The Daily Readings for SATURDAY, May 12, 2018

The Seventy Elders
Numbers 11:16-17; 24-29

Daily Readings

SATURDAY, May 12, 2018

Old Testament

Numbers 11:16-17; 24-29
The Seventy Elders
11:16 So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you. 17 I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself. 24 So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again. 26 Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”

The Epistle

Ephesians 2:11-22
One in Christ
2:11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

The Gospel

Matthew 7:28-8:4
7:28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
8:1 When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; 2 and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.” 3 He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

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.
So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them.”

The Morning Prayer for SATURDAY, May 12, 2018

Lord, never let me become stale or jaded in my faith. Amen.

Verse of the Day for SATURDAY, May 12, 2018

James 3:1 (NIV) Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Read all of James 3

Listen to James 3

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - The Danger of Studying Theology

The Danger of Studying Theology

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

~ James 3:1 (NIV)

TO SHELDON VANAUKEN, who had asked whether he should continue with his postgraduate work in history or study theology: On the danger of combining one’s vocation with one’s spiritual interest.

5 January 1951

We must ask three questions about the probable effect of your research subject to something more theological.

(1.) Would it be better for your immediate enjoyment? Answer, probably but not certainly, Yes.

(2.) Would it be better for your academic career? Answer, probably No. You would have to make up in haste a lot of knowledge which could not be very easily digested in the time.

(3.) Would it be better for your soul? I don’t know. I think there is a great deal to be said for having one’s deepest spiritual interest distinct from one’s ordinary duty as a student or professional man.

St. Paul’s job was tent-making. When the two coincide I should have thought there was a danger lest the natural interest in one’s job and the pleasures of gratified ambition might be mistaken for spiritual progress and spiritual consolation: and I think clergymen sometimes fall into this trap.

Contrariwise, there is the danger that what is boring or repellent in the job may alienate one from the spiritual life. And finally someone has said ‘None are so unholy as those whose hands are cauterised with holy things’: sacred things may become profane by becoming matters of the job. You now want truth for her own sake: how will it be when the same truth is also needed for an effective footnote in your thesis? In fact, the change might do good or harm. I’ve always been glad myself that Theology is not the thing I earn my living by. On the whole, I’d advise you to get on with your tent-making. The performance of a duty will probably teach you quite as much about God as academic Theology would do. Mind, I’m not certain: but that is the view I incline to.

Lord, never let me become stale or jaded in my faith. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion taken from “The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III”.
I’ve always been glad that Theology is not the thing I earn my living by.

Un dia a la Vez - Vivamos el hoy

Vivamos el hoy

Oh Señor [...] por todas las generaciones proclamará mi boca tu fidelidad. Declararé que tu amor permanece firme para siempre.

~ Salmo 89:1-2 (NVI)

Doy gracias a mi Dios porque muchas personas comienzan su día con este humilde devocional y lo digo así porque no soy pastora ni mucho menos. Aun así, Dios me ha dado el don y el gran privilegio de inyectar entusiasmo y alegría a la gente debido a todo lo que se pierde cuando se tienen tantas cosas en la mente y la vida es muy agitada.

Agradezco a cada uno de los oyentes que me ha dicho que mis oraciones y mis palabras de aliento han sido y siguen siendo de bendición para sus vidas y su diario vivir. ¡GRACIAS!

En realidad, esa debe ser nuestra actitud. Muchas veces he llegado durante estos diez años a la radio con diversas preocupaciones, enfermedades, problemas económicos y situaciones que vivimos todos los seres humanos. A pesar de eso, Dios ha sido tan grande que, en medio de esas circunstancias, todo se olvida al llegar al micrófono. Es como si pasara a otro plano. De mi boca solo sale agradecimiento a Dios y unas inmensos deseos de decirte: «Dios te ama, Dios te cuida, Dios está interesado en tu problema, Dios quiere hacerte feliz».

No obstante, dependerá mucho de nuestra actitud. Nosotros somos lo que hablamos o lo que confesamos. Si te levantas amargado y desde que abres tus ojitos y tu boca lo primero que pronuncias son palabras negativas, sales de tu casa en ese tono, lo llevas en mente y se lo dices a tu familia y a tus compañeros, eso es lo que vas a ser.

Por favor, rompe esa manera de actuar y hazte el propósito desde hoy mismo hablar cosas lindas y confesar lo que deseas ser.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Agradezco a cada uno de los oyentes que me ha dicho que mis oraciones y mis palabras de aliento han sido y siguen siendo de bendición para sus vidas y su diario vivir. ¡GRACIAS!

