CERRO
GORDO CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
June 26,
2022
Give Me My Daily Bread
Provers 30:5-9
One of the
reasons we gather together is our hope the Lord shows us more of himself. I
know I need more and more understanding of what God is calling me to do with
the days I am given on this earth. The older I get I have found myself
reflecting more on what God is wanting to do with the opportunities he gives
me.
At Walt
Morgenthaler’s funeral, the Lord led me to share some verses from the Psalm 90.
One of the verses was verse 12, which says “Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” When we think about how we are to consider
our days and match that with the words we read in Proverbs this morning, we can
see how God is encouraging us to trust him with our lives. In these verses from
Proverbs, we are given a few warnings about how we should treat God and His word.
It also warns about adding or changing his word.
There is
also the simple request on how to live out life. One of the things that can
bring honor from both God and man is to, as verse 8 says, “Keep lies and
falsehood far from me.” Most Christians do not purposely say falsehoods, but
there are times things happen that cause people to stretch the truth a little.
The first part of verse 8 does not say, “Help me not to lie.” It says “Keep lies far from me.” I was told by
my dad long ago a saying many of you have probably heard as well. “Tell a lie
and you can never forget; tell the truth and you don’t have to remember.” In
other words, if a person tells a lie, you better keep it straight and
consistent, but if you have told the truth, it will just naturally come out
without any special effort.
In verse 7
of Proverbs we read, the writer is asking two things of God. The first is to
keep falsehoods and lies far from himself and secondly give him neither poverty
nor riches, just give him his daily bread. The writer goes on in verse 9 to
explain the second part.
We read the
Lord’s Prayer for our Call to Worship this morning. Long after Solomon was
encouraged to write these Proverbs, Jesus shared an example prayer that says
much the same thing these verses in Proverbs say. In the brief verses we have read
in Proverbs there is an incredible amount of wisdom. It basically tells us to
make sure we know what is important. As Christians, being honest and
trustworthy are at the top of the list. We all will stumble from time to time,
but as Christians we are to own up to our mistakes, our sins, as quickly as we
can.
The fact is
that Solomon had it all. He was the most powerful man in Israel at the time he
wrote these Proverbs. He had wealth and prestige, but he came to understand the
only thing that really matters is to have faith in God and put your trust in
Him. Solomon was not badmouthing wealth: elsewhere in the Old Testament it says
it is a good thing to leave an inheritance to your children when that is
possible. Obviously, without some surplus that would not be possible. No, for
all Solomon had gained in life he understood what is really important. He had
come to understand the meaning of the verse in Psalms about numbering our days
aright.
When it is
all said and done, what really matters is our relationship with God and how we
share God’s love with others. None of us are, or ever will be perfect; that is
why we need a savior. God wants to give each one of us the wisdom to know what
is important. I would like to share my top ten list that is all about godly
wisdom.
1. Loving and honoring God.
2. Lifting up God’s Holy Word.
3. Being honest and true with ourselves
and others.
4. To the point that at times we are willing
to say,” I don’t know the answer.”
5. As best we can to be there for one
another.
6. To not have too high of expectations
but also to not have too low of expectations.
7. To be willing to forgive as we have
been forgiven (you cannot have one without the other).
8. To never give up, never lose hope,
God has already won the war.
9. To love one another, once again, just
as God loves us.
10.And when it is all said and done, to ask and expect God
to simply give us
our daily bread.
God loves
you and me; he created us for a reason. Your greatest victories may still be to
come. So, God, I simply ask you to give me my daily bread, because I know you
have and will continue to take care of the rest.
Pastor Larry
Tuesday 9:30 Bible Study
June 29 Submissions for July newsletter due
July 13 Board meeting
Late July VBS here at our church
Thanks to all helpers and participants in our Strawberry Festival! It was a huge success.
Offering plates are in the back of the sanctuary. Thank
you for your continued giving!
Donation Box: VBS
First Sundays: food donations for food banks
Pastor Larry Traxler- (217) 454-2362
To
keep up on Church of the Brethren news:
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District:
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calendar) and on facebook
Keep
in Your Prayers
Doris Morganthaler and
family; Mike Nuding; Michelle West; Tom West; Stuart James; Carolyn Hirsch; Eli
Brunner; Susan Gentry; Nancy Fansler; Joe Waltz; Doug Larrick; Anna Rose
Larrick; Ron & Kathleen Petersen; Anna Gentry Thompson; Louis & Carol
Sulwer; Maralyn Heckman; Debbie Leibrock; Dorthea Wood; Sonna Hall; Tina
Wilhelm; Baby Tate; Bryce Ashenfelter; Mindy Sawyer; Marlene Schultz; Sarah
Rudelick; Carl and Wilma Cable; Mike and Carol Seidenstricker; Adiline Young; Kim Lehmann; Doug Fansler;
Candy Dobson; Shawn Cain; Robert Cripe; Mayo & Darlene Hanaver; Zola
Copeland; Patty Cripe; Lauren Gross; Stacie Warren; Nancy Gorrell; many
unspoken requests; Coronavirus crisis; healthcare workers and first responders;
the families of those who have died from COVID-19; those who are ill from the
virus; school teachers, staff, and students; victims of disasters; victims of
shootings; nursing home residents; the Nigerian church; Haitian Brethren;
Ukraine; Hope Welty Library situation
Military and Other
Services and their families
Brethren Volunteer
Service workers; Disaster project workers
District Prayer
Calendar: Pray for the Panther Creek congregation
Church
of the Brethren vision statement:
Together, as the Church of the Brethren, we will passionately
live and share the radical transformation and holistic peace of Jesus Christ
through relationship-based neighborhood engagement. To move us forward, we will
develop a culture of calling and equipping disciples who are innovative,
adaptable, and fearless.
Our
Mission Statement:
Love
God, grow with others, serve faithfully, reach the lost, find peace.
