Question for the day: Have you ever tried to help a runaway? If so, how did it turn out?
What can we pray for YOU about 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
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
Today in God’s Word
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2009
Please join your brothers and sisters
studying and praying with us today…
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
August 12, 2009
I Picked Up a Runaway
Holly Good
“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 (NIV)
Devotion:
I picked up a young runaway a few months ago.
She was dirty, wore baggy sweat pants and a yellow sweatshirt, and had muddy feet. I was stopped at an intersection when she sauntered across the street right in front of my car.
I continued on when the light turned green.
But I could not get those bare feet out of my mind. Those muddy, bare feet.
Why was this young girl walking across a busy intersection with no shoes on in the middle of a school day? About a mile down the road I felt the Lord encouraging me to turn around and go find that girl with the bare feet.
It was a gentle, but direct nudge I could not refuse.
I found her several minutes later outside a convenience store with a cup of water in her hand. I pulled up, rolled down my window and said, “Hey, what's going on with you?”
With little emotion she replied, “Oh nothing.”
“Well...what are you doing? Can I take you home?” I offered.
“You can take me to my friend's house,” she answered.
“I'd rather take you home,” I said. “Where do you live?”
“Well, I'm running away from home, so you can't take me there,” she said.
“Oh. Well, I would like to. Where do you live?” I asked again.
She eventually complied and trustingly got in my car. (And, oh how my heart was pounding!)
My new friend Sarah was only in 8th grade, skipping school and leaving home because she got into an argument about friends with her parents. She had been gone for two days. The previous night she had slept outside.
I prayed for just the right words to come from my mouth with my fragile but captive audience of one, on that short 18-minute ride to her house.
As I dropped Sarah off at her home, I prayed that the Lord would take over from there. I drove off and felt a peace in what He had led me to do that day.
It just so happened that a minor traffic accident had occurred around the corner as I was leaving. So I pulled over and told one of the officer's about Sarah, hoping they could also help her in some way.
Find her. Stop her. Detain her. Guide her. Protect her. Save her.
As I pray for my runaway friend each day, I realize that she is not much different from you and me. From a place we have journeyed or perhaps a place we are in right now.
Most of us have found ourselves running away at some point in our lives. Running from someone or something. Looking to escape.
Running, yet desperately hoping to be found.
She is lonely. She is angry. She feels betrayed. She feels misunderstood. She feels unloved. She is searching. She is confused. She is bitter. She wants to rest.
Oh my friend, I pray that you will have eyes to see, ears to hear and a place to finally find rest. For you are loved.
You are loved indeed.
Seek Him right now.
Dear Lord, thank You for loving me today and every day. I am grateful that You bigger than all of my problems. Give me the courage and the wisdom to seek You today, regardless of my circumstances. I want to be found by You Lord. And give me a heart to be able to see and help others near me in need, in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Please read Luke 15:11-32. Focus on the father’s actions and reactions and journal your thoughts. What does this story teach you about God’s love for you?
Pray that you will have eyes to see that God’s love is constant, patient and welcoming.
Reflections:
Am I running from something today? Spiritually, physically or emotionally?
How can I seek Him more today?
Read Psalm 71:20-21. Record these verses on a 3x5 card. Do you know someone you could give these verses to as an encouragement?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 29:14, “’I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity…’” (NIV)
Luke 15:32, “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and his found.” (NIV)
Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” (NIV)
…and…
Back to the Bible
Woodrow Kroll and Tami Weissert
Jesus: Cleanser from All Sin;
the King Maker
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Revelation 1 offers a vivid picture of Jesus and how He takes us out of the slavery of sin
to make us into a kingdom of priests.
Find out more with today's study with Woodrow Kroll...
Series: 25 Portraits of Jesus in Revelation (Week 1 of 3)
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Back_to_the_Bible/
GDLC Message: http://www.gdlc.org/worship/sermons.aspx
Today’s Chapter in God’s Word
Luke 22
(New International Version Translation)
LISTEN AT
http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, [2] and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. [3] Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. [4] And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. [5] They were delighted and agreed to give him money. [6] He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.
[7] Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. [8] Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover."
[9] "Where do you want us to prepare for it?" they asked.
[10] He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, [11] and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' [12] He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
[13] They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
[14] When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. [15] And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the
[17] After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. [18] For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the
[19] And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."
[20] In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. [21] But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. [22] The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." [23] They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.
[24] Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. [25] Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. [26] But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. [27] For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. [28] You are those who have stood by me in my trials. [29] And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, [30] so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of
[31] "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
[33] But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
[34] Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."
[35] Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?"
"Nothing," they answered.
[36] He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. [37] It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."
[38] The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords."
"That is enough," he replied.
[39] Jesus went out as usual to the
[45] When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. [46] "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
[47] While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, [48] but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
[49] When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" [50] And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
[51] But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.
[52] Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? [53] Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour--when darkness reigns."
[54] Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. [55] But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. [56] A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
[57] But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
[58] A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
[59] About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
[60] Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. [61] The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." [62] And he went outside and wept bitterly.
[63] The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. [64] They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" [65] And they said many other insulting things to him.
[66] At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. [67] "If you are the Christ," they said, "tell us."
Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me, [68] and if I asked you, you would not answer. [69] But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God."
[70] They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?"
He replied, "You are right in saying I am."
[71] Then they said, "Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips."
A question on today’s Scripture: Luke 22:47
Have any of your practices become empty gestures?
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 today from
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR PASTOR BOB ALLMANN
Pastor Bob is doing so well that he gave his testimony about his accident and road to recovery at St. Mark Lutheran Church in
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.
Please take a few minutes every day to pray for 11-year-old Dasia who underwent a bone marrow transplant in December. She has been at at U of M since Monday (Aug. 3rd) with a fungus in her lungs that is untreatable apart from surgery, to take out the part of the lung with the fungus. The doctors said that Dasia may not even make it out of the OR. It is an extremely risky surgery, with a high mortality rate. If she makes it out of the OR she will have to be on a ventilator for quite some time. She has been through so much already in her young life. Please pray that God would stretch his healing hand over her and breath new life into her. That He protects her during the surgery and that she comes out without complications.
An answer to today’s Scripture question on: Luke 22:47
Have any of your practices become empty gestures?
A kiss was and still is the traditional greeting among men in certain parts of the world. In this case, it was also the agreed-upon signal to point out Jesus (Matthew 26:48). It is ironic that a gesture of greeting would be the means of betrayal. It was a hollow gesture because of Judas's treachery. Have any of your religious practices become empty gestures? We still betray Christ when our acts of service or giving are insincere or carried out merely for show.
—Life Application Bible Notes
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