Denise Schlesselmann's visa has finally been accepted! She gets to stay and finish her missionary work into at least June 2015 without that distraction!
11 years ago
Daily Devotion: Tuesday, October 7, 2014
DEVOTION: "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my ace to you, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads and our guilt has reached to the heavens. From the day of our forefathers until now, our guilt has been great. Because of our sins, we and our kings and our priests have been subjected to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation at the hand of foreign kings, as it is today." Ezra 9:5-7
As I looked at this text for today from my daily Bible reading there are a few things that stick out to me. The first is that even though Ezra had not committed the exact sins that he is crying out to God about in this passage, he is still guilty as he is part of it. He is part of it, because he is part of the people, and even more, he is their pastor.
I feel the same way as your pastor. Your sin and my sin both directly and indirectly affects the whole community of believers. When we disobey God and continue to do so without realizing our true sinfulness and without true repentance, the whole church suffers for it. I have seen it happen both directly and indirectly. At the same time when we take a deep and honest look into our hearts and confess and repent of our sins the whole community is lifted up and restored. When we can truly come together as sinners in need of God's forgiveness we are all at the same time lifted up in His grace.
As for the Israelites, in those days God had forbidden them to marry anyone who was not from Israel. That was because all of the foreign nations had served and worshiped other gods and knew nothing of the one true God, and all that these foreign people would do was steal His people away from Him. The Israelites did just that. Many had fallen away fro the one true God, because they had taken foreign spouses for themselves. They suffered because of it. They were in captivity and nothing seemed to be going right. When Ezra finally realized it and figured it out he was distraught to the point of the prayer we have still today.
The second thing that sticks out to me is that they repented of their sins and a great deal of discernment and care was taken in how to deal with this matter. They investigated the matter case by case, and if anyone had taken foreign wives that had turned them away from God, those wives and children were sent back to their homeland. A list of those who had done so is written in the book of Ezra. I can only imagine how tough it was to do this and the heartache and struggle that resulted, but it was something that had to be done according to God's will at that time.
Many of you reading this today have some tough decisions to make regarding your sin. I do too. But if we are to be doing things God's way, the RIGHT way, we need to get rid of our sin and the things (and sometimes even people) that are causing us to sin. We all need to get our lives straight so that the sin isn't dragging ourselves and the rest of us down! We need to repent and receive Christ's forgiveness!
Let us pray: Lord help us to make the tough decisions, to forgive what needs to be forgiven, to ask for forgiveness from those we have sinned against, and to get rid of the sin and what causes us to sin in our lives. Help us to repent and to trust in your forgiveness. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Artaxerxes? He was the king of Persia during the time of Ezra.
For DERIK ROLOFF, grandson of the Tamelers, who has breast cancer (yes men can get breast cancer). He is having surgery on Friday to remove it and then after the results he will have to spend some time in Children's Hospital.
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As I looked at this text for today from my daily Bible reading there are a few things that stick out to me. The first is that even though Ezra had not committed the exact sins that he is crying out to God about in this passage, he is still guilty as he is part of it. He is part of it, because he is part of the people, and even more, he is their pastor.
I feel the same way as your pastor. Your sin and my sin both directly and indirectly affects the whole community of believers. When we disobey God and continue to do so without realizing our true sinfulness and without true repentance, the whole church suffers for it. I have seen it happen both directly and indirectly. At the same time when we take a deep and honest look into our hearts and confess and repent of our sins the whole community is lifted up and restored. When we can truly come together as sinners in need of God's forgiveness we are all at the same time lifted up in His grace.
As for the Israelites, in those days God had forbidden them to marry anyone who was not from Israel. That was because all of the foreign nations had served and worshiped other gods and knew nothing of the one true God, and all that these foreign people would do was steal His people away from Him. The Israelites did just that. Many had fallen away fro the one true God, because they had taken foreign spouses for themselves. They suffered because of it. They were in captivity and nothing seemed to be going right. When Ezra finally realized it and figured it out he was distraught to the point of the prayer we have still today.
The second thing that sticks out to me is that they repented of their sins and a great deal of discernment and care was taken in how to deal with this matter. They investigated the matter case by case, and if anyone had taken foreign wives that had turned them away from God, those wives and children were sent back to their homeland. A list of those who had done so is written in the book of Ezra. I can only imagine how tough it was to do this and the heartache and struggle that resulted, but it was something that had to be done according to God's will at that time.
Many of you reading this today have some tough decisions to make regarding your sin. I do too. But if we are to be doing things God's way, the RIGHT way, we need to get rid of our sin and the things (and sometimes even people) that are causing us to sin. We all need to get our lives straight so that the sin isn't dragging ourselves and the rest of us down! We need to repent and receive Christ's forgiveness!
Let us pray: Lord help us to make the tough decisions, to forgive what needs to be forgiven, to ask for forgiveness from those we have sinned against, and to get rid of the sin and what causes us to sin in our lives. Help us to repent and to trust in your forgiveness. Amen.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Artaxerxes? He was the king of Persia during the time of Ezra.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who suggested that the Israelites send back their foreign wives?
