LHM Daily Devotion - May 3, 2017 "At the Crossroads "

Mr. Julannan lives in the Middle East.   Mr. Julannan is a family man...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"At the Crossroads"

May 3, 2017

Matthew 11:4-6 - And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me."

Mr. Julannan lives in the Middle East.

Mr. Julannan is a family man with a wife and children. He works in construction and makes a reasonable salary. This is all you probably need to know about Mr. Julannan except for the fact that he liked to drink and he didn't like Jesus.

How much did Mr. Julannan dislike Jesus?

• When people gave him Christian pamphlets, Mr. Julannan took them and set the pamphlets on fire.
• When he saw Christians gathered together in outside worship, he would often spit at them.

Things didn't get better when Mr. Julannan had a few beers. Alcohol made him abusive and not just to the Savior, but to his family and neighbors as well. Of course, that only lasted until he passed out.

That is the way things were and that is the way things would have stayed -- except for God's intervention. You see, the Lord took Mr. Julannan to a crossroads moment: to a place in time when he had to face facts. Some people would call it a "come to Jesus" moment.

That moment began when Mr. Julannan was traveling home from work and went by an open-air Christian rally. He heard the preacher's amplified voice call out: Jesus is help for your sins; Jesus is always before you, but you are causing Him pain with your sins. It is time to confess those sins to your Savior; it is time to be brought to faith; it is time to be forgiven and saved."

This time those words didn't infuriate Mr. Julannan. No, this time they just got him to thinking.

The next day, as he traveled to work, Mr. Julannan was still thinking. That's probably why he didn't notice the train barreling down on him until it was too late. People screamed as they saw the train hit him, knock him down, and go over the top of him.

When the train was gone, the people at the crossing went to look for a corpse. Rather than a corpse, they found a living Mr. Julannan. Excitedly he told how the train knocked him down between the tracks, where he called on Jesus for help. Mr. Julannan told everybody, "I know my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ saved me from what should have been a horrible tragedy!"

It was a crossroad moment that changed Mr. Julannan who now, with his wife, hands out Bibles.

I like that story and share it with you for a reason.

Many of you are worried about someone who is near and dear to you. This is someone who has little use for the Savior or anyone who talks about Him. If that is the case, I encourage you to remember, the Lord often sends crossroad moments to both believers and unbelievers.

It is when people are helpless that God's loving power becomes most obvious and most effective. It is then your words, your concerns, your prayers will become amplified and by God's grace a lost soul may be saved.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I don't know what it will take for this special person in my life to be brought to faith in Jesus. I pray that You will reach out to them and set their eyes on the Savior. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional de 03 de Mayo de 2017

Alimento Diario

El nombre

03 de Mayo 2017

Y eso eran algunos de ustedes, pero ya han sido lavados, ya han sido santificados, ya han sido justificados en el nombre del Señor Jesús, y por el Espíritu de nuestro Dios. 1 Corintios 6:11

Cuando Alejandro el Grande murió, su imperio fue dividido. Egipto fue dado a Ptolomeo, un general, gobernante, astrónomo, matemático y, como si todo eso fuera poco, constructor de faros. Sóstrato, el arquitecto de Ptolomeo, hizo un trabajo tan bueno al diseñar el faro de Alejandría, que con el tiempo se convirtió en una de las siete maravillas del mundo antiguo.

La madre de Sóstrato supo educarlo bien. Él sabía que el faro que había diseñado era algo sumamente importante por lo que, con la esperanza de pasar a la historia, quiso que su nombre fuera escrito en la base del mismo. Pero su jefe, Ptolomeo, no pensaba igual. Él quería que fuera su nombre el que estuviera escrito para así recibir él toda la gloria.

Finalmente, Sóstrato encontró una solución. En letras hermosas que saltaban a la vista, Sóstrato ordenó escribir el nombre de Ptolomeo en yeso. Pero no le dijo a Ptolomeo que, en el granito que estaba debajo del yeso, había hecho tallar su nombre.

