LHM Daily Devotion - June 22, 2017 "True Worth"

On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there is only one actor whose name and...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"True Worth"

June 22, 2017

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:14 (ESV)

On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, there is only one actor whose name and character are on the star. That person is Clayton Moore, aka The Lone Ranger. There are other actors, however, who have also been intimately connected with the characters they have played. One of them was Adam West, the actor who had the title role in the 1960's series Batman.

West, who died a few weeks ago at the age of 88, complained that when the series was cancelled he found it difficult to get serious and steady work. That was because every time an audience looked at him, all they could see was a man in a cowl, a mask, and tights.

But this devotion is not about Adam West; it's about the car he drove in the series: the Batmobile. The Batmobile was a modified 1955 Lincoln Futura concept car. And, unlike its driver, it never had any difficulty finding work. Sold to a car customizer in 1965, it was restored and kept in a private collection from where it did personal appearances.

In January of 2013, the Batmobile went on the auction block. It was bought by a businessman from Phoenix, Arizona, by the name of Rick Champagne. Mr. Champagne laid out a total of $4.2 million for the one-of-a-kind vehicle. Did you get that number? That's $4.2 million dollars for a remade, reconstituted vehicle, which was almost 60 years old. What could make it worth that much?

The answer to that question is a simple one. It is worth that much because that is the price Mr. Champagne was willing to pay. This takes me to the next question: what are you worth? I mean, take a look at you.

• You had a soul which was blackened by sins of thought, word, and action.
• Your relationship with your Creator was a pitiful thing.
• Your life in this world was limited to a few decades of pain, worry, sorrow, and sadness.
• Your life in the next world was going to be an eternity of misery.

Put you on the auction block and you wouldn't expect anybody to offer a plugged nickel for you.

Even so, the Heavenly Father, in His grace and compassion remembered what He had originally wanted for you -- what He wanted you to be again. To make that happen He offered the only price that was guaranteed to end the bidding -- the only price which could not be beaten. He offered the life of His one-and-only Son.

It was a price that was paid. Jesus came into this world and lived a life of sacrifice to win our rescue. Every moment of every day was part of the payment, which had been offered. It was a payment that was finished when He carried our sins to Calvary's cross and gave up the ghost.

With His glorious third-day resurrection from the dead, all could see that the price had been accepted and all who were brought to faith in Him would have a new Owner, a new home, a new life without hurt or pain. It is a role worth having.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I a poor, miserable sinner give thanks that You, the Creator of all that is, have loved me, rescued and restored me. By Your grace may others believe this wonderful truth. In Jesus' Name. Amen

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CPTLN Devocional de 22 de Junio de 2017

Alimento Diario

Un lugar no muy bueno para ir a conocer

22 de Junio 2017

No lo harán, padre Abrahán. Pero si alguien de entre los muertos va a ellos, sí se arrepentirán.

~ Lucas 16:30 (RVC)

Forbes Traveler es una revista muy leída por aquellos a quienes les gusta mucho salir de viaje y ver el maravilloso mundo que Dios creó. Esa revista publicó una lista de las peores trampas para turistas que hay en el mundo.

Ustedes saben de qué hablo: esos lugares que se anuncian con un "no pierda la oportunidad de visitar...", donde uno paga cinco veces más por un recuerdito que ni siquiera está hecho en el país, lugares donde se ven multitudes de turistas pero no a los habitantes nativos, y donde los sitios dignos de ver están cubiertos de murales con comerciales.

Cuando leía el artículo, inmediatamente pensé: "Ajá, Wall Drug en South Dakota." Y por favor no se enojen conmigo. Me encanta la ciudad de Wall Drug y siempre la visito cuando viajo por ese precioso estado, y más que nada me gusta Wall Drug porque sus habitantes admiten abiertamente que el lugar es una trampa para turistas.

Pero Wall Drug no estaba en la lista que publicó Forbes. En su lugar había lugares como el Fisherman's Wharf en San Francisco y las Grandes Pirámides de Egipto. También estaban en la lista el Times Square de Nueva York, el Castillo de Blarney, la torre Eiffel, la torre inclinada de Pisa, y la Plaza de San Marcos en Venecia. Quedé sorprendido, pues con la excepción de uno o dos, he visitado todos esos lugares.

A pesar de que cada persona tiene una lista diferente de lugares que quiere evitar, hay un lugar en particular que debería estar en la lista de todo el mundo, y no, no es el centro comercial local en el día después de Acción de Gracias. Estoy hablando del infierno. Así es, el infierno es el lugar que todos deberíamos evitar. Si bien es cierto que el camino que lleva al infierno es amplio, bien pavimentado y lleno de atracciones tentadoras a la vista y atrayentes al alma, con todo esto, todo aquel que ha ido a ese lugar ha sufrido una gran decepción, realmente una grandísima decepción.

