Most of us know people who don't like to get on an airplane.
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"Bribing God"
July 19, 2017 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD...
Most of us know people who don't like to get on an airplane. For such folks the idea of placing your fate and your future into a large, enclosed metal cylinder seems to be an unreasonable thing to do. Understandably, when such a person gets on a plane, they want to do everything they can to improve the possibilities of landing without any kind of nasty incident. One such individual is an 80-year-old Chinese lady by the name of Qiu. Recently, Qiu was scheduled for a trip on a China Southern Airlines flight out of Pudong Airport. Knowing the airport itself has a bad reputation, Qiu decided to offer a prayer for a safe journey. Her prayer was accompanied by a coin offering to assure her thoughts had been noticed by her divinity. Those coins she threw toward one of the engines of the giant Airbus. Now I am not an engineer, but I have a general feeling that throwing metal coins into a jet's inner-workings is not a good thing. My feeling was supported by the Airlines who stopped everything as maintenance people investigated Qiu's throw. They found she had tossed seven coins, which were valued at 25 cents. Only one of those coins made it into the engine itself. Of course, all this investigation took about five hours and cost thousands of dollars. During their lengthy stop, the other passengers were taken off the plane and had to try to stay calm as they waited for their aircraft to be given the all clear. And Qiu, she was taken away to be questioned. I feel sorry for her. She was only doing what she believed, what she had been taught, what she hoped would be of some help. Unfortunately, her actions were not a positive thing. That's what St. Paul was saying when he wrote: "No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons" (1 Corinthians 10:20). As I read that story, I asked myself -- and you: what are the differences between what Qiu believes and the tenets of a Christian? There are a number of separators. For example, unlike Qiu who is unsure if her god was listening, Christians know the Lord is far more ready to hear their prayers than they are to say them; unlike Qiu who felt she had to make an offering to obtain her lord's favor, Christians know that the blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed them of their sin and restored the bridge between heaven and earth; unlike Qiu who believed she had to bribe her god to obtain his attention, believers know they have a Savior who is with them always, a Savior who has encouraged His people to call upon Him in the day of trouble (see Psalm 50:15). THE PRAYER:Dear Lord, I give thanks that Your grace and love separates You from other gods, gods of human manufacture. May the lost of the world be touched by Your care. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.
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Por lo cual estoy seguro de que ni la muerte, ni la vida, ni los ángeles, ni los principados, ni las potestades, ni lo presente, ni lo por venir, ni lo alto, ni lo profundo, ni ninguna otra cosa creada nos podrá separar del amor que Dios nos ha mostrado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor.
Una de las ventajas de vivir en la ciudad de St. Louis, estado de Missouri, es que el cambio de las estaciones del año produce paisajes inigualables. Recuerdo en especial una puesta de sol tan impactante, que llegó a conmoverme. Mientras contemplaba los tonos de rojos y naranjas con que Dios pintaba el cielo, me vino a la memoria una historia del científico Albert Einstein. Una vez, este hombre brillante estaba caminando por la Universidad de Princeton, mirando las estrellas. En un momento se detuvo y, mirando al cielo, suspiró y dijo: "De todos modos, a eso la bomba atómica no lo puede destruir". A menudo, cuando leemos los periódicos y escuchamos las noticias, nos resulta fácil pensar que ya no hay esperanza para la humanidad. Parece que el mundo va de una tragedia y emergencia a otra, que una crisis reemplaza a otra y que la paz nunca va a ser alcanzada. En esos momentos vale la pena que recordemos que Dios es quien está en control, y no la humanidad. Ni siquiera todo el odio del mundo puede destruir el amor de Dios, ni todo el pecado que nos rodea puede destruir la paz que tenemos en Jesús, ni poner de vuelta en la tumba al Salvador resucitado. Cada vez que podamos, miremos un atardecer, un cielo estrellado o la cruz del Calvario, pues al hacerlo, recordaremos que ninguna mente humana puede destruirlos. ORACIÓN:Querido Señor, me deleito al saber que nada me puede apartar de tu amor ni destruir la paz que tengo en Jesús. Ayúdame a vivir en la seguridad que sólo tú puedes dar y a compartir con los demás esa paz que sobrepasa todo entendimiento. Te lo pido en el nombre de mi Salvador. Amén.
