DEVOTION: Philippians 4:4-13
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[b] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
One of the most misunderstood Bible verses of all time is verse 13 in this passage. This is a perfect example of context being the key to understanding.
There are many who understand this to mean that God will give you the ability and the will to do whatever you want. If you want to be able to bench press 400lbs, and you have enough faith in God, God will make you able to do that. If you want to become president of the United States, God will give you the strength to do it and will remove all of the roadblocks to do it. If you want to have five kids, live in a 2,000 square foot house in the suburbs, and be married to your high school sweetheart, God will make you able to do it. THIS IS NOT WHAT THE PASSAGE SAYS.
It is actually almost the opposite. If you read the whole passage, you will see that Paul is saying that he has learned the secret of contentment despite his circumstances, successes, or failures and despite what he, himself, was able to accomplish. If I were to change Paul's words a little here, I would change the word "do" in verse 13 to the word "endure" or the words "make it through".
There will be lots times in your life when you won't be able to "do all things" in the way that you think. You may not be able to defeat cancer no matter how positive your attitude, you may only get a C in that class despite working on it as hard as you possibly could, you may not get that promotion, even though you deserve it, because the boss's nephew is in line for it too. There are so many roadblocks to our earthly views of success, and so much depends on pure luck and sometimes genes, that we won't always "do all things".
On the positive side, it won't matter with Jesus. Yes, we'll be disappointed, but it won't effect our life as much as if our whole life depended on it. When our life depends only on Christ, we can "do all things". We can make it through the death of a spouse, that terminal cancer diagnosis, or that failure; because Christ strengthens us. He gives us hope! He gives us life! He gives us a real, eternal future. And in the end, when all is said and done, and we breathe our last breath, isn't that all that matter anyway?
So, keep working toward your goals! Keep fighting that fight! Keep working to get good grades! Keep trying to impress that person you want to be your spouse someday. Keep working hard to get that promotion. But when it doesn't quite work out according to your plan, don't get bitter, don't give up on life, don't think that God let you down. Realize that your worth and your life is not dependent on your successes but on the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being my everything and for giving me the strength to make it through all things. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Wed- Board of Outreach 5; Stephen Ministry 6; choir 7
Thurs-Confirmation make up 5pm; Karate 6:15-7:45
Sat- HOLY YOGA 10-11; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Luke Rausch; 11- Nicholas Schulze
Ushers- Rich Boeger, Don Hance, Don Tate, Doug Walters
Altar- Set up- Cheri Hofeldt; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Steve Robine; Sun- 8:30- Rich Talbert; 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- John and Joanne Hachtel; 11- Joan Sexton
Lay Reader- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Steve McDowell, 11- Ben Hoelscher
Sat Pianist- Pat Golden
Organist- Pat Golden
Projectionist: Sat- Mauch; Sun, 8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Faerber
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
Who put together a genealogical record of those who returned to Jerusalem after the captivity? Nehemiah in chapter 7
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Where was Ur of the Chaldeans located?
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NEWS:
VISITATION AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR CAL TAMELER
Visitation- Thursday, 3-8pm, at Pitman Funeral Home and Friday, 9-10am at St. John's
Funeral- Friday, 10am burial immediately following in Warrenton City cemetery
Lunch- Immediately following burial
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SPECIAL KIDS AND YOUTH REFORMATION SUNDAY SCHOOL AND WEDNESDAY NIGHTS COMING UP!
Starting Sunday, October 15 and ending on Sunday October 29 during Sunday school hour beginning at 9:45 and Wednesdays at 5pm, our Sunday school and youth will be doing a special Reformation VBS style Sunday school and Wednesday night youth night for all kids ages 3-18!!! On Sundays we will have special crafts and games along with the lesson. On Wednesday nights we will start with pizza at 5 and then have our program! Tell your kids, grandkids, neighbor's kids, and everyone else you know about it!!
Sunday school schedule for October 15 and 22
Opening- 9:45
Games crafts, snack, lesson rotation 9:55-10:55
Wednesday Schedule for October 18 and 25-
Pizza Supper- 5pm
Opening Worship- 5:30
Games, crafts, snack, and lesson rotation 5:45-7:00
Sunday school schedule for October 29
Opening- 9
Games crafts, snack, lesson rotation 9:10-9:55
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS!! Please call church to volunteer!!!
Kitchen helpers –2 or 3—
Rotation Guides (people to bring groups from one station to another)- 3 or 4—
Other- (all around help)—2-3
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500th ANNIVERSARY REFORMATION BLOW OUT CELEBRATION COMING UP SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29!!!
Sunday school- 9am
Worship- 10am
Potluck Picnic with Fried Chicken- 11:30 (Please bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share!)
Pitch the Keys Singing- Noon
Bounce House, Live Polka Music , Games, Fellowship, Fun--- Noon- 3pm
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! INVITE YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS!! We want this to be a community event to show everyone that Lutherans are great people who have the truth of the Gospel and the peace of knowing we are saved by grace through faith on account of Christ!!!
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LADIES AID VENDOR FAIR AND BAKE SALE COMING UP SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4
If you would like to be a vendor or know someone who would, the cost is $20 per spot. They also need baked goods. Call 456-2888 to reserve your spot or to let them know you'll donate some baked goods.
Invite your friends and family and come on down to enjoy it!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Philippians 2:8
Whoever comes to Sunday school and tells me this verse will get a prize!
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NEW OUTREACH BOOKLET DISPLAY AT CHURCH
Our board of outreach and evangelism purchased a set of outreach booklets on all different topics of interest. They are for you to use for yourself, but also to take to friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors who may be dealing with the things covered in these booklets or may just have questions regarding to the faith. Please check it out and as it says, PLEASE TAKE ONE!
DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER IS CANNED VEGETABLES. PLEASE BRING YOUR DONATIONS TO CHURCH AND PUT THEM IN THE TUB MARKED "BACKPACK BLESSINGS"!
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PRAYERS:
For the FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF CAL TAMELER as he fell asleep in Jesus Sunday afternoon.
For the MANY IN CALIFORNIA dealing with wildfires.
For IVY TINNIN, who has been diagnosed with epilepsy and will have to take a semester off of school because of it.
For THOSE IN LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI who are dealing with hurricane Nate.
For the HUNDREDS IN LAS VEGAS who are dealing with the tragic shooting.
For DAVID GRAYSON, BUCK HAMPTON, AND GEORGE HOELSCHER all dealing with cancer and chemo treatments.
For the INFANT GRANDSON OF DANE AND JODI BALDWIN who was born twelve weeks premature. Right now he is getting some help with breathing, but all vitals and everything are good. He was born at 2 and a half pounds.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, COLTON FIGURA stationed in California, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
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