DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010
Question for the day:
What color are you INSIDE today?
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
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 pray for those affected by Tuesday’s earthquake in
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.
Bob Smith reports that Janet has internal bleeding and has received blood transfusions. Tests are being done to determine the cause. Please keep Janet and Bob in your prayers for healing for Janet and peace for Bob. --Chuck
Our faith family member, Kim Hartnagle is having brain surgery next Monday at the U of M. Please pray that she feels the loving arms of Christ wrapped around her this week as she prepares for the surgery. Please pray for protection over Kim through this surgery and for the Lord to quiet the fears in her heart. Kim is married and has 2 young daughters, please pray that they may know you are with them throughout the coming weeks also. Thanks, --Denise O'Keefe
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
January 13, 2010
The Colors of Emotion
Susanne Scheppmann
"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth,
and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence
whenever our hearts condemn us.
For God is greater than our hearts,
and he knows everything."
1 John 3:19-20 (NIV)
Devotion:
My feelings scoot across the emotion spectrum. Some days are happy days. Other mornings I don't want to crawl out of bed—I just want to wallow in misery and depression. I sigh and say to my husband, "I have the blues today."
I guess you could say I am a "colorful" person. Maybe you are too. Have you ever found yourself saying something like …
· I am feeling blue today.
· I am so angry; I'm seeing red.
· I am green with envy.
· I am in black despair.
Often our emotions are not based on reality, but on a temporary perception of reality. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV). I don't always understand why I feel the way I do. My moods could result from weariness, hormones, or an unexpected surprise.
Fortunately, although our hearts are deceitful and trick us into colorful emotions, God is bigger and stronger than our weak hearts. Our key verse states, "This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:19-20, NIV). This makes me shout aloud, "Hallelujah!"
We still hold some responsibility, however, for our thoughts and emotions. Proverbs 4:23 instructs, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (NIV)." How do we do this? We should take care about the books, movies and television that we allow to influence our thoughts. Listening to gossip, rumors and discontent from friends can certainly stir up negative feelings as well.
Instead of infusing ourselves with emotional junk food, we need to nourish our minds with godly influences. For example, read the Bible, chat with godly friends, or listen to praise music. The more joyful and contentment-filled influences we filter our thoughts through each day, the more we'll experience a positive emotional state—in fact, we'll be tickled pink!
Father, grant me the ability to recognize my emotions are not always truth. I thank You that You are bigger and stronger than my deceitful heart. Teach me how to be most effective in guarding my heart from fickle emotions, in Jesus' Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Memorize the following passages to help you gain control over colorful emotions:
Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (NIV)
1 John 3:20, “For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (NIV)
Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (NIV)
Reflections:
Do I rely on my emotions to determine the outcome of my day?
What circumstances influence my emotions?
Power Verses:
Romans 12:2, "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." (NLT)
Philippians 4:8, "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (MSG)
Galatians 5:22-24, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (NIV)
…and…
Taking a trip on the Bible Bus
Hebrews 12:9-16
[9] Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! [10] Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. [11] No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
[12] Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. [13] "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
[14] Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. [15] See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. [16] See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Listen to Scripture at
http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
Listen to Thru the Bible
Dr. J.
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Thru_the_Bible_with_JVernon_McGee/
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