For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

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



Have you ever noticed that dawns are always brilliant because of the preceding darkness?

* Great mornings come from rough nights.

* Great victories come from persistence and struggles.

* Great achievements come from hard and tenacious work.

Whenever the people of God shouted victory, it was because they had spent nights weeping before God.

Trusting God is more than wishful thinking; it is knowing that if He said it, He will do it.

If you are going through a black tunnel, know that God is allowing this to happen not because He likes to see you suffer but to shape in you the form of Christ.

It is not a day of entertainment or a comedy show that would shape in you the character of Jesus, but it is in the dark room that God will develop you into the image of Christ. Try to develop images in the daylight and you will burn the whole thing.

After enduring you can walk into the daylight and know the Lord has brought you to the place where you should be.

Well, if you can bear much, just hang on a little bit more, and you will see that it was worth the try.

THE PRAYER: Lord, give me that little push to pray more, to endure more, and to be able to walk that extra mile. This I ask in the Name of the Savior. Amen.

Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Lebanon's Michel Matar. He has experienced an eventful life with his early years being touched by drugs, alcohol and the occult. In Lebanon, Matar is a well-known musician with several CDs to his credit. In 1989, he was touched by the love and forgiveness of Jesus. When he started reading the Word of God on a daily basis, his addiction and perverse lifestyle were over. Since then he has never looked back. After his conversion, Matar studied all of Lutheran Hour Ministries' Bible Correspondent Courses (BCC) and became a close friend of Middle East Lutheran Ministry (MELM). Today he has dedicated his life, his music, and his talents in the service of the Lord. Launched in 1950 in Beirut, MELM -- also known as LHM-Lebanon -- produces radio broadcasts that reach at least ten Arabic-speaking countries throughout the Middle East. This ministry center also utilizes TV, films, a website, and text-messages to connect with people in need. Vacation Bible schools reach out to Bedouin communities and other holistic programs make clothing and school supplies available to children. Training individuals in everyday witnessing is done through the Equipping the Saints (ETS) program. This ministry center has played a vital role in serving homeless and displaced refugees impacted by the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Iraq. To see pictures and read about the work being accomplished in Lebanon, you can visit its blog at lhmlebanon.wordpress.com.

Reach Out to Victims of ISIS Persecution in Syria and Iraq: Click here!


To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 20-22    1 Corinthians 14:1-20

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