Girlfriends in God - Hungry into Satisfied

by Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.(Psalm 90:14 NIV)

Friend to Friend

One night as Brad and I prepared to put our kids to bed, our middle child, Hunter, had an emotional meltdown. Our little gumdrop went from sweet to sour in two seconds flat. The day had been packed full with school and other activities, and it was late. He should have turned into a pumpkin a smidgen before his meltdown took place. You know how those days are.

In an eight-year-old kind of way, Hunter was completely irrational. Tears flowed freely as he floated down his raging river of drama. He said that nobody loved him and that he felt mistreated. I had to just shake my head and wonder, “How in the world could one of my children feel unloved?”

The love Brad and I have for our children is immovable-mountain strong. We are not perfect, nor do we love them perfectly, but we do tell them of our love daily with words. We show them through our actions. We hug and affirm. We laugh and play with them. We spend our lives loving our children. It amazes me that any of our children could think, for even one second, that they are not loved.

As we endured the tear-filled bedtime drama, Brad and I suddenly realized why our son had such a dim perspective: he was hungry. Really hungry.

Earlier that evening, Hunter had chosen not to finish his dinner. Our son believes he should have choices. We assure him that he does have choices—eat or be hungry.

Simple as that.

As I emptied the dishwasher this morning, it occurred to me that we were created to be hungry. Our bodies need constant nourishment, and hunger is simply a trigger designed by God to stimulate a necessary response. Whether we’re talking about physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual hunger, you and I are temporarily satisfied when an appropriate response meets a need.

Think about it…

The satisfying response to physical hunger is food and drink.

The satisfying response to emotional hunger is love (among other things).

The satisfying response to mental hunger is knowledge.

And the only satisfying response to spiritual hunger is God. Nothing can take His place. Not the latest-greatest beauty gimmick, not the most fabulous outfit, not a hunky man or a good smelling baby. Not money in the bank, not that promotion you might be after, not the affection you might be craving, and not the appreciation you desire for your efforts.

Nothing can supplant God if you want to satisfy your spiritual hunger.

Our souls constantly demand to be fed, and make no mistake about it: if God does not have the proper place in your life, your soul will remain hungry. When I invite God into my days, I experience His satisfying presence no matter what I face. But when I don’t pray, when I don’t read my Bible, and when I don’t praise, I get hungry. Really hungry (not to mention grouchy).

Christians are hungry people. Just like the Israelites who wandered in the desert, we need God’s daily bread, His spiritual manna. Jesus taught us to ask for a daily portion. In the New Testament book of Matthew, Jesus took a moment to teach His followers how to pray. In that prayer, commonly referred to as the Lord’s Prayer, He said, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).

He didn’t ask to be fed for an entire week—just for today.

We would be wise to do the same.

Some people might think that once we become Christians all of our spiritual hunger subsides. Not so! I’ve found that the more I get to know God, the more I want to know Him. The more I experience His peace, presence, and power in my life, the more I want to experience His peace, presence, and power. I crave Him more.

Every day we eat bread (food) to keep us healthy and strong. We stay healthy and strong spiritually by continually communing with Jesus. He calls Himself the Bread of Life as well as the Living Water. In order for food and water to sustain and strengthen us physically, we must eat and drink it. Likewise, we need to call on Jesus each day to sustain us spiritually.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Thank You for the invitation to come, eat, drink, and be satisfied in You. You are all that I need, and more than enough. I pray that You will bear the weight of the burdens on my heart today, and ask that You would fill my soul with Your rest.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read and meditate on Psalm 63:1-8. GET WITH GOD. Abide. Seek Him. Experience His grace and be renewed in HIs goodness.

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion is an excerpt from Gwen’s book Broken Into Beautiful. Every step of healing begins with the heart of God. If you’d like to learn more about how your brokenness can be transformed into a picture of God’s beauty, get your copy today. To order the book go to Amazon or, for a signed copy, visit Gwen’s web store.

Get 20% OFF Gwen’s BROKEN INTO BEAUTIFUL book today when you order from her website and use the code: 20OFF

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

LHM Daily Devotion - "Ready to Hear"

 February 8, 2017

And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.  - Psalm 50:15, ESV

Most parents, as soon as their little ones are able, begin to teach safety.

