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NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Gifts from God

August 6, 2017

PASTOR: Greg Volzke CHURCH PHONE: 402-744-4971

HOME PHONE: 402-744-4961 CELL PHONE: 402-984-8981

PRINCIPAL: Doug Eisele SCHOOL PHONE: 402-744-4991

HEAD ELDER: Leland Uden ORGANIST: Sandra Mack

HEAD USHER: Brad Uden

USHERS: Mariah Uden, Dane Eisele, Drew Katzberg,

Nathan Anderson, Elisha Reiners

ACOLYTES: Morgan Burr, Elizabeth Anderson, Taten Uden

GREETERS: Jerome and Susan Katzberg, Bryce and Becky Katzberg

WELCOME: Welcome in our Savior’s name – and thanks for sharing with us today in

Christ’s love and peace! We pray that our worship together increases your

faith and joy in Christian living. If you are a visitor, please sign the pew

cards and place them in the offering plate. If you are not an active member

of another Christian church, we encourage you to visit us often and inquire

into teachings and practices of our church. We’re glad you are here, and hope you’ll join

us again soon!

CLOSE COMMUNION: As a member of the Lutheran Church-Mo. Synod, we

practice “close communion”. This was the universal practice of the early Christian

church, not as a judgment of another’s devotion to Christ, but out of concern that the

Lord’s supper not be taken to one’s harm (1 Cor. 11:29). By participating in the

sacrament, one testified that he/she believed Christ’s body and blood are truly present

in the Sacrament. Communing together was also a public confession of agreement

regarding the teachings of the Scriptures. Therefore, if you are not a member of a

Mo. Synod Lutheran congregation, we ask that you speak with Pastor before

communing.

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Please use the box on the welcome registration to indicate your desire to commune.

PREPARATION FOR COMMUNION

1. I REPENT OF ALL MY SINS AND SINCERELY INTEND BY THE POWER

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HENCEFORTH LEAD A GOD-PLEASING

LIFE, IN LOVE TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD FELLOW MANKIND.

2. I BELIEVE THAT GOD FORGIVES ME MY SINS THROUGH THE BLOOD

ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

3. I BELIEVE THAT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST GIVES ME HIS TRUE BODY

AND BLOOD IN THE BREAD AND WINE OF HIS HOLY SUPPER.

4. I BELIEVE THAT, IN THE HOLY SUPPER, OUR RISEN SAVIOR OFFERS

ME FORGIVENESS OF SIN, STRENGTHENING OF FAITH, AND

ETERNAL SALVATION.

AS WE GATHER

We face so many arguments about food these days. Go organic. Go gluten free. Go low

carb. Go vegan. Go GMO free. Our culture is deeply concerned about what sort of food

we put in our bodies, because the old saying “you are what you eat” is fairly accurate.

While what sort of food we put into our bodies is an important concern, Jesus compels

us to make another kind of food an even higher priority than the food we chew and

digest. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth

of God. Jesus feeds five thousand people, thereby revealing that He is the Word of God

Incarnate, the food that feeds more than our stomachs. Jesus feeds our souls. This was

foreseen by the prophet Isaiah who wrote, “Come, everyone who thirsts . . . incline your

ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live.” The food we put into our bodies is

important. Even more important is to gather in church for food that feeds the soul!

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PREPARATION

INVOCATION

Pastor: Remembering that we are the baptized children of God, we begin; In the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Isaiah 55:2b

Pastor: Mighty and merciful Lord, with heavy hearts we confess our sin to You.

(A time of silence is observed.)

Pastor: Together we confess:

People: We have sinned against You, mighty God, in thought, word, and

deed.

Pastor: When we have been more concerned with the food that feeds our

stomachs than we are with the food that nurtures our souls,

People: We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.

Pastor: When we live as if the gifts God provides are less important than some of

the trivialities with which we use up our time,

People: We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.

Pastor: When we fill our ears with all sorts of things that cannot give us the life

You give, we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed.

