The Daily Lectionary for MONDAY, April 22, 2019 - Monday in Easter Week (Easter Monday)

The Daily Lectionary

MONDAY, April 22, 2019 - Monday in Easter Week

(Easter Monday)

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

A Song of Victory
1  O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
     his steadfast love endures forever!

2  Let Israel say,
     “His steadfast love endures forever.”

14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
     he has become my salvation.

15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
   “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16   the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
     the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
     and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
     but he did not give me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
     that I may enter through them
     and give thanks to the Lord.

20 This is the gate of the Lord;
     the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me
     and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
     has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
     it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
     let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Joshua 10:16-27

Five Kings Defeated
10:16 Meanwhile, these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them; 19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies, and attack them from the rear. Do not let them enter their towns, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great slaughter on them, until they were wiped out, and when the survivors had entered into the fortified towns, 21 all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speak against any of the Israelites.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 They did so, and brought the five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 When they brought the kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the Israelites, and said to the chiefs of the warriors who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.” 26 Afterward Joshua struck them down and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. 27 At sunset Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves; they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

5:6b Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

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
Easter Monday, also known as Bright Monday, Renewal Monday, Wet Monday, and Dyngus Day, is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday. It marks the beginning of Easter Week / Bright Week.

Verse of the Day for MONDAY, April 22, 2019

Romans 1:20 (NIV) For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Read all of Romans 1

Listen to Romans 1

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 - Sin que descuides lo tuyo

Sin que descuides lo tuyo

El temor del Señor es el principio del conocimiento; los necios desprecian la sabiduría y la disciplina.

~ Proverbios 1:7 (NVI)

Este devocional forma parte del tema anterior: El servicio a Dios debe ser equilibrado por completo.

No debemos abandonar nuestra familia por servir en la obra de Dios. De ahí que el Señor sea el único capaz de ayudarnos a equilibrar nuestro trabajo.

He tenido la oportunidad de conocer algunos casos cercanos. Se trata de jóvenes procedentes de familias pastorales que están cansados de vivir solos en sus casas. No tienen una vida en familia como los demás, ni tienen derecho a la privacidad ni en su casa. El problema es que la casa pastoral vive repleta de gente cualquier día de la semana, ni hablar el día del servicio. Tampoco se puede pensar en salir de vacaciones, pues papá o mamá están con agendas repletas de compromisos de la iglesia.

Esta es una exhortación muy especial que tengo para ti pastor, pastora, líder, capellán o cualquiera que sea tu posición. El servicio a Dios es el mayor privilegio que tú y yo podemos experimentar. Es gratificante y muy bien remunerado por Dios.

Sin embargo, no olvides que antes de servir a Dios, tu primer ministerio, tu primera obra, es cuidar de tu familia. No la descuides, pues te necesita.

Pídele a Dios que te dé el tiempo perfecto y que logres ser el mejor de los padres.

Hay un orden ya establecido por nuestro Señor. Tú con Dios como cabeza, tu familia, primera obligación, el trabajo y la iglesia.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Este devocional forma parte del tema anterior: El servicio a Dios debe ser equilibrado por completo.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - THE SHIELD OF FAITH

THE SHIELD OF FAITH

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

~ Ephesians 6:16 (NIV)

The Roman shield was the defensive piece of armor that was almost always used together with the sword. It was used to ward off a blow from the opponent while making your own sword-thrust. Likened to a shield, our faith in God is that piece of spiritual armor that enables us to withstand attacks by the enemy that are too much for the mind and body. The shield of faith has a three-fold duty.

1. It is a saving faith that is the inward confidence in God.

2. It is a serving faith that inspires our servant hood.

3. It is a sanctifying faith that lays hold of the power of God for our daily lives.

When you come under enemy fire, take shelter behind your faith in God. Do not be deceived by circumstances and events. Walk by faith, not by sight. Be confident that God has secured victory. Stake your life on His faithfulness. Trust Him to deliver you as you wear the shield of faith.

