Saturday, July 1, 2017
Prayer of the Day for SUNDAY, July 2, 2017 - 4th Sunday after Pentecost
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Our Daily Bread - Taking Shortcuts
Read: Luke 9:57–62
Bible in a Year: Job 22–24; Acts 11
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23
Sipping her tea, Nancy gazed out her friend’s window and sighed.
Spring rains and sunshine had coaxed a riotous expanse of color from a
well-groomed flowerbed of lilies, phlox, irises, and evening primrose.
“I want that look,” she said wistfully, “without all the work.”
Some shortcuts are fine—even practical.
Others short-circuit our spirit and deaden our lives. We want romance
without the difficulties and messiness of committing to someone so
different from ourselves. We want “greatness” without the risks and
failures necessary in the adventure of real life. We desire to please
God, but not when it inconveniences us.
Jesus made clear to His followers that there is no shortcut that
avoids the hard choice of surrendering our lives to Him. He warned a
prospective disciple, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). To follow Christ
requires a radical altering of our loyalties.
When we turn in faith to Jesus, the work just begins. But it is
oh-so-worth-it, for He also told us that no one who sacrifices “for me
and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this
present age . . . and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29–30).
The work of following Christ is difficult, but He’s given us His Spirit
and the reward is a full, joyful life now and forever.
Father, I will find the strength to do the work You have for me to do, only as I rely on Your Holy Spirit. Help me, please, to be sensitive to that today.
Most things worth doing are difficult.
© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries
Ministérios Pão Diário - Ignorando a Deus
Leia: Salmo 63:1-8
Como ex-professor e orientador
de universitários, muitas vezes pensei como seria terrível estar diante
da classe e ninguém lhe prestar atenção, nem dar-lhe ouvidos, passar
instruções e vê-las sendo ignoradas.
Ninguém quer ser ignorado. Se estivermos
envolvidos em conversa com amigos, ficaremos ofendidos se nossas
palavras lhes forem indiferentes. Se estivermos numa loja, procurando
ajuda, nos irritaremos quando os balconistas nos ignorarem. Ao lutarmos
com algum problema, ele se torna mais doloroso se ninguém nos oferecer
ajuda.
Deus deve sofrer quando o ignoramos.
Reflita sobre como o Seu coração de amor deve doer quando, apesar de
habitar em nós por meio de Seu Espírito, agimos como se Ele não
estivesse presente. Considere como Ele se sente quando Suas normas, que
estão escritas em Seu Livro são ignoradas.
Vamos ter cuidado em não ignorar a Deus.
Lembremo-nos dele, em todo o tempo; nas grandes ou pequenas coisas, hora
após hora. Que o Seu Espírito habite em nós. Isso é possível quando
lemos as palavras inspiradas que Ele nos legou; quando investimos tempo
em oração e ouvimos a Sua voz calma e tranquila. Que ao refletirmos
sobre a Sua grandeza, e nos colocarmos em Sua presença e servirmos
outras pessoas em Seu nome possamos dizer com o salmista: “A minha alma
apega-se a ti…” (63:8).
Quem a Deus ignora é tolo.
por Dave Branon
© 2017 Ministérios Pão Diário
Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Đi Đường Tắt
Đọc: Lu-ca 9:57-62
Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Gióp 22-24; Công vụ 11
Nếu ai muốn theo Ta, phải từ bỏ chính mình, mỗi ngày vác thập tự giá mình mà theo Ta. Lu-ca 9:23
Nhấp một ngụm trà, Nancy nhìn ra cửa sổ nhà người bạn và thở dài.
Những cơn mưa và ánh nắng mùa xuân đã dịu dàng vun vén từng luống hoa
đầy màu sắc. Khu vườn đầy ắp hoa huệ tây, trúc đào, diên vĩ và anh thảo.
“Ước gì vườn nhà mình cũng đẹp như vậy mà không phải cực nhọc.” Cô tỏ vẻ ước ao.
