Thursday, April 13, 2017

LHM Daily Devotion - "A Miraculous Death"

Many supernatural events occur at Jesus' death. The first is a darkness...

Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries



"A Miraculous Death"

April 14, 2017

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" ... (Luke 23:46a, ESV)

Read Luke 23:44-49

Many supernatural events occur at Jesus' death. The first is a darkness that covered the whole land from midday until three in the afternoon. This darkness indicates God's judgment, as Jesus is punished for the sins of the whole world.

At 3 p.m. a second miracle takes place in the temple. The thick curtain dividing the two rooms of the temple is torn in two from top to bottom. This curtain represents our separation from God on account of our sins. Throughout the Old Testament only one person could pass through it-the high priest. But now God's Son-our great High Priest-has torn down the dividing barrier, so all who believe in Jesus have direct access to God the Father forever.

At this same moment Jesus cries out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" Jesus wants everyone to hear His intense satisfaction and joy because peace with God has now been won for all. Now that He has finished the work for which He was born, Jesus commends His spirit into His Father's hands.

Then the third miracle takes place. Immediately after uttering this loud cry, Jesus dies. The Roman centurion knows crucified criminals don't die this way. Their lungs slowly fill with fluid, and their last moments are desperate gasps for air. There is no way Jesus should be able to utter a loud cry the moment before He dies. Thinking of the unnatural darkness, the unnatural way Jesus died, and all the injustices Jesus suffered, he says, "Certainly this man was innocent."

THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, when You completed Your earthly course You committed Your spirit into Your Father's keeping. Give me confidence that I am safe in Your hands now and forever. Amen

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

Devociones de Cuaresma - Consumado es


Devociones de Cuaresma  2017

Consumado es

14 de Abril  de 2017

Viernes Santo

Cuando Jesús probó el vinagre, dijo "Consumado es"; luego inclinó la cabeza y entregó el espíritu. Juan 19:30, RVC (23-30)

Cuando era niño, los Viernes Santos sucedía algo especial en mi congregación: ¡el templo se llenaba! Yo veía a personas que de ordinario no participaban en las actividades de la iglesia. ¿Cuál era el motivo? Parecía que aun en los cristianos tibios y fríos (o nominales), la crucifixión y muerte de Jesús el Viernes Santo producía una especie de temor, o reverencia, o alguna suerte de arrepentimiento transitorio.

¿Qué produce en ti el Viernes Santo? Dejaré que tú respondas a conciencia esa pregunta con la ayuda del Espíritu de Dios. En verdad, es más importante saber lo que el primer Viernes Santo produjo: la salvación de toda la humanidad mediante el sacrificio del Hijo Santo de Dios. La clave de esto la dio el mismo Jesús cuando exclamó sus últimas palabras: "Consumado es." La palabra griega que usa el evangelista Juan para "consumado es" es tetéleszai, que se traduce mejor: "está completo o perfecto". En la cruz Jesús estaba cumpliendo con todo lo que el Padre le había pedido que hiciera; estaba también ocupando el lugar que nos correspondía a nosotros como castigo por nuestros pecados. Así, Jesús cumplió en forma completa y perfecta todo lo que hacía falta para que nosotros recibiéramos el perdón de nuestros pecados. ¡Nuestra salvación está consumada gracias a Jesús!

El Viernes Santo sigue produciendo en mí una especie de reverencia no igualada por ninguna otra cosa. Me invita a pensar en profundidad en cuánto Dios me ama, y en lo que estuvo dispuesto a hacer para recibirme como hijo suyo para siempre.

Gracias, Padre, por la perfecta obra de amor de Jesús, que me libro a mí de pasar por la cruz. Amén

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones.  ¡U tilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.