A colleague tells the story of Gabriel in violence plagued Colombia. His calling is to share the gospel with guerrilla soldiers hiding in the mountains. As he approaches a camp site with his bag of Spanish Bibles, a perimeter guard often steps out and sticks his AK-47 in Gabriel’s stomach.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to tell you about the love of Jesus which you can read about in these books.”

“We don’t want your books. Get lost or I’ll kill you!”

It’s at this point that Gabriel’s faith rises. Pushing the barrel of the gun aside he casually answers, “No you won’t! You can’t kill me until God says you can kill me,” and he boldly walks ahead into the camp where he distributes Bibles and preaches the gospel to those who will listen. He is still on the trail and has not been killed yet. He is convinced the day will come when his life will be taken. But his faith is solidly grounded in the assurance that it will only happen in God’s will. Meanwhile he is a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel because of his faith.

RESPONSE: Today I take the shield of faith so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat.

PRAYER: Lord, help me be strong in faith, ready for Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, denial and deceit. Give me bold faith like Gabriel’s.

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

Women of the Bible - Ruth

Ruth

Her name means: "Friendship"

Her character: Generous, loyal, and loving, she is strong and serene, able to take unusual risks, dealing actively with life circumstances.
Her sorrow: To have lost her husband, homeland, and family.
Her joy: To discover firsthand the generous, loyal, and loving nature of God, as he provided her with a husband, a son, and a home to call her own.
Key Scriptures: Ruth 2-4; Matthew 1:5

Her Story

It was harvest time in Israel when Boaz first laid eyes on the young woman. The sun had painted the fields a tawny gold as workers swung their sickles in even rhythms through the standing grain. According to Israel's law and custom, the poor had the right to gather whatever the harvesters missed.

Ruth toiled quickly and efficiently, he noticed, stuffing grain into a coarse sack slung across her shoulder. Strands of black hair escaped her head covering, softly framing olive-colored skin, still smooth despite the sun. She rested, but only for a moment, her eyes wary for any sign of trouble from the men working the fields. Gleaning was rough work and dangerous, especially for an attractive young foreigner, alone and unprotected.

Everyone in Bethlehem had been talking about Boaz's relative, Naomi, and her unexpected return. Ruth, he knew, had come with her. He had heard of their shared tragedy and the extraordinary loyalty the young woman had displayed toward her mother-in-law, even promising to renounce Moab's idols for Israel's God. A man could wish for such a friend as Ruth had been to Naomi.

Determined to repay her kindness in some way, Boaz called to her, "My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servant girls. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the girls. I have told the men not to touch you." The young woman smiled her agreement.

Later he spoke to Ruth again, this time offering bread and roasted grain for her dinner. When she finished eating, Boaz instructed his men to pull out some stalks of grain and strew them in her path. It was good to see her leaving that night with a bulging harvest sack.

Day after day, he watched her, aware that the wheat and barley harvest would soon be drawing to a close. One evening, Boaz and the other men were winnowing barley on the threshing floor. After he had finished eating and drinking, he lay down under the stars at the far end of the grain pile. With so many men to guard the harvest, robbers wouldn't dare approach. But in the middle of the night he woke with a start, realizing that someone had dared. To his surprise, he discovered the intruder was neither a robber nor a man, but a woman who lay at his feet.

She, too, was awake. "I am your servant, Ruth," she whispered. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer."

He could hardly believe her words. The young woman had taken a remarkable risk, appearing at night and lying down so close to him. Quickly, he covered her, saying, "The Lord bless you. This kindness is greater than that which you showed Naomi: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask." So Ruth lay at his feet until morning, rising before the early light could reveal her presence to others.

But Boaz knew there was one obstacle that could yet spoil things. Naomi had a closer relative than Boaz, a man who could play the role of kinsman-redeemer, marrying Ruth and restoring her dead husband's name. This man was entitled to purchase a field belonging to Naomi. If he purchased the field, by law he had to marry Ruth as well. That would destroy Boaz's hope of making Ruth his wife.

Boaz wasted no time putting the case before the man, who seemed interested enough in the land. But as soon as the man discovered that marriage was part of the bargain, he relinquished his rights to the land to Boaz.

