Hidden and Presumptuous Sins
"But who can discern his errors. Clear thou me from hidden faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!" Psalms 19:12,13a
The Psalmist knew himself well, perhaps better than we know ourselves. He asked God to clear him from his hidden faults. From whom were these faults hidden? Certainly not from God, although we wish and often act as if they were. Perhaps from other people, though we are painfully aware from time to time that others know us better than we would like to think. Perhaps our faults are most often hidden from ourselves. Satan often uses our arrogance to keep them hidden from us. Having us believe we know what is best for us, others, and His church.
One translation of this verse says, "How can I ever know what sins are lurking in my heart?" The Bible elsewhere speaks specifically and emphatically about the evil in our hearts. The more we come to know ourselves, the more we discover that our outward actions often originate from motives tucked away in the recesses of our hearts. It is no wonder that the Psalmist asks God to do whatever is required in order to cleanse him from his hidden motives.
He then asks God to restrain him from committing presumptuous sins. Here he admits that he willfully and deliberately does what he knows to be wrong. Furthermore, he realizes that if he indulges himself in these intentional sins they will come to have an addictive dominion over him, and he will become enslaved by them. Paul gives testimony to this in Romans 7. "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate ... I can will what is right but I cannot do it. The evil I do not want is what I do."
Perhaps there is a direct cause and effect connection implied here between the motivating power of hidden sins and the dominating power of presumptuous sins. What we do not yet suspect about ourselves may be the reason behind behavior that contradicts our Christian profession. The weeks of Lent provide an ideal time to join the psalmist in asking a loving God to bring to the surface those things which, although hidden to us, are still governing our outward behavior.
Search me, 0 God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Psalms 139:23,2
4
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OUR STEWARDSHIP OF HIS RESOURCES
District Mission Support Trends
2014 2015 2016
Total Budget
$1,100,000 $900,000 $ 900,000
Budgeted Income $183,333 $150,000
$ 150,000
through 2/29
Actual Income $ 159,113 $ 139,133 $ 112,352
through 2/29
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DATES FOR 2016
| March 20 6 PM |
Ordination and Installation of David Gieseking |
Living Water Lutheran Mexico Beach, FL |
| April 23 9AM-1PM |
Outreach Workshop |
St. Matthew Lutheran Lake Charles, LA |
| April 22, 23, & 24 |
LA-MS District LWML Convention |
Houma, LA |
| April 29, 30 & May 1, 2016 |
Gulf States District LWML Convention |
Courtyard by Marriott, Gulfport, MS |
| June 4 9AM-1PM |
Outreach Workshop |
Church of the Pines Waveland, MS |
July 9-14, 2016
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66th Synod Convention Upon This Rock: Repent, Confess, Rejoice Matthew 16:18 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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| IN TRANSITION: CALLING CONGREGATIONS Trinity - Gadsden, AL Christ the King - Natchitoches, LA St. Stephen - New Orleans, LA Lamb of God - Slidell, LA Trinity - Panama City, FL St. Paul's - Decatur, AL Immanuel - Bossier City, LA Ascension - Daphne, AL |
| LUTHERAN MINISTRIES OF ALABAMA ***ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ALABAMA CONGREGATIONS*** If your congregation has intentions of providing mission outreach mentoring in a summer educational program for youth and would like to see if you qualify for an ENRICH grant from Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, please make your intentions known between January 15th and March 15th. You may contact Mel Brackman at brackmanme@aol.com or Heather Turney at TurneyHL-SVLC@att.net. Once intentions are known, you will be sent a copy of the grant policies as the next step in order to submit a proposal. Proposals are to be submitted no later than April 15th for consideration. Notification of acceptance will depend on monies available and the scope of the project submitted. Lutheran Ministries of Alabama |
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Outreach Workshops
Scheduled on the following dates:
April 23, St. Matthew Lutheran Church - Lake Charles, LA 9 AM - 1 PM
June 4, Church of the Pines - Waveland, MS 9 AM - 1 PM
Workshop cost is $5 per person for lunch. All other materials are provided free of charge. Contact Rev. Eric Johnson (985.796.7175) for details.
