DEVOTION: How amiable are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Psalm 84:1-2 (KJV)
Tim Rutkowski, prosecutor for Michigan's Huron County, doesn't often bring charges against seven-year-old boys.
No, he doesn't do it often, but that doesn't mean he doesn't do it at all.
As proof, I point you to a unique event that took place a few weeks ago when, as a caring civil servant, he charged a little boy with the unlawful use of a vehicle. In this case the vehicle was the family car. Hitting speeds of more than 50 miles per hour, the boy drove more than 20 miles before the police stopped him.
The officers who were there said that when they looked into the vehicle, the lad was crying. The boy, who is being raised by his mother and a foster father, kept saying, "I want to go to my dad's."
So strong was the boy's desire to be with his dad, the county prosecutor wanted to make sure nothing was wrong in his home. That's why he filed the charges.
Now you know and I know that little boy was wrong and foolish. Along with many other mistakes he had endangered his life and that of others. Yes, the boy did many things wrong, but he did one thing right: he had an overwhelming, all-consuming desire to see and be with his father.
It occurs to me the Psalmist was describing the same kind of intense relationship with the Lord when he wrote the verse that serves as the theme for our devotion. He said, "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God."
When I read that verse I wondered how many people really feel that way about the Lord. Reluctantly, I think the percentage is probably pretty small.
And although there are probably many reasons, one of the greatest difficulties is most folks seldom stop to think about what the Lord has done for them. The Father's love which reaches out to disobedient sinners, the Savior's blood-sealed sacrifice which pays the price to buy us back from our abductors, the Holy Spirit's patient calling and continuous encouragement are all obvious signs of God's great grace.
Every day in a multitude of ways the Lord shows the intensity of His caring. At the same time, through difficulties, intrusions, pains, challenges and seductions, the world tries to cloud and cover that grace so we don't see it, so our souls don't long for God's love.
This is why this Daily Devotion encourages you to take a few moments and see if you -- like the little boy -- want to be with your Father, Your Savior, the Spirit. If you do not yearn to be with the Person who loves you more than anyone, then take some time to remember and consider His faithful, ongoing gifts to you.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me appreciate all You have done to save me. Accept this gratitude and let my thankfulness daily increase. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Whom does God mean when in the Ten Commandments He says, "You shall"?
Answer: He means me and all other human beings.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Joel? he was the writer and prophet who wrote the book of Joel. He was a kindly and gentle man who didn't beat down and condemn as did the other prophets. he was the son of Pethuel and lived around the 9th century BC.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Amos' occupation before God called him to be a prophet?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- nothing scheduled
Thurs- Joneburg nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers caregivers support group 1pm
Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Choir BBQ at Don Nolte's noon; worship 5pm
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30; elder's meeting 11:30
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
TED DAEHNKE passed from death to life yesterday from a massive heart attack after a long and fruitful life lived to the Lord. Memorial arrangements are pending.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VBS "Welcome to Holywood" IS COMING NEXT WEEK, JULY 11-15! Call KARIN @ 314-691-7283 to donate food items. The short list was sent in a previous email.
"Kid friendly" meals will be provided from 5:30-6:00,festivities begin at 6pm, and end around 8:15pm.
Kids will explore a few of the many miracles of Jesus by becoming "stars" in the stories.
Please call the church office to sign with an agent (register) today so that we have a decent idea of how many kids we will have.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SECOND ANNUAL CAMPING/FLOAT TRIP COMING UP July 22-24
Four full hook up campsites are reserved at Onandaga Cave State Park. Cost is $54.50 for a site for the two days.
Saturday will be on your own: Please check your newsletter for all of the fun stuff there is to do.
Sunday the floating group will leave from Ozark Outdoors at 10am to do a five mile float which should take 3-5 hours. Cost to float in a canoe is $17.50 per person with two people per canoe. Rafts are $22 a person and tubes are $20.
Again, check the info in the newsletter for more info or call Teresa Scott at 359-0274 or email her at tscott@usmo.com.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
OUR THIRD ANNUAL GOLF SOCIAL IS COMING UP SATURDAY, AUGUST 13!
Registration: 7am
Shotgun start: 8am
Details: 4 person scramble format, cash prizes per flight and special hole contest, Burgers and brats for lunch
Cost: $50 per person includes round of golf, cart, lunch, and attendance gift. Hole sponsorship is $50 with proceeds going to Little Lambs. There will be 50/50 tickets, mulligans and other incentives available for purchase as part of the fundraising portion of the event as well.
Registration forms and sign up sheet are on the table in the narthex. You can call Alan Hofeldt at 456-3070 for more info or to sponsor a hole.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF TED DAEHNKE who are mourning his loss.
For LEW BUELTMANN who is at the hospital with severe swelling in his legs.
For WILMA WEIGLE who is hospitalized with heart troubles and is undergoing a catheterization today.
For the TINNIN FAMILY as Hope's mother is near death and her father is dealing with severe pneumonia.
For MICHELLE WOOLF who is having surgery on Friday to remove the rest of her thyroid because of cancer.
For LIL WINTER who is home from the hospital and is doing well after knee replacement.
RUTH CANTRELL, who is going through cyberknife treatments for cancer on her pituitary gland.
MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WHO ARE MILITARY PERSONNEL, Ryan Woolf, Danny Dreyer, Sam Hargrove, David Mincemeyer, Alex Walters, David Tate, Jon Rahn, and Adam Klott (Adam will be retiring from the military soon because of Diabetes). (If I am missing anyone please let me know.)
OUR CHURCH as we continue the CARE PROCESS.
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Tim Rutkowski, prosecutor for Michigan's Huron County, doesn't often bring charges against seven-year-old boys.