People: Bring us to repentance, Lord. Forgive our sins, those of which we are

aware and those we do unwittingly. Have mercy on us. Seek us, for

You alone can find us and restore us.

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Pastor: “Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good,” says the Lord, “and

delight yourselves in rich food.” Almighty God in His mercy has given

His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a

servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your

sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

WORD

HYMN OF PRAISE “Bless the Lord”...............by Matt Redman [DVD]

“What A Friend We Have In Jesus”................................#770

SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord has entered this place.

People: Lord, enter also our hearts.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray. Lord of creation, You open wide Your hand and satisfy the

needs of every living creature.

People: You feed our souls with the true bread from heaven, Jesus, our

Savior.

Pastor: Help us to receive the Bread of Life with joy,

People: so that we may participate in Your providing bread for the world,

both body and soul;

Pastor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You

and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Isaiah 55:1–5 (Come, eat and drink without cost.)

EPISTLE

Romans 9:1–5 (6–13) (Paul anguishes over the people of Israel.)

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HOLY GOSPEL

Matthew 14:13–21 (The Bread of Life feeds five thousand.)

CREED The First Article

People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Pastor: What does this mean?

People: I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given

me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason and

all my senses, and still takes care of them.

He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and

home, wife and children, land, animals, and all I have. He richly and

daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.

He defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from

all evil. All this He does only out of fatherly, divine goodness and

mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me. For all this it is my

duty to thank and praise, serve and obey Him. This is most certainly

true.

HYMN OF THE DAY “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord” ..........#637

SERMON “What Do You Value?” Text: Isa.55:2

1. We might say that Faith and Family are the most important gifts of God; however,

if we examine our daily lives, we will soon discover that we spend more time,

energy and money on other things.

2. How often have we skipped time with the Lord because we had so much to do?

3. If you take a look at your financial transaction, you will see a pattern that points to

what we value most.

4. Listen to the question that Isaiah asks. “Why do you spend your money for that

which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

5. We demand goods and services that are high quality and settle for a faith walk that

leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.

6. The disciples worried about not having enough bread and, Jesus, in exasperation

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declares “O you of little faith!”

7. What do we worry about? Jesus asks us the same questions as He did of his

disciples.

8. We worry because we have valued other things more than our relationship with

God.

9. These things we place above him become our gods and when our frail gods are

threatened, of course we will worry!

10. The first commandment says “You shall have no other gods.” We read that and

check it off as done! We don’t understand that every time we sin, we have placed

something above God and that is idolatry.

11. In spite of all the times we have committed idolatry, God still invites us to “Come,

everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy

and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

12. This is His invitation to us today as we come to His table and are assured of His

forgiving love.

13. He seeks to heal the hurts we have inflicted upon ourselves by going our own way.

14. We are to be Gods chosen instrument for drawing others to salvation in Jesus. Why

should they come if we are living like the rest of the people in the world.

15. When their gods are failing, they will see our God giving us peace and joy even in

the midst of the battles of life and they will seek to gain what we have.

16. What do you truly value?

OFFERING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

SACRAMENT

PREFACE

Pastor: The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1]

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136]

People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

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PROPER PREFACE

Pastor: It is truly good, and right, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks

to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by His death on

the cross and His resurrection from the grave feeds both our bodies and souls with all we

need to live abundant life. Therefore we magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising

You and saying:

SANCTUS Change My Heart O God.......................................P&W #37

Change my heart O God; Make it ever true.

Change my heart O God; may I be like You.

You are the potter, I am the clay.

Mold me and make me; this is what I pray.

Change my heart O God; Make it ever true.

Change my heart O God; may I be like You.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Pastor: Thanks and praise to You, O Lord, giver of all good gifts. You created

the heavens and the earth. You provide food for all creatures. In the

garden, Adam and Eve could eat of the fruit of any tree but one. When

they rebelled and ate from the forbidden tree and faced the

consequences of sin, still You blessed them with clothing and food.

