The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, December 9, 2016

First Reading:
From the Old Testament

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-- the king of Assyria." On that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the sources of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures. On that day the Lord will shave with a razor hired beyond the River-- with the king of Assyria-- the head and the hair of the feet, and it will take off the beard as well. On that day one will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, and will eat curds because of the abundance of milk that they give; for everyone that is left in the land shall eat curds and honey. On that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns. With bow and arrows one will go there, for all the land will be briers and thorns; and as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not go there for fear of briers and thorns; but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread. (Isaiah 7:10-25, NRSV)

Second Reading:
From the Epistles

But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word. Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5, NRSV)

The Holy Gospel:
According to St Luke, the 22nd Chapter

When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!" Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. "You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:14-30, NRSV)

Morning Psalms

Psalm 31 In te, Domine, speravi
1   In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2   Incline your ear to me; make haste to deliver me.
3   Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
4   Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, for you are my tower of strength.
5   Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O LORD, O God of truth.
6   I hate those who cling to worthless idols, and I put my trust in the LORD.
7   I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; for you have seen my affliction; you know my distress.
8   You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; you have set my feet in an open place.
9   Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10   For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11   I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12   I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am as useless as a broken pot.
13   For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14   But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. I have said, "You are my God.
15   My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16   Make your face to shine upon your servant, and in your loving-kindness save me."
17   LORD, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; rather, let the wicked be put to shame; let them be silent in the grave.
18   Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against the righteous, haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.
19   How great is your goodness, O LORD! which you have laid up for those who fear you; which you have done in the sight of all for those who put their trust in you.
20   You hide them in the covert of your presence from those who slander them; you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.
21   Blessed be the LORD! for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a besieged city.
22   Yet I said in my alarm, "I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes." Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty when I cried out to you.
23   Love the LORD, all you who worship him; the LORD protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily.
24   Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 35 Judica, Domine
1   Fight those who fight me, O LORD; attack those who are attacking me.
2   Take up shield and armor and rise up to help me.
3   Draw the sword and bar the way against those who pursue me; say to my soul, "I am your salvation."
4   Let those who seek after my life be shamed and humbled; let those who plot my ruin fall back and be dismayed.
5   Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the LORD drive them away.
6   Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the LORD pursue them.
7   For they have secretly spread a net for me without a cause; without a cause they have dug a pit to take me alive.
8   Let ruin come upon them unawares; let them be caught in the net they hid; let them fall into the pit they dug.
9   Then I will be joyful in the LORD; I will glory in his victory.
10   My very bones will say, "LORD, who is like you? You deliver the poor from those who are too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them."
11   Malicious witnesses rise up against me; they charge me with matters I know nothing about.
12   They pay me evil in exchange for good; my soul is full of despair.
13   But when they were sick I dressed in sack-cloth and humbled myself by fasting.
14   I prayed with my whole heart, as one would for a friend or a brother; I behaved like one who mourns for his mother, bowed down and grieving.
15   But when I stumbled, they were glad and gathered together; they gathered against me; strangers whom I did not know tore me to pieces and would not stop.
16   They put me to the test and mocked me; they gnashed at me with their teeth.
17   O Lord, how long will you look on? rescue me from the roaring beasts, and my life from the young lions.
18   I will give you thanks in the great congregation; I will praise you in the mighty throng.
19   Do not let my treacherous foes rejoice over me, nor let those who hate me without a cause wink at each other.
20   For they do not plan for peace, but invent deceitful schemes against the quiet in the land.
21   They opened their mouths at me and said, "Aha! we saw it with our own eyes."
22   You saw it, O LORD; do not be silent; O Lord, be not far from me.
23   Awake, arise, to my cause! to my defense, my God and my Lord!
24   Give me justice, O LORD my God, according to your righteousness; do not let them triumph over me.
25   Do not let them say in their hearts, "Aha! just what we want!" Do not let them say, "We have swallowed him up."
26   Let all who rejoice at my ruin be ashamed and disgraced; let those who boast against me be clothed with dismay and shame.
27   Let those who favor my cause sing out with joy and be glad; let them say always, "Great is the LORD, who desires the prosperity of his servant."
28   And my tongue shall be talking of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

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, December 9, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Hugo Olaiz


Luke 22:19 (NRSV) Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

On Sundays, the priest invites the congregation to join her around the altar, and I rush to the back of the chapel to repeat the invitation aloud, in English and Spanish, “Everyone is invited to the table. Everyone!” We are all welcome—the homeless man sitting in the back row, those with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs, the shy Latino unmarried couple who came with a four-week-old baby in their arms. When we say everyone, we really mean it.

