DEVOTION: Psalm 18:1-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord Is My Rock and My Fortress
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:
18 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
Can you imagine the folks you once called friends and family, a king who took you in as his own under his own wing, suddenly turning on you and trying to kill you? Can you imagine a whole army of men going after you to hunt you down to get rid of you, because of a crazy king's rage and jealousy?
Can you imagine the Lord, being on your side and keeping you safe through it all? Can you imagine the relief you would feel when it was all over and then the thanks and praise you would want to give God for keeping you safe as He did?
That's what you have in this Psalm. David was anointed to be king when he was a kid. After that he went as a young man and killed Goliath. Because of his bravery and valor, King Saul had him live with him as a servant. David continued to grow in favor and became a great warrior. He commanded Saul's army and won many battles. This all became known to the people so that the people praised David more than they praised Saul which made Saul crazy with jealousy. He went nuts and several times tried to kill David himself. Prince Jonathan, David's friend and Saul's son, warned David to flee from the land so that he wouldn't be killed. David spent a long time on the run, and finally was able to come back to Jerusalem when Saul died.
And you think you have it bad…. The Lord cares for us just the same. He may allow us to go through times of struggle, deep sorrow, and anguish; but these are only to form us and shape us, and to grow us in our relationship with him so that we may look only to him for all our strength and comfort. Then, when we take our last breath, we will be ready to join him in paradise. He will use our story of faith, and our very life, to show His power and grace.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being our mighty fortress, for caring for us through the storms of life, and for preparing us and keeping us for life eternal. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Board of Outreach meeting 8am; Warrenton Pastor's meeting 9am; Quilting 9-2; Trustees meeting 7pm
Thurs- Karate 6:15-7:45; Lutheranism 101 6:30
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and Bible Class 9:45; Elder's meeting Noon; Little Lambs Open House 5pm
Sat-
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Dulci Rahn; 11- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Brett Nordwald, Erv Yoder
Altar- Set up- Marilyn Foster; Clean Up- Wanda Turnure
Elders- Sat- Roy Bohning; Sun 8:30- Don Turnure; 11- Al Benton
Greeters- 8:30- Dave and Hope Tinnin; 11- dan and Lisa Rausch
Lay Reader- Sat- Roy Bohning; Sun, 8:30- Steve Robine 11- Karen Benton
Organist- Pat Golden
Pianists- Sat- Kathy Barrow Sun
Projectionist: Sat- Mauch 8:30- McKenzie 11- Klaustermeier
TELLERS: Team #2
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ :
How did King Josiah die in battle?
Don Nolte: Pharoah Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him, and Pharoah Neco killed him at Megiddo, as soon as he saw him. 2 Kings 23:29.
Pat King: The account of his death is found in two books - 2 Kings 23:29 and 2 Chronicles 35:20
He decided to go to war with Neco, the king of Egypt – despite being told by that king the he, Neco, had been commanded by God to fight the war. Anyway, he disguised himself, and during the battle was shot full of arrows by Neco's archers. Which just goes to show, you should pay attention when God speaks.
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who was Baruch?
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NEWS!!!!
YOUTH NIGHT THIS WEDNESDAY
When? 5:30-7pm!!
Who? All youth 3-18
Where? Church basement
What? Supper- soft pretzels, hotdogs, and ice cream: Fun- Silly songs, A Bible story, and a scavenger
Why? To celebrate Jesus and have one last fun night at church before school starts
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BACKPACK BLESSING THIS COMING WEEKEND!!
Bring your kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, neighbor's kids, and every kid you can think of, to church this weekend to get your kids and their backpacks blessed and filled with the Holy Spirit so they can start school in a good way!
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OUR NEXT FIFTH SUNDAY CELEBRATION WILL BE ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29… REFORMATION SUNDAY!! TO CELEBRATE THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEGINNING OF THE REFORMATION AND THE POSTING OF THE 95 THESES BY MARTIN LUTHER ON THE CASTLE CHURCH DOOR IN WITTENBERG, GERMANY!!
It is going to be a blowout celebration! Mark your calendars today to make sure you are there to enjoy the celebration!
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TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP TRIP COMING UP!!! GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
The next trip will be to Westport Playhouse on Sunday, Sept 17 for "Church Basement Ladies" a comedy take off on the Lutheran ladies in the kitchen. Men would enjoy also. We would leave at 12:30 p.m. from church and return apx 6:45 p.m. Getting tickets at 1/2 price each ticket $25 plus bus cost & dinner. They are holding 47 tickets for me this week. Call MARILYN FOSTER AT 636-359-0535 or email her at mkfoster@centurytel.net to reserve your tickets!
OPERATION BACKPACK ITEMS COLLECTED FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST IS SOUP AND RAMEN NOODLES. Please bring items up to church and put them in the tub marked "Backpack Blessings".
GENERAL PRAYERS:
For PAT KING'S NEPHEW who has been sent home with a halter monitor.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER as he has had a lymph node removed for biopsy and had a port put in for chemotherapy.
For LOIS FRICK as she has been moved to St. Joseph Hospital in Lake St. Louis for rehab.
For LIL WINTER as she recovers from diverticulitis and a liver infection.
For CAL TAMELER as he awaits much needed surgery on his legs. Surgery is scheduled for August 8.
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PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For SAM HARGROVE deployed in Amman, Jordan and DAN DREYER deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, that the Lord would keep them safe from harm during their service and bring them home safely.
For DAVID TATE stationed in Japan, COLTON FIGURA stationed in California, and ALEX WALTERS, stationed in Tennessee. That God would bless their service to our country and keep them safe as they all await possible deployment.
For CALEB FIGURA AND VINCE MASTERS who are both serving our country in the National Guard and take time out of their lives, jobs, and families to go on duty several times a year.
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