SVLC DEVOTION FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023

by | Jun 29, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2023

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

 NEWS: Please refer to the Shepherd of The Valley Church Newsletter that Allen Kolkman sent by email yesterday. Note that the daily devotional email will be on break. The next entry will be sent for the July 10th or 11th devotion. Blessings to all!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Charlene Simpson in prayer.

Saturday, July 1, we pray for Bill and Pat Sperberg.

Sunday, July 2, we pray for Glen and Deb Strasman

Monday, July 3, we pray for the Terrill family.

Tuesday, July 4th, HAPPY INDEPENDNCE DAY! We pray for the Woodward family.

Wednesday, July 5, we pray for Noah Adams.

Thursday, July 6, we pray for Rick and Gail Adams.

Friday, July 7, we pray for Ian Andrews.

Saturday, July 8, we pray for Kathy Andrews.

Sunday, July 9, we remember Kay Berni in prayer.

In our Summer of Prayer, here is our list for upcoming days:

June 30: Pray that God’s Kingdom would break Satan’s footholds in Oceanside.

July 1: Pray for God’s will to be done by our local government, first responders, and all citizens of Oceanside.

July 2: Pray for God’s provision for all families in Oceanside.

July 3: Pray for everyone in Oceanside to recognize their need for Jesus, and that they would turn to Him for the forgiveness of sins.

July 4: Pray a prayer of thanksgiving for our nation, and that we, as a nation, would turn back towards Christ.

July 5: Pray that the people of Oceanside would learn to forgive others through the grace that only comes from God. (Also, is there someone you need to forgive? Pray for God’s help in asking you to forgive.)

July 6: Pray that the people of Oceanside would not fall into Satan’s traps of temptation.

July 7: Pray that the people of Oceanside would be delivered from the snares of the evil one. 

July 8: Pray a prayer honoring God, because to Him is all power, and honor, and glory, as He is the King of all creation.   

July 9: Pray that God would lead people in Oceanside away from false religions and that the Church would stay faithful to God’s Word.

READINGS: Jeremiah 26:1-15; Psalm 149; Acts 15:22-35

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Give Me Life”

June 30, 2023

 

Matthew 10:39 – [Jesus said] “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

This devotion pairs with this weekend’s Lutheran Hour sermon, which can be found at lutheranhour.org.

Life is actually a fairly large topic to deal with in one short devotion. However, Jesus, in our text and its context takes us into life with its unrest and conflict and then shares with us that it is a losing cause to search for life on one’s own terms and a true blessing to lose what we think we have for the real life that He freely gives.

Life. We all have it in different places with different callings, dreams, desires. We live our lives out in a world that is seemingly about life, discovering life, and finding ourselves. Truth is, people look in a plethora of places to find out who they are and what life is all about.

It wasn’t always the case, you know. Way back when, way back at the beginning when our first parents walked with God in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve didn’t have an urge to find themselves. Why? Because they were complete. They were full, not of themselves, but joyously filled with God, perfect in His image, holy, righteous, and eternal. To say the least, all was good. All was very, very, very good. Yet they tossed it, and at the very moment they decided to live lives on their own terms, following a new and sinister leader, we have been in a never-ending circle of trying to find ourselves. Since that very rebellious day, all people have been looking for life in all the wrong places, and yet God tells us plainly that this search is a waste of time, “For whoever finds his life will lose it.”

Great, just great. We’re doing all this searching and it’s all for naught if God’s speaking the truth. And He is, for truth is the only language the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit know. We know God is speaking the truth for He has proven Himself in spades by His Son’s death and resurrection to buy us, His kids, rebels, back to Himself. For most of humanity, though, yet trying to find themselves in all the wrong places, they will never find themselves. Why? Because the only way to find oneself, we are truly told, is to lose oneself, to lose ourselves, our life, for Jesus’ sake. And there it is, true life staring us right in the face. As Jesus said, “Whoever loses his life, for My sake will find it.”

WE PRAY: Thank you, Lord, for the truth that life is only found in You. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Keith Haberstock.

Reflection Questions:

1. Do you consider yourself a seeker of truth? How do you determine what is true and false?

2. What does Jesus mean when He says we will find our lives when we lose them?

3. How has God “proven Himself” as truthful through Jesus?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Ecclesiastes 7-9; Acts 10:1-23

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

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org