LHM Daily Devotion - "Less Than Seven Minutes"

February 22, 2017

(Jesus said) "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come."  - Mark 13:32-33 (ESV)

If you have been following the news, you may have noticed that there has been an exchange of words between our new administration and Iran.

As near as I can tell, every nation's new administrations, as well as most of the old administrations, have regular exchanges of words with Iran. That may be because Iran is very much dedicated to the development of nuclear power which can, and will, only be used for peaceful purposes.

Now nobody should have any problem with such a promise, should they?

The great difficulty with that promise is the leaders of most other nations have a hard time believing Iran when it offers such reassurances. That's because the rest of the time, when Iran's leaders speak, their words are pretty strong.

For example, in this last exchange, they said things like:

• "Any mistake made by the U.S. would result in action";
• "If the enemy makes a mistake, our roaring missiles will hit their targets." 

The comment that caught my attention was this one:

• "Only seven minutes is needed for the Iranian missile to hit Tel Aviv."

Seven minutes. Think about that for a moment. Seven minutes from when somebody presses a button until your world goes boom!  Seven minutes isn't very much time. And you probably wouldn't have the full seven minutes. It would take time for someone to decide a missile had been launched and a little more time before someone sounded a warning.

If you had seven minutes before a bomb went boom, would you be prepared? Would you be able to sit back and be content that everything was as it ought to be, or would you have a whole laundry list of things which absolutely needed to be done?

Now the reason I ask is this: according to numerous places in Scripture, Jesus is going to give less than a seven-minute warning before His return. Actually, He is going to give about seven minutes less than seven minutes.

Maybe that's why our Redeemer kept telling people to be prepared.

And how can an average Joe or Jane be prepared? Very simple: don't fight the Holy Spirit. Let Him show you your sin and lead you to repentance. Let Him introduce you to the Savior who did all that was necessary to remove those sins and promise you safe conduct into heaven.

As Paul and Silas once said to a suicidal jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31b).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in a world where death can come quickly and without much warning. Today I pray that I may always be ready for the time when the Savior comes and takes me through the valley of the shadow of death. For His work and my salvation, I give thanks. In His Name. 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 - Mejor de lo esperado

22 de Febrero 2017

"Hoy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor. Esto les servirá de señal: 'Hallarán al niño envuelto en pañales y acostado en un pesebre.'" Lucas 2:11-12 (RVC)

James Marshall estaba construyendo un aserradero en California, cuando descubrió oro.

De acuerdo a una cadena de noticias, en un mercado de pulgas una persona (que quiere permanecer anónima) compró un cuadro de una flor. Aparentemente, los diez dólares que gastó resultaron ser una muy buena inversión.

¿Cuán buena? Al parecer, al igual que James Marshall, esta persona "encontró oro".

Resulta ser que, cuando sacó la foto del marco, encontró un manuscrito de la canción patriótica "América". Dicha canción, escrita en 1831 por Samuel Francis Smith, fue designada para ayudar a las escuelas a inspirar e instruir a los niños. Cantada con la melodía familiar de "Dios Salve a la Reina" (del Reino Unido), fue ejecutada por primera vez el 4 de julio de ese mismo año en la Primer Iglesia Bautista en Newton, Massachussets.

Y ahora ese manuscrito ha salido a la luz. ¿Será que es una falsificación? Varios expertos dicen que no. Si están en lo cierto, ese trozo de papel, hasta ahora desconocido, podría valer decenas de miles de dólares.

Me hubiera gustado que esta historia hubiera sucedido en la época de navidad, ya que hay muchos paralelos entre ella y la visita de los pastores al Salvador.

En primer lugar, algo que ha sido pasado por alto puede ser de mucho valor. Por ejemplo, la llegada del Salvador al mundo fue prácticamente inadvertida, y su tan esperada venida pasó casi desapercibida. Pero lo que Jesús logró con su vida, sufrimiento, muerte y resurrección, hace que para las almas pecadoras, sea más precioso que el oro.

