LHM Daily Devotion - "No Place Worse"

 February 11, 2017

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the Law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

- Romans 8:1-4, ESV

Most of us have been in situations we would prefer not to repeat. You know,

• the time you told a hilarious joke and instead of laughter there was a deafening silence;
• the time you asked a pregnant woman when she was due, and the lady wasn't pregnant;
• the time you volunteered to lead a group in praying the Lord's Prayer, but the only prayer you could remember was "Come Lord Jesus, be our Guest ...."

At such moments you couldn't think of any place to be that would be worse than where you were at that moment.

I think 70-year-old Lawrence Ripple felt that way about much of his life. At least he felt that way about his marriage. How do I know? Well, in September, Ripple went into a Kansas City, Kansas, bank, told the teller he had a gun, and demanded some cash. He got about $3,000.

But Ripple didn't try to make a getaway.

Nope, he sat down in the bank's lobby and waited. When a guard showed up, he told the man, "I'm the fellow you are looking for." Ripple was arrested and is going to go on trial. If things go against him, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Of course, if you talk to Ripple, he will tell you jail time is exactly what he wants.

You see, he felt his married home-life was so bad, he was willing to do anything, including holding up a bank, to get out of the terrible situation. For Ripple, his home was the worst place to be.

It occurs to me that no matter how bad the situations of our lives may be, no matter how terrible we may feel about our circumstances, there is one place that is the worst of all.

That place is hell. Hell is the one place where we don't want to go, the one place we don't want to stay.

Now, thankfully, you don't have to go there. Nobody has to go there.

So hell might become an impossibility for us, our Heavenly Father sent His Son into this world to take our place. Throughout His entire life, Jesus did all that was necessary to rescue us from the torment that most certainly awaited us. His perfect life and His unfair death was the sacrifice necessary to rescue any and all who are brought to faith in Him.

His third-day resurrection from the dead is God's ultimate proof that hell's doors are shut to those who are part of God's family of faith.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that because of my Savior I won't be going to hell. May the Holy Spirit touch those who are headed that direction and turn them around. In Jesus' Name I ask 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.

Our Daily Bread - I Know Everything

Read: Psalm 139:1–18 | Bible in a Year: Leviticus 11–12; Matthew 26:1–25

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Psalm 139:3

Our son and daughter-in-law had an emergency. Our grandson Cameron was suffering from pneumonia and bronchitis and needed to go to the hospital. They asked if we could pick up their five-year-old son, Nathan, from school and take him home. Marlene and I were glad to do so.

When Nathan got in the car, Marlene asked, “Are you surprised that we came to get you today?” He responded, “No!” When we asked why not, he replied, “Because I know everything!”

A five-year-old can claim to know everything, but those of us who are a bit older know better. We often have more questions than answers. We wonder about the whys, whens, and hows of life—often forgetting that though we do not know everything, we know the God who does.

Psalm 139:1 and 3 speak of our all-knowing God’s all-encompassing, intimate understanding of us. David says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. . . . You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” How comforting to know God loves us perfectly, is fully aware of what we will face today, and He knows how best to help us in every circumstance of life.

Our knowledge will always be limited, but knowing God is what matters most. We can trust Him.

Thank You, Lord, that You know everything about me and what I need.

Learn how to enjoy the presence of God. For help, go to discoveryseries.org/q0718.

Knowing God is what matters most.

By Bill Crowder

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Ta Biết Hết Mọi Điều

Đọc: Thi Thiên 139:1-18 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Lê-vi ký 11-12; Ma-thi-ơ 26:1-25

Chúa xem xét lối con đi và chỗ con nằm nghỉ, quen biết các đường lối con. Thi Thiên 139:3

Con trai và con dâu tôi có chuyện khẩn cấp. Cháu trai của tôi là Cameron đang bị viêm phổi và viêm phế quản cần được đưa vào bệnh viện. Hai con tôi hỏi liệu chúng tôi có thể đến trường đón giúp Nathan, cậu con trai năm tuổi về được không. Vợ chồng tôi sẵn lòng làm việc đó.

Khi Nathan vào trong xe, vợ tôi hỏi: “Con có ngạc nhiên vì hôm nay ông bà đến đón con không?” Nó trả lời: “Dạ không!” Khi chúng tôi hỏi tại sao, nó trả lời: “Chuyện gì con chẳng biết!”

