The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, December 27, 2018

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple
John 21:19b-24

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, December 27, 2018

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 148

Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1  Praise the Lord!
     Praise the Lord from the heavens;
     praise him in the heights!
2  Praise him, all his angels;
     praise him, all his host!

3  Praise him, sun and moon;
     praise him, all you shining stars!
4  Praise him, you highest heavens,
     and you waters above the heavens!

5  Let them praise the name of the Lord,
     for he commanded and they were created.
6  He established them forever and ever;
     he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

7  Praise the Lord from the earth,
     you sea monsters and all deeps,
8  fire and hail, snow and frost,
     stormy wind fulfilling his command!

9  Mountains and all hills,
     fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
     creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
     princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
     old and young together!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
     for his name alone is exalted;
     his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
     praise for all his faithful,
     for the people of Israel who are close to him.
    Praise the Lord!

Proverbs 8:32-36

32 “And now, my children, listen to me:
      happy are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise,
      and do not neglect it.
34 Happy is the one who listens to me,
      watching daily at my gates,
      waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
      and obtains favor from the Lord;
36 but those who miss me injure themselves;
      all who hate me love death.”

John 21:19b-24

21:19b After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23 So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

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.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said ...

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, December 27, 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, December 27, 2018

Psalm 103:1-2 (NIV) Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

Read all of Psalm 103

Listen to Psalm 103

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

The Twelve Days of Christmas - The Third Day

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Third Day

The 12 days of Christmas are the 12 days that separate Christmas Day on December 25 and ends on January 5, with the next day being Epiphany, which is celebrated January 6. Depending on the church, January 6 may mark Christ’s baptism (in the Catholic tradition), or it may mark the day that the wise men (or the Magi) visited Jesus with their gifts.

The Day of Epiphany is when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the Magi. Magi means wise men.

From 1558 until 1829 Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. During that era someone wrote ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas‘ as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality.

Some beliefs believe that the day after Christmas started the 12 Days of Christmas. You also hear some people think its the 12 days that lead up to Christmas. But reality, it starts on December 25, that is the first day.

The Third Day of Christmas

The carol says On The Third Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave To Me...

 Three French Hens

According to catechism hidden meaning it means …

    Faith, Hope & Charity

Un dia a la Vez - Pasos firmes

Pasos firmes

El Señor afirma los pasos del hombre [...] podrá tropezar, pero no caerá, porque el Señor lo sostiene de la mano.

~ Salmo 37:23-24 (NVI)

Siempre he pensado en lo difícil que debe ser caminar sobre arena movediza, con esa sensación de dar un paso firme y de repente ver que tu pisada va hacia lo profundo.

Entonces, si no tienes algo en qué apoyarte o en qué dejar firme tu otro pie, sin duda alguna se te hundirán los dos.

Siempre que tengo la oportunidad de ir al mar, algo que me intranquiliza es precisamente el no tener seguridad en mis pasos. Las pisadas sin ver por dónde camino es como esperar que,de un momento a otro, tropiece con una roca o una planta marina. De verdad, no es mi mejor plan.

Por eso ahora en mi vida me gusta estar muy atenta a mis pasos. Además, me parece muy importante que los pasos que dé cada día sean seguros, firmes y en una senda trazada por mi Dios.

Cuida tus pasos y sigue las huellas de Jesús. De esta manera, nunca irás al abismo, y si tropiezas y caes, Dios te levantará y sanará.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Siempre he pensado en lo difícil que debe ser caminar sobre arena movediza ...

Standing Strong Through the Storm - HARVEST TIME IN CHINA

HARVEST TIME IN CHINA

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

~ Luke 2:20 (NIV)

House churches in China love to celebrate Christmas—without Santa and the commercialization found in the west which, sadly, is now creeping into the profit-centric malls in China’s cities. They revel in the opportunity to share about the coming of Jesus Christ and God’s love to colleagues, friends and neighbors who usually do not mind attending special Christmas gatherings in the spirit of the season.

Increasingly, house churches plan elaborate programs with performances, such as ice-breakers, Christmas carols, dances and sketches—to till the soil of each heart—before culminating with an evangelistic message. Several rent public halls or banquet rooms in hotels and create a festive air with decorations of balloons, ribbons and artificial flowers.

Brother Kao says, “We found out that it was possible for us to rent meeting halls in some places that were usually used for wedding dinners. So, with the Christmas season fast approaching, we booked such halls at multiple locations in preparation for our Christmas evangelistic outreach,” Kao continued. Then the church put together a program and began practicing hard on the short plays about two months before.

