HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO... Jerry & Cathy Krnotch (10-11-80) and

Joe & Marilyn Salzano (10-17-91)!!!

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DEVOTIONAL - By:  Judy Parker (Adapted) www. wordoflifechurch.com

Jesus Lifts Me Up
 
Last week I truly needed to be lifted.   I couldn't find the

strength to lift myself .  I mistakenly looked within myself,
tried to pull myself out of a pit of self pity that I seemed to be
slipping into and slipped deeper into the pit.  
 
I then looked to friends, for comfort and guidance and
received kind words and advice, but no divine lift, no
elevation to the place I needed to be.   I finally looked to Jesus.
When I can't lift myself He stretches forth His strong hand.
He is the one true friend who can truly transport from
desolation to jubilation.  He takes us from sinking  into a pit of
self pity to soaring into a place of perfect peace.
 
I searched for lifting scriptures and was directed to these two
familiar passages.
     "And he was teaching in one of the
     synagogues on the Sabbath.  And, behold,
     there was a woman which had a spirit of
     infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed
     together, and could in no wise lift up herself.  
     And when Jesus saw her, he called her to
     him, and said unto her, 'Woman, thou art
     loosed from thine infirmity.'  And he laid his
     hands on her: and immediately she was made
     straight, and glorified God. (Luke 13: 10-13)

There is no mention of her calling out to Jesus and asking for
healing, but Jesus saw her and He called her.  He spoke words
of healing, touched her and she was healed and glorified God.
She was lifted up and healed by Jesus and she glorified God.

     "And a certain man lame from his mother's 
     womb was carried, whom they laid daily at
     the gate of the temple which is called
     Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered
     into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John
     about to go into the temple asked an alms.
     And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with
     John, said, 'Look on us.'  And he gave heed
     unto them, expecting to receive something of
     them.  Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold have
     I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the
     name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and
     walk.'   And he took him by the right hand,
     and lifted him up: and immediately his feet
     and ankle bones received strength.  And he
     leaping up stood, and walked, and entered
     with them into the temple, walking, and
     leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:2-7)

In this passage there was a crippled man begging at the gate of
the temple.  He had been lifted up and carried there.  Peter saw
the man, spoke words of healing, touched him, lifted him up
with his right hand and the man, crippled from birth, was
healed.  The man, once crippled, leaped and praised God.

The similarities I found between these two passages went just
a little deeper than seeing, speaking, touching, lifting, healing,
and praising.  These passages were directly related to what I
had experienced trying to lift myself, depending on friends to
lift me, and finally turning to Jesus, the lifter of my head. 

Both of these people needed to be lifted. The lady was in a
place perhaps by choice, (the synagogue) but  she didn't want
to be there as she was , bowed and bent, stooped and in pain,
perhaps in a pit of self pity.   She could not lift herself.
Perhaps she thought she could help herself just by being at the
synagogue.  She didn't call out for help to be lifted, she was
just there slipping deeper into her own pain.

The man was in a place by choice (the gate of the temple).
Friends had carried him there to beg, but he most assuredly
would have preferred to be there  healthy and whole.  He
could not leave there until someone came to carry him.  He
could not lift himself from that place.  His friends thought they
were helping him by carrying him to that place everyday.  The
crippled man was depending on men to lift him from his state
of poverty and desolation. 

We each need to learn where to go to be lifted up.  We cannot
always find the strength within ourselves to lift ourselves.
Even though friends sometime encourage us, there are times
that  all the encouragement in the world from friends cannot
lift us to  the place we truly need to be.  Jesus Christ is our
true transport from desolation to jubilation.  He sees.  He
speaks.  He touches, heals, and lifts us up.
 
There have been times that the Lord has lifted you!  Is your
spirit leaping, praising and glorifying your compassionate
God?
*****************************************************************

***

Teacher:  "Give me a sentence using the words defeat, defense and detail."

Billy:  "Defeat of de dog went over defense before detail."

***

A man was trying on shoes.  The shoe salesman asked how they felt.  The man said,

"A little too tight."  "Try pulling out the tongue a little," suggested the salesman.  The man

replied, "Theyth thill feelth thoo thighth."

***

Knock, knock.

Who's there?

Isabelle.

Isabelle who?

Isabelle necessary on a bicycle?

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              ****** SUNDAY PREVIEW ******
- We welcome you to join us for our 8:30am early service and/or our
     10am Contemporary Worship Service!!!  Bring a loved one!!   

             -  Oak Hill Retirement Home Outreach,11am

- Agape Pantry Collection Day - See Adrienne Lutz for details!

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*** THIS WEEKS AGAPE MEETING CALENDAR ***
***

A jolly jumper for Delvin.  If anyone has one to give or loan MuMu and EhChrist for

Delvin's use please contact Linda Shaff.  Thank You!!

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Interested in learning about Church Membership? Water Baptism?
Baptism in the Holy Spirit? Please see Pastor Mike or Pastor Chip for a
special "Class Signup" card. Dates and times will be announced soon!
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Our Website - (  WWW.AGAPE-ITHACA.ORG  ) CHECK IT OUT !
- NEW PICTURE FILES GALORE - ABC Student Lunch, Sister Anna Meetings,

   Agape Worship Dance & Wedding pictures from Omar Thomas in Jamaica!!!!
- This weeks Bulletin & the Agape Updated OCTOBER Calendar!
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Pastor Chip is looking for people with the heart to serve in
our worship ministry at Agape. We need musicians, Sound Techs,
Transparency workers and Tape/CD ministry volunteers.
Let him know if you're interested! Please keep worship in your prayers!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AGAPE BIBLE CHURCH
264 S.APPLEGATE RD, ITHACA, NY 14850  // phone - 607-273-7419
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GOD BLESS YOU TODAY & ALWAYS !  SEEK HIM FIRST!!!