Most Gracious God,
New projects and milestone events bring hope to our lives. We are encouraged and optimistic when we start something new like a job, a school year, an athletic season, and a new course of study, to name only a few. Many times we are fulfilled by the promise of these events, but many times we are disappointed. Forgive us, Loving God, when we place our hope and trust in the mundane and material. Life has it’s peaks and valleys. Forgive us for our shortsightedness. Help us to understand we are fulfilled and completed only through our relationship with You. You are constant when we waver. Our hope comes from You. May we be blessed today as we seek to bless others. In Jesus name we pray. AMEN.
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I received word yesterday evening that Jeff Johndrow’s father died. Please keep Jeff, Cindy and their family in your prayers. I will share more information when it becomes available.
WWNF activities begin ONE WEEK from today. Watch the Church Visitor and this email for additional information.
Enid schools begin today and they now join other area schools already in session. Please pray for our children, youth and their teachers. May this be a wonderful year.
Please note: we are in week 39 of our regular daily scripture readings. In three years we will have read the entire New Testament and the significant parts of the Old Testament.
The scripture for today is Galatians 5:2-15:
Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law. You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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