SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SATURDAY, MARCH 5
NEWS: Tomorrow is the First Sunday in Lent. We’ll start off with Pastor Joel leading our 9 AM Bible study, talking about the miracles of Jesus and what they mean to our lives. Our worship follows at 10 and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon will be, “No Ifs.” We’ll have our fellowship time afterwards with coffee and goodies. After that we will gather at the Oceanside Bakery on Mission and El Camino Real, right near the Pit Stop. Take it from us: Oceanside Bakery is GREAT! Not only do they have baked goods, they have awesome breakfast items, plus salads and sandwiches for lunch. Join in for the good coffee items there too!
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Tom and Gloria Morofski. They give thanks for restored communications with their son, which had fallen off for a number of years. We also pray for Pastor Joel and his family, that they can be living together soon in their new home and for strength in the time they are still living in separate locations.
READINGS: Psalm 12:1-6; Psalm 14; Psalm 51; Genesis 3:1-24; Mark 2:1-17
DEVOTION:
“SUFFERING”
ohn, calling two of His disciples to Him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?” … And He answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by Me.” (Luke 7:18b-19, 22-23)
There was John, shut up in prison, soon to be killed. He hears about what Jesus is doing—healing the blind and the lame and the lepers, raising the dead, preaching to the poor. John recognizes that Jesus is fulfilling the many prophecies of Isaiah about what the Messiah would do.
But what about Isaiah 61:1? Will Jesus also “proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”? Will Jesus set John free from prison? Why has He waited so long already?
Jesus’ heart goes out to John. He knows what John is suffering, and how hard it is on John’s faith. But He also knows that John’s suffering is a preview of Jesus’ own. Both John and Jesus are arrested, suffer, and ultimately die. It is not part of God’s plan to rescue either of them in this world.
God has bigger plans. God intends to use Jesus’ suffering to redeem, not just Israel, but all the people in the entire world. God the Father will not rescue Jesus from death; instead, He will resurrect Him—and share that everlasting life with everyone who trusts in Jesus.
And what of our own suffering? That, too, we trust to the Father. He knows; He cares. We can trust Him to do what’s best, even when we can’t figure out what that is.
THE PRAYER: Father, when I suffer, help me to trust You to end it in the right time and way. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Name a time you have suffered. How long was it? How did it end?
* What effect did the suffering have on your faith in God?
* How did Jesus care for you during this time?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Leviticus 19-20 Mark 9:30-50
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 can go about your day 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.”
You can now go to bed 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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