Our Daily Bread - Remember the Cross

https://odb.org/2017/04/14/remember-the-cross/


“Surely this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39

In the church I attend, a large cross stands at the front of the sanctuary. It represents the original cross where Jesus died—the place where our sin intersected with His holiness. There God allowed His perfect Son to die for the sake of every wrong thing we have ever done, said, or thought. On the cross, Jesus finished the work that was required to save us from the death we deserve (Rom. 6:23).

The sight of a cross causes me to consider what Jesus endured for us. Before being crucified, He was flogged and spit on. The soldiers hit Him in the head with sticks and got down on their knees in mock worship. They tried to make Him carry His own cross to the place where He would die, but He was too weak from the brutal flogging. At Golgotha, they hammered nails through His flesh to keep Him on the cross when they turned it upright. Those wounds bore the weight of His body as He hung there. Six hours later, Jesus took His final breath (Mark 15:37). A centurion who witnessed Jesus’s death declared, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (v. 39).

The next time you see the symbol of the cross, consider what it means to you. God’s Son suffered and died there and then rose again to make eternal life possible.

Dear Jesus, I can’t begin to thank You enough for taking care of my sin when You died on the cross. I acknowledge Your sacrifice, and I believe in the power of Your resurrection.

The cross of Christ reveals our sin at its worst and God’s love at its best.


Lời Sống Hằng Ngày - Nhớ Về Thập Giá

https://vietnamese-odb.org/2017/04/14/nho-ve-thap-gia/
Đọc: Mác 15:19-20, 33-39 | Đọc Kinh Thánh suốt năm: 1 Sa-mu-ên 25-26; Lu-ca 12:32-59


Thật người nầy là Con Đức Chúa Trời! Mác 15:39

Ở nhà thờ nơi tôi nhóm lại, có một cây thập tự lớn được đặt ngay trước phòng nhóm, tượng trưng cho thập tự giá khi xưa nơi Chúa Jêsus chịu chết—là nơi giao nhau giữa tội lỗi của chúng ta và sự thánh khiết của Ngài. Nơi đó Đức Chúa Trời để Con toàn hảo của Ngài chịu chết vì cớ mọi việc làm, lời nói và suy nghĩ sai quấy của chúng ta. Trên thập giá, Chúa Jêsus hoàn tất công tác cần thiết để cứu chúng ta khỏi sự chết mà chúng ta đáng phải chịu (Rô-ma 6:23).

Nhìn cây thập tự khiến tôi suy nghĩ đến những gì Chúa Jêsus đã chịu vì tôi. Trước khi bị đóng đinh, Ngài đã bị người ta đánh đập và khạc nhổ. Những tên lính đã dùng gậy đánh vào đầu Ngài và quỳ xuống thờ phượng Ngài cách giễu cợt. Họ muốn bắt Ngài tự vác cây thập tự của mình đến nơi họ sẽ hành hình Ngài, nhưng Ngài không còn đủ sức sau những lằn roi tàn bạo. Tại Gô-gô-tha, họ đóng đinh thân thể Ngài vào cây thập tự rồi dựng lên khiến những vết thương ấy bị sức nặng của cơ thể dằn kéo. Sáu tiếng sau, Chúa Jêsus trút hơi thở cuối cùng (Mác 15:37). Một viên đội trưởng chứng kiến cái chết của Chúa Jêsus đã tuyên bố: “Thật người nầy là Con Đức Chúa Trời!” (c.39).

Mỗi khi nhìn thấy biểu tượng thập tự giá, hãy suy nghĩ đến ý nghĩa của hình ảnh đó đối với bạn. Con Đức Chúa Trời đã chịu đau đớn và chết trên thập tự giá rồi sống lại để đem lại sự sống đời đời.

Chúa Jêsus yêu dấu ơi, con không đủ lời để cảm ơn Ngài vì đã mang lấy tội lỗi của con khi Ngài chịu chết trên cây thập tự. Con nhận biết sự hy sinh của Ngài, và con tin nơi năng quyền phục sinh của Ngài.

