DEVOTION: Psalm 23 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
forever.
When we are trying to explain the way we'd like things to be regarding our lives or this world, we often use the phrase "In a perfect world…..". If there's one thing I have learned in my 46 years in this world, it is that it this world is far from perfect. In a perfect world everyone would get along. In a perfect world, if someone sinned against someone else, the sinner would immediately ask for forgiveness, and the one who was sinned against would automatically grant that forgiveness.
In a perfect world there would be no sin to begin with. In a perfect world there would be no "valley of the shadow of death", there would be no "evil", and there would be no "enemies".
So because this isn't a perfect world, things don't always work out the way we'd like. There are dangers around every corner that our Lord must guide us through like a good shepherd would keep us on the path with his staff and rod. There are temptations to be overcome, and when we fall into them, as a lamb would fall into a hole, the Lord Jesus, our good shepherd pulls us out of the hole with his mercy and grace. There is food, and shelter and clothing,, but even when we go hungry, or God forbid, starve to death, the Lord Jesus sees us through that shadow of death and brings us to His home where we will live forever.
My one wish is that Jesus would come back and restore His world to the perfect world it once was. Until then we can only trust in our Good Shepherd to lead us, guide us, correct us, feed us, and give us life. TRUST IN HIM FOR HE IS RISEN!!! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for being our good shepherd through this less than perfect life. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Choir 7pm
Thurs- NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST AND WORSHIP 6:30-7:30; Alzheimer's Support group 1pm; Lutheranism 101 6:30pm; No karate
Sat- TAILGATE SALE 7am-1pm; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Worship 11am
______________________________________________________________________WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Dawn Sherman; 11- Lydia Miller
Ushers- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Rich Talbert, Don Turnure
Altar- Set up- Jodi Baldwin; Clean Up- Terry McKenzie
Elders- Sat- Dave Winter; 8:30- John Hachtel, 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Mike and Naomi Johnson
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- John Hachtel; 11- Jim Rahn
Organist- Rachel Fisher 8:30 and 11
Sat Pianist- Barb Dreyer
Projectionists: No projectionists this week
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TODAY'S QUIZ : What tune is Psalm 75 set to?
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NEWS!!!!
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER BREAKFAST AND WORSHIP IS THURSDAY, MAY 4!!
Breakfast- 6:30-7am (biscuits and gravy, sausage, and scrambled eggs)
Prayer service- 7am (Prayer, praise, and singing)
Please join us!!
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TAILGATE SALE AND FLEA MARKET THIS SATURDAY 7am-1pm!!!
Still plenty of spaces available and I am sure there will be plenty of deals to be had that day!!
Make plans to get out and get some deals and support your church at the same time!!
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LITTLE LAMBS ENROLLMENT FOR THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR IS OPEN!!!!
Student must be 3 for younger class or 4 for older class by August 1.
$45 nonrefundable registration fee required.
Registration packets can be picked up at Little Lambs during school hours and in the church office during non-school hours.
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OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!
Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!
Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton. Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.
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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS
Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!
GENERAL PRAYER
For RANDY SWEET AND HIS FAMILY as they mourn the loss of his mother Rose, who passed from death to life.
For CAROL BRAZEE recovering from sinus surgery at home.
For KEN FOSTER recovering from back surgery at home.
For PAT KING, as she is recovering from knee replacement surgery at home.
For MARILYN FOSTER as she prepares for her retirement.
For PATTY SWEET'S MOTHER, Virginia, Patty's mom, who is on hospice care and is nearing the end of her life.
For DANIELLE MEINE KRAMER, whose leukemia is back after a brief respite from it. She had it for several years while in high school. (She grew up riding Karin's school bus to school.)
For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.
For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH, who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.
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