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| LWML LA - MS DISTRICT CONVENTION
Save the Date for the LA-MS District LWML 2016 Convention!
Houma,Louisiana
April 22, April 23, & April 24,2016
Hosted by the
New Orleans Zone
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!
*** We are recruiting volunteers to assist
on Friday
and throughout the day
on Saturday
with registration, stuffing bags and assistance with meals, set-up/break down and other areas of need.
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LWML GULF STATES DISTRICT CONVENTION
The LWML Ladies of the Magnolia Zone will be hosting the
36th Biennial LWML Gulf States
District convention on April 29,30, & May 1, 2016 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Gulfport, MS. The theme is "Direct my footsteps according to your " Psalm 119:133
Ginny Hermetz of Gulfport is serving as Convention Chairman, Canaan Herkamp as Registrar, and Ellen Garnett, Treasurer.
Rev. Rudy Schaser, director of 'With God's Little Ones", is the keynote mission speaker. Jan Struck, Humorous Interrupter with "Struck with Laughter" will also be part of the program.
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~ CALLED TO SERVE ~
Rev. Matthew Troester - Trinity, Gadsden, AL - Pending
Rev. James Krach - Panama City, FL - Pending
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2016 LCMS National Youth Gathering -- In Christ Alone
July 16-20, 2016
2016 will come more quickly than any of us realize! Be watching for important information regarding this opportunity for the Southern District Youth to come together with others as a community of God's people!
For additional information contact DCE Curtis Wiese -- Good Shepherd - Shalimar, FL, email: familylifeminister@gslcshalimar.org cell: 785-220-1512.
DCE Curtis is serving as the NYG Southern District Coordinator.
You may also go to the Southern District web site at www.southernlcms.org or
LCMS at www.lcms.org for more information.
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| ANCHORS AWEIGH! -- A DOLPHIN CRUISE  Baton Rouge Lutheran School On Saturday, April 9, Baton Rouge Lutheran School, 10925 Florida Blvd., will hold their 12th Annual Auction Extravaganza. To purchase tickets, go to www.brlutheranschool.org. Reservations are due by March 21st. |
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|  36th ANNUAL JOY SPRING AUCTION On Wednesday, March 9, 2016, JOY Bible Study Quilters will host their annual auction at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Slidell, LA. The main items up for auction are the many and varied quilts the group creates, also crafts, home baked goods, plants, vintage items, and more! Doors open at 9:00 AM with a complimentary lunch at 12:30, and closing at approximately 3:00 PM. Proceeds go to Slidell Community Christian Concern, National Alliance for Mental Illness, STARC and Mt. Olive Feeding Ministry. Join JOY for a great time, a chance at owning a one-of-a-kind quilt, and for the opportunity of supporting these wonderful causes! |
 RIVER OF LIFE VBS CURRICULUM
Looking for a fun, affordable, and Lutheran VBS program?
Check out "River of Life" from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, a week-long VBS curriculum highlighting five favorite Bible stories featuring water: creation, Noah and the ark, the crossing of the Red Sea, Jonah and the baptism of Jesus. The curriculum uses craft materials most churches have readily available, and best of all, the program is entirely reproducible - use it again in future years! Just $125 to purchase; preview at
www.lhfmissions.org/riveroflife
. Call LHF at
(800)554-0723
for more information.
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WE LIFT UP IN PRAYER. . .
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;..."