Thập tự giá của Đấng Christ cho thấy tội lỗi kinh khiếp nhất của chúng ta và tình yêu cao cả nhất của Đức Chúa Trời.


Nuestro Pan Diario - Recuerda la cruz

https://nuestropandiario.org/2017/04/recuerda-la-cruz/

… Verdaderamente este hombre era Hijo de Dios (v. 39).

En la iglesia donde asisto, hay una cruz inmensa en frente del santuario. Representa la cruz original donde Jesús murió. Allí, Dios permitió que su Hijo perfecto muriera por cada cosa mala que hicimos, dijimos o pensamos. En la cruz, Jesús consumó la obra necesaria para salvarnos de la muerte que merecíamos (Romanos 6:23).

Ver una cruz me lleva a considerar lo que Jesús soportó por nosotros. Antes de ser crucificado, lo azotaron y lo escupieron. Los soldados le pegaron en la cabeza con palos y se burlaron de Él. Intentaron obligarlo a que llevara su propia cruz al lugar donde moriría, pero Él estaba demasiado débil por los brutales azotes. En Gólgota, lo atravesaron con clavos para mantenerlo sobre la cruz al erguirla. Esas heridas soportaron el peso de su cuerpo mientras estuvo allí colgado. Seis horas más tarde, Jesús exhaló su último aliento (Marcos 15:37). Un centurión que había presenciado la muerte de Jesús declaró: «Verdaderamente este hombre era Hijo de Dios» (v. 39).

La próxima vez que veas el símbolo de la cruz, considera lo que significa para ti. El Hijo de Dios sufrió y murió allí, y luego resucitó para darnos vida eterna.

Querido Jesús, ¡gracias por quitar mis pecados al morir en la cruz! Acepto tu sacrificio y creo en el poder de tu resurrección.

La cruz revela lo peor de nuestro pecado y lo mejor del amor de Dios.


Unser Täglich Brot - Denk an das Kreuz

https://unsertaeglichbrot.org/2017/04/14/denk-an-das-kreuz/
Lesen: Markus 15,19-20.33-39 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: 1.Samuel 25–26; Lukas 12,32-59


Wahrlich, dieser Mensch ist Gottes Sohn gewesen! Markus 15,39

In der Gemeinde, die ich besuche, steht vorn im Raum ein großes Kreuz. Es symbolisiert das Kreuz, an dem Jesus starb—den Ort, an dem unsere Sünde auf seine Heiligkeit trifft. Dort ließ Gott es zu, dass sein vollkommener Sohn aufgrund alles Bösen starb, das wir je getan, gesagt oder gedacht haben. Am Kreuz vollendete Jesus das Werk, das nötig war, um uns von dem verdienten Tod zu erlösen (Röm. 6,23).

Der Anblick des Kreuzes führt uns vor Augen, was Jesus für uns erlitten hat. Ehe er gekreuzigt wurde, wurde er ausgepeitscht und angespuckt. Die Soldaten schlugen ihn mit Stöcken auf den Kopf und fielen spöttisch auf die Knie, um ihn anzubeten. Sie wollten ihn zwingen, sein Kreuz selbst an den Ort zu tragen, an dem er sterben sollte, aber er war von der brutalen Misshandlung zu geschwächt. Auf Golgatha schlugen sie Nägel durch seine Glieder, damit er am Kreuz hängen blieb, wenn sie es aufrichteten. Die Wunden mussten das ganze Gewicht seines Körpers tragen. Sechs Stunden später tat Jesus seinen letzten Atemzug (Mark. 15,37). Ein Hauptmann, der Jesu Tod mit ansah, erklärte: „Wahrlich, dieser Mensch ist Gottes Sohn gewesen!“ (V.39).

Wenn du das nächste Mal ein Kreuz siehst, dann überlege einmal, was es für dich bedeutet. Gottes Sohn litt und starb am Kreuz und stand wieder von den Toten auf, damit wir ewiges Leben haben.

