January 3, 2017
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. (Luke 2:26, ESV)
Read Luke 2:25-27
We are moving further away from Christmas Day. For most of us life is returning to normal. Back when I was a child I would be back in school by now, or I would know that it was only a few days away. Time passed for Jesus too. He didn't stay a baby. Like every other child He quickly grew. In our reading He is now more than a month old, and Mary and Joseph take Him to Jerusalem for His presentation.
At the same time they carry Him into the temple courts, an Israelite man enters. Luke describes Simeon in much the same way he had spoken of John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, when he first introduced him. Both men were righteous through their belief in God, firm in their faith, and waiting anxiously for Him to keep His promise and send the Savior. The Holy Spirit had given Simeon a remarkable promise: he would not die before he had seen the Christ. During his lifetime the Messiah would come, and Simeon would see Him with his own eyes.
Simeon was a rare Israelite in his day. By the Holy Spirit's guidance, he understood the Old Testament promises accurately. The Christ would comfort His people by saving them from their sins -- not by driving out their earthly enemies, as most Jews expected.
And this very day Simeon feels a powerful urging from the Holy Spirit to go to the temple. As he passes through the temple courts, he is drawn to a young Boy being carried by His mother and father.
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You revealed Your Son to Simeon. As I read the Bible, reveal Him to me that I may know His salvation and praise You forever in heaven. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Monday, January 2, 2017
Devociones de Adviento - Indignos de su favor
Martes 03 de Enero
Salmo 8
¿Qué es el ser humano, para que en él pienses? ¿Qué es la humanidad, para que la tomes en cuenta? (Sal 8:4, RVC)
Bajo el inmenso cielo estrellado, consciente de su finitud ante semejante espectáculo, el salmista deja fluir su pensamiento. Lo que él ve refleja la gloria del Creador. ¡Cuánta grandeza y belleza plasmadas en cada detalle! Se asombra por lo que él representa en medio de tanta inmensidad, y piensa en la paradoja, en la aparente contradicción que existe en todo aquello. Se sorprende porque Dios actúa contra toda lógica. Un Dios cuya arma defensiva son... ¡los niños de pecho que le alaban! ¿Qué Dios es este? ¿Cómo es posible que los niños sean su baluarte?
Todo parece extraño, misterioso, admirable. ¿Cómo es que ese Dios infinito y poderoso se ocupe de un ser humano tan limitado? ¿Cuál es la razón para que se fije en él? ¿Por qué fue capaz de hacerse como uno de ellos? Dios mismo hecho un niño para mostrarle al ser humano su favor, su gracia, su amor. Un ser humano al que había llenado de honor en la creación. Pero que había sido destituido de esa gloria por orgulloso, por querer robarle a Dios "Su" gloria.
Sin embargo, Dios insiste en estar cerca de esta creatura que acumula tantas historias de fracaso y rebeldía. Ahora, por medio de Jesús, un ser humano vuelve a ser señor de la creación. Pero no por vía de la rebeldía, sino de la obediencia y del servicio. Nacerá en un pesebre. Será coronado con una corona de espinas. Será exaltado en una cruz. Sin embargo, Dios lo declarará SEÑOR. Por medio de Jesús, Dios vuelve a reinar en nuestros corazones. Somos indignos de tanto favor. Por eso exclamamos: ¡Qué grande eres, Dios!
Dios infinito: no soy nada ante tu inmensidad. Gracias por tu favor inmerecido, tu encarnación y redención. Por Jesús, Amén.
© Copyright 2016 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones
Our Daily Bread - Not What It Seems
Read: 2 Kings 6:8–17 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 7–9; Matthew 3
Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with [the enemy]. 2 Kings 6:16
Don is a border collie who lives on a farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. One morning, he and his owner, Tom, set out to check on some animals. They rode together in a small farm utility truck. When they arrived, Tom left the vehicle but forgot to put the brake on. With Don in the driver’s seat, the vehicle rolled down a hill and across two lanes of traffic before it stopped safely. To watching motorists, it appeared the dog was out for a morning drive. Indeed, things are not always as they seem.