Standing Strong Through the Storm - PRAYER: TURNING PERIODS INTO COMMAS

PRAYER: TURNING PERIODS INTO COMMAS

Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

~ Acts 14:19-20a (NIV)

Today we hear from Open Doors’ author and co-worker, Anneke Companjen. These are the concluding paragraphs of her first book, Hidden Sorrow, Lasting Joy:

My husband, Johan, likes to speak on Acts 14 when he challenges Christians around the world to care for the Suffering Church.

In that chapter we read how the authorities won the crowd over and stoned Paul. They dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead. 

“Period!” Johan tells his audience. “The devil wanted to put a period here. Paul was finished as far as the enemy was concerned. But God had other plans. The story continues, ‘But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city’ (Acts 14:20). Something happened that turned the devils period into God’s comma. What made the difference? The disciples’ prayer.”

God loves to change the devils periods into commas, and he’s still doing it today.

It is my heart’s desire that he will use you and me to make a difference in the lives of Christians who are persecuted for their faith around the world. We can reach out to them, each in our own church and community and in our own way, through awareness, through action, and most of all, through prayer.[1]

RESPONSE: Today I will not underestimate the power of prayer for persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. I will pray asking God to turn the devil’s periods into His commas.

PRAYER: Pray for persecuted Christians today whether they are experiencing pain or pressure, guilt or relief, sorrow or joy, faith or denial, isolation or fellowship, prison or freedom, hope or despair, forgiveness or bitterness.

1. Anneke Companjen, Hidden Sorrow, Lasting Joy (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), pp. 216-217.

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

NIV Devotionals for Couples - What Jesus Says About Divorce

What Jesus Says About Divorce

Read Matthew 19:1–12

Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

~ Matthew 19:3 (NIV)

When married people face dark times in their marriage, they may quietly sort through the ramifications of divorce. Knowing what the Bible says is critical in that process. But couples also need to figure out how to respond to friends and family who divorce. Do we need to know all the details in order to know who to support? Do we have to choose sides? What do we do when a friend divorces and then remarries? Should we go to the wedding?

As a pastor, I don’t think there is any life situation harder to sort out than divorce. Every story is different. Every situation is painful. It isn’t always easy to determine if there is a “guilty party.” How to weave compassion, grace and righteousness together often confounds me. Christians who take the Bible seriously and who earnestly want to please the Lord don’t always come to the same conclusions. But one thing is certain: We need to consider what Jesus has to say about divorce and remarriage, particularly in Matthew 19.

Divorces in Jesus’ day make our “quickie” divorces of today look positively glacial. A man could divorce his wife, as verse 3 says, “for any and every reason,” at least according to one school of Jewish thought. (Others took a stricter view.) As we are all wont to do, these Pharisees who questioned Jesus wanted to know exactly what reasons justified getting a divorce. But the question was loaded; these Pharisees apparently were among those who used the Law of Moses (specifically Deuteronomy 24:1–4) as proof that divorce for any reason was lawful.

Jesus’ response was that Moses allowed divorce, not to give permission for divorce, but to solve the problem of marital infidelity. Something has to be done when sin utterly poisons the covenant relationship of marriage. Jesus said that sexual immorality (sure evidence of a hard heart) can so poison the covenant of marriage that the innocent party can be released from the marriage commitment.

While Matthew 19 can stir up as many questions as it answers, there are some inescapable conclusions: First, divorce is rarely a solution for followers of Jesus to consider. Rather, we are to cultivate marriages with the grace and truth of God so that they may shine forth the love of Jesus to the world around us. We are not to be like the Pharisees, who tried to push the limits of the law as far as it would go.

Second, we are to become marriage builders among our friends and family. We know how hard and even hopeless marriage can seem sometimes, but we are to be agents of grace and truth to these struggling friends, helping them find hope and help, praying with them and providing a haven away from the tension.

Third, we should affirm those who choose to remain single for the sake of the kingdom, as Jesus did in this passage. Singles don’t need our sympathy; they deserve our respect! Those who remain single and single-mindedly serve Christ are models to us all.

Lee Eclov

Let’s Talk

• Whom do we know who has divorced or is going through a divorce right now? What makes divorce so complicated for Christians to respond to?
• What does repeated sexual immorality do to a marriage? When does the damage become irreparable? How do some couples recover from such sin?
• How could we honor a single person we know who serves God with undivided attention?