Sóstrato sabía que con el tiempo, el golpe continuo del mar iría erosionando el yeso en que estaba tallado el nombre "Ptolomeo" y dejaría al descubierto el granito en el que estaba tallado su propio nombre.

Me pregunto: "¿Qué nombre está tallado en su corazón y en su alma?" Hay dos individuos que le reclaman: el Salvador Jesús y el charlatán Satanás.

Jesús demostró que nos ama cuando se dio a sí mismo como el sustituto, el sacrificio que habría de lograr nuestro perdón. Gracias a la obra de Cristo, los creyentes somos justificados y hechos justos con el Padre. Pero, a pesar de lo que Jesús ha hecho, Satanás sigue queriendo apoderarse de nosotros.

A través del lavamiento del bautismo y de la fe que nos da y mantiene el Espíritu, el nombre que con orgullo debemos llevar tallado en nuestro corazón es el de Jesús.

Como San Pablo les escribió a los creyentes en Corinto: "Ustedes ya han sido lavados, ya han sido santificados, ya han sido justificados en el nombre del Señor Jesucristo y por el Espíritu de nuestro Dios."

En resumen, cuando alguien nos mira o nos escucha hablar, debería decir: "se nota que esa persona pertenece a Jesús".

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, haz que mi testimonio del sacrificio del Salvador sea claro, para que nadie se confunda. Soy salvo por Jesús y estoy orgulloso de llevar su nombre. Te lo pido en el nombre del Salvador crucificado y resucitado. 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.

Our Daily Bread - Alone in Space

Read: Genesis 28:10–17

Bible in a Year: 1 Kings 14–15; Luke 22:21–46

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Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. Genesis 28:16

Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden knew what it felt like to be on the far side of the moon. For three days back in 1971, he flew alone in his command module, Endeavor, while two crewmates worked thousands of miles below on the surface of the moon. His only companions were the stars overhead that he remembers as being so thick they seemed to wrap him in a sheet of light.

As the sun went down on the Old Testament character Jacob’s first night away from home, he too was profoundly alone, but for a different reason. He was on the run from his older brother—who wanted to kill him for stealing the family blessing normally given to the firstborn son. Yet on falling asleep, Jacob had a dream of a staircase joining heaven and earth. As he watched angels ascending and descending, he heard the voice of God promising to be with him and to bless the whole earth through his children. When Jacob woke he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it” (Gen. 28:16).

Jacob had isolated himself because of his deceit. Yet as real as his failures, and as dark as the night, he was in the presence of the One whose plans are always better and more far-reaching than our own. Heaven is closer than we think, and the “God of Jacob” is with us.

Father, thank You for using the story of Jacob to show us that the glory of Your unseen presence and goodness is far greater than we could imagine.

God is nearer than we think.

By Mart DeHaan

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Cô Đơn Giữa Vũ Trụ

Đọc: Sáng thế ký 28:10–17

Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: 1 Các vua 14–15; Lu-ca 22:21–46

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Thật Đức Giê-hô-va đang ngự tại nơi nầy mà tôi không biết! Sáng thế ký 28:16

Phi hành gia Al Worden của tàu Apollo 15 hiểu rất rõ cảm giác cô đơn khi ông ở phía bên kia của mặt trăng. Vào năm 1971, trong suốt ba ngày liền ông bay một mình trong khoang chỉ huy tàu Endeavor trong lúc hai đồng nghiệp làm việc trên bề mặt của mặt trăng cách xa ông hàng nghìn dặm. Bạn đồng hành của ông là những chòm sao lấp lánh trong vũ trụ. Ông nhớ rằng những chòm sao này dày đặc đến nỗi chúng giống như một tấm chăn ánh sáng phủ khắp người ông.