De una devoción escrita originalmente para "By the Way"
The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. Psalm 93:1
Iguazu Falls, on the border of Brazil and Argentina, is a
spectacular waterfall system of 275 falls along 2.7 km (1.67 miles) of
the Iguazu River. Etched on a wall on the Brazilian side of the Falls
are the words of Psalm 93:4, “Mightier than the thunders of many waters,
mightier than the waves of the sea, the Lord on high is mighty!” (rsv).
Below it are these words, “God is always greater than all of our
troubles.”
The writer of Psalm 93, who penned its words during the time that
kings reigned, knew that God is the ultimate King over all. “The Lord
reigns,” he wrote. “Your throne was established long ago; you are from
all eternity” (vv. 1–2). No matter how high the floods or waves, the
Lord remains greater than them all.
The roar of a waterfall is truly majestic, but it is quite a
different matter to be in the water hurtling toward the falls. That may
be the situation you are in today. Physical, financial, or relational
problems loom ever larger and you feel like you are about to go over the
falls. In such situations, the Christian has Someone to turn to. He is
the Lord, “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine” (Eph. 3:20) for He is greater than all our troubles.
Lord, I know that You are powerful and greater than any trouble that might come my way. I trust You to carry me through.
Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.
Por décadas, os artistas pintaram
cenas do universo baseados na combinação de informações científicas e
suas imaginações. Porém, fotos de sondas espaciais e do telescópio Hubble
redefiniram a visão de realidade desses artistas. Um deles disse que as
primeiras fotos dos satélites de Júpiter (Io e Europa) “acabaram sendo
mais exóticas do que todos tinham imaginado”. Agora, ele considera que
70% de suas pinturas espaciais são “conceitos antiquados”, porque a
realidade se tornou mais impressionante do que a imaginação.
Embora a Bíblia nos conte o que Jesus disse e fez, ela não
descreve a Sua aparência. Nossa imagem mental dele provavelmente é
influenciada pela arte e por ilustrações em revistas de Escola
Dominical. Mas, um dia, nossa imagem de Cristo será transformada para
sempre, quando estivermos face a face com Ele. “Amados, agora, somos
filhos de Deus, e ainda não se manifestou o que haveremos de ser.
Sabemos que, quando ele se manifestar, seremos semelhantes a ele…” (1 João 3:2). Essa esperança vai produzir em nós a busca pela pureza (v.3).
Não somente veremos nosso Senhor como Ele é, mas também
seremos como Ele. Como será surpreendente essa realidade — mais do que
podemos imaginar!
Tudo o que ansiamos nos tornar se cumprirá quando olharmos pela primeira vez para Jesus.
Đức Giê-hô-va cai trị, Ngài mặc vẻ uy nghiêm; Đức Giê-hô-va mặc và thắt lưng bằng sức mạnh. Thi thiên 93:1
Thác Iguazu, nằm ở biên giới Brazil và Argentina, là một hệ thống
thác nước hùng vĩ gồm 275 thác nước trải dài 2,7 km (1,67 dặm) của Sông
Iguazu. Trên bờ tường của thác nước bên phía Brazil có khắc dòng chữ Thi
Thiên 93:4: “Đức Giê-hô-va ngự trên cao, đầy quyền năng, mạnh hơn tiếng
gầm thét của các dòng nước lớn, hơn biển cả ba đào”. Dưới đó là những
lời này: “Đức Chúa Trời luôn vĩ đại hơn mọi nan đề của chúng ta.”
Trước giả Thi Thiên 93 đã viết những lời đó trong suốt thời gian các
vua trị vì, ông biết rằng Đức Chúa Trời là Vua tối cao trên muôn vua.
Ông viết: “Đức Giê-hô-va cai trị… Ngôi Chúa đã lập vững từ thời xưa;
Chúa hiện hữu từ trước vô cùng” (c.1-2). Dù sóng biển hay đại dương cao
bao nhiêu, Chúa vẫn vĩ đại hơn hết thảy.