Một đứa trẻ năm tuổi có thể tuyên bố là biết hết mọi thứ, nhưng những người lớn như chúng ta mới biết nhiều hơn. Chúng ta thường có nhiều câu hỏi hơn là câu trả lời. Chúng ta đặt ra rất nhiều câu hỏi tại sao, khi nào và như thế nào về cuộc sống – và thường quên rằng dù chúng ta không biết hết mọi chuyện, nhưng chúng ta biết Chúa là Đấng biết hết mọi điều.

Thi Thiên 139:1,3 nói về sự hiểu biết trọn vẹn và thân mật của một Đức Chúa Trời biết hết mọi điều. Đa-vít nói: “Lạy Đức Giê-hô-va, Ngài đã dò xét con và biết rõ con. Chúa xem xét lối con đi và chỗ con nằm nghỉ, quen biết các đường lối con.” Thật được an ủi làm sao khi biết rằng Chúa yêu chúng ta cách trọn vẹn và Ngài hoàn toàn biết rõ những gì chúng ta đối diện hôm nay, và Ngài còn biết cách tốt nhất để giúp chúng ta trong mọi hoàn cảnh của cuộc sống.

Sự hiểu biết của chúng ta luôn giới hạn, nhưng biết Chúa là điều quan trọng nhất. Chúng ta có thể tin cậy nơi Ngài.

Lạy Chúa, cảm ơn Ngài đã biết rõ về con và mọi điều con cần.

Biết Chúa là điều quan trọng nhất.

bởi Bill Crowder

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Yo sé todo

Leer: Salmos 139:1-18 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 26:1-25

Has escudriñado mi andar y mi reposo, y todos mis caminos te son conocidos (Salmos 139:3).

Nuestro hijo y nuera tuvieron que ir de urgencia al hospital porque nuestro nieto tenía neumonía y bronquitis. Nos preguntaron si podíamos ir a buscar a su otro hijo, de cinco años, a la escuela y llevarlo a casa. Con mi esposa, estábamos encantados de poder hacerlo.

Cuando el pequeño subió al auto, mi esposa le preguntó: «¿Te sorprendió que nosotros viniéramos a buscarte?». A lo que él respondió: «¡No!». Cuando le preguntamos por qué no, dijo: «¡Porque yo sé todo!».

Un niño de cinco años afirma saberlo todo, pero los que somos un poco mayores sabemos que no es así. A menudo, tenemos más preguntas que respuestas. Nos preguntamos sobre los porqués y las circunstancias de la vida… olvidando muchas veces que, aunque nosotros no sepamos todo, sí conocemos al Dios que todo lo sabe.

Salmos 139:1-3 habla del conocimiento ilimitado e íntimo que nuestro Dios omnisciente tiene de nosotros. David declara: «Tú me has examinado y conocido. […]. Has escudriñado mi andar y mi reposo, y todos mis caminos te son conocidos». ¡Qué consolador es saber que Dios nos ama a la perfección, que es plenamente consciente de lo que enfrentamos hoy y que sabe cómo ayudarnos de la mejor manera en cada circunstancia!

Señor, gracias porque sabes todo sobre mí y lo que necesito.

Lo más importante es conocer a Dios.

Por Bill Crowder

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Ich weiß alles

Lesen: Psalm 139,1-18 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 3.Mose 11–12; Matthäus 26,1-25

Ich gehe oder liege, so bist du um mich und siehst alle meine Wege. Psalm 139,3

Unser Sohn und seine Frau brauchten Hilfe. Unser Enkel Cameron hatte Lungenentzündung und Bronchitis und musste ins Krankenhaus. Sie fragten, ob wir Nathan, den Fünfjährigen, von der Schule abholen und nach Hause bringen könnten. Natürlich sagten wir sofort zu.

Als Nathan ins Auto kletterte, fragte meine Frau: „Wunderst du dich, dass wir dich heute abholen?“ „Nein“, kam die Antwort. Als wir fragten, wieso nicht, erwiderte er: „Weil ich alles weiß!“

Ein Fünfjähriger kann behaupten, er wisse alles, aber wir, die wir schon etwas älter sind, wissen es besser. Wir haben oft mehr Fragen als Antworten. Wir fragen nach dem Warum und Wann und Wie im Leben und vergessen dabei oft, dass wir zwar nicht allwissend sind, aber dass wir einen Gott haben, der alles weiß.