When married people face dark times in their marriage, they may quietly sort through the ramifications of divorce.

LHM Devotion - May 12, 2018 - There's Always Hope

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"There's Always Hope"

May 12, 2018

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.

~ 1 Peter 1:3-6 (ESV)

It was some time ago that King George VI of England addressed the British Commonwealth on New Year's Eve. Although the king didn't know it, cancer was eating at him, and he would die before the end of that year. The world's future was then, as it always seems to be, hopeless.

That king spoke these words: "I said to the man at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I might walk safely into the unknown.' And he said to me, 'Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. It shall be to you safer than the light and better than the known.'"

That is what I would like to say to you this day.

Don't stop the Holy Spirit from placing your hand into the hand of your Savior. Hope is a fragile thing, and when it shrivels and shrinks, it takes a miracle to revive it. Hopelessness is a disease of the soul which takes a Savior to bring about a cure. If you are, or know someone who feels you have nothing to hope for, whose days are being spent waiting for a better tomorrow which you're convinced will never come, let me share this miracle: you have a living, risen Savior.

If all you can see is darkness stretching out before you, believe that the Savior's nail-pierced hand is also stretching out to you. Jesus, who has defeated death, can defeat any and all problems that plague you. He can bring peace to any harm which is in your heart. He can bring hope to the deepest of hurts.

In short, life with Christ is filled with endless hope, and without Him there is only a hopeless end.

Too good to be true? Not at all. My friends, if you ever visit the catacombs in Rome, those underground tunnels where many early Christians are buried, look at the sermons preached by the symbols on their graves.

You will, if you look closely enough, see three common signs: a dove, a fish, and an anchor. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit who gives us faith and hope. The fish, in Greek, ichthus, is an acronym for the words: Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior. Jesus is the basis for all hope and heaven.

And the anchor?

The anchor says that in seemingly hopeless times, when all is adrift, Jesus is our God-given hope who anchors our souls. Sermons from the grave, hundreds of years old, sermons which say there are no hopeless situations. Daily Devotioners, I have run out of space, but I pray you will be brought to see, or will continue to see, that the risen Redeemer is the living hope who changes the dark of a sinful world into the light and joy of fellowship with our Lord.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, as long as I live in this world I will be subject to sin's darkness. Grant that where that darkness is the greatest I may be led with certainty by the light of my living Lord. This I ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
It was some time ago that King George VI of England addressed the British Commonwealth on New Year's Eve...

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Dành Thời Gian

Dành Thời Gian

Đọc: Lu-ca 19:1-10 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: II Các vua 15-16; Giăng 3:1-18

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Hãy xuống mau, vì hôm nay Ta phải ở lại nhà của ngươi. Lu-ca 19:5

Rima, một phụ nữ Sy-ri mới chuyển đến Mỹ sống đang cố gắng dùng tay và vốn tiếng Anh ít ỏi của mình để giải thích cho giáo viên dạy tiếng Anh hiểu vì sao cô buồn. Nước mắt lăn dài trên má khi cô bưng lên một đĩa fatayer (gồm thịt, phô mai và bánh bina) được sắp xếp thật đẹp mắt. Sau đó, cô nói: “Một người đàn ông,” rồi cô làm động tác sột soạt khi chỉ từ cửa vào phòng khách rồi trở lại cửa. Giáo viên xâu chuỗi lại những gì cô cố gắng diễn đạt rằng một số người ở hội thánh gần đó định đến thăm Rima cùng gia đình và mang theo ít quà. Nhưng rồi chỉ có một người đàn ông đến. Ông này đến, đưa cho cô thùng đồ rồi vội vã đi. Ông ấy có việc bận, trong khi cô và gia đình thì cảm thấy cô đơn, ao ước có một cộng đồng và được cùng ăn fatayer với những người bạn mới.

Dành thời gian cho người khác là điều Chúa Jêsus đã làm. Ngài cùng ăn tối với người khác, dạy dỗ đoàn dân và dành thời gian với từng người. Ngài còn chủ động đến nhà của một người thu thuế tên là Xa-chê, người đã leo lên cây để nhìn thấy Chúa Jêsus. Ngài ngước mắt lên và phán: “Hãy xuống mau, vì hôm nay Ta phải ở lại nhà của ngươi” (Lu. 19:1-9). Cuộc đời Xa-chê đã được thay đổi mãi mãi.

Vì có nhiều trách nhiệm khác nên không phải lúc nào chúng ta cũng có thể dành thời gian cho người khác. Nhưng khi làm điều đó, chúng ta có đặc ân kỳ diệu là được ở bên người khác và nhìn xem Chúa hành động qua chúng ta.

