DEVOTION: Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea. 2 Corinthians 11:25
I wonder if Adrian Vasquez feels blessed or cursed.
He might feel he is cursed because he had to bury two of his friends at sea. On February 24th he and his pals went fishing. They were headed back to their home port of Rio Hato when the boat's motor conked out.
After two weeks, one of the lads stopped eating and drinking. He died on March 10th. Because of dehydration, sunburn and heat stroke, Vasquez's second friend passed away on March 15th. When their bodies began to decompose, he had to consign them to the sea.
Now you know why Vasquez might feel cursed.
And why should he feel blessed? Sometime after his water had been depleted, it stormed. It stormed enough that Vasquez was able to refill that five-gallon water container. That water and the raw fish he was able to catch sustained him for the rest of his ordeal.
But there's more to Vasquez's blessings. By a minor miracle he was spotted by some commercial fishermen. They picked him up and turned him over to Ecuador's Coast Guard.
Vasquez had been adrift for 28 days. That beats St. Paul's "a night and a day" adrift at sea.
Still, I wonder if when you're adrift, when you don't know what is going to happen -- or if anything is going to happen -- it doesn't make any difference how many days pass. You're really, truly alone.
Or are you?
Now it's true no human knew where Vasquez was, but that doesn't mean he was alone. The living Lord Jesus Christ who had given His life to save Vasquez's eternal soul was fully aware of the lad's location. Indeed, there was never a moment when Vasquez managed to slip off the Lord's radar.
Now if that's true for Vasquez, it is also true for you.
Although I don't know what your situation or circumstance might be, it is entirely likely that many thousands of the Daily Devotion readers may feel they also are alone ... lost ... adrift.
If that describes you, remember, the Lord knows, and He cares, and He is with you.
And that answers our original question. Adrian, you, me ... we're all blessed. We have a Savior, a Redeemer, a Friend -- a very present help in time of trouble.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, when I feel adrift, send an extra measure of the Holy Spirit, so I might realize and appreciate the blessings of having Jesus as my Savior. Because of Him I shall never be alone. In His Name. Amen. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: Who was Michal? She was the daughter of Saul and wife of David. (Dianne Hance is the coolest cat in town when it comes to the daily quiz!) Note: the answer I gave for last week's quiz question was wrong. Saul had asked his armor bearer to take his sword and kill him, but te armor bearer wouldn't do it, so Saul took his own sword and killed himself. then the armor bearer took his own sword and fell upon it, thus killing himself.) Thanks to Dianne Hance for pointing this out. I can honestly say that even though I have read this five or six times I forgot exactly how it happened. That proves that you can never read the Bible enough.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________TODAY'S QUIZ: WHo was Uriah? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CATECHISMQuestion: Why is the first person of the Trinity called the Father?
Answer:
a. God is the Father of my Lord, Jesus Christ, and also my Father through faith in Christ.
b. He is also my father because He created me and all creatures. Strictly speaking there is only one human race, because all human beings are equally the children of Adam and Eve and are equally redeemed by Christ.
________________________________________________________________________________________________CHURCH CALENDAR Tues- quilters 9-2; Bible study 11:30-12:15; trustees 7pm; Catholic/Lutheran class 7pm
Wed- nothing
Thurs- creative crafters 9:30-11:30
Fri- Bible study at Hendershots 7pm
Sat- worship 5pm
Sun- early Bible study 8am; worship 9am; Sunday school/Bible class 10:15am; worship 11am
________________________________________________________________________________________________NEWS: PEOPLE GETTING CONFIRMED BAPTIZED OR RECEIVED INTO MEMBERSHIP THIS WEEKENDJennifer Poindexter (adult confirmation)
Will Poindexter (transfer from Orchard Farm)
Emma Poindexter (infant baptism)
Brett Nordwald (adult confirmation)
Brent Davis (transfer from MN)
Donna Lindsey (transfer from Trinity, Troy)
Holly and Nikki DeRoy (affirmation of faith)
Robert and Jane Nitzschke (affirmation of faith)
Kayla Bodimer (baptized)
Mary Aubuchon (affirmation of faith) (Husband Jerry to be confirmed soon)
Glen McRoy (adult confirmation)
