The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020 — New Year’s Day — 8th Day of Christmas

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020 — New Year’s Day

8th Day of Christmas

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13

(To everything a season)

Everything Has Its Time
3:1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2  a time to be born, and a time to die;
   a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3  a time to kill, and a time to heal;
   a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4  a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
   a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5  a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones
         together;
   a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6  a time to seek, and a time to lose;
   a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7  a time to tear, and a time to sew;
   a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8  a time to love, and a time to hate;
   a time for war, and a time for peace.

The God-Given Task
9 What gain have the workers from their toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. 11 He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; 13 moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

Psalm 8

(How exalted is your name)

Divine Majesty and Human Dignity
To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.
1  O Lord, our Sovereign,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory above the heavens.
2    Out of the mouths of babes and infants
   you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
     to silence the enemy and the avenger.

3  When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
     the moon and the stars that you have established;
4  what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
     mortals that you care for them?

5  Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
     and crowned them with glory and honor.
6  You have given them dominion over the works of your
         hands;
     you have put all things under their feet,
7  all sheep and oxen,
     and also the beasts of the field,
8  the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
     whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9  O Lord, our Sovereign,
     how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Revelation 21:1-6a

(New heaven and new earth)

The New Heaven and the New Earth
21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

   “See, the home of God is among mortals.
   He will dwell with them;
   they will be his peoples,
   and God himself will be with them;
4  he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
   Death will be no more;
   mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
   for the first things have passed away.”

5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6a Then he said to me, “It is done!

Matthew 25:31-46

(Separation of the sheep and goats)

The Judgment of the Nations
25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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 A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. 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 what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020 — New Year’s Day — 8th Day of Christmas
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Psalm 8; Revelation 21:1-6a; Matthew 25:31-46

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020

In 1788 Quakers in Pennsylvania freed their slaves, anticipating the emancipation of chattel slaves in the United States some seventy-five years later. Together with free blacks, abolitionist evangelicals, and slaves who were willing to risk their lives, Quakers led one of America’s most vibrant faith-based justice movements—the Underground Railroad. Committed to simplicity, religious freedom, and nonviolence, Quakers have contributed to movements for peace and justice throughout US history.

George Fox, founder of the Religious Society of Friends, wrote, “People must be led out of captivity up to God. Be patterns, be examples that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people, and to them. Then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in everyone.”

Lord, help us answer your call as readily as our father Abram, that we might extend your blessing throughout our community. Remind us that the places where we find you become altars in our world. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, January 1, 2020

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Read all of 2 Corinthians 5

Listen to 2 Corinthians 5

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 - Miércoles 01 de enero de 2020

Tus triunfos están en Dios

Deléitate en el Señor, y él te concederá los deseos de tu corazón.

—Salmo 37:4 (NVI)

El primer versículo que aprendí cuando conocí a Jesús fue: «Deléitate en el Señor». Como todo lo nuevo, me tomé un tiempo para entender lo profundas que eran estas palabras. Este ha sido un versículo que me ha seguido durante los últimos catorce años de mi vida.

Luego, un día entendí que deleitarme en el Señor era estar siempre en el gozo de Dios, feliz ante su presencia y sirviéndole a Él. Desde entonces, en mis oraciones ha estado presente que la clave es amar a mi Dios con todo el corazón, servirle con lo mejor que tengo, gozarme en su amor sin importar las situaciones por las que esté pasando y tener siempre la esperanza de que mi vida es para servirle y trabajar para Él. Así que ahora estoy segura de que eso me da una enorme recompensa. No sé cuándo ni cómo, pero Dios me concederá los deseos de mi corazón, ya que esa es la promesa de la segunda parte del versículo: «Y él te concederá los deseos de tu corazón».

Por eso quiero que hoy, cuando estaremos como familia llevando este libro cada día, tú puedas comprender y aplicarlo a tu vida.

