SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests
Y Richard Zacher (Jennifer Huehns uncle) who was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. Y Kevin Van Meter recovery from a stint put in last week. Keep both Kevin & Pam in your prayers. Y David Schwartz and family (friend of Dianne & George Black) as David is in hospice now. Y Corey Colestock (friend of Lois Peterson) needs a kidney donor with O- blood. Y Nikki Karg (schoolmate of Janna Fitzgerald) recently diagnosed with leukemia. Y Steve Gast (Jennifer & Mike Huehns college friend) was removed from lung transplant list due to a blood transfusion. He is currently at home struggling with affects of cystic fibrosis. Pray for 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 he prepares for hip surgery in late June. Y Joanne Seeman Benick (Jon & Jodi Blacks friend) who has cancer. Y Rocci Norcia (Al Norcias father) cancer has returned and is starting chemo treatments. Y Continue to pray for Cathy Smith who is struggling with mental illness. Y Jenna Undersander (Jennifer & Mike Huehns neighbor) who has pancreas cancer and is receiving chemo. Y Julie Fjeld (Jennifer & Mike Huehns neighbor) who lives with cancer. Y Steven Van Meter (son of Kevin & Pam Van Meter) who is serving our country in Afghanistan.

Y Vern Hermsen (Jerry Hermsens brother, and LaVerne Hermsens husband) who is in a home for Alzheimers. Y Jerry Hermsen was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Y John Thiessen as he lives with cancer. Y Donna McCullen (wife of Ken McCullen) who is suffering from cancer.

DEVOTION
In the sermon this past Sunday Pastor Paul shared a response to the so what question, which is So what that God loves us? He focused on the reality that Jesus is our Savior. He showed what a difference in makes in our lives that we have a Savior. This week in the devotion we have the opportunity to read some passages and stories about what it means to have a Savior. God has intentions for our lives and for the world. These intentions are shared in the Scriptures. These intentions start at the beginning of the Bible and end in the last story of the Bible. The following passages give us a glimpse of what it means for us to have a Savior. Enjoy! Comments about the devotion can be E-mailed to pastor@colpres.org Monday, June 17 Read John 4:27-30, 39-42 The so what impact to this story happened at the end. The Samaritans in this village were interested in Jesus because the woman shared her story. Jesus came to stay with them for two days. At the very end they said this: It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for

2
ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world. How amazing that the Samaritans came to see Jesus as their savior. You and I need a savior. Primarily our need comes because we cant save ourselves. Despite all of the ways we try to set up protection systems for our lives, we are still vulnerable. Sometimes things happen over which we have no control. We cant save ourselves. Jesus is willing to be our Savior. When we acknowledge Jesus as our Savior we are acknowledging that we cant save ourselves. As you pray today commit or recommit yourself to saying that Jesus is your Savior. Prayer: Lord Jesus I acknowledge that you are my Savior. I cant save myself I need you. Help me to be secure that I have given myself to you. Tuesday, June 18 Read Genesis 1:26-31 This story from Genesis shares Gods intentions for our lives and for our world. At the end of the day that God created humans he looked over what had happened and declared that everything was very good. God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. Genesis 1:31 Gods intentions are the start of how we understand what God wants in the world. God doesnt want for us to suffer or to be at war; God has no desire for us to suffer from anxiety, or for much of the world to wonder where they will get their next meal. At the beginning God looked over the world and saw that it was very good.

3
We are called to believe that the world is very good. This is the original state of creation. Prayer: There is much in the world that can be depressing. Dont let me focus on that. Help me to see the world through the lens of your intentions for it. Help me to see it as good. Wednesday, June 19 Read Genesis 3:1-7 Gods good intentions were marred by sinfulness. Adam and Eve were told they could eat of any fruit of any tree in the garden except the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. Unfortunately they chose their own way and defied God. One definition of sin is doing what we want to do no matter what God wants. We become the focus of what we do instead of God being the focus. The results of this self-centeredness are disastrous. Just take a look at the world and we can see the results. We can take steps towards creating a different type of world. Our task is ourselves. Can we open ourselves up to doing what God wants with us. Can we say to God, not my way but your way. Use me for what you want. When we step out of our own self and see what God wants we can take steps towards creating the type of world that God wants. Prayer: I dont want to be controlled by sin. Help me live my life according to your way and not my way. Use me for what you want. Thursday, June 20

4
Read Exodus 14:26-31 Salvation is not only a New Testament idea. This story from Exodus is a classic story of salvation. God saved the Israelitesthey didnt create their salvation. God did. One way to think of salvation is when God delivers someone or a group of people from a situation that literally seems hopeless. The Israelites were in such a situation in this story. The sea was on one side of them and the rushing armies of Pharaoh were on the other side. There seemed to be no way out. Accept there is always a way out with God. God rescued or delivered the people. God is willing to do the same for us. To say that we have a Savior is saying that there is always a way out of any situation that we find ourselves. God can help us find a way out. Prayer: Thank you for always giving me a way out of any situation that I find myself. Never let me give up hope on anything. You are my Savior!

Friday, June 21 Read Amos 5:14-15, 24 Having a Savior is more than a personal relationship with God. God has intentions for our world too. Here in Amos God shared the divine intentions for the world. God wants: justice [to] roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24 God wants this justice and righteousness to take place on earth. God executes this justice and righteousness through us.

2
This past Sunday Pastor Paul shared a story of women being exploited in the world. Its wrong and not consistent with what God wants to see in creation. What breaks your heart in the world? God might be calling you to a ministry of justice and righteousness. Pray over it! Prayer: You might just be calling me to a ministry of justice and righteousness. Help me identify what breaks my heart. Then show me what to do to make a change. Saturday, June 22 Read Revelation 22:1-5 This story is the bookend to the Bible. Just as the Bible began in a garden it ends in the garden. In the garden there is no darkness. People can see God and they are worshipping God. Unlike other places in the Scripture people can see Gods face. There is no need for night as God is the light. This is an awesome story that can cause us to get down on our knees and say thank you. Prayer: Thank you for this vision at the end of the Bible. May I give my life towards seeing your vision accomplished in the world.