LHM Daily Devotion - "Herod's Death Threat"

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Herod's Death Threat"

March 16, 2017

... "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill You" (Luke 13:31b, ESV).

Read Luke 13:31-35

Each day the danger increases for Jesus. Today, some Pharisees pass along an alleged death threat. If Herod did make this threat, it was more of a bluff to drive Jesus out of the region. Later, he'll have his chance to kill Jesus in Jerusalem, but he will hand Him back to Pilate instead. He doesn't want to anger his Galilean subjects by killing yet another popular prophet, executing John the Baptist had already cost him enough.

Jesus refuses to be intimidated. His time in Galilee is growing extremely short, and He will reach every person He possibly can before He must move on toward Jerusalem. Jesus gives them a message to take back to Herod, "Tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.'" If demons and diseases cannot stop Jesus from carrying out the work the Father has set for Him to do, no earthly ruler will either.

He must go up to Jerusalem. And it is there-like so many prophets before Him-that Jesus must die. Like a bird that spreads its wings to gather its chicks and shield them from danger, Jesus reaches out to His people, but they turn their backs. On the cross His arms will be stretched out for them also, but they will pass by with sneers, insults and mockery.

This brings tears to His eyes. But they are not for Him; rather, they are for the people of Jerusalem He so desperately wants to save, but they are unwilling. This unwillingness will lead to their destruction at the hands of the Roman legions in another 40 years.

THE PRAYER: Almighty God, so many times You reached out to Your people, yet they kept turning their backs on You. Heal my stubborn heart, so I may know Your peace and joy through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I pray 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 - Aprender a pedir

Devociones de Cuaresma 2017

Aprender a pedir

16 de Marzo de 2017

Jacobo y Juan... le dijeron: 'Maestro... Concédenos que, en tu gloria, uno de nosotros se siente a tu derecha y el otro a tu izquierda.' Jesús les dijo: 'Ustedes no saben lo que piden.' Marcos 10:35, 37-38, RVC (10:35-41)

Jacobo y Juan habían estado con Jesús por tres años escuchando sus enseñanzas, aprendiendo de su estilo de vida, y sorprendiéndose con sus milagros. Sin embargo, con esta petición revelan que todavía no habían entendido la profundidad de la misión de Jesús. Evidentemente se tomaron esto muy en serio, pues "traicionaron" a sus compañeros y se propusieron pasar por la misma copa de amargura por la que Jesús estaba pasando. Con toda certeza no sabían lo que estaban pidiendo.

A pesar de haber estado personalmente con Jesús todo ese tiempo, todavía no habían sido transformados en su mente y en su corazón. Pero Jesús no se exaspera. Él sabía que, cuando el Espíritu Santo tocara sus corazones en Pentecostés, verían con mayor claridad el ministerio al que habían sido llamados. Al final, todos los apóstoles murieron, siendo Jacobo el primero, como mártir, y Juan el último, desterrado en una isla. De alguna forma, ellos fueron el principio y el fin del ministerio de los apóstoles originales. Ése fue el bautismo de amargura en el que participaron.

De todo esto aprendo que debo ser más simple en mis oraciones expresando mis temores, mis necesidades, y mis anhelos al Señor, y dejando que él me conceda aquello que ya tiene preparado para mí.

No importa cuánto tiempo hemos caminado ya con el Señor, cuántos milagros hemos visto, y cuántas veces nos ha sorprendido él con su ternura y cuidado, no siempre entendemos la profundidad de la vida a la que nos ha llamado. Las puertas de los cielos están abiertas para que entren nuestras oraciones. ¿Qué pediremos? Que el Señor nos abrace con su gracia y nos anime a confiar siempre en él para todas las cosas de la vida.

