Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "God Pleaser" for Monday, 18 May 2015 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1 Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, “How much longer are you going to go on grieving for Sha’ul, now that I have rejected him as king over Isra’el? Fill your horn with oil, and set out; I will send you to Yishai the Beit-Lachmi, because I have chosen myself a king from among his sons.” 2 Sh’mu’el said, “How can I go? If Sha’ul hears of it, he will have me killed.” Adonai said, “Take a female cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Adonai.’ 3 Summon Yishai to the sacrifice. I will tell you what to do, and you are to anoint for me the person I point out to you.”
4 Sh’mu’el did what Adonai said and arrived at Beit-Lechem. The leaders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, “Are you coming in peace?” 5 He answered, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to Adonai. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Yishai and his sons and summoned them to the sacrifice. 6 When they had come, he looked at Eli’av and said, “This has to be Adonai’s anointed one, here before him.” 7 But Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, “Don’t pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. Adonai doesn’t see the way humans see — humans look at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks at the heart.” 8 Then Yishai called Avinadav and presented him to Sh’mu’el; but he said, “Adonai hasn’t chosen this one either.” 9 Yishai presented Shammah; again Sh’mu’el said, “Adonai hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 Yishai presented seven of his sons to Sh’mu’el; but Sh’mu’el told Yishai, “Adonai has not chosen these. 11 Are all your sons here?” Sh’mu’el asked Yishai. He replied, “There is still the youngest; he’s out there tending the sheep.” Sh’mu’el said to Yishai, “Send and bring him back, because we won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. With ruddy cheeks, red hair and bright eyes, he was a good-looking fellow. Adonai said, “Stand up and anoint him; he’s the one.”
The LORD said to Samuel, . . . “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”[1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)]
For many years I sought people’s approval by paying attention to my image in the mirror — how I looked and what I wore. I wanted to do my best to please my parents, employers, and friends. Burdened by this quest for acceptance, I never found lasting contentment. My need for affirmation led to unrealistic expectations and broken relationships.
In the depths of despair, I cried out to God. The moment I said God’s name, I felt the warmth of divine love and wondered how the God of the universe could love even me. One day, as I tried to find my way back to God by reading the story of David, 1 Samuel 16:7 helped me to realize that God was not concerned about my appearance or performance but about what was in my heart.
I began to read the Bible with a new passion and learned ways I might please God instead of people. When I planned my days, I left time open to extend a helping hand or to share a smile or an encouraging word with someone in need. I gradually moved from a self-centered to a God-centered manner of living and discovered a life’s purpose that wasn’t based on what I could earn but on what I could contribute.
The Author: Sue Tornai (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: God looks past my appearance and abilities and into my heart.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your love and acceptance and for the opportunity to tell others what you have done for us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Seeking Contentment_____________________
Today's Devotional:
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Ascension-A Gift From The Father" for Sunday, 17 May 2015 - Scripture: Acts 1:1 Dear Theophilos:
In the first book, I wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, 2 until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven.
3 After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.
4 At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!”
6 When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” 7 He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!”
9 After saying this, he was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were staring into the sky after him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. 11 The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”[John 16:7 (NRSV)]
My father was in the military and frequently traveled abroad for extended periods of time. We missed him, but there was something we looked forward to when he returned: the reunion and his presence in our lives again. We would hug him and he would always give each one of us a gift, wrapped in newspaper that we would tear into joyfully.
Ascension Sunday celebrates the gift that Jesus sent back to us after he ascended into heaven. John called it the “Advocate,” and Luke refers to it as “power” from the Holy Spirit. Two aspects of this gift are somewhat like my father’s returning. First, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives. Secondly, we can receive with joy the gift of divine power. It is not the power to dominate or control but the power for witnessing and service.
The Author: Edward L. Kelly, Jr. (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit and divine power to serve others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to realize the gift that you have given to us and use it to bring Christ to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Soldiers Serving Far From Home
The Upper Room Daily Devotional "God Pleaser" for Monday, 18 May 2015 - Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:1 Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, “How much longer are you going to go on grieving for Sha’ul, now that I have rejected him as king over Isra’el? Fill your horn with oil, and set out; I will send you to Yishai the Beit-Lachmi, because I have chosen myself a king from among his sons.” 2 Sh’mu’el said, “How can I go? If Sha’ul hears of it, he will have me killed.” Adonai said, “Take a female cow with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to Adonai.’ 3 Summon Yishai to the sacrifice. I will tell you what to do, and you are to anoint for me the person I point out to you.”
