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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"><channel><language>en-us</language><item><dc:creator>Jasmine Goh</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[When my grandmother was gently informed that my grandpa would likely pass on in the next few days, we were concerned that she’d be upset and anxious. “Are you worried?” someone asked her, thinking that she might have questions about her husband’s physical condition or need help for her own needs. She thought for a moment. “No,” she calmly answered, “I know where he’s going. God is there with him.”
Her expression of God’s presence with her husband echoes a similar one made by the psalmist David in Psalm 139:8: “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Although the certainty of God’s presence in Psalm 139 carries a subtle warning that we can’t escape His Spirit no matter where we go, it also brings great comfort to those who love Him and desire the assurance of His presence: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence” (v. 7). As God’s redeemed people, we can be consoled that no matter where we are, He’s there guiding us and holding us in His hand (v. 10).
When we go through tough, worrisome situations and don’t feel that God is with us, we can be assured that He’s present with all those whom He loves and who love Him. May this knowledge of His certain presence bring you the comfort and hope you need today.]]></description><title>God Is There</title><pubDate>Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/10/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/10/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250710.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Tim Gustafson</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[They were three adrenaline-fueled teenage boys, unleashed in the immense underground system connecting to Mammoth Cave. With them was their Uncle Frank, a veteran caver familiar with these parts. He knew the drop-offs and danger spots and continually called to the three, “Guys, this way!” Still, they ventured ever farther from him.
Dimming his headlamp, Uncle Frank decided to remain silent. Soon, the boys realized they’d lost their guide. Panic-stricken, they yelled his name. No response. Finally, they saw his headlamp flicker to life in the distance. Instant relief and peace! Now they were ready to follow their guide.
This true story makes an apt parable for how we can treat the gift of the Holy Spirit. Detours lure us away from the voice that calls us to follow the One who said, “Follow me” (Matthew 16:24). That voice is the Holy Spirit, who dwells inside each child of God (Acts 2:38–39).
God’s Spirit will never abandon us, but we can ignore Him. The apostle Paul warns, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Instead, “Rejoice always, pray continually,” and “give thanks in all circumstances” (vv. 16–18). By doing so, we stay close to our guide, “the God of peace,” who can keep us “blameless” (v. 23). It’s not our work that does it. It’s His. As Paul reminds us, “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (v. 24).]]></description><title>Panic in a Cave</title><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/09/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/09/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250709.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Kenneth Petersen</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[In 2011, Karey Packard and her daughter were packing boxes for a move to a new home. Suddenly, Karey collapsed, and her heart stopped—the beginning of a long nightmare. Doctors revived Karey, but her condition worsened through the night. Her husband, Craig, was told to call family to say final goodbyes. They prayed what Craig called, “a prayer of desperation.”
How often have we prayed a prayer of desperation in a crisis? Mary and Martha did. They sent a desperate message to Jesus: their brother Lazarus, “the one you love,” was gravely ill (John 11:3). When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days. Martha, in anguish, said to Jesus: “If you had been here, my brother would not have died” (v. 11:21). She knew Jesus could heal sick people but could not imagine His power to overcome death. Jesus, of course, raised Lazarus, a foreshadowing of His own resurrection weeks later.
Karey Packard had officially flatlined, yet miraculously God brought her back to life. In the stories of both Karey and Lazarus it’s easy to miss the point: God has purposes that we don’t know. He neither heals everyone nor brings all dead people back to life. But He gives us a transcending assurance: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (v. 25). As believers, whatever happens, we know we’ll be with Jesus. Maybe that makes our desperate prayers a little less desperate.]]></description><title>Prayer of Desperation</title><pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/08/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/08/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250708.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Patricia Raybon</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[In her early years as a Christian author, Gayle often received winsome gifts from her publisher. Bouquets of flowers, chocolates, boxes of herbal teas. All lovely. But over time, her publisher began to send gifts with lasting value. A one-year Bible, devotionals, and prayer journals. As she used them, Gayle became a more mature believer—less distracted by frilly gifts and more committed to using her life to lead others to Christ.
This approach recalls Timothy’s growth under the mentoring of the apostle Paul.. Stressing spiritual maturity, Paul advised, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Then Paul added, “Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly” (v. 16). He added, “Flee the evil desires of youth . . . don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments . . . the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful” (vv. 22-24).
