Thursday, January 12, 2017

Girlfriends in God - Here Comes Trouble!


Today’s Truth

For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, BUT our eyes are on You (2 Chronicles 20:12b, NIV).

Friend to Friend

In life, it’s often said the question is not “Will trouble come?” - but rather “When?”

Trouble typically arrives unannounced. It comes in many forms: a job loss, an unfaithful spouse, a broken friendship, etc. For my family it came in the form of a diagnosis—an autoimmune disease that decided to attack my then-11-year-old daughter’s thyroid gland. It sent her heart racing, her weight dropping, her body trembling, and caused a great deal of her hair to fall out. It was downright frightening!

When your own immune system decides you are the enemy, how do you fight against that?

In the second book of Chronicles, we find the nation of Judah to be up against a mighty foe as well. A vast group of armies, intent on wiping God’s chosen people off the map of civilization, was headed their way. Under the leadership of God-honoring and quick-acting King Jehoshaphat, God trumped trouble that day and Judah came out the victor.

No stranger to trouble myself, the Lord has taught me to employ King Jehoshaphat’s wise method of facing the cares and concerns that come into my own life—especially the ones that seem poised to completely undo me.

King Jehoshaphat, upon hearing the news of what seemed to be impending doom, lost no time instituting a fast and calling on the Lord in prayer. In his prayers, the king reminded the Lord of his many promises. When my sweet girl fell ill, I followed suit. In prayer, with fasting, I cried out for the Lord to heal my daughter, and I reminded him that he was, indeed, the Healer (Jehovah Rapha) and the One capable of curing all diseases (Ps 103:3).

In response to Jehoshaphat’s imploring, the Lord then reminded him of something which I have needed to remind myself of in times of trouble: “Do not be afraid or discouraged…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15b, 17a)

The “positions” that King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah took began with them on their knees in worship. Following this, the people rose to their feet in praise to the Lord—in a VERY LOUD voice. I have decided that these two positions (or postures) will be my “go-to” act of warfare each and every time trouble finds its way to my doorstep.

Before the men of Judah could place one foot on the battlefield, the Lord had already finished the fight—having caused the approaching armies to fight and annihilate one another! My daughter’s battle, which pitted her thyroid gland against her own immune system, lasted for two long years. When she finally achieved a state of remission through medication, it only lasted for two months…because it was then that the Lord decided to step in and HEAL her completely! Her body became rid of all evidence that the disease ever existed—a highly unusual occurrence, her doctor remarked.

Let’s Pray

Thank you, Jesus, for entering our battlefields ahead of us, your children. Lord, we commit to worship and praise You in both bountiful and trying times. While our human emotion of fear is natural, it’s what we do about it that can lead us into the realm of the SUPERNATURAL.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.


Now It's Your Turn

The next time you are faced with trouble, unleash Heaven’s power through prayer, fasting, worship and praise. Then stand back, ladies—and watch what your God will do on your behalf!

More from the Girlfriends

Click here to find out more about Lisa Morrone, PT. Lisa is a physical therapist, professor, author of six books, radio guest and event speaker who encourages people to “Get Healthy for Heaven’s Sake.” Visit Lisa’s website for more information and to sign up to receive her informative “Monday Morning Health Tips”!

Overcoming Overeating (Harvest House Publishers) is one of Lisa Morrone’s six books in her “Restoring Your Temple” health resource collection. These books are available on Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com,or wherever books are sold.


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LHM Daily Devotion - "Seeing Clearly"

January 13, 2017

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"  - Matthew 16:13, ESV

It's official. Men and women are different.

British scientists have discovered 78 genes that are different between men and women: 78 genes that explain at least  some  of the variations in the way we look at life. For example, women have a  curtain gene . Men don't care what curtains look like or if there are any curtains at all. Women care.

One of the ladies at Lutheran Hour Ministries' headquarters said women have a  calendar gene . Women remember birthdays, anniversaries, the date of a first date. Men sometimes know what year it is. Men and women are different.

Most men have a  photograph gene . It is the gene that enables us to look through 100 photographs in under two minutes. You ladies reading this devo are probably saying, "You can't possibly look at 100 pictures in a minute." Well, I can and I do. I just follow these steps:

Step 1: I pick up the picture. Step 2: I look at the picture. Step 3: I put the picture in a new pile. I repeat those steps until I have seen all the photos. Truly, there are a great many differences between men and women -- and one similarity. (There may be others, but we are going to deal with just one.) That similarity is this: none of us like the way we look in a picture.

In some respects, I think Jesus felt the same way about Himself and the picture other people came away with when they looked at Him.

You see, it wasn't very often that people saw Jesus for who He really was: the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Shortly after He was born, King Herod looked at Him and saw a rival for his earthly throne. Herod had a bad picture. Then there were the people of His boyhood home, Nazareth. While they had at first been impressed by the wisdom of His Words, they thought He had gotten carried away and ended up trying to kill Him. They had a bad picture, too.

