Daily Devotion: Monday, October 13, 2014

DEVOTION:  Jabez was more honorable than is brothers.  His mother had named him Jabez saying, " I gave birth to him in pain.  Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!  Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain."  And God granted his request.  1 Chronicles 4:9-10
 
This section of scripture is very boring to those who have no interest in family history.  It goes on and on listing person after person, without having anything in between..... until these two little verses.  We aren't sure why this little bit is in here.  It may have been simply to check to see I anyone is paying attention as they are reading.  It could've been that Ezra, who wrote this book, was a distant relative or a good friend of Jabez.  We just don't know. 
 
Some have taken it a bit too far.  I remember a few years ago that there was a whole book based on this little prayer.  The author suggested that if you prayed this prayer you would be GUARANTEED prosperity or at the very least be blessed in some earthly real way.  They thought that since this prayer was somehow situated in the middle of this genealogy that it must be special. 
 
It is special in that it is communication with God.  It is special in that it is a prayer to God for help.  It is special in that God answered the prayer.  Beyond that there is nothing special about it.
 
When we treat prayer as some sort of magical incantation to get God to do what we want, we belittle God.  We make Him out to be some sort of genie in a bottle, that if you say just the right thing in just the right way you will get what you want.  God don't play that way!
 
Prayer is a conversation with God that is part of a bigger relationship with Him that goes through every part of your life both spoken and unspoken.  Imagine if we treated our children or our spouse that way.  What if we thought there was some special incantation or way to say something that would get our spouse or our kids to do exactly what we want?  We might like it for a while, but after that it would get old and be far from genuine and real.  It wouldn't be based on a real relationship.  It wouldn't be based on a love. 
 
When you pray today don't think of it as something you have to do to get what you want, and don't get discouraged when you don't get it.  Treat it as it is, as a conversation with God, and remember that more than half of the conversation is listening to God too.  Listen to what He has to say in His Word.  Listen to what He has to say through the fellowship of the saints and through your loved ones.  Listen to Him as much as you want Him to listen to you. 
 
Let us pray:  Lord God help us to listen to you today.  Amen. 


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YESTERDAY'S QUIZWhen the enemies of the Israelites heard that the Israelites were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, what did the Israelites do from that day on?  They went on about the work of rebuilding the walls and half of them would keep watch and the other half would work with one hand and hold a sword in the other. 
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TODAY'S QUIZ: When was 1 Chronicles written?
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CALENDAR:
Mon- Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Praise Band practice 6; Trustees 7
Wed- Ladies Aid noon; Choir 7
Thurs- Karate 5:30-7:30
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- Men's Breakfast 8-9:30; Worship 5; Hayride and Bonfire at Heitgerds 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Bible Study and Sunday school 9:45; worship 11
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK

Acolytes- 8:30- Dustin Toedebusch 11- Jacob Winn
Altar guild- Set up- Don and Dianne Hance; Clean Up-- Sandy Robine
Greeters- 8:30- Bob Linke; 11- Joan Sexton
Communion Assistants- Sat-  John Hachtel; 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Dave Winter
Lay Readers- Sat- John Hachtel, 8:30- Amer Vossen, 11- ????
8:30 Ushers-  Alan Hofeldt, Tom Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure
Projectors- Sat-- Pam Bueltmann; 8:30- Schaumbergs, 11- Ian Brunson

Pianists/organists Sat- Tim Sherman;  Sun- Melissa Pedersen  11am- Molly Hendershot
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MORE NEW NEWS:
FAMILY HAYRIDE AND BONFIRE AT THE HEITGERD'S THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 BEGINNING AT 6PM!!
We can still use a few more people to bring chili and other snacks or desserts!!!!
 
Bring your own flashlights, chairs, and beverages
 
Heitgerd's Address is  32991 N. Hwy 47  Warrenton
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MEN'S BREAKFAST
Our next men's breakfast will be November 9 at 8am!   Mark your calendars and plan to attend!  Bring your friends, sons, and grandsons.  We had five guys there today.  I'm expecting A LOT more next time. 
 
More info on the next Bible study to come!
 
 
Let's run out of food!  Let's fill the basement.  Let's get new guys to come, especially those who are unsure about Jesus. 
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SATURDAY BIBLE STUDY CANCELED FOR REMAINDER OF YEAR
Since there is no interest in our 4pm Bible study, it will be canceled for the remainder of the year.  
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A NEW GROUP IS STARTING CALLED "CARING FOR INACTIVE MEMBERS"
DO you have a heart for those who have strayed from the fellowship and have not been attending worship?  Do you want to pray for and care for those loved ones?  Do you think that Jesus still loves them as much as everyone else at St. John's.  This group is definitely for you!  We will begin with some training as to how to best care for these members as soon as we can get two or three more people who are interested.  Sandy Robine is already a part of it, and we are both excited about it.
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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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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 as she had successful surgery and has been moved to the rehab section of St Joe's, St. Charles. 
 
For KELLI CLODFELTER and HER FAMILY as they lost their 3 month old baby girl Gracie last Tuesday. 
 
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 is recovering from a heart surgery.

 
For PEOPLE IN AFRICA , especially the Lutheran church in Africa, as they deal with the Ebola crisis. 
 
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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