We join the prayers of the sick and the lonely, and the circle expands. We join the prayers of refugees desperately trying to reach Athens, Sweden, or Toronto, and the circle expands. We join your prayers as well. In fact we join the prayers of every person who prays.

We hold hands, say the Lord’s Prayer, and share the bread and the wine. We are not just taking in the body of Christ—we are becoming the Body of Christ.

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Our Daily Bread - The Gift of Encouragement

By David McCasland

Read: Acts 4:32–37; 9:26–27 | Bible in a Year: Daniel 11–12; Jude

Joseph . . . whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Acts 4:36–37

An old Merle Haggard song, “If We Make It Through December,” tells the story of a man laid off from his factory job with no money to buy Christmas gifts for his little girl. Although December is supposed to be a happy time of year, his life seems dark and cold.

Discouragement is not unique to December, but it can be amplified then. Our expectations may be higher, our sadness deeper. A little encouragement can go a long way.

Joseph, a man from Cyprus, was among the early followers of Jesus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.” We meet him in Acts 4:36–37 when he sold a piece of property and donated the money to help other believers in need.

Later, we read that the disciples were afraid of Saul (Acts 9:26). “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (v. 27). Saul, later called Paul, had formerly been trying to kill the believers, but Barnabas defended him as a man transformed by Christ.

All around us are people longing to be encouraged. A timely word, a phone call, or a prayer can bolster their faith in Jesus.

The generosity and support of Barnabas demonstrate what it means to be a son or daughter of encouragement. That may be the greatest gift we can give to others this Christmas.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of encouragement. May we encourage others as they have encouraged us.

Encouragement may be the greatest gift we give this Christmas.

© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Regalar ánimo

Por david c. mccasland

Leer: Hch. 4:32-37; 9:26-27 | La Biblia en un año: Judas

… Bernabé (que traducido es, Hijo de consolación), […] tenía una heredad, la vendió y trajo el precio […] a los pies de los apóstoles (Hechos 4:36-37).

Hay una antigua canción que relata la historia de un hombre que fue despedido de su trabajo y no tenía dinero para comprar un regalo de Navidad para su hijita. Aunque se supone que diciembre es una época feliz del año, su vida parecía oscura y fría.

El desánimo no es algo exclusivo de diciembre, pero puede aumentar en esta época. Las expectativas podrían incrementarse y la tristeza hacerse más profunda. Un poco de ánimo puede ayudar mucho.

José, oriundo de Chipre, fue uno de los primeros seguidores de Jesús. Los apóstoles lo llamaron Bernabé, que significa «hijo de consolación». También lo vemos en Hechos 4:36-37, cuando vendió una propiedad y donó el dinero para ayudar a otros creyentes necesitados. También en 9:26, cuando llevó a Saulo —conocido después como Pablo— ante los apóstoles, quienes le tenían miedo, y lo defendió por ser un hombre al que Cristo había transformado.

Estamos rodeados de personas que necesitan recibir ánimo. Una palabra oportuna, una llamada telefónica o una oración con ellas pueden fortalecer su fe en Jesús.

La generosidad y el apoyo de Bernabé demuestran qué significa ser un hijo de consolación. Tal vez sea el mejor regalo que puedas darle a alguien esta Navidad.

Señor, gracias por el regalo del ánimo y la consolación. Que nos alentemos unos a otros hoy.

El consuelo puede ser el mejor regalo que demos en esta Navidad.

© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Mutmacher

Von David McCasland

Lesen: Apostelgeschichte 4,32-37; 9,26-27 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Daniel 11–12; Judas

Josef aber, der von den Aposteln Barnabas genannt wurde—das heißt übersetzt: Sohn des Trostes—der hatte einen Acker und verkaufte ihn und brachte das Geld und legte es den Aposteln zu Füßen. (Apostelgeschichte 4,36-37)

In seinem Song „If We Make It Through December“ erzählt Countrysänger Merle Haggard die Geschichte von einem Mann, der seinen Job verlor und kein Geld hat, um seiner kleinen Tochter ein Weihnachtsgeschenk zu kaufen. Obwohl der Dezember eine glückliche Zeit sein soll, ist sein Leben kalt und finster.

