Welcome to a Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg
Photo taken by Deb's daughter's father-in-law
Here is our Order of Worship
The Lord's Prayer (traditional)
Taken from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 1662 link
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.
Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)
So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Scripture Reading: Luke 12:22-30 (NASB Bible Gateway)
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.
To Be Free From Worry link
Father, I'm praying that (name one or more) and others in my circle of family and friends will be free from worry…
Help them not worry when things don't go the way they expect. Jesus said we're not to fret, not to worry, not to let our hearts be troubled or afraid. He said we're to trust in You— and also in Him. May it be so in their lives and ministry, no matter how impossible things seem. (John 14:1, 27b)
Keep them from worrying about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. When such trouble comes, help them to cast all their anxiety on Christ because He cares for them. (Matthew 6:34; 1 Peter 5:7)
Help them not to be anxious about anything but to pray about everything with thanksgiving—for when they do, You'll give them Your peace that surpasses their understanding, and such peace guards their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)
Keep their minds steadfast in trusting You, and give them Your perfect peace. May they turn to the Lord of Peace who will give them peace at all times, in every way. (Isaiah 26:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Help them leave every worry at Your feet where it belongs.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Doxology (Jude 24-25 NASB)
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Please pray for our group here on TWW:
*Harley in Texas just had foot surgery and she’s in a lot of pain. Please pray for her comfort and healing.
*Billy in Texas (the abuse story that Dee wrote about) just started high school and he’s had a great week. Several people on TWW have kindly helped out – someone got him a computer which he needed for school, Catholic Gate-Crasher used her employee discount in the retail industry to get him clothes and is shipping them to Texas, and others donated money for school supplies. The GoFundMe account that Dee started for Billy and his Mom is still open and they need assitance on a monthly basis with food, gas, bills, rent, and other expenses. (Their situation is a very frugal one.) Billy’s mom needs to get him more school supplies. I will post the GoFundMe account later.
*NMGirl. She needs a new roof for her home which she can’t afford. She hasn’t had income from a steady job. Please pray for provision for her and her peace of mind.
*Jeannette Altes. She is being treated for a tumor, lost her job, and is looking for a job. She needs help with rent coming due on Sept 1st of $585. She also needs food and gas for her car. Her GoFundMe account is also open on the Open Discussion thread.
Jeannette Altes needs help with her September rent of $565. She also needs food and gas.
She is a long-time poster on TWW, is being treated for a tumor, was laid off, and is looking for work. GoFundMe takes out some small fees so she will need around $600 (or so) to make her rent.
https://www.gofundme.com/ljahelp
This is the GoFundMe campaign that Dee started for Billy and his mom Marquis.
They are in Texas and the mom is a single-mom who earns a living by cleaning houses
and taking care of horses.
Billy just started high school. He still needs some more school supplies.
He and his mom need to food, gasoline, car insurance is due, and back rent on their home.
https://www.gofundme.com/pxs5dk
Thank you.
Please pray for Tim Fall’s 92 year old father who is recovering from a head injury/fall, surgery, and will be moving to an assisted living facility near Tim and his wife.
Please pray for his healing and comfort.
Please pray for Tim and his wife’s stress level as they have a lot to do to move his father, who lives several hours away from them.
Thank you.
Praise the Lord. It’s Sunday morning. I sure the worst of the surgery pain itself is finally over. There were times I couldn’t even pray and I knew others were praying for me. That’s how bad this bone fusion was. I am no where near being over the pain from the surgery yet, but I am beginning to feel better. I actually slept all night long. Woke up to take a pain pill and that was it. Now I need to go back to bed and rest for awhile, then I will get back to WBW.
@ Harley:
Thanks for the update on your recovery. I’ll be lifting you up during the prayer time at church this morning. My daughter and I are headed there now.
Harley wrote:
Hi Harley,
That’s great news. Christiane thought that your recovery, like other peoples’ might take this course.
Continuing to pray for you,
Velour
@nmgirl,
If you happen to read over here, I am leaving you a comment for you on the Open Discussion board.
Thank you for this post. I have bookmarked it so I can find it really easy when I’d like to read it again.
I’m not sure how much of my anxiety is biological vs. emotional / psychological, but it does run on my mother’s side of the family. (A psychiatrist put me on anti-anxiety medications years ago, but they didn’t really work.)
Anyway, the post is appreciated by me for one.
Daisy wrote:
The medications have improved. They have quite a few things now to treat anxiety/depression if you find you need treatment. Also the NAMI on twitter does a good job of covering it. I’m glad that the organization is breaking stigmas.
I hope everyone else mentioned up-thread gets their needs met.
Daisy wrote:
Amen, Daisy.
Velour wrote:
and Amen
May the Lord in His mercy hear our prayers.
Christiane wrote:
Thanks, Christiane. You are a dear and it is a joy to know you.
Thank you as well for your fervent prayers for Harley as she recovers from her foot surgery/bone fusion.