Lieber Jesus, ich kann dir gar nicht genug dafür danken, dass du meine Sünde weggenommen hast, als du am Kreuz starbst. Ich danke dir für das Opfer, das du gebracht hast, und glaube an die Kraft deiner Auferstehung.

Das Kreuz Christi zeigt, wie schlimm unsere Sünde und wie groß Gottes Liebe ist.


Notre Pain Quotidien - Rappelez‑vous la croix

https://www.ministeresnpq.org/2017/04/14/rappelez%e2%80%91vous-la-croix/
Lisez : Marc 15.19‑20,33‑39 | La Bible en un an : 1 SAMUEL 25 – 26 et LUC 12.32‑59

Assurément, cet homme était Fils de Dieu. V.39

Dans l’église que je fréquente, il y a une grande croix devant le sanctuaire. Elle représente la croix initiale sur laquelle Jésus est mort : là où nos péchés ont croisé le chemin de sa sainteté. Là où Dieu a permis à son Fils parfait de mourir pour le bien de chaque mauvaise chose que nous avons faite, dite ou pensée. Sur la croix, Jésus a achevé l’oeuvre qu’il devait accomplir pour nous sauver de la mort que nous méritions (RO 6.23).

La vue d’une croix nous amène à considérer ce que Jésus a subi à notre place. Avant sa crucifixion, il s’est fait flageller et cracher au visage. Des soldats l’ont frappé à la tête à coups de bâton et se sont agenouillés devant lui pour se moquer de lui. Ils ont essayé de lui faire porter sa propre croix jusqu’au lieu où il allait mourir, mais il en était incapable, étant trop affaibli par la cruelle flagellation. À Golgotha, ils l’ont littéralement cloué à la croix pour que son corps y pende de tout son poids une fois qu’ils l’auraient mise debout. Six heures plus tard, Jésus a rendu son dernier souffle (MC 15.37). Et c’est alors qu’un centenier ayant été le témoin de la mort de Jésus a déclaré : « Assurément, cet homme était Fils de Dieu » (V. 39).

La prochaine fois que vous verrez le symbole de la croix, considérez ce qu’il signifie pour vous. Le Fils de Dieu y a souffert et y est mort, puis il est ressuscité afin de rendre la vie éternelle possible pour quiconque croit en lui.

La croix révèle nos pires péchés et l’amour parfait de Dieu.


Хліб Наш Насущній - Пам’ятай про хрест

https://ukrainian-odb.org/2017/04/14/%d0%bf%d0%b0%d0%bc%d1%8f%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%b9-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be-%d1%85%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%82/


Чоловік Цей був справді Син Божий! — Марка 15:39

В тій церкві, що я відвідую, в передній частині залу богослужінь стоїть величезний хрест. Він нагадує про розміри того хреста, на якому вмер Ісус. Там наш гріх стикнувся з Його святістю. Там Бог дозволив Своєму довершеному Сину віддати Своє життя за кожну гріховну річ, що ми вчинили, сказали або подумали. На хресті Ісус завершив Свою працю спасіння нас від смерті, що ми її заслужили своїми гріхами (Рим. 6:23).

Вид хреста спонукає мене розважати над тим, що Ісус перетерпів заради нас. Ще до розп’яття Його бичували, на Нього плювали. Воїни били Його по голові тростиною, падали перед Ним на коліна, знущаючись. Потім змусили Його нести Свій хрест до місця катування, але Він був занадто слабкий після безжального бичування. На Голгофі руки та ноги Ісуса прибили до дерева, яке потім встановили вертикально. Пробиті цвяхами рани спричиняли нестерпний біль ще й через вагу тіла Господа, коли Він висів на хресті. Через шість годин Ісус зробив останній подих (Мр. 15:37). І сотник, що був свідком Його смерті, сказав: “Чоловік Цей був справді Син Божий!” (Мр. 15:39).