“There was this one hall that had just been used for a wedding banquet. When we arrived to put up our Christmas decorations, we found it was already beautifully done up so we merely added a few more Christmas touches. We had our church members invite their unsaved friends and relatives. Because Christmas is viewed as a Western celebration, many people are curious and open to finding out what it’s all about, so they readily come.”

The hall was packed with many first-time guests. The program began with the singing of some Christmas carols and everyone sang with gusto, even though they might not have understood what the lyrics meant. Then the plays followed, dramatizing the story of Noah and the flood, showing the depravity of man, and how only eight were saved. At the end of it, the pastor went up on stage, explained what the whole story meant and shared about man’s need for a Savior before making an altar call.

Kao explained, “Each night at every location where we held this outreach program, an average of one hundred people would pray to become children of God. And because we had received the materials from Open Doors earlier, we were able to give each new believer a Bible and a book on the spot. We find that doing so helps them to further understand the decision they have made and enables them to grow in their new life in Christ.”

“Please inform our brothers and sisters who are praying for us that we are putting the books you supplied to good use and giving them to new Christians,” he voiced gratefully.

RESPONSE: Today I will pray for those who have not yet heard the Good News about Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Thank God that house churches in China have such effective outreaches at Christmas time. Pray against hindrances and interference from the local authorities.

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 - From Mourning to Morning

From Mourning to Morning

Lamentations 3:19–33
Recommended Reading: Psalm 30:1–12; Luke 24:1–8; Romans 8:18–39

People around the world watched in horror as the video from the attacks of September 11, 2001, played again and again on cable and network news channels. But to those of us who lived in the United States, and particularly in New York City, the reality of these terrorist acts shook us to the core. Never before had a terrorist strike hit so close to home or disrupted so many American lives.

Now imagine a more widespread terrorist attack that painfully and more permanently alters your daily life. This attack destroys federal, state and local government buildings in your community. Somehow, the terrorists seriously damage local utilities, phone lines, cell phone networks and banking services. They murder many government and church leaders. Still worse, the attackers raze your home, rob you of all your possessions and kill your family members. You have no one left.

Welcome to Jerusalem in 586 BC, following the invasion by the Babylonian army.

Of course, we hope we never experience devastation this severe. However, all of us have tasted disappointment, loss, abandonment or the death of a loved one. And during those times we often feel that we’ve lost everything. Where do we turn when we can no longer feel in control of our surroundings? When we can’t fix our problems? When hope seems lost?

Through the prophet Jeremiah God reassured Judah of his great love. God’s care for us is greater than any of our current circumstances. He knows our pain and hears our cries. And his mercy and compassion are never far behind. If Jeremiah could attest to this fact even after the violent struggles of his life, then each of us can too.

Because of God’s great love we always have hope! We endure difficult struggles not because of our own determination and resolve but because of God’s great love. His love can overcome our darkest fear, greatest loss and deepest sorrow. And for every long, dark night of the soul, a new morning ascends on the horizon, bringing a new day. These words aren’t empty. They’re life-giving promises from God that all of us need during our darkest moments.

This sinful and disappointing world can’t guarantee health, wealth and success. But we do have the promise of God’s power and love. When we feel hopeless, we can submit to God’s will, wait quietly for his deliverance and rest in the promise that his love will carry us through.

To Take Away

• Think back to a time when you felt hopeless. From God’s perspective, were you really in a hopeless situation? Why or why not?
• What would you do differently if you were to face a similar situation again?
• What are some practical ways you can remember God’s promises during difficult times in life?

Think back to a time when you felt hopeless. From God’s perspective, were you really in a hopeless situation?

Girlfriends in God - Help For a Heart That Worries

Help For a Heart That Worries

Gwen Smith

Today’s Truth

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

~ Psalm 56:3 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

The prophet Isaiah said, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor is his ear to dull to hear.” (Isaiah 59:1) Though I know in my heart this is true, I still sometimes go back and forth between doubt and worry as if God’s arms are short and his ears are dull. My friend Erica does too.

She came to my door with a package to deliver and a story to share. I signed for the package and we began to catch up. Her kids are grown. Mine are teens. Her daughter just got married. My oldest just went to college. Mama to mama we shared and cared.

“My daughter and her new husband might be moving to Chicago. I have to be honest, Gwen,” she said seriously, “I’m not doing well trusting God with this. I’m struggling with anxiousness and worry.” I listened and nodded with understanding, knowing full well the strain of worry and anxiety.

