“You, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.” – Lamentations 5:19

Nkhotfotjeni was born on 22 July 1899 in the country of Swaziland during the Boer War. His father was the King of Swaziland and died when Nkhotfotjeni was only a few months old. The son was given the name King Sobhuza II and his grandmother acted as regent until Sobhuza became an adult.

In 1921, the 22-year old assumed the throne. During the height of British colonial rule, when the struggle for African liberation was starting to gain momentum, he emphasized education and unity above all else, knowing that the time would come when the people of Swaziland would have to take over the duties of self-government and the responsibilities of independence.

Sobhuza saw his reign as one that led transition in both his country and the African continent. He led his country into the Organization of African Unity, while preaching peaceful change and the importance of unity on the continent. Under his guiding hand, his country peacefully negotiated independence from Britain in 1968.

Sobhuza succeeded in creating a harmonious and non-racial society in Swaziland. He reigned until his death on 21 August 1982. His reign of 82 years and 9 months is the longest in modern history. For many in Swaziland, he was the only ruler they ever knew.

There a King whose reign is eternal. Jesus Christ reigns through all of the ages. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord that His throne endures from generation to generation.

"God, who is eternal, infinite, supremely mighty, does great and unfathomable things in heaven and in earth, and there is no understanding his wonderful works.  If the works of God could easily be grasped by human understanding they could not be called wonderful or too great for words." - Thomas à Kempis

God’s Word: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” – Psalm 90:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him” – Lamentations 3:25

In 1981, Eugene Lang, a millionaire industrialist, returned to P.S. 121, the elementary school he had attended in East Harlem 50 years earlier, to address a class of graduating sixth graders. He intended to tell the students, "Work hard and you'll succeed." But on the way to the podium, the school principal told Lang that three-quarters of the school's students would probably never finish high school, prompting Lang to make an impromptu change to his speech: he promised college tuition to every sixth grader who stayed in high school and graduated. Lang told the class about witnessing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the 1963 March on Washington. He urged the students to dream their own dreams, and promised to do all that he could to help them achieve their goals.

Mr. Lang nurtured the students with tutors, trips to colleges, an open door to his office and, above all, his energetic encouragement.

In June 1987, the hopes and dreams unfolded in East Harlem. The first two of Mr. Lang's protégés to complete high school, Rosanna Serrano and Aristedes Alvarado, received their diplomas at emotional graduation ceremonies conducted for the Manhattan Center for Math and Science. Ms. Serrano went on to attend college at Barnard and Mr. Alvarado enrolled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

''Mr. Lang gave me a sense of someone being there for you,'' Aristedes said. ''You don't get that at school. When I told him I wasn't sure I could make it in such a prestigious school as Rensselaer, Lang said, 'Aristedes, you're a dreamer, dreamers can do anything.' '' Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school.

Jesus Christ wants every heart to put their hopes and dreams in Him. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He does not disappoint those who place their hope in Christ.

"To those who have learned to love and trust Jesus, the prospect of meeting him face to face and being with him forever is the hope that keeps us going, no matter what life may throw at us." - James I. Packer

God’s Word: “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” – Micah 7:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23

Bruce Davis was a follower of Charles Manson and dubbed Manson’s “right-hand man.” In December 1970, Bruce was arrested and sent to prison for the murder of two people. In the fall of 1974, he realized he would never be free again. He read books, such as “The Late Great Planet Earth,” but resisted accepting Jesus as his Savior.

He said: “I wanted to reject God’s moral demands, especially that His [love] required my submission to the Lord Jesus Christ.” But after realizing the hopelessness of his own situation, the 32 year old Bruce said: “Okay, God, you say you love me and we both know that I don’t love you. You say you want to help me, but I don’t believe it. I’ve never done anything for you. But if you still love me, and still want to help me, then do whatever you can.” “Over the next few days I was amazed by His love as my entire outlook began to change.  I had been born again just like Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3”

The Lord delivered Bruce from tobacco and changed his racist heart. He began to eagerly study the Bible and saw how much the Lord loved him. He met his wife and they had a daughter together. And though Bruce still remains imprisoned, he is free in Christ because of God’s love for him.

No one is beyond the grasp of God’s love. Today in prayer, praise Jesus and remember God’s love and faithfulness throughout your day.