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Praise band practice 6pm
Wed- Board of Outreach and Evangelism meeting 10am; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Karate 5:30-7:30
Sat- Men's Breakfast 8-9:30; Bible study 4pm; Worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Sophie TInnin
Altar guild- Set up- Linda Callies; Clean Up-- Wanda Turnure
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- Don't Turnure; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Steve Robine, 8:30- Steve McDowell, 11- ????
8:30 Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Haliey Blechle
Pianists/organists Sat- Kathy Barrow; Sun- Melissa Pedersen 11am- videos
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NEWS: THERE IS A LOT OF NEW STUFF SO MAKE SURE YOU READ THOROUGHLY!!
Sat- Men's Breakfast 8-9:30; Bible study 4pm; Worship 5
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11; Elder's meeting noon
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK
Acolytes- 8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Sophie TInnin
Altar guild- Set up- Linda Callies; Clean Up-- Wanda Turnure
Greeters- 8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine
Communion Assistants- Sat- Steve Robine; 8:30- Don't Turnure; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- Steve Robine, 8:30- Steve McDowell, 11- ????
8:30 Ushers- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Don Weigle, Don Tate
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Terry McKenzie, 11- Haliey Blechle
Pianists/organists Sat- Kathy Barrow; Sun- Melissa Pedersen 11am- videos
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NEWS: THERE IS A LOT OF NEW STUFF SO MAKE SURE YOU READ THOROUGHLY!!
MORE READERS NEEDED!!
We need more readers, especially for our 11am service!! If you are willing to be one of those readers please reply to this email. We need one for this Sunday and next Sunday and also for November 2.
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A NEW BIBLE STUDY ON UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HEAVEN AND HELL HAS STARTED!! COME AND CHECK IT OUT!
This study will be based on the Scriptures first and foremost and we will talk about the glory we will experience and the face to face contact we will have with Jesus.
Get out of the dark and into the light when it comes to your knowledge about paradise! Come and get all your questions answered!
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FAMILY HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE AT THE HEITGERD'S ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 BEGINNING AT 6PM!!
Bring your own flashlights, chairs, and beverages
Heitgerd's Address is 32991 N. Hwy 47 Warrenton
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TRUNK OR TREAT ON HALLOWEEN!!!
Bring your kids, bring a pot of chili, and your carved pumpkins to our 3rd annual Trunk-or-treat!! THis is a fun and safe environment to have your kids go trick-or-treating and it's fun for the whole family. We will also be having a chili cook off and a pumpkin carving contest! There will be prizes for thw inners. Event starts at 5pm with chili judging and then we will serve al the chili till 6:30. If you plan on being in the chili contest; please calling the church office, or emailing Kelsey at koverbeck@live.com. Trunk or treat will go until 8pm.
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A NEW BEGINNER KARATE CLASS HAS STARTED AT ST. JOHN'S ON THURSDAYS AT 5:30!!!
Everyone is welcome regardless of age or experience. Just come and watch the first time and see how it works.
Intermediate and advanced classes start at 6:30!!
Check out all the info on the brand new website!!
http://familykaratecenterwest.webs.com
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CHRISTMAS BUS TRIP IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
It is time to pay your $25 deposit which is due by October 15!! Please do not put deposits in the offering plate, but rather put them in Marilyn's church mailbox or on her desk in the office. The cost of the trip will be between $60 and $65 depending on the number of those gong. The cost includes dinner when we arrive at Osage Beach. There are still a few tickets and bus seats left. If you want to go, sign up with Marilyn asap.
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ORANGE T-SHIRTS ARE ON SALE JUST IN TIME FOR HUNTING SEASON!!!
20% off!! Get ya one or one for each person in your family!! We have all sizes!!
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PATRIOT PACKAGES WILL BE PACKED AT THE WARRENTON ARMORY ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15!!
You may donate small travel size personal hygiene items, gum, comic books, magazines, or cash. A full list of needed items will be available soon. These packages are sent to troops out on the front line and battle fields around the world.
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Kelsey updates our website weekly! Check it out!! www.stjohnwarrenton.org
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PRAYER REQUESTS: (If you have a prayer request please reply to this email or call me at 636-359-1061)
For DONNA HEITGERD who will be undergoing another hip surgery on TODAY.
For DERIK ROLOFF, grandson of the Tamelers, who has breast cancer (yes men can get breast cancer). He is having surgery on Friday to remove it and then after the results he will have to spend some time in Children's Hospital.
For ANNA STETZEL, nine year old granddaughter of a friend of the Robines, who will be undergoing a cardiac procedure later this week. She has already undergone two open heart surgeries.
Thanksgiving for RAYMOND LAMKIN! He had a portion of his lung removed and it was only stage one cancer that has not moved to the lymph nodes. Also FRANCES LAMKIN'S heart condition has stabilized and she is doing much better. All thanks to God!
Thanksgiving for RAYMOND LAMKIN! He had a portion of his lung removed and it was only stage one cancer that has not moved to the lymph nodes. Also FRANCES LAMKIN'S heart condition has stabilized and she is doing much better. All thanks to God!
For PEOPLE IN AFRICA , especially the Lutheran church in Africa, as they deal with the Ebola crisis.
For BILL WOOLF as he recovers from a broken ankle. He is working with it.
For our NATION'S MILITARY LEADERS AND SOLDIERS as they figure out what to do about the imminent threats from ISIS.
For HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHRISTIANS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA, who are being persecuted to the point of death for their faith.
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