Ichthus Ministries: 10/08/16

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Unser Täglich Brot - Eins in Christus

Lesen: Markus 3,13-19 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jesaja 32–33; Kolosser 1

Und er setzte zwölf ein, . . . dass sie bei ihm sein sollten und dass er sie aussendete zu predigen. (Markus 3,14)

Wenn wir in der Bibel auf eine der vielen Namenslisten stoßen, blättern wir gern weiter. Dabei sind darin oft wahre Schätze verborgen, wie etwa in der Liste der zwölf Apostel, die Jesus auserwählt hatte, um in seinem Namen zu wirken. Viele sind bekannt—Simon, den Jesus Petrus nannte, den Felsen. Die Brüder Jakobus und Johannes, beide Fischer. Judas Ischariot, der Verräter. Aber da sind auch Matthäus, der Zolleinnehmer, und Simon, der Zelot, die früher vermutlich Feinde waren.

Matthäus trieb für Rom die Steuern ein und galt darum in den Augen seiner Mitjuden als Komplize des Feindes. Zöllner waren wegen ihrer korrupten Praktiken verachtet und weil sie vom jüdischen Volk Geld für eine andere Autorität als Gott verlangten. Simon, der Zelot (Luk. 6,15), hingegen gehörte zu einer Gruppe jüdischer Nationalisten, die Rom hassten und seine Herrschaft abschütteln wollten, wenn nötig mit Gewalt.

Obwohl Matthäus und Simon unterschiedliche politische Meinungen hatten, wird in den Evangelien nicht berichtet, dass sie deswegen stritten. Es muss ihnen zumindest teilweise gelungen sein, in der Nachfolge Jesu frühere Bindungen abzuschütteln.

Wenn wir unseren Blick auf Jesus richten, den Gott, der Mensch wurde, dann können auch wir durch das Band des Heiligen Geistes mit unseren Glaubensgeschwistern immer mehr eins werden.

Vater, Sohn und Heiliger Geist, du lebst in völliger Harmonie. Lass deinen Geist in uns wohnen, damit die Welt dich sieht und glaubt.

Unsere stärkste Bindung ist die Bindung an Christus, der uns Einheit untereinander schenkt.

Хлеб наш насущный - Едины во Христе

автор: Эми Бушер Пай

Читать сейчас: Марка 3:13-19 | Библия за год: Исаия 32-33; 2 Коринфянам 11:1-15

И поставил из них двенадцать, чтобы с Ним были, и чтобы посылать их на проповедь. — Марка 3:14

Встречая в Библии списки имен, мы порой испытываем искушение пропустить их. Однако и там можно найти сокровища, как, например, в списке двенадцати апостолов, которых Господь призвал служить во имя Его. Многие нам знакомы: Симон, которого Иисус назвал Петром, то есть камень. Братья Иаков и Иоанн, рыбаки. Иуда Искариот, предатель. Но мы можем пропустить мытаря Матфея и Симона Зилота, которые некогда были врагами.

Матфей собирал подати для Рима и в глазах своих сограждан был пособником оккупантов. Мытарей ненавидели за жадность и сбор денег для иной власти, чем Божья. С другой стороны, до своего призвания Симон Зилот был одним из иудейских националистов, ненавидевших Рим и стремившихся свергнуть языческую власть насильственными средствами.

Хотя Матфей и Симон вышли из противоборствующих сторон, мы не видим никакой вражды между ними. Несомненно, они оставили многие из своих прежних убеждений, когда последовали за Христом.

Обращаясь к Иисусу, Богу, ставшему Человеком, мы приобщаемся к укрепляющемуся единству с другими христианами, которое достигается действием Святого Духа.

Отец, Сын и Святой Дух, Ты пребываешь в совершенном единстве. Пусть Твой Дух обитает в нас, чтобы мир мог увидеть Тебя и уверовать.