Entrégale a Dios todo este nuevo día, este nuevo año. Entrégale tus sueños, tus preocupaciones, tus negocios, tu trabajo, tus relaciones, tu familia, tu economía, tu situación migratoria. En fin, entrégate por completo a Dios. Deja que Él sea el piloto de esa nave que es tu vida y preocúpate de sus negocios. Es decir, búscalo, ten momentos de oración, asiste a una iglesia en la que puedas seguir creciendo de manera espiritual y Él, a cambio, se ocupará de todas tus necesidades. Pondrá orden en tu vida y te bendecirá.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Como todo lo nuevo, me tomé un tiempo para entender lo profundas que eran estas palabras.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

BE A LIGHTHOUSE

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

—John 12:46 (NIV)

One of the strongest images of standing strong in a storm is the lighthouse. In the era before radar, satellite navigation and GPS systems, lighthouses were vital to protect ships from crashing onto rocks, shoals, and shores. Building lighthouses can be considered one of man’s most noble endeavors. Since the beginning of seafaring, families and friends have lit bonfires at night to guide sailors home.

George Bernard Shaw said, “I can think of no other edifice constructed by man as altruistic as a lighthouse. They were built only to serve.”

And evangelist D.L. Moody commented, “Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining—they just shine.”

Jesus used this imagery of light to describe our role in His kingdom. We are the light of the world, He said, after claiming Himself to be the true light. Therefore we function much like a lighthouse, both internally and externally.

The first design for a lighthouse is the internal function of generating light. Early lighthouses used a literal fire that had to be constantly fed and watched. Later electric lights were utilized and ultimately laser lights. But this light still has to be internally projected.

So we too as followers of Jesus project internal light, the outer expression of the inner life under the control of the Holy Spirit.

The other aspect of a modern lighthouse is that it also is an external reflector. Over the years of improvements, revolving lenses have been developed to reflect that internally generated light further into the darkness.

As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so we reflect the light of the Son in a world of darkness.

And finally, lighthouses remind us of God’s love. Like the bright shining beam of a lighthouse, His love reaches out…piercing through the darkness of any storm.

RESPONSE: Today and throughout this year I will be a lighthouse for Jesus, projecting His inner light and reflecting His light externally.

PRAYER: Lord, may Your love and Your light pierce the darkness of the world around me as I stand strong and faithful for You like a lighthouse, today and through the year ahead.

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

LHM Daily Devotions - January 1, 2020 - INCOMPREHENSIBLE

"INCOMPREHENSIBLE"

Jan. 1, 2020

And at the end of eight days, when He was circumcised, He was called Jesus, the Name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

—Luke 2:21 (ESV)

It is not easy to see your child suffer. I remember taking our newborn to the doctor to get his first shots. That was not a fun experience for parents or child!

Mary and Joseph must have had a difficult time with Jesus' circumcision as well. They had to go through with it, of course; this was a requirement of God's law, and it was necessary for Jesus to be properly brought into God's people. In many ways, circumcision was like Baptism; it was not a thing Jewish parents could imagine leaving out.

And Jesus? Well, no baby could possibly like the pain of circumcision. And yet this was a weird case, for what we have here is a baby who is God Himself come as a human being. In fact, the same God who commanded circumcision to His Israelite people is now having to suffer it under His own command!

It's mind-boggling. And yet it's a good preview of the future, isn't it? Because this is exactly what Jesus is going to do on the cross, 30-some years in the future. He is going to suffer and die a death that He Himself chose before He was ever incarnate as a human being. God chooses to suffer what God ordained ahead of time. It blows my mind.

No wonder they called His Name Jesus. It means "The Lord is Savior," and that's exactly what Jesus is. He is our Savior from all eternity, as God who planned all along to save us. And He is our Savior in human time, in His life, death, and resurrection—where He carried out the plan made from eternity.

David had it right when he said, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it" (Psalm 139:6). I just can't grasp the wonder of what Jesus has done for us. But that doesn't matter. He knows what He is doing; and He invites us, not to understand, but to trust Him.

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to trust myself to You, my Savior. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What is one thing in your life that you have a hard time understanding?
• What is one thing about God that you have a hard time understanding?
• How do you deal with that thing you cannot understand about God?

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).
What is one thing in your life that you have a hard time understanding?

CPTLN devocional del 01 de enero de 2020 - Incomprensible

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

Incomprensible

01 de Enero de 2020

Cuando se cumplieron los ocho días para que el niño fuera circuncidado, le pusieron por nombre JESÚS, que era el nombre que el ángel le había puesto antes de que fuera concebido.

