LHM Daily Devotion - "Growing Urgency"

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Growing Urgency"

March 12, 2017

(Jesus said) "Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men" (Luke 9:44, ESV).

Read Luke 9:37-45

Coming down with His three disciples from the Mountain of Transfiguration, Jesus encounters a demon that His other disciples are unable to cast out. With divine might and majesty, Jesus overpowers the demon and sends him away. The crowd is completely amazed and stands marveling at what God has done. Jesus knows His disciples are still clinging to hopes of an earthly kingdom, and He doesn't want them to get swept away by the excitement of the crowds. So He turned to talk directly to them. To get their attention He could have easily said, "Listen carefully." Instead, He says something even more striking: "Let these words sink into your ears."

And what are the extremely important words Jesus has to tell them? They are these: "The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men." Despite their dreams, and the hope of the crowd following them, Jesus' suffering is close at hand. He is "about to be delivered into the hands of men."

But Jesus reveals one more painful fact about His coming suffering He did not reveal the first time: it will come about through an act of betrayal. Of course, Jesus knows the identity of His betrayer, but He withholds that information, for now. Not only will He be rejected and, consequently, subjected to violent brutalities and death, but treachery will be connected with these events as well.

The disciples fail to understand and are afraid to ask Jesus anything about it. The suspense is building as Jesus' destiny-and our salvation-draw near.

THE PRAYER:  Almighty God, Your Son single-mindedly set His steps to fulfill Your plan to save the world. Give me an unwavering faith to follow Him all my days. In Jesus' 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.

Devociones de Cuaresma - Promesas mentirosas

Devociones de Cuaresma  2017

Promesas mentirosas

12 de Marzo de 2017

Todo esto te daré si te arrodillas delante de mí y me adoras. Mateo 4:9, RVC (4:8-11)

Sé muy bien que a veces no he cumplido con lo prometido. Me he prometido a mí mismo cuidarme con la dieta para bajar de peso, pero por más buenas intenciones que tengo, no siempre logro lo propuesto. A veces, y aunque las haya hecho con toda seriedad, no cumplo promesas hechas a mis seres queridos.

El diablo también hace promesas, pero con malas intenciones. Es tan osado, que se atreve a hacerle promesas al propio Hijo de Dios, aun cuando sabe desde un principio que no las va a cumplir. Y no las cumple por dos razones: porque no tiene poder para hacerlo, y porque sus promesas son sólo para hacernos caer en su trampa. Sus palabras pueden ser dulces y suaves, y lo que ofrece puede ser muy tentador, pero él nunca tiene buenas intenciones. Por ejemplo: ¿alguna vez cediste a la tentación de gritarle a alguien, pensando que al hacerlo te ibas a sentir mejor?, o ¿alguna vez ignoraste a alguien pensando que así le darías una lección y te sentirías mejor? Ese fue el diablo que te prometió cosas que no pensaba cumplir, y que sólo te harían daño.

Jesús estaba preparado para hacer frente a tales tentaciones y falsas promesas. Él sabía muy bien quién era el diablo, y cuánta astucia y poder tenía para apartarlo de la voluntad de su Padre. Por eso ni consideró sus promesas, sino que simplemente aplicó la Palabra de Dios: "Vete, Satanás, porque escrito está: 'Al Señor tu Dios adorarás, y a él sólo servirás'" (v 10).

La Palabra de Dios es el mejor remedio para las promesas falsas y las tentaciones del diablo. En su himno Castillo Fuerte, Lutero escribió: "(el diablo) ... condenado es ya por la Palabra santa." ¡Qué regalo nos ha dado Dios en su Palabra para enfrentar las promesas vacías!

Gracias, Padre, porque tu Palabra nos libera y afirma en Jesús. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡U tilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL. Reina Valera Contemporánea (RVC) Copyright © 2009, 2011 by Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas.

Our Daily Bread - It’s Not Me

Read: 1 Peter 4:7–11 | Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 17–19; Mark 13:1–20

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10

While on vacation recently, I gave my razor a rest and grew a beard. Various responses came from friends and co-workers—and most were complimentary. One day, however, I looked at the beard and decided, “It’s not me.” So out came the razor.

