DEVOTION: Psalm 26 English Standard Version (ESV)
I Will Bless the Lord
Of David.
26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.[a]
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in your faithfulness.
4 I do not sit with men of falsehood,
nor do I consort with hypocrites.
5 I hate the assembly of evildoers,
and I will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
and the place where your glory dwells.
9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 in whose hands are evil devices,
and whose right hands are full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
redeem me, and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.
At first glance David looks like he is full of self confidence and arrogance. It looks like he is boasting in his own integrity and faithfulness. It looks like he is pretty proud of his own accomplishments in the faith. It looks that way, but that's not the way it is.
A second look will show us that David is boasting in the Lord and the Lord's faithfulness to him. He is boasting in the integrity and faithfulness that the Lord has produced and proved in him through trial and tribulation. He knows that he would not be who he is, the king of Israel, if God was not with him to bless him and give him success. He owes it all to God.
We do too! We owe it all to God. In our Epistle reading from Romans yesterday, Paul told us "do not thin more highly of yourselves than you ought, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned."
I want to encourage you in this same way too. When things are going well praise and thank the Lord for his blessings of provision and success. When things aren't going well, thank the Lord for his testing and proving of you so that you may grow in the faith and knowledge of the Lord.
As a pastor who is always measuring the "success" of the church, I always need to remember and give thanks for all of the times of the church, the times that he is growing his church by bringing people to faith through its ministries, and the times where he is growing the people within the church through times of leanness and struggle so that he can show us that he alone is the one who calls people to faith, makes people dead, and brings them back to life.
Have peace that God is doing some great work in you, and through you and REST in him today as he does it. Rejoice, like David and go around his altar praising and thanking him for all he has done!
Prayer: Lord God, when I boast, make me to only boast in what you have done and are doing in and through me. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2
Wed- Stephen Ministry 6-7; Choir 7-8
Thurs- No karate; Lutheranism 101 6:30???
Sun Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS WEEK:
Acolyte- 8:30- Cierra Figura; 11- Loren Howard
Ushers- Dick Petersen, Jim Huster, Bob Linke, Tom Linke
Altar- Set up- Dave and Linda Callies; Clean Up- Sandy Robine
Elders- Sat- Al Benton; Sun- 8:30- Jason Cluver; 11- Don Turnure
Greeters- 8:30- Erv Yoder; 11- Doug and Ruth Walters
Lay Reader- Sat- Sandra Perricone; 8:30- Lois Boeger, 11- Steve Robine
Pianists- Sat- Barb Dreyer, 11am Molly Hendershot
Projectionist: Sat- Perricone; Sun, 8:30- Yoder 11- ???
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Who is the "righteous Branch" and the "The Lord Our Righteousness" that Jeremiah talks about in Jeremiah 23:5-6? JESUS (Thanks Don)
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TODAY'S QUIZ: What was the total number of people that Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile from Judah?
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NEWS!!!!
ADULT CHOIR REHEARSALS WILL RESUME THIS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30 AT 7PM!!!
All people high school age or older who love to sing and have fun are strongly encouraged to attend! Ability to read music is not necessary but is helpful.
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ANNUAL LABOR DAY FLOAT TRIP COMING NEXT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4!!!
Place: Ozark Outdoors
Time: Meet at 9am
Canoes- $25 per person
Kayaks- $30 per person
Rafts- $31 per person (Children 7 and under free, and 7-12 are $15)
Tubes- $25 per person
Rides on Ozark busses are still $30 if you have your own equipment.
Call Teresa Scott at 359-5041 or email her at tscott@usmo.com to sign up!
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WORK DAY, SATURDAY, SEPT 9, 8-Noon.
Several projects need to be done and the more helpers we have, the quicker they will get done.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL RALLY DAY, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 AT 9:45!!!
If you or your kids have been away from Sunday school for a while and have been meaning to get back into the swing of things, Sunday, Sept. 10 is your perfect opportunity to do so!! All kids who show up will receive FREE devotional books and/or Bibles which are paid for from a trust set up by Janet Wagner before she went to heaven.
There will be games, donuts, and lots of JESUS!! Please bring your kids, grandkids, great grandkids, neighbor's kids and yourself!! We look forward to seeing you!
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LITTLE LAMBS GOLF OUTING, Sunday, Sept. 10
Registration- 12:30
Shotgun start- 1pm
Dinner and Prizes- 5pm
Cost- $60 per person
Two person scramble format
Hole Sponsorships available for $50 a piece (Think advertising)
Call Karin or Lisa at 456-2888 or pick up a registration form from the office!
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
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HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A PASTOR OR DEACONNESS?
If so, Rev. Scott Holder, admissions counselor from Concordia Seminary, will be here on Thursday, September 14 from 1-6pm. He is interested in meeting with students of all ages, elementary school age through adults. Appointments are individual, informal, and family/friends are welcome to come with you. Appointments are not necessary but encouraged. If you are interested in scheduling a specific time, call Pastor Holder at 314-505-7225 or email him at holders@csl.edu
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MORE LAY READERS NEEDED!!
We are in need of some new lay readers!! If you would like to serve the Lord in this way, please respond to this email with your willingness and the service you would prefer to do it in. If you have questions, email or call/text me at 636-359-1061
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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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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 those in Texas and Louisiana dealing with historic flooding and damage from hurricane Harvey.
For GEORGE HOELSCHER as he is hoe and doing better. He receives his second chemo treatment on Friday.
For CAL TAMELER who is HOME and is recovering from surgeries and a heart attack.
For LIL WINTER who is home, but is still awaiting test results and doctor's orders to get several procedures done.
For ANGIE BRUNSON, who is at home, but is still dealing with blood clots and an infection after a trouble from a hysterectomy.
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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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