SVLC DEVOTION SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2023

 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire^[c] in his temple. Psalm 27:4 ESV

 NEWS: It’s the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost tomorrow as we are back in God’s house. We begin with Bible study at 9 AM and our Pastor Joel continues to lead us in the book of Genesis. In our 10 AM worship, the title of Pastor Joels sermon is, “The Great Misunderstanding.” The text is based on our Gospel reading, Matthew 13:44-52 Our Old testament lesson is Deuteronomy 7:6-9 Our Epistle is taken from Romans 8:28-39 After we’ve celebrated the Eucharist and our service is complete, please join us for fellowship time with coffee and goodies. Then please join us at Jersey Mikes, on River Rd., near Starbucks, for more fellowship time!

 PRAYERS: Today we lift up the Neemia family in prayer: Fale, Mike, Easter, Penny, Josephine and Jeremiah. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for single adults who want to be married as well as those who don’t want to be. We pray that they would value God’s design for sex within the marriage relationship.

 READINGS: Jeremiah 45; Psalm 27; Acts 27:13-38

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“No Other Way” July 29, 2023

 

1 Peter 1:18-19 – Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. It was about twenty years ago that an elderly woman took a bus downtown to her New York insurance company’s home office. With hesitation she approached the receptionist who asked her, “How may I help you?” The lady pulled an old life insurance policy from her purse. It was still in its original envelope. She lowered her voice and explained her difficult situation. She was no longer able to make premium payments on the policy. Anything she was able to earn went to keeping a roof over her head and food on the table. She was perfectly content with the policy; she just couldn’t make the payments any longer. Sympathetically, the receptionist directed the lady to a man who took a quick look at the policy, which had a $500,000 face value. He asked her, “Ma’am, this is your husband’s insurance policy. Are you sure he wants to cancel it? The lady replied, “My husband’s? Well, he died three years ago.” The man then had her take a seat while he went to go check on something. After a quick investigation, it was confirmed to be true: the lady’s husband had died, but the company had not been notified. They proceeded to refund three years of premiums and cut her a check for the face value of the policy. The lady lived comfortably for the rest of her life. It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us that we all have a deadline coming. And, of course, I’m not referring to a bill for an insurance policy. I’m speaking about a very real deadline: it’s the moment we breathe our last and stand before God. When that deadline arrives, we will not be able to make a payment for our sins. In our lives we can do works of charity and kindness. Still, no matter how hard we try, it won’t be enough to pay off the debt our sins have created. There’s nothing we can offer that will ever be enough to do that. It is a wonderful joy for me to tell you that you don’t have to make those payments. Your divine Savior, Jesus, has already paid the price for you and made you an heir of His estate, too. In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, He offered Himself up for us—making a payment we could never afford. Thankful, we now come to Him in Spirit-given faith. We acknowledge our sins before God our Father and trust in Jesus’ work to set us completely free from the just payment our sins demand (see Romans 3:21-25). Salvation alone is in Jesus. This is no other way. WE PRAY: Thank You, Jesus, for paying the price for our sins. Amen. From “Just Now Near,” a devotional message from Rev. Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour Reflection Questions: 1. Have you ever experienced a financial windfall? If so, how has it made your life different? 2. Why did it take Jesus’ shed blood on the cross to redeem us from our sins? 3. How does knowing your life will one day end impact how you live right now?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 106, 111-112; 1 Thessalonians 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 hour  s: 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