Friday, June 15, 2018

The Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Daily Devotion - Saturday, June 16, 2018 "I Cried Unto Thee"

The Lutheran Hour Ministries Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Daily Devotion - Saturday, June 16, 2018 "I Cried Unto Thee"
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "I Cried Unto Thee" for Saturday, June 16, 2018
Psalm 18:6 -
In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.
When Pam and I brought our first baby home from the hospital, every time he uttered a peep, we came running.
After a while, Pam came to learn the difference between Kurt's cries. He cried one way when he was hungry, another way when he had an upset stomach, another way when he wanted to be held, and yet another way when, well, you get the idea.
Eventually, I did too, as Pam educated me.
Now all that works just fine for parents who can hear their child.
Unfortunately, deaf parents have no way of deciphering their child's cries or even know if he is crying at all. It can be an incredibly frightening and emotional experience.
The problem was first addressed by Dr. Ariana Anderson at the UCLA Medical Center. She realized, as a mother of four, she had learned to interpret the wordless vocalizations of her little ones.
For example, she had learned that when a baby has a long period of silence between his cries, he is usually just being cranky. On the other hand, when the cries are long, sustained, and high-pitched, the baby usually has a pain which needs to be addressed.
To share her knowledge, Dr. Anderson took her experience and fortified it with information taken from monitoring 2,000 other children. She, along with the Semel Institute, created a computer program called the ChatterBaby app.
When properly used by deaf parents, the app can let them know when their child is crying and give a pretty good indication as to why the child is letting out those wails.
At the time of this devotion's writing, the app is boasting a 90 percent accuracy rate, which is a whole lot better than I ever did.
As I read through Scripture, I find a great many people who cried to the Lord.
* There were those who cried out in fear and those who cried because they were sad.
* There were those who cried because of illness or because they had lost a loved one.
* There were those who cried out while they were enslaved.
* There were those who cried out because they felt they were alone.
* Those who cried when the people wandered from the Lord.
But the Lord needs no app to hear the heart-prayers of His people. Not only did the Lord hear those cries, He also knew the person from whom they came, and He was able to respond to their sincerity, or lack of it.
Today, even now, because of the redemptive work of His Son, the Lord is still ready to help us. As our Father who has sent His Son to save us, He has inclined His ear to listen to any and all who come to Him with trust and faith. He still hears our cries.
THE PRAYER: Lord, grant that my cries be directed to You who, because of Jesus, our intermediary, are ready to help. We also ask that we be prepared to commit ourselves to hearing Your response to our cries. In the Name of the Savior, I ask it. Amen.
The above devotion was inspired by a number of sources, including one written by McKinley Corbley on May 29, 2018 for the Good News Network. Those who wish to reference that article may do so at the following link, which was fully functional at the time this devotion was written: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/mom-develops-new-app-that-alerts-deaf-parents-to-when-and-why-their-babies-are-crying/

