SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20
THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: Today, “Pastor Joel” leads our Bible study at 9:00 AM and our worship service at 10. The title of his sermon is, “Who or What Is My Enemy.” Also, Margie Latall will do “Bible Buddies” after Pastor Joel’s children’s message. Follow her and Mrs. Finley to our Fellowship Hall. After our service, please join us for our fellowship time with coffee and other goodies outside! We pray all of you can join us as it’s good to spend at least one hour out of the week, worshipping our Savior and being with our fellow brothers/sisters in Christ. For anyone unable to attend, we do stream our service live on our Facebook page. The link is below under Other Resources. Others who are assisting our worship experience today are:
Altar Flowers: Darryl Finley
Greeter: OPEN (will you volunteer?)
Acolyte: OPEN (will you volunteer?)
Ushers: ? (we lost the signup sheet! Let us know if you are ushering)
Reader: Allen Latall
Communion Assistant: Allen Latall
Fellowship: The Folkman’s
Our sign-up sheet is misplaced so if you signed up or can help it is/would be greatly appreciated!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for David Clem.
COLLECT FOR TODAY: O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you, mercifully grant that by your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 16:1, 4-6, 9-11; Psalm 90; Job 15:1-23, 30-35; John 6:60-71
DIGGING DEEPER: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18; Psalm 119:33-40; 1 Corinthians 3:10-23; Matthew 5:38-48
Alleluia. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
“My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker”
“My soul, now praise your Maker! Let all within me bless His Name, Who makes you full partaker of mercies more than you dare claim. Forget Him not whose meekness still bears with all your sin, Who heals your ev’ry weakness, renews your life within; Whose grace and care are endless and saved you through the past; Who leaves no suff’rer friendless but rights the wronged at last.”
In case we are feeling prideful—and often enough we do feel that way—our hymn puts us in our place right from the start. God is our Creator. We are created beings called to praise our Maker and bless His holy Name. He has shown more mercy to us than we dare claim because, as fallen, sinful creatures, we know it is not mercy we deserve, but death and eternal separation from God.
Although we deserve no mercy, our merciful God took on human flesh and was born among us to save us. In meekness, Jesus our Savior was born in Bethlehem. In meekness, He bore our sins in His body on the cross, humbly taking onto Himself the penalty of death for those sins. Raised up from death to reign in exalted majesty, our Lord still deals with us in meekness and patience. He bears with all our sins, knowing our fallen weakness. He “knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). Eager to heal and forgive, He calls us to repentance through the Word.
We are made new in Christ, but as created beings, our view of life is still limited. We know only past and present circumstances, even though we may be filled with dreams and plans for an unseen future. Our Maker’s vision is without limit: past and future are eternally present to Him. He cared for us through the past, in ways we know and in ways that we, in this earthly life, may never recognize. His grace and care are endless, extending into a future that for us remains unseen.
For now, we see pain and suffering all around us. Countless brothers and sisters in Christ are persecuted for their faith; they are wronged in so many ways. They may suffer exile, imprisonment, or death. We wonder at the apparent success of the wicked, who “are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind … they say, ‘How can God know?'” (Psalm 73:5, 11a). But God knows and, as our hymn reminds us, the day will come when all wrongs are put right. We do not often speak of it, perhaps for fear of appearing unforgiving or vengeful. But revenge is not our task. God cares for His own and when Jesus returns, all will be put right. Death will be destroyed and all sorrow and suffering will be banished forever. For all eternity we will praise our Maker and, in His presence, bless His holy Name.
THE PRAYER: My Lord and Maker, keep me in Your care, now and forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, “My Soul, Now Praise Your Maker,” which is number 820 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. How hard do you think it is for God to love us, knowing how we will sin in the future?
2. Why would God who made the stars, galaxies, and the planets be concerned with you and me?
3. Do you think we will notice the passing of time in eternity?
Today’s Bible Readings: Exodus 31-33 Mark 3:1-19
To Download Devotion MP3 to your computer, right click here and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As” or “Download Linked File As”
Luther’s Morning Prayer
In the morning, as soon as you get out of bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask you that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
After singing a hymn or whatever else may serve your devotion, you are to go to your work joyfully.
Luther’s Evening Prayer
In the evening, when you go to bed, you are to make the Sign of the Cross and say:
“God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.”
Then, kneeling or standing, say the Apostles’ Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In addition recite this prayer as well:
“I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously to protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.”
Then you are to go to sleep quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutheran Hour Ministries: https://www.lhm.org/
Lutheran Public Radio is listener supported and has two channels, one for sacred music and the other for talk, including news, current issues, politics and spiritual matters from a Lutheran perspective. Hosted by Pastor Todd Wilken, Issues, Etc. airs live Monday thru Friday from 1 to 3 pm Pacific, with the “Best Of” running at other hours: https://lutheranpublicradio.org/
KFUO is the listener supported radio station owned and operated by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Based in St. Louis, their format consists of teaching, preaching, ministry and sacred music: https://www.kfuo.org/
A very blessed Lord’s Day and Sunday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