Коли наступного разу побачите символ хреста, згадайте, що він справді означає для вас. Там страждав і вмирав Божий Син. Але повстав із мертвих, щоб зробити можливим для нас нове життя.

Дорогий Ісусе, не маю правильних слів, щоб навіть почати достойно славити Тебе за все, що Ти зробив – забрав мій гріх, вмираючи на хресті. Я визнаю Твою жертву і вірю в силу Твого воскресіння.

Хрест Ісуса яскраво демонструє згубність гріха й велич Божої любові.


Хлеб наш насущный - Помните крест

https://russian-odb.org/2017/04/14/%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%bc%d0%bd%d0%b8%d1%82%d0%b5-%d0%ba%d1%80%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%82/
Читать сейчас: Марка 15:19-20, 33-39 | Библия за год: 1 Царств 25-26; Луки 12:32-59


«Истинно Человек Сей был Сын Божий». — Марка 15:39

На самом видном месте в зале нашей церкви стоит большой крест. Он напоминает о кресте, на котором умер Христос, – месте, где наш грех пересекся с Его святостью. Там Бог позволил Своему безгрешному Сыну умереть за все злое, что мы когда-либо сделали, сказали или подумали. На кресте Иисус совершил труд, необходимый для спасения нас от заслуженной смерти (Рим. 6:23).

Вид креста побуждает меня к размышлениям о том, что претерпел ради нас Иисус. Перед распятием Его избили и оплевали. Воины били Его палкой по голове и, становясь на колени, кланялись, чтобы поиздеваться над Ним. Они заставили Его нести Свой собственный крест к месту распятия, но он был слишком слаб после жестокого бичевания. На Голгофе они забили гвозди в Его руки и ноги, чтобы Он повис на кресте, когда его поставят. На этих ранах повисло Его тело. Через шесть часов Иисус испустил дух (Мк. 15:37). Сотник, видевший Его смерть, сказал: «Истинно Человек Сей был Сын Божий» (Мк. 15:39).

В следующий раз, когда вы увидите крест, подумайте, что он значит для вас. Божий Сын пострадал и умер на нем, а затем воскрес, чтобы даровать нам вечную жизнь.

Дорогой Господь, я не могу достойно возблагодарить Тебя за все, что Ты претерпел за меня. Я признаю Твою жертву и верю в силу Твоего воскресения.

Крест Христа открывает наш грех в его худшем виде и Божью любовь в ее высшем проявлении.


The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, April 13, 2017 - Maundy Thursday

Simon ushakov last supper 1685
Morning Prayer

O God:
Give me strength to live another day;
Let me not turn coward before its difficulties or prove recreant to its duties;
Let me not lose faith in other people;
Keep me sweet and sound of heart, in spite of ingratitude, treachery, or meanness;
Preserve me from minding little stings or giving them;
Help me to keep my heart clean, and to live so honestly and fearlessly that no outward failure can dishearten me or take away the joy of conscious integrity;
Open wide the eyes of my soul that I may see good in all things;
Grant me this day some new vision of thy truth;
Inspire me with the spirit of joy and gladness;
and make me the cup of strength to suffering souls;
in the name of the strong Deliverer, our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen



The Introit


Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow which was brought upon me, whom the Lord hath afflicted. (Lamentations 1:12)

The Old Testament Lesson

The Old Testament Lesson for today is taken from Exodus 12:1-14

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.

Psalms

Psalm 116:1, 10-17
1   I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
10   How shall I repay the LORD for all the good things he has done for me?
11   I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12   I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
13   Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his servants.
14   O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15   I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16   I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
17   In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

The Epistle Lesson

The Epistle Lesson for today is taken from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

The Holy Gospel Lesson

The Holy Gospel is written in John 13:1-17, 13:31-35

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean." After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord-- and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Prayer of the Day

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

A Prayer for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

A Prayer for Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen

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 - April 13, 2017


Romans 3:23-24 (NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.