Of course, there was the picture carried around by the Jewish religious leaders. Their picture of the Savior was always blurry and out of focus. Depending on the day, they saw the Christ as being possessed by the devil, a liar, a charlatan, a conman, or a challenger to their authority over the people. The crowds pictured Jesus as a political leader or a provider of all their physical needs, wants and wishes. Jesus quickly pointed out those pictures weren't especially accurate either. Jesus' own family saw Him as a crazy person: a fellow who needed to be taken home and cared for (see Mark 3:21). Everyone had a bad picture of Jesus.

Now, I suppose I need not point out that some things haven't changed over the centuries. Right now in the world, there are a lot of snapshots of Jesus being circulated. Most are hazy, fuzzy and out of focus, which is why this devotion says if you would like a clear picture of the Savior, you must look not to people's opinions, but to the Holy Scriptures that show Him as the Lamb of God who gave Himself to take away the sins of the world.

THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, may I always see Jesus for who He was and is. May I praise Him for the sacrifice that cost Him His life and granted us eternal life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional - Maratón de fe

13 de Enero 2017

... ¿Y cómo oirán si no hay quien les predique? Romanos 10:14b, NVI

La llama olímpica fue uno de los símbolos de los Juegos Olímpicos en Olimpia, Grecia, en la antigüedad. Hasta el día de hoy atletas, actores, músicos y figuras deportivas dan inicio a las Olimpíadas transportando la antorcha con el fuego olímpico hasta llegar al lugar donde las Olimpiadas se llevarán a cabo.

La fe cristiana es como la llama olímpica. Hace dos mil años, Jesucristo dijo a sus discípulos: "Por tanto, vayan y hagan discípulos de todas las naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo" (Mateo 28:19, NVI). Desde entonces, la llama de la fe se ha extendido a rincones remotos de la tierra, y año tras año vemos mucha gente transfiriendo sus antorchas a otros.

El apóstol Pablo también sabía que alcanzar a otros con el mensaje de salvación, significa compartir las buenas noticias del amor de Dios en Jesucristo. "Así que la fe proviene del oír, y el oír proviene de la palabra de Dios" (Romanos 10:17, RVC). Como el pueblo escogido para esta gran maratón de fe, proclamar el evangelio es nuestra obligación, a la vez que una bendita oportunidad de ser partícipes en el crecimiento del reino de Dios en la tierra.

Qué maravilloso es cuando quienes han recibido la palabra de Dios a través nuestro, son transformados por el Espíritu Santo y pueden decir, junto con el apóstol Pablo: "Así, pues, justificados por la fe tenemos paz con Dios por medio de nuestro Señor Jesucristo" (Romanos 5:1, RVC).

¡Qué maravilloso cuando esas mismas personas toman la antorcha de la fe y a su vez comienzan a compartir a Cristo con otros!

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre celestial, oramos por aquéllos que llevan la antorcha de tu palabra a un mundo confundido por la oscuridad. Dales fuerza y determinación para compartir la luz de Jesucristo con todas las personas. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Biografía del autor:El Pastor Igor Savich es director de la oficina de Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones en Rusia.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones

Our Daily Bread - Remember When


Read: Psalm 126 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 31–32; Matthew 9:18–38

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

Our son wrestled with drug addiction for seven years, and during that time my wife and I experienced many difficult days. As we prayed and waited for his recovery, we learned to celebrate small victories. If nothing bad happened in a twenty-four-hour period, we would tell each other, “Today was a good day.” That short sentence became a reminder to be thankful for God’s help with the smallest things.

Tucked away in Psalm 126:3 is an even better reminder of God’s tender mercies and what they ultimately mean for us: “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” What a great verse to take to heart as we remember Jesus’s compassion for us at the cross! The difficulties of any given day cannot change the truth that come what may, our Lord has already shown us unfathomable kindness, and “his love endures forever” (Ps. 136:1).

When we have lived through a difficult circumstance and discovered that God was faithful, keeping that in mind helps greatly the next time life’s waters turn rough. We may not know how God will get us through our circumstances, but His kindness to us in the past helps us trust that He will.


Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. Robert Grant

When we cannot see God’s hand, we can trust His heart.

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries

Nuestro Pan Diario - Recuerda cuándo


Leer: Salmo 126 | La Biblia en un año: Mateo 9:18-38

Grandes cosas ha hecho el Señor con nosotros; estaremos alegres (Salmo 126:3).

Nuestro hijo luchó con la adicción a las drogas siete años, y, durante ese tiempo, mi esposa y yo enfrentamos muchos días difíciles. Mientras orábamos y esperábamos que se recuperara, aprendimos a festejar las pequeñas victorias. Si nada malo pasaba en un lapso de 24 horas, nos decíamos uno al otro: «Hoy fue un buen día». Esa pequeña frase se convirtió en un recordatorio para dar gracias a Dios por su ayuda en las cosas más pequeñas.