I’ve been thinking about the idea of who we are and why one thing or another does not fit our personality. Primarily, it’s because God has bestowed us with individual differences and preferences. It’s okay that we don’t all like the same hobbies, eat the same foods, or worship in the same church. We are each uniquely and “wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14). Peter noted that we are uniquely gifted in order to serve each other (1 Peter 4:10–11).

Jesus’s disciples didn’t check their characteristics at the door before entering His world. Peter was so impulsive that he cut off a servant’s ear the night Jesus was arrested. Thomas insisted on evidence before believing Christ had risen. The Lord didn’t reject them simply because they had some growing to do. He molded and shaped them for His service.

When discerning how we might best serve the Lord, it’s wise to consider our talents and characteristics and to sometimes say, “It’s not me.” God may call us out of our comfort zone, but He does so to develop our unique gifts and personalities to serve His good purposes. We honor His creative nature when we permit Him to use us as we are.

Thank You, Father, for the great individuality You have built into us. Thank You for my personality and for my abilities. Guide me in using them for You.

There are no ordinary people—we were created to be unique.

By Dave Branon

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Đó Không Phải Là Tôi

Đọc: I Phi-e-rơ 4:7-14 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Phục truyền 17-19; Mác 13:1-20

Mỗi người hãy dùng ân tứ mình đã nhận mà phục vụ nhau. (1 Phi-e-rơ 4:10)

Trong kỳ nghỉ lễ gần đây, tôi để dao cạo nghỉ ngơi và nuôi râu. Tôi nhận những phản ứng khác nhau từ bạn bè và đồng nghiệp– và hầu hết là khen. Tuy nhiên, một ngày kia, tôi nhìn bộ râu và quyết định “Đây không phải là tôi”. Vì vậy tôi lấy dao cạo râu ra.

Tôi suy nghĩ về ý tưởng chúng ta là ai và tại sao điều này hay điều kia không phù hợp với tính cách của chúng ta. Trước hết là vì Chúa ban cho chúng ta những khác biệt và sở thích riêng biệt. Sẽ bình thường khi tất cả chúng ta không cùng sở thích, ăn cùng thức ăn hay thờ phượng cùng một hội thánh. Mỗi chúng ta đều độc nhất và được “dựng nên cách lạ lùng” (Thi. 139:14). Phi-e-rơ lưu ý rằng chúng ta được ban cho ân tứ độc nhất để phục vụ nhau (I Phi 4:10-11).

Các môn đồ của Chúa Jêsus không bỏ lại tính cách của họ khi bước vào thế giới của Ngài. Phi-e-rơ thì bốc đồng đến nỗi ông chém đứt tai người đầy tớ trong đêm Chúa Jêsus bị bắt. Thô-ma khăng khăng đòi bằng chứng trước khi tin Đấng Christ đã sống lại. Chúa không khước từ họ đơn giản bởi vì họ còn thiếu sót. Ngài nhào nặn và uốn nắn họ để phục vụ Ngài.

Để biết cách chúng ta có thể phục vụ Chúa tốt nhất, hãy khôn ngoan để suy xét khả năng và tính cách của mình và đôi khi cần phải nói “Đó không phải là tôi”. Chúa có thể kêu gọi chúng ta bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn, nhưng Ngài làm vậy để phát triển những ân tứ và tính cách độc nhất của chúng ta để phục vụ cho mục đích tốt lành của Ngài. Chúng ta tôn trọng bản chất sáng tạo của Chúa khi để Ngài sử dụng chúng ta như chính con người của mình.

Lạy Cha, cảm ơn Ngài vì tính độc nhất tuyệt vời mà Ngài đã tạo trong chúng con. Cảm ơn Ngài về tính cách và khả năng của con. Xin hướng dẫn con sử dụng những điều đó cho Ngài.

Không có người nào tầm thường – vì chúng ta thảy đều được tạo dựng để trở nên độc nhất.

bởi Dave Branon

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - No soy yo

Leer: 1 Pedro 4:7-11 | La Biblia en un año: Marcos 13:1-20

Cada uno según el don que ha recibido, minístrelo a los otros… (1 Pedro 4:10).

