The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, November 18, 2016

 

Malachi 3:1-12
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, "How shall we return?" Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, "How are we robbing you?" In your tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me-- the whole nation of you! Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

James 5:7-12
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your "Yes" be yes and your "No" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Morning Psalms

Psalm 102 Domine, exaudi
1   LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.
2   Incline your ear to me; when I call, make haste to answer me,
3   For my days drift away like smoke, and my bones are hot as burning coals.
4   My heart is smitten like grass and withered, so that I forget to eat my bread.
5   Because of the voice of my groaning I am but skin and bones.
6   I have become like a vulture in the wilderness, like an owl among the ruins.
7   I lie awake and groan; I am like a sparrow, lonely on a house-top.
8   My enemies revile me all day long, and those who scoff at me have taken an oath against me.
9   For I have eaten ashes for bread and mingled my drink with weeping.
10   Because of your indignation and wrath you have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11   My days pass away like a shadow, and I wither like the grass.
12   But you, O LORD, endure for ever, and your Name from age to age.
13   You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to have mercy upon her; indeed, the appointed time has come.
14   For your servants love her very rubble, and are moved to pity even for her dust.
15   The nations shall fear your Name, O LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16   For the LORD will build up Zion, and his glory will appear.
17   He will look with favor on the prayer of the homeless; he will not despise their plea.
18   Let this be written for a future generation, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD.
19   For the LORD looked down from his holy place on high; from the heavens he beheld the earth;
20   That he might hear the groan of the captive and set free those condemned to die;
21   That they may declare in Zion the Name of the LORD, and his praise in Jerusalem;
22   When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms also, to serve the LORD.
23   He has brought down my strength before my time; he has shortened the number of my days;
24   And I said, "O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; your years endure throughout all generations.
25   In the beginning, O LORD, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands;
26   They shall perish, but you will endure; they all shall wear out like a garment; as clothing you will change them, and they shall be changed;
27   But you are always the same, and your years will never end.
28   The children of your servants shall continue, and their offspring shall stand fast in your sight."

Evening Psalms

Psalm 107: Part I Confitemini Domino
1   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his mercy endures for ever.
2   Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3   He gathered them out of the lands; from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
4   Some wandered in desert wastes; they found no way to a city where they might dwell.
5   They were hungry and thirsty; their spirits languished within them.
6   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
7   He put their feet on a straight path to go to a city where they might dwell.
8   Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy and the wonders he does for his children.
9   For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
10   Some sat in darkness and deep gloom, bound fast in misery and iron;
11   Because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
12   So he humbled their spirits with hard labor; they stumbled, and there was none to help.
13   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
14   He led them out of darkness and deep gloom and broke their bonds asunder.
15   Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy and the wonders he does for his children.
16   For he shatters the doors of bronze and breaks in two the iron bars.
17   Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; they were afflicted because of their sins.
18   They abhorred all manner of food and drew near to death's door.
19   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
20   He sent forth his word and healed them and saved them from the grave.
21   Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy and the wonders he does for his children.
22   Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.
23   Some went down to the sea in ships and plied their trade in deep waters;
24   They beheld the works of the LORD and his wonders in the deep.
25   Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, which tossed high the waves of the sea.
26   They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; their hearts melted because of their peril.
27   They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits' end.
28   Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.
29   He stilled the storm to a whisper and quieted the waves of the sea.
30   Then were they glad because of the calm, and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.
31   Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy and the wonders he does for his children.
32   Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.

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 FRIDAY, November 18, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Richelle Thompson

Psalm 102:1 (NRSV) LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.

I wept when my mother was wheeled into surgery. Later she told me how surprised she was that I had cried so much. You always seem so strong, she said. I didn’t know you cared so much. Her words were a blow. Inside, I often feel fragile as porcelain lace but somehow I had erected an exterior so tough that my own mother didn’t know my aches and fears.

When we embrace a bootstrap philosophy, we make it hard to show weakness. But stoicism is anathema to the life God calls us to live. There is no extra credit for taking our lumps with a brave face, for acting as if the trials of life don’t affect us. We need tender hearts. We need to bare our own pain and help bear the suffering of others.

It is actually impossible to pick yourself off the ground by pulling up your own bootstraps. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help, to do as the psalmist does and plead with God to hear our cries. When we stop hiding our faces from the Lord in times of trouble, we can begin to embrace the weak as strong, the poor as mighty, and our God as constant companion.