Psalm 139 spricht in den Versen 1 und 3 vom allumfassenden Wissen unseres allwissenden Gottes. David sagt: „Herr, du erforschest mich und kennest mich . . . Ich gehe oder liege, so bist du um mich und siehst alle meine Wege.“ Wie tröstlich zu wissen, dass Gott uns vollkommen liebt, dass er um alles weiß, was uns heute begegnen wird, und dass er auch am besten weiß, wie er uns in allen Lagen helfen kann.

Unser Wissen ist immer begrenzt. Aber wichtig ist, dass wir Gott kennen. Ihm können wir vertrauen.

Danke, Herr, dass du alles über mich weißt und weißt, was ich brauche. Lerne, wie du dich an der Gegenwart Gottes freuen kannst, auf unsertaeglichbrot.org/ds/in-seiner-gegenwart/.

Wichtig ist, dass wir Gott kennen.

Von Bill Crowder

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Je sais tout

Lisez : Psaume 139.1‑18 | La Bible en un an : Lévitique 11 – 12 et Matthieu 26.1-25

Tu sais quand je marche et quand je me couche, et tu pénètres toutes mes voies. (Psaume 139.3)

Notre fils et notre belle‑fille ont eu une urgence. Notre petit‑fils Cameron avait contracté une bronchopneumonie, si bien qu’il leur fallait le conduire à l’hôpital. Ils nous ont alors demandé si nous pouvions passer prendre leur fils de cinq ans, Nathan, à son école pour le ramener à la maison, ce que Marlene et moi étions heureux de faire.

Lorsque Nathan est monté dans la voiture, Marlene lui a demandé : « Es‑tu surpris que nous venions te chercher aujourd’hui ? » Ce à quoi il a répondu : « Non ! » Quand nous avons voulu savoir pourquoi, il nous a indiqué : « Parce que je sais tout ! »

Un enfant de cinq ans peut prétendre tout savoir, mais nous qui sommes un peu plus vieux savons pertinemment que la réalité est tout autre, car nous avons souvent plus de questions que de réponses. Nous nous interrogeons quant aux pourquoi, aux quand et aux comment de la vie – oubliant souvent que, même si nous ne savons pas tout, c’est tout le contraire pour Dieu.

Le Psaume 139 parle de l’intime connaissance que notre Dieu omniscient a de chacun de nous : « Tu sais quand je marche et quand je me couche, et tu pénètres toutes mes voies » (V. 3). Quel réconfort de savoir que Dieu nous aime à la perfection, qu’il est bien conscient de ce qui nous attend demain et qu’il nous apportera la meilleure aide qui soit en toute situation !

Nos connaissances ont beau être limitées, celle que nous avons de Dieu comptera toujours plus que tout. Il est digne de confiance.

Connaître Dieu, voilà tout ce qui compte !

par Bill Crowder

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Я знаю все

Читати: Псалом 138:1-18 | Біблія за рік: Левит 11−12 ; Матвія 26:1-25

Дорогу мою та лежання моє виміряєш, і Ти всі путі мої знаєш. — Псалом 138:3

У мого сина та невістки сталася надзвичайна ситуація: мій внук Камерон захворів на пневмонію і потребував негайної госпіталізації. Отже, наші діти спитали мене й мою дружину Мерлін, чи не змогли б ми забрати їхнього п’ятирічного Натана зі школи додому. Ми з радістю погодились.

Коли ж Натан вже сидів у нашій машині, Мерлін спитала в нього: “Ти здивований, що ми сьогодні заїхали за тобою?” Він відразу ж відповів: “Ні! Тому що я все знаю!”

Так, п’ятирічний хлопчик може стверджувати, що все знає, але ті, хто трішки старші, краще розуміють життя. Дорослі мають більше запитань, ніж відповідей. Нас часто непокоять питання “чому?”, “коли?” і “як?” Та ми інколи забуваємо, що хоча ми не знаємо всього, але Бог знає. Цар Давид у Псалмі 138 говорить про те, що Боже розуміння є дуже глибоким, всеохоплюючим. “Господи, випробував Ти мене та й пізнав… Дорогу мою та лежання моє виміряєш, і Ти всі путі мої знаєш” (Пс. 138:1, 3). Яка це втіха знати, що Бог любить нас довершеною любов’ю, що Він цілком розуміє ті проблеми, з якими ми сьогодні стикаємося, і чудово знає, як найкраще допомогти нам у кожній непростій обставині нашого життя!