Gracias, Padre, porque mediante Jesús nos oyes siempre. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice 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 - Spilling Through My Fingers

Read: Isaiah 40:9–17 | Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 28–29; Mark 14:54–72

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand . . . ? Isaiah 40:12

After I clumsily knocked over my glass on the restaurant counter, the spilled beverage began to cascade over the edge and onto the floor. Out of sheer embarrassment, I tried to catch the waterfall with cupped hands. My efforts were largely unsuccessful; most of my beverage rushed through my fingers. In the end, my upturned palms held little more than a meager tablespoon each, while my feet stood in puddles.

My life feels similar on many days. I find myself scrambling to solve problems, oversee details, and control circumstances. No matter how hard I try, my feeble hands are incapable of managing all the pieces and parts. Something invariably slips through my fingers and pools on the floor at my feet, leaving me feeling overwhelmed. No amount of contorting my hands or squeezing my fingers more tightly together makes me able to handle it all.

Yet God can. Isaiah tells us that God can measure the globe’s waters—all the oceans and rivers and rain—in the hollow of His hands (40:12). Only His hands are large enough to hold them all. We needn’t try to hold more than the tablespoon He’s designed our hands to carry. When we feel overwhelmed, we can entrust our cares and concerns into His capable hands.

Help me, Lord, to stop trying to hold everything in my hands, but instead to trust my needs and concerns into Your perfect care.

Our Daily Bread welcomes writer Kirsten Holmberg! Meet Kirsten and all our authors at odb.org/all-authors.

We can trust God to handle the things that overwhelm us.

By Kirsten Holmberg

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Tràn Qua Các Kẽ Tay

Đọc: Ê-sai 40:9-17 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Phục truyền 28-29; Mác 14:54-72

Ai đã lấy lòng bàn tay mà lường biển cả…? (Ê-sai 40:12)

Sau khi vụng về đụng phải chiếc ly trên quầy hàng của khách sạn, thức uống bị đổ bắt đầu tràn ra và chảy xuống sàn. Quá xấu hổ, tôi cố gắng hứng nước bằng bàn tay chụm lại nhưng nỗ lực của tôi không thành công; phần lớn nước đã chảy qua các kẽ ngón tay. Cuối cùng, lòng bàn tay lật ngửa chỉ giữ lại được khoảng một muỗng nước ít ỏi, trong khi chân tôi đứng trên vũng nước.

Cuộc đời tôi nhiều khi cũng tương tự như vậy. Tôi thấy mình cố gắng giải quyết nan đề, giám sát từng chi tiết và kiểm soát mọi tình huống. Dù cố gắng đến đâu, những bàn tay yếu đuối của tôi vẫn không đủ khả năng để xoay xở hết mọi thứ. Lúc nào cũng có thứ gì đó lọt qua kẽ tay và đổ xuống sàn nơi chân tôi, khiến tôi cảm thấy bất lực. Dù tôi nghiêng tay thế nào hay các ngón tay tôi có khít đến cỡ nào, thì tôi cũng không thể nắm giữ tất cả.

Nhưng Chúa có thể. Ê-sai nói rằng Chúa có thể đo lường biển cả – đại dương, sông lớn hay mưa – trong lòng bàn tay Ngài (40:12). Chỉ tay Ngài mới đủ lớn để nắm giữ tất cả. Chúng ta không cần cố gắng nhiều hơn những gì Ngài đã định cho mình nắm giữ. Khi cảm thấy bất lực, chúng ta có thể trao phó những mối bận tâm và lo lắng của mình vào bàn tay toàn năng của Ngài.

Lạy Chúa, xin giúp con ngừng nỗ lực nhằm giữ mọi thứ trong tay mình, nhưng xin giúp con trao những mối quan tâm và lo lắng của mình vào sự chăm sóc trọn vẹn của Ngài.

Chúng ta có thể giao phó cho Chúa giải quyết những nan đề khiến chúng ta bị choáng ngợp.

bởi Kirsten Holmberg

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Se escapa entre los dedos

Leer: Isaías 40:9-17 | La Biblia en un año: Marcos 14:54-72

¿Quién midió las aguas con el hueco de su mano…? (Isaías 40:12).

