Friday, January 6, 2017

Nuestro Pan Diario - Nuestra fuente de provisión


Leer: Mateo 6:9-15 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 6:1-18

Cercano está el Señor a todos los que le invocan… (Salmo 145:18)

En agosto de 2010, el mundo centró su atención en una mina de Chile. Treinta y tres mineros estaban atrapados unos 700 metros bajo tierra. No sabían si la ayuda llegaría. Después de 17 días, escucharon una perforadora… y apareció un pequeño agujero en el techo de la mina, al que le siguieron tres más, los cuales se convirtieron en el medio de suministro de agua, alimentos y remedios. Los mineros dependían de esos canales para contactarse con el exterior, donde los rescatadores tenían provisiones para que sobrevivieran. Sesenta y nueve días después, el último minero fue sacado sano y salvo.

En este mundo, solo podemos sobrevivir con provisiones que nos llegan de afuera de nosotros mismos. Dios, el Creador del universo, es quien nos provee todo lo necesario. Como las perforaciones para aquellos mineros, la oración es para nosotros lo que nos conecta con el Dios que provee todas las cosas.

Jesús nos instó a orar: «El pan nuestro de cada día, dánoslo hoy» (Mateo 6:11). En aquella época, el pan era el alimento básico y representaba todas las necesidades de la gente. Así, además de las necesidades físicas, Jesús estaba enseñando a orar por todo: consuelo, salud, ánimo y sabiduría.

¿Cuál es tu necesidad hoy? Ora al Señor, porque «cercano está […] a todos los que le invocan» (Salmo 145:18).


Señor, enséñame a orar y a confiar.

La oración es la voz de la fe, que confía en que Dios sabe y se interesa.

© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Überlebenshilfe


Lesen: Matthäus 6,9-15 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Mose 18–19; Matthäus 6,1-18

Der Herr ist nahe allen, die ihn anrufen. Psalm 145,18

Im August 2010 blickte die ganze Welt nach Chile. Dort waren dreiunddreißig Bergleute rund 700 Meter unter Tage in einem Grubenschacht eingeschlossen und wussten nicht, ob jemals Hilfe kommen würde. Nach siebzehn Tagen hörten sie Bohrgeräusche. Die Retter bohrten eine kleine Öffnung in die Decke des Schachts. Durch drei weitere Löcher wurden Wasser, Verpflegung und Medikamente in die Grube gelassen. Die Arbeiter waren von diesen Verbindungen zur Oberfläche abhängig während die Retter oben alles hatten, was sie zum Überleben brauchten. An Tag 69 konnte der letzte Grubenarbeiter geborgen werden.

Niemand kann in dieser Welt ohne Hilfe von außen überleben. Gott, der Schöpfer der Welt, ist der Eine, der uns mit allem versorgt, was wir brauchen. Wie die Bohrlöcher für die Bergleuten so verbindet uns das Gebet mit dem Gott, der alles in der Hand hat.

Jesus ermuntert uns zu beten: „Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute“ (Matth. 6,11). Brot war damals ein Grundnahrungsmittel und stand für alles, was der Mensch täglich braucht. Jesus lehrt uns also, nicht nur um unser leibliches Wohl zu bitten, sondern um alles, was wir nötig haben—Trost, Heilung, Mut, Weisheit.

Im Gebet haben wir jederzeit Zugang zu ihm und er weiß, was wir brauchen, bevor wir ihn bitten (V.8). Mit welchem Problem hast du heute zu kämpfen? „Der Herr ist nahe allen, die ihn anrufen“ (Ps. 145,18).


Danke, Herr, dass wir mit allem zu dir kommen können. Lehre uns beten und vertrauen. Mehr über das Beten findest du in Lass uns beten auf unsertaeglichbrot.org/ds/lasst-uns-beten/.

Das Gebet ist die Stimme des Glaubens, die darauf vertraut, dass Gott uns kennt und liebt.

© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Источник благ


Читать сейчас: Матфея 6:9-15 | Библия за год: Бытие 18-19; Матфея 6:1-18

Близок Господь ко всем призывающим Его. — Псалом 144:18

В августе 2010 г. внимание мира было приковано к чилийской трагедии: тридцать три шахтера оказались в смертельной ловушке на глубине 800 м. Сидя в кромешной тьме, они не имели представления, придет ли кто к ним на помощь. Лишь после семнадцати дней ожидания они наконец услышали звук бура. Спасатели пробурили узкую скважину в потолке шахты, а затем еще три, через которые стали передавать измученным людям воду, пищу и лекарства. Затем потянулись долгие недели, в течение которых жизнь шахтеров поддерживалась, благодаря этим скважинам. Только на шестьдесят девятый день спасатели подняли на поверхность последнего шахтера.