Hi Wartburg Watchers,
Just a note that Jeannette Altes received $250 in her GoFundMeAccount. She needs
$565 to pay her Sept. rent. Jeannette Altes needs help with her September rent of $565. She also needs food and gas. GoFundMe also takes out some small fees as part of the business transaction. So Jeannette will need a little more than $600, I think, to pay her September rent.
ttps://www.gofundme.com/ljahelp
Additionally, she needs fund for food, gasoline, and household supplies.
*************************
She is a long-time poster on TWW, is being treated for a tumor, was laid off, and is looking for work.
https://www.gofundme.com/ljahelp
@ Daisy:
I am grateful that this EChurch post has been helpful to you.
I’m pretty sure my comment about this passage of scripture will make me sound like a heathen….so I apologize in advance for my unbelief…:)
This particular passage makes no sense to me at all in terms of faith. It’s like a nice poem you read that leaves you appreciative of it’s beauty and focus, but is not at all practical.
That Jesus cares for me goes without saying. I have experienced that love many times over my life. His care, however, has not included protection from burglary, rape, hunger, hurricane damage, divorce, disease, etc.
Worry (within reason), on the other hand, is the impetus that motivates us to take precautionary measures for our own protection, health, and general well-being. And those things do add to our life span imo. Paul reminds us that we should be content with food and covering, but what if those are not available for us at some time in our lives? James tells us to provide clothing and food for those in need, but what if we were to quote the Luke passage to them and send them on their way?
Forgive my negativity, but I don’t see these words of Jesus applicable to the lives of those today who have so many more needs than food and clothing and (reasonable) worry propels the means to meet them.
Mary Ann
Velour wrote:
Thanks, Velour. Here’s the latest update for anyone who’s interested: https://timfall.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/update-6-on-my-father-slow-progress-but-still-good-news/
@ Tim:
Welcome, Tim.
I and other Wartburgers will continue to pray for your 92-year old father’s healing, rehabilitation, and move near you and your wife. We will also be praying for you and your wife, children, and family. Stress level. Etc. You’re a good bunch and have each others’ backs!
@ Velour:
Thank you so much.
Jeannette Altes wrote:
Welcome, sweetie. I’ve been praying for the funds for your rent and I saw another contribution. Praise God.
By the way, do check out the Second Harvest Food Bank — nationally run. They have quality food and break the stereotypes.
My sister just volunteered at our local Second Harvest Food Bank with 50 of her coworkers.
She measured polenta in to 2 1/2 pound bags for those in need from huge bags of polenta that Second Harvest Food Bank has. My sister gave high praise to Second Harvest for all of the high quality food their team worked on packaging and that they saw. All nutritious. No junk.
They even have fruits and vegetables available locally through the food banks.
Victorious wrote:
I appreciated your comments. I think I am prone to being anxious about things and particularly to replaying the past in my mind to try to sort it out. But the past cannot be fixed. And the future is uncertain.
I think maybe there is a difference between planning for the future and worrying about it. You can take active steps to help yourself and others and maybe that will decrease worry. And not to get all serenity prayer, but sometimes you can not change or predict what the future will bring and worrying about it doesn’t help. So maybe that’s what it means?
Lea wrote:
Hi Lea,
That’s surely true in many circumstances in life over which we have no control. Worrying will have no affect on those things and will likely cause much undue stress. There are some future events that a bit of worry and planning can be of great benefit. For example, living in SW Florida, we have had our share of hurricanes over the years. Their arrival causes great stress for sometimes weeks but reasonable fear and worry enables us to prepare with food and water as well as designating a safe place to wait out the duration. Other reasonable and productive worry might be planning for our retirement and electing those responsible as the executor of a will and healthcare.
But in that passage of scripture, Jesus is referencing the basic necessities of life imo; food, clothing, and the span of one’s life. I think the lilies of the field are beautiful as are birds, but Jesus must know that humans are very different in the various things they will encounter throughout their lives. That’s why I see the passage more as a lovely bit of prose than practical advice for day-to-day living.
My understanding could be very off base and I’m willing to see it from a different perspective if someone could enlighten me as to what I’m missing. 🙂
Victorious wrote:
I think ‘Life of Brian’ warped me on that passage, because whenever someone mentions it I hear this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9czBBKof7Yo
@ Victorious:
I find it counter productive to tell all the over 50 year olds in this economy who have lost their careers not to worry. Everything they worked for was taken. That might come easier from someone in the same predicament, perhaps. But they are not less because they worry. That is normal. It is a very humiliating time for many older career folks.
To even say these things can bring accusations of not trusting God or not praying enough. It is tricky when it comes to Christians and this subject.
Victorious wrote:
Yes, planning is important. My personal philosophy is make a plan, and then hope for the best beyond that. Not to say that I don’t worry. I’m a natural worrier. It’s in my DNA, I’m convinced. But that’s what I make of the passage – plan, do your best, and then try not to worry. But I agree with you and Lydia that worrying doesn’t mean you aren’t godly or trusting. It’s just hard not to.