The Daily Lectionary for THURSDAY, June 13, 2019

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians saints armor of God

The Daily Lectionary

THURSDAY, June 13, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 8

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!

Proverbs 3:13-18

The True Wealth
3:13 Happy are those who find wisdom,
     and those who get understanding,
14 for her income is better than silver,
     and her revenue better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
     and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
     in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
     and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
     those who hold her fast are called happy.

Ephesians 1:17-19

1:17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

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
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him.

The Morning Prayer for THURSDAY, June 13, 2019

Thursday morning prayer

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

May Thursday be a hope filled day,

That floods my fears with light,

A day that quiets all anxious thoughts

As I encounter Christ.

Let Thursday always prompt my heart

To stop and find Your peace,

And live upon the truth You give

My eyes to You I lift.




Early Morning Prayer

You are the glorious morning,
You are refreshment and peace.
You are the sounds as the dawn breaks,
You are the rose that smells sweet.

You are the Lord, my creator,
You are the wonder of life.
You are the great words of wisdom,
I read them and fill up inside.

You are the wonderful sunrise,
You are restorer of hope.
You are the air that we breathe now,
You are the warm winter coat.

You are the Lord, my creator,
You are a love without end.
You are all grace and forgiveness,
I stand loved and free as your friend.

Verse of the Day THURSDAY, June 13, 2019

Luke 11:13 (NIV) If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Read all of Luke 11

Listen to Luke 11

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 - Thursday, June 13, 2019

Que nuestro «no» sea «NO»

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

~ Proverbios 1:7 (NVI)

Este devocional es, en realidad, la segunda parte del que tuvimos ayer. En esa ocasión hablamos de ser personas de una sola palabra y de dar testimonio también con nuestras decisiones. Aprendimos que el tener palabra nos libra de muchos malos ratos y de muchas situaciones comprometedoras.

Con el «no» sucede lo mismo que con el «sí». Cuando se dice «no» a tiempo, te puedes librar de un gran pecado o de una mala decisión de verte expuesto a momentos de los que quizá te arrepientas toda la vida.

Claro, también con decir «no» se puede ser contraproducente en otras circunstancias de la vida. Por ejemplo, negar a Dios, negar que eres cristiano porque te avergüenzas ante la gente que no le conoces o por orgullo permanecer negados a cambios.

Hoy queremos pedirte, Dios mío, que nos muestres con claridad cuándo nuestra falta de palabra ha involucrado a otras personas y quizá no hemos dado el mejor testimonio.

Te pedimos que nos guíes y nos permitas ser hombres y mujeres con el carácter de tu Hijo Jesucristo y no vivir por lo que piensen los demás, sino por la convicción de agradarte y honrarte.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Este devocional es, en realidad, la segunda parte del que tuvimos ayer.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Thursday, June 13, 2019

TASK PRAYER

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.

~ James 5:17 (NIV)

Rev. Dr. David Cho who pastors the largest church in the world—a cell group based church—is also very strong on the significance of prayer. As a pastor of a growing Korean church, he felt he could not pray less than five hours a day.

He distinguishes between the type of prayer we usually think of—fellowship prayer—and what he calls “task” prayer. Both are important forms of prayer but task prayer is terrific labor and takes much energy. It is closest to intercessory prayer and is usually very focused prayer about an intense need.

Here are the characteristics of “task” prayer:

1. Have a clear goal – be very focused

2. Use simple words

3. Mobilize all the emotion in your heart

4. Be persistent (Luke 18:1-8)

Believers in China are very much involved in this type of prayer. Here is one description of believers who had gathered for a special meeting in a cave twenty-five feet below ground level. After a three-hour message:

They prayed with tears running down from their eyes, and the stream of tears intermingled with their ‘noserun,’ dripping down like transparent noodles, which they ignored. For their hearts were so turned to the face of Christ that they became totally oblivious of their own unkempt state. One sister prayed for over 45 minutes standing, pleading with the Lord to release her fellow-evangelist and her fiancé from prison. He had fasted for many days and refused to divulge any information on the churches’ evangelistic activity.[1]

RESPONSE: When I have an intense need, I will practice task prayer.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to have the faith, persistence and emotion of Elijah when I pray.

