Daily Email: Monday, January 18, 2016

DEVOTION: Psalm 19English Standard Version (ESV)

19 The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above[a] proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
Their voice[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
    which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
    and its circuit to the end of them,
    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect,[c]
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules[d] of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can discern his errors?
    Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
    let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
    and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
    be acceptable in your sight,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

 
 
I love this Psalm, I love all off them, but I especially love this one, because it reminds me not to question God or his Word.  His decrees, commands, and promises are good, right true, certain and final.  They are the first and last word on any subject.  When he says something we better listen and then simply say "OK". 
 
We have no right to argue with God saying things like  "Ya but...." or "What about......?" or, "That may have been ok for that time and place, but....."  or "I think you're wrong God".  
 
We can see from Scripture, especially the Old Testament, what happens when we do.  We become captive to sin and its desires.  We fall away from Almighty God.  We lose our way.  It does us no good to question God's Word.  We can complain, as Job did, when we don't know what God's will is, or when something bad is happening to us and we have no clue why.  We can, as David did, express our grief, pain, or anger to God and he will listen.  But we cannot argue with god when he flat out tells us something. 
 
How would that work at your job?  Say your boss tells you to go and do something, and as soon as he tells you, you retort back with, "I don't agree with that", or "I think you're  wrong" or "Why would you ask me to do that, it doesn't make any sense?"  How long would you have that job?  How much more should we listen to and do what God tells us?  He is our maker and redeemer!!  He controls our very breath!  How dare we question God? 
 
Even more, God has our best interests at heart and he is always looking out for us.  He wants us to survive and thrive in this world, and he knows just how to do it.  He gives us the way to do it.  Why wouldn't we listen to the guy who knows everything about everything?
 
 
 
As LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod) Christians, we believe that the Word of God (the Bible) is inerrant (without error) and infallible (can stand up to any test).  We believe that it is ALL God's Word.  We believe that it is inspired By God, which means that God breathed into (which is what the word "inspired" means in the Greek) the writers what they were to write word for word.  Peter says in 2 Peter 1:21 "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 
 
Let's live in God's Word, listen to him, and submit to His will today!
 
Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving us your word of truth so we can know your salvation, and be made holy by your Spirit.  Amen.
 
 




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CALENDAR:

Mon- Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  No Confirmation or Family Night

Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Council Meeting 7pm

Wed- Ladies Aid meeting at noon; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Newsletter deadline
Sat-  Basement reserved; worship 5pm (Pastor Grund will be here.)
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; High School youth Bible Study 5pm

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WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Jack Bunge; 11- Jacob Cluver


Ushers-  Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte

Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster, and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Lois Boeger

Elders- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Jim Rahn

Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch

Lay readers- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30-Jacob Nagel; 11 - Jim Rahn

Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot

Organist-  Rachel Fisher

Projectionists:  Sat- (None, Pastor Grund here) 8:30-  Alaina Heitgerd; 11- Zack Hoelscher
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YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:    What was the pillar of stones called "Jegar Sahadutha" or "Galeed" all about? 

45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha,[a] but Jacob called it Galeed.[b] 48 Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." Therefore he named it Galeed, 49 and Mizpah,[c] for he said, "The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight. 50 If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me."

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TODAY'S QUIZ: What did Joseph do to make sure his brothers came back after he sent them to get his youngest brother, Benjamin?
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NEWS!!!! 
2016 ALTAR FLOWER CHART IS PRETTY EMPTY!!
It is hanging on the bulletin board in the narthex.  Sign up if you wish to place flowers on the altar!  If it is for a special occasion (in memory of loved one, birthday, anniversary, etc.) please indicate that as well.  Cost is $25 payable to St. John's. 
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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET IN ON THE WALL BY THE COFFEE POT.  IF YOU HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF DONUTS IN THE PAST, MAYBE IT'S TIME YOU GIVE BACK!!!
Sign up today and make some Sunday school kid's day!
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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR MAILBOXES!!! 
Are you getting ready to do your taxes?  Don't forget about your offering statements in your church mailboxes!  You could even give the money you get back from this itemization to church! 
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HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH BIBLE STUDY MEETING AND PIZZA SUNDAY JANUARY 24 @ 5PM!!
Pastor K. wants to get back in touch with the high school kids after Christmas break, and start to prepare them for the youth gathering coming up this Summer!  Please plan on being there!!!
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PLEASE COME AND GET YOUR DISHES FROM THE KITCHEN!!
One more week and then those dishes that are left will be taken to Good Shepherd Thrift Store to be sold.
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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!
Tickets are $25 a piece.  All proceeds go to help our youth afford their trip down to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering as well as do many other service projects and youth events.
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
You can also do individual size cups.
 
(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)
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GENERAL PRAYERS:
For KAILYN AND HAILEY BLECHLE AND THEIR FAMILY as they mourn the loss of their great grandpa Ray Wilson.
 
For PAUL AND TERESA BROCKFELD, soon to become members of St. John's, as their gunsmith business was torched yesterday morning.
 
For MARIANNE LINKE, as she remains in Warrenton Manor due to trouble with congestive heart troubles and pneumonia.
 
For JOANNE HACHTEL, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery.
 
For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, from Trinity in Troy, who is on a two month leave to heal from cancer treatments.
 
For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.
 
For THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING PROBLEMS in the days and weeks ahead, that the Lord would provide for their needs, and use us, if need be, to help. 
 
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.
 

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