Our Daily Bread -- Chameleon Crawl April 17, 2016

Read: Acts 2:42-47 Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 14:1-24 Every day they continued to meet together. —Acts 2:46 When we think of the chameleon, we probably think of its ability to change color according to its surroundings. But this lizard has another interesting characteristic. On several occasions I've watched a chameleon walk along a pathway and wondered how it ever reached its destination. Reluctantly, the chameleon stretches out one leg, seems to change its mind, attempts again, and then carefully plants a hesitant foot, as if afraid the ground will collapse under it. That was why I couldn't help laughing when I heard someone say, “Do not be a chameleon church member who says, ‘Let me go to church today; no, let me go next week; no, let me wait for a while!’” “The house of the Lord” at Jerusalem was King David’s place of worship, and he was far from being a “chameleon” worshiper. Rather, he rejoiced with those who said, “Let us go to the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). The same was true for believers in the early church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts” (Acts 2:42, 46). What a joy it is to join with others in worship and fellowship! Praying and worshiping together, studying the Scriptures together, and caring for one another are essential for our spiritual growth and unity as believers. —Lawrence Darmani Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. John Fawcett Worshiping together brings strength and joy. INSIGHT: Acts 2 describes the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost when God, in fulfillment of prophecies and promises (Joel 2:28-32; Isa. 32:15; Ezek. 36:26-27; 39:29; John 16:7), sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those who believe in Jesus (Acts 2:1-4). This first church was growing, gracious, and generous. Luke says another 3,000 people were added to the 120-member congregation (Acts 1:15; 2:41). These early believers showed remarkable acts of generosity for those in need (2:44-45). Luke describes the elements that keep the church growing and vibrant: instruction in God’s Word, fellowship with believers, and prayer (Acts 2:42-44). Sim Kay Tee Share your thoughts on today’s devotional on Facebook or odb.org.

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Day 169 - Grief Can Cause Stress in a Marriage

365 daily emails to help you through the grieving process Grief support groups: Click here to find a GriefShare group near you. If you would like to find a group for a friend or relative, try our Search Page. Want to read ahead or resend a previous daily email? Click Here Grief Can Cause Stress in a Marriage Day 169 The loss of a child can create stress in a marital relationship. Choose to persevere and never to give up. Your loss may result in a closer relationship with your spouse. These three people worked through the emotional struggles that caused tension in their marriage, only to come out better on the other side. Dora, speaking of her daughter's death, says, "You'll be here at one point in your grief, and your spouse is over here and the two never meet for months and months. Then all of a sudden when you do meet, you find that you're two different people. And you really have to work to get back on that same level of communication. It's real tough, but in many ways I feel like my husband and I are bonded for life because of our suffering." Jeff, who lost his son, says, "I think it's made our relationship stronger. We communicated so well through the death of our son and after. We've talked more in the last three years than we did in the previous nine or ten." Teresa's daughter died. She says, "When you do lash out, because none of us are perfect, the other spouse has to be mature and say, 'Well, come on, Sweetie, I know this may be an emotional time right now. I know you didn't mean that. I know we're under a lot of emotional strain right now and a lot of adversity, but let's just pull this thing together,' and just immediately grab hands and start praying." Take courage from the testimonies of these couples and focus on God. Even when you are both going in opposite directions, you will surely meet if you keep your eyes on God's plan for your life. "'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mark 10:7-9). Lord, it is Your will that my spouse and I remain together. Give me the strength to persevere. Now is the time to begin. Amen. Grieving with Hope This GriefShare-based book contains short, topical chapters addressing issues that grieving people face but are often hesitant to mention to others; it gently guides people to determine whether they're grieving in a way that leads to hope and ultimate healing. Look for Grieving with Hope by Samuel Hodges and Kathy Leonard at a local or online bookstore or at griefshare.org/hope. If you would like to recommend these daily emails to a friend, please click here and choose one of the options under Share. For more information about GriefShare, including how to sign up for these daily emails, please click here. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2003-2013 by The Church Initiative, Inc., All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission in writing from Church Initiative. You subscribed to this daily email through www.griefshare.org. We value your privacy! We will never give, sell, rent, or otherwise share your email or personal information with any other organization — EVER. To remove this email address from further mailings Click Here while connected to the internet. If you have any problems or concerns, please contact dailyemailsupport@griefshare.org. GriefShare 250 S. Allen Rd. Wake Forest, NC 27587 (800) 395-5755