Este es ciertamente el caso del hombre rico en la parábola de Jesús que estaba tan triste por haberse ido al infierno, que pedía que una persona muerta volviera a los vivos para advertir a sus hermanos.

Podríamos pensar que una persona resucitada desviaría a la gente del infierno hacia el cielo, pero este no es siempre el caso. Jesús, el Hijo perfecto de Dios, fue crucificado y ha vuelto para advertirnos, pero a pesar de que Jesús ha conquistado y vencido la muerte, la gente continúa dudando y no cree. Prefieren caer en la trampa para turistas que les ha tendido el diablo.

Esta es la razón por la cual los cristianos debemos continuar compartiendo a Jesús el Salvador, quien es el único guía y dador de vida y del cielo. Necesitamos ayudar a la gente para que eviten caer en esa trampa para turistas de donde nadie puede escapar.

ORACION: Señor Jesús, ayúdame a hacer todo lo que pueda para ayudar a otros a no caer en la trampa del diablo que es el infierno. Hazme testigo de tu persona. En tu nombre. 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 - Silence

Read: Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:20

Bible in a Year: Esther 6–8; Acts 6

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How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Habakkuk 1:2

Skittish chickens scattered as relief trucks clattered past the weathered huts of the village. Barefoot children stared. Traffic on this rain-ravaged “road” was rare.

Suddenly, a walled mansion loomed into view of the convoy. It was the mayor’s house—although he didn’t live in it. His people lacked basic necessities, while he lounged in luxury in a distant city.

Such unfairness angers us. It angered God’s prophet too. When Habakkuk saw rampant oppression he asked, “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” (Hab. 1:2). But God had noticed, and He said, “Woe to him who piles up stolen goods . . . who builds his house by unjust gain!” (2:6, 9). Judgment was coming!

We welcome God’s judgment of others, but there’s a pivot point in Habakkuk that gives us pause: “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him” (2:20). All the earth. The oppressed along with oppressors. Sometimes the appropriate response to God’s seeming silence is . . . silence!

Why silence? Because we easily overlook our own spiritual poverty. Silence allows us to recognize our sinfulness in the presence of a holy God.

Habakkuk learned to trust God, and we can too. We don’t know all His ways, but we do know that He is good. Nothing is beyond His control and timing.

Lord, when trouble comes we can pray like Habakkuk, “We have heard of your fame; we stand in awe of your deeds. Repeat them in our day; in our time make them known” (Hab. 3:2).

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

Proverbs 29:7

By Tim Gustafson

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Ministérios Pão Diário - Seja você mesmo

Leia: João 9:1-25

A Bíblia em um ano: Ester 6–8, Atos 6

…éreis estranhos e inimigos no entendimento […], agora, porém, vos reconciliou… Colossenses 1:21,22

Para aqueles dentre nós que não praticamos o dom espiritual do evangelismo, a palavra testemunho pode suscitar lembranças desagradáveis ou ansiedades. Na verdade, algumas vezes me senti um fracasso total quando tentei seguir os métodos conhecidos para facilitar o testemunho.

Jim Henderson, autor de um livro sobre como compartilhar a sua fé, conseguiu transformar o assunto em algo menos ameaçador para mim, sugerindo uma forma alternativa quanto à forma de pensar a respeito disso. Em vez de usar as palavras ou a história de outras pessoas, ele apenas sugere: “seja você mesmo”.

Os testemunhos de segunda mão não são aceitos nas cortes; somente os de primeira mão são dignos de confiança. O mesmo se aplica na área espiritual. A história autêntica da obra que Cristo fez em nossas vidas é o melhor testemunho que temos. Não precisamos torná-lo uma peça erudita nem dramatizá-lo. Quando falarmos a verdade sobre o poder de Cristo para nos salvar e nos livrar do pecado, nosso testemunho terá credibilidade.

Se a ideia de assistir a algumas aulas sobre “como testemunhar” ou decorar planos prontos o impede de testemunhar, tente uma forma diferente, apenas, seja você mesmo! Assim como o homem cego, que Jesus curou, diga simplesmente: “…uma coisa sei: eu era cego e agora vejo” (João 9:25).