Paul’s wise advice offers believers one other key benefit. Even opponents of Christ, when they see our mature choices in Him, “come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil” (v. 26). So “growing up” in God has eternal outcomes beyond ourselves. Let’s not wait, therefore, to grow up in our faith. Others will benefit as well.]]></description><title>Growing Up in God</title><pubDate>Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/07/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/07/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250707.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Winn Collier</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[In 1890, amateur ornithologist Eugene Schieffelin decided to release sixty European starlings into New York City’s Central Park. While there were likely several introductions of the species, Schieffelin’s released starlings resulted in the first successful documented nesting. Now there are roughly eighty-five million of the birds flapping across the continent. Unfortunately, starlings are invasive, pushing out native bird populations, spreading disease to cattle, and causing an estimated $800 million annually in damage. Schieffelin couldn’t have imagined the damage his choice would cause.
Choices can have massive consequences. Though warned, Adam and Eve couldn’t have envisioned the disastrous ramifications of their choice on all creation. God had told them they were “free to eat from any tree in the garden” (Genesis 2:16), save one, the tree in “the middle of the garden” (3:3). But deceived by that wily serpent, “[Eve] took some and ate it” (v. 6). Then Adam followed, also choosing to eat the fruit God forbade. So much destruction, heartbreak, and ruin because of one choice.
Every time we ignore God’s wisdom and choose another path, we invite calamity. It may seem that our choice is insignificant or only affects us; however, our narrow understanding or fleeting desires can easily lead us into a world of trouble. Choosing God’s way, though, leads us to life and flourishing.]]></description><title>Choices and Consequences</title><pubDate>Sun, 06 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/06/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/06/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250706.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Katara Patton</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[My  grandmother had a routine on Saturday nights. Before she went to bed, she laid out all her clothing including the shoes she planned to wear to church the next morning. She always attended the early service and wanted to be ready to get up and go the next morning without any delay. One Saturday night she was suddenly hospitalized. Later, Jesus called her name and she died. When my grandfather returned home from the hospital, he found her clothes laid out. She’d been prepared to go to church as well as to meet her God.
My grandmother’s ritual reminds me of the wisdom of the bridesmaids in the parable in Matthew 25. In the story, Christ tells His disciples to be ready for His coming: “Keep watch,” He said. No one knows “the day or the hour” He’ll return (v. 13), so it’s wise for us to be prepared. If we wait until the last minute to prepare, we could be like “the foolish ones” (v. 3). They ran out of oil because they hadn’t prepared well, and just after they left their posts to refill their lamps with oil, the bridegroom came.
We may not need to lay out our clothes like my grandmother, but her ritual demonstrated her desire to be ready for church as well as for her Savior. May we use her wisdom to be ready for the most important things in life, serving Jesus as He leads us and being ready for His return.]]></description><title>Grandma’s Last Night</title><pubDate>Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/05/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/05/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250705.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Dave Branon</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Michael Sparks walked into a thrift store and bought a souvenir copy of the US Declaration of Independence for $2.48. Later, as he looked closely at his parchment copy, he felt there was something unusual about it. So he had it assessed by experts, who told him it was one of now thirty-six remaining copies of two hundred commissioned by John Quincy Adams in 1820. Sparks then sold his rare copy of the Declaration for $477,650!
While the acquisition of this treasure for such a small price is astounding, there’s a treasure that’s infinitely better. As a child, I found out about a priceless, matchless, and eternal treasure that didn’t cost me a cent. But I didn’t find it at a thrift store.
My parents revealed to me that a man named Jesus had purchased this gift by giving His life on the cross as a sacrifice for my sins. They then told me this gift was called salvation. It promised the treasure of an abundant “life to the full” on earth (John 10:10) and an “eternal life . . . life in [God’s] Son” with Jesus (1 John 5:11-12). I accepted that gift by faith.
It's amazing to find an earthly treasure at low cost, but that can’t compare with the eternal treasure Christ offers at no cost. This treasure offered to each person is received as we “believe in name of the Son of God”—Jesus (v. 13).]]></description><title>The Treasure Christ Offers</title><pubDate>Fri, 04 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/04/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/04/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250704.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Xochitl Dixon</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[With the referee’s final gesture, wrestler Kennedy Blades became a 2024 Olympian. She pressed her palms together, lifted her hands and eyes to the heavens, and gave God glory. A reporter asked about her growth over the past three years. The elite athlete didn’t even mention her physical training. “I’ve just gotten super close to Jesus,” she said. Professing Christ as King, she proclaimed that He’s coming again and encouraged others to believe in Him. “It’s Him,” she said. “That’s the main reason why I was able to accomplish such a big thing.” In other interviews, she faithfully declared that Jesus is everything to her and the reason for everything good in her life.