Người khác đã dành thời gian cho bạn như thế nào? Tuần này, bạn có thể bày tỏ tình yêu của Chúa cho ai, bằng cách nào?

Thời gian có lẽ là món quà quý nhất mà bạn có thể trao tặng cho người khác.

bởi Anne Cetas

© 2018 Lời Sống Hằng Ngày
Rima, một phụ nữ Sy-ri mới chuyển đến Mỹ sống đang cố gắng dùng tay và vốn tiếng Anh ít ỏi của mình để giải thích cho giáo viên dạy tiếng Anh hiểu vì sao cô buồn.

The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, May 11, 2018

Daily Readings

FRIDAY, May 11, 2018

Old Testament

1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah’s Prayer
2:1 Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. 2 “There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. 3 Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. 5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. 6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. 8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. 9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. 10 The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”

The Epistle

Ephesians 2:1-10
From Death to Life
2:1 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

The Gospel

Matthew 7:22-27
Concerning Self-Deception
7:22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
Hearers and Doers
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

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.
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

The Morning Prayer for FRIDAY, May 11, 2018

Dear Heavenly Father, Please give us a gentle spirit, and remind us to handle each other with care. Whether we’re having a good day, or the weight of the world is bringing us down, may we be tender and loving one to another. May our words be gentle, our actions be kind, and our thoughts always tender and pure. Let us be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, looking to You as our perfect example. For You, oh Lord, are holy and just, gentle and kind. In the name of Jesus we pray.

Amen

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, May 11, 2018

Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Read all of Philippians 4

Listen to Philippians 4

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - A Gentle Spirit

A Gentle Spirit

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

~ Philippians 4:4-5 (NIV)

If you walked down the street and asked five people what they thought the word gentleness meant, how many would say that a gentle person is docile, easily intimidated or passive? Or that gentleness would be a good quality for a pet or a horse? In our culture, assertiveness and forthrightness are more highly valued personality traits for human beings than gentleness.

But the Scriptures value gentleness. Here Paul explains what it means to be virtuous, especially in view of the disputes that had arisen among the Philippians. How were they to build unity? First, they were to rejoice. If they concentrated on rejoicing in the risen Christ, they would focus on their common joy rather than on the differences that could divide them. Next, they were to “let [their] gentleness be evident to all.” Gentleness carries the idea of being reasonable. It does not mean that truth is compromised; rather, it means that the truth is defended with thoughtful consideration for the other’s point of view. In other words, the people involved come to a meeting of the minds. There is a winsome quality in gentleness that diffuses anger and hostility.

A supervisor named Ann was gentle. She never raised her voice and never threatened. She had a steady calm about her. She smiled while explaining to vendors or employees exactly what was expected of them. She clearly stated the consequences if they didn’t fulfill their obligations. But her subordinates never seemed defensive or discouraged; rather, they worked hard to live up to the expectations she laid out.

Paul reminded the Philippians that the key to peace was grateful prayer. He admonished them to give their every anxiety over to God as they gave thanks (verses 6–7). More than that, Paul encouraged his readers—including us—to focus on things that are beautiful, pure and positive (verses 8–9). Meditating on such things develops our ability to notice and appreciate small beauties and increases a sense of thanksgiving to God. A spirit of contentment and gratitude brings peace.

A woman who speaks words of encouragement and has an attitude of contentment is inviting; she draws people to her, even if she faces times of crisis and pain. When your gentleness is evident to all, others will know that the Lord is near and they, too, will rejoice.

Dear Heavenly Father, Please give us a gentle spirit, and remind us to handle each other with care. Whether we’re having a good day, or the weight of the world is bringing us down, may we be tender and loving one to another. May our words be gentle, our actions be kind, and our thoughts always tender and pure. Let us be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, looking to You as our perfect example. For You, oh Lord, are holy and just, gentle and kind. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny

Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Devotion taken from NIV Women’s Devotional Bible.
In our culture, assertiveness and forthrightness are more highly valued personality traits for human beings than gentleness.

Un dia a la Vez - Oración por el amor de Dios

Oración por el amor de Dios

Dios, que es rico en misericordia, por su gran amor por nosotros, nos dio vida con Cristo.

~ Efesios 2:4-5 (NVI)

Señor, hoy he recordado que el favor, la gracia y tu misericordia son muestras grandiosas de tu amor por mí.

