Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Night Light for Couples - Is Honor Overdue?

Night Light for Couples, the couples' devotional from Focus on the Family ministry founder Dr. James Dobson and his wife, Shirley, brings spouses together each evening, helping them stay connected with each other and their Lord.

“Humility comes before honor.” Proverbs 15:33

Mr. Smith learned that his neighbor, Mr. Jones, had presented flowers and a gift to Mrs. Jones five nights in a row. He thought, That must be what wins a woman’s heart. So Smith went out and bought a big box of candy and a bouquet of his wife’s favorite flowers. Arriving home a little early that afternoon, he rang the doorbell. When Mrs. Smith appeared, he passionately embraced her. Suddenly she sagged and fell in a heap on the floor. “My goodness! What’s wrong?” he exclaimed. When she regained consciousness, she explained. “Oh, this has been the worst day! Our son received a terrible report card; Mother was admitted to the hospital; the roast burned; the washing machine broke. Now to top it off, you come home drunk!”

If your partner can’t even fathom the possibility that you would bring her flowers or a gift (or some similar surprise), take the hint. It’s time to work on honoring your mate!

Just between us…
  • Would you be shocked if I brought you flowers or some other gift?
  • What’s the best surprise I ever gave you?
  • What kind of thoughtful gesture would be enjoyable and honoring to you?
  • Do you prefer being surprised in front of friends or in private?
Lord, we confess that the hurly-burly pace of living often threatens to suffo- cate our relationship. Remind us to care for each other. Help us to encourage others who are struggling in their marriages. Amen.
  • From Night Light For Couples, by Dr. James & Shirley Dobson
    Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Illustration from Building Your Mate’s Self-Esteem by Dennis and Barbara Rainey (San Bernardino, Calif.: Here’s Life Publishers, 1986).

The Daily Readings for September 21, 2016

Proverbs 3:1-6
My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 119:33-40 He Legem pone
33   Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
34   Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; I shall keep it with all my heart.
35   Make me go in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.
36   Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain.
37   Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; give me life in your ways.
38   Fulfill your promise to your servant, which you make to those who fear you.
39   Turn away the reproach which I dread, because your judgments are good.
40   Behold, I long for your commandments; in your righteousness preserve my life.


2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Matthew 9:9-13
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" But when he heard this, he said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners."

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for September 21, 2016

From Forward Day By Day
Written by Jonathan Melton

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Those who engage the church’s rhythm of morning and evening prayer (also known as the Daily Office) discover that all those small acts aggregate into one massively significant proclamation: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.”

My only job, the only thing I ought to be about, is proclaiming the glory and joy of the holy and undivided Trinity. It is very easy to forget this most important fact about my vocation. No sooner do I pray to be a person of peace than I am swearing at the copier or lamenting spotty wireless—as if the astonishing and animating Trinity depends in any real way upon those amenities.

I hope to be about the glorification of God, especially in the midst of ordinary life. The writer of Proverbs would have us believe that to acknowledge and proclaim the goodness of God is to be shown ways around all the obstacles that may beset us, making straight our path into the kingdom.


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Un Dia a la Vez - ¿Quiénes son los bendecidos?


El Señor nos recuerda y nos bendice [...] bendice a los que temen al Señor. (Salmo 115:12-13)

Los bendecidos son esos cuya vida está dirigida por la ley de Dios.

El mismo Señor nos enseña lo que debemos hacer y no hacer. Así que las bendiciones son para todos, aunque no todos las hagan suyas. En realidad, les cuesta creer que Dios tiene grandes planes con nosotros.

Ver el triunfo en los demás, es conformismo. Es no comprender que todos somos hijos de Dios y que la ley es para todos, al igual que las bendiciones.

Claro, hay personas que son más comprometidas en las cosas de Dios y guardan de verdad sus mandamientos. Tienen una relación intima con Él en oración y sacan de su tiempo para congregarse y escuchar su Palabra. De ahí que podamos ver que a ellos les llegan más rápido las bendiciones.

Otros hemos sido más cabezas duras y hemos tomado malas decisiones. Por lo tanto, hemos alejado esas bendiciones.

Si queremos recibir bendiciones, debemos ser obedientes a Dios.

Recordemos también que los tiempos del Señor son perfectos y que hay oportunidades en la vida que no podemos dejar pasar.

¿A quiénes bendice Dios? ¡A todos sus hijos!

Verse of the Day - September 21, 2016

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NIV) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Read all of 2 Corinthians 13