Month: January 2013

Morning Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT – calling sinners

Reading: Luke 5.27-32 NLT

“The Calling of St. Matthew”
by Hendrick Terbrugghen, c. 1621

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him.

Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me Your love and compassion for lost souls. Make me an instrument of Your mercy and grace. Give me Your eyes to see, Your words to speak, and Your kindness to welcome the sick and weary back home… into Your family. Amen.

Hymn: “Softly and Tenderly” – Will L. Thompson (1880)

Please click on audio link – “Softly and Tenderly” by Bart Millard

Welcome Home
Welcome Home

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, Calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised, Promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, Pardon for you and for me.

Come home, come home, You who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home!

Please pray for North Korean Christians – World Watch List #1

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – North Korea – #1 (worldwatchlist.us)

nk_woman
North Korean Woman

“For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution. There is a system of labour camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.”

Please click on this link to Open Doors US to learn more about Christians in North Korea.

Please join me in prayer –

Heavenly Father: May your Holy Spirit strengthen and comfort all North Korean believers in Your Son, Jesus Christ… especially those who are imprisoned and suffer great hardship, those who gather in secret to worship and pray, those who are afraid for themselves and their families, those who are sick and tired, those who are refugees, those who hunger and thirst, and those who labor to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus: Bring Your Truth to Life – reveal Yourself through signs and wonders that demonstrate Your mercy and grace. Move among North Korean believers with wisdom, healing graces and power.

Holy Spirit move across the entire country of North Korea – its leaders, its military, all of its people at every level of society. Turn their hearts to Jesus Christ and lead them to repentance and faith… that one day soon the country of North Korea will know God’s deliverance and finally be free.

I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
_________________________________

For more information on Christians in North Korea – click here.

Sign up for weekly emails from Open Doors 5-5-5, highlighting one of the top 50 most difficult countries to live in for our brothers and sisters in Christ – click here.

Morning Reading: Luke 5.17-26 NLT – teaching, forgiving, healing, amazing

Reading: Luke 5:17-26 NLT

One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.

image
Bring a friend to Jesus

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”

But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Bring to mind today a friend who needs Your forgiveness and healing. And give me the courage and boldness required to bring him/her to You. Use me today as an instrument of Your mercy and healing grace. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Kindness” – Chris Tomlin (YouTube)

Sunday Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 NLT – Spirit baptized

Sunday Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9 NLT

“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him.

He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.

He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth.

And it is he who says, “I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them.

And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols. Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”

within youPrayer: Lord God – You made us and claimed us as Your own. And You sent Your Son to establish the rule and reign of Your Kingdom – a light to the nations… just, righteous and everlasting.

May I welcome every aspect of Your Kingdom into my life – here and now. Baptize me with your Holy Spirit and with fire. Establish a Kingdom stronghold with me that I might be a bearer of Your Good News – both near and far.

To you, LORD, be all honor, glory and praise. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Let Your Kingdom Come” – Sovereign Grace (YouTube)