Escondido en el Salmo 126:3, hay un recordatorio aun mejor de la misericordia de Dios y lo que esta significa en definitiva para nosotros: «Grandes cosas ha hecho el Señor con nosotros; estaremos alegres». ¡Qué versículo maravilloso para recordar la misericordia de Jesús al morir en la cruz por nosotros! No hay día difícil que pueda cambiar la verdad de que, pase lo que pase, nuestro Señor ya nos ha mostrado una bondad inconmensurable, y que «para siempre es su misericordia» (Salmo 136:1).

Cuando hemos vivido circunstancias difíciles y descubierto que Dios es fiel, recordar esta verdad ayuda muchísimo en las próximas tormentas de la vida. Tal vez no sepamos cómo nos llevará el Señor a superar las circunstancias, pero su misericordia en el pasado nos ayuda a confiar en que lo volverá a hacer.


Señor, gracias por tu fidelidad y misericordia.

Cuando no podemos ver la mano de Dios, podemos confiar en su corazón.

© 2017 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario

Unser Täglich Brot - Denk dran


Lesen: Psalm 126 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Mose 31–32; Matthäus 9,18-38

Der Herr hat Großes an uns getan; des sind wir fröhlich. Psalm 126,3

Unser Sohn hat sieben Jahre mit seiner Drogensucht gekämpft; und meine Frau und ich hatten in dieser Zeit manchen schweren Tag. Während wir für seine Heilung beteten und warteten, lernten wir, uns auch über kleine Siege zu freuen. Wenn im Lauf von vierundzwanzig Stunden nichts Schlimmes passierte, sagten wir zueinander: „Heute war ein guter Tag.“ Und dieser kurze Satz wurde für uns zur Mahnung, Gott für seine Hilfe selbst in den kleinsten Dingen zu danken.

Mitten in Psalm 126,3 befindet sich eine noch bessere Erinnerung an Gottes Gnade und was sie für uns letztlich bedeutet: „Der Herr hat Großes an uns getan; des sind wir fröhlich.“ Was für ein toller Vers, vor allem, wenn wir an Jesu Leiden für uns am Kreuz denken! Die Probleme irgendeines Tages können nichts an der Tatsache ändern, dass unser Herr uns schon unbegreifliche Güte erwiesen hat, komme was mag, und „seine Güte währet ewiglich“ (Ps. 136,1).

Wenn wir durch schwere Zeiten gegangen sind und festgestellt haben, dass Gott treu war, hilft uns die Erinnerung, wenn die Wellen das nächste Mal hoch schlagen. Wir wissen zwar nicht, wie Gott uns durch die Probleme hindurchbringen wird, aber seine Güte in der Vergangenheit hilft uns zu glauben, dass er es tun wird.


Fest steht deine Gnade, o Herr, bis ans End‘, du Schöpfer und Schutz, Erlöser und Freund. Robert Grant

Auch wenn wir Gottes Hand nicht sehen—seinem Herzen können wir trauen.

© 2017 Unser Täglich Brot

Хлеб наш насущный - Помни


Читать сейчас: Псалом 125 | Библия за год: Бытие 31-32; Матфея 9:18-38

Великое сотворил Господь над нами – мы радовались. — Псалом 125:3

Наш сын семь лет боролся с зависимостью от наркотиков. За это время мы с женой пережили немало тяжелых дней. Молясь о его восстановлении, мы научились праздновать маленькие победы. Если за двадцать четыре часа не происходило ничего плохого, мы говорили друг другу: «Сегодня был хороший день». Эта фраза стала для нас напоминанием о том, что нужно быть благодарными за Божью помощь в самом малом.

Изгнанники из  Псалом 125:3 являются еще лучшим напоминанием о великой Божьей милости и о том, что она значит для нас: «Великое сотворил Господь над нами: мы радовались», – говорили вернувшиеся из плена иудеи, вспоминая дни возвращения на родину. Какой прекрасный стих, особенно если помнить о сострадании Спасителя к нам, явленном на кресте! Никакие трудности не смогут изменить истину о непостижимой благости Господа и о том, что «вовек милость Его» (Пс. 135:1).

Если мы, пройдя через трудные обстоятельства, узнаем, что Бог верен, это поможет нам, когда в следующий раз бурные воды нахлынут на нас. Мы можем не знать, как Господь выведет нас из бед, но Его благость в прошлом поможет нам доверить Ему свое будущее.


Мы милость Твою созерцаем вокруг, Создатель, Спаситель, Хранитель и Друг. — Роберт Грант

Мы не можем видеть Божью руку, но можем довериться Его словам.

© 2017 Хлеб Наш Насущный

Notre Pain Quotidien - Rappelez‑vous quand…


Lisez : Psaume 126 | La Bible en un an : Genèse 31 – 32 et Matthieu 9.18-38

L’Éternel a fait pour nous de grandes choses ; nous sommes dans la joie. (Psaume 126.3)

Notre fils a lutté contre un problème de toxicomanie pendant sept ans, une période très éprouvante pour ma femme et moi. En priant et en attendant qu’il se remette, nous avons appris à célébrer de petites victoires. Si rien ne se produisait pendant vingt‑quatre heures consécutives, nous nous disions l’un l’autre : « La journée a été bonne. » Cette courte phrase est d’ailleurs devenue un rappel de la nécessité de remercier Dieu pour son aide dans les moindres choses de la vie.