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 - "The Power of Christ's Words"

Christ' passionate love for the world is evident.

Cap'n Kenny

Christ’ passionate love for the world is evident in His statements from the cross:

Statement One
“Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34 Do you realize that you are in need of the Father’s forgiveness?

Statement Two
“Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43 Have you realized and confessed Jesus as your personal Savior?

Statement Three
“Woman, behold your son.” John 19:26 Jesus is concerned for us and provides for all of us.

Statement Four
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 Jesus was forsaken so we don’t have to be.

Statement Five
“I thirst!” John 19:28 This personal statement reminds us that Jesus is not only God, but He also was man. Jesus identifies with our needs.

Statement Six
"It is finished!” John 19:30 Jesus paid for our sins, and sin’s control over our lives is broken!

Statement Seven
“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46 You can entrust your life into God’s hands.

If you are reading this today and you’ve never committed your life to Jesus Christ, would you visit KnowGod.org and confess Him as Your Savior and Lord?


Seeking God?
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV® Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Devotion by Greg Laurie © 2017 Harvest Christian Fellowship; all rights reserved.

Un Dia a la Vez - El afán diario


La bendición del Señor trae riquezas, y nada se gana con preocuparse.
Proverbios 10:22, NVI

Hace unos días recordábamos que no debemos permitir que nuestra mente y alma se carguen con la ansiedad. Que deberíamos practicar también vivir de día en día y así no llenarnos de tantas preocupaciones.

Hay cosas que de seguro se nos van de la mano. Situaciones que de repente te derrumban y sabemos que nos llenan de afanes y de incertidumbres. Mientras que hay otras cosas que aunque nos preocupen no podemos hacer nada al respecto.

Por eso es que Dios sabiamente, y conociendo la naturaleza humana, nos dejó esa recomendación de que cada día trae su propio afán.

Aprendamos a vivir de día en día. En realidad, de esa manera se vive con mayor tranquilidad y, como que se tiene la mente más despejada, se pueden solucionar poco a poco los problemas. Todo tiene solución en esta vida. Descansa en Dios y en este día pon en sus manos todos tus problemas. Deja que su poder se manifieste en tu vida.

Hay una canción que dice «Yo le creo a Dios» y cantarla es preciosa. Sin embargo, aplicarla es difícil cuando nos enteramos que nuestro hijo está en drogas, en la cárcel o en cualquier otra situación que nos entristece.

Si decidimos creerle a Él, demos ese paso y digamos:

«Dios mío, vengo a ti porque he decidido creerte. Me he dado cuenta que no puedo hacer nada ante esta situación. Por eso sé que, si me invitas a llevar mis cargas a ti, me harás descansar. Yo lo creo».

Gracias, mi Dios, por ese bálsamo de amor.

¡Te amo!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón.

Standing Strong Through the Storm - PERSECUTION CANNOT SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall…persecution…? 

The question asked is a personal one. Not “what” can separate us but “who”? The inference is our enemy, Satan, who tries every tactic he can garner to make us think we can be separated from Christ’s love. Today we look at his tactic of “persecution.”

Heart-pounding terror—that’s what most Cambodians felt when Pol Pot seized power in 1975. Setan Lee was a young teen-aged medical student when the Khmer Rouge communist forces took over control of Cambodia. Their horrors and atrocities against their own citizens brought the label “Killing Fields” to the era. Setan was in the most vulnerable class as an educated young person. By God’s grace alone he survived the ensuing persecution, starvation and hardships. But as the young man gained strength, hatred for the Khmer Rouge gripped his heart. He plotted how he would get revenge, especially on the guard named Er. “She was the lady who I hated and I wanted to kill,” he said.

