SVLC DEVOTION THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023

by | May 10, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023

 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:15-16 ESV

 NEWS:

Birth Choice Baby Shower!  This Saturday, May 13 at 1:00, all ladies are invited to a fun “Baby Shower” to benefit the ministry of Birth Choice.   You can learn more about Birth Choice here:  www.birthchoice.net   We’ll have all the usual fun activities and some great food plus we’ll hear about the important, loving work of Birth Choice.  Please bring an unwrapped baby gift and/or contributions for the money tree.  They have a gift registry here:  https://www.amazon.com/baby-reg/birthchoice-ofsanmarcos-december-2022-sanmarcos/3HYNXQTV8GQKI   Be sure to attend – and please bring several guests (neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers)!  There will be a special gift for all the teens who participate so please especially invite them.  For planning purposes, email Debbie Kolkman at debbiekolkman@yahoo.com or phone her at 760.433.4885.

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up the Luckemeyer family in prayer: Amy, Pastor Joel, Jeremy and Lucy Joy. We especially remember Amy and her family as the funeral for her grandmother is next week.

 READINGS: Habakkuk 3:14-19; Psalm 119:9-16; Luke 21:25-36

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“The Most Wonderful Gift”

May 11, 2023

 

John 14:15-17 – [Jesus said] “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

Have you ever seen a movie or read a book about demonic possession? The idea of having an evil spirit live in somebody is horrible. It’s the spiritual equivalent of rape—a kind of forced intimacy that is never supposed to happen, a horrible imitation of true union.

But what Jesus is talking about today is the total opposite. As believers in Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living in us—as close as can be, but never forcing Himself on us or coming where He is not wanted. No, He would never do a thing like that! He behaves like Jesus, full of grace and love.

The Spirit is not a force or power. He is a Person—in fact, He is the Third Person of the Trinity, one God together with the Father and the Son. We don’t fully understand Him, but we experience Him, because He is the One who makes us believers in Jesus. Without His help, we would not know or trust in Jesus. We would be in darkness. The Holy Spirit is the light by which we see. And He is the only One who comforts us and makes us strong, holding us up in faith even when we suffer.

What a wonderful gift Jesus promised us! And He kept His promise on Pentecost, when He sent the Spirit to all God’s people. Now all of us who trust in Jesus have the Holy Spirit for our constant Companion, teaching us, forgiving us, and helping us to grow up in Jesus, until we reach the full measure of what God plans for us to be.

When we are confused, we can ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom. When we are afraid, we can rely on Him for courage. We are never alone—never separated from the God who loves us. And we know this is true because Jesus promised us—and He is the One who loved us enough to suffer, die, and rise for our sake.

WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for Your wonderful Gift! Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.

Reflection Questions:

1. What do you know about the Holy Spirit?

2. Are you glad to have God so close to you? Why or why not?

3. Tell about a time when the Holy Spirit helped you deal with a difficult situation.

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Samuel 8-9; Psalm 60; John 2

 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 Thursday to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org