SVLC DEVOTION SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

by | Apr 21, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

 NEWS: We’ll be celebrating the Third Sunday of Easter as we enter God’s house tomorrow. The morning starts with Bible study at 9 AM. Pastor Joel is leading us in a study of Genesis. The title of Pastor Joel’s sermon in our 10 AM worship is, “Necessity, Suffering and Glory.” The sermon text comes from Luke 24:13-35 The first reading is Acts 2:14, 36-41 and our second lesson is taken from 1 Peter 1:17-25 After we have celebrated the Lord’s Supper and our service is complete, join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then come over to Carl Jr. on Douglas Dr. to continue fellowship with others. Also serving our Lord and congregation tomorrow are:

Techies:  Bruce Woodward, OPEN

Reader:  Allen Kolkman

Acolyte:  Josephine Neemia

Greeter:  Terry Reilly

Ushers:   Victor Dille, OPEN

Flowers: The Neemia family

Fellowship:  Terry & Alba Reilly

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up Kay Berni in prayer.

 READINGS: 2 Chronicles 29:3-19; Psalm 102; Luke 13:31-14:1

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“A New Heart”

April 22, 2023

 

Luke 14:33 – [Jesus said] “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Years ago, I spent several months watching one of the ladies in my congregation die. She was relatively young, in her early forties. She was dying because she had a bad heart. Doctors gave her a host of meds to keep her going, but all of those drugs are only temporary. She knew she would never be there for the weddings of some of her children. She would never hold a grandchild on her lap. She agonized about how much of a goodbye she should give to her husband. She had things to say, but she didn’t want to add to his worry. He was going to be alone. She was dying, and there was no cure.

Then, in a different state, a young man had an accident. After the man’s wife donated his organs, the woman from my church got a call: “Be at the hospital in an hour. We have a new heart for you.” The surgery worked. She came home from the hospital with color in her cheeks. Better yet, she came home with a future. As a result, she would have done anything she could to say thank you to the man’s family.

Thousands of years before heart transplants were invented, the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel wrote some words from God: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes and be careful to obey My rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be My people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:26-28).

Ezekiel was describing God’s plan to give dying humanity a spiritual heart transplant. To give us this new lease on life, God sent his Son as our divine donor. He carried our sins and died the death our iniquities deserved. His resurrection three days later is proof that His sacrifice has been completed and was successful. Now, like the psalmist, believers can confidently pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Knowing God has given us a new spirit and a new heart, we are eternally grateful to the Savior who intentionally, sacrificially, has given us His life so that all who believe in Him might live with Him forever.

WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, do a work of love and renewal on this old heart of mine. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

From “Giving and Getting,” a devotional message from Rev. Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

Reflection Questions:

1. Have you ever met someone who received an organ donation? How did it change their life?

2. Saying no to the world is not easy, but the benefits are far-reaching. Why is this important in our Christian walk?

3. As we follow Jesus, we daily renounce the world. What are some ways you renounce the world?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Ruth 1-4; Luke 17:1-19

 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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org