LHM Daily Devotion - September 1, 2017 "More than Wishful Thinking"

Not so long ago, I read about a woman who had driven about 50 miles to...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"More than Wishful Thinking"

September 1, 2017

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

~ John 14:27 (ESV)

Not so long ago, I read about a woman who had driven about 50 miles to visit an old friend.

They had a wonderful time. Unfortunately, when it was time to go home, she found her keys were locked in the car, and there was nobody around who could help her. Finally, the lady called her husband. She prepared herself for some husbandly observations like "What were you thinking of?" and "Women drivers!" She did hear those, but she also heard him say, "You stay put" -- as if she had an option -- "and I'll come on out and bring you my set of keys."

As she stood by the side of her locked car, she continued to talk with her sympathetic friend.

During the course of their sharing, her friend tried one of the back doors and found it to be open. Her friend commented: "If your husband was going to be upset with you for having to make the drive out here because you locked your keys in your car, just how angry is he going to be when he finds he made the trip for no reason at all?"

To which the lady replied, "I don't think he'll be upset," and she locked the door and shut it.

It would be a wonderful thing if we could take care of all our worries by pushing a button and slamming a door. Unfortunately, most of our worries don't seem to be so easily solved.

Think about it.

When you share your worries with a friend, they usually say something sympathetic like "Hey, hang in there. This is going to be all right. Things will work out just fine. You're worrying about nothing." Occasionally they will say, "Hey, things could be worse, you know" and then they tell of somebody who had things worse than Job.

I've seen people, people on their deathbeds, who wanted to talk about leaving this world, and the family stopped all conversation by saying, "Don't talk that way. You're going to beat this thing and get better. You're just having a temporary setback."

Now, I know, and you know, that all of those speakings and sayings are offered with the best of intentions. But, those sayings, no matter how sincerely they are given are, in the final analysis, pretty empty and meaningless.

In contrast, I would like you to hear the Savior say, "Peace."

When Jesus said, "Peace," He was saying to those who heard Him "be well," "be whole," "be at rest." Now coming from anybody else other than the Son of God -- the world's Redeemer -- those words would be no more than wishful thinking and upbeat optimism.

Coming from Jesus, they are everything. They are everything because His life was given to put some weight into those words. Because of the forgiveness He has won, we are given a firm, powerful hope. We are given peace.

THE PRAYER: Gracious God, for Your love which was put into visible action in the Person of the Savior, I give thanks. May I be granted the vision to recognize His sacrifice and shared victory over sin, the devil, and death. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional de 01 de Setiembre de 2017

Alimento Diario

Ayuda divina

01 de Setiembre 2017

Porque no tenemos un sumo sacerdote que no pueda compadecerse de nuestras debilidades, sino uno que fue tentado en todo de la misma manera que nosotros, aunque sin pecado. Por tanto, acerquémonos confiadamente al trono de la gracia, para alcanzar misericordia y hallar gracia para cuando necesitemos ayuda.

~ Hebreos 4:15-16 (RVC)

En Missouri, donde está la central de Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones, a la gente le gusta contar historias acerca del Presidente Truman, quien fuera oriundo de este estado.

Una de mis historias favoritas sucedió casi enseguida después que Truman había completado su último mandato como Presidente. Yendo a su casa, cerca de la ruta 40, Truman le dijo a su chofer que parara al costado del camino, ya que había visto a una mujer que estaba tratando de juntar a los cerdos que se le habían escapado de la granja. El ex presidente decidió ayudarle.

La noticia de que un ex presidente estuvo dispuesto a ayudar a una mujer que estaba en aprietos llegó a Independencia, su ciudad natal, antes que él. Cuando algunos incrédulos le preguntaron si era cierto que había ayudado a una mujer a juntar sus cerdos, Truman explicó: "Sí, alguien tenía que ayudarle. Además, yo fui granjero mucho antes de ser Presidente".

