He makes my feet like the feet of a deer. – Psalm 18:33.
Baby Steps
My baby is learning to walk. I have to hold her, and she clings to my fingers because she is still unsteady on her feet. She is afraid of slipping, but I am there to steady her and watch over her. As she walks with my help, her eyes sparkle with gratitude, happiness, and security. But sometimes she cries when I do not let her take dangerous paths, not realizing that I am protecting her.
Like my baby girl, we often need someone to watch over us, to guide and steady us in our spiritual walk. And we have that someone, God our Father, who helps His children learn to walk, guides our steps, holds our hand, and keeps us on the right path.
Baby Steps
God keeps our feet steady and catches us when we slip.
King David knew all about the need for God’s watchful care in his life. In Psalm 18 he describes how God gives us strength and guidance when we are lost or confused. Ps. 18:32. He keeps our feet steady, like the feet of the deer that can climb high places without slipping. Ps. 18:33. And if we do slip, His hand is there for us. Ps. 18:35.
Whether we are new believers just learning to walk in the faith or we are further along in our walk with God, all of us need His guiding, steadying hand. – Keila Ochoa. Daily Bread.
Dear Father, hold my hand and lead me in the paths of right living.
Challenging Words Reflection
for the Community
Everyone is Welcome!
Evil Things that Come from Within. Mark 7:23.
Protective Intention
Christ in Me Arise
– written and performed by Trevor Thomson
Christ in me arise and dispel all the darkness. Christ in me arise with your power and your strength. Christ in me pour out your blessing and healing. Christ in me arise and I shall rise with you.
Prayer: God, Wisdom of the universe,
you bear the pain of your people.
Grant us the gift of wisdom,
that we may discern your way
and live justly and graciously
amid the struggles of this world. Amen.
Trust in the Lord. Give our most pressing concerns to Jesus. Be open to what the Lord is doing in our lives.
Be Thou My Vision
Ancient Irish ca 700
Translator Mary Byrne Versifier Eleanor Hull
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art –
thou my best thought, by day or by night;
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Prayer:
Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world. Amen.
Never Shaken Psalm 15 Song
Hoss Hughes
Prayer:
Blessed are you, O Lord and Lover of Mankind,
source of beauty and depth of passion.
Strengthen and inspire us to do the word we hear
and live the faith we confess. Amen.
One Bread One Body
John B. Foley
– performed by John Michael Talbot
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many,
throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Prayer:
O Father of lights,
from whose word of truth
we have been born as firstfruits of your creatures:
make us quick to listen and slow to speak,
that the word implanted in us
may take root to nourish all our living,
and that we may be blessed in our doing and fruitful in action. Amen.
Sanctuary
Randy Scruggs
Lead Me on Lord from temptation,
Purify me from within.
Fill my heart with Your holy spirit,
Take away All my sin.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
Perhaps you may prefer to sit and visit!
Contact Us with Special Requests!
We initially planned for stargazing to fit within one hour or so but the clear starry night was so exhilarating that we closed near midnight.
it was a bit chilly at 45 F for an August night. This was a great excuse for hot chocolate and s’mores!
We decided that we would hold over and continue the event next week as long as the night sky is clear, people are interested and we still have our telescope available!
Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus
Sponsored by: Spirit of Peace and AcademyScience.us
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. Ps.147:4-5.
We have Come to Believe and Know that You are the Holy One of God. John 6:69.
The Church’s One Foundation introduction:
Samuel John Stone, a clergyman of the Church of England, was the author of many original hymns and translations, which were collected and published. His hymns are hopeful in spirit and skillfully constructed. He published several poetic volumes.
The “Church’s One Foundation” was written as a direct response to some teaching considered unorthodox at the time.
The Church’s One Foundation
Author: S. J. Stone (1866)
– performed by Samuel Stone and Brian Moss, Indelible Grace.
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
Prayer: Holy Wisdom, you granted Solomon’s request for an understanding mind and the knowledge to discern good from evil. Fill us with such understanding and knowledge that we may act as instruments of your loving desire for creation, working with you to transform our conceit into concern for others, our fear into love, our violence into peace, and our brokenness into wholeness. Amen.
Trust in the Lord. Give our most pressing concerns to Jesus. Be open to what the Lord is doing in our lives.
Be Thou My Vision
Ancient Irish ca 700
Translator Mary Byrne – Versifier Eleanor Hull
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; naught be all else to me, save that thou art – thou my best thought, by day or by night; waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Prayer: Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people and pour out your strength and courage upon us, that we may hurry to make you welcome, not only in our concern for others, but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.
