DEVOTION:So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6
To the best of my knowledge, maple syrup is not a fruit.
If it was, I might teasingly suggest the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden might have been a sugar maple. Those of us who love real maple syrup might better understand Adam and Eve's fall, if Satan had been offering them a stack of pancakes covered with real maple syrup.
That, my friends, would have been a serious temptation. And I'm not alone in that belief.
As proof, allow me to share that thieves have been stealing Canadian maple syrup -- a lot of Canadian maple syrup. It's true. A recent check of the giant maple syrup storage facility in the small town of Saint Louis de Blandford revealed that some of the barrels which were supposed to be full of maple syrup were empty.
Somehow, in some way, thieves had stolen 10 million pounds or 15,000 barrels of the stuff. How they did it, when they did it, and where they're storing the syrup, remain a mystery. Only one thing is certain: this much missing syrup is a serious setback to the world's strategic syrup supply.
This takes me to the rather obvious point of this devotion. That point is this: when he wants to tempt us, the devil almost always uses some kind of delectable bait. By that I mean he dangles before us something, which looks good, tastes good, smells good, feels good. Delectable.
He got Eve to sin using something that looked good. He did the same when it came time to tempt King David. When it was Jesus' turn, he suggested that fasting-Jesus just might like to sink His teeth into some fresh baked bread. Again and again, Satan takes something God has forbidden and tells us, "Go ahead, your enjoyment won't cause any problem."
Now understand, the temptation he uses on you may be different than what he uses on me. What I find appealing, you may find revolting. What is certain is this: Satan has been tempting people for a long time, and he will place before us that temptation we will find most appealing. This, in part, explains why all of us -- every one of us -- are sinners.
It also explains why all of us need a Savior. Only God's Son has been able to live His life -- from start to finish -- without buying into Satan's temptations. Again and again, Jesus resisted Satan's suggestions to abandon the mission that would lead to His death and our salvation. Again and again, He turned down the temptation to save Himself at the cost of losing us.
Now, because Jesus lived, suffered, died and rose for us, there is forgiveness when we fall into sin, when we stumble at one of Satan's temptations.
There is forgiveness and there is salvation because Jesus said, "No" to Satan's delectable bait.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I give thanks for a Savior who said, "No!" when I would have said, "Yes!" May I give thanks for what He has done and learn from His example. In His Name I ask it. Amen ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: How many of Job's friends are mentioned in the book of Job? 4, Eliphaz, Elihu, Bildad, and Zophar (thanks Dianne)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________THURSDAY'S QUIZ: What words in Job 19 are often used in funerals and are the title of a famous hymn that we sing at Easter? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CATECHISM: Question: What does it mean that Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty?Answer: With this expression Scripture teaches that Christ, as true man, is not only present everywhere, but also no fully exercises His Divine power over the whole universe.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________CALENDAR: Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pmSat- worship 5pmSun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; elders meeting noon__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:LOST AND FOUND IN BASEMENT AT CHURCH!!!Here is a list of several of the items:
pink "Gap Girl" zip up sweat shirt
blue girls zip up sweat shirt
black shiny purse (with little girl stuff in it)
Hannah Montana purse
a bunch of little boy toys
women's or girl's glasses
several pairs of sunglasses
tazmanian devil clip on tie
a little girls white slip on shoe (kind of looks like a ballet shoe)
a spiderman flip flop
a old man derby hat with earflaps that tuck inside
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________PARENTING CLASS THIS SUNDAY AT 9:45Could you use some help in learning how to deal with your children? Want to have fun, laugh, and get some encouragement at the same time? Come to the "From Me to We" class in the Sunday school room closest to the closet this Sunday and grow!__________________________________________________________________________________________20-30 Year Olds BBQ Saturday at 6pm!!! FUN, FOOD, AND FELLOWSHIP!!!Please let me know if you are coming by Friday night!!__________________________________________________________________________________________MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP SEPTEMBER 28-30!!!! REGISTER TODAY!The 10th annual T-3 (trap, tackle, and tees) retreat is coming up September 28-30!! The cost is $45 for lodging and meals. (You can get a hotel room or bring your own camper or tent if you wish to have your own lodging.) $35 for our 2 person scramble golf tourney. There is also a fishing tournament, skeet shooting, a guided tour of Mark Twain Lake and forest, hiking, biking, and much, much more. All that plus some of the best food you can eat and the best Bible studies and worship times you can have at a camp! It is a time that you will never forget!
I will give the first one besides me to sign up my special (pastor) room that I get every year. I (pastor) am going! I wouldn't miss it for the world. Let me know if you want to go.
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS LCMS Global MissionsGo to LCMS.org to learn more about what our Synod is doing in the way of spreading the Gospel globally!!__________________________________________________________________________________________________________PRAYERS: For JOYCE SCHIEN as she has been moved to Delmar Gardens in Ofallon! A good thing!
For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) as he adjusts to life in the nursing home (Laclede Groves). For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she is has been put on hospice care.
For KEN WAGNER as he continues to recover from a broken hip (his neck is still broken too and he will be in a collar the rest of his life). For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as he is doing quite poorly with his cancer. For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.
For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with severe cancer complications.
For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Garden.