To this world, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, You sent Your

Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Living Bread from heaven. Fill us by

Your Spirit, so that our hearts overflow with living water, and

guide us to fill the hungry with the good things You have entrusted

to us. All honor, glory, and worship be to You, O God, Father, Son,

and Holy Spirit, now and forever.

People: Amen.

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THE WORDS OF OUR LORD

Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25

LORD’S PRAYER

(Matthew 6:9–13)

PAX DOMINI

Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

People: Amen.

AGNUS DEI Open Our Eyes, Lord” ......................................STTL #213

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus;

To reach out and touch Him and say that we love Him.

Open our ears, Lord, Teach us to listen.

Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS

“At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” ............................#633

“I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table” ................................#618

“Lord I Need You” by Chris Tomlin .............................DVD

“Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me...........................................#760

POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING

Pastor: Gracious God, to this world so hungry for what is truly good and what

can truly satisfy our hungry hearts, You send Jesus, the Bread of Life. For

joining us together in the Body of Christ and for forgiving our sins in this

Holy Communion, we give thanks. Give our restless and tired hearts rest

in You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns

with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen

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BENEDICTION

Pastor: Nourished by the Word of Christ and fed by Christ’s body and blood, you

are sent out into the world in the name of Jesus to fill the hungry with

good things.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24–26

People: Amen.

Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 3. Copyright © 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

COMING UP AT CHRIST LUTHERAN:

TODAY SUN...Aug 6 9:00AM ADULT BIBLE STUDY

9:00AM SUNDAY SCHOOL

10:00AM WORSHIP

MON…Aug 7 7:00PM ELDERS MEETING

7:00PM Preschool “4’s” Open House

BULLITEN ITEMS ARE DUE

TUES…Aug 8 7:00PM Preschool “3’s” Open House

WED…Aug 9 7:00PM Mission and Ministry Meeting

THURS…Aug 10

FRI…Aug 11

SAT...Aug 12

NEXT SUNDAY: Aug 13 9:00AM ADULT BIBLE STUDY

9:00AM SUNDAY SCHOOL

10:00AM WORSHIP

Coming Up...

MON...Aug 14 7:00PM K-8 Open House

7:45PM Catechism Parents Meeting

TUE...Aug 15 8:15AM 1st Day of School

2:00PM LWML

SUN...Aug 20 10:00AM Staff and Student Dedication

12:00PM ACLEA Golf Tournament

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PRAYER - The power of prayer goes largely untapped, yet it is the life breath of

the church. Please remember these families in your prayers this week:

Donald Kuehn

Renae Kuhlman

Kaylene Kuhlman

PRAYER

For Good Weather and Rain.

EXPECTANT MOTHERS

Angela Mietl

Lisa Hoefs

ONGOING ILLNESS Michelle Kothes’~ Mother

Patrick Hermann ~ MS

Dave Junker ~ MS

Johnna Burr ~ Auto immune

Becky Struss

Denola Katzverg~Recovering from cancer surgery

CANCER TREATMENT

Donna Kothe-recovery from treatment

Jeremy Aldridge

Sandy Eacker-surgery

Cammie Poppe’s Father- stage 4 cancer

THOSE WITH CANCER

Jaron and Jens Jacobitz friend Peter in Mozambique with leukemia

Cora and Danola’s Brother-in-law Roy

Dan Struss, Gene Weber, Pegs Cousin, Peg’s uncle Larry,

Clee Wolzke, Seth Ostrander, Jeremy Aldridge

Gordon Jacobitz, Neal Hoagland, Sandy Eacker, Denola Katzberg

GENERAL NEEDS The nation & our leaders

The military & those who protect us

The poor and unemployed Persecuted Church

Victims of terrorism and disasters

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†††

SUNDAY MORNING YOUTH CLASSES

Summer Sunday School Preschool-Junior High - The Preschool through Junior High will be combined in the

3rd

and 4th

Grade classroom for a video series on “Christian Heroes” of the past.

High School – Shane Burr will be leading the High School students through a study of

the red letters of the bible.

Nursery provided for children under the age of 3.

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS- II Timothy will give direction for living in and

leading the church.