This passion for living a God-centered life reflects David’s confessions in Psalm 63. Acknowledging his desperation for his creator, he said, “I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you” (v. 1). David had “seen” God and “beheld” His “power” and “glory” (v. 2). He declared God’s steadfast love as “better than life” (v. 3). Then, he prayed: “Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your right hand upholds me” (vv. 7-8). God was clearly everything to David.
Our lives can be beacons that point others to a life-saving relationship with God when Jesus becomes our reason, our everything.]]></description><title>Jesus—Our Everything</title><pubDate>Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/03/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/03/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250703.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Karen Pimpo</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Living in a coastal town, Valerie loved warm weather, wildlife photography, and being in the water. Above all, she loved watching the sunrise over the ocean. Every morning, she woke up before dawn to catch a view of the water. Val estimated that despite cloudy weather or travel, she still managed to see more than 300 waterfront sunrises each year. She never tired of watching them. In her eyes, the sunrise held a glory she didn’t want to miss.
In Exodus, we read about Moses’ radiant face, literally reflecting his glorious encounter with the Lord (Exodus 34). Paul said that since Jesus came, there is an even more glorious ministry than what Moses experienced (2 Corinthians 3:7). It is the ministry of the Spirit, which brings righteousness (v. 9). God’s plan of salvation has permanent glory, surpassing anything that came before (v. 10), and we get to participate in it. Paul said, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory” (v. 18). That ever-increasing glory is not dependent on how well we perform, but on the Holy Spirit. We, like the clouds at sunrise, just reflect a little more and a little better each day the glorious work that He is doing.]]></description><title>From Glory to Glory</title><pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/02/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/02/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250702.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>James Banks</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[“I don’t know where I’d be today if my mom hadn’t prayed for me. I don’t think I’d even be alive,” my friend Rahim related. He was a former addict who’d spent time in prison for drug distribution. Over coffee one day, he shared the difference his mother’s prayers had made in his life. “Even when I disappointed her so badly, she kept loving me with her prayers. I was in a lot of trouble, but if she hadn’t prayed for me, I know it would have been worse.”
The Old Testament account of Samuel tells another story of someone who showed faithfulness to God and others through prayer. On the day Saul was coronated as king at Mizpah, the prophet Samuel was also disappointed. The people had placed their faith and hope for their future in a monarchy instead of in God.
As the people gathered, God displayed His displeasure through an unseasonable storm that terrified them and made them regret their decision (1 Samuel 12:16-18). When they pleaded with Samuel to intercede for them, he replied, “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you” (v. 23).
Samuel’s response reminds us that praying for others is a way of keeping God first in our hearts and lives. When we love others by praying for them, we open the door to witness what only He can do. And we never want to miss that.]]></description><title>Loving Others Through Prayer</title><pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/07/01/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/07/01/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/07/odb20250701.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Dave Branon</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[My friend confided that he hadn’t been sleeping well. His sleeplessness was related to a difficult family situation that had kept him up at night. It happened that this was the day I was prepared to discuss Psalm 3 in my adult Sunday school class.
In Psalm 3, King David also had a family problem, one that would lead most of us to sleeplessness. His son Absalom was undermining David’s rule over Israel as part of his plan to overthrow him and snatch the crown himself.
David was in despair. He fled Jerusalem after a messenger said, “the hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13). In Psalm 3:1, David describes his situation: “Lord, how many are my foes!”
But notice how David found peace. He recalled that God was his shield of protection and that He “lifts [his] head” (v. 3). Then came the help we all need when we fret over our circumstances: David was able to “lie down and sleep.” He observed, “I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (v. 5).
For my friend facing a tough time, this was great news. And for all of us who face hard circumstances and sleepless nights, our God protects us and gives us rest. When we place our total trust in Him, He helps us “lie down and sleep” (v. 5).]]></description><title>Sleepless?</title><pubDate>Mon, 30 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/30/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/30/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250630.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Katara Patton</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[During a family reunion many years ago, my mother shared some words she’d written. She honored her grandmother, a woman I’d never met but had heard her spoken of often. Mom wrote that she recalled Mama Susan getting up “before dawn” and praying over her household. What a distinct memory that impacted my mother’s life—one I cling to even today although I never met my great-grandmother.