¿Ha notado con qué facilidad nos sorprendemos cuando alguien "grande" se toma el tiempo de ayudar a otra persona? Si esto es así, y lo es, cuánto más debería sorprendernos e impresionarnos que Jesús se haya convertido en uno de nosotros para poder salvarnos.

Después que la humanidad pecó, el Padre mostró su amor y gracia por nosotros prometiéndonos un plan de salvación. Esa promesa fue cumplida en la persona de su propio Hijo. Los evangelios dicen cómo Jesús caminó y ministró entre nosotros y se dio a sí mismo como rescate por nuestra salvación.

Como nuestro Sumo Sacerdote, Jesús permitió ser sacrificado para que nosotros, pecadores perdonados, podamos acercarnos al trono de gracia de Dios, donde recibimos misericordia y ayuda en nuestros momentos de necesidad.

Si el Señor parafraseara al Presidente Truman, diría: "Sí, alguien tenía que ayudar a la humanidad, y yo era el único que podía".

ORACIÓN: Poderoso Creador, te doy gracias por mostrar tu amor por mí al sacrificar a tu Hijo para que borrara mis pecados. Gracias por ser un Dios de amor. Ayúdame a compartir tu amor con quienes me rodean. En tu nombre. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.

The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, August 31, 2017

The Shipwreck - Acts 27:37-44

Opening Sentence

The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.

~ Habakkuk 2:20

Morning Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Today's Readings

The First Reading is taken from 1 Kings 3:16-28

[Solomon’s Wisdom in Judgment] Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, "Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house. Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house. Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne." But the other woman said, "No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours." The first said, "No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine." So they argued before the king. Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead' while the other says, 'Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'" So the king said, "Bring me a sword," and they brought a sword before the king. The king said, "Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other." But the woman whose son was alive said to the king-- because compassion for her son burned within her-- "Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!" The other said, "It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it." Then the king responded: "Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother." All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.

The Second Reading is taken from Acts 27:27-44

When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift. Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, "Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads." After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.) After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.

[The Shipwreck] In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape; but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 14:12-26

[The Passover with the Disciples] On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, "Surely, not I?" He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born."

[The Institution of the Lord’s Supper] While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

[Peter’s Denial Foretold] When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 18:1-20 Diligam te, Domine.
1   I love you, O LORD my strength, O LORD my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
2   My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.
3   I will call upon the LORD, and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4   The breakers of death rolled over me, and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
5   The cords of hell entangled me, and the snares of death were set for me.
6   I called upon the LORD in my distress and cried out to my God for help.
7   He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; my cry of anguish came to his ears.
8   The earth reeled and rocked; the roots of the mountains shook; they reeled because of his anger.
9   Smoke rose from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth; hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
10   He parted the heavens and came down with a storm cloud under his feet.
11   He mounted on cherubim and flew; he swooped on the wings of the wind.
12   He wrapped darkness about him; he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
13   From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, burst hailstones and coals of fire.
14   The LORD thundered out of heaven; the Most High uttered his voice.
15   He loosed his arrows and scattered them; he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
16   The beds of the seas were uncovered, and the foundations of the world laid bare, at your battle cry, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
17   He reached down from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of great waters.
18   He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
19   They confronted me in the day of my disaster; but the LORD was my support.
20   He brought me out into an open place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 18:21-50 Et retribuet mihi
21   The LORD rewarded me because of my righteous dealing; because my hands were clean he rewarded me;
22   For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not offended against my God;
23   For all his judgments are before my eyes, and his decrees I have not put away from me;
24   For I have been blameless with him and have kept myself from iniquity;
25   Therefore the LORD rewarded me according to my righteous dealing, because of the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
26   With the faithful you show yourself faithful, O God; with the forthright you show yourself forthright.
27   With the pure you show yourself pure, but with the crooked you are wily.
28   You will save a lowly people, but you will humble the haughty eyes.
29   You, O LORD, are my lamp; my God, you make my darkness bright.
30   With you I will break down an enclosure; with the help of my God I will scale any wall.
31   As for God, his ways are perfect; the words of the LORD are tried in the fire; he is a shield to all who trust in him.
32   For who is God, but the LORD? who is the Rock, except our God?
33   It is God who girds me about with strength and makes my way secure.
34   He makes me sure-footed like a deer and lets me stand firm on the heights.
35   He trains my hands for battle and my arms for bending even a bow of bronze.
36   You have given me your shield of victory; your right hand also sustains me; your loving care makes me great.
37   You lengthen my stride beneath me, and my ankles do not give way.
38   I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I will not turn back till I have destroyed them.
39   I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they fall defeated at my feet.
40   You have girded me with strength for the battle; you have cast down my adversaries beneath me; you have put my enemies to flight.
41   I destroy those who hate me; they cry out, but there is none to help them; they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer.
42   I beat them small like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43   You deliver me from the strife of the peoples; you put me at the head of the nations.
44   A people I have not known shall serve me; no sooner shall they hear than they shall obey me; strangers will cringe before me.
45   The foreign peoples will lose heart; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
46   The LORD lives! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted is the God of my salvation!
47   He is the God who gave me victory and cast down the peoples beneath me.
48   You rescued me from the fury of my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you saved me from my deadly foe.
49   Therefore will I extol you among the nations, O LORD, and sing praises to your Name.
50   He multiplies the victories of his king; he shows loving-kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Thy will be done. Dear God, I am full of the sound of my own voice, that lump of pride deep within me that will not go away, no matter how I try. Give me the strength through the power of your Holy Spirit to hear your voice and follow it, fighting the temptation to sin that bubbles up inside me whenever my mind strays from you.

Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.

You have commanded us to love one another, this I know without doubt. And yet all day I am filled with judgments, with resentments, with anger that sneaks in and grabs me when I am not paying attention to you. I pray dear God, that you will soften my heart to my fellow humans, no matter how sinfully they may act, and leave the judging to you, as you have commanded. Fill me with acceptance in place of judgment, sympathy in place of anger, faith in place of resentment. For my judgments and anger are the creatures of pride.

May I do thy will this day, in the name of Christ I pray. Amen.

Prayer of Supplication

Bow down Your ear, O Lord, hear me, for I am poor and needy. Without you, I have nothing. I pray that this day I will have food, and shelter, and be free of pain and fear. If it is not your will for me to suffer, Lord, I pray that I will not. And above all, cleanse my soul of sin, that I might someday be free of all pain and evil; for, whatever I may bear in this life, I have faith and hope in the life to come, through your goodness and mercy. In Christ's name, I pray, Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be still, my soul (Finlandia)
Naturally7

Alleluia! Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!

Closing Prayer

Now, oh heavenly Father, I ask to be called as a witness to your love by the love I extend to others; a precursor of your justice by my unfailing commitment to what is right and good; a lamp set on a hill, reflecting the light of Christ in my forgiveness, mercy and compassion; and a harvester of souls through my humble and dedicated servanthood. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

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.

Prayer of the Day for THURSDAY, August 31, 2017

Thy will be done. Dear God, I am full of the sound of my own voice, that lump of pride deep within me that will not go away, no matter how I try. Give me the strength through the power of your Holy Spirit to hear your voice and follow it, fighting the temptation to sin that bubbles up inside me whenever my mind strays from you.

Thy will be done. Thy will be done. Thy will be done.

You have commanded us to love one another, this I know without doubt. And yet all day I am filled with judgments, with resentments, with anger that sneaks in and grabs me when I am not paying attention to you. I pray dear God, that you will soften my heart to my fellow humans, no matter how sinfully they may act, and leave the judging to you, as you have commanded. Fill me with acceptance in place of judgment, sympathy in place of anger, faith in place of resentment. For my judgments and anger are the creatures of pride.

May I do thy will this day, in the name of Christ I pray. Amen.