Niché dans Psaume 126.3 se trouve un rappel encore meilleur des miséricordes de Dieu et de ce qu’elles signifient pour nous : « L’Éternel a fait pour nous de grandes choses ; nous sommes dans la joie. » Ce merveilleux verset nous tient à coeur, car il nous rappelle la compassion dont Jésus a usé envers nous à la croix ! Le lot de difficultés de toute journée ne saurait changer la vérité selon laquelle, peu importe ce qui risque de se produire, notre Seigneur a déjà manifesté une bonté inimaginable à notre égard, et « sa miséricorde dure à toujours » (PS 136.1).

Si nous avons traversé une dure épreuve et que nous avons découvert par elle la fidélité de Dieu, le fait de nous remémorer cette réalité nous aidera considérablement à traverser la prochaine mer déchaînée. Il se peut que nous ignorions comment Dieu s’y prendra pour nous en faire triompher, mais la bonté dont il a usé envers nous par le passé nourrira en nous l’assurance qu’il continuera d’agir de la sorte.

Si la main de Dieu est invisible, son coeur reste notre appui.

© 2017 Ministères NPQ

The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, January 12, 2017


First Reading
Isaiah 41:17-29
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it. Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, so that we may consider them, and that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be afraid and terrified. You, indeed, are nothing and your work is nothing at all; whoever chooses you is an abomination. I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name. He shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay. Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know, and beforehand, so that we might say, "He is right"? There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words. I first have declared it to Zion, and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings. But when I look there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer. No, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their images are empty wind.


Second Reading
Ephesians 2:11-22
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-- 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 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. 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, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.


The Holy Gospel
Mark 2:1-12
When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"-- he said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this!"


Morning Psalms
Psalm 18 Part I Diligam te, Domine.
1   I love you, O LORD my strength, O LORD my stronghold, my crag, and my haven.
2   My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise.
3   I will call upon the LORD, and so shall I be saved from my enemies.
4   The breakers of death rolled over me, and the torrents of oblivion made me afraid.
5   The cords of hell entangled me, and the snares of death were set for me.
6   I called upon the LORD in my distress and cried out to my God for help.
7   He heard my voice from his heavenly dwelling; my cry of anguish came to his ears.
8   The earth reeled and rocked; the roots of the mountains shook; they reeled because of his anger.
9   Smoke rose from his nostrils and a consuming fire out of his mouth; hot burning coals blazed forth from him.
10   He parted the heavens and came down with a storm cloud under his feet.
11   He mounted on cherubim and flew; he swooped on the wings of the wind.
12   He wrapped darkness about him; he made dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.
13   From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds, burst hailstones and coals of fire.
14   The LORD thundered out of heaven; the Most High uttered his voice.
15   He loosed his arrows and scattered them; he hurled thunderbolts and routed them.
16   The beds of the seas were uncovered, and the foundations of the world laid bare, at your battle cry, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
17   He reached down from on high and grasped me; he drew me out of great waters.
18   He delivered me from my strong enemies and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
19   They confronted me in the day of my disaster; but the LORD was my support.
20   He brought me out into an open place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Evening Psalms
Psalm 18:Part II Et retribuet mihi
21   The LORD rewarded me because of my righteous dealing; because my hands were clean he rewarded me;
22   For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not offended against my God;
23   For all his judgments are before my eyes, and his decrees I have not put away from me;
24   For I have been blameless with him and have kept myself from iniquity;
25   Therefore the LORD rewarded me according to my righteous dealing, because of the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
26   With the faithful you show yourself faithful, O God; with the forthright you show yourself forthright.
27   With the pure you show yourself pure, but with the crooked you are wily.
28   You will save a lowly people, but you will humble the haughty eyes.
29   You, O LORD, are my lamp; my God, you make my darkness bright.
30   With you I will break down an enclosure; with the help of my God I will scale any wall.
31   As for God, his ways are perfect; the words of the LORD are tried in the fire; he is a shield to all who trust in him.
32   For who is God, but the LORD? who is the Rock, except our God?
33   It is God who girds me about with strength and makes my way secure.
34   He makes me sure-footed like a deer and lets me stand firm on the heights.
35   He trains my hands for battle and my arms for bending even a bow of bronze.
36   You have given me your shield of victory; your right hand also sustains me; your loving care makes me great.
37   You lengthen my stride beneath me, and my ankles do not give way.
38   I pursue my enemies and overtake them; I will not turn back till I have destroyed them.
39   I strike them down, and they cannot rise; they fall defeated at my feet.
40   You have girded me with strength for the battle; you have cast down my adversaries beneath me; you have put my enemies to flight.
41   I destroy those who hate me; they cry out, but there is none to help them; they cry to the LORD, but he does not answer.
42   I beat them small like dust before the wind; I trample them like mud in the streets.
43   You deliver me from the strife of the peoples; you put me at the head of the nations.
44   A people I have not known shall serve me; no sooner shall they hear than they shall obey me; strangers will cringe before me.
45   The foreign peoples will lose heart; they shall come trembling out of their strongholds.
46   The LORD lives! Blessed is my Rock! Exalted is the God of my salvation!
47   He is the God who gave me victory and cast down the peoples beneath me.
48   You rescued me from the fury of my enemies; you exalted me above those who rose against me; you saved me from my deadly foe.
49   Therefore will I extol you among the nations, O LORD, and sing praises to your Name.
50   He multiplies the victories of his king; he shows loving-kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants for ever.

