Ichthus Ministries: 02/24/17

Friday, February 24, 2017

The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, February 24, 2017 - Saint Matthias the Apostle Day

Acts 1:15-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) "For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it' and 'Let another take his position of overseer.' So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Psalm 15 Domine, quis habitabit?
1   LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? who may abide upon your holy hill?
2   Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.
3   There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.
4   In his sight the wicked is rejected, but he honors those who fear the LORD.
5   He has sworn to do no wrong and does not take back his word.
6   He does not give his money in hope of gain, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
7   Whoever does these things shall never be overthrown.

Philippians 3:13-21
Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

John 15:1, 6-16
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.

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 - February 24, 2017

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Read all of Jeremiah 29

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

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - "Angelic Protection"

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. —Psalm 34:7 (NKJV)

John G. Patton was a missionary based in the New Hebrides Islands with his wife and children. One night, hostile natives surrounded the mission station, determined to murder him and his family. First they planned to burn them out, and then they intended to kill them. Throughout that terror-filled night, Patton and his wife prayed that God would deliver them. And when daylight came, they were surprised to find their attackers had left.

A year later, the chief of the tribe that had intended to kill the Pattons became a Christian. So Patton asked the chief what happened on the night they had planned on killing them and why they turned back.

The chief said, “Who were all those men you had with you there?”

Patton knew of no men who were with him. The chief went on to explain how they saw hundreds of big men in shining garments around the mission station, so they were afraid to attack.

Could this be a modern-day example of angelic protection in the life of a Christian? Quite possibly. Certainly the Bible teaches that angels were involved in the lives of God’s people and continue to be involved to this present day.

Psalm 34:7 gives us this great promise: “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” And Hebrews 1:14, describing angels, says, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

In other words, God is saying that He has sent His angels to minister to us as believers. He has sent them to protect us and, when we are in a difficult situation, to even deliver us. And when that day comes for us to go and meet the Lord, they will usher us into the presence of God.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV®, Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Devotion by Greg Laurie © 2016 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - Que nada te aparte de su amor

Ni lo alto ni lo profundo, ni cosa alguna en toda la creación, podrá apartarnos del amor que Dios nos ha manifestado en Cristo Jesús nuestro Señor. Romanos 8:39 (NVI)

¿Cuántas veces has sentido que te has alejado de Dios? ¿Sientes que el mundo en que vives te absorbe de tal manera que vas dejando a un lado tu relación con Dios? Quizá digas que antes eras más espiritual, pero después de una situación determinada te has alejado y ya no sientes lo mismo cuando vas a la iglesia.

Hoy quiero que tengas en cuenta que no vale la pena que por alguna situación, sea la que sea, te alejes y pongas un abismo entre tu Padre y tú.

Las presiones existen aun para los líderes y pastores. Uno pensaría que estas personas que trabajan en la iglesia o para Dios en algún lugar no deben fallarle y que deben estar siempre a su lado, pero no es así. Yo diría que en el cuerpo de Cristo, la iglesia, o incluso conviviendo con cristianos, hay más tendencia a desilusionarse, a sentir ganas de salir corriendo y muchas veces preguntarse: «¿Esto es de Dios? ¿Esta persona es cristiana en realidad como dice?».

Por eso es que nuestra relación debe ser directamente con Dios, porque la Biblia dice: «¡Maldito el hombre que confía en el hombre!» (Jeremías 17:5).

Si ponemos la mirada en el hombre, terminaremos desilusionados. Mucho más cuando nos fallan personas que están vinculadas en forma directa al campo espiritual.

Las situaciones se van a presentar, pero mi llamado para ti es que nuestra mirada debe permanecer en Dios y nosotros en su amor.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón. La Santa Biblia, Nueva Versión Internacional® NVI® Copyright © 1986, 1999, 2015 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SUFFERING BURNS AWAY PRIDE

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

Suffering burns away pride, as it did in Paul’s life. When Paul prayed three times for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh,” he saw that it was God’s will for him, and he accepted it.

Many Christians are defeated at this point because they are not sure that they are in the will of God, so they are not sure if the suffering is really His will for them. Without going aside into a Bible study on knowing the will of God, we can just present this thought. Our great God “works for the good of those who love him…” (Romans 8:28). If we consciously submit to His will, He will give His divine direction. Our suffering and persecution can be placed in His hands by a simple act of our will. No believer needs to suffer alone and in doubt. Commit it all to the Lord (Proverbs 16:3).

