Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012

DEVOTION: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 The point is that whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one mus give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
 
What is Paul saying in these verses?  Isn't He saying that the more you plant the more you harvest?  Sounds pretty simple to me.  Yet, do we trust His Words when it comes to how we use our gifts?  Do we believe it when it comes to our tithes and offerings?  Do we truly believe that God wil use our offerings, our time, and our talents to bring about an increase in His kingdom? 
 
Paul plainly says that if you are doubting it or are having a hard time believing it, don't do it.  God doesn't want people to give their tithes and offerings out of a sense that they have to.  he wants hearts that believe in His promise that He will use those gifts to increase His kingdom.  He will use what you give back to Him (I say back to Him, because it was always His in the first place) to bring more and more souls back to Him. 
 
The queston for you today is do you trust God with His own money?  Do you trust that He is going to use it to reap a harvest.  DO you believe what verse 11 says, "Youw ill be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." 
 
My prayer for you, as I hope you also pray for me, is that we all grow in faith in this area of our lives, that we trust God to use the gifts He has givne us to do His work, and that we believe in Him more surely every day.  As the man shouted to Jesus from the crowd, "Lord I believe.  Help my unbelief!" 
 
Prayer:  Lord God, help us to sow bountifully so that we may also reap bountifully.  Help us not to be stingy with the gifts You have given to us, but help us to giv e feely and openly so that You may use Your gifts for the increase of the kingdom.  Amen.

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Tuesday's Quiz:  Who were the three guys who were thrown in the fiery furnace for not bowing down to worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up?
Sharach, Meshach, and Abednego
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What was the vision of Ezekiel about in Ezekiel 40-43?
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CATECHISM:
Question: Which words from teh Apostles' Creed describe the stages of Christ's exaltation?
Answer: "He descended into hell.  The third day he rose again from the dead.  he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.  From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead."
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CALENDAR: 
Wed- Pastor on KFUO.org and AM 850 at 11am
Thurs- 8th-12th graders and their parents meet about the National Youth Gathering 6pm
Fri- Jonesburg Nursing Home worship 10:30
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am; CHURCH PICNIC AT STARKS Noon
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NEWS:
SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY THIS SUNDAY BEGINNING AT 9:45!!
It's time to get back into Sunday school!!!  If you have been neglecting it throughout the summer, now's your chance to get back into it!  We will be celebrating with a balloon launch, some fun song and dance, and learning all about Jesus and what He has done for us.  Sunday school goes from 9:45-10:45 and late worship begins at 11am!  Classes are available for 3-14 year olds!! 
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PARENTING COURSE "From Me to We" STARTS THIS SUNDAY at 9:45!!
Hey parents, please come to this course!  You will enjoy it immensely!  You can drop your kids off for Sunday school and then head right up to class!  It is a video based class with time for discussion and encouragement.  Come and check it out.  All parents are invited!!
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CHURCH PICNIC THIS SUNDAY BEGINNING AT NOON!
Come out and enjoy a lot of good food, fun, an fellowship!  Games, a zipline over the pond, lots of wonderful outdoors, and so much more! 
 
Directions:  From downtown Warrenton (Main Street) Go west Main St. to Hwy U, Turn left on Hwy U and go 2.2 miles.  Turn left on Firetower Rd.  Go 1.3 miles and turn Right on Sky Dr.  There will be a big painted leaf on the corner, the sign says Maple Leaf Farm.  Watch for balloons on the corner of Fire Tower and Sky Dr.    Bring your own chairs and either a vegetable, salad, or dessert to share. 
 
Please call the church office, 456-2888, if you haven't signed up yet, to let us know how many are coming and what kind of food you are going to bring!
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NATIONAL YOUTH GATHERING MEETING FOR ALL 8th-12th GRADERS AND THEIR PARENTS THIS THURSDAY at 6pm!!!
It is imperative that you be there for this meeting.  We have a lot of stuff to discuss, forms to fill out, and things to decide. 
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PASTOR ON THE "ASK THE PASTOR" PROGRAM ON KFUO TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, AT 11AM!
Go to kfuo.org and click on the "listen live" button.  Or if you can get AM 850 on your radio, you can listen that way too at 11am.  If you aren't able to listen at that time, you can download it as a podcast. 
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MEN'S RETREAT COMING UP SEPTEMBER 28-30!!!!   REGISTER TODAY!
The 10th annual T-3 (trap, tackle, and tees) retreat is coming up September 28-30!!  The cost is $45 for lodging and meals.  (You can get a hotel room or bring your own camper or tent if you wish to have your own lodging.) $35 for our 2 person scramble golf tourney.  There is also a fishing tournament, skeet shooting, a guided tour of Mark Twain Lake and forest, hiking, biking, and much, much more.  All that plus some of the best food you can eat and the best Bible studies and worship times you can have at a camp!  It is a time that you will never forget!  I will give the first one besides me to sign up my special (pastor) room that I get every year. 
 
 I (pastor) am going!  I wouldn't miss it for the world.  Let me know if you want to go. 
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STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS LCMS Global Missions
Go to LCMS.org to learn more about what our Synod is doing in the way of spreading the Gospel globally!!

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PRAYERS: 

For DENISE SCHELSSELMAN AND HER FAMILY as they mourn the loss of her grandma and celebrate her earthly and eternal life today at her funeral.

 

For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she is hospitalized at Progress West receiving treatment for blood clots in both lungs.

 

For LIL WINTER'S SON RAYMOND, who is recovering well after gastric bypass surgery.

 

For PEGGY KOHRING who has stage 2 breast cancer & its in her Lymph Nodes. She is Diabetic.  They will give her 4 wks of Chemo and then decide which type surgery to do.  She is Lil Winter's granddaughter's mother in law. 

 

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

 

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

 

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.