SVLC DEVOTION FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2023

by | Aug 24, 2023 | Daily Devotions

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 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.

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Christian Galleisky in our prayers. In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for those in Oceanside who need transportation for their families. We ask the Lord to provide for their needs and keep them safe as they travel.

 READINGS: Esther 1; Psalm 53; Colossians 3:1-17

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“Raising the Praise”
August 25, 2023

 

1 Peter 1:3 – Blessed to be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

You can see them every day and everywhere they go. These followers of Jesus, they bring the echo of Easter with them in grocery stores, at bus stops, in coffee shops, at community meetings, in hotel lobbies, at the gym, and even from a deathbed. Jaroslav Pelikan was not only a world-class historian, but he was a master of the turn of phrase. It was while he lay dying from lung cancer that he once uttered one of the cleverest and simplest truths from his deathbed. Pelikan proclaimed, “If Christ is raised, then nothing else matters. If Christ is not raised, then nothing else matters.” In other words, if the resurrection actually happened, then our dying, declining, decaying bodies will be transformed, beautifully glorified, and this suffering will not matter.

But if the resurrection is not true, then as St. Paul says, nothing really matters. But since we believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, and since this happened, then it follows that we’ve got a reason to rejoice, a true creed to confess, a trumpet to play, a liturgy to pray, a drum to beat, a dance to offer, and a song that must be sung. While we have life and breath, Christ is risen. He has risen indeed! Alleluia!

WE PRAY: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank You for the gift of life, the gift of the resurrection, which invests our life with meaning and with praise. Continue to echo through all our days that our life may raise with praise to Your Holy Name, Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. Amen.

This Daily Devotion was written by Rev. Dr. John Nunes.

Reflection Questions:

1. When was the last time you saw someone publicly witnessing to their Christian faith?

2. How does Christ’s resurrection give us a “living hope”?

3. Have you ever had a conversation about Jesus in an unexpected place? Where were you?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58

 

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