Daily Email: Monday, February 6, 2017

DEVOTION:   Psalm 119:1-8  English Standard Version (ESV)

119 ^[a] Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord!
² Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
³ who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways!
⁴ You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous rules.^[b]
8 I will keep your statutes;
    do not utterly forsake me!

 

I'm not sure that I like this passage very much.  Why?  Because I haven't kept all of God's statutes, I have not always sought Him with my whole heart, and I have most certainly done wrong.  So, at first sight this passage is a deafening reminder of what I have not done. 

 

Taking a little longer look, and knowing what I know, this passage is full of goodness.  King David is simply praising the Lord, and shows his willingness to serve Him.  He is praising God for the good things He has commanded. 

 

A lot of times we look at God as some cosmic killjoy.  We want to have fun and feel good, and we think that all those things that God, by His commands, is keeping us from having any fun.  We also want to be our own God and have control over our own lives, and when God commands us to live a certain way, it is as if He is taking our control away. 

 

This couldn't be further from the case.  Just like a mother will tell a child to stay off the parking lot, because she knows it's dangerous and not because she just wants to keep us from having fun, so God, commands us to live a certain way and to keep from certain things, it's not because He wants to keep us from experiencing joy and having fun, but He loves us so much that He doesn't want us to experience the pain, suffering, and guilt that going against His will most certainly will bring. 

 

Therefore, when we as forgiven Christians, and children who know we are loved like this, hear and see God's commands, we want to keep them because we know they are good for us.  We want to keep God's commands to honor Him and to have joy in our journey as His children here on earth. 

 

Praise God for giving you commands that He knows will benefit you and keep you from heartache, pain and guilt!  Praise God for His good will, and have in your mind and heart to do His will so that you may live the way He wants you to live. 

 

Prayer: Lord, I praise you for your good and gracious will.  Thank you for giving me your law so that I may see my sin, see what is just and right, and see your love for me.  Help me to live in that law, especially your command to come to You when I am weary and burdened so that I may have rest for my soul.  Amen.

 

 

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CALENDAR

Mon- Confirmation 5:15-6:30

Tues- Quilting 9-2

Wed-Choir 7

Thurs- Lutheranism 101 6:30pm

Sat-  Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Adult Bible class 9:45; Elders meeting noon

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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:  
Acolyte-  8:30- Nova Luebke 11- Kalene Masters

Ushers-  Larry Schulze, Scott Schulze, Gary Scott, Dave Winter

Altar- Set up- Don Hance; Clean up- Joann Hachtel

Elders-  Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Jim Rahn
 
Greeters-  8:30- Paul and Cindy Klover; 11- Dan and Lisa Rausch

Lay Readers- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Steve McDowell; 11- Jim Rahn

Piano-  Kathy Barrow

Organist- Rachel Fisher

Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; 8:30- Yoder???; 11- Masters
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:  

What was the breastpiece of the High Priest for?  It was for judgement. Placed into the breastplate were Urim and Thummim  two sacred lots used by the high priest to receive answers from the Lord

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TODAY'S QUIZ:  To what tribe belonged the families of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari?

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NEWS!!!! 

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BACK THOSE BABY BOTTLES! 

If you forgot to bring it yesterday, you weren't here for worship, or you would still like to donate you can bring it by anytime this week or this coming weekend. 

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STEPHEN MINISTRY IS LOOKING FOR SOME NEW STEPHEN LEADERS

If you love caring for others and consider yourself a leader, this is the perfect way for you to serve the Lord and your church family!

 

The Stephen Leader training is April 23-29 at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport this year and the cost of the training is covered by the church.  If you choose to stay at the hotel you will have to pay for that yourself.  It's only a 35 minute commute to the training from Warrenton.

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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP IS GOING TO FULTON ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8!

The group will be boarding a charter bus at 7:45am that day, first heading to the Auto World Museum, secondly to The Copper Mine Restaurant for lunch, and finally to the Churchill Museum before heading home.  They will arrive home around 5:30 that evening.  The cost will be around $65 including lunch, but the more people that go, the cheaper it will be. 

YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION WILL BE MARCH 25!

OUR YOUTH STEAK DINNER AND AUCTION HAS BEEN MOVED BACK A MONTH AND IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 25!  Also, THANK YOU LETTERS to those church members who donated last year are in your church mailboxes!!

OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY ARE CANNED FRUIT AND VEGETABLES!

Any size can, and any kind of fruit or vegetable is appreciated.    Place them in the receptacle marked "Backpack Blessings" in the narthex.

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AGAPE DONATIONS ALWAYS ACCEPTED!!

Any nonperishable food items, diapers, toiletries, etc.!!

 

Perishable food items can be taken directly to Agape at 713 Powell St. in Warrenton.  Call 456-4645 to find out when they're open or for more info.

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YOUR KROGER CARD CAN EARN MONEY FOR LITTLE LAMBS

Go to www.kroger.com/communityawards and register your card today!!

__________________________________________________________________________________________GENERAL PRAYER

For PASTOR MICHAEL PIPER, (pastor at St. Paul's, New Melle) who is doing very poorly and is in ICU at DePaul.

 

For ROSE DEPEW, mother of Randy Sweet, who is still undergoing tests to identify what caused her seizures.  It may not even be a stroke.

 

For PETE FRENZIA who is recovering from back surgery at University Hospital in Columbia. .

 

For CAROL BRAZEE who is recovering from a lung infection at home

 

For MARIANNE LINKE, who is dealing with severe back pain and issues with her medication.  She is at Warrenton Manor.

 

For Mim Dunn's nephew DAVID HAHN who is dealing with severe throat cancer.

 

For BARB PERRICONE who is home on hospice care.

 

For LOIS BOEGER'S MOM, EVELYN TOEDEBUSCH,  who has been on hospice care for the last few months and slows down a little more every day, but is doing well.