From: takeaminute+noreply@googlegroups.com
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:28:58 +0000
Subject: Take a Minute Digest for takeaminute@googlegroups.com - 2
Messages in 2 Topics
To: Digest Recipients <takeaminute+digest@googlegroups.com>
=============================================================================
Today's Topic Summary
=============================================================================
Group: takeaminute@googlegroups.com
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/topics
- Prayer request... [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/bfc334da75496722
- -- Thursday, 7/22/10 -- THE END OF YOUR ROPE -- Judges 6:1-6 [1 Update]
http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/b65f0d60286100e2
=============================================================================
Topic: Prayer request...
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/bfc334da75496722
=============================================================================
---------- 1 of 1 ----------
From: "Bonnie Ricks" <bonnie@dogwoodministries.org>
Date: Jul 21 07:36PM -0500
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/msg/f58bbffc98d86193
Hi Friends,
I apologize for sending this separately - I intended to include it with the
devotional, but had a brain cramp and didn't.
I want to ask for prayer for J.R. We're 99% sure he has Bell's Palsy. He
woke up yesterday with the left side of his face paralyzed, numb and
sagging. He's seeing the doctor tomorrow morning, so we'll know for sure,
but wanted to ask for your prayer in the mean time. Although not
life-threatening, Bell's Palsy is a serious issue - if nothing else, when
trying to eat! And it's very uncomfortable. He's also having "ice pick"
pain in his left ear, so he's more than just "uncomfortable" right now.
Your prayers are appreciated more than you know!
God bless you all,
Bonnie
=============================================================================
Topic: -- Thursday, 7/22/10 -- THE END OF YOUR ROPE -- Judges 6:1-6
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/t/b65f0d60286100e2
=============================================================================
---------- 1 of 1 ----------
From: "J.R. & Bonnie Ricks" <j-r-and-bonnie@dogwoodministries.org>
Date: Jul 21 04:58PM -0500
Url: http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute/msg/881e9ad9a605614e
Take a Minute is a daily devotional ministry of
Dogwood Ministries, Inc.
If you need prayer. contact our partners in ministry.
SJ Ministries - Ministry of Prayer <http://sjministries.co.uk/>
Or simply send your request to SJMinistries@aol.com
All other requests, please see the end of the devotional
for Dogwood Ministries addresses
THE END OF YOUR ROPE -- Judges 6:1-6 NIV
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and for seven years
he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. Because the power of Midian
was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in
mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. Whenever the Israelites planted
their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded
the country. They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to
Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle
nor donkeys. They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms
of locusts. It was impossible to count the men and their camels; they
invaded the land to ravage it. Midian so impoverished the Israelites that
they cried out to the LORD for help.
Israel was once again at the end of its rope. This time, the last knot was
being untied by the Midianites, who were so ruthless they were like "a swarm
of locusts," making continual raids on the people Israel and taking
everything they owned, even their food.
Let's look at this situation closely. The Midianites were descendants of
Abraham's second wife (Genesis
<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2025:1-2&version=NIV>
25:1-2 NIV). Many years before Gideon, when Israel was still wandering the
desert, they had battled the Midianites and nearly destroyed them (Numbers
<http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2031:1-20&version=NIV>
31:1-20 NIV). However, Israel didn't totally destroy them, so the
Midianites had repopulated themselves. Now, they were oppressing Israel to
the point of starvation.
Why did Israel have to wait until things were a total mess to cry out to God
for help? Why do you and I do the same thing? God tells us to pray. He
tells us to spend time with Him each and every day, getting closer to Him,
learning to understand Him, so that we will know how to make wise decisions
- so that we will know how to handle problems when they occur. Throughout
scripture, the problem is illustrated again and again. Seek God first, and
He will guide you through your difficulties. Seek God last, and the whole
thing could be a disaster.
Jesus was a perfect illustration for us of seeking God first. He spent more
hours in prayer than most of us ever notice. Over and over again, the Word
says Jesus went somewhere to be alone and pray. He didn't pray over just
the important things. He didn't pray at the last minute after everything
was falling apart. He prayed daily. He prayed about everything. He prayed
without ceasing.
How it must pain our Father in Heaven to see us missing out on the rich
blessings He has for us because we're just too stubborn or too independent
or too busy or too lazy or in too big a hurry to talk to Him. How foolish
we are to pass up this wonderful blessing, this ability He gave us to seek
His counsel, this power He granted us to call upon Him in everything we do
or say or think or feel.
Don't wait until you're at the end of your rope. Talk to God first. Seek
His wisdom and His mercy and His blessings every moment of your life.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~-
-
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"TakeAMinute" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
takeaminute-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/takeaminute
General correspondence or to subscribe to Take a Minute:
J-R-and-Bonnie@dogwoodministries.org
Donations to Dogwood Ministries: http://www.dogwoodministries.org
<http://www.dogwoodministries.org/>
Personal correspondence to Bonnie Ricks: bonnie@dogwoodministries.org
Personal correspondence to J.R. Ricks: j-r@dogwoodministries.org
--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~-
-
No comments:
Post a Comment