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Our Daily Bread - Love Without Borders

By Randy Kilgore

Read: Luke 22:39–46 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 8–10; Hebrews 13

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

During the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, missionaries trapped in a home in T’ai Yüan Fu decided their only hope for survival rested on running through the crowd that was calling for their deaths. Aided by weapons they held, they escaped the immediate threat. However, Edith Coombs, noticing that two of her injured Chinese students had not escaped, raced back into danger. She rescued one, but stumbled on her return trip for the second student and was killed.

Meanwhile, missionaries in Hsin Chou district had escaped and were hiding in the countryside, accompanied by their Chinese friend Ho Tsuen Kwei. But he was captured while scouting an escape route for his friends in hiding and was martyred for refusing to reveal their location.

In the lives of Edith Coombs and Tsuen Kwei we see a love that rises above cultural or national character. Their sacrifice reminds us of the greater grace and love of our Savior.

As Jesus awaited His arrest and subsequent execution, He prayed earnestly, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me.” But He concluded that request with this resolute example of courage, love, and sacrifice: “Yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). His death and resurrection made our eternal lives possible.

Lord, may the world see our love for each other—and the deeds that come from it—as a great testimony to the bond of unity we have in You. May they want to know You too.

Only the light of Christ’s love can eliminate the darkness of hatred.

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Amor sin fronteras

Por Randy Kilgore

Leer: Lucas 22:39-46 | La Biblia en un año: Hebreos 13

Nadie tiene mayor amor que este, que uno ponga su vida por sus amigos (Juan 15:13).

Durante el levantamiento de los bóxer en China, en 1900, los misioneros rodeados en una casa en T’ai Yüan Fu decidieron que la única esperanza de sobrevivir era correr entre la multitud que gritaba que murieran. Ayudados por sus armas, escaparon de la amenaza inmediata. Sin embargo, Edith Coombs, al notar que dos de sus alumnos chinos heridos no habían escapado, volvió. Rescató a uno, pero, al regresar por el otro, tropezó y la mataron.

Mientras tanto, los misioneros de Hsin Chou habían escapado y estaban escondidos. Ho Tsuen Kwei, un amigo chino que los acompañaba, fue capturado cuando buscaba un camino para que ellos escaparan, y lo mataron por negarse a revelar dónde estaban.

Edith y Tsuen son ejemplos de un amor que sobrepasa lo cultural y nacional. Su sacrificio nos recuerda la gracia y el amor ilimitados de nuestro Salvador.

Mientras Jesús esperaba que lo arrestaran y ejecutaran, oró con fervor: «Padre, si quieres, pasa de mí esta copa». Pero concluyó ese ruego con una decidida muestra de valentía, amor y sacrificio: «pero no se haga mi voluntad, sino la tuya» (Lucas 22:42). Su muerte y resurrección hicieron posible que podamos vivir eternamente.

Señor, que nuestro amor unos por otros sea un testimonio al mundo de la unidad que tenemos en ti, y que deseen conocerte también.

Solo la luz del amor de Cristo puede disipar la oscuridad del odio.

© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Liebe ohne Grenzen

Von Randy Kilgore

Lesen: Lukas 22,39-46 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Hesekiel 8–10; Hebräer 13

Niemand hat größere Liebe als die, dass er sein Leben lässt für seine Freunde. Johannes 15,13

Während des Boxeraufstands in China im Jahr 1900 wurden Missionare in einem Haus eingeschlossen. Ihre einzige Überlebenschance bestand darin, durch die Menge, die ihren Tod forderte, mitten hindurchzurennen. Mit ausgestreckten Waffen konnten sie der unmittelbaren Gefahr entrinnen. Eine der Missionarinnen, Edith Coombs, stellte jedoch fest, dass zwei ihrer verletzten chinesischen Schüler nicht dabei waren. Sie lief zurück und konnte einen retten. Als sie den zweiten holen wollte, stolperte sie und wurde getötet.

Währenddessen hatten Missionare im Distrikt Hsin Chou fliehen können und versteckten sich auf dem Land. Mit ihnen war ihr chinesischer Freund Ho Tsuen Kwei. Aber bei der Suche nach einem Fluchtweg für seine Freunde wurde er geschnappt und gefoltert, weil er das Versteck nicht verraten wollte.

