Sunday, August 20, 2017

Daily Devotion August 21, 2017 "No Matter the Circumstance ~ Count on Christ!"

Count on Christ! That's the message of our lesson for today.

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour



"No Matter the Circumstance ~ Count on Christ!"

August 21, 2017

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession." Jesus did not answer a word. ...


Count on Christ! That's the message of our lesson for today. In this lesson we see a woman who is at the end of her rope. She's a loving mother who had a very sick daughter, and the Bible says that her daughter was troubled by a demon. Her world was in chaos.

When the world in all its chaos gets very real, then the uniqueness of Jesus shines even more clearly. That's what this lady understood. No matter what she was facing, Jesus was here, and that made all the difference for her.

Her faith in Him made all the difference too because in her mind He would do what was best for her and for her daughter. To that end her persistent faith demonstrates that you can count on Jesus, even when you can't count on anything else.

You can count on Jesus when all else fails; you can even count on Him when He seems silent for a time. Why? The cross and the resurrection demonstrate publicly what He thinks about you and what He wants for us.

So even when Jesus is silent, or even when He appears to be unconcerned, the woman of this text says don't you believe it. He loves you and will do what is best.

Back to the lesson. Hey! In fact, what about Jesus' responses? He seems to put her off; He seems to mildly insult her. Why would He do such a thing?? It seems so unlike Him.

Some say His silence -- or later His even somewhat rebuke -- some say that was to deepen her faith and trust in Him.

I say no it's much more than that. It's to exhibit her faith, to demonstrate her faith for all to see -- especially those of us today who might be having a hard time with what we think God is doing for us or not doing for us at the moment.

Her faith was a shining example for those present and for us today. She was in essence saying, "Whatever you do for me, Jesus, it will be best for me. I can put my trust in You alone. So I'm committing my life, my daughter's life, to You. Period."

Some people think the woman's faith caused Jesus to act. That misses the whole point too. She knew the depth of the mercy of this Jesus who stood before her. He was the one that David longed to see. He was the one that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob yearned for. He was the Lord, the Master who brings God's mercy to her and to all.

She was bold in her response. She said, "I have a Master who treats me with mercy!"

Jesus, You know, if You want to call me a house dog, I'm okay with it. It means I'm a part of Your house. You're my Lord, I'm with You. I'm no stray. I'm not on my own. I'm with You, and that's all right."

You see everyone in the world, we all have a master, but most people go searching for love and peace and happiness in other sinful people or in inanimate things. They try to go it on their own, but they don't realize His crumbs are better than everyone else's filet mignon.

• Lord, if only Your crumbs -- that's enough for me.
• If only Your loving touch -- I will rest secure.
• If only Your simple word -- I will be satisfied.


Wow! I wish I could have seen Jesus' face. I think He couldn't wait to bless her trust in Him. Jesus is overjoyed at such confidence in Him, and that's what He wants for you today, too!

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, let this woman be an example to all of us of faith's persistence to engage You as the source of our very lives, now and forever! Amen.

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

CPTLN Devocional de 21 de Agosto de 2017


Alimento Diario

Revelación

21 de Agosto 2017

Puso en mis labios un nuevo canto, un canto de alabanza a nuestro Dios. Muchos vieron esto y temieron, y pusieron su esperanza en el Señor.
~ Salmos 40:3 (RVC)

Cada vez que grabo un mensaje que luego será transmitido por radio, me pregunto: "¿será que alguien lo va a escuchar?" Esa sólo es una de las muchas preguntas que normalmente me hago.

Aun cuando sé bien que los resultados son producto de la obra del Espíritu Santo, no puedo dejar de preguntarme si habrá alguien que disfrute del mensaje, o si todos los que lo escuchan se aburren con lo que digo.

Sí usted está entre los millones de personas aburridas que existen en el mundo, debe saber que una revista médica británica ha publicado un artículo sobre cómo dormir sin que nadie lo note. Estas fueron las instrucciones que dieron:
  1. Ponga los brazos sobre la mesa, y descanse la cabeza sobre el trípode formado por su cuerpo y los brazos. 