We rehearse them so they are able to give their name, their address, and their phone number. At almost the same time we tell them that if they need help, they should go to a policeman and if there is an emergency, they should call 911. We assure them that when they call 911, someone will  always be there to offer them help.

Now in the vast, vast majority of situations the above information is true.

Still, as Crenshanda Williams shows, that statement is not always accurate. Let me amplify. In July 2014 Williams was hired by the Houston Emergency Center. All went well until her supervisors checked out the call log and saw she had an incredibly high number of "short calls," that is, phone calls that took less than 20 seconds to complete.

Indeed, between October 2015 and March 2016 there were thousands of calls that Williams had cut short. Most disturbing was the fact that one of those calls had been reporting a robbery and murder, while two of them involved speeding motorists.

The supervisors began to pay closer attention. They even heard her hang up on a police officer who was reporting a crime. As she did so, Williams said, "Ain't nobody got time for this."

Eventually, the police interviewed Williams about what she had been doing. Understandably, they wanted to know why. Her reply was incredibly simple and direct. She confessed she "did not want to talk to anyone at that time."

Williams has been charged with interference with an emergency telephone call and her bond was set at $1,000.

I'm sure you will agree with me in offering thanks to the Lord that there are not many such individuals on the other end of our 911 calls. When we have an emergency, we need someone who will be there, someone who will give us their attention, who will do his or her best to take care of our problem and help us find a positive resolution to whatever is wrong.

This takes me back to the verse at the top of our page where, because of His Son's sacrifice, our Heavenly Father says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." Note, He doesn't say I may deliver you, or I  probably will deliver you, or I might possibly deliver you.

God's promise is unbreakable.

He will deliver those who, in faith, come to Him. In every situation and every circumstance He will hear us and answer our prayers in the best way possible. True, those answers may not always be the ones we had wanted, nor do they always come according to our timetable, but God's deliverance does come and when it does, in faith we pray, "Thy will be done" (see Matthew 9-15).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we cannot explain why You would pay attention to us, but we give thanks that You are ready to hear us. May we be equally ready to praise Your Name. In Jesus' Name I pray it. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

CPTLN Devocional - Un refugio real

08 de Febrero 2017

Dios es nuestro amparo y fortaleza. Nuestro pronto auxilio en todos los problemas. Salmo 46:1, RVC

El Salmista nos dice que el Señor es nuestro refugio y fortaleza.

Pero parece que la iglesia se convertió en un lugar de refugio para un ex oficial de la KGB de la Unión Soviética, Mikkail Lennikov, a quien se le dijo que no podía continuar viviendo en Canadá.

El día que debía ser deportado, Lennikov fue a refugiarse en la Primera Iglesia Luterana del Este de Vancouver. La iglesia dijo que ellos lo protegerían mientras siguiera en vigencia la orden de deportación.

Pero él no ha sido el primero en buscar refugio en la iglesia. En la Edad Media en Europa, la ley ordenaba que la iglesia podía servir de refugio para los criminales.

Aun cuando Canadá no tiene leyes explícitas con respecto a esto, la policía no se atrevió a arrestar a alguien que había buscado asilo en un santuario. En la opinión de algunos, el que la policía invadiera una iglesia sería el rompimiento de la separación de iglesia y estado.

Al leer el relato de este ex-espía, no pude dejar de pensar en cuán a menudo la gente olvida que Dios es su refugio. A causa del sacrificio que el Salvador hizo en la cruz, y a causa de su gloriosa resurrección, quienes creemos hemos recibido la protección del santuario.

• Cuando seguimos a Cristo, nuestros pecados son perdonados y somos liberados de la culpa.
• Cuando nos mantenemos entre los redimidos, Satanás no puede demandar que seamos deportados a su reino.
• Cuando confiamos en la resurrección del Señor Jesús, la muerte no nos puede reclamar.

No sé qué sucedió con Lennikow, quien confió en la iglesia para mantenerse físicamente seguro; pero sí sé con certeza qué pasará con todos los creyentes en Cristo.

Junto con el Salmista podremos decir: "Dios es nuestro amparo y fortaleza. Nuestro pronto auxilio en todos los problemas."

ORACIÓN: Salvador, gracias a tu sacrificio y a que eres mi refugio, ayudador y salvador, tengo un nuevo hogar, un nuevo país y una familia de fe. En tu nombre oro. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC) Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas.