Khi mặt trời dần lặn xuống, một nhân vật Cựu Ước là Gia-cốp cảm thấy rất đơn độc. Đây là đêm đầu tiên ông xa gia đình. Khác với phi hành gia Al Worden, Gia-cốp đang trên đường chạy trốn sự truy sát của anh mình vì đã cướp lời chúc phước của cha vốn dành cho con trưởng nam. Tuy nhiên, khi đang ngủ, Gia-cốp mơ thấy một chiếc thang nối liền trời và đất. Trong lúc nhìn những thiên sứ lên xuống trên thang, ông nghe tiếng Chúa phán hứa rằng Ngài sẽ ở cùng ông và ban phước cho cả thế giới này qua dòng dõi ông. Khi thức dậy, Gia-cốp thốt lên: “Thật Đức Giê-hô-va đang ngự tại nơi nầy mà tôi không biết!” (Sáng. 28:16).

Gia-cốp đã tự cô lập mình vì hành vi lừa dối của ông. Thế nhưng dầu ông thất bại, dầu màn đêm có tăm tối thì ông vẫn luôn ở trong sự hiện diện của Đấng luôn có những chương trình tốt hơn và toàn vẹn hơn kế hoạch của chúng ta. Thiên đàng gần hơn chúng ta tưởng và “Đức Chúa Trời của Gia-cốp” luôn ở cùng chúng ta.

Lạy Cha, con cảm ơn Ngài vì đã dùng câu chuyện của Gia-cốp để cho chúng con biết rằng sự hiện diện vinh hiển của Ngài và lòng nhân từ của Ngài vượt xa hơn những gì con có thể mường tượng được.

Đức Chúa Trời ở gần hơn chúng ta tưởng.

bởi Mart DeHaan

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Solo en el espacio

Leer: Génesis 28:10-17

La Biblia en un año: 1 Reyes 14–15; Lucas 22:21-46

… Ciertamente el Señor está en este lugar, y yo no lo sabía (v. 16).

Al Worden, astronauta del Apolo 15, sabía lo que era estar en la luna. Durante tres días, en 1971, voló solo en su módulo de comando, el Endeavor, mientras dos compañeros trabajaban a miles de kilómetros, en la superficie de la luna. Su única compañía eran las estrellas, que lo envolvían con su luz.

Cuando el sol se puso sobre Jacob, el personaje del Antiguo Testamento, la primera noche lejos de su casa, él también estaba profundamente solo, pero por otra razón. Estaba huyendo de su hermano mayor, que quería matarlo por haberle robado la bendición familiar del primogénito. Sin embargo, al dormirse, Jacob soñó con una escalera que unía el cielo y la Tierra. Mientras observaba a los ángeles que subían y bajaban, escuchó la voz de Dios que le prometía estar con él y bendecir a toda la Tierra a través de sus hijos. Cuando Jacob despertó, exclamó: «Ciertamente el Señor está en este lugar, y yo no lo sabía» (Génesis 28:16).

Jacob se había aislado debido a su engaño. Sin embargo, por más reales que fueran sus fracasos y la oscuridad de la noche, estaba en la presencia de Aquel cuyos planes siempre son mejores que los nuestros. El cielo está más cerca de lo que pensamos, y el «Dios de Jacob» está con nosotros.

Padre, la gloria de tu presencia y tu bondad supera ampliamente nuestra imaginación.

Dios está más cerca de lo que pensamos.

Por Mart De Haan

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Hinter dem Mond

Lesen: 1.Mose 28,10-17

Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Könige 14–15; Lukas 22,21-46

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Fürwahr, der Herr ist an dieser Stätte, und ich wusste es nicht! 1.Mose 28,16

Apollo 15-Astronaut Al Worden weiß, wie es ist, „hinter dem Mond“ zu sein. Drei Tage lang flog er 1971 allein in seiner Raumkapsel Endeavor durchs All, während seine beiden Kollegen mehrere tausend Kilometer unter ihm auf dem Mond unterwegs waren. Die Sterne waren seine einzigen Begleiter, und er erinnert sich, dass ihr Licht so intensiv war, dass es ihn förmlich umhüllte.