Im Leben von Edith Coombs und Tsuen Kwei sehen wir eine Liebe, die sich über kulturelle oder nationale Schranken hinwegsetzt. Ihr Opfer erinnert uns an die größere Barmherzigkeit und Liebe unseres Erlösers.

Als Jesus auf seine Verhaftung und spätere Hinrichtung wartete, betete er: „Vater, willst du, so nimm diesen Kelch von mir.“ Aber er schloss seine Bitte mit beispiellosem Mut, Liebe und Opferbereitschaft: „Doch nicht mein, sondern dein Wille geschehe!“ (Luk. 22,42) Sein Tod und seine Auferstehung schenken uns ewiges Leben.

Herr, lass die Welt die Liebe sehen, die wir untereinander haben—und die Taten, die daraus entstehen—als Zeugnis für das Band der Einheit in dir, damit auch sie dich kennen lernen wollen.

Nur das Licht Jesu kann die Finsternis des Hasses erhellen.

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Любовь без границ

автор: Рэнди Килгор

Читать сейчас: Луки 22:39-46 | Библия за год: Иезекииль 8-10; 2 Тимофею 2

Нет больше той любви, как если кто положит душу свою за друзей своих. — Иоанна 15:13

Во время Ихэтуаньского восстания в Китае в 1900 г. миссионеры, оказавшиеся в окружении в городе Тай Янь Фу, решили, что единственный шанс спастись для них – это прорываться сквозь толпу. Благодаря оружию в руках, им удалось выйти из опасной зоны. Но Эдит Кумбс, заметив, что двое ее китайских учениц остались позади, решила вернуться. Одну девочку она смогла вывести в безопасное место, но, когда она отправилась за второй, ее убили.

Примерно в то же время миссионеры в области Хсин Чоу прятались в лесу, опекаемые их китайским другом по имени Хо Тсен Квей. Повстанцы захватили его и замучили до смерти, пытаясь выбить из него местонахождение миссионеров.

Эдит Кумбс и Тсен Квей – пример любви, которая выше культуры и национальности. Их жертва напоминает нам о еще большей любви Спасителя.

Ожидая взятия и казни, Иисус молился: «Отче! О, если бы Ты благоволил пронести чашу эту мимо Меня! Впрочем, не Моя воля, но Твоя да будет» (Лк. 22:42). Его смерть и воскресение открыли нам дверь в вечную жизнь.

Господи, пусть мир увидит нашу любовь друг ко другу как величайшее свидетельство единства в Тебе. Пусть окружающие люди тоже захотят познать Тебя.

Только свет Христовой любви может рассеять тьму ненависти.

© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - L’amour sans frontières

par Randy Kilgore

Lisez : Luc 22.39‑46 | La Bible en un an : Ézéchiel 8 – 10 et Hébreux 13

Il n’y a pas de plus grand amour que de donner sa vie pour ses amis. Jean 1.5

Durant le mouvement des Boxeurs, qui s’est manifesté en Chine en 1900, des missionnaires assiégés dans une maison de T’ai Yüan Fu ont décidé qu’ils n’avaient d’autre chance de survie que de traverser à la course la foule même qui réclamait leur mort. Armes au point, ils sont parvenus à échapper immédiatement à la menace. Par contre, voyant que deux de ses étudiantes chinoises blessées n’avaient pas réussi à s’enfuir, Edith Coombs est retournée sur ses pas à la course et au péril de sa vie. Or, elle est parvenue à en sauver une, mais s’est fait tuer lorsqu’elle a trébuché en retournant chercher la seconde.

Entre‑temps, des missionnaires du district de Hsin Chou ont réussi à fuir et à se cacher en campagne, avec leur ami chinois Ho Tsuen Kwei. Par contre, s’étant fait capturer pendant qu’il cherchait une issue pour ses amis, il est mort en martyr pour avoir refusé de révéler leur cachette.

De la vie d’Edith Coombs et de Ho Tsuen Kwei se dégage un amour qui transcende culture et nationalité. Or, leur sacrifice nous rappelle la grâce et l’amour incommensurables de notre Sauveur, Jésus.

