DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2009
Question for the day: What has been your most memorable Christmas gift?
What can we pray with 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
James 5
Warning to Rich Oppressors
1Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
Patience in Suffering
7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. 9Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
The Prayer of Faith
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
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 them to Kingdom-profitable loads to carry, and that He grants them safe passage today.
Please continue to pray for Billy Hamburg. He had surgery Nov 19th and 2 more tumors were found, He is in a lot of pain. Please pray for the Lord’s Hand to help him overcome his anxiety as well as the cancer.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
365 Days of Prayer
by Holly Good
"He is always wrestling in prayer for you,
that you may stand firm in all the will of God,
mature and fully assured."
Colossians 4:12b (NIV)
Devotion:
It will never be topped; that I know for sure. Inconspicuously wrapped in a handwritten envelope sealed with love was my most memorable Christmas present ever. In all of my 42 Christmases, I had never received such a treasure as I did last year. It was a gift that provided comfort, peace and joy for 365 days. And as 2009 comes to a close, I woefully watch my special gift coming to an end.
I attended a white elephant gift exchange with the Proverbs 31 Ministries' office staff last December. As I opened the gift I had chosen from Melissa Taylor, I read my card out loud: "Last night as I was wrapping your gift, God put an idea in my heart and I wholeheartedly agreed with Him. If you are the recipient of this gift, not only are you holding a new ornament, but also a promise from me. It will be my privilege and honor to pray for you every day in 2009. On your good days and bad days, you can rest assured that you are being prayed for by name by me. I love you. Merry Christmas."
Tears threatened to spill down my cheeks as I silently got up and hugged my friend. Her written words were an immediate healing balm to my soul. My mouth could not produce the thoughts I was longing to say aloud. I calmly folded my sweet letter and replaced it neatly in the envelope. And smiled.
Someone would be praying for me every day! Without fail. What a gift.
This was something I had never been promised before. Sure, friends will tell me that they will pray for me when I voice a struggle to them. Or someone will call me and tell me that I came to mind that day and they prayed for me. And still others will mention that I am in their prayers. But to have the comfort of a loyal daily prayer warrior was beyond my realm of thinking.
I suddenly felt inspired that day.
I felt encouraged, confident, and optimistic.
But mostly, I felt loved.
You see, I know the power of prayer. I have experienced healing, growth, miracles and peace through personal prayer, prayer with my family and corporate prayer. I have humbly come to a place where I recognize that I must completely depend on Him daily, and it all begins with prayer.
A prayer filled life is not necessarily a belief that God will do exactly what we ask for, but a trust that He will hear our desires and know what's best for us. A trust that He will lead, guide and direct us as we seek His will. I wholeheartedly rely on this assurance.
I went home from our party that day with an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my yearlong gift of prayer. In turn, I committed to also pray for Melissa each day. What a challenging year this has been for her personally - she has needed my daily prayers.
As I think of her with a humble and thankful heart, I can't help but recall the beautiful words in 1 Corinthians 1:4, "I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." Thank you for praying for me Melissa. What a comfort. What a commitment. What a rare gift indeed!
Dear Lord, thank You for friends who love us with Your love. Thank You for faithfully listening to our requests and responding as You see fit. We trust You and love You and honor Your Holy name, in Jesus' Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Read Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus gave this prayer to His disciples as a model for them. How can you use this prayer, often referred to as the Lord's Prayer, as a model for your daily prayers?
Reflections:
As you spend time with friends and family, look for opportunities to ask, "How can I pray for you?'
Look intentionally for others you come across today that you can ask, "How can I pray for you today?"
Journal your requests and look for God to do a great work.
Power Verses:
Psalm 5:3, "In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (NIV)
Psalm 145:18, "The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (NIV)
Romans 8:26, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (NIV)
…and…
Grace to You Weekend
John MacArthur
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Series: The Real Meaning of Christmas
The Incarnation of the Triune God
Part 1
Christmas is filled with traditions.
You decorate your home, visit relatives,
listen to favorite holiday songs.
But amid those traditions, which have their place . . .
ultimately, what is Christmas? How would you explain it to an unbeliever?
Stay tuned as John MacArthur
reminds you about the true significance of Christmas,
today on Grace to You Weekend.
VIEW OR LISTEN AT
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You_Weekend/
GDLC Message: http://www.gdlc.org/worship/sermons.aspx
Please send your prayer requests to
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