Then she perked up and shared a story that went something like this…

God impressed a message on my heart this morning that challenged and convicted me! I just have to tell you about it. I ride motorcycles. Have for years. I love the feeling of being out in the open air. It’s exciting and invigorating. When I ride, I feel vulnerable and alert. It’s risky and requires balance, it’s much more difficult than driving my car, but I ride because it energizes me and makes me feel alive.

             This morning I rode my bike to work while it was still dark. I don’t usually do that because the headlight is small, so the light is dim. As I was riding, I began to thank God for allowing me to ride my bike to work. I thanked him for allowing me to feel alive and energized along the way. And as I did, He spoke to my heart. I sensed He was saying, “Erica! This is what I want my relationship with you to be like: exciting, risky, and energizing, like riding your motorcycle! But instead you take your car with me. You want to feel safe. You want to see with brighter headlights. You grasp for more control, by worrying and fretting about things you can do nothing about. In doing so, you miss out on a faith that is alive and energizing… a faith that trusts me and takes risks.

She shared that story with tears and conviction in her eyes. We were both moved and challenged. It left me with a fresh longing for deeper faith.

I want to ride.

I want to take risks with the star-breathing, mountain moving, speak-through-a-burning-bush, unpredictable, and unsearchable All-mighty One!

God does not call us to a safe faith. He does not promise that we will have a clear view of all that lies ahead. He does not promise us simplicity. Instead, He invites us to embrace a vibrant faith that trusts Him. A faith that is alive and energized, in spite of the unsteady unknowns. His arms are not too short to save and His ears are not dull to hear. He is powerful, capable, compassionate, merciful, holy, just, and faithful.

These truths should hush our noisy doubts and calm the anxieties that seek to unnerve us.

God is sovereign and His ways are mysterious.

And in the center of all of my questions this one resounds: who better to trust than God? Myself? Hardly. My paycheck? My medical chart? My emotions? I might as well chase the wind.

In contemplating this, I journey back to what the Bible has to say on such things.

“Live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

“When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” (Psalm 56:3-4)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Is the Lord calling you to trust Him with something or someone today?

Decide to ride.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Please quiet my anxious heart. Give me courage to step out in faith, beyond what I can see or attempt to control. I bring these heart burdens to You now ______________.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

READ Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Consider what your day would look like if you believe this to be true. Spend a few moments in responsive prayer.

More from the Girlfriends

SPECIAL OFFER: If today’s message is where you are and you need more practical help, we have a resource called Trusting God. For a limited time, Gwen is offering a 20% OFF discount on the Trusting God book from her site when you use the coupon code: 20OFF. Click here to get yours now.

PSST! If you are on Instagram, Gwen would love to connect with you there! Follow here.

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 prophet Isaiah said, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor is his ear to dull to hear.” (Isaiah 59:1) Though I know in my heart this is true, I still sometimes go back and forth between doubt and worry as if God’s arms are short and his ears are dull.

LHM Daily Devotions - BROTHERLY

"BROTHERLY"

Dec. 27, 2018

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!"

~ Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)

Just imagine, all those angels, spread out across the sky, praising God. That's some kind of celebration! Clearly something wonderful is happening, and they just have to get in on it—not just one angel, not two, but a multitude of them.

And what are they praising God for? Some angelic reason? They're celebrating "good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

Think about that for a moment. These angels are celebrating a uniquely human joy—that God Himself has come into the human race, been born among us as a baby, has come to save the children of Adam and Eve. The primary beneficiaries of this great miracle aren't angels, but human. The angels are celebrating on our behalf—praising the God we share for coming to redeem the fallen human race.

Now I call that brotherly of them. It's the kind of joy a sister or brother shows when a good thing happens to someone else in the family. If we have a good relationship with our siblings, their happiness is our happiness; their joy is our joy. And the angels treat us in just this way.

But it's not surprising when you think of whom they are imitating. God Himself loved us enough to be born among us as a human being, our brother and Savior, Jesus. Through His death and resurrection, He brought us back into the family of God as dearly loved children. We are not lost and estranged from God's family anymore—we are home again. And now we too can celebrate "with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, evermore praising God and singing!"

THE PRAYER: Thank You, Father, for the angels You created and the kind concern they have for us. Help us to echo Your love by loving one another in Jesus. Amen.

The Coming King REFLECTION QUESTIONS!

• Do you have brothers and sisters? If so, how many? Are they older or younger than you?

• When have you rejoiced over the good news of a brother, sister, or someone else you feel close to?

• Now that Jesus has been born into the human race, God is your relative. What comes to your mind when you consider that fact?