Después de volcar torpemente mi vaso en la barra del restaurante, el líquido empezó a derramarse por el borde hasta el piso. Por la vergüenza, traté de atrapar el agua haciendo un hueco con las manos. Mis esfuerzos fueron inútiles, ya que casi toda la bebida se escapó entre los dedos. Al final, en la palma de mis manos, apenas quedó una pequeña cucharadita, mientras que mis pies estaban en medio de un charco.

Muchas veces, mi vida es algo parecido. Lucho por resolver problemas, pasar detalles por alto y controlar las circunstancias. Por más que lo intento, mis frágiles manos son incapaces de manejar todas las piezas. Siempre se me escapa algo entre los dedos y se cae, y me deja abrumada. Aunque trate de contorsionar las manos o juntar más los dedos, no puedo controlar todo.

Sin embargo, Dios sí puede hacerlo. Isaías nos revela que el Señor puede medir las aguas del planeta —océanos, ríos, lluvia— en el hueco de sus manos (40:12). Solo sus manos son lo suficientemente grandes para contenerlas. No hace falta que intentemos sostener con nuestras manos más de la cucharadita para la que fueron diseñadas. Cuando las circunstancias nos superan, podemos poner nuestras preocupaciones y angustias en sus hábiles manos y confiar en Él.

Señor, ayúdame a no intentar solucionar todo, sino a poner todo en tus manos.

Podemos confiar en que Dios maneje todo aquello que nos abruma.

Por Keila Ochoa

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Wenn alles zerrinnt

Lesen: Jesaja 40,9-17 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 5.Mose 28–29; Markus 14,54-72

Wer misst das Wasser mit der hohlen Hand . . .? Jesaja 40,12

Ich hatte versehentlich mein Glas auf der Theke des Restaurants umgestoßen. Nun strömte die Flüssigkeit über die Kante und tropfte hinunter auf den Boden. In meiner Verlegenheit versuchte ich den Wasserfall mit zusammengelegten Händen aufzufangen, doch vergeblich. Der größte Teil des Getränks rann mir durch die Finger. Schließlich hatte ich in jeder Handfläche nicht mehr als einen Teelöffel Flüssigkeit, während ich mit den Füßen in einer Pfütze stand.

An manchen Tagen fühlt sich mein Leben ganz ähnlich an. Ich versuche Probleme zu lösen, Einzelheiten im Blick zu behalten und die Umstände zu kontrollieren. Doch egal, wie sehr ich mich bemühe, meine schwachen Hände können nicht mit allen Teilen jonglieren. Irgendetwas schlüpft mir durch die Finger und sammelt sich zu meinen Füßen auf dem Boden. Und ich bin machtlos. Egal, wie sehr ich die Finger biege oder die Hände zusammenpresse, ich kann nicht mit allem fertig werden.

Aber Gott kann! Jesaja berichtet, dass Gott die Wasser der ganzen Erde—alle Meere und Flüsse und den Regen—in seiner hohlen Hand messen kann (40,12). Nur seine Hände sind groß genug, um alles zu halten. Wir müssen nicht probieren, mehr als den Teelöffel zu fassen, für den er unsere Hände geschaffen hat. Wenn wir uns machtlos fühlen, können wir unsere Sorgen und Nöte seinen fähigen Händen anvertrauen.

Hilf mir, Herr, damit aufzuhören, alles in meiner Hand halten zu wollen. Lass mich stattdessen lernen, meine Sorgen und Nöte dir anzuvertrauen.

Gott kann auch mit den Dingen fertig werden, die uns zu groß sind.

Von Kirsten Holmberg

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Me coulant entre les doigts

Lisez : Ésaïe 40.9‑17 | La Bible en un an : Deutéronome 28 – 29 et Marc 14.54-72

Qui a mesuré les eaux dans le creux de sa main […] ? (Ésaïe 40.12)

Après avoir renversé mon verre par maladresse sur un comptoir de restaurant, son contenu s’est mis à couler en cascade par terre. Très gênée, j’ai tenté de recueillir le liquide dans mes mains mises en coupe, mais presque en vain. La majeure partie du contenu de mon verre m’a coulé entre les doigts. Pour finir, je n’ai conservé que l’équivalent d’une cuillère à soupe dans chaque paume, alors que j’avais les deux pieds dans une flaque d’eau.

