Just Us: 12/22 Manna

DYSMAS CONDUIT

FREE FOOD

(Isa 55:1)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2009

Question for the day: Who started your favorite Christmas tradition?

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

1 John 2

Listen at

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

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 on their way home to Midland, MI from New York.

Please continue to pray for Billy Hamburg. He had another surgery and two more tumors were discovered. Discussion is forthcoming concerning bladder removal. Please pray for the Lord’s Hand to help him overcome his anxiety as well as the cancer.

More prayer requests:

Mark O’Keefe: Jenny & Eric as they travel home from TX on Wed. Those faced with depression and loss of work. For our family to you, Lord deeply.

Jill VanBuskirk: Ellamae VanBuskirk is sick and Ralph Judd is sick

Susan Parsons: Mike Booth (my brother)

Kris Jackson: my grand-daughters, Nicole & Nevada Moe. They are 5 years old and going through a rough time in their short lives.

CONFIDENTIAL: my brother, January surgery. For the comfort of my friend, she lost her sister and for our son to find a job.

Joe/Melody Coldwell: Rachel Wakeman (13 yrs old) 2 heart valve transplant may have an infection.

May Brewster: Alicia she is having some problems. Dean and his personal problems.

Linda Radek: safe & timely flights for son & his daughter this week & next.

Carol Haut: my family

Sherry Kerns: pray for my right knee and leg, swollen & painful.

Mike/Tracy Young: peace & comfort to families struggling this holiday season, Tony (person at work) losing his job (peace for him)

Neal& Heather Gorney: going into this beautiful season, the gift of family and blessings on our marriage. That the Lord may build us up and guide us to a wonderful marriage and parenting to give us the gift of forgiveness and the true meaning of the season.

Bill/Barb Patrick: praise God! Our whole family is here with us today! Pray that they touched by this service!

Bob/Judy Bissonnette: our family and all of the service people serving.

Meyette family: Rachael Wakeman 14 year old in UofM hospital, is to have open heart surgery 12/18 and not doing well.

Dvorak Family: everyone who has lost a relative/friend this season.

Dave Sweebe: Sheri to have kidney surgery.

CONFIDENTIAL: recovery from surgery, friend that lost 2 relatives, cancer recovery.

Burkhards: please pray for my friend Cassie, she was in an accident on Wed. She broke her neck, back, pelvis and ankle. She is awake but not in good spirits. She is 29 and not a believer.

Good Morning, Church!

Pastor Greg Finke

"If you, then, though you are evil,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your Father in heaven

give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

Matthew 7:11,

Yesterday during our annual Carols and Bells worship celebration we had a special guest. You can click here to be a part of all the excitement! Our special guest is known by many names. In Holland, he is Sinterklaas, which has come into the English as Santa Claus! But his real name is Nicholas, or St. Nicholas.

You see, the true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born in 270 A.D. in the village of Patara in what is today the country of Turkey. At the time the area was Greek. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a Jesus follower, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.

He dedicated his life to serving God and became a pastor. That's right! Santa Claus was actually Pastor Nicholas! He was then made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need and his love for children.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. From this Council comes the creed we say when we celebrate the Lord's Supper - the Nicene Creed. Nicholas died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. St. Nicholas Day is still celebrated on December 6 today.

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value-a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry.

This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore in danger of being sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas.

Our God started the tradition of gift giving at Christmas with the gift of Jesus, His one and only Son. As we receive Jesus' love and live in the reality of His presence in our lives every day, we are filled with the same generosity Pastor Nicholas felt towards the poor and the children of his day.

As you wind up your Christmas preparations this week, remember Jesus is the reason for the season and is the gift of God to you.

Be wise and be Church!

Pastor Greg

…and…

Back to the Bible

Woodrow Kroll and Tami Weissert

Jesus' Birth Still Incites Hatred

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Not everyone was excited about the birth of Jesus.

His presence in the world prompted strong hatred...

and that hasn't changed as you'll discover today...

Series: Christmas 2,000 Years Later