Eso es lo que Pablo estaba tratando de comunicar cuando escribió: "En él (Jesuristo)tenemos la redención por medio de su sangre, el perdón de los pecados según las riquezas de su gracia..." (Efesios 1:7-8a).

Las riquezas de su gracia. Por gracia somos salvos. Por gracia somos adoptados en la familia de la fe de Dios. Por gracia recibimos vida eterna. Todo por gracia.

Gracia que es mejor que el oro o cualquier manuscrito antiguo.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre celestial, gracias por los dones que nos das y que muchas veces no vemos o no reconocemos. Perdónanos por nuestra falta de visión, y ayúdanos a comprender cada vez más quién es Jesús y lo que él ha hecho por nosotros. En su nombre. Amén.

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

Our Daily Bread - Perfect Grace

Read: Matthew 5:43–48; John 8:9–11 | Bible in a Year: Numbers 4–6; Mark 4:1–20

“Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. John 8:11

Jesus’s teaching about absolute ideals and absolute grace seem contradictory.

Jesus never lowered God’s perfect ideal. In His response to the rich young ruler, He said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). He told an expert in the law who inquired as to the greatest commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (22:37). No one has completely fulfilled those commands.

Yet the same Jesus tenderly offered absolute grace. He forgave an adulteress, a thief on the cross, a disciple who had denied ever knowing Him, and a man named Saul, who had made his mark persecuting Christians. Grace is absolute and all-encompassing, extending even to those who nailed Jesus to the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” were among the last words He spoke on earth (Luke 23:34).

For years I felt so unworthy when considering Jesus’s absolute ideals that I missed any notion of His grace. Once I understood this dual message, however, I went back and found that the message of grace gusts through Jesus’s life and teachings.

Grace is for the desperate, the needy, the broken, those who cannot make it on their own. Grace is for all of us.

Father, Your all-encompassing grace washes over us and astonishes us. May we live today as people who enjoy Your complete forgiveness and a restored relationship with You.

Jesus fulfilled the perfect requirements of the law so that we may enjoy the perfect peace of His grace.

By Philip Yancey

 © 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Ân Sủng Trọn Vẹn

Đọc: Ma-thi-ơ 5:43-48; Giăng 8:9-11 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Dân số ký 4-6; Mác 4:1-20

Đức Chúa Jêsus phán: “Ta cũng không kết án chị đâu; hãy đi, đừng phạm tội nữa. (Giăng 8:11)

Sự dạy dỗ về tiêu chuẩn tuyệt đối và ân sủng tuyệt đối của Chúa Jêsus dường như trái ngược nhau.

Chúa Jêsus không bao giờ hạ thấp tiêu chuẩn tuyệt đối. Khi trả lời viên quan trẻ tuổi, Chúa Jêsus nói: “Thế thì các con phải nên toàn thiện như Cha các con ở trên trời là toàn thiện” (Ma-thi-ơ 5:48). Đối với chuyên gia kinh luật, là người hỏi Ngài điều răn lớn nhất là gì, Ngài nói: “Ngươi phải hết lòng, hết linh hồn, hết tâm trí mà kính mến Chúa là Đức Chúa Trời ngươi” (22:37). Chưa có ai làm được những điều răn này cách trọn vẹn.

Thế nhưng cũng chính Chúa Jêsus lại hứa ban ân điển tuyệt đối. Ngài tha thứ cho một người phụ nữ phạm tội ngoại tình, và một người nam tên là Sau-lơ, người nổi tiếng bắt bớ Cơ Đốc nhân. Ân điển thì vô điều kiện và dành cho mọi người, bao gồm cả những người đã đóng đinh Chúa Jêsus lên thập tự giá: “Lạy Cha, xin tha cho họ vì họ không biết mình làm điều gì” (Lu-ca 23:34).