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, August 31, 2017

Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV) Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,

Read all of Psalm 95

Listen to Psalm 95

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - Let us Love in Deed and Truth

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

~ 1 John 3:18 (ESV)

There is nothing wrong with kind words. Telling somebody you love them, or giving someone an honest compliment, can be a wonderful thing. Cheer and warmth are contagious, and most people can use a little reassurance.

But the best love comes not from words but from action, and it is almost always something of a burden, in human terms. The love of a mother for her child is possibly the most extreme form of natural love, and it doesn't have much to do with talking. It is changing diapers and wiping off throw-up, getting up exhausted at 3 a.m., feeding, bathing, and going to the doctor.

Christian love, though, is not natural; Jesus told us to love our enemies, to love those who do us ill, which is about the most unnatural thing we could ever do. Because the world does not reward us for doing it; we are not fulfilling a natural instinct, but obeying the will of God, when we love other people towards whom we do not feel natural affection.

Our reward, though, is even greater. For it is part of our cross that we pick up when we follow Jesus. God smiles on us when we help other people, and if we talk to Him in our prayers, and listen carefully, He will reward us even while we are still on earth.

Lord God, please move me to love others as Christ loved us, despite our imperfection and sin.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


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Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Devotion shared by Mason Barge, Editor, Daily Prayer.
The best love comes not from words but from action.

Un Dia a la Vez - Oración por liberación

Si el Hijo los libera, serán ustedes verdaderamente libres.

~ Juan 8:36 (NVI)

Dios mío, sé que tú quieres liberarme de la pobreza y el desorden. Por eso, hoy me presento delante de ti entendiendo y reconociendo que soy tu hijo. También comprendo que, como hijo, tengo los derechos y los privilegios de ti, que eres mi Padre.

En este día cancelo con autoridad todas las enseñanzas negativas que me han hecho creer que, por ser cristiano, debo ser pobre.

Así que hoy entiendo que tú tienes bendiciones en abundancia para mi familia y para mí.

Gracias, Señor, porque he aprendido que tú eres un Dios de orden.

Mi Jesús, hoy te pido, por favor, que me libres de toda atadura y pongas en mi corazón el deseo de salir adelante y de luchar por alcanzar mis sueños.

Renuncio este día a la pobreza, al desorden, al abandono, a la suciedad, a la depresión y me declaro libre. Recibo tu bendición ahora.

En el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE WITNESSING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”

~ Acts 1:8a (NIV)

Prior to her Christian husband being released from prison in Iran, Maheen, feared that she might be arrested too. So she seriously prayed, “Dear Lord, I am not ready to go to a solitary confinement because of my Christian faith. It is such a closed and dirty environment. As you know I was born and brought up in a wealthy family and had a comfortable life. Please don’t test me beyond my ability.” She told God she would not be able to handle being arrested and mentioned her fear that she might give the names of all believers in the house churches to the police or even deny Jesus.

Three days later, the secret police knocked at her door. She said to God, “I have already asked you not to put me in this temptation. So whatever happens, it is not my fault. Because I had already told you that I am not a strong person and can’t stand against these security people and can’t tolerate persecution.”

She said, “The police blindfolded me and took me to the solitary confinement. I was scared to death and felt sick as the place was very smelly.” They put her in a cell and a few hours later brought her in for interrogation. She added, “I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit very strongly. And I felt that God’s peace came down on me and my fear went away.”

When Maheen stood before the high official, she courageously testified of her Christian faith. “It is an honour for me to talk to people about Jesus. I will be very happy to talk to you about Jesus and salvation too. Like all other people and Muslims, you also need Jesus in your life. Without Jesus a person does not have any peace and life is hopeless and without any purpose. Jesus laid his life down for you too so that you can have salvation and will not perish.”

The official responded in anger, “Do you know what the consequence of all this will be for you? You can’t evangelize me. It will cost you a heavy price.”

On the third night the official came to her cell. Maheen was frightened fearing that he came to abuse her sexually or to beat her up. But the official told her, “Don’t be afraid of me. I need your prayers. When you shared about Jesus with me, it had such a powerful impact on my life. I need to be saved. I need Jesus in my life. I believe God has sent you to come to this prison so that you can share about salvation with me. I am now completely aware of the fact that without Jesus I will be a miserable and hopeless person and I will perish. Please pray for me that I can be set free from this hell I live in.”