Als Jakob aus dem Alten Testament die erste Nacht fern von zu Hause verbrachte und die Sonne unterging, fühlte auch er sich allein, aber aus anderen Gründen. Er war auf der Flucht vor seinem älteren Bruder, der ihn töten wollte, weil Jakob ihm den Familiensegen gestohlen hatte, der normalerweise dem Erstgeborenen zukam. Doch im Schlaf hatte Jakob einen Traum von einer Leiter, die Himmel und Erde verband. Er sah Engel hinauf—und hinuntersteigen und hörte Gottes Stimme, die ihm versprach, mit ihm zu sein und durch seine Nachkommen die ganze Erde zu segnen. Als Jakob aufwachte, sagte er: „Fürwahr, der Herr ist an dieser Stätte, und ich wusste es nicht!“ (1.Mose 28,16).

Jakob hatte sich wegen seinem Betrug selbst isoliert. Doch trotz seines Versagens und trotz der Dunkelheit der Nacht war er in der Gegenwart des Einen, dessen Pläne immer besser und viel größer sind als unsere eigenen. Der Himmel ist näher als wir denken und der „Gott Jakobs“ ist mit uns.

Vater, hab Dank, dass du uns an der Geschichte von Jakob zeigst, dass deine unsichtbare Gegenwart und Güte viel größer und herrlicher sind, als wir uns vorstellen können.

Gott ist näher als wir denken.

Von Mart DeHaan

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Seul dans l’espace

Lisez : Genèse 28.10‑17

La Bible en un an : 1 ROIS 14 – 15 et LUC 22.21‑46

Certainement, l'Éternel est en ce lieu, et moi, je ne le savais pas ! V.16

L’astronaute d’Apollo 15 Al Worden savait ce que c’était que de se trouver du côté opposé de la Lune. Pendant trois jours, en 1971, il a navigué seul à bord de son module de commande, Endeavor, tandis que deux membres de l’équipage spatial travaillaient à des milliers de kilomètres plus bas, sur la Lune. Il avait alors pour tous compagnons les astres au‑dessus de lui qu’il se rappelle avoir été d’un tel éclat qu’ils semblaient l’envelopper de lumière.

Tandis que le Soleil se couchait sur sa première journée loin de chez lui, Jacob se sentait lui aussi très seul, mais pour une raison différente. Il fuyait son frère aîné, qui voulait le tuer pour lui avoir volé la bénédiction familiale, qui revenait de droit au premier‑né. Pourtant, dès qu’il s’est endormi, Jacob a rêvé qu’une échelle reliait la terre au ciel. En regardant des anges y monter et en descendre, il a entendu Dieu lui promettre d’être avec lui et de bénir toute la terre par sa descendance. À son réveil, Jacob a déclaré : « Certainement, l’Éternel est en ce lieu, et moi, je ne le savais pas ! » (GE 28.16.)

Sa tromperie avait poussé Jacob à s’isoler. Reste qu’aussi réels étaient ses échecs et aussi sombre était la nuit, il se trouvait en présence de celui dont les projets sont toujours meilleurs et d’une plus grande portée que les nôtres. Le ciel est plus près que nous le croyons, et le « Dieu de Jacob » est avec nous.

Dieu est plus près qu’on le croit.

par Mart DeHaan

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Один у космосі

Читати: Буття 28:10-17 

Біблія за рік: 1 Царів 14–15 ; Луки 22:21-46

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Дійсно, Господь пробуває на цьому місці, а того я й не знав! — Буття 28:16

Альфред Уорден – астронавт космічного корабля “Аполлон-15” – мав досвід перебування на зворотному боці Місяця. У 1971 році він протягом трьох днів самотньо керував командним модулем “Індевар”, в той час як два інших члени команди працювали в тисячах кілометрів від нього на поверхні Місяця. Єдиними його компаньйонами були зірки над головою – такі великі, що небо наче огортало його зоряною ковдрою.

Коли Яків вперше ночував далеко від дому, і сонце вже сідало за обрій, він теж почувався дуже самотнім – але за інших причин, ніж Альфред Уорден. Він тікав від свого брата, який мав намір вбити його за викрадене батьківське благословення. Коли ж Яків заснув, то бачив чудовий сон: сходи, що простягнулись від землі до неба. І бачив він уві сні ангелів, що сходили й виходили цими сходами, та чув голос Бога, Хто обіцяв бути з ним і через його потомство благословити всю землю. Пробудившись, Яків сказав: “Дійсно, Господь пробуває на цьому місці, а того я й не знав!” (Бут. 28:16).

