Tomorrow Tri-State starts...the excitement, the passion, the fun. For 52 years Immanuel has had the opportunity to host this wonderful tournament. What a blessing.

Think about that...52 years of volunteers, 52 years of Coaches, 52 years of participants, 52 years of parents supporting such a wonderful event. Where are they now? What do they remember?

As we approach this weekend and all of its excitement and stress, we should ask ourselves, "Who do we get to serve?" We have so many opportunities this weekend to serve God by serving each other. An encouraging word, clapping for the other team when they make a good play, pitching in and helping out.

Confessing, "I am Yours, save me" gives us this opportunity.

So what opportunity of service are you going to take? What is God going to do through you that will be remembered 52 years from now?

Wednesday

February 26, 2014

Psalm 119: 94 "I am Your, Save me, for I have sought Your precepts."

What is a precept? This is one of those Biblical words that we hardly ever use in our normal day to day speech. It is also difficult in translation from Hebrew into English. The root Hebrew word פָּקַד is one of the most difficult words to translate in the Hebrew text. Pronounce 'pa-kad,' this word is quit perplexing. Its construct in Psalm 119: 94 is פִּקּוּדִים. The root means to attend to, visit, muster, appoint. When I googled the word 'precept' I was given this definition "a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought."

I do not like that definition at all. I don't like it because it simply does not reveal what this Hebrew word means and why it is used in this text. I mean look at verse 93

I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.

By them (His precepts) You have given me life. That does not sound like something that is regulating my behavior in a moralistic way. It sounds like a parent who knows what is best for a child and what will keep them alive and gives a child what they need to live.

So, are you seeking these things? Are you looking at God's "precepts" as oppressive, or are you seeing that they give life?

Brackets Update

February 26, 2014

Tuesday

February 25, 2014

I am Yours...

This simple verse from Psalm 119:94 is no so simple in its confession. If we confuse this statement with that of our sometimes romantic thoughts in relationships, we misunderstand what this confession is actually professing.

In relationships, we may say I am yours, but if we examine our lives we know that there are times when the decisions we make are not always for the sake of the other person. We may say, I am yours, but when we want something for ourselves, we may not live by the "I am yours" confession. We may say something like, "I am yours, but I really want..."

In our relationship with God, however we confess, "I am yours" with a connecting statement..."Save me." It is not easy to live as though we are God's servants. However, we also know that through Christ, we are saved and forgiven. This is not an exemption to being God's, but it is a truism of our life. We are at once God's, and we pray for Him to save us when we fail.

So, what does it mean for us to confess, "I am Yours." Being God's servant, His hands in this creation, what is God calling you to be. Who is He calling you to forgive. What is He saving you to do?

Monday

February 24, 2014

Its Monday of Tri-State week and my goodness what a busy week. Thank God for all of the volunteers who kick in so much for the success of wonderful weekends like this.

The thought for Monday is this. What is God saving you from and for?

One of the things that gets lost in the joy of being saved from something, is what am I now saved to do (for). In working with Soldiers, this is one of the most difficult things to get survivors to understand and believe. They want to focus on the event that they survived, and this for a multitude of reasons. Most of the time its survivors guilt..."Why me?" Sometimes its because the event survived becomes almost like a craving for drugs, they crave the adrenaline rush of the event.

Our traumatic events can cause us to be stagnant in the event also. They can cause us to loose trust and never reach out in faith. They can cause us to be gun shy of taking a chance. They can hold us back when we get so focused on what we have been saved from and fail to look at what we can now do.

So, what event are you hanging on to and focusing too much on the fact that you were saved from it and not enough on what you have been now given to do?

Tri-State Tournament Volunteers

February 22, 2014 JSheppard@ourgodwithus.com

Volunteers are still needed to help with Admissions, Stats, and Scoreboard Operation for Tri-State (particularly at St. Joe's on Saturday March 1st). Please call the number below for more information on times and rolls. Morning spots shouldn't miss any of the Lancer Girl's games and the afternoon spots shouldn't miss any of the Lancer Boy's games.

Jared Sheppard 630-643-7437

2014 Brackets

February 20, 2014

Click on the image below for both the Boys and Girls Brackets.

Be sure to come back to the Tri-State feed for updates on scores, announcements, and encouragement.

2/18/14: STATE Basketball Play-In Games Announced

February 18, 2014 JSheppard@ourgodwithus.com

?The ILS Boys will be playing St. John's of Country Club Hills @ 5:45pm @ St. John's Lombard.

The ILS Girls will be playing Immanuel Elmhurst @ 7:00pm. Please come out and show your support for the kids who have worked so hard all season.

Thanks and God Bless, Jared Sheppard Freeport ILS AD 630-643-7437

2/18/14: STATE Basketball Play-In Games Announced

February 18, 2014 JSheppard@ourgodwithus.com

The ILS Boys will be playing St. John's of Country Club Hills @ 5:45pm @ St. John's Lombard. The ILS Girls will be playing Immanuel Elmhurst @ 7:00pm. Please come out and show your support for the kids who have worked so hard all season!

St. John’s Lutheran School 220 S. Lincoln Lombard, Illinois 60148

Thanks and God Bless, Jared Sheppard Freeport ILS AD 630-643-7437