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11 years ago
UPCOMING WEBINAR - Equipping the Parents of Prodigal Young Adults
I thought this looked very interesting, and would be very helpful to many PARENTS OF ADULT CHILDREN WHO HAVE LEFT THE CHURCH OR ARE CURRENTLY INACTIVE. Check it out and sign up!
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Daily Email: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
DEVOTION: Nehemiah 8:1-10 (ESV)
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly,[a] and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Have you ever been so struck with guilt that you just fell down and wept? It's not something that you can force. You can't fake it. It only comes naturally as the Holy Spirit uses the law to convict us of sin. Only if our ears are truly open to hearing his Word and receiving His discipline can this happen.
The Israelites had just returned from spending 70 years in captivity. We can only imagine the struggles they went through for those 70 years. Most of them who returned had been born into captivity and really probably had very little idea why they were even in captivity. The rest remembered what it was like to be free and longed for it every day.
When Ezra got up to read the law, I'm sure they were all in wonder and were eager to hear what God had to say to them, Eager, that is, until Ezra got to the part where God tells them that if they are careful to keep the whole law and obey God and keep his commandments, they will live long in the land the Lord their God gave to them. But if they do not keep the commandments, decrees, and laws they will not live long in the land, they began to feel the weight of their sin and come to understand that it was their own fault that they had been taken into captivity. When they heard things like ""You shall have no other gods" and Honor your father and mother, and "Remember" the Sabbath", it was like a huge weight was dropped onto their shoulders and they were filled with grief and shame.
I pray that you have, at one time or another, had this experience, only because it is how you SHOULD feel about your sin. The weight of the guilt of your sin should crush you. It should cause you great grief. You should be knocked to the floor in utter shame and disgust.
But don't stay in that shame and disgust. Notice what Ezra tells the people. He says, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Rejoice! Your sins are forgiven! Don't excuse sin. Don't make it less than it really is. Especially don't call sin good. But also know that because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin has been destroyed and you are free from it. Rejoice that the victory is won, and that you will be with Jesus forever!
Prayer: Lord, make me feel the weight of my sin and then lift that weight off of me by your mercy and grace. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Ezra Reads the Law
8 And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. 2 So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.
5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly,[a] and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Have you ever been so struck with guilt that you just fell down and wept? It's not something that you can force. You can't fake it. It only comes naturally as the Holy Spirit uses the law to convict us of sin. Only if our ears are truly open to hearing his Word and receiving His discipline can this happen.
The Israelites had just returned from spending 70 years in captivity. We can only imagine the struggles they went through for those 70 years. Most of them who returned had been born into captivity and really probably had very little idea why they were even in captivity. The rest remembered what it was like to be free and longed for it every day.
When Ezra got up to read the law, I'm sure they were all in wonder and were eager to hear what God had to say to them, Eager, that is, until Ezra got to the part where God tells them that if they are careful to keep the whole law and obey God and keep his commandments, they will live long in the land the Lord their God gave to them. But if they do not keep the commandments, decrees, and laws they will not live long in the land, they began to feel the weight of their sin and come to understand that it was their own fault that they had been taken into captivity. When they heard things like ""You shall have no other gods" and Honor your father and mother, and "Remember" the Sabbath", it was like a huge weight was dropped onto their shoulders and they were filled with grief and shame.
I pray that you have, at one time or another, had this experience, only because it is how you SHOULD feel about your sin. The weight of the guilt of your sin should crush you. It should cause you great grief. You should be knocked to the floor in utter shame and disgust.
But don't stay in that shame and disgust. Notice what Ezra tells the people. He says, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep. Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Rejoice! Your sins are forgiven! Don't excuse sin. Don't make it less than it really is. Especially don't call sin good. But also know that because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin has been destroyed and you are free from it. Rejoice that the victory is won, and that you will be with Jesus forever!
Prayer: Lord, make me feel the weight of my sin and then lift that weight off of me by your mercy and grace. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilters 9-2; Bible Study 11:30-12:15; Council Meeting 7pm
Wed- Ladies Aid meeting at noon; Choir 7pm
Thurs- Newsletter deadline
Sat- Basement reserved; worship 5pm (Pastor Grund will be here.)
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; High School youth Bible Study 5pm
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Jack Bunge; 11- Jacob Cluver
Ushers- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster, and Sue Ruhl; Clean up- Lois Boeger
Elders- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Jim Rahn
Greeters- 8:30- Rob and Julie Schaumberg; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay readers- Sat- John Hachtel; 8:30-Jacob Nagel; 11 - Jim Rahn
Sat. Pianist- Molly Hendershot
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- (None, Pastor Grund here) 8:30- Alaina Heitgerd; 11- Zack Hoelscher
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YESTERDAY'S BIBLE QUIZ: What did Joseph do to make sure his brothers came back after he sent them to get his youngest brother, Benjamin? He made Simeon stay behind.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What did Shechem do to Dinah, and what did Dinah's brothers do in revenge?
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NEWS!!!!
2016 ALTAR FLOWER CHART IS PRETTY EMPTY!!
It is hanging on the bulletin board in the narthex. Sign up if you wish to place flowers on the altar! If it is for a special occasion (in memory of loved one, birthday, anniversary, etc.) please indicate that as well. Cost is $25 payable to St. John's.
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FELLOWSHIP REFRESHMENT SIGN UP SHEET IN ON THE WALL BY THE COFFEE POT. IF YOU HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF DONUTS IN THE PAST, MAYBE IT'S TIME YOU GIVE BACK!!!
Sign up today and make some Sunday school kid's day!
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CONTRIBUTION STATEMENTS ARE IN YOUR MAILBOXES!!!
Are you getting ready to do your taxes? Don't forget about your offering statements in your church mailboxes! You could even give the money you get back from this itemization to church!
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HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH BIBLE STUDY MEETING AND PIZZA SUNDAY JANUARY 24 @ 5PM!!
We will be talking about what it means to live in God's grace without getting lazy.
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PLEASE COME AND GET YOUR DISHES FROM THE KITCHEN!!
One more week and then those dishes that are left will be taken to Good Shepherd Thrift Store to be sold.
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YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!!
Tickets are $25 a piece. All proceeds go to help our youth afford their trip down to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering as well as do many other service projects and youth events.
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OPERATION BACKPACK FOR JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT!!
You can also do individual size cups.
(Remember this is for the poor and needy children of our community and county that often receive two breakfast and lunch at school, and have very little or no food at home.)
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GENERAL PRAYERS:
For BABY BLAKE, a young child who received a kidney transplant from Laurie Jansen, a friend of many in the congregation.
For KAILYN AND HAILEY BLECHLE AND THEIR FAMILY as they mourn the loss of their great grandpa Ray Wilson.
For MARIANNE LINKE, as she remains in Warrenton Manor due to trouble with congestive heart troubles and pneumonia.
For JOANNE HACHTEL, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery.
For PASTOR MCCRACKEN, from Trinity in Troy, who is on a two month leave to heal from cancer treatments.
For PASTOR PIPER, from St. Paul, New Melle, as he recovers from a heart attack he had while running a 5K in Florida.
For THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING PROBLEMS in the days and weeks ahead, that the Lord would provide for their needs, and use us, if need be, to help.
For DENISE SCHLESSELMANN as she is in need of more funding to continue her mission work in the Czech Republic.
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