Một số con đường tắt thì tốt—thậm chí thiết thực, nhưng có những
đường tắt sẽ phá hỏng tâm linh chúng ta và làm đời sống chúng ta yếu
đuối dần. Chúng ta muốn những gì mơ mộng mà không phải đối diện với khó
khăn, hỗn độn khi phải giữ kết ước với những người quá khác biệt với
mình. Chúng ta muốn “điều vĩ đại” mà không phải gặp rủi ro và thất bại
trong cuộc sống thực tế. Chúng ta ước ao sống đẹp lòng Chúa, nhưng không
muốn phải chịu sự phiền phức nào.
Chúa Jêsus phán rõ với các môn đồ rằng trong bước đường theo Ngài,
không có con đường tắt nào để né tránh lựa chọn khó khăn là họ phải đầu
phục cuộc đời mình cho Ngài. Ngài nói trước với một người dự định làm
môn đồ Ngài rằng: “Ai đã cầm cày mà còn nhìn lại đằng sau thì không xứng
hợp với vương quốc Đức Chúa Trời” (Lu. 9:62). Việc theo Đấng Christ đòi
hỏi chúng ta thay đổi triệt để lòng trung thành của mình.
Khi chúng ta đặt niềm tin nơi Chúa Jêsus, đó chỉ mới là khởi đầu.
Nhưng đó là điều rất quan trọng, Chúa phán với chúng ta rằng không ai
“vì Ta và Tin Lành từ bỏ nhà cửa, anh em, chị em, cha mẹ, con cái, đất
ruộng, mà bây giờ, ngay trong đời nầy, lại không nhận gấp trăm lần hơn…
và sự sống đời đời trong đời sau” (Mác 10:29-30). Theo Đấng Christ là
việc khó khăn, nhưng Ngài đã ban Thánh Linh Ngài cho chúng ta và phần
thưởng của người theo Chúa là một đời sống đầy trọn, vui mừng ngay bây
giờ và mãi mãi.
Lạy Cha, chỉ khi nương cậy nơi Thánh Linh Ngài thì con mới tìm thấy sức lực để làm điều Ngài muốn. Hôm nay, xin giúp con luôn nhạy bén với Thánh Linh Ngài.
Những điều đáng làm hầu như đều khó khăn.
bởi Tim Gustafson
© 2017 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Nuestro Pan Diario - Saber tomar atajos
Leer: Lucas 9:57-62
La Biblia en un año: Job 22–24; Hechos 11
… Si alguno quiere venir en pos de mí, niéguese a sí mismo, tome su cruz cada día, y sígame (v. 23).
Mientras bebía su té, Nancy miró por la ventana de su amiga y
suspiró al ver una exuberante extensión de colores en un cantero de
flores bien cuidado.
«Quiero lucir así —dijo con melancolía— sin tanto trabajo».
Algunos atajos están bien; incluso, son prácticos. Otros hacen que
nuestro espíritu entre en cortocircuito y nos insensibilizan. Queremos
romance sin comprometernos con alguien tan distinto de nosotros.
Queremos grandeza sin los riesgos y el fracaso necesarios en la vida
real. Deseamos agradar a Dios, pero no si nos resulta inconveniente.
Jesús aclaró que no hay atajos para evitar la decisión difícil de
consagrarle nuestra vida. Le advirtió a un posible discípulo: «Ninguno
que poniendo su mano en el arado mira hacia atrás, es apto para el reino
de Dios» (Lucas 9:62). Seguir a Cristo requiere que alteremos
radicalmente nuestras lealtades.
Cuando ponemos nuestra fe en Jesús, la obra recién empieza. Pero vale
la pena, porque Él también dijo que no hay quien sacrifique algo «por
causa de [Él] y del evangelio, que no reciba cien veces más ahora […] y
en el siglo venidero la vida eterna» (Marcos 10:29-30). Seguir a Cristo
es difícil, pero Él nos ha dado su Espíritu y la recompensa de una vida
plena ahora y siempre.
Padre, ayúdame a hacer en dependencia de tu Espíritu la obra que me encomendaste.
La mayoría de las cosas que valen la pena son difíciles.