It seemed as if Elisha and his servant were about to be captured and carried off to the King of Aram. The king’s forces had surrounded the city where Elisha and his servant were staying. The servant believed they were doomed, but Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid . . . . Those who are with us are more than those who are with [the enemy]” (2 Kings 6:16). When Elisha prayed, the servant was able to see the multitudes of supernatural forces that were in place to protect them.
Situations that seem hopeless are not always the way we perceive them to be. When we feel overwhelmed and outnumbered, we can remember that God is by our side. He can “command his angels . . . to guard [us] in all [our] ways” (Ps. 91:11).
Dear God, please give me a glimpse of Your power today. Help me to believe that You are willing and able to help me in any situation I encounter.
Things are always better than they seem to be when we remember that God is by our side.
© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries
Nuestro Pan Diario - Percepción y realidad
Leer: 2 Reyes 6:8-17 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 3
… No tengas miedo, porque más son los que están con nosotros que los que están con ellos (2 Reyes 6:16).
Don es un border collie que vive en una granja del sur de Escocia. Una mañana, salió con Tomás, su dueño, para ver unos animales, y fueron en una pequeña camioneta. Cuando llegaron, Tomás salió del vehículo, pero se olvidó de accionar el freno de mano. Con Don en el asiento del conductor, la camioneta bajó por una colina y cruzó una carretera… hasta que se detuvo. Para los conductores, parecía que el perro había salido a pasear en el auto. En realidad, las cosas no siempre son lo que parecen.
Al parecer, Eliseo y su siervo iban a ser capturados y llevados ante el rey de Siria. El ejército enemigo había rodeado la ciudad. El siervo pensó que no tendrían salida, pero Eliseo afirmó: «No tengas miedo, porque más son los que están con nosotros que los que están con ellos» (2 Reyes 6:16). Cuando Eliseo oró, el que lo servía pudo ver una multitud de ejércitos sobrenaturales que estaban a su alrededor para protegerlos.
Las situaciones que parecen desesperantes no siempre son como las
percibimos. Cuando nos sintamos abrumados y superados en número, podemos
recordar que Dios está de nuestro lado. Él manda a sus ángeles para que
nos rodeen y nos protejan en todos nuestros caminos (Salmo 91:11).
© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Señor, abre mis ojos para ver hoy tu poder y tu disposición a ayudarme siempre.
Todo es mejor de lo que parece cuando recordamos que Dios está de nuestro lado.
© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Unser Täglich Brot - Anders als es scheint
Lesen: 2.Könige 6,8-17 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Mose 7–9; Matthäus 3
Fürchte dich nicht, denn derer sind mehr, die bei uns sind, als derer, die bei ihnen sind. 2.Könige 6,16
Don ist ein Bordercollie und lebt auf einer Farm in Schottland. Eines Morgens war er mit seinem Besitzer Tom unterwegs, um nach den Tieren zu schauen. Mit einem kleinen Traktor fuhren sie aufs Feld. Beim Aussteigen vergaß Tom, die Handbremse anzuziehen. Mit Don auf dem Fahrersitz setzte sich der Traktor in Bewegung und rollte den Berg hinab und über zwei befahrene Straßen hinweg, ehe er zum Stehen kam. Für die vorbeifahrenden Autofahrer sah es aus, als würde der Hund einen Morgenausflug machen. Die Dinge sind nicht immer so, wie sie scheinen.
Es schien, als würden Elisa und sein Diener vom König von Aram gefangen genommen und verschleppt werden. Sein Heer hatte die Stadt umstellt, in der Elisa und sein Diener sich befanden. Der Diener meinte, ihr Schicksal sei besiegelt, aber Elisa sagte: „Fürchte dich nicht, denn ihrer sind mehr, die bei uns sind, als derer, die bei ihnen sind“ (2.Kön. 6,16). Als Elisa betete, wurden dem Diener die Augen geöffnet und er konnte sehen, welche übernatürlichen Mächte sie beschützten.
Situationen, die uns hoffnungslos scheinen, sind nicht immer so, wie wir sie wahrnehmen. Wenn wir uns unterlegen und ausgeliefert vorkommen, dürfen wir uns daran erinnern, dass Gott auf unserer Seite ist. Er hat „seinen Engeln befohlen, dass sie dich behüten auf allen deinen Wegen“ (Ps. 91,11).
Lieber Gott, lass mich heute eine Ahnung von deiner Macht bekommen. Hilf mir zu glauben, dass du bereit und willig bist, mir in allem zu helfen, was mir heute begegnet.
Die Dinge sind immer besser als sie scheinen, wenn wir uns vor Augen halten, dass Gott auf unserer Seite steht.
© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot
Хлеб наш насущный - Не верьте глазам
автор: Дженифер Бенсон Шульдт
Читать сейчас: 4 Царств 6:8-17 | Библия за год: Бытие 7-9; Матфея 3
Не бойся, потому что тех, которые с нами, больше, чем тех, которые с ними. — 4 Царств 6:16
Дон – это собака породы колли. Живет он на ферме в Шотландии. Однажды утром хозяин Том взял его с собой и отправился на обход фермерского хозяйства. Вместе они доехали до нужного места на небольшом грузовичке, где Том вышел из машины, но забыл поставить ее на ручной тормоз. Грузовичок покатился по склону с Доном на водительском сиденье. К счастью, дорога была прямой: проехав несколько сот метров, машина благополучно остановилась. Но встречные водители, должно быть, немало удивились, увидев за рулем собаку. Воистину, не стоит доверять первому впечатлению.
Слуге пророка Елисея показалось, что пришел конец: их город был окружен враждебной сирийской армией. «Увы, господин мой. Что нам делать?» – горестно воскликнул бедняга, на что Елисей ответил: «Не бойся, потому что тех, которые с нами, больше, чем тех, которые с ними» (4 Цар. 6:15-16). После этого Елисей помолился, и слуга увидел, что вся гора позади них заполнена пламенным небесным воинством.
Обстоятельства, кажущиеся безнадежными, далеко не всегда таковы. Чувствуя себя бессильными и ничтожными, будем помнить, что с нами Бог. Он может повелеть Своим ангелам охранять нас на всех наших путях (см. Пс. 90:11).
Боже, даруй мне видеть Твою силу. Помоги верить, что Ты желаешь и можешь помочь мне в любых обстоятельствах.
Положение дел намного лучше, чем кажется, если с нами Бог.
© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Notre Pain Quotidien - Selon toute apparence
Lisez : 2 Rois 6.8‑17 | La Bible en un an : Genèse 7 – 9 et Matthieu 3
Don est un Border‑Collie qui vit dans une ferme du South Lanarkshire, en Écosse. Avec Tom, son maître, il est sorti un matin évaluer quelques animaux. Ils se sont promenés ensemble à bord d’une camionnette utilitaire de ferme. À leur arrivée sur place, Tom est descendu du véhicule en oubliant de tirer le frein manuel. Avec Don sur le siège du conducteur, le véhicule s’est mis à descendre une pente en traversant deux voies de circulation avant de s’immobiliser en lieu sûr. Pour les automobilistes témoins de la scène, le chien semblait être sorti faire sa tournée matinale. En effet, les choses ne sont pas toujours ce qu’elles semblent être.
Apparemment, Élisée et son serviteur étaient sur le point d’être emmenés captifs devant le roi d’Aram. L’armée du roi avait cerné la ville où Élisée et son serviteur séjournaient. Alors que le serviteur croyait leur dernière heure venue, Élisée a déclaré : « Ne crains point, car ceux qui sont avec nous sont en plus grand nombre que ceux qui sont avec [l’ennemi] » (2 R 6.16). Dès qu’Élisée a prié, son serviteur a pu voir une multitude de forces surnaturelles se mettre en place pour assurer leur protection.
Les situations qui semblent désespérées ne le sont pas toujours en réalité. Lorsque nous avons l’impression d’être en nombre inférieur à nos ennemis, rappelons‑nous que Dieu se tient toujours à nos côtés et qu’« il ordonnera à ses anges de [nous] garder dans toutes [nos] voies » (PS 91.11).
Le rappel que Dieu est à nos côtés nous fait tout voir avec justesse.