Our Daily Bread -- The Apple of His Eye April 16, 2016

Read: Zechariah 2 Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30-31; Luke 13:23-35 Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. —Zechariah 2:8 A friend’s baby was suffering seizures, so they sped to the hospital in an ambulance, her heart racing as she prayed for her daughter. Her fierce love for this child hit her afresh as she held her tiny fingers, recalling too how much more the Lord loves us and how we are “the apple of His eye.” The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye. Hebrew scholars suggest this phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes one’s reflection in the pupil of another’s eye, with the word “apple” emerging because it’s a common spherical object. So with eyes being precious and fragile, they need protecting, and that’s how the Lord wants to love and protect His people—by holding them close to His heart. The Lord who dwells in our midst pours out His love on us—even, amazingly, far more than a loving mother who does all she can for her ailing child. We are the apple of His eye, His beloved. —Amy Boucher Pye Father God, You love us so much that You gave us Your only Son to die that we might live. May we receive Your love this day and live in it. A parent’s love for a child reflects our Father’s love for us. INSIGHT: Old Testament prophets Zechariah and Haggai both spoke the word of the Lord to the people who had come back from exile to rebuild Jerusalem. Zechariah encouraged the people with words from visions about God’s love and care and about the glorious future that was in store for His people. J.R. Hudberg Share your thoughts on today’s devotional on Facebook or odb.org.

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Day 168 - Your Family Needs Your Support

365 daily emails to help you through the grieving process Grief support groups: Click here to find a GriefShare group near you. If you would like to find a group for a friend or relative, try our Search Page. Want to read ahead or resend a previous daily email? Click Here Your Family Needs Your Support Day 168 As difficult as it is, your life must go on. No, you'll never feel the same again, and that hurt place in your heart will never be fully healed on this side of heaven. But the others—your family—they need you to be involved in their everyday lives. They need your help as they journey through grief. "Your family deserves you as a hundred-percent person," says Barbara Johnson, whose two sons died. "They don't deserve only half of you. But so many times parents are so wrapped up in that grief. They keep rotating back to that other time instead of saying, 'Hey, I'm still alive. I have children who need me.' This is a new life. The other chapter is done, but the book goes on." Provide your family with the love, attention, and nurturing they so desperately need from you. "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" (1 Timothy 5:8). Lord, thank you that as I provide for others, You, in turn, will provide for me. Amen. Through a Season of Grief The daily email messages you are receiving are also available in a book format. Purchase as a gift for a friend or buy a print copy for yourself. Through a Season of Grief by Bill Dunn and Kathy Leonard is available at online and local bookstores or at griefshare.org/devotional. If you would like to recommend these daily emails to a friend, please click here and choose one of the options under Share. For more information about GriefShare, including how to sign up for these daily emails, please click here. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2003-2013 by The Church Initiative, Inc., All rights reserved. No part of this material may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without explicit permission in writing from Church Initiative. You subscribed to this daily email through www.griefshare.org. We value your privacy! We will never give, sell, rent, or otherwise share your email or personal information with any other organization — EVER. To remove this email address from further mailings Click Here while connected to the internet. If you have any problems or concerns, please contact dailyemailsupport@griefshare.org. GriefShare 250 S. Allen Rd. Wake Forest, NC 27587 (800) 395-5755

Our Daily Bread -- Great Sacrifice April 15, 2016

Read: Hebrews 10:5-18 Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 27-29; Luke 13:1-22 The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us. —Galatians 1:3-4 W. T. Stead, an innovative English journalist at the turn of the 20th century, was known for writing about controversial social issues. Two of the articles he published addressed the danger of ships operating with an insufficient ratio of lifeboats to passengers. Ironically, Stead was aboard the Titanic when it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912. According to one report, after helping women and children into lifeboats, Stead sacrificed his own life by giving up his life vest and a place in the lifeboats so others could be rescued. There is something very stirring about self-sacrifice. No greater example of that can be found than in Christ Himself. The writer of Hebrews says, “This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God . . . . For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:12,14 nkjv). In his letter to the Galatians, Paul opened with words describing this great sacrifice: “The Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age” (Gal. 1:3-4). Jesus’ offering of Himself on our behalf is the measure of His love for us. That willing sacrifice continues to rescue men and women and offer assurance of eternity with Him. —Bill Crowder God of love and grace, words can never capture the wonder of the sacrifice that Christ offered on our behalf. May our love respond to You with faith and worship—for Your Son who was slain is worthy of our praise. Read more about the sacrifice of Jesus at discoveryseries.org/hp131. Jesus laid down His life to show His love for us. INSIGHT: Hebrews 10:5-7 is a quotation from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. This third-century bc translation was used by many Jews in the first century ad. About 90 percent of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are from the Septuagint. Dennis Moles Share your thoughts on today’s devotional on Facebook or odb.org.

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Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all. Our vision is to see people of all nations experiencing a personal relationship with Christ, growing to be more like Him, and serving in a local body of His family. To read today's Our Daily Bread online visit www.odb.org. Copyright © 2016, Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI 49555 USA. Written permission must be obtained from Our Daily Bread Ministries for any further posting or distribution. Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved.   Our Daily Bread Ministries | 3000 Kraft Ave | Grand Rapids, MI 49512 Manage Your Subscription.