Se você quiser testemunhar de Cristo, conte-lhes o que Ele fez por você.

por Julie Ackerman Link

© 2017 Ministérios Pão Diário

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Im Lặng

Đọc: Ha-ba-cúc 1:1-4; 2:20

Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Ê-xơ-tê 6-8; Công vụ 6

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Lạy Đức Giê-hô-va! Con kêu cứu mà Ngài không lắng nghe... cho đến chừng nào? Ha-ba-cúc 1:2

Đàn gà sợ hãi chạy tan tác khi những chiếc xe tải cứu trợ ồn ào băng qua các túp lều tả tơi của ngôi làng. Bọn trẻ chân đất nhìn chăm chú. Hiếm khi có xe cộ chạy trên “con đường” bị mưa bão tàn phá này.

Đột nhiên, một biệt thự có tường bao quanh lờ mờ hiện ra trong tầm mắt của đoàn xe. Đó là nhà của thị trưởng—dù ông không sống ở đó. Dân chúng của ông thiếu nhu yếu phẩm, trong khi ông sống xa hoa tại một thành phố xa xôi.

Sự bất công đó khiến chúng ta tức giận. Điều đó cũng khiến tiên tri của Chúa tức giận. Khi Ha-ba-cúc thấy áp bức tràn lan, ông hỏi: “Lạy Đức Giê-hô-va! Con kêu cứu mà Ngài không lắng nghe… cho đến chừng nào?” (Hab. 1:2). Nhưng Chúa đã thấy và Ngài phán: “Khốn cho kẻ gom góp của cải chẳng thuộc về mình… kẻ thu lợi bất nghĩa cho nhà mình!” (2:6, 9). Sự phán xét đang đến!

Chúng ta mong đợi sự xét đoán của Chúa trên người khác, nhưng có một điểm quan trọng trong Ha-ba-cúc khiến chúng ta ngừng lại: “Đức Giê-hô-va ngự trong đền thánh Ngài; trước mặt Ngài, mọi người trên đất hãy lặng thinh!” (2:20). Mọi người trên đất. Kẻ bị áp bức và kẻ áp bức. Đôi khi, thái độ xứng hợp đối với việc dường như Chúa im lặng là… im lặng!

Sao lại là im lặng? Vì chúng ta dễ bỏ qua tình trạng nghèo đói thuộc linh của mình. Im lặng cho phép chúng ta nhận ra tội lỗi mình trong sự hiện diện của một Đức Chúa Trời thánh khiết.

Ha-ba-cúc đã học tin cậy Chúa và chúng ta cũng có thể tin cậy Ngài. Chúng ta không biết hết đường lối Ngài, nhưng chúng ta biết Ngài là tốt lành. Không gì ngoài tầm kiểm soát và thời điểm của Ngài.

Lạy Chúa, khi hoạn nạn xảy đến, nguyện chúng con có thể cầu nguyện như Ha-ba-cúc: “Con đã nghe danh tiếng Ngài nên con kính sợ Ngài. Lạy Đức Giê-hô-va! Giữa năm tháng vần xoay, xin Chúa phục hưng công việc Ngài, và tỏ cho mọi người biết” (Ha. 3:2). A-men.

Người công chính biết quyền lợi của người nghèo khổ, còn kẻ ác không hiểu điều tri thức ấy. Châm ngôn 29:7

bởi Tim Gustafson

© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Nuestro Pan Diario - Silencio

Leer: Habacuc 1:1-4; 2:20

La Biblia en un año: Ester 6–8; Hechos 6

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¿Hasta cuándo, oh Señor, clamaré, y no oirás; y daré voces a ti a causa de la violencia, y no salvarás? (v. 2).

Hubo un gran revuelo en la aldea al ver unos camiones de socorro que pasaban por el «camino» destrozado por la lluvia. De repente, el convoy divisó la casa del alcalde… aunque este vivía lujosamente en otra parte, mientras que a su pueblo le faltaban las cosas básicas para vivir.

Esta clase de injusticia irritaba al profeta de Dios. Habacuc preguntó: «¿Hasta cuándo, oh Señor, clamaré, y no oirás?» (Habacuc 1:2). Sin embargo, Dios sí había escuchado, y respondió: «¡Ay del que aumenta lo que no es suyo…! […] ¡Ay del que obtiene ganancias ilícitas…!» (2:6, 9 LBLA). ¡El juicio se acercaba!

Aceptamos gustosos el juicio de Dios para los demás, pero, en Habacuc, hay un punto que nos hace detenernos: «el Señor está en su santo templo; calle delante de él toda la tierra» (2:20). Toda la tierra. Los oprimidos y los opresores. A veces, la respuesta adecuada al aparente silencio de Dios es… ¡silencio!

¿Por qué silencio? Porque, con facilidad, olvidamos nuestra propia pobreza espiritual. El silencio nos permite reconocer nuestra maldad en presencia de un Dios santo.

Podemos aprender a confiar en Dios, como Habacuc. No conocemos todos sus caminos, pero sí sabemos que Él es bueno. Nada escapa a su control y sus tiempos.