Hace poco, durante unas vacaciones, le di descanso a mi afeitadora y me dejé la barba. Hubo varias reacciones de amigos y compañeros de trabajo… en su mayoría, elogios. Pero, un día, me miré y dije: «No soy yo». Así que reapareció la maquinita.

He estado reflexionando sobre quiénes somos y por qué una cosa u otra se adecua a nuestra personalidad. En esencia, se debe a que Dios nos ha hecho distintos y con preferencias particulares: diferentes pasatiempos, comidas e iglesias donde reunirnos. Cada persona es única, formidable y maravillosa (Salmo 139:14), y singularmente dotada para servir a los demás (1 Pedro 4:10-11).

Los discípulos no evaluaron sus cualidades antes de entrar en el mundo de Jesús. Pedro, tan impulsivo, le cortó la oreja a un sirviente cuando arrestaron al Señor. Tomás insistió en ver pruebas antes de creer que Cristo había resucitado. Pero el Señor no los rechazó porque les faltara crecer espiritualmente, sino que los moldeó para servir a Dios.

A veces, al considerar cómo y dónde estamos usando nuestros talentos y características en el servicio al Señor, deberíamos decir: «No soy yo». Quizá Dios nos pida que dejemos lo que nos es cómodo, para que sirvamos adecuadamente a sus buenos propósitos. Al hacerlo, lo honramos.

Señor, guíame para usar bien mis particularidades.

No hay personas comunes y corrientes; fuimos creados para ser únicos.

Por Dave Branon

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Das bin nicht ich

Lesen: 1.Petrus 4,7-11 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 5.Mose 17–19; Markus 13,1-20

Dient einander, ein jeder mit der Gabe, die er empfangen hat. 1.Petrus 4,10

In den letzten Ferien habe ich mir einen Bart wachsen lassen. Die Reaktionen blieben nicht aus—und waren meist positiv. Eines Tages beschloss ich beim Blick in den Spiegel allerdings: „Das bin nicht ich“, und holte den Rasierer wieder vor.

Warum sind wir, wer wir sind, und wieso passen manche Dinge einfach nicht zu uns? Vor allem wohl, weil Gott uns unterschiedlich gemacht hat. Es ist gut, dass wir nicht alle dieselben Hobbys haben, dasselbe Essen mögen oder in dieselbe Gemeinde gehen. Jeder von uns ist einzigartig und „wunderbar gemacht“ (Ps. 139,14). Petrus stellt fest, dass wir unterschiedlich begabt sind, damit wir einander dienen können (1.Petr. 4,10-11).

Die Jünger mussten nicht erst einen Persönlichkeitstest ablegen, bevor sie Jesu Welt betreten durften. Petrus war so impulsiv, dass er in der Nacht, als Jesus verhaftet wurde, einem Knecht ein Ohr abschlug. Thomas wollte Beweise, ehe er glaubte, dass Jesus auferstanden war. Aber Jesus wies sie nicht ab, weil sie noch wachsen mussten. Er formte sie selbst für ihren Dienst.

Wenn wir überlegen, wie wir Gott dienen können, ist es gut, unsere Begabungen und auch unsere Wesensart zu betrachten und vielleicht auch mal zu sagen: „Das bin nicht ich.“ Gott mag uns aus unserer Komfortzone herausrufen, aber er will auch, dass wir die Gaben einsetzen, die er selbst uns gegeben hat.

Hab Dank, Vater, dass du uns so unterschiedlich gemacht hast. Danke für meine Individualität und meine Fähigkeiten. Hilf mir, sie heute für dich zu gebrauchen.

Es gibt keine gewöhnlichen Menschen—wir sind alle einzigartig.

Von Dave Branon

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Ce n’est pas moi

Lisez : 1 Pierre 4.7‑11 | La Bible en un an : Deutéronome 17 – 19 et Marc 13.1-20

[Que] chacun de vous mette au service des autres le don qu’il a reçu. (1 Pierre 4.10)

En vacances, j’ai donné congé à mon rasoir en me laissant pousser la barbe. Mes amis et mes collègues y ont réagi de diverses manières, me complimentant pour la plupart. À la vue de ma barbe, j’ai toutefois décidé un jour qu’elle ne me représentait pas bien, alors j’ai ressorti mon rasoir.