When the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia in 1978, many prisoners fled the slave camps. Setan was one of thousands who began the dangerous journey to freedom in Thailand. He walked to the border and en route a preacher led him to faith in Jesus. He was later amazed to find all his family alive, except for his brother, who had been killed by the Khmer Rouge. Together, the family went to a Thai refugee camp, where Setan Lee became a young preacher.

One day, while preaching in a camp of 35,000 refugees on this text in Romans 8:35, an eerie feeling swept over him. As he looked over the many faces in the crowd, he spotted the guard Er in the crowd. “I prayed and asked the Lord to take control of me,” he said.

“First, I wanted to kill her,” he added, “but then something told me to have compassion and mercy toward her.” Lee told Er, “I forgive you for what you have done to me and my friends. I want you to believe in Jesus. He forgave me for what I wanted to do to you. So, in return, I forgive you. And it’s not me, but God.”

Although Lee prayed for Er, he never saw her again. He feared the Khmer Rouge’s grip on her life pulled her back into the jungle, yet he knew the Lord of the Universe had helped him forgive her for the persecution she had inflicted on him for years.

When I heard Setan share his amazing story, he concluded, “I realized through it all, that persecution could not separate me from the love of Christ.” 

RESPONSE: I will live this day aware that persecution can never separate me from Christ’s love.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the wonderful lessons we learn from the persecuted who know that it cannot separate them from You. May I know this assurance today no matter what I face.

NIV Devotions for Men - Blood on His Hands

Hebrews 10:19–39

Recommended Reading: Leviticus 16:1–34; Matthew 6:19–21; Romans 8:28–39; 1 John 1:1–4

The sacrifice of atonement involved lots of blood—that should be a clue for us as to its importance to God. Once a year the high priest entered the most sacred place on Earth to offer up to God the blood of an animal. As a result, according to the law, the people of Israel temporarily stood in right relationship before their Creator Father.

Those of us who grew up attending Sunday school sometimes have a misperception that the temple was a place like the church in which we grew up—typically clean, orderly and with a planned program for worship. Most people, dressed in their “Sunday best,” sat quietly during the service and then enjoyed refreshments afterward. But that’s not what the Israelites experienced. The temple was for them a place of slaughter, bloodletting and sacrifice.

To be sure, the sacrifice was a messy business—hearing the cries of the resistant animal; watching the priest execute the slaughter and spread the sacrificed animal’s blood on the altar; and then watching the carcasses being sliced, cut and burned in sacrifice to God. Yes, this was a visceral experience quite opposite of what we experience in worship today. Yet this brutal ritual represented God’s provision for Israel to become once again right with him.

We shouldn’t be surprised that God’s new, permanent arrangement for people to come to him also required blood on someone’s hands. Jesus’ blood stained many hands: those of Judas, the Jewish Pharisees, the Roman government—even Pilate, who tried in advance to wash the symbolic stains from his hands. But Jesus’ blood fell mostly on the hands of his own Father, the God who “did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all” (Romans 8:32).

Our sin separates us from God, makes us wrong before him. In turn, God’s sacrifice of his own son cancels our separation from God. The blood of his Son sets us right before the Father.

That’s the far-reaching extent of our Father’s love for us. He reaches out to us today with those same bloodstained hands. The permanent, atoning sacrifice of the unblemished Lamb, Jesus, permits us to “draw near to God” (Hebrews 10:22), to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (verse 23), to “spur one another on” (verse 24), to “not [give] up” and to “[encourage] one another” (verse 25).

To Take Away
  • Take a few minutes to read Leviticus 16. Why do you think God required such elaborate ritual and detail for the sacrifice of atonement?
  • According to Old Testament law, Israel needed to offer sacrifices to become right before God. In the New Testament Jesus becomes the final sacrifice for all. Why did God require a sacrifice at all?
  • How does the thought that the Father “gave [Jesus] up for us all” (Romans 8:32) make you feel about God? Why? What effect does this have on your life?

