Newsletter
October 1, 2023
St. Paul Lutheran LCMS
Julesburg, CO
970.474.2592
The Pathlight
Your word is a lamp to my feet and
a light to my path
Zion Lutheran
Big Springs, NE
308.289.5148
Ps. 119: 105
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9/25/23
Given a choice….. take God’s ways!
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways”, declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8
A person can look to several car dealers to get the vehicle they want for the best price and with the desired options. A person can get multiple estimates for a particular project. In a medical context, a person can look for a second opinion. A doctor might have a diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment. If the patient doesn’t like the doctor’s diagnosis or recommendation, he or she may choose to seek a second opinion from another doctor. There are certainly times when it makes good sense to get a second opinion on something. But whose opinion should you trust? What about matters that are even greater than life and death? And now I am speaking of matters concerning ETERNAL life or death. There is only One whose opinion matters and that is God Himself.
In verse 6 there’s an invitation to “Seek the Lord while He may be found” and to “call upon Him while He is near.” Why? Because the Lord wants us to see His ways and how they are holy and upright while the ways of natural man are not. The desired result is for us to repent of our unholy and immoral ways and thoughts. Where there is repentance, the Lord will have compassion. He will pardon!
So, the problem is perspective. It’s all too easy for us to lose perspective on what God has called good and evil. We tend to live in the moment; justifying every sinful desire of the old man by pointing out that it isn’t really that bad. What we are really doing, is simply seeing things differently than God. He has a perfect perspective. From His vantage point as the Creator of all, He can truly say that “as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” So back to the question, whose opinion are you going to trust? God’s. Second question, when should we seek the LORD? Answer: while He may be found! Third question, when should we call upon Him? Answer: while He is near!
Since this was yesterday’s Old Testament lesson in worship, and in light of the Gospel lesson from Matthew 20. There will be a time when God will distribute the laborers’ wages. God will generously give His laborers the fruits of their faith, forgiveness and eternal life. God IS GENEROUS beyond measure. So, He warns us of the temptation to grumble when He forgives ….. that person. God’s thoughts and His ways are higher and better than ours. Remember this when you want to grumble about His grace….. it is through His ways and thoughts that YOU have been redeemed!
Pastor Christensen
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
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OCTOBER BIRTHDAY WISHES to…
10/1 LoRayne Taylor, Oakley Larsen
10/12 Justin Scherbarth
10/13 Larry Reichert
10/14 Quaidly Larsen
10/15 Ira Orth, Donna Sanquist
10/16 Marilyn Luft
10/17 Ken Berges
10/27 Randall Schlake
Created by God’s Design – Faithfully and Wonderfully Made
Happy Anniversary
Marvin and Muriel Nelson 10/30/64
Les and Lori Ebke 10/01/88
Greg and McKenzie Hensley 10/1/16
God’s Blessings to the couples who have been join as one!
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Sympathy
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the Dick Dawson family. Dick entered into eternal glory on September 25, 2023. May the family find peace and comfort in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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The LWML Mite Box will be available on October 1, 2023 and October 8, 2023. Your donations to the mite box will help with the 15 projects chosen by the Rocky Mountain District LWML at their June, 2022, Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the projects supported by LWML mites is supporting Mission Opportunities Short Term (MOST) Ministries. MOST Ministries provides short term mission opportunities for individuals to support Christian ministries throughout the world through witness and service. Thank you for your help with the mites “mission”.
The King is Coming LWML Sunday PRINTED SERVICE
Opening Hymn “The Church’s One Foundation”\
Old Testament Reading - Isaiah 2:1-5
Epistle 1 Peter 2:4-10
Holy Gospel Matthew 11:25-30
Hymn “My Hope is built on Nothing Less”
Sermon Offering
Lord’s Prayer
Distribution Hymn “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior”
Post Communion Collect
Benedicamus and Benediction
Closing Hymn “O Jesus, King Most Wonderful”
Servants for October 1 – St. Paul Zion
Uusher / Creeters –Duane Aulston/ Rex Nicolaus Mark and Shelle Heidemann
Acolytes -Jennifer Toyne / Emmalyn Kotch Altar
Organist – Gail Nicolaus Shelle / Jodi
October 4 – 3:30 Midweek 4:00- Catechism
October 8- 8:00 Sunday school 10:00 Sunday School
Bible Study 11:00 Worship Service
9:00 Worship service
Zion will be having a Soup Supper October 21, 5:00 – 7:00 as a fundraiser for the Food Pantry.
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Is anything too hard for the Lord?
Genesis 18:14a
For nothing is impossible with God,
Luke 1:37
Joy in God’s omnipotence
How do you face your problems? Because we are human, we are tempted to dwell on them, wallow in self-pity, and blame others for them. Guilt, revenge, anger and despair can result.
The Bible gives some examples of people who chose better ways to handle their problems. Hannah took her problem, barrenness, to the Lord in prayer.(1 Samuel 1:1012), Elijah asked God to send fire to consume the waterlogged sacrifice, (Kings 18:36-38) Gideon trusted that the small army of God could defeat the enemies,(Judges 7:15-22). Mary simply accepted the angel’s amazing message that she was to be the mother of the Messiah. (Luke 1:38)
In these and many other instances, God has proved that what seems impossible to us is entirely possible for Him. Our God is able to hanble any problem because He is God!
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