1. Ross Paterson, Heart Cry For China (Chichester, UK: Sovereign World, 1989), p.190.

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

Men's Devotional Bible - Thursday, June 13, 2019

Fear the Lord … But Don’t Be Afraid

Deuteronomy 10:12–22
Recommended Reading: Psalm 33:18–22; Hebrews 12:22–29; Revelation 1:9–18

In his autobiography, Blessings in Disguise, the late actor Alec Guinness wrote that as he was walking up Kingsway in the middle of an afternoon, he had an impulse to start running. He ran until he reached a little church. He’d never been there before, but he caught his breath and knelt to pray. For the next ten minutes he “was lost to the world.”

Guinness explained the compulsion as a “rather nonsensical gesture of love,” an outburst of thanksgiving. He ran to the church and fell on his knees in prayer not long after March 24, 1956, the day he had converted to Christianity after years of being an atheist.

Guinness, in a move reflective of the movement of the Holy Spirit in his life, learned in part what “fearing God” is all about. Although Scripture uses the word “fear,” God doesn’t want us to be afraid of him. Instead, he wants us to realize how magnificent, awe-inspiring and deserving of our worship he is.

Interestingly, knowing that God desires our worship also helps us understand just how special we are to him. This can lead us into a more active relationship with God. God always expresses his love in some kind of action toward us, and he desires that we return our loving expressions in action, as well as in trusting his leading and following his commands for our life.

God’s love, coupled with our sense of awe and reverence, leads us to action. It led Alec Guinness to run down the street and then fall on his knees in thanksgiving and adoration. Perhaps you’ve only recently come to know about God’s grace revealed through Jesus Christ. Perhaps you’ve been his devoted follower for years. Or perhaps you’re just looking for a fresh experience of God in your life. What actions will you take today to express your “fear of God”?

Don’t be afraid to go for it!

To Take Away

• Describe in your own words what it means to fear God.
• How does knowing that God desires our worship help us understand how special we are to him?
• What actions can you take to express your love to God?

Describe in your own words what it means to fear God.

Girlfriends in God - Thursday, June 13, 2019

Before You Get Mad

Arlene Pellicane

Today’s Truth

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

~ James 1:19 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

It was raining like crazy when I went to pick up my son from school.  I had told him earlier to look for my car so I wouldn’t have to get out in the rain.  I slipped into my ugliest, oldest flip flops.  I was just planning to stay in the nice, dry car.

There was my son in plain sight.  He walked towards me and then walked right…past…my…car!  He made a U-turn but still missed me.  I was so upset and exasperated.  I got out of my car, embarrassed to be wearing my for-home-use-only flip flops, and yelled “ETHAN!!!” at the top of my lungs.

He finally saw me.  I darted back to the car, totally unprepared for the downpour.  In those few seconds, I talked to myself.  I was very aware of how mad I was!  “Calm down, don’t be mad.  It’s not really a big deal.”

The first thing I said to Ethan was, “You made me get out in my flipper floppers!” which made us both laugh because I looked so ridiculous.  I asked as calmly as possible, “Why didn’t you see my car?”

“I was expecting you to come in the van, but you came in the other car.”

Oh.  That made sense.  My anger which had risen so quickly like a thundercloud dissipated.

James wrote to us about the powerful emotion of anger, “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19 NIV)

Notice one quick and two slows.

Quick to listen.  Slow to speak and slow to become angry.

We can get that turned around.  We can be slow to listen and quick to speak and quick to become angry.  Before you get mad at your child, husband, friend, mom, or co-worker, take a deep breath.  Think about one quick and two slows.  Ask God to calm you down and to help you to listen.

“Slow to be angry” in the original Greek means “slow to boil.” We live in a microwave generation where many things move fast, almost instantly from blazing Internet connections to fast food. When it comes to getting angry, we are instructed to be more like a slow-cooking crock pot than a microwave.

This can be very difficult! As James writes, “No human being can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8, NIV). Thankfully we have the Holy Spirit residing within us as our Teacher and Guide.

Please understand there is a place for right anger. You see Jesus’ righteous anger toward the injustice and corruption happening in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13). God’s anger burns against the wicked. Not all anger is bad.  But sometimes the anger that comes out in our cutting tone, yelling, or terse words isn’t rooted in righteousness. It’s rooted in selfishness.

Let’s be slow to boil, slow to speak, slow to get angry.  Let’s instead be quick to listen.  We may find out the other side of the story is a worthwhile tale.