HELP IS NEEDED FOR CHILD-CARE ON SUNDAY MORNING

Please consider helping with child-care on Sunday during bible class from 9-10:00 in

the preschool room. Call Pastor or the office if you feel the call to minister to these

young families.

WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY Are you in need of a spiritual pick me up this summer? Come join us on

Tuesday evenings on Peg Volzke’s deck @ 7 p.m., as we enjoy some

fellowship, God’s beautiful creation, and get our spirits lifted as we

examine the Women of the New Testament. Through this study we will

learn about the diverse women of the new testament like Lydia who shows

us how to influence the people around us, Elizabeth, who challenges us to care for others or

Herodias and Sapphira, whose lives warn us against turning away from God toward bitterness

and dishonesty. There is no cost, just be sure to bring your Bible and invite a friend.

GREETERS NEEDED

Can you shake hands and give a smile? Then you are qualified to be a greeter

on Sunday mornings. We are in need of greeters for the month of September.

Please talk to Peg, Krisha or Tanya Uden. Thanks in advance for your

willingness to be the hand of Jesus welcoming His children into His house.

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TIME AND TALENT STEWARDSHIP BIG THANKS TRUSTEES

Trustees and all who keep the physical plant running are the

Volunteers of the Month

As we engage in some major projects around the Church and

school, we want to recognize our Trustees and all those who

give of their time to keep the facility looking good and running well. At times this is a

lowly job that goes unnoticed until something goes wrong. Remember to also thank

them for the pleasant and comfortable place we have to worship and to study God's

Word.

A pleasant and comfortable place to worship and to educate our children says a lot about

our commitment to Jesus and his ministry. We need the help of all of the members

because first impressions are very important to our mission of sharing Christ.

The Trustees would like to thank all who helped on the work day and to move the pews.

We had about 30 people with great fellowship. That is encouraging to all.

THANK YOU

We want to thank everyone who prayed for and sent card to Del. Your love and

thoughtfulness is much appreciated. –Del and Fran Jacobitz

YOU’RE INVITED!

Greg & Cammie Poppe are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary Sat. Aug.19 at the

Doniphan Event Center. Cocktails begin at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30.

Please RSVP cgpoppe2000@yahoo.com by Aug.10 to make dinner reservations,

or text to 402-461-8578.

CLS VOLLEYBALL CLUB POLICY

Christ Lutheran sponsors a club volleyball program. This means

students from our school, church and local public school communities in

grades 6-8 are invited to try out. When numbers are low, students in the

lower school grades may be invited to participate. Please contact Doug

Eisele at 402-744-4991 if you are interested in learning more about this program.

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MISSION AND MINISTRY COMMITTEE MEETING

August 9th

at 7:00pm

In the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, (Jn.17:22-23) he prayed; “The glory you have given

me, I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them and you in

me, that they may become perfectly one so that the world may know that you have loved

them even as you have loved me.”

The oneness of the body of Christ is a witness to the world. A coordinated mission will

be a more effective mission. Therefore the voters have established a Mission & Ministry

Committee so that we might become more focused and intentional about the mission of

Christ Lutheran. Rather than every board and organization doing their own thing, we are

called to plan and work together.

We ask that every board, committee and organization be represented at our meeting.

Because we want to include the whole body of Christ, anyone who would like to share a

ministry idea is also invited to come. It is our hope that the whole congregation might

better focus on mission away from the regular board meeting that generally deal with

policy and financing.

The mission should provide the direction for the activities, programs and services of the

Church.

Uniting all entities of the congregation will provide that direction as we seek God’s will.

We come together to pray and share the inspiration of the Spirit for the work of the

Church.

Do you have a prayer request you would like put on the prayer chain?

You may call or email Kristen Burr or Velda Schutte.

Kristen Burr Velda Schutte

402-469-3996 402-461-1839

kristenburr@gmail.com larryvelda@gtmc.net

Your prayer request will then be either emailed or texted on to those who have

agreed to be on the prayer chain. You do not have to pass anything on, just pray.

