SVLC DEVOTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 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 v alley Church Newsletter that Allen Kolkman sent by email yesterday.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Deanna and Victor Dille in our prayer. In our Summer of Prayer series (I accidently skipped over one) we pray that no one would be tried and sentenced falsely through our local court systems.

 READINGS: Lamentations 2:1-12; Psalm 46; Philippians 3:12-4:1

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Joy Wins the Day” August 18, 2023

 

John 11:25-26 – [Jesus said] “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Rare is the life that at some time isn’t affected by great distress in this world. On planet earth, where tragedy seems to be a constant, where sin, misery, and grief are evident all around us, the shedding of tears is all too familiar in our lives. Most of us cry. Most of us weep. Almost everyone shed tears over some personal sadness. Think back to the last time you cried. Even Jesus shed tears in this world. Centuries before His Bethlehem birth, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah had, by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, described the Savior in sobering detail. He said our Lord Jesus would be “despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief … He was oppressed, and He was afflicted … stricken for the transgression of My people” (see Isaiah 53). How true this proved to be! Look at Jesus and you will not see a general who sits far removed in a command center while His troops march off to engage the enemy in battle. He is not a chairman in a walnut-paneled boardroom who dictates commands to His company while the men on the assembly line press on to fulfill those orders. No, Jesus was in the trenches with us, sweating with us, giving us His life so we might truly live. Jesus became one of us so He might—in our place—fulfill the Law we completely disobeyed. He became true Man so that the ultimate price our sins demanded might be paid in full. Because of His sacrifice and resurrection victory, He is the “Resurrection and the Life,” and those who live and believe in Him will never die. The comfort those words have given to people over the centuries cannot be measured. Jesus’ words mean that death does not hold the final claim on our lives. As Christians, we know that those who mourn now will find their grief overcome by joy when this life is over. They will know the victory won for them by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is perfect and everlasting. Christ’s nail-pierced hands are stronger than death and, because this is so, in heaven every tear will be replaced by laughter and joy in Jesus. WE PRAY: Heavenly Father, please accept our thankful hearts which know that the time is coming that, because of Jesus, all of our tears will be wiped away. In His Name we pray. Amen. From “Tears of Laughter,” a devotion from Rev. Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Speaker Emeritus for The Lutheran Hour Reflection Questions: 1. Does knowing that Jesus Himself cried impact the way you see Him? 2. Jesus in the trenches with us—what does that say about Him and how God loves us? 3. Losing someone to death is a dreadful experience. How has your Christian faith sustained you during times like this?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 48-50; 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

 

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

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org