Question for the day: What is the most certain way to bring the best out in others?
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
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2009
Please join your brothers and sisters
studying and praying with us today…
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
August 14, 2009
Bringing Out the Best in Our Children
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)
Devotion:
I threw up my hands in despair, and sighed with a dramatic and disgusted exhale of breath. At that moment, all five of my children were the focus of my frustration. I was tired of correcting the same behaviors, the same tones of voices, and the same irresponsibility from the same children. It had not been a good day, and I told them so --individually and collectively -- in not-so-nice terms.
The lecture ended and they all went their own way, as upset and annoyed as me. Instead of changing their behaviors and attitudes, the negativity went underground. We were like a simmering pot, ready to blow its lid. My angry response only exacerbated the problem, not helped it. What I wanted was for them to get along, speak kindly to each other and do their chores respectfully. What I got was more of the same.
As I returned to my own chores, I realized how ineffective my tirade had been in achieving my true goals. While I got them to stop bickering momentarily, I hadn't really made an impact on their hearts. In fact, I'd done more harm than good by not modeling gentle and respectful words. The rest of the day confirmed the truth: I'd not brought out the best in my children. I just stamped down the bad for a while.
My children are not so different from me. I know how I feel when someone speaks in an angry tone to me. It certainly doesn't spur me on to show kindness to them. In fact, I tend to take my frustration out on someone else. That's just what happened in my family that day. We had a domino effect of irritation.
In Hebrews 10, verse 24, the Bible encourages us to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds." In my experience personally and with my children, showing love and good deeds spurs others on to show more love and good deeds. The Bible also tells us that we reap in greater measure than what we sow (Hosea 8:7). Which means love multiplies more love, and kindness multiplies more kindness.
As a mom, I have an opportunity to bring out the best in my children. But it consistently means I have to bring out the best in me. I can't model impatient behavior and expect my kids to learn patience. I can't model a self-focused lifestyle and expect my kids to learn how to serve others. Nor can I model an ultra-busy schedule and expect my kids to find time for God in theirs. Spurring my children on to greater love and good deeds means they need to learn it by watching and listening to me.
Dear Lord, thank You for calling me to be the mother of my children. I confess that at times I fall far short of where I want to be in this area of my life. I know I can't do this high calling of motherhood without Your Spirit within me. Help me to submit my selfish will to Your perfect way. Thank You for loving me and seeing my potential to grow and change, in Jesus' Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Identify one area of your personality that hinders you from spurring others on to love and/or good deeds. Commit to submitting that area of your life to God for the next seven days.
Reflections:
Think about how someone has spurred you on to love in greater measure. How did they do that?
What are some ways your family can do "good deeds" for those around you? Make a list together and commit to doing one or two a month.
Power Verses:
Romans 12:10, "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (TNIV)
Galatians 6:8, "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (NIV)
…and…
Back to the Bible
Woodrow Kroll and Tami Weissert
Jesus: Giver of the Crown of Life and White Stone
Friday, August 14, 2009
In His words to a New Testament church, Jesus reveals His special rewards for those who are persecuted. Woodrow Kroll explains with today's Back to the Bible...
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 24
(New International Version Translation)
LISTEN AT
http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in
[9] When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [11] But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. [12] Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
[13] Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from
[17] He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. [18] One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to
[19] "What things?" he asked.
"About Jesus of
[25] He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
[28] As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. [29] But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
[30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. [32] They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
[33] They got up and returned at once to
[36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
[37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
[40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [41] And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence.
[44] He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
[45] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [46] He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
[50] When he had led them out to the vicinity of
A question on today’s Scripture:
Why is the resurrection so important?
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 to Ben Salem, PA.
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.
Dear prayer chain,
Please lift in prayer my niece Joycelynn Pyburn.(in TX)
She has to go in to doctor appt Monday at 1pm (3pm MI time)
for a biopsy, after her pap test came back "bad".
This maybe the hpv virus. I don't have any other details.
Please also pray for her mom and dad, Lou Ann and Scott Gregory, (in NM)
that they can stay calm and steady.
Lou Ann is taking Monday off work to go to the dr appt with her.
I just ask Lord that you are all over this and surrounding them with you love.
Please also lift my other sister, Sue Ferguson in your prayers. (in TN)
She has MS and it has come out of remission.
She is dealing with terrible leg cramping continuously in both legs; from hips to toes.
Her arms and feet and her tongue are completely numb.
This has been for a few days now,
and possibly longer as she rarely will tell me anything.
Please Lord send some relief from the pain and numbness.
Instead of not working and living on disability,
Sue is one of the hardest working people I know.
The problems can be brought on by stress and from extreme heat (and cold too).
She has a physically demanding job, as a tempered oven tech and dept mgr.
The weather has been in the 100's for the last few weeks,
and at the tempered oven over 110+. (no air conditioning in the plant)
I ask Lord that you would watch over her and protect from hurting herself.
And that the company would remain reasonable with her limits.
We have been searching for a management position for her to find something less physical stress,
so far, nothing has worked out.
Lord we know you have power over every situation in our lives,
and we just lift all our burdens and cares to you.
Please watch over my family Lord,
I know you are with them always,
even when I can not be.
Carolyn J Young
This is an update on Charlie Breedlove. The MRI came back negative except for some inflammation in his sinuses. The doctor wants to do an MRI of his pituitary gland next week and we will let you know the results of that. Not sure why this is being done at this point. Blessings to all of you. Carol Taylor
An answer to today’s Scripture question on:
Why is the resurrection so important?
(1) Because Christ was raised from the dead, we know that the kingdom of heaven has broken into earth's history. Our world is now headed for redemption, not disaster. God's mighty power is at work destroying sin, creating new lives, and preparing us for Jesus' second coming.
(2) Because of the resurrection, we know that death has been conquered, and we too will be raised from the dead to live forever with Christ.
(3) The resurrection gives authority to the church's witness in the world. Look at the early evangelistic sermons in the book of Acts: the apostles' most important message was the proclamation that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead!
(4) The resurrection gives meaning to the church's regular feast, the Lord's Supper. Like the disciples on the
(5) The resurrection helps us find meaning even in great tragedy. No matter what happens to us as we walk with the Lord, the resurrection gives us hope for the future.
(6) The resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and ruling his kingdom. He is not legend; he is alive and real.
(7) God's power that brought Jesus back from the dead is available to us so that we can live for him in an evil world.
—Life Application Bible Notes
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