SVLC DEVOTION SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 2023

 But the fruit of the spi9rit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV

 NEWS: It is indeed a very special weekend at Shepherd of The Valley as we celebrate our 50^th Anniversary. To start, we have a special work party today at 10 AM. This will include setting up the community building with tables and decorations as well as some final cleanup of the garden area. Also, the setup of decorations and awnings outside. WE NEED SOME HELP TO ACCOMPLISH THESE TASKS!  Questions? Contact bruce_woodward@hotmail.com

Tomorrow, we have a special Sunday service at 10 AM. Note there is no Bible study due to us celebrating the churches anniversary. Our guest preacher will be Reverend Doctor Mike Gibson, President of the Pacific Southwest District, LCMS, with our Pastor Joel Luckemeyer officiating. The title of pastor Gibson’s message is, “Remembering – For Tomorrow!” Our Old Testament reading for the day comes from Isaiah 46:8-13 The Epistle lesson is 2 Timothy 2:1-13 Our Gospel is taken from Matthew 26:26-29 After we have taken the Eucharist and our service is complete, please proceed to the Community building for a wonderful, catered meal. Then there will be special activities, including a jump house for the kids and games for kids and adults. Please join us in this anniversary celebration for SVLC!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Bill Ernie in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer, we ask for God to watch over and provide for single parent households.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 34; Psalm 14; Acts 21:17-26

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Food for the Soul” July 15, 2023

 

John 6:27-29 – [Jesus said] “Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal.” Then they said to Him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” What is the food that perishes? How much time do we spend chasing after it? Working for perishable items in this life is natural—and necessary—isn’t it? But what is Jesus saying to us here? Does He mean we’ll never feel hungry or thirsty? No. He is telling us there is something more than what we so easily invest ourselves in and which, at the end of the day, is completely temporary, utterly fleeting. Jesus is inviting us to turn from ourselves and turn to His Words. He is telling us that our quest for happiness will only be satisfied when we look beyond this world to His Word. Remember the Old Testament connection: the feeding of the Israelites foreshadows Jesus, the true Bread come down from heaven. In a similar fulfillment of prophecy, listen to this beautiful passage from Isaiah 55. In these Words, can you hear Jesus inviting you and me to turn to Him? “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live. … Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:1-3a, 6-7). Because of Jesus, God forgives you and me for all the times we have turned to our own way. Jesus was hungry and thirsty upon the cross, but His situation wasn’t grounded in His feelings. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus came that you and I might have life, real life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Friends, this Spirit-given life is better than anything we could ever find on our own. Our lives are full of things we need to do to support ourselves and our families, but don’t mistake chasing those things for the whole of life itself. There is more. Jesus tells us so, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). Abundant living is found in Jesus—He is the Bread the life and the One on whom God has set His seal. WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, fix our minds on that which matters most. Fix our minds on Jesus. In His Name we pray. Amen. From “And the Pursuit of Happiness,” a sermon excerpt from Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Reflection Questions: 1. Is there some thing or habit in your life you wouldn’t miss if it was gone? 2. Isaiah is telling us to forsake our old, dead ways. What does doing that look like in real life? 3. Jesus offers us the bread and water that leads to eternal life with Him. How do we receive it?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Amos 7-9; Galatians 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 Saturday and weekend to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org