"His purpose in sending Jesus into the world was to show his love and to draw men to himself." - Merrill C. Tenney

God’s Word: “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” – Psalm 86:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.” – Jeremiah 50:6

In 1181, Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone was born to a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, Italy. As a young man, he lost his taste for his worldly life. On a pilgrimage to Rome, he felt God’s call to live in poverty and to minister to the poor. He became known as Francis, and he began preaching on the streets, and soon amassed a following. He began the Franciscan Order and is one of the most revere Christians in history.

On one of his travels, Francis reflected on a story he heard of a mountaineer in the Alps who had risked his life to save a sheep, saying: "Oh God, if such was the earnestness of this shepherd in seeking for a mere animal which had probably been frozen on the glacier, how is it that I am so indifferent in seeking my sheep. "

People are like sheep, thy are prone to wander. And if they do not know Jesus, they are lost. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that He is the Good Shepherd and pray for those who do not yet know Him.  

“Like sheep that get lost nibbling away at the grass because they never look up, we often focus so much on ourselves and our problems that we get lost.” – Allen Klein

God’s Word: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” – Luke 15:4-7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” – Jeremiah 33:3

Max Planck was born on April 23, 1858, in Kiel, Germany. He is remembered for his many contributions to physics. He was awarded the 1918 Nobel Prize in Physics for the quantum theory, which revolutionized our understanding of the atomic and sub-atomic worlds. He is known as the father of quantum mechanics.

Max was also a Christian and he believed that “God is everywhere present.”

Unlike some scientists who disdained religion, Planck saw science and faith as complimentary. In their common, overlapping area, he saw science and faith moving in parallel lines toward the point at infinity. "No matter where and how far we look, nowhere do we find contradiction between religion and science"-there is "complete concordance” wrote Planck.

He said: “Anybody who has been seriously engaged in scientific work of any kind realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: ‘Ye must have faith.’ It is a quality which the scientist cannot dispense with.”

Jesus desires us to develop a special dependence on Him. Today in prayer, humbly come before the Lord, call on Him and trust in Him by faith.

"Never does he who clings to God despair, because he is never without resources." - Jacques B. Bossuet

God’s Word: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” – Jeremiah 29:12

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve.” – Jeremiah 32:19

In 2011, a new kind of camera was introduced. It is called Lytro and it takes pictures in a way that no other camera ever has. The Lytro camera allows users to change the focus of a picture after the picture is taken.

Some are calling this “the first major change in photography since photography was invented.”

When normal cameras take a photo, they measure the color and light coming through the lens to produce an image. The Lytro camera not only sees color and light but can understand which direction the light moves while snapping a photo. Instead of simply grabbing one point of the light in a scene, Lytro analyzes all the points of light and then converts them to data. Once the image is stored using the technology, it can be processed and reprocessed after the photo is taken.

This means that you can take a photo and then refocus the subject in it after the fact. It means that if you take a picture of a friend in the foreground and there’s something exciting happening down the street, you can use Lytro’s custom software to refocus on the background, or almost anything else in the scene that you captured. In some ways, it refocuses similar to the human eye.

Nothing escapes the Lord’s eyes. The whole world is continually in His focus. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that sees you and knows you like no other person can.

"Wherever you are, the eye of God will be upon you - as much on you as if there were not another person in the whole world." - Charles H. Spurgeon

God’s Word: “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.” – Jeremiah 17:10

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’” – Jeremiah 31:3

Annie Meadows was pronounced dead at birth, but miraculously she began breathing when the doctor untangled her umbilical cord from her neck. She grew up Cairo, Illinois. She became interested in music as a young age. "Music was always my greatest love," Annie said. "It was my best friend."

It was also a ticket out of tiny Cairo. At age 15, Annie ran away and became a singer in a rock band. She began using marijuana and alcohol. She started to get involved with the occult.

Then her boyfriend at the time convinced her to attend a church service. He had just become a Christian. After the service, Annie remembers standing in her brother's front yard and looking up at the sky. She shook her fist, she said, and told God to leave her alone because church held no place for her. It was after this plea that Meadows felt God was listening to her. A voice that came from her heart told her it was time to make a choice. "I was given a choice, the choice to walk away from him or embrace him”.  On May 1, 1983, she gave her life to Jesus.

Annie began writing Christian songs, and now Jesus is her greatest love and her best friend.  

God loves you and desires you to fall in love with Him. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for His loving kindness to you.