Devant son arrestation et son exécution imminente, il fait une fervente prière : « Père, si tu voulais éloigner de moi cette coupe ! », mais qu’il clôt par un exemple inégalable de courage, d’amour et de sacrifice : « Toutefois, que ma volonté ne se fasse pas, mais la tienne » (LU 22.42). Sa mort et sa résurrection ont rendu possible notre vie éternelle.

Seule la lumière de l’amour de Christ vainc les ténèbres de la haine.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

NIV Devotions for Men - The Way God Intended

 

Song of Songs 8:6–7

Recommended Reading: Genesis 2:18–25; Matthew 19:1–9; Hebrews 13:4

This passage, perhaps as powerfully as any other in the entire Bible, defines and describes for modern readers God’s intentions when he invented and defined the institution of marriage.

Marriage as a concept lies deep within our collective psyche. Preschoolers role-play the family unit as part of their playground fun. Preteen girls dream of the day when they’ll walk down the aisle in a flowing white gown. Matchmaking businesses and Web sites thrive as people look for that elusive one perfect person to know and love for the rest of their lives. The vast majority of adults who live in Western cultures either are, have been or someday intend to be married. Such hopefulness in the face of a consistent 50 percent divorce rate! And yet, despite the well-publicized antics of the Hollywood set, marriage remains one of the key building blocks of family life and society as a whole.

And that’s just what God intended. The language in this passage is powerful as it speaks to the implications of marriage. One scholar has said that this passage “characterizes marital love as the strongest, most unyielding and invincible force in human experience.” Now that’s saying something! Despite the failure of individuals, the bar of God’s expectations for marriage is set sky-high. And note the implications of the last part of verse 7: True, lasting marital love involves deep integrity on the part of both parties. To paraphrase: “Money can’t buy me love.”

The power of marriage lies in the power of a promise, sealed with God’s stamp of approval, that one man makes to one woman. The promise to love another person “until death do you part” is as deep a commitment as one can make in this life. As one pastor put it, “The power to make and keep a promise is one of the strongest in the world, for it brings the promise maker within a millimeter of what it means to be like God, who makes and keeps his promises to his people.”

True, enduring, lifelong commitment is God’s expectation for marriage, and it has been since the Garden of Eden. That’s not to say that God expects us to be perfect as we relate to one another; we are, after all, still living under the effects of sin. But despite our failures, the goal for the respect we are to show toward the institution remains the same, “for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave” (Song of Songs 8:6).

To Take Away

• Are you married? If you answered yes, how does your marriage stack up to God’s expectations for the institution?
• If you’ve never been married, what is your perspective on what this passage could mean for your future?
• If you’re not married now but have been in the past, how can this passage influence your opinions and actions?

Girlfriends in God - Will You Please Give It a Rest?

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He refreshes my soul (Psalm 23:1-3, NLT).

Friend to Friend

We once had an Australian cattle dog named Dallas. Australian cattle dogs are extremely loyal to a master of their choice. Dallas chose our son Jered to be his master. When Jered came home from school each day, Dallas would greet him at the door and follow him wherever he went. If Jered did homework in his room, Dallas curled under the desk. When Jered ran an errand, Dallas rode shotgun. Dallas instinctively knew that the only place he would find genuine rest was at the feet of his master. The same is true in our lives. But … I am not very good at this rest thing.

Life is so daily and often filled with uncertainty, a reality that can make me very nervous. I want to know what the plan is and how that plan is going to be implemented. Details! I need details!

Instead, God calls me to leave the details up to Him and rest. I don’t want to rest. When I rest, I feel guilty. I have places to go, people to see, and important things to do.

But I hear the quiet whisper of the One who knows me best and loves me most, “Mary, it is time to rest.” I have tried to ignore that whisper more times than I care to admit, but it is only a temporary maneuver on my part.

The Lord is my Shepherd and is well acquainted with the antics of stubborn sheep like me. He will lovingly make me lie down in green pastures and firmly lead me beside quiet waters. Why? He wants to refresh my soul. He wants me to experience the peace that can only be found at His feet.

Rest is not really an option. It is a spiritual discipline that we need to make a spiritual habit in our life.

Many of us have bought into the lie that who we are is based on what we do or don’t do. We fill every waking moment with something or someone in order to prove our worth. After all, we must be worthy if we are doing worthy things, right? Busyness does not always equal productivity. When we admit our need to rest, we are acknowledging the fact that we are imperfect and that our human power is limited.