Если мы верны Христу, Он даст нам единство с церковью.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Unis en Christ

par Amy Boucher Pye

Lisez : Marc 3.13‑19 | La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 32 – 33 et Colossiens 1

Il en établit douze, pour les avoir avec lui, et pour les envoyer prêcher avec le pouvoir de chasser les démons. (Marc 3.14)

Lorsque nous tombons sur une liste de noms dans la Bible, il se pourrait que nous soyons tentés d’y passer outre. Reste que nous pourrions y trouver des perles, comme dans la liste des douze apôtres que Jésus a appelés à oeuvrer en son nom. Bon nombre d’entre eux sont bien connus : Simon, que Jésus appelait Pierre ; les frères Jacques et Jean, pêcheurs ; Judas Iscariot, le traître. Par contre, nous risquons d’oublier que Matthieu, le percepteur d’impôts, et Simon, le zélote, avaient dû être des ennemis auparavant.

Matthieu percevait des impôts pour le compte de Rome ; il devait donc passer aux yeux de ses compatriotes juifs pour un collaborateur à la solde de leur ennemi. À l’époque, on méprisait les percepteurs d’impôts à cause de leur corruption et parce qu’ils exigeaient que le peuple juif verse de l’argent à une autre autorité que Dieu. Par contre, avant que Jésus l’appelle à son service, le zélote était dévoué à un groupe de nationalistes juifs qui détestait Rome et qui cherchait à la renverser, souvent par de violentes attaques.

Bien que Matthieu et Simon aient eu des opinions politiques divergentes, les Évangiles ne rapportent pas qu’ils se soient querellés. C’est donc dire qu’ils ont dû parvenir à laisser derrière eux leurs allégeances antérieures dans une certaine mesure en suivant Christ.

Si nous gardons les yeux fixés sur Jésus, le Dieu qui s’est fait homme, le Saint‑Esprit nous unifiera de plus en plus.

Christ mérite notre plus grande allégeance, lui qui nous unit.

Night Light for Couples - A Most Extraordinary Event

by Jo Ann Larsen

Larry and Jo Ann were an ordinary couple. They lived in an ordinary house on an ordinary street. Like any other ordinary couple, they struggled to make ends meet and to do the right things for their children. They were ordinary in yet another way—they had their squabbles.

Much of their conversation concerned what was wrong in their marriage and who was to blame—until one day when a most extraordinary event took place.

“You know, Jo Ann, I’ve got a magic chest of drawers. Every time I open the drawers, they’re full of socks and underwear,” Larry said. “I want to thank you for filling them all these years.”

Jo Ann stared at her husband over the top of her glasses. “What do you want, Larry?”

“Nothing. I just want you to know I appreciate those magic drawers.”

This wasn’t the first time Larry had done something odd, so Jo Ann pushed the incident out of her mind until a few days later.

“Jo Ann, thank you for recording so many correct check numbers in the ledger this month. You put down the right numbers fifteen out of sixteen times. That’s a record.”

Disbelieving what she had heard, Jo Ann looked up from her mending. “Larry, you’re always complaining about my recording the wrong check numbers. Why stop now?”

“No reason. I just wanted you to know I appreciate the effort you’re making.”

Jo Ann shook her head and went back to her mending. “What’s gotten into him?” she mumbled to herself.

Nevertheless, the next day when Jo Ann wrote a check at the grocery store, she glanced at her checkbook to confirm that she had put down the right check number. “Why do I suddenly care about those dumb check numbers?” she asked herself.

She tried to disregard the incident, but Larry’s strange behavior intensified.

“Jo Ann, that was a great dinner,” he said one evening. “I appreciate all your effort. Why, in the past fifteen years I’ll bet you’ve fixed over 14,000 meals for me and the kids.”

Then, “Gee, Jo Ann, the house looks spiffy. You’ve really worked hard to get it looking so good.” And even, “Thanks, Jo Ann, for just being you. I really enjoy your company.”

Jo Ann was growing worried. Where’s the sarcasm, the criticism? she wondered.

Her fears that something peculiar was happening to her husband were confirmed by sixteen‐year‐old Shelly, who complained, “Dad’s gone bonkers, Mom. He just told me I looked nice. Even though I’m wearing all this makeup and these sloppy clothes, he still said it. That’s not Dad, Mom. What’s wrong with him?”