Enttäuschungen gibt es nicht nur im Dezember, aber dann empfindet man sie stärker. Unsere Erwartung ist höher, unsere Trauer tiefer. Da kann eine kleine Ermutigung viel ausmachen.

Josef aus Zypern gehörte zu den frühen Nachfolgern Jesu. Die Apostel nannten ihn Barnabas, was übersetzt „Sohn des Trostes“ heißt. Wir begegnen ihm in Apostelgeschichte 4,36-37, wo er einen Acker verkauft und das Geld für Gläubige spendet, die Not leiden.

Später lesen wir, dass die Apostel sich vor Saulus fürchteten (Apg. 9,26). „Barnabas aber nahm ihn zu sich und führte ihn zu den Aposteln“ (V.27). Saulus, der später Paulus hieß, hatte in der Vergangenheit versucht, die Gläubigen umzubringen, aber Barnabas verteidigte ihn, weil er von Christus verändert worden war.

Überall sehnen sich Menschen nach Ermutigung. Ein Wort zur rechten Zeit, ein Anruf oder ein Gebet kann ihren Glauben an Jesus stärken.

Das Verhalten von Barnabas zeigt, was es heißt, ein Sohn, eine Tochter des Trostes zu sein. Das ist vielleicht das größte Geschenk, das wir anderen zu Weihnachten machen können.

Danke, Herr, für die Gabe der Ermutigung. Lass uns anderen Mut machen, so wie sie uns ermutigen.

Einem anderen Mut machen ist vielleicht das größte Weihnachtsgeschenk, das wir machen können.

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Утешение в подарок

автор: Дэвид Маккасланд

 Читать сейчас: Деяния 4:32-37; 9:26-27 | Библия за год: Даниил 11-12; Евреям 13

Иосия, прозванный апостолами Варнавой, что значит «сын утешения»... у которого была своя земля, продал ее, принес деньги и положил к ногам апостолов. — Деяния 4:36-37

Старая песня под названием «Если справимся с декабрем» рассказывает о человеке, которого уволили с работы. У него не было денег, чтобы купить подарок своей маленькой дочери. Хотя декабрь должен был быть самым веселым временем в году, жизнь казалась ему мрачной и холодной.

Разочарование может прийти в любом месяце, но декабрь способен его усилить. Из-за завышенных ожиданий уныние может стать тяжелее обычного.

Иосия одним из первых уверовал в Иисуса Христа. Апостолы назвали его Варнавой, что значит «сын утешения». Мы встречаем его в книге Деяний (Деян. 4:36-37): он продает землю и жертвует деньги на помощь нуждающимся.

Позже мы читаем, как ученики боялись Савла, не веря в его обращение (Деян. 9:26). «Варнава же, взяв его, пришел к апостолам и рассказал им, как на пути он видел Господа» (Деян. 9:27). Савл был известен как гонитель христиан, но Варнава поверил ему и встал на его защиту.

Вокруг нас много людей, нуждающихся в утешении. Вовремя сказанное слово, телефонный звонок, совместная молитва – все это может укрепить их веру в Спасителя. Щедрость и жертвенность Варнавы показывают, что значит быть сыном или дочерью утешения. Возможно, это лучший подарок, который вы можете подарить кому-то на Рождество.

Благодарим Тебя, Господь, за дар утешения. Помоги нам ободрять других и даруй самим получать утешение вовремя.

Утешение может стать нашим лучшим подарком на Рождество.

© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le don d’encourager

par David McCasland

Lisez : Actes 4.32‑37 ; 9.26,27 | La Bible en un an : Daniel 11 – 12 et Jude

Joseph, surnommé par les apôtres Barnabas, ce qui signifie fils d’exhortation […] vendit un champ qu’il possédait, apporta l’argent, et le déposa aux pieds des apôtres. (Actes 4.36,37)

Une vieille chanson de Merle Haggard, « If We Make It Through December » (Si nous survivons au mois de décembre), raconte l’histoire d’un ouvrier d’usine qui, ayant été mis à pied, n’a pas de quoi acheter de cadeau de Noël à sa fillette. Bien que le mois de décembre soit censé être une période joyeuse de l’année, sa vie semble être sombre et froide.

Bien qu’il ne soit pas unique au mois de décembre, le découragement est susceptible de s’aggraver en cette période. Or, un petit encouragement peut être d’une grande aide.