This description reminds me of the woman described in Proverbs 31. She cared for her family in many tangible ways, and she got up “while it [was] still night” (v. 15). She had plenty to do to care for her family, such as providing food, purchasing land, planting a vineyard, making profitable trades, sewing clothes, and finishing many other tasks—all in the name of caring for the ones she loved. And she even extended her resourcefulness to “the poor and . . . the needy” (v. 20).
Helping to care for a household during the time of the writing of Proverbs 31 was no easy feat, as demonstrated from the long list of duties described in this passage. And it wasn’t an easy feat for my great-grandmother, who was born in the 1800s. But prayers whispered early in the morning—as well as throughout the day—kept these women focused and encouraged as God helped them live out their calling to care for their family and others.]]></description><title>A Grandmother’s Prayers</title><pubDate>Sun, 29 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/29/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/29/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250629.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Matt Lucas</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Manuel was late for church and stuck at a red light. As he waited impatiently, his daughter noticed a stranded driver trying to fix a tire. “Daddy, you’re good at changing tires,” she said. “You should help her.” Manuel was now going to be very late, but he knew this was a divine appointment. He stopped to help, even inviting the other driver to church.
Paul and Silas faced an interruption in Acts 16. They’d encountered a slave girl with an evil spirit who kept shouting (v. 17). For several days Paul ignored her. Finally, he became too annoyed and said to the demon, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her” (v. 18).
Paul had made a conscious choice to serve others even when it was inconvenient. When he freed the girl, it only became more complicated. Her owners lost the means to make money from her (v. 19). Paul and Silas were seized and dragged “into the marketplace to face the authorities” (v. 19), beaten, and thrown into prison without a trial (vv. 22-24).
Serving Jesus comes at a cost. Jesus told His disciples they were to take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38). This is the way of Jesus: we’ll be interrupted and sometimes suffer, like our Savior. He invites us to accept those unexpected interruptions. How will you respond when they come?]]></description><title>Unexpected Interruption</title><pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/28/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/28/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250628.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Brent Hackett</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[“It’s the little foxes that spoil the vine,” my grandmother used to say. Then my mom repeated the same thing. And now I say it to my own children. But what does it mean to beware of “the little foxes”?
After planting grapevines, it can take several years before they bear fruit. The vines require a lot of patience, care, watering, pruning, and protection. Foxes—even though small—can cause major damage by destroying the roots, eating the grapes, or chewing the stalk.
In the poetic love story of the Song of Songs, Solomon warns, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” (2:15). Some scholars believe this refers to seemingly small problems or behaviors that could threaten the young man and woman’s relationship if left unchecked.
This warning also holds instruction for our spiritual journey. Little things like bitterness (Hebrews 12:15), “unwholesome talk” (Ephesians 4:29), or even harmful influence from others (1 Corinthians 15:33) can slip into our lives and hardly be noticed.
My grandmother understood that little things can cause great harm, and her wisdom spoke volumes to her grandchildren. As we spend time in prayer and reading the Scriptures, the Spirit will help us avoid the “little foxes”—the temptations or habits that might spoil our relationship with others and our walk with Christ.]]></description><title>Catch the Little Foxes</title><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/27/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/27/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250627.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Karen Huang</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[“May we invite you to be the main speaker in our nationwide church leadership conference?” After Jose read the invitation from the renowned organization, he replied, “Please let me pray about it first.” Later, when he turned down the offer, he told a friend, “I knew God was calling me to editorial work on a mission’s project, and the speaking engagement would take time and energy away from that. I said no so I can do what God wants me to do.”
What God wants me to do─that was Jose’s priority, determining his decision. Jesus also made God’s purpose His priority. The morning after healing many in Capernaum who were sick and demon-possessed, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:32-35). The disciples came, saying, “Everyone is looking for you!” (v. 37). Some of those seeking Him were likely requesting healing. Jesus, however, didn’t allow urgency or His sudden popularity to determine what He’d do next. “Let us go . . . to the nearby villages,” He said, “so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (v. 38). Jesus followed His priority—a ministry that covered the rest of Galilee, and one that included preaching (v. 38).