  2. Sosténgase la cabeza con las manos y flexione ligeramente el cuello, para evitar roncar. 

  3. Los dedos deben estar extendidos sobre la cara y los ojos presionando la piel de la frente hacia arriba, lo que le dará una expresión de suma concentración.

Me pregunto si es por eso que las iglesias tienen asientos con respaldo en vez de bancos.

Lo cierto es que cada día nos encontramos con muchos mensajes que nos aburren. Comerciales, deportes, noticias, el informe del tráfico, hasta las cifras del mercado de valores pueden ser aburridas. Pero el mensaje sobre las buenas nuevas de la salvación que Dios nos da, es diferente.

Cada día pecamos y cada día necesitamos el perdón que Jesús ganó para nosotros en la cruz y en su tumba vacía. La alegría de saber que nuestros pecados han sido perdonados es suficiente para vencer el aburrimiento.

Cristo ha resucitado y nos ha salvado. Por la gracia de Dios podemos continuar nuestras vidas diciendo: "Gracias, Señor." Y gracias a las buenas nuevas de Dios, podemos también reflejar la luz de Jesús a aquellos cuyos corazones están hundidos en la oscuridad.

ORACION: Padre celestial, gracias por enviar a tu Hijo a construir un puente entre tú y yo. Ayúdame a entender la inmensidad de su sacrificio y la grandeza de la salvación que ha logrado para mí. En su nombre. Amén.

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

The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, August 20, 2017 - 11th Sunday after Pentecost

The Canaanite Woman’s Faith
Opening Sentence
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday Morning Prayer
God, as you gave us the sun to lighten our days, so you have given us your Word to lighten our minds and our souls. I pray that you will pour out on me your Spirit as I pray today, that my heart and mind may be opened to your Word, and that I may learn and accept your will for my life.

Shine within my heart, loving God, the pure light of your divine knowledge; open the eyes of my mind and the ears of my heart to receive your Word, this day and always, Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness
God is light; in him there in no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him, yet walk in the darkness, we lie and son not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Most holy and merciful Father, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; And free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.

Today's Readings

The First Reading is taken from Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
[The Covenant Extended to All Who Obey]
Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant-- these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.


Psalm 67 Deus misereatur
1   May God be merciful to us and bless us, show us the light of his countenance and come to us.
2   Let your ways be known upon earth, your saving health among all nations.
3   Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
4   Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations upon earth.
5   Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
6   The earth has brought forth her increase; may God, our own God, give us his blessing.
7   May God give us his blessing, and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.

The Second Reading is taken from Romans 11:1-2, 29-32
[Israel’s Rejection Is Not Final]
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

The Holy Gospel is written in Matthew 15:10-28
[Things That Defile]
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."
[The Canaanite Woman’s Faith]
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.


Click HERE to read today's Holy Gospel Lesson message

The Apostle's 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 God, today I celebrate the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, the supreme victory over death that belongs to you alone. I pray that I may, today and in the coming week, act in appreciation of the ultimate gift you have given to me and to all who confess the name of Christ.

As you have commanded us, let me be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work; let me speak evil of no one and avoid quarreling. Give me the strength to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Fill me with love and humility.

For I was once foolish, disobedient, led astray, a slave to all sorts of passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, sometimes hating others. But when the goodness and loving kindness of Christ called me to you, He saved me, not because of works done by my in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on me in rich abundance. And now, through Jesus Christ my Savior, being justified by his grace, I have become heir to the hope of eternal life.

Make my heart clean within me, I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that my every thought and deed will reflect the graciousness of the salvation given to me, not by my merit but by your love; and that I may continue to learn your word, and accept even what I do not want to hear, and always act in accordance with your will. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.

A Prayer for Sundays
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.


Onward Christian Soldiers
Libera

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!

Closing Prayer
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
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.