Señor, «aviva tu obra en medio de los tiempos, en medio de los tiempos hazla conocer» Habacuc 3:2

Conoce el justo la causa de los pobres… Proverbios 29:7

Por Tim Gustafson

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Schweigen

Lesen: Habakuk 1,1-4; 2,20

Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Ester 6–8; Apostelgeschichte 6

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Herr, wie lange soll ich schreien und du willst nicht hören? Habakuk 1,2

Langsam fuhr der Lastwagen mit Hilfsgütern an den verwitterten Hütten vorbei. Plötzlich kam ein gemauertes Haus in Sicht. Es gehörte dem Bürgermeister. Doch er wohnte nicht hier, sondern in seiner Luxuswohnung in der Stadt, während die Bevölkerung kaum das Lebensnotwendigste hatte.

Solche Ungerechtigkeit macht uns wütend. Sie machte auch Gottes Propheten zornig. Als Habakuk die Unterdrückung seines Volkes sah, fragte er: „Herr, wie lange soll ich schreien und du willst nicht hören?“ (Hab. 1,2). Aber Gott wusste Bescheid und antwortete: „Weh dem, der sein Gut mehrt mit fremdem Gut . . . der unrechten Gewinn macht zum Unglück seines Hauses“ (2,6.9).

Wir freuen uns, wenn Gottes Gericht andere trifft, aber im Buch Habakuk steht ein Satz, der uns zum Nachdenken bringen sollte: „Der Herr ist in seinem heiligen Tempel. Es sei vor ihm stille alle Welt!“ (2,20). Alle Welt. Die Unterdrückten wie die Unterdrücker. Die passende Antwort auf Gottes scheinbares Schweigen ist manchmal . . . Schweigen!

Wieso? Weil wir über unsere eigene geistliche Armut gern hinwegsehen. Das Schweigen hilft uns, im Angesicht eines heiligen Gottes zu erkennen, wo wir selbst schuldig sind.

Habakuk lernte, Gott zu vertrauen, und das können auch wir. Wir wissen nicht, was er vorhat, aber wir wissen, dass er gut ist. Nichts entgleitet seiner Kontrolle.

Herr, wenn Probleme kommen, können wir beten wie Habakuk: „Ich habe die Kunde von dir gehört, ich habe dein Werk gesehen. Mache es lebendig in naher Zeit, und lass es kundwerden in naher Zeit“ (Hab. 3,2).

Der Gerechte weiß um die Sache der Armen; der Gottlose aber weiß gar nichts.

Von Tim Gustafson

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Notre Pain Quotidien - Silence

Lisez : Habakuk 1.1‑4 ; 2.20

La Bible en un an : ESTHER 6 – 8 et ACTES 6

Jusqu'à quand ô Éternel ? J'ai crié, et tu n'écoutes pas ! Habakuk 1.2

Le grondement des camions de secours a vite fait fuir les poulets en passant devant les masures du village sous le regard fixe d’enfants aux pieds nus. Sur cette « route » ravagée par les pluies, la circulation était rare. Soudain, une maison cossue entourée d’une haute clôture est apparue au convoi. C’était la maison du maire, même s’il ne l’habitait pas. Son peuple n’avait pas d’articles de première nécessité en quantité suffisante, alors que lui menait grand train dans une ville située à une certaine distance de là.

Une telle injustice nous met en colère, comme cela a été le cas du prophète Habakuk. À la vue d’une oppression endémique, il a demandé : « Jusqu’à quand, ô Éternel ? J’ai crié, et tu n’écoutes pas ! » (HA 1.2.) Reste que l’ayant remarquée, Dieu lui a répondu : « Malheur à celui qui accumule ce qui n’est pas à lui ! […] celui qui amasse pour sa maison des gains iniques » (2.6,9). Ce n’était qu’une question de temps avant que le jugement tombe !

Nous voyons d’un bon oeil le jugement divin contre autrui, mais le livre d’Habakuk donne matière à réflexion : « L’Éternel est dans son saint temple. Que toute la terre fasse silence devant lui ! » (2.20.) Toute la terre. Tant les opprimés que les oppresseurs. Parfois, la seule réponse qui vaille au silence apparent de Dieu, c’est… le silence !

Pourquoi le silence ? Parce que nous faisons facilement fi de notre propre pauvreté spirituelle. Or, le silence nous permet de reconnaître notre état de péché en présence d’un Dieu saint. Faisons‑lui confiance !