Or, ma vie semble souvent ressembler à cette scène. Je m’efforce de résoudre des problèmes, de faire abstraction de détails et de maîtriser la situation. Peu importe le coeur que j’y mets, mes faibles mains sont incapables de gérer tous ses éléments. Des choses ne manquent jamais de me filer entre les doigts pour s’amasser à mes pieds, me laissant avec le sentiment d’être dépassée. J’ai beau me tordre les mains ou resserrer les doigts, je ne parviens jamais à tout gérer.

Dieu le peut toutefois. Ésaïe nous dit que le Seigneur peut mesurer les eaux de la terre – océans, rivières, fleuves et pluies – dans le creux de sa main (40.12). Seules ses mains sont assez grandes pour tout contenir. Nul besoin d’essayer donc de retenir plus que l’équivalent d’une cuillère à soupe, puisque c’est ce qu’il a voulu que nos mains parviennent à contenir. Si nous nous sentons dépassés, nous pouvons remettre nos inquiétudes entre ses bonnes mains.

Nous pouvons nous fier à Dieu pour régler ce qui nous dépasse.

par Kirsten Holmberg

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Крізь пальці

Читати: Ісаї 40:9-17 | Біблія за рік: Повторення Закону 28–29 ; Марка 14:54-72

Хто води поміряв своєю долонею? — Ісаї 40:12

Коли я через необережність зачепила й перекинула склянку з напоєм, що стояла на стойці в ресторані, рідина почала текти на підлогу невеличким струмочком. Вкрай зніяковівши, я намагалася зібрати її, підставивши долоні. Але мої спроби загалом були невдалими – напій просочувався крізь пальці. Зрештою, в моїх долонях залишилась мізерна кількість рідини, в той час як сама я стояла посеред калюжі.

Щось подібне я відчуваю у своєму житті майже щодня. Я докладаю багато зусиль для вирішення тих чи інших проблем, намагаюсь угледіти всі деталі, контролювати ситуацію. Та як би я не старалася, мої слабкі пальці неспроможні втримати все вкупі. Щось і прослизне крізь пальці, залишаючи мене в стані великої розгубленості. Як би я не стискала свої пальці, як би не напружувала м’язи рук, мені не вдається впоратись з усіма проблемами.

Однак Бог може те, чого не можу я. Пророк Ісая каже, що Бог спроможний виміряти всю воду землі Своєю долонею (Іс. 40:12). Лише Його руки достатньо могутні, щоб тримати всі океани вкупі. Нам же годі й пробувати утримувати в долонях більше, ніж столова ложка – рівно стільки, скільки Бог запланував для нас. Якщо ж відчуваємо, що забагато взяли на себе, можемо віддати свої турботи й тривоги в Його могутні руки.

Господи, допоможи мені не намагатися все тримати у своїх руках. Навчи натомість довіряти Твоєму довершеному піклуванню, віддаючи Тобі всі свої турботи й потреби.

Можемо з довірою віддати у Божі руки все, що нас турбує й непокоїть.

Автор Кірстен Холмберг

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Сквозь пальцы

Читать сейчас: Исаия 40:9-17 | Библия за год: Второзаконие 28-29; Марка 14:54-72

Кто исчерпал воды горстью своей? — Исаия 40:12

После того как я неуклюже опрокинула стакан в ресторане, напиток водопадом потек со стола на пол. В замешательстве я сделала ладони лодочкой и попыталась поймать жидкость, но усилия были безуспешными: почти весь напиток вытек сквозь пальцы. В руках осталось не больше ложки, а ноги стояли в луже.

