DEVOTION: Isaiah 40:21-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Do you not know? Do you not hear?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 who brings princes to nothing,
and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
25 To whom then will you compare me,
that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
and because he is strong in power,
not one is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God"?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
What does it mean to "wait for the Lord"? Does it mean wait for the Lord to return? Does it simply mean wait for the Lord to do something for you? Actually "wait" and "Hope" come from the same root word in Hebrew, and if you think about it, they kind of mean the same thing, or at least they should when it comes to Jesus.
When we, as Americans, think of the word "hope" it often means that we want it to happen but it might or it might not actually happen. Hope is more of a wish than a certainty for us. For the people in Isaiah's day and even in Jesus' day, hope was more of a certainty. Hoping for something was the same as waiting for something. So when the Bible says that we should hope in the Lord, it isn't something that may or may not happen. It's a certainty. Therefore in our passage above, those who wait "hope" for the Lord WILL renew their strength. It simply is not a matter of if but of when.
Sometimes you have to wait longer than others. Sometimes you may wonder what is taking God so long. Sometimes you may even get angry with God for not taking care of things in your time but his. Whatever the case, know that God's promises are certain. He WILL renew your strength. You will mount up on with wings like eagles. You will run and not grow weary. You will walk and not faint.
The ultimate fulfillment of this promise will come on the day the Lord Jesus takes you to be with him forever. After that time there will be no more waiting for the Lord, because all of his promises will be fulfilled in the present time for you and you will be with him forever.
Lord, thank you for making me wait for you. Make me to be sure of your promises and confident that you will fulfill all of them in your own time and in your own way. Amen.
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CALENDAR:
Tues- Quilting 9-2; Libby Pailer visitation 3-6 and Funeral 6
Wed- Stephen Ministry 6; Choir 7
Thurs- Alzheimer's Support 1pm; karate 6:15-7:15; Confirmation make up 6:30
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school and adult Bible class 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS:
Acolyte- 8:30- Nick Schulze; 11- Cameron Faerber
Ushers- Sat- Bob Linke; Sun- Alan Hofeldt, Tim Linke, Gary Hoelscher, Ben Hoelscher, 11- Dave Winter
Altar- Set up- Doug and Ruth Walters; Clean Up- Pam Linke
Communion assistant- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Jason Cluver, 11- Dave Winter
Greeters- 8:30- Jim and Vickie McRae; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot
Projectionists- Sat- Fischer; 8:30- McKenzie; 11- Addie Hoelscher
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Tim Linke 11- Luke Rausch
Organist- Barb Dreyer
Pianists- Sunday at 11- Molly Hendershot
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ:
What was a tabernacle?
From Don Nolte- It was the tent of Jehovah, or movable sanctuary which Moses was directed to erect in the wilderness. It could be easily taken down and erected during the Israelites wanderings.
From Pat King- Oh! I know this! And no, Sandy, it is NOT because I helped build the first one.
Anyway, it was a portable place of worship. Sort of a mobile home church. It was first built – using God's precise instructions - during the time of the Exodus, when the Jews were wandering around in the desert, looking for the Promised Land.
You can read about it on Wiki, if you want more info. But, if you really want to know about it, there is a PDF you can download at this link: http://netbiblestudy.com/00_cartimages/Tab-Lesson%205.pdf
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TODAY'S QUIZ: Who could go in to the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle?
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NEWS:
RETIREMENT SEMINARS AVAILABLE. WHO IS INTERESTED?
Denny Hagan from eldercare associates would like to know how many people would be interested in attending one or more of the following seminars if he were to come out to St. John's to do them.
- Identity theft. With tax season coming, this is a serious concern to not only seniors, but to everybody that has a Social Security Number. As a matter of fact, the most profitable Information on the net, is for children. It takes much longer to catch the issue, due to lack of use of the children's numbers.
- Changes in how Medicare Part B, is billed to Seniors, It is more important than ever that one takes the time to plan their retirement. Medicare part B is billed based on one's income, and to make it even more confusing, it is based on your income of 2 years ago. Now, before we start scaring anybody, If they are already receiving benefits, this new rule, will not apply. All of these rules, are changes in Social Security.
- Understanding Social Security: how to get all that is coming to you and making the most of it.
If anyone is interested in any of these, please let me know, and if we get enough people interested, we will get Denny to come out and do a presentation.
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LIBBY PAILER'S VISITATION AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
The following was taken from Libby Pailer's Facebook page. It was written by her daughter Renee:
Family and Friends, we have completed arrangements for Mom's service. The funeral home is setting up her online page and we will be sharing that with all of the info as soon as it is ready.
The general info is that her Memorial Service/Visitation is Tuesday, January 30, 3:00-6:00pm visitation and service at 6:00pm at Baue Funeral Home in Cave Springs just off of I 70.
We will share the page from them for Mom when it is completed and shared with us. Can't believe how much we miss her ❤️❤️
(Pastor Karg from Immanuel, Olivette is officiating the funeral)
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A NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR SOLDIERS HAS FORMED CALLED "WARRIORS' JOURNEY HOME"
It is a nonsectarian, nonpolitical group that will be meeting the second Sunday of the month at 2pm at Bridgeway Behavioral Health 1206 E. Veteran's memorial Parkway in Warrenton. Rev. Dr. Gary Ellul (retired from the Army, a licensed counselor, and pastor at St. Paul's In Jonesburg) will be leading the group. You can call his office if you are interested or know someone who is. Phone number is 636-224-1411. Pamphlets are on the counter in the narthex if you would like more information.
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OFFERING ENVELOPES ARE ON THE SHELVES UNDERNEATH THE CHURCH MAILBOXES IN THE NARTHEX IF YOU HAVEN'T PICKED THEM UP YET!
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OUR LAST DIRECTORY (Last updated in August of 2016) has a lot of outdated phone numbers. If your number has changed, please call the office 456-2888 and let Terry know!
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DUE TO SOME TROUBLES WITH OUR CHURCH EMAIL ADDRESS WE HAVE HAD TO GET A NEW ONE
Our new email address is sjwarrlutheran@gmail.com. Please change it in your address books!!
Pastor's email, revklaus@hotmail.com will remain the same.
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A NEW AND EXPANDED VERSION OF LUTHER'S SMALL CATECHISM IS AVAILABLE AT A REDUCED PRICE OF $14.49!!
It is a great tool for learning and for daily meditation and devotions. Sign up to get your copy in the narthex today!
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LITTLE LAMBS IS STILL SELLING CANDY BARS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!
If you'd like to help sell a box or two of candy bars as a fundraiser for Little Lambs preschool. Let Terry or one of the preschool ladies know. They'll hook you up right quick!
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SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMORY VERSE IS: "You formed m inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13
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DO YOU HAVE A THRIVENT FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OR POLICY?
You may be eligible to receive money for Little Lambs or Good Shepherd!! Go to www.thrivent.com/choicedollars to check it out!
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OPERATION BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY IS CANNED FRUIT.
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PRAYERS:
For FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF LIBBBY PAILER as she passed from death to eternal life last evening.
For PAT MANESS who has moved to Parklane nursing home in Wentzville and is hopefully moving to Twin Oaks assisted living sometime soon.
For GEORGE HOESCHER as his cancer has returned after a very short time of being in remission.
For GINA BOHNING (Roy Bohning's wife), BUCK HAMPTON, and DENISE HOOKER (Betty Tameler's daughter) as they continue to deal with cancer.
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL:
For COLTON FIGURA deployed to Turkey, SAM HARGROVE deployed in Kuwait 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, 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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