Le juste connaît la cause des pauvres, mais [pas] le méchant. PR 29.7

par Tim Gustafson

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

Хліб Наш Насущній - Тиша

Читати: Авакума 1:1-4; 2:20

Біблія за рік: Естер 6–8 ; Дії 6

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Аж доки я, Господи, кликати буду, а Ти не почуєш? — Авакума 1:2

Налякані курчата бігли хто куди, коли між хатинками вбогого селища з гуркотом проїжджали фури з гуманітарною допомогою. Босоногі діти здивовано дивились на них. Машини на цій розбитій дощами дорозі були рідкістю.

Раптово в очі конвою впав обнесений стіною розкішний особняк. То був будинок мера – хоча він і не жив у ньому. Людям його селища бракувало найнеобхідніших речей, в той час як сам він байдикував у розкоші в далекому місті. Така несправедливість розгнівила колись і пророка Авакума: “Аж доки я, Господи, кликати буду, а Ти не почуєш?” (Ав. 1:2). Але Бог відповів: “Горе тому, хто для себе розмножує те, що не його!.. Горе тому, хто неправедний зиск побирає для дому свого” (Ав. 2:6, 9). Суд гряде!

Ми позитивно ставимося до Божого суду над іншими, але книга пророка Авакума змушує нас зупинитись і замислитись: “А Господь у Своїм храмі святім, мовчи перед обличчям Його, уся земле!” (Ав. 2:20). Мають мовчати і кривдники, і скривджені. Інколи найбільш слушна наша реакція на Боже мовчання – тиша!

Чому тиша? Тому що дуже легко, дивлячись на кривду інших, забути про власну духовну убогість. Тиша дозволяє нам усвідомлювати свою гріховність у присутності святого Бога. Авакум навчився довіряти Богу. Ми також можемо навчитися цьому. Бог усе контролює і для всього у Нього є свій час.

Боже, коли приходить лиха година, допоможи згадати молитву Авакума: “Господи, звістку Твою я почув та й злякався!.. Господи… у гніві про милість згадай!” Ав. 3:2.

“Праведний знає про право вбогих, безбожний же не розуміє пізнання про це”. — Приповістей 29:7

Автор Тім Густавсон

© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній

Хлеб наш насущный - Молчание

Читать сейчас: Аввакум 1:1-4; 2:20

Библия за год: Есфирь 6-8; Деяния 6

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Доколе, Господи, я буду взывать – и Ты не слышишь? — Аввакум 1:2

Перепуганные куры бросились в разные стороны, когда фуры с гуманитарной помощью прогрохотали мимо ветхих хижин деревни. Босоногие детишки таращили на них глаза. Движение на этих размытых дождем дорогах было редким. Неожиданно в поле зрения водителей показался обнесенный высокой стеной особняк. Это был дом мэра, но он здесь не жил. Его людям не хватало предметов первой необходимости, а он упивался роскошью в большом городе.

Такая несправедливость вызывает возмущение. Этими же чувствами был охвачен и Божий пророк. Видя притеснение и насилие, Аввакум спрашивал: «Доколе, Господи, я буду взывать – и Ты не слышишь?» (Авв. 1:2). Но Бог все видел и сказал: «Горе тому, кто без меры обогащает себя не своим – надолго ли?.. Горе тому, кто жаждет неправедных приобретений для дома своего» (Авв. 2:6, 9). Суд был близок.

Мы приветствуем Божий суд над злодеями, но в Книге пророка Аввакума есть стих, который заставляет задуматься: «Господь – в святом храме Своем; да молчит вся земля пред лицом Его!» (Авв. 2:20). Вся земля! Угнетенные вместе с угнетателями. Порой самый лучший отклик на кажущееся Божье молчание – это… молчание!

Зачем нам молчать? Потому что мы легко упускаем из виду собственную духовную нищету. Молчание позволяет нам признать свою греховность в присутствии святого Бога. Аввакум научился доверять Богу. И мы можем это сделать. Нам не дано знать всех Его путей, зато мы знаем, что Он благ. Все в мире протекает под Его контролем и совершается в Его сроки.

Господи, когда придут беды, помоги нам вспомнить молитву Аввакума: «Услышал я весть Твою и убоялся. Господи! Соверши дело Твое среди лет, среди лет яви его» (Авв. 3:2).

«Праведник тщательно вникает в тяжбу бедных, а нечестивый не разбирает дела».

— Притчи 29:7

автор: Тим Густафсон

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

The Daily Readings for WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017

Opening Sentence

Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3

Morning Prayer

I  will kindle my fire this morning in the presence of the holy angels of heaven; Without malice, without jealousy, without envy, without fear; without terror of any one under the sun, but the Holy Son of God to shield me.