Наше знання завжди буде обмеженим, але найголовніше – то пізнання Бога. Ми можемо довіряти Йому.

Дякую Тобі, Господи, за те, що Тобі відомо все про мене – Ти знаєш всі мої потреби.

Пізнання Бога – це найголовніше.

Автор Білл Краудер

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Я все знаю

Читать сейчас: Псалом 138:1-18 | Библия за год: Левит 11-12; Матфея 26:1-25

Иду ли я, отдыхаю ли – Ты окружаешь меня, и все пути мои известны Тебе. — Псалом 138:3

У нашего сына с невесткой возникли проблемы: их малыш Кэмерон страдал от пневмонии, а тут еще заболел бронхитом. Нужно было везти его в больницу. Они попросили нас забрать второго их сына, пятилетнего Нафана, из школы и привезти домой. Мы с Марлин, конечно, согласились.

Когда Нафан забрался в машину, Марлин спросила: «Ты удивился, что сегодня за тобой приехали мы?» «Нет», – ответил Нафан. Мы спросили почему, и он деловито заявил: «Потому что я все знаю!»

Пятилетний паренек может считать, что знает все. Зато у нас, взрослых, часто бывает больше вопросов, чем ответов. Нас интересуют многие «что», «где» и «когда» этой непростой жизни. И при этом мы забываем, что, хотя нам известно не так много, зато мы знаем Бога, Который всезнающ.

В Псалме 138 псалмопевец говорит о Боге, Который не только все знает, но также глубоко сочувствует нам. Давид пишет: «Господи! Ты испытал меня и знаешь... Иду ли я, отдыхаю ли – Ты окружаешь меня, и все пути мои известны Тебе» (Пс. 138:1, 3). Как утешительно помнить, что Бог любит нас совершенной любовью и точно знает, что нас ожидает впереди. В любых обстоятельствах жизни Он готов оказать нам самую лучшую помощь.

Наше знание всегда будет ограничено, но самое главное – знать Бога. Мы можем положиться на Него.

Благодарю Тебя, Господь, что Ты знаешь все обо мне и моих нуждах.

Самое главное – знать Бога.

автор: Билл Краудер

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, February 10, 2017

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Isaiah 61:1-9

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the LORD, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 2 Timothy 3:1-17

You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires, who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone. Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 10:32-45
Glory be to Thee, O Lord

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him, saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles; they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again." James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

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

Morning Psalms

Psalm 88 Domine, Deus
1   O LORD, my God, my Savior, by day and night I cry to you.
2   Let my prayer enter into your presence; incline your ear to my lamentation.
3   For I am full of trouble; my life is at the brink of the grave.
4   I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I have become like one who has no strength;
5   Lost among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave,
6   Whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.
7   You have laid me in the depths of the Pit, in dark places, and in the abyss.
8   Your anger weighs upon me heavily, and all your great waves overwhelm me.
9   You have put my friends far from me; you have made me to be abhorred by them; I am in prison and cannot get free.
10   My sight has failed me because of trouble; LORD, I have called upon you daily; I have stretched out my hands to you.
11   Do you work wonders for the dead? will those who have died stand up and give you thanks?
12   Will your loving-kindness be declared in the grave? your faithfulness in the land of destruction?
13   Will your wonders be known in the dark? or your righteousness in the country where all is forgotten?
14   But as for me, O LORD, I cry to you for help; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
15   LORD, why have you rejected me? why have you hidden your face from me?
16   Ever since my youth, I have been wretched and at the point of death; I have borne your terrors with a troubled mind.
17   Your blazing anger has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me;
18   They surround me all day long like a flood; they encompass me on every side.
19   My friend and my neighbor you have put away from me, and darkness is my only companion.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 91 Qui habitat
1   He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2   He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I put my trust."
3   He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence.
4   He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
5   You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
6   Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
7   A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
8   Your eyes have only to behold to see the reward of the wicked.
9   Because you have made the LORD your refuge, and the Most High your habitation,
10   There shall no evil happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11   For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12   They shall bear you in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13   You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14   Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15   He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16   With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Psalm 92 Bonum est confiteri
1   It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2   To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3   On the psaltery, and on the lyre, and to the melody of the harp.
4   For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5   LORD, how great are your works! your thoughts are very deep.
6   The dullard does not know, nor does the fool understand, that though the wicked grow like weeds, and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
7   They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
8   For lo, your enemies, O LORD, lo, your enemies shall perish, and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
9   But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; I am anointed with fresh oil.
10   My eyes also gloat over my enemies, and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who rise up against me.
11   The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12   Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13   They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be green and succulent;
14   That they may show how upright the LORD is, my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