© 2016 Ministères NPQ
The Daily Readings for MONDAY, January 2, 2017 - Ninth Day of Christmas
First Reading
Genesis 12:1-7Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
Second Reading
Hebrews 11:1-12Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God." And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."
The Holy Gospel
John 6:35-51Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day." Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered them, "Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Morning Psalms
Psalm 34 Benedicam Dominum1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the LORD; let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the LORD heard me and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear him, and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the LORD, you that are his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack nothing that is good.
11 Come, children, and listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Who among you loves life and desires long life to enjoy prosperity?
13 Keep your tongue from evil-speaking and your lips from lying words.
14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them and delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD will deliver him out of them all.
20 He will keep safe all his bones; not one of them shall be broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 The LORD ransoms the life of his servants, and none will be punished who trust in him.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 33 Exultate, justi1 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; it is good for the just to sing praises.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp; play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
3 Sing for him a new song; sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
4 For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin and stores up the depths of the sea.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught; he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
11 But the LORD'S will stands fast for ever, and the designs of his heart from age to age.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The LORD looks down from heaven, and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death, and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you.
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.
Verse of the Day - January 02, 2017
Psalm 90:12 (NIV) Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Read all of Psalm 90
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - "Worship and Work"
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. (Luke 10:38, NIV)
Imagine if you were to suddenly hear a bunch of cars outside. When you look out your window, you see a motorcade pulling up. Out steps a person of great importance, who walks up your sidewalk and rings your doorbell. When you answer the door, the dignitary says, "We were just driving through the neighborhood and were wondering if we could come in and have a bite?"
One day, the Creator of the universe showed up at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Of course, Martha wanted to make something for Him, but Mary wisely recognized it as a unique opportunity. Instead of going and helping her sister prepare a meal for the Lord, Mary sat at His feet to drink in every word.
Meanwhile, Martha was growing increasingly frustrated because there was so much work to do. Finally, she walked in and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40).
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (verses 41–42). In other words, "Martha, you are too busy. You're cumbered about with too much serving. Your sister has chosen the better part."
True worship will produce work, but work should never take the place of worship. If you are really in fellowship and communion with God, you will want to do things that please Him. Mary seized the moment and sat at His feet.
There is a time to work, and there is a time to worship. There is a time to be active for the Lord, and there is a time to sit at His feet.
In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny
Girlfriends in God - Sweet Mercy
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him’ (Lamentations 3:22-24, NKJV).
Friend to Friend
So we did sort of a crazy thing recently. You know though when sometimes the crazy thing somehow feels like it just might be the most right and necessary thing?
In our home we have been in the thick of some intentional and hard parenting lately. We had to clear a bedroom of all its contents twice in a week. One of our boys in particular has thrown some pretty nuclear fits here lately, and this momma is slap worn out! And even though my husband and I have thankfully been on the same page with it all, it can still be so easy to get worn out and defeated.
We have sought wise counsel, begun reading some good books, and prayed, and cried, and ALL. THE. THINGS.
After one particularly hard day though, the very next morning the Lord gave us new mercies as He is so graciously in the habit of doing! (Lamentations 3:23) We decided that some one-on-one quality time was in order to be hyper intentional with loving on our little guy and reaching his heart.
We spent family time together in the morning and then my husband and I split up to each take a boy on a date. I got our littlest because we agreed he needed alone time with me the most. After grabbing a burger and meandering through a bookstore, we were on our way home to play Legos. In an effort to avoid holiday traffic, we went a back way home and came to a stop sign right across the street from the Humane Society.
"Hey, wanna go pet puppies?" I asked him, thinking he would say no since he was pretty focused on the Lego plan, but instead I got an enthusiastic YES! In we went. We held every puppy there and were happily leaving when my tender-hearted little fella suddenly said "Let's go see the grown up dogs, they probably need love since no one wants them."
Because our agenda was his for the deciding, we turned around and went to the adult dog section. The loud barking and jumping dogs in a row of kennels set my heart racing into the fat burn zone on my Fitbit, but we started at one end and made our way down the long row. Just as we reached the end, we looked down to see a sweet little white dog with brown spots on her face and a pink nose just sitting there... not barking or jumping. As soon as my son went over to her kennel she rubbed up against his hand and began to lick him. He stayed there squatted down and petting her for probably five minutes or so. There was something about her and something about him with her.