How may we know God’s purpose for us? We can approach Him in prayer, be led by His Word and seek counsel from people who uphold His ways. Let’s spend our life doing what God wants us to do.]]></description><title>Christ Our Priority</title><pubDate>Thu, 26 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/26/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/26/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250626.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Karen Pimpo</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Hundreds of guests filled a golden ballroom to celebrate a nonprofit’s fiftieth anniversary and honor those who made it possible, especially those who had been involved for decades. A founding member shared      with gratitude how, despite thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars in grants, they would not have succeeded without God. He repeated that the organization had blossomed not because of human effort—although there was plenty of that, too—but because God had provided for them.
Daniel understood the importance of ascribing good gifts to God. When King Nebuchadnezzar received a dream of the future, he called for all the wise men of Babylon to retell his dream and then interpret it. Dismayed, they protested that no one on earth could do what the king asked; it would require a supernatural power (Daniel 2:10-11). Daniel agreed, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (vv. 27-28). In faith, he asked God to reveal the dream to him. When his prayer was answered, Daniel was humble and quick to attribute the interpretation to his great God, not his own wisdom (vv. 45, 30).
It’s right to celebrate accomplishments, but at the same time we should give glory to God. The praiseworthy things in our lives can ultimately be traced back to Him.]]></description><title>Credit Where Due</title><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/25/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/25/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250625.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Marvin Williams</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Beneath the rugged cliffs of Brora, Scotland, a sheep needed rescue. Trapped in a valley surrounded by steep and unyielding rock on one side and the vast ocean on the other, the sheep had been on its own for two long years. Despite several rescue attempts, no one could reach her until a determined farmer named Cammy Wilson and three friends successfully executed a risky rescue mission. Three of the team carefully descended nearly 820 feet down the cliff to get her, using a winch and a lot of courage to lift her out of her predicament.
The determined and sympathetic farmer and team reflect the compassion of our loving Father as depicted in Jeremiah 23:1-3. The prophet denounced Judah’s sinful leaders as shepherds who were “destroying and scattering the sheep of [God’s] pasture!” (v. 1). God declared through Jeremiah that—due to the ruthless way they treated His helpless people—He would “bestow punishment” on them (v. 2). He saw the plight of His scattered flock and was deeply concerned about them. Not only was God concerned but He also said He would lovingly regather His sheep (v. 3) from places of exile and bring them to a place of safety and abundance.
When we feel lost, trapped, or isolated, our heavenly Father sees our plight and won’t leave us stranded. He actively seeks to rescue and restore us.]]></description><title>The God Who Rescues</title><pubDate>Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/24/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/24/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250624.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Jennifer Benson Schuldt</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Watermelon vines had overtaken my garden. They snaked across the stone path, climbed the fence, and worst of all tried to choke my favorite vegetable plants. I knew the garden wouldn’t thrive unless I took action. So, one evening I went to work uncurling tendrils from stems and leaves. When the coils grew back, I kept removing them until the plants finally matured and produced plump tomatoes and shiny peppers.
Sins like greed, lust, and hate can overtake our lives like the vines that tried to dominate my garden. Left untended, the seed of a wrong thought may develop until it controls our desires and actions. The Bible says it’s possible to be so consumed by a particular sin that we’re held back from growing spiritually. This is the “sin that so easily entangles us” (Hebrews 12:1).
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders” so that we can “run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (vv. 1-2). To break free requires that we acknowledge we need help to handle the sin. This can be difficult if we’ve convinced ourselves and others that it’s not a serious issue.
Once we sincerely admit the problem, Jesus welcomes our prayers of confession and forgives us immediately (1 John 1:9). He can show us how to change our life patterns and through the power of the Holy Spirit help us to overcome the bondage that prevents us from flourishing]]></description><title>Entangled</title><pubDate>Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/23/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/23/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250623.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Leslie Koh</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Perched high on the climbing wall, Sarah could feel panic rising as her weakening fingers began losing grip on the handholds. Just how hard will I hit the ground? she wondered.
But the instructor kept calling out assurances from below. As the “belayer” tethered to the other end of the rope tied to Sarah’s harness through a pulley, his weight would hold her if she fell. “I’m much heavier than you!” he yelled. “Just let go.”
So she did—and simply swung away from the wall to dangle safely in the air.
The incident gave Sarah a new perspective of the picture of God in Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock . . . my stronghold.” Sarah observed, “God is so much heavier than all my problems. I can let go of my worries and fears, and He’ll catch me.”