Je réfléchis au fait qu’une chose ou l’autre ne correspond pas à notre personnalité parce que Dieu a accordé à chacun des différences et des préférences individuelles. Il convient que nous n’aimions pas tous les mêmes loisirs et la même cuisine et que nous ne fréquentions pas tous la même Église. Chacun est unique et constitue « une créature si merveilleuse » (PS 139.14). Pierre a fait remarquer que chacun a reçu des dons particuliers devant servir à l’utilité commune (1 PI 4.10,11).

Les disciples de Jésus n’ont pas eu à nier leurs traits de caractère. Pierre était impulsif au point de trancher l’oreille d’un serviteur le soir de l’arrestation de Jésus. Thomas a tenu à obtenir une preuve de la résurrection de Jésus avant d’y croire. Dieu ne les a pas rejetés sous prétexte qu’il leur fallait encore grandir. Il les a plutôt façonnés en vue de son service.

En discernant la meilleure façon de servir Dieu, il est sage de nous dire parfois devant nos talents et nos traits de caractère : « Ce n’est pas moi. » Il se peut que Dieu nous appelle à sortir de notre zone de sécurité, car il convient que nous honorions sa nature créatrice en lui permettant de nous utiliser tels que nous sommes.

Nul n’est ordinaire, nous avons tous été créés pour être uniques.

par Dave Branon

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Мейдей!

Читати: Псалом 85:1-13 | Біблія за рік: Повторення Закону 14–16 ; Марка 12:28-44

В день недолі своєї я кличу до Тебе, бо Ти обізвешся до мене! — Псалом 85:7

Міжнародний сигнал біди “мейдей” завжди повторюється тричі підряд, щоб не було сумнівів, що виникла загрозлива для життя ситуація. Це слово у 1923 році придумав Фредерік Стенлі Мокфорд, головний радіо-службовець Лондонського аеропорту Кройдон, який тепер закритий, а раніше приймав багато літаків з паризького аеропорту Лє-Бурже. Як свідчать працівники Національного музею, Мокфорд запозичив цей термін із французького слова “майдез”, що означає “допоможи мені”.

Протягом всього свого життя цар Давид опинявся в загрозливих ситуаціях, з яких, здавалося, не було виходу. Але у Псалмі 85 говориться, що навіть у найчорнішу годину Давид складав свою надію на Господа. “Почуй же, о Господи, молитву мою, і вислухай голос благання мого, в день недолі своєї я кличу до Тебе, бо Ти обізвешся до мене!” (Пс. 85:6-7).

Крізь завісу близької небезпеки Давид бачив руку Бога і благав, щоб Він вказував йому шлях. “Дорогу Свою покажи мені, Господи, і я буду ходити у правді Твоїй, приєднай моє серце боятися Ймення Твого!” (Пс. 85:11).

Навіть найважчі ситуації, в котрих ми опиняємося, можуть стати кроком до поглиблення наших відносин з Господом. Все починається з нашої молитви про допомогу, коли ми у біді, а потім ми вчимося щодня крокувати Божими шляхами.

Господи, навчи нас не збочувати з Твоїх шляхів, коли наша молитва про допомогу почута й криза минула.

Бог чує наш зойк про допомогу і веде нас Своїми шляхами.

Автор Давид Маккасланд

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Это не я

Читать сейчас: 1 Петра 4:7-11 | Библия за год: Второзаконие 17-19; Марка 13:1-20

Служите друг другу каждый тем даром, какой получил. — 1 Петра 4:10

На время отпуска я решил дать отдых своей бритве и отпустил бороду. Друзья и сотрудники живо отреагировали на перемену, при этом большинство комментариев были положительными. Тем не менее однажды я посмотрелся в зеркало и решил: «Это не я». Бритва снова увидела свет.

Я задумался над тем, кто мы такие и почему тот или иной аксессуар не подходит к нашей индивидуальности. Прежде всего это происходит потому, что Бог наделил нас личными особенностями и предпочтениями. Вполне нормально, что мы не разделяем увлечений друг друга, едим разную еду или поклоняемся Богу в разных церквах. Мы все устроены неповторимо и «дивно» (Пс. 138:14). Петр также замечает, что все мы уникальным образом одарены, чтобы служить друг другу (1 Петр. 4:10-11).