Яків опинився в ізоляції через свій обман. Проте він був у присутності Бога (що було такою ж реальністю, як і його проблеми та нічна темрява), Чиї плани набагато кращі й масштабніші за наші. Небеса насправді ближче до нас, ніж ми думаємо. І “Бог Якова” завжди з нами.

Отче, дякуємо Тобі, що через історію про Якова Ти нагадуєш нам про Свою незриму славу й ласку, що переважає нашу уяву.

Бог завжди набагато ближче, ніж ми думаємо.

Автор Мартін де Гаан

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Космическое одиночество

Читать сейчас: Бытие 28:10-17

Библия за год: 3 Царств 14-15; Луки 22:21-46

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«Истинно Господь присутствует на месте этом, а я не знал!» — Бытие 28:16

Астронавт экипажа «Аполлон-15» Эл Уорден узнал, что такое космическое одиночество. В 1971 г. он три дня находился в командном модуле на лунной орбите, в то время как его два спутника работали на поверхности Луны в тысячах километров от него. Компанией астронавта были лишь звезды, такие густые, что он чувствовал себя завернутым в покрывало из света.

Когда зашло солнце, молодой беглец Иаков, должно быть, тоже почувствовал себя бесконечно одиноким. Он спасался бегством от старшего брата, который хотел убить его за кражу семейного благословения, обычно получаемого первенцем. Однако, уснув, Иаков увидел лестницу, соединяющую небо и землю. По ней восходили и спускались ангелы, а Сам Бог пообещал, что будет с ним и благословит всю землю через его потомков. Проснувшись, Иаков сказал: «Истинно Господь присутствует на месте этом, а я не знал!» (Быт. 28:16).

Иаков был сам виноват в своих бедах. Но, как бы очевидны ни были его грехи и как бы темна ни была окружающая ночь, он находился в присутствии Того, Чьи замыслы всегда лучше наших собственных. Небеса ближе, чем мы думаем, и «Бог Иакова» с нами.

Отче, благодарим Тебя за повествование об Иакове, в котором Ты показываешь, что слава Твоего незримого присутствия и благости неизмеримо больше, чем мы можем представить.

Бог ближе, чем мы думаем.

автор: Мартин де Гаан

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for TUESDAY, May 2, 2017 - Feast day of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria

Athanasius at the Council of Nicea

Opening Sentence

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Morning Prayer

O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Daniel 4:28-37

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king said, "Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?" While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you! You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will." Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails became like birds' claws. When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored the one who lives forever. For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, "What are you doing?" At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my lords sought me out, I was re-established over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice; and he is able to bring low those who walk in pride.

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Luke 4:31-37

He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, "What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!" And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 26 Judica me, Domine
1   Give judgment for me, O LORD, for I have lived with integrity; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2   Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and my mind.
3   For your love is before my eyes; I have walked faithfully with you.
4   I have not sat with the worthless, nor do I consort with the deceitful.
5   I have hated the company of evildoers; I will not sit down with the wicked.
6   I will wash my hands in innocence, O LORD, that I may go in procession round your altar,
7   Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving and recounting all your wonderful deeds.
8   LORD, I love the house in which you dwell and the place where your glory abides.
9   Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with those who thirst for blood,
10   Whose hands are full of evil plots, and their right hand full of bribes.
11   As for me, I will live with integrity; redeem me, O LORD, and have pity on me.
12   My foot stands on level ground; in the full assembly I will bless the LORD.