In an unscheduled visit to Lat Village in Vietnam, a co-worker had the joy of visiting Father Tranh, the leader of the local church. Realizing the isolation and loneliness of this leader the group with our co-worker immediately asked how they could pray for him.

Not having an abundance of fellowship, he started sharing his hardships and needs. He confirmed the persecution and discrimination against the tribal people as already expressed by all the leaders they had met in Saigon. He shared the hardship of ministering to his people and the difficulties of restriction both by the police as well as the dense forest that limited his movements.

Father Thanh had 6,000 members in his congregation and found it an overwhelming task to be the only leader. “How do you do it brother?” the group asked. “How many people assist you in this enormous task?”

“I am only me!” he responded and immediately went on to conclude his answer, “but even though I am limited, the Holy Spirit is unlimited.”

RESPONSE: Today I will recognize that God may send suffering into my life to burn away my pride.

PRAYER: Pray for suffering church leaders around the world today—especially Father Thanh.

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

Men of the Bible - Judah

His name means: "The Praise of the Lord"

His work: A leader among his brothers, he was head of the tribe from which both King David and Jesus would come.
His character: The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, he saved his brother Joseph's life and offered to take his youngest brother Benjamin's place as a slave in Egypt.
His sorrow: To have lived for many years with the knowledge that he and his brothers had sold Joseph into slavery.
His triumph: To have received a choice blessing from his father, Jacob, promising that Judah would be the greatest of the tribes of Israel.
Key Scriptures: Genesis 37:26-36; 38; 42-45

A Look at the Man

Though not the firstborn, Judah was a leader among Jacob's unruly sons. His leadership saved Joseph's life, and probably the lives of his extended family as well, because he was able to persuade Jacob that Benjamin needed to come with him to procure more grain in Egypt. His most impressive act of leadership was offering his own life in pledge for Benjamin's freedom, in a way reversing his earlier act of betrayal toward Joseph.

But Judah's leadership was flawed by the act of selling his own flesh and blood into slavery and by lying to his father about what happened to Joseph. It was also marred by what happened between him and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. After Tamar had lost her second husband, Judah's second son, he had promised to arrange a marriage with his youngest son, as the custom prescribed. But Judah failed to keep that promise and then falsely accused Tamar of being a prostitute, threatening her with death. To his credit, as soon as he discovered his error, he admitted that Tamar was more righteous than he.

Like so many of the Bible's best-known characters, and like so many of us, Judah was a man in need of forgiveness. He was a leader who needed mercy, and he found it in the arms of his brother Joseph and in the providence of a God who knew the secret that he and his brothers had kept for so many years.

Reflect On: Genesis 44:14–16
Praise God: Because he knows the state of our hearts.
Offer Thanks: For ways God has strengthened relationships in your family.
Confess: Any sins against brothers or sisters, father or mother.
Ask God: To show you how to make amends for anything you’ve done wrong.

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. Coming this fall: watch for Wicked Women of the Bible by Ann Spangler.

Girlfriends in God - A More Sacred Pace

by Susie Larson

Today’s Truth

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Living as a Christ-follower in this rat race culture is a noble, profound, and sacred calling. And, navigating our commitments, others’ expectations, and our own hang-ups can be downright demanding, relentless, and exhausting. Whether you’re single, married, your kids are grown, or you’re the mother of young children, you face the daily challenge of enjoying the journey, staying in step with Jesus, and embracing the promise of His presence and provision each moment of the day.

My sons are grown and married now. And you know? I marvel at how the days that seemed to blur together back then have quickly come and they’ve gone.

Looking back, I’m so glad I enjoyed lemonade stands, water fights, and bedtime prayers with my boys. I’m glad that amidst my endless pile of laundry, I took time to pray, read my Bible, and rest in God’s presence.

But I also have a few regrets. I regret certain seasons where I rushed and raced through life simply because I committed to more than God asked of me. I regret losing sleep over what others thought of me because I disappointed them. I so wish I would have understood back then what I know now about soul freedom, the preciousness of our days, and how quickly our kids grow up.

If you’re worn out by all of life’s ought-to’s and should-do’s; if you long to feel energized, inspired, and expectant in your faith once again, I have great news for you. God has more for you! Allow me to ask a few thought-provoking questions.

