Daily Devotion: Wed., Nov. 6 2013

DEVOTION: "One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  he threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-- and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus, asked,' "were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give raise to God except this foreigner?"  Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."  Luke 17:11-19
 
Sometimes I read passage of scripture and I am just cut to the heart with guilt.  It was the same with this passage today.  I haven't been thankful at all for what God has given me lately.  I have complained incessantly.  I have been greedy, always wanting more.  I have been judgmental and looked down on others when I have no business doing that.    I have been self-centered instead of Christ centered. 
 
I look at this passage and I see myself as one of the other nine.  And indeed that is the point of this passage.  It is to show us that even though we may be faithful in worship, even though we are usually good and follow the rules, and even though we may cry out to God for mercy and he may rescue us, we aren't perfect.  In fact, we are opposite of perfect.  We are still poor miserable sinners.  That is the law condemning us.  Friends, when you are faithful, when you are thankful, NEVER EVER BE PROUD OF YOURSELF!  It is the Holy Spirit working in you.  It is Jesus living in you that does it!
 
But then at the end of the passage we hear the Gospel for us.  As we fall down before God's feet and proclaim our sinfulness and our unworthiness, Jesus says, "Rise and go, your faith has made you well." 
 
It is not your thankfulness that makes you well.  It is not your faithfulness that makes you well.  It is your faith in Christ and the fact that he is the one who has healed you that makes you well.  Rest securely in that today!
 
Prayer: Lord God, I am a very sinful person.  Thank you for making me well by giving me faith in Your Son and His death and resurrection.  Amen.
 
 
 
 
 
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TUESDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Jesus speaking to when he said, "If you were Abraham's children then you would do the things Abraham did.  As it is you are determined to kill me...."?  He was speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees.  (Good try Dianne)___________________________________________________________________________________________
WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ:  How many people did Jesus send out all together when he sent them out two by two ahead of him? 
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CALENDAR
Wed- Worship at Jonesburg Nursing Home 10:30: Choir 7pm
Thurs- Alzheimers Support Group 1pm
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Elder's meeting noon; Widow's Group noon
 
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ST. JOHN'S WILL HELP OPERATION BACKPACK WITH PEANUT BUTTER

You may have read in the Warrenton Record that Operation Backpack is in desperate need of food items. 
 
Operation Backpack is a program that provides food for needy children on weekends.  Most of these kids are able to get reduced or free breakfast and lunch at school daily, but since there is no school on weekends they often don't have enough food to make it through the weekend.   The food gets brought to a central location and then disbursed to the most needy of children in our area schools.  It is done discreetly without any other kids knowing about it. 
 
A few Warrenton area churches have teamed up to provide the food.  Each church is taking a different food item (kind of like we used to do for the Ditty bags for soldiers). 
 
St. John's is in charge of peanut butter. 
 
Please bring jars of peanut butter to church within the next two weeks so we can get them to the kids who need them asap.  Any jars of peanut butter will do as long as they can comfortably fit in a backpack. 
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BELL RINGING AT WALMART UPDATE

 

Thanks to the confirmation kids and several other adults I only have one more hour to fill.  Someone please take 6pm on December 14  and we will have the whole day filled!! 

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AVENUE OF SAINTS HERE THIS SUNDAY AT 11am!! 

Tell your friends and neighbors!!  It's always a rockin' good time of uplifting praise and worship! 

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8th GRADERS GO TO LHS WEDNESDAY FOR TEENS TALK TO TEENS

Don't forget kids and parents!!  We will meet at church at 5:30!!

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 PATRIOT PACKAGES WILL BE PACKED THIS SATURDAY, NOV 9 STARTING AT 9AM AT THE WARRENTON ARMORY.

Volunteers are needed for packing.  you may also donate travel size hygiene items, magazines, comics, homemade cookies, etc.  Call church for more info.

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ALL LADIES CHRISTMAS PARTY, MONDAY, DEC. 2, 6pm at BREWSKIES.

There is a choice of two entrees, apple smoked pork loin or chicken marsala.  Sign up shet is in the narthex  Cost is $18.  Bring a $10 wrapped gift to exchange.

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ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP THURSDAY at 1PM IN THE CHURCH OVERFLOW. 

 If you know of a caregiver of someone suffering with Alzheimers please let them know about this wonderful ministry. 

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PRAYER REQUESTS:
For WILMA WEIGLE as she is now dealing with a bacterial infection along with trying to recover from her aneurysm surgery

For NANCY SPINIOLAS as she is recovering from hip replacement surgery she had yesterday.

For The FELDKAMP FAMILY at the death of Dianne's mother.

 

For JOYCE PIETZSCHKE who is recovering from a fractured shoulder.

 

For STEPHEN DREYER, nephew of Allan and Barb Dreyer, who is in ICU with severe illness.

 

For the FAMILY of CASEY KOHLMEIER an officer who was struck and killed by a drunk driver.

 

For LISA RAUSCH'S FRIEND, ISABELLE, who is dealing with severe illness.

 

For LIL WINTER who is still dealing with pain in her foot after foot surgery.

 

For DON, FRAN, and JUDY all friends of the Robines who are dealing with health problems of various kinds, and for their friend SHEILA who is doing well and recovering.

For, PATTY, a friend of Denise Schlesselmann, who has recently been diagnosed with breast caner.
For JENNIFER, daughter of John and Mary Jo Fahrni, who is recovering from a double mastectomy due to breast cancer. 

For STEPHEN DELANEY a friend of the Fahrnis, who is dealing with lung cancer. 

For MICHELLE WOOLF as she is trying new and different medicines to get better from a prolonged illness due to thyroid problems and struggle with chronic fatigue.

PRAYERS FOR OUR SERVICEMEN
CALEB FIGURA- Army national Guard- just completed basic training.
 
Danny Dreyer-  Army- 2nd Lieutenant- Ranger, GERMANY
 
Sam Hargrove- Army- 2 Lieutenant- Ft Rucker, Alabama, will be going through helicopter flight school and other training
 
David Mincemeyer- Army- Army Specialist- Ft. Carson, CO
 
Jon Rahn- Navy- Hawaii, not sure of his rank at this time
 
David Tate- Air Force- 2nd Lieutenant- Jacksonville, Florida
 
Alex Walters- Navy- E4- Guam
 
Ryan Woolf- Air Force- Airman 1st Class- Buckley Air Force Base, near Denver, CO
 
 
If there are more out there that I just don't know about, please let me know, and I will include him/her on the list. 
 
Also, if you would like your family member or friend included in this list, please reply to this email with all the information!