DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Question for the day:
Have you got a goal set for 2010 that you haven’t given up on yet?
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.
From Lauren Gibbons:
Please pray for my oldest grandson's grandpa, Papa Bud. He was diagnosed with peritoneal mesotheleoma (cancer of the lining of the peritoneum which surrounds abdominal organs) last spring. He's been undergoing chemo but it's not working. He's planning to undergo a fairly new very invasive operation in April. They scrape the cancer cells and fill the lining with a warm chemo treatment directly in the infected area. The doctor has done 80 surgeries. Not sure the success rate, and of course there are certain risks, but with God on Bud's side, I'm trusting that he will be healed and a walking testimony for Jesus. He needs prayer for salvation/healing. Thanks so much for extending your faith along with me and the rest of the family.
Please lift in prayer Carole Chinery. she is going to have a surgery. (not yet scheduled, March or April) to repair a slice in her intestines from a previous surgery. i am just passing this request along, and Kelly was not sure of the exact details. please lift the Chinery family prayer to cover Carole from any further illnesses, and to fully heal when this surgery is done. thank you. Carolyn Young
I sent a prayer request the other day for my sister, Cathy and her husband Ed, who are leaving late this afternoon and will be gone through Tues, probably early evening, for more of Ed's testing leading up to his lung transplant. Well, this just came from Cathy today. Barb Patrick
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
February 15, 2010
Every Yes Involves a No
Glynnis Whitwer
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower.
Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost
to see if he has enough money to complete it."
Luke 14:28 (NIV)
Devotion:
So, how are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions? If you are like many of us, frustration has set in. Maybe you are already behind on your read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. Are the numbers on the scale increasing, rather than decreasing? Did that goal to reduce television watching stop when American Idol started?
While we love to set goals, and dream of becoming a slimmed down, spiritually mature and more well-read version of ourselves, the living out of those goals is infinitely more challenging.
That's because every time we set a goal for ourselves, a more appealing alternative is presented. Have you noticed this phenomenon? Just as you decide to diet, someone brings you a plate of brownies they "baked just for you." As soon as you decide to get up early and pray, the cold weather makes it much more appealing to stay in bed. And that decision to stop gossiping gets challenged when some interesting news about your boss finds its way to your inbox.
Every good intention will be met with a challenge at some point. Without a plan, most of us will abandon those intentions, telling ourselves we knew we couldn't _________ (fill in the blank).
The reason this happens is we overlook the fact that every "yes" we say, requires a "no" to something else. Without that understanding, we operate outside of how life works, and underestimate the cost of achieving our goals.
Here's an example of what I mean. When you say "yes" to reading your Bible every day, you have to say "no" to the morning news or your favorite novel. If you say "yes" to teaching a small group of women, you'll say "no" to your favorite Tuesday night tv show, plus free time to prepare.
There will always be a sacrifice of something when we desire to move forward in an area of our lives. Goals are exciting. Possibility of change is alluring. Sacrifice is hard, but worth it in the big picture of our lives. In fact, it's the road Jesus called His followers to walk daily.
The resolutions you set at the beginning of the year have great value if they are helping you grow into a more disciplined, mature follower of Christ. However, if you feel like you've reached a plateau, or hit a dead end, perhaps it's time to evaluate if you've said enough "no's."
I invite you to remove the "New Year's" label, and reevaluate the goals you set in January. Recommit to them and consider what you'll have to sacrifice to make them happen. The good news about sacrifice is we serve a Lord who lived it out on our behalf. When we are frustrated with the cost of achieving our goals, we can always turn to the One who understands.
Father, I praise You and thank You for sacrificing Your son, Jesus, so I could live forever with You. In light of that, help me keep my sacrifices in perspective. I ask for Your strength to fulfill the dreams and goals You have placed in my heart in Jesus' Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Identify one goal you have for yourself. What do you need to say "no" to for that to happen? Write down the "no's" for future reference when you get off track.
Reflections:
What mental battles happen when you decide to sacrifice one thing for another?
What are some ways you can keep your commitment to your goals fresh and realistic?
Power Verses:
Luke 9:23, "Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (NIV)
Galatians 5:22-23, "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)
YOU TUBE SONG FOR TODAY
Once Again
Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZW44LCiXoA
…and…
Taking a trip on the Bible Bus
James 1:13 -15
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; [14] but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. [15] Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
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/
Please send your prayer requests to
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