Вот так время от времени выглядит моя жизнь. Я пытаюсь каким-то способом решить проблемы, учитывать подробности и контролировать обстоятельства. Но как ни стараюсь, мои слабые руки не способны справиться со всей сложностью бытия. Что-то обязательно утекает сквозь пальцы и падает к ногам, а я только растерянно смотрю на происходящее. Как я ни сжимаю руки и ни стискиваю пальцы, все равно ничего не получается.

Но Богу все возможно. Исаия говорит, что Бог может измерить все воды земли (океаны, реки и дожди) Своей горстью (Ис. 40:12). Только Его руки достаточно велики, чтобы удержать столько воды. И нам нет нужды держать в своих руках больше столовой ложки, как определено Создателем. Чувствуя беспомощность, мы можем доверить наши заботы и переживания Его могучим рукам.

Помоги мне, Господи, не пытаться удержать все в своих руках, но доверить свои нужды и трудности Твоим могучим рукам.

Мы можем доверить Богу все то, что нам не под силу.

автор: Кирстен Холмберг

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, March 15, 2017

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Jeremiah 3:6-18

The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and played the whore there? And I thought, "After she has done all this she will return to me" but she did not return, and her false sister Judah saw it. She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore. Because she took her whoredom so lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. Yet for all this her false sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense, says the LORD. Then the LORD said to me: Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty than false Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, faithless Israel, says the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD. Return, O faithless children, says the LORD, for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the LORD, they shall no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of the LORD." It shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made. At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will. In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors for a heritage.

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

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Romans 1:28-2:11

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done. They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die-- yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them. Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. You say, "We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth." Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one's deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

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

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in John 5:1-18
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids-- blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, "It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat." But he answered them, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'" They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Take it up and walk'?" Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you." The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, and I also am working." For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God.

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

Morning Psalms

Psalm 72 Deus, judicium
1   Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the King's son;
2   That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.
3   That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the little hills bring righteousness.
4   He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5   He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.
6   He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth.
7   In his time shall the righteous flourish; there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
8   He shall rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
9   His foes shall bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust.
10   The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11   All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service.
12   For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper.
13   He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14   He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
15   Long may he live! and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; may prayer be made for him always, and may they bless him all the day long.
16   May there be abundance of grain on the earth, growing thick even on the hilltops; may its fruit flourish like Lebanon, and its grain like grass upon the earth.
17   May his Name remain for ever and be established as long as the sun endures; may all the nations bless themselves in him and call him blessed.
18   Blessed be the Lord GOD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous deeds!
19   And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen. Amen.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 119: Yodh Manus tuæ fecerunt me
73   Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74   Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, because I trust in your word.
75   I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76   Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, as you have promised to your servant.
77   Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, for your law is my delight.
78   Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; but I will meditate on your commandments.
79   Let those who fear you turn to me, and also those who know your decrees.
80   Let my heart be sound in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

Psalm 119: Kaph Defecit in salutare
81   My soul has longed for your salvation; I have put my hope in your word.
82   My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, and I say, "When will you comfort me?"
83   I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, but I have not forgotten your statutes.
84   How much longer must I wait? when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?
85   The proud have dug pits for me; they do not keep your law.
86   All your commandments are true; help me, for they persecute me with lies.
87   They had almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88   In your loving-kindness, revive me, that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

Psalm 119: Lamedh In æternum, Domine
89   O LORD, your word is everlasting; it stands firm in the heavens.
90   Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; you established the earth, and it abides.
91   By your decree these continue to this day, for all things are your servants.
92   If my delight had not been in your law, I should have perished in my affliction.
93   I will never forget your commandments, because by them you give me life.
94   I am yours; oh, that you would save me! for I study your commandments.
95   Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96   I see that all things come to an end, but your commandment has no bounds.

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 15, 2017

Acts 4:10, 12 (NIV) then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Read all of Acts 4

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 - "God's Plan from the Beginning"

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

—Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)

Some think the crucifixion of Jesus was a rude interruption of what appeared to be the ministry of a great humanitarian and moral teacher. But the Bible tells us something different: the cross was the goal of Jesus from the very beginning.

