Wednesday, August 29, 2012

DEVOTION: 
Psalm 6:1-2  "O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.  be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.  My soul is greatly troubled.  But you, O Lord-- how long?  Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love."
 
Have you ever felt like you were just in a funk.  There was really no way to explain it.  Everything seemed to be going ok.  Everyone in your family was safe.  Things were going well with your job.  Your kids were doing well in school.  Everything seemed just fine, yet you just didn't feel right.  Something was out of whack and you just couldn't put your finger on it. 
 
Satan works at your weakest times.  He also works to lessen your joy and to make you feel that something is wrong even when nothing is.  Sometimes he does it by reminding you of a past sin.  Sometimes he does it by bringing people or situations into your life that aren't good for you.  Sometimes he just clutters your mind with all sorts of insecurities and self doubt.  Sometimes it is just that you are being selfish and covetous, that no matter how good you have it, you wish it was better.  You just aren't satisfied. 
 
We all have these times.  Then the Lord shakes us out of it either through a loved one who gives us a reality check, through a message from God's Word, or through changes in your circumstances either for better or for worse.  It is at these times that we need to pray to God a prayer such as th eone that David prays here in Psalm 6.  David went through many tough times and many times that, though everything seemed fine on the outside, on the inside he was being tormented.  He was king and yet he coveted a woman that wasn't his own.  He was a great king and yet his sons tried to overthrow him.  He was one of King Saul's favorite people, yet Saul became jealous and tried to kill him several times. 
 
Sometimes all it takes is simply snapping out of it.  So today I urge you to snap out of it!  You live in the wealthiest nation in the world.  You have food, shelter, clothing, family, friends, and so much more.  Most of all YOU HAVE JESUS!!!!  Even in your tough circumstances you have no reason to complain!  Knock it off and praise Jesus!  Instead of singing "Woe is me"  sing "Alleluia!  Praise the Lord!"  Askt he Lord to deliver your life and to save you from yourself for the sake of His steadfast love!
 
Prayer:  Lord God, help me to snap out of this funk I am in and get to work for your kingdom, praising and thanking you for all your goodness along the way!  Amen.
 
 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday's QUIZ:  Who was Gedaliah? II Kings 25:22   Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to be over the people he had left behind in
Judah.  Gedaliah was eventually assassinated by Ishmael Son on Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday's Quiz:  Who was Nebuzaradan?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CATECHISM:
Question: How does this work of redemption benefit you?
Answer: Christ was my substitute.  He took my place under God's judgment against sin.  By paying the penalty of my guilt, Christ atoned, or made satisfaction, for my sins (vicarious atonement).
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR: 
Wed- Youth Group meets at 6pm in youth room, pizza and soda provided;  BE THERE!
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEWS:
HIGH SCHOOL KIDS  COME TO CHURCH TONIGHT AT 6PM!!!
We are going to clean out the youth room, reorganize it, play some video games and maybe some air hockey or foosball, get a little basketball going outside, eat some pizza, and do a little Bible study!  
 
LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE COMING SO I KNOW HOW MUCH PIZZA TO GET!!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________
HELPERS NEEDED FOR A NEW GOOD NEWS CLUB!!!
 
Right now I have two possible helpers if schedules can be worked out.  I could use at least one or two more!  Let me know if you are interested!!
 

As many of you know, CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) does an after school program called "Good News Club".   The change to all elementary schools being preschool-5th grade has created an opportunity for us (St. John's) to host a GNC at Rebecca Boone.  CEF has leaders in place to help us get started (They would eventually step out of the way and let us take over fully.)  What we need is two or three volunteers, who like working with kids and want to see more of them come to Christ, to be a part of this exciting opportunity. 
 
Please call me at 359-1061 to let me know if you are interested!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAVE THE DATE:   Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat
Immanuel Lutheran St. Charles invites you and your spouse along with other married couples throughout the Missouri District to the Partners in Christ Married Couples Weekend Retreat on  Oct. 12-13, 2012.  It is an updated regional adaptation of the former LCMS MO. District "Strands" weekend. It is designed for Christian Couples to get away from daily distractions, spend quality time together, rekindle romance, and celebrate our partnerships (with your Spouse, with Christ and with the other Christian Couples attending). The event will start with a "Meet and Greet" and build up to an "Old Fashioned Church Hall Wedding Reception"(Remember your special day?). Check out more details on Immanuel's Web site at http://tinyurl.com/d2tc3u8.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Projectors NEEDED for this weekend!!!
I still need people to sign up for the projector.  Here are the openings for the next few weeks:
 Sept 2- 8:30- PANHORSTS                   11am-
 
Sept 9- 11am-
 
Sept 16-  11am-
 
Sept 23- 8:30-     
 
Sept 30- 8:30-                    11am-
 
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS OUR OWN LITTLE LAMBS PRESCHOOL!!!

What a great opportunity to support a mission right here!  If you don't want to do the golf outing, but you still want to help Little Lambs just put a check in the offering plate that is specifically designated to Little Lambs.  They start school on August 16.  

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PRAYERS:

For JEANETTE KOEHLER as she gets to go home today!!!

 

For MARY AUBUCHON who is back at home and recovering well after a biopsy on a blood vessel near her left eye.

 

For DONNA HEITGERD as she recovers from cataract surgery that she had yesterday.

 

For DON TURNURE who is going to have to have his hip replaced on October 22.

 

For PAUL BRENDEL, Barb Dreyer's dad) who is recovering from internal bleeding.

 

For RAYMOND, son of Lillian Winter, who is having surgery this week.

 

For CLYDE SPRICK, grandfather of Shawn and Sierra Jaeger, who is dealing with sever cancer complications.

 

For SIERRA JAEGER, as she recovers from pneumonia.

 

For BRENDA ROLOFF, daughter of Cal and Betty Tameler, who is dealing with complications and a fever after her hysterectomy.

 

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she has her last radiation treatment today. 

 

For Denise Schlesselman's grandma, DOROTHY SCHLESSELMAN, as the spinal tap the doctors did revealed an unidentified virus.  

 

For ERNA VANHORN who is recovering well from surgery at Delmar Gardens

For BILL MCKENZIE as he recovers from a stroke at home.   

 

For JOYCE SCHIEN as she recovers from a stroke.  She is at the DePaul rehab hospital.

 

For BOB LAMPEN, Karin Klaustermeier's dad, as his treatment is doing some good, and as he is starting a new treatment for his liver cancer.

 

For ALL OF OUR FARMERS AND ALL WHO DEPEND ON THE LAND AND ON RAIN, that God would provide for their needs even during this drought.