Matthew 6:25 “Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are? 27 Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?
28 “And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread, 29 yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these. 30 If this is how God clothes grass in the field — which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven — won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have!
31 “So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’ 32 For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. 33 But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already!
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[God] who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [2 Corinthians 9:10 (NRSV)]
The young pastors in my denomination faced a financial crisis during the prime of our ministries in the 1990s. For a few months, we did not receive our monthly payments. We were told that auditors were examining the accounts because of some irregularities.
Since most of us and our spouses were dependent upon the meager church income, we had great difficulty providing for our families’ daily needs. I thank God that during those days none of us left our place of ministry; in fact, our ministries became more effective in the region. The businesses in our area gave us provisions to sustain us. We all found assurance in the words of Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (KJV).
It was a big challenge for us to look after the parish work and to maintain our families at the same time. But Jesus promised rest saying, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). And we can trust Christ to fulfill this promise.
The Author: Benjamin R. K. Lall (Assam, India)
Thought for the Day: When I seek to do God’s will, I can find purpose and rest.
Prayer: Loving Savior and Sustainer, thank you for responding to our needs through our communities and for granting us rest. Amen.
Prayer focus: Families of Church Workers
[God] who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. [2 Corinthians 9:10 (NRSV)]
The young pastors in my denomination faced a financial crisis during the prime of our ministries in the 1990s. For a few months, we did not receive our monthly payments. We were told that auditors were examining the accounts because of some irregularities.
Since most of us and our spouses were dependent upon the meager church income, we had great difficulty providing for our families’ daily needs. I thank God that during those days none of us left our place of ministry; in fact, our ministries became more effective in the region. The businesses in our area gave us provisions to sustain us. We all found assurance in the words of Matthew 6:33: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (KJV).
It was a big challenge for us to look after the parish work and to maintain our families at the same time. But Jesus promised rest saying, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt. 11:29). And we can trust Christ to fulfill this promise.
The Author: Benjamin R. K. Lall (Assam, India)
Thought for the Day: When I seek to do God’s will, I can find purpose and rest.
Prayer: Loving Savior and Sustainer, thank you for responding to our needs through our communities and for granting us rest. Amen.
Prayer focus: Families of Church Workers
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 23 June 2017 "Respond With Love" - Read Luke 6:27-31
The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 23 June 2017 "Respond With Love" - Read Luke 6:27-31
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Luke 6:27 Nevertheless, to you who are listening, what I say is this:
“Love your enemies!
Do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you,
pray for those who mistreat you.
29 “If someone hits you on one cheek,
offer the other too;
if someone takes your coat,
let him have your shirt as well.
30 “If someone asks you for something,
give it to him;
if someone takes what belongs to you,
don’t demand it back.
31 “Treat other people as you would like them to treat you.
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Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. [Luke 6:28 (CEB)]
Years ago I worked with individuals who had suffered traumatic brain injuries. Most of my clients were people who had been in motorcycle or car wrecks. Some of them were able to interact with staff and others who had similar injuries. Others were prisoners in their own bodies.
It was my job as an independent living instructor to help each person to become as self-sufficient as possible. I assisted each person with eating meals, completing light work, and playing table games. Their injuries made many of my clients susceptible to sudden outbursts of anger and sometimes violence. Any staff member on the receiving end of an outburst was trained not to take it personally — it was only a symptom of the brain injury. We were trained to remain calm and ignore the outburst. I wondered whether I could apply this knowledge to the rest of my life.
In today’s reading, Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek to outbursts from others. People may act out because of a traumatic event or situation in their lives. If we don’t take these outbursts personally, we can follow Jesus’ instruction and example by responding with love.
The Author: Scott Wierenga (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: How can I respond to outbursts of anger with God’s love?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to respond with your love when others lash out because of their pain. Amen.
Prayer focus: People with brain injuries
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 22 June 2017 "Deep Roots" Read Psalm 1:1-6
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Those who do not follow the advice of the wicked . . . are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. [Psalm 1:1, 3 (NRSV)]
We recently spent some time living in the mountains of Boquete, Panama. The climate there is called Eternal Spring because there are no distinct seasons. The temperature remains virtually the same all year long. Our seasons are simply defined as dry or rainy. Though a few trees and plants do not survive the dry season in Panama, most return to their beautiful greens in the rainy season. Others, having deep roots, never change and give forth blooms of every color imaginable all year long.