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 12, 2017


Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV) So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Read all of Galatians 3

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - "See You in the Morning"

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13, NIV)

I heard the story of a Christian man who was on his deathbed and called his three sons into his room. To his two sons who were believers, he said, "Good-bye, my sons. I will see you in the morning."

Then he turned to his other son, who wasn't a Christian. With sadness in his voice, he said, "Good-bye, son."

The son answered, "Father, why did you say, 'I will see you in the morning' to my brothers, yet you said 'Good-bye' to me?"

"Because you haven't put your faith in Christ," his father told him. "I can't say I will see you in the morning. I'm just saying good-bye, because I don't think I'll ever see you again."

The son began to weep. "But I want to see you again," he said.

"You have to put your faith in Christ. Then we will be reunited," his father told him. So his son became a believer that day.

The hope of the Christian is that we'll see our loved ones again. Death is not the end. It doesn't mean that we aren't sad when a loved one dies. We grieve like any person grieves. We cry. The depth of our sorrow is an indication of the depth of our love. If you love someone and they're gone, then of course you grieve deeply.

But as believers, we also have hope. We know we'll be reunited with our loved ones who have died in Christ. I believe that thinking about heaven is one of the best things we can do when we're grieving. In fact, heaven becomes much more real to us when we have loved ones there.

We don't grieve hopelessly; we grieve hopefully. For the Christian, life on earth is as bad as it gets. Better things are coming.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Un Dia a la Vez - El amor a Dios


Dios es amor. El que permanece en amor, permanece en Dios, y Dios en él. 1 Juan 4:16

Si no amamos a Dios, no podemos dar amor a los demás. ¡Este es otro principio bellísimo! Se trata de entender que nuestra labor más hermosa es amar a Dios con todo nuestro corazón y con todas nuestras fuerzas.

A mí no me gusta mucho escuchar cuando otra persona dice que está enamorada de Jesús. Esto se debe a que, al decir «enamorada», mi mente de inmediato lo relaciona con el amor a mi esposo. Aun así, se escucha con mucha frecuencia en canciones interpretadas por hombres y mujeres. Lo que rescato de esto es que amar a Dios me hace más sensible a las cosas espirituales. Amar a Dios me hace más misericordiosa para entender el dolor de un amigo. Amar a Dios me hace valorar todo lo que Él ha hecho por mí desde perdonar mis pecados, restaurar mi vida y darme una nueva oportunidad de ser feliz.

Te puedo dar fe y testimonio de que amar a Dios, servirle a Él y renunciar a otros intereses me han dado más felicidad que cuando no le conocía. Cuando decidí trabajar en un medio cristiano de comunicación, muchos me tacharon de religiosa, fanática y hasta loca al dejar la fama y el dinero que representaba trabajar en una radio tan importante como lo es Radio Caracol en Miami y dedicarme por completo a servir a Dios. Hoy, diez años más tarde, he dado el mejor de los frutos. Dios ha recompensado cada minuto de mi trabajo, me ha respaldado, me ha usado para servir de ejemplo e inspiración para otros. Lo que es más lindo, me ha permitido trabajar en lo que me gusta y con el mejor jefe… Él.

NIV Devotions for Men - Life’s “Do-Overs”

Joel 2:12–27

Recommended Reading: Psalm 32:1–11; Ezekiel 33:10–16; Acts 2:37–39

To kids on a playground, the concept of a “do-over” is well known. When they’re playing kickball and the ball gets stuck in a tree, or when they’re playing basketball and the ball sticks between the backboard and the rim, a chorus of “do over” spontaneously erupts. It’s an unspoken rule that every kid knows.

Sometimes as adults we wish we could resurrect the rule in our own lives. When we miss a bill payment, we long to be able to appeal to the utility company for a “do-over.” When we speak a thoughtless word that hurts another person, we wish for the same.

Through the prophet Joel God tells the Israelites they can have a “do-over.” If they’ll repent God will return what he has taken away in punishment. Apparently a plague of locusts has destroyed the nation’s crops, and God promises to give the people abundant harvests once again.

So how can we make the reality of the “do-over” active in our life once again? Truth be told, this concept usually doesn’t work in our adult lives and relationships without a good deal of work and humility on our part. We bear the consequences of our mistakes until regret grows and we ask for forgiveness. That’s when grace can intervene, and the person we’ve harmed can forgive. The same is true in our relationship with God. If we understand that sin has kept us from realizing our potential, we need to do the same as the Israelites: repent. In this case, we don’t really achieve the “do-over” ourselves; instead, we receive it from God. We simply turn to God with our confession.