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SAVE THE DATE

The Christ Lutheran School PTL is planning an Eclipse Party on

August 21, 2017. More details to come!

SAVE YOUR PAPER TOWEL AND TOILET PAPER TUBES

The PTL is asking if people could save their Paper Towel tubes and toilet paper tubes.

They are planning a project for the Eclipse party and they need approximately 300 paper

towel tubes and 200 toilet paper tubes. There will be a box in the foyer for you to leave

the tubes in. Thank you for your help!

SUMMER SCRIP ORDERING AND PICK-UP SCHEDULE

Order Date Pick-Up Date

August 4th

August 10th

August 18th

August 24th

September 1st September 7

th

September 15th

September 21st

GARY THIES’S 75TH

BIRTHDAY

I am a volunteer typist for Gary Thies of Mission Central, Mapleton, Iowa. I wanted to

inform you and your LWML Society/congregation of Gary's upcoming 75th birthday

on August 28th

. It would be a blessing to 'shower' Gary with cards and well wishes on

his special day. Gary has touched the lives of so many in his many visits to

congregations, schools, conventions and in-home visits through many, many years. If

you want to join in the card shower for this "NOT NORMAL MISSIONARY", Gary's

address is:

Gary Thies

40718 Highway E-16

Mapleton, IA 51034-7105

NEW STORAGE IS NEEDED

The old garage needs too many major repairs to be economical or useful. The Church

council is asking for memorials and donations to replace this with a new portable

structure at the cost of about $5000.00. This will allow us to keep things out of the

weather and away from mice. Contact the trustees about your donation.

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BACKPACK DONATIONS FOR NEEDY STUDENTS

The Nebraska District is partnering with Orphan Grain Train to supply

backpacks and share Christ with needy students both near and far.

2017 District Youth Gathering participants will fill backpacks during a

servant event at the Gathering in November. We need your help to

make this project possible!

August is right around the corner, and that means school supplies are on sale

everywhere! This is a great time to purchase school supplies to donate to Orphan Grain

Train, as we are low on them at this time. Please also consider donating your old

backpack(s) for this exciting project. Thanks for your continued generosity and support

of Orphan Grain Train. You are a blessing to so many people around the world.

School supplies and backpacks can be collected by congregations and dropped off at the

Nebraska District Office in Seward, and will also be collected at the APC Conference in

Lincoln on October 19-20, 2017.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Candi Menze

at candim@ndlcms.org or 402-643-2961 x1010.

Do you have an announcement or a change for the bulletin? Sarah Kroos is now

doing the church bulletin. You can email Sarah at skroos@christjuniata.org, call

the office at 402-744-4991 or you can always bring your handwritten

announcement to the office. Bulletin items are due on Tuesdays. Please let Sarah

know if you have any question! Thanks so much!!

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9TH

ANNUAL ACLEA GOLF TOURNAMENT

ACLEA is a non-profit organization with the focus of raising funds for the

Lutheran Schools in the community. The money raised goes directly to the

schools to pay for student scholarships, curriculum updates, technology

updates, and other student needs. ACLEA and the community supporters

are an integral part of maintaining a high quality Christian education at both Christ

Lutheran School and Zion Lutheran School. We are asking for community participation

and donations to allow students to continue to grow spiritually and intellectually. Hole

sponsorships are $100 which includes your business’s sign on the course. We are also

looking for any pin-prize donations or raffle items. Thank you for your time and feel

free to come out and support a great cause.