Joseph comptait parmi les premiers disciples de Jésus. Les apôtres l’appelaient Barnabas, qui signifie « fils d’exhortation ». Nous faisons sa connaissance dans Actes 4.36,37, où il vend un terrain et en donne l’argent afin qu’il serve au soutien financier de croyants démunis.

Plus tard, nous lisons que les disciples redoutaient Saul (AC 9.26), mais que « Barnabas, l’ayant pris avec lui, le conduisit vers les apôtres » (V. 27). Saul, ultérieurement appelé Paul, avait auparavant cherché à tuer les croyants, mais Barnabas a pris sa défense, car Christ l’avait transformé.

Partout, des gens ont soif d’encouragement. Une parole, un appel téléphonique ou une prière à propos peut augmenter leur foi en Jésus.

Il se pourrait que la générosité et le soutien que Barnabas a manifestés soient le plus beau cadeau à offrir ce Noël.

Un encouragement pourrait être le meilleur cadeau à offrir ce Noël.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

A Brief History of Advent

Advent is a little late on the scene. The Council of Saragossa (Spain, 380AD) is the first reference to a preparatory period before celebrating the Incarnation. Fasting and daily church going was required from December 17 until Epiphany (Theophany, January 6th – the celebration of the Incarnation in those days in that and other regions).

Then, mimicking the preparation before Easter, the Synod of Mac (France, 581) decreed that from November 11 (Feast of St. Martin) until December 24 fasting be three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) [often called “St Martin’s Lent”).

Rome, ever conservative, did not introduce an Advent preparatory period until the sixth century. It was less penitential than the Lenten preparation.

The Gelasian Sacramentary, was the first to provide Advent liturgies for five Sundays (the origin of the “Stir Up” Sunday) [Syrian Jacobites contine a five Sunday preparation period]. Pope Gregory I (d. 604) added prayers, antiphons, readings, and responses, and Pope Gregory VII (d. 1095) reduced the number of Sundays in Advent to four (followed by Western Christians, Copts, and Nestorians). Starting the Church Year on the first Sunday of Advent was a ninth century development.

The Council of Constantinople (1166) decreed that a fast begin on November 15 and last until December 24 inclusive – clearly paralleling the forty days of Lent. That Eastern preparation is often referred to as “Phillip’s Fast” because it begins on the day after the feast of St. Phillip.

The origin of the Advent Wreath seems to be sixteenth century German Lutherans. Increasing baroque and complicating tendencies means that some people are now naming the individual candles – and the cluttering of liturgy continues – often these late accretions become the primary focus, further bedded in by the obsession with “themes”.

Holding penitence and joyfulness in tension is a foundation of this season. There is a similar tension between preparing for the celebration of Christ’s birth (itself a relatively late arrival on the liturgical scene) and preparing for the parousia.

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Reprinted from Liturgy.co.nz

Girlfriends in God - Remember the Ninevites!

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy (Proverbs 28:13, NIV).

Friend to Friend

We will never experience the life God wants us to live until we are ready to honestly face and deal with our sin. I mean the kind of honesty that shines a spotlight in every dark corner of our hearts. Getting real. Getting honest. Going all in with God – like the people of Nineveh did.

God sent Jonah to Nineveh with a message – and it was a doozy! Jonah told the Ninevites they had 40 days to clean up their act and get their lives in order, or God would destroy their city.

When the King of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message, he took it seriously. The King first addressed the sin in his own heart. He then vacated his thrown, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat down in the dust.

He urged the people of Nineveh to listen to Jonah – to give up their violent and evil ways. He warned them to turn from their sins – and they did!

When God saw how the Ninevites repented, He forgave them and He saved them.

Now fast-forward a few thousand years … to present time.

Our daughter has two little boys. Justus is seven years old and truly has a special calling on his life. He is pure in heart, has a sweet spirit, and loves God fiercely.

Justus has a little brother named Hudson. Hudson is a four-year-old charmer and a comedian. He also has a calling on his life – to test Justus’ love for Jesus.

One night, Hudson was exhausted from his day in preschool and was just over life. The result was a full-blown tantrum. Sam, our son-in-law, came home from a tense day at work and was also tired. Our daughter had been running errands all day, and was running on fumes.

It wasn’t long before Hudson’s tantrum caused everyone to fall off the emotional cliff from which they had been hanging – and things got heated.

In the midst of the heat, Justus stepped up to the plate and said, “Now everyone just needs to calm down! Mom and Dad, you need to stop and take a deep breath.” Justus then demonstrated how to breathe deeply and “let all of the bad feelings out.” When a measure of peace had been restored, Justus turned to Hudson with a stern warning, “And Hudson, you need to remember what happened to the Ninevites!”

