St. John's Lutheran Church

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​Prayer Ventures: Daily Prayer from the ELCA





​Meditations from Carol Dean Henn​

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2/3/2018

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Read Now
 
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Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.                                                                          Matthew 6:10
    We humans like the feeling of being in control.  Some even proudly describe themselves as ‘control freaks.’  But many Bible passages tell us to let go, to relinquish that desire to control.  Wait—isn’t control a good thing?  Aren’t we supposed to control our tongues and our tempers, our finances and our behavior?  Well, perhaps ‘manage’ would be a better word.  ‘Control’ too often means controlling others—other people and other nations.  Again and again, world powers have carved up weaker countries and territories in order to control their natural resources and their people.  Legislators try to control how much health care we can get, whom we can love and marry, and what we can do to our bodies.
​    Individuals try to control others through guilt (“If you move away from home, I just know my heart will give out”), threats (“You’ll do what I tell you to do or you’re fired”) or money (“If you marry that woman, you’re out of my will!”)  Managing our lives is fine.  Control is best left to God.  “Thy will be done, Lord.  Keep me from the temptation to control others, and from the illusion thatmy will is wiser than yours.”

©Carol Dean Henn, 2018

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    Author

    Carol Dean Henn of St. John’s Windish Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, PA

 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
715 Lincoln Highway
North Versailles, PA 15137-2027
[email protected]
​​412-824-0277
Office Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00am-2:00pm
Sunday Schedule:
Sunday School for all ages at 9:30am
Worship at 10:45am​
​Coffee Fellowship at 12pm
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​© 2025 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, North Versailles, PA
A Reconciling in Christ Congregation
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Welcome and Mission Statements
    • History
    • Staff & Council
    • Bios >
      • Pastor Kimberly Greway
    • Life Events >
      • Wedding Policy
      • Funeral Policy
    • Committees
    • Land Acknowledgement
  • Worship
    • Worship Details
    • What to Expect
    • Prayground
    • Music at St. John's
    • Prayer and Devotional Resources
    • Young Disciples' Messages
    • Sermon Extras >
      • Feast of the Annunciation 2023
      • Reformation Sunday Oct 2022
      • Third Sunday in Advent, Dec. 2022
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
    • Women of the ELCA
    • Committees
  • News
    • Newsletters
    • Stewardship message
  • Education
    • Sunday School for Children and Youth
    • Confirmation
    • Coffee and Conversations (Adult Sunday School)
  • St. John's Cares
    • MA's Pantry
    • St. Afterschool
    • Lutheran World Relief
    • Meals on Wheels
    • Counseling Center
    • Community Meetings
  • Photo Gallery
  • Forms
    • Forms >
      • Prayer Request Form
      • Altar Flowers Order Form
  • Contact Us
    • Contact & Location
    • Communication Contacts