Just Us: Manna for September 8, 2009

DYSMAS CONDUIT

FREE FOOD

(Isa 55:1)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009

Question for the day: What do you take for granted that you know you shouldn’t?

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 26

(The Message)

Listen at

http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm

"I Couldn't Just Walk Away"

^1-3

Agrippa spoke directly to Paul: "Go ahead—tell us about yourself." Paul took the stand and told his story. "I can't think of anyone, King Agrippa, before whom I'd rather be answering all these Jewish accusations than you, knowing how well you are acquainted with Jewish ways and all our family quarrels.

^4-8

"From the time of my youth, my life has been lived among my own people in Jerusalem. Practically every Jew in town who watched me grow up—and if they were willing to stick their necks out they'd tell you in person—knows that I lived as a strict Pharisee, the most demanding branch of our religion. It's because I believed it and took it seriously, committed myself heart and soul to what God promised my ancestors—the identical hope, mind you, that the twelve tribes have lived for night and day all these centuries—it's because I have held on to this tested and tried hope that I'm being called on the carpet by the Jews. They should be the ones standing trial here, not me! For the life of me, I can't see why it's a criminal offense to believe that God raises the dead.

^9-11

"I admit that I didn't always hold to this position. For a time I thought it was my duty to oppose this Jesus of Nazareth with all my might. Backed with the full authority of the high priests, I threw these believers—I had no idea they were God's people!—into the Jerusalem jail right and left, and whenever it came to a vote, I voted for their execution. I stormed through their meeting places, bullying them into cursing Jesus, a one-man terror obsessed with obliterating these people. And then I started on the towns outside Jerusalem.

^12-14

"One day on my way to Damascus, armed as always with papers from the high priests authorizing my action, right in the middle of the day a blaze of light, light outshining the sun, poured out of the sky on me and my companions. Oh, King, it was so bright! We fell flat on our faces. Then I heard a voice in Hebrew: 'Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me? Why do you insist on going against the grain?'

^15-16

"I said, 'Who are you, Master?'

"The voice answered, 'I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what's happened today, and to what I am going to show you.

^17-18

"'I'm sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I'm sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.'

^19-20

"What could I do, King Agrippa? I couldn't just walk away from a vision like that! I became an obedient believer on the spot. I started preaching this life-change—this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life—right there in Damascus, went on to Jerusalem and the surrounding countryside, and from there to the whole world.

^21-23

"It's because of this 'whole world' dimension that the Jews grabbed me in the Temple that day and tried to kill me. They want to keep God for themselves. But God has stood by me, just as he promised, and I'm standing here saying what I've been saying to anyone, whether king or child, who will listen. And everything I'm saying is completely in line with what the prophets and Moses said would happen: One, the Messiah must die; two, raised from the dead, he would be the first rays of God's daylight shining on people far and near, people both godless and God-fearing."

²⁴

That was too much for Festus. He interrupted with a shout: "Paul, you're crazy! You've read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself, get back in the real world!"

^25-27

But Paul stood his ground. "With all respect, Festus, Your Honor, I'm not crazy. I'm both accurate and sane in what I'm saying. The king knows what I'm talking about. I'm sure that nothing of what I've said sounds crazy to him. He's known all about it for a long time. You must realize that this wasn't done behind the scenes. You believe the prophets, don't you, King Agrippa? Don't answer that—I know you believe."

²⁸

But Agrippa did answer: "Keep this up much longer and you'll make a Christian out of me!"

²⁹

Paul, still in chains, said, "That's what I'm praying for, whether now or later, and not only you but everyone listening today, to become like me—except, of course, for this prison jewelry!"

^30-31

The king and the governor, along with Bernice and their advisors, got up and went into the next room to talk over what they had heard. They quickly agreed on Paul's innocence, saying, "There's nothing in this man deserving prison, let alone death."

³²

Agrippa told Festus, "He could be set free right now if he hadn't requested the hearing before Caesar."

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.

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 29^th 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.

ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY

September 8, 2009

Invisible Miracles

Tracie Miles

"And my God will meet all of your needs

according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19 (NIV)

Devotion:

Recently, I "tempted fate."

I teetered on the brink of death, gazed at hundreds of feet upside down, and heard blood piercing screams from all sides. There were tears and fear in people's eyes, including my own. I took a ride on a roller coaster!

I was a good sport during our family outing at the theme park and rode several roller coasters. But there was one in particular that made me think. It was called The Ricochet: an erratic ride where one would practically fall off the edge of the track just before abruptly (and painfully I might add) jerking back to safety.

Each time we neared the edge of the track my stomach sunk and quick thoughts popcorned: what if a chain broke? A gear jammed? A mechanism failed? And how close would I be to my demise if these happened?!

Teetering on the brink of death, praying nothing would break and I would be jerked back to safety even if it hurt, I wondered how many times God has protected me from danger, whether I realized it or not.

I thought back on my college years and question how I ever made it out alive. God was surely there protecting me when I made bad decisions and gave little thought to the consequences of some of my actions.

I thought about how fearful I was that I would never be able to have a baby, but remembered how my heart was overwhelmed as I drank in the glow of Christ's forgiveness and mercy shining through the big blue eyes of my first little girl.

I thought about my son who was born with premature lungs and could not draw his first breath, and how God protected him and helped him grow into an active little boy.

I thought about when my 18 month-old daughter fell through an attic in a two-story home, landing on the hard garage floor, miraculously escaping injury without even one broken bone in her tiny little body.

I thought about how each of my children are healthy and happy, and how God has protected us from illness or harm.

I thought about how my marriage is still thriving, despite the trend of divorce that plagues couples today.

I thought about the day I miraculously averted a major collision, a seemingly near-death tragic experience. A deep gash in the bumper of my car reminds me of how close death was, but how God pushed that truck away just far enough to miss us… a millimeter of movement, in a millisecond of time.

I cannot help but wonder… how many other times has God protected us when we were not aware? How many times have an army of angels surrounded me and my family with a cushion of protection? How often has God stepped in between me and danger and I didn't even know it?

A close call with death is a stark reminder of God's protection. When I see the gash in my bumper, I am reminded how He stood in the gap for us. When I look at the precious faces of my children, I am reminded of God's mercy to allow me to have them; of the angels that caught my baby when she fell from the roof; and how God breathed breath into my son's newborn lungs when he couldn't take one on his own.

I am reminded to thank Him for His goodness and protection, even during times I didn't realize His presence. I am reminded to consider the invisible Savior that is always walking closely beside me.

Be on the lookout for the invisible activity of God in your life, and don't take anything for granted.

Dear Lord, thank You for who You are, and for protecting me and loving me, in Jesus' Name, amen.

Application Steps:

Think back on the little miracles God has done in your life and thank Him.

Reflections:

In what ways has God provided for and protected me and my family?

Have I given Him credit for all He has done for me?

Power Verses:

Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." (NIV)

Psalm 40:11, "Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me." (NIV)

…and…

TURNING POINT

Dr. David Jeremiah

Slaying the Giant of Loneliness Part 2

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Have you ever noticed how many services are available for people looking to find "that special someone"? From our newspapers, to the bar and club scene, to Internet companies, the dating industry is huge and continues to grow. Because loneliness creates a void of emptiness, people attempt to compensate by filling their lives with replacements for true relationships - particularly substitutes for a relationship with God. That's why we have to learn how to look beyond our circumstances and fill our emptiness with Christ. In this message, Dr. Jeremiah shows us how.

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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http://georgeandsidney.blogspot.com/