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SERMON NOTES:Prayer Requests

Y Kevin Van Meter had a stint put in onMonday due to a heart attack over theweekend. Keep both Kevin & Pam inyour prayers.

Y David Schwartz and family (friend of

Dianne & George Black) as Davis is inhospice now.

Y Corey Colestock (friend of Lois Peterson)needs a kidney donor with O- blood.

Y Nikki Karg (schoolmate of JannaFitzgerald) recently diagnosed withleukemia.

Y Steve Gast (Jennifer & Mike Huehnscollege friend) as he awaits a lungtransplant for his cystic fibrosiscomplications. He is currently at homeand only has a few weeks to wait. Prayfor strength, patience and Gods will.

Y Bobbie Pearson (friend of Gloria Ivers)who has a new tumor and more cancer.

Y John Fagerland (Amy Moores dad) as hestruggles with hip and knee pain and isseeking the best medical treatmentplan.

Y Joanne Seeman Benick (Jon & JodiBlacks friend) who has cancer.

Y Rocci Norcia (Al Norcias father) cancerhas returned and is starting chemo

treatments.Y Continue to pray for Cathy Smith who is

struggling with mental illness.

Y Jenna Undersander (Jennifer & MikeHuehns neighbor) who has pancreascancer and is receiving chemo.

Y Julie Fjeld ((Jennifer & Mike Huehnsneighbor) who lives with cancer.

Y Steven Van Meter (son of Kevin & PamVan Meter) who is serving our country inAfghanistan.

Y Vern Hermsen (Jerry Hermsens brother,and LaVerne Hermsens husband) who isin a home for Alzheimers.

Y Jerry Hermsen was diagnosed withthyroid cancer.

Y John Thiessen as he lives with cancer.

Y Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen)who is suffering from cancer.

DEVOTIONThis past Sunday Pastor Paul shared thesecond week of a three week sermon seriescalled CORE. The aim of this series is foreach of us to know at our core that Godloves us to such an extent that we arewilling to share that love with people

outside our congregation.

The formative story in this series is in the 4th

chapter of John. The story is called, TheWoman at the Well. Each week weregoing to study this story in the devotion.

In his sermon on Sunday Pastor Paul sharedthat we 1) often look for security inunhealthy places and 2) we dont alwaysshare our complete selves with God. Thisprevents us from experiencing the fullness

of Gods love or Living Water. In thedevotion this week were going to look atthis story through the lens of these twopoints.

Enjoy! Comments about the devotion canbe E-mailed to pastor@colpres.org

Monday, June 10Read John 4:1-6These six verses set up the story. Theseverses infer that the Pharisees were not

happy that people were being baptized.How ironic that the religious leaders were

mailto:pastor@colpres.orgmailto:pastor@colpres.org

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upset that people were going deeper withGod!

In his ministry Jesus wasnt ready toconfront the Pharisees. He had other workto do. The timing wasnt right.

Jesus was secure enough in himself that hedidnt need to confront the Phariseeseventhough they were wrong about what washappening. He didnt need to provoke afight and be right. He is an example for us.

Prayer: Help me secure enough in youand myself that I dont always have tobe right. Give me the wisdom that

Jesus had to know when is the righttime to illustrate the truth.

Tuesday, June 11Read John 4:7-15After Jesus told the woman to give him adrink, she immediately identified whatseparated her from Jesus. She was awoman; he was a man. She was aSamaritan; he was a Jew. She didnt saythis but we know that she had been marriedand Jesus had not been married.

Gods love is a quality that encourages us to

find what unites us with others. When wecome across someone, God doesnt want usto look for that which separates us, butinstead look for that which unites us.

How easy it is to judge another personbecause we think that person is quitedifferent from us. Our focus on thedifferences leads us to separate ourselvesfrom the person.

As you encounter people in the next 24

hours look for the qualities that unite youwith the person. Be aware of theconnections and not the divisions. As you

look for the connections do not be afraid toacknowledge that Gods love is yourmotivation. You look for connectionsbecause Gods love is spilling out of you.

Prayer: Help me find connections andnot divisions with people. May your

love inspire me!

Wednesday, June 12Read John 4:16-26Jesus knew a lot about the woman eventhough she didnt know about Jesusknowledge. When Jesus mentioned that shehad five husbands and the man she waswith was not her husband, she could seethat he was a prophet.

Read closely Jesus response to the woman.

In his words he didnt judge her; instead heidentified her situation. The story doesnttell us why she had five different husbandsit lets the reader wonder. The importantpoint is not to judge the woman, but insteadto see that she couldnt hide from Jesus.

You and I cant hide from God. Jesus knowsevery part of us and still loves us deeply.However at times we try to hide parts ofourselves from God. This hiding canprevent us from receiving the fullness of

Gods love.

Take some time to reflect on whether thereare parts of your life that you are hidingfrom God. Do they prevent you fromreceiving the fullness of Gods love?

Prayer: You love me withoutconditions. Thank you. Dont let metry to hide any part of myself from you.

Thursday, June 13

Read John 4:27-30The narrator in the story identified twoquestions that the disciples had when they

came upon Jesus and the Samaritan woman.The disciples had gone to a local village tofind food.

Whats surprising is they didnt ask thesequestions of Jesus, but instead kept thequestions to themselves. Who knows why

they kept silent. Perhaps they were tryingto be polite. However by keeping thequestions to themselves they were hidingfrom God. They didnt trust Jesus enough toshare of themselves completely.

Do you have some questions for God thatyou dont ask? Do you trust God enough toask anything of God. As you pray today,reflect with God on these two questions.

Prayer: Dont let my politeness

keep me from asking you anything. If Ihave a question that I havent askedyou, give me the courage to ask you.

Friday, June 14Read John 4:31-38In these verses the disciples were focusedon a physical reality while Jesus was focusedon a spiritual reality. God wants us to beinvolved in the world, but God wants us tofind our ultimate security in our spiritualreality.

Would you rather be wealthy and have agood job while being far from God or poorand unemployed but enjoying the blessingsof God?

What is the source of your security?Prayer: Let me be secure in thespiritual blessings of your love. Helpme be aware of how Im surrounded byyour love.

Saturday, June 15Read John 4:39-42

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The woman had been set free when Jesusidentified that she had five husbands. Howironic!! Often when unfavorable informationcomes to the light we are embarrassed orashamed. The woman wasnt either ofthese. She was empowered. She no longerhad anything to hide. She was free!

Are you hiding something from God? Godcan see every part of you and knows everypart of you, but are you sharing every partof yourself with God. By sharing all ofourselves we can find freedomjust as thewoman did.

Prayer: The woman was free in thisstory. Wow! Id like to experiencethat freedom too. Give me theconfidence to share every part of

myself with you.