SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH
DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2023
Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Psalm 61:4
NEWS: Tomorrow evening we have our third midweek Lenten service. Our church doors will be open at 5:30 PM for prayer time. Anyone can come and join us. Prayers could be for our church, the community surrounding our church, for Oceanside, our county, our state… Or if there are personal needs, that can be included as well. At 6 PM we have a Potluck meal in our Community/Fellowship Hall. Feel free to bring a dish, appetizer or soft drinks tom share. Then we proceed back to our sanctuary for our 7 PM service.
Thursday evening the Board of Directors have their monthly meeting, online via Zoom, at 7 PM. Please look for the email that Bruce Woodward sent out on Monday with the link.
Saturday morning is the monthly Men’s Bible study/Breakfast at 9 AM in our Community Building. All guys are invited to join in for the great fellowship, food and learning of God’s word that we always have! Then at 10 the monthly work party takes place and goes until Noon. This is where we fix up, clean up and tidy up our church and property. Anyone is welcome to pitch in for as much time as they can spare.
PRAYERS: Today we pray for Kyle Ross.
READINGS: Micah 3:1-8; Psalm 61; Luke 1:57-66
DEVOTION:
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
“THE SIGN OF JONAH”
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Him they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16:1-4)
I really wonder about these religious leaders! By this point, Jesus has done plenty of miracles, most in public. Why do they want one more? They don’t need more signs; they need to understand the signs they already have.
But by the mercy of God, they will in fact get just one more sign—the sign of the prophet Jonah, who was swallowed by a great fish. As Jesus explained, “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). Jesus will suffer and die, and on the third day He will rise again.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the only sign we really need. It marks Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah God sent to save us. It shows that God accepted His sacrifice and it guarantees our own forgiveness and resurrection—for Jesus has promised to share His own everlasting life with all of us who trust in Him. That’s a sign worth having!
WE PRAY: Lord, help me to trust in Your death and resurrection. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
* Why do people put up signs?
* What is the purpose of the sign from God?
* What does Jesus’ death and resurrection mean to you?
Lenten Devotions were written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Today’s Bible Readings: Leviticus 23-24 Mark 10:32-52
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 Tuesday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us
Pastor Joel at pastor@svlchurch.org