Puedo entender que ya perdonaste mis pecados con el mayor sacrificio que hiciste por la humanidad, al entregar a tu único Hijo, Jesús, para que sufriera una muerte de cruz a fin de darme vida eterna.

Señor, ayúdame a vivir esto ahora como un principio de vida y a no sentirme nunca más culpable. Que aunque te falle porque soy humano, nunca más volveré a pensar que ya no me quieres o que me vas a quitar el regalo de una vida eterna.

Que si caigo, me levantaré y seguiré adelante en esta nueva oportunidad de vida. Y que si me desvío, con tu amor me encaminarás y corregirás.

Gracias, Dios mío, por el regalo de la vida.

Ayúdame a conocer cada día más tu amor.

Amén y amén.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón
Oración por el amor de Dios

Standing Strong Through the Storm - WITHOUT WOMEN THERE WOULD BE NO CHURCH

WITHOUT WOMEN THERE WOULD BE NO CHURCH

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.

~ Matthew 27:55 (NIV)

The New Testament records the fact that many women were among the larger body of disciples that followed and served Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, we only know the names and stories of a few. They were more loyal to Jesus at the time of his crucifixion than his male disciples.

Despite the patriarchal society of that day, four women—two of them Gentile foreigners—were named in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel chapter one. It is significant that Jesus included women in his teaching putting them on equality with men. The same ethical and moral standards were demanded from both genders and the same way of salvation was offered for both.

Throughout the Bible, women filled significant roles—from leadership like Deborah to unique motherhood like Mary. The same has been true of those in the persecuted church.

A pastor in Cuba once told me, “Lenin said that without women there would be no revolution. I say that without women there would be no church!”

In China, the group of Christians who have had a major role in the revival and church growth are referred to locally as “Bible Women.” Chairman Mao once said, “Women hold up half the sky.” But it is estimated that about seventy per cent of the active Christian workers and church leaders in China today are women.

For example, Chinese Bible Woman, Ding Xianggao, has an incredible testimony. She is a young itinerant evangelist in China. Very much aware of the cost, she says, “In my country there are many brothers and sisters who suffer for Christ. Some of my co-workers have spent thirty years in prison for the sake of the gospel.”

Two of her associates were actually martyred. Because she is a hunted woman, she often sleeps in caves and fields to avoid capture.

Her commitment is expressed this way: “Jesus died for me. The least I should do is die for Him. To suffer and go to prison for Him is my honour, and I look forward to it.” She ended up in a large prison with over eight hundred inmates involved in prostitution, murder and kidnapping. But Ding believed God had placed her there for a reason. After three years she was released from prison. But not before seventy-eight people had made a personal commitment to Christ.

Sister Chan was sent to prison for six months for public preaching in central China, a prison with six thousand other women. During her time there, she led eight hundred women to faith in Jesus.

God uses everyone who is available in establishing His kingdom on earth.

RESPONSE: Today I will not assume that I am not useable by God. I will make myself available to Him.

PRAYER: Pray for the ministry of Christian women around the world—especially those who serve our Lord in difficult assignments or places.

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 - Jonathan

Jonathan

His name means: "Yahweh Has Given"

His work: The firstborn son of King Saul, Jonathan was a capable warrior and military strategist.
His character: Jonathan demonstrated remarkable capabilities for friendship, selflessness, and loyalty.
His sorrow: Although the rightful heir to the throne of Israel, Jonathan never became king. He also had to deal with the mental and emotional pathology of his father, King Saul.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 14; 19; 20

A Look at the Man

By his own foolishness, Saul put his children in impossible situations.

His youngest daughter, Michal, was married to David, a man Saul openly hated. And his son, Jonathan, was David's closest friend.

Because of her father's unrestrained jealousy, Michal was forced to lower David from an open window to protect him from Saul. And Saul's irrational rage against David forced Jonathan to take sides against his father, the king of Israel.

As their friendship unfolded, we can assume that David confided in Jonathan about his anointing to be the next king of Israel. He would have told Jonathan about the prophet Samuel's visit to his father's home in search of Saul's replacement. Imagine the two-pronged disappointment that would have devastated a smaller man than Jonathan. First, he would have been greatly displeased with the news of the Lord's message to Samuel about his father. "I have rejected Saul as king over Israel." Second, it would mean that he, the oldest son of the king, was not going to be the successor to the throne.

There is no record of Jonathan being devastated with this news. Because he trusted God, he knew that Samuel never would have anointed David as the heir to his father's throne if he hadn't been divinely appointed.