Are you so bogged down with life-draining commitments that you’ve forgotten how good a belly laugh feels or how rich a time of quiet prayer can be? Do you relegate praise and worship to an hour on Sunday and thereby miss out on singing at the top of your lungs every other day of the week? Has it occurred to you that God longs for you to take more life-giving path than the one you’re on?

Sometimes we over commit for all the wrong reasons (pride, insecurity, fear, hastiness). Other times we have the best of intentions for giving away our time (a good cause, a great need, there’s nobody else). Either way, we need to ask ourselves some probing questions:

• Am I captive to my commitments, or free to respond to God’s invitation to do life with Him?
• Is my current path a catalyst to increasing joy and faith or does all of my rushing make me more prone to worry and fear?
• When I assess honestly the time I give away to my various commitments, do I find behind it all, a divinely inspired soul growing in grace and strength? Or, am I a spent and weary soul, losing steam by the day?

Nothing drains us more than signing up for things God never asked us to do. Yet, all too often that’s exactly where we lose our way. When we live shackled to others’ opinions, expectations, and requirements, we give away our yes because of a lie. We commit to things in order to save face, and as a result, we miss out on God’s invitation to fully entrust ourselves to Him.

Days will fly by and sacred moments will continue to elude us until we decide to hit the brakes and take inventory of what’s driving us.

How do we know if we’re driving too hard in a way that God never sanctioned? We pay attention to how our efforts impact us and those we love. Take a look at these life-draining motivations and see if any resonate with you:

• External pressure without internal conviction
• To impress
• To save face (to manage others’ opinions of you)
• To gain acceptance
• Fear of rejection
• To fill a gap or role that God didn’t ask you to fill
• To postpone conflict
• To compensate for shortcoming in another area of life

It’s time to stop our rushing and racing through life so we can better know how for us God is. And the only way to do that is to start today by truly, deeply, profoundly knowing and believing that He is God (and we are not), and that more rests on His shoulders than on ours. May this, for you, be the start of a new and sacred pace, one that’s sustainable and life giving. God’s will for you is your best case scenario.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, I open my hands before You. I give you access to my story and my soul. Speak to me about my commitments. Awaken my heart to the best of what You have for me. Lift the grace from lesser commitments so that I can lay hold of all You have for me. I want to live a life totally disproportionate to who I am. I want to live as one who is spoken for. Lead me on, dear Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name, I pray.
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Do the vast majority of your yeses increase your faith and fill you with a greater expectancy of how God is moving in your midst? Or, do they drain you to the point that you find yourself weary, simply rushing from one thing to the next? Have you signed up for something God never asked you to do?

More from the Girlfriends

Do you need help learning how to find and do God’s perfect plan for your life? Check out Susie’s book, Your Sacred Yes: Trading Life-Draining Obligations for Freedom, Passion, & Joy and visit Susie’s website: www.susielarson.com.

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

Seeking God?

Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal

relationship with Jesus Christ.

LHM Daily Devotion - February 24, 2017 "A Necessary Change"

February 24, 2017

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

It has been some years since I was told of a small town newspaper which ran an article about the city council.

The owner of the paper, somewhat upset by recent events, had written an editorial which, in big, bold type, proclaimed, "Half the City Council Are Crooks!" While the editor expected some would demand a retraction, he never thought people would begin to cancel.

Finally, fear of having to shut down the paper permanently made him promise that he would, as many had suggested, print a retraction. The decision was made with great reluctance. Even so, being a man of his word, the following week the paper did come out with a retraction printed on the front page.

Along with the retraction, the newspaper featured a headline in big, bold type. That headline read,

"Half of Our City Council Are Not Crooks!"

Now I can't tell you whether that town's city council was dishonest. On the other hand, I do know that all of us are sinners -- every last one of us.

We are all sinners whom Jesus wishes to receive and change. Yes, that's right. Jesus will receive us and He will change us. You didn't think He was going to leave us the way we were, did you?

What would be the point in that?

If we were going to stay the same, there would have been no purpose in Jesus living and dying for us. No, Jesus will receive us as the sinners we are and then He will remake us into what God wants us to be.

Jesus will receive us, and give faith to us, and forgive us, and change us.

Now understand this God-performed transformation is not painful. On the contrary, it's wonderful to be redeemed, recycled and remade with a new heart and a new life filled with forgiveness. It is a blessed thing when God lifts you up and presents you with a wonderful life that will never end.