“A Faith That Won't Fold Up” The Sermon for SUNDAY, August 20, 2017



"A Faith That Won't Fold Up"
by Michael Cariño
Christian Bible Church of the Philippines

He was seven years old when he had to work to support his poor family. At age nine, his mother died. He was 23 when he incurred a huge debt due to a failed business. At 28 and after four years of engagement, he asked his girl friend to marry him but she said “no”. He loved another lovely girl but lost her when she died.

At 37, on his third attempt, he was elected to Congress. After two years, he ran for re-election but failed. Adding to a miserable marriage at age 41, his four-year-old son died.

At 45, he ran for the Senate and lost. At 49, he ran for the Senate again but lost again. He went through a period of depression amidst all the rejection, criticism and rumors.

At 51, he became the President of the United States. We know Abraham Lincoln today as one of the greatest leaders in world history. He set thousands of slaves free by passing a law known as the Emancipation Proclamation. He taught the world that slavery is wrong and that all people should live freely.

When the civil war failed to stop his efforts to abolish slavery, his enemies assassinated him for his beliefs. People remember him today as a man who stood firm despite strong opposition. But his struggles formed in him something that very few of us have developed: character, perseverance, faith. He never gave up.

Are you having a hard time trusting God amidst your difficulties? Are you disappointed when God seems to be silent or slow in responding to your prayers? Is your faith under pressure and you feel like giving up? Are your problems too heavy for you to hang on? and you are desperate for God’s help?

This morning, we will be looking at a person who had a great problem… but she had great persevering faith and trusted a great person. And she was described by Jesus as a person of great faith…

Big Idea: God finds pleasure when your faith persists in spite of pressure.

Read Text: Matt 15:21-28 (NLT)

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile* woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely."

23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to go away," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging."

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep—the people of Israel."

25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!"

26 Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."

27 She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master's table."

28 "Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.

Background:

There are three major barriers that she had to overcome.

1. She was a woman

In this time period, women were considered no more than property. This woman had a great barrier in just being female. Not only was she female…

2. She was a Gentile

Salvation had not yet been offered to the Gentiles at this time. That’s what Christ meant when he said that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. – vs. 24… Not only was she a Gentile…

3. She was a Canaanite

The people of Israel did not like Canaanites. The Canaanites were the pagans who lived in the Promised Land before Israel came to live there.

This passage is about the faith of a Canaanite woman. As a matter of fact, it is about the "great faith" of a Canaanite woman. This would not be such a big deal if Jesus went around applying this compliment loosely, but this woman was unique in two ways. She was the only Gentile woman Jesus healed in Matthew's gospel, and she is the only person Jesus said had "great faith."

Compare that with the five times he reminded the disciples of their "little faith," and you can see how unique she is. For the disciples to hear about and witness her great faith is a powerful learning experience for them.

Some lessons we can learn from this woman of great faith…

The faith that God favors is a…

Faith DESPERATE for God’s help

21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile* woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely."

Desperation leads to strong faith. The story doesn't begin with us knowing about her great faith; it begins in desperation, where great faith often begins.

The Canaanite woman, whose name we never hear, has a daughter whom she describes as "cruelly possessed by a demon." We don't know exactly what this meant, but it easily could have meant she was afflicted with violently insane behavior, like the man who lived among the tombs in Matthew 8, or that she had terrible seizures, like the boy who often fell into the fire in Matthew 17.

Whatever her symptoms, her mother was desperate for her to be healed - to be free from this terrible state. Her desperation led to hope - not hope in the folk cures and remedies she probably had tried before, not hope in the best medical advice of the day, but hope in the God of Israel, hope in the Messiah, God's Chosen One.

This hope led to a faith without shame. Many times we can be afraid to let our faith be known. Sometimes we don't want to stand out; sometimes we just want to be polite and not "talk religion." Sometimes we just don't want the added scrutiny that comes when people realize we're followers of Jesus Christ.