O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you. Ps. 84:12.
How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place, O Lord. Ps. 84. song.
Prayer: Source of life, you feed us with the spiritual milk of your love and deliver us from darkness to light. Encompass us in the circle of your protection, that, secure in your sustaining power, we may find the wisdom and strength to challenge the evils of our time. Amen.
In Christ Alone – Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all; Here in the love of Christ I stand.
We are all stewards spreading the Word of Jesus’ blessings for His people.
Picnic Fellowship Activities for the Entire Family!
Of course lively discussion and activities will be available!
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite. Ps.147:4-5.
Difficult Words of Jesus Reflection From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66.
A company advertised a “huggable, washable, and talking” Jesus doll that recites “actual Scripture verses to introduce children of all ages to the wisdom of the Bible.” Its sayings include, “I have an exciting plan for your life,” and “Your life matters so much to Me.” Who wouldn’t want to follow a Jesus like this?
Jesus does offer a wonderful plan for our lives. But He does not serve us as a cosmic genie or cuddly doll to meet our every whim. John 6 gives us a picture of a Jesus who is not so cuddly, in fact, we may sometimes find His words offensive. This may be so because we do not understand His words. Instead of fulfilling the selfish desires of His followers, Jesus disturbed their expectations. He offered Himself as spiritual bread from heaven and said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.” John 54.
Jesus’ Difficult Words.
This message can be felt as offensive and difficult. The image of eating flesh and drinking blood did not give His hearers “warm fuzzies.” Many stopped following Him. John 66. Jesus did not fulfill their wishes as the conquering Messiah – King they expected. Marvin Williams – Daily Bread.
Things we never said come together; The hidden truth no longer haunting me. Tonight we touched on the things that were never spoken; That kind of understanding sets me free.
Sometimes we want a Jesus who meets our selfish needs. Yet the wonderful life He offers is found only in strict obedience to His commands. Let us ask Jesus to show us what His words mean, and for the courage to act on His truth. Amen.
“We love You, Lord Jesus,” we often may say, But are we as ready His will to obey? Let us heed what God’s Spirit would have us to do, For that is how we show Him a love that is true. DJD.
From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. John 6:66
A company advertises a “huggable, washable, and talking” Jesus doll that recites “actual Scripture verses to introduce children of all ages to the wisdom of the Bible.” Its sayings include, “I have an exciting plan for your life,” and “Your life matters so much to Me.”
Who wouldn’t want to follow a Jesus like this?
Jesus does offer a wonderful plan for our lives. Jesus does not serve as a cosmic genie or cuddly doll to meet our every whim. John 6 gives us a picture of Jesus who is not so cuddly; in fact, He may often be seen as offensive. Instead of fulfilling the selfish desires of His followers, He disturbed their expectations. He offered Himself as spiritual bread from heaven and said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life.” John 6:54.
This message was offensive and difficult. The image of eating flesh and drinking blood did not give His hearers “warm fuzzies.” Many earlier followers stopped following Him. John 6:66. He was not the conquering Messiah-King they hoped for and expected.
Sometimes we want a Jesus who meets our selfish needs. But the wonderful life He offers is found only in radical obedience to His commands. Let us ask Jesus to show us what His words mean, and for the courage to act on His truth. – Marvin Williams. – Daily Bread.
Lord Jesus I Love Thee
William Ralph Featherstone. 1864.
Ralph wrote this hymn when he was sixteen years old.
Jesus I Love You!
Lord Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the pleasures of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou,
If ever I loved Thee, Lord Jesus, ’tis now.
“We love You, Lord Jesus,” we often may say,
But are we as ready His will to obey?
Let’s heed what God’s Spirit would have us to do,
For that’s how we show Him a love that is true. —DJD
Star Party Gathering Community Activity Sunday night!
Star Party Gathering Community Activity One More Night This Weekend!
Saturday’s Star Party went well! We are holding over!
Sunday August 16 at Dusk! (Weather permitting).
Come for fellowship, see Saturn and other planets, stars and constellations!
Join us sharing Star Party experiences as autumn approaches!
Dusk 9:00 Sunday night! 921 S Mayne Valley, NE
FREE Light snack available
Expect viewing and fellowship to last until 10:00 or so. Stay as long as you like.
Questions? Contact Pastors Michael or Cathy:
