Fwd: LHM Daily Devotion - February 26, 2016 "A Glorious Promise"

Sent via the Samsung GALAXY S®4 Active™, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: Lutheran Hour Ministries <lh_min@lhm.org>
Date: 02/25/2016 5:52 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: Jeremy Klaustermeier <revklaus@hotmail.com>
Subject: LHM Daily Devotion - February 26, 2016 "A Glorious Promise"

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).    "A Glorious Promise" By Rev. Wayne Palmer  February 26, 2016 (Jesus said) "You are those who have stayed with Me in My trials, and I assign to you, as My Father assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel" (Luke 22:28-30). Read Luke 22:28-30. Though Jesus was generally well-received by the crowds throughout His ministry, He faced ever stiffening opposition and hostility from the Jewish religious leaders. But the disciples faithfully stood by Him through it all. Peter said it well: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God" (John 6:68b-69). Jesus looks around the table at them. A moment ago they disputed which of them was greatest, but He knows in the future they will suffer as He will-beatings, imprisonment, exile, even death. So Jesus points them beyond those sufferings to the glorious reward that waits for them at the end. When their earthly lives are completed, they will receive a greater honor, privilege and glory than anything they could have sought on earth. Here they will serve in humility and suffering, but in heaven they will find true glory and honor. The promise is true for you and me as well. Though our daily work for the Lord often seems to go unappreciated and unrecognized, Jesus assures us that God marks it well and will faithfully reward it in eternity. THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us a new way to think about ourselves and our place in Your world. Help me grasp the beauty and grandeur of it all, that I may live as You did, in humble service and self-sacrifice. Amen. Print this devotion Subscribe to this podcast! Through the Bible in a Year Today Read: Leviticus 6-7; Mark 6:1-29 The Lutheran Hour Sign up for LHM news Pastor Klaus bio Change my email address    subscribe / unsubscribe / sign-up for plain text / visit our website   660 Mason Ridge Center Dr. St. Louis, MO 63141 1-800-876-9880 www.lhm.org

Sermon from 2/21/16

 Watch or just Listen, and then Share!
 
 
https://youtu.be/_R6XVt6Omes

Daily Email: Thursday, February 25, 2016

DEVOTION: Luke 13:1-9

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

⁶ And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷ And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' ⁸ And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. ⁹ Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
 
 
I remember back when hurricane Katrina destroyed a big part of New Orleans.  I heard so many people say that it was God's judgment against that city.  To those who said that, or who think that way about things any time a natural disaster or freak accident happens, I say, READ JESUS' WORDS IN THE PASSAGE ABOVE!
 
 
How much time do you think you have left on the earth?  A day?  A week?  50 years?  The truth is that you don't know.  You are just as big a sinner as everyone else, and so you will, one day, take your last breath!  A very stern warning from Jesus, indeed! 
 
The groups of people that Jesus mentions didn't die because they were worse sinners than everyone else, or because that was a specific judgment against a specific sin.  It was because they were just as big of sinners as you are!  What does that say about you?
 
The God who knows the day of your death, gives you and I a warning.  He calls us to repentance.  He could just leave us alone.  He could just say that it's up to us and our own wits to get ourselves into a right relationship with Jesus and into heaven.  He doesn't.  Instead he warns us that we need to repent or we will likewise perish. 
 
Indeed, we will perish.  We will leave this earth.  Our souls will leave our bodies at the moment of our last breath.  That's not the perishing that Jesus is talking about here.  he is talking about perishing eternally.  He is talking about how everyone is equally sinful and is equally in need of forgiveness.  Repentance is the beginning of that forgiveness. Repentance is the realization that I am sinful, that I can't get things right on my own, and that I need a Savior from my sin, which is Jesus.  Repentance is a literal turning around and going the other way. 
 
He doesn't leave us hanging though.  he doesn't make us do it all on our own.  He also gives us the tools and the power to repent and receive forgiveness!  It's called His WORD and His SACRAMENTS!!!  The trouble is that if you're not in church, you're much less likely to receive them!  Get your butt to church so that you can receive and use the tools and the power that you need to repent and believe the good news!
 
