The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, March 15, 2019

Walking the Walk
Philippians 3:17-20

The Daily Lectionary

FRIDAY, March 15, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 27

Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1  The Lord is my light and my salvation;
     whom shall I fear?
   The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
     of whom shall I be afraid?

2  When evildoers assail me
     to devour my flesh—
   my adversaries and foes—
     they shall stumble and fall.

3  Though an army encamp against me,
     my heart shall not fear;
   though war rise up against me,
     yet I will be confident.

4  One thing I asked of the Lord,
     that will I seek after:
   to live in the house of the Lord
     all the days of my life,
   to behold the beauty of the Lord,
     and to inquire in his temple.

5  For he will hide me in his shelter
     in the day of trouble;
   he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
     he will set me high on a rock.

6  Now my head is lifted up
     above my enemies all around me,
   and I will offer in his tent
     sacrifices with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7  Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
     be gracious to me and answer me!
8  “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
     Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9    Do not hide your face from me.

   Do not turn your servant away in anger,
     you who have been my help.
   Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
     O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
     the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
     and lead me on a level path
     because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
     for false witnesses have risen against me,
     and they are breathing out violence.

13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
     in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
     be strong, and let your heart take courage;
     wait for the Lord!

Genesis 14:17-24

Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
14:17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said,

   “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
     maker of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
     who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything. 21 Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have sworn to the Lord, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.”

Philippians 3:17-20

3:17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

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
Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, March 15, 2019

Acts 4:10, 12 (NIV) Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Read all of Acts 4

Listen to Acts 4

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 - Oración para que Dios sea mi «Todo»

Oración para que Dios sea mi «Todo»

Pon tu esperanza en el Señor; ten valor, cobra ánimo; ¡pon tu esperanza en el Señor!

~ Salmo 27:14 (NVI)

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, hoy busco tu presencia porque he entendido que mi vida sin ti no tiene sentido.

Necesito tu ayuda a fin de poder rendirlo todo a ti. Entiendo que al entregarte mi vida estoy ganando y que al morir a mi propio yo, tú podrás empezar a hacer cambios en mi vida y en mi manera de actuar. De ese modo, Padre, me preparas para tener el carácter de tu Hijo Jesucristo y me fortaleces en ti.

Si veo las noticias o leo la Biblia, en verdad reconozco que la vida se torna cada vez más complicada y yo te necesito.

Quiero dejar de actuar en mis fuerzas y deseo entregarme por completo a ti.

Dios mío, reina en mi vida y en mi corazón. Permite que empiece pronto a dar frutos y a ser un ejemplo a seguir para mi familia, mis amigos, mis compañeros de trabajo y hasta para los que no me conocen.

Renuncio a mi manera antigua de pensar y me dispongo a conocerte cada día más y así poder hacer su voluntad.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, hoy busco tu presencia porque he entendido que mi vida sin ti no tiene sentido.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - DRAWN TO JESUS

DRAWN TO JESUS

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day…”

~ John 6:44 (NIV)

Throughout the Muslim world, Jesus (“the man in white”) has appeared to seekers in special ways—often in dreams and visions. For example, Achmed is forty-two, married and has four daughters. A year ago, the Lord Jesus appeared to him in a dream. Coming from an Egyptian fundamentalist family, Achmed was a committed Muslim. The dream caused his Islamic faith to waver. As a secret believer, he has gone into hiding in Cairo. He describes his dream:

In the field, there were hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people. They were all dressed in white and were looking up to heaven expectantly. They didn’t pay any attention to me. Suddenly a dazzling light shone on the crowd. Out of the light, the Lord Jesus stepped forward. He hovered over the people and blessed them. Then he pointed at me.

At that moment, I woke up. I was completely confused. I knew Isa (Jesus) only from the Koran. I knew that he was a man who had performed miracles, a prophet. Never had I thought that he would reveal himself to me. I was shaking all over my body and woke up my wife. “What’s the matter?” she asked. I could only say, “They’re right. They’re following the right way. They’re right...” I couldn’t go back to sleep. I had to know more about this man.

