Tag: christianity

Morning Reading: Luke 18.31-34 (NLT) – listen up

Reading: Luke 18.31-34 (NLT)

shadow-of-crossTaking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the willingness to follow you… to obey you… even though I don’t understand where we are going, or what will happen when we get there. You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You alone hold the key to eternal life. Truly Lord, I have no where else to go. Amen.

Hymn: “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” – Elizabeth C. Clephane (1868)

Beneath the cross of Jesus / I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock / Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, A rest upon the way
From the burning of the noontide heat / And the burden of the day.

Upon that cross of Jesus / Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One / Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears, Two wonders I confess:
The wonders of His glorious love / And my unworthiness.

I take, O Cross, thy shadow / For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than / The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by, To know no gain or loss,
My sinful self– my only shame, My glory– all the cross.

Morning Reading: Luke 18:18-30 NLT – not good enough

Reading: Luke 18:18-30 NLT

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.’”

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What Profiteth It A Man: The Rich Young Ruler (Modern)
Liz Lemon Swindle

The man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?”

He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.”

Peter said, “We’ve left our homes to follow you.”

“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I can never do enough to merit entering your Kingdom. Thank you for loving me enough to pay the entry price for me. Thank you for calling me your friend. Your grace truly is amazing. Amen.

Hymn: “Amazing Grace” – John Newton

Morning Reading: Luke 18:15-17 NLT – kids of the Kingdom

Reading: Luke 18:15-17 NLT

Christ with ChildrenChristopher SanterPacem Studio
Christ with Children
Christopher Santer, Pacem Studio

One day some parents brought their little children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But when the disciples saw this, they scolded the parents for bothering him.

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus -Restore in me the sheer joy and wonder of knowing you. Make every day an adventure… exploring your Kingdom. Amen.

Kid’s of the Kingdom: “Every move I make”  – Hillsong Kids

Na– na– na na na na na  / Na– na– na na na na na / Na– na– na na na na na

Every move I make  I make in You / You make me move, Jesus / Every breath I take I breathe in You

Every step I take  I take in You / You are my way, Jesus / Every breath I take I breathe in You

Waves of mercy / Waves of grace / Everywhere I look / I see Your face / Your love has captured me / Oh my God, this love / How can it be

Morning Reading: Luke 18.9-14 (NLT) – humble yourself

Reading: Luke 18.9-14 (NLT)

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

humble yourself“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Scripture Song: “Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord” – James 4.10

Egypt update: Funeral Attacked at Egypt’s Biggest Church as Religious Violence Kills Six Copts (Christianity Today)

Peanut Gallery: Please click on the links scattered throughout this article. They will give you a quick overview of what’s taking place in Egypt today.
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Funeral Attacked at Egypt’s Biggest Church as Religious Violence Kills Six Copts

(UPDATED) President Morsi to Pope Tawadros: ‘I consider any aggression against the cathedral an aggression against me personally.’
Melissa Steffan

Update (April 8): CT’s Cairo correspondent offers a thorough roundup at Arab West Report.

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An injured man was helped outside the main Coptic Christian Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday. Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population.
An injured man was helped outside the main Coptic Christian Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday. Coptic Christians make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population.

A riot during a funeral for four Coptic Christians has ignited sectarian tensions in Cairo once again. A clash that killed four Christians in a northern suburb simmered over into the funeral at St. Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in the capital city, killing two people and injuring at least 90.

The weekend, which left six people dead in three days, marks the worst violence against Christians, who make up about 10 percent of Egypt’s population, since the election of President Mohamed Morsi late last year.

The Associated Press reports that “the clashes at the St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Cathedral began just after hundreds of angry Christians left the complex to stage an anti-government march following the funeral for the four Christians killed in sectarian clashes Saturday.”

A Coptic Christian hurt in attack on mourners Sunday. (Morning Star News photo)
A Coptic Christian hurt in attack on mourners Sunday. (Morning Star News photo)

The scores of Muslim rioters who attacked funeral goers “[pelted] the mourners with stones … flash-bang grenades, tear gas, fire bombs, and other improvised weapons [and] set cars ablaze,” according to Morning Star News.

Following the fighting at St. Mark’s, Morsi condemned the attacks and ordered an investigation of the violence, promising protection for both Muslims and Christians.

CT previously has reported on Egypt and violence against Coptic Christians there, including a dispatch from Cairo on how Egyptian Christians were feeling on the first anniversary of their nation’s revolution. Egypt’s Copts are facing the future under an Islamist regime, including a hastily completed constitution that limits some previously guaranteed personal freedoms. Most recently, CT reported on the possible rise of Coptic evangelism in Libya and Sudan.

In addition, CT reported on the death of Pope Shenouda, the former leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and also on the election of Pope Tawadros last year.

posted by Melissa Steffan