Ученики Иисуса не проходили тест на соответствие, прежде чем войти в Его мир. Петр был так порывист, что отрубил ухо одному из тех, кто пришел арестовать Иисуса. Фома требовал доказательств Его воскресения. Господь не отверг их из-за того, что они имели недостатки. Он воспитывал и менял их для Своего служения.

Размышляя о том, как послужить Господу, полезно оценить свои таланты и качества и порой сказать: «Это не я». Бог может вывести нас из «зоны комфорта», чтобы развить наши неповторимые дары и качества, чтобы мы могли послужить Его благим целям. Мы чтим Его творческую природу, позволяя употреблять нас, как есть.

Благодарю Тебя, Отче, за неповторимость, которой Ты наделил каждого из нас. Благодарю за свою индивидуальность и способности. Помоги употребить их для Твоей славы.

Обычных людей нет, мы все созданы особенными.

автор: Дэвид Брэнон

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, March 11, 2017

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Deuteronomy 11:18-28

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. If you will diligently observe this entire commandment that I am commanding you, loving the LORD your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him, then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and mightier than yourselves. Every place on which you set foot shall be yours; your territory shall extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the Western Sea. No one will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you on all the land on which you set foot, as he promised you. See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Hebrews 5:1-10

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, "You are my Son, today I have begotten you" as he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in John 4:1-26
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, "Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John" -- although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized-- he left Judea and started back to Galilee. But he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband' for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you."

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

Morning Psalms

Psalm 55 Exaudi, Deus
1   Hear my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my petition.
2   Listen to me and answer me; I have no peace, because of my cares.
3   I am shaken by the noise of the enemy and by the pressure of the wicked;
4   For they have cast an evil spell upon me and are set against me in fury.
5   My heart quakes within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.
6   Fear and trembling have come over me, and horror overwhelms me.
7   And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
8   I would flee to a far-off place and make my lodging in the wilderness.
9   I would hasten to escape from the stormy wind and tempest."
10   Swallow them up, O Lord; confound their speech; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11   Day and night the watchmen make their rounds upon her walls, but trouble and misery are in the midst of her.
12   There is corruption at her heart; her streets are never free of oppression and deceit.
13   For had it been an adversary who taunted me, then I could have borne it; or had it been an enemy who vaunted himself against me, then I could have hidden from him.
14   But it was you, a man after my own heart, my companion, my own familiar friend.
15   We took sweet counsel together, and walked with the throng in the house of God.
16   Let death come upon them suddenly; let them go down alive to the grave; for wickedness is in their dwellings, in their very midst.
17   But I will call upon God, and the LORD will deliver me.
18   In the evening, in the morning, and at noonday, I will complain and lament, and he will hear my voice.
19   He will bring me safely back from the battle waged against me; for there are many who fight me.
20   God, who is enthroned of old, will hear me and bring them down; they never change; they do not fear God.
21   My companion stretched forth his hand against his comrade; he has broken his covenant.
22   His speech is softer than butter, but war is in his heart.
23   His words are smoother than oil, but they are drawn swords.
24   Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous stumble.
25   For you will bring the bloodthirsty and deceitful down to the pit of destruction, O God.
26   They shall not live out half their days, but I will put my trust in you.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 138 Confitebor tibi
1   I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.
2   I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, because of your love and faithfulness;
3   For you have glorified your Name and your word above all things.
4   When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.
5   All the kings of the earth will praise you, O LORD, when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6   They will sing of the ways of the LORD, that great is the glory of the LORD.
7   Though the LORD be high, he cares for the lowly; he perceives the haughty from afar.
8   Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.
9   The LORD will make good his purpose for me; O LORD, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.