Our Daily Bread - The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

Read: 1 Samuel 20:35–42 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29–51

Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

A dear friend of mine sent me a text message that said, “I’m so glad we can tell each other the good, the bad, and the ugly!” We have been friends for many years, and we have learned to share our joys and our failures. We recognize we are far from perfect, so we share our struggles but we also rejoice in each other’s successes.

David and Jonathan had a solid friendship too, beginning with the good days of David’s victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 18:1–4). They shared their fears during the bad days of Jonathan’s father’s jealousy (18:6–11; 20:1–2). Finally, they suffered together during the ugly days of Saul’s plans to kill David (20:42).

Good friends don’t abandon us when external circumstances change. They stay with us through the good and the bad days. Good friends also may point us to God in the ugly days, when we may feel tempted to walk away from our Lord.

Real friendships are a gift from God because they exemplify the perfect Friend, who remains loyal through the good, the bad, and the ugly days. As the Lord reminds us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Dear Lord, I thank You for the good friends You have placed in my life, but above all, I thank You for Your friendship.

Read about living in the power of the Spirit and serving one another in love at discoveryseries.org/q0214.

A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world has gone out.

By Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Những Ngày Tươi Đẹp Và Những Ngày Đen Tối

Đọc: I Sa-mu-ên 20:35-42 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Lê-vi ký 4-5; Ma-thi-ơ 24:29-51

Ta sẽ chẳng lìa con, chẳng bỏ con đâu. Hê-bơ-rơ 13:5

Một người bạn yêu quý đã gửi cho tôi một tin nhắn nói rằng: “Tôi rất vui vì chúng ta có thể nói với nhau về những điều tốt, điều xấu và điều tồi tệ của chúng ta!” Chúng tôi đã làm bạn với nhau nhiều năm, và chúng tôi đã học cách chia sẻ với nhau mọi niềm vui và thất bại của mình. Chúng tôi nhận ra rằng mình không hề hoàn hảo, vì thế chúng tôi chia sẻ với nhau những tranh chiến của mình, nhưng cũng vui mừng trong những thành công của nhau.

Đa-vít và Giô-na-than cũng có một tình bạn vững bền, bắt đầu bằng những ngày tươi đẹp khi Đa-vít thắng Gô-li-át (1 Sam. 18:1-4). Họ chia sẻ với nhau những sợ hãi của mình trong suốt những ngày đen tối khi cha của Giô-na-than ganh ghét Đa-vít (18:6-11; 20:1-2). Cuối cùng, họ cùng nhau chịu khổ trong suốt những ngày tháng tồi tệ khi Sau-lơ lập mưu giết hại Đa-vít (20:42).

Bạn tốt không từ bỏ chúng ta khi hoàn cảnh bên ngoài thay đổi. Họ đứng bên chúng ta trong những ngày tươi đẹp cũng như những ngày tồi tệ. Bạn tốt cũng hướng chúng ta đến Chúa trong những ngày đen tối nhất, khi chúng ta thấy mình bị cám dỗ cách xa Chúa.

Tình bạn chân thật là một món quà từ Chúa bởi vì tình bạn đó minh họa cho Người Bạn hoàn hảo, Đấng vẫn ở bên chúng ta trong những ngày tươi đẹp, những ngày tồi tệ và cả những ngày đen tối. Như Chúa nhắc nhở chúng ta: “Ta sẽ chẳng lìa con, chẳng bỏ con đâu” (Hê-bơ-rơ 13:5).

Lạy Chúa, con cảm tạ Ngài về những người bạn Ngài đặt để trong cuộc đời con, nhưng trên hết, cảm ơn Ngài về tình bạn của chính Ngài.

Bạn hữu là người đầu tiên chạy đến với ta khi cả thế giới quay lưng.

bởi Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo

Leer: 1 Samuel 20:35-42 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 24:29-51

… No te desampararé, ni te dejaré (Hebreos 13:5).

Un amigo querido me mandó un mensaje de texto que decía: «¡Me alegra tanto que podamos contarnos lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo!». Somos amigos desde hace muchos años y hemos aprendido a compartir nuestras alegrías y fracasos. Reconocemos que estamos lejos de ser perfectos, por eso hablamos de nuestras luchas, pero también nos regocijamos en las victorias del otro.

