DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
Question for the day: What are the “giants” in your life?
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
Today’s Chapter in God’s Word
Acts 19
(The Message)
Listen at
http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
1-2
Now, it happened that while Apollos was away in
"We've never even heard of that—a Holy Spirit? God within us?"
3
"How were you baptized, then?" asked Paul.
"In John's baptism."
4
"That explains it," said Paul. "John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you've been baptized in John's baptism, you're ready now for the real thing, for Jesus."
5-7
And they were. As soon as they heard of it, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. Paul put his hands on their heads and the Holy Spirit entered them. From that moment on, they were praising God in tongues and talking about God's actions. Altogether there were about twelve people there that day.
8-10
Paul then went straight to the meeting place. He had the run of the place for three months, doing his best to make the things of the
Witches Came out of the Woodwork
11-12
God did powerful things through Paul, things quite out of the ordinary. The word got around and people started taking pieces of clothing—handkerchiefs and scarves and the like—that had touched Paul's skin and then touching the sick with them. The touch did it—they were healed and whole.
13-16
Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul's "game." They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, "I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!" The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: "I know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?" Then the possessed man went berserk—jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.
17-20
It was soon news all over
The Goddess Artemis
21-22
After all this had come to a head, Paul decided it was time to move on to
23-26
But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way." A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here—and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in
27
"Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter—the whole world worships our Artemis!"
28-31
That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him. Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!"
32-34
Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there. As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms. But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!"—on and on and on, for over two hours.
35-37
Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.
38-41
"So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want. If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there. There is no excuse for what's happened today. We're putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters." With that, he sent them home.
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
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR PASTOR BOB ALLMANN
Please remain in prayer concerning his continued healing and that he is upheld by the Spirit, becoming physically strong as he returns to serving the Lord… what he loves to do!
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.
Stacey Hill: Steve’s mom, Sharon Hill in final stages of pancreatic cancer, prayers for her anxiety w/pain and the ease of pain she is a very strong Christian woman and is still walking w/the Lord.
Allen/Mary Damask: Adam’s upcoming wedding Sept 26
Al/Ann Gay: Linda Alexander & Jon French
Steve/Toni Hayes: Heidi & Ruben are expecting twins, sold house and have not found a new home. Pray for peace and rest & God’s will for housing. Samaya – court case in
Dick/Sharon Kidder: for our military for children returning to school, for our government and all the people to have God in their hearts. Lord come and heal our land.
CONFIDENTIAL: pray for husband he needs to find his faith again. He is lost and on a path of self destruction. Pray for our family while separate now he finds his way back home.
Joseph Miller: I was homeless in FL for a few years in Ft Lauderdale and met a lot of lost people that think that the Lord has forgotten about them! Please pray for them.
CONFIDENTIAL: recently diagnosed w/cancer
Kristine/Vern Pratt: our deployment to
CONFIDENTIAL: Friend’s possible divorce due to verbal abuse. They both need Christ in their hearts.
CONFIDENTIAL:
Judy Ruttan: a safe holiday and travel for all. For our service women & men and their families at home and for all my awesome family God has given me.
Doug/Barb DeWald: Barb’s brother, Dave who is having a partial jaw replacement on 8/31. This is a result of radiation treatments from 13 years ago.
Dan Dore: cousin & sister had family member die, struggling.
Vicki & Steve Blake: Wilma Descho – end of life.
CONFIDENTIAL: friend w/cancer
Jack & Tammy Metevia: Next4U class, team and those coming that lives will be transformed and blessed.
Carol Greyerbiehl: thanks for all your prayers for my boss Judy, chemo is done and this Thursday she is retiring. Praise God for her and her husband.
Gail Chadwick: continued health with cancer
Sarah Mayer: our marriage, Sept 3.
Russ/Lynn Boone: continued healing for my mom, Wilma Chultz and success/progress in physical therapy. For my Aunt Barb and family to deal with the loss of Uncle Walt, healing through the grieving process.
Bob/Judy Bissonnette: all the Bissonnette family, Jon & Kristen Nowicki and all of our friends.
Gary Piegols: Patricia Piegols, Shari Prince mother is Mid MI hospital
Tammy Diener: my family while we are grieving the loss of our dad, husband and grandpa
Tessin kids: please pray for everyone who is sick to get better, and everyone who is not sick to not get sick.