So the two were married and the older man welcomed the young woman into his home. And God blessed them with a son, whom they named Obed.

Pulling Ruth close to him, Boaz watched one day as Naomi held her grandson to her breast. Surrounded by the other women of Bethlehem, she looked young again, more like the woman he remembered when her husband, Elimelech, had been alive. He watched as the women talked with Naomi regarding the child: "Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

Yes, Boaz thought, his Ruth was better to Naomi than seven sons. And he was grateful for the friendship between the two women. Had Ruth and Naomi gone their separate ways, his life would have been so much the poorer.

The good-hearted Boaz felt strong and young again. But even he couldn't have realized how greatly God had blessed him in the person of Ruth. For their son, Obed, became the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David. In addition to being King David's great-grandparents, both Boaz and Ruth are mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus of Nazareth, who is, after all, our own great Kinsman-Redeemer, uniting us to himself, healing our sorrows, and giving us, as well, a future full of hope.

Her Promise

All that Ruth did was done for love of her mother-in-law, and for love of Naomi's God. She made a promise on the road to Bethlehem that she was determined to keep. Though it was a promise made by one woman to another, it is often quoted in wedding ceremonies as an eloquent expression of love and loyalty between spouses.

Ruth had no way of knowing that her way of blessing Naomi would eventually become a blessing in her own life. That's just the divine irony of our God, who delights so much in seeing us love and bless others that he turns that love and blessing back on us in double measure.

This devotional is drawn from Women of the Bible: A One-Year Devotional Study of Women in Scripture by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Used with permission.
It was harvest time in Israel when Boaz first laid eyes on the young woman. The sun had painted the fields a tawny gold as workers swung their sickles in even rhythms through the standing grain.

/Girlfriends in God - Monday, April 22, 2019

Moving T-H-R-O-U-G-H Your Scars

Lisa Morrone, PT

Today’s Truth

So, the other disciples told [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks [scars] in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side [scar], I will not believe.”

~ John 20:25 (NIV)

He was pierced for our transgressions…and by His wounds [evidenced by His scars] we are healed.

~ Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

As a physical therapist, I spend many hours each week working on the post-surgical scars of my patients. You see, scars, when left to themselves, have a tendency to become bound down and restricted. In the process of forming they can even adhere themselves to other nearby structures, such as skeletal muscles and organs. It’s my job to make sure new scars heal in a flexible manner and any existing scars are mobilized and released so they won’t continue to pull on or bind up the fluid motion of neighboring anatomical structures.

Through the course of our lives, we can have close encounters with wounded people who leave us with wounds of our own. (Hurt people, hurt people.) Add to that our tendency to “run into sin” and wound ourselves (and our reputations) and you’ll find that by the time we reach adulthood, we can carry quite an assortment of “marks.” Some of these scars are surface only, but others point to the location of deep wounds which—when left to “close up” on their own—can leave us bound down in many unhealthy ways. These restrictions will prevent us from moving freely in the Spirit and following the Lord in all the ways He longs to stretch us.

When I set out to release a patient’s scar, whether it’s a newly acquired one or an old relic, I first assess its ability to move in all directions. I even lift it up away from the body to see whether it’s adhered at an even deeper level. Once I find the scar’s direction of greatest restriction, I stretch it towards the edge of its limitation, hold it firmly against its barrier, and then wait for time and my external pressure to realign the collagen fibers within the scar tissue. When these fibers become better aligned, unhealthy “holding patterns” let go, and movement is restored so the body can function more optimally.

Many people in the Bible bore scars, Jesus and Paul most notably. However, their wounds didn’t close up in a restricted, forward movement-hindering way. Their scars, in contrast, told a story—yes, of past-woundedness, but more importantly, of God’s power to heal, redeem, restore, and conquer death!

