SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
Psalm 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!
NEWS: This morning we gather in God’s house for Bible study and worship. At 9 AM Pastor Joel continues to lead us in our study of the Lord’s prayer. That’s in our sanctuary and includes readings from Luther’s Large and Small Catechisms. Our worship service begins at 10 AM and the title of Pastor Joel’s sermon is, “We are the Odd Ones.” Its based on our gospel reading for the day, which is Luke 12:49-56 Our other readings are Jeremiah 23:16-29 and Hebrews 11:17-31, 12:1-3
After we have celebrated the Lord’s supper and our service is complete, please join us outside for our fellowship time, with coffee and goodies. Then, for continued fellowship, join us at Carl’s Jr., by Mission and Old River, for lunch.
We pray all can join us for part of their Sunday but for those unable to worship in person, we stream our service live. The link is here: www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside Click on that, then click on the More dropdown arrow, then click Live. If you have a moment, please “Like” us and leave a brief comment about your online worship experience. Thank you!
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Margie and Allen Latall. We especially pray for Allen as he has eyesight issues with his right eye…the only good eye he has. Also, for his sleep issues.
COLLECT OF THE DAY: Almighty and everlasting Father, you give Your children many blessings even though we are undeserving. In every trial and temptation grant us steadfast confidence in Your loving kindness and mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
READINGS: Psalm 33; 2 Samuel 1:1-27; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40
DIGGING DEEPER: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2, 13-15, 28-32; Matthew 15:21-28
Alleluia. The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Alleluia.
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“One Thing’s Needful”
“One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure Teach me highly to regard. All else, though it first give pleasure, Is a yoke that presses hard! Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving, No true, lasting happiness ever deriving. This one thing is needful; all others are vain—I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!
“Therefore You alone, my Savior, Shall be all in all to me; Search my heart and my behavior, Root out all hypocrisy. Through all my life’s pilgrimage, guard and uphold me, In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me. This one thing is needful; all others are vain—I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!”
Children like to make birthday or Christmas lists of things that they want and really, really need. Adults make lists too, helpful lists for grocery shopping or maybe the wistful plans of a “bucket list” of things that they hope to do one day. We make lists of things we need, things we want and things we just have to have. We may even seek “true, lasting happiness” in the items on our lists. Will those things bring us lasting happiness? All too often the earthly pleasures we seek become “a yoke that presses hard.” The pleasures we think we must have, things like money, power, or popularity, leave us wanting more. Beneath it all “the heart is still fretting and striving.”
The most important list is a very short one. Only one thing is needful, the only treasure that brings “true, lasting happiness.” Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, knew that lasting happiness as she sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teachings. Jesus, her Treasure, praised her choice: “One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). After presenting his own list of personal accomplishments, the apostle Paul announced that he regarded all of it as loss, as just so much rubbish, because he knew his Treasure: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:7-8).
We need many things for life in this world—work, health, home, and food. God knows our needs and graciously provides for us. But no earthly goods will endure or bring us lasting happiness. Jesus alone is the one thing needful. He is our true Treasure because He first chose us to be His treasure. For us He sacrificed Himself on the cross to atone for our sins, including the sin of our search for earthly pleasures. For us Jesus rose in triumph over death and the grave. Bound to Him by faith, we learn that His yoke is light; it does not press hard like the yoke of earthly pleasure. In Jesus we have the present joy of forgiveness for our sins and the promise of future joy in His presence, a true, lasting happiness we will treasure forever.
WE PRAY: Jesus, my Treasure, in You alone I have joy that will endure, now and forever. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn “One Thing’s Needful,” which is number 536 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. When was the last time you received a gift you really wanted? You really needed?
2. Do you identify with either Mary or Martha in the story Jesus told from Luke 10? If so, why?
3. What gains did the apostle Paul possess that could be included in what he lost for Christ?
Today’s Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 10-12 1 Corinthians 8
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 you 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.”
Now you can go to bed quickly and cheerfully.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Our church website is: https://www.svlchurch.org/
Below is our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/shepherdofthevalleyoceanside
Here is the website for Lutherans for Life: https://lutheransforlife.org/
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.
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org.