Whatever was wrong, Larry didn’t get over it. Day in and day out he continued focusing on the positive.

Over the weeks, Jo Ann grew more accustomed to her mate’s unusual behavior and occasionally even gave him a grudging “Thank you.” She prided herself on taking it all in stride, until one day something so peculiar happened that she became completely discombobulated.

“I want you to take a break,” Larry said. “I am going to do the dishes. So please take your hands off that frying pan and leave the kitchen.” (Long, long pause.) “Thank you, Larry. Thank you very much!”

Jo Ann’s step was now a little lighter, her self‐confidence higher, and once in a while she hummed. She didn’t seem to have as many blue moods anymore. I rather like Larry’s new behavior, she thought.

That would be the end of the story except one day another most extraordinary event took place. This time it was Jo Ann who spoke.

“Larry,” she said, “I want to thank you for going to work and providing for us all these years. I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I appreciate it.”

No matter how hard Jo Ann has pushed for an answer, Larry has never revealed the reason for his dramatic change of behavior, and so it will likely remain one of life’s mysteries. But it’s one I’m thankful to live with.

You see, I am Jo Ann.

Looking ahead…

As Larry demonstrated, a little encouragement can transform a marriage. None of us—king or queen, president or business leader, husband, housewife or child—is without the human craving for appreciation. Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” A kind word is like that. It fuels our energy and infuses us with new enthusiasm for facing the challenges life throws our way.

I invite you during this week’s discussion to consider the incredible power of encouragement. As you apply each principle, I think you’ll find that the sun shines a little brighter and your day runs a bit smoother. You might begin by simply telling your partner how much you appreciate having him or her around.

- James C Dobson

From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.
“A Most Extraordinary Event” by Jo Ann Larsen. © 1992. Used by permission of the author.

The Daily Readings for October 8, 2016

Micah 5:1-4, 5:10-15
Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; In that day, says the LORD, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots; and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds; and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers; and I will cut off your images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands; and I will uproot your sacred poles from among you and destroy your towns. And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.

Acts 25:13-27
After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus. Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, "There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him. I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge. So when they met here, I lost no time, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought. When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting. Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor." Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear the man myself." "Tomorrow," he said, "you will hear him." So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in. And Festus said, "King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him. But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write-- for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."

Luke 8:16-25
"No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away." Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it." One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of the lake." So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"

Morning Psalms

Psalm 137 Super flumina
1   By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered you, O Zion.
2   As for our harps, we hung them up on the trees in the midst of that land.
3   For those who led us away captive asked us for a song, and our oppressors called for mirth: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
4   How shall we sing the LORD'S song upon an alien soil?
5   If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.
6   Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.
7   Remember the day of Jerusalem, O LORD, against the people of Edom, who said, "Down with it! down with it! even to the ground!"
8   O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy the one who pays you back for what you have done to us!
9   Happy shall he be who takes your little ones, and dashes them against the rock!

Psalm 144 Benedictus Dominus
1   Blessed be the LORD my rock! who trains my hands to fight and my fingers to battle;
2   My help and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield in whom I trust, who subdues the peoples under me.
3   O LORD, what are we that you should care for us? mere mortals that you should think of us?
4   We are like a puff of wind; our days are like a passing shadow.
5   Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6   Hurl the lightning and scatter them; shoot out your arrows and rout them.
7   Stretch out your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me from the great waters, from the hand of foreign peoples,
8   Whose mouths speak deceitfully and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
9   O God, I will sing to you a new song; I will play to you on a ten-stringed lyre.
10   You give victory to kings and have rescued David your servant.
11   Rescue me from the hurtful sword and deliver me from the hand of foreign peoples,
12   Whose mouths speak deceitfully and whose right hand is raised in falsehood.
13   May our sons be like plants well nurtured from their youth, and our daughters like sculptured corners of a palace.
14   May our barns be filled to overflowing with all manner of crops; may the flocks in our pastures increase by thousands and tens of thousands; may our cattle be fat and sleek.
15   May there be no breaching of the walls, no going into exile, no wailing in the public squares.
16   Happy are the people of whom this is so! happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