Many men find confession especially difficult because it cuts at our dignity and self-worth. When we confess we admit our mistakes and failures. We assume that these admissions don’t make us look very good. However, God loves to see us confess and repent of our sin, because in doing so we show that we desire to turn to him. When we’re “man enough” to confess our wrongs, God can choose to pour out his blessings for the next phase of our lives.

To Take Away
  • What areas of your life feel so damaged by sin that they require a fresh start?
  • What do you hope your life will amount to? How does that mesh with God’s plan for your life?
  • Do you trust God enough to confess your mistakes and failures to him? Why or why not? How can you gain this kind of trust in God?

Standing Strong Through the Storm - GOD IS IN CONTROL

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Psalm 118:22-23

Co-worker Ron Boyd-MacMillan writes in his epic volume, Faith That Endures, “Your life’s purpose may remain a mystery to you, as may the events of your world, but that’s okay. God is in control. We are relieved of the responsibility of understanding everything and the need to change it.”[1]

R. J. Thomas was a Welsh missionary with a burden for the xenophobic hermit kingdom of Korea in the middle of the nineteenth century. In 1865, while in China, the opportunity he had been waiting a lifetime for arrived. An American ship, the SS General Sherman, was going to steam up the Taedong River to the capital, Pyongyang, in hopes of luring the Koreans into trade. Thomas bought a berth on the ship, hoping to meet some scholars in Pyongyang who spoke and read Chinese, and took as many Chinese Scriptures with him as he could carry on board.

When they reached Pyongyang, they were not welcomed. They got stuck on a sandbank and the ship was set afire. As the crew waded to shore, they were killed by the waiting Koreans. Thomas also waded to shore. Before he could speak, a club swung with murderous force dashed his brains into the water, but his killer noticed he had emerged with books. He picked up a couple of the sodden books. Drying them off, he separated the leaves and saw that they were nicely printed. He could not read but decided to paper the outside of his house compound with the pages, as was the custom at the time.

Imagine his astonishment when he returned from the fields a few weeks later to find a clutch of scholars earnestly reading his walls. One of these scholars became a Christian by reading a Gospel portion plastered onto the wall. A generation later his nephew assisted in the first translation of the New Testament into Korean in Shenyang, China under the supervision of another little-known missionary, John Ross from Scotland.

R.J. Thomas never lived to see the fruit of his labor or his prayers for Korean people. He died, his life’s purpose unfulfilled, his potential unrealized. For anyone aware of Thomas’s death, his life was a mystery for years afterward. But his life was not in vain. The meaning of life does not consist in what we make of it, but in what God makes of it. Success is not about achievement or what we make of ourselves. It’s about placement, or what God makes of us. We take the lesson from the persecuted church that it is okay to die quite unaware of our life’s meaning. We can rest in trust that God, in His mercy, has used us to help build His eternal kingdom.[2]

RESPONSE: Today I leave my placement, my purpose, my potential in the hands of a good and loving God.

PRAYER: May I ever realize that You are in control and thus truly allow You to be Lord of my life.

1. Ronald Boyd-MacMillan, Faith That Endures (Grand Rapids: Fleming Revell, 2006), p. 315.
2. Ibid, p. 314.

A Promise to Africa - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, Day 3


What does the Bible have to say about prejudice? What messages of love does God have for all the people and cultures He created? What opportunities does a diverse church of today have in a society still troubled by racism?
The two-week Fearfully and Wonderfully Made daily devotional—based on passages from the NKJV Modern Life Study Bible—will guide you through a series of Biblical excerpts focused on confronting ethnic prejudice. You'll walk through both the Old and New Testaments, discovering a tapestry of cultural connections throughout the historical richness of Scripture and learn about God's promises of love to those who face discrimination and prejudice. From the call of Abraham to the Samaritan woman at the well, find out how the God of Israel has shown himself to be the God of all tribes and nations.

Today’s reading is drawn from Psalm 68:31 and Acts 8:26-40.

Bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem—the possible setting of Psalm 68—must have made the Israelites feel that they had finally arrived. They were settled in the Promised Land. They were led by a remarkable king. The Lord was their God, and the holy ark assured His presence in Zion.

But David reminded his people that God’s blessings would eventually extend far beyond Israel and its immediate events. Nations throughout the world would hear about the Lord and come to worship Him (Ps. 68:32). They would include even belligerent neighbors like Egyptians and Ethiopians (68:31), who were vying for power as Israel rose to prominence.

The promise of Psalm 68 was at least partially fulfilled in the first century A.D. when the treasurer of Queen Candace of Ethiopia came to Jerusalem. He had started home after worshiping at the feast of Pentecost when he met Philip, who explained to him the news of salvation in Christ.