Girlfriends in God - God Shows Up in a Crisis

by Mary Southerland

Today’s Truth

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

Friend to Friend

Have you ever ridden in a helicopter? It’s the ride of a lifetime! But when you land … now that’s another story. A helicopter landing sends absolutely everything flying in a hundred different directions at ridiculously high speeds. I know. That’s how I live life.

One of the reasons I love the apostle Paul is because he seemed to live the same kind of life. Philippians is one of my favorite books written by Paul. The fourth chapter of Philippians is one of the most positive passages Paul ever wrote … and it is written in the midst of a helicopter landing in Paul’s life! Paul is in a Roman jail awaiting judgment and possible execution. He could be terrified and doubting God at this point. Instead he is writing a book about joy and peace. How in the world did he pull that off?

Life is filled with crisis. Each one of us can tell our story about a disaster we are facing or a storm we are going through. If you are a Southerland, you live from one crisis to another. That is just the way we roll.

I battle clinical depression on a daily basis.

I have Scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis and stenosis in my back.

My husband has A fib. He has had two heart ablations and 31 cardio versions.

Financial crisis as a result of the above mentioned medical adventures always seem to be lurking just around the corner.

And I won’t even get started with kids and grandkids. You are definitely not up for that today!

I know many of you have the same kind of struggles. You know what I am talking about. The fact is that all of God’s children deal with crisis. Jesus said, “It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous.” He also said “In this world you will have trouble.”

Let me share with you what I have learned about dealing with pain and crisis. Character rises to the top over time and under pressure. From that truth comes my prescription for how we get through this world and how we respond to the damage we experience in this world.

We hurt. We are deeply injured. Pain is always about proximity. We must allow our emotions to flow. We must allow the emotions of others to flow. We must realize that emotions come in a different order and on a different schedule. Some will grieve first. Others will be angry. Some will be in denial. Some will be vocal. Some will withdraw. But we all hurt. Jesus wept. He knows about hurt and hurts with us.

We guard. The passage we read from Philippians 4 talks about “guarding your hearts and minds.” That is an important word for us when we face a crisis.

Guard your heart from despair. I know your heart is broken. People you love and trust have betrayed you. Your God is still with you. He will never leave you or betray you. The enemy will whisper to you that you are going down. That may be his goal, but it is not God’s plan.

Guard your heart from retreat. We are tempted to use pain and hurt as an excuse to abandon the plan to which God has called us. It is so much easier to simply give up. I know. There have been times when I have literally and figuratively pulled the covers over my head and told God to just go away. It didn’t work. He loves me too much, and He loves you too much to let you give up. He will, however, give you time to heal – not retreat.

It’s funny. Looking back, what I thought would be the biggest disasters in my life turned out to be the most magnificent victories. The mess in the messenger does not negate the message. God uses messed up people.

There is a scene at the end of the movie Apollo 13 that I love. The head of NASA is talking to the press secretary, listing all of the things that have gone wrong with the spacecraft. The head of NASA concludes by saying, “This could be the greatest disaster in NASA’s history.”

The flight director overhears the conversation, turns to the two men, and says, “I believe this will be NASA’s finest hour.”

You may feel that whatever crisis you are facing could be the greatest disaster in your life. That would be the enemy’s plan. Or it can be the finest hour of your life. That would be God’s plan. It is your choice.

Let’s Pray

Father, please forgive me for wanting to give up and turn away from You. I am so tired and so hurt. Please give me the strength to go on. Today, I choose Your healing power to work in my life. I will guard my heart against bitterness and anger. I will not retreat. I choose to believe that the pain of today is the foundation of tomorrow’s victory.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.


Now It’s Your Turn

What crisis are you going through today? Can you see how God can use this mess to create a new message in you? What would that message be? Record your thoughts in your journal.

More from the Girlfriends

It is hard to trust God when you are going through difficult times. Need help? Get Mary’s new MP3 download, Four Steps to an Unshakable Faith for practical ways to trust God in your daily life. 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.

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