David y Jonatán también tenían una amistad sólida, la cual comenzó en los días buenos, cuando David derrotó a Goliat (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Compartieron sus temores durante los tiempos malos de celos del padre de Jonatán (18:6-11; 20:1-2). Finalmente, sufrieron juntos en la época fea en que Saúl planeaba matar a David (20:42).

Los buenos amigos no nos abandonan cuando las circunstancias externas cambian. Permanecen a nuestro lado en las buenas y en las malas. También nos aconsejan acudir a Dios en los momentos feos, cuando quizá nos sintamos tentados a alejarnos de Él.

Los amigos auténticos son un regalo de Dios porque ejemplifican al Amigo perfecto, el cual permanece fiel en días buenos, malos y feos. Tal como nos recuerda el Señor: «No te desampararé, ni te dejaré» (Hebreos 13:5).

Señor, gracias por lo buenos amigos que has colocado en mi vida; pero, por sobre todo, te agradezco por ser tú mi amigo.

Un amigo es aquel que aparece cuando todo el mundo desaparece.

Por Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Das Gute und das Schlechte

Lesen: 1.Samuel 20,35-42 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 3.Mose 4–5; Matthäus 24,29-51

Ich will dich nicht verlassen und nicht von dir weichen. Hebräer 13,5

Eine gute Bekannte schickte mir eine SMS, in der es hieß: „Ich bin so froh, dass wir über alles reden können, das Gute und das Schlechte!“ Wir sind schon lange befreundet und haben gelernt, über das, was uns freut, genauso zu reden wie über unser Versagen. Wir wissen, dass wir längst nicht vollkommen sind, deshalb reden wir über unsere Probleme. Aber wir freuen uns auch, wenn der anderen etwas gelingt.

David und Jonathan waren seit den guten Tagen, in denen David Goliath besiegt hatte, auch enge Freunde (1.Sam. 18,1-4). In den schweren Tagen, als Jonathans Vater eifersüchtig wurde, teilten sie ihre Ängste (18,6-11; 20,1-2). Und sie litten gemeinsam, als Saul plante, David umzubringen (20,42).

Gute Freunde lassen einander nicht im Stich, wenn sich die äußeren Umstände ändern. Sie halten zu uns in guten wie in bösen Tagen. Gute Freunde können uns auch wieder auf Gott hinweisen, wenn wir in schweren Tagen versucht sind, uns von ihm abzuwenden.

Echte Freundschaft ist ein Geschenk von Gott, weil sie ein Symbol ist, das uns auf den vollkommenen Freund hinweist, der uns in guten und in schlechten Tagen treu bleibt. Er hat gesagt: „Ich will dich nicht verlassen und nicht von dir weichen“ (Hebr. 13,5).

Lieber Herr, ich danke dir für gute Freunde. Du hast sie in mein Leben geschickt. Aber am meisten danke ich dir für deine Freundschaft.

Ein Freund ist der erste, der kommt, wenn alle anderen gegangen sind.

Von Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le bon, le mauvais et le laid

Lisez : 1 Samuel 20.35‑42 | La Bible en un an : Lévitique 4 – 5 et Matthieu 24.29-51

Je ne te délaisserai point, et je ne t’abandonnerai point. Hébreux 13.5

Une de mes précieuses amies m’a envoyé un texto pour me dire : « Je suis si heureuse que nous puissions nous dire le bon, le mauvais et le laid ! » Nous sommes amies depuis de nombreuses années, et nous avons appris à partager nos joies et nos échecs. Reconnaissant être loin de la perfection, nous nous confessons nos combats, mais nous nous réjouissons également de nos succès respectifs.

David et Jonathan s’étaient eux aussi étroitement liés d’amitié, dès les beaux jours de la victoire de David sur Goliath (1 S 18.1‑4). Ils se sont raconté leurs craintes durant les mauvais jours où le père de Jonathan jalousait David (18.6‑11 ; 20.1,2). Finalement, ils ont souffert ensemble durant les mauvais jours où Saül planifiait de tuer David (20.42).

Les bons amis ne nous abandonnent pas lorsque la situation se corse. Ils restent à nos côtés dans les bons comme dans les mauvais jours. Il se peut aussi que nos bons amis nous incitent à lever les yeux sur Dieu durant les jours de laideur, lorsque nous serions tentés de nous détourner de lui.

