SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests
Kevin Van Meter had a stint put in on Monday due to a heart attack over the weekend. Keep both Kevin & Pam in your prayers. David Schwartz and family (friend of Dianne & George Black) as Davis is in hospice now. Corey Colestock (friend of Lois Peterson) needs a kidney donor with O- blood. Nikki Karg (schoolmate of Janna Fitzgerald) recently diagnosed with leukemia. Steve Gast (Jennifer & Mike Huehns college friend) as he awaits a lung transplant for his cystic fibrosis complications. He is currently at home and only has a few weeks to wait. Pray for strength, patience and Gods will. Bobbie Pearson (friend of Gloria Ivers) who has a new tumor and more cancer. John Fagerland (Amy Moores dad) as he struggles with hip and knee pain and is seeking the best medical treatment plan. Joanne Seeman Benick (Jon & Jodi Blacks friend) who has cancer. Rocci Norcia (Al Norcias father) cancer has returned and is starting chemo treatments. Continue to pray for Cathy Smith who is struggling with mental illness. Jenna Undersander (Jennifer & Mike Huehns neighbor) who has pancreas cancer and is receiving chemo. Julie Fjeld ((Jennifer & Mike Huehns neighbor) who lives with cancer. Steven Van Meter (son of Kevin & Pam Van Meter) who is serving our country in Afghanistan. Vern Hermsen (Jerry Hermsens brother, and LaVerne Hermsens husband) who is in a home for Alzheimers. Jerry Hermsen was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen) who is suffering from cancer.

DEVOTION
This past Sunday Pastor Paul shared the second week of a three week sermon series called CORE. The aim of this series is for each of us to know at our core that God loves us to such an extent that we are willing 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, The Woman at the Well. Each week were going to study this story in the devotion. In his sermon on Sunday Pastor Paul shared that we 1) often look for security in unhealthy places and 2) we dont always share our complete selves with God. This prevents us from experiencing the fullness of Gods love or Living Water. In the devotion this week were going to look at this story through the lens of these two points. Enjoy! Comments about the devotion can be Emailed to [email protected] Monday, June 10 Read John 4:1-6 These six verses set up the story. These verses infer that the Pharisees were not happy that people were being baptized. How ironic that the religious leaders were upset that people were going deeper with God! In his ministry Jesus wasnt ready to confront the Pharisees. He had other work to do. The timing wasnt right. Jesus was secure enough in himself that he didnt need to confront the Phariseeseven though they were wrong about what was happening. He didnt need to provoke a fight and be right. He is an example for us. Prayer: Help me secure enough in you and myself that I dont always have to be right. Give me the wisdom that Jesus had to know when is the right time to illustrate the truth.

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Tuesday, June 11 Read John 4:7-15 After Jesus told the woman to give him a drink, she immediately identified what separated her from Jesus. She was a woman; he was a man. She was a Samaritan; he was a Jew. She didnt say this but we know that she had been married and Jesus had not been married. Gods love is a quality that encourages us to find what unites us with others. When we come across someone, God doesnt want us to look for that which separates us, but instead look for that which unites us. How easy it is to judge another person because we think that person is quite different from us. Our focus on the differences leads us to separate ourselves from the person. As you encounter people in the next 24 hours look for the qualities that unite you with the person. Be aware of the connections and not the divisions. As you look for the connections do not be afraid to acknowledge that Gods love is your motivation. You look for connections because Gods love is spilling out of you. Prayer: Help me find connections and not divisions with people. May your love inspire me! Wednesday, June 12 Read John 4:16-26 Jesus knew a lot about the woman even though she didnt know about Jesus knowledge. When Jesus mentioned that she had five husbands and the man she was with was not her husband, she could see that he was a prophet. Read closely Jesus response to the woman. In his words he didnt judge her; instead he identified her situation. The story doesnt tell us why she had five different husbandsit lets the reader wonder. The important point is not to judge the woman, but instead to see that she couldnt hide from Jesus.

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You and I cant hide from God. Jesus knows every part of us and still loves us deeply. However at times we try to hide parts of ourselves from God. This hiding can prevent us from receiving the fullness of Gods love. Take some time to reflect on whether there are parts of your life that you are hiding from God. Do they prevent you from receiving the fullness of Gods love? Prayer: You love me without conditions. Thank you. Dont let me try to hide any part of myself from you. Thursday, June 13 Read John 4:27-30 The narrator in the story identified two questions that the disciples had when they came upon Jesus and the Samaritan woman. The disciples had gone to a local village to find food. Whats surprising is they didnt ask these qu estions of Jesus, but instead kept the questions to themselves. Who knows why they kept silent. Perhaps they were trying to be polite. However by keeping the questions to themselves they were hiding from God. They didnt trust Jesus enough to share of themselves completely. Do you have some questions for God that you dont ask? Do you trust God enough to ask 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 I have a question that I havent asked you, give me the courage to ask you. Friday, June 14 Read John 4:31-38 In these verses the disciples were focused on a physical reality while Jesus was focused on a spiritual reality. God wants us to be involved in the world, but God wants us to find our ultimate security in our spiritual reality.

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Would you rather be wealthy and have a good job while being far from God or poor and unemployed but enjoying the blessings of God? What is the source of your security? Prayer: Let me be secure in the spiritual blessings of your love. Help me be aware of how Im surrounded by your love. Saturday, June 15 Read John 4:39-42 The woman had been set free when Jesus identified that she had five husbands. How ironic!! Often when unfavorable information comes to the light we are embarrassed or ashamed. The woman wasnt either of these. She was empowered. She no longer had anything to hide. She was free! Are you hiding something from God? God can see every part of you and knows every part of you, but are you sharing every part of yourself with God. By sharing all of ourselves we can find freedomjust as the woman did. Prayer: The woman was free in this story. Wow! Id like to experience that freedom too. Give me the confidence to share every part of myself with you.