Let’s Pray

Dear Jesus, I need Your help today.  May I be quick to listen to others.  Give me wisdom and an understanding and patient heart.  Help me to be slow to anger and slow to speak.  Bring peace to my closest relationships.  Let there be forgiveness in places where angry words have been spoken.  I commit my words and my thoughts to You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Are there certain people or situations that seem to activate your anger?  What can you do to prepare yourself to respond calmly next time instead of in anger?

The next time you feel anger welling up inside of you, take a deep breath and pray to God before you speak.

More from the Girlfriends

Anger can be a troubling emotion for children. Arlene’s book Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman) addresses good and bad anger, and how to tell the difference between the two. It will help you navigate anger in a healthier way in your home.

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 was raining like crazy when I went to pick up my son from school...

LHM Daily Devotions - Seeing Red

"Seeing Red"

Jun. 13, 2019

The Jews answered Jesus, "Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me. Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death." The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death.' Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do You make Yourself out to be?" Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.' But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and I keep His Word. Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad." So the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

~ John 8:48-59 (ESV)

Have you ever been so angry you were seeing red? Your heart pounds, your blood pressure rises, and your hands curve into claws. It's almost impossible to think clearly.

I know that feeling, and I bet you do, too. We can see it in action in this Bible passage, where Jesus talks to the religious leaders of His people. One by one, He drops phrases that get them more and more riled up. Our text above is loaded with them. With Jesus' last two words, "I am," He was claiming God's own Name as His own.

No wonder they tried to stone Him!

Jesus must have known they'd have that reaction. And yet He kept going. Why? Well, because these were things they needed to know. Everything Jesus said was true. He is the One whose word brings life. He is the Son of God, the One who knows the unseen God and makes Him known to us. He is the Messiah that Abraham looked forward to with hope. He is the great "I AM" of Israel, the God who revealed His Name to Moses (see Exodus 3:14).

It's easy for us to judge the religious leaders, but we do the same thing sometimes, don't we? When we get angry, do we stop to consider whether there might be some important truth in what the other person is saying or doing? We should, because God might have something for us to learn. Anger can cloud our understanding.

Of course, nobody wants to do this, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do it. God can reach into our hearts and deal with our anger—giving us self-control and ears that listen, as well as wisdom to judge rightly. Then we can respond as God desires to that family member, that coworker, that neighbor down the street. Why? Because we belong to Jesus, who died and rose for our sakes. He will keep us close to Him.

THE PRAYER: Lord Holy Spirit, please work in my heart to give me wisdom, love, and self-control when I am angry. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• What are some of your typical responses when you get really angry?

• Is your manner of life something that others might say reflects your faith in God and a desire to be like Jesus?

• When your anger arises, how do you address it head-on before it gets the best of you?

This Daily Devotion was 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 are some of your typical responses when you get really angry?

Devocional de la CPTLN del 13 de Junio de 2019 - Dominado por la ira

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Dominado por la ira

13 de Junio de 2019

Los judíos le respondieron: «¿Acaso no tenemos razón al decir que tú eres samaritano, y que tienes un demonio?» Respondió Jesús: «Demonio no tengo. Yo lo que hago es honrar a mi Padre, pero ustedes me deshonran. Y yo no busco mi gloria. Pero hay uno que la busca, y que juzga. De cierto, de cierto les digo que, el que obedece mi palabra, nunca verá la muerte.» Entonces los judíos le dijeron: «Ahora estamos seguros de que tienes un demonio. Abrahán murió, lo mismo que los profetas; ¿y tú dices: El que guarda mi palabra, nunca verá la muerte? ¿Acaso eres tú mayor que nuestro padre Abrahán, el cual murió? ¡Y también los profetas murieron! ¿Quién te crees tú?» Jesús respondió: «Si yo me glorifico a mí mismo, mi gloria nada es; pero el que me glorifica es mi Padre, el que ustedes dicen que es su Dios. Ustedes no lo conocen, pero yo sí lo conozco. Y si yo dijera que no lo conozco, sería un mentiroso como ustedes. Pero lo conozco, y obedezco su palabra. Abrahán, el padre de ustedes, se alegró al saber que vería mi día. Y lo vio, y se alegró.» Los judíos le dijeron: «Ni siquiera tienes cincuenta años, ¿y has visto a Abrahán?» Jesús les dijo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo: Antes de que Abrahán fuera, yo soy.» Entonces tomaron piedras para arrojárselas; pero Jesús se escondió y salió del templo.

~ Juan 8:48-59 (RVC)

¿Alguna vez te has enojado al punto que tu corazón late con fuerza, tu presión arterial aumenta, tus manos se cierran en puños y te es casi imposible pensar con claridad?

