Month: March 2013

Morning Reading: Luke 13:1-5 NLT – repent

Reading: Luke 13:1-5 NLT

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple.

Repent, Slab City, Niland, CA © 2010 Mark Indig
Repent, Slab City, Niland, CA © 2010 Mark Indig

“Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.”

“And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

Prayer: “Merciful God, we have sinned in what we have thought and said, in the wrong we have done and in the good we have not done. We have sinned in ignorance: we have sinned in weakness: we have sinned through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry. We repent and turn to you. Forgive us, for our Saviour Christ’s sake, and renew our lives to the glory of your name.” (Source: A New Zealand Prayer Book, The Sanctuary)

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1.8-9 NLT)

Friends: Believe the Good News of the Gospel. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Spiritual Song:

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken / I’m accepted, You were condemned / I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me / Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be / That You, my King, should die for me / Amazing love, I know it’s true / It’s my joy to honor You / In all I do, to honor You

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken / I’m accepted, You were condemned / I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me / Because You died and rose again

You are my King / You are my King / Jesus, You are my King / You are my King

Morning Reading: Luke 12.49-59 (NLT) – divisions

Reading: Luke 12.49-59 (NLT)

earth-on-fire“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against — or two in favor and three against.

‘Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’”

Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times.

“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison. And if that happens, you won’t be free again until you have paid the very last penny.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – you remind us that we are created free agents to choose for you, or against you… life, or death. And you remind us of the cost… conflict, division, alienation and persecution. Give us the courage of our convictions and the fortitude of faith. We pray especially today for divisions within the families of Christian converts. Protect your children, grant them your peace and fill them with your love. For your name’s sake, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Love is Stronger Than Fear” – Mal Pope (Shipwrecks and Islands)

Click on audio link –

Morning Reading: Luke 12. 35-48 (NLT) – high standards

Reading: Luke 12. 35-48 (NLT)

“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

banquet_table_v2“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Peter asked, “Lord, is that illustration just for us or for everyone?”

And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns. But what if the servant thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected, and he will cut the servant in pieces and banish him with the unfaithful.

“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – all that I have comes from you. I own nothing… simply holding everything in trust for your Kingdom purposes. And you have entrusted me with much. Lord Jesus – you set the example of faithfulness and obedience to the Father’s will… at any price. Keep my eyes on you in every decision that I make. Holy Spirit – fill me with a spirit of anticipation and readiness… to adjust, adapt, or improvise as you direct. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “The Potter’s Hand” – Hillsong (YouTube)

Morning Reading: Luke 12:22-34 NLT – worry

Reading: Luke 12:22-34 NLT

Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

worried“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

“And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.

“Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You have provided more than enough for my basic needs – food, clothing and shelter. Thank you. But there’s a world of people who aren’t so fortunate – people who live in poverty and misery. Make me an instrument of your gace and mercy and abundant supply to them. Set my heart on Kingdom values and Kingdom people – and let everything else take a distant second place in my life. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Lord You Have My Heart” – Delirious (YouTube)

Lord you have my heart / And I will search for yours / Jesus take my life and lead me on. / Lord you have my heart / And I will search for yours / Let me be to you a sacrifice.

[men:] And I will praise you Lord / [women:] I will praise you Lord
[men:] And I will sing of love come down / [women:] I will sing of love come down
[men:] And as you show your face / [women:] Show your face
[together:] We’ll see your glory here.

Please pray for Christians in Yemen – World Watch List #9

Persecuted Church: Please pray for Christians in Yemen (World Watch List #9)

map of YemenPopulation: 25.6 million (a few thousand Christians)

The Yemeni constitution declares that Islam is the state religion and Sharia is the source of all legislation. Conversion is forbidden for Muslims and Muslim-background believers face persecution from authorities, family and extremist groups who threaten ‘apostates’ with death if they do not revert.

There is some religious freedom for foreigners here and there are a few official churches for several thousand Christian expats and refugees in Aden, but in the north, no church buildings are allowed. The country is very unstable and large numbers of expats have left the country. Evangelism is prohibited and conversion is forbidden. Yemenis who leave Islam may face the death penalty. The few hundred Christians from a Muslim background face persecution from authorities and family, and extremist groups use this threat to pressure them to recant. (Open Doors)

Yemen1Please Pray:

  • That isolated believers will find ways to meet together.
  • That vocational training programs supported by Open Doors will help Yemeni believers to stand strong.
  • Suicide bomb attacks killed over 100 in 2012. Pray for peace in this deeply divided country.

Background: Yemen, situated on the Arabian Peninsula, consists mostly of desert. The country’s main source of income comes from its petroleum industry. However, poverty is a big problem in Yemen as one in every three Yemenis is unemployed.

yemen_0364When the winds of the Arab Spring reached Yemen, the government used excessive violence to crack down on protestors. As a result of the unrest many expatriates, including Christians, left Yemen.

On March 18, 2012 an American language teacher, Joel, was shot dead by gunmen in Yemen’s second largest city, Taiz. Joel was driving to work on a Sunday morning when he was fired on by gunmen on a motorbike. The al-Qaeda-linked militant group, Ansar al-Sharia, said it carried out the attack, “in response to a Western campaign to preach Christianity among Muslims.”*

The number of Muslim background believers is estimated to be between 500 and 1 000. They are not allowed to have their own gatherings and so they meet in secret locations.

Yearly, about five to six Christian converts are imprisoned for a duration varying from a few days, up to half a year. Often, these Christians are not officially charged making it very hard to prove that they are being detained due to their Christian faith.

The government used excessive force to crack down on protestors after 10 months of mass protest caused by high unemployment levels and government corruption. In February 2012, elections were held and the Acting President and only candidate Mansour Hadi was sworn-in amid a climate of violence. The country is divided between pro- and anti-Saleh forces, the south is claiming independence. There is a strong tribal system and small al-Qaeda-linked groups struggling for power.