As we approach the election of our new Board of Directors for Hosanna Lutheran Church, I thought it prudent to share with all of you a devotion I authored for the Ohio District Stewardship Task Force. It expresses the message I would like to convey this month. Remember, we serve a mighty and awesome God, and by HIS grace, we will move forward in a direction HE leads. May God continue to bless Hosanna, and may our newly elected Board rely completely on GOD for any/all impending decisions. Our Mission: ―Sharing The Risen Christ to All Generations!‖ extends outside the four walls of Hosanna, and into the world. We need to become even more outward focused in our approach to accomplishing that mission. May we not be hindered by those things which knock us off-course in our endeavors;

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:15-18

From here . . . to eternity; and, where will that eternity be? Well, the world would tell us to scrimp and save and make as big a pile of money as we can. I’m not really sure why. I have spent over twenty years in the death care industry, and I have yet to see a body buried that was wrapped in money. Sure, lots of people spent a great deal on the funeral, but that doesn’t insure salvation. In fact, it is all meaningless in the big scheme of things.

Do not lose heart. Even though your body may be weakening and deteriorating, your spirit is being strengthened. God graciously provides all your daily needs. In fact, God is glorified when we trust completely in Him. He will sustain us in any trials we encounter along the way. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. In sickness and in health God provides us with spiritual strength so that we can proclaim His love for all people.

When Jesus died on that cross, He took our sins with Him to the tomb. They are eradicated for those who confess their sinfulness and receive absolution. The water that washed us at Baptism cleanses our lost and hurting souls.

Instead of piling up money and assets, why not use the gifts you have for God’s work? So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. We can’t always see exactly what God has in store for us, but we can see a blessed eternity . . . with Jesus. What more could we ask for?

Prayer: Gracious God, help me look to you this day to guide me in all I say and do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The universe, God's will, speaking the Christ story, true
human fulfillment, God's Law, the point of it all-these are
some of the ideas in Pastor Joel Biermann's explorative
video Bible study. In six sessions, he takes us from the
beginning to that place where, on the Last Day, we find our
greatest realization as humans.

It's essentially about us being God's creatures, redeemed by
Christ and restored through faith. Our role is to fulfill God's
place for us within His creation.

God's Law involves the ordering and function of His
creation throughout the universe. Our sin perverts our grasp
and understanding of God's will for His creation.

Accepting that God is in charge in all things is not a popular
idea among modern man. God's purposes will be accomplished and His creatures thrive best when living coherently within His design.

We are all here to do what God put us here to do. Though our vocations are many, church work does not supersede
family responsibilities and other necessary obligations. We fit into God's creation and His scheme of things, not
vice versa.

God's law is good, His will for His people is that they speak the Gospel message and share the life of Jesus Christ
with others. Proclamation is paramount, not optional.
The Last Day fulfills God's will for the earth and its creatures; it doesn't conclude world history but redeems and
restores this planet. The point of our lives is to live as God's creatures.

Jesus gave us all His one and only Son (John 3:16). Just as Jesus gave, we are enabled by God’s grace to be giving people. For Christians, giving is not an option. We are to give our firstfruits generously and joyfully out of gratitude for Who God is and what He has done and continues to do for us. So why don’t Christians give as they should?

The following are some reasons people don’t give more:

1. Spiritual problems. People act as owners of their things rather than stewards. They readily acknowledge God as the owner with their lips but not with their hearts and actions. Those lacking an intimate relationship with Jesus do not make giving a priority.

2. Financial problems. The average credit card debt per household is approximately $8,000. Many don’t manage their money wisely. Until we spend less money than we make, we will find that money is tight and unavailable for giving generously.

3. Compartmentalization. We compartmentalize when we divide our lives into competing parts. If we disconnect God from the managing of our money, He is not in control, and we are prone to hoard money rather than give it.

4. Limited vision. We are apt to give less than we are capable if we do not understand all that our church or other Christian organizations are doing. If we understand and relate to the vision and mission of the church or organizations seeking our contributions, we will give generously.

5. Limited relationships. People give more when they are connected to the church or Christian organization through relationships. If good relationships exist with the pastor or church leaders or even other members, people tend to be more generous.

If we are struggling in our giving, we need to seek God’s strength to grow in our faith and trust in Him. It is only by God’s grace that we can be empowered to grow in the grace of giving.

Prayer Needs of Pastor Matthew & Rose Ling
A. Personal
1. God‘s blessing of drawing us near to Him constantly, so that our hearts are deeply rooted in Him.
2. Good physical health.
3. Deepening marital relationships between us.
4. Protection of God on us against the attacks of the enemies. Isaiah 54:17, ‗…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.‘
5. God‘s presence with us in all we do.

B. Family
1. Nicholas and Douglas being constantly guided and led by God.
2. They would stay close to God and serve Him faithfully.
C. Ministry
a. Family Friendly Partners Network (FFPN) Framework
i. God gives us the grace of leadership to lead the church to implement the FFPN framework so that the Christian families can mentor their children and pass on the faith to them.
ii. The team of people selected to be the champions of FFPN is united and committed to this.
iii. The people at Calvary family Church will see the call of God for this and rally behind the leadership on that.
iv. The church families will welcome the various equipping programs on family life.
b. Reaching The Community
i. The community parents would respond readily to the family life programmes offered as the relational bridge for evangelism.
ii. God‘s favours to build strong relationships with the pre-believers for gospel of God to be shared in various forms.
iii. The blessing of creativity of ways to connect with the pre-believers.
iv. God‘s guidance on how to include the pre-believers in our church activities.
v. God to bless us with committed church members to form teams for community outreach.

c. Family Life Counseling
i. Anointing of God upon us to counsel couples and children.
ii. There will be opportunities for us to share the gospel with them.
iii. God‘s power to heal broken relationships between husbands and wives and between parents and their children.

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Letters to the Editor Guidelines

Hosanna Headlines welcomes letters to the editor. Letters are subject to editing for accuracy and brevity. Letters should be 600 words or less. All letters must include your signature, address and contact phone number. You may submit one letter per household, per month. Letters can be mailed to Hosanna Lutheran Church, 13485 West River Road, Columbia Station, OH 44028 or emailed to hosannalutheran1@windstream.net

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