"By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God's love towards us." - John Chrysostom

God’s Word: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11

In March 2001, Sujo John and his wife Mary left their native India to work in New York City. One day, Sujo remembers reflecting on his life: “I made my way to my office and as I sat on my chair I started reflecting on God’s goodness on our lives. He had blessed us with good jobs and now we were expecting our first child. Everything seemed to be going well. However, I began to feel a deep sense of emptiness in my life. I knew there was a call of God upon my life but I was not doing anything about it. I decided to write an email to a friend at my church telling him how I felt and how I was looking for purpose in life. I let go of that email at 8:05 am from my office. Little did I know how the next few moments would change us forever.” That day was September 11, 2001.

Sujo worked on the North Tower of the World Trade Center and Mary worked on the South Tower. Miraculously, the Lord spared both Sujo and Mary that day as they called out to Him.

Since that fateful day, Sujo and Mary have traveled the world sharing their incredible story of survival.  They have a full-time ministry of evangelism, compassion and church planting.

"God has taken us to more than 400 cities around the world where I've travelled with the greatest story ever told for God who offers his un-conditional, irrational love upon His people," said Sujo.

God’s plans are far greater than any plans we may have for ourselves. Today in prayer, praise the Lord and look to Him for the wonderful plans He has for your life.

"God hath a work to do; and not to help Him is to oppose Him." - John Owen

God’s Word: “Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” – Psalms 40:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the LORD, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?’” – Jeremiah 23:29

On December 9, 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he will reestablish a regular Bible study group at his official residence in Jerusalem. The group will be open to Bible researchers, government officials and invited guests. Netanyahu made the announcement on the 30-day anniversary of the passing of his father-in-law, Shmuel Ben-Artzi, who was a respected Israeli poet and Bible teacher. Ben-Artzi used to attend the regular Bible studies hosted by Israel's first prime minister, David Ben Gurion. "Ben-Gurion understood that the Book of Books is our mandate for our country," Netanyahu said. "He viewed the Bible as the wondrous story of the Jewish people, the unique spiritual, cultural and historic heritage of our people, and also as one of the cornerstones of all of human culture." The father of Netanyahu's Likud Party, Menachem Begin, also used to host regular Bible studies at the prime minister's residence. Netanyahu said he wanted to reinstate that practice in order to encourage love of the Bible among government officials, and by extension, the nation.

God’s Word can change our lives. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus for His Word and spend some extra time reading His Word this weekend.

“Every word of the Bible rings with Christ.” - Martin Luther

God’s Word: “Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you.” – Psalm 119:91

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay is the man who gains riches by unjust means. When his life is half gone, they will desert him, and in the end he will prove to be a fool.” - Jeremiah 17:11

In 2010, Earl Jones, a Montreal native, was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Canadian court for bilking 158 investors. For almost 30 years, the now bankrupt 69-year-old Jones ran a Ponzi scheme where he bilked some $50 million from fellow Canadians. The most noteworthy part of Jones' rip-off was he stole $1 million from his own brother, Bevan, who was battling cancer.

Another victim was Dominique Jackson, a student at the Community College of Denver. Jones persuaded her to invest her inheritance with him and to sell all her stocks. He promised a monthly check that would cover all of her living expenses. After a few months worth of checks, the money stopped.

“He’s gained the trust of very close personal acquaintances as well as family members,” said Joey Davis, a former client of Jones whose mother invested $200,000 with him. “He took everyone.”

The Lord hates gain through unjust means. Today in prayer, praise Jesus that He is the giver of all things and seek to follow His will in all that you do.

“Temporal prosperity is very unfavorable to spiritual development.” – Charles Simeon

God’s Word: “Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.” – Proverbs 23:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” – Jeremiah 17:9

Samantha Brett, a writer for the Australian newspaper “The Age,” describes the phrase “What happens on travel, stays on travel,” as an "unspoken male pact that for centuries can never be broken".

It was a catch phrase to say it is okay to sin when you are away from home; one just did not talk about it. Businessmen, military men, athletes, and frequent travelers thought they could compartmentalize their sin when away from the family.

In the 1970’s, many musical groups began to take this phrase to excess with sex, drugs, and drinking.

Then in 2004, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority bought the rights to the phrases “What Happens here, stays here,” and “What Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” It was a lure to come to “Sin City” and not be accountable for your sins. The trademark slogan has become so popular that a recent study shows that the advertising efforts of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority return $26 for every $1 spent on advertising.