No, he doesn't do it often, but that doesn't mean he doesn't do it at all.
As proof, I point you to a unique event that took place a few weeks ago when, as a caring civil servant, he charged a little boy with the unlawful use of a vehicle. In this case the vehicle was the family car. Hitting speeds of more than 50 miles per hour, the boy drove more than 20 miles before the police stopped him.
The officers who were there said that when they looked into the vehicle, the lad was crying. The boy, who is being raised by his mother and a foster father, kept saying, "I want to go to my dad's."
So strong was the boy's desire to be with his dad, the county prosecutor wanted to make sure nothing was wrong in his home. That's why he filed the charges.
Now you know and I know that little boy was wrong and foolish. Along with many other mistakes he had endangered his life and that of others. Yes, the boy did many things wrong, but he did one thing right: he had an overwhelming, all-consuming desire to see and be with his father.
It occurs to me the Psalmist was describing the same kind of intense relationship with the Lord when he wrote the verse that serves as the theme for our devotion. He said, "My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God."
When I read that verse I wondered how many people really feel that way about the Lord. Reluctantly, I think the percentage is probably pretty small.
And although there are probably many reasons, one of the greatest difficulties is most folks seldom stop to think about what the Lord has done for them. The Father's love which reaches out to disobedient sinners, the Savior's blood-sealed sacrifice which pays the price to buy us back from our abductors, the Holy Spirit's patient calling and continuous encouragement are all obvious signs of God's great grace.
Every day in a multitude of ways the Lord shows the intensity of His caring. At the same time, through difficulties, intrusions, pains, challenges and seductions, the world tries to cloud and cover that grace so we don't see it, so our souls don't long for God's love.
This is why this Daily Devotion encourages you to take a few moments and see if you -- like the little boy -- want to be with your Father, Your Savior, the Spirit. If you do not yearn to be with the Person who loves you more than anyone, then take some time to remember and consider His faithful, ongoing gifts to you.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me appreciate all You have done to save me. Accept this gratitude and let my thankfulness daily increase. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: Whom does God mean when in the Ten Commandments He says, "You shall"?
Answer: He means me and all other human beings.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Joel? he was the writer and prophet who wrote the book of Joel. He was a kindly and gentle man who didn't beat down and condemn as did the other prophets. he was the son of Pethuel and lived around the 9th century BC.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TODAY'S QUIZ: What was Amos' occupation before God called him to be a prophet?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHURCH CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15
Wed- nothing scheduled
Thurs- Joneburg nursing home worship 10:30; Alzheimers caregivers support group 1pm
Fri- Bible study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Choir BBQ at Don Nolte's noon; worship 5pm
Sun- Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30; elder's meeting 11:30
________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
TED DAEHNKE passed from death to life yesterday from a massive heart attack after a long and fruitful life lived to the Lord. Memorial arrangements are pending.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
VBS "Welcome to Holywood" IS COMING NEXT WEEK, JULY 11-15! Call KARIN @ 314-691-7283 to donate food items. The short list was sent in a previous email.
"Kid friendly" meals will be provided from 5:30-6:00,festivities begin at 6pm, and end around 8:15pm.
Kids will explore a few of the many miracles of Jesus by becoming "stars" in the stories.
Please call the church office to sign with an agent (register) today so that we have a decent idea of how many kids we will have.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SECOND ANNUAL CAMPING/FLOAT TRIP COMING UP July 22-24
Four full hook up campsites are reserved at Onandaga Cave State Park. Cost is $54.50 for a site for the two days.
Saturday will be on your own: Please check your newsletter for all of the fun stuff there is to do.
Sunday the floating group will leave from Ozark Outdoors at 10am to do a five mile float which should take 3-5 hours. Cost to float in a canoe is $17.50 per person with two people per canoe. Rafts are $22 a person and tubes are $20.
Again, check the info in the newsletter for more info or call Teresa Scott at 359-0274 or email her at tscott@usmo.com.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
OUR THIRD ANNUAL GOLF SOCIAL IS COMING UP SATURDAY, AUGUST 13!
Registration: 7am
Shotgun start: 8am
Details: 4 person scramble format, cash prizes per flight and special hole contest, Burgers and brats for lunch
Cost: $50 per person includes round of golf, cart, lunch, and attendance gift. Hole sponsorship is $50 with proceeds going to Little Lambs. There will be 50/50 tickets, mulligans and other incentives available for purchase as part of the fundraising portion of the event as well.
Registration forms and sign up sheet are on the table in the narthex. You can call Alan Hofeldt at 456-3070 for more info or to sponsor a hole.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF TED DAEHNKE who are mourning his loss.
For LEW BUELTMANN who is at the hospital with severe swelling in his legs.
For WILMA WEIGLE who is hospitalized with heart troubles and is undergoing a catheterization today.
For the TINNIN FAMILY as Hope's mother is near death and her father is dealing with severe pneumonia.
For MICHELLE WOOLF who is having surgery on Friday to remove the rest of her thyroid because of cancer.
For LIL WINTER who is home from the hospital and is doing well after knee replacement.
RUTH CANTRELL, who is going through cyberknife treatments for cancer on her pituitary gland.
MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH WHO ARE MILITARY PERSONNEL, Ryan Woolf, Danny Dreyer, Sam Hargrove, David Mincemeyer, Alex Walters, David Tate, Jon Rahn, and Adam Klott (Adam will be retiring from the military soon because of Diabetes). (If I am missing anyone please let me know.)
OUR CHURCH as we continue the CARE PROCESS.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "St. John's Lutheran Church, Warrenton, MO" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
mailto:stjohnswarrenton+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "St. John's Lutheran Church, Warrenton, MO" group.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
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