When we intentionally stretch against the barriers of our own woundedness, we allow the therapeutic hand of the Holy Spirit to work on us, to remold and remake the places in our lives which were once scarred down. When His “mobilizing” work is done, you and I are able to move THROUGH our scars and use them as testimonies of what the Lord has brought us through and restored us from. Then, when people see us functioning fluidly in spite of our scarred past, the power of Jesus is revealed in us, and His fame grows as people glorify His name for the work He has done in us.

Jesus’ scarred hands still stretch wide to bid us welcome. May you work your scars in such a way that your life gains the (flex)ability to bid others to Him as well.

Let’s Pray

Master Mobilizer, work on me, Lord. Bring deep healing to my woundedness. Stretch my scars. And while my life will continue to bear the marks of past wounding, may my scars never restrict me from serving You in whichever way YOU chose to use me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Can you identify an area of your life in which you feel held back or bound down? Can you associate a scarring event as its origin? If so, begin to bring this scar to the Lord. Through prayer and the power of relevant, scar-releasing Scripture, press into your painful restriction until it releases. You may need the counsel of a trusted friend or professional to help you accomplish this. But know this: your efforts will be well worth the pain of stretching yourself beyond your comfort zone. Only then will you be free to truly move forward as the Spirit leads you!

More from the Girlfriends

Overcoming Overeating: It’s Not What You Eat, It’s What Eats You (Harvest House Publishers) is one of Lisa’s six books in her Restoring Your Temple® health resource collection. Her books are available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, or wherever books are sold.

Seeking God?

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

relationship with Jesus Christ.

Girlfriends in God

www.girlfriendsingod.com

As a physical therapist, I spend many hours each week working on the post-surgical scars of my patients.

LHM Daily Devotions - A CHILL DAY FOR ANGELS

"A CHILL DAY FOR ANGELS"

Apr. 22, 2019

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

~ Matthew 28:2 (ESV)

Have you ever noticed how much sitting the angels do on Jesus' resurrection day? An angel descends from heaven, rolls away the stone, and sits on it. Only then does he start talking to the women. Later on, Mary looks into the tomb to discover two angels, one sitting at the place where Jesus's head used to be, the other where His feet were (John 20:12). Again, they're sitting—apparently in no hurry to go anywhere or do anything. They are "chilling," as my teenage son might say.

What does their sitting mean? When I come in to a room and sit down, it means I'm not going anywhere. I'm not in a hurry. Whatever business I may have can be accomplished right here, while I sit. There's a certain relaxation, a chance to stop and think—and perhaps talk. The rush is over.

I wonder if the angels at Jesus' tomb felt the same way. They had been there, behind the scenes, watching all through Jesus' arrest and torture and crucifixion and death. They had seen His friends take Him down from the cross and place Him in the tomb. They had lived through the glorious moment when He came back to life, breaking the power of death over humanity forever more. Jesus was alive and loose in the world again!

But now all those events were finished. The angels had one message left to deliver—"He is not here, for He has risen!" Now it would be the human f0llowers of Jesus who were in motion, running as fast as they could, spreading the Good News to each other and ultimately to the world. The angels were done. They could sit.

That gift of calm, joyful peace is something God gives to us, too. Oh, we still run. We run to help people in need, we run to deal with emergencies and crises and the problems of every day. We take the Good News to people we love, family and friends and neighbors alike. But there are also times we can sit—and rejoice that Jesus is risen, that evil is conquered, and that God's victory is certain.

THE PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the chance to rest and rejoice in the wonders You have done! Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

• When do you take time to sit, rest and relax?

• When do you feel like you're running, and why?

• How does Jesus' resurrection give you rest?

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 do you take time to sit, rest and relax?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 22 de Abril de 2019 - Un día tranquilo para los ángeles

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Un día tranquilo para los ángeles

22 de Abril de 2019

Lunes de Pascua

De pronto, hubo un gran terremoto, porque un ángel del Señor descendió del cielo, removió la piedra, y se sentó sobre ella.