The wise men brought Him unusual gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They brought Him gold because He was to be a king, frankincense because He would stand as a high priest between us and the Father, and myrrh, an embalming element, because He would go to the cross.

Even before His birth in Bethlehem, a decision was made in heaven that God would have to come to this earth and take drastic measures because of the dilemma humanity had gotten themselves into in the Garden of Eden. The decision was made that Jesus would come to earth and go to a cross. Revelation 13:8 says He is “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

And in the gripping Old Testament account of Abraham and his beloved son, Isaac, we have a classic picture of what took place at the cross from God’s perspective. Isaac’s name actually means “laughter,” and that is what he brought into the home of the aged Abraham and Sarah. So imagine what a shock it must have been when God came to Abraham one day and told him to take his beloved son and go offer him as a sacrifice.

There was nothing greater God could have asked from Abraham. And as Abraham took Isaac to that place of sacrifice, he prophetically said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb” (Genesis 22:8).

That is exactly what happened at the cross. God provided for Himself the Lamb when He gave His Son—His only Son, whom He loved—for us.

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 © 2017 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Oración para que Dios sea mi «Todo»

Pon tu esperanza en el Señor; ten valor, cobra ánimo; ¡pon tu esperanza en el Señor!
Salmo 27:14 (NVI)

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, hoy busco tu presencia porque he entendido que mi vida sin ti no tiene sentido.

Necesito tu ayuda a fin de poder rendirlo todo a ti. Entiendo que al entregarte mi vida estoy ganando y que al morir a mi propio yo, tú podrás empezar a hacer cambios en mi vida y en mi manera de actuar. De ese modo, Padre, me preparas para tener el carácter de tu Hijo Jesucristo y me fortaleces en ti.

Si veo las noticias o leo la Biblia, en verdad reconozco que la vida se torna cada vez más complicada y yo te necesito.

Quiero dejar de actuar en mis fuerzas y deseo entregarme por completo a ti.

Dios mío, reina en mi vida y en mi corazón. Permite que empiece pronto a dar frutos y a ser un ejemplo a seguir para mi familia, mis amigos, mis compañeros de trabajo y hasta para los que no me conocen.

Renuncio a mi manera antigua de pensar y me dispongo a conocerte cada día más y así poder hacer su voluntad.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - DRAWN TO JESUS

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day…” John 6:44 (NIV)

Throughout the Muslim world, Jesus (“the man in white”) has appeared to seekers in special ways—often in dreams and visions. For example, Achmed is forty-two, married and has four daughters. A year ago, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a dream. Coming from an Egyptian fundamentalist family, Achmed was a committed Muslim. The dream caused his Islamic faith to waver. As a secret believer, he has gone into hiding in Cairo. He describes his dream:

In the field, there were hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people. They were all dressed in white and were looking up to heaven expectantly. They didn’t pay any attention to me. Suddenly a dazzling light shone on the crowd. Out of the light, the Lord Jesus stepped forward. He hovered over the people and blessed them. Then he pointed at me.

At that moment, I woke up. I was completely confused. I knew Isa (Jesus) only from the Koran. I knew that he was a man who had performed miracles, a prophet. Never had I thought that he would reveal himself to me. I was shaking all over my body and woke up my wife. “What’s the matter?” she asked. I could only say, “They’re right. They’re following the right way. They’re right...” I couldn’t go back to sleep. I had to know more about this man.

The easiest way was to turn on the television and look for Christian satellite stations. Achmed also read the Bible and watched the JESUS film. He had bought this on impulse a year before at a book fair in Cairo. He spoke to a Christian neighbour, who took him to a church in Cairo. He says, “I started to attend the services in secret and took part in a Bible study group. The love of the Christians touched me. The members of our Bible study group are like family to me.” Achmed had been supernaturally drawn to Jesus.

RESPONSE: I thank God today that I have also been drawn to Jesus, and He will raise me up!

PRAYER: Pray that God will continue to draw many, many Muslims to Jesus around the globe.