Evening Psalms

Psalm 104 Benedic, anima mea
1   Bless the LORD, O my soul; O LORD my God, how excellent is your greatness! you are clothed with majesty and splendor.
2   You wrap yourself with light as with a cloak and spread out the heavens like a curtain.
3   You lay the beams of your chambers in the waters above; you make the clouds your chariot; you ride on the wings of the wind.
4   You make the winds your messengers and flames of fire your servants.
5   You have set the earth upon its foundations, so that it never shall move at any time.
6   You covered it with the Deep as with a mantle; the waters stood higher than the mountains.
7   At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
8   They went up into the hills and down to the valleys beneath, to the places you had appointed for them.
9   You set the limits that they should not pass; they shall not again cover the earth.
10   You send the springs into the valleys; they flow between the mountains.
11   All the beasts of the field drink their fill from them, and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12   Beside them the birds of the air make their nests and sing among the branches.
13   You water the mountains from your dwelling on high; the earth is fully satisfied by the fruit of your works.
14   You make grass grow for flocks and herds and plants to serve mankind;
15   That they may bring forth food from the earth, and wine to gladden our hearts,
16   Oil to make a cheerful countenance, and bread to strengthen the heart.
17   The trees of the LORD are full of sap, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
18   In which the birds build their nests, and in whose tops the stork makes his dwelling.
19   The high hills are a refuge for the mountain goats, and the stony cliffs for the rock badgers.
20   You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows the time of its setting.
21   You make darkness that it may be night, in which all the beasts of the forest prowl.
22   The lions roar after their prey and seek their food from God.
23   The sun rises, and they slip away and lay themselves down in their dens.
24   Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening.
25   O LORD, how manifold are your works! in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
26   Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, creatures both small and great.
27   There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, which you have made for the sport of it.
28   All of them look to you to give them their food in due season.
29   You give it to them; they gather it; you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
30   You hide your face, and they are terrified; you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.
31   You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth.
32   May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; may the LORD rejoice in all his works.
33   He looks at the earth and it trembles; he touches the mountains and they smoke.
34   I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being.
35   May these words of mine please him; I will rejoice in the LORD.
36   Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and the wicked be no more.
37   Bless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

The Daily Meditation for October 8, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Scott B. Hayashi

Micah 5:2a (NRSV) But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel.

Micah prophesies troubled times ahead for Israel and Judah. He lays the responsibility for these troubles at the feet of their leaders and the wealthy powers-that-be. Because of their failure to honor God’s wishes and laws, there will be great suffering for all the people—guilty and innocent alike. Micah prophesies that God will raise up a king from Bethlehem, the city of David’s birth. God will make a way for justice, mercy, and love to reign because the people simply cannot do this for themselves.

For Christians, these verses likely call to mind the infancy narrative from Matthew, where these lines from Micah are quoted. We rejoice and celebrate because God has fulfilled the promise of raising up a king—the Messiah, Jesus!

Because God has made good on the promises God has made to us, we live our lives in hope and confidence that God will do just what God says will be done. How are we doing the work we have promised to do, in response to God’s great goodness toward us?

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NIV Devotions for Couples - Making Peace With Each Other

Exodus 4:24–26

But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. Exodus 4:25

Zipporah performed hasty surgery on her son when she realized God was about to kill her husband, Moses. While it isn’t stated, evidently God was about to destroy Moses because he had failed to circumcise his son. Zipporah took the situation into her own hands, completing the act of obedience Moses had neglected to do.

But there seems to be an air of resentment in her abrupt actions. Perhaps she was angry at her husband for shirking his fatherly duties. Or maybe Zipporah resented having to perform a spiritual rite she herself didn’t believe in.