And all this happens because Jesus, the Savior, receives sinners.

How do I know? Well, I know because He changed me just like He has changed hundreds of millions before me. He has changed big sinners, little sinners, and large, and economy-sized sinners. He has changed ... well, you get the idea.

In short, you have a Savior who changed and became one of us. God's only Son became Mary's Firstborn. He who was present at the creation of the universe and called everything into being with a thought, was willing to live and die for us so that we might be rescued ... and changed.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we will all experience many changes in our lives. Still, none of those changes will be any better than the one that takes us from damnation to salvation. Grant that we may do our best to show appreciation for the changes You have wrought through Jesus. In His Name. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

CPTLN Devocional - Cuando Dios parece estar lejos

24 de Febrero 2017

"Yo esperaré al Señor, que escondió su rostro de la casa de Jacob. En él confiaré." Isaías 8:17 (RVC)

Cada vez que esperamos, ponemos a prueba nuestros nervios y actitudes. Lamentablemente, la paciencia no es una de las cualidades más comunes en la mayoría de las personas. Como resultado de esto, nos cuesta aceptar el tener que esperar por más tiempo de lo que teníamos pensado.

Por otro lado, cuando las cosas se dan como teníamos planeado y suceden en la forma en que se suponen que deben suceder, nos sentimos bien. Después de todo, nos decimos, no estamos pidiendo tanto -sólo que las cosas salgan como queremos y de acuerdo a nuestros planes.

¿Qué hacemos, entonces, cuando nada nos sale como esperábamos? Como cristianos --imitadores de Cristo--se espera que enfrentemos esas situaciones con paciencia y confianza. Esa fue la actitud que Cristo tuvo cuando cargó con el peso de nuestros pecados en la cruz del Calvario: se entregó totalmente a la voluntad de Dios, y puso su esperanza en él.

Nuestra paciencia y confianza en los propósitos de Dios se muestra mejor cuando seguimos el humilde ejemplo de Jesús. Cuando las cosas no están claras, cuando la vida está llena de dificultades y problemas, es cuando más debemos aferrarnos a la esperanza que tenemos. Cuando Dios parece estar lejos, recordemos que no lo está. Aún cuando nosotros nos alejemos de Él, Él nunca se aleja de nosotros.

Que el buen Señor, a través de su Espíritu Santo, nos dé fuerza y poder para amarlo y permanecer a su lado aún en los tiempos más difíciles de nuestra vida.

ORACIÓN: Querido Señor Dios, te damos gracias por el regalo de tu hijo Jesucristo. Ayúdanos a crecer en esperanza y amor, y a estar siempre cerca de ti. En el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Biografía del autor: Esta devoción fue escrita por un voluntario de la oficina de Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones en África. Si desea más información sobre los Centros Ministeriales, diríjase a Por el mundo en el menú, y seleccione el país que le interesa.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones.

Our Daily Bread - The Land of “What Is”

Read: Psalm 46:1–7 | Bible in a Year: Numbers 9–11; Mark 5:1–20

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

Even all these years after losing our seventeen-year-old daughter Melissa in a car accident in 2002, I sometimes find myself entering the world of “What If.” It’s easy, in grief, to reimagine the events of that tragic June evening and think of factors that—if rearranged—would have had Mell arriving safely home.

In reality, though, the land of “What If” is not a good place to be for any of us. It is a place of regret, second-guessing, and hopelessness. While the grief is real and the sadness endures, life is better and God is honored if we dwell in the world of “What Is.”

In that world, we can find hope, encouragement, and comfort. We have the sure hope (1 Thess. 4:13)—the assurance—that because Melissa loved Jesus she is in a place that is “better by far” (Phil. 1:23). We have the helpful presence of the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). We have God’s “ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1). And we often have the encouragement of fellow believers.

We all wish to avoid the tragedies of life. But when we do face hard times, our greatest help comes from trusting God, our sure hope in the land of What Is.

Father God, You know my broken heart. You know the pain of loss because You suffered through the death of Your Son. In the midst of ongoing sorrow, help me to dwell in the comfort of Your hope, encouragement, and comfort.

See the book Beyond the Valley by Dave Branon at dhp.org/te236.html

Our greatest hope comes from trusting God.