This woman was different; she lived out a faith that came from having nothing left to lose, a desperate faith. She approached this band of disciples and their leader, Jesus. She screamed out to them from a distance, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!" She didn't just shout, she screamed - her cries as desperate as the faith she had that Jesus was the One who could make a difference.

She didn't care that the disciples didn't approve. She didn't care, even as a woman approaching men who were strangers, that she would stand out like a sore thumb. She didn't care about the things that often make us ashamed. She had the faith of a desperate mother - a faith without shame.

This should make us think about our faith. Does it come out of desperation? Does our faith rise out of a confidence that Jesus is the only One who can bring meaning to our lives, the only One who can bring true spiritual and emotional healing, the only One to whom our lives are worth devoting? Or, is our faith just a casual thing we do because it's expected? The Canaanite woman's faith was without shame because she knew Jesus was her only hope and she didn't care what others expected.

“Faith is not merely your holding on to God--it is God holding on to you. He will not let you go!” -- E. Stanley Jones.

Big Idea: God finds pleasure when your faith persists in spite of pressure.

The faith that God favors is a…

Faith DETERMINED to get God’s response

23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to go away," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging."

24 Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep—the people of Israel."

25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!"

She cried out, but Jesus didn't say a word - complete silence. She went to Him and made her plea and "He answered her not a word." He practically ignored her, yet He was testing her faith. He knew what was in man, He knew that she had faith. He was waiting for her faith to find full expression.

Some of the greatest lessons of faith are learned when God appears to be silent when we are desperate. Over and over the woman cried out to Jesus for mercy. But He did not answer her, not even a word. Not one word of acknowledgment was uttered. Not even a "Not now," "I’ll speak with you later," "I hear you, let Me think on it," was said. Nothing but divine silence met the pleas and cries.

All of us want to be listened to when we speak. Nothing can spark anger in us quicker than to feel snubbed by a relative or a friend when we are speaking. Even if someone does not agree with what we say we at least want to be acknowledged! Yet here was a lady that felt in the depths of her own soul the desperation of her daughter’s demon possession, and in her crying out to Jesus Christ she found only silence.

Why was Jesus silent to her pleas? His silence tried her faith, but did not conquer it; she pleaded still. The Lord responded the way He did to her, not to destroy her faith, but to develop it. He had a purpose in His silence. The effect was to develop, strengthen, and manifest her faith. His silence was not without purpose, and certainly not out of unconcern for this woman’s need. She was not discouraged to the point of giving up by our Lord’s seeming denial. She waited and held on, believingly.

At this point, the disciples (and many of us) get a little uncomfortable. They shuffle their feet a little, finally speak up and say, "Jesus, umm…maybe You could just heal her daughter and she would leave us alone. You know, it's actually embarrassing us to see her acting like this, and You know what people will say seeing her following us around." To this Jesus said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." How do you think they would have responded? Would they have been as shocked as we are that Jesus said this? Or would they have been thinking this: "Well, yeah Jesus…we don't like Canaanites either, but she's driving us crazy."

We then see something more about her faith. Not only does she have faith without shame, but her faith was without fear. She was not afraid of Jesus or the disciples. She threw herself down at Jesus' feet in total worship. With nothing to lose, she showed a relentless dependence on Jesus. Without shame and without fear, she fell at Jesus' feet and asked again, "Lord, help me." Is this the kind of utter devotion we have, or are we afraid to pray and ask God something because we might be told no? This woman didn't let Jesus' lack of response stop her.

“Little faith will bring your soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

-- Anonymous

Big Idea: God finds pleasure when your faith persists in spite of pressure.

The faith that God favors is a…

Faith DISTINGUISHED by God’s approval

26 Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."

27 She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master's table."

28 "Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.

On top of a faith without shame or fear, she showed a faith without stopping, a faith that wouldn't quit. As she bowed down at Jesus' feet, He told her something very strange. He said, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." Everyone there knew what Jesus meant, the disciples and the woman. He was saying in effect: It isn't good to take the blessing meant for Israel and give it to the Gentiles.

