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND WHAT HE HAS DONE IN MY LIFE.
I WAS A DRUG ADDICT, LUST IN THE WORLD , COMMITING CRIMES ON DAILY BASIS. I WAS IN AND OUT OF JAILS FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
SEVEN YEARS AGO I ENDED UP IN A CELL, ALONE, CONFUSED , EMPTY, AND DESPERATE.
WERE I FOR THE FIRST TIME OPENED A BIBLE, AND THE LORD SPOKE TO ME IN JEREMIAH 33:3,
AS MY EYES WENT STRAIGHT TO THIS VERSE I STARTED TO CRY DESPERATELY AND FULL OF JOY KNOWING THAT GOD WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO ME. "CALL ON TO ME, AND I WILL ANSWER YOU, AND SHOW YOU GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS YOU DO NOT KNOW" (JER. 33:3) AS I STARTED TO READ THE BIBLE I COULD'NT
STOP CRYING AND TO KNOW I HAD A SAVIOR THAT LOVED ME SO MUCH, AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT HIM.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH JESUS.
I WAS FACING 25 TO LIFE , AND YET THE LORD HAD SET ME FREE. I HAD SURRENDER MY LIFE TO JESUS.
I REMEMBER ASKING HIM, THAT ALL I WANTED WAS TO COME OUT DIFFERENT, TO SERVE HIM, AND IF IT MEANT FOR ME TO STAY IN JAIL FOR LIFE, TO USE ME FOR THE GLORY OF HIS NAME.
AS TIME WENT BY I WAS SENTENCED TO PRISON WERE I ENCOUNTER TO LIVE WITH LIFERS. JOYFUL AND TRUSTING IN MY SAVIOR I WAS RELEASED AFTER SERVING 17 MONTHS.
IT HAS BEEN A HARD WALK AS HE HAS TAUGHT ME TO GROW IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF MY LIFE, BUT I HAVE SUBMMITTED TO DO HIS WILL.
TODAY I VOLUNTEER IN JAILS AND I ALSO SPEAK ON THE RADIO IN A MINISTRY THATS CALLED
"I WAS IN JAIL, AND YOU CAME TO ME"...
THE LORD HAS RESTORE MY CHILDRENS ,AFTER SPENDING TEN YEARS WITHOUT THEM, HE HAS EQUIPT ME TO INSTRUCT THEM IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD, THEY ARE ALL SAVED, AND FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, ONE OF THEM IS GETTING BAPTIZED.
ONE THING I MUST SAY AS I STARTED MY WALK WITH THE LORD IN JAIL, RBC MINISTRY WAS A GREAT PART OF MY WALK. AND WHEN I CAME OUT IT KEPT ON LEADING ME TO MY DAILY SCRIPTURES AND WALK WITH THE LORD.
I MAY NOT HAVE MUCH MY BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTER, BUT I HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR YOUR MINISTRY AND GRATITUDE FOR YOU WERE A GREAT DEAL IN MY WALK. BY GRACE I RECIVED, AND BY GRACE I GIVE WHAT THE LORD HAS STORED IN MY HEART. GOD BLESS YOUR MINISTRY, YOU TOUCH A LOT OF HEARTS IN JAILS, AS I GO TWICE A WEEK, ONE THING I NOTICE IS THE WOMANS IN THERE ALWAYS HAVE A DAILY BREAD FROM RBC. MAY MY TESTIMONY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO CONTINUE IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SHARE MY TESTIMONY, AND MAY THE PEACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS BE WITH YOU...
ReadHello. I use to get Daily Bread a long time in the mail. Then I got a divorce and it all stop.
I friend of mine told me tonight that you had a website here and I can get on and get my Daily Bread there. I was really happy to hear about it cause this is what I need right now. I have been going through so much in my life that I need some devotional reading to do on my break time and really any time I needed some encouragement or just to feel God close.
I just want to thank you for being here and I have you now on my mobile so I can take you anywhere!
Your newest member
Lisa Nunn
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If you want to think, speak, and act more like Jesus, what qualities do you need to have? Galatians chapter 5 gives us the answer! Make it a point to listen to the conclusion of the fruit of the Spirit series.
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In the book Kisses from Katie, Katie Davis recounts the joy of moving to Uganda and adopting several Ugandan girls. One day, one of her daughters asked, “Mommy, if I let Jesus come into my heart, will I explode?” At first, Katie said no. When Jesus enters our heart, it is a spiritual event.
How what is happening in our lives is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit!
Even a bottle labeled “fruit juice” can contain a large amount of artificial fruit flavors. It proves we can be easily fooled by inferior imitations. Let’s play the part of produce inspectors and look for evidence that what is happening in our lives is 100 percent fruit of the Spirit!
Let’s allow God to cultivate godly restraint in our lives
Whether it’s taking another slice of chocolate cake, or losing our temper when frustrated, self-control can be difficult to maintain. But it’s a virtue we all need! Our study of the fruit of the Spirit continues.