Whatever the details of a disagreement, resulting feelings can drive a wedge between spouses. Resentment can lead to barbed words, sarcastic comments and actions that undercut one another. For example, children came early in our marriage. I used to get so angry when Dan would nudge me to get out of bed in the middle of the night because the baby was crying. Both Dan and I desperately needed sleep, but I resented the assumption that it was my responsibility to get up with the baby. Lack of sleep, combined with my expectation that Dan share in the 3:00 a.m. feedings, fueled resentment in me. In a huff, I would perform my motherly duties, seething silently as Dan snored and I rocked a cranky baby. It didn’t take too many sleepless nights like that before we had built walls of anger between us.

When you notice resentment creeping in or a disagreement escalating in your relationship, admit your anger and call an immediate cease-fire. Take some advice from marriage counselor Scott M. Stanley (Marriage Partnership, Fall 1995). Agree on a specific time when you can talk. Then sit down together and use a small object, such as a pen, to indicate who has the floor. The person holding the pen is the speaker. When the pen changes hands, the roles change. The speaker’s job is to get his or her point across. The listener’s job is to absorb information and give feedback by paraphrasing what the other has just said.

While this approach feels somewhat artificial, it greatly enhances communication by slowing things down and emphasizing listening and working together. It helps you, as James 1:19 says, to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” It’s a great tool for aiding interaction and understanding. And it helps to insure that resentments don’t fester or turn into full-blown arguments.

When you sense resentment growing within you, ask yourself what expectations you have of your spouse, particularly in a situation that’s brewing trouble between you. Very often, resentment grows from unmet expectations. Zipporah expected something from Moses. I expected something of Dan. Recognizing what your expectations are is the first step toward resolving resentment.

Marian V. Liautaud

Let’s Talk

Is there some area of our marriage in which we feel that one of us has unmet expectations? Let’s talk about some of those expectations.
When one of us gets angry, do our arguments quickly get out of hand? How can we put a stop to that pattern?
Let’s try a pen-passing conversation on a nonthreatening topic. How does that approach differ from the way we usually try to resolve a problem? In what ways could this approach help?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - BEAUTY FOR ASHES

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:3

This scripture has special meaning to Christian women in Central Asia. Some of their “ashes” are: domestic violence, battering of women and sexual abuse, kidnapping of young girls (for marriage purposes) which is culturally accepted and (in some countries) honor killings. Trafficking and prostitution are a well-known phenomenon: many Uzbek girls find themselves in Thailand, Tajik girls in Dubai and Azeri girls in Turkey, without passports, without rights, forced into the sex industry. Central Asian women are often treated as objects of men’s desire or as the possession of men.

Poverty is everywhere in Central Asia. It adds to the heaviness of life together with serious health issues, a lack of available health care and drug and alcohol addiction. Some of the Christian women have unbelieving husbands, and rejected by relatives, become social outcasts in their villages. Others have a husband who is on the run from the authorities, is in prison for his faith or is constantly monitored by the security police. How does she deal with all the pressure and what does she feel when there is a knock on the door? Add to this all the issues related to honour and shame, and the influence of folk Islam with its occult practices and curses. There are plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed, overburdened and depressed.

Open Doors sponsors regional conferences for these Christian women in Central Asia. The impact of the women’s conferences is like a ripple effect growing into ever widening circles. For many women who come, just to worship openly and to be able to sing loudly in a big group is already a great encouragement as many come from areas where this is not possible. During the conferences there is a lot of dancing, worship, and celebration.

Several years ago some Central Asian Christian women gained the vision for starting work among women in situations of domestic abuse, trafficking and prostitution. All that was learned at the conferences was shared at home with the women in their area. Plans and teaching resources were drawn up, local churches were challenged and equipped and a start was made with various projects that are of great value to the local community.

A pastor’s wife, who spent three years in prison where she became a Christian, shared that she wanted to start ministering to women in prisons but she didn’t know how to start. “Now I have an idea how to minister to women,” she said after having attended the conference.

As God heals the pain and releases the women from their sorrows, He sets them free into a new love for Jesus and for ministry to others, both in the church and in society. They grow as mighty trees, providing shade and covering for others; all of this for the glory of God.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the freedom Christ brings and become a mighty shade tree of ministry.

