The Daily Lectionary for WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2019

The Daily Lectionary

WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2019

(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

Psalm 137

Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem
1  By the rivers of Babylon—
     there we sat down and there we wept
     when we remembered Zion.
2  On the willows there
     we hung up our harps.
3  For there our captors
     asked us for songs,
   and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
     “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4  How could we sing the Lord’s song
     in a foreign land?
5  If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
     let my right hand wither!
6  Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
     if I do not remember you,
   if I do not set Jerusalem
     above my highest joy.

7  Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites
     the day of Jerusalem’s fall,
   how they said, “Tear it down! Tear it down!
     Down to its foundations!”
8  O daughter Babylon, you devastator!
     Happy shall they be who pay you back
     what you have done to us!
9  Happy shall they be who take your little ones
     and dash them against the rock!

Lamentations 5:1-22

A Plea for Mercy
1  Remember, O Lord, what has befallen us;
      look, and see our disgrace!
2  Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers,
     our homes to aliens.
3  We have become orphans, fatherless;
     our mothers are like widows.
4  We must pay for the water we drink;
     the wood we get must be bought.
5  With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven;
     we are weary, we are given no rest.
6  We have made a pact with Egypt and Assyria,
     to get enough bread.
7  Our ancestors sinned; they are no more,
     and we bear their iniquities.
8  Slaves rule over us;
     there is no one to deliver us from their hand.
9  We get our bread at the peril of our lives,
     because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Our skin is black as an oven
     from the scorching heat of famine.
11 Women are raped in Zion,
     virgins in the towns of Judah.
12 Princes are hung up by their hands;
     no respect is shown to the elders.
13 Young men are compelled to grind,
     and boys stagger under loads of wood.
14 The old men have left the city gate,
     the young men their music.
15 The joy of our hearts has ceased;
     our dancing has been turned to mourning.
16 The crown has fallen from our head;
     woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Because of this our hearts are sick,
     because of these things our eyes have grown dim:
18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate;
     jackals prowl over it.

19 But you, O Lord, reign forever;
     your throne endures to all generations.
20 Why have you forgotten us completely?
     Why have you forsaken us these many days?
21 Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored;
     renew our days as of old—
22 unless you have utterly rejected us,
     and are angry with us beyond measure.

Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
11:12 On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 He said to it, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree
20 In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. 21 Then Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.” 22 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. 23 Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. 24 So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

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
The Daily Lectionary
Psalm 137; Lamentations 5:1-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-24

The Daily Prayer for WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2019

The Daily Prayer

WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2019

Oskar Schindler (1908-1974)

Oskar Schindler was a German living in Czechoslovakia when he joined the Nazi party in 1939. When Germany invaded Poland later that same year, he moved to Krakow and took over two manufacturing companies and, like many other businessmen there, made his fortune using cheap labor—Jews from the Krakow ghetto. When he began to witness the Germans killing and deporting Jews in the ghetto, Oskar was moved to transfer the Jewish workers from his factory to a safe place. Later, he received permission from the Germans to move not only his workers but other Jews as well to his native land of Czechoslovakia. Over time, Schindler’s occupation changed, until ultimately the rescue of the Jews became his top priority. Using the factory as cover, he saved more and more Jews, putting his own life in danger to ensure the safety of those in his protection. At one point, when a train carrying more than one thousand Jews was on its way to a new factory site in Czechoslovakia, it was accidentally diverted to Auschwitz. Schindler offered the Nazis diamonds and gold to make sure those in his care reached safety. Ultimately, Schindler saved twelve hundred Jews from extermination, and today there are more than seven thousand descendants of the Schindler Jews living all over the world. Through his actions, Schindler was a living example of the reality of human decency, love, goodness, and compassion in the face of unspeakable horror. He has been called an unlikely hero, not only because nothing in his prior life suggested the extent of his heroic deeds but also because he was an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. His life is a testament to the fact that we are all called to put our faith into action, sometimes in the most unexpected, bold, and courageous ways.