God, kindle thou in my heart within a flame of love to my neighbour, to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all; To the brave, to the coward, to the man in the street, O Son of the lovliest Mary, from the lowliest thing that lives to the Name that is highest of all. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen

Confession and Forgiveness

O Holy One, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and boundless in love. Yet there are times, O God, when we fail to recognize you in the dailyness of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to speak from our strength. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade our own wisdom.

Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom. Amen

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from 1 Samuel 2:12-26

Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD or for the duties of the priests to the people. When anyone offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw." And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take whatever you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now; if not, I will take it by force." Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for they treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt. Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD" and then they would return to their home. And the LORD took note of Hannah; she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD. Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad. If one person sins against another, someone can intercede for the sinner with the LORD; but if someone sins against the LORD, who can make intercession?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to kill them. Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people.

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; then the second and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her." Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 119:97-104 Mem Quomodo dilexi!
97   Oh, how I love your law! all the day long it is in my mind.
98   Your commandment has made me wiser than my enemies, and it is always with me.
99   I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my study.
100   I am wiser than the elders, because I observe your commandments.
101   I restrain my feet from every evil way, that I may keep your word.
102   I do not shrink from your judgments, because you yourself have taught me.
103   How sweet are your words to my taste! they are sweeter than honey to my mouth.
104   Through your commandments I gain understanding; therefore I hate every lying way.

Psalm 119:105-112 Nun Lucerna pedibus meis
105   Your word is a lantern to my feet and a light upon my path.
106   I have sworn and am determined to keep your righteous judgments.
107   I am deeply troubled; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.
108   Accept, O LORD, the willing tribute of my lips, and teach me your judgments.
109   My life is always in my hand, yet I do not forget your law.
110   The wicked have set a trap for me, but I have not strayed from your commandments.
111   Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; truly, they are the joy of my heart.
112   I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes for ever and to the end.

Psalm 119:113-120 Samekh Iniquos odio habui
113   I hate those who have a divided heart, but your law do I love.
114   You are my refuge and shield; my hope is in your word.
115   Away from me, you wicked! I will keep the commandments of my God.
116   Sustain me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be disappointed in my hope.
117   Hold me up, and I shall be safe, and my delight shall be ever in your statutes.
118   You spurn all who stray from your statutes; their deceitfulness is in vain.
119   In your sight all the wicked of the earth are but dross; therefore I love your decrees.
120   My flesh trembles with dread of you; I am afraid of your judgments.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 81 Exultate Deo
1   Sing with joy to God our strength and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.
2   Raise a song and sound the timbrel, the merry harp, and the lyre.
3   Blow the ram's-horn at the new moon, and at the full moon, the day of our feast.
4   For this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob.
5   He laid it as a solemn charge upon Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt.
6   I heard an unfamiliar voice saying, "I eased his shoulder from the burden; his hands were set free from bearing the load."
7   You called on me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered you from the secret place of thunder and tested you at the waters of Meribah.
8   Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9   There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not worship a foreign god.
10   I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and said, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it."
11   And yet my people did not hear my voice, and Israel would not obey me.
12   So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their hearts, to follow their own devices.
13   Oh, that my people would listen to me! that Israel would walk in my ways!
14   I should soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.
15   Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last for ever.
16   But Israel would I feed with the finest wheat and satisfy him with honey from the rock.

Psalm 82 Deus stetit
1   God takes his stand in the council of heaven; he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:
2   How long will you judge unjustly, and show favor to the wicked?
3   Save the weak and the orphan; defend the humble and needy;
4   Rescue the weak and the poor; deliver them from the power of the wicked.
5   They do not know, neither do they understand; they go about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6   Now I say to you, 'You are gods, and all of you children of the Most High;
7   Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.'"
8   Arise, O God, and rule the earth, for you shall take all nations for your own.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Prayer of the Day

Oh gracious God, who has promised us an eternal life of peace and joy within your Kingdom, let me remember, today and always, how fleeting are the problems and pleasures of this life. The earth and its nations will pass away, soon enough. My bank account, my fame and prestige before others, my accomplishments and failures, even my very body, will not belong to me one day soon.

You will wash away my iniquities. But every beggar I have fed, unto the least of these, what I have given will be counted as if to Christ. What love I show, what sin I avoid or repent, will rest for all time in your heart; for you are pleased when we show your love and obey your will. Grant me this day to lay up my treasure in heaven, and give me all confidence that the judgments of the world are fleeting vanity; but your judgments are eternal. Amen

A Prayer for Holiness

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, do not permit vanity, self-love, sensuality, carelessness, nor anger to rule over me and steal me from Thy love, O my Lord and Creator, all my hope! Do not leave me without a portion of the blessed eternity. Grant also that I may follow Thy Holy example, that I may submit to the authorities placed over me. Grant me the clean soul, the simplicity of heart that makes us worthy of Thy love. Amen

A Prayer for Mission

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS

Alleluia! Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. 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 WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017

Oh gracious God, who has promised us an eternal life of peace and joy within your Kingdom, let me remember, today and always, how fleeting are the problems and pleasures of this life. The earth and its nations will pass away, soon enough. My bank account, my fame and prestige before others, my accomplishments and failures, even my very body, will not belong to me one day soon.