"Ok... let's go" I said after awhile.
"Mom, we should take her outside so she can get some fresh air… and she doesn't have anyone to pet on her, and she is so sweet." Of course you know now what we did.
The moment we went outside, this little dog crawled into my son’s lap and didn’t move for no less than 20 minutes. After awhile, a family with three kids came out and pointed at this cuddly little white dog curled up on my boy. "If you're adopting today please consider her. She is super sweet," I said as I motioned the mother to take the leash.
My son looked at me and reluctantly let them lead her away to play. He wouldn't leave though. He kept watching her and she kept walking back towards him. "You guys need this dog,” I said in an effort to convince the other mom. “We already have 2 dogs and hadn’t planned on another one until our old one passes on.”
Hudson looked up at me and fat tears welled up behind the frames of his glasses. "Whatcha thinking Buddy?" I asked.
"I'm afraid they will want her, but I feel like she is supposed to be my dog and I just feel really super sad about that." He was calm but sad. No fit, no frustration, no entitlement or trying to get his way like we’d been dealing with before... just sure and sad.
The other mom handed him back the leash and said, "Oh, we just started looking and have a lot to do before we get a dog... this will be our first one ever. Besides, for some reason I think maybe she is supposed to be yours."
Something in my spirit said she was right. It was as if the heart of the Father for my son was being exhibited to him in this snuggly little dog. I called my husband, who brought our other son to meet her, and all the while this little dog followed Hudson and sat in his lap and licked his face.
“Lord, I wasn't planning this today! But it feels like it has your hand all over it.” I prayed in my heart as I watched my kids with the dog. I didn't want another puppy to train, and while Hudson has been asking for a "little snuggly dog" for probably a year, this wasn’t the plan for now.
We couldn’t ignore the fact that this dog was 7 months old, already sits on command, is maybe 15 pounds, and white with brown spots. She was kind of everything we all wanted…eventually. His timing is so often different than ours though.
"Well, we need to find a new name," I told my son.
He didn't even pause to think about it. My normally contemplative kid just had a name immediately. "Her name is Sugar mom... because she is white like sugar and also super sweet."
And that was that. We brought her home. And I keep having this feeling that something about this little dog is just what this little boy might need. Something in my heart keeps saying that this part of this particular day was about new mercies for all of us and seeing the Lord loving us all in the ways only He knows.
So maybe we aren't so crazy. I'd like to think maybe we are just learning to look and listen to what the Lord could have even in the unexpected and unplanned pieces of life. Perhaps when the Lord says that His mercies are new each morning, He means that His methods are too if we will be open enough to see them.
Let’s Pray
Father God, we thank You that YOU are a God who is ever unfolding Your goodness before us. We thank You that Your mercy and kindness is new each day and that Your faithfulness is for all of time. Father we praise You for knowing each of our hearts so intimately that Your love for us comes in so many forms. Lord we ask that You would open our eyes to see Your blessing in the unexpected and our hears to hear Your voice in the places we hadn’t considered. You are a good Father and we thank You for Your faithful and gentle attention to each of our hearts and each of our new days. We love You Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Think about some of times the Lord has spoken to your heart in a place you didn’t expect. Consider what His new mercies have looked like in your life. Has it been a reset of an attitude? A provision you weren’t expecting? Even when you are in a season that can feel hard, are you able to not only wake up with a sense of new mercy but also to look for the ways His grace invades your life in unexpected ways? If a new day holds new mercies, then we can be excited to uncover them along the way in all the hidden places!