Por Tim Gustafson
Unser Täglich Brot - Abkürzungen
Lesen: Lukas 9,57-62
Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Hiob 22–24; Apostelgeschichte 11
Wer mir nachfolgen will, der verleugne sich selbst und nehme sein Kreuz auf sich täglich und folge mir nach. Lukas 9,23
Nancy sah seufzend zum Fenster hinaus. Sonne und Regen hatten in
den gepflegten Blumenbeeten ihrer Freundin ein farbenfrohes Bild
hervorgezaubert.
„So müsste es bei mir auch aussehen“, meinte sie, „aber ohne die Arbeit.“
Manche Abkürzungen sind gut und sinnvoll. Andere dämpfen unseren
Geist und hindern unser Leben. Wir wollen die große Liebe ohne die
Probleme, die es mit sich bringt, sich auf jemanden einzulassen, der so
anders ist als wir selbst. Wir wollen „Größe“ ohne die Risiken und
Nebenwirkungen, die das Abenteuer Leben uns abverlangt. Wir wollen Gott
gefallen, aber nur, wenn es uns passt.
Jesus hat klargemacht, dass es für die völlige Hingabe an ihn keine
Abkürzung gibt. Einen potenziellen Jünger warnte er: „Wer seine Hand an
den Pflug legt und sieht zurück, der ist nicht geschickt für das Reich
Gottes“ (Luk. 9,62). Wer Jesus nachfolgen will, muss seine Prioritäten
ändern.
Wenn wir uns Jesus im Glauben zuwenden, fängt die Arbeit erst an.
Aber sie lohnt sich, denn er hat auch gesagt, dass niemand, der etwas
aufgibt „um meinetwillen und um des Evangeliums willen, der nicht
hundertfach empfange jetzt in dieser Zeit . . . und in der zukünftigen
Welt das ewige Leben“ (Mark. 10,29-30). Jesus nachfolgen ist harte
Arbeit, aber er hat uns seinen Geist gegeben und belohnt uns mit einem
vollen, frohen Leben, heute und in Ewigkeit.
Vater, ich habe nur dann genug Kraft, um zu tun, was du von mir willst, wenn ich mich auf deinen Geist verlasse. Hilf mir, heute auf seine Stimme zu hören.
Arbeit, die sich lohnt, ist selten einfach.
Von Tim Gustafson
© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot
Notre Pain Quotidien - Prendre des raccourcis
Lisez : Luc 9.57‑62
La Bible en un an : JOB 22 – 24 et ACTES 11
Si quelqu'un veut venir après moi, qu'il renonce à lui-même, qu'il se
charge chaque jour de sa croix, et qu'il me suive. Luc 9.23
En buvant lentement son thé, Nancy
poussa un soupir en regardant par la fenêtre de son amie. Les pluies et
le soleil du printemps avaient formé des platebandes de muguet, de
phlox, d’iris et d’onagres aux mille couleurs. « Voilà la vue que je
désire avoir, mais sans tout le travail », déclara‑t‑elle d’une voix
mélancolique.
Certains raccourcis sont acceptables,
voire pratiques. Alors que d’autres court‑circuitent notre esprit et
freinent notre vie. Nous désirons vivre un grand amour, mais sans les
difficultés associées à l’engagement envers une personne très différente
de nous. Nous aspirons à la « grandeur », sans les risques et les
échecs qu’implique l’aventure de la vraie vie. Nous désirons plaire à
Dieu, mais sans qu’il nous en coûte.
Jésus a clairement dit à ses disciples
qu’aucun raccourci ne leur éviterait de devoir faire le choix ardu de
lui céder leur vie, notamment par cette mise en garde qu’il a adressée à
un disciple potentiel : « Quiconque met la main à la charrue, et
regarde en arrière, n’est pas propre au royaume de Dieu » (LU 9.62).
Suivre Christ exige un changement radical de loyautés.