Никто из нас не может выжить в этом мире сам по себе. Бог заботится обо всех наших нуждах. Подобно скважинам, связавшим шахтеров с поверхностью, молитва связывает нас с небесным Попечителем.

Иисус Христос побуждал нас молиться: «Хлеб наш насущный дай нам на этот день» (Мф. 6:11). В те времена хлеб был основным продуктом питания, олицетворяя собой ежедневную потребность человека. Спаситель учил нас молиться не только о пище, но и обо всем, в чем мы имеем нужду: утешении, исцелении, мужестве, мудрости.

Благодаря молитве, мы в любое время имеем доступ к Небесному Отцу, а Он знает, в чем мы имеем нужду, еще прежде нашего прошения (Мф. 6:8). Какие у вас проблемы? Господь близок «ко всем призывающим Его» (Пс. 144:18).


Благодарим, Господь, что можем приходить к Тебе со всякой нуждой. Научи нас молиться и уповать.

Молитва – это голос веры в то, что Бог знает нас и заботится.

© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - La source à laquelle puiser



L’Éternel est près de tous ceux qui l’invoquent. Psaume 145.18

En août 2010, le monde entier avait les yeux tournés vers un puits de mine situé près de Copiapó, au Chili. Trente‑trois mineurs se sont retrouvés piégés dans une sombre galerie à 700 m de profondeur, ignorant si des secours arriveraient tôt ou tard jusqu’à eux. Au bout de dix‑sept jours, le bruit d’une foreuse leur est parvenu. Les secouristes ont percé un petit trou dans le plafond du puits, suivi de trois autres trous, par lesquels on a pu leur apporter de l’eau, de la nourriture et des médicaments. Les mineurs dépendaient de ces conduits menant à la surface pour accéder au nécessaire à leur survie. Soixante‑neuf jours après l’effondrement de la mine, les secouristes en ont extirpé le dernier mineur pour le mettre en sécurité.

Aucun d’entre nous ne peut survivre dans notre monde sans compter sur la générosité d’autrui. Dieu, le Créateur de l’univers, est celui qui nous procure tout ce dont nous avons besoin. Comme les conduits forés pour ces mineurs, la prière nous relie au Dieu de toute‑suffisance.

Jésus nous a encouragés à prier ainsi : « Donne‑nous aujourd’hui notre pain quotidien » (MT 6.11). À son époque, le pain était l’aliment de base du peuple et illustrait tout le nécessaire à sa subsistance. Jésus nous a donc enseigné à prier non seulement pour nos besoins physiques, mais aussi pour tous les autres, dont la consolation, la guérison, le courage et la sagesse.

Heureusement que, par la prière, nous avons toujours accès auprès de lui, qui connaît déjà tous nos besoins (V 8) !

La prière exprime la foi en un Dieu qui nous connaît et nous aime.

© 2016 Ministères NPQ

The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, January 6, 2017 - The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ


First Reading
Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.


Psalms
Psalm 72 Deus, judicium
1   Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the King's son;
2   That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.
3   That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, and the little hills bring righteousness.
4   He shall defend the needy among the people; he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
5   He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, from one generation to another.
6   He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, like showers that water the earth.
7   In his time shall the righteous flourish; there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
10   The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
11   All kings shall bow down before him, and all the nations do him service.
12   For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, and the oppressed who has no helper.
13   He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
14   He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, and dear shall their blood be in his sight.


Second Reading
Ephesians 3:1-12
This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.


The Holy Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.


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.

Verse of the Day - January 06, 2017


1 Peter 1:13 (NIV) [ Be Holy ] Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Read all of 1 Peter 1

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - "Let Him Choose"


Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39, NIV)

When my sons were growing and one of them had a few dollars to spend, I would take him to the toy store. My son would look around, select a toy he wanted, and then ask me what I thought.

At that moment I would have a vision of his closet and all his broken toys. I knew the toy he was considering also would go that way. So I would tell him, "Well, buddy, I don't think that's a good toy to buy. I recommend you get something different."

"But I want this one."

"Why don't you just wait and think about it."

"Why don't you choose for me, Dad?"