Oskar Schindler said, “He who saves one life saves the entire world.”

God, you never fail to dazzle us with your grace and mercy. We pray for the boldness to await the fulfillment of life that you promise, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Verse of the Day for WEDNESDAY, October 9, 2019

Deuteronomy 13:4 (NIV) It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.

Read all of Deuteronomy 13

Listen to Deuteronomy 13

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 09 octubre 2019

No me gusta el espejo

En cuanto a mí, veré tu rostro en justicia; estaré satisfecho cuando despierte a tu semejanza.

— Salmo 17:15 (RV-60)

Parece extraño, pero es verdad. Hay personas que no son muy amigas del espejo.

Un día iba en el auto con mi princesa Niki y me dijo: «No me gusta ese espejo». Se refería al espejo que está arriba del asiento del pasajero. Así que le pregunté: «¿Por qué dices eso, mami?». A lo que me contestó con sinceridad: «Porque me muestra todo lo que tengo». En esos días, había estado con una gripe terrible y tenía ojeras. De inmediato, saqué una hojita y escribí la idea, pues va más allá de lo que imaginamos, sobre todo en el ámbito espiritual.

El espejo se menciona en seis versículos de la Biblia y, a decir verdad, no sé si es bíblico o no, pero tiene sentido lo que he escuchado: «Los ojos son el espejo del alma».

Hay espejos en los que nos vemos de tamaño regular, pero hay otros que vienen con aumento y esos nos muestran los mínimos detalles de la cara. Esos no me gustan. Otros espejos distorsionan la imagen y, por lo general, los vemos en las ferias porque es divertido. Sin embargo, ¡qué importante es el espejo! Te muestra tal como eres y prevé cualquier molestia… ¡ya sabes a lo que me refiero!

Sé que a veces lo que vemos en el espejo puede determinar nuestro estado de ánimo. Quizá se trate de unas libras de más o de una pérdida de peso.

Pensemos, pues, que del mismo modo que el espejo nos muestra cómo somos, también nuestra vida debería ser un espejo para los demás. Es decir, que quienes nos vean quieran ser iguales a nosotros porque reflejemos a Jesucristo.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Parece extraño, pero es verdad. Hay personas que no son muy amigas del espejo.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - Wednesday, October 9, 2019

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

…and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

— Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

This scripture has special meaning to Christian women in Central Asia. Some of their “ashes” are: domestic violence, battering of women and sexual abuse, kidnapping of young girls (for marriage purposes) which is culturally accepted and (in some countries) honor killings. Trafficking and prostitution are a well-known phenomenon: many Uzbek girls find themselves in Thailand, Tajik girls in Dubai and Azeri girls in Turkey, without passports, without rights, forced into the sex industry. Central Asian women are often treated as objects of men’s desire or as the possession of men.

Poverty is everywhere in Central Asia. It adds to the heaviness of life together with serious health issues, a lack of available health care and drug and alcohol addiction. Some of the Christian women have unbelieving husbands, and rejected by relatives, become social outcasts in their villages. Others have a husband who is on the run from the authorities, is in prison for his faith or is constantly monitored by the security police. How does she deal with all the pressure and what does she feel when there is a knock on the door? Add to this all the issues related to honor and shame, and the influence of folk Islam with its occult practices and curses. There are plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed, overburdened and depressed.

Open Doors sponsors regional conferences for these Christian women in Central Asia. The impact of the women’s conferences is like a ripple effect growing into ever widening circles. For many women who come, just to worship openly and to be able to sing loudly in a big group is already a great encouragement as many come from areas where this is not possible. During the conferences there is a lot of dancing, worship, and celebration.

Several years ago some Central Asian Christian women gained the vision for starting work among women in situations of domestic abuse, trafficking and prostitution. All that was learned at the conferences was shared at home with the women in their area. Plans and teaching resources were drawn up, local churches were challenged and equipped and a start was made with various projects that are of great value to the local community.

A pastor’s wife, who spent three years in prison where she became a Christian, shared that she wanted to start ministering to women in prisons but she didn’t know how to start. “Now I have an idea how to minister to women,” she said after having attended the conference.