Psalm 28 Ad te, Domine
1   O LORD, I call to you; my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; lest, if you do not hear me, I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2   Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3   Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers, who speak peaceably with their neighbors, while strife is in their hearts.
4   Repay them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their actions.
5   According to the work of their hands repay them, and give them their just deserts.
6   They have no understanding of the LORD'S doings, nor of the works of his hands; therefore he will break them down and not build them up.
7   Blessed is the LORD! for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8   The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped;
9   Therefore my heart dances for joy, and in my song will I praise him.
10   The LORD is the strength of his people, a safe refuge for his anointed.
11   Save your people and bless your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 36 Dixit injustus
1   There is a voice of rebellion deep in the heart of the wicked; there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2   He flatters himself in his own eyes that his hateful sin will not be found out.
3   The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has left off acting wisely and doing good.
4   He thinks up wickedness upon his bed and has set himself in no good way; he does not abhor that which is evil.
5   Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, and your faithfulness to the clouds.
6   Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, your justice like the great deep; you save both man and beast, O LORD.
7   How priceless is your love, O God! your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
8   They feast upon the abundance of your house; you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9   For with you is the well of life, and in your light we see light.
10   Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, and your favor to those who are true of heart.
11   Let not the foot of the proud come near me, nor the hand of the wicked push me aside.
12   See how they are fallen, those who work wickedness! they are cast down and shall not be able to rise.

Psalm 39 Dixi, Custodiam
1   I said, "I will keep watch upon my ways, so that I do not offend with my tongue.
2   I will put a muzzle on my mouth while the wicked are in my presence."
3   So I held my tongue and said nothing; I refrained from rash words; but my pain became unbearable.
4   My heart was hot within me; while I pondered, the fire burst into flame; I spoke out with my tongue:
5   LORD, let me know my end and the number of my days, so that I may know how short my life is.
6   You have given me a mere handful of days, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight; truly, even those who stand erect are but a puff of wind.
7   We walk about like a shadow, and in vain we are in turmoil; we heap up riches and cannot tell who will gather them.
8   And now, what is my hope? O Lord, my hope is in you.
9   Deliver me from all my transgressions and do not make me the taunt of the fool.
10   I fell silent and did not open my mouth, for surely it was you that did it.
11   Take your affliction from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand.
12   With rebukes for sin you punish us; like a moth you eat away all that is dear to us; truly, everyone is but a puff of wind.
13   Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears.
14   For I am but a sojourner with you, a wayfarer, as all my forebears were.
15   Turn your gaze from me, that I may be glad again, before I go my way and am no more.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Prayer of the Day

Uphold your Church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

A Prayer for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Prayer for Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen

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.

Prayer of the Day for TUESDAY, May 2, 2017 - Feast day of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria

Uphold your Church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The Feast day of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria

Ikone Athanasius von Alexandria

Today the church remembers Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, 373.

Athanasius contra mundum" Athanasius against the world. With this phrase Christians have for centuries summed up the great life and work of this wise bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. Long ago he became a symbol of orthodoxy of right and clear thinking in the face of overwhelming opposition. His thinking was ahead of his time. As Christians came to know and understand his teaching, they came to feel that he offered the most accurate intellectual expression of their faith.

The doctrine he espoused eventually became the universal teaching of the church and embodied in the creeds, especially the one that bears his name, the Athanasian Creed. This did not come easily. For a time it seemed that, indeed, the whole world was against Athanasius. His chief opponents, the Arians, gained control of the church. He was deposed and exiled and vilified. He died without seeing the victory of his position proclaimed at the General Council at Constantinople in 381.

Basically, he opposed the Arian teaching that Jesus Christ was less than God but more than man. He held that such a being would be of no benefit to either God or man and could not reconcile God and man. Athanasius taught that Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man. In his renowned treatise, De Incarnatione, he wrote that God the Son "became as we are in order that we might become as he is."

Fill us with your truth, O God, that we may uphold the faith of your church. Amen

Read the Wikipedia article here.

Uphold your Church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, May 2, 2017 - 17th Day of Easter

1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

Read all of 1 John 5

Listen to 1 John 5

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

How to Comfort the Suffering

Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

—Matthew 26:38 (NKJV)

I wish you could have met me when I was twenty-one, because I knew everything then. I would have had an answer for any question you may have asked. But now that a few years have passed, I don't know as much as I once did.

The fact is that I didn't know as much as I thought I knew back then. And after more than forty years of ministry, I have found that one of the best things you can do for a hurting person is to just be there. Sometimes when we don't know what to say, we simply don't show up. That is wrong. Just being there means a lot to someone who is suffering.