More from the Girlfriends
Logan Wolfram would give you full access to her pantry if you lived next door. She is a plate-juggling mom and interior decorator turned writer, speaker, and host of the Allume Conference. She is a passionate leader who desires to see women live fully in Christ. She is a speaker and the author of Curious Faith; Rediscovering Hope in the God of Possibility. Logan and her husband, Jeremy, divide their time between wrangling two inquisitive boys, a 175-pound mastiff named Titan, and a 17 pound mutt named Sugar. They reside in Greenville, South Carolina. Connect more with Logan on her website www.LoganWolfram.com
Seeking God? Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Un Dia a la Vez - Todos fallamos, pero Dios permanece
Confía en el Señor de todo corazón, y no en tu propia inteligencia. Reconócelo en todos tus caminos, y él allanará tus sendas. Proverbios 3:5-6
Muchas veces hemos confiado en personas por error y nos han defraudado porque nos han fallado. Quizá nos engañaran y por eso nos cueste mucho reconocer que debemos aprender a perdonar. Así que debemos entender que Dios es el único que no falla, que no nos dejará y que estará con nosotros por toda una eternidad.
Yo he ofendido y desilusionado a otros con mis actitudes, con mis reacciones. También he tenido que pasar por el trago amargo de perdonar de corazón a quien me ha fallado, a orar por esa persona que destruyó mi vida y mis ilusiones, por obediencia.
Durante varios años, fui madre soltera. Además, tuve que sufrir el abandono de los padres de mis hijas. De modo que enfrentar una vida sola con mis princesas me costó muchas lágrimas y mucho dolor. Sin embargo, los planes de Dios, que son perfectos, me permitieron perdonar de corazón.
¿Y tú? ¿Lo estás haciendo? ¿Hasta cuándo permitirás que tu vida sea amargada y triste? Confía en Dios y Él te sacará adelante porque esa es su promesa.
Women of the Bible - Sarah
Her name means: "Chieftainness" or "Princess"Her character: Beautiful enough to attract rulers in the ancient world, she could be strong-willed and jealous. Yet Sarah was considered a loyal wife who did what was right and who didn't give in to fear. Her sorrow: That she remained childless for most of her life. Her joy: That at the age of ninety, she gave birth to Isaac, child of the promise. Key Scriptures: Genesis 12:1-20; 16:1-8; 17:1-22; 18:1-15; 21:1-13; Galatians 4:22-31 Her Story Sarah was sixty-five, the age many of us retire, when she began a journey that would lead her into uncharted spiritual territory. Leaving behind their homeland, she and her husband, Abraham, moved hundreds of miles south to Canaan, a land fertile with the promises of God but barren of everything cherished and familiar. God had promised the land to Abraham and his offspring. From him would come not just a family, clan, or tribe, but an entire nation, a people who would belong to God as no other people had. The promise spread like ripples from a stone pitched in water. If Abraham was to father a new nation, surely Sarah would be its mother. Yet she longed to give birth, not to a nation, but to one small child she could kiss and cradle. At first Abraham and Sarah found it difficult to support themselves in their new homeland. Soon a famine made life so severe that they moved on to Egypt, where Abraham, fearful of Pharaoh, suggested a deceptive maneuver to save his skin: "I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister [she was his half sister], so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you." So Sarah did as her husband asked, and Pharaoh soon added her to his harem of beautiful women. For the privilege, he paid Abraham in the currency of the day—a bevy of sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and servants. But though the two men seemed satisfied with their bargain, God was not. He proceeded to strike Pharaoh and his entire household with diseases. The Egyptian ruler soon summoned Abraham, demanding an explanation. As soon as he heard the truth, he allowed both Sarah and Abraham to leave, taking with them all the riches they had gained in Egypt. So the couple moved home again. By now, several years had passed since Abraham and Sarah had heard the remarkable promise of God, but still there was no child. So Sarah took matters into her own hands. Following a practice common in the ancient world, she gave Abraham permission to sleep with her Egyptian maid, Hagar. Sarah's slave would become a surrogate mother for the promised child. Before long, Ishmael was born. But the child brought only discord between the two women. One day several years later, the Lord appeared to Abraham while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent. "Where is your wife, Sarah?" "There, in the tent," Abraham replied. Then the Lord said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah, who had been eavesdropping from inside the tent, laughed and said, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" But the Lord said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Because Sarah was afraid, she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he pressed her, saying, "Yes, you did laugh." A year later, Sarah gave birth to Isaac, whose name means "Laughter." Of course the joke was not lost on