The account of Jonathan is the story of loyalty at many levels. First, he was loyal to his father. At no point did Jonathan complain to David that his father was a deranged madman. In the midst of terrible conflict, Jonathan was steadfast in his respect for his father, even dying with him in battle.

Second, Jonathan was loyal to David. He had legitimate reasons to envy the successor to his father's throne, but he loved him instead. Like David, he was a capable leader and victorious warrior. But he refused to set himself against David, even though his father did everything he could to push him in that direction.

Finally, Jonathan was loyal to the living God. Even though he could have complained that his father's actions spoiled his own future, he trusted God's sovereignty. Whether through verbal confrontations with his father or delivering bad news to his friend, Jonathan was a man of impeccable integrity.

Some people imagine David's friend Jonathan as a milquetoast wimp looking to find esteem through his friendship with a man much greater than he. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jonathan was a strong man, a mighty soldier, and a successful leader. And it is from this position of influence that Jonathan introduces us to the greater power of loyalty.

Reflect On: 1 Samuel 20:11–17
Praise God: For blessing our loved ones through us.
Offer Thanks: For God’s faithfulness from generation to generation.
Confess: Any failure to believe that God intends to use you to extend his blessings to the next generation.
Ask God: To make you the kind of person whose righteousness blesses others.

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.
At no point did Jonathan complain to David that his father was a deranged madman...

Girlfriends in God - Sometimes I Struggle with Anger

Sometimes I Struggle with Anger

Wendy Speake

Today’s Truth

Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

~ Proverbs 29:11 (NLT)

Friend to Friend

There are plenty of things, little things and big things, everyday ordinary things, that can set me off and cause me to lose my temper. I know it’s not Godly. And I’d like to keep quiet rather than blab about it publically here on the internet, but then who’s going to start this conversation? Perhaps you’ve been waiting for an invitation to talk it through, one weary heart to another.

I’ll go first: I wasn’t raised in an angry home, maybe you were. I’d never even been yelled at once. But then I gave birth to my third child, and it was as though every calm, kind place deep within me suddenly broke. Snap. The baby didn’t do anything wrong. He didn’t deserve my frustrated tears. And his two big brothers were just busy being toddlers. It wasn’t their fault that I lost my footing each time they lost their shoes. I was simply overwhelmed and exhausted, with a messy house and a husband who traveled for work.

My anger surprised me.

Thankfully, almost immediately, from the pit of my postpartum haze, Bible verses that I never needed before, but were hidden in my heart just the same, came to mind and challenged my emotional behavior. Proverbs 29:11, likely memorized in Sunday School when I was just a child, reminded me that “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” I realized that God didn’t tell me I wasn’t allowed to feel all my emotions, as my hormones shifted, and my husband traveled for work. But He did tell me what to do with my exasperated feelings — I was to quietly hold them back.

Shoving them down to fester into bitterness, or simmer like lava just beneath the surface, didn’t help me either. I had to learn to process my feelings prayerfully, as I held them back wisely. Psalm 4:4 in the English Standard Version of the Bible instructed me, “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah.” Pondering, meditating, and pausing to consider my feelings, became a Spiritual discipline for me. Crying and confessing each time the Lord convicted me, wasn’t enough. Change wasn’t happening just because I felt bad about my anger. I had to actually sit myself down (in a mommy time-out) and get silent. I had to listen. I had to “Selah.”

Selah is the poetic Greek word used in the Psalms to denote a holy pause. Selah instructs the reader to “stop and consider.” God was telling me to stop, in the quiet of my private bedroom, there upon my bed, and consider wise and calm, loving and gentle ways that I wanted to talk to my children, my neighbors, my husband, and my Mother-in-law... even when I was tired and spread too thin. And the more I considered my feelings and my life, the wiser I got. I learned to say no to volunteering in the nursery at church on Sunday mornings, for this busy season. I learned to take my social media apps off of my phone, because they distracted me and didn’t help my emotional stability. I also learned, again, how desperately I needed to abide in God’s Word, so that His Word would continue to abide in me.

All this, and so much more, I learned when I held back my anger and got real quiet upon my bed. God didn’t tell me that I couldn’t feel angry, but He did say I wasn’t to vent my anger. Slowly, gently, He’s transforming my heart and home.