—Lucas 2:21 (RVC)

No es fácil ver sufrir a tu propio hijo. Recuerdo haber llevado a nuestro recién nacido al médico para recibir sus primeras vacunas. ¡No fue una experiencia divertida, ni para mí ni para mi hijo!

María y José también deben haber pasado un momento difícil con la circuncisión de Jesús. Pero tenían que hacerlo: era un requisito de la Ley de Dios. En muchos sentidos, la circuncisión era como el Bautismo; no era algo que los padres judíos iban a dejar de lado.

¿Y Jesús? Es cierto que a ningún bebé le gusta el dolor de la circuncisión. Sin embargo, este fue un caso extraño, porque lo que tenemos aquí es un bebé que es Dios mismo, que vino como ser humano. De hecho, ¡el mismo Dios que ordenó la circuncisión a su pueblo israelita ahora tiene que sufrirla bajo su propia orden!

Es un buen anticipo de lo que va a suceder 30 años después, cuando Dios va a sufrir la muerte que él mismo ordenó al comienzo del tiempo. No es de extrañar que lo llamaran Jesús, que significa "El Señor es Salvador". Y eso es exactamente lo que es Jesús. Él es nuestro Salvador desde toda la eternidad, como el Dios que planeó todo desde siempre para salvarnos. Y él es nuestro Salvador en el tiempo humano, en su vida, muerte, y resurrección, donde llevó a cabo el plan hecho desde la eternidad.

David tenía razón cuando dijo: "Saber esto rebasa mi entendimiento; ¡es tan sublime que no alcanzo a comprenderlo!" (Salmo 139:6). Simplemente no puedo entender la maravilla de lo que Jesús ha hecho por nosotros. Pero eso no importa. Él sabe lo que está haciendo; y nos invita, no a entender, sino a confiar en él.

ORACIÓN: Señor Jesús, ayúdame a confiar en ti, mi Salvador. En tu nombre. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué te cuesta entender de Dios?
• ¿Cómo lidias con eso que no puedes entender de Dios?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Qué te cuesta entender de Dios?

Ministérios Pão Diário - Reiniciando

Reiniciando

Leia: Esdras 1:1-11 | A Bíblia em um ano: GÊNESIS 1–3; MATEUS 1

…o Senhor despertou o coração […] para que fossem a Jerusalém e reconstruíssem o templo do Senhor.

—Esdras 1:5

Depois das festividades de Natal, os meus pensamentos se voltam para o ano seguinte. Com os meus filos em férias da escola e a nossa rotina diária mais lenta, posso refletir sobre o que o último ano me trouxe e aonde espero que o próximo me leve. Essas reflexões, às vezes, trazem dor e pesar pelos erros que cometi. No entanto, a perspectiva de começar de novo me enche de esperança e expectativas. Sinto que tenho a oportunidade de reiniciar revigorada, não importa o que tiver acontecido no ano anterior.

Minha expectativa de um recomeço perde a importância se comparada à esperança que os israelitas devem ter sentido quando Ciro, o rei da Pérsia, libertou-os para retornarem à sua terra natal em Judá após 70 anos de cativeiro na Babilônia. O rei anterior, Nabucodonosor, tinha deportado os israelitas de sua terra natal. Mas Deus fez Ciro enviar os cativos para Jerusalém para reconstruir o Templo do Senhor (ESDRAS 1:2,3). Ciro também lhes devolveu os tesouros que haviam sido retirados do Templo. A vida deles como povo escolhido de Deus, na terra que o Senhor lhes havia designado, recomeçou depois de uma longa temporada de dificuldades, como consequência de seu pecado, na Babilônia.

Quando confessamos os nossos pecados, Deus nos perdoa e nos dá um novo começo. Que grande motivo de esperança!

Senhor, obrigado por Tua graça, perdão e recomeços.

A graça de Deus nos oferece novos começos.

por Kirsten Holmberg

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Com os meus filos em férias da escola e a nossa rotina diária mais lenta, posso refletir sobre o que o último ano me trouxe e aonde espero que o próximo me leve.