When the time of Jesus' crucifixion drew near, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He knew exactly what was waiting for Him. He knew they would crucify Him. Worst of all, being God, He knew He would have to bear all the sins of the world. So Jesus went to Gethsemane and took Peter, James, and John along. Then He told them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me" (Matthew 26:38). Yes, Jesus is God. But He actually asked for His three friends to stay with Him and watch with Him during this time.

If you're speaking to a grieving person, it's often good to simply say something like "I love you" or "I am here" or "I am praying for you." If they don't want to talk, don't talk. Don't try to explain things, because explanations never heal a broken heart. Just sit there with them.

We have to avoid the easy answers and clichés when we're trying to comfort the suffering, because if we aren't careful, we may add to their pain.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


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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 - No estamos solos

El Señor es mi fuerza y mi escudo; mi corazón en él confía; de él recibo ayuda.
Salmo 28:7 (NVI)

Si en catorce versículos Dios habla de los cuidados que tiene por las viudas, lo hace también por los huérfanos, así como por los viudos, los solteros, los ancianos, los divorciados y todos los que tengan esa carencia de pareja. También lo encontramos establecido en la primera carta del apóstol Pablo a Timoteo, donde le da instrucciones de cómo debe tratar la iglesia cristiana a personas con estas características y qué tipo de ayuda deben recibir en cuanto a lo espiritual y lo comunitario.

Las preguntas que nos debemos hacer ahora son las siguientes: ¿Qué estamos haciendo por las personas abandonadas, mayores y viudas? ¿Las tenemos en cuenta en la iglesia y en nuestra sociedad?

Tú y yo tenemos el llamado a distinguirnos, más aun cuando decimos ser cristianos. Por lo tanto, a esas personas las debemos llamar, visitar, orar por ellas y atender en sus necesidades.

No obstante, si el caso tuyo es que eres una de estas personas que mencionamos hoy y te encuentras sola sin sentir apoyo alguno de quienes te rodean, Dios quiere decirte que no estás sola. Él es tu Padre, tu Amigo y tu Compañero en cualquier parte que estés.

En su Palabra, Dios dice que tú debes recibir mayor cuidado y protección que otras personas.

Confía en Dios con todo tu corazón y descansa en los brazos de tu Padre.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SPIRITUAL WARFARE TACTICS

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV)

A Filipino pastor, who is a former Muslim, lives on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. He was a notorious gang leader and spent years in prison for robbery and murder. But there in prison he met Jesus Christ.

After his release, he was so effective in leading Muslims to Jesus back home in Mindanao that Muslim extremists in his area kidnapped his fourteen-year-old daughter. They would only return her, he was told, if he stopped preaching about Jesus and returned to Islam.

He and his wife prayed intensely about this and felt they could not give in to this blackmail. He continued to preach faithfully for three years with no definite news about his little girl.

He concludes, “Despite the terrible things they have done to my daughter, I fear no one but God alone! Pray for my daughter and that I will continue to preach Christ.”

Three years later, he received a letter from his daughter. She shared with her parents that she had been sold into prostitution in neighbouring East Malaysia. But God had helped her escape. She was then taken in by a sympathetic Malaysian family and hidden for her safety. And then she fell in love with a young man and married him. She and her parents planned to visit together in a safe place.

Spiritual warfare is the cosmic conflict that rages between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Remember we are not talking about two equal kingdoms battling-it-out for victory. Satan is only a created being. Christ has all authority and power. Satan's power was broken at the cross. The Apostle Paul records for us in Colossians 2:15, And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. So the only power Satan has today is the power to deceive the people of the world - to blind them from seeing the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Satan’s primary strategy is to divide and conquer. His key tactics include accusation, deception, and the interruption of our relationships with the Father and with each other. He is actively leading mankind to defile the land, which is God’s, in order to keep humanity in darkness. This is one reason unity in the Body of Christ is so critical for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Why would someone lost in the chaos of the world want to be part of a fellowship of people that is disorderly, dysfunctional, and even destructive? The Church of Jesus Christ must be ruled by love. We must be a refuge, a place of safety!