We all need to remember what happened to the Ninevites!

God has the same message for us today. We need to get our lives in order. We need to cry out to God, turn from our wicked ways, and deal with the sin in our lives. But if you are like me, it is easy to become flippant about sin.

The first time we commit a sin it is painful. We are filled with remorse and mourn the fact that we have grieved the heart of God. But regret is not enough when it comes to dealing with sin.

Unless we confess and turn away from that sin, we are likely to commit it again. If we allow sin to settle into our life and refuse to confess it, that sin eventually hardens our heart and builds spiritual calluses in our soul. When we become comfortable with our sin, we are walking in enemy territory and setting ourselves up for spiritual failure and discouragement.

The good news is that Jesus understands human frailty. He is well acquainted with temptation and the tactics of Satan. Jesus gave His life as a ransom for our sin – and He paid our sin debt in full.

But if we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done (1 John 1:9, NCV).

This verse was written to believers as an encouragement to deal with sin and a promise that when we do so, God is faithful to forgive us and to clean up the mess that sin has caused.

We are not perfect – just forgiven. God is very serious about sin. We should be as well. And we need to remember what happened to the Ninevites.

Let’s Pray

Father, do not let me ever forget the price You paid for my sin. Thank You for the forgiveness and freedom You purchased with Your death on the cross. Bring swift awareness and conviction when I sin. Give me the strength and power to deal with and turn from the sin in my life.
For Your glory and in Your Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Set aside time each day to pray and study His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of every sin that stands between you and God. Confess that sin. Choose against it and walk on in His power and forgiveness. Ask yourself the following questions:

What sin do I need to confess right now?

Why have I held on to this sin?

What effect has this sin had on my life?

What changes do I need to make in order to “turn” from my sin?

Do I really believe that God can and will forgive this sin? Why? Why not?

More from the Girlfriends

Winning the War with Temptation is one of Mary’s E-Download Bible Studies based on the life of Eve. It examines the life of Eve to discover five steps we can take to win the war with temptation. Temptation is a certainty of life, but God has a plan that will enable us to stand firm in His strength.

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Un Dia a la Vez - El amor de Dios en mi vida

Así manifestó Dios su amor entre nosotros: en que envió a su Hijo unigénito al mundo para que vivamos por medio de él. 1 Juan 4:9

Un día como hoy, esta servidora llegó a este mundo. Creo que por eso disfruto mucho de estas temporadas navideñas.

Aún recuerdo mi niñez sencilla, pero muy divertida, en mi natal Colombia. Había fuegos artificiales y disfrutaba de la compañía de mis amistades. En esa época, como buena católica, celebraba la conocida «Novena de Aguinaldos» con villancicos, el árbol de Navidad y, sin faltar, el pesebre, o como se conoce en algunos países, el nacimiento. A pesar de esta hermosa época, desconocía el verdadero significado de la Navidad, pues para muchos solo era una oportunidad de vacaciones, mientras que para otros era enfrascarse en las decoraciones navideñas. Así que un día, hace muchos años, comprendí el verdadero significado de la «Navidad».

La Navidad es hermosa y sé que en esos días surge en nuestro corazón una necesidad por la familia y un anhelo de comprarles regalos a los niños que los esperan con tanta ilusión.

A la hora de analizar esta hermosa estación del año, tú y yo debemos entender que Jesús es la verdadera razón de la Navidad. Cuando le abrimos nuestro corazón, nos convertimos en el pesebre donde nace el Salvador.

Por lo tanto, debemos darle gracias a Dios por su Hijo, Jesús, que vino a este mundo para darnos el regalo de la vida eterna.

Si aún no has tenido ese encuentro personal con Jesucristo, ¿por qué no permites que ese corazoncito bello que tienes se convierta hoy en un pesebre donde nacerá tu Salvador?

De ese modo, ¡tú también nacerás de nuevo!

NIV Devotions for Men - Faithless vs. Unfaithful

Jeremiah 3:6–20

Recommended Reading: 2 Chronicles 26:16–21; Luke 18:9–14; John 9:41; Hebrews 10:26–31

Two words for wanderers: faithless and unfaithful.

The faithless people of Israel forgot their first love. They lost their passion for service. Though they had once enjoyed a close relationship with their Maker, they turned from him, rejecting truths they had once held dear. And so they struggled just beyond the safe harbor, battered by the seas of uncertainty.