Our hearts are deceitful and sin has made our hearts more deceitful. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life to Jesus and give your heart to Him.

“All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy.” - Scott Alexander

God’s Word: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” – Psalm 139:23

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” – Jeremiah 15:19

James Montgomery was born November 4, 1771 in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. His father was a pastor and missionary of the Moravian Brethren. James trained for the ministry at the Moravian School at Fulneck, England, while his parents left for the West Indies, where both died within a year of each other.

Upon hearing of his parents’ death, James fell into depression. He left the church and sought solace in the world. But at age 43, James asked for readmission to the church. He repented of his sins writing:

“People of the living God, I have sought the world around, Paths of sin and sorrow trod, Peace and comfort nowhere found. Now to you my spirit turns-- Turns a fugitive unblest; Brethren, where your altar burns, O receive me into rest.”

James became an avid worker for missions and an active member of the Bible Society. He was a hymn writer, a poet, and worked tirelessly to abolish slavery and to end the exploitation of child chimney sweeps.

One of the events that helped bring James back to the Lord occurred in 1812. Montgomery's home in Sheffield was broken into and a treasured inkstand was stolen. The inkstand, which held the ink he used with his quill pen for writing, was a gift from the ladies of Sheffield. A public outcry ensued and the inkstand was soon returned with the following message of repentance:

"Honored sir: When we robbed your house we did not know that you wrote such beautiful verses as you do. I remember my mother told some of them to me when I was a boy. I found what house we robbed by the writing on the inkstand. Honored sir, I send it back. It was my share of the booty, and I hope you and God will forgive me."

Sin separates from the Lord, but repentance and a return to Jesus brings life. Today in prayer, confess any sin in your life and return to following Christ.

"When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ’repent,’ He willed that the entire life of a believer be one of repentance." – Martin Luther

God’s Word: “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!’” – Mark 1:14-15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?” – Jeremiah 12:1

Georges-Louis Leclerc Buffon was a gifted French student when he was appointed keeper of the royal botanical garden and museum. He was tasked to undertake a catalog of the royal collections in natural history, which the ambitious Buffon transformed into an undertaking to produce an account of the whole of nature. This became his great work, “Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière”, a book that he patiently wrote from 1749 until 1804. It was the first modern attempt to systematically catalog all existing knowledge in the fields of natural history, geology, and anthropology in a single publication.

Buffon was a Christian and he wrote about godly patience:

"The ability to accept delay. Or disappointment. To smile at setbacks and respond with a pleasant, understanding spirit. To remain calm while others around are uneasy. This is Godly patience. Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; Hold fast; Hold out. Patience is genius."

The Lord is patient and desires all men and women to come to a saving knowledge of Him. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for His patience toward the wicked and pray for those who have not yet come to know Jesus.

“God bears with the wicked, but not forever.” – Miguel de Cervantes

God’s Word: “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” – Isaiah 55:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.” – Jeremiah 8:18

In 1987, 15 year old Douglas Maurer of Creve Coeur, Missouri was running a high fever and was admitted to the hospital. After a battery of tests, He was diagnosed as having leukemia.

During the next 48 hours, Douglas endured blood transfusions, spinal and bone marrow tests and chemotherapy. He developed pneumonia. For five days his mother stayed in his hospital room. The doctors told him in plain terms the seriousness of his disease.

On the day he had been admitted, Douglas opened his eyes, looked around his room, and said to his mother, “I thought you get flowers when you`re in the hospital.” This was the first time since he was born that Douglas had been in a hospital.

One of Douglas’ aunts, hearing this, called a floral shop to send Douglas an arrangement of flowers. The flower shop was Brix Florist.

As Douglas’ aunt placed her telephone order, she described her nephew’s condition.  

When the floral arrangement arrived at the hospital, it was beautiful. Douglas was feeling strong enough to sit up; he opened the envelope and read the card from his aunt.

Then he saw that, in the envelope, was another card. The card said:

“Douglas--I took your order. I work at Brix Florist. I had leukemia when I was 7 years old. I’m 22 years old now. Good luck. My heart goes out to you. Sincerely, Laura Bradley.”

According to his mother, Douglas` face lit up. He said, “Oh!”

Douglas’ mother said, “For the first time since he had been in the hospital, he had gotten some inspiration. He had talked to so many doctors and nurses. But this one card, from the woman at the florist`s who had survived leukemia, was the thing that made him believe he might beat the disease.”