By Dave Branon

Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Mảnh Đất Của Hiện Tại

Đọc: Thi Thiên 46:1-7 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: Dân số Ký 9-11; Mác 5:1-20

Thưa anh em, chúng tôi không muốn anh em không biết về những người đã ngủ, để anh em không đau buồn như người khác không có hi vọng. (I Tê-sa-lô-ni-ca 4:13)

Dù nhiều năm đã trôi qua sau khi con gái Melissa bảy tuổi của chúng tôi qua đời trong một tai nạn giao thông năm 2002, đôi khi tôi vẫn thấy mình bước vào thế giới của những điều “giá như”. Khi đau đớn, thật dễ để mường tượng lại chuỗi sự kiện của đêm tháng Sáu bi thảm ấy và nghĩ về những điều mà nếu được sắp đặt lại, có thể giúp Melissa về nhà an toàn.

Tuy nhiên, trong thực tế, mảnh đất của những điều “giá như” ấy không phải là một nơi tốt lành cho bất cứ ai trong chúng ta. Đó là mảnh đất của hối tiếc, của những suy diễn và của vô vọng. Dù nỗi đau là thật và sự buồn bã thật dai dẳng, nhưng cuộc sống sẽ tốt đẹp hơn và Chúa được tôn kính nếu chúng ta sống trong thế giới của hiện tại.

Trong thế giới đó, chúng ta tìm thấy hy vọng, sự khích lệ và sự an ủi. Chúng ta có sự hy vọng chắc chắn (1 Tê-sa-lô-ni-ca 4:13) – hay sự đảm bảo – rằng vì Melissa yêu Chúa Jêsus nên giờ đây con bé đang ở một nơi “tốt hơn rất nhiều” (Phi-líp 1:23). Chúng ta có sự hiện diện vùa giúp từ Chúa của mọi sự an ủi (2 Côr 1:3). Chúng ta được Đức Chúa Trời “hằng giúp đỡ trong cơn hoạn nạn” (Thi 46:1). Và chúng ta thường nhận được sự khích lệ từ các tín hữu khác.

Chúng ta ai cũng ước mình tránh được những bi kịch trong cuộc sống. Nhưng khi chúng ta đối diện với những thời khắc khó khăn, sự cứu giúp vĩ đại nhất của chúng ta đến từ việc tin cậy Chúa – đó là niềm hy vọng chắc chắn của chúng ta trong mảnh đất của hiện tại.

Cha ơi, Ngài biết tấm lòng tan vỡ của con. Ngài cảm biết đau thương mất mát bởi vì chính Ngài cũng đau đớn trước cái chết của Con Ngài. Giữa những nỗi đau khôn nguôi, xin giúp con ẩn náu trong sự an ủi của niềm hy vọng, khích lệ và bình an của Ngài.

Niềm hy vọng vĩ đại nhất của chúng ta đến từ lòng tin cậy Chúa.

bởi Dave Branon

Nuestro Pan Diario - La tierra de «si hubiese…»

Leer: Salmo 46:1-7 | La Biblia en un año: Marcos 5:1-20

Tampoco queremos, hermanos, que ignoréis acerca de los que duermen, para que no os entristezcáis… (1 Tesalonicenses 4:13).

A un después de años de haber perdido a nuestra hija de 17 años en un accidente automovilístico en 2002, me encuentro a veces sumido en el mundo del «si hubiese…». En medio del dolor, es fácil imaginar cambios en los sucesos de aquella trágica tarde de junio, que habrían traído a mi hija de vuelta a casa sana y salva.

Sin embargo, la tierra del «si hubiese…» no es un buen lugar para nadie. Allí hay remordimiento, sentimientos encontrados y desesperanza. Aunque el dolor es verdadero y la tristeza no termina, la vida es mejor y Dios es honrado si permanecemos en el mundo de «esta es la realidad».

En esta realidad, podemos encontrar esperanza, ánimo y consuelo. Tenemos la esperanza segura (1 Tesalonicenses 4:13) y la certeza de que, como Melissa había aceptado a Cristo como Salvador, está en un lugar «muchísimo mejor» (Filipenses 1:23). También disfrutamos de la presencia del Dios de toda consolación (2 Corintios 1:3) y de su «pronto auxilio en las tribulaciones» (Salmo 46:1). Además, solemos recibir ánimo de parte de otros creyentes.