Let’s Pray

Dear Lord, Thank You for not leaving me alone and unchanged in my sin. You’re always near; always available; always speaking to my heart through Your living Word; and giving me the courage to obey. Thank You for not just convicting me of my sin, but for offering me the transforming help of Your Holy Spirit. Selah.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Today, I opened up to you about my angry sin-tendencies, then I opened up the Word. That’s the key to transformed lives, my friends. Opening up to God and opening up His Word.

Right now, here in the comments below of in your own personal Bible pages, write out a scripture on anger and apply it to your life. You’re welcome to use one of the Bible verses I included in this post, or meditate on one that the Lord leads you to today. But whatever you do, if this is your struggle, open up to God as you open up His Word —  it is living and active and able to divide your anger from the gentle, loving sinews of your life.

More from the Girlfriends

If you struggle with anger as you mother your children, pick up a copy of Wendy Speake and Amber Lia’s book, Triggers: Exchanging Parents Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses. And if you struggle daily, grab a copy of the Triggers Study Guide too. The Triggers Study Guide is packed full of scriptures that will challenge and transform your heart and your home. Connect with Wendy at Wendyspeake.com 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

There are plenty of things, little things and big things, everyday ordinary things, that can set me off and cause me to lose my temper.

LHM Devotion - May 11, 2018 - Designer Gods

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Designer Gods"

May 11, 2018

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

~ Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

There are times when a pastor has to say what the Lord would have him say.

That was what happened to a pastor friend of mine who was visiting with a prospective member. Everything was going wonderfully well until the pastor began to speak about the Lord's laws and His divinely decreed penalties and punishments for sin.

Hearing about hell, the lady blurted out, "Pastor, that's impossible! My god would never do anything like that to anybody!"

Surprised by the lady's reaction, the pastor went on to other topics as he tried to find the words for a direct, simple-to-understand answer. When he had his answer prepared, he rejoined the discussion. He began by saying, "You know, a little while ago, you said your god wouldn't condemn you for disobeying his law. I think you're right. Your god wouldn't condemn you because

1. he likes you just the way you are;

2. your god accepts you and thinks you're a really good person;

3. your god wouldn't call you a sinner, or condemn you to hell;

4. he certainly wouldn't suggest that you need a Savior.

"The only problem," my friend continued, "is that your god isn't real. He's a wish, a dream, a figment of your imagination. He certainly isn't the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible says keep Me first.

"And what was the lady's reply?" I asked my friend.

He told me, "I don't know. That was the last time I saw her."

You see, that lady didn't want to keep God first. She thought she was the master and God was a beggar who should be glad to glean the crumbs that fell from her table. She thought of God as a cuddly-wuddly teddy bear who might make her feel warm and secure when she needed Him, but would, the rest of the time, sit patiently on her bed, or wherever she put Him.

She thought of God as being a spiritual Santa who waited anxiously for her to pass on the list of things she wanted, but who could be ignored the rest of the time. She thought of God as a nice grandpa who gave gentle suggestions, but would never give orders, who looked at her and burst His buttons at how good and gentle and generous she was.

Well, my friends, that's not the way things work. God is the One who is always in control.

When humankind sinned, He was the One who promised a Savior. He was the One who sent His Son to take our place under the Law and offer His life as the ransom and payment for our sin. He is the One who uses the Means of Grace to put faith in our hearts, and He is the One who preserves and keeps us for heaven.

From start to finish, He is the One ... the beginning and the end ... the Author and Finisher of our faith.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, forgive us when we foolishly think we know better than You. Even as we trust You for salvation, help us trust in You for direction in our day-to-day lives. This we ask in the Savior's Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
There are times when a pastor has to say what the Lord would have him say...

Devocional del CPTLN del 11 de Mayo de 2018 - Cordero o Salvador

ALIMENTO DIARIO

"Cordero o Salvador"

11 de Mayo de 2018

¡Cuánto más la sangre de Cristo, que por medio del Espíritu eterno se ofreció a sí mismo sin mancha a Dios, limpiará de obras muertas de nuestra conciencia, para que sirvamos al Dios vivo!

~ Hebreos 9:14 (RVC)

Es entretenido mirar a un niño de dos años tratar de vestirse. Sabe que las piernas deben ir en el pantalón, pero no tiene idea de cómo hacerlo. Primero trata de poner un pie, comenzando por la parte de abajo de la pierna del pantalón. Cuando se da cuenta que no funciona, trata de poner sus dos piernas en la misma pierna del pantalón. Después de una docena de intentos, decide llevarle el pantalón a su mamá y pedirle ayuda.

