SVLC DEVOTION, LABOR DAY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH

DEVOTION, READINGS and PRAYERS

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2023

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

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

 NEWS: We were blessed once again on the Lord’s day yesterday. There were 37 who joined us in-person for worship, with more joining us online. We thank all who served us during our worship service and Daria Roth for providing our fellowship treats at church. We also thank Pastor Joel for leading our Bible study and worship service, along with his sermon message!

 PRAYERS: Today we remember Charlotte Neblett in our prayers. We also continue to pray for Eric Woodward, along with Bruce and Carole.

In our Summer of Prayer series, we pray for the immigrants in our nation, that they would abide by our laws and contribute to our society in a positive way. We pray that the Christian Church would be compassionate to all. Also, that the Lord would grant our government wisdom to protect us against those who seek to do us harm. Moreover, help everyone to be thankful for the nation God has given us.

 READINGS: Ezekiel 1; Psalm 63; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

 DEVOTION:

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

“You Forgave” September 4, 2023

 

Psalm 32:3-5 – For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. We are not often silent before God. We usually have a lot to say to Him, but there may be an exception to our constant prayers. As we consider our sins, we often have nothing to say. As a result of that silence, we share the distress the psalmist experienced, feeling the heavy hand of God calling us to repentance. Lost in guilt, we groan and feel as though our bones are wasting away. Struggling though sleepless nights, our strength fails. As the Holy Spirit moves us to repent, we break our silence. We admit our guilt and confess our sins to God, and He freely and fully forgives our sins. We are not condemned because Jesus was  condemned, not for any sins of His own, but for our sins. As He hung helpless on the cross, Jesus’ “bones wasted away” and His groans echoed through that dark day as His strength dried up. He suffered as the psalmist had foretold: “I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; it is melted within My breast; My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and My tongue sticks to My jaws; You lay Me in the dust of death … they have pierced My hands and feet” (Psalm 22:14-15, 16b). God’s heavy hand of judgment fell on His innocent Son as Jesus suffered the penalty of death that we deserved. By God’s grace through faith in Jesus, we can say without hesitation, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” confident in His response to us: “You forgave the iniquity of my sin.” When we uncover our iniquity, God covers those sins in Jesus’ blood. Hearing the Word of the Gospel, we receive forgiveness, assured of God’s grace in Christ Jesus. We touch and taste His forgiveness as we receive Jesus’ body and blood in His Holy Supper. We do not keep silent about our sin and we do not want to be silent about the forgiveness we have in Jesus. In fact, the Lord Himself has commanded us to talk about these things, as He told the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46b-47). To a world still lost in sin, we have something to say! WE PRAY: Lord, forgive my sins and lead me to walk with You in newness of life. Amen. This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. Reflection Questions: 1. What does talking to God freely look like for you? 2. What happened to the psalmist when he didn’t speak to God? What happened when he did? 3. What is it about receiving Holy Communion that benefits believers and strengthens their faith?

 

Today’s Bible in a Year Reading: 2 Chronicles 22; Joel 1; 2 Corinthians 9

 

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 Monday and new week to everyone! For any needs or prayer requests, please contact us

 Pastor Joel, pastor@svlcchurch.org