Unfaithful Judah, by contrast, knew the truth but denied its footing in the nation’s heart. An unfaithful man may say that he’s on God’s side, but his actions, words and priorities prove otherwise. By God’s measure, an unfaithful person ranks with a traitor—wicked and treacherous. Why? Because he mocks the very relationship he pretends to honor. Simply put, he pretends to be a believer, while deep down he’s a phony.

For the unfaithful, faking love for God can become an addiction. We all know people who have all the right moves. At church they pray with impressive sincerity, but at home they shred their spouses with cruel comments. This inconsistency is like a ten-foot-long fingernail screeching across God’s chalkboard. It grates on the soul.

The unfaithful float through life, sinning without shame. They’re in the most dangerous place imaginable. They hang in the balance. Unless they reestablish their bond with God, replacing showiness with sincerity, they will be damned.

The faithless and the unfaithful—the Bible holds out hope for both. For the former, however, the journey to the Savior seems shorter, more direct. Sometimes faithless men can learn to trust more by admitting their doubt. Slipping away from the mark and sliding back from the goal are synonyms for faithless. The remedy is simple: Return to the Lord.

Contrast that with the unfaithful person. He pretends his life is sewn up tight while he’s busy yanking out the stitches with his own hands.

If you think either template fits your life, stop your wandering. Come back to your God and King.

To Take Away

• Would you rather be the faithless man or the unfaithful man? Why?
• Do you know any faithless or unfaithful men? How can you offer them encouragement?
• What people or circumstances cause you to wander away from Jesus? What practical steps can you take to protect yourself from these stumbling blocks?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - OUR SPIRITS BLOSSOM WHEN WE SING

God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68:6

Our Open Doors colleague, Ron Boyd-MacMillan, shares the following insight from his teaching, “Why I Need to Encounter the Persecuted Church.”

Chinese evangelist, Mrs Yang, was visited by another full time preacher who was very downcast. The preacher wanted to buy a tape player, but had no money. Mrs Yang sat down and just began to sing to him. Her voice was deep and scratchy, the tune barely discernible, the words simple: I am a wanderer, my home is in heaven/ Life is fleeting/ Our home is in heaven/ In this world we have many trials/ And sadness and sickness/ True happiness is not in this world/ But in heaven.

Mrs Yang sang as if before the Lord himself. Every word poured out from her core with total conviction. Tears rolled down her cheeks, her hands clenched the air, and she beat time on her hip. Soon the visiting preacher had joined in, and I watched them, roaring out the hymn together, smiles over both their faces. The preacher left, still with no money for his longed for tape player, but refreshed and encouraged.

Then again, I watched one morning as Mrs. Yang went out into the hills to pray. I followed her at a discreet distance. First she prayed for twenty minutes, and then she sang, walking around, for another twenty minutes. For the next hour she read her Bible, making notes, planning the day’s sermons. After that she sang again, for another half hour.

I confessed I had been spying on her, and asked “Why do you sing so much when there is no one to hear?” She said, “My father once told me, ‘One of the sweet things about the Christian life is that you will do things because they are commanded, and then you will spend the rest of your life gaining deeper insight into why God’s commands are so good.’ So singing is a command. In the Psalms we are constantly exhorted to sing praises to our God. But as for why, I confess it is one of those wonderful mysteries my father told me about. You see, while in prison, I could pray and read scripture, but nothing raised my spirits like singing. Maybe it’s because singing somehow concentrates all of the body on the praise of God, but I have found it essential to the maintenance of a positive spirit.”

Then she looked embarrassed. I said, “What is it? You were about to say something, but you have gone all reticent.” She replied, “Well, it’s just that an old lady told me something that really sums up the main reason I sing. She said, ‘Our spirits are like flowers, and song is the sun. Just as flowers only truly open when the sun shines, so our spirits only blossom when we sing.’ I believe that. I don’t know how, but it’s true. Since my prison cell, I cannot do without song, and I am very frightened that as China gets more open, and the churches get more organized, we are going to leave the singing to the professionals. This would be terrible. The only way you can have a full blossoming spirit is to sing to it.”

RESPONSE: Today I will make my spirit blossom positively by singing to the Lord in the Spirit.

PRAYER: Ask God to impact all Christians with this valuable insight of singing praises to Him.

Verse of the Day - December 08, 2016

John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Read all of John 14

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