Khi suy nghĩ về những tiêu chuẩn tuyệt đối của Chúa Jêsus, suốt nhiều năm tôi thấy mình thật không xứng đáng đến mức tôi quên mất ý niệm về ân sủng của Chúa. Tuy nhiên, khi tôi hiểu thông điệp hai mặt này, tôi đã quay trở lại và thấy sứ điệp ân sủng tràn ngập trong cuộc đời và lời dạy của Chúa Jêsus.

Ân sủng dành cho những kẻ vô vọng, những người nghèo khó, những tấm lòng tan vỡ, những ai không thể tự nỗ lực bằng sức riêng. Ân sủng dành cho tất cả chúng ta.

Lạy Cha, ân sủng của Ngài đã nhuần gội trên chúng con và làm chúng con kinh ngạc. Nguyện hôm nay chúng con sống như những người đã hưởng sự tha thứ hoàn toàn của Ngài và được phục hồi mối tương giao với Ngài.

Chúa Jêsus làm trọn những đòi hỏi hoàn hảo của luật pháp để rồi chúng ta có thể vui hưởng sự bình an trọn vẹn của ân điển Ngài.

bởi Philip Yancey

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Gracia total

Leer: Mt. 5:43-48; Jn. 8:9-11 | La Biblia en un año: Marcos 4:1-20

… Jesús le dijo: Ni yo te condeno… (Juan 8:11).

L a enseñanza de Jesús sobre los ideales absolutos y la gracia total parece contradictoria.

Jesús nunca rebajó el ideal de la perfección. Al joven rico, le dijo: «Sed, pues, vosotros perfectos, como vuestro Padre que está en los cielos es perfecto» (Mateo 5:48). Y a un experto en la ley, que le preguntó sobre el mandamiento más importante, le explicó: «Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, y con toda tu alma, y con toda tu mente» (22:37). Nadie ha cumplido perfectamente estos mandamientos.

Sin embargo, el mismo Jesús ofrece tiernamente gracia total. Perdonó a una adúltera, a un ladrón en la cruz, a un discípulo que negó conocerlo y a un hombre llamado Saulo que perseguía a los cristianos. La gracia es absoluta y para todos, y alcanza incluso a aquellos que clavaron a Jesús en la cruz. «Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen» rogó el Señor mientras agonizaba (Lucas 23:34).

Durante años, me sentía tan indigno al considerar los ideales absolutos de Jesús, que no captaba la idea de la gracia. Sin embargo, cuando entendí este mensaje dual, descubrí que el concepto de la gracia emana a través de la vida y las enseñanzas de Cristo.

La gracia es para todos los que no pueden seguir adelante por sí solos. La gracia es para todos.

Señor, tu gracia me asombra. Quiero hoy disfrutarla.

Jesús cumplió los requisitos perfectos de la ley para que podamos disfrutar de la paz perfecta de su gracia.

Por Philip Yancey

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Vollkommene Gnade

Lesen: Matthäus 5,43-48; Johannes 8,9-11 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 4.Mose 4 – 6; Markus 4,1-20

Und Jesus sprach: So verdamme ich dich auch nicht. Johannes 8,11

Dass Jesus absolute Ideale und absolute Gnade predigte, scheint widersprüchlich.

Jesus hat Gottes absolute Ideale nie herabgesetzt. In der Bergpredigt sagt er: „Ihr sollt vollkommen sein, wie euer Vater im Himmel vollkommen ist“ (Matth. 5,48). Einem Gesetzeslehrer, der wissen wollte, welches das höchste Gebot ist, erwiderte er: „Du sollst den Herrn, deinen Gott, lieben von ganzem Herzen, von ganzer Seele und von ganzem Gemüt“ (Matth. 22,37). Keiner hat diese Gebote je vollkommen erfüllt.

Und doch hat derselbe Jesus absolute Gnade angeboten. Er vergab einer Ehebrecherin, einem Dieb am Kreuz, einem Jünger, der geleugnet hatte, ihn zu kennen, und einem Mann namens Saulus, der sich dadurch ausgezeichnet hatte, dass er die Christen verfolgte. Gnade ist absolut und allumfassend und gilt selbst für die, die Jesus ans Kreuz nagelten: „Vater, vergib ihnen, denn sie wissen nicht, was sie tun“, sind einige der letzten Worte, die er auf der Erde sprach (Luk. 23,34).

Jahrelang kam ich mir, wenn ich an Jesu absolute Ideale dachte, so unwürdig vor, dass ich seine Gnade gar nicht begriff. Doch nachdem ich die doppeldeutige Botschaft verstanden hatte, stellte ich fest, dass die Botschaft der Gnade Jesu ganzes Leben und Lehren durchdringt.

Gnade ist für die Verzweifelten, die Bedürftigen, die Zerbrochenen, für alle die, die es allein nicht schaffen. Die Gnade ist für uns alle.

Vater, deine allumfassende Gnade überströmt und verblüfft uns. Lass uns heute als Menschen leben, die sich an deiner Vergebung und der geheilten Beziehung zu dir freuen.

Jesus hat die vollkommenen Anforderungen des Gesetzes erfüllt, damit wir in seiner Gnade vollkommenen Frieden erleben können.

Von Philip Yancey

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - La grâce parfaite

Lisez : Matthieu 5.43‑48 ; Jean 8.9‑11 | La Bible en un an : Nombres 4 – 6 et Marc 4.1-20

Je ne te condamne pas non plus : va, et ne pèche plus. (Jean 8.11)

Jésus n’a jamais réduit l’idéal parfait de Dieu. Il a répondu au jeune riche : « Soyez donc parfaits, comme votre Père céleste est parfait » (MT 5.48). Puis il a répondu ainsi au docteur de la loi qui s’enquérait du plus grand commandement : « Tu aimeras le Seigneur, ton Dieu, de tout ton coeur, de toute ton âme, et de toute ta pensée » (22.37). Or, personne n’a jamais obéi à ces commandements à la perfection.

Pourtant, fidèle à son infinie bienveillance, le même Jésus a offert sa grâce absolue à tout un chacun. Il a pardonné à la femme adultère, à un brigand crucifié à ses côtés, à un disciple qui avait nié le connaître et à un dénommé Saul, qui avait pris du galon en persécutant les chrétiens. La grâce est absolue et universelle ; Dieu l’a étendue même à ceux qui l’ont cloué à la croix : « Père, pardonne-leur, car ils ne savent ce qu’ils font » (LU 23.34).

Devant les idéaux absolus de Jésus, je me suis senti indigne de lui pendant de nombreuses années au point d’être incapable de saisir le sens de sa grâce. Toutefois, dès l’instant où j’ai compris ce double message, je suis revenu sur le sujet et j’ai alors découvert que le message de la grâce divine souffle en rafales par la vie et les enseignements de Jésus.

La grâce est réservée à ceux qui sont désespérés, qui sont dans le besoin, qui ont le coeur brisé et qui ne peuvent s’en sortir par leurs propres forces. La grâce divine nous est donc destinée à tous.

L’accomplissement parfait de la loi nous procure la paix parfaite.

par Philip Yancey

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Довершена благодать

Читати: Матвія 5:43-48; Івана 8:9-11 | Біблія за рік: Числа 4–6 ; Марка 4:1-20

І сказав їй Ісус: “Не засуджую й Я тебе”. — Івана 8:11

Здається, існує деяка суперечність між вченням Ісуса про абсолютні моральні стандарти і вченням про абсолютну благодать.

Але Ісус ніколи не принижував Божі досконалі вимоги. В Нагорній проповіді Він сказав: “Будьте досконалі, як досконалий Отець ваш Небесний!” (Мт. 5:48). Книжнику, який запитав про найбільшу заповідь в Законі, Господь сказав: “Люби Господа Бога свого всім серцем своїм, і всією душею своєю, і всією своєю думкою” (Мт. 22:37). Але ніхто цілковито не виконав цих заповідей.