The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, December 31, 2019 — 7th Day of Christmas

The Daily Lectionary

TUESDAY, December 31, 2019 — 7th Day of Christmas

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 20

(Answer us when we call)

Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1  The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
     The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2  May he send you help from the sanctuary,
     and give you support from Zion.
3  May he remember all your offerings,
     and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.   Selah

4  May he grant you your heart’s desire,
     and fulfill all your plans.
5  May we shout for joy over your victory,
     and in the name of our God set up our banners.
   May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6  Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
     he will answer him from his holy heaven
     with mighty victories by his right hand.
7  Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
     but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8  They will collapse and fall,
     but we shall rise and stand upright.

9  Give victory to the king, O Lord;
     answer us when we call.

1 Kings 3:5-14

(God grants a discerning mind)

3:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14 If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

John 8:12-19

(I am the light)

Jesus the Light of the World
8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13 Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18 I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” 19 Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

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 A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. 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
The Daily Lectionary for TUESDAY, December 31, 2019 — 7th Day of Christmas
Psalm 20; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19

The Daily Prayer for TUESDAY, December 31, 2019

The Daily Prayer

TUESDAY, December 31, 2019

Freedom’s Eve

Established in African-American communities on December 31, 1862, Freedom’s Eve is a gathering to celebrate the Emancipation Proclamation becoming law. When the clock struck midnight on January 1, 1863, all slaves in the Confederate States were proclaimed free. Since that date 157 years ago, African-Americans have celebrated the good news of freedom in local churches on New Year’s Eve. Like the slaves who first gathered while the Civil War raged on, we proclaim freedom for all captives in Jesus’ name, knowing that for millions, freedom is not a reality. Our celebration is a commitment to join modern-day slaves and undocumented workers in their struggle for justice.

Writing about the first Freedom’s Eve, Booker T. Washington said, “As the great day grew nearer, there was more singing in the slave quarters than usual. It was bolder, had more ring, and lasted later into the night. True, they had sung those same verses before, but they had been careful to explain that the ‘freedom’ in these songs referred to the next world, and had no connection with life in this world. Now they gradually threw off the mask; and were not afraid to let it be known that the ‘freedom’ in their songs meant freedom of the body in this world.”

Lord, we know that freedom will prevail because you are already victorious. Help us never lose hope, never stop celebrating your victory, and never stop walking alongside those who struggle to see this freedom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

Verse of the Day for TUESDAY, December 31, 2019

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

This is what the Lord says—he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, […] “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Read all of Isaiah 43

Listen to Isaiah 43

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 - Martes 31 de Diciembre de 2019

Oración por un nuevo comienzo

Nuestra boca se llenó de risas; nuestra lengua, de canciones jubilosas [...] Sí, el Señor ha hecho grandes cosas por nosotros, y eso nos llena de alegría.

—Salmo 126:2-3 (NVI)

Señor Jesús, solo pueden salir de mis labios palabras de agradecimiento por todo lo poderoso que has sido con nosotros en este año. En cada momento de mi vida estuviste a mi lado escuchando mi necesidad. Fuiste mi socorro en tiempos de angustia.

Gracias porque me ayudaste a que muchas de mis peticiones se hicieran realidad. Te agradezco también que me llenaras de valentía cuando pensaba que no sería capaz de salir adelante.

Te amo con todo con mi corazón y, a partir de hoy, entrego en tus manos mi vida, mi salud, mi economía, mi familia, mi trabajo y todos los anhelos profundos de mi corazón que ya tú conoces.

Guárdame, mi Dios, y acompáñame en mi entrar y en mi salir.

En el nombre de Jesús te lo pido, amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Gracias porque me ayudaste a que muchas de mis peticiones se hicieran realidad.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Tuesday, December 31, 2019

STAND STRONG THROUGH ALL STORMS

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither…

—Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

Concluding Thoughts:

1. Ours is the Kingdom. No matter what setbacks we see or experience, in the end the Kingdom will revert to our Lord and we will reign with Him.

2. Ours is the victory through dying and living again – victory through being able to drink the cup of evil and injustice poured out and not being consumed by it.

3. Ours is the responsibility of caring for our suffering brethren, especially converts and those in countries more restrictive and repressive than ours.