King David sang the words of Psalm 18 after God rescued him from “deep waters”—these were his “powerful enemy” looking to bring about his “day of . . . disaster” (vv. 16-18). Even if his troubles didn’t disappear, he knew he could trust his all-powerful Savior and that God was holding on to him tightly.]]></description><title>Leave It with God</title><pubDate>Sun, 22 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/22/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/22/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250622.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Jasmine Goh</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The 1957 war movie The Bridge on the River Kwai was so popular that fans flocked to Kanchanaburi in Thailand to look for the real-life iron bridge. They found the bridge, but it wasn’t on the Kwai—the movie got the river’s name wrong! Soon, however, that part of the Mae Klong River was renamed Kwae Yai (Kwai) so it would align with people’s expectations.
Jesus never let the expectations of others cause Him to waver in His divine mission. People flocked to see Him because they heard of the signs and miracles He had performed (John 6:2). When they found Him and believed that He was the promised Messiah, they wanted Him as a military leader so He’d save them from Roman rule. John says, “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (v. 15).
Despite the pressure to rescue people the way they wanted, Christ resolutely followed God’s plan to rescue them the way they needed to be rescued (Colossians 1:13)—not from earthly troubles but from the power of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
Jesus’ unwavering will to provide what we need is why we can trust Him in all circumstances. When God’s ways don’t seem to align with our expectations, we can be assured that His plan is always better—because He doesn’t waver in His will to save us.]]></description><title>Steadfast in God’s Will</title><pubDate>Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/21/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/21/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250621.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Adam R. Holz</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[“AaaaAAAAHHHK!” my daughter shrieked. “DaaaaDDDYY! Get UP here!”
I knew what was wrong: a moth. Every spring, an armada of these dusty insects migrates from the plains of Nebraska to the mountains of Colorado, where they summer. Each year, we brace for their arrival. This year had been especially bad.
To humans, miller moths are unwanted pests that often fly right into your face. But to birds, well, it’s a feast. Doing a little research, I learned that the moths provide incredible nutrition for the region’s swallows. As annoying as they are, these moths are veritable moth “manna” for the birds.
I don’t know if Israel had moth migrations in Jesus’ day. But Jesus took note of God’s provision for the birds there, saying in the Sermon on the Mount, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
So these days, I look at moths differently. Not as dirty pests, but as winged reminders of God’s provision for His creation—and as a living metaphor for His provision for me, too. If God provides so richly for the swallows, how much more does He care for me and for you?]]></description><title>And God Sent . . . Moths?</title><pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/20/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/20/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250620.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Lisa M. Samra</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet, used biblical themes to persuade believers in Jesus to abolish slavery. Born around 1753 in western Africa, Wheatley was sold to a slave trader at only seven years of age. Quicky distinguishing herself as a remarkable student, she finally secured her emancipation in 1773. In her poems and correspondence, Wheatley pressed her readers to embrace the Scriptural affirmation of the equality of all people. She wrote, “In every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; It is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance; and . . . the same Principle lives in us.”
Equality before God is a truth emphasized by Paul when he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:28). Because we’re “all children of God through faith” (v. 26), differences such as race, ethnicity, gender, or social status shouldn’t lead to discrimination in the church.
Even as equal recipients of God’s love, we still struggle to live out this principle. But Scripture teaches that diverse peoples united through faith in Christ best reflects God’s heart and is His plan for life in eternity. That reality can help us to celebrate the diversity in our communities of faith now.]]></description><title>One in Christ</title><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/19/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/19/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250619.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Bill Crowder</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The statement on the wall of my bank declared that its corporate principles could be summed up in a single word: courtesy. And how refreshing it was to find courtesy in the teller who helped me with my transaction there!
In a harsh and unkind world, to be driven by courtesy is a big idea. We find this concept in the apostle Paul’s letter to his friend Titus. He instructed Titus to remind his congregation “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:1–2 esv). This idea of courtesy is also rendered as “peaceable and considerate” (niv) or “showing every consideration” (nasb).
How we treat others reveals whether we see them as image bearers of God or not. C. S. Lewis wrote of this in The Weight of Glory. “There are no ordinary people,” he said. “You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Lewis anticipated eternity, where we will either enjoy God’s presence or be banished from Him forever. So he reminded us, “It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.”