the ninety-year-old mother, who exclaimed: "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." But Sarah's humor was short-lived. Fireworks flared once again between the two mothers until Sarah forced Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham's household, leaving them to wander in the harsh desert. And though God provided for the two outcasts, it was through Isaac that he would keep his promise of a new nation and a deliverer for his people. Sarah died at the age of 127 and was buried in Hebron. Between Isaac's birth and her own death lay thirty-seven years, ample time to reflect on her life's adventure with God. Was she ashamed of her treatment of the ill-fated Hagar? Did she remember laughing when God told Abraham she would bear a child at the age of ninety? Did she appreciate the echoing irony in young Isaac's laughter? Did she have any idea she would one day be revered as the Mother of Israel—indeed, a symbol of the promise just as Hagar was to become a symbol of slavery under the law? Scripture does not say. But it is heartening to realize that God accomplishes his purposes despite our frailties, our little faith, our entrenched self-reliance. True, Sarah's pragmatic attempts to help God keep his promise caused plenty of anguish. (Even in our own day, the struggle between Israel and her Arab neighbors stems from the ancient strife between two women and the children they bore.) Still, despite her jealousy, anxiety, and skepticism about God's ability to keep his promises, there's no denying that Sarah was a risk-taker of the first order, a woman who said good-bye to everything familiar to travel to a land she knew nothing about. A real flesh-and-blood kind of woman who lived an adventure more strenuous than any fairy-tale heroine, an adventure that began with a promise and ended with laughter. Her Promise How hard it was for Sarah (and is for us as well) to remember God's promises and to wait for him to fulfill them. God's promises are revealed and fulfilled in his own timing, which is often on a calendar far different from our own. Waiting patiently for God to work may be one of the most difficult experiences of our Christian walk. We live in an age of the immediate. We think waiting, and doing so quietly, is somehow less worthy, perhaps even a bit lazy. We're great "do-it-yourselfers," but we often get in God's way when we take things into our own hands. Do you have something you're waiting for God to do? Have you asked him for the salvation of your husband? Of a family member? Are you praying for a rebellious child to come home? Whatever the circumstances, God's timing is the best timing. When you're tempted to step in and make things happen on your own, think of Sarah. Her attempts to fulfill God's promise of a son through her servant Hagar had disastrous results. Remember that God has his own timetable, and rest in the assurance that he loves you and will fulfill his promises to you. |
Standing Strong Through the Storm - STORMS CAN COME FROM OBEDIENCE
That day when evening came, he [Jesus] said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Mark 4: 35-37
(Read Mark 4:35-41)
From the disciples experience we see that storms can arise just by following the path of obedience. We know that when Jesus says, “Let’s go to the other side,” we will reach the other side in spite of any storms.
Ahmad was a respected Muslim leader and a brilliant scholar. While studying for his doctorate in comparative religions he began reading the New Testament and ultimately gave his life to Jesus. When Sharia, the law of Islam, became the law of the land, Ahmad was called in for questioning. When he admitted to being a Christian, he was arrested, put in chains, and thrown into solitary confinement.
The first night in prison, the authorities tried to kill him. Unexplainably, however, they could find no gasoline for their car to drive him to the place of execution. The next day, he was to be arraigned before the Islamic High Court. A lawyer friend urged him to renounce his faith publicly and just keep it secretly in his heart. Ahmad refused. “Jesus is my only defence,” he said. “I cannot deny Him.”
Ahmad was sentenced to six months in prison, stripped of his military rank, and fired from his teaching position. His wife had already divorced him. He also lost his four children, his car, house, and bank account.
If at the end of his sentence he still refused to return to Islam, the judges said, he would spend six more months behind bars. Ahmad organized small Bible studies and prayer groups throughout the prison. “By the end of three months,” he said, “there were more than three hundred known Christians in our prison, at least seven from Muslim background.”
One night, the guards threw Ahmad into a truck with orders to drown him in the river. But as the truck neared the river, it stopped mysteriously. Terrified, the guards and driver refused the officer’s orders to kill Ahmad. Soon after, he was released.
RESPONSE: Today I will live in the awareness that storms are a normal part of life in this world and the wise disciple prepares for them.
PRAYER: Pray that you will be cognizant of the storms you face which simply result from your obedience to Jesus.
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