RESPONSE: I will be alert to Satan’s spiritual warfare tactics today without getting distracted from the Lord’s primary ministry directions.

PRAYER: Pray for witnessing brothers and sisters on the frontlines who experience Satan’s greatest fury.

Girlfriends in God - The Gift of Friendship

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Friendship is the springboard to every other love and the foundation for every healthy relationship. It is a proven fact that lonely people live shorter lives than those who have healthy friendships. Even Jesus needed friends when He walked this earth as a man. In fact, He placed great value on relationships. The Bible tells us Jesus spent much of His time deepening the relationships with a few – not the crowd.

God created us to need each other. That truth is never more evident than when we are in pain or struggling with some crisis in life. One of the main factors leading to a two-year battle with clinical depression in my life was the absence of replenishing friendships.

As I think back to that time, I am sure many women would have counted themselves as my friend when they were really just acquaintances because that was all I would allow them to be. My pride kept me from admitting I wasn’t Superwoman and that I did need the help of others. My insecurity held me back from reaching out to new friends and cultivating old ones. To admit my need of a friend seemed like a weakness instead of the precious gift God created it to be.

I refused to take the risk of being hurt, rejected or misunderstood. I did not have time to invest in building intimate friendships and was too busy doing the work of God to be a friend. As a result, when the darkness hit, I felt isolated and alone.

Friendship took on an entirely different meaning in my life from that point on. In fact, friends are a great source of strength and encouragement in my life today. Friends fast and pray for me, holding me accountable and confronting me when they see my priorities lining up in the wrong way. Friends make me stop and take time for fun. Friends have taught me to be transparent.

Have I been hurt along the way? Yes.

Have I been misunderstood? Yes.

Have the friendships been worth the price? Absolutely!

The words of Jesus found in John 13:34-35, portray the perfect backdrop for God’s love. "And so I am giving a new commandment to you now - love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." Does the world know we are His disciples by the way we love and relate to each other?

Chad was a shy, quiet little boy. One day he came home and told his mother he'd like to make a valentine for everyone in his class. Her heart sank. "I wish he wouldn't do that!" she thought. She had watched the children when they walked home from school. Her Chad was always behind them. They laughed and hung on to each other and talked to each other, but Chad was never included. Still, she decided to go along with her son’s plan. She purchased the paper, glue and crayons and for three whole weeks, night after night, Chad painstakingly made thirty-five valentines.

Valentine's Day dawned, and Chad was frantic with excitement! He carefully placed the valentines in a bag, and bolted out the door. His mom decided to bake his favorite cookies because she knew he would be disappointed when he came home from school. It hurt her to think he wouldn't get many valentines - maybe none at all. That afternoon she had the cookies and milk on the table.

Finally, when she heard their voices, she looked out the window to see the children laughing and having the best time. As usual, there was Chad in the rear but walking a little faster than usual. She fully expected him to burst into tears as soon as he got inside. His arms were empty. When the door opened, she choked back tears as she said, "Honey, I have some warm cookies and milk for you” but he hardly heard her words. He just marched right on by, his face glowing, and all he could say was, "Not one! Not a single one." The mother’s heart sank. Then he added, "I didn't forget one, not a single one!"

When God is in control of our friendships, and when we trust Him with those friendships, we will be better friends and we will have more true friends.

Let’s Pray

Father, You are the most faithful and most precious friend I will ever have. Teach me how to develop friendships that reflect your unconditional love and continual forgiveness. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

• What is the greatest hindrance to friendship in your life?

• What has been the greatest reward of friendship in your life?

• Are you willing to take the risk of cultivating intimate friendships and of being a true friend? Explain.
• Make a list of your closest friends and then picture life without them. What would that picture look like?
• Make a specific plan this week to invest time in the life of a friend.

More from the Girlfriends

Looking for a Bible Study that is both practical and powerful? Check out Mary’s E-Book Bible Studies. Each one includes a study guide that you can download for your personal use or for a small group study. I Need a Friend is available in Bible Study format. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

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