PRAYER: Pray for these women’s conferences in Central Asia that God will bestow beauty for ashes.

Un Dia a la Vez - Oración por perdón

Ten compasión de mí, oh Dios, conforme a tu gran amor [...] Lávame de toda mi maldad y límpiame de mi pecado. Salmo 51:1-2

Padre, gracias por tu presencia en mi vida. Vengo ante ti porque quiero reconocer que he sido una persona negativa y me he dejado llevar por esa manera dañina de ser. No solo les he hecho daño a los demás, sino a mí mismo. He afligido a los seres más queridos con palabras que han salido de mi boca, con las que he maldecido sus vidas, los he humillado y, sobre todo, te he faltado a ti.

Señor, te pido me ayudes y me des la fuerza para pedirle perdón a cada uno de los que les he faltado el debido respeto y les he atado con mis palabras.

Dios mío, permite que puedan perdonarme y tú cancela con tu poder cualquier maldición o atadura declarada sobre sus vidas.

Gracias por abrir mi entendimiento y mostrarme mis errores.

Me comprometo, Jesús, a cuidar mis palabras y a callar aun cuando no me guste algo.

Bendice mi vida, bendice a mi familia, a mis hijos y a mi cónyuge. Dame el favor y la gracia para restaurar las relaciones con mis seres queridos.

Te lo pido con todo mi corazón, amén y amén.

Verse of the Day - October 08, 2016

Isaiah 43:11-12 (NIV) I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed— I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.

Read all of Isaiah 43

Our Daily Bread - The Drinkable Book

By Cindy Hess Kasper

Read: John 4:7–15 | Bible in a Year: Isaiah 30–31; Philippians 4

The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14

Because it is so difficult in parts of the world to find clean drinking water, an organization called Water Is Life developed a wonderful resource called “The Drinkable Book.” The paper in the book is coated in silver nanoparticles that filter out almost 99.9 percent of harmful bacteria! Each tear-out page can be used and reused to filter up to 100 liters of water at the cost of only four pennies per page.

The Bible is also an unusually “drinkable” Book. In John 4, we read of a particular kind of thirst and a special kind of water. The woman at the well needed much more than to quench her physical thirst with clean, clear liquid. She was desperate to know the source of “living water.” She needed the grace and forgiveness that comes from God alone.

God’s Word is the ultimate “drinkable” Book that points to God’s Son as the sole source of “living water.” And those who accept the water that Jesus gives will experience “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (v. 14).

Father, we yearn for the satisfaction that only You can give. Help us discard the things that leave us empty and thirsting, and exchange them for the satisfaction of the living water You offer.

Tell us your story of how you came to know Jesus as the Living Water at odb.org or Facebook.com/ourdailybread.

Jesus is the sole source of living water.

Unser Täglich Brot - Ein Buch zum Trinken

Von Cindy Hess Kasper

Lesen: Johannes 4,7-15 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Jesaja 30–31; Philipper 4

Das Wasser, das ich ihm geben werde, das wird in ihm eine Quelle des Wassers werden, das in das ewige Leben quillt. (Johannes 4,14)

Weil es in manchen Teilen der Welt so schwer ist, sauberes Trinkwasser zu finden, hat eine Organisation mit dem Namen Wasser ist Leben ein fantastisches Hilfsmittel entwickelt, das „Trinkbuch“. Die Seiten des Buches sind mit Nanopartikeln aus Silber beschichtet, die fast 99,9 Prozent aller schädlichen Bakterien aus dem Wasser herausfiltern! Jede heraustrennbare Seite kann mehrmals verwendet werden und für den Preis von nur fünf Cent bis zu 100 Liter Wasser filtern.

Die Bibel ist auch ein „Trinkbuch“. In Johannes 4 lesen wir von einer besonderen Art Durst und einer besonderen Sorte Wasser. Die Frau am Brunnen brauchte viel mehr, als nur ihren leiblichen Durst mit klarem, sauberem Wasser zu stillen. Sie sehnte sich nach der Quelle „lebendigen Wassers“. Sie brauchte die Gnade und Vergebung, die nur von Gott kommen kann.