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 10, 2017

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

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 - "Five Reasons to Discipline Your Child"

Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul.

—Proverbs 29:17, NKJV

Just as our children need our hugs and our affirmation, they also need to know what the parameters are, as well as the ramifications for crossing them. That, too, is love.

It has been said the cure for crime is not in the electric chair; it is in the high chair. Start early. Love your children by disciplining them.

The Bible tells us we should discipline our children. Here are five reasons:

1. We discipline our children to remove foolishness. Proverbs 22:15 says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him."


2. We discipline our children to rescue them from judgment. Proverbs 23:13–14 tells us, "Don't fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won't kill them. Physical discipline may well save them from death" (NLT).


3. We discipline our children to give them wisdom. According to Proverbs 29:15, "To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child" (NLT).


4. We discipline our children to relieve our anxiety. As Proverbs 29:17 says, "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul."


5. We discipline our children so they might reflect God's character. Hebrews 12:10–11 says, "For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way" (NLT).

Know this: God will hold us accountable one day. He has given us this charge, this responsibility. It isn't optional. God has commanded us as parents to bring our children up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

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 - Recuerda quién te lleva de la mano

Aunque mi padre y mi madre me abandonen, el Señor me recibirá en sus brazos. Salmo 27:10, NVI

Nadie nace con un manual ni con una cartilla que nos enseñe cómo ser mejores padres. Se trata de un compromiso que nos llega sin muchas veces haberlo buscado. El día menos esperado las cosas cambian y nos enfrentamos a esa realidad: «Voy a ser padre» o «Voy a ser madre». Incluso, en ocasiones puedes quedar en estado de choque un par de días. Entonces, después de hacer las pruebas, las cuentas y demás análisis, te cae el veinte y llegas a tu verdad, vas a ser padre.

¿Y qué me dices de los que tienen sus hijos sin contar con el respaldo de la pareja y les toca seguir adelante solos con esta enorme responsabilidad? Pues para todos va esta reflexión.

Tuve la oportunidad de vivir esta última situación con un embarazo no planeado. Sumado a eso, una pareja que prefirió abandonarme antes que asumir su papel de padre. No les niego que viví momentos de angustia, de soledad y de tristeza por no haberme guardado. Viví momentos de dolor por haberle fallado a mi Dios, a mis princesas y a mi familia.

Sin embargo, llegó el momento en que me tocó guardar mi dolor, levantar mi cabeza, pedir perdón a quienes afecté con esta situación y vivir ese último embarazo como si fuera el primero. Hoy en día mi princesa Anacristina tiene cinco años y es mi vida. Ha llenado de felicidad mi vida y la de mi familia.

Dios perdona nuestras faltas y nos da nueva oportunidades.

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 - BOLD WITNESS NOT IN VAIN

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV

Lung Singh was a spirit worshipper and opium addict for forty-five years in the little Southeast Asian country of Laos. When he turned to Christ, he became a powerhouse for the Lord. Dr. Jan Pit shares about the day he baptized Lung Singh:

“I’ll never forget how, after coming up out of the waters, he began singing, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus,’ Then he pointed to the ripples spreading out in the water and said, ‘Brother Jan, there goes my old life. All the old things have passed away. It’s gone. Everything now is new.’

“Still soaking wet, he clambered onto the bank on the side of the famous Mekong River and knelt down. ‘Devil,’ he shouted. ‘I’ve been your servant for 45 years. Now I belong to Christ. Now I only serve him.’

“I’ve never met a man so on fire for the Lord. After I left the country in 1973, Lung Singh continued his courageous ministry. He was constantly warned by the Pathet Lao Communists to stop his preaching, but he refused.