Maheen had the chance to share about Jesus for three hours with him and at the end he repented of his sins and committed his life to Jesus. The official testified that for the first time he experienced the real peace and love of God in his life.

Maheen and her husband were both released from prison and are in touch with this official and his wife secretly. The wife of the official has committed her life to the Lord too.

RESPONSE: Today I will walk and talk in the power of the Holy Spirit and trust God to use me as a witness wherever He places me.

PRAYER: Thank God for the power of His Holy Spirit among committed brothers and sisters in Iran.

Girlfriends in God - August 31, 2017

Time to Soldier Up!

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

~ Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

You know how kids are. Older children tend to think it’s their job to educate younger children about the facts of life – and I do mean the facts of life.

Two of our grandsons, Justus who is seven and Hudson who is five, often play with several boys in the neighborhood. Up until now, the older boys have protected Justus and Hudson and have always been kind enough to include them in whatever game they were playing. One of the 10-year-old boys told Danna that Justus and Hudson are the coolest little kids he has ever met. He attends our church and is such a sweet kid. He truly loves our grandsons and thinks of them as his little brothers.

Last week, Justus and Hudson came in after playing with this boy. Our daughter immediately knew something was bothering them – especially Justus. Since he gave his heart to Jesus two years ago, Justus has had such a tender heart for God and desperately wants to please Him.

Danna wisely waited for one of the boys to speak up. After only a few minutes, Justus said, “Mom, I need to tell you something.” Hudson solemnly nodded in agreement.

Danna stopped her dinner preparation and came to sit by the boys. “What’s wrong, honey?” she gently asked. Tears filled his eyes as he explained that one of the boys had explained in vivid detail how men and women make babies. Hudson said, “Mom, I didn’t understand it all, but I didn’t like it.” Justus said, “I knew the way they were talking about it was wrong. They made it sound dirty, but I know it isn’t. My heart hurts, Mom.” Danna gathered both weeping boys in her arms and said, “Come with me, guys.”

Danna took the boys upstairs to the bedroom they share and pulled out their Bibles. She had them turn to Proverbs 4. Danna read the whole chapter, stopping along the way to answer a question or explain a verse. But when she got to verse 23, Danna said, “Guys, this is the verse I wanted you to hear.”

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

“You are going to hear and see things that you know are wrong. Jesus tells us that we have to constantly guard our hearts to keep the bad things out. We need to fill our hearts with good things. Can you tell me what some of those good things are?”

Hudson said, “Like when we read the Bible at night before bed. That’s a good thing, right?”

“It sure is, Hud!” Danna said.

“Talking to God about everything and trying to make Him smile are good things,” Justus offered.

“Absolutely!” Danna responded. “Jesus loves it when we fill our hearts with good things, but He also wants us to guard our hearts to keep bad things out – like what happened today. Justus, you were right when you said it is not a dirty thing when a man and woman who are married want to have a baby. It is a beautiful thing! But those boys made it seem dirty. You have to guard your heart and not let that kind of thing in.”

“Mom, I didn’t know what to do,” Justus exclaimed. “Those guys are our friends, and they take care of Hud and me … and they even go to our church!”

Danna said, “Well, you could have done a couple of things. You could have put your hand up and told them to stop, or you could have gotten up and walked away. They would have gotten the message.”

Then our daughter painted a beautiful picture we all need to see. We are in a war – the war between good and evil – and we always have to be ready to fight. We never know when the evil will come or where it will come from. It could come from a television show, a movie, a conversation over the back fence with a neighbor or over the phone with a friend or family member, in an email … and yes, even from someone who goes to our church.