Advent Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Do you have brothers and sisters? If so, how many? Are they older or younger than you?

Devocional del CPTLN de 27 de Diciembre de 2018 - Amor fraternal

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Amor fraternal

27 de Diciembre de 2018

En ese momento apareció, junto con el ángel, una multitud de las huestes celestiales que alababan a Dios y decían: «¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas! ¡Paz en la tierra a todos los que gozan de su favor!»

~ Lucas 2:13-14 (RVC)

Imagina a todos esos ángeles alabando a Dios. ¡Qué celebración! Sin lugar a duda algo maravilloso está sucediendo, y ellos tienen que ser parte. ¿Por qué están alabando a Dios? ¿Alguna razón angelical? Están celebrando "... una buena noticia, que será para todo el pueblo motivo de mucha alegría. Hoy, en la ciudad de David, les ha nacido un Salvador, que es Cristo el Señor" (Lucas 2:10-11).

Pensemos por un momento en esto. Los ángeles están celebrando una alegría totalmente humana: que el mismo Dios ha venido a la humanidad para salvar a los hijos de Adán y Eva. Los principales beneficiarios de este gran milagro no son los ángeles, ¡sino los seres humanos! Los ángeles celebran en nuestro nombre, alabando al Dios que compartimos por venir a redimir a la raza humana caída.

Eso se llama amor fraternal. Es la alegría que sentimos cuando a un ser querido le sucede algo bueno, porque su felicidad es nuestra felicidad y su alegría también es nuestra. Y con los ángeles es igual.

Pero no debería sorprendernos si pensamos a quién están imitando. Dios mismo nos amó tanto como para nacer entre nosotros como ser humano, nuestro hermano y Salvador. A través de su muerte y resurrección, Jesús volvió a hacernos parte de la familia de Dios. Ya no estamos perdidos y alejados, sino de nuevo en casa. ¡Y ahora nosotros también podemos celebrar "con ángeles y arcángeles y toda la compañía del cielo, alabando a Dios y cantando"!

ORACIÓN: Gracias, Padre, por los ángeles que has creado y que se preocupan por nosotros. Ayúdanos a ser eco de tu amor, amándonos los unos a los otros en Jesús. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Te alegras cuando a uno de tus hermanos le sucede algo bueno?

• ¿Qué te viene a la mente cuando piensas en que eres miembro de la familia de Dios?

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Te alegras cuando a uno de tus hermanos le sucede algo bueno?

Хлеб наш насущный - Высочайшее место

Высочайшее место

Читать сейчас: Колоссянам 1:14-23 | Библия за год: Захарии 1-4; Откровение 18

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Он есть прежде всего, и все Им стоит. — Колоссянам 1:17

Мой муж пригласил знакомого в церковь. После богослужения тот сказал: «Мне понравились песни и атмосфера. Но я не могу понять одного: почему вы все так восхваляете Иисуса?» Муж объяснил ему, что христианство – это не религия, а взаимоотношения со Христом. Без Него христианство не имеет смысла. Иисус вошел в нашу жизнь и преобразил ее. Поэтому мы собираемся вместе и славим Его.

Кто такой Иисус и что Он сделал? Апостол Павел отвечает на этот вопрос в главе 1 Послания к колоссянам. Никто не видел Бога, но Иисус пришел на землю, чтобы явить Его и открыть Его (Кол. 1:15). Он, Божий Сын, умер за нас и освободил от вечного осуждения. Грех разделил нас со святым Богом, поэтому примирение мог принести только кто-то совершенный. Им стал Иисус (Кол. 1:14, 20). Другими словами, Он дал нам то, чего не мог дать никто другой, – доступ к Богу и вечной жизни (Ин. 17:3).

Почему Он достоин такой славы? Потому что Он победил смерть. Он завоевал наши сердца Своей любовью и жертвой. Он каждый день дает нам новые силы. Он для нас – все во всем!

Поэтому мы и воздаем Ему хвалу. Он ее достоин. Мы возносим Его, потому что Он должен быть превыше всего. Пусть Он занимает высочайшее место в наших сердцах.

Господь Иисус, Ты мой Спаситель и мой Царь. Я хочу отдать Тебе наивысшее место в моей жизни.

* * *

Чтобы узнать больше, прочитайте брошюру «Бог в центре».

Иисус – центр нашего поклонения.

автор: Кейла Очоа

© 2018 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Мой муж пригласил знакомого в церковь. После богослужения тот сказал: «Мне понравились песни и атмосфера. Но я не могу понять одного: почему вы все так восхваляете Иисуса?