“’I cannot do that. Jesus saved me. He did everything for me. I can’t be quiet!’”

Years later he was executed but not before impacting for good the kingdom of heaven.

Sister Wu is a leader in a house church in China. One day her home was suddenly raided by the police. She had Christian literature from abroad and it was confiscated. Sister Wu was arrested and taken to the police station. The police were cruel and abusive towards her. She was questioned overnight not only by the police but also by the head of the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) of the city. She bravely responded to their questions.

Just a few days after her release, the chief of the RAB’s brother was severely injured in an automobile accident and taken to the hospital. By the time Sister Wu knew about it, she went to visit this RAB chief’s brother and mother. She led them to the Lord while they were in the hospital.

Later, on another occasion, Sister Wu was holding a Christian training class in a small room of a restaurant. One of the employees decided to report the meeting to the PSB hoping to make some money because it was an illegal meeting. The matter was reported all the way to the top of the RAB, but the chief of the RAB, upon discovering that it was Sister Wu conducting the meeting, said “Oh, don’t bother her. She’s OK.” Sister Wu’s boldness was rewarded.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the strength of Christ and fearlessly refuse to give in to my enemy, Satan’s attempts to shut down my verbal and outgoing witness.

PRAYER: Pray for boldness for all believers to share the gospel openly.

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

Men of the Bible - Jacob

His name means: "He Grasps the Heel" (Figuratively, "He Deceives")

His work: As an indentured servant of his Uncle Laban for fourteen years, Jacob was a herdsman.
His character: With a mother who encouraged it, Jacob learned the art of cunning and deception. In stealing the paternal blessing from his older brother, Jacob was forced to run, experiencing the consequences of his behavior.
His sorrow: After seven years of hard labor as payment for Rachel, Jacob was deceived by her father, Laban, and was forced to work seven more. During these years he learned firsthand what his own deception had brought on his brother. Later in his life he thought he had lost his son Joseph to an attack by a wild animal.
His triumph: One of the greatest moments in Jacob's life happened when he was reconciled to his brother, Esau. At the end of his life, he recovered another relationship that appeared to have been lost forever—he discovered that his son Joseph was not only alive, but very successful in Egypt.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 27-31 

A Look at the Man

Some people's lives seem to glide along with hardly a bump. Like a jockey in parallel cooperation with his horse, they are able to negotiate life's inevitable ups and downs in perfect sequence. No jaw-cracking collisions. No bone-jarring clashes.

And then there are folks like Jacob.

Like a puppy hanging on to someone's pant leg with his teeth, Jacob (meaning "deceiver" or "heel grabber") got dragged and jarred and slammed from one experience to another throughout his life. Of course, he could have let go and lived in relative peace. But that wasn't Jacob.

So what did God do with someone like him? Did he put him in the corner like a naughty child or forever consign him to life's detention hall? No. Instead of putting him away or hiding his adventure-packed story from us, God loved Jacob (Romans 9:13), paid attention to his growth by sending adversaries to challenge him, cared enough to make several personal visits to the man himself, and finally changed his life's course by changing his name.

Another great argument that has plagued intellectuals and laypeople alike is this one: Why does God elect some and not others? Why did God, for example, put his sovereign hand on the Jews in the Old Testament to the obvious exclusion of other peoples? Libraries are filled with volumes dealing with this worrisome question.

However, the real question should not be why God seems to overlook some but, considering our sinfulness and mutinous desires, why he chooses to favor anyone at all?

As we look back at Jacob's life, we see a man whom God loved with a special kind of affection. God saw Jacob as a paradigm of his people, capable of equal amounts of rebellion and repentance, disobedience and confession.

One of the confirmations of God's peculiar love for Jacob was his adversity-filled life. The conflicts within his family were obvious. Forever the younger brother, Jacob must have been slighted by his father's favoritism of his older brother. He may have felt manipulated by his mother's schemes as she used him to fulfill her own plans. He understood frustration in the house of Laban. And he knew the relentless dread of living as a fugitive. In all of these, Jacob was culpable, but God was preparing him for greatness.