Тому Ісус в той же час ніжно пропонував абсолютну Божу благодать. Він простив перелюбницю, розбійника на хресті, учня, що зрікся свого Вчителя, і помилував Савла, який жорстоко переслідував християн. Божа ласка охоплювала всіх – навіть тих, хто прибивали Ісуса цвяхами до хреста. “Отче, відпусти їм, бо не знають, що чинять вони”, – молився Він (Лк. 23:34).

Протягом багатьох років я почував себе неповноцінним, бо зважав лише на абсолютні стандарти Христа, цілком забуваючи при цьому Його ласку. Коли ж я зрозумів подвійну природу Благої Звістки, то повернувся до ідеї благодаті й побачив, що вона пронизує життя і вчення Ісуса.

Благодать пропонується нужденним, зламаним духом – тим, хто у розпачі від неспроможності власними силами досягати Божих стандартів.

Отче, Твоя безмірна ласка вражає нас. Допоможи нам жити і радіти цілковитому прощенню і відновленим стосункам з Тобою.

Ісус виконав цілковито всі вимоги закону, щоб ми могли цілковито радіти Його благодаті.

Автор Філіп Янсі

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Совершенная благодать

Читать сейчас: Матфея 5:43-48; Иоанна 8:9-11 | Библия за год: Числа 4-6; Марка 4:1-20

Иисус сказал ей: «И Я не осуждаю тебя». — Иоанна 8:11

Учения Иисуса Христа о совершенных стандартах и совершенной благодати кажутся противоречащими одно другому. Иисус никогда не занижал Божьи совершенные требования. В Нагорной проповеди Он сказал: «Будьте совершенны, как совершен Отец ваш Небесный» (Мф. 5:48). Законнику, спрашивавшему Его о наибольшей заповеди, Он ответил: «Возлюби Господа, Бога твоего, всем сердцем твоим, и всей душой твоей, и всем разумением твоим» (Мф. 22:37). Ни один человек не смог исполнить этих заповедей.

Но тот же Иисус принес в мир совершенную благодать. Он прощал блудниц, обещал спасение разбойнику на кресте, оказал милость ученику, который трижды отрекся от Него, и жестокому Савлу, прославившемуся преследованием христиан. Благодать – это совершенное сострадание, распространившееся даже на тех, кто пригвоздил Иисуса ко кресту. «Отче! Прости им, ибо не знают, что делают», – молился Он о них (Лк. 23:34).

Многие годы я чувствовал себя крайне ущербным, думая о совершенных требованиях Иисуса и забывая о Его удивительной благодати. Но затем, осознав двойственность этой истины, я вернулся и обнаружил, что весть о благодати проходит через всю жизнь и учение Христа.

Благодать дается отчаявшимся и сокрушенным, которые не могут помочь себе сами. Благодать предназначена для всех нас.

Отче, Твоя удивительная благодать изумляет нас. Помоги нам жить, постоянно радуясь Твоему совершенному прощению и живому общению с Тобой.

Иисус исполнил совершенные требования закона, чтобы мы могли обрести совершенный мир в Его благодати.

автор: Филип Янси

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for TUESDAY, February 21, 2017

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Ruth 1:15-22

So she said, "See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." But Ruth said, "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die-- there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!" When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" She said to them, "Call me no longer Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the LORD has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?" So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 2 Corinthians 1:12-22

Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with frankness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God-- and all the more toward you. For we write you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end-- as you have already understood us in part-- that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast. Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor; I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been "Yes and No." For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not "Yes and No" but in him it is always "Yes." For in him every one of God's promises is a "Yes." For this reason it is through him that we say the "Amen," to the glory of God. But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us, by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Matthew 5:13-20
Glory be to Thee, O Lord

"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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

Morning Psalms

Psalm 120 Ad Dominum
1   When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD; I called to the LORD, and he answered me.
2   Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips and from the deceitful tongue.
3   What shall be done to you, and what more besides, O you deceitful tongue?
4   The sharpened arrows of a warrior, along with hot glowing coals.
5   How hateful it is that I must lodge in Meshech and dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6   Too long have I had to live among the enemies of peace.
7   I am on the side of peace, but when I speak of it, they are for war.

