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SERMON NOTES:Prayer RequestsOctober 2, 2011

Y Pray for neighbors of Chuck & TiffanyGodfrey who lost grandchildren and theirfather in the Grand Canyon fires.

Y Pray for Margie Powells family, PastorPauls aunt, who passed away.

Y Pray for Angelicas friend Ann, a friendand colleague, who is receivingtreatment for breast cancer.

Y Pray for Kelly Bergs girlfriend Jane asshe recovers from back surgery.

Y Pray for the wisdom for Frank andHeather Butterfield at school asteachers.

Y Pray for Gary Longs sister Karen as she

has been diagnosed with Parkinson.

Y Pray for Mary Ann Archer as she saysgoodbye to her 21 year old cat.

Y Prayers for the following New ChurchDevelopments:Concord Presbyterian Church, Delaware,OhioNew Albany Presbyterian Church, NewAlbany, OhioRamseyer Presbyterian Church,Columbus, Ohio

Y Pray for Charles Moore, Pastor Paulsfather, who will have hip surgery onOctober 17.

Y Pray for Mary McNamara, President ofUnited Seminary, whose cancer hasreappeared.

Y Pray for Carole Lloyd, a friend of PastorPaul and Amy Moore, whose braincancer has reappeared.

Y Pray for a six year old boy named CarterOlson who is undergoing treatment forbrain cancer.

Y Pray for Ankur Chopra as he finishesarmy training.

Y Pray for Dwight Zvorak as he recoversfrom the disease of alcoholism.

Y Pray for persons and process involved inproperty purchase for COL.

Y Pray for Ben Simmer, a young man justgraduated from college and has MS. Heis currently receiving advancedtreatments.

DEVOTIONThe Bible has many stories andstatements about animals. Animals aremore than a lower compared tohumans. The Scriptures share that Godcreated and sustains animals. Godcares how animals relate to each other.

God has a vision for animals in theKingdom of God.

The Scriptures this week give a taste ofthese visions for animals that God has.Enjoy!

Comments about the devotion can be e-mailed to pastor@colpres.org.Monday, October 10

Read Psalm 104:14-25Gods providence for creation extendsfar beyond humans. God also cares forthe animals. Creation was intricatelydesigned so that animals and plants aresustained and nourished. This sectionof Psalm 104 shares these intricacies.

14) You cause the grass to grow for thecattle16-17) The trees of the Lord are

watered abundantly, the cedars ofLebanon that he planted. In them the

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birds build their nests; the stork has itshome in the fir trees.24-25) O Lord, how manifold are yourworks! In wisdom you have made themall; the earth is full of your creatures.Yonder is the sea, great and wide,

creeping things innumerable are there,living things both small and great.

As you pray today, spend time praisingGod for creation. Think of a favoriteanimal of yours and share your praise toGod for that animal. If you have apet(s), pray over the pet(s). Let yourheart be touched with awe at what Godhas provided.

Tuesday, October 11Read Genesis 9:8-17

Gods covenant with Noah was sharednot only with humansit was sharedwith animals too. Look at verse 10

I am establishing my covenant withevery living creature that is with you,

the birds, the domestic animals, andevery animal of the earth with you, asmany as came out of the ark.

The promise of the covenant was thatthe earth would never again bedestroyed by a flood; the sign of thecovenant was the rainbow.

This covenant reveals that Gods careextends beyond humans. It is shared

with animals too. We humans are notthe only creatures on this planet thatgarner Gods attention

God cares for the welfare of our petsand animals. The health of animals isnot a side issue to God. Its veryimportant to God.

You and I can be stewards of thecreation through our love of pets andanimals. Even if you dont have a pet,think and reflect on how you can sharelove with animals.

As you pray today, give thanks for thiscovenant. Pray that the next time yousee a rainbow you will remember theextent of the covenant. Pray that youcan continue to share care with animals

and pets.

Wednesday, October 12Read Isaiah 11:1-9

This story is one that is often read atAdvent. The prophet Isaiah talkedabout a future person who would enterthe world. We know this person asJesus.

This story is a vision for the future.

Whats fascinating is that the visionincludes animals. The vision includesanimals who are conflict with each othersuddenly are at peace with each other.The wolf and lamb shall life downtogether; the calf and the lion will betogether.

Its not an accident that animals arepart of this vision. It matters to Godhow animals relate to each other. Its

as if loving our neighbor as we loveourselves could be extended to howanimals treat each other.

As you pray today, pray for this vision.Pray that we can imagine a futurewhere animals are not enemies orpredators, but instead can livepeacefully with each other.

Thursday, October 13Read Matthew 6:25-26

In this section of the Sermon of theMount Jesus used an animal as anillustration. Its worth noting that Jesusnoted animals.

Jesus statement about animals revealsthe care that God has for animals.Somehow the birds are taken care of by

God. The birds dont sow nor reap norgather food into barns. Yet they are stillfed. God provides for them.

Animals are a significant part of GodsKingdom. God watches out for them;ensures that they are fed; and has aplace for them in Gods care.

As you pray today, praise God for thespecial care that God has for the birds

of the air.

Friday, October 14Read Psalm 148:7-12

Not only are people asked to praiseGod, but animals are too. Look at theverses seven through ten of this Psalm.

Praise the Lord from the earth,You sea monsters and all deeps,Fire and hail, snow and frost,

Stormy wind fulfilling his command!Mountains and all hills,Fruit trees and all cedars!

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Wild animals and all cattle,Creeping things and flying birds!Psalm 147:7-10

Just as God wants a relationship withhumans, God wants a relationship withanimals. Just as God wants the praise ofhumans, God wants the praise of theanimals. Animals are spiritual beingstoo.

Today as you pray, give pray that theanimals of creation can give praise toGod.

Saturday, October 15Read Genesis 1:20-28

Just as humans were created by God,animals were created by God too.When God spoke in verse 20 the watersbrought forth swarms of living creaturesand the birds flew. This is not astatement of history, but instead astatement of theology. God createdevery living creature that moved. WhenGod looked at all of the animals thatwere created God saw that it was good.(Verse 21)

How do you view animals? Do you seethem as part of Gods creation, createdto be good? Or do you see animals asless important than humans.

Today as you pray, pray that you canlook at animals as creations of God.