Los israelitas del Antiguo Testamento no eran muy diferentes del niño de nuestro ejemplo. Hacían lo imposible por agradar a Dios ofreciendo sacrificios por sus pecados, pero tenían que repetirlos una y otra vez. Cada año llevaban animales al templo y miraban mientras el sacerdote los mataba y salpicaba con su sangre tanto a las personas como al altar. Por un tiempo se sentían perdonados. Pero volvían a pecar. Mentían, se enojaban o quizás estafaban a un vecino dándole menos mercancía de la que le habían comprado, por lo que no pasaba mucho tiempo hasta que se sentían espiritualmente sucios y necesitaban ayuda.

La muerte de Jesús en la cruz fue la respuesta de Dios a los gritos de desesperación de la humanidad. "¡Por favor ayúdame!" Nuestra conciencia nos dice que nuestros pensamientos pecaminosos y nuestras rebeldías nos alejan a diario de Dios. De acuerdo a la ley perfecta de Dios estamos condenados, sin esperanza y sin posibilidad de ser ayudados. Sin embargo, Dios tenía en mente otro plan: Jesús, su Hijo, el Cordero sacrificial.

Jesús cumplió perfectamente cada una de las leyes de Dios y, por haberlo hecho, pudo satisfacer la ira de Dios. Dios usó la muerte de su hijo como pago por nosotros. Por el sacrificio de Jesús en nuestro lugar, Dios perdona nuestros pecados, limpia nuestra conciencia, y nos libera de la culpa y la vergüenza de nuestros pensamientos y acciones pecaminosas.

La lección que podemos aprender de los niños es que debemos dejar de tratar de hacer todo por nosotros mismos, especialmente cuando se trata de nuestra salvación, porque Dios ya lo ha hecho por nosotros. "Él nos hizo, y somos suyos. Somos su pueblo, ovejas de su prado" (Salmo 100:3b).

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, enséñanos a entregarte nuestra vida y nuestra voluntad. La única esperanza que tenemos es a través del sacrificio de tu Hijo, a quien levantaste de la muerte, y en quien confiamos a través de tu Espíritu Santo. Amén.

Biografía del autor: Ashraf Fekry vive en El Cairo, Egipto.

© Copyright 2018 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. Que a través de estos devocionales, la Palabra de Dios te refresque en tu diario caminar.
Es entretenido mirar a un niño de dos años tratar de vestirse.

Хліб Наш Насущній - Знайти спокій в Ньому

Знайти спокій в Ньому

Читати: Псалом 3 | Біблія за рік: 2 Царів 13−14 ; Івана 2

Завантажити MP3

Я лягаю і сплю, і пробуджуюся, бо Господь підпирає мене. — Псалом 3:5

Хоча я й намагаюся довіряти Богу серед тих страждань, що мені завдає хронічний біль, проте навіть маленька проблема та невдача сприймається мною як напад лютого ворога. Проблема номер один дає мені стусана справа. Проблема номер два штовхає позаду. А проблема номер три завдає удар прямо в лице. В такі важкі часи хочеться кудись втекти і сховатись. Але через те, що не можу змінити обставини, мушу покладатися на Бога і вірити, що Він проведе мене крізь усі випробування.

Коли потребую підбадьорення, втіхи та мужності, я з молитвою читаю гімни псалмістів, які приносили до Бога свої проблеми й почуття. В одному з моїх найулюбленіших псалмів розповідається про те, як цар Давид тікав від сина Авесалома, який намагався його вбити, щоб заволодіти царством. Хоча Давид і скаржився через своє важке становище (Пс. 3:1-2), однак він вірив, що Бог захистить його (Пс. 3:3-4). Цар навіть не втрачав сон через тривоги, тому що довіряв Господу, Який може врятувати його (Пс. 3:5-8).

Фізичний та емоційний біль часто може сприйматися як агресивний ворог. Виникає спокуса зневіритись, опустити руки і десь сховатися, коли ми втомлені від безкінечної боротьби. Але як і Давид, можемо вчитися довіряти Богу, Який підтримає нас і допоможе знайти спокій у Його постійній та люблячiй присутності.

Господи, дякуємо за те, що даєш нам спокій у Твоїй постійній присутності. Дякуємо за перемогу, яку Ти вже здобув для нас.

Бог сповняє наші серця миром і проводить крізь будь-які випробування.

Автор Сошіль Діксон

© 2018 Хліб Наш Насущній
Хоча я й намагаюся довіряти Богу серед тих страждань, що мені завдає хронічний біль, проте навіть маленька проблема та невдача сприймається мною як напад лютого ворога.