Tag: Jesus Christ

Morning Reading: Luke 7.11-17 ESV – compassion… arise

Reading: Luke 7:11-17 ESV

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

widow nain
“The Resurrection of the Widow’s Son at Nain”
(circa 1894) by James Tissot – closeup

As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”  Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”

And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Prayer: God of Compassion – visit us with Your healing touch. Have mercy on the sick and dying, the widow and orphan, and the least among us. Lord Jesus – You have broken our bondage to sin and death, loose us and set us free. Holy Spirit – Move with power among us that all might know “God has visited his people!” Amen.

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

Morning Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV – authority

Reading: Luke 7:1-10 ESV

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them.

unworthyWhen he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”  And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But say the word, and let the ones I love be healed. Look into their hearts – you know their names – and speak your word of forgiveness and healing. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Come just as you are” (YouTube)

Come just as you are. Hear the spirit call. Come just as you are. Come and see; come receive; come and live forever. Life everlasting. Strength for today. Taste the living water and never thirst again.

Please Pray for Christians in Afghanistan – World Watch List #3

Peanut Gallery: Christian Persecution – Afghanistan – #3 (worldwatchlist.us)

Teen in Afghanistan beheaded for refusing marriage proposal
Teen in Afghanistan beheaded for refusing marriage proposal

“Family and societal pressure combined with government persecution have pushed the church underground. The state treats converts, who all come from a Muslim background, in a very hostile manner.

Christians cannot meet in public; even gatherings in private houses require extreme caution. No church buildings exist, even for expatriates, and both local and foreign Christians are subject to kidnapping, abduction, killing and having to flee the country.

The Taliban is regaining power and has vowed to purge all Christians from Afghanistan, both foreign and local.” (worldwatchlist.us)

Please Pray:

  • For peace and stability as international troops withdraw in 2013-14
  • That God would thwart Taliban attempts to target NGOs and relief organizations
  • That Christian radio and TV programs will strengthen isolated believers and bring the gospel to this closed country.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You created all people in Your image, from every tribe and nation, and You offer them a future and a hope. Have pity on the wretched people of Afghanistan; show mercy to the people of this miserable country. Lord Jesus – By the power of Your Blood shed on the Cross, break their bondage to the spiritual forces of darkness that grip this land. Holy Spirit – Plant Your seeds of Life and Light in the hearts of these people, through dreams and vision, radio witness, and the living witness of Christian workers in that country. Shield them and protect them. I ask it in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

See “Religion in Afghanistan” (Wikipedia)

From 1987-1992 the country’s official name was the “Republic of Afghanistan” but today it is an “Islamic Republic.”

For Afghans, Islam represents a potentially unifying symbolic system which offsets the divisiveness that frequently rises from the existence of a deep pride in tribal loyalties and an abounding sense of personal and family honor found in multi-tribal and multi-ethnic societies such as Afghanistan.

Mosques serve not only as places of worship, but for a multitude of functions, including shelter for guests, places to meet and converse, the focus of social religious festivities and schools. Almost every Afghan has at one time during his youth studied at a mosque school; for some this is the only formal education they receive.

Some unconfirmed reports state that there are 500 to 8,000 Afghan Christians practicing their faith secretly in the country (among a population of 30.4 million.) [20]

Morning Reading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT – collapse

collapsed houseReading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.

It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive me for calling on you to fix what I’ve broken in my own life. Draw me close to you and fill me with your love… and the grace to accept responsibility for my own decisions. Give me a willing spirit to follow you… do what you tell me to do… and put my life on a solid foundation. For your greater glory, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Draw Me Close to You”

Draw me close to You; never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I’m Your friend. You are my desire, no one else will do. Nothing else can take Your place, to feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way, bring me back to You.

You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near.

Franciscan Friars and the Year of Faith (YouTube)

Franciscan Monastery Washington, DC
Franciscan Monastery
Washington, DC

Peanut Gallery: We visited the Franciscan Monastery in Washington, DC on our 2013 March for Life pilgrimmage. They were most welcoming and delight in showing visitors who they are and what they are about, especially as “Custodians of the Holy Land.”

What are they up to here in America during the “Year of Faith?” Here’s a video – they’re taking it to the streets:

What is your Christian community doing to bring the light Christ to the world?

Special thanks to Rebecca Hamilton for bringing this to our attention.