Les véritables amitiés sont un don de Dieu, car elles nous servent d’exemples de l’Ami parfait, qui nous reste loyal durant les bons jours, les mauvais jours et les jours laids. Rappelons‑nous les paroles du Seigneur : « Je ne te délaisserai point, et je ne t’abandonnerai point » (HÉ 13.5).

L’ami est le premier à entrer quand le monde entier est sorti.

par Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Добре, погане й жахливе

Читати: 1 Самуїлова 20:35-42 | Біблія за рік: Левит 4−5 ; Матвія 24:29-51

Я тебе не покину, ані не відступлюся від тебе! — Євреїв 13:5

Одна моя люба подруга надіслала мені повідомлення наступного змісту: “Я дуже рада, що ми можемо розказати одна одній добрі речі, погані й жахливі!” Ми дружимо вже багато років і навчились ділитись як приємними речами, так і своїми помилками. Ми зрозуміли, що нам далеко до досконалості, тому не боїмося зізнаватись у своїх духовних поразках, але й щиро радіємо нашим духовним перемогам.

Давида і Йонатана теж зв’язувала міцна дружба, що почалась ще в ті славні дні, коли Давид переміг Голіята (1 Сам. 18:1-4). Вони ділились своїми страхами в поганий період, коли Саул, батько Йонатана, був сповнений заздрості й підступності (1 Сам. 18:6-11; 20:1-2). Нарешті, вони разом страждали в ті жахливі дні, коли Саул намагався вбити Давида (1 Сам. 20:42).

Справжні друзі не кидають нас, коли наші життєві обставини змінюються не в кращий бік. Вони завжди з нами як в щасливі наші дні, так і в погані. У жахливі дні, коли відчуваємо спокуси, друзі можуть вказувати нам як триматися Господа.

Справжня дружба – то Божий дар. І Сам Бог є прикладом найкращого, довершеного Друга, Хто залишається вірним нам у будь-який період нашого життя – добрий, поганий або жахливий. Господь нагадує нам: “Я тебе не покину, ані не відступлюся від тебе!” (Євр. 13:5).

Дорогий Господи, я дякую Тобі за хороших друзів, що Ти посилаєш у моєму житті. Але понад усе дякую Тобі за Твою дружбу.

Друг – це той, хто першим приходить на допомогу, коли весь світ відвертається від нас.

Автор Кейла Очоа

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Хорошее, плохое, ужасное

Читать сейчас: 1 Царств 20:35-42 | Библия за год: Левит 4-5; Матфея 24:29-51

«Не оставлю тебя и не покину тебя». — Евреям 13:5

Близкая подруга прислала мне сообщение: «Я очень рада, что мы можем рассказывать друг другу хорошее, плохое и даже ужасное». Мы дружим уже много лет и научились делиться всеми радостями и печалями. Мы признаем, что далеки от совершенства, поэтому делимся своими неудачами и, конечно же, радуемся успехам.

Давид и Ионафан также близко дружили, начиная со дня победы Давида над Голиафом (1 Цар. 18:1-4). Они делились друг с другом страхами, когда отец Ионафана терзался завистью (1 Цар. 8:6-11; 20:1-2). Наконец, они вместе страдали в те ужасные дни, когда Саул хотел убить Давида (1 Цар. 20:42).

Настоящие друзья не бросают в беде. Они остаются рядом и когда хорошо, и когда плохо. Добрые друзья также могут направить нас к Богу в ужасные дни, когда мы испытываем искушение отступить от Него.

Истинная дружба – дар от Бога, потому что в ней отражается совершенный Друг, Который остается с нами в хорошем, плохом и ужасном. Как сказал Господь: «Не оставлю тебя и не покину тебя» (Евр. 13:5).

Господь, я благодарю Тебя за добрых друзей, которых Ты послал в мою жизнь. Но больше всего я благодарю, что Ты назвал меня Своим другом.

Друг останется рядом, даже когда весь мир отвернется.

автор: Кейла Очоа

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for TUESDAY, February 7, 2017

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Isaiah 59:1-15

See, the LORD's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness. No one brings suit justly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity. They hatch adders' eggs, and weave the spider's web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper. Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they rush to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, desolation and destruction are in their highways. The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace. Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, groping like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among the vigorous as though we were dead. We all growl like bears; like doves we moan mournfully. We wait for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. For our transgressions before you are many, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions indeed are with us, and we know our iniquities: transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God, talking oppression and revolt, conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart. Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter. Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I am grateful to God-- whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did-- when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 9:42-50
Glory be to Thee, O Lord

"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. "For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Here ends the Gospel lesson for today.
Glory be to Thee ,O Christ!