Psalm 139 Domine, probasti
1   LORD, you have searched me out and known me; you know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
2   You trace my journeys and my resting-places and are acquainted with all my ways.
3   Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, but you, O LORD, know it altogether.
4   You press upon me behind and before and lay your hand upon me.
5   Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain to it.
6   Where can I go then from your Spirit? where can I flee from your presence?
7   If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.
8   If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
9   Even there your hand will lead me and your right hand hold me fast.
10   If I say, "Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night, "
11   Darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to you are both alike.
12   For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
13   I will thank you because I am marvelously made; your works are wonderful, and I know it well.
14   My body was not hidden from you, while I was being made in secret and woven in the depths of the earth.
15   Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb; all of them were written in your book; they were fashioned day by day, when as yet there was none of them.
16   How deep I find your thoughts, O God! how great is the sum of them!
17   If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.
18   Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God! You that thirst for blood, depart from me.
19   They speak despitefully against you; your enemies take your Name in vain.
20   Do I not hate those, O LORD, who hate you? and do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
21   I hate them with a perfect hatred; they have become my own enemies.
22   Search me out, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my restless thoughts.
23   Look well whether there be any wickedness in me and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

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 - March 11, 2017

Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV) Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Read all of Deuteronomy 7

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 - "Weeping and Working"

When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.

—Nehemiah 1:4 (NLT)

Alexander Maclaren said, “Tell me the depth of a Christian man’s compassion, and I will tell you the measure of his usefulness.”

How deep does your compassion go? God is still looking for such people. A lot of Christians say they are too timid or afraid of this or that to share their faith with an unbeliever. But I think, in reality, they don’t really have a burden for them.

Nehemiah was in a position of great influence and power serving under the king. He wasn’t a preacher. He wasn’t a priest. He wasn’t a scribe. He wasn’t in any kind of ministry, as we would call it. But he loved God. And one day, someone told him about the plight of the Jews and how the walls of Jerusalem that once stood in honor of God lay in ruins.

Nehemiah began to weep and pray. But after his weeping came working. After his despair came determination. It touched him, and he wanted to do something about it. So he prayed and devised a plan, and then that plan began to unfold.

Does it affect you to know there are many people who don’t know Christ, who are basically on their way to a certain judgment? Does it move you? Until you are moved in the depths of your soul, you are not going to move your feet.

Effectively sharing our faith must start with a God-given burden, leading us to prayer. And then we need to go out and do something.

I would rather go out, fall flat on my face, and make every mistake there is to make in sharing my faith than to never do anything. When we sit around and do nothing for fear of failure, we are missing what God has called us to do.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation®, NLT® 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 © 2017 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Oración por entendimiento

Con tus manos me creaste, me diste forma. Dame entendimiento para aprender tus mandamientos.
Salmo 119:73 (NVI)

Gracias te doy, Dios mío, porque aunque sea un lector de tu Palabra y me beneficie de sus enseñanzas, hoy, Padre, quiero pedirte por las personas que no te conocen. Quiero pedirte por las personas que tal vez ahora han sentido un gran deseo de empezar a buscar de ti, de conocer más de tu Palabra.

Te pido, Señor, que les des la facilidad de buscar y encontrar una Biblia.

Y, Dios mío, que cuando la encuentren, hallen verdadera revelación y puedan convertirla en un manual de vida y de conocimiento.

Abre sus mentes y prepara sus corazones para recibir todo lo que ya les tienes preparado desde la eternidad.

Gracias, Dios mío, por haberte inspirado y haber dejado esa maravillosa escuela de vida.

También te agradezco que muchos conocerán la Palabra y la Palabra los hará libres.

Te amo con todo mi corazón.

Amén y amén.

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 - THE WAY OF THE CROSS

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…

Philippians 3:10 (NIV)

Members of the persecuted church around the world have long understood the true significance of the cross of Christ. Pastor Allen Yuan in China, who spent almost twenty-two years in prison for his faith away from his large family, often talks about his sufferings over those years. But he invariably concludes with the statement, “They are nothing compared with the Cross!”

The best known and loved pastor in China was Watchman Nee who was martyred in the early 1970’s. One of his elderly co-workers said recently, “If we call ourselves Christians—people following Christ—we should know what road we are taking. Christ went the way of the Cross. We should be prepared to do likewise.”