Psalm 121 Levavi oculos
1   I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?
2   My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
3   He will not let your foot be moved and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4   Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5   The LORD himself watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
6   So that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7   The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; it is he who shall keep you safe.
8   The LORD shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.

Psalm 122 Lætatus sum
1   I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2   Now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3   Jerusalem is built as a city that is at unity with itself;
4   To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, the assembly of Israel, to praise the Name of the LORD.
5   For there are the thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6   Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you.
7   Peace be within your walls and quietness within your towers.
8   For my brethren and companions' sake, I pray for your prosperity.
9   Because of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek to do you good."

Psalm 123 Ad te levavi oculos meos
1   To you I lift up my eyes, to you enthroned in the heavens.
2   As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
3   So our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he show us his mercy.
4   Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt,
5   Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, and of the derision of the proud.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 124 Nisi quia Dominus
1   If the LORD had not been on our side, let Israel now say;
2   If the LORD had not been on our side, when enemies rose up against us;
3   Then would they have swallowed us up alive in their fierce anger toward us;
4   Then would the waters have overwhelmed us and the torrent gone over us;
5   Then would the raging waters have gone right over us.
6   Blessed be the LORD! he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.
7   We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
8   Our help is in the Name of the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 Qui confidunt
1   Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but stands fast for ever.
2   The hills stand about Jerusalem; so does the LORD stand round about his people, from this time forth for evermore.
3   The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just, so that the just shall not put their hands to evil.
4   Show your goodness, O LORD, to those who are good and to those who are true of heart.
5   As for those who turn aside to crooked ways, the LORD will lead them away with the evildoers; but peace be upon Israel.

Psalm 126 In convertendo
1   When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
2   Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3   Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
4   The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
5   Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses of the Negev.
6   Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
7   Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Psalm 127 Nisi Dominus
1   Unless the LORD builds the house, their labor is in vain who build it.
2   Unless the LORD watches over the city, in vain the watchman keeps his vigil.
3   It is in vain that you rise so early and go to bed so late; vain, too, to eat the bread of toil, for he gives to his beloved sleep.
4   Children are a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is a gift.
5   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
6   Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! he shall not be put to shame when he contends with his enemies in the gate.

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 21, 2017

Romans 13:9-10 (NIV) The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Read all of Romans 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 - "People of Purpose"

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

—Acts 11:23 (NKJV)

Psychologist William Moulton Marston surveyed 3,000 people and asked them, “What do you have to live for?”

He was shocked to find that of the people who responded, 94 percent were simply enduring the present while they were waiting for the future. They described this as waiting for something to happen. They were waiting for children to grow up and leave home, waiting for next year, waiting for another time to take a dreamed-about trip. They were waiting for tomorrow.

We can spend our whole lives waiting for something to happen, and meanwhile, our lives are passing by. We have no purpose. We have no direction. We’re throwing them away.

As someone has said, “Some men die by shrapnel, and some go down in flames, but most men perish inch by inch, playing at little games.”

Purpose is vital. It’s an anchor in storm. It’s a base in battle.

We read in the New Testament that when Barnabas visited the believers in Antioch, he “encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (Acts 11:23).

Ephesians 2 describes us before our commitment to Christ: “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (verses 1–2).

That’s how we lived. But then we found out there was a God. We discovered His Word. We found there were absolutes to live by in life—right and wrong, true and false, black and white. We became men and women of purpose.

Do other people know what you stand for? If you don’t stand for something, you are liable to fall for anything.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Devotion by Greg Laurie © 2016 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Vístete siempre de amor

Cuando estéis orando, perdonad, si tenéis algo contra alguno, para que también vuestro Padre que está en los cielos os perdone a vosotros vuestras ofensas. Marcos 11:25-26 (RV-60)

¿Amar a nuestros enemigos? ¿Orar por ellos? ¿Tener pensa-mientos de bienestar para el que te ha hecho mal? Parece muy raro, ¿verdad? No obstante, las Escrituras nos enseñan todo lo contrario. Mira lo diferente que piensa Dios:

Ora por tus enemigos. Si alguien te da una bofetada, pon la otra mejilla. Si te piden algo, sírvele y bendice su vida. Si pecan contra ti, perdona hasta setenta veces siete. Quizá me digas: «¡Increíble, Claudia! ¿Cómo voy a hacer todo esto con el que me maltrató, me robó, me mintió, me engañó, me explotó y me maldijo? ¡Imposible!».