4. Ours is the responsibility of reaching those who still sit in darkness.

5. Ours are the lives that should manifest purity and Christlikeness.

6. Ours are the hearts that should be willing to pay the price to bring peace and understanding among men and between men and God. Hearts willing to be proactive. Hearts willing to stand at the end of the day and having done all; stand.

7. Ours is the challenge to stand strong through all the storms we face and come through the fire refined and purified to walk the way of the cross before a dying world.

RESPONSE: Today I will accept the challenge to stand strong through all the storms I may face!

PRAYER: Pray for Christians living in severe persecution areas that refined and purified, they may experience all of the victory which is available through Christ.

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

LHM Daily Devotions - December 31, 2019 - TREASURED

"TREASURED"

Dec. 31, 2019

And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this Child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.

—Luke 2:17-19 (ESV)

A couple of weeks ago, I was cleaning out the top drawer of my dresser, looking for my son's Social Security card. It was amazing what we found: report cards from first grade; baby teeth, carefully kept; a birthday candle (age 3); a silver teething ring. And of course, there were any number of "Do you remember?" conversations that night.

Parents treasure things related to their children, and Mary was no exception. In her case, she treasured less tangible things—what Gabriel said when he told her she would bear a Son; the shepherds' story and the angels' song; the sights and sounds of Jesus' birthplace. Many years later, she would share these stories with other Christian believers, and they found their way into the Gospels.

Why do we treasure these things—these objects, these stories? Probably because they are the only way we can hold on to the people we love. Children grow up and go out into the world; friends and relatives grow old and die. We suffer loss. And so we treasure the links we still have to those we love. It is the best we can do.

But God can do better than that—and He does. There was a time when God faced losing us, the people He created and loved. And it wasn't just to the ordinary process of growing up, but to something worse, to death and hell. Faced with that, God took action. He came into the world as our Savior Jesus. He fought the powers of death and the devil for our sake. And He rose victorious from death three days later, with the prize He wanted firmly grasped in His hands. We are that treasure.

Because of Jesus, God doesn't have to treasure objects or stories related to us. He treasures us directly and forever, as His own children.

THE PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for treasuring us and making us Your own forever. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What is one object or story you treasure about someone you love?
• Why is it so valuable to you?
• What does it mean to you, that God treasures you?

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).
What is one object or story you treasure about someone you love?

CPTLN devocional del 31 de Diciembre de 2019 - Atesorados

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

Atesorados

31 de Diciembre de 2019

Al ver al niño, contaron lo que se les había dicho acerca de él. Todos los que estaban escuchando quedaron asombrados de lo que decían los pastores, pero María guardaba todo esto en su corazón, y meditaba acerca de ello.

—Lucas 2:17-19 (RVC)

Los padres atesoramos las cosas relacionadas con nuestros hijos. María no fue la excepción. Ella atesoró lo que Gabriel le dijo cuando le explicó que iba a tener un Hijo; la historia de los pastores y la canción de los ángeles; las escenas y los sonidos del lugar de nacimiento de Jesús. Muchos años después, ella compartiría estas historias con otros creyentes cristianos, y serían incorporadas en los Evangelios.

¿Por qué atesoramos estas cosas? Probablemente porque son la única forma en que podemos aferrarnos a las personas que amamos. Los niños crecen y salen al mundo; nuestros amigos y parientes envejecen y mueren. Sufrimos pérdidas. Y así atesoramos los vínculos que aún tenemos con aquellos a quienes amamos. Es lo mejor que podemos hacer.

Pero Dios puede hacer mejor que eso, y lo hace. Hubo un momento en que Dios se enfrentó con la realidad de poder perdernos, a nosotros, a quienes creó y amó. Y no fue solo por el proceso normal de crecer, sino por algo peor: la muerte y el infierno. Ante eso, Dios tomó medidas. Él vino al mundo como nuestro Salvador Jesús. Luchó contra los poderes de la muerte y el diablo para nuestro bien, y resucitó victorioso de la muerte tres días después con el premio firmemente aferrado en sus manos. Nosotros somos ese tesoro.

