Manna for 7/7/2009

Question for the day: What was your most embarrassing moment?

WE’RE PRAYING FOR YOU TODAY…
Good morning,

This is just a reminder that every day, while we are studying God’s Word to add to our website, someone from our ministry, Dysmas Conduit, is holding you up before the Lord in prayer. May He greatly bless you today as you pursue His will and He is glorified through you.

God’s blessings, our love,
George & Sidney Granger


CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please pray for Mike and Sandy Brommer as they spread the Lord’s Seed and witness to His glory while on the road today. Please pray also that the Lord will lead him to Kingdom-profitable loads to carry, and that He grants them safe passage from upstate NY to Houston.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR BOB ALLMANN
Treatment Location:CARE-TEL
6700 WESTSIDE SAGINAW ROAD
ROOM 108
BAY CITY, MICHIGAN
Phone:
989-667-9800 x610

Bob was in a car accident Thurs. 4-9-09 at about 6pm in Midland. Someone ran a stop light at about 50 mph and hit him in the driver side door and flipped his Cutlass on its roof. He was hanging upside down by his seatbelt. The jaws of life had to be used to remove him. He was taken to Midland Hospital and then transported to St. Mary's. He has about 6 broken ribs on his right side, collapsed lung, broken pelvis and broken wings on his vertebrae.

Since that time, God has done wondrous things in Bob’s life, and has him known as the Miracle Man because of the way he has mended. Bob was transported to Covenant Select Hospital, and most recently to CARE-TEL. Something tells me that Bob won’t be there long… He may just get on his motorcycle and scoot out to his daughter’s wedding in Colorado. God is AWESOME!

Update:
Friday, July 03, 2:30 PM - Wendi:
Well, Pop is all settled in at Caretel and I went to see him and the facility yesterday. WOW, the ambulance drivers were right, they told him he is going to the "Mack-Daddy of all Rehabs!" It is a beautiful place from what I saw and the staff seems to be very helpful! He got the day "off" yesterday from therapy, but they made up for it today. He said he had PT for about 1 1/2 hours and when he got back to his room he layed down and took a nap! He was TIRED!!!

His goal is still to get to Debi's wedding, which is August 1. He does have quite a bit of work to do, but he is determined and has the Lord backing him up! We had such a nice talk yesterday afternoon, about what has happened, what is happening now and what the Lord has in store for him in the future! We ARE very blessed! If you would like to visit him, please do, he is very much up to visiting (you may even get to accompany him to therapy and see his progress!). Therapists get the weekend off, so Pop will be doing exercises that he can do in his room. There are courtyards there and he can go out and enjoy the weather too. GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO WE!

Wendi


Please continue to pray for Billy Hamburg, whose doctors found 5 tumors in his bladder. He had surgery June 29th and the biopsy results showed a cancerous condition. He will be undergoing chemo & radiation treatments and will need the Lord’s Hand to overcome his anxiety as well as the cancer.

Just a quick note for some extra prayers. My sister (Lillian) found out this week that she has cancer back. This will be the third time. She just got a clean bill of health a few months back and last week had an issue with her leg. She has it on a bone on her leg and possibly a spot on her leg. God is good and I'm sure he will get her through this but I am afraid of her spirit giving up. Thanks and hope you all are having a great summer. I miss you all. --Joel J. Beeck

Prayer requests from Messiah communication cards:
Scott/Angela Becker: David & Traci Toner and their new baby Keegan.
Tom/Jodi Heldt: Trent Ripper
Tara Demski: Mike & I getting everything ready in time w/our wedding w/peace, strength, love & patience
Carol/David Taylor : praise to the Kind he gave us a beautiful July 4th day.
Josh Burkhard: Michelle & Eliana as she will probably have the c-section this week.
Carol Greyerbiehl: praise my boss Judy chemo went much better continued prayer for her.
Clyde/Phyllis Braman: Lori Braman physical, mental, financial problems (living the life of Job)
Shirley Haskell: Please pray for my blood pressure will become normal and healing of kidneys
CONFIDENTIAL: Shannon will find way closer to God.
Jill/Charlie Breedlove: Praise Lauri’s surgery is over continue to pray for total healing
Mel Shorts: Melissa’s surgery was on Wed. was a success. Please pray for continued healing.
Al/Ann Gay: Linda Alexander & Janet MeyerJeff Gledhill: Jayden seeing retinal specialist this week
Becky Minnis: my new granddaughter will be having heart surgery tomorrow pray for God’s guidance in the doctor’s and that she makes a speedy recovery
Ben Dvorak: Doing good in college finding right things, no smoking or beer
Andrew Dvorak: a cut knee
Bob Dvorak: troops overseas
David/Andrea McDonald: Shirley Haskell
Ruth Laatsch: my great-granddaughter Madison Hayduke born 6/27 sill in hospital hoping to go home this week. Breathing problems just won’t go away. Pray that God will heal this precious baby.
CONFIDENTIAL: son upcoming heart surgery and health issues

FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)

Today in God’s Word

TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009
Please join your brothers and sisters
studying and praying with us today…

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
July 7, 2009

Exposed
Micca Monda Campbell

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:9 (NIV)


Devotion:
I have a talent for embarrassing myself. A few years ago, I was alone in the elevator on my way to a meeting, when I noticed that my panty hose were sagging. I had been running non-stop, so naturally I needed to freshen up. I figured since I was the only one in the elevator, it was safe to lift up my skirt, bend over, and pull up my hose. I'm sure you have done something similar.

There was only one problem. When I entered the elevator at the bottom floor, it had a back wall. As I rode the elevator from one floor to the next, I noticed something had changed. The back wall had magically transformed into a glass wall! Ingeniously, the hotel was built in a circle with a large floor-to-roof atrium. This design meant that all of the glass elevators overlooked the center of the hotel as they moved up and down. What was in the center of the atrium with the translucent elevators? The hotel restaurant. What time of day was it? You guessed it - dinnertime. The room was packed with people unaware that they were getting both dinner and a show!

I was horrified! Aren't we all when a side of us is exposed that we would rather keep covered? I think sin is like that. We try to hide it, but at some point it reveals itself, leaving us embarrassed, sorrowful, and ashamed. Not all sins are exposed; there are some that we manage to keep concealed. In doing so, it gives us the false illusion that no one can see them. While others may not, we forget that God can see all. And He doesn't need a glass wall to see what is hidden.

What does our sin do to the heart of God? The Bible says that our sin grieves the Holy Spirit within us (Ephesians 4:30, paraphrased). I don't know about you, but knowing that I can break the heart of God does something to my own heart. Not only am I ashamed, but a deep sense of separation from God comes over me. The good news is God doesn't keep a record of our sin. What He keeps a record of is when we believe Him.

The Apostle Paul tells us, "Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness'" (Galatians 3:6, NIV).Therefore, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9). That's a promise. There is no need to hide our sin or defend our wrong actions when we can simply have God's forgiveness.

In the historical event found in Matthew chapter 26, Jesus sat down with His twelve disciples to prepare for the Passover. During this time, Jesus reveled to His followers something only He could see. "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me." (Matthew 26:21, NIV). I love the disciples' reaction. They didn't become defensive at Christ's words.

When I know that one of my three children have disobeyed in some way, but I don't know who, I say to them, "One of you has broken a rule." They usually respond by blaming one another or defending themselves. The disciples did not. They didn't try to play cover up or debate the matter. They didn't even point fingers at one another. Instead, each one examined themselves. Even Judas asked Jesus, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." (Matthew 26:25, NIV).

Once Judas' eyes were open to his sin, he had a choice to make. He could either fess up and be done with it or he could carry out his betrayal. He chose the latter. That choice determined his tragic destiny. Yet, Judas' fate didn't have to end that way. If Judas had responded to his conviction before he betrayed Christ with repentance, someone else would have had to fill his role in history. Why? Because Christ our Lord was sent to free us from sin and restore us back into fellowship with God.

You and I need to understand that Jesus doesn't expose our sin to embarrass us or condemn us. God didn't send Christ into the world to condemn but to save. When you and I sin, God is simply waiting for us to look inward and say, "Lord, it is I?" In the instant we confess with faith, Christ is ready and willing to make all things new.

Dear Lord, I confess to you my sin of _________. I'm sorry that my sin breaks Your heart. Cleanse me and restore my relationship with You. Fill me once more with Your peace and presence, in Jesus' Name, Amen.


Application Steps:
When you know that you have sinned against God, confess it immediately. Don't wait.


Reflections:
Do you often try to hide your sin or are you quick to confess it?

How are you betraying yourself by not confessing your sin?


Power Verses:
Romans 10:9, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (NIV)

Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (NIV)

…and…


If I Die, Is That the End?
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
What happens after you die?
The world is full of theories but it's the truth that matters.
Take a look with today's Back to the Bible study...
Series: John: Answers to Life's Questions (Week 5 of 8)

VIEW OR LISTEN AT
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Back_to_the_Bible/

GDLC Message: http://www.gdlc.org/worship/sermons.aspx

http://www.weebly.com/weebly/main.php#
http://georgeandsidney.blogspot.com/