As God heals the pain and releases the women from their sorrows, He sets them free into a new love for Jesus and for ministry to others, both in the church and in society. They grow as mighty trees, providing shade and covering for others; all of this for the glory of God.

RESPONSE: Today I will live in the freedom Christ brings and become a mighty shade tree of ministry.

PRAYER: Pray for these women’s conferences in Central Asia that God will bestow beauty for ashes.

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 October 9, 2019 - What to Remember

"What to Remember"

Oct. 9, 2019

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the One who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us. if we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself.

— 2 Timothy 2:1-13 (ESV)

My son is working on college admission applications. That's a hard time for a parent. I want to give him whatever wisdom I can, prevent him from making mistakes, steer him in the right direction ... and yet, of course, there are real limits to what I can say or do. He has to make his own choices, and figure out what God wants him to do with his life. And me? Well, I have to learn to keep my hands off.

In 2 Timothy we can see Paul feeling much the same way about Timothy, the young man he loves as his own son. There is one thing he wants to convey to him above anything else—and it's what I want for my son, too. "Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel!" he says. If you forget everything else, remember Him.

Remember your Savior God, who came down from heaven, who became a human being, who lived, suffered, and died on a cross, all of it for your sake. Remember the One who rose from the dead, never to die again, all so that He could give you and everyone who believes in Him eternal, everlasting life and joy—so that you could become the human being God created you to be, in the full glory of your humanity. Remember the One who gives you the Holy Spirit to live inside you, to transform you from glory into glory, making you ever more and more like Jesus Himself, creating a family resemblance in you to the Son of God. Remember the One who sends you out into the world, promising that He will never leave you alone, but He will always be with you—until the day when He returns to take you and all God's people home for eternity.

Remember Him. Forget everything else if you must, but remember Him.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, keep my heart always fixed on You. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Think of a parent or grandparent who is no longer with you. What is the one thing you remember most about them?
• What do you want people to remember most about you?
• What is the most important thing in your life, and how are you communicating that to the people you love?

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).
Think of a parent or grandparent who is no longer with you. What is the one thing you remember most about them?

CPTLN devocional del 09 de Octubre de 2019 - Qué recordar

ALIMENTO DIARIO

Qué recordar

09 de Octubre de 2019

Tú, hijo mío, esfuérzate en la gracia que tenemos en Cristo Jesús. Lo que has oído de mí ante muchos testigos, encárgaselo a hombres fieles que sean idóneos para enseñar también a otros. Tú, por tu parte, sufre penalidades como buen soldado de Jesucristo. Ninguno que milita se enreda en los negocios de la vida, a fin de agradar a aquel que lo tomó por soldado. Y tampoco el que lucha como atleta es coronado, si no lucha legítimamente. El labrador, para participar de los frutos, debe trabajar primero. Considera lo que digo, y el Señor te dé entendimiento en todo. Acuérdate de Jesucristo, del linaje de David, que resucitó de los muertos conforme a mi evangelio, en el cual sufro penalidades y hasta encarcelamientos, como si fuera yo un malhechor; pero la palabra de Dios no está presa. Por eso todo lo soporto por causa de los escogidos, para que ellos también obtengan la salvación que es en Cristo Jesús con gloria eterna. Esta palabra es fiel: Si morimos con él, también viviremos con él; Si sufrimos, también reinaremos con él; Si lo negamos, también él nos negará. Si somos infieles, él permanece fiel; Él no puede negarse a sí mismo.

— 2 Timoteo 2:1-13 (RVC)

Mi hijo está trabajando en solicitudes de admisión a la universidad. Eso es difícil para mí como madre. Yo quiero pasarle sabiduría, prevenirlo de cometer errores, dirigirlo en la dirección correcta... y sin embargo por supuesto, tengo límites en cuanto a lo que puedo decir o hacer. Tiene que tomar sus propias decisiones y descubrir lo que Dios quiere hacer en su vida. ¿Y yo? Bueno, debo aprender a mantenerme al margen.