Gracias a Jesús, Dios no tiene que atesorar objetos o historias relacionadas con nosotros. Nos atesora directamente y para siempre como sus propios hijos.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre, gracias por atesorarnos y hacernos tuyos para siempre. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué objeto o historia atesoras de alguien que amas?
• ¿Qué significa para ti que Dios te atesore?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Qué objeto o historia atesoras de alguien que amas?

Nuestro Pan Diario - Fruto hermoso

Fruto hermoso

La escritura de hoy: Lucas 8:4-8, 11-15

La Biblia en un año: Malaquías 1–4; Apocalipsis 22

… La semilla es la palabra de Dios. —Lucas 8:11

«Los niños deberían poder arrojar una semilla donde quieran [en el jardín] y ver qué sale», sugiere Rebecca Lemos-Otero, fundadora de City Blossoms. Aunque no es una pauta sobre jardinería, refleja la realidad de que cada semilla tiene potencial de producir vida. Desde 2004, esta organización ha hecho jardines en escuelas y zonas de bajos recursos. Mediante la jardinería, los niños aprenden sobre nutrición y desarrollan habilidades para trabajar. Rebecca dice: «Tener un espacio verde lleno de vida en una zona urbana […] permite que los niños estén afuera haciendo algo productivo y hermoso».

Jesús relató una historia sobre esparcir una semilla que tenía el potencial de producir «a ciento por uno» (Lucas 8:8). Esa semilla era la buena noticia de Dios plantada en «buena tierra»; es decir, en «los que con corazón bueno y recto retienen la palabra oída, y dan fruto con perseverancia» (v. 15).

Jesús señaló que la única forma de ser fructíferos es manteniéndonos conectados a Él (Juan 15:4). Al aprender de Cristo y aferrarnos a Él, el Espíritu produce en nosotros el fruto de «amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fe, mansedumbre [y] templanza» (Gálatas 5:22-23). Mediante este fruto en nosotros, puede transformar a otros y volverlos fructíferos también.

De:  Anne Cetas

Reflexiona y ora

Padre, quiero dar fruto para guiar a otros a ti.

¿Cómo te mantienes conectado a Cristo? ¿Qué fruto quieres que Él produzca en ti?

© 2019 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
«Los niños deberían poder arrojar una semilla donde quieran [en el jardín] y ver qué sale», sugiere Rebecca Lemos-Otero, fundadora de City Blossoms.

The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, December 30, 2019 — 6th Day of Christmas

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, December 30, 2019 — 6th Day of Christmas

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

Psalm 20

(Answer us when we call)

Prayer for Victory
To the leader. A Psalm of David.
1  The Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
     The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2  May he send you help from the sanctuary,
     and give you support from Zion.
3  May he remember all your offerings,
     and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices.   Selah

4  May he grant you your heart’s desire,
     and fulfill all your plans.
5  May we shout for joy over your victory,
     and in the name of our God set up our banners.
   May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.

6  Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed;
     he will answer him from his holy heaven
     with mighty victories by his right hand.
7  Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses,
     but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God.
8  They will collapse and fall,
     but we shall rise and stand upright.

9  Give victory to the king, O Lord;
     answer us when we call.

Isaiah 26:1-9

(Trust in God forever)

Judah’s Song of Victory
1  On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
   We have a strong city;
     he sets up victory
     like walls and bulwarks.
2  Open the gates,
     so that the righteous nation that keeps faith
     may enter in.
3  Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—
     in peace because they trust in you.
4  Trust in the Lord forever,
     for in the Lord God
     you have an everlasting rock.
5  For he has brought low
     the inhabitants of the height;
     the lofty city he lays low.
   He lays it low to the ground,
     casts it to the dust.
6  The foot tramples it,
     the feet of the poor,
     the steps of the needy.

7  The way of the righteous is level;
     O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.
8  In the path of your judgments,
     O Lord, we wait for you;
   your name and your renown
     are the soul’s desire.
9  My soul yearns for you in the night,
     my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
   For when your judgments are in the earth,
     the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

(The temporary and the eternal)

Living by Faith
4:16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

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 A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2020, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2019 was Year C. 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
The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, December 30, 2019 — 6th Day of Christmas
Psalm 20; Isaiah 26:1-9; 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

The Daily Prayer for MONDAY, December 30, 2019

The Daily Prayer

MONDAY, December 30, 2019

Fourth-century preacher John Chrysostom said, “This is the rule of most perfect Christianity, its most exact definition, its highest point, namely, the seeking of the common good. For nothing can so make a person an imitator of Christ as caring for his neighbors.”