I loved it when my sons would say that. Of course, you know what I ended up doing. I usually ended up spending a little more money on them. I liked to get them great toys.

That is God's attitude toward us, illustrated in a simplistic way. When we ask the Lord to choose for us, He will go above and beyond what we can ask or think. Many times we limit God through our unbelief. He wants to do more than we're asking for. So don't be afraid to say, "Not as I will, but as You will."

D. L. Moody said, "Spread out your petition before God, and then say, 'Thy will, not mine, be done.' The sweetest lesson I have learned in God's school is to let the Lord choose for me."

We don't always know the will of God in every situation. And then there are times when we know it but don't like it. There are also times when we know the will of God but don't understand it. However, we must never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Un Dia a la Vez - Tus pensamientos se volverán hechos


La mentalidad pecaminosa es muerte, mientras que la mentalidad que proviene del Espíritu es vida y paz. Romanos 8:6

Muchas veces pensé y confesé cosas que se hicieron realidad en mi vida. Cosas buenas y cosas no tan buenas. Y esto lo podemos aplicar de dos maneras: pensamientos que agradan a Dios y que nos recuerdan sus promesas, o pensamientos que por lo contrario nos alejan de Él.

No todos los pensamientos vienen de Dios y no todas las cosas malas vienen del enemigo. No obstante, nosotros decidimos qué clase de pensamientos permitimos que vengan a nuestra mente.

A la mente la he comparado con una pista de un aeropuerto. Todo el día llegan pensamientos positivos y negativos. Entonces, ¿qué pensamientos dejamos que aterricen? ¡La decisión es nuestra!

Hacer el ejercicio de sustituir un pensamiento negativo por uno positivo te va a llevar a descartar con facilidad las cosas que te preocupan y que te roban la paz con mucha naturalidad.

Por eso dice el Manual de Instrucciones que debemos llevar cautivos todos nuestros pensamientos a la obediencia de Cristo.

Girlfriends in God - Are you Living Christ’s Full Power?


Today’s Truth

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27, NIV)

Friend to Friend

There I was. People zoomed left and right around me, within this glorious city, glowing with foreign sparkle. A huge cathedral stood like a mountain, towering over my small frame. I observed everything, the people, speaking a different language, the hustle and the bustle, moving around me.

Would what I had in me - be enough? Would all that I contained inside me come out - and matter? I wasn't so sure. I'd spent years, learning, studying and practicing "Hola's" and "¿Cómo estás?" within the concrete walls of college, but here? Here in this place where people seem to talk a mile a minute?

What would happen if I unleashed the power within me? The idea scared me.

But still, I spoke - loud and proud. And what came about was a life-changing realization: my words had the ability to move with power, effectiveness and life. God opened my eyes.

Spanish was in me, but until this point, I never let it work through me.

Christ is in me, but often I don't believe He'll work through me.

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

There is power in realizing that the One - in you, wants to work - through you.

The hope of glory, Jesus Christ, is not in us just to hang out. He is in us to be worked out into the world.

Do I allow this?

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms... (Ephesians 1:18-20)

To think, I am empowered with the same strength that raised Jesus from the dead seems incomprehensible. It seems impossible. It seems impractical.

Which is probably why I live incapacitated and ineffective.

What if I really believed? What if I truly believed God wants to pour out His powerful hope onto others with transformational impact? What if I believed people might really see Christ through me? What if I believed I could change the world, in profound ways, like Jesus Christ changed the world?

Consider this for a moment, if you don't think you can tackle something, you often don't try. What a waste. The same goes for faith, if you don't believe it, you'll often never see it.

Today, let's see Christ within us and let Him flow into the world with the power He has already told us we're afforded.

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, You have put “the hope of glory” in me. May I not be afraid of who You are. May I not be ashamed. May I not be fearful. Instead, may I be strong, confident and sure of Your strength. May I go into the world ready to shine Your light. Equip me and empower me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.


Now It’s Your Turn

Read Matthew 5:15. How does this verse encourage you to shine Jesus Christ brighter and farther?

More from the Girlfriends

Kelly Balarie, blogger at Purposeful Faith and author of “Fear Fighting: Awakening the Courage to Overcome Your Fears” is passionate about joining hands with women who often find themselves stuck in the pits of life. Step-by-step, word-by-word, her dream is that together they can emerge better - fear, fret and panic-free. Get all of Kelly’s Purposeful Faith blog posts by email for a dose of inspiration and encouragement.



