DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
Question for the day:
Do you have an area in your life that you currently feel like
you are losing a battle?
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.
Sandy Brommer Hi, All, we're safely parked for the night, and called home to get the news that my father is in congestive heart failure. He has be suffering from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases for 10 years, and has left orders for no 'extraordinary measures' to save his life. It's in God's hands, as it always has been.
Karen Barhite Heinzelman: Diane's brother is in the hospital and is very ill and she would appreciate prayers for him and the family during this very difficult time.
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.
Breedlove Family – Carolyn Young, chemo this week
Brewster Family – Paula Press – leukemia, Karen Ulmer – bone cancer and dialysis for kidneys
Young Family – continued healing w/ chemo. Healing of our families through this journey with God
Ruth Ann Swarthout – Husband – lung cancer, many friends with cancer
Kelly Rathbun – son Owen, running fever with cold symptoms
Bob Dvorak – all non-believers
Kathy Mikula – son, Jon Elliott, son-in-law, Troy Offenbecker
Lanette Fort – son and daughter-in-law returning to Michigan, seeking employment
Trombley Family – health/healing and strength for our family, especially Chris during and after surgery on the 16th
Burkhard Family – Hannah is having her tonsils removed Wednesday, she currently has RSV as well as Josiah and Eliana, pray for health for the whole family
Gretta Coppens – John has a terrible cold, friend with breast cancer, Carolyn Young – cancer
Gorney Family – Our family, to guide and build us to be true followers of the Lord
Roth Family – Thanks for all of your prayers for George Lockwood
Hassen Family – my family and friends
Maki Family – safe travel for Bill as he travels to
Imker Family – my dad to heal and strength for my mom while she cares for him
John Bornheimer – for Gina’s health, well being of our nephew Dashjan
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
February 16, 2010
The Wonder Bat
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.
On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."
2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)
Devotion:
"An asset to the team." That is how my daughter's coach described her. Madi was great behind the plate. Her arm could get the best of them out at second base. She could move from catcher to first base position with ease, and was flexible in the outfield. Yet her batting was weak and she was last on her team. Her coach's diagnosis: her bat. Madi had grown over the summer and needed a longer, heavier, stronger bat.
My husband began his research. Best bats for girl's softball was his Google criteria. He studied their size. He read recommendations and manufacturer's guarantees. He compared results, tests and costs. After days of investigating, he purchased the "weapon" as he called it.
The instructions said my daughter needed at least fifty good hits with that bat until she would be comfortable with the new feel. They were right; at first she didn't like it. It was uncomfortable and heavy. But she kept on using it. We played in the yard and went to batting cages. We put in the time and effort to be sure she would be well adjusted to her new equipment before she used it in a real game.
My daughter is now batting at the top of the order! Doubles, triples, even home runs are her norm. She wields that bat, smacks the ball and racks up points for her team.
Often, we are getting along pretty good in life, but there is just that one area where we are a bit weak. Maybe life has ramped up; trials have gotten harder and we haven't evaluated the tools we are using. Self-help books, chatting with friends, infomercials, time on the internet can be helpful, but there are other tools we can wield that will help us even more: the Bible and prayer.
As we grow in our faith, we need to look for passages in God's Word that will empower us in this game called life. We should ask Jesus what He sees that needs to change so we can live in His victory. When fear, doubt, anger, lust or pride are thrown our way, we can get equipped to swing back with memorized verses of the Word. Instead of allowing complaining, grumbling and discouragement to slide into home plate, we can strike them out of the game with continuous prayer.
The Word is called a double-edged sword, but unless we practice applying the verses to our lives, it does us no good. Unless we read the reviews, the testimonies of the men and women in the Bible, we may not be convinced that it will really make a difference. Unless we invest time to use the Word and prayer as our "weapons,", we will never know what it is like to bat at the top of the order.
Now, when Madi gets up to bat I feel confident. Her father and I have given her the "weapon" she needs to be successful in softball. Just like Madi, your Father has also given you what you need for life. Just like Madi, you are going to need to grab hold of those weapons and practice many, many times until you are comfortable with them. And, just like Madi, as you step up to the plate, you can hit a home run!
Father, I need You today. Show me where I need to use the weapons You've given us, Your Word and prayer, in my life in order to be victorious. Give me the strength to learn Your Word, meditating on it over and over and over again until I am comfortable with using it as a weapon against the enemy of my heart, in Jesus' Name, amen.
Application Steps:
Go to BibleGateway and do a word search on your greatest struggle - jealousy, envy, conflict, etc. Write out one of the verses regarding this difficulty that speaks to you and read it several times a day until you know it well.
Reflections:
What areas in your life do you currently feel like you are losing a battle?
Do you have a friend that you could ask to pray for you on a regular basis in your battle?
Power Verses:
Ephesians 6:17, "Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (NIV)
Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (NIV)
YOU TUBE SONG FOR TODAY
Breathe
(Desperate for You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQPbHwwEBv4
…and…
Taking a trip on the Bible Bus
James 1:14-19
But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dearly loved brothers. Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. By His own choice, He gave us a new birth by the message of truth so that we would be the first-fruits of His creatures. My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,
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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