The easiest way was to turn on the television and look for Christian satellite stations. Achmed also read the Bible and watched the JESUS film. He had bought this on impulse a year before at a book fair in Cairo. He spoke to a Christian neighbor, who took him to a church in Cairo. He says, “I started to attend the services in secret and took part in a Bible study group. The love of the Christians touched me. The members of our Bible study group are like family to me.” Achmed had been supernaturally drawn to Jesus. 

RESPONSE: I thank God today that I have also been drawn to Jesus, and He will raise me up!

PRAYER: Pray that God will continue to draw many, many Muslims to Jesus around the globe.

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

Men of the Bible - Joshua

Joshua

His name means: "Yahweh Is Salvation"

His work: He was Moses' aide and successor, a military commander and statesman.
His character: His remarkable military successes were achieved as a result of his attitude of trust and obedience toward the God who made them all possible.
His sorrow: That the Israelites failed to believe his good report of the Promised Land and that he and they were consequently prevented from entering it for forty years.
His triumph: To have led the Israelites to victory in Canaan, thus establishing them in the land God had promised their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Key Scriptures: Numbers 14:1-38; Joshua 1-6

A Look at the Man

When God calls someone to play a part in the history of his people, he often begins by testing his or her faith. Joshua's first test was to return a faithful report after he had spied out the land of Canaan with its giants and strong cities. Later God told him to cross the Jordan despite the fact that the river was at flood stage.

But the challenges didn't stop. To enter Canaan, the Israelites would have to take the city of Jericho, which lay five miles west of the Jordan River. But there was one little problem. High-walled, well-fortified cities had discouraged Israel's spies forty years earlier, and Joshua knew that their desert wanderings had not rendered the former slaves any more physically capable of laying siege to the city than they had been.

But Joshua believed that God had already delivered Jericho into their hands. They had merely to march around it for six days. On the seventh day, seven priests carrying trumpets of rams' horns would lead the army seven more times around the city. When the priests blew the last blast of the trumpet, all the people were to shout at the top of their lungs and the walls of the city would simply collapse. To practical-minded people—to most of us—this would have seemed a ridiculous plan. But it was the strategy Joshua employed, bringing about a victory that terrorized the other peoples of Canaan, thus paving the way for Israel's future military successes.

As each test grew larger, Joshua's faith kept pace, his obedience nourishing his faith and his faith nourishing his obedience. The man who had witnessed Israel's deliverance from Egypt, who had walked across the Red Sea, and who had stayed alive by eating manna in the desert was not about to doubt God's power to do what he said he would. Because of Joshua's faithfulness, the Israelites experienced victory after victory as they swept across the land and made it their own.

Reflect On: Deuteronomy 31:1–8
Praise God: For his power to do what he says he will.
Offer Thanks: For the victories God has won in your own life.
Confess: Any tendency to focus on your difficulties rather than on the God who promises to help you.
Ask God: To strengthen your faith by helping you take the risks he is asking of you.

Today's reading is a brief excerpt from Men of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Men in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Robert Wolgemuth (Zondervan). © 2010 by Ann Spangler. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Enjoy the complete book by purchasing your own copy at the Bible Gateway Store. The book's title must be included when sharing the above content on social media.
When God calls someone to play a part in the history of his people, he often begins by testing his or her faith.

Girlfriends in God - The Gentle Whisper of God

The Gentle Whisper of God

Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10, NIV).


Friend to Friend

It is totally true that we have to learn to get still and quiet in order to hear from God. This is why God tells us in the Psalms:

“Be still and know that I am God.”Psalm 46:10

I love the story of Elijah the prophet who is waiting to hear from God about the man who will replace him and carry on the ministry. (Elijah’s story is found in 1 Kings 19.)

