DEVOTION: If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4
Compared to our national debt, 65,000 isn't a very big number.
On the other hand, when you realize that a 42-year-old woman from Rotterdam called her ex-boyfriend that many times in one year, well, that's a lot.
My calculations say that would be almost eight phone calls an hour, 24 hours a day, every day for an entire year. When the lady was arrested for being a stalker, she said, "He and I have a relationship and I don't think that number of calls is excessive."
He says they don't have a relationship.
But back to that 65,000 number.
I imagine the fellow being called probably didn't mind when his phone rang the first few times. But when the day's number hit ten -- or 50 -- I think he might have been peeved. By the time the phone had gone off the 170th time he was probably frustrated beyond belief. It is impossible for me to imagine how he must have felt in the seventh or eighth month of the woman's barrage.
All of this got me wondering.
How many times a day do you think the Lord forgives our sins? Now I know there are times when we are pretty good -- usually when we're sleeping or under an anesthetic. On the other hand, our waking hours probably more than make up for our short breaks from transgressing.
How many times a day do we sin? How many times a day does the Lord forgive? I don't know the number, but it's a lot.
This is why the passage from the book of Psalms is so very significant. Living in the grace of God which comes from the Messiah, the psalmist is confident the Lord doesn't mark our iniquities. The Lord isn't making a list, checking it twice, trying to find out who's naughty or nice.
He already knows: we're all naughty.
No, the Lord -- because of the forgiveness won for us upon Calvary's cross -- doesn't keep a record of iniquities. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, He forgives.
He forgives a lot ... and because He does we can stand before Him innocent.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks You have saved me. Because of Your Son's innocent suffering and death, I am forgiven. Now I pray I may do my best to minimize my sinning and maximize my thanksgiving. Let my life be a witness to my appreciation for Your abundant grace and mercy. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Eliphaz the Temanite.
(I don't even remember who won last time. I think it was Doug. If it wasn't please let me know.)
OUR CHURCH as we continue the CARE PROCESS.
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Compared to our national debt, 65,000 isn't a very big number.
On the other hand, when you realize that a 42-year-old woman from Rotterdam called her ex-boyfriend that many times in one year, well, that's a lot.
My calculations say that would be almost eight phone calls an hour, 24 hours a day, every day for an entire year. When the lady was arrested for being a stalker, she said, "He and I have a relationship and I don't think that number of calls is excessive."
He says they don't have a relationship.
But back to that 65,000 number.
I imagine the fellow being called probably didn't mind when his phone rang the first few times. But when the day's number hit ten -- or 50 -- I think he might have been peeved. By the time the phone had gone off the 170th time he was probably frustrated beyond belief. It is impossible for me to imagine how he must have felt in the seventh or eighth month of the woman's barrage.
All of this got me wondering.
How many times a day do you think the Lord forgives our sins? Now I know there are times when we are pretty good -- usually when we're sleeping or under an anesthetic. On the other hand, our waking hours probably more than make up for our short breaks from transgressing.
How many times a day do we sin? How many times a day does the Lord forgive? I don't know the number, but it's a lot.
This is why the passage from the book of Psalms is so very significant. Living in the grace of God which comes from the Messiah, the psalmist is confident the Lord doesn't mark our iniquities. The Lord isn't making a list, checking it twice, trying to find out who's naughty or nice.
He already knows: we're all naughty.
No, the Lord -- because of the forgiveness won for us upon Calvary's cross -- doesn't keep a record of iniquities. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, He forgives.
He forgives a lot ... and because He does we can stand before Him innocent.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks You have saved me. Because of Your Son's innocent suffering and death, I am forgiven. Now I pray I may do my best to minimize my sinning and maximize my thanksgiving. Let my life be a witness to my appreciation for Your abundant grace and mercy. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Eliphaz the Temanite.
(I don't even remember who won last time. I think it was Doug. If it wasn't please let me know.)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What kind of man wrote Psalm 102?
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CATECHISM QUIZ: (Find the answer first and win some candy!!)
Question: What is the Sabbath day?
Answer: (Please look it up and answer it!)
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CHURCH CALENDAR
Mon- graveside service for Goldene Rodriguez at Wright City cemetery 3:30; Confirmation 5-6:15
Tues- pastor @ symposium all day; council meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid 1pm; bell choir 6:30; choir 7:30
Thurs-
Fri- men leave for men's retreat all weekend
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- no early Bible study; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30
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NEWS:
Sun- no early Bible study; worship 9am; Bible study 10:30
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NEWS:
SPECIAL VOTER'S MEETING NEXT MONDAY at 7pm!
Pastors Wyssmann and Weseman will be here to give the congregation the results of the findings of the CARE process and their recommendations and we will vote on whether or not to go ahead with the recommendations. Please come and show your support.
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YOUTH STUFF
MEETING AT CARSON'S ICE CREAM SHOP THIS SUNDAY AT 6PM!!
Come and hang out with pastor. We will have a devotion and prayer time and just hang out for a little while.
THE ROCK- NEXT WEEKEND Sept 30 and October 1- Firstfruits weekend at the ROCK. Pastor Randy Wilken invites groups to come down to St. Louis on the first weekend of each month to serve, worship, and fellowship with other Christians from around the area. We are signed up to go down there Friday, Sept 30 and Sat, Oct 1! It is an unforgetable and wonderful experience. Make plans ot attend!
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SIGN UP SIGN UP SIGN UP!!!!!!
October
1- mckenzie
2- Panhorst
8-
9- Winn
15-
16- Heitgerd
22- mckenzie
23- Schaumberg
29- mckenzie
30-
November
5- mckenzie
6-PEPER
12- Mauch
13-PEPER
19-
20-PEPER
23- (Thanksgiving Eve) mckenzie
24- (Thanksgiving Day)
26- Mauch
27-
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PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
For PATTY SWEET'S BROTHER who is dealing with an inoperable brain tumor, and is weighing his options.
For LIL WINTER who is home and recovering well! She will have to have another minor procedure in a few weeks.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who has begun chemotherapy treatments.
For JERRICA PARK (WILLIAMS) and her new baby Lucy. (A prayer of thanksgiving)
For CAROL KOHRS as she is dealing with severe back and neck pain.
For DAVE KOHRS as he is dealing with cancer in his abdomen.
For PEGGY GILKEY who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who continues to be up and down because of chemotherapy treatments.
OUR CHURCH as we continue the CARE PROCESS.
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