Laura said:  “When the woman on the phone told me that the boy had leukemia, my head dropped into my hands. I felt tears coming into my eyes. It reminded me of when I first learned that I had it.”

Because Laura took the time to care, Douglas was comforted and gained hope.

God is the Great Comforter who is always present and can comfort us in our sorrows. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is a God of Comfort.

“Most of our comforts grow up between our crosses.” – Edward Young

God’s Word: “For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” – 2 Corinthians 1:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” – Jeremiah 6:10

In 1987, John Dennis Hastert was elected to the US Congress from Illinois. He served for twenty years and was elected Speaker of the House in 1999. He retained that position until 2007, serving as the Speaker of the House longer than any other Republican.

In his fundraising speeches, Hastert liked to tell how he visited a high school principal to see if he might want the job himself. Outside the principal's office were half a dozen chairs that were filled with problematic students in the morning and with problematic teachers during lunch hour; the job consisted of listening to complaints all day.

“I couldn't see myself doing that,” Hastert said. “So I decided to be a state legislator... Right outside my office now there are seven or eight chairs. And they're full every day.” He paused for laughter. “They call me the Speaker, but they really ought to call me the Listener."

When we listen to the Lord, we do not hear constant complaining. Rather we hear His words to live by.  Today in prayer, ask Jesus to give you an attentive ear to hear His Word and to act upon it.

“God never ceases to speak to us, but the noise of the world without and the passions within bewilder us and prevent us from listening to Him.” – Francois Fenelon

God’s Word: “You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.” – Isaiah 42:20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” – Matthew 28:7

In 1990, a Bible from the 1770’s was found in a Boston library. It was during this time the great men of God Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were preaching. A revival known as the “Great Awakening” occurred in colonial America causing men and women to turn their hearts to Jesus.

In the Bible was a poem entitled “Awaken” by Lawrence Tribble. Tribble had become a Christian and he wrote how the word of Christ can awaken our hearts to the truth. Here is the poem “Awaken”:

“One man awake,

Awakens another.

The second awakens

His next-door brother.

The three awake can rouse a town

By turning

The whole place

Upside down.

The many awake

Can make such a fuss

It finally awakens

The rest of us.

One man up,

With dawn in his eyes,

Surely then it Multiplies.”

Jesus Christ has Risen! He has conquered death and given us eternal life. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He has risen from the dead and encourage others with this Good News.

“For like the seeds which are cast into the earth, we do not perish by dissolution, but sown into the earth, shall rise again, death having been brought to naught by the grace of the Savior.” - Athanasius

God’s Word: “"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” – Mark 16:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS FOR EASTER

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”[a] When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” – Luke 23:46-47

On the morning of March 22, 2012, American Sergeant Dennis Weichel and members of his unit were leaving the Black Hills Firing Range in Laghman province, Afghanistan, when they encountered multiple Afghan children in the path of their convoy. Weichel was among several soldiers who dismounted to disperse the children away from the vehicles. As one child attempted to retrieve an item from underneath a U.S. Army vehicle was bearing down on the little girl. Sergeant Weichel dashed into the path of an armored fighting vehicle to scoop up the girl and moved her to safety. Unfortunately, he was struck by the vehicle and died. "Tragically, Sergeant Weichel has made the supreme sacrifice, and at this time, we are mindful of the impact of that sacrifice on his family and friends," said Gen. Kevin McBride, adjutant general of Rhode Island and commanding general of the Rhode Island National Guard.

Jesus Christ made the supreme sacrifice on the Cross to pay for our sins. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that through His death on the Cross He made a way for sinful man to reunite with our Holy Father in Heaven.

“God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, '’I love you.'’” – Billy Graham

God’s Word: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. – 1 John 2:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS FOR GOOD FRIDAY

“I thought, "These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God. So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God." But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.” – Jeremiah 5:4-5

William Orton, president of the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1876.

In 1876, William Orton was the president of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Western Union had a monopoly on the telegraph, the world’s most advanced communications technology. The company had $41 million is capital, a large sum at the time.

Gardiner Greene Hubbard, a wealthy Bostonian, approached Orton with an offer to sell the patent for a new invention Hubbard had helped to fund. The asking price of the patent was $100,000.

Orton bypassed Hubbard and drafted a response directly to the inventor. “Mr. Bell,” he wrote, “after careful consideration of your invention, while it is a very interesting novelty, we have come to the conclusion that it has no commercial possibilities… What use could this company make of an electrical toy?”