Danna picked up one of the Lego army figures that Hudson and Justus play with every day and said, “Picture soldiers stationed around your heart by God. They are standing shoulder to shoulder and when something bad tries to come in, Jesus yells ‘Incoming’ and those soldiers hit it full blast!” Justus and Hudson laughed … and then Justus quietly said, “You are so cool, Mom. Thanks.”

We need to do what Danna encouraged Justus and Hudson to do. We must fill our hearts with God’s Word and prayer. And then we must station God’s soldiers of truth and light around our hearts to keep the junk of this world out. How’s your heart?

Let’s Pray

Lord, today I come to You with a new commitment in my heart – to pray continually and to read and study the Bible. Strengthen me through Your truth and empower me to stand against temptation and sin. Lord, I want to be a godly woman, a woman of discipline, and a woman whose life honors you and draws other to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read 1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.” Can you identify the attacks of the Devil in your life?

More from the Girlfriends


If you need help learning how to trust God, get Mary’s new book, 10-Day Trust Adventure, now available in hard copy. Perfect for personal or small group study, this book addresses the decisions you have to make in every area of life and teaches you how to make those decisions as you step out in faith and trust God. Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.

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NIV Devotions for Men - Samuel: The King-Maker

1 Samuel 1:1—28:25

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

~ 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Samuel glanced at the seven men standing in the shade. They were impressive specimens. Any of Jesse’s sons could have been God’s choice. He was suddenly glad he didn’t have to choose. God had just warned him about the danger of judging from appearance. He smiled sadly, remembering how impressed he had been at first by Saul’s good looks.

Samuel looked around, puzzled. He’d run out of sons, and God hadn’t chosen any of them. What was God’s plan in this situation? Turning to Jesse, he inquired, “Are these it? No more sons?”

The old man slowly counted his sons, one by one. He appeared confused for a moment, then said, “Oh, there is one other. Didn’t even think of him. My youngest, David, is out in the fields with the sheep.” The rest of the sons didn’t understand why they had been summoned, but they grumbled over having to wait for the runt to show up. His place was at the bottom of the pecking order. Shepherding was a smelly, outdoors-in-all-weather, protecting-stupid-sheep chore. Each of them had done it only until the next brother was old enough. As the youngest, it was David’s permanent role. It didn’t bother them to assign him the task; it did bother them that he enjoyed it so much.

Soon David came running in, exuding the pungent scents of field and flock. The brothers looked on with shock as Samuel removed an oil horn from his robe and poured the contents on their little brother’s head. They couldn’t imagine a higher honor—or a more obvious waste. But even they had to admit that as the oil dripped from David’s hair and chin, a certain wild delight and spirit seemed to fill him. Samuel smiled, David laughed, and a chill went up his siblings’ spines.

As Samuel walked to Ramah, he remembered another little boy, left in the charge of a priest named Eli. He considered how upbringing shapes a man and how God uses even hardships and pain to prepare his servants. He wondered about David’s future. He remembered God’s unusual call in his own life, the unexpected voice in the night that Eli had identified for him as the Lord’s. The old priest had told him to answer, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Samuel chuckled softly and began to pray, “Lord, I’m still trying to listen. I never thought back then that you would make me a king-maker. So what’s next?”

Back to the Future

• In what ways do you think God speaks to you?
• What have you learned about the dangers of judging people by outward appearances?
• How would you describe your attitude about God giving you directions?

The Story Continues …

To learn about Samuel’s background and see how God continued to work through him, read 1 Samuel 1:1-28:25.

LHM Daily Devotion - August 31, 2017 "The Truth"

Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

 

"The Truth"

August 31, 2017

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."

~ Matthew 26:63-64 (ESV)

Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

I don't know about you, but most of us have a hard time answering that question with a simple yes. Now we might be willing to tell the whole truth in a great many matters, but there are questions that we simply wouldn't, or couldn't, answer completely truthfully (examples: private confessions and confidences entrusted to us).

But there is more. The truth is all of us are liars. While some folks do their absolute best to tell the truth, there are others who choose to lie when there's no logical reason to do so. I guess we inherit our propensity for lying from our first ancestors. After Adam and Eve had eaten the forbidden fruit, the Lord questioned both of them about what had happened.