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Proverbs 16-18; Acts 2:22-47
Proverbs 16:A person is responsible to prepare his heart,
but how the tongue speaks is from Adonai.
2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,
but Adonai weighs the spirit.
3 If you entrust all you do to Adonai,
your plans will achieve success.
4 Adonai made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 Adonai detests all those with proud hearts;
be assured that they will not go unpunished.
6 Grace and truth atone for iniquity,
and people turn from evil through fear of Adonai.
7 When a man’s ways please Adonai,
he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness
than a huge income with injustice.
9 A person may plan his path,
but Adonai directs his steps.
10 Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,
so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.
11 The balance and scales of justice have their origin inAdonai;
all the weights in the bag are his doing.
12 It is an abomination for a king to do evil,
for the throne is made secure by righteousness.
13 The king should delight in righteous lips,
and he should love someone who speaks what is right.
14 The king’s anger is a herald of death,
and one who is wise will appease it.
15 When the king’s face brightens, it means life;
his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
16 How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!
Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.
17 Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;
he who watches his step preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and arrogance before failure.
19 Better to be humble among the poor
than share the spoil with the proud.
20 He who has skill in a matter will succeed;
he who trusts in Adonai will be happy.
21 A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,
and sweetness of speech adds to learning.
22 Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,
whereas fools are punished by their own folly.
23 The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,
and to his lips it adds learning.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweet to the taste and healing for the body.
25 There can be a way which seems right to a person,
but at its end are the ways of death.
26 A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,
because his hunger presses him on.
27 A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —
it is like scorching fire on his lips.
28 A deceitful person stirs up strife,
and a slanderer can separate even close friends.
29 A violent man lures his neighbor astray
and leads him into evil ways.
30 One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;
one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.
31 White hair is a crown of honor
obtained by righteous living.
32 He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,
he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.
33 One can cast lots into one’s lap,
but the decision comes from Adonai.
17:1 Better a dry piece of bread with calm
than a house full of food but also full of strife.
2 An intelligent slave will rule a shameful son
and share the inheritance with the brothers.
3 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold,
but the one who tests hearts is Adonai.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips;
a liar listens to destructive talk.
5 He who mocks the poor insults his maker;
he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
while the glory of children is their ancestors.
7 Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor,
and even less lying lips to a leader.
8 A bribe works like a charm, in the view of him who gives it —
wherever it turns, it succeeds.
9 He who conceals an offense promotes love,
but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.
10 A rebuke makes more impression on a person of understanding
than a hundred blows on a fool.
11 An evil person seeks only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Rather meet a bear robbed of its cubs
than encounter a fool in his folly.
13 Evil will not depart from the house
of him who returns evil for good.
14 Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] —
better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous —
both alike are an abomination to Adonai.
16 Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom
when he has no desire to learn?
17 A friend shows his friendship at all times —
it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born.
18 He who gives his hand to guarantee a loan
for his neighbor lacks good sense.
19 Those who love quarreling love giving offense;
those who make their gates tall are courting disaster.
20 A crooked-hearted person will find nothing good,
and the perverse of speech will end in calamity.
21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
and the father of a boor has no joy.
22 A happy heart is good medicine,
but low spirits sap one’s strength.
23 From under a cloak a bad man takes a bribe
to pervert the course of justice.
24 The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A son who is a fool means anger for his father
and bitterness for the mother who gave him birth.
26 To punish the innocent is not right,
likewise to flog noble people for their uprightness.
27 A knowledgeable person controls his tongue;
a discerning person controls his temper.
28 Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise;
he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
18:1 He who separates himself indulges his desires
and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand;
he only wants to express his own opinion.
3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too,
and with disdain, provocation.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep water,
a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.
5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty
and thus deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s words get him into fights;
yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin;
his words are a trap for him.
8 A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;
they slide right down into the belly.
9 Whoever is lazy in doing his work
is brother to the destroyer.
10 The name of Adonai is a strong tower;
a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].
11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city,
like a high wall, in his own imagination.
12 Before being ruined, a person’s heart is proud;
before being honored, a person must be humble.
13 To answer someone before hearing him out
is both stupid and embarrassing.
14 A person’s spirit can sustain him when ill,
but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?
15 The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A person’s gift clears his way
and gives him access to the great.
17 The first to state his case seems right,
till the other one comes and cross-examines.
18 Casting lots puts an end to strife
and separates powerful disputants.
19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city;
their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
20 A person’s belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth;
with what his lips produce he will be filled.
21 The tongue has power over life and death;
those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a great good;
he has won the favor of Adonai.
23 The poor man speaks beseechingly,
the rich man’s answer is blunt.
24 Some “friends” pretend to be friends,
but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.
Acts 2:22 “Men of Isra’el! Listen to this! Yeshua from Natzeret was a man demonstrated to you to have been from God by the powerful works, miracles and signs that God performed through him in your presence. You yourselves know this. 23 This man was arrested in accordance with God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and, through the agency of persons not bound by the Torah, you nailed him up on a stake and killed him!
24 “But God has raised him up and freed him from the suffering of death; it was impossible that death could keep its hold on him. 25 For David says this about him:
‘I saw Adonai always before me,
for he is at my right hand,
so that I will not be shaken.
26 For this reason, my heart was glad;
and my tongue rejoiced;
and now my body too will live on in the certain hope
27 that you will not abandon me to Sh’ol
or let your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will fill me with joy by your presence.’[
Acts 2:28 Psalm 16:8–11]
29 “Brothers, I know I can say to you frankly that the patriarch David died and was buried — his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Therefore, since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that one of his descendants would sit on his throne, 31 he was speaking in advance about the resurrection of the Messiah, that it was he who was not abandoned in Sh’ol and whose flesh did not see decay. 32 God raised up this Yeshua! And we are all witnesses of it!
33 “Moreover, he has been exalted to the right hand of God; has received from the Father what he promised, namely, the Ruach HaKodesh; and has poured out this gift, which you are both seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into heaven. But he says,
35 ‘Adonai said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’[
Acts 2:35 Psalm 110:1]
36 Therefore, let the whole house of Isra’el know beyond doubt that God has made him both Lord and Messiah — this Yeshua, whom you executed on a stake!”
37 On hearing this, they were stung in their hearts; and they said to Kefa and the other emissaries, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Kefa answered them, “Turn from sin, return to God, and each of you be immersed on the authority of Yeshua the Messiah into forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh! 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for those far away — as many as Adonai our God may call!”
40 He pressed his case with many other arguments and kept pleading with them, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!”
41 So those who accepted what he said were immersed, and there were added to the group that day about three thousand people.
42 They continued faithfully in the teaching of the emissaries, in fellowship, in breaking bread and in the prayers. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many miracles and signs took place through the emissaries. 44 All those trusting in Yeshua stayed together and had everything in common; 45 in fact, they sold their property and possessions and distributed the proceeds to all who were in need. 46 Continuing faithfully and with singleness of purpose to meet in the Temple courts daily, and breaking bread in their several homes, they shared their food in joy and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having the respect of all the people. And day after day the Lord kept adding to them those who were being saved. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
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CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS C
HANGES EVERYTHING.

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