Nadie desea experimentar tragedias en la vida, pero, cuando estas aparecen, nuestra mayor ayuda es confiar en Dios, la esperanza segura en la tierra de «esta es la realidad».

Señor, consuela mi corazón con la esperanza en ti.

Nuestra mayor esperanza viene de confiar en Dios.

Por Dave Branon

Unser Täglich Brot - Was wäre, wenn?

Lesen: Psalm 46,2-8 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 4.Mose 9–11; Markus 5,1-20

Wir wollen euch aber, liebe Brüder, nicht im Ungewissen lassen über die, die entschlafen sind, damit ihr nicht traurig seid wie die andern, die keine Hoffnung haben. 1.Thessalonicher 4,13

Selbst nach all den Jahren, nachdem wir unsere damals siebzehnjährige Tochter Melissa 2002 durch einen Autounfall verloren haben, frage ich mich manchmal noch: „Was wäre gewesen, wenn . . .?“ Es ist leicht, sich in seinem Kummer die Ereignisse jenes tragischen Juniabends immer wieder vor Augen zu führen und sich vorzustellen, dass Mell sicher nach Hause gekommen wäre, wenn dieses und jenes anders gelaufen wäre.

Tatsächlich jedoch ist das Land der „Was wäre gewesen, wenn?“ für keinen von uns ein guter Aufenthaltsort. Es ist ein Ort des Bedauerns, des Rätselratens und der Hoffnungslosigkeit. Auch wenn die Trauer echt ist und der Kummer bleibt, ist das Leben besser und wird Gott mehr geehrt, wenn wir uns in der Welt dessen, „was ist“, aufhalten.

In dieser Welt können wir Hoffnung, Ermutigung und Trost finden. Wir haben eine sichere Hoffnung (1.Thess. 4,13)—Gewissheit—dass Melissa an einem Ort ist, der „viel besser“ ist (Phil. 1,23), weil sie Jesus liebhatte. Wir haben die Gegenwart des Gottes allen Trostes (2.Kor. 1,3). Wir haben Gottes „Hilfe in den großen Nöten“ (Ps. 46,2). Und oft haben wir auch die Ermutigung anderer Gläubiger.

Wir wünschen uns keine Tragödien. Aber wenn wir Schweres durchmachen, dann ist unsere größte Hilfe das Vertrauen auf Gott, unsere sichere Hoffnung im Land dessen, „was ist“.

Vater im Himmel, du kennst mein zerbrochenes Herz. Du weißt um den Schmerz des Verlusts, weil du selbst deinen Sohn verloren hast. Hilf mir in aller Trauer, bei dir Trost und Hoffnung und Ermutigung zu finden.

Unsere größte Hoffnung besteht im Vertrauen auf Gott.

Von Dave Branon

Notre Pain Quotidien - Le pays « Ce qui est »

Lisez : Psaume 46.1‑8 | La Bible en un an : Nombres 9 – 11 et Marc 5.1-20

Nous ne voulons pas, frères, que vous soyez dans l’ignorance au sujet de ceux qui dorment, afin que vous ne vous affligiez pas comme les autres qui n’ont point d’espérance. (1 Thessaloniciens 4.13)

Même après toutes ces années depuis la perte en 2002, de notre fille Melissa, décédée dans un accident de voiture à l’âge de 17 ans, je me surprends encore parfois à entrer dans le pays « Et si ». En proie à la tristesse, il est facile de réinventer les événements d’une soirée fatidique du mois de juin selon des facteurs qui – si on les réorganisait – ramèneraient Mel saine et sauve à la maison.

En réalité, par contre, le pays « Et si » n’est bon à visiter pour aucun d’entre nous. C’est un lieu de regrets, de doutes et de désespoir. Bien que le chagrin soit réel et que la tristesse perdure, la vie s’en trouve meilleure et Dieu s’en trouve honoré si nous fréquentons plutôt le pays « Ce qui est ».

Il nous est possible d’y trouver l’espoir, l’encouragement et la consolation. Nous avons l’espoir ferme (1 TH 4.13) – l’assurance – que, parce que Melissa aimait Jésus, elle se trouve aujourd’hui dans un endroit « qui de beaucoup est le meilleur » (PH 1.23). Nous pouvons compter sur la présence salutaire du Dieu de toutes consolations (2 CO 1.3), un « secours qui ne manque jamais dans la détresse » (PS 46.1). Et nous y avons souvent droit aux encouragements de nos frères et soeurs en Christ.