For believers, God's presence through the person of the Holy Spirit is constant. But there are only a handful of times when Scripture records a face-to-face encounter between God and people. In his first dream, Jacob sees God standing at the pinnacle of the stairway to heaven. "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go," the Lord said to Jacob. Twenty years later God meets Jacob in the form of a man. As a perfect template of Jacob's spiritual journey, Jacob grapples with a man sent from the Lord. And then, just before the man leaves the crippled Jacob, he gives him a new name and blesses him when he asks for it. At last Jacob learns that the blessing that counts comes from the Father of all.

You may know someone just like Jacob. You may be someone like Jacob. God loves you. Adversity is his gift to you. His presence through his Spirit is real. And he has given you a new name. You're a Christian.

Reflect On: Genesis 28:10-22
Praise God: For being with you even when you didn’t know it.
Offer Thanks: For God’s determination to keep his promises.
Confess: Any tendency to “help” God by using the wrong means.
Ask God: To give you greater confidence in his ability to provide for you as well as for those in your care.

Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media. Coming this fall: watch for Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler.

Girlfriends in God - In 2 Words: Move from Fearful to Faithful

by Kelly Balarie

Today’s Truth

Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Just yesterday, my son validated the heart of my issue. He drew a picture of Mommy. I was curious, so I asked him, “What is Mommy doing in that picture?”

He said, “She is thinking.”

He then drew the brain bubble that floats up in the sky like a hovering cloud of declaration. I said, “What is Mommy thinking about? What goes in that little bubble?” I was pretty certain I was just about to finally be crowned Super Mommy—the queen of peanut butter and jelly!

His answer? “She is thinking about herself.”

Boom! And there you have it. With the force of a busted salt shaker hitting an open wound, I was stung with truth: Mommy is thinking about herself (again).

As controllers, it’s hard not to be, isn’t it? 
We exchange relationship for rapid-fire orders. 
We exchange love for lists. 
We exchange being for doing. 
We exchange journey for daily destinations, pick-ups, and deadlines.

Our need to feel at ease often makes us forget other’s deep needs.

Don’t get me wrong; we have things handled. We are very good at reaching surface level, face value, and situational goals. That is covered. The floors are wiped and the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed. But, just as my son revealed, sometimes we get so busy handling all we have to handle that we become dismantled. People suffer.

It’s right about this moment where a detailed woman, a try-harder like me, says, “I didn’t do well, but I’ll fix myself; I promise you. I will do whatever it takes to get things right. I’ll drop and give you twenty, I’ll find the answer online, or I’ll make an action plan.”

I. Will. Improve.

Personally, I’d do anything to make life okay; however, I am finding that usually all that needs to be said is this: “Lord!”

Not, “Lord! Those people should get their act together.”
Not, “Lord! Things aren’t going well, again.”
Not, “Lord! When will people move a little bit faster?”
Not, “Lord! If I want something done well, I have to do it myself.”
Not, “Lord! I can’t trust anyone.”
Not, “Lord! When will You do what I need You to do?”

No, more like:

Lord! I need You, Jesus.
Lord, I can’t do it without You.
Lord, saying I don’t know how—it just scares me.
I need You. I am not sure what will happen when I let go. I just need You. I don’t know how to fix people. I just need You. When I frantically try to fix and fashion things my way, I need You.

It really just comes down to this: “Come, Lord! Help me to stop being a dictator and start being an abider. Lord, it is all You. I can’t do it, but You can.”

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).

This simple acknowledgement of “I can’t” gives you the eyes to see – He can.

And, somewhere in this space, as you get on your knees, control flees and the breeze of peace flows in.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, I hold on to life tightly. Help me to let go. May I remember when I can’t, You can. May I understand the depths of Your love and sit in the lengths of Your peace. Bring me to greater surrender, so I may know You more.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Where have you gripped life so hard your hand is leaving a mark? How has control negatively impacted your attitude, relationships or outcomes? What would it look like to know, you can’t – but God always can?

More from the Girlfriends

Join Kelly Balarie, author of Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears, as she goes on a journey to go and grow with Christ’s bravery, the Spirit’s counsel and God’s unending love that squelches all fear. Kelly is blogger at Purposeful Faith, a Cheerleader of Faith and a Fighter of Fear. She continually leans on the power of God, rests on the shoulder of Christ, and discovers how to glow in the dark places of life.

(Today’s devotion is an excerpt from Fear Fighting by Kelly Balarie. Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2017. Used with permission. www.BakerPublishingGroup.com.)

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