The Daily Readings for TUESDAY, February 13, 2018

Jesus before Pilate
John 18:28-38

Daily Readings

Proverbs 30:1-4, 30:24-33

The words of Agur son of Jakeh. An oracle. Thus says the man: I am weary, O God, I am weary, O God. How can I prevail? Surely I am too stupid to be human; I do not have human understanding. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the holy ones. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of the person's child? Surely you know! Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people without strength, yet they provide their food in the summer; the badgers are a people without power, yet they make their homes in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank; the lizard can be grasped in the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces. Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their gait: the lion, which is mightiest among wild animals and does not turn back before any; the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people. If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For as pressing milk produces curds, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing anger produces strife.

Philippians 3:1-11

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh-- even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

John 18:28-38

Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?" They answered, "If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you." Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death." (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Pilate asked him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no case against him.

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.
Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?"

Prayer of the Day for TUESDAY, February 13, 2018

Heavenly Father, I praise You that You are always in control and I pray that You will show us the power of prayer. Father please breathe hope into our marriage, showing us and speaking to us that You can heal, restore and rebuild our covenant before You. Lord, we praise You and thank You that we have confidence in approaching You in intercession; that if we ask in anything according to Your will, You hear us. Father please restore our “First Love” for Jesus Christ and our passion for one another. Lord, we lift our marriage and all the other marriages around the world to You Lord and trust You to protect us from the evil one. In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, I pray.

Amen

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, February 13, 2018

1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 13

Listen to 1 Corinthians 13

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

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Daily Choice

Daily Choice

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:8 (NIV)

Perhaps your marriage isn’t delivering the fairy-tale life you’d dreamed of. Your prince devotes all his time and energy to work, sports, the computer, the car, the yard—anything but you. He’s more like a roommate than the soul mate you’d hoped for. And you’re starting to wonder if it’s worth staying or if you should just give up. But real life isn’t a fairy tale, and real love isn’t a fuzzy feeling—it’s a choice God calls you to make each moment of each day. Choose to love your husband with the same unconditional love God continually shows you.

Reflect & Pray:

How has God shown his love for you in a very tangible, personal way?
Which aspect of 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 is the most difficult for you to express?
How can you show unconditional love to your family today?

Heavenly Father, I praise You that You are always in control and I pray that You will show us the power of prayer. Father please breathe hope into our marriage, showing us and speaking to us that You can heal, restore and rebuild our covenant before You. Lord, we praise You and thank You that we have confidence in approaching You in intercession; that if we ask in anything according to Your will, You hear us. Father please restore our “First Love” for Jesus Christ and our passion for one another. Lord, we lift our marriage and all the other marriages around the world to You Lord and trust You to protect us from the evil one. In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen

Taken from NIV Busy Mom’s Bible

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Perhaps your marriage isn’t delivering the fairy-tale life you’d dreamed of.

Un dia a la Vez - Cuando te roban el gozo

Cuando te roban el gozo

Por tu nombre, Señor, dame vida; por tu justicia, sácame de este aprieto.

~ Salmo 143:11 (NVI)

¿Cuántas veces te ha sucedido esto? Nos levantamos con alegría y con ánimo. Es más, llevamos un día feliz. Entonces, de repente, ¡pumba! Ya sea tu hijo, tu hija, tu esposo, tu jefe, tu compañero de trabajo o incluso alguien que te cerró el camino cuando manejabas, te daña literalmente el día. Una discusión, una injusticia, un mal comentario de alguien que no esperabas, una reacción diferente de tu pareja. De modo que sientes que se te viene todo abajo y se transforma tu día y también tu actitud.

Esa cara feliz que traíamos cambia en de segundos por una cara amargada, quizá con llanto y ganas de decirle a esa persona unas cuantas cosas. En verdad, no queremos expresar palabras de bendición… Ja, ja, ja.

Sin embargo, es ahí donde debe aparecer la otra parte. ¿Cómo debemos reaccionar ante situaciones tan comunes? No podemos dejar que nada ni nadie nos roben el gozo. No podemos permitir que por un momento de ira hagamos o digamos cosas de las que nos vamos arrepentir después.

Siempre hemos escuchado que, cuando te enojes, cuenta hasta diez, respira profundo y medita en las cosas lindas que ya viviste en el día. ¡Eso es todo! Cada día se presentarán momentos que te llevarán al límite de tu reacción. Lo más importante es que no nos quedemos ahí, en las circunstancias, en la incomodad del momento. Por el contrario, debemos pedirle a Dios que nos dé la calma y la paz para seguir adelante. No nos dejemos robar la alegría. Es un regalo de Dios para nuestras vidas.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Cuántas veces te ha sucedido esto?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD

I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

~ Habakkuk 3: 17-18 (NIV)

Cuba is an island full of color, warmth and smells, yet it is also run down and dilapidated. This island seems to be open, but it is subject to many restrictions. Almost all Cubans experience shortages of literally everything.

Christians can be found throughout Cuba, and shortages are extreme for them. There is a chronic shortage of Bibles and Christian literature. “Every month, we have baptism services and we often have tens and sometimes dozens of new Christians being baptized,” reported a female pastor. “Due to the shortage of Bibles, we do not give people a Bible when they convert. They first have the possibility to enter a ‘Christianity course’ before being baptized. Once people have finished the course and have been baptized, they receive a Bible. This way we have more certainty that the Bible will really be used.”

Christian leadership is lacking in Cuba. “There is a shortage of good, solid Christian leadership in the churches. We don’t have the knowledge and could really use good study material on biblical leadership,” stated a Cuban pastor.

Christians lack places to worship together. One pastor in Cuba said, “We don’t have our own building and our houses are too small to meet in. Every Sunday we use all the means of transport that we can find to go out into the countryside. There we're less conspicuous and we can hold an open-air service. But if it’s raining or too windy, it has to be called off. That’s a pity, because we like meeting together so much.”

Another pastor said, “We don’t get permission to build new churches or church buildings. Only the church buildings that have been here before 1959 are officially registered as church buildings. Since then, it has not been possible to obtain permits for new church buildings.”

When a pastor was asked what his greatest wish is, he replied, “To conquer the city for Jesus Christ!” This is the dream of many Cuban Christians, who show their resiliency in the midst of restrictions. Are there too few Bibles? Then they simply share Bibles with each other and copy out Bible texts. Is it prohibited to proclaim God’s Word outside your church building? Then they make sure that the music and the words of the psalms and hymns are heard through the open windows of the building. When the police drive them away while evangelizing on the street, then they carry on somewhere else tomorrow. The scripture above is sung as a favorite hymn.

Cuban Christians see the restrictions as a challenge. They have the courage to dream. They stand up for their faith. In this way, the Word is heard and the Church in Cuba is growing.

RESPONSE: Today I will follow the example of Cuban Christians and rejoice in Jesus and serve Him faithfully even when the necessities and comforts of life are absent.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to be so dependent on You that I can sing the closing song of Habakkuk too.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

Girlfriends in God - Simply Trusting

Simply Trusting

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

TrustGod from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God!

~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)

Friend to Friend

After a long and tenacious conversation with the orthopedic surgeon, I finally resigned myself to the fact that shoulder surgery was in my near future. I had managed to separate my shoulder – and a Southerland does nothing half way. Oh, no! I even looked it up. And I quote, “Surgical intervention when treating a separated shoulder is very rare and only performed in the most severe cases.” I was a severe case, which was evidenced by the amount of pain I was in, but refused to admit. I had endured said pain for 10 days until I finally gave in and went to my general practitioner who promptly sent me to an orthopedic surgeon. I said, “Fine! I will go, but I am not having surgery.” Famous last words.

The surgery was scheduled and all of the necessary tests were run. I asked my prayer team to pray. I asked my sister’s prayer team to pray. Our church was praying. We were ready!

Dan scheduled time away from the church office to take care of me and had even arranged for us to stay at a friend’s cabin for a week. Our son, daughter-in-law, and their four beautiful children were living with us at the time. The kids ranged from 9 years old down to one year of age – great kids – but still kids.

As Dan and I drove to the hospital, we talked about how good God had been to work everything out in such a beautiful way.

Remember that statement.

When we arrived at the hospital, I was checked in and prepped for surgery. The kind nurse with the nice sleep medicine was just about to give me a sedative when the lab technician stepped into the room and said, “You might want to wait on that.” I did not like her tone of voice.

The head nurse read the blood work report, looked at me with sad eyes, and broke the news. “Mary, your potassium is way too low for you to have general anesthetic.” Surely I had heard her wrong. “What was that?” I asked. She repeated herself and the news slowly sank in. No amount of begging or pleading changed her mind.

I got dressed without a word and headed for the nearest exit. Dan was saying something about this being God’s plan and that I wouldn’t want to be in a surgical room if God didn’t want me there. I didn’t want to hear it! I had a plan and that’s all there was to it!

Being the mature believer that I am, I cried like a baby all the way home. And then I got angry! They told me to quit taking all of my supplements two weeks before surgery and I did. Potassium is one of those supplements, so this flaw in my plan was their fault!

It took me quite a while to settle down. And then I began to ask God what in the world had happened and why? Silence. Well, there must be some important reason – like the doctor was too tired or some evil nurse planned to take me out. Nothing.

I finally gave up – and that is when I heard Him whisper, “Mary, when are you going to learn how to fully trust me, to rest in My perfect plan for your life, and just be held?”

I honestly did not know the answer to that question. I have been a follower of Christ for so many years and still don’t have this lesson learned. I have come a very long way from when I was an insecure and timid believer – but not far enough.

I finally took a deep breath and prayed, “Lord, please forgive me for my lack of faith in You and in Your plan for my life. I don’t have a clue why this surgery has worked out like it has, but I trust You. I just simply choose to trust You. I know You love me and have only the very best for me. So instead of trusting men and circumstances - and even my most well thought out plan - today I trust You.”

The lump in my throat and the knot in my stomach both dissolved. My heart settled and my soul was at peace. Two weeks later I had the surgery … and everything went beautifully. God’s plan may very well have been to remind me that when I trust Him, His perfect plan will always rise. I have to learn to celebrate when my plan doesn’t come together – but God’s plan does!

Let’s Pray

Father, I want to trust You, but my faith is so weak. Please help me learn to rely on You instead of on things I can see and touch and feel. Teach me how to step out in faith, trusting You to make a way for me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen

Now it’s Your Turn

I love this acronym for faith:

            Forsaking
            All
            I
            Trust
            Him

In your journal, create your own acronym and ask God to make you a woman of faith.

More from the Girlfriends

I think we all struggle with trusting God from time to time. Don’t let your experience determine your belief. Let your belief determine your experience.

Need help? Mary’s CD, Divine Surprises: 7 Habits of a Successful Woman, will help you to become the woman of faith you have always dreamed of being.

Be sure to check out Mary’s book excerpts, articles, and FREE MP3s. Connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

After a long and tenacious conversation with the orthopedic surgeon, I finally resigned myself to the fact that shoulder surgery was in my near future.

LHM Devotion - February 13, 2018 "Foolishness"

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Foolishness"

Feb. 13, 2018

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

~ 1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and during Lent these Daily Devotions will be replaced by a special and original set of devotions written by Dr. Kari Vo. Entitled Silent Witnesses, they will look at the Gospels with the intent of exploring ordinary, behind the scenes features which speak volumes about God's love and mercy toward us. I am sure you, like me, will enjoy these meditations. By God's grace, regular devotions will resume again on April 2nd. Till then, God bless. Pastor Klaus

The Bible is clear: Solomon was a very smart fellow.

To illustrate Solomon's wisdom, the Bible tells of how he found the true mother of a child who was being claimed by two women. No doubt about it, what Solomon showed that day was a powerful understanding of human psychology. (See the story in 1 Kings 3:16-28.)

From what I remember, there are times in the year when most pastors pray to have Solomon's wisdom in how to divide, not a baby, but their time. Need a few examples? Fine.

1. What should a minister celebrate: Mother's Day and Father's Day which are not church holidays or the Sunday on which those special days fall?

2. Should he remember the Fourth of July, New Year's, Super Bowl Sunday, or leave them unmentioned?

3. What should he do with September 11 or Memorial Day or Labor Day or, well, you get the idea.

Now don't think this matter is trivial. It isn't. Take it from one who knows; it is a dangerous thing not to mention Mothers on Mother's Day.

Well, during the next few weeks we have a similar problem. For example, let me ask you to finish this statement: "Tomorrow we are celebrating _____." (Fill in the blank.) Did you say we are remembering Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, or did you say we are celebrating Valentine's Day?

The two are almost as different as festivals can be. They have different emphases, different purposes, different directions and goals. Now I can tell you the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago has said Ash Wednesday is more important than Valentine's Day. They recommend Valentine's Day be celebrated a day earlier on Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Yes, that's what's happening in Chicago. At your church, I don't know. You will just have to go there to find out what your pastor is going to do.

Now, if you noted, the previous paragraph began, "almost as different as two festivals can be ..."

Almost as different. You see, there is another upcoming date which has an even bigger conflict. This year Resurrection Sunday falls on April 1st -- also known as April Fool's Day. Now I can tell you what the unbeliever's of the world are going to do. They will say that the story of Jesus' rising is the biggest April Fool's joke ever played on humanity. They will say anyone who believes in the resurrection is a first-class fool.

As for me, if I were in a pulpit that day I would see and say it differently.

For example, I would probably refer to one of my father's favorite expressions: "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

From there, I would talk about how the biggest joke which has ever been played upon humankind took place in the Garden of Eden. That was when Satan convinced Adam and Eve to believe him and distrust the Lord who had made them and daily gave them all they needed.

And the second biggest joke ever played? That sad and sorry joke is being played out right now as Satan, once again, tells us to disregard the Lord who has shown His love for us in the life, death, and resurrection of our Redeemer. The question is will we allow Satan to fool us again? If so, as the adage says, "Fool me twice, shame on me."

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that You have not only given Your Son to be my Savior, but You have also opened my heart so He might be welcomed. In Jesus' Name I give thanks. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, and during Lent these Daily Devotions will be replaced by a special and original set of devotions written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Devocional del CPTLN de 13 de Febrero de 2018 "Adiós al Día de San Valentín"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"Adiós al Día de San Valentín"

13 de Febrero de 2018

Acuérdense de sus pastores, que les dieron a conocer la palabra de Dios. Piensen en los resultados de su conducta, e imiten su fe.

~ Hebreos 13:7 (RVC)

Si fuera policía, algunas leyes me resultarían fáciles de hacer cumplir, pero otras no tanto. Una ley fácil de hacer cumplir, por ejemplo, sería: "Arrestar a toda persona que le venda drogas a niños". Pero no me sería fácil tener que desalojar a una familia de su casa porque no pueden pagar la hipoteca.

Hay leyes fáciles y leyes difíciles.

Si fuera policía en Arabia Saudita, creo que me sería difícil hacer cumplir las leyes que prohíben la celebración del Día de San Valentín, así como también la celebración del Día de la Madre y de los cumpleaños.

Mucho antes del Día de San Valentín, la policía comienza a visitar las tiendas y hace guardar todo lo que sea rojo. ¿La razón? Estas celebraciones son cristianas, y el gobierno de Arabia Saudita no quiere tener nada que ver con cualquier cosa que esté relacionada con el cristianismo. ¿Se da cuenta por qué sería difícil hacer cumplir esas leyes?

El escritor de Hebreos está muy en lo cierto cuando dice: "Acuérdense de sus dirigentes, que les comunicaron la palabra de Dios." Esta es una ley que con gusto alentaría a que las personas siguieran.

Sin lugar a dudas, hay leyes que son más fáciles de cumplir, y una religión en la cual es mejor creer.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre, te doy gracias por los líderes cristianos que me han enseñado tu Palabra. Te doy gracias porque con sus palabras y acciones han reflejado el amor de Jesús en mi vida. Ayúdame para que, por tu gracia, yo pueda hacer lo mismo con quienes me rodean. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

A partir de mañana, 14 de febrero (Miércoles de Ceniza) y hasta el 1ro de abril, estas Devociones Diarias serán reemplazadas por las Devociones de Cuaresma 2018 de Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Hay leyes fáciles y leyes difíciles.

Notre Pain Quotidien - Un bol à bénédictions

Un bol à bénédictions

Lisez : Romains 1.1-10

La Bible en un an : Lévitique 14 ; Matthieu 26.51-75

Je rends grâces à mon Dieu de tout le souvenir que je garde de vous. Philippiens 1.3

Le bip bien connu signalant l’arrivée d’un courriel a capté mon attention tandis que j’écrivais à l’ordinateur. Normalement, j’essaie de résister à la tentation de vérifier chaque courriel, mais l’objet de celui‑ci était trop séduisant : « Tu es une bénédiction. »

Me hâtant de l’ouvrir, j’y ai découvert le message d’une amie vivant très loin de chez moi qui me disait qu’elle priait pour ma famille. Chaque semaine, elle plaçait la photo d’une carte de Noël dans le « bol à bénédictions » sur sa table de cuisine et priait pour cette famille. Elle m’écrivait ceci : « Je rends grâces à mon Dieu de tout le souvenir que je garde de vous » (PH 1.3), puis elle soulignait nos efforts pour communiquer l’amour de Dieu aux autres – notre « partenariat » dans l’Évangile.

Or, je présume que ce mot de remerciement de Paul m’a procuré autant de joie qu’aux croyants de Philippes au I^er siècle, ses premiers destinataires. Il semblerait que Paul ait pris l’habitude d’exprimer sa gratitude à ses compagnons d’œuvre, par la même salutation dans plusieurs de ses lettres : « Je rends d’abord grâces à mon Dieu par Jésus‑Christ, au sujet de vous tous, de ce que votre foi est renommée dans le monde entier » (RO 1.8).

Au I^er siècle, Paul a béni ses compagnons d’œuvre en leur envoyant un mot de remerciement empreint de prières. Au XXI^e siècle, mon amie s’est servie d’un bol à bénédictions pour égayer ma journée. Remercions‑nous souvent les gens qui servent Dieu en mission avec nous ?

Qui pourriez-vous remercier aujourd’hui ?

par Elisa Morgan

© 2018 Ministères NPQ
Le bip bien connu signalant l’arrivée d’un courriel a capté mon attention tandis que j’écrivais à l’ordinateur.