Rolland/Lynn Bellefeuille: Fred & Mike Michalek, healing
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
He Speaks - Part I
Amy Carroll
"She had a sister called Mary,
who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
‘…only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:39, 42 (NIV)
Devotion:
I remember driving down the road with my verbose 3-year-old son riding in the back seat. He had been talking for quite some time, and this listener was getting tired. I broke into his monologue with a suggestion. "Anson, sweetheart, why don't you take a breath and rest a while?" With only a pause for my words, he blurted out, "But Mommy, I don't like to breathe. I like to talk…" and he continued his stream of speech. I sighed, chuckled and resumed listening.
Years later, that scene came back to my mind after a dinner with my friend Maggie. I had been listening to Maggie talk excitedly about the work God was doing in her life. She was a new believer, and she was experiencing the transformation of her life with wide-eyed wonder. Everything about her new relationship with God was fascinating and fresh. She emanated joy.
Although I was enjoying Maggie's passion, I started to wonder, "Where did my joy go?" I too could think of times when I had been consumed by watching and participating in the awesome work of God. I remembered mountain top experiences when I felt full of passion, fire and overwhelming joy. Yet here I was in the midst of one of the greatest times of kingdom building that I had ever experienced, and I felt empty, depleted and downright exhausted. "How did I get to this place?" I wondered to myself. I was teaching Sunday school, speaking and writing with regularity. God had opened doors wide for ministry, but my batteries were running low.
At the end of dinner, Maggie and I exchanged prayer requests. She gave me a few, and then it was my turn. I struggled internally with how real I could be. Maggie was a new Christian. Surely I would discourage her if I confessed a lack of joy and passion. God's still voice urged me to be transparent, though, and I found myself pouring out my heart in frustration. "I'm in God's Word every day as I prepare to teach," I explained to Maggie. "I'm always praying for the events and women where I'm going, but I feel wrung out and joyless. Please pray for me."
My sweet, wise friend looked compassionately at me for a minute before she asked an essential question, "When was the last time that you spent time reading the Bible and praying when you weren't preparing for something? How long has it been since you just spent time with God to enjoy Him?"
She had seen through all the spiritual rhetoric right to the source of the problem. Like my young son, I had been so busy talking to God—preparing, studying, delving, interceding, teaching, speaking—that I hadn't taken time to breathe in a deep breath of His Spirit. I hadn't taken time to worship God for who He is, to meditate on a juicy piece of His Word or to bask in His presence. In my drive to do all for an audience of One, I had forgotten to slow down and take time with the One I love.
Every day God reaches out to us with an incredible offer to spend time with our Creator and the Lover of our soul. Through prayer, Bible study and silence He faithfully fills us with His riches. We can walk away from time with Him full instead of empty; hopeful instead of despairing; peaceful instead of tumultuous.
After my discussion with Maggie, I chose to set time aside to just commune with God. Preparation time was separate. God is faithful! Joy returned and my passion was stoked. Join me now…one…two…three…breathe deep!
Dear Lord, still my heart. Silence my voice. Open my ears and eyes. Help me to breathe in a deep breath of your Spirit. Only You are sufficient to fill me, and I long to find fullness in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Application Steps:
Make a daily appointment with God. He will meet you there!
Reflections:
Do I see my time with God as one thing on my checklist or a pleasure?
How can I use time with God to know Him better?
Power Verses:
Psalm 84 1-2, 10, "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." (NIV)
…and…
TURNING POINT
Dr. David Jeremiah
Slaying the Giant of Fear - Part 1
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Did you know that approximately 10% of the world's population has been diagnosed with a phobia at some point in their lives? This persistent, irrational fear is debilitating. But these are obviously extreme cases. Most people don't deal with fear on this level, but it does have a way of forcing its way into our lives. And if we're not careful, fear can take over and dominate our lives in a way God never intended. That's why Dr. Jeremiah is excited to teach us how to overcome our fear with faith in Christ, as he shares his message, "Slaying the Giant of Fear."
Series: Slaying the Giants in Your Life
VIEW OR LISTEN AT
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Turning_Point/
GDLC Message: http://www.gdlc.org/worship/sermons.aspx
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