Neither of them could tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We can't either.

Maybe that's why the Associated Press has begun a weekly fact check in which it investigates stories that everybody is telling and everyone knows to be true. The problem is this: the AP is finding there are a lot of lies posing as the truth. Need an example? Fine. In the week before this devo was written the AP exposed some internet stories, you know, stories like

1. President Trump had shut down jihad training camps in Islamberg, New York;
2. U.S. companies that sell olive oil are diluting their product with sunflower or canola oil;
3. Wisconsin is building a wall to keep out Illinois residents.

The AP found that those totally false internet stories had been repeatedly shared by well-intentioned folks who thought the tall tales were true. You see, it's difficult for us to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but, you know, the truth.

The one Individual who is the exception to that rule is our Lord and Savior. Look at Jesus in His trials. False witnesses were brought in to accuse Him, but He offered no explanation or excuse. Instead of making a defense, He chose to make no defense, and the Savior kept His mouth shut.

Until ... until the high priest stumbled upon the one question Jesus couldn't ignore. You can find it in Matthew 26:63b where it says, "And the high priest said to him, 'I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God.' Jesus said to him, 'You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.'"

There are some critics of Christianity who say that Jesus never claimed to be the Messiah and the Savior. Those critics are wrong. Matthew says it plainly: Jesus always told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: He is the Christ, the Son of God.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive my lies and grant me a boldness to confront and confess my transgressions. Then, having been forgiven, may I move forward and share the true Savior with all those around me. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional de 31 de Agosto de 2017

Alimento Diario

¿Mirar o ver?

31 de Agosto 2017

Miro a un lado y me doy cuenta de que a nadie le intereso; refugio no tengo, y a nadie le importo. Señor, yo clamo a ti, porque tú eres mi única esperanza; ¡eres todo lo que tengo en esta vida!

~ Salmo 142:4-5 (RVC)

Vivimos como si estuviéramos en exposición. De veras, cada día decenas (y en algunos casos centenas) de personas nos miran pero, lamentablemente, la mayoría de quienes nos miran en realidad no nos ven.

Esa realidad la podemos ver muy claramente en lo que le sucedió a Jean Louviot, un estudiante francés. Jean logró viajar a través de Europa con una fotografía falsa en su pasaporte. Cuando le dijo al guardia de la frontera que la fotografía no era de él, el guardia se excusó diciendo: "Es que los jóvenes de hoy usan el cabello de formas tan raras...".

Lo que hace más interesante a la historia, y razón por la cual el guardia debería haber admitido su omisión, es que la foto que Jean tenía en su pasaporte era de su perro.

Los cristianos nos alegramos porque tenemos un Dios que nos ve como personas individuales y conoce lo que cada uno de nosotros queremos y necesitamos. Dios nunca pasa a nuestro lado sin vernos, sino que trata a cada uno de sus hijos en forma especial.

Pídale al Señor que le aclare la visión, para que pueda realmente ver y hacer sentir especial a las personas con quienes se encuentre en este día. Hágales saber que son apreciadas y que pueden contar con usted en todo momento.

ORACIÓN: Querido Dios, te doy gracias porque sé que me ves y me amas así como soy, y que sabes lo que quiero y necesito. Aumenta mi sensibilidad para que pueda ver a los demás. Te lo pido en el nombre de Jesús quien, aun habiéndome visto, me amó tanto que murió en la cruz para salvarme. En su nombre. Amén.

De una devoción escrita originalmente para "By the Way"

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.

The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, August 30, 2017

The Storm at Sea

Opening Sentence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.

~ Psalm 43:3

Morning Prayer

Blessed are you, O Lord my God, King of the universe, who removes sleep from my eyes, that I may see the returning light of the your day. I thank you for all that you have done while I was asleep, watching over me and all your children while we slept unaware, and I pray that my thoughts and acts this day may show forth my love and thanks for you and all you have done for me.