Elijah asks God to speak to him. Elijah goes through a great storm – but God does not speak in the storm. He experiences an earthquake – but God does speak in the earthquake. He sees a great fire – but again, God does not speak in the fire. Elijah finally hears God in a still, small voice – in a gentle whisper.

God will use a 2 x 4 to get our attention when nothing else works. But He prefers to get our attention through a still, small voice. We must learn to get quiet in order to hear the gentle whisper of God’s Spirit.

If you have established a daily time with God, you have no doubt discovered the reality that the minute your body gets still, your mind and heart kick into high gear. Your mind brings up all the things you have to do, while your heart reminds you of all the things you are worried or concerned about. One of the challenges of being still is dealing with these issues.

Within the Quaker faith, there is a great deal of teaching about the concept of “centering down.” It is a way of dealing with the mind’s desire when we get still to push us towards reflection and thinking. The point of what I call “chair time” or time alone with God is not to reflect and think – but to clear your mind and heart so you can hear from God.

I have developed my own practice out of what I have learned from the Quakers. I call it “spinning off.” Here is how it works for me. The minute I try to get still, my mind (my intellect) kicks into gear and reminds me of all kinds of things:

What is still on my “to do” list?
What do I need to get done tomorrow?
What did I forgot to do today?
What about the bills that I still need to pay?
Is there enough money in our bank account to pay those bills?

The heart (my emotions) does the same thing. The minute I get still, my emotions take over and bring to mind:

That recent hurt or loss
Anything I am worried about
My friends who are struggling
How tired I am
How depressed I am
How frustrated I am

What is happening between the mind and the heart is actually counter productive. You are trying to get still to hear from God. And yet your mind and heart are racing ahead, not wanting to sit still at all.

This is where spinning out comes into play. Picture yourself trying to center down – trying to get to the place where your body, your mind, and your heart are still so you can hear from God. I start out by praying, “Jesus – I want to hear from You today. Help me to center down. Help me to spin off any distractions that come to mind.”

Then, as I get still, something will pop into my head or my heart. I think about it for a moment, make a plan to deal with it later, and then spin it off. I literally picture it leaving my mind or my heart and spinning away. When the next worry or thought or hurt comes, I do the same thing.

I often think through phrases like these to help me spin off:

“I can’t fix that right now – I will deal with it later.”
“I am concerned about that – but God, I trust You with it.”
“I do need to get that done – but not right now.”
“I do need some time to process that – but that is for another day.”

My experience is that when I learn to practice centering down by spinning off the thoughts from my head and the feelings from my heart, I get still enough and quiet enough to hear that still, small voice of God.

Let’s Pray

Father God, I want to grow in my faith. I know I need to spend quality time with You each day. Please help me learn how to center down. Teach me how to be still and quiet before You, entertaining no thoughts or feelings that would keep me from hearing Your voice. Lord, I know You long to spend time with me. Thank You for loving me. I come into Your presence with praise!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Why do you think Jesus often went away alone to pray? Determine a place where you can spend time alone with God in prayer. Now make a plan and the commitment to do so.

More from the Girlfriends

Need help? Today’s devotion is an excerpt from Chair Time, an E-Book written by Mary’s husband, Dan who says: “We have over-complicated prayer! In its purest form, it is talking with and listening to God. Most of us have the talking part down. The listening part – not so much.”

Looking for resources to help you grow in Christ? Visit Mary's online store for a great selection of books, CDs, MP3 downloads, E-Bible Studies and more!

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through E-mail, Twitter, Instagram, Shopify, or on Facebook.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

It is totally true that we have to learn to get still and quiet in order to hear from God.

LHM Daily Devotions - WHY?

"WHY?"

Mar. 15, 2019

Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."

~ John 11:21 (ESV)

I wonder what Lazarus thought of it. He was very ill—his sisters were worried, and they sent word to Jesus so He could come quickly and heal him. Then they waited. And waited.