Lord, make us a refuge to the poor. Help us prepare a feast for the hungry. Teach us to wipe away the tears of those who mourn, even as you shelter us, feed us, and wipe away our tears. Amen.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, December 30, 2019

John 16:33

(Jesus said,) “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Read all of John 16

Listen to John 16

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 - Lunes 30 de Diciembre de 2019

Hagamos todo lo bueno

Dios es el que me ciñe de fuerza, y quien despeja mi camino; Quien hace mis pies como de ciervas, y me hace estar firme sobre mis alturas.

—2 Samuel 22:33 (RVR1960)

Todo lo negativo que pudo ocurrir este año no debe marcar tu nuevo año.

Hace algún tiempo, como lo dije al comienzo de este devocional, hacía por estos días una agenda de peticiones y se las presentaba a Dios con una oración el 31 de Diciembre a la medianoche. Era como colocar un montón de sueños y anhelos en la presencia de Dios y confiar que Él me los cumpliría uno a uno.

Sin embargo, hay cosas que ya Dios tiene programadas para cada uno de nosotros y, tarde o temprano, se cumplirán. Así que no te encierres solo en tus deseos, sino deja varios puntos en blanco para que Él mismo sea el que los llene. Déjate sorprender por Dios. ¡No te vas a arrepentir!

Entra a un nuevo año con tu mente y corazón en sintonía con el Señor. Ah, y otra cosa, recuerda que Él siempre desea lo mejor para ti.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Hace algún tiempo, como lo dije al comienzo de este devocional, hacía por estos días una agenda de peticiones y se las presentaba a Dios con una oración el 31 de diciembre a la medianoche.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Monday, December 30, 2019

GIVEN WHAT TO SAY

But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

—Matthew 10:19-20 (NIV)

It was early in the morning the day after Christmas. It was cold. Mehdi Forootan sat in the back seat of an undercover police car in front of his house in Tehran, Iran. An officer pointed a camcorder at him. “Do you know why you were arrested?” the officer asked him. “No,” Forootan replied.

The officer turned off the camera and looked Forootan in the eyes. “I can beat you until blood is coming out of your mouth and every part of you. The next time I turn on the camera, you tell me why we are taking you,” the officer said and turned the camera back on.

Forootan spoke of his faith in Christ, and he spent the next 105 days in Iran’s harshest prison. On Dec. 26, 2010, authorities had arrested Forootan in a wave of persecution against Iran’s underground church. More than three months later, he was one of a few who had not been released.

During one interrogation, an officer turned on a camcorder and pointed it toward him, demanding that Forootan tell him about his “crime.” Forootan began to tell him how he had struggled with substance abuse as a teenager, “and how when I was in university I found Jesus and He saved me, and I have been free ever since. But he became angry and turned off the camera. He said, ‘I asked you to tell about your crime, not evangelize us.’”

After months of trying to get him to write statements confessing a crime, authorities inexplicably released him. Forootan said his first month out of prison was one of the worst of his life. He couldn’t speak to anyone of his prison experience for fear that authorities were watching and would re-arrest him. His parents had given the deed of their house to authorities as bail.

He and his fiancée decided it was best for him to leave Iran and go to Turkey as a refugee. For Forootan, this meant an illegal escape through the mountains, because authorities had confiscated his passport.

“I came out of Iran with 70 Afghanis,” Forootan said. “I went to the mountains and walked in the mountains for eight hours, and after eight hours I came to Turkey…That was really hard, because I really love Iran, and I’m really sad about this land. Maybe I can’t see my country again.”

Many who follow Jesus in other lands make great sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. Despite harsh treatment—even prison with interrogations—they still love their home country. But during those interrogations, the Holy Spirit gives the right words to be spoken.

RESPONSE: Today I will rest in the Lord realizing that when pressures come, He is with me and His Spirit will give me the right words to speak.

PRAYER: Pray for those who like Forootan above are forced to leave the home land they love because of their witness to the gospel of Christ.