Morning Psalms

Psalm 78: Part I Attendite, popule
1   Hear my teaching, O my people; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2   I will open my mouth in a parable; I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
3   That which we have heard and known, and what our forefathers have told us, we will not hide from their children.
4   We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, and the wonderful works he has done.
5   He gave his decrees to Jacob and established a law for Israel, which he commanded them to teach their children;
6   That the generations to come might know, and the children yet unborn; that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
7   So that they might put their trust in God, and not forget the deeds of God, but keep his commandments;
8   And not be like their forefathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9   The people of Ephraim, armed with the bow, turned back in the day of battle;
10   They did not keep the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11   They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them.
12   He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13   He split open the sea and let them pass through; he made the waters stand up like walls.
14   He led them with a cloud by day, and all the night through with a glow of fire.
15   He split the hard rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep.
16   He brought streams out of the cliff, and the waters gushed out like rivers.
17   But they went on sinning against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
18   They tested God in their hearts, demanding food for their craving.
19   They railed against God and said, "Can God set a table in the wilderness?
20   True, he struck the rock, the waters gushed out, and the gullies overflowed; but is he able to give bread or to provide meat for his people?"
21   When the LORD heard this, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob, and his anger mounted against Israel;
22   For they had no faith in God, nor did they put their trust in his saving power.
23   So he commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven.
24   He rained down manna upon them to eat and gave them grain from heaven.
25   So mortals ate the bread of angels; he provided for them food enough.
26   He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and led out the south wind by his might.
27   He rained down flesh upon them like dust and wingéd birds like the sand of the sea.
28   He let it fall in the midst of their camp and round about their dwellings.
29   So they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
30   But they did not stop their craving, though the food was still in their mouths.
31   So God's anger mounted against them; he slew their strongest men and laid low the youth of Israel.
32   In spite of all this, they went on sinning and had no faith in his wonderful works.
33   So he brought their days to an end like a breath and their years in sudden terror.
34   Whenever he slew them, they would seek him, and repent, and diligently search for God.
35   They would remember that God was their rock, and the Most High God their redeemer.
36   But they flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues.
37   Their heart was not steadfast toward him, and they were not faithful to his covenant.
38   But he was so merciful that he forgave their sins and did not destroy them; many times he held back his anger and did not permit his wrath to be roused.
39   For he remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that goes forth and does not return.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 78: Part II Quoties exacerbaverunt
40   How often the people disobeyed him in the wilderness and offended him in the desert!
41   Again and again they tempted God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42   They did not remember his power in the day when he ransomed them from the enemy;
43   How he wrought his signs in Egypt and his omens in the field of Zoan.
44   He turned their rivers into blood, so that they could not drink of their streams.
45   He sent swarms of flies among them, which ate them up, and frogs, which destroyed them.
46   He gave their crops to the caterpillar, the fruit of their toil to the locust.
47   He killed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
48   He delivered their cattle to hailstones and their livestock to hot thunderbolts.
49   He poured out upon them his blazing anger: fury, indignation, and distress, a troop of destroying angels.
50   He gave full rein to his anger; he did not spare their souls from death; but delivered their lives to the plague.
51   He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the flower of manhood in the dwellings of Ham.
52   He led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53   He led them to safety, and they were not afraid; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54   He brought them to his holy land, the mountain his right hand had won.
55   He drove out the Canaanites before them and apportioned an inheritance to them by lot; he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56   But they tested the Most High God, and defied him, and did not keep his commandments.
57   They turned away and were disloyal like their fathers; they were undependable like a warped bow.
58   They grieved him with their hill-altars they provoked his displeasure with their idols.
59   When God heard this, he was angry and utterly rejected Israel.
60   He forsook the shrine at Shiloh, the tabernacle where he had lived among his people.
61   He delivered the ark into captivity, his glory into the adversary's hand.
62   He gave his people to the sword and was angered against his inheritance.
63   The fire consumed their young men; there were no wedding songs for their maidens.
64   Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.
65   Then the LORD woke as though from sleep, like a warrior refreshed with wine.
66   He struck his enemies on the backside and put them to perpetual shame.
67   He rejected the tent of Joseph and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68   He chose instead the tribe of Judah and Mount Zion, which he loved.
69   He built his sanctuary like the heights of heaven, like the earth which he founded for ever.
70   He chose David his servant, and took him away from the sheepfolds.
71   He brought him from following the ewes, to be a shepherd over Jacob his people and over Israel his inheritance.
72   So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands.