May we allow the Spirit to enable us to treat those around as what they truly are—image bearers of God.]]></description><title>No Ordinary People</title><pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/18/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/18/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250618.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Leslie Koh</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Wendy was feeling a little left out. During lunch break, her boss had left chocolates on everyone’s desks—except hers. Puzzled, she lamented to a friend, “Why did he leave me out?”
When asked, their boss explained: “Those chocolates are still good, but they’ve been around for some time. Wendy’s pregnant, so I just wanted to play it extra safe.” Then he laughed. “As for the rest of you . . . .”
The little incident became a running joke in the office, but it got me thinking about how we sometimes misread God’s intentions because of our limited understanding and perception. We may even believe ourselves to be victims of unfair treatment, forgetting that God always has our best interests at heart. Always.
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that while we may not fully understand God’s thoughts and ways, we can be sure that they’re “higher than our ways” (v. 9). Ours are often influenced by selfish desires; His are perfect, compassionate, and righteous. So, even when things don’t look good for now, we can trust that God will provide what we truly need (vv.1-2), for He is loving and faithful to His own everlasting promise (v. 3). Let’s “call on him while he is near” (v. 6), knowing that He’ll never leave us.]]></description><title>Clinging to God’s Promises</title><pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/17/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/17/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250617.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Kirsten Holmberg</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[When Neil Douglas boarded his flight to Ireland, he was met with quite a surprise. He discovered his seat was occupied by another passenger, so he began a conversation to sort out the discrepancy. When the passenger looked up to answer, Neil was face to face with his lookalike! Onlooking passengers laughed at the men’s resemblance while the two took a selfie. The coincidences didn’t end there: they ran into each other again when checking into the same hotel and a third time at a local pub. The next morning, they discovered their selfie had gone viral on social media due to their striking facial similarities.
Bearing a resemblance to another human being is a surprise for those of us without a biological twin, but the Bible says we’ll begin to look more like God as we follow Him. In the Old Testament, Moses’ countenance was changed by his face-to-face encounter with God—so much so that “the Israelites could not look steadily at [his face] because of its glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18; see Exodus 34:33-35).
Today, we see the glory of Jesus revealed in the Bible and through it “we . . . are being transformed into his image” (v. 18) by the Spirit. Though our physical appearance may not be changed in an observable way, our growing knowledge of and love for God results in an unmistakable transformation. When God “makes over” our hearts and minds, it’s visible to our fellow travelers in this journey of life.]]></description><title>Changed by the Spirit</title><pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/16/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/16/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250616.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Tim Gustafson</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The situation looked hopeless for Amy and Alan’s infant daughter Jem. Born with a condition called trisomy-18, she was expected to die within days or weeks. “There’s no point in treating her,” the doctor said coldly. But her mother said, “I have bigger dreams for her.” They took Jem home and loved her. And they prayed.
Six years later, Jem needed surgery to remove a large tumor that had been found. Then—the same doctor walked in. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said, “but I’m asking you for a second chance.” He admitted he’d been wrong about Jem. “I’d like a chance at redemption,” he said. Amy and Alan might have said no. But they understood the power of God’s forgiveness.
The Old Testament prophets often carried a message of God’s judgment. But woven throughout that message is the irrepressible theme of God’s love, forgiveness, and redemption. Isaiah pointed out Judah’s sins (44:6-20) but suddenly shifted focus. Speaking God’s words, he said, “Return to me, for I have redeemed you” (v. 22). God’s character wouldn’t permit Him to abandon His people. “I have made you,” He said, “I will not forget you” (v. 21). The conclusion: “Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this . . . the Lord has redeemed Jacob” (v. 23).
Jem’s surgery found no tumor. “A miracle!” said the doctor. The power of prayer. The power of our redeeming God.]]></description><title>Hopeless Cases</title><pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/15/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/15/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250615.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Mike Wittmer</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Steve grabbed his chainsaw and headed out to the woods. That’s when he heard five-year-old August. “Wait for me, Dad! I want to come!” Grabbing his toy chainsaw, work gloves, and earmuffs, August followed Steve out the door. Steve set out a couple of logs for him a safe distance away. After ten minutes August was worn out. Cutting logs with a fake chainsaw is hard work! But he was happy to “help” his dad, and his dad was delighted to spend time with his son.
Isn’t this how it is with our heavenly Father? We suppose we’re helping. “Wait for me, Dad! I need to get my chainsaw!” But our chainsaw is the least important thing about us. We’re not helping as much as we think. God cares far more about the first part, “Wait for me, Dad!” He doesn’t need our output.