Standing Strong Through the Storm - THREE FOLD PREPARATION


Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11

In the 1980’s, an Open Doors co-worker visited Pastor Tu in Vietnam—leader of the fastest growing house church network at that time. It was reported to the pastor by a member of his house church that the authorities were threatening to imprison him. Pastor Tu told our colleague, “I know it is coming. I have prepared my people for my imprisonment. I am ready for prison.”

Shortly after that, Pastor Tu did spend three years in prison. When he was released, he found his house church network had grown three hundred per cent in his absence.

I received a Christmas card from him the following year that read: “…God greatly gives our church 20,203 more new believers this year. Hallelujah!”

The pastor’s comment to our colleague reveals three areas of preparation for coming storms:

· Intellectually – “I know it is coming.”

· Practically – “I have prepared my people for my imprisonment.”

· Spiritually – “I am ready for prison.”

1. Preparation intellectually involves:

- understanding what the Bible teaches about persecution

- understanding what is God’s purpose in persecution

2. Preparation practically involves:

- practicing the do’s and dont’s so not to invite persecution unnecessarily

- knowing what programs and forms to undertake so the church can continue
to function under pressure and persecution

- knowing your rights as a citizen (Acts 22 & 25)

3. Preparation spiritually involves:

- engaging in activities that stress the importance of fighting the spiritual
battle

RESPONSE: Today I will prepare intellectually, practically and spiritually for any coming storms.

PRAYER: Pray that Christians in all restricted countries will understand these three aspects of the spiritual battle and preparation.

Men of the Bible - Cain and Abel



Cain

His work: As the first child of Adam and Eve, Cain chose farming as his profession.His character: He failed to be generous and was quick to be defensive and outright violent.
His sorrow: Like his father, Adam, Cain discovered God's severe punishment for his sin.
His triumph: In spite of God's curse on Cain's livelihood, God also promised to protect the man from his enemies.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 4

Abel

His work: Cain's younger brother, Abel, was the keeper of flocks.
His character: He was willing to offer the best he had to the Lord.
His sorrow: Brutally murdered at the hand of his brother, Cain.
His triumph: "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Key Scriptures: Genesis 4 


A Look at the Men

How could two brothers turn out so different?

Adam and Eve's first two children were boys. And, as siblings often do when they grow up, they chose different vocations.

Cain became an agriculturist. Working the soil, planting, and caring for his crops were his greatest delights. Cain's brother, Abel, became a herdsman. Tending, feeding, and protecting livestock became his occupation. Two good choices.

Both of these men knew God, introduced by parents who must have told them many stories of their own encounters with the Creator. Some of these accounts would have been painful recollections of Adam and Eve's sin and corresponding punishment. And others would have included God's mercy and grace—his loving pursuit of his wayward children, their remorse, their sacrifice and restoration to fellowship. The boys must have known these stories very well.

And so Adam and Eve's sons offered the results of their vocations to the Lord. Cain brought fruits, and his younger brother, Abel, brought animals to offer to God.

When one of Abel's flocks or herds delivered her firstborn, that animal was earmarked. This one belongs to the Lord, he thought to himself. It's the most prized and perfect.

But like a man reaching into his pocket for a little loose change to toss into the passing offering plate, Cain only brought "some of the fruits of the soil." This will have to be good enough, he reasoned. The premier crops he wanted to reserve for himself.

The offering might have been good enough for Cain, but his brother had done better. So like the laggard in school who resented the one who prepared for the test and spoiled the curve, Cain became "very angry." This was compounded, of course, because the "teacher"—the Lord himself—looked with favor on Abel's offering but with disfavor on Cain's.

Cain plotted against his faithful and obedient brother. "Let's go out to the field," he told his younger sibling. And there he killed him.

In the moments that followed, Cain heard God pronounce a lifelong sentence on his life. But God also promised his protection on the man. For the remainder of his life, Cain must have wondered why God had not killed him after what he had done to Abel. Instead, his life sentence was to live with the memory of his sin, while never forgetting the mystery—and the bounty—of God's grace and mercy.

Reflect On: Genesis 4
Praise God: Because nothing escapes him. He knows the state of our hearts.
Offer Thanks: That God hasn’t left us in the dark, but speaks clearly to us about what he requires.
Confess: Any patterns of anger that make you more vulnerable to sin.
Ask God: To search your heart and free you from the root causes of your anger.