Todo eso podemos verlo en acción en este pasaje de la Biblia, donde Jesús habla con los líderes religiosos de su pueblo. Una por una, él suelta frases que los irrita cada vez más. Al decir las últimas dos palabras: "Yo soy", Jesús estaba reclamando el nombre de Dios como propio. ¡No es de extrañar que intentaran apedrearlo!

Jesús debe haber sabido que iban a tener esa reacción. Pero, aun así, siguió adelante. ¿Por qué?

Porque necesitaban saberlo. Todo lo que Jesús dijo era verdad. Él es Aquél cuya palabra trae vida. Es el Hijo de Dios, quien conoce al Dios invisible y nos lo da a conocer. Es el Mesías que Abraham esperaba con esperanza. Es el gran "YO SOY" de Israel, el Dios que reveló su nombre a Moisés (ver Éxodo 3:14).

Es fácil juzgar a los líderes religiosos, pero a veces hacemos lo mismo, ¿no es cierto? ¿Acaso cuando nos enojamos nos detenemos a considerar si puede haber alguna verdad importante en lo que la otra persona está diciendo o haciendo? Deberíamos, porque Dios podría tener algo para que aprendamos. La ira puede nublar nuestra comprensión.

Pero a ninguno nos gusta hacerlo. Sin embargo, con la ayuda del Espíritu Santo, podemos hacerlo. Dios puede llegar a nuestros corazones y lidiar con nuestra ira, dándonos autocontrol y oídos que escuchan, así como sabiduría para juzgar correctamente. Entonces sí podremos responder como Dios desea a ese miembro de la familia, a ese compañero de trabajo, o a ese vecino. ¿Por qué? Porque pertenecemos a Jesús, quien murió y resucitó por nuestro bien. Él nos mantendrá cerca de él.

ORACIÓN: Espíritu Santo, obra en mi corazón para darme sabiduría, amor y autocontrol cuando estoy enojado. Amén.

Para reflexionar:

• Cuando te enojas, ¿cuáles son algunas de tus respuestas típicas?

• ¿Qué puedes hacer para que tu forma de reaccionar refleje cada vez más tu fe en Dios?

Dra. Kari Vo. © Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Cuando te enojas, ¿cuáles son algunas de tus respuestas típicas?

Хлеб наш насущный - Всего лишь цыганенок

Всего лишь цыганенок

Читать сейчас: 1 Петра 2:4-10 | Библия за год: Ездры 6-8; Иоанна 21

Скачать MP3

Вы – род избранный, царственное священство, народ святой, люди, взятые в удел. — 1 Петра 2:9

«Всего лишь цыганенок», – пренебрежительно прошептал кто-то, когда Родни Смит вышел к церковной кафедре, чтобы принять Христа во время богослужения в 1877 году. Никто не думал, что из этого подростка, сына необразованных цыган, что-то получится. Но Родни не обращал на это внимания. Он был уверен, что у Бога есть намерения и для его жизни. Поэтому он купил Библию и словарь английского языка и сам научился читать и писать. Однажды он сказал: «Путь к Иисусу лежит не через Кембридж, Гарвард, Йель или великих поэтов… Он проходит через старый холм под названием Голгофа». Вопреки всему, Родни стал евангелистом, через которого Бог привел ко Христу многих людей в Великобритании и Соединенных Штатах.

Петр тоже был простым человеком, не обучавшимся в религиозных раввинских школах (Деян. 4:13) рыбаком из Галилеи, когда Иисус призвал их с братом тремя простыми словами: «Идите за Мной» (Мф. 4:19). Но тот же Петр, несмотря на свое социальное положение и сделанные ошибки, впоследствии провозгласил, что последователи Христа – это «род избранный, царственное священство, народ святой, люди, взятые в удел» (1 Пет. 2:9).

Через Иисуса Христа все люди – независимо от образования, воспитания, пола или национальности – могут стать частью Божьей семьи и быть использованными Им. Войти «в удел» могут все, кто последует за Христом.

Что для вас значит быть частью избранного народа и царственным священством? Как вас ободряет тот факт, что Бог может употребить вас для Своей славы?

Боже, благодарю Тебя, что моя сущность обретается в Тебе.

автор: Эстера Пироска Эскобар

© 2019 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Что для вас значит быть частью избранного народа и царственным священством?