Si nous nous tournons vers Jésus par la
foi, son oeuvre parfaite s’amorce alors, car il a dit que quiconque se
sacrifie pour la Bonne Nouvelle en sera récompensé au centuple ici‑bas
et dans la vie éternelle (MC 10.29,30). Il n’est pas facile de suivre
Christ, mais il nous a donné son Esprit pour ce faire et une vie remplie
et heureuse en prime.
Presque tout ce qui en vaut la peine implique des difficultés.
par Tim Gustafson
© 2017 Ministères NPQ
Хліб Наш Насущній - Короткі шляхи
Читати: Луки 9:57-62
Біблія за рік: Йова 22−24 ; Дії 11
Коли хоче хто йти вслід за Мною, хай зречеться самого себе, і хай візьме щоденно свого хреста, та й за Мною йде. — Луки 9:23
Сидячи за чашкою чаю у подруги, Ненсі дивилась крізь вікно й сумно
зітхала. Навколо царювала весна. Сонячне світло придавало особливого
контрасту ліліям, флоксам та ірисам, що росли на добре доглянутих
клумбах. “І я б хотіла мати таку красу, – сказала вона. – Але щоб без
кропіткої праці”.
Інколи короткі шляхи – це чудово. Але часто вони ослабляють наш дух і
притупляють духовне життя. Ми бажаємо романтичних відносин, але без
труднощів та непорозумінь, що бувають у близьких стосунках з людьми, які
дуже відрізняються від нас. Ми прагнемо великих досягнень, але без
будь-якого ризику невдачі. Ми хочемо догоджати Богу, але без усіляких
незручностей.
Ісус чітко дав зрозуміти Своїм послідовникам, що в рішенні вручити
Йому своє життя не буває обхідних шляхів. “Ніхто з тих, хто кладе свою
руку на плуга та назад озирається, не надається до Божого Царства!” (Лк. 9:62). Слідування за Христом потребує радикальних змін наших пріоритетів.
Коли ми навертаємося вірою до Ісуса, справжня праця тільки-но
починається. Але це варте того! Адже Господь сказав, що ті, хто
пожертвували усім “ради Нього та ради Євангелії”, отримають “в сто раз
більше тепер… а в віці наступному вічне життя” (Мр. 10:29-30). Слідування за Христом – то важкий труд. Але Ісус дарує нам Святого Духа, щоб мали для цього силу.
Отче, я матиму силу виконувати все те, що Ти доручив мені, лише коли цілком покладатимусь на Твого Святого Духа. Допоможи мені, будь ласка, бути чутливим сьогодні до Твого голосу.
Зазвичай гідна справа – то важка справа.
Автор Тім Густавсон
© 2017 Хліб Наш Насущній
Хлеб наш насущный - Короткие дороги
Читать сейчас: Луки 9:57-62
«Если кто хочет идти за Мной, отвергни себя, и возьми крест свой, и следуй за Мной». — Луки 9:23
Потягивая чай, Нэнси смотрела из окна подруги на улицу и вздыхала.
Весенние дожди и солнечные лучи, пробившиеся сквозь тучи, украсили
контрастными тонами и без того красивый ухоженный цветник, в котором
пышно цвели лилии, флоксы, ирисы и вечерние розы. «Хочу такой вид, –
сказала она, – только без работы».
Иногда у нас появляется возможность пойти коротким путем и получить
желаемое быстрее других. К сожалению, часто такие пути плохо влияют на
сердце и портят характер. Нам хочется романтики без жертвенности по
отношению к тому, кто сильно отличается от нас. Мы хотим успеха без проб
и ошибок, неизбежных в жизни. Мы не против угождать Богу, только бы это
не ущемляло наши собственные интересы.
Иисус ясно дал понять Своим ученикам, что в деле посвящения своей
жизни Ему не может быть коротких путей. Он предупредил одного из
прагматично мыслящих учеников: «Никто, возложивший руку свою на плуг и
озирающийся назад, не благонадежен для Царства Божьего» (Лк. 9:62).
Следование за Христом требует радикальной смены приоритетов. Когда мы
обращаемся к Спасителю, труд только начинается. Но он того стоит.
