Fanny Crosby

Fanny Crosby

Today the church remembers Fanny Crosby, March 24, 1820 – February 12, 1915.

She lived to be 94 years old.  She wrote 8,000 hymns, with more than 100 million copies printed, despite being blind from shortly after birth.

Read the Wikipedia article here.


Listen to one of my favorites below.

The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, March 24, 2018

The Plague of Darkness
Exodus 10:21-29

Daily Readings

SATURDAY, March 24, 2018

Exodus 10:21-11:8
The Plague of Darkness
21 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.” 22 So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. 23 No one could see anyone else or move about for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived. 24 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the Lord. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.” 25 But Moses said, “You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the Lord our God. 26 Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the Lord our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the Lord.” 27 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go. 28 Pharaoh said to Moses, “Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.” 29 “Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.”
The Plague on the Firstborn
11:1 Now the Lord had said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold.” 3 (The Lord made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh’s officials and by the people.) 4 So Moses said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.’ Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, ‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!’ After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.

2 Corinthians 4:13-18
13 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Mark 10:46-52
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” 52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.”

The Morning Prayer for SATURDAY, March 24, 2018

Jesus, thank you for knowing each of your sheep personally. I am so grateful to hear you call my name and to be able to respond. I am humbled that You consider me worthy to be used—in ways big and small—to accomplish Your will here on earth. Help me respond without hesitation whenever I perceive Your voice calling me into action. In Your powerful and equipping Name, I pray, Amen.

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, March 24, 2018

Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen.

Read all of Matthew 22

Listen to Matthew 22

King James Version (KJV), Public Domain.

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - Provision for the Tribes

Provision for the Tribes

The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan, east of the springs of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the Mediterranean Sea. So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

~ Joshua 16:1-4 (NIV)

God fulfilled his promise by giving an allotment of the land to each of the tribes of Israel (Numbers 33:54). Among a huge mass of humanity, God took care to provide for each of the tribes and, consequently, each of the families making up these tribes. The sovereign King of the universe takes personal care of each person who is the recipient of his promise. Two and a half tribes were given land on the east side of the Jordan, while the remaining nine and a half tribes were given territory west of the Jordan.

Jesus also made a remarkable claim recorded in John’s Gospel. He compared himself to a Good Shepherd who would ultimately lay down his life to demonstrate his love and care for his sheep. This shepherding care is seen in the personal attention he gives to each of his sheep. The sheep’s ability to hear and respond to the shepherd’s voice demonstrates their knowledge of him. He calls his sheep, not as a group, but individually—by name. God also keeps those whom he calls, and he will not let any enemy snatch them from his hand (John 10:1-29).

Jesus, thank you for knowing each of your sheep personally. I am so grateful to hear you call my name and to be able to respond. I am humbled that You consider me worthy to be used—in ways big and small—to accomplish Your will here on earth. Help me respond without hesitation whenever I perceive Your voice calling me into action. In Your powerful and equipping Name, I pray, Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

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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. Devotion taken from NIV The Jesus Bible.
God keeps those whom he calls.

Un dia a la Vez - Que la crítica no te desenfoque

Que la crítica no te desenfoque

El Señor afirma los pasos del hombre cuando le agrada su modo de vivir; podrá tropezar, pero no caerá, porque el Señor lo sostiene de la mano.

~ Salmo 37:23-24 (NVI)

Hoy vamos a ver la otra parte, la crítica que no te deja vivir, que no te deja tomar decisiones importantes por pensar en el que dirán. En cosas que dejamos de hacer para que no nos critiquen.

Si te identificas con esta breve introducción, quiero que sepas que el más criticado y el más señalado fue Jesús.

Nosotros debemos entender que siempre existirá la acción de la crítica, pues muchas personas te pueden criticar por envidia. La crítica bien manejada puede ser constructiva y te puede ayudar a corregir cosas en las que tal vez estés fallando.

No obstante, nuestra vida no puede estar solo pendiente de a quién le gusta o quién le parece lo que hacemos o dejamos de hacer.

A veces necesitamos que nos aprueben y la crítica es casi un estilo de vida.

Mi consejo en este día está dividido en dos:

1. La crítica constructiva es importante para evaluar lo que estamos haciendo y no debemos despreciarla. Y, como dice la Palabra de Dios, de lo que te digan saca lo bueno y desecha lo malo: «Examinadlo todo; retened lo bueno» (1 Tesalonicenses 5:21, RV-60).

2. No vivas del que dirán, y esto se ajusta a cualquiera que sea tu ocupación. Recuerda que nunca le caeremos bien a todo el mundo y que a todas las personas no les gustará lo que hacemos en la vida.
Por lo tanto, enfócate en hacer lo que Dios te aprueba y no te desenfoques.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hoy vamos a ver la otra parte, la crítica que no te deja vivir, que no te deja tomar decisiones importantes por pensar en el que dirán. En cosas que dejamos de hacer para que no nos critiquen.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - TO THE GARDEN AND THE CROSS

TO THE GARDEN AND THE CROSS

When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was a garden, and he and his disciples went into it.

~ John 18:1 (NIV)

Today’s devotional comes from a Chinese house church pastor who was arrested and held for three weeks just prior to this talk. He says:

When we suffer for Christ, what actually happens? I mean, what really goes on spiritually within us when we are going through suffering?

I ask the question because a young sister was listening to me recently recount my experience of being in jail for three weeks last year. She said, “You talked of having constant diarrhea, of being kicked and punched painfully, and you even feared that God was punishing you…yet you talked also of feeling joy and experiencing peace.” She said to me, “I don’t understand how these things go together.”

My reply to her, and I give it also as an instruction to you all (for you will all suffer at some point for His Name), is that when we suffer, three spiritual experiences happen to us all at once: angelic strengthening, superhuman forgiveness, and human incomprehension. These three things appear contradictory, but if you suffer, you will find they come together as they did in the life of Christ.

An old Christian used to say to me, “When they lead you away to jail, tell yourself you are merely going with Christ to the Garden of Gethsemane, and to the Cross.” To the Garden, and to the Cross. I liked that. I tested it. It’s true…

So that is why suffering Christians appear to speak out of “both sides of their mouth.” On the one hand we talk of joy and endurance. On the other hand, there is anger at God, pain and a feeling of spiritual desertion. They sit together, because there is always a war of different feelings and emotions.

Although we are angelically strengthened and the recipients of superhuman forgiveness, we also experience a sense of spiritual abandonment as a result of our human incomprehension.

But the greatest thing of all is to walk the way of Christ. That is the privilege of suffering: to suffer a little as our Lord Jesus suffered. As He identified with us by suffering pain, so some are called to identify even more closely with Him by going into the Garden, and onto the Cross.

Never fear, my friends, when you are arrested. You will receive strength. You will also be bewildered. Think of Christ, and follow him into the Garden, and onto the Cross.

For the next three days we will listen to his contrasting explanation of the Garden and the Cross: angelic strengthening; superhuman forgiveness; and human incomprehension.

RESPONSE: Today I will walk with Jesus whether into the Garden or onto the Cross.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that You strengthen Your people in preparation for suffering and even during it.

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

The NIV Couples Devotional - Coming to Terms With the Past

Coming to Terms With the Past

Read Jeremiah 33:1–26

“I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

~ Jeremiah 33:6 (NIV)

A pastor friend told the story of a couple who had come to him for counseling. The couple had been married 40 or so years, and they were both plagued with guilt. They hadn’t become Christians until their later years, and, prior to that, they had both lived sexually immoral lives. Although they had been faithful to each other during their marriage, their past dips into immorality were now making them feel guilty for enjoying sex with each other.

The pastor thought for a moment, then asked the couple to name their favorite hymn. They both said at the same time, “It Is Well With My Soul.” So the pastor told them to go home and either listen to or sing the hymn every night before they went to bed.

A week later the couple returned to the pastor’s office. They told him that they had felt foolish at first, but they had sung their favorite hymn together each night. The wife blushed and the husband got teary eyed as he told the pastor, “When we got to the part that says, ‘My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O, my soul!’ well… after all these years we feel fresh and squeaky clean and new all over again.”

Throughout the Bible, God’s relationship with Israel was tested over and over by Israel’s sin. The book of Jeremiah talks about the horrible result of that sin. When the prophet received the prophecy recorded in chapter 33, Jerusalem was under siege from the invading Babylonians. Soon God would allow his people to be carried away from their land into captivity and their land to be destroyed. Like the couple who wrestled with memories of past sins, the Israelites would live with heartrending images of how their unfaithfulness to God had resulted in the burning and pillaging of their land. Their city would be filled with dead bodies.

But the story doesn’t end there. The prophet went on to say that because of God’s immense love, God would heal Israel’s pain, cleanse the people from their sin, and restore them to abundant peace and security. “Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it,” God said (Jeremiah 33:9).

Likewise, God does not want us to be forever burdened with our past sins. “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” says Romans 6:18. And Romans 6:4 promises, “We were therefore buried with him . . . in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

So too is the promise for our marriages, which so often bend under the load of sins, both past and present. We must be honest with ourselves, with the Lord and with each other about memories or habits or activities that may be eroding our relationship and then deal with them. But we can do so in the joy of knowing that in Christ we can find forgiveness, restoration and a new start.

Nancy Kennedy

Let’s Talk

• What are some things from the past that each of us are still struggling with?
• How are they affecting our marriage?
• How can we talk about those struggles in a way that builds up our marriage?

What are some things from the past that each of us are still struggling with?

LHM Devotion - March 24, 2018 - The King of the Jews

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"The King of the Jews"

Mar. 24, 2018

Read John 19:18-22

Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."

~ John 19:19 (ESV)

When the Romans crucified someone, they often put a notice on the cross over the criminal's head. This was called the "titulus," and it was there to tell everybody what crime was being punished.

When Pilate wrote the inscription to post over Jesus' head, he did it in three languages: Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. He wanted to be sure as many people as possible would be able to read it, no matter which local language they spoke. All three phrases said the same thing: "the King of the Jews."

Jesus' notice marked Him as a rebel against the Roman government. Pilate knew it was a lie, of course; he knew Jesus was innocent. But by posting those words over Jesus' head, Pilate had the chance to insult the Jewish leaders who had maneuvered him so successfully into executing a man he didn't want to kill. And so all unknowingly, Pilate gave Jesus His true title.

Because of course that is exactly what Jesus is: the Lord God Himself, the King of the Jews, the King of Israel. God claimed this title for Himself long ago, in the days of Moses and of Samuel (Deuteronomy 33:5; 1 Samuel 8:7). Pilate wrote more truly than he realized.

This is our King -- the God who chose Abraham long ago to create a people belonging to Him; the Lord who taught them patiently what it meant to belong to a holy yet merciful God; the Savior who laid down His own life in order to save us all. And now He is not King of the Jews only, but the risen King of heaven and earth -- Jesus, our Savior.

THE PRAYER: You are our Servant King, who died and rose again to save us. Thank You. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What titles do you hold? Are you a worker, parent, teacher, committee member, citizen-what?

Devocional del CPTLN de 24 de Marzo de 2018 - EL REY DE LOS JUDÍOS

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"EL REY DE LOS JUDÍOS"

24 de Marzo de 2018

Leer Juan 19:18-22

Pilato escribió también un título, que puso sobre la cruz, el cual decía: JESÚS NAZARENO, REY DE LOS JUDÍOS.

~ Juan 19:19 (RVC)

Cuando los romanos crucificaban a alguien, a menudo ponían un letrero sobre la cabeza del criminal. A eso se lo conocía en latín como "titulus", o título, y se utilizaba para informar qué crimen se estaba castigando.

Cuando Pilato anotó la inscripción a poner arriba de la cabeza de Jesús, lo hizo en tres idiomas: arameo, latín y griego, porque quería asegurarse que la mayor cantidad posible de personas pudiera leerlo, más allá del idioma que hablaran. Los tres títulos decían lo mismo: "Rey de los Judíos".

El título de Jesús lo marcaba como un rebelde contra el gobierno romano. Por supuesto que Pilato sabía que era una mentira: Jesús era inocente. Pero al poner esas palabras sobre la cabeza de Jesús, Pilato tenía la posibilidad de insultar a los líderes judíos que lo habían manipulado para que ejecutara a un hombre a quien no quería matar. Y así, sin saberlo, Pilato le dio a Jesús su título verdadero.

Porque eso es exactamente lo que Jesús es: el Señor Dios, el Rey de los Judíos, el Rey de Israel. Dios ya se había adjudicado ese título mucho tiempo antes, en los días de Moisés y de Samuel (Deuteronomio 33:5; 1 Samuel 8:7). Pilato escribió una verdad mucho más grande de lo que se dio cuenta.

Ese es nuestro Rey: el Dios que eligió a Abraham para crear un pueblo para sí; el Señor que les enseñó pacientemente lo que significa pertenecer a un Dios santo y misericordioso; el Salvador que dio su vida para salvar la nuestra. Y ahora, él no es sólo Rey de los Judíos, sino el Rey de los cielos y la tierra: Jesús, nuestro salvador.

ORACIÓN: Tú eres nuestro Rey y Siervo, que has muerto y resucitado para salvarnos. A ti honramos y alabamos. Amén.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué títulos tienes? ¿Es usted un trabajador, padre, maestro, miembro del comité, ciudadano, qué?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Sức Mạnh Của Sự Làm Gương

Sức Mạnh Của Sự Làm Gương

Đọc: II Ti-mô-thê 3:10-17 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Giô-suê 16-18, Lu-ca 2:1-24

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Cả Kinh Thánh đều được Đức Chúa Trời cảm thúc, có ích cho sự dạy dỗ, khiển trách, sửa trị và huấn luyện trong sự công chính. II Ti-mô-thê 3:16

Mọi nỗ lực để sửa chữa vật dụng trong nhà thường dẫn đến chuyện tôi phải trả tiền thuê người khắc phục những thiệt hại mà tôi gây ra trong lúc cố gắng sửa chữa món đồ bị hư. Nhưng gần đây, tôi đã sửa thành công một món đồ gia dụng nhờ xem đoạn phim hướng dẫn trên YouTube về cách sửa món đồ đó từng bước.

Phao-lô là tấm gương mạnh mẽ cho người học trò trẻ Ti-mô-thê, người đã đi cùng ông và quan sát những điều ông làm. Từ nhà tù La Mã, Phao-lô viết: “Về phần con, con đã theo sát các lời dạy dỗ, cách cư xử, mục đích sống, đức tin, lòng kiên nhẫn, tình yêu thương, lòng kiên định của ta; cũng như trong những cơn bắt bớ, nỗi khổ đau” (II Tim. 3:10-11). Ngoài ra, ông còn khích lệ Ti-mô-thê “giữ vững những gì con đã học và tin quyết, vì con biết mình đã học những điều đó với ai, và từ thuở ấu thơ con đã biết Kinh Thánh” (c.14-15).

Cuộc đời Phao-lô đã chứng minh rằng chúng ta phải xây dựng cuộc đời mình trên nền tảng vững chắc là Lời Chúa. Ông nhắc nhở Ti-mô-thê rằng Kinh Thánh là năng quyền, là nguồn lực Chúa ban để dạy và hướng dẫn những ai muốn bước theo Đấng Christ.

Khi chúng ta cảm ơn Chúa về những người đã giúp mình tăng trưởng trong đức tin, chúng ta cũng được thách thức để noi gương họ, sống bày tỏ lẽ thật mà chúng ta dạy dỗ và khích lệ người khác.

Đó chính là sức mạnh của sự làm gương.

Lạy Chúa, giống như nhiều người đã bày tỏ lẽ thật của Ngài cho chúng con, xin giúp chúng con cũng bày tỏ cho người khác nữa.

Chúng ta được kêu gọi để sống theo Lời Chúa khi dạy và khích lệ người khác.

bởi David McCasland

© 2018 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Chúng ta được kêu gọi để sống theo Lời Chúa khi dạy và khích lệ người khác.