Prayer:  Lord, make me repent from my particular sins and run to your arms for forgiveness and a renewed heart and life.  Amen.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
CALENDAR:

Fri- Assemble Newslettter 9am; (30 Hour Famine postponed)

Sat-  worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45; Voter's meeting 9:45
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
WORSHIP WORKERS:  
Acolyte- 8:30- Hailey Blechle; 11- Jack Bunge

Ushers-   Sun- Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Dave Callies, Don Nolte

Altar-  Sun Set up-  Don Hance; Clean up- Elaine Schauer and Lynn Russell

Elders-  Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Charlie Figura

Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Linda Callies; 11- Steve and Sandy Robine

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30-  Randy Sweet; 11 -  Sandy Robine

Pianist- Sat- Molly Hendershot

 

Sun Pianist- Barb Dreyer

Projectionists:  Sat- Perricone  8:30- Schaumberg; 11- Klaustermeier
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S  BIBLE QUIZ:   What were the Israelites to do with their land every seven years?

 

Excellent answer from Don Nolte:  Quiz;  Leviticus 25 starting at verse 4   Every seventh year was a sabbatical year when the Israelite farmer did not plant any crops on their lands or harvest any volunteer crops.  It provided rest for the soil and emphasized the people's dependence upon God, since they depleted their reserves of food during the sabbatical year

___________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUIZ: On what day was every Israelites boy supposed to be circumcised after he was born? 

_________________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS!!!! 

 

RESULTS OF BUILDING MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT

The group decided that the plans that were proposed and approved years ago are not feasible and will not work for our current situation.  They also decided to move forward with a  new master plan which will be put together in the coming weeks and then presented to the building committee and after approval will be presented to the voters. 

_________________________________________________________________________________

 

TWO WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR YOUTH AND THE YOUTH OF THE COMMUNITY!!

1. Warren County Literacy Inc. is going to be giving away 70 bookcases stocked with books in April to children who are in the head Start Program in Warren County.  This is the fifth year for this wonderful event.  What we need is people to sponsor a bookcase for $50.  If you are able and willing, please reply to this email or call/text at 636-359-1961.  Make checks payable to Warren County Literacy Inc.   The ceremony at which the kids get their bookcases is on Sunday, April 10 at 2pm at Wright City Middle School.
 
 
2. Warrenton High School Band is having a spaghetti dinner fundraiser and concert on Sat, Feb. 27 at 6pm.  It will be a casual dinner with music while you dine!  Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids in advance.  $10/$5 at the door.  Let me know by next Tuesday if you want to go.  It's perfect for Saturday night after church!!!   There are five St. John's High school kids in band this year.  Make checks payable to WHS Band Boosters.

__________________________________________________________________________________

LENT DINNERS ARE EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING LENT AT 5:30!!

Over the last many, many years your Jr. and Sr. high youth and their parents (mostly their parents) have been serving dinner on Wednesday nights during Lent.  While this is a good way for the youth and their parents to serve and give back to the congregation, it is also supposed to be a way for them to raise money for their service projects and trips. 
 
Unfortunately over the past several years, they have barely broken even on these dinners.  The parents usually donate the desserts and even much of the other food out of their own pockets.  Without that the youth would probably lose money. 
 
It is especially important that they make money this year, as they will need all they can get to make their goal for the National Youth Gathering in new Orleans.
 
I want to encourage you all to attend these dinners, and, while there is no set price per person for these dinners, a generous free will offering is strongly encouraged!! 
 
Below is the Menu for each week:
 

 
March 2-
taco bar w/all the fixings
desserts
 
March 9-
pasta
salad
rolls
desserts
 
March 16-
Fried Chicken
potatoes
corn
rolls
desserts
 
 
As always, thank you for your continued support of the future of Christianity!!!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

 DO YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM RECEIVING THIS DAILY EMAIL?

If you know of someone who isn't currently receiving my daily emails but would like to, please reply to this email with their email address and I will add them to the list.  THANK YOU!

_____________________________________________________________________________

OPERATION BACKPACK FOR FEBRUARY IS CANNED VEGETABLES!!  ANY SIZE CANS ARE APPRECIATED!

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.)

___________________________________________________________________________________

GENERAL PRAYERS:

 

For DON BRAZEE who continues to recover from a tick bourn illness that came on very gradually and has caused severe swelling and water retention  which has caused him to be so weak that he can't stand on his own.

 

For RUTH WALTERS as she recovers from knee replacement surgery. 

 

For MARIAH, a granddaughter of Pat Jaeger's best friend, who has been diagnosed with childhood leukemia.

 

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.