Help me through your Holy Spirit, that I may remember what you have taught me in the Bible and it may show forth in my every deed. Let me not wander into the hands of sin, nor into the hands of pride or perversity, nor into the hands of temptation, nor into the hands of shame, but steer my inclinations towards goodness and charity this morning and all the day. In the name of Christ I pray. Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. Set us free from a past that we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Amen.

Today's Readings

The First Reading is taken from 1 Kings 3:1-15

[Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom] Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David, until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem. The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD. Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?" It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life." Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.

The Second Reading is taken from Acts 27:9-26

Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them, saying, "Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest.

[The Storm at Sea] When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship's tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.' So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island."

The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 14:1-11

[The Plot to Kill Jesus] It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, "Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people."

[The Anointing at Bethany] While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, "Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor." And they scolded her. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."

[Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus] Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 119:1-8 Aleph Beati immaculati
1   Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!
2   Happy are they who observe his decrees and seek him with all their hearts!
3   Who never do any wrong, but always walk in his ways.
4   You laid down your commandments, that we should fully keep them.
5   Oh, that my ways were made so direct that I might keep your statutes!
6   Then I should not be put to shame, when I regard all your commandments.
7   I will thank you with an unfeigned heart, when I have learned your righteous judgments.
8   I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.

Psalm 119:9-16 Beth In quo corrigit?
9   How shall a young man cleanse his way? By keeping to your words.
10   With my whole heart I seek you; let me not stray from your commandments.
11   I treasure your promise in my heart, that I may not sin against you.
12   Blessed are you, O LORD; instruct me in your statutes.
13   With my lips will I recite all the judgments of your mouth.
14   I have taken greater delight in the way of your decrees than in all manner of riches.
15   I will meditate on your commandments and give attention to your ways.
16   My delight is in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:17-24 Gimel Retribue servo tuo
17   Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
18   Open my eyes, that I may see the wonders of your law.
19   I am a stranger here on earth; do not hide your commandments from me.
20   My soul is consumed at all times with longing for your judgments.
21   You have rebuked the insolent; cursed are they who stray from your commandments!
22   Turn from me shame and rebuke, for I have kept your decrees.
23   Even though rulers sit and plot against me, I will meditate on your statutes.
24   For your decrees are my delight, and they are my counselors.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 12 Salvum me fac
1   Help me, LORD, for there is no godly one left; the faithful have vanished from among us.
2   Everyone speaks falsely with his neighbor; with a smooth tongue they speak from a double heart.
3   Oh, that the LORD would cut off all smooth tongues, and close the lips that utter proud boasts!
4   Those who say, "With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
5   Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery, I will rise up, says the LORD, and give them the help they long for.
6   The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in the fire.
7   O LORD, watch over us and save us from this generation for ever.
8   The wicked prowl on every side, and that which is worthless is highly prized by everyone.

Psalm 13 Usquequo, Domine?
1   How long, O LORD? will you forget me for ever? how long will you hide your face from me?
2   How long shall I have perplexity in my mind, and grief in my heart, day after day? how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
3   Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
4   Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him, " and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
5   But I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
6   I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt with me richly; I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.

Psalm 14 Dixit insipiens
1   The fool has said in his heart, There is no God." All are corrupt and commit abominable acts; there is none who does any good.
2   The LORD looks down from heaven upon us all, to see if there is any who is wise, if there is one who seeks after God.
3   Every one has proved faithless; all alike have turned bad; there is none who does good; no, not one.
4   Have they no knowledge, all those evildoers who eat up my people like bread and do not call upon the LORD?
5   See how they tremble with fear, because God is in the company of the righteous.
6   Their aim is to confound the plans of the afflicted, but the LORD is their refuge.
7   Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion! when the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

O Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission

Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, I humbly pray, to all who are called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of the church of all faithful people, now and until the end of days. Amen.

God On the Mountain
Lynda Randle

Alleluia! Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!

Closing Prayer

Now unto him that is able to keep me from falling, and to present me faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

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.