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 - February 07, 2017

Psalm 97:10 (NIV) Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

Read all of Psalm 97

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 - "Never Stop Teaching Your Children"

Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. —Psalm 34:11, NLT

Sometimes Christian parents want their children to live in a bubble. They aren't going to allow any godless influences in their house. They won't even have a television set. No media. No Internet. Just nothing—not even furniture. Please don't do that. Instead, prepare your children to live in the real world. Teach them.

I never had to teach my daughter how to sin. I never had to sit her down and say, "Girl, I am going to teach you how to sin. Let's start with the word mine." No, it came naturally to her just like it came naturally to me. It comes naturally to every person. David said, "In sin my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5, NKJV).

Moses gave great insight when he said, "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:6–7, NKJV). I love that. Moses is saying, just do it all of the time. Teach them in the morning and at night. Teach your kids everywhere. Look for a teaching moment. I've found some of the greatest spiritual moments with children happen when we are just out doing things.

Teach your children to see things as God sees things.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.Devotion by Greg Laurie © 2016 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Agrada a Dios en todo

No temas [...] ni te desanimes, porque el Señor tu Dios está en medio de ti como guerrero victorioso. Se deleitará en ti con gozo, te renovará con su amor. Sofonías 3:16-17, NVI

Todos tenemos luchas que se nos presentarán casi a diario. Aunque a veces hemos sido débiles y hemos fallado, en nuestro corazón lo que más deseamos es agradar a Dios en todo.

Sin embargo, agradar a Dios en todo es renunciar a cosas que sabemos que no son buenas, tales como el adulterio, la venganza, el divorcio, la mentira, matar, robar, entre otras.

Es más fácil agradar a Dios en las cosas sencillas, ¿pero qué me dices cuando estamos en alguna situación, algún vicio y por más que tratamos no podemos renunciar?

Sin embargo, no todo es preocupación. Debes saber que el único que nos puede ayudar a renunciar es el mismo Dios a través de una decisión que tomemos tú y yo, pues Él ve y conoce nuestro corazón.

El día que decidí dejar de fumar, hablé muy claro con mi Dios y le dije: «Padre, a mí me gusta mucho fumar, pero quiero agradarte. No quiero ver sufrir más a mis hijas porque me vean fumar, pero yo sola no puedo. Quítame, por favor, el deseo, y te prometo que nunca más lo vuelvo a hacer».

Esa noche apagué el cigarrillo y no sentí nada diferente. Entonces, al otro día, ya no volví a sentir deseos de fumar y, gracias a Dios, pude dejar ese vicio que no solo me enfermaba, sino que lo desagradaba por completo a Él.

Mis amigos, la clave en una decisión es dar el primer paso y Dios te respalda. Si todo se puede en Él, podemos hacer cualquier cambio.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón. La Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional® NVI® Copyright © 1986, 1999, 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - BE NOT AFRAID

I sought the Lord and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

The one positive fear that the Bible endorses is the fear of God. Wise Solomon said fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. It was Oswald Chambers who added, “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

In Eritrea, Helen Berhane was frequently tortured during her almost three years in the shipping container prison. In spite of that she had no fear. Once when interrogated for teaching the Bible to the guards outside her cell, she replied:

“I am always looking for opportunities to talk about my faith and to spread the news about Jesus. I am not ashamed of the gospel and I will talk to anyone and to everyone. Jesus does not just want me to tell the prisoners about him, he wants me to tell the guards too. Even if the president were to visit the prison, I would tell him about the gospel.

“I am not afraid of you. You can do what you want to me, but ultimately all you can do is kill my body, you cannot touch my soul. You cannot even kill me unless it is God’s will that I should die.”[1]

Her persecutors had no answer and returned her to her shipping container.