Soon after that foolish decision, Orton realized that Alexander Bell’s invention of the telephone was the wave of the future and, in vain, he tried to stop its progress.

Though the world may be foolish, as Christians we are called to be wise in our actions. Today in prayer, look to the Lord and ask Him to for wisdom and guidance in all the decisions you face this day.  

“Wise men learn more from fools than fools from wise men.” – Marcus Cato

God’s Word: “A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” – Proverbs 18:7

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“My people are fools; they do not know me. They are senseless children; they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil; they know not how to do good.” – Jeremiah 4:22

In July 2010, David Brooks, the founder and former chief executive of DHB Industries, and Sandra Hatfield, the company’s former chief operating officer were found guilty in federal court of swindling the US Military out of more than $190 million.

DHB was the US Military's leading supplier of body armor.

Brooks and Hatfield were accused of lying about the performance and stock value of their best selling product, the Interceptor bullet-proof vest, in order to sell it to the US Military at an inflated price. The Interceptor vest was used by most of the country's servicemen and women.

After taking advantage of the US Military, Brooks and Hatfield proceeded to open up a series of off-shore bank accounts, into which they deposited the exorbitant profits. Scotland Yard said it discovered Brooks hiding more than $3.6 million in a London safe deposit box.

With the cash, Brooks bought himself a stable of race horses, pornography for his sons, a $100,000 gem-encrusted US flag belt buckle, plastic surgery for the wife, and prostitutes for his staff.

The court found both Brooks and Hatfield guilty of all charges.

Our sin nature makes us inclined to become skilled in doing evil. Today in prayer, give thanks to Jesus that He has overcome the world and our sin nature.  Pray for those who are practicing evil that their eyes and heart might be opened to Jesus Christ.

"Punishment for evil will be administered, and the final dimension of eternal life will be granted to all who have responded to God's loving offer." - Millard J. Erickson

God’s Word: “The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” – Genesis 6:5

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.” – Jeremiah 2:11

In 1990, a wealthy Indian businessman commissioned sculptors to create a Buddha. The sculpture was to be situated on an artificial island in the middle of an artificial lake in Hyderabad, India. About 130 sculptors worked five years on the statue, which cost $3.5 million to make.

The Buddha was completed in 1990 and was barged to the island. But on the transit to the island, the 57-foot, 350 ton granite statue slid off its trailer and the barge broke up.

Eight construction workers who were holding lines to secure the statue were swept overboard and drowned.

The remaining 40 people aboard were able to safely swim the 300 feet to shore. The Buddha’s plunge into eighty feet of water was a grim reminder that worshipping idols can cause physical and spiritual death.

Avoid idolatry. Today in prayer, confess any sin of idolatry and worship Jesus, the one True God.

"You don't have to go to heathen lands today to find false gods. America is full of them. Whatever you love more than God is your idol." - D.L. Moody

God’s Word: “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” – Galatians 4:8-9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5

On May 27th 1902, Peter Marshall was born in Coatbridge, in the county of North Lanarkshire, Scotland. In 1924, at the age of 21 years old, while walking home one evening, Peter heard a strong calling by the Lord to enter the ministry. He worked as a laborer for the next three years and saved up enough money to immigrate to New York in 1927.

Peter worked hard and attended Columbia Theological Seminary, in Decatur Georgia graduating in 1931. Nearing the end of his studies, he took the pastorate in a small, rural church, the First Presbyterian of Covington, Georgia, remaining there until 1933.

Peter was then called to Atlanta's Westminster Presbyterian Church. His ministry grew and he met his wife Catherine. He was a gifted preacher who had been called by God to preach to people's hearts about issues of the heart.

In 1937, Peter followed the Lord’s leading to become pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.

On January 4, 1947, Peter became the Chaplain to the U.S. Senate. He served in that position for two years, until the Lord called him home on January 26, 1949.

The Lord has known you before you were born and desires you to follow His calling for your life. Today in prayer, thank Jesus for His everlasting love for you and seek to follow His call for your life.

"If the Lord be with us, we have no cause of fear. His eye is upon us, His arm over us, His ear open to our prayer - His grace sufficient, His promise unchangeable." - John Newton

God’s Word: “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” – Psalm 139:15-16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2012, Devotional E-Mail   

DEVOTIONS IN JEREMIAH AND LAMENTATIONS