The woman said, "Jesus, master, as always You're right, but even the dogs eat from the crumbs that fall off the master's table." In other words, on her face in worship at the feet of Jesus the woman said, "Lord, I know Your blessings are for the entire world. I know Your blessing is so great that I'll gladly take the leftovers and be satisfied." At this final response from the woman whose faith won't quit, I can see the scene. Jesus' serious face broke into a smile; He reached down, grabs her by the hands, helped her off her feet, looked her in the eye and said, "Great is your faith woman, your daughter is healed!"

The Lord was testing her faith, and she passed the test well.

Big Idea: God finds pleasure when your faith persists in spite of pressure.

Conclusion:

This is where this particular story ends. We don't know what the disciples were thinking. Did Jesus remind them of what He previously taught? In chapter 7, Matthew wrote, "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you." Here, from one they never would have expected, the disciples saw this kind of faith lived out. They got a living lesson on asking, seeking, and knocking. They saw great faith embodied, a faith that didn't quit with asking, a faith that wasn't ashamed to seek diligently after Jesus, a faith that wasn't afraid to keep knocking even in the face of no response.

Do we have a faith that won't quit, or do we have a faith that gives up when we don't see a quick response? The disciples left that place after having seen a faith that wouldn't quit, a faith they imitated as they spread the gospel later on in the face of persecution.

The tradition of the church tells us nearly every disciple died a martyr's death for his or her faith in Christ. Could it be that the great faith they carried until death was learned from the Canaanite woman? May God grant us such faith, a faith so great that it won't give up even in the face of uncertainty, a faith so great that it seeks Jesus Christ relentlessly, a faith so great that it believes God's blessings are too big for one nation, a faith so great that it never quits. May God grant us the faith of a woman who had nowhere else to turn except to worship at Jesus' feet.

Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, where she won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked a love for surf competition within her spirit.

At the age of thirteen, on October 31, 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark while surfing off Kauai’s North Shore. The attack left Bethany with a severed left arm. After losing over 60% of her blood, and making it through several surgeries without infection, Bethany was on her way to recovery with an unbelievably positive attitude. Lifeguards and doctors believe her strong faith in God helped get her through the traumatic ordeal.

Miraculously, just one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water to continue pursuing her goal to become a professional surfer. In January of 2004, Bethany made her return to surf competition; placing 5th in the Open Women’s division of that contest. With no intention of stopping, Bethany continued to enter and excel in competition. Just over a year after the attack she took 1st place in the Explorer Women’s division of the 2005 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships – winning her first National Title. In 2007, Bethany realized her dream and turned pro.

Are you having a hard time trusting God amidst your difficulties? Are you disappointed when God seems to be silent or slow in responding to your prayers? Is your faith under pressure and you feel like giving up? Are your problems too heavy for you to hang on? and you are desperate for God’s help?

God calls us to have a faith that won’t fold up... a faith that does not quit.

Amen


Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Sermon contributed by Michael Cariño on Jan 2, 2017.

Prayer of the Day for SUNDAY, August 20, 2017


Almighty God, today I celebrate the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, the supreme victory over death that belongs to you alone. I pray that I may, today and in the coming week, act in appreciation of the ultimate gift you have given to me and to all who confess the name of Christ.

As you have commanded us, let me be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work; let me speak evil of no one and avoid quarreling. Give me the strength to be gentle, to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Fill me with love and humility.

For I was once foolish, disobedient, led astray, a slave to all sorts of passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, sometimes hating others. But when the goodness and loving kindness of Christ called me to you, He saved me, not because of works done by my in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on me in rich abundance. And now, through Jesus Christ my Savior, being justified by his grace, I have become heir to the hope of eternal life.

Make my heart clean within me, I pray, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that my every thought and deed will reflect the graciousness of the salvation given to me, not by my merit but by your love; and that I may continue to learn your word, and accept even what I do not want to hear, and always act in accordance with your will. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.