David Aikman writes in his book Great Souls about the personal life of Pope John Paul II—especially his personal prayer life. When he became pope in 1978, the result of all that personal prayer was evident in his inaugural sermon. “Be not afraid!” he said.

He recognized that fear is a sin because it denies the sovereignty of God. And he recognized that as a leader of a large Church, and unwaveringly opposed to the powerful communist empire, he had to give people the courage to resist evil.

And courageous he was. When he saw Russian tanks poised to invade Poland, the Pope announced he would go and stand with his people if the Soviets crossed the border. The Soviet tanks did not move.

The Pope knew he might face assassination—and indeed, someone did try to assassinate him—yet he continued to tell the world, “Be not afraid.”

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the fear of God so that I will not fear anything or anyone else.

PRAYER: Pray that all Christians in fearful situations today will have the attitude of trust in the Lord and not fear for their lives.

1. Helen Berhane, Song of the Nightingale (Colorado Springs: Authentic Media, 2009), p. 75.

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

Girlfriends in God - The Bam-Bam Game

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Dan and I have one favorite restaurant where we like to eat on our weekly date night. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is quiet, and the waitress makes us feel like we are the most important people on the planet. It is a great place to relax, catch up and make plans for the future. We go to this restaurant for us. It’s our spot.

Our grandchildren have a different spot where they love to go. It is definitely not quiet; the food is geared more to the taste of children, and finding someone who works there is often what I consider a modern day miracle. Yep … you are way ahead of me. It is Chuck E. Cheese!

But … I absolutely love going to Chuck E. Cheese! Let me explain. First, I score major points with our grandchildren. Second, it is easy to keep tabs on the kids at our local Chuck E. Cheese because it is small. Seriously, I can stand in the middle of the play area and see every grandchild. Third, there are so many games that every child can find at least one or two they enjoy playing. I like Chuck E. Cheese because it keeps the kids happily occupied for hours.

I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but there is another reason I love going to Chuck E. Cheese. I am hooked on one the games. The official name of the game is Smash A Munch, but I call it The Bam-Bam game. If you have ever been to Chuck E. Cheese you know exactly which game I’m talking about. Funny creatures pop up from random holes, and you hit them with a foam-covered bat to make them disappear. The more little creatures you hit and the faster you hit them determines how many highly coveted tickets you win.

Every time I play The Bam-Bam game, I am reminded of a spiritual truth that so many of us have so wrong. We honestly believe God plays a kind of spiritual version of The Bam-Bam Game with our lives. I’ve done it. I’ve had this perspective, thinking God sits in Heaven, holding a spiritual bat, just waiting for me to make a mistake. When I do, He laughs in delight and promptly smashes me back into the dark pit into which I have fallen.

Well, let me tell you the truth, girlfriend. That perception is a lie, straight from the pit of Hell, and smells like smoke! We need to understand who our Father truly is and how He really sees us. Grab hold of these truths!

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10, NIV).

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:14-15, NIV).

Know that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to Him; we are His people, the sheep He tends (Psalm 100:3, NCV).

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, NLT).

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, NIV).

Here it is. The almighty God, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel, Creator and Caretaker of the universe loves me and He loves you. Period.

We don’t have to try to be someone we were never created to be. We have nothing to prove to anyone. God has already settled all of that … and so much more.

Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to pay for our sins – past, present and future. His gift of unfathomable love covers it all. He is for us. He is with us. There is no condemnation - no Bam-Bam Game - in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, right now, celebrate the unconditional love, the unending grace, and the eternal forgiveness He freely offers.

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to thank You for loving me right where I am … just as I am. Please help me reject the lies that are filled with condemnation and blame. I choose to revel in the forgiveness I find in You. Today, I take hold of Your grace and love. Thank You, Lord, that I am Yours and You are mine.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

• Do you really believe God loves you unconditionally?
• Read Psalm 139 each day for one month. Record the new truths that you learn, the changes in your perspective, and any fresh insights in your journal.
• At the end of the month, write Psalm 139 in your own words and share it with a friend.

More from the Girlfriends

God really does have a special plan just for me. My highest act of obedience is to seek that plan each and every day. My book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, is the story of my struggle to see myself as God sees me, and in doing so, be set free from the darkness of judgment and condemnation. I encourage you to visit my online store and pick up a copy.

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

Seeking God? Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.