Господь сказал: «Нет никого, кто оставил бы дом, или братьев, или
сестер, или отца, или мать, или жену, или детей, или земли ради Меня и
Евангелия и не получил бы ныне, в это время, среди гонений, во сто крат…
а в веке грядущем – жизнь вечную» (Мк. 10:29-30).
Следование за Христом – нелегкий труд. Но Иисус дарует нам Святого Духа
и награду полной, радостной жизни теперь и в вечности.
Отче, я найду силы для предназначенного мне труда, только если буду полагаться на Святого Духа. Помоги мне быть чутким к Его водительству.
Если дело стоящее, значит, оно трудное.
автор: Тим Густафсон
© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный
The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, July 1, 2017
Opening Sentence
Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, "I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite." Isaiah 57:15
Morning Prayer
Heavenly Lord, you have brought me to the beginning of a new day. As the world is renewed fresh and clean, so I ask you to renew my heart with your strength and purpose. Forgive me the errors of yesterday and bless me to walk closer in your way today. This is the day I begin my life anew; shine through me so that every person I meet may feel your presence in my soul. Take my hand, precious Lord, for I cannot make it by myself. Through Christ I pray and live,
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 9:15-10:1
Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel: "Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their outcry has come to me." When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, "Here is the man of whom I spoke to you. He it is who shall rule over my people." Then Saul approached Samuel inside the gate, and said, "Tell me, please, where is the house of the seer?" Samuel answered Saul, "I am the seer; go up before me to the shrine, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind. As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, give no further thought to them, for they have been found. And on whom is all Israel's desire fixed, if not on you and on all your ancestral house?" Saul answered, "I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?" Then Samuel took Saul and his servant-boy and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, of whom there were about thirty. And Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion I gave you, the one I asked you to put aside." The cook took up the thigh and what went with it and set them before Saul. Samuel said, "See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; for it is set before you at the appointed time, so that you might eat with the guests." So Saul ate with Samuel that day. When they came down from the shrine into the town, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, "Get up, so that I may send you on your way." Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. As they were going down to the outskirts of the town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the boy to go on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God." Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him; he said, "The LORD has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their enemies all around. Now this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you ruler over his heritage:
The Epistle Lesson
The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from Acts 7:30-43
"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.' "It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from your own people as he raised me up.' He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us. Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, saying to Aaron, 'Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.' At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and reveled in the works of their hands. But God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? No; you took along the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; so I will remove you beyond Babylon.'
The Holy Gospel Lesson
The Holy Gospel is written in Luke 22:39-51
He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial." Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial." While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, "Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?" When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, "No more of this!" And he touched his ear and healed him.
Morning Psalms
Psalm 107:33-43 Posuit flumina
33 The LORD changed rivers into deserts, and water-springs into thirsty ground,
34 A fruitful land into salt flats, because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
35 He changed deserts into pools of water and dry land into water-springs.
36 He settled the hungry there, and they founded a city to dwell in.
37 They sowed fields, and planted vineyards, and brought in a fruitful harvest.
38 He blessed them, so that they increased greatly; he did not let their herds decrease.
39 Yet when they were diminished and brought low, through stress of adversity and sorrow,
40 (He pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes)
41 He lifted up the poor out of misery and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.
42 The upright will see this and rejoice, but all wickedness will shut its mouth.
43 Whoever is wise will ponder these things, and consider well the mercies of the LORD.
Psalm 108 Paratum cor meum
1 My heart is firmly fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and make melody.
2 Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will waken the dawn.
3 I will confess you among the peoples, O LORD; I will sing praises to you among the nations.
4 For your loving-kindness is greater than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
5 Exalt yourself above the heavens, O God, and your glory over all the earth.
6 So that those who are dear to you may be delivered, save with your right hand and answer me.
7 God spoke from his holy place and said, "I will exult and parcel out Shechem; I will divide the valley of Succoth.
8 Gilead is mine and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet and Judah my scepter.
9 Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I throw down my sandal to claim it, and over Philistia will I shout in triumph."