Tiếng thác nước ầm ầm thật hùng vĩ, nhưng mọi chuyện sẽ hoàn toàn
khác khi bị dòng nước cuốn về ngọn thác. Đó có thể là tình trạng của bạn
ngày nay. Những nan đề về sức khoẻ, tài chính hoặc mối liên hệ mỗi ngày
một lớn hơn và bạn cảm thấy như mình sắp bị cuốn xuống dòng thác. Trong
những hoàn cảnh như vậy, Cơ Đốc nhân có một Đấng để nương cậy. Ngài là
Chúa, Đấng “có thể làm trổi hơn bội phần mọi điều chúng ta cầu xin hoặc
suy tưởng” (Êph. 3:20) vì Ngài vĩ đại hơn mọi nan đề của chúng ta.
Lạy Chúa, con biết rằng Ngài đầy quyền năng và vĩ đại hơn bất kỳ nan đề nào con gặp phải. Con tin rằng Ngài sẽ bồng ẵm con qua những nan đề đó.
Đừng bao giờ đo lường sức mạnh vô hạn của Chúa bằng những mong đợi hữu hạn của bạn.
El Señor reina; se vistió de magnificencia; el Señor se vistió, se ciñó de poder… (v. 1).
Las Cataratas del Iguazú, en la frontera entre Brasil y Argentina,
son un sistema espectacular de 275 cascadas que cubren 2,7 kilómetros
(1,67 millas) del río Iguazú. Grabadas sobre un muro en el lado
brasileño, se encuentran las palabras del Salmo 93:4: «El Señor en las
alturas es más poderoso que el estruendo de las muchas aguas, más
que las recias ondas del mar». Debajo, dice: «Dios siempre es más grande
que todos nuestros problemas».
El escritor del Salmo 93, quien escribió estas palabras durante la
época de monarquía en Israel, sabía que Dios es el Rey supremo. Declaró:
«El Señor reina […]. Firme es tu trono […]; tú eres eternamente» (vv.
1-2). No importa cuán altas sean las olas, el Señor siempre las supera.
El rugir de las cataratas es magnífico, pero la perspectiva cambia si
estamos en el agua y nos acercamos a toda velocidad a las cascadas. Tal
vez esta sea tu situación hoy. Los problemas se ciernen sobre ti y
sientes que estás a punto de caer por las cataratas. En tales casos, el
creyente tiene Alguien a quién acudir. Se trata del Señor, «que es
poderoso para hacer todas las cosas mucho más abundantemente de lo que
pedimos o entendemos» (Efesios 3:20) porque es mucho más grande que
nuestros problemas.
Señor, eres mucho más grande que cualquier problema. Confío en ti.
Nunca midas el poder ilimitado de Dios según tus expectativas limitadas.
Der Herr ist König und herrlich geschmückt; der Herr ist geschmückt und umgürtet mit Kraft. Psalm 93,1
Die Iguazu-Fälle an der Grenze zwischen Brasilien und Argentinien
sind ein spektakuläres System von 275 Wasserfällen im Fluss Iguazu, die
sich über eine Länge von 2,7 Kilometern erstrecken. Auf der
brasilianischen Seite sind an einer Stelle die Worte aus Psalm 93,4 in
den Stein gehauen: „Die Wasserwogen im Meer sind groß und brausen
mächtig; der Herr aber ist noch größer in der Höhe.“ Und darunter steht:
„Gott ist immer größer als alle unsere Sorgen.“
Der Dichter von Psalm 93, der diese Worte in einer Zeit schrieb, als
sein Land von Königen regiert wurde, wusste, dass Gott der größte
Herrscher über allen ist. „Der Herr ist König“, sagt er. „Von Anbeginn
steht dein Thron fest; du bist ewig“ (V.1-2). Egal wie hoch die Fluten
oder Wellen schlagen, der Herr ist größer als alles.
Das Tosen eines Wasserfalls empfinden wir als majestätisch. Anders
ist es, wenn wir uns selbst im Wasser befinden und auf die Fälle
zutreiben. Vielleicht geht es dir heute so. Gesundheitliche, finanzielle
oder familiäre Probleme türmen sich auf und es kommt dir vor, als
würdest du bald verschlungen. Aber der Christ hat jemanden, an den er
sich wenden kann. Er ist der Herr, „der überschwänglich tun kann über
alles hinaus, was wir bitten oder verstehen“ (Eph. 3,20), denn er ist
größer als alle unsere Sorgen.
Herr, ich weiß, dass du mächtig bist und größer als alle Probleme, die mir begegnen mögen. Ich vertraue darauf, dass du mich trägst.
Miss Gottes grenzenlose Stärke nie an deinen begrenzten Erwartungen.
La Bible en un an : PSAUMES 23 – 25 et ACTES 21.18‑40
L’Éternel règne, il est revêtu de majesté, l’Éternel est revêtu, il est ceint de force. V. 1
Les chutes d’Iguazu, situées à la
frontière entre le Brésil et l’Argentine, sont un système spectaculaire
de 275 chutes s’étendant sur 2,7 km de la rivière Iguazu. Sur un mur
érigé le long de ces chutes, du côté du Brésil, on a gravé le Psaume
93.4 : « Plus que la voix des grandes, des puissantes eaux, des flots
impétueux de la mer, l’Éternel est puissant dans les lieux célestes. »
En dessous, on peut lire cette parole : « Dieu est toujours plus grand
que toutes nos difficultés. »
L’auteur du Psaume 93, qui l’a écrit à
l’époque des rois, savait que Dieu est le Roi suprême qui règne sur
toute chose, comme les deux premiers versets en témoignent : « L’Éternel
règne […] Ton trône est établi dès les temps anciens ; tu existes de
toute éternité » (V. 1,2). Aussi puissantes que soient les inondations
et les vagues, le Seigneur demeure plus puissant qu’elles toutes.
Le grondement d’une chute est vraiment
majestueux, mais c’est une tout autre chose que d’être dans l’eau en
train de nager furieusement pour atteindre le rivage. Il se peut que
vous vous trouviez dans cette situation aujourd’hui. Les problèmes
physiques, financiers ou relationnels vous semblent démesurés et vous
menacer d’être emporté dans la chute. En pareille situation, le chrétien
a quelqu’un vers qui se tourner. C’est Dieu, « qui peut faire […]
infiniment au‑delà de tout ce que nous demandons ou pensons » (ÉP 3.20),
car il transcende toutes nos difficultés.
Nos attentes sont limitées, mais le pouvoir de Dieu est illimité.
Царює Господь, зодягнувся у велич, зодягнувся Господь, оперезався Він силою. — Псалом 92:1
Водоспади Ігуасу, що відділяють Бразилію від Аргентини, – це
вражаюче видовище. Ріка Ігуасу майже на трьохкілометровому відрізку
утворює систему водоспадів, кількість яких досягає 275. На скелі між
водоспадами, що на бразильській стороні, викарбувані слова з Псалма 92:4
– “Над морські потужнії хвилі, − могутніший Господь у висоті!” А нижче
дописано: “Бог завжди могутнiший за всі наші проблеми”.
Автор Псалма 92, який писав ці слова ще за тих часів, коли панували
царі, знав, що Бог є Цар над царями. “Царює Господь, – писав він. –
Престол Твій поставлений міцно спрадавна, від вічности Ти!” (Пс. 92:1-2). Якими б високими не були хвилі й могутніми зливи, Господь завжди могутніший за них усіх.
Гуркіт водоспаду – то справді величне явище. Але зовсім інша річ,
коли ми не милуємося ним, а стали жертвою бурхливого потоку, що несе нас
до прірви. Можливо, саме в такій ситуації ви опинились сьогодні:
фізичні, фінансові або особистісні проблеми приймають загрозливі
розміри, як ніколи, і вам здається, що ви зірветесь у прірву. За таких
ситуацій християнин завжди має можливість звернутись до Того, “Хто може
зробити значно більш над усе, чого просимо або думаємо” (Еф. 3:20). Бо Господь могутніший за всі наші проблеми.
Господи, я знаю, що Ти могутній і сильніший за всі проблеми, з якими можу стикнутись на своєму шляху. Ввіряю себе Тобі в надії, що пронесеш мене крізь усі водоспади життя.
Ніколи не вимірюйте безмежну Божу силу своїми обмеженими сподіваннями.
Господь царствует; Он облечен величием, облечен Господь могуществом и препоясан. — Псалом 92:1
Водопады Игуацу – потрясающая по зрелищности система водопадов на
границе между Бразилией и Аргентиной. Она состоит из 275 водопадов,
следующих один за другим на протяжении 2,7 км. На скалистом бразильском
берегу высечены слова из Псалма Давида: «Более шума вод многих, сильных
волн морских, силен в вышних Господь» (Пс. 92:4), а ниже – слова: «Бог всегда больше всех наших забот».
Царственный автор этого Псалма знал, что Бог – Царь превыше всякой
земной власти. «Господь царствует… – писал он. – Престол Твой утвержден
издавна: Ты – от века» (Пс. 92:1-2). Как бы высоко ни вздымались воды, Божий трон даже не поколеблется.
Оглушительный грохот водопада производит глубокое, завораживающее
впечатление. Впрочем, окажись вы в стремнине, низвергающейся в пропасть,
завороженность быстро прошла бы. Возможно, сегодня вы чувствуете, что
падаете в пропасть: проблемы со здоровьем, деньгами, детьми сбили вас с
ног и влекут в пугающую бездну. Не отчаивайтесь. Есть Тот, Кто сильнее
самых сильных волн, Он – Господь, Который «может сделать несравненно
больше всего, чего мы просим, или о чем помышляем» (Еф. 3:20). Обратитесь к Нему.
Господи, я знаю, что Ты велик и больше всех трудностей, которые могут возникнуть на моем пути. Я доверяюсь Твоей заботе.
Не пытайтесь измерить Божье всемогущество величиной земных затруднений.
Opening Sentence Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 Morning Prayer
For Morn, my dome of blue, For Meadows, green and gay, And Birds who love the twilight of the leaves, Let Jesus keep me joyful when I pray.
For the big Bees that hum And hide in bells of flowers; For the winding roads that come To Evening’s holy door, May Jesus bring me grateful to his arms, And guard my innocence for evermore. Amen.
~ Siegfried Sassoon
Prayer of Confession and Pardon
Holy god, Lord most gracious! Rebuke us not in your anger, nor chasten us in your wrath! Holy you have called us to come to you. We feel unworthy, for we have failed you again and again. We feel like running away, yet you keep calling us. Have mercy on us, O God. Have mercy!
Holy God, Father most gracious! Rebuke us not in your anger, nor chasten us in your wrath! Heal us from our sin, for we are troubled. Deliver us for the sake of your steadfast love. Our sins trouble us, O God. We are troubled by how they have hurt others. We are troubled by how they have hurt us. Your ways are right! O righteous God! And whenever we have refused to follow them we have found out how right they are. Have mercy on us, O God. Holy God, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us for the sake of your Son, who died to free us from our sins. To you be honor and glory! Amen.
Today's Readings The First Reading is taken from 1 Samuel 19:1-18
Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul's son Jonathan took great delight in David. Jonathan told David, "My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; if I learn anything I will tell you." Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, "The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause?" Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, "As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death." So Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. Again there was war, and David went out to fight the Philistines. He launched a heavy attack on them, so that they fled before him. Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music. Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night. Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David's wife Michal told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed." So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped. Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats' hair on its head, and covered it with the clothes. When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." When the messengers came in, the idol was in the bed, with the covering of goats' hair on its head. Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go; why should I kill you?'" Now David fled and escaped; he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and settled at Naioth.
The Second Reading is taken from Acts 12:1-17
About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.) When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, "Fasten your belt and put on your sandals." He did so. Then he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting." As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, "You are out of your mind!" But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel." Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, "Tell this to James and to the believers." Then he left and went to another place.
The Holy Gospel is written in Mark 2:1-12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"
Morning Psalms
Psalm 26Judica 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 28Ad 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 36Dixit 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 39Dixi, 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 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
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 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.
Sissel & Josh Groban-ThePrayer Lyrics I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go And help us to be wise, in times when we don't know. Let this be our prayer, as we go our way: Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace To a place where we'll be safe.
La luce che tu dai I pray we'll find your light Nel cuore resterà And hold it in our hearts A ricordarci che, When stars go out each night, L'eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera Let this be our prayer Quanta fede c'è: When shadows fill our day:
Lead us to a place, guide us with your grace Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sognamo un mondo senza più violenza (We dream of a world without violence) Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza (A world of justice and hope) Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino (Giving our hand to our neighbor) Simbolo di pace e di fraternità. (Symbol of peace and brotherhood.)
La forza che ci dia We ask that life be kind È il desiderio che And watch us from above Ognuno trovi amor We hope each soul will find Intorno e dentro a sè. Another soul to love. Let this be our prayer Just like every child.
E la fede che Need to find a place, Hai acceso in noi guide us with your grace Sento che ci salverà. Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Music and Lyrics by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager Italian lyrics by Alberto Testa/Tony Renis
Alleluia! Christ has risen. Christ has risen indeed. Alleluia!
Closing Prayer
May I go in peace, with God and with his other children, and may we love one another as Christ taught us. May I follow the example of good men of old, and may God comfort and help me and all who believe in Him, both in this world and in the world which is to come. 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.
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
I think Christians have the best songs of any religion on earth. The Christian faith is a singing faith, which is not necessarily true of other religions. They may chant, and they may moan. They may have their various forms of music. But there is no faith that is as full of vibrant, joyful singing as Christianity.
When we come together with God’s people in corporate worship, something wonderful happens. God manifests His presence in a unique way when His people come to honor His name. As Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20).
God is omnipresent, which means that He is everywhere. In a technical sense, He is as present with us when we’re driving as He is when we’re in a church service. On the other hand, when we gather with other believers and lift up His name in praise together, God blesses in a special way. He manifests His presence and even His glory. There is nothing in the world like worship. It is a sense of fulfillment as we do what we were created to do, which is to glorify God.
The Bible tells us in Revelation 15, “And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb” (verses 2–3). We will be singing in Heaven. So let’s start on Earth.
The Spirit-filled church will be a worshiping church. And the Spirit-filled Christian will be a worshiping Christian.
In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny
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Padre
nuestro que estás en el cielo, ¡santificado sea tu nombre! Señor, hoy
venimos delante de ti porque reconocemos que muchas veces somos
culpables de nuestro propio destino. Tomamos decisiones equivocadas y ahora quizá estemos pagando las conse-cuencias. Dios
mío, sé que muchas veces me has puesto alarmas para que no haga cosas
que sabes que me causarán dolor y yo no te he tenido en cuenta. Te
pido perdón y te suplico me des la oportunidad de evitar tomar malas
decisiones. Hoy te prometo que te tendré presente en todo lo que haga
para que me vaya bien. Gracias, mi Dios. Entregamos el resto de este día en tus manos. Guárdanos de todo mal y peligro. Te lo pedimos en el nombre de Jesús, amén y amén.
As
our mourning to God begins the transforming process of our new life in
Christ, so our lifestyle of purity amid the impure can become the
beginning of reconciliation. This Beatitude necessitates the
strictest and most honest self-examination. We are to do everything with
pure, unmixed motives. This demands the death of self and the springing
to life of Christ within the heart. So, blessed are those whose
motives are unmixed and who operate in purity. They shall be given a
vision of God Himself. As we draw closer to Him through purity, we shall
see Him more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly.
Thus:
Blessed are those whose motives are absolutely pure and whose life is characterized by purity, for they will be able to see God.
The
area of moral purity is one major concern of Muslims. Great stress is
laid on modesty in dressing and purity of relationships between the
sexes. But Christians seem so nonchalant about such issues. Is it
because we do not care about purity? No. The difference is in our
starting points. In the Muslim view, purity is from the “outside in.”
For the follower of Jesus it must be from the “inside out.” Thus,
Muslims seek to cleanse themselves knowing they are in need of
cleansing, whereas we know Christ has already cleansed us. But we
tend to disregard the danger that dirt can pose to us and we become
careless. What is important to realize is that a careless disregard for
even the “appearance of evil” will lead people to wrong conclusions and
cause them to stumble. It is not enough to say we are pure. We must be
seen to be pure. A co-worker in China was teaching a class of
believers in which two antagonistic-looking groups of students sat
across from each other, looking as if they were facing enemies. As he
was sharing, some students started crying and others were repenting. He
told them that if they needed to apologize to others, they should
sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to work, and to move them, and to give
them the courage to admit their wrongs to others. He said that God
delights in pure hearted children, and He wants to use submissive,
humble people. Everyone was hugging and crying. Everyone was confessing
his or her sins to each other. The cleansing brought purity to their
relationships. RESPONSE: Today I will seek to live my life in true purity before God with good motives. PRAYER:
Lord, I can only live this way if I listen and respond positively to
the reproving of Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be sensitive to purity
issues.
Friend to Friend Oh how I love the story of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of
blood recorded in Mark 5:21-34. There are so many lessons for us tuck
inside. Let’s look at one more—the feeling of being rejected. I can so relate to this woman. What woman among us hasn’t felt the
wretchedness of rejection, the shame of suffering, and the humility of
hopelessness? What woman hasn’t wondered: Would God care about the likes of me? And here we have a story of just how much God values and esteems His
female image bearers. He singles out one lone woman from a multitude
of curious followers, heals her of her affliction with but a touch, and
then shines the heavenly spotlight center stage for her to testify of
the miraculous transformation. The woman we meet in Mark, chapter five, has been called “the woman
with the issue of blood.” She was defined by what was wrong with her.
For twelve long years, this woman had been bleeding; we can assume it
was vaginally. When we meet her, she is physically, financially,
socially and spiritually drained—bankrupt in every way. In biblical days, certain situations and conditions rendered a
person ceremonially unclean. Leprous people were separated from society
and had to shout, “Unclean! Unclean!” when they walked among common
folk. Anyone who touched a dead body was considered unclean. And women
were considered unclean during their monthly period. For seven days, considered the time of a normal female period, a
woman was secluded. A woman hemorrhaging for twelve years would be
considered permanently unclean. If unmarried, she would not be able to
marry. If married, her condition would be grounds for divorce. She
would be expelled from her home, cut off from her family, and ostracized
by her community. Each doctor’s visit brought a surge of hope and expectation, only to
be swept away when the red flow of despair reappeared. The joy of
tender youth was now a vague memory, crushed by life’s hardness and the
weight of disappointment. The hammer of rejection drove the nails of
isolation into the coffin of her tightly secured heart. Unlike the lame man who was lowered through the roof by four friends
and placed at Jesus’ feet, this woman had no one to intercede for her.
There was no father pleading for his daughter. There was no husband
praying for his wife. There was no master employing Jesus’ help to heal
a servant. When we meet this woman, she is fearful and forgotten. She
is all alone—or so it seemed to her. Sometimes we can feel the same: abandoned by friends, deserted by a spouse, forgotten by family, unseen by society. But she was not forgotten.
She was not alone. This daughter of Abraham was close to God’s heart
and foremost on His mind. So God the Father orchestrated His Son’s
journey to pass her way. This woman understood that Jesus was radically different in his
approach and appreciation of women. She knew full well that she was
overstepping cultural and religious boundaries set out by pious men of
her day, but it was a risk she was willing to take. Two things happened when she touched Jesus. First she was healed. It
was measurable. She felt the flow of blood had ceased. Jesus felt the
power of God released. Secondly, she was revealed. Her courage was cloaked in anonymity
trembling in the fear of exposure, but Jesus was not going to allow her
to “steal” her healing. He wanted to do more than stop the flow of
blood. He wanted to start the flow of ministry. He called her forward
to testify, to tell what had just happened to her so that others would
believe. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering (Mark 5:34). A rabbi did not speak to a woman in public, but once again, Jesus,
the liberator, broke the man-made rules for the God-made woman. He did
not call her out to embarrass or shame her in any way. He called her
center stage to honor her honesty, to commend her courage, and to
validate her valor. He did not reprimand her for breaking the religious
rules, but praised her great faith. Once again, Jesus called a woman out from the shadows and placed her
center stage. No longer was she a woman in need of a healing touch,
but now a believer who had received it and was called on to tell about
it. Let’s Pray Dear LORD, I am so thankful that Jesus didn’t let this woman slip
away with her healing, but called her out to tell what happened. Help
me to speak up about the wonderful things You have done, and are doing
in my life, so others may hear and believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Now It’s Your Turn The Bible doesn’t tell us what happened to the woman after her
healing. What do you think happened to her? What do you think she did
with the rest of her life? How do you think the crowd responded to her healing? What does Revelation 12:11 tell us about the power of our personal testimonies? More from the Girlfriends Today’s devotion was taken from my book, How Jesus Broke the Rules to Set You Free: A Woman’s Walk in Power and Purpose.
In this book we study each woman Jesus encountered in the New Testament
and see how her story is your story. Jesus came to set women free! In a
day when they moved about as shadows in the culture, rarely seen and
seldom heard, Jesus broke the cultural rules to heal them, save them,
and then send them. He risked His reputation to save theirs…and yours.
The book comes with a study guide and is perfect for women’s Bible
study groups. But be prepared, you’ll fall in-love with Jesus all over
again. Click on the book to watch the book trailer. That is a blessing
in its self!
Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to havea personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. Girlfriends in God