I can just see Martha leaning out the door of her house, looking down the road. Why didn't Jesus come?

John tells us, "Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was" (John 11:5-6). A strange way to show love! You love someone, so you avoid helping them right away? What kind of God is that?

And yet it's true, isn't it? We have a God like that. We see people who have been in the Christian faith for years and years—people whose characters have been shaped by Jesus, who are clearly walking closely with Him—and they are the ones whose prayers seem to go unanswered. They suffer. They grieve. They go through loss. What is the reason for this?

We don't have the answers we want. But in the case of Lazarus, at least, we have a clue: Jesus' words, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4).

Jesus must have really trusted Lazarus and his family. What a test of faith they went through! Perhaps this is why John makes a point of saying that Jesus loved them. You don't place that kind of burden on anybody but those you know and love with all your heart. Those you are close to—they are the ones you ask the most of. You trust them. You have the hope that they will trust you.

We know the end of this story—that Jesus raised Lazarus, and many came to faith because of him. We don't often see the result of the suffering in our own lives. But like Lazarus, we trust that Jesus cares, and is going to use it for good. Somehow. Some time. Some way.

Because He loves us.

THE PRAYER: Lord, we often don't understand what You are doing or why. Help us to trust in You and to endure the times when we don't understand. Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• When did you do something your loved ones couldn't understand?

• When have your prayers seemed to go unanswered?

• When you suffer, how do you keep trusting in Jesus?

Lenten 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).
When did you do something your loved ones couldn't understand?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 15 de Marzo de 2019 - ¿Por qué?

ALIMENTO DIARIO

¿Por qué?

15 de Marzo de 2019

Y Marta le dijo a Jesús: «Señor, si hubieras estado aquí, mi hermano no habría muerto.

~ Juan 11:21 (RVC)

Me pregunto qué pensaría de eso Lázaro. Estaba muy enfermo, sus hermanas estaban preocupadas y enviaron un mensaje a Jesús para que viniera rápidamente a sanarlo. Luego esperaron. Y esperaron. Puedo ver a Marta asomándose por la puerta de la casa, mirando la calle. ¿Por qué no venía Jesús?

Juan nos dice: "Jesús amaba a Marta, a su hermana y a Lázaro. Y cuando Jesús se enteró de que estaba enfermo, se quedó dos días más en el lugar donde estaba" (Juan 11: 5-6). ¡Extraña manera de mostrar amor! ¿Amas a alguien, pero evitas ayudarlo de inmediato? ¿Qué clase de Dios es ese?

Y, sin embargo, así es nuestro Dios. Conocemos personas que han estado en la fe cristiana toda la vida, y sin embargo sus oraciones parecen no tener respuesta. ¿Por qué?

No tenemos las respuestas que queremos. Pero en el caso de Lázaro, al menos tenemos una pista: las palabras de Jesús. "Esta enfermedad no es de muerte, sino que es para la gloria de Dios y para que el Hijo de Dios sea glorificado por ella" (Juan 11: 4).

Jesús confiaba en Lázaro y su familia. ¡Qué prueba de fe pasaron! Quizás es por eso que Juan hace énfasis en decir que Jesús los amaba: ese tipo de carga sólo se pone en aquellos a quienes uno ama profundamente y sabe que confiarán en uno.

Sabemos el final de esta historia: Jesús resucitó a Lázaro y muchos llegaron a la fe gracias a él. A menudo no vemos el resultado de nuestro sufrimiento. Pero al igual que Lázaro, confiamos en que Jesús lo va a usar para bien. De alguna manera. En algún momento.

Porque nos ama.

ORACIÓN: Señor, a menudo no entendemos lo que estás haciendo o por qué. Ayúdanos a confiar en ti y a soportar los momentos en que no entendemos. Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿En qué oportunidad/es han quedado sin respuesta tus oraciones?

• ¿Cómo haces para seguir confiando en Jesús en medio de tus sufrimientos?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿En qué oportunidad/es han quedado sin respuesta tus oraciones?