A Canadian Christian aid worker was overwhelmed at the enormous need among the believers of southern Sudan. He recalls some children in a village wearing nothing but hand carved bone crosses fashioned in necklaces around their necks. He pointed to the cross on one emaciated child and questioned her with hand motions. She smiled broadly, took off the necklace and handed it to him.

His thoughtful analysis is this: “That little act symbolizes the state of the suffering church in Sudan. With absolutely nothing in the way of material possessions, they still have the cross of Jesus Christ. They are prepared to share its hope - even though it means death.”

Indian missionary and martyr, Sadhu Sundar Singh, wrote in his diary, “It is easy to die for Christ. It is hard to live for him. Dying takes only an hour or two but to live for Christ means to die daily [to self].”

A thirty-two-year-old pastor works in upper Egypt, an area of intense persecution for Christians. He runs a day care centre, a medical clinic, a literacy training program as well as caring for the families of those in prison. He has been beaten twice by Muslim extremists and threatened daily with death. He knows they are trying to kill him...but he continues to daily bear his cross.

A leading pastor in Egypt shared about a parishioner who tearfully came for counselling. Young people she had trained at her work were recently promoted to be her supervisors. She was passed over solely because she was a Christian. The pastor concluded, “That’s the cross we must bear here in Egypt!”

The essence of these examples is that instead of exercising and asserting my will, I learn to co-operate with God’s wishes and comply with His will.

RESPONSE: Today I will walk the way of the cross with Jesus and comply with His will.

PRAYER: Pray for believers under severe persecution who today will take up their cross to follow Jesus.

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

NIV Devotions for Couples - The Big Result of a Little Independence

Jeremiah 2:1–3:5

“You have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—would you now return to me?” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 3:1 (NIV)

A while back, a man who had attended our Bible study stepped down from his responsibilities at church and moved out of his house. He left his wife and children and moved in with a gay lover. Our church was stunned, and our close-knit Bible study group was numb with shock. We hadn’t seen this coming.

Yet the clues were there. With the 20/20 vision that hindsight provides, his wife and I identified numerous tiny infidelities that had led to the ultimate big one. He had often made unilateral decisions, not taking his wife’s feelings or viewpoints into consideration. He often had kept his thoughts and feelings to himself. He certainly had not made a practice of humbly confessing his weaknesses or sins to his wife. His spending of time and money reflected a determination to primarily please himself, not to lay down his life for his family (see 1 John 3:16).

The prophet Jeremiah was called the “weeping prophet” because he often openly expressed his sorrow over the spiritual and moral condition of the faithless people of Judah and their impending destruction. God was long-suffering, but the people would suffer his coming judgment.

Judah’s infidelity showed up in numerous acts of disobedience. The people had fallen into idolatry, immorality and injustice. Personal and social corruption was prevalent. The Israelites fulfilled their religious obligations, but their hearts weren’t in the right place. Prophets, priests, nobility and common citizens were all guilty. God viewed his people’s many acts of independence (rather than God-dependence) as tantamount to adultery, an ultimate breaking of relationship with him.

Most of us can’t imagine how we would ever get to the point of entering into a sexual relationship outside our marriage. And yet adultery happens all the time, almost as often with Christians as with non-believers. And it usually begins with little acts of unfaithfulness that build gradually into bigger ones until suddenly one day we realize we’re up to our necks in a full-blown affair.

So if we want to safeguard the purity of our marriage, we’ve got to be on guard against small acts of faithlessness. We’ve got to ask ourselves questions, such as: Are my decisions to spend money at the mall based primarily on my own self-interests or are they made for the good of my spouse and family? Do I think more about myself than I do about my spouse in making plans for the evening or weekend? How important are the needs of my family in deciding whether or not to take on more work?

If, with God’s help, I refuse to take any baby steps of independence that distance me from my spouse, then I may never take that giant step of adultery. I’m not so overconfident as to say, “Sexual infidelity could never happen to us.” Instead, I humbly say, “Lord, protect my daily faithfulness in every way, both to you and to my spouse.”

Annette LaPlaca

Let’s Talk

• When have we been totally surprised by someone’s unfaithfulness?
• If we act as our own “fidelity police,” can we identify ways we’ve each acted independently or without consideration for each other?
• How can everyday choices lead to lifelong sexual faithfulness?

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