DYSMAS CONDUIT
FREE FOOD
(Isa 55:1)
FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2010
Question for the day:
Have you ever wished for a do-over in life?
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 Brommer as he spreads the Lord’s Seed and witnesses to His glory while on the road today. Please pray also that the Lord will lead him to Kingdom-profitable loads to carry, and that He grants Mike safe passage today.
Please hold up before the Lord a dear friend, Ann Long, who is to undergo cancer surgery on March 29. Also please ask for strength for her family, especially her husband, Dennis.
Please lift up my Uncle's cousin Ed in prayer today. Ed is undergoing heart valve replacement surgery this morning. --Wendy Kall
Please lift in prayer Carol Hosford who is struggling right now. God protect Carol in the days ahead and bring her the healing and tools she needs to meet each day. Thank you God for watching over Carol. --Pastor Kurt
Please lift up Charlene Hock in prayer. She is at Covenant Cooper and awaiting tests results. We pray those results come back negative and that Charlene will be able to return home soon. God your will be done! We pray for strength and peace for her family. --Pastor Kurt
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TODAY
March 26, 2010
Caution: Mind at Work
Luann Prater
"'Then neither do I condemn you,'
Jesus declared.
'Go now and leave your life of sin.'"
John 8:11 (NIV)
Devotion:
"Hey! I want a do-over!" she screamed. The sun was clearly blinding her as she struck the volleyball with her fist to serve. She didn't see the serve fly straight into the hands of the opposing team. It was interesting to watch the reaction of her teammates. Some agreed to offer her grace, others muttered, "Tough stuff! Too bad!" Middle school volleyball resembles a story that Jesus lived.
In the middle of an ordinary teaching day Jesus shared a revealing truth about our Savior. The Pharisees interrupted His lesson by dragging in front of the crowd a woman who had been caught in adultery.
This woman had obvious, visible sin in her life. She was caught red-handed. It was easy for the lawgivers to snatch this life and display it before the crowd. They had their motives for bursting onto the scene, but Jesus flipped their intentions upside down.
When these puffed up leaders asked Jesus if this woman should be stoned, "Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger" (vs. 6b, NIV).
Did you catch His reaction to the confrontation? Silence. His mind was at work, but His mouth was not. We learn from scripture that Jesus asked His Father in heaven about every decision before moving forward. Why would this situation be any different?
We've probably all heard that pausing to count to ten before getting angry can diffuse an argument, but I want to park here a minute to see what Jesus did.
Jesus' agenda had just been altered by a bunch of self-righteous leaders. He was preparing to teach truth, and now He had the opportunity to live it. Instead of a quick response He hit the pause button while the Pharisees continued the barrage. Jesus was in no rush to respond.
As He bent down, I imagine Him offering up prayers. He saw that broken woman, He heard that accusing crowd, and yet His focus was on truth. The verse tells us He didn't just stand up, He straightened up. Jesus knew about body language before it was hip to study it. The power of this visual communication meant that He was about to say something that would pierce their hearts.
Many scholars have guessed Jesus was writing on the ground all of the sins of each of the accusers there. His words, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (vs. 7, NIV), must have been the first glimpse of light this woman had seen in a long time. Finally, someone saw value in her beyond the bedroom.
Can you imagine the flood of emotions filling her at that moment? She witnessed hope in the middle of her circumstance. Jesus then straightened up to speak to her. He declared that He did not condemn her but she must leave her life of sin. She was given a do-over!
Have you ever wished for a do-over in life? I have. I've been that woman who had no hope. I'm a witness: Jesus is the master of second chances. Throughout the Bible He not only raised the physically dead, He resurrected the spiritually and emotionally dead as well.
Romans 3:10 tells us, "There is no one righteous, not even one" (NIV). Jesus wants you to see that you are not alone. If you look around and think that everyone else has it all together, this story is for you. No one is righteous, not even one! Everyone has their sins, some are just more visible than others. But Jesus knows your heart. He knows your struggles. He sees what plagues your life.
Where are you in this story? Are you the adulterous woman looking for hope? Are you the leader looking to condemn? Are you part of the crowd standing silently in the background? There was only One in this story without sin and He offered grace.
Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to live the truth. Quietly seek the Father's guidance. Think before we speak. Then straighten up and live redeemed.
He has come to give you a second chance; a do-over. Will you listen to His voice?
Father, I need a do-over in my life! My sin may be hidden from others, but it is so obvious to You. I'm listening to Your Voice. Will You cleanse me and teach me to straighten up and live redeemed? In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflections:
What sin is hiding in my heart?
Do I offer grace to others?
Am I willing to listen to His Voice and live redeemed?
Power Verses:
John 1:16 "From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another." (NIV)
Psalm 71:23 "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed." (NIV)
…and…
Back to the Bible
Woodrow Kroll and Tami Weissert
The Holy Spirit Fills You
Friday, March 26, 2010
When the Holy Spirit fills you,
it's really about control and management.
And it's a key to your happiness as a Christian...
Series: The God Within: What the Holy Spirit Does (Week 2 of 2)
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Back_to_the_Bible/
Please send your prayer requests to
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