En 2 Timoteo 2 podemos ver a Pablo sintiéndose así por Timoteo, un joven a quien ama como a un hijo. Hay algo que quiere transmitirle por encima de todo y es lo que yo quiero también para mi hijo: "Acuérdate de Jesucristo, del linaje de David, que resucitó de los muertos conforme a mi evangelio". Por más que olvides todo lo demás, recuérdalo a él.

Recuerda a tu Salvador, Dios, quien descendió del cielo, vivió, sufrió y murió en la cruz. Él hizo todo esto por tu propio bien. Recuerda a Aquel que resucitó de entre los muertos y que no volverá a morir jamás. Lo hizo todo para darte a ti, y a todos los que creen en él, vida eterna y gozo sin fin. Por eso tú puedes convertirte en la persona que Dios quiere que seas, en la gloria plena de tu humanidad.

Recuerda a quien te dio al Espíritu Santo que vive dentro de ti y quien te lleva de gloria en gloria, haciéndote parecer cada vez más al mismo Jesús, creando una semejanza en ti a la del Hijo de Dios. Recuerda a quien te envió al mundo, prometiendo que nunca te dejará solo y siempre estará a tu lado hasta el día en que él vuelva para llevarte a tu hogar de vida eterna con Dios y los creyentes.

Recuérdalo a él. Si se te olvida todo lo demás, recuérdalo a él.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Jesús, mantén mi corazón siempre fijo en Ti. Amén.

Dra. Kari Vo

Para reflexionar:

• ¿Qué quieres que las personas recuerden de ti?
• ¿Qué es lo más importante en tu vida y cómo se lo comunicas a las personas que amas?

© Copyright 2019 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
¿Qué quieres que las personas recuerden de ti?

Ministérios Pão Diário - De minhocas à guerra

De minhocas à guerra

Leia: Juízes 6:11-16,36-40
 | A Bíblia em um ano: Isaías 32–33; Colossenses 1


Baixe a versão MP3

Porém o Senhor lhe disse: Paz seja contigo! Não temas! Não morrerás! v.23


Era a primeira pescaria de Célio, de 10 anos, e ele olhava receoso para o balde de iscas parecendo hesitar em começar. Finalmente, ele disse ao meu marido: “Ajude-me, eu-T-P-D-M!”. Então, meu marido lhe perguntou qual era o problema, Célio respondeu: “T-P-D-M! — Tenho pavor de minhocas!” Seu medo o incapacitava para agir.

O medo pode paralisar os homens crescidos também. Gideão deve ter ficado com medo quando o anjo do Senhor veio a ele  enquanto estava “malhando o trigo no lagar, para o pôr a salvo dos midianitas” (v.11). O anjo lhe disse que ele tinha sido escolhido por Deus para liderar o Seu povo na batalha (vv.12-14).

Qual foi a resposta de Gideão? “Ai, Senhor meu! Com que livrarei Israel? Eis que a minha família é a mais pobre em Manassés, e eu, o menor na casa de meu pai” (v.15). Depois de ter se assegurado da presença do Senhor, Gideão ainda parecia temeroso e pediu sinais de que Deus o usaria para salvar Israel como Ele tinha prometido (vv.36-40). E Deus atendeu aos pedidos de Gideão. Os israelitas tiveram sucesso na batalha e tiveram paz por 40 anos.

Todos nós temos medos de vários tipos, desde minhocas até a guerras. A história de Gideão nos ensina que podemos estar confiantes de que se Deus nos pede para fazer algo, Ele nos dará a força e o poder para efetuá-lo.

Para afastar o medo da sua vida, 
coloque a sua fé no Deus vivo.

por Anne Cetas

© 2019 Ministérios Pão Diário
Era a primeira pescaria de Célio, de 10 anos, e ele olhava receoso para o balde de iscas parecendo hesitar em começar. Finalmente, ele disse ao meu marido: “Ajude-me, eu-T-P-D-M!”.