DEVOTION:
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Laura King's three children were given a free ice cream for dessert.
Now I know that may not sound like a newsworthy topic to many of our Daily Devotion readers. Even so, I hope you will listen to what I think is an interesting story.
The tale begins when Laura King took her three children, ages two, three and eight, to the Sogno di Vino Restaurant in Poulsbo, Washington. The family ate their meal, paid their bill, and went home.
It was only when she was at her house that King noticed the bill wasn't exactly what it should have been. No, she hadn't been overcharged. On the contrary, the bill was $4 less than she expected. A handwritten note on the receipt explained why.
It said, "Discount. Well-behaved kids."
Rob Scott, the restaurant's owner, says servers have the discretion to offer a discount to customers. In this case the servers were incredibly impressed with the manners of the three children. Mrs. King is flattered, but she says, "The children only used the same manners they use at their home supper table."
That's the story of some free ice cream.
And now the point: You know, most of the time, most of us think of ourselves as being pretty good Christians. Recognizing we have been rescued from hell through the Savior's sacrifice, we try to glorify Him by making sure we walk the straight and narrow. Some of us like the straight and narrow so much we keep watch to make sure everyone else is walking as straight and narrow as we.
When the folks we are observing wander off that straight and narrow, we may pray for them, we may speak to them and, sad to say, sometimes we gossip about them. But this devotion is not about what we do when people go astray.
This devotion is about what we do when people are doing good, when they are walking right down the middle of God's straight and narrow path. What do we do then? Well, my friends, I can't speak for you, but I have to confess 95 times out of a 100, I don't do anything.
And that's sad.
It's sad that many of us often ignore Paul's words about encouraging and building each other up. It's tragic we spend far more time criticizing rather than complimenting. It's distressing that the staff at Sogno di Vino are more encouraging than I have been.
Thankfully, this is a shortcoming that can be easily remedied. All we need do is see the good others are doing and thank them for it -- and maybe buy them a $4 ice cream.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I pray my life may glorify the Savior, who gave Himself for my salvation. May I not only do what is right, may I also encourage others, as they struggle against the burdens and temptations a sinful world places before them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What were some of the restrictions on the king of Israel? Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
(Deuteronomy 17:16-17 ESV) Good job Dianne. (Does anyone else read this question besides Dianne?)
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11Laura King's three children were given a free ice cream for dessert.
Now I know that may not sound like a newsworthy topic to many of our Daily Devotion readers. Even so, I hope you will listen to what I think is an interesting story.
The tale begins when Laura King took her three children, ages two, three and eight, to the Sogno di Vino Restaurant in Poulsbo, Washington. The family ate their meal, paid their bill, and went home.
It was only when she was at her house that King noticed the bill wasn't exactly what it should have been. No, she hadn't been overcharged. On the contrary, the bill was $4 less than she expected. A handwritten note on the receipt explained why.
It said, "Discount. Well-behaved kids."
Rob Scott, the restaurant's owner, says servers have the discretion to offer a discount to customers. In this case the servers were incredibly impressed with the manners of the three children. Mrs. King is flattered, but she says, "The children only used the same manners they use at their home supper table."
That's the story of some free ice cream.
And now the point: You know, most of the time, most of us think of ourselves as being pretty good Christians. Recognizing we have been rescued from hell through the Savior's sacrifice, we try to glorify Him by making sure we walk the straight and narrow. Some of us like the straight and narrow so much we keep watch to make sure everyone else is walking as straight and narrow as we.
When the folks we are observing wander off that straight and narrow, we may pray for them, we may speak to them and, sad to say, sometimes we gossip about them. But this devotion is not about what we do when people go astray.
This devotion is about what we do when people are doing good, when they are walking right down the middle of God's straight and narrow path. What do we do then? Well, my friends, I can't speak for you, but I have to confess 95 times out of a 100, I don't do anything.
And that's sad.
It's sad that many of us often ignore Paul's words about encouraging and building each other up. It's tragic we spend far more time criticizing rather than complimenting. It's distressing that the staff at Sogno di Vino are more encouraging than I have been.
Thankfully, this is a shortcoming that can be easily remedied. All we need do is see the good others are doing and thank them for it -- and maybe buy them a $4 ice cream.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, today I pray my life may glorify the Savior, who gave Himself for my salvation. May I not only do what is right, may I also encourage others, as they struggle against the burdens and temptations a sinful world places before them. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ: What were some of the restrictions on the king of Israel? Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.' And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold.
(Deuteronomy 17:16-17 ESV) Good job Dianne. (Does anyone else read this question besides Dianne?)
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Thursday's Quiz: What happened to a person, who was found by the testimony of two or more witnesses, to have committed murder.
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CALENDAR:
Fri- 30 Hour Famine begins at noon
Sat- worship 5pm; 30 hr famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30- Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
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LENTEN SUPPER MENU FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! Roasted pork loin, stuffing, vegetable, and dessert
Fri- 30 Hour Famine begins at noon
Sat- worship 5pm; 30 hr famine ends at 6pm
Sun- worship 8:30- Sunday school 9:45; worship 11am
__________________________________________________________________________________________
LENTEN SUPPER MENU FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY!!! Roasted pork loin, stuffing, vegetable, and dessert
________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP is at 6:30 NEXT WEDNESDAY!
WORSHIP is at 6:30 NEXT WEDNESDAY!
Why did Israel have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years? Find out next Wednesday!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS, PARENTS, AND KIDS!!! CHECK IT OUT!!
The kids have started a new program called CROSS EXPLORATIONS, that is very interactive and the kids say it is a lot of fun!! In our adult class we are working through a video based Bible study called "Foundations" with Ken Ham who is the founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum!!
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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
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PRAYERS:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR ADULTS, PARENTS, AND KIDS!!! CHECK IT OUT!!
The kids have started a new program called CROSS EXPLORATIONS, that is very interactive and the kids say it is a lot of fun!! In our adult class we are working through a video based Bible study called "Foundations" with Ken Ham who is the founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum!!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP (TFG) IS GOING TO THE CREATION MUSEUM IN CINCINNATI!!!
A great time is planned for August 23-25 as we head to the Creation Museum just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. We will be making a stop at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site in Kentucky on the way. Along with the creation museum on Saturday, we will also enjoy a comedy on the Showboat majestic in the evening. On Sunday we will tour the national museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. As usual, cost will depend on the number of people going. As of now it should run about $350 per person, plus meals, or $506 a couple. If you are interested in this trip, please sign the sheet on the counter in the narthex. Again you may invite your friends and family to join us.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS:
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH, who is meeting with the doctor next Wednesday to find out about a possible bladder surgery to remove cancer.
For AUSTIN HEITGERD as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
For LIL WINTER who is recovering well from surgery.
For JENNIFER FIGURA'S AUNT TERRY who is recovering from a brain aneurysm. .
For CAROL KOHRS who is continuing to deal with pain due to severe arthritis and deterioration in her back and neck and recovery from gall bladder surgery.
.
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