For years, our family vacationed in the mountains of North Carolina in order to escape the brutal heat of South Florida where we lived. We all had our favorite thing to do while on vacation. Dan loved to read and take long walks in the cool, green forests. The kids loved wading in creeks, looking for gold nuggets. My favorite activity was shopping for antiques. Now let me define antiques and antique stores according to Mary.

The best antique stores were nestled in the mountains on some remote dirt road, and the antiques were what most people would call junk. It’s all a matter of perspective.

One year, I walked into a shop and stopped in my tracks when I saw the yoke hanging on a wall. Matthew 11:28-30 is one of my husband’s favorite passages of Scripture where Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls.” For years, I searched for just the right yoke to give Dan as a special gift. But every yoke I found was either too big or too small and in less than stellar condition. The yoke before me was in perfect condition and was just the right size and price. Upon closer inspection, my excitement faded.

Yokes have two loops of leather or wood attached to a sturdy wooden frame. Two working animals wear the loops around their necks in order to bear whatever load they are given. The loops on this particular yoke were not the same size - one larger than the other. When I pointed out the flaw, the shop owner said, “It’s supposed to be made like that. The stronger animal is placed in the larger loop to help the weaker animal pull the load.”

Boom! I bought that yoke and gave it to Dan, but it is really a gift for me as well - a beautiful reminder that a shared load is a lighter load.

Are you tired and exhausted from trying to live life on your own? Come to Jesus and find rest in Him.

Let’s Pray

Father, thank You for the promise of rest we find in Your presence. It seems like I am always tired and every step is hard. Please forgive me when I turn to You as a last resort instead of running to You first. Today, I turn to You, Lord, for rest.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now it’s Your Turn 

1. Read Genesis 2:2. How does this verse apply to your life?
2. Read Job 33:26. Notice every “action” word in this verse. What does God promise when we choose to apply the steps He outlines in this verse?
3. Identify the areas of unrest in your life. Bring them to God in prayer and seek rest in Him.

More from the Girlfriends

You can't eliminate stress, but you can learn to control stress before it controls you. Mary Southerland transforms the promises of the Twenty-third Psalm into easy-to-implement, practical steps that will hand you the keys to stress management. Escaping the Stress Trap is a story-filled, humorous, and helpful approach to dealing with the pressures of life. The chapter-by-chapter study guide is ideal for both personal and small group studies.

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.

Seeking God?
Click here to find out more abouthow to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

http://www.girlfriendsingod.com

Standing Strong Through the Storm - RELEASE FROM CHAINS

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:26

African Muslim, El Gasim, saw the sign of the cross one day while praying the usual five times a day in the prison where he was incarcerated. He changed positions but the cross wouldn’t go away. This went on for seven days. He had no explanation for it, except that Christ was calling him to give his life to Him. A Christian pastor, also in prison explained that living for Christ would not be without suffering. They prayed together.

Other Muslim inmates saw El Gasim praying one day with another Christian prisoner and reported them to the authorities. When summoned to the superintendent’s office, they openly declared their faith in Christ and received twenty-five lashes each, administered by a Christian warder. The other prisoner denied his new faith but El Gasim confessed Christ and said he would face the consequence, no matter what. This enraged the authorities. He was beaten, shackled in chains weighing over fifty pounds and put on death row to be hanged.

The imprisoned pastor had great compassion for El Gasim, knowing that if God did not intervene, he was surely staring death in the eye. He told him Paul and Silas’ story, reminding him that he wasn’t the first to be beaten and chained for the sake of Christ. The important thing to remember was that Paul and Silas prayed and praised God, when their chains fell off and the prison doors opened. The pastor confirmed that it could still happen today, because the power that worked then, was still at work today. They prayed together, earnestly seeking God’s will.

The pastor retired to his room and continued praying. In the meantime, El Gasim, who then felt encouraged by the sharing, took the first step and to his surprise, the unexpected happened—the chain broke loose and fell from one of his legs. Bystanders, whose attention were drawn by the sound of the falling chain, watched in amazement as he took the second step—the same thing happened. A miracle had happened right before him and his other inmates. El Gasim went to the warder and told him, “Your chains are in the chapel, go and collect them.”