Contact Evan Volzke 402-984-4126 evan.volzke@gmail.com

Sunday, August 20th

, 2017

Elks Country Club Golf Course

4-Man Scramble ($220 per team)

Cart rentals are an additional cost of $15 per player

Registration at 12:00pm

Shotgun Start @ 1:00pm

Home Treasurer S Report

7/31/2017

Balance 6/30/17 $583.18

Contributions $37,866.14

Interest $87.76

Total Cash $38,537.08

Disbursements ($38,028.23)

Balance 7/31/17 $508.85

Note Balance $89,000.00

Home Treasurer, Neal Katzberg

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Your Child Of Promise – Part 1

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,

Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your

brothers." Luke 22:31-32

Your problem child could be a child of promise! God has a special destiny in mind for

them; that’s why there’s been so much drama around him or her. Satan has targeted

them because he sees their potential. He has discerned God’s plan for them and he’s out

to stop it. Would Satan do that? Yes! He used Pharaoh to get to Moses, and King Herod

to get to Jesus before they were two years old. Why? Because one day they would arise

as deliverers and fulfil God’s plan. Likewise, Satan will attack your child of destiny.

Paul said, ‘It pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me

through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the

Gentiles’ (Galatians 1:15-16). But Paul spent the first thirty years of his life going the

wrong way before he met Jesus and started going the right way. So as the parent of a

child of promise, what should you do? Pray for them! Knowing the special plan Peter

would fulfil and the attack of Satan that would soon come against him, Jesus told

Peter: ‘Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you,

that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your

brethren’ (Luke 22:31-32). When your children are young lay your hands on them and

speak God’s Word over their lives. And as they enter their teenage years continue to

pray and speak God’s blessing upon them. Fight for your child of promise!

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for my children, no matter how old they are. May they live

to be children of promise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Your Child Of Promise – Part 2

Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a

prostitute. Judges 11:1

Genes are powerful things! They can determine a child’s hair color, eye color, and the

tendencies that make them like their father or mother. But when a child grows up and

constantly makes bad choices it may not be genetic; it may be that the enemy has

targeted them because he’s discerned their destiny. That’s when God steps in. Moses’

mother placed him in a basket and hid him in the Nile River. But God arranged for

Pharaoh’s own daughter to find him, take him to the palace, and raise him as a leader in

Egypt. As a parent, when you do your part God will do His. When you do all you can for

your child, God will intervene and do what you cannot do. Paul writes, ‘We know that

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are

called according to his purpose for them’ (Romans 8:28). God has a ‘purpose’ for your

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problem child, so keep loving them and praying for them however long it takes. The

Bible says, ‘Jephthah … was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a

harlot.’ Your child may have been born in less than ideal circumstances, but that won’t

stop God from blessing them. On the contrary, He can use every circumstance in their

past to fuel their future with wisdom and strengthen them to fulfil the thing to which

He’s called them. So don’t give up on your child of promise. Pray, ‘Lord, You promised

it, I believe it, and it will come to pass!’

Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for stepping in with children, to continue to guide and grow

them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Your Child Of Promise – Part 3

"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in

the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.

Ezekiel 22:30

Sometimes your child of promise may get into trouble at school, mix with the wrong

crowd, and experiment with drugs, alcohol, gangs, sex, etc. They may rebel against

everything you’ve taught them. But that doesn’t mean they won’t eventually respond to

God and do His will. Before Saul of Tarsus became Paul the apostle God had to throw

him off his horse, humble him before his peers, and blind him for a season. Do you

remember what Jesus said to Saul of Tarsus on the Damascus road that day? ‘It is hard

for thee to kick against the pricks [thorns]’ (Acts 9:5). Sometimes your child of promise

will come the easy way, other times they’ll come kicking and screaming; they won’t get

there overnight! God took Paul into the wilderness for three years to detox him from

wrong thinking and reprogram him with the truth of His Word because that was

necessary to equip him for his calling. So when your child of promise seems to be lost in

the wilderness, blind to their destiny, or even down in the dust, don’t despair; God is still

at work. What should you do? God said, ‘I sought for a man [or woman] among them

who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of …’ (see

Ezekiel 22:30). Build a wall of protective prayer around your child. ‘Stand in the gap’

and pray God’s Word over them. Jesus promised that when you pray with authority here

on earth, He will move heaven on your behalf (see Matthew 18:19).