Gottes Wort ist das wirkliche „Trinkbuch“, das uns auf Gottes Sohn als die einzige Quelle für „lebendiges Wasser“ verweist. Und wer von dem Wasser trinkt, das Jesus gibt, wird erleben, wie in ihm selbst „eine Quelle des Wassers [wird], das in das ewige Leben quillt“ (V.14).

Vater, wir sehnen uns nach einer Befriedigung, die nur du geben kannst. Hilf uns, alles loszulassen, was uns nur leer und durstig macht, und gib uns dafür das lebendige Wasser zu trinken, das du uns anbietest.

Erzähle uns, wie du Jesus als Quelle lebendigen Wassers erfahren hast auf facebook.com/odbdeutsch

Jesus ist die einzige Quelle des lebendigen Wassers.

Хлеб наш насущный - Питьевая книга

автор: Синди Хесс Каспер

Читать сейчас: Иоанна 4:7-15 | Библия за год: Исаия 30-31; 2 Коринфянам 10

Вода, которую Я дам ему, сделается в нем источником воды, текущей в жизнь вечную. — Иоанна 4:14

Во многих частях мира остро ощущается недостаток чистой питьевой воды. Организация с красноречивым названием «Вода значит жизнь» разработала уникальный материал, назвав его «Питьевая книга». Бумага в этой книге покрыта серебряными наночастицами, обезвреживающими почти 99,9% болезнетворных микробов. Каждую страницу можно использовать несколько раз, очищая в общей сложности до 100 литров воды при себестоимости всего четыре пенса.

Библию также можно назвать Книгой «для питья». В Евангелии от Иоанна Христос говорит об особого рода жажде и особой воде. Женщина у колодца нуждалась не только в утолении телесной жажды, ее душа также томилась, не имея покоя. Ей нужен был источник благодати и прощения, который мог открыть только Бог.

Божье Слово – это Книга, указывающая на Божьего Сына как единственный источник «воды живой». И те, кто принимает Его, обретают в самих себе источник «воды, текущей в жизнь вечную» (Ин. 4:14).

Отче, только Ты можешь утолить жажду души. Помоги нам отвергнуть то, что не может удовлетворить, и напиться живой воды, которую Ты даешь приходящим к Тебе.

Иисус Христос – единственный источник живой воды.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le livre qui se boit

par Cindy Hess Kasper

Lisez : Jean 4.7‑15 | La Bible en un an : Ésaïe 30 – 31 et Philippiens 4

[L’eau] que je lui donnerai deviendra en lui une source d’eau qui jaillira jusque dans la vie éternelle. (Jean 4.14)

Étant donné qu’il est si difficile de trouver de l’eau potable dans certaines régions du monde, une organisation nommée Water Is Life (L’eau, c’est la vie) a créé une merveilleuse ressource appelée « The Drinkable Book » (Le livre qui se boit). Le papier des pages de ce livre est revêtu de nanoparticules d’argent permettant de filtrer l’eau de manière à en éliminer près de 99,9 % des bactéries nocives ! Chaque page détachable peut être utilisée et réutilisée pour filtrer jusqu’à 100 litres d’eau au coût infime de quatre cents la page.

Or, la Bible est également un livre exceptionnel « qui se boit ». Dans Jean 4, nous lisons au sujet d’une soif particulière et d’un genre d’eau spéciale. La femme au puits avait besoin de bien plus qu’étancher sa soif physique en buvant une eau pure. Elle avait aussi désespérément besoin de connaître la source d’« eau vive », de qui obtenir la grâce et le pardon que Dieu est seul à procurer.

La Parole de Dieu est le livre ultime « qui se boit », mais qui nous amène également à nous tourner vers le Fils de Dieu en tant qu’unique source d’« eau vive ». Et ceux qui acceptent l’eau que Jésus leur procure pourront se désaltérer à « une source d’eau qui jaillira jusque dans la vie éternelle » (V. 14).

Jésus est la seule source d’eau vive.

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Saturday, October 8, 2016