Trembling and confused the warder informed his superiors of this strange occurrence. An emergency meeting was convened. The incident could not be ignored or laughed off as nonsense. There were too many witnesses. They decided that it would be best to let El Gasim go free, because if he stayed he would certainly convert others to Christianity. Sending him to another prison wouldn’t help either, because even there they couldn’t stop Christ from doing miracles.

RESPONSE: Today I affirm my faith in a miracle working God who can release me from my chains.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted Christian prisoners who need to be released from chains today.

Un Dia a la Vez - Cuando Dios produce los cambios

Escucha, hijo mío; acoge mis palabras, y los años de tu vida aumentarán. Yo te guío por el camino de la sabiduría, te dirijo por sendas de rectitud. Proverbios 4:10

Como hijo de Dios, no te debes preocupar, ni tienes que dudar, ni temer. ¿Por qué? Porque es muy diferente cuando las situaciones de la vida se presentan con el sello de Dios. Es como cuando compras un auto de lujo y sabes que no te dará ni un dolor de cabeza. O cuando compras confiado un aparato electrodoméstico de una marca reconocida porque sabes que tendrás en casa lo que cuesta en calidad y en garantía. Mejor aun, es cuando tu Padre celestial te llama a un cambio.

A cada momento, Dios nos muestra esferas de la vida que están podridas. Sí, eso es, suena feo y horrible, pero es verdad. Nos están contaminando y serían capaces de infectar a las personas que nos rodean.

He visto también que cuando Dios tiene un llamado, prepara nuestros corazones para cambios en la vida. Quizá sea dejar un trabajo secular para servirle al cien por cien en la obra. Esto atemoriza porque queremos sentirnos seguros. Entonces, cuando no vemos nada fijo, podemos dudar. Sin embargo, debes saber que los cambios son necesarios y determinantes para nuestro futuro.

Cuando dejamos todo en las manos de Dios, no hay problema, pues Él no se equivoca. Sabe lo que es mejor para cada uno de sus hijos y ve las cosas de otra manera, pues conoce el futuro. Así que no te resistas cuando sientas un llamado al cambio. Dios tiene el control y no hay nada más maravilloso que servirle a Él que es el mejor jefe.

Verse of the Day - November 17, 2016

Psalm 119:105 (NIV) Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Read all of Psalm 119

The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, November 17, 2016

Malachi 2:1-16
And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction. Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob anyone who does this-- any to witness or answer, or to bring an offering to the LORD of hosts. And this you do as well: You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. You ask, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit are his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless.

James 4:13-5:6
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money." Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin. Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you. Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.

Luke 17:20-37
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you." Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them -- it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left." Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

Morning Psalms

Psalm 105: Part I Confitemini Domino
1   Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.
2   Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvelous works.
3   Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4   Search for the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face.
5   Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6   O offspring of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen.
7   He is the LORD our God; his judgments prevail in all the world.
8   He has always been mindful of his covenant, the promise he made for a thousand generations:
9   The covenant he made with Abraham, the oath that he swore to Issac,
10   Which he established as a statute for Jacob, an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11   Saying, "To you will I give the land of Canaan to be your allotted inheritance."
12   When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13   Wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,
14   He let no one oppress them and rebuked kings for their sake,
15   Saying, "Do not touch my anointed and do my prophets no harm."
16   Then he called for a famine in the land and destroyed the supply of bread.
17   He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18   They bruised his feet in fetters; his neck they put in an iron collar.
19   Until his prediction came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
20   The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21   He set him as a master over his household, as a ruler over all his possessions,
22   To instruct his princes according to his will and to teach his elders wisdom.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 105: Part II Et intravit Israel
23   Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
24   The LORD made his people exceedingly fruitful; he made them stronger than their enemies;
25   Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, and dealt unjustly with his servants.
26   He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27   They worked his signs among them, and portents in the land of Ham.
28   He sent darkness, and it grew dark; but the Egyptians rebelled against his words.
29   He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.
30   Their land was overrun by frogs, in the very chambers of their kings.
31   He spoke, and there came swarms of insects and gnats within all their borders.
32   He gave them hailstones instead of rain, and flames of fire throughout their land.
33   He blasted their vines and their fig trees and shattered every tree in their country.
34   He spoke, and the locust came, and young locusts without number,
35   Which ate up all the green plants in their land and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36   He struck down the firstborn of their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
37   He led out his people with silver and gold; in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38   Egypt was glad of their going, because they were afraid of them.
39   He spread out a cloud for a covering and a fire to give light in the night season.
40   They asked, and quails appeared, and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41   He opened the rock, and water flowed, so the river ran in the dry places.
42   For God remembered his holy word and Abraham his servant.
43   So he led forth his people with gladness, his chosen with shouts of joy.
44   He gave his people the lands of the nations, and they took the fruit of others' toil,
45   That they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. 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 THURSDAY, November 17, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Richelle Thompson