Prayer Heavenly Father, I pray for children every day knowing that You intervene on my

prayers. Thank You Jesus, Amen

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Your Child Of Promise – Part 4

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson,

Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, Hebrews 11:32

Your child of promise may be far from perfect today, and their transition into God’s

Kingdom may be anything but smooth. ‘Time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak

and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through

faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths

of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness

were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to fight the armies of aliens’ (vv. 32-

34). When you read these names and know their stories, you realize Satan will fight your

child of promise from the day they’re born until the day they die. And if he can’t get to

them, he will try to get to their children. Jephthah had to rise above the stigma of having

a prostitute for a mother and a father who wanted nothing to do with him. But he

overcame all this, led Israel to victory over their enemies, became known as ‘a mighty

man of valor’ (Judges 11:1), and ended up listed alongside the Bible’s greatest heroes,

including Abraham, Moses, Esther, Ruth, and David. Abandonment, abuse, addiction,

absenteeism, anger, and aggression - none of these can stop God from using your child

of promise if you’ll ‘stand in the gap’, pray on their behalf, and keep speaking God’s

Word over them. ‘What is the gap?’ you ask. It’s the difference between what is and

what can be; the difference between who your child is right now and who God knows he

or she will become in the future.

Prayer Heavenly Father, help me to continue to stand in the gap and pray. In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

What Should I Wear Today

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

“What am I gonna wear today?” So often we ask this question as we stand almost

trance-like in front of a sea of clothing, trying to decide what we feel like today. Jesus

had something to say about clothing, only the garments He was referring to were those

of character and godliness. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk into

your closet and see clothing through the eyes of Jesus? You’d see the garment of

1)Compassion – as you put on compassion your concern for the sufferings or

misfortunes of others would increase. 2) Kindness – putting on kindness would increase

your friendliness, generosity, and compel you to be considerate of others. 3) Humility –

the modest view of one's own importance would be pleasing to God and a blessing to

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others. 4) Gentleness – your actions of a soft and calm spirit would bring peace to other

people and steady their stress. 5) Patience – such a critical part of any wardrobe, is a

garment that increases your capacity to accept or tolerate delays, challenges, or even

suffering without getting angry or upset at yourself, others or even God. The clothing

that delights our God is the putting on of life-changing qualities that point others to the

power and presence of Jesus Christ. The Lord desires to transform us into His image and

display His attributes. As God’s chosen people we have the responsibility of clothing

ourselves in His love and presenting to the world an accurate representation of the

Master Clothing Designer. Next time you stand aimlessly in your closet pondering what

to wear, choose from the five garments above. Wear them well, wear them often, for the

glory of God and the sake of His kingdom.

Prayer Father teach me how to choose Your holy garments, wearing them as a humble

representative of Your grace. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

Being Considerate To the Weak

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the

weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Every school has boys and girls who are at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Some of

them are physically unattractive, some are slow learners, and some are simply unable to

make friends and find a comfortable place in the school environment. (The same is true

in the workplace and the church.) The key question is: what should teachers do when

they see one of these children being ridiculed and taunted by their peers? Some would

say, ‘Kids will be kids. Stay out of the conflict and let the children work out their

differences for themselves.’ But the Bible says we are to ‘uphold the weak’. When a

strong, loving teacher comes to the aid of the least respected child in class, something

dramatic occurs in the emotional climate of the room. Every child seems to utter an

audible sigh of relief. The same thought bounces around in many little heads: ‘If that kid

is safe from ridicule, then I must be safe, too.’ By defending the least popular child in

the classroom, the teacher is demonstrating that he or she respects everyone and will

fight for anyone who is being treated unfairly. One of the values children cherish most is

justice. (Adults do too!) They are, conversely, very uneasy in a world of injustice and

abuse. Therefore, when we teach children kindness and respect for others by insisting on

civility in our classrooms, we are laying a foundation for human kindness in the world of

adulthood to come. So wherever you are today, endeavor to ‘comfort the fainthearted,

uphold the weak, be patient with all’.

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Prayer Heavenly Father, keep my eyes open as Yours are to see those that are often picked on

or ridiculed. Help me defend and uplift those lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

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