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

LHM Daily Devotions - December 30, 2019 - DRAGGING FEET?

"DRAGGING FEET?"

Dec. 30, 2019

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.

—Luke 2:15-16 (ESV)

When I was a child, almost every day I would hear these words: "Hurry up! You're going to be late! Are you a turtle? Get down here right now!"

Those words did not inspire me with joy, to say the least. They meant I was about to get in trouble. They meant the speaker was mad at me. And so I was even less willing to hurry up, because doing that would only mean I got to be around an angry adult that much faster.

But nobody had to hurry up the shepherds in this story. "They went with haste" to Bethlehem, the story says. They hurried themselves up. They were looking forward to getting to their goal—finding the baby Jesus that God had told them about. And when they saw Him, they were happy.

It's still like that for us now, isn't it? Tell us to "hurry up" to something unpleasant and it's just not happening. Our feet may move quickly, but our hearts stay behind. But give us a reason to move—a party, a new movie, an all-you-can-eat buffet—and it's amazing how quickly everyone takes off. The house is empty in seconds.

God knows this about us. And so He calls us to Him with love and mercy, not with anger and threats. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

In another place He says, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'" (John 7:37-38).

You are wanted by God—deeply, truly wanted. He calls you to Him. He is not planning to scold or punish you when you get there. Instead, He is giving you a Gift—the best gift of all—our Savior Jesus, to be your own.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, bring me to You with trust and joy, to receive Your blessings. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Are you the kind of person who is always late or always early?
• What motivates you to get somewhere as quickly as possible?
• If Jesus appeared to you visibly today, would you run to Him, walk, or stand still? Why?

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).
Are you the kind of person who is always late or always early?

CPTLN devocional del 30 de Diciembre de 2019 - ¿Arrastrando los pies?

ADVIENTO—NAVIDAD 2019

¿Arrastrando los pies?

30 de Diciembre de 2019

Cuando los ángeles volvieron al cielo, los pastores se dijeron unos a otros: "Vayamos a Belén, y veamos esto que ha sucedido, y que el Señor nos ha dado a conocer." Así que fueron de prisa, y hallaron a María y a José, y el niño estaba acostado en el pesebre.

—Lucas 2:15-16 (RVC)

Cuando era niña, casi todos los días escuchaba estas palabras: "¡Date prisa! ¡Vas a llegar tarde! ¡Eres más lenta que una tortuga! ¡Ven aquí ahora mismo!"

Pero en esta historia nadie tuvo que apurar a los pastores. "Fueron de prisa" a Belén, dice la historia. Se apresuraron a ir. Esperaban llegar a su meta: encontrar al niño Jesús, de quien Dios les había hablado. Y cuando lo vieron, se llenaron de felicidad.

Todavía es así para nosotros ahora, ¿verdad? Si nos dicen que vayamos "de prisa" hacia algo desagradable, no queremos movernos. Nuestros pies pueden moverse rápidamente, pero nuestros corazones se quedan atrás. Pero si nos dan una razón para movernos, como una fiesta, una nueva película, un buffet con todo lo que uno pueda comer, es sorprendente lo rápido que vamos. La casa queda vacía en segundos.

Dios sabe esto de nosotros. Por eso es que nos llama con amor y misericordia, no con ira y amenazas. Jesús dice: "Vengan a mí todos ustedes, los agotados de tanto trabajar, que yo los haré descansar" (Mateo 11:28).

Y en otro lugar dice: "Si alguno tiene sed, venga a mí y beba. Del interior del que cree en mí, correrán ríos de agua viva, como dice la Escritura" (Juan 7:37-38).

Dios te ama profunda y verdaderamente. Él te llama, pero no para regañarte o castigarte, sino para darte un regalo, el mejor regalo de todos: nuestro Salvador Jesús, para que sea tuyo.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor, acércame a ti con confianza y alegría para recibir tus bendiciones. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué te motiva a llegar lo más rápido posible a algún lugar?
• Si Jesús se te apareciera hoy, ¿correrías hacia él, caminarías o te quedarías quieto? ¿Por qué?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.
¿Qué te motiva a llegar lo más rápido posible a algún lugar?