Hoy quiero que puedas, con la ayuda siempre de Dios, cambiar esa manera de pensar y ser obediente a lo que Él espera de nosotros.

La Biblia dice que debemos arreglar las cuentas con los que estamos mal. La Palabra también nos advierte que si no perdonamos, Dios no nos podrá perdonar, y nos hace ver en varias oportunidades que el mejor ejemplo de humildad, de misericordia y de perdón nos lo da Dios al perdonar nuestros pecados, nuestras faltas.

¿Te imaginas que Dios nos dijera: «De ninguna manera, como hiciste esto, no te puedo perdonar, así que te condeno»? ¡Qué triste sería!

En mi caso, he experimentado la libertad que se siente cuando perdonamos. Es una sensación de independencia cuando liberas a esa persona que has tenido atada con tu rencor y con tu odio. Entonces, de inmediato, te liberas tú también.

Vistámonos siempre de amor y, recuerda, Dios no se desilusionó de nadie porque nunca se ilusionó con nadie.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón. Versión Reina-Valera 1960 © Sociedades Bíblicas en América Latina, 1960. Renovado © Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas, 1988.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - FEAR OF DEATH

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

Satan uses and plays on one of the basic elements and instincts of our nature—fear. It is natural for finite man to fear—especially the fear of the unknown, the fear of being hurt and the fear of death. There is nothing more Satan would like than to see us paralyzed with fear just like King Saul when facing the Philistines and Goliath.

Why do we allow fear to be so controlling? On the one hand, we have past experiences that we don’t want to relive and on the other hand, we are very hesitant about what might lay ahead. But often the events and situations creating most fear in people have no basis in reality.
All fear is based on perception. Thus fear has been described in the English language as an acronym for “False Evidence Appearing Real.” If we could consciously remember this, it would help us to allay many fears. But that false evidence sometimes is so convincing! However, we must always realize that dread and fear—like other tactics of the enemy—are based on a lie. This is why throughout the scriptures we are repeatedly commanded—366 times—to “fear not.” It is intensely liberating for our witness when we personally overcome the fear of death. This allows us to focus on Christ and His kingdom.

Living as a Christian under Romania’s dictatorship posed extreme difficulties and dangers. Even though Rev. Joseph Tson had counted the cost and served the Lord and His flock faithfully, he feared the day that he would be called in by security. He knew the possibility of facing death was inevitable.

The day that Joseph feared arrived. Security officers arrived at his home one day and took him to their headquarters. He was instructed to sit on a chair and a gun was put to his head. “The choice is easy,” came the commander’s voice. “Deny Jesus or we pull the trigger.”

This was indeed the moment that Joseph feared all through his ministry. But suddenly the Spirit of the Lord filled his whole being. “If you kill me today you will do me a great favor. All my sermons that were recorded will be in great demand because I will be a martyr for Christ. You will help me greatly to share my messages. You will also help me to go to my Lord quickly!” Joseph fearlessly replied.

The officer dropped the gun. “You Christians are crazy,” he shouted and then commanded the officers to take Joseph back home.

Joseph’s life was spared but in a sense he lost it that day. “Never again did I fear what man can do to me. Never again did I fear to lose my life,” Joseph concluded.

RESPONSE: Today I will not allow Satan’s favorite tactic of fear and intimidation to conquer me in any way.

PRAYER: Lord, enable me to overcome the fear of physical death as I realize that I am already dead to myself in You. May this be true today too for believers in conflict zones of our world.

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