10 Who will lead me into the strong city? who will bring me into Edom?
11 Have you not cast us off, O God? you no longer go out, O God, with our armies.
12 Grant us your help against the enemy, for vain is the help of man.
13 With God we will do valiant deeds, and he shall tread our enemies under foot.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 33 Exultate, justi
1 Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; it is good for the just to sing praises.
2 Praise the LORD with the harp; play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
3 Sing for him a new song; sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
4 For the word of the LORD is right, and all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.
6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
7 He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin and stores up the depths of the sea.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to pass; he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught; he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
11 But the LORD'S will stands fast for ever, and the designs of his heart from age to age.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13 The LORD looks down from heaven, and beholds all the people in the world.
14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze on all who dwell on the earth.
15 He fashions all the hearts of them and understands all their works.
16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; for all its strength it cannot save.
18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, on those who wait upon his love,
19 To pluck their lives from death, and to feed them in time of famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.
21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22 Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you.
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 Lord God, Father Almighty who created me and everything I see and enjoy, blessed and beautiful Jesus, love of my heart, bounteous Holy Spirit of God who is so kind as to be with me and comfort me whenever I ask, I thank you for all that I am and all that I have had in my life. Thy will be done, my God. I ask only that you let me know your will for me, for I am often confused or conflicted, and I seek your guidance. Knowing your will for me, let me be anxious for nothing. And I pray for the strength, the power and the energy, to accomplish your purpose. All glory be to you, one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who was before time and will be forever,
Amen
A Prayer for Those Who Pray
Be merciful, O Lord, to those who have entrusted me, an unworthy sinner, to pray for them. Be merciful, O Lord, to all who ask Thy help. O Lord, make this day a day of Thy mercy; give to each according to their petition. Be the Shepherd of the lost, the Guide of Light of unbelievers, the Teacher of the unwise, the Father of orphans, the Helper of the oppressed, the Healer of the sick, the Comforter of the dying, and lead us all to the desired end -- to Thee, our refuge and blessed repose.
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
Cristy Lane - One Day At A Time
Alleluia! Christ has risen.
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!
Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!
O Sovereign and almighty Lord, bless all your people, and all your flock. Give your peace, your help, and your love unto us your servants, the sheep of your fold, that we may be united in the bond of peace and love, one body and one spirit, in one hope of our calling, in your divine and boundless love.
Amen
~ From the Liturgy of Mark, 2d Century A.D.
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 SATURDAY, July 1, 2017
Oh Lord God, Father Almighty who created me and everything I see and enjoy, blessed and beautiful Jesus, love of my heart, bounteous Holy Spirit of God who is so kind as to be with me and comfort me whenever I ask, I thank you for all that I am and all that I have had in my life. Thy will be done, my God. I ask only that you let me know your will for me, for I am often confused or conflicted, and I seek your guidance. Knowing your will for me, let me be anxious for nothing. And I pray for the strength, the power and the energy, to accomplish your purpose. All glory be to you, one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who was before time and will be forever,
Amen
Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, July 1, 2017
Romans 12:3 (NIV) [Humble Service in the Body of Christ] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Read all of Romans 12
Listen to Romans 12
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - The Greatest Motive for Sharing the Gospel
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
~ Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)
One of the most frequent complaints against the church has been about hellfire-and-brimstone preachers. “I don’t like that kind of preaching,” people say.
But my question is where are these preachers? When is the last time you heard a hellfire-and-brimstone preacher? I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen one of them on television, much less heard a mention of Hell. I see messages preached on how to be successful and how to prosper. But we have to tell the whole truth.
We have to look at this topic biblically, not emotionally, and remember that life comes to an end for everyone. One thing is clear: We all will die and enter the afterlife. Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 tells us, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.”
Jesus spent more time talking about Hell than anyone else. Of the forty parables He told, more than half of them relate to God’s eternal judgment of sinners. That is because Hell is a real place for real people. J. I. Packer said, “An endless hell can no more be removed from the New Testament than an endless heaven can be.”