Please welcome them and get to know them as they are ne wmembers of St. John's family.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________LITTLE LAMBS REGISTRATION FOR THE THREE YEAR OLD CLASS IS STILL OPEN!!!Children should be 3 years old by August 1. Call the church office to sign them up TODAY!_____________________________________________________________________________________________CONGREGATION WORK DAY THIS SATURDAY BEGINNING AT 8AM!!!There is a bunch of stuff that needs to be done around the church!! Just show up ready to work at 8am!! Bring tools if you got em. Talk to one of the trustees if you want to know more. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________TAILGATE SALE AND FLEA MARKET iS SATURDAY, MAY 5, 7am-1pmThis is held in conjunction witht he Ladies Aid Craft and Bake Sale and Luncheon Two ways you can help. 1. You cna donate GENTLY used items to Little Lambs who will sell them under the pavilion that day. You can buy a parking spot or two or three for $10 a piece and sell your own things Donations are going to the purchase of a "hands on" science lab and curriculum for Little Lambs. Drop of dates are April 30-May 4._____________________________________________________________________________________ALPHA CLASS IS OPEN TO EVERYONE, BOTH MEMBERS AND NONMEMBERS, BOTH THOSE WHO ARE OLD CHRISTIANS AND THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF JESUS!!!There are still spots left to sign up for the ALPHA class, but not too many. It is a class for those who are new to the Bible and Christianity (making it a perfect opportunity for outreach and evangelism. but it is also good for the seasoned Christian to review and to grow in the faith. Many of the questions you have alway had but have been afraid to ask will be answered. Please call Sandy Robine to sign up TODAY! 456-4061. Or email snsrobine@centurytel.net. It starts Tuesday night April 17!!!______________________________________________________________________________________________________________THE WHOLE CONGREGATION CAN SIGN UP TO HELP TO WORK FOR TORNADO RELIEF IN INDIANA AND KENTUCKY Go to
https://lcc.ccbchurch.com/w_form_response.php?form_id=697 and fill out the form. A report of your signing up will come directly to my email.
SInce there aren't a whole lot of Sr Hi kids signing up for it, I have decided to open it up to the whole congregation.
The dates we are going are Sunday, July 8- Saturday July 14. We will leave after church on Sunday and return on Saturday in the erly afternoon.
We will be staying at Camp Lakeview, a Lutheran camp just south of Indianapolis. Check it out at
http://www.camplakeview.com/.
If you need any mor einfo before you sign up, you know where I am 636-359-1061.
___________________________________________________________________________________________HELP TO FEED HUNGRY KIDS IN WARREN COUNTY WITH OPERATION BACKPACKIn the preschool room there is a box that you can put food in to feed extremely low income children in Warren County. Many of these kids get fed every day at school for breakfast and lunch, but what about the weekend? What the food listed below does for many of these children is gets them through the weekend when food is especially scarce. If you want more information about this program or you want to donate money to this causeyou can call Erin Waters at 359-9219 or email her at erinwaters@centurytel.net. Here is the list of food you can bringcereal (single serve sizes)oatmeal (instant packets)hot chocolate mixjuice boxespeanut butterjelly (squeezable bottles)soupspaghettios or beefaronimac and cheesecorngreen beansgranola barsfruit snackspudding cupraisin boxesapplesauce cupsfruit cupscereal bardspretzelsindividually wrapped crackers or cookiesbread___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP GROUP GOING TO THE AMISH COMMUNITY OF ARTHUR, IL ON APRIL 21. Cost is $65 per person. Sign up sheet in on the counter in the narthex or you can call Marilyn in the office to sign up. THERE ARE PLENTY OF SPOTS AVAILABLE!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY!!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________STEWARDSHIP SPOLIGHT FOR THIS MONTH IS LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
LHM is a Christian outreach ministry supporting churches, missions, and ministry worldwide. The daily devotion above comes from LHM almost every day. If you wish to donate ot it please make a check out to LHM and put it in a specially designated envelope.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________BIBLE 101: A NEW ONLINE "INTRODUCTORY" BIBLE STUDY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF ST JOHN'S!!! Please call or reply to this email to let me know that you want to sign up for this wonderful opportunity. I will sign you up! The congregation has already paid the annual fee so IT IS FREE for you!!! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRAYERS: (If I have missed anyone please let me know.)
FOr KEN DOVE (former member of St. John's and Jennifer Figura's dad) who is undergoing surgery today.
For CAROLINE BUELTMANN who is recovering at her daughter's home from some heart troubles.
For PAUL TOEDEBUSCH who will be undergoing more treatments for cancer.
For LIBBY PAILER as she continues to recover well at home from heart surgery.
For DOLORES DEBLAZE as she deals with chemo treatments for stage four lung cancer.
For CAL TAMELER as he continues to recover after eye surgery.
For JEANETTE KOEHLER who is recovering well at the Cedars.
For JONAS BORCHERT, grandson of Don Nolte, who is improving well and is gaining strength as he deals with his cancer.
(Jesus said) "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24