SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
READINGS, PRAYERS and DEVOTION
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022
NEWS: It turned sunny out and contributed to a beautiful Lord’s Day yesterday. We had 45 in the sanctuary and more who worshipped online. Thank you to Pastor Joel for leading our Bible study and a big thank you to Pastor Dominic Rivkin, Mission and Ministry Executive for the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS, for preaching. Then a HUGH thank you to all who participated in our German Fest yesterday. Thanks to everyone who helped prepare or brought things to eat. Also, to all who attended.
Tomorrow evening the Tuesday evening Bible study continues at the home of Allen and Debbie Kolkman. It goes from 6:30 to 8 PM, starting with a short devotion. The study follows, then fellowship time with coffee and other goodies. All are invited to attend.
PRAYERS: Today we especially pray for Gunti and Barb Galleisky. Prayers are requested for Gunti and son Ian, as they are driving cross country, separately. Also, prayers for the health and personal needs of Christian.
READINGS: Psalm 99; Psalm 97; Deuteronomy 25:17-26:19; Matthew 17:1-13
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“Living Water”
Psalm 46:4-5 – There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
River systems viewed from the air or drawn on a map look like a circulatory system, with smaller creeks and streams branching out in all directions, delivering life-giving water across the landscape. Rivers branch out through Holy Scripture, too, playing their part in the story of God’s work in the world as they weave their way through the story of our salvation.
A river watered Eden and flowed out of the garden to divide into four rivers, two of which were the Tigris and Euphrates. From the land between those two rivers, God called Abraham to be the father of a chosen nation and an ancestor of the promised Messiah. Another great river, the Nile, carried the Hebrew infant Moses into a life among Egyptian royalty until God called him to lead Israel out of slavery and into the Promised Land. The Israelites finally reached the land God promised to them. God held back the flood of the Jordan River so that His chosen people could cross safely into their new home. Generations later, it was to that river, the Jordan, that Jesus the Messiah came to be baptized by His kinsman John.
Those great rivers—the Tigris, the Euphrates, the Nile, and the Jordan—still exist today, providing water for the people who depend on them. But the water in those rivers can only quench earthly thirst. Jesus Christ rose up from the Jordan to take up His path to the cross. Jesus alone promises, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'” (John 7:37b-38). The gift of the Holy Spirit, like a river of living water, flows through the hearts of all who trust in Jesus for salvation. We have the thirst-quenching peace that comes only through the forgiveness of sins that is ours through faith in Jesus. It is a peace that flows through our lives and out into the world. As the Holy Spirit works through our lives of service and witness, others will believe in Jesus and drink of the living water.
One day, this world’s history will come to an end and earth’s great rivers will cease to run. Then, by faith in our crucified and risen Lord, we will see and taste the water of the river that flows through eternity, “the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city” (Revelation 22:1b-2a). It is the “river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.” That blessed city will be our holy habitation for all eternity, where all hunger will be satisfied and every thirst quenched.
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, let Your peace flow through me to bring comfort and hope to others in Your name. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler.
Reflection Questions:
1. Do you have a favorite river? If so, what do you like most about it?
2. Why do you think rivers play such a prominent role in the Bible?
3. What do you think the “river of the water of life” will be like?
Today’s Bible Readings: Jeremiah 18-19 Colossians 3
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:
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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