The treasurer believed and was baptized (Acts 8:26–40). Through that encounter, the news about Jesus reached Africa, and today many Christians in Ethiopia see the treasurer’s conversion as the beginning of their spiritual story. Through him, they feel connected to David, who foresaw the day when Ethiopians would join in the chorus of praising the Lord.

Girlfriends in God - The Spiritual Fixer-Upper


Today’s Truth

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13, NIV).

Friend to Friend

I promised myself that I would never buy a house that was a “fixer-upper.” I don’t like fixing things. I want everything to be fixed before I move in. But there I was - buying a town house that needed so much work even the realtor couldn’t believe my husband and I wanted to buy it. Why didn’t someone stop me? No one did, so the sale was made and we went to work. Actually, my son and husband went to work while I went crazy.

I had no idea how horrible the process of remodeling could be. Layer after layer of dirt, grime, stains and ugliness was stripped away. Rotten kitchen cabinets were torn from the walls and rusty appliances were replaced. We basically gutted the whole place and rebuilt it – while living in it. I was not happy!

I will never forget the day I woke up to see a toilet sitting at the foot of our bed. That was the moment I resolved to never set foot in another house that required so much work. I am so thankful God does not feel that way about me.

Honestly, I often wonder why God doesn’t just demolish the old me and build a new one. Then He did just that – through a two-year battle with clinical depression. While sitting at the bottom of that dark and slimy pit, the Father lovingly stripped away old fears and insecurities. From the walls of my heart, He tore the rotten attitudes, undisciplined thoughts and unholy desires that had walked me to the edge of my pit - then pushed me in. He replaced rusty old dreams with new ones and basically gutted my life to build a new one, a better one, and a stronger one. Part of that new life was forgiveness. God taught me how to forgive myself so I could then forgive others.

Because forgiveness is so important, it only stands to reason there are roadblocks that can hinder our willingness to forgive. We must make the commitment to identify and remove each one.

Selfishness
Selfishness shouts, “I have been hurt. It is so unfair. I have rights!” What I am really saying is that how I feel about the hurt is more important than forgiving the hurt.


Pride
Pride cries, “Look at what they have done to me. Don’t they realize who I am?” To receive or give forgiveness requires humility.


Low self-esteem
Some of us have built an entire identity around a hurt. The attention we gain from the wrong we have suffered defines who we are. We cherish the pain and refuse to relinquish it for the sake of forgiveness.


Blindness
We may be blind to the fact that we have not forgiven a hurt. We have convinced ourselves that we really have forgiven the one who hurt us by going through the motions and saying the right words without really dealing with the pain. All we have done is dig a hole and bury the pain. As long as hurt is buried alive, it will keep resurrecting itself in our life, but when the hurt is dealt with and forgiveness is given, the pain is buried dead – and it stays dead.


Pain
Forgiveness is spiritual surgery. It exposes old hurts that have never completely healed. We can move, change jobs, change churches, change friends or even change families, but until we yank up the root of bitterness and kill it with forgiveness, we will live with unresolved pain.


Ignorance
Maybe we don’t know how to forgive someone because are under the impression that forgiveness is an emotion or feeling. True forgiveness is a choice – a deliberate choice to release the person who has hurt us from the pain they have caused. We can stop forgiving others when God stops forgiving us.


We need to identify and eliminate the roadblocks to forgiveness so God can set us free, heal our pain, and make us more like Him. Now that is a remodeling job I would welcome.

Let’s Pray

Father, I praise You for the changes You have made in my life through the power of Your forgiveness. Please help me forgive the people who have hurt me just as You have forgiven me.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.


Now it’s Your Turn

Emotional pain can cripple our lives unless we deal with it and forgive the hurt. A family member has wounded you and shows no sign of remorse. Maybe a friend has betrayed you and refuses to apologize. Or you may be struggling to forgive yourself because you don’t think you deserve to be forgiven. None of us deserves forgiveness. Forgiveness is a gift from God. Today is the day to make the choice to forgive. Beside each statement below, write the name of someone in your life who needs your forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not limited to those who deserve it. ______________________________
Forgiveness is not limited to those who apologize. ______________________________
Forgiveness is not limited to those who change. ________________________________


Read and memorize 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

More from the Girlfriends

Do you believe it is possible to truly forgive? Mary learned the power of forgiveness as she dealt with painful issues while battling clinical depression. Mary learned that when we refuse to forgive someone, we are handing them the keys to our life and making them our jailer. Mary’s CD, The Power of Forgiveness, is the message of God's power to forgive and God's plan for unleashing that power in our lives. Get it today!

Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.



LHM Daily Devotion - "Power to Save"

 January 12, 2017

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved - Acts 4:11-12, ESV

In the 1800s, Queen Victoria was crossing the English Channel on her royal yacht.

During the course of the trip, her eye fell upon a tiny bird, who with fluttering wings, tried to follow the ship. Apparently, the bird had been attracted by the brightness of the silk flag which floated at the masthead.

The queen turned to her daughter and pointed to the bird.