James 4:14 (NRSV) Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Tragedy bookended the week. A high school senior was struck and killed while sledding and reveling in a snow day. A few days later, an elementary school principal pushed students out of the way of a lurching bus, dying a hero’s death.

Hug your loved ones a bit tighter, Facebook posts encouraged. Be thankful, people wrote, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

James knew that life is fleeting. And in the gospel reading for today, Jesus tells us this too. We will not know when the kingdom of God is coming. There is no countdown or time for advance planning. Instead we are to live as if the kingdom of God is truly already among us—loving our neighbors, serving others, praying, worshiping, caring for the earth, and rejoicing in the splendor of creation. When we do these things, when we live in the moment, we build a future for our children—living memories of heaven on earth.

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Our Daily Bread - A Façade

By Anne Cetas

Read: Matthew 6:1–6 | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 5–7; Hebrews 12

Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Matthew 6:4 NLT

Kerri tries hard to get people to admire her. She acts happy most of the time so that others will notice and compliment her on her joyful attitude. Some affirm her because they see her helping people in the community. But in a transparent moment Kerri will admit, "I love the Lord, but in some ways I feel like my life is a façade." Her own sense of insecurity is behind much of her effort of trying to look good to others, and she says she’s running out of energy to keep it up.

We can probably all relate in some way because it’s not possible to have perfect motives. We love the Lord and others, but our motives for how we live the Christian life are sometimes mixed with our desire to be valued or praised.

Jesus talked about those who give, pray, and fast in order to be seen (Matt. 6:1–18). He taught in the Sermon on the Mount to “give your gifts in private,” to “pray to your Father in private,” and “when you fast, don't make it obvious” (vv. 4, 6, 16 nlt).

Serving is most often done publicly, but maybe a little anonymous service could help us learn to rest in God’s opinion of us. He who created us in His image values us so much that He gave us His Son and shows us His love each day.

Dear Lord, please forgive me for desiring praise from others more than from You. Please help me as I struggle to keep my motives pure.

Our desire to please God should be our highest motive for obeying God.

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Solo una apariencia

Por Anne Cetas

Leer: Mateo 6:1-6 | La Biblia en un año: Hebreos 12

… sea tu limosna en secreto; y tu Padre que ve en lo secreto te recompensará en público (Mateo 6:4).

Carina se esfuerza muchísimo para que la gente la admire. Se muestra feliz casi todo el tiempo para que los demás lo noten y la elogien por su actitud. Algunos la felicitan porque la ven ayudar a personas de la comunidad. Sin embargo, cuando se sincera, admite: «Amo al Señor, pero, en cierto modo, siento que mi vida es solo una apariencia». Una sensación de inseguridad se esconde detrás de sus esfuerzos por intentar quedar bien ante los demás, y reconoce que ya no puede seguir así.

Tal vez todos nos identifiquemos en algo, ya que es imposible tener motivaciones perfectas. Amamos al Señor y a los demás, pero lo que nos mueve en la vida cristiana suele mezclarse con el deseo de ser reconocidos o valorados.

Jesús habló de los que dan, oran y ayunan para que los vean (Mateo 6:1-6). En el Sermón del Monte, enseñó: «sea tu limosna en secreto», «cerrada la puerta, ora a tu Padre» y «cuando […] ayunen, no se muestren afligidos (vv. 4, 6, 16 [RVC]).

Aunque el servicio suele hacerse en público, quizá un poco de auxilio anónimo podría ayudarnos a aprender a valorar lo que Dios opina de nosotros. El que nos creó a su imagen nos valora tanto que entregó a su Hijo y nos muestra su amor cada día.

Señor, perdóname por desear el elogio de los demás más que el tuyo. Ayúdame a tener motivaciones puras.

El deseo de agradar a Dios debería ser nuestra mayor motivación para obedecerlo.

© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario