The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, August 30, 2018

Cornelius greets Peter
Acts 10:17-33

The Daily Readings

THURSDAY, August 30, 2018

Old Testament

Job 8:1-10, 20-22
Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent
8:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

2 “How long will you say these things,
    and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice?
    Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children sinned against him,
    he delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God
    and make supplication to the Almighty,
6 if you are pure and upright,
    surely then he will rouse himself for you
    and restore to you your rightful place.
7 Though your beginning was small,
    your latter days will be very great.

8 “For inquire now of bygone generations,
    and consider what their ancestors have found;
9 for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing,
    for our days on earth are but a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you
    and utter words out of their understanding?

20 “See, God will not reject a blameless person,
    nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
    and your lips with shouts of joy.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame,
    and the tent of the wicked will be no more.”

The Epistle

Acts 10:17-33
10:17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Look, three men are searching for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.” 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?” 22 They answered, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, “Stand up; I am only a mortal.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, “You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this very hour, at three o’clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

The Gospel

John 7:14-36
7:14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15 The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” 16 Then Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17 Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

19 “Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Is This the Christ?
25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, “Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26 And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27 Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 28 Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, “You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. 29 I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 30 Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. 31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, “When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?”

Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34 You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will search for me and you will not find me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
On Peter’s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him.

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, August 30, 2018

Thursday morning prayer

Lord on this day I remember that You go before me, so I pause to meditate on Your promises. Thank You Lord that You go with me, You lay a pathway, You watch over me like a shepherd. So I give You my fears, worries and anxieties. I lay all tension and stress at the foot of the cross. Thank You that You arose from the death, and that You bring life, freedom, hope and the promise of Heaven! Praise You that I am safe in Your presence.

May Thursday be a hope filled day, that floods my fears with light, a day that quiets all anxious thoughts as I encounter Christ. Let Thursday always prompt my heart to stop and find Your peace, and live upon the truth You give my eyes to You I lift.

Amen

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, August 30, 2018

Galatians 3:28 (NIV) There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Read all of Galatians 3

Listen to Galatians 3

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

Un dia a la Vez - Beneficios de la sanidad

Beneficios de la sanidad

Amado, yo deseo que tú seas prosperado en todas las cosas, y que tengas salud, así como prospera tu alma.

~ 3 Juan 1:2 (RV-60)

Estos días estamos aprendiendo lo importante y lo benéfico que es tener la sanidad del alma.

¿Sabías que muchas de las enfermedades son producto del rencor y la falta de perdón? Las heridas que han quedado abiertas nos mantienen frustrados y con raíces de amargura que con el paso del tiempo se manifiestan en enfermedades.

Tú deseas un hogar, unos hijos y una vida en paz y feliz. Por eso necesitas mirar hacia dentro y pedirle a Dios que te muestre esas partes de tu vida que necesitan sanidad y libertad. Te sentirás diferente cuando le permitas a que Dios obre en ti.

El Señor nos da promesas de libertad y de bendición. Lo que a veces sucede es que nosotros mismos detenemos esas promesas. Siéntete libre hoy y dile a Dios tu deseo de cambiar.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
¿Sabías que muchas de las enfermedades son producto del rencor y la falta de perdón?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - REJOICE IN THE LORD

REJOICE IN THE LORD

Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!

~ Philippians 3:1a (NIV)

We’ve been learning personal lessons from prison from Pastor Okuk Ojulu in Ethiopia as he shared them with Jim Cunningham.
He says, “The fourth lesson is to Rejoice in the Lord always in the prison.

“Prison means cutting off almost all your freedoms from the previous life. The devil is more pressing in the prison than anywhere in life, preaching negatives things to us. The most powerful tool for victory in our Christian lives in the midst of negatives is to preach positives to defeat the devil of negatives. In other words, it is to develop a positive attitude in a hostile situation like in the prison.

“In Philippians 3:1, it says, Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoicing in the Lord always enables us to approach the burning bush for a release from the prison. Let our prayer contain: “Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

“I hope this kind of prayer can discipline us, and help make us approach the Lord very closely in the burning bush—the very place where we can hear a distilled voice from Him for the deliverance of many in their misery. The burning bush does not burn us up, but it makes us remove our sandals when we approach it.”

Pastor Okuk was released after three and a half years and God has rewarded his ministry, even his family. One of his daughters was chosen as Miss Ethiopia which paid for her education.

He continues to minister in freedom but with new perspectives based on his prison life.

Prison experiences are very personal and very impacting. I think that must be why I enjoy reading memoirs of Christians who have been in prison. They are so positive and uplifting compared to those of non-Christians.

I especially remember the prayer of a Christian brother who was in prison for years in Romania during the difficult years of the cold war. He prayed:

“Lord, I look forward to the great day I see you and your family in heaven. I look forward to seeing the great evangelists standing before you. I look forward to the day I see all the missionaries coming home rejoicing with their sheaves. I look forward to hearing all the great singers of the world praising you. I look forward to seeing the great preachers of the ages standing before you.

“But Lord, I have one special request. When that day comes, allow me to be there in the clothing of a prisoner. I want to praise you throughout eternity in my prisoner’s clothes to always remind me that I was a prisoner for you.”

RESPONSE: Today I will rejoice in the Lord in the face of all the negatives that Satan tries to throw at me.

PRAYER: Lord, You are worthy of my praise and joyfulness no matter what circumstances I am in.

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

NIV Devotionals for Men - The Reality of Revelry

The Reality of Revelry

2 Samuel 22:1–7
Recommended Reading: Exodus 15:1–21; Psalm 18:1–50; Luke 1:46–55; Acts 16:16–40

“Music is an outburst of the soul.”

While this expression came from 19th-century English composer Frederick Delius, it could easily describe King David’s attitude toward worship.

The people around David probably grew accustomed to his musical outbursts. After all, it was King David—much to the chagrin of Saul’s daughter—who “[danced] before the LORD with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). Moreover, David wrote many of the psalms. We can imagine the shepherd-king in his bedchamber at night strumming his harp and composing another song to the Lord. Yet David was hardly a soloist in the family of God.

The whole Bible reverberates with the songs of people so enraptured by God’s work that their day-to-day lives gave way to melody. Moses and Miriam harmonized praise after God had led his people out of Egypt (see Exodus 15:1–21). Solomon crooned his way through Song of Songs, celebrating the marriage relationship between a husband and wife. Isaiah offered a prophetic song from the coming choir of the new Jerusalem (see Isaiah 26). Mary, when told that she would give birth to the Son of God, lifted a song to the child’s Father in heaven (see Luke 1:46–55). Paul and Silas shouted their praise, and God split the walls of their cellblock (see Acts 16:25–26). The Bible is full of the songs of God’s people.

What does this Biblical legacy of song say about us? We sing, as Moses, David and Mary sang, because God is worthy of song. When David opened his song (see 2 Samuel 22), the attributes of God came streaming out of the king’s mouth so quickly that he barely formed sentences—my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my shield, my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge.

Like David, may we be so overcome by the knowledge of God that our natural response is to burst forth in song. May we sing from a heart-knowledge of God—longing after him with our greatest affections and deepest desires.

To Take Away

• When in your life have you so keenly sensed God’s presence that you could have burst forth into song?
• How would you describe or rate your heart-knowledge of God?
• What steps can you take to deepen your delight in the character of God?

Music is an outburst of the soul.

Girlfriends in God - What Works Better than Worry

What Works Better than Worry

Holley Gerth

Today’s Truth

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

~ Luke 12:25 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

The phone call comes. Hard news on the other end of the line. I listen and nod. By the time I hang up I feel a weight on my shoulders, like it all depends on me. I begin to worry. This is what I can do, isn’t it? I can carry this around like a dog with an old bone. I can gnaw and twist, bury it and dig it up again. Surely this will be helpful, certainly this will save the day.

But into that place of fear there comes a God-whisper in my heart, “Your worry cannot change the world, only I can.”

Luke 12:25 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?”

Who of us by worrying can make the prodigal come home, the marriage be restored, the meeting go well, the weight come off, the lights come on, the kids stay safe, the wrong be undone, the project turn out right?

Worry is seductive because it feels like control. If we are worrying then we must be taking action. We must be turning the tide. But this is only a distraction and deception. It’s a shiny object for us to chase to keep us from going to the One who can actually get it done.

When I realize this it doesn’t feel like a rebuke; it feels like a relief. Jesus, in all His gentleness and kindness, His extravagant mercy and care, has taken the boulder from my hands and said, “It doesn’t depend on you.” As I picture this I see the scars on His own palms, hear His voice on the cross saying, “It is finished.”

Isn’t that what we really want to know? That someone is taking care of it, of them, of the situation, the circumstance, the thing that makes us make our pillow soggy with salty tears. This is what God says He will do. He will look out for the sparrows with their wispy feathers and fragile bones. And for us too, with our tender hearts and glass lives.

And even when the worst comes, when everything shatters, He can make it (and us) whole again.

After the call I sit on the edge of my bed and listen to a song, headphones in my ears, hands folded on my lap. I whisper, “God, I release this person I love to You.” I add more words, requests, and hopes. I will say this again in the kitchen. In the car. As I sit in a coffee shop. Because it takes more than one time to win the battle against worry. It’s an ongoing choice, one we falter with often. This is alright because Jesus understands what it is to be human.

What frees our hearts isn't worry; it's worship. In other words, taking all the hard things to Someone who cares for us. Choosing to trust and let go. Believing through the blood, sweat and tears He will mysteriously work it all together for good.

Here's what we can rest in today: The only One who has ever been able to bear the weight of the world on His shoulders is still strong and loving enough to carry all that concerns us too.

Let’s Pray

God, You are the One who cares for us. I come to You with all that concerns me and release it into Your hands knowing You are good and I can trust You. Surround me with Your love, fill me with Your peace, give me the strength I need today for whatever I may face.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Find a jar or basket that can be your “worry container.” When you have a worry write it down on the front of a slip of paper, pray about it and then place it in the jar as a physical symbol of releasing it to God. From time to time, pull out your old worries and write God’s answers to your prayers on the backs of the slips of paper.

More from the Girlfriends

If you’d like more encouragement for life’s hard moments you’ll find it in the devotional What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days by Holley Gerth or by subscribing to her free email HolleyGerth.com.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

The phone call comes. Hard news on the other end of the line. I listen and nod.

LHM Daily Devotions - Mosquitoes

"Mosquitoes"

Aug. 30, 2018

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

~ Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

The book of Hebrews speaks of Noah as being a hero of faith, and so he was.

His dedication to following the Lord's plan to save humanity and begin again in a new world is an incredible act of commitment. Even so, there are times when I wish Noah and his crew had squished the ark's two mosquitoes.

Since Noah did not take those two swats you have to look pretty hard to find a place where the mosquito isn't a nuisance. In many locations the mosquito can rightly be called "public enemy number one." That's because there are a great many places where the sneaky beasty is downright deadly.

Last year, in the U.S. of A, mosquitoes were responsible for sharing, and spreading, the Zika virus, dengue, malaria, the West Nile virus, yellow fever, and chikungunya.

Anyone who has dealt with the mosquito, or knows about the illnesses it transmits, is usually acquainted with the preventative measures that can be used. You know -- vaccinations, repellants, sprays, and fogs. It seems, no matter how hard we try, the mosquito still manages to do his thing.

At least until now.

You see, Australian scientists have successfully managed to wipe out more than 80 percent of the disease-carrying mosquitoes in experimental Queensland locations. This they did by breeding 20-million mosquitoes and infecting the males with a bacterium which made them sterile.

When the males were released they didn't bite or spread disease, but when they mated with females, the eggs didn't hatch, and the mosquito population dropped like a stone. If the same simple program proves to be effective elsewhere, the world could be changed and millions of lives could be saved.

You know, when sin entered this world it proved itself to be far more deadly than the bite of any disease-carrying mosquito. In reaction and to combat the terrible effects of sin, humankind invented all kinds of philosophies, religions, and programs to try and find peace and harmony.

While some of those solutions were noble, none of them had the ability to exterminate sin or modify its consequences.

That is the way things would have remained if God had not decided to bring about a fundamental change. So that we might be saved from sin's deadly outcome, the Heavenly Father sent His Son into this world. Here Jesus lived a perfect life, resisting every temptation, declining all seductions to sin. To a cross He carried our sins; on that cross He suffered and died.

His third-day resurrection from the dead is proof that He is the cure, the medicine who has eliminated our fate and saved us from the sting of sin and death.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, grant that I may look upon the cross and empty tomb as Your plan of salvation which has forgiven me and all who are brought to faith in the Redeemer. For the life Jesus has won for me, may I be truly grateful. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by. Jessie Yeung for CNN on July 10, 2018. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/10/australia/australia-mosquito-disease-experiment-intl/index.html

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There are times when I wish Noah and his crew had squished the ark's two mosquitoes.

Devocional del CPTLN del 29 de Agosto de 2018 - Ninguna iglesia para los "ningunos"

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Ninguna iglesia para los "ningunos"

30 de Agosto de 2018

Procura con diligencia presentarte ante Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse y que usa bien la palabra de verdad.

~ 2 Timoteo 2:15 (RVC)

¿Conoce a alguien que sea un 'ninguno'?

No tenía idea de quiénes eran los "ningunos" hasta que leí un artículo en un periódico de la ciudad de Dallas, Texas, que hablaba acerca de los norteamericanos que no se identifican con ninguna religión. Se llama de "ningunos" a quienes, cuando se les pregunta qué religión profesan, contestan "ninguna".

El artículo daba explicaciones de expertos acerca de por qué algunas personas son parte del grupo de los "ningunos".

Un experto dijo: "En el mundo de la prensa, los 'cristianos' son constantemente presentados como personas cerradas e intolerantes. Se los define por las cosas con las que están en contra, y no por las que defienden. Rara vez se los asocia con el amor, pero siempre se los asocia con el juzgar a los demás."

Otro dijo: "Históricamente, el cristianismo ha sido usado como una excusa para promover guerras, cruzadas, inquisiciones y otras cosas terribles."

Y otro dijo: "En los últimos 50 años han surgido grupos de apoyo de todo tipo, lo que ha hecho que la religión parezca algo no sólo pasado de moda, sino también innecesario."

Y uno más dijo: "En general, la religión no ha logrado contestar satisfactoriamente las preguntas difíciles acerca de los misterios de la existencia humana y del sentido y propósito de la vida ante un mundo que ha perdido su imaginación."

De acuerdo a estos expertos, los cristianos no hemos hecho muchas cosas bien. Y, si tienen razón, es una vergüenza.

Quizás sea por eso que San Pablo nos alienta (así como alentó a Timoteo) a que nos esforcemos para que, por el poder del Espíritu Santo, seamos obreros que no tengamos nada de qué avergonzarnos y que compartamos la verdad y la vida eterna de la Palabra de Dios.

San Pablo tenía razón. Demasiado a menudo, y aún cuando es totalmente injusto, quienes no son cristianos juzgan al Salvador por lo que los cristianos hacen y dicen.

Es por ello que es necesario que seamos buenos espejos para nuestro Redentor. Porque siendo buenos espejos, podremos reflejar con mayor precisión el sacrificio que él hizo por todos los "ningunos" que buscan razones para no tener que creer en él.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, te doy gracias por tu sacrificio en la cruz. Enséñame a mostrar a los "ningunos", con mis palabras y mis acciones, las maravillas de la salvación que tu vida, muerte y resurrección han logrado. En tu nombre. Amén.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Conoce a alguien que sea un 'ninguno'?

Хлеб наш насущный - Дом на камне

Дом на камне

Читать сейчас: Луки 6:46-49 | Библия за год: Псалтирь 128-130; Римлянам 10

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Когда случилось наводнение и вода наперла на этот дом, то не могла поколебать его, потому что он основан был на камне. — Луки 6:48

Прожив несколько лет в купленном доме, мои друзья обнаружили, что их гостиная проседает. На стенах появились трещины, а окно перестало открываться. Выяснилось, что эту комнату пристроили к дому без фундамента. На устранение проблемы ушло несколько месяцев работы. Строители приподнимали стены и заливали прочное бетонное основание.

После завершения работы я пришла в гости и почти не заметила отличий (хотя трещины исчезли, а окно открывалось). Но я понимала, что фундамент очень важен.

Это касается и духовной жизни.

Иисус рассказал притчу о мудром и безрассудном строителях, чтобы показать, как воплощать Его учение в жизнь (Лк. 6:46-49). Тот, кто слушает и исполняет Его слова, похож на человека, который построил дом на твердом основании. Когда разыграется стихия, дом устоит. Вера такого христианина не пошатнется.

В этих словах есть утешение. Если мы слушаем Иисуса и подчиняемся Ему, это создает прочное основание для нашей веры. Чтение Писания, молитва и общение с другими христианами укрепляют этот фундамент. Когда на нас обрушатся бури трудностей, огорчений и разочарований, мы устоим в вере. Спаситель обеспечит необходимую поддержку.

Господь и Бог, я хочу построить свой дом на камне. Твое Слово дает мне мудрость и силу. Покажи, что мне еще нужно исправить, чтобы стать непоколебимым.

Послушание Христу создает твердое основание для жизни.

автор: Эми Бушер Пай

© 2018 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Прожив несколько лет в купленном доме, мои друзья обнаружили, что их гостиная проседает.