John 11:25 (NIV)
These brothers and sisters in Christ coping with cancer:
Rev. Jerry Conley (Emeritus - Marianna, FL)
Rev. Jack Betz (Emeritus - Miramar Beach, FL)
Mrs. Gloria Moritz, widow of Rev. Victor Moritz (Emeritus - Metairie, LA)
Rev. Sidney Ponseti (Emeritus - Baton Rouge, LA)
Rev. Ed Rogers (Emeritus - Ozark, AL)
Mrs. Doris Taglauer, wife of Rev. Jim Taglauer (Emeritus - Folsom, LA)
These brothers and sisters in Christ coping with various health issues:
- Mrs. Melodie Rupp, wife of Rev. Bob Rupp (Emeritus - Pensacola, FL)
- Mrs. Rosemary Hollibaugh, mother of Rev. Karl Hollibaugh (Lamb of God - Slidell, LA)
- Mrs. June Ring, mother of Rev. Marcus Ring (St. Paul - Shreveport, LA)
- Rev. Rev. Michael Shannon (Faith - Shreveport, LA)
- Rev. Rory Hermann (Good Shepherd - Gulf Breeze, FL)
- Rev. Brandon Simoneaux (Christ Our Savior - Harvey, LA)
- Mrs. Agnes Belknap, wife of Rev. Bob Belknap (Zion - New Orleans, LA)
- Rev. Dr. James P. Brown (Emeritus - Pensacola, FL)
- Dr. J. B. Marshall (Concordia College Alabama Board of Regents member)
- Rev. Dr. Edgar Homrighausen (Emeritus - Lacombe, LA)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed. Thessalonians 2: 16-17
(NIV)
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FYI - -
Don't forget to submit your Congregational Mission Pledges to the Southern District! Also, please send the updated form of newly elected Congregational Officers to the Southern District Office! We keep updated information for use in our communications to congregations, so it's very important that the information is correct.
Click here to go to linkClick here for link Click here for link |
| HOLY WEEK AT LIVING WATER CHURCH AT THE BEACH Living Water Church, 1602 Hwy 98, Mexico Beach, FL, invites all to attend their Holy Week Services and activities. Palm Sunday, Mar. 20 Worship on the Beach at Sunset Park - 8:00 AM Sunset Ordination and Installation Service for David Gieseking at Sunset Park - 6:00 PM 
Maundy Thursday, Mar. 24 Service at Living Water Church - 6:00 PM Easter Sunday, Mar. 27 Easter Worship on the Beach at Sunset Park - 8:00 AM with Communion and Butterfly Release Easter Breakfast and Egg Hunt at Living Water Church - 10 AM |
ANCHORS AWAY!!
Time to hold your cabin on the next Southern District Cruise ~ Jan. 30, 2017!!
Thank you to all who were graciously patient as the cruise was switched from the 7 Day Cruise to a 5 Day Cruise.
If you are not currently registered for the 5 day cruise, please register ASAP at this secure link mcgcruise.com/SDLCMS5night.
Please remember that the ship is controlled by capacity, so register now to assure a cabin. Also, remember that a single person can share a cabin with another. Just let Ginger know if you are interested in a cabin mate.
Ginger Kramp is happy to assist with any and all questions.
You may contact Ginger with questions at ginger@mcgeheecruise.com or
618-662-2117.
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2016 HEARTLAND DCE CONFERENCE
DCEs and other parish professionals who are interested in enhancing the intentionality and effectiveness of Christian education in the church are invited to attend the 2016 Heartland DCE Conference at Concordia University, Nebraska from May 19-21. Keynote speakers include Dr. Thom Rainer, Thom and Joani Schultz and Dr. Phil Schwadel. Registration is $100. Go to www.cune.edu/heartlandDCE for more information.
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THE GIFT OF GENEROSITY-Electronic Giving
A definition of generous includes this phrase:
Freely sharing valuable things.
Freely sharing
. . .no strings attached. . .no tit for tat. . .nothing expected in return.
Valuable things: your child. What is more valuable than a life of someone you love beyond measure? As we reflect on this message, remember
Those Who Don't Yet Know Jesus. Your continued support for the mission and ministry of the Southern District is requested.
If you need a convenient way to make regular offerings, we encourage you to look into our electronic online giving options.
Visit
here or contact Ronnie Giaise
at the Southern District office for more information --- r.giaise@southernlcms.org.
Illustration by Patti Miller, Member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fairhope, Alabama.
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