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Cứ Tiếp Tục

Cứ Tiếp Tục

Đọc: Xuất Ê-díp-tô ký 10:21-29 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Phục truyền 26-27; Mác 14:27-53

Download MP3

Bởi đức tin, [Môi-se] lìa Ai Cập không sợ vua giận. Hê-bơ-rơ 11:27

Khi làm việc trong các tập đoàn thế giới, chúng ta được tiếp xúc với nhiều người thông minh và tài năng. Tuy nhiên, có một trường hợp ngoại lệ là dự án do một giám đốc ở xa điều hành. Ông không đếm xỉa đến sự tiến triển của nhóm chúng tôi, mà chỉ trích gay gắt công việc của chúng tôi và luôn đòi hỏi chúng tôi phải nỗ lực nhiều hơn mỗi khi gọi điện thoại để nắm tình hình hàng tuần. Những bất đồng ý kiến làm tôi chán nản và lo sợ. Nhiều lần tôi muốn bỏ cuộc.

Có thể Môi-se cảm thấy muốn bỏ cuộc khi đối đầu với Pha-ra-ôn trong tai vạ tối tăm. Chúa đã giáng tám tai họa lớn khác lên Ai Cập, và Pha-ra-ôn cuối cùng đã nổi giận: “[Này Môi-se,] hãy lui đi cho khuất mắt ta! Hãy giữ mình, đừng bao giờ nhìn mặt ta nữa, vì ngày nào ngươi thấy mặt ta thì ngươi sẽ chết!” (Xuất. 10:28).

Dù bị đe dọa, Môi-se cuối cùng cũng được Chúa sử dụng để giải phóng dân Y-sơ-ra-ên thoát khỏi sự cai trị của Pha-ra-ôn. “Bởi đức tin, [Môi-se] lìa Ai Cập không sợ vua giận; vì ông kiên trì như thể thấy Đấng không thấy được” (Hê. 11:27). Môi-se đã chiến thắng Pha-ra-ôn vì tin rằng Chúa sẽ giữ lời hứa giải cứu của Ngài (Xuất. 3:17).

Ngày nay, chúng ta hãy nương dựa nơi lời hứa của Chúa rằng Ngài luôn ở với chúng ta trong mọi hoàn cảnh, vùa giúp chúng ta qua Thánh Linh Ngài. Ngài giúp chúng ta chịu được sự đe dọa và tránh phản ứng sai trật bằng cách ban cho chúng ta tinh thần mạnh mẽ, tình yêu và sự tiết độ (II Ti. 1:7). Đức Thánh Linh ban cho sự can đảm mà chúng ta cần để cứ bền lòng đi theo sự hướng dẫn của Chúa trong đời sống mình.

Lạy Chúa, xin giúp con cứ chăm xem Ngài khi người khác làm con buồn giận. Xin bảo vệ con, dẫn dắt con và giúp con tin cậy Ngài trong mọi hoàn cảnh.

Đâu là những hoàn cảnh khiến bạn buồn giận? Bạn sẽ nương dựa nơi Chúa thế nào khi đối mặt với hoàn cảnh đó?

bởi Jennifer Benson Schuldt

© 2019 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày

Khi làm việc trong các tập đoàn thế giới, chúng ta được tiếp xúc với nhiều người thông minh và tài năng. Tuy nhiên, có một trường hợp ngoại lệ là dự án do một giám đốc ở xa điều hành. Ông không đếm xỉa đến sự tiến triển của nhóm chúng tôi, mà chỉ trích gay gắt công việc của chúng tôi và luôn đòi hỏi chúng tôi phải nỗ lực nhiều hơn mỗi khi gọi điện thoại để nắm tình hình hàng tuần. Những bất đồng ý kiến làm tôi chán nản và lo sợ. Nhiều lần tôi muốn bỏ cuộc.