La Roca Ministerio Internacional

Kirsten Holmberg Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission Serving with Love Bible in a Year : Jeremiah 46-47 Hebrews 6 Use whatever gift you have received to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 Today's Scripture & Insight : 1 Peter 4:7-11 When Krystal first started work at a Virginia coffee shop, she served a customer named Ibby. Because Ibby is hearing impaired, he placed his order using a typed note on his phone. After Krystal learned Ibby was a regular customer, she determined to serve him better by learning enough American Sign Language so he could place his order without writing it down. In a small way, Krystal showed Ibby the kind of love and service Peter encourages us all to offer one another. In his letter to believers in Jesus who’d been scattered and exiled, the apostle indicates that they ought to “love each other deeply” and use their gifts “to serve others” ( 1 Peter 4:8 ,  10 ). Whatever skills and abilities He’s equipped u

Tim Gustafson Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission The Payoff Bible in a Year : Isaiah 59-61 2 Thessalonians 3 Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 Today's Scripture & Insight : Ecclesiastes 2:1-5, 11-17 In 1921, artist Sam Rodia began construction on his Watts Towers. Thirty-three years later, seventeen sculptures rose as high as thirty meters over Los Angeles. Musician Jerry Garcia was dismissive of Rodia’s lifework. “That’s the payoff,” said Garcia. “That thing that exists after you’re dead.” Then he said, “Wow, that’s not it for me.” So what  was  the payoff for him? His bandmate Bob Weir summed up their philosophy: “In eternity, nothing will be remembered of you. So why not just have fun?” A wealthy, wise man once tried to find the “payoff” by doing everything he possibly could. He wrote, “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasu

Arthur Jackson Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission In Harm’s Way Bible in a Year : Isaiah 39-40 Colossians 4 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Acts 17:34 Today's Scripture & Insight : Acts 17:16-34 On my morning walk, I noticed that a vehicle was stopped in the road headed in the wrong direction. The driver was unaware of the danger to herself and others because she was asleep and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The situation was perilous, and I had to act. After getting her alert enough to move her to the passenger side of the car so I could get into the driver’s seat, I drove her to a safe place. Physical danger isn’t the only harm we face. When Paul saw worldly-wise, clever people in Athens in spiritual peril because “the city was full of idols,” he “was greatly distressed” ( Acts 17:16 ). The apostle’s innate response to those who flirted with ideas that failed to consider Christ wa

Arthur Jackson Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission The human heart is an amazing organ. This fist-sized pumping station weighs between 7 and 15 ounces. Daily it beats around 100,000 times and pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies! With such a strategic assignment and heavy workload, it’s understandable why heart health is central to the well-being of the entire body. Medical science encourages us to pursue healthy habits because the condition of our heart and the quality of our health go together. While medical science speaks authoritatively about our physical hearts, God speaks with even greater authority about a “heart” of another kind. He addresses the mental, emotional, spiritual, and moral “center” of our being. Because the heart is the central processing unit of life, it must be protected: “Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” ( Proverbs 4:23 ). Safeguarding our

Amy Boucher Pye Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission Search and Rescue Bible in a Year : Isaiah 5-6 Ephesians 1 [Jesus] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age. Galatians 1:4 Today's Scripture & Insight : Galatians 1:1-5 Some friends went boating in the English Channel, hoping the forecast for stormy weather would change. But the winds rose, and the waves became choppy, threatening the safety of their vessel, so they radioed for help to the RNLI (the Royal National Lifeboat Institution). After some tense moments, they spotted their rescuers in the distance and realized with relief they’d soon be safe. As my friend reflected gratefully afterward, “Whether or not people ignore the rules of the sea, the RNLI still comes to the rescue.” As he recounted the story, I thought about how Jesus leads God’s search-and-rescue mission. He came to earth to become a man, living as one of us. Through His death and re

Katara Patton Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission The Ups and Downs of Life Bible in a Year : Ecclesiastes 7-9 2 Corinthians 13 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. John 16:33 Today's Scripture & Insight : John 16:31-33 A Facebook memory popped up, showing me a picture of my triumphant five-year-old when she’d won a fun and competitive game of Chutes and Ladders. I’d tagged my brother and sister in the post because we’d often played this board game when we were kids. Chutes and Ladders is based on a game that’s been played for centuries, helping people learn to count and providing the thrill of being able to climb a ladder and win the game by getting to 100 the fastest. But watch out! If you land on spot 98, you slide far down the chute, delaying—or even prohibiting—victory. Isn’t that just like life? Jesus lovingly prepared us for the ups and downs of our days. He said we’d experience “trouble” (

Arthur Jackson Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission A House Undivided Bible in a Year : Proverbs 19–21 2 Corinthians 7 Every city or household divided against itself will not stand. Matthew 12:25 Today's Scripture & Insight : Ephesians 2:17–22 On June 16, 1858, as the newly nominated Republican candidate for the US Senate from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech, which highlighted the tensions between various factions in America regarding slavery. It caused a stir among Lincoln’s friends and foes. Lincoln felt it was important to use the “house divided” figure of speech which Jesus used in  Matthew 12:25  because it was widely known and simply expressed. He used this metaphor “so it would strike home to the minds of men in order to rouse them to the peril of the times.” While a divided house can’t stand, the implied opposite can—an undivided house stands unified. In principle, that’s what the

Alyson Kieda Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission Step Out in Faith Bible in a Year : Proverbs 1-2 1 Corinthians 16 When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river. Joshua 3:8 Today's Scripture & Insight : Joshua 3:7-17 The guest speaker spoke on the wisdom of trusting God and “stepping into the river.” He told of a pastor who trusted God and chose to speak the truths of the Bible in a sermon despite the new law of his land. He was convicted of hate crimes and spent thirty days in jail. But his case was appealed, and the court ruled he had the right to give a personal interpretation of the Bible and to urge others to follow. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant had to make a choice too—either step into the water or stay on the shore. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years. Now they stood on the banks of the Jordan River, which was at flood stage and danger

James Banks Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission When Believing Is Seeing Bible in a Year : Psalms 135-136 1 Corinthians 12 The wolf and the lamb will feed together. Isaiah 65:25 Today's Scripture & Insight : Isaiah 65:17-25 “I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” My wife, Cari, called me to the window and pointed out an adult doe in the woods just outside our fence, bounding from one end of our yard to the other. Keeping pace beside her inside the fence were our large dogs, but they weren’t barking. Back and forth they went, for nearly an hour. When the doe paused and faced them, the dogs stopped also, straightening their front legs and crouching back on their haunches, ready to run again. This wasn’t predator and prey behavior; the doe and the dogs were playing together, enjoying each other’s company! To Cari and me, their morning romp provided a picture of the coming kingdom of God. The prophet Isaiah proclaims God’s promise of

Tom Felten Our Daily Bread Ministries https://odb.org/ All rights reserved-Published with permission Worth the Wait Bible in a Year : Psalms 123-125 1 Corinthians 10:1-18 Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Genesis 21:5 Today's Scripture & Insight : Genesis 12:1-5 Talk about a layover.  Phil Stringer waited  eighteen hours  to board a flight that was delayed due to thunderstorms. His patience and perseverance paid off, however. Not only did he get to fly to his destination and make it on time for important business meetings, but he was also the only traveler on the flight! All the other passengers gave up or made other arrangements. Flight attendants gave him whatever food items he desired, and Stringer adds, “I did sit in the front row, of course. Why not when you have the whole plane to yourself?” The outcome was definitely worth the wait. Abraham also endured what must have felt like a lengthy delay. Way back when he was known as Abram, God to