If you love His Son Jesus, God has adopted you into His family and given you His Spirit. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” (v. 15). You’re not a servant who earns his place by hard work. You’re a child who is loved by your Father, no matter what. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
Our heavenly Father is delighted when we serve Him. But He doesn’t need us. He simply wants us.]]></description><title>What Your Father Wants</title><pubDate>Sat, 14 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/14/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/14/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250614.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Nancy Gavilanes</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[On my walk to catch the train to work a few years ago, I saw a woman with a ferocious looking dog heading toward me. I grew up around pet dogs, so I’m usually not afraid of furry friends, but this one looked menacing. As the dog got closer, he barked at me. I tried to laugh it off. But then he lunged at me, so I screamed. Thankfully, the dog couldn’t harm me because he couldn’t reach me. His owner held on tightly to his leash.
That scary encounter reminded me that as believers in Jesus, Satan is also “on a leash” but waiting to attack if we give him the opportunity. In 1 Peter, the apostle Peter warns us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (v. 8). He growls and snarls and lunges at us to try to scare and intimidate us and to paralyze us with fear, but we can stand firm in our faith and resist him (v. 9).
When you feel the enemy taunting or tempting you, remember this: he’s no match for Jesus. We can cry out to Him and He’ll help us. He “will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (v. 10).
When we’re under spiritual attack, we can choose faith over fear because Jesus is always with us.]]></description><title>Standing Firm in Faith</title><pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/13/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/13/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250613.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Winn Collier</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[When soccer star Sadio Mané from Senegal was playing for Liverpool in the English Premier League, he was one of the world’s highest paid African players, making millions of dollars per year. Fans spotted a picture of Mané carrying an iPhone with a cracked screen and joked about him using the damaged device. His response was unflustered. "Why would I want ten Ferraris, twenty diamond watches, and two jet planes?” he asked. “I starved, I worked in the fields, played barefoot, and didn't go to school. Now I can help people. I prefer to build schools and give poor people food or clothing. . . . [Give] some of what life has given me."
Mané knew how selfish it would be to hoard all his prosperity when so many of his neighbors back home struggled under crushing conditions. Hebrews reminds us that this generous way of life is for all of us, not only for those who are wealthy. “Do not forget to do good and to share with others,” Scripture says, “for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (13:16). Nurturing a generous heart isn’t only the right thing to do, but according to Hebrews, generosity also makes God smile. Who doesn’t want to make God pleased?
Generosity isn’t defined simply by how much we give. Instead, generosity refers to the posture of our heart. One thing we can do that’s “pleasing to [God]” (v. 21) is to simply open our hands and share what we have.]]></description><title>A Generous Heart</title><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/12/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/12/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250612.jpg</image></item><item><dc:creator>Anne Cetas</dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Betty is ready. She began following Jesus as a teenager and has taken opportunities her whole life to serve and please Him. She attends Bible studies, worship services, and prayer meetings. She’s taught studies, visited mission fields, worked in the nursery, served alongside her pastor-husband, and she loves being with God’s people every chance she gets. And remarkably she’s 102 years old and is still ready to do whatever pleases God. She’s an inspiration to many who might not feel like gathering with other believers some days. Then they remember, Betty will be there. I certainly can get there! Betty now says she’s anxious to get to heaven to be with her Savior. She says, “I am ready to see Jesus; I love Him so.”
The apostle Paul said he “would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). But he knew God had work for him in encouraging believers in many churches (Philippians 1:23-24). So he kept serving and living “by faith” and “not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Paul remained ready and kept serving under God’s direction.
Whatever our age and stage in life, let’s ask God to help us make it our heart’s goal “to please [Christ]” (v. 9) and stay ready. Betty is ready. And if someday she isn’t ready, it’s because she’s already seeing Jesus face-to-face.]]></description><title>Stay Ready</title><pubDate>Wed, 11 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">https://odb.org/2025/06/11/</guid><link>https://odb.org/2025/06/11/</link><image>https://d626yq9e83zk1.cloudfront.net/files/2025/06/odb20250611.jpg</image></item><title>Our Daily Bread Podcast | Our Daily Bread</title><link>https://odb.org/</link><description><![CDATA[Daily Devotionals]]></description><copyright>&reg; & &copy; 2025 Our Daily Bread Ministries</copyright></channel></rss>

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