As they watched, they could see the bird was becoming weak and weary, darting down to the waves, then climbing back up, trying to find some place to rest. But as this bird was a fragile creature used to the woods and not the company of man, it refused to settle down on the ship. With a faint cry it rose from the waves, soared up to the masthead and, unsuccessfully, tried to rest upon the flag, which had drawn it from the land -- away from safety, shelter and home.

The heart of the queen was filled with pity and she commanded her sailors to save the weary bird.

Wishing to please his Monarch every able-bodied man jumped to do the job Victoria had entrusted to them. They used every art and every device to capture that bird. Sadly, all their efforts to rescue the bird only terrified it more.

At last it fell upon the deck at the feet of the queen.

Her majesty stooped and picked up the dead bird and held it tenderly in her hands. Victoria, Queen over an empire upon which the sun never set, had been absolutely helpless in sparing the life of a single, small, scared bird. Her good intentions had not been good enough; her power had proven to be insufficient to the task.

I would like to point out that some things don't change.

In the worlds of politics, medicine, education and philanthropy, there are many who, with good intentions, are eager to try and save us. It is true, they are willing, but it is equally true, they are not able. Most certainly, they may assist you with simple problems and minor difficulties, but they cannot correct or cure the great sickness of sin that besets and condemns our souls.

Nobody can save us other than Jesus.

That is because Jesus alone

• has lived a perfect life so that our sinful imperfections might be forgiven;
• has resisted every temptation so we might be found  innocent  on Judgment Day;
• has conquered death and shown to this doubting world that His sacrifice to save us has been accepted and is complete.


THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we give thanks for those people of the world who do their best to make a positive impact. Bless them in their service. Most of all, we pray that every sinful soul may see only Jesus can save from condemnation and damnation. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional - Sin presumir

12 de Enero 2017

Yo, el Señor, no cambio. Malaquías 3:6a, BLPH

Hay algunas cosas que no deberían cambiar. Por ejemplo, cuando pido un Big Mac en McDonald´s, espero saborear dos hamburguesas con lechuga, queso, pickles y cebolla, en un pan para hamburguesas. No espero que sustituyan la carne por pescado o pollo.

Por otro lado, hay algunas cosas que sí deberían cambiar. Una de esas cosas que debería cambiar son los políticos que son un mal ejemplo para la sociedad, como lo fue un ex Intendente de la ciudad de Las Vegas. Quiero dejar en claro que no me importa mucho si en su vida privada andaba con coristas, bebía mucho y hacía muchas apuestas.

Pero con lo que sí tengo problemas es con que, al visitar una escuela primaria, el ex-Intendente les dijo a algunos alumnos de cuarto grado que, si estuviera varado en una isla desierta, llevaría con él una chica y una botella de ginebra.

También tengo problemas con un hombre que dice: "Si llego a gobernador, voy a retozar con chicas coristas, voy a seguir tomando ginebra y voy a seguir apostando a cualquier cosa que se mueva". Y cuando fue entrevistado por un periódico nacional, dijo: "¡Yo no voy a cambiar!"

A mí me parece que debería. Aun cuando estas devociones no se meten en política, sí creemos en la responsabilidad cristiana. Creemos que los cristianos tienen la responsabilidad de votar por quienes demuestran tener valores morales y éticos.

Lo hacemos porque nosotros hemos sido cambiados. Gracias al sacrificio del Salvador, los cristianos hemos sido lavados de nuestros pecados y llevados a la fe. Y ahora que hemos sido cambiados, queremos que nuestros líderes sean personas que se esfuerzan por no pecar y por servir con integridad.

ORACIÓN: Querido Padre celestial, te doy gracias por todos los cambios que tu Hijo ha hecho en mi vida. También te doy gracias porque tú nunca vas a cambiar. Te pido que nos bendigas con líderes responsables. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones

Our Daily Bread - Nothing Hidden


Read: Hebrews 4:12–16 | Bible in a Year: Genesis 29–30; Matthew 9:1–17

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Hebrews 4:13

In 2015 an international research company stated that there were 245 million surveillance cameras installed worldwide, and the number was growing by 15 percent every year. In addition, multiplied millions of people with smartphones capture daily images ranging from birthday parties to bank robberies. Whether we applaud the increased security or denounce the diminished privacy, we live in a global, cameras-everywhere society.

The New Testament book of Hebrews says that in our relationship with God, we experience a far greater level of exposure and accountability than anything surveillance cameras may see. His Word, like a sharp, two-edged sword, penetrates to the deepest level of our being where it “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12–13).

Because Jesus our Savior experienced our weaknesses and temptations but did not sin, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (vv. 15–16). We don’t need to fear Him but can be assured we’ll find grace when we come to Him.


Nothing is hidden from God’s sight. Nothing is greater than God’s love. Nothing is stronger than God’s mercy and grace. Nothing is too hard for God’s power.

Discover how you can develop and maintain a meaningful prayer life. Read Jesus’ Blueprint for Prayer at discoveryseries.org/hj891.

No part of our lives is hidden from God’s grace and power.

© 2017 Our Daily Bread Ministries