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

Girlfriends in God - My Bitter – Sweet Life

by Mary Southerland

 

Today’s Truth

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand (Psalm 40:1-2, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I hate depression. It is an all-too-familiar foe in my life. I know. I am a grounded Christian and have walked with God for many years. I am a pastor's wife ... a Christian author and speaker. According to many people, I shouldn't struggle with depression, but I do. It keeps me on my face before God. It keeps me broken and desperate for Him.

Thousands – seriously - thousands of people have prayed for me to be delivered and set free from this battle.

I continually search my heart, mind, and soul for some un-confessed sin.

I have sifted through my past and dealt with every painful memory God has brought to mind.

I have tried dozens of nutritional cures and am on the healthiest eating plan of my life.

Exercise? Do it. It helps … but the darkness never quite goes away.

I have had two sleep studies, been given a light box, taken I don’t know how many different anti-depressants, and seen countless psychiatrists and counselors, searching for an answer. They don’t seem to have one that I like – you know, the one that takes away the darkness altogether.

I have come to the conclusion that my real name is Pauline.

No, I am nowhere close to the faith level of the apostle Paul, but we do have one thing in common. A pit. I’m not sure what Paul’s personal pit was. It doesn’t matter. When Paul begged God to take away his pain, the answer was a resounding “no.” God then proceeded to use Paul in amazing ways – because of and through the broken places in Paul’s life.

I want to be like Paul. I want to be okay with just being okay some days. It’s funny. On those days when I want to give up … I invariably receive an email, a phone call, a Facebook message, or a text telling me how God has used something I wrote or taught to change a life. I am just flat out amazed to think God can use me in such a way! That’s when I truly thank Him for the pit, knowing that He is working through my brokenness to encourage other broken people.

We are all broken in some way. We all have pits.

A pit is slimy. It is impossible to get a grip on anything because of the slimy walls. You can’t climb out. I tried. But I kept sliding back down to the bottom. Evidently, God thought I needed to learn how to sit, be still, and know that He really is God.

And the bottom of my pit was just lovely – covered in mud. As I dredged through that mud, I came to a startling realization. I was a pig. I evidently loved wallowing in the mud of my messy past. I discovered that I had spent a lot of years burying a lot of junk in that mud.

Emotional junk that was just too painful to face.

Physical junk that I simply didn’t have the strength to master.

Mental junk that forged faulty thought patterns and nasty habits in my life.

Spiritual junk I desperately tried to hide as I attempted to find my worth in performance, human approval and effort.

I wish I had known then what I know now – that God loves me simply because He is love and He just can’t help Himself. I wish I had known that nothing I do or don’t do will ever change His love for me, and that no one – absolutely no one can take my place in His heart.

But it took the pit of clinical depression for me to learn those truths.

So today, I embrace the pain. I celebrate the fact that even in the darkness, I know He is there. God is with me. He is faithful. Jesus loves me, and He is for me.

Yes, the pit of depression is never far away and that is a good thing.

Anything or anyone that makes me desperate for God can be counted as a blessing. Honestly, I hate that truth – but I also love it. God has used it to make my life a living illustration of the wonderful horrible certainty that His power shines best through the broken places. He is drawn to broken people. Broken people are why He came.

Did you know that my given name, Mary, literally means: “bitter, but when broken, sweet?” I guess I will keep it. After all, it is the perfect picture of who I really am.

Let’s Pray

Father, Thank You that You are my strength and my joy. I turn to You in faith and seek Your forgiveness for the pride that blinds me to the hope I find in You. Please help me see Your hand at work in my life, and even when I can’t, give me the power to walk by faith and not by sight. Right now, I lay the broken pieces of my life at Your feet and am counting on You to come through for me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Read and memorize Psalm 40:1-3.

Record these verses in your journal.

When the darkness comes, remember each promise and count on God’s grace.

More from the Girlfriends

Mary’s book, Hope in the Midst of Depression, is her story of desperation, brokenness and restoration. It will help you discover the steps that will lead you to the light.

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

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