You will wash away my iniquities. But every beggar I have fed, unto the least of these, what I have given will be counted as if to Christ. What love I show, what sin I avoid or repent, will rest for all time in your heart; for you are pleased when we show your love and obey your will. Grant me this day to lay up my treasure in heaven, and give me all confidence that the judgments of the world are fleeting vanity; but your judgments are eternal. Amen

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, June 21, 2017

Luke 20:38 (ESV) Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”

Read all of Luke 20

Listen to Luke 20

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - God at Work

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

~ Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

It is hard to tell someone in terrible pain that “all things work out for good” — and really, things work out for the best when we love God. Someone who has just lost a spouse or a child, someone with a terrible, painful, crippling and/or incurable disease, someone who is clinically depressed. Emotions are powerful.

These ordeals are given to us and they test our faith to the utmost. Even a strong believer may be tempted to slip into the world by severe pain, to be angry at God. But we must hold on, for the darkest tunnel ends in light. And the truth is, the more faith we have grown into, the less pain we feel at such trials.

When we are tried, we must first remind ourselves that trials are always temporary; they may cling to our bodies and minds for the rest of our time on earth, but Christ has promised to remove this pain when He comes again, to take us to live with Him. Furthermore, standing firm for God in difficult situations leads to a great reward; James call this “the crown of life”. (James 1:12)

And if we hold firm and persevere, we grow closer to God as we can never do when life is all roses and moonbeams. We mature and grow. A pearl will not grow in an oyster, unless a sharp stone gets inside its shell.

God is not at work in some things. God is not at work in most things. God is at work in all things.

Heavenly Father, I know I will suffer in this life. Let me always bring my pain to you, in full confidence that you are at work and will bring me a great reward for my suffering. Amen

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.

Un Dia a la Vez - Sencillez de la vida (sexta parte)

Pase lo que pase, compórtense de una manera digna del evangelio de Cristo [...] firmes en un mismo propósito, luchando unánimes por la fe del evangelio.

~ Filipenses 1:27 (NVI)

Al terminar esta semana me he sentido muy motivada a poner en práctica cada una de las enseñanzas que aprendimos aquí. Por eso sería bueno que seamos capaces de resaltar el mayor ejemplo de todos y sé que no lo vamos a olvidar nunca. Ese ejemplo fue JESÚS.

Si Él lo hizo siendo el que era, ¿por qué tú y yo no vamos a poder hacerlo? Comencemos con las cosas sencillas. Quizá mostrando humildad en el trato a nuestros semejantes en el trabajo y en la calle o siendo personas amables y rectas. En la iglesia podemos oler a Jesús, tal y como lo dice el cantante cristiano Michael Rodríguez en una de sus canciones. En la casa también podemos ser humildes. En fin, morir a toda soberbia, a todo mal genio, y que seamos aun sencillos en el hogar.

Pastores, profesionales, líderes, que los títulos no se les suban a la cabeza. Que aunque su iglesia sea la mayor y la más reconocida, logren seguir siendo los mismos siervos que Dios llamó y entregó lo que hoy disfrutan.

Empecemos por nosotros mismos, hagamos una radiografía de nuestro ser y pidámosle a Dios su ayuda.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - PROJECT PEARL PERFUME BIBLES

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

~ Psalm 19:10 (NIV)

In 1977, Peter Xu became the leader of the Born-Again Movement—a large house church network today in China. Ten years ago he was visiting in the United States and shared a devotional at the Open Doors-USA office. When he saw a sample of a Project Pearl Bible on the shelf, he became very animated. Then a long story developed:

After Project Pearl Bibles were stored in depositories in southern China in the early 1980s, Peter Xu sent three men every month by train to the depository contacts to bring back about 1,000 Bibles per trip for his growing house church movement. One month the three men were discovered with their Bible load by the local police of the depository city. The police threw the 1,000 Project Pearl Bibles into the cesspool of the public latrine and the three men were interrogated and jailed for the weekend.

Monday they were released and commanded to return straight home and never return. Instead they waited inside the latrine until darkness fell. Then they climbed down into the filthy cesspool of human waste carefully retrieving each of the foul smelling books. They washed them off under the local water tap and carried them home. There they dried them out, sprayed them with perfume and circulated them through their network. Such was the hunger and importance of every copy of God’s Word.