4 Sh’mu’el did what Adonai said and arrived at Beit-Lechem. The leaders of the city came trembling to meet him and asked, “Are you coming in peace?” 5 He answered, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to Adonai. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He consecrated Yishai and his sons and summoned them to the sacrifice. 6 When they had come, he looked at Eli’av and said, “This has to be Adonai’s anointed one, here before him.” 7 But Adonai said to Sh’mu’el, “Don’t pay attention to how he looks or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. Adonai doesn’t see the way humans see — humans look at the outward appearance, but Adonai looks at the heart.” 8 Then Yishai called Avinadav and presented him to Sh’mu’el; but he said, “Adonai hasn’t chosen this one either.” 9 Yishai presented Shammah; again Sh’mu’el said, “Adonai hasn’t chosen this one either.” 10 Yishai presented seven of his sons to Sh’mu’el; but Sh’mu’el told Yishai, “Adonai has not chosen these. 11 Are all your sons here?” Sh’mu’el asked Yishai. He replied, “There is still the youngest; he’s out there tending the sheep.” Sh’mu’el said to Yishai, “Send and bring him back, because we won’t sit down to eat until he gets here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. With ruddy cheeks, red hair and bright eyes, he was a good-looking fellow. Adonai said, “Stand up and anoint him; he’s the one.”
The LORD said to Samuel, . . . “People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”[1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)]
For many years I sought people’s approval by paying attention to my image in the mirror — how I looked and what I wore. I wanted to do my best to please my parents, employers, and friends. Burdened by this quest for acceptance, I never found lasting contentment. My need for affirmation led to unrealistic expectations and broken relationships.
In the depths of despair, I cried out to God. The moment I said God’s name, I felt the warmth of divine love and wondered how the God of the universe could love even me. One day, as I tried to find my way back to God by reading the story of David, 1 Samuel 16:7 helped me to realize that God was not concerned about my appearance or performance but about what was in my heart.
I began to read the Bible with a new passion and learned ways I might please God instead of people. When I planned my days, I left time open to extend a helping hand or to share a smile or an encouraging word with someone in need. I gradually moved from a self-centered to a God-centered manner of living and discovered a life’s purpose that wasn’t based on what I could earn but on what I could contribute.
The Author: Sue Tornai (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: God looks past my appearance and abilities and into my heart.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your love and acceptance and for the opportunity to tell others what you have done for us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone Seeking Contentment_____________________
Today's Devotional:The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Ascension-A Gift From The Father" for Sunday, 17 May 2015 - Scripture: Acts 1:1 Dear Theophilos:
In the first book, I wrote about everything Yeshua set out to do and teach, 2 until the day when, after giving instructions through the Ruach HaKodesh to the emissaries whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven.
3 After his death he showed himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. During a period of forty days they saw him, and he spoke with them about the Kingdom of God.
4 At one of these gatherings, he instructed them not to leave Yerushalayim but to wait for “what the Father promised, which you heard about from me. 5 For Yochanan used to immerse people in water; but in a few days, you will be immersed in the Ruach HaKodesh!”
6 When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” 7 He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!”
9 After saying this, he was taken up before their eyes; and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 As they were staring into the sky after him, suddenly they saw two men dressed in white standing next to them. 11 The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth; it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”[John 16:7 (NRSV)]
My father was in the military and frequently traveled abroad for extended periods of time. We missed him, but there was something we looked forward to when he returned: the reunion and his presence in our lives again. We would hug him and he would always give each one of us a gift, wrapped in newspaper that we would tear into joyfully.
Ascension Sunday celebrates the gift that Jesus sent back to us after he ascended into heaven. John called it the “Advocate,” and Luke refers to it as “power” from the Holy Spirit. Two aspects of this gift are somewhat like my father’s returning. First, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives. Secondly, we can receive with joy the gift of divine power. It is not the power to dominate or control but the power for witnessing and service.
The Author: Edward L. Kelly, Jr. (Iowa, USA)
Thought for the Day: God has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit and divine power to serve others.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to realize the gift that you have given to us and use it to bring Christ to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayer focus: Soldiers Serving Far From Home
_____________________
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