Nous souhaitons tous éviter les tragédies, mais devant les épreuves de la vie, notre plus grande aide nous vient du fait de mettre notre confiance en Dieu, l’espoir ferme que recèle le pays « Ce qui est ».

Notre plus grand espoir résulte de notre confiance en Dieu.

par Dave Branon

Хліб Наш Насущній - Країна “Що, якби…”

Читати: Псалом 45:1-8 | Біблія за рік: Числа 9–11 ; Марка 5:1-20

Не хочу ж я, браття, щоб не відали ви про покійних, щоб ви не сумували, як і інші, що надії не мають. — 1 Солунян 4:13

Хоча проминуло багато років після загибелі моєї 17-річної доньки Меліси в автомобільній катастрофі у 2002 році, я інколи дозволяю собі блукати в країні “Що, якби…” Сумуючи, дуже легко знову прокручувати в пам’яті події того трагічного липневого вечора, розважати над факторами, що допомогли б моїй доньці щасливо дістатись додому – якщо б усе склалося по-іншому. Та якщо чесно, країна “Що, якби…” – то не дуже корисне місце для будь-кого з нас. Це земля гіркого жалю, сумних згадок та безнадії. Хоча смуток втрати реальний, хоча біль десь залишається в серці, саме життя стає кращим і Бог вшановується більше, коли ми селимося в країні реального сьогодення.

У Христі ми знаходимо втіху, підбадьорення, справжню надію (1 Сол. 4:13) – впевненість, що Меліса знаходиться в місці “значно ліпшому” (Фил. 1:23), адже вона любила Ісуса. Можемо знаходити силу йти далі у присутності “Бога потіхи всілякої” (2 Кор. 1:3). Маємо Бога, Хто завжди поруч, якою б не була наша проблема (Пс. 45:2). А ще ми часто отримуємо підбадьорення від наших братів та сестер у Христі.

Всі ми намагаємося уникнути в житті трагедій. Але коли приходять важкі часи, джерелом найбільшої втіхи для нас стає довіра Богу, Який готує для нас все найкраще.

Отче Небесний, Ти бачиш моє розбите серце. Ти розумієш біль моєї втрати, бо Сам колись віддав на смерть Свого єдиного Сина. Допоможи серед смутку находити в Тобі втіху, надію, підбадьорення.

Джерело найбільшої надії – довіра Богу.

Автор Давид Бренон

Хлеб наш насущный - Страна «Если бы»

Читать сейчас: Псалом 45:1-8 | Библия за год: Числа 9-11; Марка 5:1-20

Не хочу же оставить вас, братья, в неведении об умерших, чтобы вы не скорбели, как прочие, не имеющие надежды. — 1 Фессалоникийцам 4:13

Даже спустя много лет после того как мы потеряли нашу семнадцатилетнюю дочь Мелиссу в автомобильной аварии в 2002, я порой улетаю в страну, которую называю «Если бы». Мысли сами возвращаются к событиям того трагического июньского вечера, представляя, что было бы, если бы Мелисса благополучно вернулась домой.

Хотя на самом деле страна «Если бы» – не самое лучшее место. Это мрачная долина сожалений и безнадежности. Хотя скорбь реальна и печаль время от времени заполняет сердце, жить будет легче и Бог прославится больше, если мы будем думать о том, что действительно существует.

А существует надежда, утешение и поддержка. Мы скорбим не так, как не имеющие надежды (1 Фес. 4:13). Поскольку Мелисса знала Иисуса Христа, она теперь находится там, где «несравненно лучше» (Флп. 1:23). Вездесущий Бог, Отец всякого утешения (2 Кор. 1:3), поддерживает нас Своим присутствием. Он – наш скорый помощник в бедах (Пс. 45:2). Кроме того, нас часто поддерживают другие христиане.

Мы все хотели бы избежать несчастий и бед. Но когда они случаются, наша главная помощь приходит от упования на Бога, у Которого нет «если бы», а все всегда самое лучшее.

Бог Отец, Ты знаешь сокрушение моего сердца. Тебе знакома боль утраты, потому что Ты видел смерть Своего Сына. Помоги мне среди скорбей утешаться Твоей надеждой и ободрением.

Наша величайшая надежда происходит от веры в Бога.

автор: Дэвид Брэнон

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Friday, February 24, 2017