SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, MARCH 28
NEWS: Yesterday was a beautiful day in God’s house and outside too!. We had 43 in attendance. This week we have our midweek Potluck and Lenten service Wednesday eve. Food is at 6:15 PM and our service is at 7.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Theodora Elias.
READINGS: Psalm 3; Psalm 7; Psalm 130; Genesis 42:1-34, 38; Mark 12:1-12
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“SUFFERING”
[Jesus said to the disciples], “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” … And being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow … (Luke 22:40b-42, 44-45)
It hurts to see someone you love suffering. The disciples saw enough of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane to pass on to us this description. Then they apparently fell asleep. It sounds strange—how could they do that?—but I’ve seen other people react that way. They go to sleep to shut out the suffering they cannot bear.
What a good thing it is for us that Jesus never shuts us out. No matter what kind of suffering we are having, He is there for us. He is paying attention, holding us up, getting us through it—even when we cannot sense His presence, and it feels like God doesn’t care. He has promised not to leave us, and He knows all too well what it feels like to be abandoned during suffering.
In Gethsemane, Jesus did what any man does in great pain and grief. He brought His friends with Him, though they were of little use. And then He turned to God. He cried out to God, praying with His whole heart. We can do this too, knowing that the God we cry out to loves us enough to live among us as one of us, carrying our sin and suffering—dying—and then, almost past hope, rising again. He is our hope.
THE PRAYER: Lord, You know my suffering. Please help me. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Would you rather suffer or watch others suffer? Why?
* What point in your life felt like Gethsemane to you?
* How did the Lord care for you at that time?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Deuteronomy 11-13 Luke 4:31-44
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us.