Our greatest motive for getting out there to share the gospel should be so people won’t go to Hell. That is the bottom line. If we tell people they will have fulfillment, peace, and joy if they believe in Jesus, that is true. But frankly, those are fringe benefits. The greatest aspect of the gospel, which means “good news,” is that we don’t have to go to Hell. Instead, we can go to Heaven.
If you know people who aren’t Christians, then they are headed to Hell. The question is what are you doing to reach them?
In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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 - Seamos instrumentos
Todo lo que te viniere a la mano para hacer, hazlo según tus fuerzas.
~ Eclesiastés 9:10 (RV-60)
Me tomé la tarea de investigar lo que es un instrumento musical y llegué a esta conclusión: Un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se disponen en un todo de manera que un intérprete logre producir sonidos musicales. Si lo analizamos, es posible que de cualquier objeto se pueda obtener sonidos. Sin embargo, para que sea musical, el sonido que produce debe combinar la melodía, el ritmo y la armonía.
Dejando este análisis a un lado, quiero hacer un paralelo a lo que nosotros podemos ser en las manos de Dios. La Palabra nos enseña que a todos se nos han dado dones y talentos. Muchas veces ni sabemos que los tenemos. Así que un día alguien nos los descubre o nosotros mismos nos damos cuenta que ciertas cosas que hacemos nos salen bien y le gustan a la gente.
Si un instrumento musical es un conjunto de piezas que se combinan para producir sonidos melódicos, rítmicos y armónicos, tú y yo tenemos esa combinación perfecta para poner en acción el don que puso Dios en nosotros.
Además, si a diferencia de que en principio cualquier cosa que produzca sonido puede ser un instrumento, te recuerdo que tú no eres cualquier cosa, sino que eres un hijo de Dios creado a su imagen y semejanza.
Valórate y pídele al Señor que te revele cuál es ese talento y empieza a desarrollarlo ya.
Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Standing Strong Through the Storm - MYSTERY
He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ…
~ Ephesians 1:9 (NIV)
Human beings always want to know “why?” and “why not now?” But it’s precisely because we are human we cannot know. That’s why mystery is so important to understand. The entire book of Job is all about the “why” of suffering and in the end God invites Job to see a bigger picture than even his suffering.
Creation is a mistake if all you see is your suffering. But if you lift your eyes wider and let your gaze roam over the whole universe with God, you can also see that creation has even more beauty and grace.
So we are to value mystery because it enables us to feel God’s love…love that was fully revealed in Christ.
Sometimes we get to see “why?” and “why not now?” (one of the good aspects of growing older). Often we don’t because we are the players of life in the universe, not the playwright.
Christine Mallouhi in her excellent book, Waging Peace on Islam, makes this significant conclusion:
The victorious and triumphant Christian life does not conjure up pictures of suffering and death and feelings of abandonment. But this was all part of God's victory in Christ. If this was the path the Master trod why should it be any different for the servants? Jesus cried out "why?" and "where are you?" to God when circumstances were crushing him. God is always greater than our understanding of him and there will always be mystery about him that causes us to fall down in awe and worship. This mystery, which we want to tidily categorise, keeps causing struggles in our life. Every time we get God tidied up like a ball of rubber bands, another end bursts out and the struggle begins over again, until we learn to live in faith with untidy ends. If everything is clear then faith is irrelevant. We are not called to solve the mystery, but enter it.[1]
RESPONSE: Today I will value mystery because it enables me to feel God’s love.
PRAYER: Thank You Lord that though the world around us if full of suffering, it is more full of beauty and grace. Help me to trust You and value mystery.
1. Christine Mallouhi, Waging Peace on Islam (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2000), p.52.
NIV Devotions for Couples - Coming Clean With Each Other
Romans 8:1–17
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again.
When Sheryl and Gary got engaged, they sat down and had some pretty frank conversations with one another. They discussed their families and their past relationships, trying to identify the ways their childhoods and dating histories might impinge on their present and future together.
What they didn’t discuss—at least not adequately—was their financial history. In particular, Gary didn’t tell his fiancée that, six years before, he had gotten into massive credit card debt. Gary figured he had dealt with the problem so it was behind him. Why bring up something that wasn’t an issue anymore?