~ Mateo 28:2 (RVC)

¿Alguna vez has notado cuánto hacen los ángeles el día de la resurrección de Jesús? Un ángel desciende del cielo, rueda la piedra y se sienta en ella. Sólo entonces habla con las mujeres. Más tarde, María mira hacia la tumba y ve dos ángeles, uno sentado en el lugar donde solía estar la cabeza de Jesús, y el otro donde estaban sus pies (Juan 20:12). Una vez más están sentados, aparentemente sin prisa por ir a ningún lado o hacer algo.

Cuando entro a una habitación y me siento, es porque no voy a ir a ninguna parte ni tengo prisa por hacer algo. ¿Será que los ángeles se sintieron de la misma manera? Habían estado observando desde detrás del escenario mientras Jesús era arrestado, torturado, crucificado y luego moría. Habían visto a sus amigos bajarlo de la cruz y colocarlo en la tumba. Habían vivido el momento glorioso cuando volvió a la vida, rompiendo el poder de la muerte sobre la humanidad para siempre.

Pero ahora que todo había pasado, a los ángeles sólo les quedaba entregar un mensaje: "¡No está aquí porque ha resucitado!" Ahora les tocaba a los seguidores de Jesús ir corriendo a difundir la Buena Nueva a todo el mundo. Los ángeles podían quedarse sentados.

Ese don de paz y alegría es algo que Dios nos da también a nosotros. Es cierto que todavía corremos. Corremos para ayudar a las personas necesitadas, para enfrentar emergencias y crisis y los problemas de todos los días. Llevamos las Buenas Nuevas a las personas que amamos, familiares, amigos y vecinos por igual. Pero también hay momentos en los que podemos sentarnos y regocijarnos porque, gracias a que Jesús resucitó, el mal fue vencido y la victoria de Dios es segura.

ORACIÓN: ¡Gracias, Señor, por la oportunidad de descansar y regocijarnos en las maravillas que has hecho! Amén.

PREGUNTAS DE REFLEXIÓN:

• ¿Qué haces cuándo sientes que estás corriendo demasiado?

• ¿De qué manera la resurrección de Jesús te da descanso?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué haces cuándo sientes que estás corriendo demasiado?

Notre Pain Quotidien - Un second souffle

Un second souffle

Lisez : Ésaïe 40.27-31

La Bible en un an : 2 Samuel 14 – 15 ; Luc 17.1-19

Venez à moi, vous tous qui êtes fatigués et chargés, et je vous donnerai du repos. Matthieu 11.28

Milwaukee avec deux objectifs en tête : franchir le fil d’arrivée et le faire en moins de cinq heures. Or, mon temps aurait été exceptionnel si le second segment de 21 km s’était déroulé aussi bien que le premier. La course s’est toutefois avérée exténuante et je n’ai jamais obtenu le second souffle escompté, si bien qu’au fil d’arrivée, ma foulée s’était muée en marche pénible.

La course à pied n’est pas la seule chose à requérir un second souffle, il en va de même aussi pour celle de la vie. Afin de persévérer, les gens fatigués et chargés ont besoin de l’aide de Dieu. À ce sujet, Ésaïe 40.27-31 marie à merveille poésie et prophétie afin de consoler et de motiver les gens qui ont besoin que leur force soit renouvelée pour continuer d’aller de l’avant. Ces paroles atemporelles rappellent aux gens épuisés et découragés que le Seigneur n’est pas insensible à leur sort (V. 27), dont il a parfaitement conscience. Ces paroles, qui sont source de consolation et d’assurance, nous rappellent la puissance infinie et l’intelligence insondable de Dieu (V. 28).

Le second souffle que décrivent les versets 29 à 31 convient en tout point à nos besoins ; qu’il s’agisse d’élever notre famille et de pourvoir à sa subsistance, de vaincre les épreuves physiques et financières qui jalonnent notre vie ou de relever nos défis relationnels ou spirituels malgré le découragement. Voilà le second souffle – la force renouvelée – que le Seigneur réserve à ceux qui se confient en lui.

Dieu nous donne la force de continuer d’avancer peu importe la situation.

par Arthur Jackson

© 2019 Ministères NPQ
Milwaukee avec deux objectifs en tête : franchir le fil d’arrivée et le faire en moins de cinq heures.