Verse of the Day for SUNDAY, August 20, 2017


Psalm 16:8 (NIV) I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Read all of Psalm 16

Listen to Psalm 16

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

Exploring the Parables with Cap'n Kenny - The Parable of Bigger Barns

Luke 12:16-21
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

THINK ABOUT IT
This parable is unique to Luke and has a parallel in Ben Sirach 11:18–19: “One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial, and the reward allotted to him is this: when he says, ‘I have found rest, and now I shall feast on my goods!’ he does not know how long it will be until he leaves them to others and dies.” (NRSVCE)

TALK ABOUT IT
What in your life will last longer than riches?

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


Seeking God?
Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ. 

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, NRSVCE® copyright © 1989, 1993 the 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.

Un Dia a la Vez - La Palabra


La hierba se seca y la flor se marchita, pero la palabra de nuestro Dios permanece para siempre.
~ Isaías 40:8 (NVI)

Ayer reflexionamos acerca de las palabras que muchas veces salen de nuestra boca sin que midamos sus consecuencias. Además, aprendimos acerca de los problemas y los malentendidos que podemos ocasionar. Muchas relaciones y amistades se han dañado por un malentendido o porque prometimos hacer algo que no cumplimos.

¿Y qué me dices de los trabajos? Es posible que hayamos tenido problemas por un comentario fuera de lugar. Asimismo está el caso de los que se complacen con el chisme y se enredan en la vida de los demás sin pensar que su palabra se compromete también.

Ahora consideremos por un momento en qué situaciones nos hemos visto envuelto. Pensemos, pues, que nuestra palabra debe ser sincera, desinteresada, firme y honesta. Luego, con la ayuda de Dios, propongámonos hacer el bien y no miremos a quién.

Por eso, hoy quiero que reconozcamos juntos al único que no cambia y el único que su Palabra permanece para siempre. El único que con el poder de su Palabra creó este mundo e hizo milagros. El que nos garantiza que a través de su Palabra seremos libres y tendremos una nueva vida… ¡Dios!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - FAITHFUL PERSEVERANCE


“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Alice Yuan continues her testimony we began yesterday:

“The second trial came from the Communist party. Every day for nineteen years, I had to report to the police station, where for six hours, they put pressure on me. They said that I would never see my husband again, that I should divorce him and that I should give up my faith. With God’s help I kept going. Praying with my eyes closed, I endured the interrogations every day.

“The third trial consisted of the hard work. After I had been pressured by the security police for six hours, I still had to work for eight hours to earn a living. I had to push handcarts filled with building materials. The carts were much too heavy. I was completely exhausted and was already tired before I started. In the winter, it was even worse. Sometimes I had to shovel cement up onto a floor above my head. The work was dirty, hard and cold, but I achieved my quota. The others were surprised and wondered where I got the energy from.

“The fourth trial had to do with my natural desires. I was thirty-nine-years-old when my husband was taken away. The authorities put me under pressure to marry someone else. All my papers would be changed, so that I could start a new life without all the difficulties. I was offered money and clothing. God loved me so much that He gave me the strength to resist all these temptations. When I prayed to God, He gave me everything I needed, and even more than that.

“My favorite text is Psalm 68:6, God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing.”

It is a miracle that her husband, Allen Yuan, got out of the labour camp alive. In December 1979, he was released after twenty-one years and eight months. He was then sixty-five years old, thin but still healthy. At an age when many people are enjoying retirement, Allan again took up his vocation as a pastor. He died on August 16th 2005 at the age of ninety-one. Alice joined him in heaven in early August 2010 to hear her own “Well done!”

RESPONSE: I resolve to persevere, with faith in a good God, through all the trials that come my way.

PRAYER: Lord, may all Your children experiencing severe persecution today be filled with faith and refuse to shrink back. Help me to emulate these great examples of faithful perseverance.