So it is in our spiritual lives. Dry times may come — times when we do not feel the love and closeness of the Lord. But our faith is strengthened when we are deeply rooted in scripture and prayer. We can rest in the hope that the dry times will be followed soon by seasons of God’s overflowing abundance.
See a photo of Susana in Panama.
Living in Panama was a delightful time in my life, and everything happened quickly. Within a year we had started a home group and a writers group in the expat community. Most of the members were from the U.S. and Canada. Near the end of the year we knew the Lord was leading us to a new mission field—Mexico. We were blessed to have a capable minister friend take over both groups when we left, and the groups are flourishing to this day.
The Author: Susana M. Allen (Jalisco, Mexico)
Thought for the Day: I can deepen the roots of my faith by reading the Bible.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for scripture that reminds us of your love and deepens our faith in you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone experiencing a “dry season”
Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. [Luke 6:28 (CEB)]
Years ago I worked with individuals who had suffered traumatic brain injuries. Most of my clients were people who had been in motorcycle or car wrecks. Some of them were able to interact with staff and others who had similar injuries. Others were prisoners in their own bodies.
It was my job as an independent living instructor to help each person to become as self-sufficient as possible. I assisted each person with eating meals, completing light work, and playing table games. Their injuries made many of my clients susceptible to sudden outbursts of anger and sometimes violence. Any staff member on the receiving end of an outburst was trained not to take it personally — it was only a symptom of the brain injury. We were trained to remain calm and ignore the outburst. I wondered whether I could apply this knowledge to the rest of my life.
In today’s reading, Jesus teaches us to turn the other cheek to outbursts from others. People may act out because of a traumatic event or situation in their lives. If we don’t take these outbursts personally, we can follow Jesus’ instruction and example by responding with love.
The Author: Scott Wierenga (Michigan, USA)
Thought for the Day: How can I respond to outbursts of anger with God’s love?
Prayer: Dear God, help us to respond with your love when others lash out because of their pain. Amen.
Prayer focus: People with brain injuries
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 22 June 2017 "Deep Roots" Read Psalm 1:1-6
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Psalms 1:1 How blessed are those
who reject the advice of the wicked,
don’t stand on the way of sinners
or sit where scoffers sit!
2 Their delight
is in Adonai’s Torah;
on his Torah they meditate
day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams —
they bear their fruit in season,
their leaves never wither,
everything they do succeeds.
4 Not so the wicked,
who are like chaff driven by the wind.
5 For this reason the wicked
won’t stand up to the judgment,
nor will sinners
at the gathering of the righteous.
6 For Adonai watches over
the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked
is doomed.
-------Those who do not follow the advice of the wicked . . . are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper. [Psalm 1:1, 3 (NRSV)]
We recently spent some time living in the mountains of Boquete, Panama. The climate there is called Eternal Spring because there are no distinct seasons. The temperature remains virtually the same all year long. Our seasons are simply defined as dry or rainy. Though a few trees and plants do not survive the dry season in Panama, most return to their beautiful greens in the rainy season. Others, having deep roots, never change and give forth blooms of every color imaginable all year long.
So it is in our spiritual lives. Dry times may come — times when we do not feel the love and closeness of the Lord. But our faith is strengthened when we are deeply rooted in scripture and prayer. We can rest in the hope that the dry times will be followed soon by seasons of God’s overflowing abundance.
See a photo of Susana in Panama.
Susana in Panama
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Read more from the author, here.More from Susana Allen
Living in Panama was a delightful time in my life, and everything happened quickly. Within a year we had started a home group and a writers group in the expat community. Most of the members were from the U.S. and Canada. Near the end of the year we knew the Lord was leading us to a new mission field—Mexico. We were blessed to have a capable minister friend take over both groups when we left, and the groups are flourishing to this day.
Exactly one year after we moved to Panama, we arrived in Mexico. We were blessed to find a house quickly. It is perfect for our new home group. My husband is also leader of a men’s prayer group, and life is good.
I have written my first ebook, called …And Your House. It is available on Amazon Kindle Books. It is about 10 promies in scripture for the salvation of households. I trust the book will be a blessing to many who read it. [For further information about our online church and ministry, go to homechurchintl.com., Susana Allen]
Thought for the Day: I can deepen the roots of my faith by reading the Bible.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for scripture that reminds us of your love and deepens our faith in you. Amen.
Prayer focus: Someone experiencing a “dry season”
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