Of course, any time we find ourselves thinking along those lines, something more is going on. If the incident in question was truly in the past, we would feel OK sharing it. Failing to bring up credit card debt, porn use or an affair means the shame of it hasn’t really left us but is still choking us as we try to keep it secret. Over time we become captive to our fears of being found out.
Gary managed to keep his financial past hidden from Sheryl for a few years, though he now says that, in hindsight, he can see that his inability to talk about money with Sheryl caused him to dodge conversations that were important for their financial future. Eventually, Gary had to talk about money and ’fess up to his past money mistakes and his deception when he and Sheryl tried to buy a house and were turned down for a loan because of Gary’s bad credit rating.
It was hard, of course, to have those conversations. “It was much harder than if I’d told Sheryl about my credit card debt years before,” Gary said. “Then we could have strategized together. And then I wouldn’t have had to deal with both Sheryl’s distress that we were having a hard time getting a mortgage and her even greater distress that I had, in effect, lied to her by not telling her the whole truth.”
It can be hard—even terrifying—to reveal a long-buried secret to your spouse. You worry he’ll be furious, that he’ll judge you, that he’ll be hurt. Indeed, your spouse might be hurt. She might be angry. She might be stunned. But put yourself in your spouse’s shoes; if he was keeping something from you, you would want him to come clean, not only so that you could be in the know, but so that he could be freed from the chains of shame and secrecy.
Romans 8:14–15 tells us that we are no longer slaves to fear. As children of God, we live in the light of full disclosure, sure of forgiveness, pardon and restoration—in our relationship with God and with each other.
Lauren Winner
Let’s Talk
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again.
~ Romans 8:14–15 (NIV)
When Sheryl and Gary got engaged, they sat down and had some pretty frank conversations with one another. They discussed their families and their past relationships, trying to identify the ways their childhoods and dating histories might impinge on their present and future together.
What they didn’t discuss—at least not adequately—was their financial history. In particular, Gary didn’t tell his fiancée that, six years before, he had gotten into massive credit card debt. Gary figured he had dealt with the problem so it was behind him. Why bring up something that wasn’t an issue anymore?
Of course, any time we find ourselves thinking along those lines, something more is going on. If the incident in question was truly in the past, we would feel OK sharing it. Failing to bring up credit card debt, porn use or an affair means the shame of it hasn’t really left us but is still choking us as we try to keep it secret. Over time we become captive to our fears of being found out.
Gary managed to keep his financial past hidden from Sheryl for a few years, though he now says that, in hindsight, he can see that his inability to talk about money with Sheryl caused him to dodge conversations that were important for their financial future. Eventually, Gary had to talk about money and ’fess up to his past money mistakes and his deception when he and Sheryl tried to buy a house and were turned down for a loan because of Gary’s bad credit rating.
It was hard, of course, to have those conversations. “It was much harder than if I’d told Sheryl about my credit card debt years before,” Gary said. “Then we could have strategized together. And then I wouldn’t have had to deal with both Sheryl’s distress that we were having a hard time getting a mortgage and her even greater distress that I had, in effect, lied to her by not telling her the whole truth.”
It can be hard—even terrifying—to reveal a long-buried secret to your spouse. You worry he’ll be furious, that he’ll judge you, that he’ll be hurt. Indeed, your spouse might be hurt. She might be angry. She might be stunned. But put yourself in your spouse’s shoes; if he was keeping something from you, you would want him to come clean, not only so that you could be in the know, but so that he could be freed from the chains of shame and secrecy.
Romans 8:14–15 tells us that we are no longer slaves to fear. As children of God, we live in the light of full disclosure, sure of forgiveness, pardon and restoration—in our relationship with God and with each other.
Lauren Winner
Let’s Talk
- Is there a not-so-big issue one of us is keeping from the other? What is preventing full disclosure?
- Does envisioning God as truly present in our conversations make it easier to imagine starting a hard conversation with each other about that secret?
- Look back to the hard conversations we’ve had with each other. What have been the fruits of those discussions?
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