Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "From a Kid's Lips" Friday, 13 June 2014

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour "From a Kid's Lips" Friday, 13 June 2014 
... And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"(Matthew 21:16b)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: 
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So 
that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Right after graduation, my first parish was in Northern Brazil, at Macapá, capital of Amapá State. As a brand new pastor, I guess I learned much more there than I actually taught to the people.
One of these lessons was a big one. In 2010, National Kid's Day was on the way, and I suggested to my board of elders that it might want to set up some activities at church, to attract kids from the neighborhood. It was my belief if you were able to reach the children, you would also get their parents. Such a missionary tool is very common over here and throughout our church body.
My people said this wouldn't work because, years before, they had tried such a thing and found people wouldn't attend the event. In spite of past failures, I insisted, saying, "If one child comes to church that day, it will be cause for celebration."
The event came and about 80 children showed up! What a blessing! But the big lesson my church and I learned was not actually from that wonderful number.
One of the kids who came was Luana. She was only six years old. She brought her two younger brothers. Starting that day, she came faithfully, and she always brought her little brothers. In the beginning her parents did not attend. That was understandable as her father had been arrested and was in jail.
As the days passed, Luana brought all her family to church: mother, father, grandmother, aunt and cousins. All of them attended church when she played the part of Mary in the Christmas Eve play.
Four months later, little Luana had a stroke in her brain. Amapá State is poor, and there were no facilities where her life could be saved. Fourteen days after her stroke, Luana was called to the arms of our Savior Jesus. There she will stay until the day of resurrection.
Truly, none of us understand why God called her home so soon. But we do understand God used her to call all her family to the faith in Jesus Christ. Almost as importantly, Luana's brief life has taught all Lutherans in Macapá that they should not question God, but rather should ask Him, "Lord, what would You have us learn, and what would you have us do?"
God used little Luana's short life in this world to save her family. That's the purpose of that little girl's life. It was a fulfillment of Jesus words, "... have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"
THE PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your ways are the best. Grant that we may trust Your will and believe in Your loving care and salvation with the faith of a child. This we pray in the Name of our crucified and risen Savior. Amen.
Lutheran Hour Ministries has always stood for bringing Christ to the nations. But we also want to share the Savior with those who are close by. If you would like to know more about how you can be prepared to share the Savior, we are having an outreach conference called SENT in Detroit from July 24-27. You can learn more at www.lhm.org/conference.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Tiago Albrecht who, since 2011, has been pastor at Saint Mark Lutheran Church, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Curitiba is one of the 12 host cities for FIFA's 2014 World Cup. Earlier he served the church in Macapá, Amapá State, a large city in northern Brazil near the Amazon forest area. He is married to Aline Koller, the current vice president of Communications of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brasil (IELB), a sister church with The Lutheran Church --Missouri Synod (LCMS). In this South American country of 200 million people, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Brazil operates as Cristo Para Todas as Nações (CPTN). Christian outreach programs include a daily radio program, Five Minutes with Jesus; a voice mail service, Messages of Hope; which is also distributed via e-mail; and a weekly "live" online Bible study. This ministry center also utilizes Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops to train volunteers in sharing the Gospel. Another resource, Chaplaincy with Jesus, does coordinated work with various chaplaincy programs throughout Brazil, ministering to individuals in prisons and hospitals. To learn more about LHM's work in Brazil, you can visit its blog at lhmbrazil.wordpress.com.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours, 
Pastor Ken Klaus 
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Proverbs 8:1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out?
    Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 On the top of high places by the way,
    where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
    at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 “To you men, I call!
    I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 You simple, understand prudence.
    You fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
    The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 For my mouth speaks truth.
    Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
    There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 They are all plain to him who understands,
    right to those who find knowledge.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver;
    knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies.
    All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
    Find out knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
    I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
    I have understanding and power.
15 By me kings reign,
    and princes decree justice.
16 By me princes rule;
    nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 I love those who love me.
    Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 With me are riches, honor,
    enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold;
    my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the middle of the paths of justice;
21 That I may give wealth to those who love me.
    I fill their treasuries.
22 “Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work,
    before his deeds of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
    before the earth existed.
24 When there were no depths, I was born,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled in place,
    before the hills, I was born;
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
    nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
    when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above,
    when the springs of the deep became strong,
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary,
    that the waters should not violate his commandment,
    when he marked out the foundations of the earth;
30 then I was the craftsman by his side.
    I was a delight day by day,
    always rejoicing before him,
31 Rejoicing in his whole world.
    My delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
    for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise.
    Don’t refuse it.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me,
    watching daily at my gates,
    waiting at my door posts.
35 For whoever finds me, finds life,
    and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul.
    All those who hate me love death.”
9:1 Wisdom has built her house.
    She has carved out her seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat.
    She has mixed her wine.
    She has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens.
    She cries from the highest places of the city:
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
    As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat some of my bread,
    Drink some of the wine which I have mixed!
6 Leave your simple ways, and live.
    Walk in the way of understanding.”
7 He who corrects a mocker invites insult.
    He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
8 Don’t reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you.
    Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be still wiser.
    Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom.
    The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied.
    The years of your life will be increased.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
    If you mock, you alone will bear it.
13 The foolish woman is loud,
    Undisciplined, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
    on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
    who go straight on their ways,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
    as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen water is sweet.
    Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,
    that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.[a]
Footnotes:
a. Proverbs 9:18 Sheol is the place of the dead.
John 21:1 After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.”
They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. 4 But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?”
They answered him, “No.”
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”
They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. 7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!”
So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits[a] away), dragging the net full of fish. 9 So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.”
None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”
He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”
He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?”
Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Most certainly I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself, and walked where you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you, and carry you where you don’t want to go.”
19 Now he said this, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. When he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” 21 Peter seeing him, said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you? You follow me.” 23 This saying therefore went out among the brothers,[b] that this disciple wouldn’t die. Yet Jesus didn’t say to him that he wouldn’t die, but, “If I desire that he stay until I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and wrote these things. We know that his witness is true. 25 There are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they would all be written, I suppose that even the world itself wouldn’t have room for the books that would be written.
Footnotes:
a. John 21:8 200 cubits is about 100 yards or about 91 meters
b. John 21:23 The word for “brothers” here may be also correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
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