Project Pearl certainly had an impact on the future printing of Bibles inside China which continues today. Shortly after the project was completed, China’s Three Self Patriotic Movement announced the first official printing of Bibles inside the country. Noted author and China watcher, David Aikman, wrote in his book, Jesus in Beijing, “[Project] Pearl had a major long-term impact on the overall availability of Bibles in China.”[1]

But more important are the personal evaluations from Chinese believers: “These gifts are more precious than gold!”

RESPONSE: Today I will treasure God’s Word as more valuable than any precious metal or gem.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord that Your precious Word is being made available in countries where it is not valued by those in authority.

1. David Aikman, Jesus in Beijing (Washington, DC: Regnery, 2003), p. 270.

Girlfriends in God - June 21, 2017

The Secret to Having a Deeply Rooted Faith

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

~ Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)

Friend to Friend

A nasty storm had blown through. Lots of thunder and lightening. Buckets of wetness. The Twitter feed from our local fire department alerted us to the dangers of high winds and encouraged the community to hunker down at home until the storm passed.

The next morning the grass was vibrant green from the watering, but the yard was a disaster. Leaves and sticks were a blanket. I grabbed coffee and caught up on a few tweets that the fire department had sent out following the storm.

One of the tweeted photo-updates gave me chills. In the middle of a neighborhood just a few miles away, a tree had been uprooted by the strong winds and it annihilated a car. Crushed it to scrap metal. I read the updates and thanked God that no lives were lost. The car was parked on the side of a street and had no passengers when the winds blew hard and the tree did its damage.

Were the roots of the tree too flimsy? Were they too shallow? Were they rotten or weak?

I wondered.

The winds of that storm had a jolting impact. They ripped the roots right from the ground that held it. I can’t help but see the parallel in life and I wonder . . . How deep are my roots? How healthy are they? How strong? How committed? Roots are vital. They store nourishment and increase stability. They are essential to standing strong.

I pour a fresh mug of motivation and consider the state of my heart. The state of my roots. Because Lord knows that storms come and winds blow. In fact, I’m writing from the eye of a family hurricane. Many of my friends are smack dab in the center of one as well. Some are being uprooted and some are standing strong. What makes the difference?

As I contemplate, I lean back and furrow my brow, fully aware of my shallow tendencies. I like life to be comfortable. Seriously. I don’t even like camping. Too much ick and sweat. Too many bugs and noises that freak me out in the dark. And no air conditioning! Who would choose that? Anyhoo…

 I’ve learned that I have to be careful when it comes to car-crushing times of faith because my natural desires for comfort can far too easily lead me to resist and resent the winds instead of running with them. Just enough showers to water the flowers, please, God!

 Storms are a reality for all of us. Jesus told us we would have them and that we do not need to be uprooted by them because He is the source of peace and overcoming that we need (John 16:33). I don’t want to be a woman of shallow faith. I want to be a woman of strong, stable, deeply rooted faith. So I ask myself: how can I position my faith-roots to grow? I mull it over and open up the truth manual.

I see that Paul wrote this to the early church, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Colossians 2:6-7)

And it occurs to me that the secret to having roots that are deep and strong is found in that little phrase above that repeats itself twice in those verses: IN HIM.

Yes. In Christ. In Christ alone my depth will grow. He promises that I can do anything according to the will of the Father and get through anything when I stick with Him (John 15:1-17). In that secret place of abiding with Him my roots grow. In Christ alone I am able to weather the fiercest of winds and the scariest of storms. You are too. You’ve got this, friend… because He’s got you.

So let’s make it a point to “walk in Him” today. To yield our little life-branches to the Vine, to seek His nourishment, strength, and leading. To recognize that this world is not our home and our storms do not have the power to uproot us when we cling to God, our Strength.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Thank You for the reminder that the strength I need is found in You. Please grow my faith so that I can stand strong in the windiest of struggles.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Now It’s Your Turn

Read John 15:1-17. Write a prayer of response in your journal {or in the comments section of my blog} that surrenders your storms to His strength.

More from the Girlfriends



FREE EBOOK: Gwen Smith is a speaker, worship leader, songwriter, and author of the new book, I Want I ALL, which includes a Bible Study Guide right in the back of the book; no extra purchase required. I WANT IT ALL it’s easy to read yet contains compelling and challenging content. You'll connect with the stories, probably dust off a few heart dreams, think bigger thoughts of God, laugh and smile a lot, search your soul, and even cry a little ... because each page lovingly directs you to the personal grace and truth of JESUS.

(CLICK HERE to get a FREE Downloadable “7 Day I WANT IT ALL” Devotional Ebook.)

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